A Pretty Good Day...

We stayed home from church today because about half of us are coughing and blowing our noses. We decorated the Christmas tree, sang Christmas carols and drank hot chocolate. Last night we went to the Heritage Museum for a look at Christmas in the olden days. It was freezing and long but the kids really got a lot out of it. They felt sorry for the people who had to sleep on the ground!

But...before you start thinking we are the "Brady Bunch", this is what happened between those two fun times ... the 7 yr old choked the 5 yr old "till her voice changed"...the 8 yr old fell backwards holding the 4 year old up about 3 feet and the 8 and 5 yr olds tried to hang themselves upside down (by their feet) in the closet, with a scarf.

Now that is a pretty good day at the Marmon house!

Rare moment of Peace

It is after 8 a.m. My older 3 have been dropped at school and my younger 3 are still asleep! I hope this is not a bad sign!

The wind chill right now is 10 degrees! It will be warmer tomorrow but we are expecting sustained winds of 40 mph, gusts of 58 mph. I need to go shopping for a warm hat and some long johns...that will not happen today or tomorrow!

Albert, being the sweetest man in the world, bought me an electric blanket! He knew I would never spend the money. Now I realize that he bought it for himself as well...not to keep him warm but to warm up my feet!! No joke!!! Isn't he so sweet.

I hear signs of life! Have a great day.

Decisions

We have been asked to decide if we want to be the "legal risk placement" for our sibling group of 4. This means CPS will be seeking termination of parental rights and are looking for someone who might be interested in adopting all 4 if and when those rights are terminated. Obviously we want to follow God's plan and not our own. Just this week the oldest has been calling us Mom and Dad and has mentioned adoption.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

What a day.

Today I spent 4 hours at the TTUHSC (pediatric clinic @ Texas Tech)...3 appointments, 3 booster shots, 2 blood draws and 1 trip to the pharmacy later I drove home. No wonder I'm exhausted! Can you imagine a day like that and then coming home to a house full of emotionally needy girls, all trying to get your attention at once. Each child needs continuous affirmation and physical touch. I am reading a book about the treatment of severly neglected children like my youngest girl. The effect that severe neglect has on the developing brain, esp before the age of 1 is astounding! Begin every day with prayer!

Tuesday a.m. we had 1 1/2 inches of snow, today the temp was 35 with a 20 mph wind! It has been an exciting week. The kids and I are hoping the weather guy is right and we have a couple inches of snow on Friday morning.

Gotta go search for my long johns!!! Type at ya later!

Never Enough

These are a few things that we NEVER have enough of!!! Socks and chungles (that's what the girls call pony tail holders). I can't ever find these, I'm beginning to think they eat them!!!

The weather is cooler now so we wash hair only 3 days a week. That might sound awful but think about it...None of the girls can wash their hair very well so they all need help. I run them through the shower and help wash their hair, that one gets out and dries off, I dry their hair while the next one gets into the shower, and so on and so on. Basically, on those 3 days I am bathing 6 and drying everyone's hair because it is so cold now. That takes a good 2 hours in the bathroom, feeling like a drill sargent.

I told Albert that my full time job is babysitting, and I have several part time ones...laundry (at least 20 loads a week), cook (this crew can eat 1/2 of a restaurant size can of fruit in 2 meals) and janitor. Focus is required to not feel like you are drowning.

Please pray for the youngest girl, she obviously has been through some horrific things and she can test our patience like no other. Some days it is hard to like her. I remember days like that with my own kids!!

Giving Thanks

Wow, Thanksgiving is over. It was very different this year, for me at least. OK, I'll admit it...I am almost 40 years old and have always coasted in the holiday department. I mean family get togethers, holiday meals, etc. Being the baby and having a sister who is great at getting things done and planning ahead have enabled me to be this way for so long. And then came Thanksgiving 2009...

My first holiday meal all on my own, lunch for 10 by 11:30 on Thanksgiving day. I planned to only have ham since that's my favorite, until my son requested turkey and a wonderful CASA worker gave us one! Once Morgan got out of bed this morning she was a big help, not so much at 5:30 a.m. Every bit of help is appreciated.

The menue for my first Thanksgiving dinner...3 loaves of homade yeast bread and a double batch of homade cinnamon rolls (for breakfast), started on Wednesday morning. From there we had turkey, ham, 2 pumpkin pies, oreo pie, green bean casserole, baked potato casserole, gravy and Morgan's cherry suprise. This afternoon Dane and the girls cracked pecans and I made a peccan pie for them. Cooking for 8 people day in and day out has been great preparation for today. I'm thinking I could cater!

Now, as I sit here thinking about all the things I am thankful for...I would have to say family first. For parents who spent their lives showing me who God is and then have supported my family as Albert and I have attempted to follow God's will for our lives. For a sister whom I love dearly and her family. For Albert's and my kids, who we thought had tested us to the limit and yet given us so many wonderful memories of marshmallow fights, singing songs from the movie "Oh Brother" together and spending time playing all sorts of games.

Lunch was bitter sweet today as I looked at my kids and realized that as thankful as I am for my family, we are not theirs yet. The wounds are still fresh, the hope of going home is still there and the displaced feelings they have can be overwhelming at times. These are good kids, they are my kids, sent to us from God. Whether here for ten days or ten years.

1 year...

Yesterday was little Sydney Anne's first birthday. Although we have not been able to hold her since she was 3 months old, we still thank God for the lessons she taught us and how she blessed our lives.

What else are we missing?

Geese are amazing creatures! I have enjoyed watching hundreds of them fly overhead on their way south. This is something you don't see in East Texas. But evidently, most people here in Lubbock don'e see them either. It is like the girls are seeing them for the first time.

As I drove the girls to school this a.m. we were talking about the geese and I told them I would find a book about geese and we could make a book about them this weekend. The girls actually asked that instead of having "movie night" on Friday, could they make their books instead.

Then, as I dropped them off at school, I was made accutely aware of how my excitement is rubbing off on the girls when they got out of the van and immediately started going "Ahhhhhhhh" as they looked up at the sky. I giggled watching them watch the geese, I noticed that all the adults were looking up to see what the girls were looking at! I laughed all the way home.

There has to be a stronger word...

Exhausted, it sounds so lame!!! If you took that word and elevated it to the 1000th level, that would begin to be what I am. If anyone is still reading this, please pray for me.

By the way...just so we're clear...I HATE Chuckie E Cheese~~

My amazing man

I did not know it early Saturday morning, but I have caught the cold or whatever it was Albert had. In fact he said, you are breating really hard you need your inhaler. I am so tired and feel awful. We all went to church but it was all I could do to stay awake, I slept when the babies did and Al bert took the big kids to the park. We had sandwiches for supper, unusual, and then started baths. I bathed both babies, got them out and had 2 naked babies walking to the nursery. As I was diapering Boo, J wandered off down the hall toward Albert. Suddenly he pooped all over the floor! Albert grabbed him up and ran back to the tub. He cleaned him, I cleaned up themess and then the bathtub. Loads of fun, especially when your sick.

After all the baths, I came into the living room and my big ol teddy bear of a husband was rocking Boo, who wouldn't have anything to do with him 2 days ago, and singing her old hyms!

I love this man of mine~!

My New Ride

So, what do you think of it? This baby handles like a dream, and the babies are so amazed, they didn't fight with eachother. Saturday afternoon I took all the kids on a bike ride to the park, we rode about 3/4 to 1 mile. It was great, we got it before the second set arrived and I wasn't sure the two would ride well. I was so worn out when we got back, it was Great~!

First big outing

Well, I decided today was the day...a big trip into town, all 8 of us. I only have a few more days to turn in the kids Christmas lists so the plan was to go to Toys R Us. We had to move all 4 carseats to the big van, so Albert would get to go with us (He doesn't want to do that again.). After getting the seats situated...we started loading 2 by 2. Oldest first. Both 7 yr olds loaded, 4 & 5 yr old loaded. Heading to the car with both babies...STOP EVERYTHING...baby girl's pants are soaking wet! I have to take her back inside and change her clothes while everyone else waited in the van. Finally, we are loaded.

We all get out at Toys R Us (there was a car parked right infront of the store, blocking traffic, because they had a baby), we park half way out so no cars were around and put babies in stroller, made the girls hold hands and headed into the store. We spent 1 and 1/2 hours looking around. I was writing down everything the kids wanted (very specific) and the babies were hitting each other. Albert was pushing the stroller, trying to keep babies occupied and watching kids.

Finally, I am starving and the oldest has to eat soon, we leave for Ci Ci's pizza. This place is like a little piece of heaven on earth. Fed all 8 of us for around $35, but the best part...no clean up or dishes!!!!

I am officially exhausted! The rest of the day was busy, more on that later.

Grocery Shopping Secret

Listen up, I have made a discovery! The time to do your grocery shopping is 5 a.m. at Walmart!!! There is almost no one there and you can leave the kids in bed, at home with daddy. It is the most pleasant time I have ever had grocery shopping , and that takes up a lot of my time.

However, I have decided to check out a restaurant supply place here in town. The 8 of us can go through a restaurant size can of peaches in 3 meals! More because of how much Albert eats than anything, but normal recipes have to be trippled. Just cooking and cleaning up after myself, plus baths for all 6, seem to take all my time. We are still looking for help on Mon, Tue and Thurs. Please pray that God will send us several wonderful people.

Is 6 enough?

I haven't had time to post anything lately...we are now a household of 8 (6 kids). The new additions were just removed...that means a lot of running around, trying to get their pbysicals, dental checkups, etc. Busy, busy, busy.

Here is the count: 1 boy 18 mo old; 19 mo, 4 yr, 5 yr, 7 yr and next week 8 yr...all girls! Just close your eyes and think about that a minute. Things will settle down soon and the routine will help. KEEP PRAYING FOR US.

PS: Albert is sick!

God's Blessings

Are these not the cutest little boots? I can't keep socks or houseshoes on this kid but he will wear these rubber boots. I took this picture while he was sleeping in the highchair, only way to keep him still.

Those of you that know K , she didn't go home!!! Keep her in your prayers, there will be a monthly hearing. Just pray that God will put her where she needs to be, with us or not!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Time for one of my favorite activities!!! Picking the perfect pumpkin, and a few for the kids too! I'll post a pic when I get the porch decorated. I love fall and the girls loved picking out their pumpkins. We took lots of pictures and had lots of fun.

I thought this was a great idea. Let the kids get dressed up in their costumes for the hunt!

To top off the day, we went to the movie and watched Toy Story and Toy Story 2. The girls had a great time and it was a full day.

HAPPY AUTUMN EVERYONE!!!

Time out and homemade cinnamon rolls with the "Bad Girl"

Timeout here doesn't always look like it might in your home. This a.m. the middle girl was in trouble, trying to run over the other girls , all on bicycles, on her second day without training wheels. Now, I see the other two complaining and upset, I see S smiling, but in my heart I know that we have been here before with the other girls. They all do it, S is just the one who always gets caught, besides she is ADHD and an easy target for her sisters.

We did timeout. Albert and I ended up in timeout with her. We talked, then we ate fresh out of the oven, homemade cinnamon rolls! She got the first two. It makes me giggle to know that the other two just know they have gotten her into so much trouble, we are not letting her come back outside. Then Albert invites the others in for breakfast.

Later the two "perfect children," according to them anyway, inform Albert that S is the BAD one. So, instead of having a child you have loved, nurtured and taken are of for 5 years, we have a 5 yr old child that has been told, almost everyday of her life, that she is bad. Sometimes timeout if for speaking life into a child, instead of punishment.

Just a thought...

Determination

What does this picture say to you?

Because the weather has been 40 to 48 degrees here in the morning for the past three days...I have put socks on the baby. He doesn't leave them on unless I put shoes on him, typical I know. I laughed at him when I thought about putting these footed pajamas on him. "See how you like this, it just might drive you crazy because you won't be able to get them off." Oh, how I underestimated his determination!

Just had to share! Have a great day everybody!

The Escalator

Woke up this morning, the first day of fall, hearing rain and a temperature of 48 degrees! Obviously God remembered that fall is my favorite time of year and wanted to give me a hug! A little while ago I tried to sit outside and read, the temperature was up to 60 degrees with wind...I lasted about 15 minutes! I love it. It inspired me to pull out my fall decorations.

Today is the day to shop for winter clothes for all 4 kids. This a.m. I took the younger 2. J C Penney's children's section is up stairs so we headed to the escalator. The baby is in an umbrella stroller so I get onto the escalator while leaning him back, careful to keep him safe. I turn back to look at N...she refuses to get on! I try to coax her to step on as I get further and further away. She begins to cry and reaches for the rail but becomes hysterical as she realizes it is moving...so I finally admit defeat and tell her to stay right there, run around and head back down. Half way down I hear someone talking to her, asking her what is wrong and N tells her I am upstairs in the bathroom...I run around to the side heading up and a store employee is holding her taking her up. I get on the escalator and assure the lady that I am right here.

Long story short...who would have thought! What child has never seen an escalator!!! I felt so bad, I hugged her for 15 minutes and reassured her that she was ok. Well, another lesson learned.

Early Dismissal

Another early dismissal day...back to the castle park. These pictures only show a small portion of this park. It is divided into sections for young and older children. The castle, in this picture has this wire mesh over all of the windows and the baby loved climbing all the way to the top. Then I slid down the slide with him in my lap. This was no small task, considering the slide was enclosed and decended from the very top in a circular pattern! He loved it so we did it like 5 times.

The next picture is of the area for smaller children. The girls love running all over and swinging on the 2 swing sets. The baby thinks the wood chips are the coolest thing ever!

Later we went back to the house and did a little painting. I have a house full of amazing artists!

Prayers

I know ya'll remember K that we left in Huntington. I found out tonight that it looks like she might be going home. Please be in prayer for her, this is not good news and I just cannot wrap my mind around it. All of you that loved her so much...please keep her in your prayers, God does not want us to ever forget these kids, they will need our prayers from now on. Our responsibility is to NOT forget! So all of you who were touched in some way, by any of the children, please keep praying.

Thanks to all you prayer warriors!

Down Days

I have been feeling a little down lately. My allergies have been awful and I can't take allergy medicine because it puts me to sleep. I have some redness around my eyes and need to go to the doctor but don'e have the time. Anyway, just tired mainly.

Kids got out early yesterday so we went to the castle park. This is a cool park, kind of like the community park in Nacogdoches. 2 hours of running and climbing, bed time was easy last night!

Little man is still fussy. I'm giving him one more day and if he is not better we will head back to the doctor in the morning.

The kids have been talking about their Sunday School lesson all week! We are going to try Wednesday night tonight. I'm really impressed with the kids programs so far.

Crazy Hair Day

Crasy Hair Day...Showing off what I learned from my Huntington friends!!! The girls were a huge hit! The best in the school, that's my girls!

I took the 3 youngest to the clinic today. We had shots and one had an ear infection. We were there for over 2 hours...I'm exhausted. Maybe next week will be back to the routine. The trip turned out to be the easy part, the kids were GREAT on the way ho.me.

Yesterday was Albert's 41 birthday. The girls and I decorated the driveway with chalk and they couldn't wait for him to get home from work. The the kids tasted Cheese Cake and 2 of 4 were not impressed.

Monster Sticker

This is the reason we are having to spend so much money on bike tires and tube sealant. I have never seen anything like this. They stick in the tire like a nail.

Albert has become the neighborhood bike repairman. None of the other parents even spend time outside with the kids. It is interesting.

where a kid can be a kid

On Saturday we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese. We had a good time, esp the big kids...Albert, Dane and Brian. I thought you might enjoy this pic. Notice the intense concentration!

The boys left this morning. It was fun having "big kids" around. Pray for them over the next few days as they drive back to Houston.

We are planning to travel back to Lufkin this weekend. Leaving after work on Friday, coming back on Monday. Unless we run into a problem we will see ya'll this weekend!

We're so popular.

The older 2 started school today. They had a great day and are very excited about their teachers. The little ones hung out with me. We walked to the park and played in the sand (in a week or two we will have to begin hauling the sand back to the park!), the baby likes to use his head as a bulldozer!

After school our house was again the place to be for the under 12 set. Especially since I picked up a package of oreo cookies this afternoon. Some of these kids, probably most of them, have lived here for 2 or more years. Take a few moments and think about that...all that time away from family living with people who, until a month ago, were just hired to work a shift. Now they are actually family's homes but the others seem to still run like Residential Treatment Facility. It will be hard to do everyday, but I plan to be outside just talking and listening to these kids after school. Who knows where this will lead.

Kids, kids everywhere!

This evening Albert and I looked around and realized we had about 20 kids hanging around our back porch! All of the kids from the other houses, not really all of them, but many of the other kids were there wanting to talk to us and hang out. Almost like what I felt needed to happen in Moldova. Someone to just be there.

Cooking... let me just tell you who I am cooking for...Albert, 4 kids that eat like there is no tomorrow (the baby would continue to eat as long as you put food in front of him!), and we also have Dane and his friend staying with us. Now that's a lot of food!

Albert has really been a huge help. This is a group effort to be sure. I feel like I'm part of a tag team. I know why most homes only take kids five and above. When you have 4 or more that need help bathing, brushing teeth, etc. Lots of work. But this is what God has called us to be about. Pray that we will be able to keep up.

Day One

Day one was exciting, exhausting and quite an adventure. All 4 of the kids slept great, problem is I didn't because I kept getting up to check on them. We all got up around 7 and had oatmeal and cinnamon toast for breakfast. Once that was cleaned up and everyone had on play clothes, we walked about a block to the park and ran, climbed, played in the sand and hada great time. We walked home, put the baby down for a nap and the girls played outside on their bikes.

At noon we woke up the baby and headed to Chuck E Cheese for lunch, oh, we also had Dane and his friend with us (I think they had more fun that the little kids!). The girls kept saying they had never been there before but their dad said the pizza was nasty. They no longer believe that.

From there we all piled back in the van and headed to Walmart. Just let me say, it might be a while before I take all 4 of them by myself...We had to get tennis shoes for two of the girls, a booster for the oldest and we got sand toys to take to the park. We forgot, a new baby monitor. Ours has ceased working!

Once we made it home, the girls rode their bikes and the baby, who has just started to walk @ 16 months, he pushed a riding toy all over the yard. Finally we can in and ate, took baths, youngest to oldest, and went to bed. Oh, and let me say, the two youngest girls have the thickest hair I have EVER seen! The oldest has Very long thin hair. Bath time will have to start early for me to do their hair!

Wish I could include pics. These kids are beautiful and precious, they have stolen our hearts already. Goodnight! I have GOT to getsome sleep. Getting us all to Sunday school sounds like a hugh undertaking

I Love a Good Mess!

I don't think I have ever been so happy to see a mess in my house! Wow, these girls can talk, and talk, and talk! They are soooo happy to be all together again. One of the girls doesn't like anything that the others do. She is funny. One says something about cows, I hate cows, etc.

The baby was completely quiet until we picked up the oldest, then he livened up! We are very blessed and ready for a roller coaster ride.

Ready to go

We are leaving in about an hour to go pick up our 4 new children. At least 3 of them will be in car seats! I am very excited. I got everything on my list accomplished so I think we're ready. Pray for us!

The big day.

Tomorrow is the big day. One day left to grocery shop and a good cleaning for the house. I am finding the tile floors to be a lot of work. They are also a life saver. Someone dropped a case of cokes in the livingroom and at least one busted. That would have been quite a mess on carpet!

We appreciate your prayers and can't wait for tomorrow afternoon! Enjoy the pic of New Mexico.

friends are important, all of them

I'm not feeling well today and was going back to bed when I heard my friend crying on the front porch. We talked and I removed a few stickers from her coat. She stayed until her buddy came back by the house. Then she happily trotted away. She got me out of bed and feeling a little bit better...what are friends for?!

I think God made Sunflowers just for me! While in Moldova, God revealed to me how children who have been hurt, emotionally or physically, are like the sunflower. They respond in their own time and the change is dramatic. God showed me fields and fields of these beauties right here in Texas.

New Mexico Trip

Waiting for kids is frustrating. After yet another setback, so Albert and I decided to get out of town for the weekend. We headed to New Mexico and ended up in Taos. The beautiful sunsets, interesting places and amazing scenery were just what we needed.

On Friday we ate at an authentic dinner, we liked it so much we stopped on the way back and Albert ate a Buffalo Burger?! In and around Taos we visited the Rio Grande Gorge, Albert said it was gorge-ous! We decided not to eat at the Stray Cats dinner, and loved the 55 degree mornings.