Today

9:20am:  The case worker for Edison and Cassia came.  This is the first time we saw her since a few things went quite wrong last month, so I was nervous.  It was actually a very good visit (I think).  Her honesty is currently in question, but I'm a fairly trusting person, so I am going to take it as a good visit.  She says that they still do not have the necessary relative homestudy from Chicago.  They know it is done and the relatives passed.  They are just waiting for Chicago to send it here.  She says it should be soon.  According to her, at that point they will make their recommendation to the court.  If no one objects (and she doesn't believe anyone will), we can adopt at that point.  That makes me think they fully plan to recommend the children stay with us.  She knows full well that we would be objecting if they recommend otherwise, so her thoughts that no one will object make me think happy thoughts!  I'm still not holding my breath for anything to happen quickly or smoothly.  The case worker also mentioned that she will be "going away" for a while.  I have no idea what that means.  It's amazing that she has been around for almost all of their case, since case workers come and go quite often.  I would prefer the stability of her being around when things start happening, but that's not likely to be the case.  Our CASA (court appointed special advocate) has been visiting our home monthly for most of two years.  She's moving this month, I believe.  Once we get to court, we won't be recognizing anyone around!  That's one reason cases shouldn't be lasting this long.

12:30pm:  I took Basia and Poky Puppy to the doctor.  Basia had a high fever (104.8 tops on Monday night and 104.4 this morning) and didn't seem to be getting better on antibiotics from our trip to urgent care.  Poky Puppy also had a high fever (105.1!!! last night and 103.7 this morning).  They have basically been sleeping toe to toe on the couch for days now with no improvement.  I don't believe I have ever seen Basia this sick.  The doctor took one look at Basia's throat and ordered a strep test.  I mentioned that urgent care had done one that came back negative.  The doctor was quite surprised but then started wondering if Basia might have the flu.  Basia had to get a horse needle (as described by the doctor) in her arm to take quite a bit of blood for some tests.  The flu test came back negative.  She had some other test that involved a swab stuck way back through her nose which also came back negative.  The doctor gave Poky Puppy a strep test since his throat also looked just like strep.  She was sure they must have strep and was very surprised that this strep test also came back negative.  That means that we still have no idea what is going on with the kids other than that they are very obviously very sick.  Basia got two shots (she insisted these be put in her arms instead of her bum, where the urgent care shot was put), and they are both on a variety of meds to try to kill whatever is plaguing them.  If they still have fevers on Saturday we are to return, but I'm pretty sure they will be feeling chipper by then.  Now, I'm not so sure how Edison and Sir Smiles will be feeling because they are masters at stealing the drink cups of the infirm, so they certainly have the sick germs starting to work their magic.

3:30pm:  We pulled into our home to drop of the sick kids and pick up Sir Smiles for his visit.  I didn't even have time to give hugs to all my kids outside.  I just dropped two off and picked one up.  We had plans to decorate eggs this afternoon, so I gave Dany the Nanny permission to do it without me.  I hate missing those moments, but it's not about me, I suppose.

4:45pm:  After dropping Sir Smiles with his mom and dropping prescriptions at that pharmacy with the drive through, I had enough time to go home and hug my baby and ooh and ahh over the egg creations of my kids.  Only Brishen and Cassia were still decorating by that point, which made me smile.  Those two have a history of spending the most time with their eggs.

5:30pm:  It was time to load everyone up.  Those who were healthy (and not a baby) got to go to church for dinner and play time in the nursery.  It is their favorite night of the week.  Even the kids who spend hours at preschool (two of them in the exact same room as the nursery) love to go back on Wednesday nights.  The rest of us (Basia, Poky Puppy, and The Baby) went to pick up Sir Smiles from his visit.

8:55pm:  Jon got home with the last of the kids, and I got them to bed.  I then headed out to the pharmacy with the drive through while wearing my pajamas.  That was a first, and fairly horrified Zade and Brishen.  Zade kept telling me that I was wearing my pajamas already.  I assured them that I would only use the drive through.  It was actually more embarrassing than I thought because I chose the drive through window close to the building where they could actually see me.  I doubt they knew the giant t-shirt is my jammies, but it was still a little awkward for me.  I still need someone to invent an invisibility cloak for me to run my errands without having to get dressed!

9:30pm:  The sick children were fully medicated and sent to bed.  I had been letting them sleep on the couch because I wanted to be able to check on their scary fevers, but I decided they should sleep in their beds tonight.  My phone alarm asked the question, "Have you blogged today?"  That is my new daily reminder that I hope will come at just the right time when The Baby is asleep and willing to be put down.  I hope to start blogging, sometimes (often) just a quick picture and caption, but maybe someday I will get to some real blogging again.  My hope is that this will offer a connection to family when we so often go too long without connecting.  I also know that there are great friends who are trying to keep up with us, and I want to keep this blogging connection alive somehow.

10:06pm:  That is now.  I'm going to publish my blog and start putting away more books onto my new bookshelves.  I can't wait to share the finished library room picture on here!