Would You?

Current mood: contemplative

Would you??

An Afternoon at Kensington Metropark

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We took the kids to Kensington Metropark this afternoon. We spent time walking the nature trails, learning about animals at the farm center and having a snack of crackers & juice.
The weather was gorgeous. We had such a wonderful time today!


Christina looking oh-so-adorable!!

Gosh! James sure is handsome!!

Awe Makayla! So precious!


Becky picked pretty flowers!

James & Christina on the nature trail

Sibling love!

MMM! Crackers

Christina & James having a snack

Peek-a-Boo! I see you Becky Boo!

Silly Uncle Doug

Tired Aunt Mary

Thank you

Current mood: appreciative

Sorry this has taken me nearly a month to sit down and write... but as many of you know I am now a FULL time stay at home foster mother to four amazing children.At first I thought I was just going to die! It was so hard, so miserable... I can't imagine how they were feeling if I was feeling the way I was.

Slowly, over the last four weeks- things are finally starting to come together... thus the reason I found a few spare moments to write you all and THANK YOU ALL for your support, donations, thoughts and prayers... I don't know where we'd be without all of you.Well... I don't mean to cut this short but I have a few cranky children in desperate need of naps :P
Talk to you soon!
Love, Mary

Christina's First Day of Kindergarten!

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She was so scared to go in but once she got inside and saw all of the other kids & her teacher her fears subsided.


What a big girl!!!

Becky, James & Christina

Meeting Grandma Marilyn

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Today we took our first road trip as a family. We went to Lansing for the kids to meet "grandma Marilyn." We all had so much fun!!
Jennifer and her boys, Drew and Evan and Jennifer's mom Tammy also came over to visit. Tammy brought with her some stuff for the kids; toys and baby items that we needed. That was so sweet of her!
We played in grandmas yard, took a bunch of pictures, went on a nature walk (we saw a deer!), played in grandmas house and went to dinner. We went to Caesarland and had yummy pizza, orange pop and played games and toys!
Grandma loves these lil angels!!!


"Our Foster Family"
Makayla (8 mo.), Mary (27), Becky (22 mo.), Doug (39), Christina (5), James (3.5)


Playing in the dirt. Evan, James, Christina, Drew & Becky




Becky caught with a mouthful of dirt!

Evan & Drew

Makayla & Jennifer

Going for a nature walk
Makayla, Jennifer, Becky, Christina, Tammy, Evan, Drew & James

Becky, Christina & Jennifer. Cleaning up to go to dinner

James, Christina & Grandma Marilyn

MMM! Pizza & FUN!!!

YUMMY! Doug, James, Becky, Jennifer, Christina, Evan & Drew

Goofballs! Christina & James

James. SO handsome!

Christina. Giggly girl!

Sissies on the pony. Christina & Becky

Kids Eating Dinner

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James, Christina & Becky having mac-n-cheese & hot dogs

Christina. MMM! Watermelon

James. Yummy, juicy watermelon

Becky. I love watermelon

Very important, please read

Current mood: grateful

HELLO!
My husband Doug and I will be starting to foster parent three of our great nieces and one great nephew- starting this Saturday, August 19, 2006.

We are in need of ANYTHING & EVERYTHING that children will need.

The children are:
Female- just turned 5 years old (will be starting kindergarten very soon)
Male- is 3 years and 7 months old (will be starting preschool very soon)
Female- 22 months old
Female- 8 months old

Examples of things we need or may need more of:

Bedroom:
Furniture and accessories, cribs, portable cribs, bassinettes, beds (anything from toddler-twin for the three oldest), mattresses, bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows, crib bedding), dressers, hangers, changing table, bedroom decorations, baby monitors, diaper pails, mobiles, etc

Bathroom:
Potty, potty training seat, baby tub, bath essentials (new nail clippers, new brushes, new shampoo, new soap, new thermometers, new medicine dispenser, new aspirator, new toothbrushes and pastes, new brushes, new hair accessories, bath toys etc.)

Kitchen:
Utensils, storage (Tupperware like items) serving plates, bowls, cups, sippy cups, baby battles, nipples, brushes, bibs, table cloths, etc

Clothes:
As or right now and as you know- they grow fast- the childrens approximate sizes are:
Female- just turned 5 years old 5T- clothes, 13-1 shoes
Male- is 3 years and 7 months old 4T- clothes, 11-12 shoes
Female- 22 months old 2T clothes, 10-11 shoes
Female- 8 months old 12-18 months, clothes, 3-4 shoes

New or Used: pants, jeans, shorts, shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, coats, jackets, etc
New: socks, underwear, undershirts, slips, tights, etc

Shoes- new or used: Dress shoes, Tennis shoes and Sandals, etc
Winter Gear- new or used: boots, snow suits, coats, etc

Diapers and Pull Ups
Formula and Dry Good Food: New, unopened, or unexpired coupons for formula or food, etc
Baby Food: Stage 2-3 jars, juices and snacks, etc

Toys:
Indoor: books, stuffed animals, craft essentials, puzzles, games, dolls, Barbies, trucks, learning toys, infant and toddler learning stations, video games, Legos (small and large), childrens electronics, play kitchens, blocks, shape sorters, pop up toys, pull toys, toy animals, musical instruments, tool sets, etc
Outdoor: furniture, tables, chairs, equipment (activity centers, slides, swings, swing sets, clubhouses, Little People and other like items) ride-ons, wagons, bicycles, tricycles, basketball hoops, pools, jump ropes, sporting goods, scooters, etc
Winter Toys: sleds and such, etc

Miscellaneous:
Car seats, car booster seats, high chairs, kitchen booster seats, strollers (double and single) walkers, bouncy seats, playpens, kids tables and chairs, toy storage (shelves, bookcases, toy trunks and chests), etc

Safety Items:
Baby gates (working and functional) drawer locks, handle locks, stove locks, refrigerator locks, toilet locks, outlet covers, nightlights, smoke alarms, fire ladders, car sun shades, fire extinguishers, etc

We would be more than happy to pick up the item(s) for the children at a mutually agreed location (other than our home- for the safety and well-being of the children) and time.

Parenting Books, Magazines and Information

Other Information:
If you or anyone you know has information on available assistance through schools, churches or other organizations we would love to hear from you.

Im sure this itemized list could go on and on, this is just a generalized list of the things the children need, will need or may need more of in the near future.
We all sincerely appreciate everyones kind efforts to help all of us.
Doug and I are going to do anything and everything within our power to make their precious lives as great as can be.
Thank you all for your previous and continued support.
VERY, VERY Sincerely,
Mary & Doug Elliott
(very soon to be) Foster Parents of four amazing and beautiful lil tykes)
curley_suzie@yahoo.com

My diabetes and fertility

Current mood: determined

I was diagnosed with diabetes in June 2005. When I was first diagnosed my A1C level was around 10.0. A1C is a blood sugar level test that is done approximately every three months or so and gives an average of how the sugar levels are. A normal (for healthy people without diabetes) A1C is around 4.0%-5.9%.Since I was diagnosed I have tried a lot of different regimens to reduce my blood sugar levels and nothing has really made a difference until recently.I started seeing a diabetes specialist in March of this year. The different medicines and different doses that he has prescribed has made a drastic difference in my blood sugar levels.My most recent A1C test was July 14th and it was 7.1 WHOOOO HOOO!
I am well on my way to the goal of 6.0!

In January of this year I started seeing a fertility specialist because Doug and I have been trying to conceive a child for a couple years with no success. He checks out fine but with me- along with my diabetes I have a few reproductive issues. One of which being Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which prevents me from ovulating on my own (which I need to do to become pregnant.) The doctor has a wide range of options for me to try- first of which to try is an ovulation induction pill called Clomid. But the doctor will not start any treatments until my A1C level is at or very close to 6.0.Well today I decided to call to set up an appointment to see my fertility doctor again- in hopes to start the treatments.I have faith that with my A1C levels starting to significantly change that by time my consultation appointment August 23rd- I will be close to, if not- 6.0.So I need you to cross your fingers, your toes pray for us please.

Cody

We're off to Disney World!!!

Current mood: excited!

Mom

Making Cody a MySpace Page

Christopher & Daniella's Wedding

4th of July Get-Together

Look, Listen and Feel

Current mood: touched

A mother riding on a city bus
kids are yelling kicking up a fuss
everybodys staring
not knowing what she's going through
somebody said don't you even care
and do you let them do that everywhere
she slowly turned around, looked up and stared.

She said, "Please forgive them
they've been up all night
their father struggled
but he finally lost his fight
he went to heaven
in the middle of the night
so please forgive my children
they dont understand."

Chorus:
Everybody's busy with their own situation
everybody's lost in their own little world bottled up, hurried up, trying to make a dream come true
they don't understand
everybody's livin' like there ain't no tomorrow
maybe we should stop and take a little time
cause you never really know what your neighbors going through
they don't understand.

A man driving on the interstate
slowing down traffic making everybody wait
everybodys staring not knowing what he's going through
somebody honked from the passing lane
yelling out the window "hey I ain't got all day"
the old man looked around and he caught his eye.

He said, "Please forgive me
you know it's been a long life
my wife has passed away
and my kids dont have the time
I've been left all alone
and it's getting hard to drive
so please forgive me, children
they don't understand."

Repeat chorus

A man hanging on a wooden cross
giving everything to save the lost
everybody's staring
not knowing what he's going through
somebody said "you don't have a prayer
if you're the king come on down from there"
the man just turned his head
looked up and stared.

He said "please forgive them
for they have not seen the light
but they'll come to know me
when I come back to life
and go to heaven
to make everything all right
so please forgive your children
they don't understand.

Repeat chorus

A mother riding on a city bus
kids are yelling kickin up a fuss
everybodys staring
not knowing what she's going through.

Sawyer Brown- They Don't Understand

Aiden's 2nd Birthday!!!

New Do!

Current mood: feisty!

What do you think of my new do!?

Gettin' closer!

Current mood: anxious

St. Pauli Girl

Current mood: giggly

Ok... so maybe I'm lame but this was the absolute funniest thing I have seen in a long time!This afternoon on the way to a doctor appointment I burst out laughing, within 2 seconds Doug knew what I was laughing about and started to giggle too... mostly at me because I was laughing hysterically. It had been a long day and it was definitely nice to find some humor just driving down the road.I am not the best storyteller so I will let the picture I replicated speak for itself...


...Now could you imagine riding along and all of a sudden you see this logo on the back of a beer truck.. okay.. nice logo.. but the funny thing... to me anyway... was when the driver went over bumps in the road... one of the back doors was loose and jiggled a little...I know- easily amused HA-HA

Time to Celebrate!!!

Current mood: ecstatic

Im so freakin ecstatic! I just checked my grades online and I passed my classes and actually did pretty good! I got a 3.7 in Business Communications and a 3.0 in Computer Applications. (I could have done better had I tried harder).

Given the fact that I missed a lot of classes and waited until the last minute to do most of the work I am very, very surprised that I did so well. Dont get me wrong- when it came down to the end I really put my all into getting it done and overachieving on the final projects.

I guess I am a better student than I thought after all but next time I will concentrate THROUGHOUT the semester. That is- if I decide to go back Im still contemplating that and what I would study.

I have 45 credits and a 2.6 GPA (could be better had my instructor for the accounting class I dropped this semester not given me an E- rather an I or W) under my belt- possibly I'll get a degree someday..