When Grown Men Think They Are 18 Again

This is what happens when men think they are boys. The shirt was being worn by Paul's buddy Steve, it says 'I do all my own stunts'. Steve gave it to Paul I guess he thought Paul deserved it more. 30 year old men, Mountain bikes, and 8 foot jumps just don't mix well.

After two surgeries; putting in equipment and then taking it all back out. His shoulder still gives him trouble. I wonder how uncomfortable it will be when he has to return to Iraq and wear the heavy gear 24/7. In fact this accident happened 3 weeks prior to his unit heading for Iraq. All his gear had already left, but Paul got left behind. I believe all things happen for a reason. All that next year life was difficult for one reason or another - and I'm so very grateful that my Father in Heaven knew that we would need him home with us.

We didn't let him off the hook. Kaylee had planned on a camping trip for her B-Day. One week after the accident.

And we went.

We went with the Zaucha family. They helped us haul up a recliner for Paul, we set up tents and our camp and had a great weekend. Paul was still on a lot of pain medicine I'm not sure if he remembers the camp out. But we do, and it was a lot of fun.

Fostering

Paul and I are foster parents, it's something we enjoy being a part of. I was telling Paul today - What else could I be doing that doesn't take me away from from spending time with my own family. It's something I already do on a daily basis - take care of kids. I can count it as community service. And as a bonus I get reimbursed for doing what I love. Is there a more perfect situation?

Texas is pretty sticky on the number of kids in each home, it's probably a good thing. When it involves kids and their needs I have a hard time saying no. In Hawaii on top of my own 4 I fostered 5 kids at a time - an instant family of 11. They are good kids, and the only difference between 5 and 10 is that you look before you turn around. There is bound to one or two right under your feet. - It's a good thing I have some coordination.

I find the babies are easier though. More labor type work - cause they can't do things on their own, but in the long run it breaks my heart to try to answer questions that the older kids have. The why questions. Why did this happen? Why don't I get to go home? Or to try and tell a child why another child in your home is going home, but they have to stay a little longer. And they always want a date. Which day do I get to see my mom, or they come home from a visit and tell you: My mom is better and I get to go home tomorrow, and tomorrow never comes.

No it's easier to hold and cuddle the babies. Send them on visits with their parents; get them back a few hours later to hold and cuddle some more. No serious talks about life.

To all the Birth Parents out there: your children love you for who you are - don't ever give up hope, keep trying to make your family whole. It's worth the effort.

Camp Bluebonnet 2008

In June of 2008 Brooklyn attended her first Diabetes camp. Emma went with her since siblings could attend. Kaylee and Alyssa went to Church girls camp the week prior, so in two weeks time all 4 got to go to camp.
Brooklyn learned that there are hundreds of other kids who have diabetes too. And that she has to be careful when she's out running around a lot. She was on the low end for most of the week, so she had to eat more to keep her Blood Sugar up.

Both Emma and Brooklyn had lots of fun!

A brief History

Paul and I married in 1993, we lived in Idaho for a few years and had our oldest 2 girls there. Paul joined the Army and early in the following year we found ourselves in Heidelberg, Germany. Emma and Brooklyn came along during the 3 years we spent there. I can't believe I still toured as much as I did since I spent 16 months prego.

Hawaii was next, we took the PRIDE classes here for the first time and became foster parents. Our Hawaii stay was brief; however we saw and explored to our hearts content. Brooklyn our youngest was diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes when she was 2 1/2 here. A life changing event for us, but we found comfort in working with JDRF. It gave us an outlet for the stress of constantly monitoring her diet and insulin. Brooklyn was on shots at this time and in the first year she dropped so low that she went into seizures twice.

Texas was next. I did not like Texas in the beginning. I knew the Army had cut our Hawaii tour short to send us to Texas so that they could deploy my hubby. Although we did put Brooklyn on the pump right after we got here, that helped lessen the burden for me, especially since Paul would be gone. Paul moved us home to Idaho just before he deployed. When we thought he'd be coming home soon I packed up my family and we moved back to Texas to wait for his return. His tour got extended. And then extended again. And yet again. He was to return home at Thanksgiving and ultimately he came home the last week of February. I was not very happy - so we put in to be moved to Washington.

Not such a good idea - Washington was closer to home (as close as we could get and still stay in the Army). But the weather got to me, the dreary rain and I didn't get along so well. So I thought long and hard about moving my family yet again. I decided that Texas wasn't so bad at least it would be sunny most of the time. Before we left though Brooklyn was diagnosed with Celiac. So not only do we watch her diet for too much sugar and carbs, she now can not have anything with Gluten in it. Bread and pasta are no longer staples in her diet, and the rest of us have lessened our dependence on wheat and flour also. It's easier to just fix one meal everyone can eat, not two.

So here we are, in Texas again. Paul has now been in the military for 11 years and if we go for the retirement we have 9 years left. I say ' IF ' because deployments put a big damper in the whole idea of staying in. We have gone through the PRIDE training again to be foster parents. I enjoy being a mom and I'm at home anyway with my own kids. It's really not a big deal to take care of a few more.