work weekend

Last weekend we all worked very hard at the house
trying to get it ready so we can move in.
We are just about there. All that's left is things like
putting up fence around the pool, hooking up the dishwasher,
clothes washer, dryer, and putting up shelving in some of the closets.

When they moved they left us this sectional, so Bubbas was

hard at work cleaning it up.

Some of us just cried because we weren't allowed to

get into everything.

We had a lot of trouble getting the all paper off the

walls in the little boys bedroom. When we tried to get it

off the drywall was coming off with it. So Shawn tore

the drywall off and re drywalled. So mom was priming it

so we could paint it.

Buster just enjoyed digging a hole.

Buc thought he was telling Duckie what to do.

Shawn worked on making me a platform to put my washer
and dryer on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying something new



Duckie and Bunny.
Yes, they are sitting on our dock overlooking our pond.
Yes, we are having a very bad algae problem right now.

When Tator went to respite last week I decided things really had to change around here. I decided I was really going to start focusing on the other kids and their needs for a change. I started making changes with the little kids with things like bedtime routines, discipline, etc. I also decided we needed to start family therapy to help repair a lot of what was broken with all of us.

I made an appointment immediately and I went in and met the therapist and told her everything about our family. I talked about each one of the kids and what my concerns were. We decided that she would see each of the kids individually to see how they were doing with things and go from there. Buc and Bunny went yesterday. Buc wasn't happy about it, Bunny was fine with it. She loves to talk, expecially about herself so she didn't have any problems at all.

They did really well. When they were done I went in and talked with her. She said some things that surprised me and some that didn't about them and how they felt. I'm really glad I made this decision to have them go. She is going to see them again before Tator comes home to help teach them some coping skills. Bubbas and Buster are going in a couple days to see her.

It has been a week since Tator went to respite. I talked with the respite provider today and she is doing very well. I knew she would, she always does. That would be the RAD. She's not trying to form relationships with this family. They are simply meeting her needs and that is all she wants.

I am still having a lot of feelings. I know I don't want to go back to living like we were before. I know I want my daughter to come home, eventually heal and feel like part of our family. I also want her to want to be here and I don't know if that is possible. I want everyone to feel safe and be able to relax. I guess right now only God knows how this will play out.

Last night before I went to bed I read this and it is all I have been able to think about since. God is the only one who has the power to heal her. Will he do it on this side of heaven?

Countertop is on!!!

Our countertop has been on for awhile now.
I just realized I forgot to publish these pictures.

Where do we go from here???????

So much has been going on around here I don't know where to start. So I'm just going to start with right now and go from there.

As said before Tator is not doing well. The only real reason that I can see for it right now is that she is with people (me expecally) she doesn't like all day long. She has chosen to turn into a very scary person to my littles, and a very mean person to the older kids. When I say "chosen" I truly mean she has made the decision to be this way. I totally get that her RAD and PTSD take over and she loses control, but there is also a part where she can stop and make a conscious decision as which way to go. I have seen it happen. For the most part she is choosing to be the person she is right now.

She went to camp a couple weeks ago and did fine. Had a great time and was the best kid in her group, as said by her counselor. She came home and picked up right where she left off.

Her behavior was mean, she intentionally hurt Bunny and Bubbas and intentionally scared Buster and Sissy. It was not the first time, she has done this many times before. It happened in the car, (a very big habit for her) 45 minutes from home, which left a 4 year old little boy to shake in fear for a very long ride home. Even though we pulled over twice and took all safety precautions, he was still left scared and shaking when we got all the way home. That is something that will play in my mind for a very long time. It has left me feeling scared and afraid to every put her in the car again. This has happened too many times.

Right now my head is still spinning so I'm not going into all the details, but after talking with her about this and her reasoning behind this behavior and many others, all she has to say is how bad she hates all of us and is mad because we won't give her another family. As if we can just give her away or that that will fix the hurt she is feeling inside. She doesn't believe in forever families or that she is here to stay. After 6.5 years and all the work I have put into her she says, and I quote "I'm the only one that can change and I'm not going to do it. No matter what you do I'm not going to change. I don't want to."

What do you do with that? Well, I'll tell you what I'm doing with it. I'm playing those words over and over in my head like a broken record because I can't seem to erase them from my mind. I'm not sleeping at night, because I'm trying to figure out what to do next. Does she really mean these words? Yea, I think she does. She has said them many times before. And her actions show them. She is very hurt and broken inside because of the sins of her birth mother. A mother that she holds onto everyday while punishing me for the hurt and lost she feels.

Tator is in respite right now and we are waiting to meet again with our mental health board to figure out what to do next. I don't want to bring her home until we have a safety plan in place. I don't think it's fair to the other kids to put them through this everyday, but I also don't know how long it will take to come up with a plan. I don't even know what that plan would be.

So right now as she's off at respite having the time of her life and being the best little girl she can be, I'm here picking up the pieces. I'm pouring so much love into my little ones love cups and helping them to coupe with what has happened to them over the years and helping them feel safe. I'm seeing little changes in them everyday.

Me, well I lay awake feeling so many feelings I don't want to list them all. I have so many thoughts in my head I don't know where to start. But most of all, I'm hurt and hurting for a little girl that has been soooooo hurt that she is too scared to ever let anyone love her again.

So what it all boils down to is, Where do we go from here????

Some June pictures