Big Boy, Turned 1 Today

Today I got to celebrate a 1st birthday for the first time. What a treat!

Johnathon is 1 today. It is really hard to believe that it has only been 5 months since he's been here since he has changed so much.

He is walking and talking. Such a big boy!

We celebrated with family this evening. I made pasta since it is the one food Johnathon devours. Then came the cake. Oh MY GOSH!!!!!! Well that, you just have to see for yourselves.

The First Encounter...

The Last Bite...

Filing an Extension

What does this mean??? Well, a lot and not much all at the same time.

In Ohio when a child has been in care 12 out of 22 months children's services can choose to file for permanent custody. "Our" kids will be in care for 12 months on March 3rd.
The agency really has 3 choices at this point.

1 - decide the parents have done what they need to do and it is safe to return the kids to their care

2 - file for permanent custody and then search for an adoptive home for the kids (foster parents get priority)

3 - say the parents are showing enough effort to let them keep trying.

We are getting option #3. The kids parents really are trying in a lot of ways, but there are still things that need to change. So unless something drastic happens we will continue on as things are now. They will be filing for the extension next week. I don't know the length of the extension. Typically they are 6 months.

This weekend we are taking the kids to the Great Wolf Lodge. I am hoping they are more comfortable in the water now than when we went to the CoCo Key in November. If not there are tons of other things to do.

Oh, and baby boy is officially a toddler. He has been walking good distances for a few days now. And he is quite proud of his accomplishment. He will clap for himself. What a cutie he is!

Guess that is all for now.

We Need Prayer

I can't really share what is going on, but things with the kids case aren't going well. The in home visits look like they will be stopping as of today.
I know this is what is best, but my heart breaks for them (the kids and parents). They all want to be together and they are trying, but just don't know how to do better. It is sad.

For a little Avery info - she is doing well. We are trying to decide what to do for kindergarten next year. Ryan and I have opposing views, so coming to a compromise is going to be hard. She is bright, so the educational aspect isn't an issue. There are just circumstances where she really struggles and school would be one of those arenas. It's hard to decide, do we homeschool, send her to a private school, try public school, or delay her a year. Only time (and probably a bunch of arguements -- I mean discussions -- will tell.)