Update for my 3 Followers!

Ok, so no wonder I only have 3 followers cuz apparently I only post something every 3 months! LOL!

Anyways, just wanted to update ya'll on the latest.

Spike finally was placed with the family that wanted to take guardianship of him. It was a real struggle at the end for all of us. He was just so anxious to leave that he stopped caring about the rules of our home. I hope he will make great choices for himself and I wish him the best in his life.

Since Spike left we had an opening at our house. This is a rare occurrence since most of our kids stay for long periods of time. It just so happened that a boy(we'll call him Sancho) who was placed with us about 1 & 1/2 years ago had graduated his program for troubled youth and requested to return to our home. Lovebug and I have tried to make it a policy of ours that we don't take kids back because they usually left due to extreme behavioral issues. However, we are suckers for the second chance and we decided to give Sancho a try...again. I swear, what good is a policy if you just don't use it!!!

Sancho did alright for the first couple of weeks and seemed to be a reformed soul but that was just a honeymoon stage because after week 3 Lovebug and I were kicking ourselves for breaking the policy of no second chances! Within 6 weeks Sancho had managed to get into trouble at home, with the law, and most of all at school. He was suspended numerous times and finally expelled. He was then placed in a "Special School" for the "Mentally and Emotionally Disturbed". Within 2 weeks they were talking about expelling him from there, too! OMG! I didn't think it was possible for someone to be too "disturbed" for a "Special School" for the "Mentally and Emotionally Disturbed"!!!

On top of all this, Sancho had (and still has) over $2,000 of restitution to pay for a crime he committed over 3 years ago. He was on a youth work crew trying to pay back his debt to society but ended up kicked out of that, too.

It's been almost 4 months of these problems with Sancho. The short bus is still coming to get him in the mornings so at least they didn't kick him out of the "Special School" (Thank Goodness!) Everyone on his team has had it with him. Judge, Caseworker, Therapist, Tracker, Teachers...even Lovebug and I are wondering if there is anything we can really do for him or is he just one of those kids destined to be locked up for the rest of his life...this truly is a heart wrenching realization. You can only do so much. Everyone knows the old cliche that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. If Sancho doesn't pull things together soon his fate will be out of our hands. It's going to be a lock down facility for him instead of a family who cares and wants him to be successful.

This week Sancho has shown some improvements. I am forever optimistic. I hope he can maintain this new path and see the light so to speak.

Fisher is doing well, a few bumps in the road but he copes appropriately. He enjoyed his stay in Oregon with his Grandma and other family members. When he returned home his Caseworker began the paper work to transfer his case from Utah to Oregon so he could be placed with his Grandma. All was going well until Grandma told the Home Inspector that she believed in corporal punishment and would beat Fisher if he got out of line...ummm...DENIED!

Now, I'm not one of those over zealous parents that thinks ALL kind of corporal punishment is WRONG...however, beating a 17 year old seems a bit over the top. You're going to get hit back! I mean, there is a HUGE difference between Fisher who is 17 and Tomb Raider who is 4 and still learning to keep her fingers out of power outlets! Needless to say it was a huge disappointment for Fisher but he made the most of things and was grateful to have the option to stay with Lovebug and I until he graduates high school and gets out on his own.

Jaguar turned 16. He has his driving permit so stay off the sidewalks! LOL! J/K He's a good driver. I'm very proud of him. On April 27Th Lovebug and I are taking Custody and Guardianship of Jaguar. It's like adoption. He will be ours and no longer be considered a Foster Child. We are all very excited. He truly deserves it. He has been in and out of Foster homes for 9 years! His mother lost her parental rights 6 years ago. Jaguar is an exceptional young man who has goals and heart. He is going places! I am honored that he asked us to make him a part of our family permanently!

Yesterday, Jaguar and I spent some quality time together at the Shooting Range. Since this post is long, I'll save the story for next time!