Well, it doesn't look too promising yet to get a diagnosis and/or special funding. I only talked briefly with our facilitator about that (my priority the day that i finally got to talk with her was about the year end testing that we did this year), but she said something about there being like two levels of "special needs" and that we didn't fit the category that supposedly gets the help??? Not sure i followed, and i've invited her to share the information with me that she mentioned... but i haven't heard back from her yet. I might try sending another email ~ for what it's worth.

The testing was something new for us. It's standardized testing, like the CTBS tests that I used to do in school. We did the usual year end report with portfolio, etc. for Brenden, but the other three did the testing. When i first got all the information and books, it was a bit overwhelming, but i managed to figure it all out just fine and enjoyed it (mostly). Janique got really frustrated with it ~ she doesn't really perform as well under pressure, so when the timer went and she wasn't done, it really disturbed her. I think we managed to make an ok arrangement there (allow her to finish, but make a note of where she was at when the timer went, and just score her on what she had done up to there). Then her second test, she messed up when she accidentally skipped a page, but kept going in sequence on her answer sheet. That one was a bit of a mess, and she scored poorly as a result. She did have a few good ones, but then the math tests were a real challenge for her. She's really struggling there ~ maybe more than i thought. Some of her scoring was certainly affected by the time limit, but i wonder if it might be beneficial to have her tested for a possible (mild) learning issue. (When/if we ever get there with Brenden ~ and, btw, a cousin mentioned a pediatrician that might be worth seeing... altho it likely wouldn't be an "official" diagnosis, it might be a place to begin, and it sounds like there is a support group with resources or something??). Darwin & Reagan enjoyed the testing, and both did really well overall. Darwin was a bit weak in math (which we already knew), but scored really high in most other areas (higher than i expected). Reagan shows weakness in grammer and comprehension (which i expected as well), but fine everywhere else, and especially strong in math. I'm wondering if it might be beneficial to have Janique checked for a possible (minor) learning issue.

Jonathan's workplace finally (last week) went to 3 shifts (milking)/day, so he doesn't have to get up at 3am anymore! 5am is nicer. But, they only have one person for the night shift, so it's taking a bit longer, and is more work intense. Because it's not ideal to have someone working alone, they suggested maybe our boys wanted to come and help (with post-dipping and cleaning ~ we won't send them to get cows because there is a bull in one of the groups, and it's just too dangerous for them anyway). Darwin went the first time, and was able to help some, but because he's still so short it is really too dangerous. By the time he can reach the cows (the utter), his head is too close and at risk if the cow decided to kick. Still, both Brenden & Darwin went along the second time... they got home at 3:30am. YUCK! That doesn't make it a whole lot better than the early morning shift, except that we're hoping he won't have too many night shifts. And, if he works the night, he gets the next morning off. Of course, the whole schedule is different again... another adjustment. We're curious for the end of the month to see what (if any) his raise is going to be. Not that we're expecting anything too significant. Jonathan had already told me earlier that he's decided to find something else. He's missing out on too much family life ~ when he isn't at work, he's too tired to do much. The other day the kids went to my sister's place for a few hours, so i was looking forward to some time at home with just Jonathan... he slept most of the time.

He hasn't heard back from any of the places he's applied recently (only two places, but still). Maybe it's time to follow up. And i think he might need to change his resume ~ it's heavy with his computer training, etc. and most of these jobs aren't that reliant on computer training (altho the computer skills are an asset and certainly worth mentioning). If only he wasn't always too busy at work, or too tired from work, to actually do the follow up. Today i've been really frustrated with his job again because i was anxiously waiting for him to get home this morning to discuss a bunch of things (some of them a bit time-sensitive)... and he ended up staying at work. Sometimes the unpredictability is annoying.

Adoption? Jonathan finally got to talk with the social worker about 2 weeks ago. She's not exactly sure how it all works from the adoption end of it since she works more with the fostering part, but of course, the best case senario would be to keep all three children together. I don't see that as ideal for us (long explanation), altho we haven't met the middle child, so we're not really sure what he's like. The SW doesn't really think they will all go together, but if we were trying to adopt just one or two, we could end up fostering to adopt for a year and then have to give her/them up if someone wanted all three. I tried to call our adoption worker last week, but didn't get a reply and didn't try again. I'm just not as sure about this one as Jonathan is, so i'm leaving it up to him to get the information.

My heart, i think, still seems to be turned toward Ethiopia, but it seems Jonathan is more interested in pursuing this little girl/family... so it kind of feels like maybe we're not quite on the same page at this point. Part of me is feeling a little impatient at just being in limbo, but another part of me is at peace... trusting God to work it all out in His good time. Today, with my frustration about Jonathan's job (and maybe the disappointment of him not coming home this morning), i feel like just giving up on the whole thing. But i'm pretty sure that won't happen. I think it will keep coming back until it happens (the idea of adoption).

I suggested the other night that we all pray and ask God to give us dreams of the child(ren) we should pursue adopting (more specifically, either the little girl Jonathan wants, or Ethiopian adoption). The kids didn't have any dreams that they remembered. Jonathan's dream was about this little girl, and my dream was that we were adopting a sweet 3yr.old African boy. Lol... so i'm not sure if we're any further ahead there either. I did find it interesting though that my dream was about a boy... if it had been purely based on my desires, it would've been a girl. (Did my new baby-sitting job influence me?? I'm watching two little boys ~ 2 & 4yrs. old).

I started my baby-sitting job on Tuesday. It's part-time, and it seems to be a good fit for us so far. The boys like to go from one thing to the next fairly quickly, so we'll have to find balance in that. The first day they were really clingy and didn't want their mom to leave, but the minute she was out of sight they started talking and playing, and the next day they were asking to come back.

Oh, starting in August, i'll probably be watching my sister's boys one or two days/week. Those boys keep us BUSY! I wouldn't be interested in every day, but she asked me for one day/week, and that i can probably do (if nothing else, let the kids earn some extra money ~ altho i could use it too). And this would only be until they could find a replacement for her at the pizza place so that she can be home with her boys. (Her husband is finally back to work full time, so they're managing financially ~ in fact, she said she's basically working to pay for daycare since their funding got cut due to income).

sorry this is so long... i guess i had some catching up to do