I'll admit it, I was wrong...

The meeting wasn't what I thought it was going to be. When the secretary called to set up the meeting, she said it was "a meeting about JJ"....and, his meeting was supposed to be yesterday, so I assumed it was "HIS MEETING". I was wrong. It was just a general meeting with us and other people that sponsor kids at the home. It was a good meeting, but not the one I'd hoped for. I learned something shocking at the meeting....there are 125 kids at the home (some in group homes, some at the actual campus). Of those kids, only 12 kids have sponsors. And, Keith and I sponsor 2 of them. That's very sad, isn't it? HOWEVER, at the end of the meeting the facilitator told us that he had a message for us. He said that we were supposed to call the person in charge of the fostering today. He said he didn't know exactly what it was about, but he thought it was good. Now, I'm just waiting for a decent time so I can call.

After the meeting we went to see JJ and Robert. JJ said his caseworker told him yesterday that within weeks he'll be living here. JJ said to him, "you mean a month?" and he said, "no, more like two weeks."

It seems like things are finally moving in the right direction. I'm so excited I could practically burst. And, you should have seen JJ yesterday. He couldn't take the smile off his face.

Just a general update

The rain has finally stopped! It rained for five or six straight days here, and there's flooding everywhere. Luckily, I don't live right near any rivers, creeks or lakes, but within ten miles of me people were evacuated and houses and businesses are ruined. The Delaware still hasn't crested, but it's more than 13' over flood stage.
Keith and I were invited to attend JJ's meeting today at the home. I'm a little nervous, but mostly I'm excited. I expect it to go well. Hopefully we'll leave there with a date when he can come and live with us. Of course, Keith's still walking saying, "who's the man?" because of his phone call with the supervisor last week.
Braden wants to go spend the day today with the tea lady...lord knows why. So, while he's gone, I'm going to mop my kitchen floor and clean his room really well. He's doing pretty well with his cast and except for the complaints of it itching him, and the fact that he can't turn a doorknob, you wouldn't know he had it.
I still need to get a new ceiling light for the kitchen, and get my phone line moved for the computer. Oh yeah, and there's a cabinet that needs to get hung. I told Keith I want it all done by this weekend. We'll see if it happens.
We're talked about having a little cookout/party on Monday for the 4th. So far, we've just talked about it. I reminded Keith that we don't have table tops on either of our outside tables, and that might make outdoor entertaining a little tough. He's such a procrastinator. Those tops have been broken since last fall. WTF?
That's about it for me. Nothing more to report.

What a nice weekend I (we) had. Even though the weather was horrible, we had a good time.
On Saturday, we went to Keith's company picnic. Robert went with us, and he and Braden had a great time. Then we went to a graduation party where there were lots of friends and lots of good food. When I was taking Robert back on Saturday, he said to me, "I'm coming again tomorrow?", while nodding his head yes. Well, I couldn't possibly say no.


Sunday was Keith's birthday. We all slept in until 10:00. Keith went to pick up Robert and made a Dunkin Donuts run. We hung out the rest of the morning, then went to this indoor bowling alley/laser tag/arcade place. When we came home we had to get ready for Braden's boy scout picnic. The leaders of his troup can make something that's normally fun torturous. It drug on. So, we used the excuse that we had to take Robert home to leave. We came home and played some board games then took Robert back around 10:00.
Braden's doing pretty well with his cast...in fact at the graduation party he was playing volleyball with a bunch of older kids and won the game for them by using the cast as a great server. The kids all high fived him and messed his hair up, he was in his glory. It does itch him a lot...but he's been using a chop stick to take care of that.
It's amazing, now that I'm not so worried about JJ (and Robert) how much more I'm enjoying the everyday things. Even the four straight days of rain (with three more expected) isn't so bad.

It was sooo good to see JJ yesterday. He went swimming for a bit with Keith and Braden, then we ate and left for the game. He can't go to Keith's company picnic on Saturday, because he already planned a visit home to see his aunt, but they said Robert can come with us, and JJ can come up and spend next weekend here. He was beaming! We were beaming!

While we were at the game, Braden saw one of my ex-students. Whenever he runs into Braden, he starts rough-housing with Braden, which Braden loves. Throwing him in the air, and stuff. Anyway...this kid was throwing Braden in the air, and then missed him coming down and Braden fell and landed wrong on his arm. We had to leave the game at half-time to take Braden to the emergency room. Luckily there were other people from the Home at the game, so we arranged for JJ to ride home with one of them. We went to the hospital, and sure enough, both of the bones in his forearm are broken. I have to take him to the orthopedic guy this afternoon for a cast. He wants a hot pink one.

Now, this is really putting a crimp in my book-group plans. I was planning on spending all day baking/cooking and straightening up. Now I have to drive an hour to the doctors, who knows how long it will take once we're there, and then an hour back. I hope the book group girls don't mind frozen appetizers.

I'll post a picture of Braden and his cast later. Oh, and he's really eating up all the extra attention. "Mom, can you get me this?", "Mom, can you do this for me?" Sadly, it's his right arm, and he's right handed. He just better not ask me to wipe his ass!

Oh my God!

As I'm typing this, my hands are shaking...and, for once, it's because I'm very happy. We were supposed to take JJ with us to Keith's company picnic on Saturday, but due to the "no contact" thing, we couldn't. We already paid for an extra ticket, so he called the supervisor at the home to see if the other boy that came here would be able to go. He told her that JJ was obviously our first choice, but that it would be a shame for the ticket to go to waste, so we'd take Robert if we could. She said that she'd call the Acopian center and see how they were behaving, and maybe one of them could go with us. She actually said one of them! She promised to call back, but we waited all day yesterday, and she didn't call back.

Meanwhile, there's an allstar football game tonight at a local field, and JJ's brother is playing, so we were going to go. Keith called the supervisor back because we didn't hear from her, and he reminded her of the game, and said it would be nice if someone from the home would take JJ to see his brother play. She suggested that we take him! She also said that JJ can go with us on Saturday, and that they're having a meeting next Thursday, and he might be getting out of the Acopian. If he does, she said she'll get the ball rolling on the fostering. Keith said there was more to tell, but he couldn't really talk from work, and he'd tell me later.

I'm so freaking happy I could burst. Braden was jumping up and down screaming out of excitement...and that's exactly what I felt like doing!

Keeping myself busy

 
 
 

This is what I've been doing with all my pent up energy. I moved every piece of furniture in my downstairs. I still want to do what I talked about before, making my kitchen into a family room, but this is what I've been able to do without spending any money. I have to ease Keith into the spending money part. I've made a dining room in part of my family room. Moved all my family room furniture into the front (formerly wasted by that damn piano which is now in my driveway)part of the room. I also got a small kitchen table out of the basement to use in the kitchen for now, and I moved the computer in the kitchen...the computer desk and the kitchen table match. Now, I have to get a different ceiling light for the kitchen, so I can move the table into a corner. I also want to see if I can change the chandeler (?) into one that doesn't have to be direct wired so I can hang it above the dining table now. I also have to get a screen to put behind my tv to hide all the stupid surround sound and satellite wires.
I like the way it is set up now, without so much wasted space in the family room. And, Blu, my kitchen isn't 625 sq feet, it's about 250 sq feet. That's not very big. 

Braden went to an overnight birthday party at Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark in the Poconos. He had a great time, and now keeps bugging that, "We really have to go there, mom."

Keith is being a pain in the neck about my plans for moving things around. The goddam piano is still where it was. Pretty soon, I'm going to go to a truck stop, dressed like a prostitute, and lure about 6 horny truck drivers here, only to have them move the piano. I have book group here next Friday, and I'd like it done by then.

I bought spray paint and today I'm going to repaint my patio furniture. It's a purple color. We'll see how that turns out. I'll post a picture when I'm finished.

I called the home yesterday, because my "30 days of no contact" was up. I talked to the supervisor at the Acopian where JJ is, and she said she'd check and call me back. She called me back and said, "I just checked with JJ's caseworker, and he said he already told you this, but you're not allowed any contact with JJ until he's out of the Acopian." FIrst of all, I left two messages for the caseworker, and he never called me back, so he never told me this. I asked how long he'd be there, and she said she didn't know. I asked if I could just talk to him on the phone, and she said no. Then, through my tears, I asked how Robert (the other boy we had over) was doing, and she said, "he's a mess." But, that's all she would say. I know it's time to write a letter to the editor, or contact someone else, but I'm afraid to do that without talking to JJ first. You have no idea, but this place is liable to get pissed if I do that, and they'll ship him out of there without blinking an eye. I don't even know if they've told him we're still not allowed to contact him, or if he thinks we just don't care anymore. I can't stop worrying about him. Keith and I made up this plan yesterday to go down there, and we'd each get to beat up the people we like the least. It made me feel good for five minutes.

I don't even know what to call this post...

Today I got a phone call from The Home, saying that due to JJ's deteriorating behaviors, he will not be available for fostering for quite some time. He hasn't done anything major, just a lot of little things to keep getting into trouble. We're still not allowed to have contact with him. I'm very concerned about him...he seems to be caught in this cycle now, and I don't know how to help him break it. Even if I did, I wouldn't be able to share it with him, would I? I'm miserable. I know that if we got him out of there, 80% of his problems would disappear.
But, the guy that called me said that Keith and I are wonderful people (blah blah blah) who are 90% through the fostering program, and would we consider fostering another child? He said he has a list of kids available for fostering right away. My first reaction, to myself, was "No way! We want JJ or no one." But, the more I thought about it, the more I thought about it. I'm sure we could form a bond with another kid, the way we did with JJ - not exactly the same, but a bond of some sort. I keep thinking of all those kids there in that miserable place and I think, "Of course I'll take one." Then I think of what it would do to JJ. Don't you think it would crush him? Plus, when JJ finally gets his shit together (please be soon, please be soon), that means that everyone would have to get along, and two kids would have to share a bedroom. I think I'd feel guilty if I did it, and I'd feel guilty if I didn't. What a quagmire. In my mind, I can just imagine the supervisor I keep pestering at the home about JJ saying to the foster guy, "Find her another goddam kid!" I told the guy that I'd have to discuss it with my husband and I'd get back to him. I did tell him that since I'm home all summer, and we have a pool and two acres of land with lots of things to do, I'd be more than happy to host some of the kids here this summer for visits. I told him if there are kids that don't ever get to go on home visits, or that they feel deserve to go off campus for a treat, I would welcome them here. I thought that was a good compromise.

I'm blushing

Last night, Braden had two friends sleep over. Keith and I went to bed about 10:30, leaving the boys, a movie and an air mattress on the living room floor. I finally gave in to Keith's constant begging, and we had sex. A very short while later, Braden came up and knocked on the door. "Can I come in?" he asked. He came in, kissed us both goodnight, then on his way out the door said, "I hope you know we could hear you. We know what you were doing. We heard the bed squeaking down there." I said that I was just getting a back rub, but I don't think he bought it. I'm dreading them waking up this morning!

School's out for summer!

No more pencils, no more books, no more student's quick left hooks! Well, it's over. Yesterday was my last day of work for the summer, and Braden's last day too. He had his annual "last day of school swim party". There were about 35 kids here and they mostly behaved themselves. I broke up a game of Spin the Bottle in the driveway, and had to give the evil eye to one "couple" that were hanging all over eachother. Other than that, and the rain, the day was a success!

JJ's 30 days isn't up until next Thursday. I wrote an overly polite letter to a supervisor at the home asking to have a meeting with Keith and I and anyone on their end that could answer some questions regarding his fostering. Hopefully I'll get a call early next week. The other boy is allowed to come for a visit this weekend, though. His mom is supposed to come and visit him on Saturday, but she probably won't. She often sets up these visits, then doesn't show up. Isn't he a
cutie? How could you not see him any chance you had?

Renee, in her never-ending quest to drive me out of my mind, has decided that perhaps a career in the nursing field. I swear, if I live long enough to see her settled and happy it will be a miracle. Here she is with my big-boobed bitchy sister.

I'm excited to start my kitchen re-design, but I have to do some things in the family room first. Including getting rid of the 2000 pound piano. Keith doesn't know it yet, but he has a very busy weekend ahead of him.

 

Danger! Danger!

Every once in a while it happens. This urge strikes me. I don't know what it is, but it happens and I have no control over it. I'm never quite happy with the way my furniture is arranged. I always think another way would be better....therefore, I'm constantly changing things around. An end table here, a chair there, or sometimes, all the furniture in any given room. Living room, bedroom, patio, whatever - I just have to move it!

But, every so often I get crazy! Not only do I hate the way everything is arranged, I hate everything I have. That time is now. Keith hates when it's that time. The urge is striking, and here's what I want to do about it.



As you can see by the above picture, my kitchen is sort of divided in two sections. One where the appliances/cabinets and island are, and the other where the table and hutch is. Well, I want to change all that....tell me what you think of my idea.
I want to make my island about 12" deeper (ah, if only Bert were here), so that I can fit 4 stools around it. Then, I want to take my table and hutch and move them to part of my big family room (which has more than enough room to hold them). That would leave the wood-floored-section of my kitchen empty. What I want to do is make it into a little sitting room. I want to get some old, second-hand, comfy chairs or maybe a loveseat and put a tv in there and have it as sort of a gathering spot. For some reason, I'm really into the idea of regular, upholstered furniture in the kitchen. Not only would this look good, in my humble opinion, it would also be practical.

If Braden has a friend over, or JJ's here and they're watching a movie in the family room, Keith and I could sit in there and watch TV without being banished to the bedroom. And, when my family all comes over for holidays and whatnot, they could sit comfortably in there and I can still be part of the conversation while I'm busy in the kitchen.

So tell me, does it sound good?
Oh, and by the way, Hi Susan if you're reading this.