Working and babysitter issues

This working full time and being a mom is hard stuff! I am back to work full time for two weeks now and I have also gone to babysitter H*&l! I had a post all ready to go about a week ago on what a great babysitter I had found (after two others had backed out), how she is from Russia originally and is this wonderful, outgoing, smart, beautiful 20 year old college student. I felt like I was looking into the future a little with Caroline as the babysitter came to the U.S. when she was Caroline's age and she looked so much like Caroline. But, I deleted the post right after she called and told me she would be quitting the end of this week! Yes, she lasted a whopping two weeks! I can't really blame her as she got an internship back in Kansas (she goes to KU and was home for the summer) to work with behaviorally challenged kids; heck, she could have gotten her college credits and internship credit by just staying and working with my kids in my home! So, I am back to square one with childcare issues. I am going to have to piece them together for the rest of the summer, it will be a challenge, but I'll make it work.

Caroline is thriving in summer school! She is at the top of her class! Considering it is only 10 kids, I don't know if that is a great achievement, but I'll take it. She only has two more weeks, I kind of wish it went all summer since she is doing so well and loves it, but she probably needs a little break. After school is finished, she will go to the YMCA summer day camp and will get swimming lessons which she desperately needs, she sinks like a rock in the pool with no floaties on! So that will be good for her. Both kids are so sad that our babysitter is not coming back, they really liked her and she was so good with them. All I heard every day was how Ali is so pretty and she has 4 earrings in one ear and an earring in her belly button! Needless to say, Caroline now desperately wants her ears pierced. The reward for her if she learns to swim this summer is her Troycha Gail taking her to get her ears pierced! I just won't do it as I can't stand to see her in pain! Dear God, the girl starts crying when we are even on the same street as her doctor (she thinks she is going to get shots), even if we are just passing by!

That's it for now, keep your fingers crossed all these childcare issues fall into place!

We really need more testosterone in this house!

My little Texified Russian

Caroline has learned so much this past year in Kindergarten, she has learned her ABC's, counting, reading, writing, math, how a caterpillar morphs into a butterfly, how to play with other children, English and a whole lot of other stuff. But one of the most important things she has learned from her friends in her class, how to speak Texan!

The other day, she told me:

"Mama, I love your big ol' bottom"! (oh how I loved that one! Not!)
"Mama, are we fixin' to go to the store?"
and of course,
"Are y'all ready to go eat?"

All said with her Russian accent!

If only that Russian judge could see her now!

School's out for Summer! Kind of!

Today was kind of bittersweet. Both kids had their last day at school today, but for Caroline it will be short lived, she starts summer school on Monday. Her same Kindergarten teacher will be teaching it, but it will be at a different school. Caroline's actually really excited about it; she loves school, doesn't have a clue what summer vacation is and she loves her teacher, so it's a good thing! She'll also repeat Kindergarten next year and really be at the top of the class coming in, so I'm fine with it.

Chase also had his last day and I just looked at him today and am amazed at the progress he has made (really both kids). When I think back to last September when we first arrived home, and all Chase knew to do was hit me, bite me, kick me and pinch me; along with screaming Russian swear words at the top of his lungs. To see him sitting and watching a movie with his classmates, consoling another boy who was crying and helping his teachers put the room together for a party, was absolutely amazing to me. What a long way this kid has come! I stayed for the party and was given some pretty cool gifts from the teachers. They put together scrapbooks for each child with some of their artwork and also pictures that they had taken of Chase through the past 5 months. I scanned some of my favorites and here they are:

Here is Chase sitting in the front of the fire truck, refusing to get out!


This is Chase swinging exactly the same way he did when I met him at the Desky Dom


Doing his favorite activity: Eating!!


Getting into the astronaut outfit on a field trip to the planetarium

Perfect Attendance!

Caroline received a medal today at school for perfect attendance. She got to walk across the stage in their assembly hall and received her medal and then go to a reception and eat cake. I think she was more excited about the cake than the medal, but she was very proud of herself. I think the parents should get an award too! Caroline is not exactly a morning person and it takes a lot of effort to get her out the door everyday.

Chase is doing great with his medication. I've had to tweak the dosage a bit to get to just the right amount, but I think we are there. His teachers are just amazed at what a different kid he is. Things finally seem to be falling into place. It is so pleasant to pick him up and the teachers are telling me what a great job he did that day. It seemed for the longest time, all I got was a list of all the things he did wrong and how many time outs he was in. I am so grateful we seem to have found a solution to some of his issues.

Both kids are finished with school on Wednesday then they will be home with me for the rest of the week and then the babysitter starts next Monday when I go back to work. Hopefully we can squeeze a few fun things in this summer, maybe a trip to San Antonio or Branson would be fun for them, we'll see.