At Jack's five-year check-up, the doctor noticed that Jack's boys (yes I am talking about those) had not dropped like they should have by now. This of course made me very nervous about the possibility of not having grandchildren since they were supposed to be dropped fully by the time he was two. So we got a referral to go to the Children's Hospital in New Orleans and we made the trip over there on Monday. And thankfully all checked out alright. It turns out he has what is called "retractable testicles" and he has the ability to retract them when he gets nervous or turns cold. Every single man that I have told about this condition has informed me that would come in handy. But anyway, it is a condition that is nothing to worry about, except have to keep an eye on it and make sure that as he grows taller, they are able to still drop. So phew. Grandchildren are still a possibility.
In other happenings, the kid's get out of school on Friday. I am actually looking forward to not having to get two kids to school all before 8 am every single day. I still can not believe that Jack is going into kindergarten next year and will be a full day of school for him everyday. He is sooo excited about the whole kindergarten experience and keeps asking me when it starts. I also got his yearbook today and I have to say that I am a proud Mama because he was awarded with the Christian Character award for his class. We plan to keep him in this Christian school all the way through the 12th grade.
Tomorrow night Jack has his preschool graduation, which I am sure will be very very cute. He says they have been practicing for it every single day. The main event will be the kindergartners who will be in little cap and gowns as they "graduate". Simply adorable.
Things are starting to calm down a bit with Brandi. She made me sooooo mad last week when I found out that she stole a cell phone from a friend and did more than 5000 text messages and was calling people that she is not supposed to be in contact with. The theft was a felony and if our friends had pressed charges, she would be in a world of trouble right now. I do not believe I have been so angry and mad in my life and it has taken me a week to calm down a little bit. I am really wondering if we are doing any good with her. She just sits there and shuts down when I or anybody else tries to talk to her. But I am not willing to give up on the girl ... yet. At least I do have somebody that I can make do the dishes and other nasty chores around the house like pick up poop in the backyard. :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sickies
Jack is home sick today. He woke up at 4:30 this morning yelling out for me. I first thought that he just had allergies because his eyes are all swollen, red, and watery. But he sneezed some pretty ugly green goop, so I figure there is something else going on. And with all the swine flu histeria going on, I guess taking him to school with green goop is not a good thing, even though the last time I checked, Mississippi was one of the few states with no cases of the swine flu.
So anyway, it looks like a day of Disney channel and whatever. The boy is very into drawing and coloring and writing these days, which I like to encourage. He loves to write an assortment of letters down and make me read them. It is fun trying to sound out the word "UIWMEW".
There has been more drama with Brandi and spent the entire day yesterday dealing with said drama. But that is a whole nother post and I am just too weary to even post about it right now.
So anyway, it looks like a day of Disney channel and whatever. The boy is very into drawing and coloring and writing these days, which I like to encourage. He loves to write an assortment of letters down and make me read them. It is fun trying to sound out the word "UIWMEW".
There has been more drama with Brandi and spent the entire day yesterday dealing with said drama. But that is a whole nother post and I am just too weary to even post about it right now.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mother's Day at the Jackaroo House
I had a wonderful mother's day. The day started out with Jim making breakfast for all of us yesterday morning. We decided to play hookey with church because Jack was having a tee-ball tournament this weekend. The tournament started on Friday night and his team won. It was back to the ball fields at 9:00 on Saturday for another day of tee-ball playing. His team played two games and won both games.
On Saturday night, we took advantage of our built-in babysitter, Brandi, and Jim and I went to see Star Trek movie. It was a really good movie and even better getting away from the kids and having some time alone with Jim.
On Sunday, we were back to the ball fields. Jack's team won their first game, which meant they had to play again against the best team in the league and well we got slaughtered in that game. But truthfully, I was very happy not winning and having to stay for the championship game. It was 93 degrees with 90% humidity out there. The boys were exhausted and the parents were hot and sunburnt. I was very happy to lose.
Jack has actually improved alot in the tee-ball playing. He actually hit a few doubles and is starting to pay attention when on the field. His favorite position is catcher and takes his catcher duties very seriously by making sure the ball is placed on the tee just right everytime. He still has alot to learn and lots of practice, but he seems to enjoy playing. The season ends on the 29th and we will probably end up putting him in Fall Ball to get some more practice. I would say that this has been a positive experience for the boy despite the uncertain start.
On Saturday night, we took advantage of our built-in babysitter, Brandi, and Jim and I went to see Star Trek movie. It was a really good movie and even better getting away from the kids and having some time alone with Jim.
On Sunday, we were back to the ball fields. Jack's team won their first game, which meant they had to play again against the best team in the league and well we got slaughtered in that game. But truthfully, I was very happy not winning and having to stay for the championship game. It was 93 degrees with 90% humidity out there. The boys were exhausted and the parents were hot and sunburnt. I was very happy to lose.
Jack has actually improved alot in the tee-ball playing. He actually hit a few doubles and is starting to pay attention when on the field. His favorite position is catcher and takes his catcher duties very seriously by making sure the ball is placed on the tee just right everytime. He still has alot to learn and lots of practice, but he seems to enjoy playing. The season ends on the 29th and we will probably end up putting him in Fall Ball to get some more practice. I would say that this has been a positive experience for the boy despite the uncertain start.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Trying to Get Back Into a Rhythm and Frustrations
So today marks the first day of back to normal. Laura left yesterday afternoon after being here for two weeks. She was supposed to leave early Sunday morning, but her flight leaving Gulfport was delayed by 3 hours which meant that she was going to miss her connection and they couldn't get her on another flight until way late, which is against the Unaccompanied Minor policy. So we got her for another day.
So everybody is back to school. I kept Jack out of school most of last week just so he could spend some time with Laura and Brandi, who was out of school on spring break also. Ihave no idea why Jack's spring break had to be in March when every body else had it in April. But it is very nice to be back to normal.
We had some major drama yesterday around here. Laura could not find her cell phone when she was packing up. She and I tore the house apart looking for the thing. I had a sneaking suspicion that Brandi had taken it, but I really did not want to think that. So I had to take a very upset Laura to the airport without her cell phone. She was literally in tears because of what her mother's reaction was going to be. Her mother is downright cruel and won't give it up until she has belittled Laura. So Laura was scared to death to get back to California and tell her mother she couldn't find her phone.
So after I saw Laura off, I went to the High School and picked Brandi up and confronted her about the phone. She looked right atme and said she did not have it. I went through her pockets, bag and everything looking for it. We get home and Jim has to call Laura's mother and tell her about the phone. We both know that Brandi took it and wanted her to fess up. So Jim is telling Laura's mother to get the texting activity today because he is pretty sure that somebody took the phone. Brandi tells me that she wants to tell me something in her room and sure enough she stole the phone and gave it away to a friend!!!!!! I do not think I have ever seen Jim so mad in all the years I have known him. I have no idea what she was thinking. We do not let her have a cell phone. She has no phone privileges and no computer privileges and she can't go anywhere except to school and church. I do not know how to punish her for this. She continues to lie to me saying it was an accident. But I know different, because all day yesterday she was turning the phone off and on and knew exactly what she was doing. She has yet to apologize for it. She stayed in her room most of the night last night.
I am truly at my wits end with her. I am having second thoughts about whether we can help her at all. Can we change 15 years of neglect and abuse and having no consequences in 3 months? I was letting her get on Myspace when she first got here. She promised she would not talk to anybody but her friends. Well I later found out that she had been giving our home phone number out to strange men and talking to them. She also had Jack's picture on her page and claiming him as her own child, along with a bunch of other lies. Which is so dangerous considering that Jim is a cop and has probably arrested some of these people she was talking to. We live in the threat of somebody finding out where he lives and coming here with revenge. I was so mad at her that I was shaking uncontrollably that night. That happened about a month ago. And now the cell phone theft. I am really doubting whether we can do this whole foster thing. I thought we could change her life, but now I am not so sure. It is all very frustrating and disappointing.
So everybody is back to school. I kept Jack out of school most of last week just so he could spend some time with Laura and Brandi, who was out of school on spring break also. Ihave no idea why Jack's spring break had to be in March when every body else had it in April. But it is very nice to be back to normal.
We had some major drama yesterday around here. Laura could not find her cell phone when she was packing up. She and I tore the house apart looking for the thing. I had a sneaking suspicion that Brandi had taken it, but I really did not want to think that. So I had to take a very upset Laura to the airport without her cell phone. She was literally in tears because of what her mother's reaction was going to be. Her mother is downright cruel and won't give it up until she has belittled Laura. So Laura was scared to death to get back to California and tell her mother she couldn't find her phone.
So after I saw Laura off, I went to the High School and picked Brandi up and confronted her about the phone. She looked right atme and said she did not have it. I went through her pockets, bag and everything looking for it. We get home and Jim has to call Laura's mother and tell her about the phone. We both know that Brandi took it and wanted her to fess up. So Jim is telling Laura's mother to get the texting activity today because he is pretty sure that somebody took the phone. Brandi tells me that she wants to tell me something in her room and sure enough she stole the phone and gave it away to a friend!!!!!! I do not think I have ever seen Jim so mad in all the years I have known him. I have no idea what she was thinking. We do not let her have a cell phone. She has no phone privileges and no computer privileges and she can't go anywhere except to school and church. I do not know how to punish her for this. She continues to lie to me saying it was an accident. But I know different, because all day yesterday she was turning the phone off and on and knew exactly what she was doing. She has yet to apologize for it. She stayed in her room most of the night last night.
I am truly at my wits end with her. I am having second thoughts about whether we can help her at all. Can we change 15 years of neglect and abuse and having no consequences in 3 months? I was letting her get on Myspace when she first got here. She promised she would not talk to anybody but her friends. Well I later found out that she had been giving our home phone number out to strange men and talking to them. She also had Jack's picture on her page and claiming him as her own child, along with a bunch of other lies. Which is so dangerous considering that Jim is a cop and has probably arrested some of these people she was talking to. We live in the threat of somebody finding out where he lives and coming here with revenge. I was so mad at her that I was shaking uncontrollably that night. That happened about a month ago. And now the cell phone theft. I am really doubting whether we can do this whole foster thing. I thought we could change her life, but now I am not so sure. It is all very frustrating and disappointing.
Monday, April 13, 2009
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