Hats off to your mommas of many!!!

[taracotta7]

Seriously! I have lots of kiddos but most of them are grown now (2 step daughters 16 and 18 that live at their mom's house and an adopted sibling group that is now 18,19 and 20 - they are all moved out, working and supporting themselves.) I have only had Landon at home that is 5.

We just renewed our license to be foster parents through our state. We have a placement of a sister sibling group that is 5 and 2. HOLY COW!!!! Totally rocking my world!!!!!!! No energy. No patience. No nothing!!!! They are going to be with their forever home as of tomorrow. I am so excited for them but I have to admit that I am SOOOOOOOOO relieved!

So, all of that to say............All of you moms with more than one little one......YOU TOTALLY ARE MY HERO AND PRETTY MUCH ROCK AT LIFE. That's all. Continue scrapping and visiting on the forums. Just wanted to do a shout out to the kick booty moms here. :thumbup:

[BrattyMeg]

aww I have a handful myself (five) this school year I'll only have ONE at home (come Monday when Ry starts prek)..I'm kinda looking forward to that after this summer lol

I think too if those 2 little ones had come from a house of structure and such they might not have been as big of a handful for ya lol I'm sure they had a wonderful day with you though! I admire foster and adoptive parents so much!

[pewtertm]

YOU are so awesome, girl! I so admire foster parents. I've know several in my Connection class at church...and what you all do...there's not enough kudos in the world for giving kids a home when they desperately need one.

[lovely1m]

I, too, think foster parents are amazing! That really takes a lot.

[ayaandjudah]

I'm with the others. I have two, we're considering a third but I could never be a good foster parent. Hats off to you.

[taracotta7]

No, No, No. No kuddos to me. I can always give foster kids back if they drive me too crazy. LOL You moms do it with NO WAY out! That deserves so much more praise.

These 2 really are good girls, they just aren't use to "our" way of doing things so it made it difficult. Plus there were TWO of them! Which made for 3 with the ages of 5 and younger. Wowzer.

[nikkiARNGwife]

I agree with everyone else Tara..you're awesome :)

I only have 2 and I'm always exhausted lol...

[Milmomma]

I give props to the moms with lots too. I don't know how you do it. I have 2 less than 2 years apart and they drive me bananas most days. I am amazed at mellow moms with 5 or what not! And even as a Foster parent you deserve kudos you are brave enough to open your heart and home to these kids that don't have anywhere else to go. You give them what they need even when they are not use to it and fight back. :)

[lovely1m]

You moms do it with NO WAY out! That deserves so much more praise.
.

lol..well, I gotta give props to both cause I got 1 kid and that's the way its staying! ;)

[taracotta7]

Thanks guys. I will have to say.......we have had them for two days and I have been blown away! We took them out to eat the first night and they were AMAZED at the restaurant! They have never been anywhere other than McD's and Taco Bell! They just kept saying how beautiful and big it was! It wasn't a fancy place either!

We got home with their trash bag of stuff (seriously.....no suit case or duffel bag!) and realized that they didn't have underwear, socks or pajamas. They only had one pair of shoes.....flip flops that were on their feet. So we went to Super Target for a shopping spree. That night we put on their new pajamas and they were twirling around saying they looked pretty. When I asked the oldest one what she normally wears to bed, she said that whatever she had on is what she wore. Poor girls!

Then, the next day I wanted an activity where I could really wear them out due to their energy levels so I picked the zoo since we have a family pass. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A ZOO! A 5 yo and an almost 3 yo!!!! Seriously? Landon has gone to the zoo for years! I can't even imagine. They were blown away by all the animals and the children's area.

So, if anything we gave them some great clothes and some memories! It just amazes me what kids survive through. They haven't had any kid experiences. They have had to deal with screwed up adults their whole life and fend for themselves. Breaks my heart.

So happy they are finding their forever family tomorrow! They really deserve to have their childhood back!

[SweetMelissa]

I have to agree with the other ladies. Foster parents are amazing people for everything they do. For example you didn't have to buy those girls anything or take them anywhere. But you did. To me that's true kindness. :) I know biological parents who won't even do that for their own kids yet you do it for kids you just met.

[AmberK]

Tara- you are amazing! It takes a special amazing heart to take in foster kids. I've actually thought about this as well but want to wait until my boys get a little bit older and we are in a better financial situation. Kudos to you for giving those girls some special memories!

[scrapperjade]

Thanks guys. I will have to say.......we have had them for two days and I have been blown away! We took them out to eat the first night and they were AMAZED at the restaurant! They have never been anywhere other than McD's and Taco Bell! They just kept saying how beautiful and big it was! It wasn't a fancy place either!

We got home with their trash bag of stuff (seriously.....no suit case or duffel bag!) and realized that they didn't have underwear, socks or pajamas. They only had one pair of shoes.....flip flops that were on their feet. So we went to Super Target for a shopping spree. That night we put on their new pajamas and they were twirling around saying they looked pretty. When I asked the oldest one what she normally wears to bed, she said that whatever she had on is what she wore. Poor girls!

Then, the next day I wanted an activity where I could really wear them out due to their energy levels so I picked the zoo since we have a family pass. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A ZOO! A 5 yo and an almost 3 yo!!!! Seriously? Landon has gone to the zoo for years! I can't even imagine. They were blown away by all the animals and the children's area.

So, if anything we gave them some great clothes and some memories! It just amazes me what kids survive through. They haven't had any kid experiences. They have had to deal with screwed up adults their whole life and fend for themselves. Breaks my heart.

So happy they are finding their forever family tomorrow! They really deserve to have their childhood back!

Awww, that brings tears to my eyes, and just warms my heart so much! We take things for granted if we always have them. It's hard to imagine that there are kids out there who are unloved and completely ignored, or worse, abused. It really does take special people to open their hearts and their homes and try to make a difference, even if it is only for 2 days. Huge hugs to you and all you do!

[nun69]

OMG..Tara that is FABULOUS! Thise 2 little girls will remeber those 2 days the rest of their life THANKS to you and your loving family!!!! that is TOTALLY awesome!!!!!!

and I am one with 4 kids ages 17, 9, 4 and 3, work full time and will be 40 in just a few weeks!!!! sometimes I don't know how I even make it to bed! I am sooo exhausted on a daily basis and realize NOW why my grandma always took a nap in the afternoon!!!! so that is why I am spending my birthday in Vegas with 5 of my best friends and NO kids!!!! sometimes if you can't give them back, you just have to get away!:p

[pomi]

sometimes if you can't give them back, you just have to get away!:p

Exactly! :) (and I have only two)

Tara, I think you are awesome, too. You have started the way of bringing back their childhood to them.

When chasing my two DDs around, I sometimes think how the moms of a bigger hoard can do it (Emmy and Meg come mostly on my mind :)).

[sprauncey1]

What an amazing two days you gave them Tara and what a blessing for them on their new life to their forever home. And I do agree...I don't know how mom's of more than two do it! Two is all I can handle (except for the occasional playdate and then I have the option of calling THEIR mom if they are bad) and most days lately this is taking me to the edge of my sanity. I look forward to school, but at the same time I know that this time with my boys is flying by!

[Emmy]

Tara - that is just awesome, I'm sure those girls won't forget what an amazing 2 days you gave them. If only every foster parent experience was so gratifying - I'm sure it filled up your heart as much as theirs. :)

Majda - you get used to it little by little. If someone had handed me 6 kids 10 years ago I would have flipped. But one at a time and then a set of 2 at the end? It's not so bad. It's all about lowering your standards around the house and gong with the flow LOL. That being said - I *am* exhausted at night! :p

[Ebony]

Oh Tara, ya know how much I love you but this story really warms my heart and makes me sniffle. You are an inspiring woman!

[MandaT]

You deserve kudos too. Giving those kids a home, love & showing them that there is more in life than what they've seen, is amazing. It's hard to believe that people bring children into the world & then treat them the way that they do, I couldn't imagine.

A friend deals with fosters, & OMGosh...

& yes you get used to the chaos of having them run amuck. If the house isn't perfectly clean, or there's laundry that needs washed, dishes that need put away, you get used to that too. You just improvise & do the best that you can.

& when your hubby complains or says "I don't know what the problem is, we have no problems when you're not here" (says he who doesn't spend 12 hours a day, every day of the week alone with them)-- You just reply with, "okay, well then, have a great day with them, I'm going shopping" (without feeling guilty, without rushing, & spend ALL day away).

[MamaBee]

Awww, that brings tears to my eyes, and just warms my heart so much! We take things for granted if we always have them. It's hard to imagine that there are kids out there who are unloved and completely ignored, or worse, abused. It really does take special people to open their hearts and their homes and try to make a difference, even if it is only for 2 days. Huge hugs to you and all you do!

I couldn't have said it better than Jae!

It takes such a special person to be a foster parent... I know I couldn't do it... I wouldn't want to give them back! It just breaks my heart to hear what other children (and even pets) have to endure... I greatly admire you and all the foster parents out there!!

[taracotta7]

Thank you everyone. We are on the count down until I take them to their next placement. It is hard but I know it is the best thing for them. Only 3 more hours! I wish I could share pictures of them. They are the cutest little girls. Of course, I am a little bias because I love all biacial children. I think they are so pretty!!!! I have taken several pictures of them because I am going to have scrapbook of our foster children. I won't be able to share pictures but I wanted to have that record for our family. :)

[heidip2p]

I think you are amazing:)

[xboxmom]

Ok I am too ADD to read through all of these but I just wanted to say thanks but also to tell you I have 5 kids and yes its hard. But raising other peoples kids as a foster parent must be a lot harder. Those kids have a lot of issues emotionally and Physically sometimes and anyone who puts themselves out there to accept that and help raise these kids deserves just as much PROPS! So props to you too Tara!

[Sasha]

Tara - YOU are AMAZING!

that's all.

[MommaTrish]

Wow Tara I so couldn't do foster work. Major major Kudos to you, espically with all your doing for them.

I have a 6 year old, a 4 year old, and a 1 year old, and there are many days I wish I could send them away. (Mainly just the older two) But then when they're gone more than a few hours I miss them horribly. I've been so excited for the past year that starting Monday I'll only have Belly home during the day and both boys in school, but now I'm kinda dreading it. If nothing else having Ryan (4 yr old) home all day made my day interesting.