BellaOnline Forums Family Adoption Grandparents adopting grandchildren

Hi Connie! I'm so happy your counts are good and your husband is feeling good as well!


Congrats on your job--it sounds like you love it--and are so smart to stay out of office politics.

Speaking of your job, one of the editors here, Helen (Doll Making editor) was looking for some craft ideas for kids in her preschool class--up to 15 months old). She just posted on the Preschool education site, and I thought that was the age range for some of the kids you are with.

If you have any craft ideas, would you mind posting them over there (or you can post here and I'll copy and paste it over on the forum).

Thank you so much!

How is everyone else in your family doing? How is your Mom feeling?

Oh, and how did the craft show go?

Well, I know that I am very late at posting photos. I have been so sick and worked so many hours that I don't even have a life anymore!

Well, to update everyone on me. I am home now with the stomach flu. One of the babies I take care of had it and 4 of us have been sick with it so far. Before that I had laryngitus, tonsilitus, both ears had ear infections and a sinus infection. They only let me have 1 day off work for that. I had gone to the urgent care on Sunday. Seems like as soon as I get over something I get something else. I have been working 7:30-5 every day. I am supposed to get Wednesdays off but that hasn't happened so far. My husband and I have been having problems at home. I decided to quit my job and have given my two weeks notice. I will miss the kids so much, but there is so many sad stories that will break your heart. I am an emotional mess most of the time and so tired and sick too. The people I work with are mostly pretty immune to alot of the sad stuff that goes on with the children. One day a boy asked me if my husband ever punched me in the face. I guess his parents are having domestic violence issues. Everyone was like "yeah, his parents are at each other's throats most of the time". My older daughter is having problems finding someone to watch my grandaughter Tiffany. The lady she is using now makes her play outside after school until she gets picked up around 7:30 and I was unhappy about that so she is going to start staying with me. The lady's girls are rude to my grandaughter, tell her she is stupid or to quit bugging them all the time. Even my daughter told me yes, this is how they treat her. I have been picking her up after I get off work, but I don't get home until almost 6 some days. Anyway...enough for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Connie

Connie, how are you feeling?

I'm so sorry about your granddaughter, but happy she can stay with you!

That is absolutely heartbreaking about some of the stories you encountered. It doesn't sound like from your post there's a whole lot of intervention or help going on.

I'm happy for you that you get to spend quality time with your granddaughter--I bet she is on cloud 9!!

Please let us know how you're doing!

Hey Brandii, I am enjoying taking care of my grandaughter. I took my daughter & grandaughter to the zoo last week. It was my daughter's day off and I had to go to Oklahoma City to take my hubby's dentures in. You would never realize how much trouble dentures are! There was a crack in the top plate. So while we were waiting on the dentures we spent the morning at the zoo and spent the afternoon shopping.

I have been busy doing little projects around the house. Seems like there is so much little stuff to do. I finally got my stairs sanded and stained so the upstairs is all done. It looks really nice. Next week I am going to paint the kitchen. It has needed painting for a while.

Saturday I am going to a craft show. Hopefully I won't expire in the heat Hubby says it is supposed to be in the triple digits. I went to this show last year and did very well.

Mid month my daughter from Texas is coming for a visit. It will be nice to have all my kids together. We are going to have family photos made. I am going to go visit them in August. I am going to fly to San Antonio and we are going to go to a bead market there and then go to where they live. I am going to stay for 10 days. I am excited about going.



Tiffy on the Tram at the zoo





Me feeding the Lorikeets

Got wrapped up in posting photos and didn't get finished talking. We have been able to have Mary Jayne any time we want and seems like they are all doing well. We had both Mary Jayne & Tiff on Monday and the girls always have a good time together.

Hubby's garden is getting after it. Soon enough we will be canning. This year he planted 23 tomato plants. 5 of them are for me...Romas, they are the ones you want for canning and making salsa.

I do miss seeing all the kids at work, but for sure don't miss being sick! I saw one of the moms of the kids I used to watch and she told me how much she wished I was still there. I had been giving 2 of her kids breathing treatments every day as I was the only person who could do it without the kids crying and she told me they are not getting their treatments like they should. Hearing stuff like that is so upsetting! I told her she needed to go in there and raise the roof! Also she said they have pinworms at the daycare. I am SO glad I am not there because I guarantee I would be the only adult to get them! Last time I went to my dr when I was still working he said it might take 9 more months for my immune system to kick in to where I didn't get sick so much. Geez, 9 months!

I have only seen my therapist once in 3 months. I was having anxiety over the tornados we have been having. We didn't have one hit town, but several nights we were supposed to be ready to head to your storm shelter. It was cute, my therapist told me how much she missed me and when she asked if I needed to come back I told her I thought I was ok and she asked if I was really sure! I do miss seeing her but hate to take up time from someone else that really needs to see her!

I think of you all often...I hope things are well for you all! Connie

Connie, I'm so happy things are going well for you. Those are some amazing pictures!!

And, I'm thrilled that you can see Mary Jayne, and that all is going good. How wonderful!

I'm sorry you miss work, but am so happy you don't have to worry about getting sick so much.

So, tell me, what's the next house project? You're so inspiring with all of the projects you have done, and everything looks so good!

Do you have any upcoming craft shows?

This past week I did get my kitchen painted. I had to clean all the cabinets first so my tape would stick! I need to be more vigilant about doing cabinet cleaning in there! I also painted the back door a few other things on the back porch. I had to take a day to rest after too much going up and down on the ladder, that kills my knee! Next is stripping wall paper in the bath room and then texture and paint. After that I have some doors to strip and refinish, some baseboards to get stripped and refinished and I think by then the summer will be done!

I made $450 at the craft show a couple of weekends ago and I have another one coming up on the 26th. And after that one is the 4th of July Rodeo. I have a few necklaces to make and I will be ready.

I'm counting the days until my daughter comes to visit!

Connie, $450 is outstanding! Way to go!

Have you had the craft show after the 4th of July yet?

I'm so happy to hear things are going well with the grandkids!

And, isn't your daughter visiting any time now?

Good luck in your next craft show!!