While the day is not done, nor is the work done, we have accomplished things today! Some wins, for sure.

First, the middle boys went outside to play together without my prompting. This NEVER happens. Being my two boys with diagnosed ADHD, and totally different types of ADHD, they butt heads fairly regularly and get frustrated with each other quite easier. Buttheads is right 😅 But today, they went out and played on the hill of snow that the town guys cleared into our front yard. I love that hill so much. Its already brought joy to our kids. And if Rowan and Solly will go play together out there without a fight, I am a happy, happy mom.

Another win. We got the gas fireplace safely removed from its spot in our kitchen, lol! Kind of a funny setup for it, but I get it, knowing there was a much smaller group living here before us. When we looked for the breaker, it was labelled as kitchen and family room. Family room. So I guess thats what we’ll call the pantry from here on out! The family room, hahaha!

Yet another accomplishment. I made chocolate sauce!

We are short a handful of kids today, so those of us that were home decided to crack into some unopened ice cream at lunch, but I realized we didn’t have chocolate sauce. So. I cook now. *tosses hair over shoulder* So I just made some. And ya. It kicked butt.

All faces were appropriately stuffed and messy by the end of it.

Last accomplishment I’ll list for the day is WALLS! After a morning of removing the fireplace and fussing with wires and electrical boxes, we finally got to walls! They’re not all done yet, because the morsel naps, but it counts for now! Just the wall with the door in it needs to go up, and framing is DONE!

We’ll see if we make it to church or not tomorrow 😬 I can’t help but wonder if it’ll just be a snow day, haha! Maybe – just maybe – we’d get the walls actually covered. And SHELVES! Ack!! Its been so weird not having a pantry, the proverbial ants in my proverbial pants are outta control!!

Its been a very full day. I hesitate to even say its busy, because its not been too scrambly, but its been constant. This right here – blogging – is the second time I’ve sat. Once was to eat, and now, to blog. Definitely not complaining. Just been going and going! Here’s the play by play!

After a very short night 😩 I got up and got the kids to school. Once they were off for the day, I began packing up feeding/diaper bag and getting some things organized. When the morsel woke up, we did some breakfast while Wavy colored. After some food, the three of us loaded into the van and got going! We first dropped off a little door prize for a school event happening next week. That was a quick one. Then we left town!

We drove to the city and picked up a Facebook Marketplace purchase, and then made our way to an appointment. The hospital was HOPPIN’! Hopspital. Or, if you’re Wavy, hostible. But we found parking not too far away, and we made our way in. Everything was SO full, there was nowhere to sit to wait, but we got in right away.

After a fairly long, but super informative, appointment, we headed to the next place. I’ve become very well acquainted with the beautiful people at Nordon Medical to the point where I enjoy popping in. Its no longer an inconvenience to go in person. I actually prefer it. After some messy conversations yesterday, Nordon went to bat for me and got us what we needed. And man. If not for them, things likely wouldn’t have been resolved for weeks. I know I’m being vague. I wish I didn’t have to be. But what I can tell you is that this particular place invests in and advocates for its customers/clients. I feel SO well cared for there.

So I picked up a load of stuff there, and before I pulled out, I got a call from Zaks shipping department asking when they could drop off a load of materials for us. After 1:30, I told them, giving myself time to get home with a coffee and a little lunch for Wavy.

And I did! I got home, put the morsel down for a nap, unpacked the van, retrieved the unsleeping morsel, set up for a late lunch for the aforementioned morsel, and I believe I ate something in there briefly before a couple of goofy guys from Zaks showed up at my door. They did an awesome job and unloaded things the way Brady asked them to while Wavy got the door for them every time they entered the house. It was a cute little endeavour and now we are READY to build our pantry this weekend!! 💪

I spent the next while rearranging the kitchen to a thoroughly messy, disorganized state. It makes no sense in there. But it will. We just needed to move all the things that are over in the pantry area to the other side of the kitchen so we can actually build the pantry to finally hold the things. You get it. The moral of that portion of the story is actually that it is HARD having a bunch of kids and no pantry. Whew! I’m ready for that to be different!

As an aside, if anyone is in the market for a gas fireplace, we have one for sale! Or, we will. You get it. Its coming out. Which is a bummer, but we need that space way more than we need a fireplace.

Its going to be a full weekend, and I can say with confidence that both Brady and I are completely exhausted 😅 Thankfully, this kind of busyness is the kind we can rock in sweatpants, so we’re gonna. Sweats make everything better.

Have a happy Friday, guys 💜 Stay inside! I hear something wintery this way comes… ❄️

It really feels like it should be Friday over here, but guess what. It keeps being Thursday! Its actually really ok that its Thursday, but I’ve gotten my days wrong all week, so I guess today is no exception.

First of all, there was a job action today where there was no supervision over lunch at school, so the kids came home for lunch. And I had it in my head that this happened on Friday, which was going to be tricky because I have to go into the city Friday morning and I was not entirely sure I’d be home in time to greet them for lunch. But, luckily, they came home for lunch today, and tomorrows appointment will be totally fine schedule-wise. With that, I also have some things I need to pick up in the city when I go in for this appointment, so its great that it didn’t all fall on the same day!

This coming weekend holds some exciting work over here, also, so I think part of me wants it to just come already! I had to keep resisting prepping for this renovation today, because its really just truly too soon considering what would be done. That can all start happening tomorrow. Friday!! Materials will be delivered too!

But I had a moment where I considered all I had going on Friday morning, and thought there was NO WAY I could work all afternoon to get the place ready for renovations! NO. WAY.

Except my full full morning is actually Monday 😅

Like I said. I’ve gotten my days wrong all week. Pretty well constantly. But there is lots upcoming. Lots to look forward to. A couple things to not look forward to that will come anyway 😆😬 And likely many things we aren’t even aware of yet!

I think I’ll blame my confusion on leap day…

After I drove some loved ones into the city, the morsel and I hit Costco. For three things. I’m sure you already know where this is going…

The things I went for are as follows.

Milk. Obviously.

Butter, since the mountain of butter I bought at Christmas has finally run out.

And a mat for our entrance. The salt I’ve been laying down on our sidewalk is everything-friendly. That is except our hardwood flooring. It is not flooring friendly. Besides that, even without the salt, Brady needs a place to leave his wheelchair to drip dry when he comes home from work. So after a mountain of research, I reached out to my support group filled with women who have husbands in wheelchairs, and just about every last one of them said the rubber backed rugs from Costco were the cats pajamas.

I successfully got ALL three things.

Well.

Four milks.

Ten butters.

And a big mat, lol! Win!

However…

I also got Brady a fresh pair of sweatpants, and myself some sandals for summer.

I got the big pack of baking soda (Even I don’t need six! Ack!) and the double pack of baking powder.

I got a new onion salt and garlic salt. I left the Everything Bagel seasoning behind in an attempt to practice restraint.

I rabbit trailed and got dried mango and dried strawberries for the morsel, but also for meeeee! Because goodness they’re good! I’ve never had the strawberries before! YUM!

The highlight was definitely perusing the samples together, and watching my baby double fisting a veggie straw and some fruit by the foot. That seems trashy, I’m well aware, but you’ll have to take my word for it that, in our own way, its actually victorious 💜 I am SO proud of my morsel!

We made it home in time to unpack groceries before the kids got home! I’d call today a great success!

Now, to crochet a liiiiittle bit here before I start making supper!

Today looks a heck of a lot different from yesterday! For instance, I can see across the street! So right away, I’m pretty psyched.

Today, the streets have been cleared, and I was able to drive safely. I watched the town come with a plow, and then someone else following in a bobcat, doing their absolute best to clear the opening to our driveway. It was so intentional and so helpful. Thank you, lovely people, for taking such good care of us 💜

Today, I had coffee with Cher and put on real pants.

Today, the sun was out a little bit.

Yet.

Today is still cozy. As I warm up leftovers on the stove, I feel pretty content. In my “Indoorsy” sweatshirt, with my hair in a ponytail, I feel more awake and with it than yesterday, but still comfy and content.

I have more to go out for towards the end of the week, so I’m enjoying these quieter hours, taking advantage of the quiet times to crochet and relax.

I so appreciate the rest days I was forced to stay in and rest, lol! But I’m grateful for the days where its easier to go out as well 🙂 Thank you for all the days You’ve given us, Lord 💜

Today is a grey sweatsuit kind of day. Grey is the coziest color.

Today is a day where we listen to the wind instead of the High School Musical soundtrack.

Today is a hot drink and leftovers kind of day.

Today is a hair down kind of day.

Today is an online shopping kind of day. Oops.

Today is a crochet in a comfy chair kind of day, as the morsel allows, anyway.

Today is a day where I dream of summertime, but I appreciate the opportunity to not go out, because I literally cannot.

As for the rest of you, today is perhaps a risky driving, chilly, nerve wracking day. Stay safe and warm, friends 💜 An extra pair of socks and putting your hazards on never hurt anyone.

The week off as a whole has been nice 💜 Brady had Monday (the stat) off, as well as Friday off, in lieu of his shift on Saturday. It was nice to have him home a little bit more than usual, and to have some days where the kids just played and relaxed. We celebrated a birthday, and said a goodbye to one of our foster babes 💜 The weekend carried lots of fun special times as well, and some occasional moments of rest here and there.

Today was probably my first HARD day of this stretch. And I don’t mean it was a bit imperfect. It was kind of hugely challenging, and I know Brady and I are both feeling the fatigue in our bodies, brains, and hearts.

As we tread into the coming week of early mornings, I’m anticipating having our routine back in place. Kids at school, and kids in their extras. We’ll continue to work on the house. We have a few things that are climbing up to the top of the priority list, and they are looming over us pretty consistently. So we’ll do those things. Some more foster training, because, its never ending.

We’re closing off February, and I’m here for it. February is always huge in our home, and now, we’ve passed all the big days for our family, and the days are longer 💜 Thank you, Lord.

Yesterday was important and celebratory in multiple ways. Rowan had a birthday and with ALL the excitement and rowdiness and gifts and treats and overstimulation, he didn’t have a single breakdown!!! Thats a pretty huge accomplishment for any kid, in my opinion!

It was also a really important day for our Spoonful, who passed on from our home. I can say SO LITTLE on here, which is super hard. What I can tell you is that everyone felt peace with the situation, and it wasn’t a heartbreaking goodbye 💜 We LOVE that little spoonful of sunshine, don’t get me wrong. We would be thrilled and honoured to be connected with that baby forever, if thats how it goes. And if it isn’t, then we will be forever grateful for the time we had together! Our love is certainly not dependent on those details.

It was interesting to watch our kids navigate the situation, going back and forth a bit between feelings of loss and understanding, and a balance of both. Our investment in fostering these children is a family affair, without a doubt. Everyone cares. Every. Last. One.

While we waited to drop off our Spoonful, everyone came to the baby’s car seat in the van and got in their last kisses, snuggles, hair strokes, and cheek pinches.

The drive home was a bit quieter. Thinky, I’d call it. Though we had a giggle at our favorite graffiti on 20th.

Be alert!! 🚨 Penis Gang!

This particular change was actually quite well done, in my opinion. It was gradual and everyone had time to prepare. The house is definitely a little quieter, but likely not for long!

A rough couple of sleeps in a row now. I blame the moon. Aiming for a restful Saturday here at home, and I hope the same for you, friends 💜

Today is a big day for a handful of reasons, but the biggest more IMPORTANT one is ROWAN’S BIRTHDAY!!! He is officially NINE today!! 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳

Its been a HUGE year for Rowan. He got his contact almost a year ago, and has been patching for an entire year!! He may have his struggles, as we all do, but this boy has endured some HARD things, and he is working SO hard 💪 I am consistently impressed with him.

In the past year, he has connected better with his younger siblings, reading to them, playing with them, and being close to them.

He’s become more of a big kid, where he helps out and tries to guide the younger ones 💜

Rowan is an amazing reader, athlete, puzzler, artist, and snuggler 💜

Today, we celebrate Rowan, exactly as he is, exactly where he is. We thank God for giving us Rowan nine entire years ago!! His was the BEST birth experience, and after a very scary birth before his, he brought so much peace and softness into our family 💜 His heart remains the same, and I LOVE that heart.

I absolutely treasure you, Rowan Toby. Your heart is SO beautiful, and I carry it in my heart 💜 I cannot wait to see how you grow this next year and who you become. I love you, sweetie pie! I hope you feel loved and celebrated and like a total rockstar today! 😎

Today turned out to be SO much fuller than I thought it would be! I had a really lovely hour coffee in the morning with Cher while the kids played well 💜 It was pretty peaceful, and as always, it was really nice to be together 💜 She had to head out to an appointment mid morning, and right around that time I needed to feed the babies. So I did that, and once they were done, I hauled 6/7 kids over to Rae’s for the bulk of the day! What a huge blessing that was to all of us, in more ways than I can really explain on here 💜 It is just REALLY amazing having such beautiful people willingly putting into our family.

Kids were delivered, save for the one that I brought home to nap, and then I got to work! I warmed up some leftovers for lunch around 10:30am, which is bonkers, but also, I just never know when I’ll have time to eat next, hahaha! So while I did that, I did a bunch of computer work that absolutely HAD to be done today. And it was! Win!

Time did catch up to me, however, and soon enough I found myself scrambling to get out the door and to the city in time for an appointment. I made it to the appointment on time, and then began a wild goose chase for an item or two that I had NO IDEA were basically obsolete now! Crazy how things change!! Anyway, I was in the city until around 3:00 when I headed to Warman to continue the chase. I finally found the main thing I was looking for, and then made a quick stop at Coop. And they didn’t have what I needed! Ack! So I HAD to go to Martensville to check their Coop, but I also had to fill up with gas. Whew! I felt like the energizer bunny, and I did not care for it 🙅‍♀️🐇

I finally made it back to town and brought the first load of my children home, hahaha! I went back for the second round, and once everyone was home, they helped me get the babies and my purchases into the house.

I worked hard, and fast, until Brady got home. He, too, was dragging with exhaustion. We were quite the pair. Once he was home, of course, I realized something I had missed, so I bailed on him and ran down to the grocery store for another thing or two. *sigh* My brain…

We ate, a little later, so the evening was short, which worked out.

I still had computer work I had to get done, and I am happy to say its FINISHED! But I have scrambled from thing to thing absolutely all day long and I am TIRED. It is indeed bedtime.

Tomorrow will also be a big one! A good one in so very many ways 💜 But I can’t think too much about that yet. First, we SLEEP.

🥱🌙