Potty Talk

So, all 4 of the older kids are obsessed with port-a-potties.  God's way of dealing with my OCD, I guess.  They point them out to each other every time they see them as we drive down the street and discuss which one is their favorite kind (how they have an opinion, I can't fathom, because I have never let them near one).  Today, when we where driving down the street there was a 18 wheeler hauling around 25 Honey Buckets. Daniel was to first to spot it and started in on them. Then John, then Mat, then Ash said "Man, I bet that truck is going to a house with more kids then ours.  Wouldn't it be awesome if we had that many potties at our house?"  They all agreed and I FINALLY understood their obsession with the stinky things.  Sometime I wish I didn't have to wait in line to pee, too.

Two bathrooms, 8 people, dirtiest kid bathes last!

Kate's 8

I think we might never get a reality show.  I noticed today that they have a new set of sextuplets on TLC.  I am guessing that Kate's 8 are losing their cuteness.  In 3 weeks the twins turn 2, and I am thinking that window is closing fast.  We do have the gay card, maybe Logo will pick us up. As long as it comes with a paycheck, a new house and a bigger ride I am all for it. 

I wonder what people would think about me and the way I parent.  My guess is that people down south would love the way I parent and the Yank's would think I am loud and too strict.

1+2+1-1+2+1+or-1 (aka how to grow a family) part 1

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage.  OR in our case: Hey we're in love, we can't get married, how to get a baby in a baby carriage?  Many people have asked me over the years why I chose foster/adoption. The easy answer: we have no seed.  The long answer:  Well, it is long and complicated and maybe you can find that answer as you read the blog.  Here is our journey in a nut shell.

1. Q: Adopt or Breed? A: Adopt (We have no seed.)

2. Q: Foster/Adopt, International, or Private? A: Foster/Adopt (We don't have to lie on the application and those kids are waiting for people to love them.)

3. Q: What agency to use? A: The one down the street that said we are welcome.

How the family took shape:  First I fell in love with my wife.  Six months later, I trapped her by  bringing home a puppy.  Six weeks later she got on board and brought home a kitten.  She went to law school; I worked as a nanny for nothing. We got married (in our church before God even though it's not legal).  We pretended to be grown ups and asked the adoption agency to find us a cute little baby.  Johnathan (then 14 months) +1 came home and we were 3.  He was 1 and as sweet as can be. When he was 3, we decided to do it again and we got Daniel (then 4) and Ashlyn (then 10 months) +2.  Then when Ash was 3 we decided to do it one LAST time and we got *Baby R*(then 4 months) +1.  Baby R, however,  was able to go back home -1 (foster to adopt means you foster first and adopt if needed).  So then we said what the heck and took in twins, Hazel and Frankie (then newborns) +2.  Then we had 5.  Then we got a call asking if we could take a biological sibling of kid(s) we already had in the home--we said of course, and then there was 6 with Matilda (then 4) +1.  Our kids are now all adopted (that's forever) except 1 (Matilda, who will be soon) and they are:

Daniel (10); Johnathan (9); Ashlyn (6); Matilda (6); Hazel and Frankie (soon to be 2).

Husband or Wife: Someone has to Bring Home the Bacon

I guess for my first blog I will introduce you to the kids and how they came to be ours.

Or maybe I should start with a story from my past. Yes--let's start there. When I was a little girl I played house all day long.  When I was about 5 years old, I was playing house when my mother walked in and noticed that I had 8 babies. "My goodness, Anne," she said, "how do you suppose you are going to take care of all those babies?"  "I will stay at home with them and my wife will work," I replied.  My mother walked out of the room and came back in and explained to me that I was a girl and that I would not have a wife--I would have a husband. The next day I was playing house. My mother walked in and I was with all 8 of my children in a sheet tent. My husband was dead, leaving me with our 8 adopted children, and hell if I was going to remarry if it meant I had to have another husband.

Thank goodness I followed my heart and found me a good wife!