Getting back to life

Ok I am back to the real world...such as it is.
This past week has been really stressful and crazy...1st of all I want to thank you all for your comments and prayers about my sister. It means so much to me that you all have been so kind with your words. THANK YOU!!
Saturday I got a call from the agency I work through for foster care and was asked to do respite...(babysit for another foster parent) just until Monday morning. Now I should know better....these things rarely are as simple as they sound in the beginning. I had 7 month old twins from Saturday afternoon until Wednesday morning. They were the most delightful little boys...but holy cow I was tired!!! For me it was bitter-sweet giving the boys back. During their stay with us there was some talk of them being placed here on a permenant basis. I think God knew what he was doing when he made the choice for me, and I had to give the kids back. I would have loved to have them but I would have spent my time in the shower and on the potty taking power naps just so I could keep up....lol
To add to our list of wackiness was my husbands shoulder surgery on Tuesday morning...which went well and he is on the mend very quickly, but he does have 30 days convalescent leave and I am pretty certain that by the end of that time I will be ready to strangle the man. I guess that is what marriage is all about though right?...LOL I had to arrange help with ALL of the kids. Thank goodness for my oldest....she was here to get all the brothers and sister off to school for me and my BFF Cindy took the twins Monday night. I could not have handled any of the last week without my family. The family that God has given me!!! I LOVE THEM ALL!
Now as I reassess life...I have decided that I need to get back to the simple things that make me smile. Like baking a loaf of bread and the kids drooling over the smell. Making fresh banana muffins for breakfast. Spending time playing kickball with the kids or taking them fishing. So I am going to do my very best to get back to basics and make everyday a day that the kids will remember fondly. I want the kids that come into my home to become adults with happy stories to tell their kids and I am the person that can make that happen. So from now on more pictures, more laughter and more simple pleasures.

ABC's of Me

It's early Sunday morning and I figured why not might be fun so here goes......thanks to Vicki at Frugal Mom

A. AGE: 39 the only reason I know this is I just had a birthday

B. BED SIZE: Queen

C. CHORE YOU HATE: Vacuuming....I have a special relationship with the vacuum

D. DOG'S NAME: Hutch the Husky

E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: A few minutes of quiet before all the kids get up

F. FAVORITE COLOR: Green

G. GOLD OR SILVER: Silver.

H. HEIGHT: 5'4"

I. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: I play the radio like a pro

J. JOB TITLE: Professional mom and all that is included

K. KIDS:  8...yes 8....2 mine, 2 his, and 4 foster...it's like a bag of skittles in our house

L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: cramped with 8 kids what more could you expect

M. MOM'S NAME: Stella

N. NICKNAME: Foster kids call me Ya-Ya, BFF's hubs calls me Red, everyone else just calls me CRAZY

O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: 2 c-sections

P. PET PEEVE: Poor speaking, you know like "I gots 3 toys"...Oh geez just typing that hurt

Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: It's my island

R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Righty

S. SIBLINGS: 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters

T. TIME YOU WAKE UP: Around 6ish

U. UNDERWEAR: nothing intersting thats for sure

V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: Lima beans

W. WAYS (REASONS) YOU ARE LATE: When I have appts and caseworkers show up just as I am walking out the door

X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: Most recently my head

Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: Egg Rolls...I think that might be on todays dinner menu...YUMMM

Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: The turtles