It's a shower!!!

I know, I know I have SO much to catch up on AGAIN! My plan is to post at least a few times a week until I catch up. I am going to start with the very nice shower that my friends in SAFFT threw for me. It was princess themed and Morgan loved it. Here is a pic of Morgan shortly after being crowned for the day.

A picture of the two of us together.

The beautiful cake which said Dreams Come True.

Morgan got lots of nice gifts. Here she is showing off her new bracelet that Miss Casi gave her. It has her new initials on it!!

I call this one bubble girl....I always used to tell her case worker that I was going to bubble wrap her!! Ha!

We had an amazing time. We are so lucky to have such wonderful, supportive friends and family. This group, SAFFT, which was formed by my closest friends from the foster parents has provided some much needed support. It has allowed us to all get to know each other and now we have an instant support system. Any time we need advise or just to talk we have lots of friends to call upon. AND the best part is it is for foster and adoptive families so they aren't going to kick me out!!! Ha!!!

Stay tuned for more updates. Next will be out "Special Day!" And goodness knows we have been waiting for that FOREVER!!!!

So, so long....

Well friends alot has happened since I last posted. All I have to say is get ready for a ton of pics! Ha! First it was my Papa's 80th Birthday. Here is Morgan giving him a hug. She loves her Papa Clay.

Then we decorated eggs in the dark during a power outage!

Then it was Easter weekend. We went to one of my cousins house and had an egg hunt. Here is Morgan petting one of their pet ducks.

Playing with the girls.

The Easter Bunny made a stop at our house.

Ready for church.

She learned to make her own bed. This was the first time by herself!

My nephew went to his girlfriends prom. First Ethan with Morgan (she calls him Macho Man).

Then with Meredith. She was beautiful. Morgan said she looked like a princess!

And we played outside alot last weekend!

Whew, caught up! We have a very busy 2 months ahead of us. My nephew and niece are both going to their schools prom, my nephew is graduating high school, Morgan's adoption, her birthday, and a lot of family birthdays!! A lot!

I have to admit ladies.......I am struggling a bit now. It is ironic because this happens when I thought that things were going to be getting easier. But for two years I have been able to have opinions about her education and everything but not the final say. EVERYthing was geared toward what would be best when we went to court. I am now dealing with the ramifications of all of those things that I didn't agree with and now am trying very hard to correct but it isn't easy. One of the biggest things right now is school. Almost 2 years ago Morgan's counselor thought that she needed to be put in a class with a small student to teacher ratio and that dealt with behavioral/emotional issues. I was alright with this at first. At that time Morgan didn't play with kids her own age at all. When I would go pick her up at daycare all the other kids would be playing and she would be in a corner by herself. Unfortunately, the only thing that the DFCS office could find was a public Special Needs Pre-K program that accepted 3 year olds. We went for testing and I knew the lady. Morgan did not test in. Some strings were pulled and they got her in on an emotional basis. I very clearly asked that day what ramifications that this would have on her later. They assured me that there wouldn't be any at that age. That we wouldn't have a problem getting her out of the program later. Well, after last year we re-enrolled her for this year. We hadn't went to court yet and last year did help her so much. She quit sucking her thumb constantly, kept her clothes on, and made friends. I almost cried the first day that she came home telling me about her dear friend Trey. Trey, she knew a friends name!!!!! It was a first!! This year, however has been a completely different situation. Her teacher is very young, very defensive, and she certainly has her picks among the kids and makes it very well known. It is also impossible to talk to her about anything. Morgan has regressed a good bit in the behavioral aspects this year. I have said many times if there were anywhere else to put her I would take her out.

I say all of that to ask this..... We go Monday for our placement meeting for next year. Her teacher is adamant that she go to DDK (Developmentally Delayed Kindergarten). I am adamant that she will go into mainstream Kindergarten. She is learning more bad behavior from being in these classes than anything. She is NOT developmentally delayed in any area. She is VERY smart. I have asked various times through out the year and have been told that Morgan is "at least" where the peers are in her class. She knows most of the things that you learn in Kindergarten with the exception of reading (she only does sight words now) and tying her shoes. So, I need your opinion friends. Am I doing the right thing. Her caseworker and CASA worker are 100% behind me on this. Her teacher has invited literally half the county to this meeting and I am thinking that it isn't going to be pretty. I feel like Morgan deserves a chance to show us what she can do. I want her to be able to thrive in a normal classroom setting. If she has problems and needs to have help then at that point I would not be against it. But I do feel that she deserves the chance to show us if she can do it or not. This is a chance that she has never been given. I need your advise and prayers that I make the right decisions for Morgan.

Thank you ladies....if you have stuck around this long!!! I promise I won't be so long away next time.

As is.......

A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment at the attorney's office to sign all the paperwork so that we could send in the petition for a court date for the adoption. When I got back to work I was beyond excited! I was trying to explain to all of them what all was going on and in the process said that I had paid for the adoption and we should know a court date within a week. So, one co-worker laughingly said, "So, she is bought and paid for?" Another good natured worker jibbed, "Did the purchase come with a return policy?" My answer was, "No, this was as-is, all sales are final." To which everyone, including me, thought was wildly funny.

Anyone who has adopted a child, not an infant, knows that these kids have some issues. Some have major issues to overcome and some can overcome theirs quite easily. All of my foster parent friends and also the ones who have adopted say that these aren't "normal" children. We don't mean it to be mean but it is just the truth. My cousin, he says that is what makes us love them more. He is right. When you look at a 4 year old and you know that they have been through more in their 4 little years of life than you have in 3o.....well it is amazing. They are survivors, they are fighters, they are remarkably resilient. These kids are literally walking miracles in my eyes. I would not give Morgan for a biological "normal" child for anything. I love my little girl. I love her not because she is perfect but because she is....well her! She is perfect just the way that she is.

As time goes by and I think about this conversation I think.......What if we were bought and paid for with a return policy? What if God returned us because of our flaws, and trust me if you are like me you have plenty! Luckily our God loves us faults and all. Luckily he paid the price for all of us with no exceptions, no qualifications. We didn't have to be "normal"..... whatever that is anyway. Thank God,Praise Him!

So, I guess that I should tell you that last Friday we found out the date for the adoption and........

On June 8th, the Monday before Morgan's birthday, the above will become a reality!!!! I cried....a lot. I was overwhelmed when I got the letter. It was late and I couldn't really call and tell everyone. So, I just talked to my Mom until we both calmed down a little.

Yep, on June 8th this little one....

will become.......

Morgan Kate Gravitt

For this day I have prayed for a long time friends. It is through the encouragement and prayers of my friends and family that I have made it through this process. I have heard it said that motherhood, no matter how it comes to you, is a miracle. I have to say that I whole-heartedly agree! I love you all!

Soccer and dilemma.....

Ok, so this year I decided to sign Morgan up to play soccer. I thought she would really like it and it would be something more involved than t-ball. Turns out I was right... except my little one doesn't so much want to be involved.... Her she is before the game.

The coach giving them the pre-game talk. He literally has the patience of a saint! I could not have picked a better coach for her.

Doing the pre-game huddle. 1-2-3 Go Tigers!!!!

Lining up at the start of the game. Morgan looks real interested doesn't she????

Again really interested....

The one.....and I do mean the ONE and ONLY time she actually touched the ball.

Sitting on the sidelines while the other kids are getting their turn to play.

Lining up to shake hands at the end of the game.

So, the BIG dilemma...... When I was getting Morgan ready that morning I wanted to put a bow in her hair so bad. I just love the bows, but I resisted the urge. I mean we were going to play soccer....... Well, while I was watching the game and watching my child out on the field doing anything but play soccer I decided right then and there......by gosh from now on there will be a bow! At least she will be as cute as she possibly can while out there doing her princess swirls and twirls! Ha!

Not like she isn't cute enough though!!!

Good, good days

I have been pretty absent on the blog lately. Haven't had many pictures to post or I guess the desire to take the time to do it. But I love the blog and all of my buddies. A couple of weeks ago Morgan started soccer.....but that is definitely a whole post in itself for later. I get stressed just thinking about that......

Anyway lots of other great stuff has been going on also. About a week ago, our caseworker sent the packet of information to my lawyer. Last Friday I dropped off some stuff that he needed from me. Today I had a message when I got home saying that they wanted me to come in tomorrow morning that they had a draft ready. I am hoping to sign so that he can send the petition off to the court to request a date.......did you hear that people......A DATE!!!!! I hope that maybe by the end of the month we will have a date and we are hoping for a date in June, hopefully before Morgan's birthday. Sometimes it seems that the time since that day in October when her mother signed over her rights and waiting on the official adoption date has been longer than the whole process. I know that it is probably only because the end is so near. I need my due date!!! You know that date that all of you biological mom's look forward to for 9 months....well I have been waiting for over 2 years. I know that it is just a name at this point but to us it is so much more. Really she was born in my heart the minute I meet her Feb 7th 2007. I think that it is like that with all children that you care for. I still consider Maddie a child of my heart also even though she is no longer with me. These children may physically come and go but they leave forever footprints on your heart. I could go on and on about this subject but I am going to tear myself away for now.

In other news Morgan loves her room. I love that all the toys are out and in the playroom. When she is in there this is what I find most often when I go in. This was taken a few weeks ago. She is reading a story to Bitty Baby. How sweet!

If she isn't doing that then this is what I find her doing.

Playing her Leapster. At any rate this is definitely her new (old) favorite place to be. It warms my heart that she has such a love of books already. When we were talking about what to do in the room this is one idea that I just couldn't give up on. A little reading nook.

Still comfy and cozy. I think that her room makes her feel like such a big girl. She is quick to show it to anyone who comes over.

Seriously Mom do you HAVE to keep flashing that thing.......I'm kinda busy here.....jeez! Ahhh, I love her!!!!!

I know that this is like the most random post ever....but that is kind of the state of my mind this evening. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Big Girl Room almost Complete......FINALLY!!!!

Well Morgan FINALLY has a little girl room. I held off buying most of the furniture until I knew for sure that the TPR was going to go through. I have been looking around since October for a chest and night stand that would match her bed. I really wanted to keep her bed because I just love it so much. I found the perfect ones a couple of weeks ago and ordered them and they came in on Friday. I had also picked up a small bookcase, new bedding, and curtains along the way. Me and my mom have been working on it today and I have to say that I LOVE IT! I never thought that it would come together this good. This is the view when you walk in her door.

You will have to pay no attention to my little homeless girl. She got in the pile of clothes that was sitting in the floor and this emsemble is what she came up with. Nice, eh?

A little better view of the bookcase. It looks like her own litte suite.

The little night stand that will someday hold her tv. We are still holding out on that one. I still want her to play instead of having her nose stuck in the television constantly.

Her bed with the new bedding. I love it. Of course Shami, Froggy, and Chocolate are waiting for Morgie and bedtime. She has to sleep with all three every night.

Another angle of her room that shows the chest and her favorite place the mirrors. I am pretty sure that I am going to add a place to hang her Princess dresses between her bed and the mirrors.

Here is the top of the chest. I love these picture frames, although I haven't changed the pictures since last summer. One says "fairy tales do come true" and the other says "once upon a time."

This is her door with some of her hairbows. All the rest of them are in one of her chest drawers. She has a million! We just got this bag. It has her new initials on it!

I think that it is pretty much finished. I am going to add some storage bins in the lower part of her bookcase, a place to hang her dresses up, and I am going to have some canvases painted with her initials on them to go over the night stand. But you can get a pretty good picture now. She is so excited. She keeps running up to me and saying, "Love it!" When me and mom got finished we just stood in the doorway and sighed, finally the girlie girl room that my princess deserves!! We were almost teary eyed as this is just another thing that makes it REAL! She is here to stay, THANK GOD!!!!

Growth Spurt???

This is becoming a pretty common sight at our house......it usually starts something like this...in the car.

Then it goes straight to this....

Or occasionally this....

Or this.....

Or sometimes......this.......

Do you get the picture (no pun intended)? Lots of sleeping going on. I am thinking maybe she is going through a growth spurt maybe? At any rate it is pretty funny waiting to see where she will find to collapse next.

Morgan is doing so much better emotionally. She really is a different little girl these days. Me and my mom talk about it almost every day. She is a true delight to be around. With all the extra stability the last few months we can all really see a huge difference in Morgan's personality. She is allot more playful and child-like. She giggles allot and acts silly almost constantly. These are things that I have waited to see and prayed for. Every child deserves the chance to have their childhood. I am glad that Morgan is finally getting her chance!