Court Date

Good Evening~
Boy is Daylight Savings time nuts or what? We have been in bed by 9pm every night. It is wacky, I say.

So, lots going on at Casa Carr this week. Gabe got offered a new job as an HR Associate for the CT State Department of Corrections. He is THRILLED! We all are. He has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and is very excited. He will start there on 12/4.

Today there was a Case Status Review at court that I attended. We knew from the beginning that there wasn't a lot that we would be told, it was basically to review the recommendations of the Psychological Evaluation. I didn't actually get to go in and hear them first hand but I got to see everything else unfold. Essentially, mom received the sad news that everyone agrees that moving toward terminating her parental rights is the plan. She was very sad. She also asked for increased visits, which was denied. It is pretty clear that some mental health and substance use issues are resurfacing right now. It was a relief that the Psychologist was able to see what is best for both children involved in this case. Of course, it is still a long process but this is the first time we actually felt like it is going in our direction and it will be interesting to see how mom behaves as we move ahead.

As far as Isaiah goes, he has had to endure more transition this week. His new teacher had a car accident a couple of weeks ago and has been at school only sporadically. This week they sent her home indefinitely and he has had to move into a new room. Luckily he knows the kids already and the teacher seems to be on top of her stuff. He was in her room for the first time today and he got a status report sent home with him today. I wonder if it will be like that every day! He had a great day today. He really is doing great. He is almost all the way through his ABC's...something he couldn't have even started when he got here. He is counting and recognizing his colors! Leaps and bounds.

This weekend he is going to his first kid birthday party. It is a dance party. He loves to dance to Dave Matthews so it should be great. And I know you are thinking, sure he does Bev, but seriously. We have 2 CDs in the CD player in his play room...kid songs and the new Dave CD. He will listen to the entire kids CD and play and be quiet...as soon as Dave comes on, he is jumping around and twirling like a freaking breakdancer. I kid you not!

Time for bed...since it is really 10pm. Have a good night!

Happy Halloween!

Good evening~

Well today really felt like Halloween in CT. The wind was literally howling through our house and the leaves were flying around under a cloudy sky. I loved it! We have all been looking forward to today...but first I will rewind.

Yesterday was Isaiah's school party and parade. I volunteered in his class and held hands through the parade line. The kids were adorable. They all had a blast and were exhausted by the end. Then they read books, watch movies and had a grand old time. Yesterday was scheduled to be Isaiah's weekly visit with him mom but I received a call at 3pm that she did not show. At first, I panicked I must say. I was worried something happened to her. Apparently she has been sort of off DCF's radar this week so something must be going on, but at least it doesn't sound like she is in any way hurt. It was confusing for Isaiah but he came home and we kept it business as usual and then went up to my cousin Bill's house for our Friday night dinner with his family. Isaiah played with my cousin William who is a little over a year old. They played very well together. Isaiah fell asleep on the way home.

Today we woke up to get ready to receive our new fridge. We shopped for it last weekend with Isaiah and were all so excited when it arrived. We played all day and then got ready for tricks or treats. My aunt and uncle came over to hand out candy while we went around the circle.

Isaiah climbed into his dinosaur / dragon costume and we hit the road. He understood the concept and said "trick or treat" and "thank you" but after the 2nd house he wanted to go home and eat his winnings. Um, not yet friend.

We made it around the circle and he was so well received from our neighbors. They all commented on his costume and he ate it up. Overall it was a positive night with only some minor stomping related to candy after the fact. Totally normal.

Thank goodness we have an extra hour of sleep tonight...Gabe and I need it!

Sleep well and Happy Halloween. Here is our first Halloween Family photo!

A year later!

Good evening~
As we approach Halloween, it is hard not to look back. You may think, what? Halloween is not one of those reflective holidays. True, but it was last Halloween that my Dad had a complicated surgery and we didn't know if he would make it through the night. It is amazing what anniversaries trigger within us. This time last year we had declined the placement of Charlie in our home, were coping with my dad's illness and starting my new practice. We got through it all, but it creaps back in when this time of year rolls around.

Now, we are living with Isaiah. I have heard from many of you about how much you enjoyed the little video we posted earlier this week. It really is cute to see him and listen to his voice. He certainly has his own little personality. This week has been typical, with ups and downs. We have learned that no nap at daycare= a miserably tired little boy from 6pm on! Oh the misery...for all of us.

I have been trying to rearrange my schedule to be home more in the evenings, for dinner and bedtime. Hopefully this will allow Gabe some reprieve and allow me more time with Isaiah. Tonight, bedtime was cake. Last night it was hell. I literally cried after...and he creid for a while. But, all to be expected I suppose! At least that is what we are told.

This weekend is the big trick or treat outing. Well, first we have the Halloween parade at daycare...and Halloween party. I get to bring cupcakes. FUN! I will be volunteering in his classroom for the parade and will take many pictures and some video. All to be posted. Then Saturday we head out around our neighborhood circle for tricks or treats. My mom, Barbie, is coming down for the event. Isaiah is already looking forward to it, but I really don't know if he understands it. We'll see!

We hope you all enjoy your Halloween...and maybe take a look back at your last year too. Reflection is powerful and necessary to really appreciate today!
Good night!

Sunday morning at Casa Carr!

This is our Sunday morning ritual...going through the newspaper circulars! We actually all quite enjoy it!!!

Hope you do too!

Tired after camping and taking a nap!

Happy Columbus Day!

Good morning!
Sorry I haven't been blogging much this past week. no real reason why, just haven't been. So let's see what was our week like? Fairly painless, actually. Isaiah continues to do well at his school, other than nap time. I believe the notes home from the teacher go something like this.

"Dear Bev and Gabe: Isaiah had an accident at nap time today and didn't want to stay on his cot. Instead he dragged his cot all around the room while his friends tried to nap."
HA!

Although it is not even remotely funny, I can totally picture it! Unreal. so we are working with the teacher to get him into shape at nap time. She is a new to the school teacher and she is very sweet, perhaps too sweet. We told her that she is just going to have to get him mad at her before he listens to her. End of story. Today she started a nap chart with all the kids in class. We'll see how that goes!

Isaiah went to the Firehouse last week for a field trip. So we have been practicing stop drop and roll, started today. He gets the stop and roll, but neglects the drop. Interesting.

This weekend we had some friends down and camped out in our driveway. They brought their motor home and my cousin came with her 2 three year old boys. It was an event! Isaiah loved the camper and playing with the boys. It was a good introduction to camping so that next season he can come out and really camp with us. Below is a picture of him in the camper!
Happy (short) week, all!

Peaceful Friday!

Happy Weekend!!!
Well we made it through the week of sniffles and coughing...both Gabe and Isaiah. No fevers, just change of weather muck. Hopefully we are on the mend.

The end of this week has been very good. Really this whole week has been good. Isaiah continues to do wonderful in school. He comes home singing his ABC's and Old McDonald. This week he will go on his first field trip. He is very excited.
Today was supposed to be his weekly visit with his mom but she canceled because she, too, is sick. Although we don't wish sickness on her, it has given us a little reprieve from the rollercoaster and time to continue our routine. It was nice, we made and had dinner together tonight. Tacos!!!

This week is a big one. The state is conducting a psychological evaluation on Isaiah, his mom, sister and mom's husband. It is a big eval, mom will be there all day and Isaiah has to go for 45 minutes. We won't really know what the results are, but I am fairly certain that, after this eval is done, the psychologist will recommend either reunification or termination. Now...that doesn't mean that DCF complies with the recommendation...especially since there is a lot of time between now and the decision. But it is a big deal. It also means Isaiah will see his mom twice next week. So our peace will be disrupted...a bit.

This weekend we are spending some time with friends and family. Tomorrow we are having dinner with friends and Sunday is a Dog fair on our town green that my mom is coming down for. Hopefully the weather will hold out. For now, I am getting ready to call it a night.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.