Pinch Me!

It's true.  I still catch myself in moments where I need someone to pinch me to prove all this finalization stuff is real.  I feel like I lived for so long with so much uncertainty about our future as a family.  I would make plans but always keep in mind that any of the kids could be going at any time.

Here are some of the times when I still am amazed:

1.  Monthly paperwork time!  I was so sure I was forgetting some important foster care paperwork this month.  I had a single med log to turn in and a single Child Status Report.  One of each.  Weird!

2.  Doctor visits!  How strange it is to bring my kids to the doctor or dentist without needing to fill out forms or inform anyone of anything.  Edison will need surgery, and I did not have to tell anyone about it.  Oh, and those forms at the doctor's office.  I had to fill out a lot of them last month since we have had a lot of name changes.  Every single time I got to the blank that asked for my relationship to the child, and I could simply put "mom" I paused in amazement.  I am the mom.  The mom.  Wow!

3.  Head bumps!  Oh, my, goodness.  If I had to report injuries right now, I might be looking at some investigations.  At the very same time Cassia has a burn across her cheek from falling off her bike, Tobias has a scrape across his forehead from falling when getting to his place at the table, Zade has a lump on the back of his head from running into the door as only Zade can do, and Edison has a lump on his forehead from running into a tree while with the church nursery workers.  Thank goodness I am not having to report all these bumps and bruises!!

4.  Nap time!  I can head to the school to pick up my school kiddos while Edison and Zade are napping.  I can actually leave them to nap.  It's an amazing thing to be able to decide on my own that my teen can handle a house with some sleeping siblings all on his own during school pick up time!  I have had to wake up kids a zillion times from a zillion naps when I know that they would have been just fine with big brother.  Now only baby Roo has to go wherever I go.