Children "God's little gifts" and "huge responsibilities."

I am blogging because I have an addition to my loving family that I want to tell everyone about. Darke County Childrens Services called us for a placement yesterday(it's actually a family placement, my husband's side). They are two of the cutest little boys, I would have to say as cute as my little D man. The oldest is 2 and 1/2 and the baby is 10 months and they are such a blessing to have, but a challenge also. I was just getting used to having 5 children and now God has given me 2 more. WOW!!! Pray for me, PLEASE. The older little guy is wayyyyy hyper and doesn't know any boundries at all and the baby is so sweet. I am hoping that we can make a positive influence on them. To top off my super duper busy day, I had to take my 11 year old back to the ER for an ongoing problem and I just got home a lil bit ago. I'm tired, but I just can't sleep yet, I'm too wound up. Wow, what a week. Saturday night my husband decided (sawing a big hole in our bathroom floor) the bathroom floor needed replaced. So for the past several days, in order to get to our tub, you had to walk the plank. Although he finished it tonight and we have a new toilet and all. We drug the old toilet on to the front porch where a stray cat kept climbing on it and sitting on it. I was telling a friend of mine that we should put it in the yard and plant flowers in it, but that darn cat....YA KNOW......."Cat who stand on toilet, high on pot" tee hee...

I am pleased to say that when I came home from the ER with Samantha tonight that Chuck had the dishwasher loaded and some of the toys picked up even after working hard on that bathroom most of the day and helping out at Chrissy's track practice. He took on helping out the "shot and disc" kids at practices to keep him from getting too lazy while being laid off. He even noticed the other day that I have been kinda grumpy lately and didn't even bite my head off for it. Usually "THE MAN" is the only one in our house that's allowed to be grumpy. lol Therefore, I am so thankful for my husband tonight. He even managed (well, him and Chrissy) to get all the rest of the kids fed and put to bed. And that's alot of kids for Chuck, he's used to having me to do just about 98% of the taking care of the little ones. I really should be going to bed, so PLEASE keep me and my family in prayer, and the two new little ones in our home also.

Children "God's little gifts" and "huge responsibilities."

My mom

I have blogged about the day my mother was killed in a car accident on my myspace, but I haven't said too much of it lately and not yet on here. On June 10,2008 my mom was in a real bad accident where she hit a telephone pole. It was a shock to my system so much that I felt like I was in a daze for a while. Kind of like it was real but yet it wasn't at times and she was going to call me any day and say "Jess, this is mom, how are you hon?" Mom and I didn't always see eye to eye on a lot of things, but she was still my mom and I miss her more and more all the time. Today my brother put me, him and my stepdad on a 3 way call so my step dad could read us the coroners report. Apparently he just got it last week. He read that when the squad got there she was alive and speaking but died in the helicopter ride to the hospital in Philladelphia. I have no idea where she was at spiritually, she was somewhat resistant to the gospel, but not in a way like others to where they would argue with you, she would just go along with you and do the opposite and disagree occaionaly(mainly when she was around HER MOTHER!) As he continued to try to read the report, it was all kind of confusing, but I think I understood more of the medical stuff than he did. It just becomes more real each and every day and especially when others speak of her. Mainly my brother, I can't seem to get my little sister, who is only 15 to talk. My brother was wanting to know what all the toxicology report said. Mom was known to be on alot of medications and you just never know what she took that day. Aparently there were 7 different medications in her system, WOW. And I thought taking my thyroid medication, stuff for headaches, and allergy shots was alot. I did somewhat expect that she would have alot in her system. It wouldn't have been like mom not to. For those of you who read this and don't know the situation, she was also suffering from colon cancer, but was in remission at the time of the accident and had severe problems with her back. Those are some of the reasons for all the meds. After she died, I had alot of feelings of guilt for times when we would get into it and I wasn't as loving as I should have been. We had actually been getting along a little better at that time, but not completely mended I felt. So that is some of the reason for this post. YOU SHOULD NEVER NAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED! Maybe in the back of your mind you might think that there is always more time and you will get over your sinfulness some day, but don't feel like it today. That was me. My dad died about 5 years ago and I took it much better, but still had alot of regrets and miss him also. You just never know what God has planned and I know he's working all things for our good even if we don't like them at the time. So never take anyone for granted cause you could get a phone call at any moment saying they died, as I did with both of my parents. NO WARNING! And no time to prepare at all. WHAM! Your parents are DEAD! That sucks! Excuse my language, but that's how I felt. I know how much that hurt and tore me up and I can't even imagine what it must feel like to lose a spouse or a child. I have a dear friend in my life whom I am so thankful to God for. She is just awesome and such a good example to me. She lost her son, and without warning too. I was there that day and I really thought he was going to be ok, I guess God had other plans and it was so sad, but she was so strong and leaned on God's love, his word, his grace. She is the BOMB! LOVE YOU KELLY! I use to hesitate when bringing up any memory of him, for fear I would make her cry, but she has told me to never be afraid to speak of Jacob. What a special little boy he was. I have so many sweet memories of him. Isn't it just so awesome for God to put someone like her in my life to help me through times like these. Thanks be to GOD!

Davion Charles Runner, aka "BUBBA" or "D-bo"

I received a phone call last summer on July 27th from Childrens Services asking me if I would be interested in a newborn baby. I said "YES" of course! Then she gave me some more info about the child. He was a crack baby and African American, I told her I didn't care, I would take him anyway. She informed me that he was getting out of the hospital the next day and they would bring him to me. I actually had 24 hours to prepare, you don't usually get that much time, so Chuck went shopping. It was finnally a little boy and we had no boy stuff. I had friends and neighbors and family giving me things for him until we could get situated. When I first layed eyes on Davion, he was so tiny and really hairy. He didn't look like he was black, he almost looked as if he was Mexican. He was an excellent baby for the first 7 days, then the withdrawals kicked in all at once. WOW!!! That was hard from then on until he was around 3 months or so. Thank God for good friends, family, and respite. I started using respite days here and there because I wasn't getting any sleep. Once he hit 3 months old he seemed to be fine though. Now he is just perfect! He's a good little guy with a great disposition and a smile for everyone. I do have to say that "my boy" is very loved. Everywhere I take him, he gets more attention than any other baby I've ever seen. And he eats it up while he's sucking his thumb, either one of them, it doesn't matter, he likes them both.

We adopted him on June 30, 2008 and had a BIG adoption party for him on July 4th. It turned out great, I couldn't have asked for a better turn out, I only wish my mom could have been there to meet him, she would have loved him. Now Davion is 14 months old and just started walking. He looks like he's too small to be walking, but he's doing it. He's not real sturdy though, he falls alot still. I guess it's hard to walk and suck your thumb at the same time while you have a plastic hanger in your hand also, but he does it. Plastic hangers are his favorite toys and he loves munching on cheerios and fruit loops. He's such a sweet baby and is a total "momma's boy". Chuck wanted a boy all these years so bad and now he has one that is mommy's boy. He will most likely outgrow that though and get closer to his dad as he gets bigger. You know, sports and all that stuff that I'm not really into, but I'll support all of my kids in whatever they chose to do. There is definitely something to be said about the bond between a mother and her son. Although Chrissy says he's Chrissy's boy. He really loves the girls. It's just different than with the girls. I love having a little boy and wouldn't trade it for anything. He's a special little boy and we love him very much.

Kately Allie Runner, aka "Katie bug" or "tatie tot, or just plain tater"

I received a phone call from Childrens services in November of 2005, they wanted to know if I was willing to take a little girl by the name of Katelyn. I said "Yes, of course". They said she was 10 months old, I thought, "cool!" Well, when I got there to pick her up, I saw a tiny little infant in an infant carseat and said to them "She's kinda small for 10 months", then they said "sorry, she's 10 weeks, do you still want her?" Well, Of course. That's even better!!! AWESOME!!! I was so excited. I took her home and my sister in law Shelly came over and brought her little girl (Rachael) who was only 21 days younger than our new baby girl. Right away I decided I wanted to call her "Katie bug". She had tons of hair, but really bad cradle cap. I had to have Shelly's help getting rid of the cradlecap, my babies didn't even have much hair, let alone cradlecap. Once it was gone, she was much cuter.

Katelyn had alot of health issues for the first year or so of her life. She had even been hospitalized several times because of being so sick. It almost seemed like she had no immune system to fight things off. I'm glad to say now she is a healthy little girl who is full of spunk. The county finally got permanent custody of Katie in July of 06 and we adopted her in December. We had a small get together for her adoption at our house that evening and got her a big cake that said "WELCOME Katelyn Allie".

Katie just recently turned 3 and is full of energy. She goes to Anthony Wayne 2 days a week becuase of her developemental delays, and is doing well. She is a loved and valued memeber of this family and above all a gift from God and a "Daddy's girl". She gets up every morning and asks "where my daddy at?" And when he pulls up after work we have to stop her from running onto the road to greet her daddy. And I know that she has a special place in his heart also, it shows. We love her so much and wouldn't trade her for anything, she is our special little tater.

Haley Lynn Runner, aka "BOB"

Haley was a trying pregnancy just as Chrissy was, but not quite as bad as Chrissy's. Mostly toward the end. I actually got to carry her to 38 weeks, WOW! And she was still 8lb. 14oz. and she looked like a linebacker. She seemed to be built more like Chuck with the broad shoulder and all. She was born August 30, 2001 at UVMC. When they first showed her to me, I thought she was just perfect, a little bruised cause she was running out of room inside me, but still perfect. She had some breathing problems due to her delivery, she needed to be tubed several times before she was sent home and once at home at 8 days old she quit breathing on us. That was scary, but thank to God and the Versailles life squad she was fine.

Haley is my most stubborn child yet that seemed to be almost born with an attitude just like her dad's. That's not the good part of her. I always tell people that if you take the most rotten parts of mine and Chuck's attitudes and tempers, you will get Haley's temper. It's not good, but she is also a very loving child who loves her mom and dad and sisters with all her heart even though she beats on them daily it seems. Haley is also my tough kid, she can take a punch or kick along with giving plenty of them. Above all of that she is my baby. They are all my babies, but of my biological kids, she IS my baby and I believe that is an issue that I have to get under control when it comes to disciplining her. I do discipline her, but I need to work harder at being more consistent with her, she's so cute.

Haley is now a 2nd grader and does pretty good in school although she doesn't seem to want to do homework. Sounds alot like ME! I thought for sure once she got into school they would have behavioral issues with her, but she's actually really good at school. hmmmm, wish she would be good at home. Haley has a vibrant personality and tons of that. Along with that personality comes quite a bit of sarcasm, just like her dad. She's a good mix of Chuck and I, but personality I would have to say more like her dad. I used to tell Chuck before we got married that I wanted a little girl that was just like him, a strong person. Wow, boy oh boy, I got one! She's a little miniature Chuck at times, but we love her so much and value her place in this family. Her little sister Katie loves Haley so much and says her name all the time and for those of you who know Katie, she can't really talk that well yet, so that means alot. She is our "little bobster" is what we have been calling her since she was 3.

Samantha Nicole Runner, aka "Sammy"

Just as my first child, Sammy showed up a little early too. 3 Weeks to be exact, but that's ok, she was still 7lb. 9oz. And from the very beginning she looked just like her dad, it was pretty obvious. She was a pretty good baby, no major troubles. She could sit up at 5 months old and scoot her butt accross the floor just to get a hold of Chuck's newspaper and tear it up and eat it. I would walk back in the room and her chubby little face would be black from the ink. So I would take it away from her, clean her up and yell at Chuck for leaving his stuff out for her to get. When she got a little older she started talking, it seemed like it was all at once, she just started speaking in full sentences and hasn't shut up since.

Samantha is a tenderhearted little girl who really truly loves people and has a love for Christ. She is also my most genuine child. She is also my most sensitive one too. We have been known to call her a "drama queen". Samantha is now a believer and a wonderful little girl.

Samantha is now in the 5th grade and is a really smart little girl. Although she has seemed to inherit one of my not so good traits, being really unorganized and very forgetful and a little goofy at times. Samantha is a good girl who functions better with positive reinforcement than anything else. She is my most creative child yet and even though she is almost 2 years younger than Chrissy, she is taller than her. She is growing up so fast, but just like Chrissy, she will always be my baby.