Quick Month!

Last post: April 10th.
Today: May 10th.
We're still here.
This is what we've been doing:

--- Whistle played and the family watched practices and soccer games. (More were rescheduled because of rain than were actually played.)

--- I made two home visits and am writing the home-study for a prospective adoptive family. (Drove 480 miles)

--- Joe got his cast off in the big city. He's walking pretty well. (Drove 280 miles)

--- Hugger celebrated his 23rd birthday at home, at work, at Ben's, at church, and any place else he could think of.

--- Teenager and Hugger attended a surprise 30th birthday party for big brother Ben. George had a birthday the same week, but missed all the celebrations because he was working out of state. Poor George.

--- Father preached at a 3 day church meeting at another church, and we enjoyed visiting with the pastor's family; old friends we hadn't seen in a long time (Drove 250 miles)

--- 4 speech/feeding therapy appointments for Whistle (Drove 125 miles)

--- 1 family visit for Joe and Andy; sibling visits, and phone calls, too. (Drove 100 miles)

--- 3 counseling appointments

--- 3 feeding team appointments for Whistle in bigger city (Drove 425 miles)

--- 4 piano lessons for Teenager, 1 rehearsal, 1 recital

--- 8 or 10 evenings for Teenager working as a companion to senior citizen friend

--- Hosted 3 day church meeting at our home church, with guests at home and serving meals at church; 3 regular Sunday services and 4 Bible studies.

--- Teenager volunteered at the food pantry, and helped a friend's mother with 2 catering events. The same friend spent the night once, and accompanied us to bigger city twice.

--- I attended training on social services agency policies and procedures.

--- Whistle invited big sister Sarah and nieces C. and E. to school for lunch on "Special Friends Day" (also known as Grandparents Day, for those who have grandparents close enough to attend)

--- I'm helping to prepare Foster Care Month celebration in front of the court house later in the month.

--- Teenager finished her school work a week early, took this week off, and will return next week for field trips, awards night, and graduation of the seniors.

--- I attended the annual planning meeting for Hugger with the agency who sponsors his program.

--- And the pre-IEP meeting for Whistle.

--- I attended Muffins with Mom with C. at her elementary school (Grandmas are invited, too)

--- 2 occupational therapy visits for Whistle (2 canceled because of conflicts)

--- Teenager celebrated her 16th birthday.

--- Andy got his cast off, too. He's not walking yet, but last night began standing on his foot, at least. He also got special sandals that hook to a brace for sleeping (Drove 280 miles)

--- Attended funeral for close family friend. She was a 38 year old mother of 8 children, who valiantly fought cancer. (Drove 1400 miles)

--- Home visits by caseworkers, hundreds of emails, phone calls, etc.

--- Whistle performed in Spring Concert with songs about the ocean.

--- Father went to work every day, and worked on the new garage and did spring yard work when he was home and not busy with parenting (sometimes known as "kid duties"). (Drove 32 miles every day, and then some)

--- Joe fell against a metal bench at the soccer game this morning, popped the skin on his forehead, and we made a quick trip to the doctor. No stitches, just steri-strips. He got a big yellow band-aid over the whole thing, because Band-Aids are what's important when you're 3 years old.

--- We missed the Kindergarten Reading/Writing Celebration, because some days we just can't get it all together, and we forgot to go.

--- And we skipped the school carnival, because sometimes it's just better to be at home for a change.

That's why I haven't been blogging.

And if the price of gas is still going up because demand is down, it obviously isn't our fault. We're buying more than our share.