1st Day of Preschool

Ms Z went to preschool for the first time.  She was super super excited.  I like with all my kids was very nervous.  The protective mom has come quick with her.  I was worried about how she would do being left all day at school.  

She got a backback from her sister Ms L.  It was a Dora the Explorer backback which she loved.  

As we got ready for school I could see her eyes getting excited about what was to come.  She put on her backpack and was ready to go.  She get breakfast at school so she was not to sure about leaving the house without eating.  The school said she ate all her food and seconds.  

I decided to pick up the girls a little early so I could get the low down on her day.  Her teacher had filled out all her paperwork and it said she did EXCELLENT!!  The teacher had nothing but good to say about her day.  There is only 7 total kids in her class including her.  This is less than on Sunday morning in her Sunday School class.  The teacher thought she might have a hard time during nap time but no Ms Z laid right down and went right to sleep.  

I'm so glad that she had a great day.  She has done so good in her transition.  She is such a delight to be with and around.  She totally loves her siblings and her new Mommy and Daddy and we all love her.  

I was having great conversation with my husband last night and I told him how good God has been to us.  I feel like he is just blessing our socks off through these kids.  We are reaping the blessing God talks about in Psalms 127:3-5

 Don't you see that children are God's best gift? 
      the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? 
   Like a warrior's fistful of arrows 
      are the children of a vigorous youth. 
   Oh, how blessed are you parents,       with your quivers full of children! 
   Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; 
      you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

(message version)

Ms Z on her 1st day :)

Lunch Visit

I love that I have a flexible job to be able to leave when I need to.  This morning when I was dropping off my kid to school he went to get out of the car and ran right into the car door.  Now while it may seem like that was his own fault it was not.  You see we have carpool people who open the door to let him out and then they say things like ok sweetie go fast to class so your not late, ok sweetie we need to get moving so that other kids can get out of their cars and get to class on time.....ect So my son listening to the lady opening up the door is trying to get his backback on while getting out of the car and being told to hurry, hurry, hurry hit the door with his head.  Great way to start the day!  I looked not so happily at the women who opened the door.  She knew what had happened and what part she played and she let me know that she would be taking care of him.  

I decided to park my car, which took 5 minutes and go in and check on my son.  He was sitting in the nurses office looking so pitiful.  I felt horrible for my little man.  I waited with him until he was feeling better an then walked him to class.  He was so excited that I walked him in.  

After kissing me at least 4 times I left.  I was missing my little guy already as I drove away.  I decided to use my flexibility to  leave for an hour and go have lunch with D.  Can I just say that my son was smiling from ear to ear that I just showed up for lunch.  He keep telling me how I was the best mom ever :)  (LOVE THAT BOY)  I then went and played with him on playground for a few minutes.  I kissed my boy and left.  

When I turned around to look at him he was waving and smiling.  Can I just say that only a few tears left my eyes.  That boy just makes me smile!!

Here is a pic of him getting ready to get "beat" by his mom in tether ball.

Skype Date

I got to have a Skype date with my baby girl Keisha last night.  It was so good to see her face and hear her voice all at the same time.  She got to talk to her brother and sisters, which they loved, and interact with all of us.  The kids keep kissing the screen which was to funny.  

I am super excited that I get to see her in 3 weeks.  Kristie and her are driving home to see me and I could not be happier.  I really miss them.

I have been praying for Keisha and her future and she is really wanting to work with kids but not through regular church ministry.  She is now applying for a job at a home for kids.  I am excited to see where God leads her.  I hope that it will be close to Colorado :)  

She has been working at Chic Fila and they have a program that helps kids that she has been looking at doing too.  She has such a big heart and will be great where ever God puts her.  

She will not like that I posted this pic of her but it just reminds me of how super cute she is even with a 3 year olds Tiara on :)

Introducing....

Zoe Melody

Although Ms Zoe has been with us for a few I have not formally introduced her to my blog.  Today I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Livingston family.  We took guardianship of Ms Zoe about 2 1/2 weeks ago and are planning to adopt her officially after she has been in our home 6 months.  

We were caught off guard by the circumstances that lead up to us being her new mom and dad but we are feeling very blessed to have her in our home.  She is a very smart, bright, happy, 3 year old.  She just had a birthday on August 1st.  She is very big for her age but she is definitely all 3.  

We are waiting for tons of appointments to arrive that will either confirm or deny a previous diagnoses of autism.  We have seen a ton of improvement in behavior and attachment since she has moved in with us so we are just waiting for the doctors to tell us.  If you asked David and I we would say that she is not autistic and has attachment issues and was craving structure and discipline.  We will update as we get more information.  

Zoe has attached herself to her brother and sister like they were together since birth.  She loves them and wants to play with them every waking moment of the day.  She cries when they leave to go to school or any activity where she is not going.  

I have been able to have the opportunity to be with Zoe 24 hours a day since she has come into our home.  After receiving a ton of information from a friend about older children adoption we are trying to follow most of the rules.  David or I are the only ones doing any of her needs.  We do not even let Grandma change pull-ups or feed her.  We are trying to stay in as much as possible but this is very hard with our lifestyle.  I have had the opportunity to be with her almost all her waking moments.  She is bonding very good with me.  She is taken a bit to 100% warm up to David but everyday is better than the one before.  We feel we are in the honeymoon stage right now so we are waiting for after shocks to hit.  We know it has to be hard to understand why the only people you have known all your life are no longer around.  I grieve for the grief she must feel or will feel.  That has to be so hard.  I pray we can give her what she needs as she processes this all out.  

God has been so faithful.  With a 2 year hard transition for me with baby C I begin to dread the next few years.  God has totally made this bonding situation almost instant.  I am so very grateful for that.  I don't know if it is Zoe, or if it is my heart, or if it is the possible autism diagnosis but I just feel different.  My heart has just been entangled by her.  I love her like she has been in our home since the beginning.  Yes I worry about the autism.  I question everyday what if?  I want the best life for her and I don't know very much about kids with any disabilities but after much prayer I'm not scared I'm excited.  Excited about a child with autism, yes.  I know that God created her and that He has a plan for this little girl and I'm excited that He is allowing David and I to be a part of it.  We are excited that she completes our family.  We are excited to see what God shows us and teaches us through Zoe.  She is an amazing little girl who is already making a mark on our family.  

I pray that we will always be looking for God direction in our kids lives.  I pray that God will bond all 6 of my kids together even though the girls are in college.  I pray that they will feel connected even though there is distance because we are one family, one unit, and this family is not complete with out all 8 members.  I miss the girls so much right now.  I have called them with tears in my eyes a lot since they left.  I'm not sure why this semester is so much harder than the others but I'm struggling.  Maybe it is because out family has been together for all major events and them being gone when we got Zoe has been hard for me.  They are all making plans to come home so that they can spend time with Zoe and the family.  I'm awaiting those visits with great expectation.  

So as for the Livingston's we are on another adventure.  We are following after God with all our hearts and listening to him not man when it comes to the direction of our family.  We are trying to not listen to any negativity, which is hard, but we are following what we hear God telling us knowing that blessings are in store for our obedience.