The littlest princess

So Macks is 18months old, but don't ever tell her that. She is just SURE she is the same age as Emily and Olivia. what they do she must do. Being the little girly girls that they are they love playing dress-up and naturally so does Macks. Today she is little mermaid, or was until now because as I'm typing this she is patting my arm saying: Mommy take off and pulling on her costume. Today Mackenzie and Bella had Dr's appointments. Macks is being referred to a large pediatric hospital for further testing. As you all know she had a reaction to her vaccinations and was hospitalized for it back in Jan. Well issues are still not resolved and blood work is not within normal range. Bella is now on albuterol 3X daily and that scares me for a number of reasons. She is already displaying several signs of autism and can be aggressive, I can only hope the albuterol doesn't exacerbate her rages.

Shana and I have our 6th Love and Logic parenting class tonight and Olivia and Emily have decided that they want to go with us and play in the childcare room! This is HUGE for Olivia, she would almost always rather stay with Nana than ANY other babysitter. I'm somewhat torn about it. On one hand I think it shows growth on Olivia's part and shows that she is continuing on her path to independence and natural separation(she is struggling with weaning, shes done it on her own but shes still sad about it and feels confused knowing she doesn't need it anymore) and OTOH I am taking a parenting class with the fellow children's parents and some of the behaviors these parents share about their children aren't exactly behaviors I want my children modeling after. I suppose I do realise I cant shelter them forever! I can only hope that they make good choices for themselves, hmmmmm..... I wish I was as good at doing that as I am saying---I am not a helicopter mom, I am not a helicopter mom (wink)

Yesterday we had a pancake party! I wish I had taken photos but I couldn't find the card to my camera and it didn't occur to me to use my camera phone. I like to keep one of those tanks of helium around to make balloons for the kids as special treats. Well Sunday morning Olivia and Emily came into my room and declared that today we would have a pancake and balloon party and that everyone would get dressed up and wed eat off of birthday party plates! I thought it was such a good idea I hoped out of bed and got right to it while Shana dressed the girls in party clothes. The balloons kept them happy for the rest of the afternoon while I did some cooking ahead for this week and we tackled the never ending laundry pile. Its so rare that we spend a day at home it was actually a really nice reprieve. Especially given that Saturday was spent at two large area malls shopping for Shana before her business trip---shes going to be gone from late tonight till Thursday! NO break, oh what will I do??!?!? I'm sure I'll manage....somehow....

I did find out the nordstroms sells saltwater sandals for only 24$ per pair and robeez for only 27$ so the girls each have a new pair! Both such great prices over what Ive been paying for them online and at stride-rite.

OH and I finally have an appointment/evaluations for Emily AND Bella with early intervention in the next couple of weeks AND my licensing worker is coming out a few days later to increase my capacity to a total of SIX children(its currently four) so that I can go in the bed menu as a respite provider(and maybe just maybe after Bella moves to her forever family I can take a sibling group---maybe two boys? ages 1 and 2? maybe? hmmmmm)

ETA: lets not leave out the visit I had informing me that one of my childrens bios is making direct threats to cps the they will be taking their child back--oh and this is with the knowledge that they currently kidnapped two of this childs siblings and are hiding out with them. Now Im looking over my shoulder every second and scared to go in public. Adventures in Fostercare: to be continued....