Garnett Family Update

I just wanted to do a quick update on life around this joint. 

Some of you know, and some of you don’t, but we have two new fosters that we got 2 weeks ago today.  I haven’t posted much about them because of the nature of the case, but I CAN tell you that we are going to have them at least a few months and things are going great. 

Aubree is a huge “help” with the new baby.  It seems like she grew up overnight…such a big girl.  She doesn’t talk, you know.  I can’t remember if I’ve ever blogged about that.  She’s 23 months old and says just a few words… mama, yeah, ow… She’s in speech therapy but so far she’s decided not to talk.  She does, however, communicate VERY clearly as to exactly what she wants and doesn’t want.  She has created signs for lots of things she wants or needs on a daily basis.  She has her dad’s OCD.  Those of you who go to church with us know that he has his own parking space and his spot on a certain pew – and it’s of utmost importance that he not have to park or sit anywhere else.  Well, Aubree is the same way about her chair at the table and her spot on the couch.  Even if she’s not planning to sit there, she STROKES out if anybody else does. 

Yuri and Gigi have made the transition into first grade and kindergarten very well.  I can see huge differences in their approaches to school.  Yuri has very little interest in “boring” things like reading and homework.  She’d much rather socialize.  Gigi seems to love it and walks around with a pencil and paper asking me how to spell certain words.  Gigi’s big problem is getting up in the mornings.  She didn’t sleep her first 3 years of life because she couldn’t breathe.  We got her tonsils and adenoids out and she’s a different child.  She would now be content to sleep until 10 a.m. every day if she could.  Those first few moments when I wake them up at 6:30 are rough on her.

Karlie is a junior.  That’s unbelievable to me.  Shouldn’t she still be like in 3^rd grade? She’s playing volleyball (which I love!).  She almost didn’t play this year, but I’m SO glad she did.  Hauling a small army to volleyball games several times a week stinks, but we manage.  I know people in the stands hate to see us coming.  My kids crawl all over whoever is nearby, whether we know them or not. Karlie has a new friend who is a boy… I can’t say “boyfriend” because I don’t know if that’s the politically correct term.  I always get chastised because I use the wrong terms.  Did you know there’s a HUGE difference in whether you are “talking” to a boy, “texting” a boy, or “going out” with a boy??  Those are levels to the relationship that all have very specific meanings but I can’t remember the exact perimeters.  That actually might make a very informative blog if I can get my info straight.  Anyway, he’s cute and I’ve been seeing him hanging around here a lot, so that’s all I know.

Haley Rae is back in school after her semester off to go to Guatemala.  She’s not exactly thrilled, but she’s dealing with it.  She goes to school 3 days a week and works at a daycare after class.  Then she works 2 full days at a different job on her non-school days.  She also plays on a co-ed softball team two nights a week, so we aren’t seeing much of her these days.  She and Willard are leaving this weekend for a week in Guatemala with our church and she’s beyond excited.    

Hunter is in his last semester at Mississippi State.  The plan for his next phase of life is looking like law school, but that’s subject to change.  You just never know what he's going to decide to do.  He is dating a girl who just might end up being my daughter-in-law someday.  She comes from a large family so she is accustomed to a certain level of chaos and fits in well with ours.  He calls me almost every day and he seems happy with life.  I wish I had a crystal ball so I could see where the next 10 years will take him. 

Okay, so I know I said “quick” update, but it’s hard to be quick when you’re covering this much territory. 

I hope you all have a great Thursday.  And ROLL TIDE!