Hubbers and I have six kiddos ranging from 14months to 19. Now, this seems a bit strange in and of itself... when I tell people the next bit (or hen they meet me themselves), I often get some very incredulous stares. I am 28 and my husband is 31.
How is this possible, you wonder? We are foster, adoptive and biological parents.
Our first permanent member of our family was actually big guy 19 in 2006. He came to us at 15, scrawny and needing a family to love him. He has some learning disorders and some social troubles. When he was young, he was diagnosed ADD. He's done well and has really blossomed over the past 4 years. Being so close in age to me, he didn't want to be adopted, but wanted to remaina permanent member of our family and extended family so took our last name.
From there, we gained our 11 year old Firecracker in 2007. He was 8 at that time. He is a vibrant, yet challenging boy with ADHD and ODD. He is very active and so good at things like trampoline and balancing, yet has a terribly anxious time trying new things. He became permanent in our family through his adoption in September of 2009.
Our sunshine smiler also came along in 2007, at only 6. He is now 9 and we just officiated his adoption a month ago. He is a sweet boy with the greatest of smiles, often showing his caring nature to everyone around him. He does have a micheivious side and just LOVES getting the others going.
In 2008, our Electric Lady came along at 6 years old. She was very loving (almost too)... yet was she ever a handful. There were many times in those first few months that we weren't sure if we could handle her behaviours. We have since learned that she has an attachment disorder and ADHD. At 8 years old, she has a heart that just wants to love but sometimes she finds it hard to let it out.
My sweet Turkey Loo was born in the summer of 2009. We had a miscarriage the year before, after trying for 3 years straight. I honestly thought I would never have a baby and most of me was okay with that. The little part of me holding out for hope was estatic when I found out I was pregnant again! At 14 months, this darling adds a sparkle to my day and is so social and happy that it is contagious.
Our newest, 9 year old Sneaky Sneaker came along in August of this year. She is a pleasant girl, with a great sense of humour. She is sneaky, as her nickname suggests. She loves to whisper things to the others to cause a stir and will happily sneak around being a "spy" on other's convesations. She also has ADHD but is much milder in her behaviour than the other two.
So these are our kids. Great kids! Kids with some troubles... ADHD screams itself in our home. But this does not define them. They are unique young people and have huge potentials ahead of them.
As for the purpose of this blog;
First of all, hope to get some of my own feelings and frustrations. Writing about them can prove theraputic and secondly, I know others must feel the same way. I am hoping that reading my rants, my ideas and seeing what life with a caboodle of kids is like will give someone out there encouragement or ideas for their own family. When dealing with troubles like ADHD, Pervasive development disorders, Attachment Disorders and Trauma, the moms and dads in these situations often feel nearly as stressed as their children. I know sometimes I feel like I'm not cut out for this, but I know I am. Sometimes I feel etstatic because I know we've done things right. Knowing others struggle too and have made it through can make all the difference in how you go to bed at night.
That said, I truly do hope you find my musings and ideas useful, but if not, that's okay. I'll just happily type away for my own wellbeing! Kids below, in the same order described above.
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