Updates of the kiddos

Two of my girls with their birthmom and auntie. While I'm not thrilled at the occasion that brought us together for the day (funeral), I am very heart-comforted that we've been able to maintain the kind of relationship with the birthmom that has allowed me to have no qualms about dropping everything and driving the girls to another city to participate with their family in important events, to give the girls the benefit of knowing ALL of their family/families, and have us work together for their well-being.

I've been asked by many to update about ALL the kids, to say where everyone is, what they're doing, etc. Well, that could take ages...lol - but I figure a brief bullet-point update is in fair enough. So here ya go - the super short version:

• Heather - preparing to move up to Phoenix with her clan and "new man". Can't wait to have her closer!
• Erica - living in Winslow; Wilson working at hospital there. Recent scare about her bilirubin level rising...waiting to hear more news!
• Angelique and the girls - live about 20min from us, so we get to see them often, but not often enough!
• Caroline - living at home since November when she had more health problems, following from her accident last fall
• Vito - just transferred schools, moving up to Flagstaff to attend the university there
• Bethany - recently moved into another apartment, still working at Del Taco, and has a new boyfriend that I haven't met yet but she seems to like
• Kate - started a new job working long shifts in a group home, planning a summer wedding, and baby Omar (aka "Junior") walks, plays and loves his grandma...:)
• Mari - moved from UT back to AZ. Says she wants to finish high school still, lives in Elena's EXACT old apartment from a year or so ago (weirdish - it's a GIANT complex).
• Ryan - still at ASU, found another part/time job, just finished up a show (Best Little Whorehouse in TX) - I'm waiting to hear what the next one will be
• Max - living in Tucson, with my best friends' family back in our old house! He's able to volunteer at the school where he was frequently kicked out of when we lived there - and I think that is fabulous for a "full circle" thing - for him to go from being the "bad kid" to the Army man who shows up to help them learn.
• Elena - restricted contact now. Long story. But she did text me some BEAUTIFUL pics of the baby when she saw her last. And I called her for her birthday #19 this month - it was good to hear her voice and know she's at least alive and still Elena.
• Helen - now Haylen. She lives, works 2-3 jobs, and goes to college full time. Recently bought her first car. She does it ALL, wearing herself thinnnn, but I'm SO proud of her determination and willingness to do what she needs for all she wants. She's been reaching out more and more and it makes my heart happy - and she's SO funny.
• Abigail - living at home, going to college to major in special education - I wouldn't have guessed that for her, but she's really excited about it lately and throwing herself into it. If/when she finishes, I think she'll be pretty good at it. Was engaged; now she's not.
• Steven - out of home. I have personal emotional issues mixed with the others/physical/tangible issues, so I'll keep it as short as that with more to come later?
• Rebecca - transferred from the performing arts school to local public high school, jumped right in to the arts areas and her first show is coming up this weekend (she is understudy for the lead and also has the show's only solo).
• Angelica - in our last school, she was the school bully, even assaulting teacher, aides, bus drivers. She had an IEP for ED/behavior problems and NOT even for being MMR. Here, she is a DIFFERENT kid - smiley, fun, eager to please. They can't even imagine that she'd be a bully. Go figure! :-) For whatever reason the change, we are surely not complaining!
• Megan just turned 16 - transferred from homeschool into public school last month. Mixed results, but she still seems excited.
• Shawn - didn't cut it in the family placement we had hoped would work out. His previous foster mom/treatment lady has agreed to keep him in her home for temp/long term - she is so good with him. We are still blessed.
• Nicole - smart aleck, honor roll, principal's list, working on college scholarship apps already - she's in 8th grade.
• Nikki - just turned 14, also in 8th grade - I'm shocked at how fast she turned from girl to young lady! Seemed more fast than the others! She's doing ok at this school; needs a lot of reminders that other 8th grade mainstreamed girls don't like to be touched, stroked and hugged, esp after they ask you to stop. (She's always had issues with touch, boundaries, etc. Not in a sexual way - just no concept of personal space whatsoever).
• Sarah - homeschool to public school - after 4 weeks, we are back to rage fits and ick behaviors. Good thing CPS had this great idea that she needed public school; of course, I wouldn't know my own child and worried about her anxiety disorder coming back. She still wants to stay in school tho - so just pray for all of us.
• Vonetta - easy-peasy, lemon sqeezy. Easy going, eager to please, funnnnnny. She's the family nephew/niece babysitter - they allll love her; and we all love that they love her, esp when we are ready for our holding turn to be over! lol
• Ashley - finalllly in a fabulous school who recognizes that there are serious concerns...more testing is being done - and I hope we caught it while she is still such an eager learner!
• Allie - loving school, ultra social, very smart. About to turn 9! In the school talent show this week, dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller. :_
• Larry - umm....well, he's STILL Larry in every way!! So active, so curious, so funny, so crazy-making. He will be EIGHT years old next week...EIGHT!!!!