Mother encouraging abortion?

As if it was not enough that I was working my third night shift in a row...I was working with nurses who I have not worked with in years. Not that I have a problem with this...but it ended up being the conversation which I would first over hear, then partake in and the actions I would then witness. A bit more than my eyes and ears could bear.

The topic started off with my first overhearing my coworker tell another..".my teenage daughter is pregnant". Other worker..."oh, i am sorry. is she excited and going to keep the baby".

Coworker 1, "I am too young to be a grandma... I can't handle this. She needs to take care of this now". Worker 2, "wow, maybe you need to process this all first. What does your daughter want"?

Coworker 1, "she doesn't want to keep it. pretending like its nothing. I told her she needs to have an abortion. Then she got mad at me for calling it an abortion". Some time goes on, coworker tells everyone. Many opinions are given, with the majority saying to think about this, have daughter seek counseling, adoption and such. Coworker in mean time is researching and calling women's health clinics for daughter.

A quiet time comes upon us and I decide to tell coworker about our history of trying to adopt without success, foster care trials, etc. I also explained the many options and amounts of families that would love to work with girls/grandmas to be given the opportunity to adopt. Resistance was not met, however, coworker replied "I think my daughter has been drinking", "what family would want this baby". Not fighting for me, but for this unborn child and the many families that may never be chosen, again encouraged her to have daughter talk with an adoption counselor as maybe this could be an answer.

This just was one too many hours of listening and watching that I could almost handle. I would never tell a women what she can and can not do (even though I personally do not believe in abortion). I was just in disbelief at how casual a personal and controversial decision like this could be thrown into a work place and told to anyone who would listen. To see my coworkers sadness cloud any thinking and ability to help her daughter search for the right answer.

A sad tomato day

Was it a bug or bird...I will never really know. All I am sure of is that I have been giving this tomato plant lots of love and attention for weeks now. I have watered it daily per the instruction. And even fed it with miracle grow once a week. I was filled with excitement when my first bloom blossomed into a baby tomato. So imagine my disappointment when I went to water today and I saw that some creature decided to feast upon my one ten dollar tomato (no other bloom has yet to blossom).

Trent the Graduate

Central High School Class of 2010

The Thomas Family

Proud parents Rod and Jeanette with Trent

We met Trent and his family when we first moved to Texas in the summer of 2001. It was hot, humid and I had not been real happy to leave my family back in California. We had moved into this dumpy apartment and this family (that would become more to us) lived below us. A connection was instantly formed. We discovered that we were building homes in the same area and our boys would be attending school together. Needless to say, I feel like Trent is like a second son.

So, I say CONGRATS and KUDOS, to Trent on this day. It has been fun watching you grow up over the years and to see the many things to which you have accomplished. I look forward to hearing about your new adventures which lie ahead.

School is out...Let summer begin

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Today was the last day of school for the 2009-10 year. The last day that Nathaniel was officially a junior. Tomorrow begins his last summer home as a boy in high school.

Accomplishments for the year: 

 Earning your drivers license

 Buying your first car
 Getting hired at your first job
 Completing your eagle scout project
 Obtaining a darn good score on your SAT
 Touring and interviewing at three colleges
 Completing your third year on swim team
 Being voted swim captain for next year
 Being inducted into French Honor Society
 Completing your year with all A's and B's

I am ready for summer to begin. Not the typical humid three digit weather. But the activities and hopefully lesser stress that can come with this time of year. A big vacation planned over July fourth week. Fridays at the water park with my Friday pal and a couple of other nephews. And whatever else the season brings.

As for Nathaniel, well, he is ambivalent at best. The water park is proving that he may be working 40 hours a week. Then he has his one shift a week at Game Stop. And finally finishing up his Eagle Scout. Sadly, no sympathy card from his parents, grandparents or any other adult he has attempted to get it from. And to my defense...it is especially hard for me to let him have this type of schedule. I would love to have him all too myself. Except that is not how it would be...it would be him and even longer hours spent on the computer and gaming. And that would cause me stress which would be released on Nathaniel. Therefore, he may as well make some cash and hopefully work on building his character.

                                               

Final chapter to neverending saga

This time last year, as I struggled with fostering children in hopes of building our family, I had come to a point where I needed to take a break. A time of reflection was needed...to realize what I really wanted to accomplish with this journey. Our agency told us that we could take a one year hiatus and not have to worry about classes, inspections, interviews and everything else that comes with being a foster parent. Having been told that we had until a specific date in one year, we would then be able to pick up where we left off....like we had never left. In April, I made contact with the agency director to clarify what we had been told and asking the final date for our decision. Again, I was told the same instructions.

SIGH....

I had trusted and believed the instruction given and have now been burned by this advice. Having said this, I had decided that I was ready to jump back in. To help where we would be needed. I now had a new mindset to why I wanted to be a foster parent. A week prior to the date I had been given, I called our agency director and let them know we were ready to commit and become once again an active family.

AND THEN MY AGAIN HAPPY BUBBLE WAS ABOUT TO POP

I was informed that we had waited too long to decide on reactivating....that we would have to start from  square one. Repeating the initial class to be foster parents (20 hours I believe). An additional 15 hours of continuing education on top of the standard yearly criteria. I again asked for clarification to what I had been told previous. I offered to refresh them with the emails received. Nope....they will not budge on there decision. Only a pathetic sorry was received for the miscommunication that they provided.

Now...

I realize that this is a route that can be grimaced taken and we would again be able to help children that are in need. However, it is far too grueling to sit through again. I have endured more than the majority in this journey and know when it is time to just say done. And sadly, I think this is the time to say enough is enough. I can do this and attempt to move on since the chapter now has to be closed. I will find it much harder to know that we let down our foster daughter Miss K who called a couple of months ago just to make sure we had our license. I will probably always  have this somewhere in my brain that out of just needing some time to reflect that we will not be able to legally take her in if the time was to come.

So as this book comes to an end, I will just send a polite email to the agency letting them know that a good family was let go.....and to voice my opinion and hopes that with the next family just needing some time....that they provide the correct information.                                      

San Antonio Getaway

 This past weekend, Steve took me away to San Antonio, a city that I totally love. Totally a last minute and quick trip filled with enjoyment, some much needed laughter and good food. We got out a little later than planned and along our way....we stopped in San Marcos for some shopping. Arriving a bit later than planned, we enjoyed a late dinner (a big deal for a girl who likes to eat at 5:00) at my favorite Casa Rio.

After spending an OH SO Comfortable and cool night in the hotel room....we took advantage of the complimentary breakfast and then headed off to Sea World.

We spent a little time feeding and watching these happy creatures

I captured a picture of Steve smiling

Steve captured a picture of the penguin behind me

A pretty cool model Shamu airplane

After a few hours we left and were off to the outlets again for more shopping. A eating at an old California haunt. Followed by a leisurely drive home in great weather and awesome music to sing to.