My tree grew a man while we were out today.

 I sure hope it rains soon so I can get a good crop this season.

Trying to figure out how to watermark my photos.

I seriously need to up my game in the world of technology!

I'm around.  The kids are around.  There has been drama.  A little of the regular seizure drama.  A lot adoption drama.  I wish I could tell you all that has gone on but a) it just does not make sense to those outside of the world of trying to adopt (especially out of foster care and b) I have to be very careful with what I share for fear of shooting myself in the foot.

As added excitement my profile was shown in regards to a precious newborn with Down syndrome.  When I started this adoption journey it was always in my head that somewhere along the way I would have a little girl with Down syndrome.  No word of a lie in the last four years I have been this close to that vision becoming a reality yet in the end it doesn't happen.  What's up with that anyways?!

The summer is going relatively well.  The big kids have their day programs and the school kids are doing some day camps.  We're doing picnics in the park, hanging at the outdoor pool and just trying to soak up the sun while it's out.  Summer will be over soon enough.  It seems some of the trees have caught wind there are snowsuits at Costco and are starting to yellow their leaves.  It won't be long before Costco sets up its first Christmas tree (end of July beginning of August is when they usually do it.

I have been lazy with the photos as it is such a painful process with this blog format.  I don't know if it's any easy on others but for someone who is technologically challenged it's time consuming to be sure.

Hope you all are having a safe and fun filled summer!

Showering kids with intractable seizures is like speed dating. Get in there, sit down, hit all the highlights and hope you get done before the bell rings

Rock and Roll

What is this you might ask?  This is the aftermath of one of many seizures that happen daily by a number of the kids.  If we're lucky the flipping of chairs and tossing of food doesn't occur more than twice a day  and if we're really REALLY lucky there is no blood from scrapes, gashes or deep cuts.

I dont mention much of the crappy parts of our day but this is a reality.  Four of the kids have intractable  seizures that being seizures that are resistant to any medications.  Every day is a crap shoot as to whether I will need to pick one of them up from their program to get glued, stitched, or whether I will be meeting them at the hospital because the injuries are significant to warrant X-rays or  CT scan.  

When we are out together I am always on alert as to who might go down and how to position everyone to prevent injury when the inevitable happens.  One I have holding onto one of the others wheelchairs with her left hand as when she goes down that's the direction she's headed.  Her sister I have just recently resorted to using an adapted stroller due to her penchant for stimulating herself to seize by the refraction of light.  Unfortunately their older sister is not so predictable with her seizures.  With her it is a matter of hoping that if one starts I am able to catch her before concrete or floor meet her head.

We are loads of fun to go out with.

update (sort of)

There is so much I have to say but haven't found the time or just the right words to say it all.

The children are all fine minus the average bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes that occur when modern medicine fails in treating your kids' intractable seizures etc.

One of the newly graduated is gainfully employed at her dream job for the summer.  She is feeling excited, overwhelmed but grown and responsible.  The other continues her quest to find a job but is looking in the area where short term is ok as her plan is to marry and move out within six months or so (don't get me started).

The school kids are happy summer is here though it would be nice if the weather would cooperate a bit.  Day camps will soon start which they are looking forward to.  When you don't have imaginative play skills or any real play skills in general the days can be very long and boring.  We spend a lot of time doing as much outdoor activity as we can and when the weather is not so great we shop, bake and do the things that it takes to keep a house running.

The big kids still have their day programs to go to.  It takes a lot of encouragement to get the day programs organizing different schedules that have them outdoors and making use of the city's seasonal  activities.  Though the majority of the big kids have one to one staffing it remains difficult to develop stimulating, meaningful somewhat productive programs.  If I could only win the lottery I would create a reality for them that only exists in my dreams

There is news and there is no news in the adoption front.  This is what I am trying to find the time to write about.  I have mentioned it before in previous posts where I think my excitement might have been palpable.  Unfortunately as I have said many times before adoption is a very difficult way to grow a family.  Throw in other factors such as my family on paper, government custody of a special child, living in a different region of the province from where the child resides and you have barriers that sometimes seem insurmountable.

I will find the time as I believe my experiences might be helpful for others who come up against similar circumstances.

I will ask as I leave you with this update of sorts....keep the children in foster care in your thoughts and prayers.  Pray that permanence is found for them whether it be back with their families of origin, extended family or adoption.  Pray that those in control of their lives...foster parents, case workers, case managers, lawyers if the kids have them and judges all work in the child's best interests and most importantly share a similar vision as to what the best interests are.  If returning to family is not possible pray that those in control see the children as adoptable and that they dedicate themselves to finding their family.

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!  We live in a spectacular country both in geography, climate and freedoms that allow us to be all that we can be.