Today was a bugger. Bits of annoying drama at every turn. That being said it could have turned tragic.

M is legally blind. She sees far less than what she would like you to know. 

New bus driver. 

This morning he parks between us and the neighbours leaving the child with her vision impairment and cerebral palsy to find her way in the dark, through snow banks along the curb.

 Fine. New driver. 

I escort her down and explain the situation.

After school...driver pulls up across the road from the house and HAS THE BLIND KID CROSS THE ROAD BY HERSELF!!!!

She told me he would give her the thumbs up if it was safe to cross....

HALLLOOOOO!! She can't SEE what the heck if anything you are doing with your thumbs or your whole dang body from outside the bus!!!

S'rsly!  Why don't I drink?!

A good news kind of day. 

First...'child' has seizure in crowded hospital gift shop and I successfully save her, the fancy breakables and all without anyone knowing what was going on. Thought running through my mind was the zero time for a code 66 being called PLUS all the Christmas stuff was on sale 40% off! All the fuss would likely ruined my scoring of the deals! 

Two....'child' was determined to have no tumors in her eyes or on the optic nerves and this was discovered with minimal wrestling and no dilation. 

A Christmas miracle kind of day really

Today has been brought to you by the mantra "I'm doing the best that I can, I'm doing the best that I can.....no really...today this IS my best....I'm doing the best that I can....tomorrow I might be able to do better but for today I'm doing the best that I can"

My world consists of the sweetest, kindest most generous people! 

I am grateful for those of you who think of us and reach out with kindness. 

You're all just swell!

I love each and every one of your pointed little heads!

Another year and once again no invitation to Ellen's Twelve days of Christmas. 

No she doesn't know me and no I have not tried to get tickets but that is totally not the point....

Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans who have stopped by the blog to see that I am painfully behind in updates.

Just know that as you spend the day hopefully surrounded by loved ones, over stuffing your bellies with delectable delights, basking in the gratitude for all you have that I am too!  (well the feeling grateful part.  Tonight's dinner is Costco lasagna....).

These darlings of mine and those not in the picture leave me grateful on a daily basis.  Sure there are days when I think the next dirty diaper, or tossed plate of food during a seizure might be the last I can endure but thankfully those days are few and far between.

We live in a country that is free.  We have what we need and an abundance more.  We have love and share love.  When people look at us they might not think we epitomize what it means to be fortunate. Make no mistake however.  We are.

my deep freeze has quit. How many perogies per baggie would you say would be appropriate to hand out to the trick or treaters? Im thinking maybe for the costumes that showed a lot of effort I would throw some steaks in. Most creative a roast beef?

Happy Halloween

Here's the diehard trick or treaters. The others learned long ago if you stay at home in comfy clothes you still get candy 

Bathed in love and light.

I love it when I can catch photos of the kids when rays of sunlight are shining down on them.

Makes me feel that they are protected and that Ailish is with us.

Birthday girl. My very first newborn. Twenty three years ago. 

She radiates joy

She is determined. Stubborn. Persistent. Opinionated. Sweet. Loving. Funny. 

My love for her holds no bounds. She is my bliss. 

Because we haven't gone anywhere this summer and won't have the opportunity for the remainder I have splurged twice and rented this inflatable slip and slide.  The majority of my kids don't use it but with inviting friends over and making an event it has been well worth it for those that do.

I guess because we are nearing the end of water play season and because we have seen more rain in one month that normally seen in a year the company that rents the inflatables has let us have it for two and a half days.  What a deal!

Yesterday we had folks over and with the sun shining bright with high temperatures a good time was had by all.

Today with much badgering from two of the girls and the lack of an audience I gave it a whirl.  It really is true that the camera adds forty pounds!  That's what they say right?

It is also true when they say it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.  Well I didn't lose an eye but got a big charlie horse in my calf.

Well charlie horse or blood clot.  I'm massaging it now so we will learn in short order if it's one or the other.....

My olympic career might have been cut short before it got off the ground.

Couldn't you just squeeze him?!

The dog on the other hand I would like to squeeze in a completely different way....

Day one of seizure meds for baby. A month and a half ago he had what I thought to be a seizure while he was sleeping in my arms. 

He had an EEG this past month which unfortunately showed "epileptic forms" meaning indeed has a seizure disorder.

He might not be able to walk and might not be able to talk but in no way does it stop him from making full use of the splash park. 

My gosh this kid is a joy!  We love him so much. 

Always swell when you pull up home and access has three of your kids at the front door while the driver you have guess is talking to 911 whom he called because one of them had a seizure. 

Dude! Did no one tell you she has a million seizures a day?!

No 911 operator we do not need an ambulance. She has a seizure disorder. This happens every day bunches of times a day. Yes I'm sure we don't need the ambulance. She is up and walking and is fine. Thank you 911 lady no I'm quite sure we won't be needing to call you back. 

Hello Access office guy. Yes she's fine. I am not fine. Quit putting my kids in taxis special drivers or not! The drivers are not trained for kids like mine even though they drive for Access. Im not raising my voice at you because you will know if I am raising my voice at you. No you don't need to call the ambulance for every seizure on the bus or at the door as my girls do it regularly. No I don't need to read your policy manual my kids who seizure all the time on the bus do not have the ambulance called each event.
 
I was having such a good day until people happened. Don't get me started on the FedEx situation....

It has been twenty days since the little booger moved in and we couldn't be more smitten.  This is a problem.  One we can manage but a problem none the less.  Originally when I was approached about taking him through foster care it was a pretty much for sure thing that he would be staying.  I assumed....and you know the saying about assuming.....that would mean no visits with family.  BIG WRONG.  Every Sunday with parents and every other Saturday with another family member.  The good news is everybody loves him.  The not so good news is our lives revolve around when and where the boy is.  Our plans are secondary to what is determined by the extra adults that come with a new little person.

What I know for now is that his Royal Sweetness will be with us until December at the minimum when his future with his family will be decided.  I had forgotten how difficult this road can be when your own goal is always permanence.  Times have changed in my family as well as there are more emotions to consider when entering foster world.  I can feel the heartbreak of loss but understand our hopefully positive role in a little person's life for however long we have them but that is not so easy for the kids especially kids with processing issues.  The visits help though with keeping it forefront and centre that there is another family out there that loves this little boy as much as we do.  Reiterating that to the kids and that we will love him as hard as we can for as long as we can.

TWENTY MINUTES!!!!

TOMORROW!!!!

Move in day is TOMORROW!

Well it's Monday.

What oh what might the day bring?

Could it be a weeny boy?

Told you Fridays were big news days around here!

My license has successfully been transferred and a new one printed off.  Great right?!

The not so great news is that Teddy's worker who will be the boss of the when and how the move is done is off sick today.

GAH!!

That likely means Monday is out now for move in.

I might be a little on the excited however frustrated side.

At least we have movement