End of the School Year ROCKS!!!!

The end of the school year is the best time for me...it is the time that I get to go to all of the kids performances that show of their talents...I just love going and watching it all the little singing stuff in elementary school, orchestra, band, middle school choir, kindergarten singing it all just makes me tear up they are all so great all of their heart and soul gets put into this one performance....and such joy is placed in this once in a moment event....and I am so happy to catch it on Video although I am sure the older ones are not too happy about that at times...(insert Chuckle) It also brings tears to my eyes this year as I am coming up on a BIG year this year...I have one leaving her junior year of High school and one that will be entering Kindergarten where has time gone...I still remember very Vividly the day she was born...(that post coming soon...since she is coming up on her 5th BIG birthday!! )) this is just so unreal...somebody pinch me...well enjoy what I did so far this year it was great and most enjoyable

life is always changing....

Its been a few since I last posted I know I should do this more but life got in the way...Baby girl moved onto an adoptive home and we had an exchange student with us for the past year....We now have an open home but have only has respite...I am praying for the next child to come to our home...I have gone back to work and am now a 3's Assistant preschool teacher and love it....Kenzie moved home in april and school is back in session for the teens....cannot believe my youngest is in middle school where is time going....I need to do better about getting on this daily and blogging and will try to do better shon's travel schedule is a little hectic these days leaving me little time....God is good and life is always changing.......T

Its not always easy but it will always be worth it...

The days have been long and sometimes the nights too but having little girl here for the past two months has brought us such all so much joy....I am sure everyone who decides to become a foster parent has some fear before they get their first placement I mean who wouldn't...You don't know this childs, his/her background, what kind of trauma they have gone through, medical problems etc. But you know that god has chosen you yes you to be a light for this child and to teach them and show them what true love really is....we have been making so much progress with little girl but we still have those days where it feels like its been 2 steps forward and four backwards...It's like falling off a bike you don't just put the bike back in the garage and never ride it again nope you get back on it and try again...So when you have those days of struggles with a bad attitude or the child is regressing when you thought you were making progress just try something new until you find what works!! I have also been doing some reading to better help understand what this child has been through....it's hard when they are young and don't communicate well how to help them and to get them to tell you what is wrong and how you can make it better....sometimes its just a good Hug and a smile.....:)

So the journey begins.....

So January 26th, 2017 we received a phone call asking if we would take a 1&2 year old sibling group we talked about it and both felt very confident saying yes...so we waited almost all day to hear back from our agency to then find out they had been placed with another family (I am finding out this happens quite often ) so we went on about waiting for that next phone call....the following week on February 1st, 2017 that phone call came again and it was for the same sibling group we of course said Yes again and met the social worker to pick them up....The first few days weren't too bad but then came the sleepless nights and more of abuse and neglect they had endured started taking more and more effort for me to keep up with....by day 7 I had spoke to our social worker and told her all I was going through with the both of them and I made the tough decision to move the younger half brother to another foster home so they could both get the one on one attention they needed and deserved.....so the following day they moved him and I was able to give little girl all of our undivided attention....we are now beginning month 3 with having her here and we have endured so much together already but nothing we would take back, we have formed a love, a bond with this sweet girl and are excited to show her what true love and a family are all about.....her half brother ended up going to his dad's...I am praying that little girl gets happiness too in her future.....

Just when you think a door has closed....

So a little over 15 years ago back when we had just the 3 girls God placed it on our hearts to become Foster parents and so we began the process of going to an information night through the city and began the classes.....during this we found out we were expecting a baby...and a special baby at that since I had just recently had my tubes reversed....We were so happy and decided to continue the journey....one evening while we were in class I started to not feel so well and by the time we got home that evening I had started to bleed...I became really worried thinking something was wrong with the pregnancy so the following day I called the doctor and went in for a visit....I was placed on bed rest and we were faced with a difficult decision to put the classes on hold....We delivered a healthy Baby boy and then over the next few years two more girls bringing our family total to 8.....Shon's military career kept him deployed quite often the years after leaving me at home with all the kiddos for many months at a time the last totaling 22 months with only a few weeks in between those deployments but life was good we had moved into a larger home and all kids had their own space....more years passed and our older girls began graduating High school and moving onto college and their adult lives....around this time last year I was browsing my favorite Yard Sale site called Offer Up...I usually would go to the site a few times a week since having Grandchildren it saved me a bunch of money to buy used items vs. new.....Well during a search I stumbled upon an advertisement for becoming a Foster Parent....I got an excited feeling in my stomach as I really wanted to pursue this journey again....I didn't quite know how shon would feel about the idea a lot had changed and shon had retired from the Navy and was currently working a position that had him traveling quite frequently....So the next day when we had a moment I approached him and we discussed it...Now this time would be different than last time as we found out this was with an agency not with the City so we set up a meeting to meet with the Foster Parent Coordinator....She was very sweet and so informative and she was able to give us the time we needed and ask all the questions we had....We began our classes, Background checks, fingerprinting and Homestudy just one short month later...We hit a few bumps along the way and it made us question if this was for sure what god wanted us to do but then I would see different scriptures and it would remind me that this journey even months or years later wouldn't be an easy one and we moved forward....We finalized everything in November and so began the waiting period, the "is my phone going to ring during church" "will the call come in the middle of the night" the unknown....Thanksgiving passed and so did Christmas I was a little disappointed we didn't have a foster for those holidays because I wanted to bring some joy to their life but I knew it was all in Gods timing......On February 1st we did receive our first placement more on that journey coming next all I do know is with a lot of patience and trusting in God he has walked with us and our family and we now get to spread our love to lots of wonderful children.....

My New adventure in Life...

I have taken on a new job in Life and that is being a motivational coach with Beachbody and WOW let me say how life changing it has become...I love this job!!! not only have I lost weight from the great products that they offer but I have been getting LOTS of messages from my customers on their successes as well little did I know that going into this...You see I did it only for the discount...We get 25% off all of our purchases so that is off of all Dvd's, protein bars, vitamins, recovery drink and the Awesome Shakeolgy meal replacement Drink....I had started out with Turbofire last summer and then about 5 mo. ago added Shakeology to my plan and so far am down 52 lb. and lots of inches and have gone from a size 14 to a size 6 all of this after 6 kids REALLY??? reality still hasn't set in..I keep asking people to pinch me...It's really weird going into stores and trying clothes on :oO but I had to do it because NOTHING fits me in my closet anymore but I gave it all to great people!!...I am always looking for new people to join me on my team!! so if you are looking to get fit, help others and to get a paycheck a discount then this is for you!!! I am so looking forward to this weeks check...and I love to have play money to spend on me and the kids...and that is comes once a week :o) here are my two sites and they have my numbers and email addresses pass the info. onto friends also if you feel they are looking to get fit summer us right around the corner and we all want to be ready for bathing suit season...or a homecoming, or a special occasion...I want to be around to see my children grow old...I want to look fabulous at 40 and even better at 50!!! I am here to help you so you are not in this alone...contact me today...Be blessed...Traci

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/mommyuv6

http://myshakeology.com/esuite/home/mommyuv6

A Review for a great sunscreen....

http://www.giantwavepool.com/r.php?2258

5 Years old!!! WOW Happy Birthday Abigayl...what a miracle you are...

5 Years ago today I went in for a routine ultrasound  at 35 weeks only to be told...there is a problem Mrs. Reynolds...I was in SHOCK!!! I was there alone with my 3 year old son as we weren't expecting the news...They came back and told me that there was fluid in abigayls chest cavity surrounding her lungs...she for one could not be born natural...plus they didn't know what was going to happen even after she was born.....

I immediately called shon on the phone frantic and crying he came to the doctors right away...we sat and talked to them about what the next step would be and they told me I would have to deliver you that day and by C-section...more SHOCK!!! I worried were you ready to arrive, what was the c-section going to be like as my last five births had all been natural....

so we went home and dropped off my younger two with Darlene my sweet friend and she said she would care for them I then went home made a few phone calls and packed my bags for the unknown...I arrived at Sentara Norfolk General just after lunch and they did more ultrasounds and spoke with more doctors as to what the plan would be....the decision was made you would be delivered by dinner time...

I had alot of anxiety about the c-section and what was going to take place when you were born...but Our campus Pastor Debbie Warren came with her husband and prayed for us and helped calm me...they stayed during the surgery in the waiting room.....

minutes after you were born they immediately took you over to a table and started to pull the fluid out with a needle very scary to watch but if they hadn't of removed it you wouldn't have been able to take your first breathe.....they then stabilized you and then took you over to CHKD where you 6 week adventure began.....

I was able to go over and see you after I was awake and feeling better by then they had tapped your lungs a few more times.....this went on for a few days in the meantime they intubated you and gave you meds to keep you sleepy so your body would rest.....they started discussing what you may have and they said it was either a chylothorax or lymphatasia (sorry about the spelling) so they started treatment on the chylothorax but a few weeks into it we were not seeing a change...our hopes were dashed and we were very tired....we spent about 3 times a day making drives to and from CHKD from Va beach to Norfolk all the while trying to heal myself from a lovely spinal headache from surgery and caring for my other 5 at home....we had generous people from church bringing us meals and helping get kids to camp...what a blessing that was....

at about 4 weeks of age you became not well at all...everything they were trying was not working to bring the levels down...the left side has resolved itself a few weeks back but the right side was still putting out over 400 cc a day of fluid YIKES!!! so we were called in for a care conference with the doctors, nurse, the surgeon and a chaplain....They told us you were VERY VERY ill at this point and each and everyday was touch and go....our only option at this point was to go in for surgery and place a shunt in your chest cavity to your bladder to expel the fluid and let your body do the work....but we were told that they didn't see you living till about age one or so even with this option...Most children they have found with this disease was in autopsy...(tears were streaming down both of our faces) we didn't know what to think or do but it looked like that was our only option....

so after leaving the conference the chaplain pulled us aside and asked us if we would like to go back to your bedside and pray over you....we agreed because at this point it wouldn't hurt anything..so our Day nurse Lisa, shon the chaplain and I all went back to you and he spoke the most beautiful prayer and we weaped some more and just sat looking at you for hours after that....we went home that day in very somber moods....we didn't know what to tell your siblings and we didn't know what lied ahead for all of us...it was very hard to sleep that night but we did the best we could....

The next day we got up showered and prepared for our drive in to see you....When we got there we were shocked and amazed....you were starting to show signs of improvement the fluid levels were dropping YEAH!!!!! we tried not to get our hopes up but that week was your best week yet...the levels kept dropping and dropping till there wasn't almost any fluid  coming out then they made the decision to take your breathing tube out and let you wake up more..NO SURGERY NEEDED!!!...then days later came trying to feed you (mommy's milk too!!! something they told us you probably wouldn't be able to ever have) and then they moved to to the step down unit where we were able to hold you all we wanted ( we first got to hold her at 2 weeks of age and not really anymore after that) which was so nice your daddy would come and just sit in the recliner and hold you and talk and sing and sleep with you....to see the smile on his face was priceless....at six weeks of age on July 28th, 2005 they released you out of the hospital and home with us the best day of our lives...God has definitely given us a miracle and we never take it for granted....

Last year on June 19th, 2009 we got another scare that brought us to our knees in prayer when you swallowed a button battery out of a remote control.....we almost lost you again and this time was just as scary as the first time....but the doctors were there and god was watching over you....he isn't ready for you yet...so we live everyday with you and enjoy every moment as if it would be our last life is precious and you are a gem...

So today you have turned 5 and are registered for kindergarten...you have had 4 chest tubes and you still have the marks in your heal from all the blood taken for blood gases, you have had 3 eye surgeries and had your tonsils and adnoids removed...you are one of the strongest, sweetest little girls I have ever met, you are filled with wisdom beyond believe and you make me laugh each and everyday....you are a beautiful young lady and I cannot wait to see what god has laid out for your future BIG THINGS I can see....

A life changing moment!!

I was able to attend this years Ewomens Conference with a Very dear friend of mine...I went into it thinking it would be great speakers and of course was looking forward to seeing Jeremy camp and mandisa on stage...But little did I know that god would work in my heart so much I was brought to tears, laughter and deep thought during these two days I am Forever Changed...God is working in me and I am loving it!!!!...if you ever have the chance to go to one of these conferences I highly reccomend it...

Another Teenager Comes along....

(Jill the best cake maker in Hampton Roads :o) )

Yeah we have another Teenager in the house...Mackenzie has proudly turned 13 May 25th...we held a sleepover for her with 4 of her friends..Shon and I put together a Scavenger Hunt in two vehicles which was alot of fun we each had 3 girls in our vehicle and to watch these girls use their wisdom it just amazed me they were great team players and in the end it was down the the wire on who won CONGRATS!! to both teams...

                                                     ( mackenzie was very surprised when we showed her the cake)

                                           (Time for presents....LOTS AND LOTS of make up)

(Everyone gathered at the table for yummy pizza,cake and ice cream)

(Brooke...Mackenzie's best friend since kindergarten) 

we then gathered at the table for Pizza had cake and ice cream and the girls played games and watched a movie...the pool was too cold to swim in they stayed up late giggling and laughing and I wouldn't have had it any other way...Life is sure interesting in the house now with 3 teenagers challenging for sure but it just the way life is some days are great and others we have a few more challenges to face and to learn from one another...I am really proud of you Mackenzie as you head into your last year of Middle schoool you have grown so much and you are such a beautiful young lady with such a generous heart...HAPPY 13th to you....