A Whole Farm of Animals!

I had a few people tell me, after my last post, that they didn't realize we had a parrot or other animals in our home.  I guess I rarely write about our animals.  I really don't know why as they are such an important part of our life.  We enjoy them all so much.

We live on 10 acres of land in the North Georgia Mountains.  My dad lives at one end and we live on the other end of the long property.  It is a very good arrangement for us all.  My dad enjoys us living so close and we all work together to keep up the property.  On this property, we have a few farm animals that we have for food and enjoyment. When I was younger and had fewer children we had so many more such as geese, ducks and horses but as I have gotten older and my spare time is more limited, we have scaled back to just what is necessary and easily cared for.

I have a farm blog, that I write posts for, when I think I have some important information to share.  It is not kept up as this one is but many visit it for information on goat care or contact me for advice.

We love living here.  It is a very good place to raise children and a healthy way to live life.  We have dairy goats that keep the pastures ate down, keep the weeds and brush down, are fun to care for and a great source of milk and manure for the gardens.

We have a few bucks!  They are very stinky boys but a necessity, in order to arrive at the end product of a doe in milk production.  :)  It is very hot here right now.  I took this around 10 in the morning and they dug into the dirt, to reach cool soil to lay on for the day, under the trees.

We also have a herd of lovely easy to milk does.  They do not smell and to me act a lot like dogs.  They are very friendly and make great pets.  Very sweet girls.  I do not  milk them all at once as they would produce way more milk than we could consume and use.  I usually milk two at a time.

We always keep a small flock of chickens.  After years of having all different breeds, the most economical are the commercial White Leg Horns.  They give the most eggs, for the longest duration of time, for the smallest amount of grain given.  I usually keep a few Bantam Silky Chickens as they are very broody.  If I want to hatch any chicks out, they are more than willing to sit for me and do that.  We have a chicken coop for them up on a hill.  We have two rat terriers that live with them to protect them and kill or run off any predators.  They have killed snakes, possums and rats.  They have run off many other things including raccoons and barked to alert us to stray dogs.

There is also a huge stray dog that showed up several years ago, that stayed.  He thinks he is guardian of the property.  He is a great dog.  His story is here.

We also have several barn cats on the property.  If a new stray shows up, I trap it, get it fixed and release it.  I don't mind feeding all the strays.  I just don't want them having kittens everywhere.  No matter how wild they are when they come, they always are my friends when I milk, as I usually pour some warm milk out to them before leaving the barn.  Needless to say we have very few snakes and mice around.  :)  One of our cats is 15 years old and another barn cat 17!  I guess all the fresh milk every day!

The children have many pets.  I think pets are a wonderful way to help keep stress levels low in a home.  I also believe they are very good for all children, especially children with special needs.  Our children are all very bonded to their pets and they are a great source of pleasure and comfort.

We have a rule here...You can ask for a pet and if you take good care of it you can keep it.  If you wanted another, you can  have it because you proved you are responsible.  If you don't take good care of the pet you wanted, than it goes to a new home and you can not ask for or get another pet for a long time.  I do not have time to care for so many animals.  I do check behind all the children to make sure they are taking proper care of all the animals they have but I don't personally care for hardly any of them. The only animals I am responsible for are the female dairy goats, my poodle,

our parrot Kiwi

and my little reef tank.

I also care for any of Antonio's animals because being in a wheel chair, he can not.  I have so many other responsibilities in home schooling, child care, the upkeep of our home and usually have the care of a garden each year, that I do not have the time to care for pets.  The children all have chores and work together to care for the farm animals.

We have had many pets over the years.  Especially, great dogs that have been faithful family pets and companions.  If my children are able, I try to let them each raise and have their own lap dog to enjoy for their childhood.  It has worked out well here and very few children were unable to care for one of their own.

Antonio loves reptiles.  He likes to watch videos about turtles and lizards especially.  Antonio is unable to do very much so any animal he wants I try to get for him and care for it for him.   He does not ask for much in life.   He has had fish tanks, hamsters and birds over the years but  his favorite, he always comes back to, is reptiles.  He asked for turtles for his 8th birthday.  We got him two thru the mail and he named them Antonio and Sid. He still has them today 13 years later!

He loves to watch them swim and sun themselves.  If I find a garden worm I bring it into them and his turtles swim frantically to get it and eat it.  Antonio's other pet right now is a leopard gecko named Franklin.

All of Antonio's pets are right in his office so he can watch them all the time.

William has his own room.  He has his little dog Dixie.  She is so young and active, it is hard for me to get a clear picture of her!

William also has a fish tank he has taken care of and kept going since he was 9 years old.

Carolyn is a very loving, tender and nurturing person.  She would have 100 animals to care for if I would let her.  I have to put a limit on what she has.  She raised up her dog since it was a six week old puppy.  Her name is Princess.  They are inseparable.

She also has a beautiful pony she totally cares for and rides very frequently named Millie.

She also has a very old hamster named Marcy and a beautiful little blue parakeet named Tom.

Having pets has helped Zeke tremendously with his Autism.  In his ability to give and receive love.  It has also helped him learn responsibility and compassion.  He has a little dog that is almost always in his arms named Roo Baby.  It is like his security blanket.  If Roo Baby is not in his arms she is in a little dog stroller that he keeps in his office next to him.

He also has a pony named Dixie.  He got Dixie when he was a small boy and out grew her but refuses to sell her to get a larger pony he can ride.  He loves her so much he would rather just enjoy her as a pet than replace her.

Elizabeth is not very consistent in caring for her animals.  Animals such as dogs that require a schedule of consistent care long term, is something she does not do well.  It becomes an area of rebellion and stress for all over time.  She however has been taking very good care of her parakeet she has had for two years now named Charlie.

And her little 10 gallon fish tank in her office area. 

The foster children are not old enough to have or care for pets yet but we did get them a little pony to start riding soon named Buck-a-roo.

My dad thinks he looks like a punk rocker!

God originally created us to tend the Garden of Eden and care for all the animals created.  I think that is why so many people love having animals around them and enjoy caring for them.  God is so good to have blessed us with such a place to live and enjoy.  A wonderful place to not only raise children but allow them to have plenty of space to play and have the experience of raising animals. It makes for having happy family memories as they grow up.

Psalm 34:8  O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Blessings,
susan

  
  

All Is Well

Life has taken on a whole new meaning of the word "busy" for me since the arrival of baby"A".  I have been stretched to my limit many days (and nights)  and can feel the prayers and support of all who have been praying for us.  Thank you so much.  God is so good! 

Life is busy but good and a lot is happening. 

TPR court took place on the toddlers case and Termination of Parental Rights was granted.  They are now "wards of the state" and their case has been sent to the side of DFCS that deals with adoptions.  I met their new adoption worker on Monday.  We are in the process of adoption now, with these two, by the grace of God.  We shall see how it goes and what happens.

TPR court has also happened in baby "K"'s case.  She is now also a ward of the state and her case will be transferred to the adoption side of DFCS on July 1st.  So we will start the process of adoption on her as well next month.  We have not done an adoption with the state in many years, so I have no idea how long the process is or what to expect with all the new rules and regulations.

We have had two court hearings on the new baby but have not had the 72 day hearing yet.  That is the big hearing where all evidence is presented by both sides (bio mom and dad vs DFCS) and the judge sets the case plan.  DFCS has a lot of work to do before court, as the biological mom identified many possible dads that they need to do DNA testing on.  It is a new case, even though she is 1/2 sister to the toddlers.  So we wait and see how her story and case will unfold over time.

My days are FULL of child care, feeding and diaper changes non-stop.  It can be very tiring and often I am needed at the same time, for different things by many children.  I am grateful for the older children's love and helpfulness with all the little ones when I need it.  

Our little baby "A" has started sleeping longer hours thru the night! 

At least 6 hours at a time, which has helped me tremendously.  Glory to God.  I can see she is not far from sleeping thru the night.  She just turned 5 weeks old.  :)  So she is regulating day and night routines early.  She is a good baby and I am grateful for that.  She has filled out nicely and grown so much already.

Baby "K"....hmm.  I am not sure at what point to stop calling her baby "K"!!!  She is getting so big! 

She is the sweetest soul and I can always count on her to be even tempered and in good spirits.  She is doing very well in therapy.  She crawls like a champ now and can pull up onto her knees at the couch for a few moments.  Her legs are getting stronger but still weak.  So we daily hold her on her feet and work on building those leg muscles in hopes she will walk by her next birthday.  She plays very quietly and hardly makes a noise.  So she is in speech therapy now as well as feeding therapy.  She loves to eat and is eating textures much better but still needs her liquids thickened or she aspirates.  She has always struggled with nursing.  I am trying to get her to use a fine straw at meals.  With her head tucked down to drink she does not choke at all. 

"T" is a sweet little guy that is a little stubborn but tries to please us.  He is good most of the time now. 

I finally cut his hair!

His biggest challenge is behaviors that are from sensory issues.  He can cry for an hour or more non-stop and hits his head when over stimulated.   We have to watch him and keep things low key for him.   He has outburst about every other day or so.   "T" is very immature for his age (he will be three in four months)  and tested out at a 15 month old level in recent testing.  He still likes cause and effect toys and baby toys.  He and baby "K" interact very well together.  They play in the playroom together nicely.

"B" has the most challenging behaviors.  He can not help the fact that he is so impulsive and can not sit still for even a  moment. 

But much of his bad behavior he can definitely help.  Some of his behavior is from his terrible past but mostly it is just from lack of a discipline that is effective.  He can be very mean and that is hard.  Time out is the only discipline we can use with small children and he could care less to have to sit when he does anything bad.  It is non-stop all day long and I have to keep him separated from the other children or he quickly ends up hurting someone.  He is very, very smart for his age though and so much fun to talk to and teach.  There is so much potential in this little guy.  :)


The  other older children are all doing very well.  They are enjoying their summer off from home schooling.  They are doing some projects around the farm that need doing, swimming and playing outside like kids should do.

 

Carolyn loved this huge bullfrog she found.  She wanted to keep him so badly.

We have a little Pionus Parrot named Kiwi. 

We got him five years or so ago, as a just weaned, hand fed, baby.  He acts a lot like a toddler.  He is messy and noisy.  :)  But we love him.  He chatters, sings and talks all day long.  He gets into a lot of mischief.  Elizabeth's desk is next to his cage and if she is deep in thought in school work, he will sneak down the side of his cage and nip her or pull her hair.  He also will take toys over to that side of the top of his cage and drop them down on her head!  He can be a real stink pot!   Elizabeth asked to use the crayons to color one day last week and she forgot to put them up at lunch time.  I went into the school room a little while later to find at least 30 crayons shredded to bits!  Lesson of the week.  Don't leave crayons within Kiwi's reach. 

I was feeding the baby a bottle, watching my fish tank and saw this little stripped snail cleaning my rock work, with four baby snails cleaning his shell!  So funny.

Antonio at a recent family picnic.

Even though I am very busy we are all having a lot of fun and enjoying our time together without the added work or stress of home schooling.  God is so good.  All is well.

Psalm 34:8  O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Blessings,

susan

The Ballet Recital

After many months of practice and a lot of hard work, the big day arrived.  The day of the girls Ballet Recital.  The girls did so well.  They have both come so far in discipline and technique.  It was beautiful.

Carolyn's dance was done to the song, March from the Nutcracker.

 Carolyn is growing up so much and did a wonderful job.  My beautiful young woman.

 
Elizabeth's dance was done to, Let It Go from the movie Frozen.

Her dance was just lovely.  She did a great job.  Elizabeth has to work twice as hard as everyone else because of her Cerebral Palsy.

The girls both looked so lovely and grown up to me this year.  Sigh.

The girls cousin and aunt thought that the girls, would be getting flowers from Aunt "S" as she always gives them flowers at every recital.  So they decided to give them candy bouquets.  Surprise to all!!!...Aunt "S" had the same idea this year!

Those are some genuinely happy smiles!  They hardly ever get candy!  Thank you so much Aunt "A" and cousin "A".  Also Aunt "S".  You know what they say...Great minds think alike!

So ballet is over for this season and the girls don't start back for lessons again till August.  This will give us a nice break for summer.  A time to get our footing and rest a bit from all the running.

I am so very grateful to God for salvation and my life.  So grateful for my wonderful husband and for all the children God has entrusted in our care to raise up for Him.  God is so good His mercy endures forever!

Girls you did a wonderful job.  You are both growing in to beautiful young women.  We love you so much!

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Blessings,
susan

By Gods Grace

Sorry, it has been a while since I have posted.  Thank you for all the kind notes checking on us and praying for us, with the arrival of the new baby.  Child number 11 for us.  :)

God has been abundantly faithful and gracious to me.  The transition of baby "A" into the family has been seamless.  She is a very good baby.  I can feel God helping me and even though I am tired, I am not exhausted or feel like I am spread to thin.  Baby "A" has had some tummy issues and reflux but seems to be responding well to a gentler formula and medication.  She has only been waking up once a night, since the beginning, so really that is a great thing.  She has grown a lot already and is 16 days old already.

We have taken the summer off from home schooling so we can focus on the addition of the new baby.  We have had to adjust our schedules a bit, "K" is still very delayed and needs me and the toddlers still have some over the top behaviors.

"T" outside chalking up the walk way.  A favorite pastime for all the children!  People keep asking me when am I going to cut his hair.  I just can't bring myself to do it!

When "B" came to us, he had many cavities from bottle rot.  Eight just on his front top teeth.  They decided to put him under to fix them all and to put crowns on his top four front teeth.  Once they got in there they were to bad to save, so they had to remove all four of his top front teeth.  They were able to fill all the other cavities.

I just thought it best to cut out the home schooling, adjust with out stress and have the older children work on some projects that have needed doing around here.  William stripped and painted "deck over" on the pool deck.  He and the other older children also spent one day in their swimming suites washing the siding, windows and porches on the whole house.  The Lord gave me the strength to get the brush and trees on the whole back hill cut back.  William and my dad took a huge load of stuff over to the dump.  The middles and I started cleaning up the flower beds last week.  We still have a few things on our "To Do List" before the heat hits.  The weather here has been very comfortable so far.  One of the things we want to get done is fixing up and putting a new coat of stain on the playground structures.  There is still more work to do out in the gardens too.  There is always things that need doing when you live on a farm of any kind.

When May 1st hit we knew we would be getting baby "A" at anytime.  So we took a few family outing days because we knew life was about to change big time and it would be easier to get out and do these things with out a new born in the heat.

One Sunday we met Tim's parents at the Aquarium.  We have a membership there someone bought for our family.  It always makes for a nice outing.

My wonderful "Bigs" and "Middles"!!

"B" looking into a tank of fish and turtles.

"T" at the sturgeon tank.

My big guys!  You can tell the heat really bothers Antonio here.  He stays cheerful but just melts.

Sweet baby "K"!

My middles are very close to each other, all born a year apart!  So are very bonded!  Look how grown up!

I also took the children to the Chattanooga Zoo for the day.

"B" seeing a camel up close for the first time!

Trying to get a good shot of all them looking at me is soooo hard!

Hello Chimpanzee!

They rode the merry-go-round and William took the toddlers on the train.  He barely fit in the Caboose with them!

So... all is well and God is so good.  We are going to stay in for a few months.  No big plans.  A lot of our commitments are about to end for the summer.  Like Ballet.  The girls recital is next week.  So things should slow down and I won't have to leave the  house much.  Hopefully by the time we start schooling again new baby "A" will be in a nice predictable schedule!

Isaiah 26:12  Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

God be with you!

Blessings,

susan

Welcome Baby "A" !!!

Rejoice with us as we welcome baby "A" into our homes and hearts.  She is a foster placement so we do not know how long she will be with us, as God has all these things in his hands.  Praise God! 

She is sibling to the two toddlers that are in our home "B" and "T".

We were notified of her birth yesterday and called to go and pick her up today! 

We are praying for their mother's salvation and for her to become free from the bondage of drugs.  That God will minister to her and her heart with all of this taking place so close to Mothers Day.

We are praying about the many huge decisions that need to be made in the up and coming months.  Decisions in our family concerning foster care and adoptions.

Jeremiah 29:11-13  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

 

Many blessings on your weekend!

susan