God is so good all the time!!!

Its hard to believe that JD and I have been married for 5 1/2 years and have been together almost 8 years. When I look back at what all has happened I can't imagine going through it all with any one else. I read a quote on someonelses blog that said "We may not be perfect but we are perfect for each other." That is us to the end. I just wanted to give you all a little back ground on our family.


JD and I were married on September 13, 2003. We had a great time. We knew we wanted kids but wanted to wait a little while. In early 2004 I went to a gynecologist appointment and was told at 21 years old that I had the hormone imbalance that leads to PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and that I would likely have to under go fertility treatments. Needless to say I was devastated but I prayed and put into God's hands. After a year we decided to try and become pregnant. After a year of trying we stopped for a while and shortly after we stopped some of our best friends found out they were pregnant. I was devastated again. The why me and why not me's started. Even though I was so excited for them I was so upset for JD and I. I went on and got my baby fix by working a daycare for 3 years. I learned allot about myself and was blessed my many families at the center. The moms all saw my struggle and longing for a child of own and they always offered encouraging words and books. You all don't know how much you and your children helped me through some of the roughest times in my young married life. Thanks.

So then we just decided that we didn't care what any doctor said and we gave to God again! In April 2008 I went in for my yearly exam and was told again that is was going to take fertility drugs to give the child I wanted so badly. It upset me but then I decided from that point on that I was going to lose weight and eat right and do this my self. I did great I have lost 40 lbs. to date. In October 2008 I received a phone call from the oldest of my younger brothers stating that they had little to no food in the house and the gas has been off for 30 days or more. So we took them all in. So I went from no kids to three kids over night. In January 2009 we (My husband, my sister, and I) were granted full guardianship of the two youngest. The oldest younger brother turned 18 in December but he still lives with us.

So a week or so ago I started getting extremely tired and my breast were tender and swollen both of which are very abnormal for me. So I let the thought creep in that there maybe a possibility that I was pregnant. I asked JD what he thought but he said he didn't want to say anything and get hopes up because of negatives we have had in the past (we are home pregnancy test poor people!) haha. So I told him thats ok but if these symptoms don't pass by Friday I am going to take a test. Well Thursday afternoon I had off to take the 18 year old to doctor appointments so I swung my Walmart and grabbed a two pack of digital test. Later on we were wasting time between appointments and went to Woodland Hills mall so I grabbed one and stuck it in my purse. I was thinking well I got a two pack it won't hurt to take one now and if its negative then I can take the other one in the morning. So I there I am in the Woodland Hills bathroom waiting for the results. I felt a little silly to the least. And the results...

That's right PREGNANT!! I started to hyperventilate a little and then hurried up grabbed the test washed my hands and went to show Uncle Ryan the results. He was excited. I stared to walk in circles trying to figure out how to tell my husband that he was going to be a daddy. Ryan asked if I was going to stop walking in circles anytime soon I told him "Shut up I'm pregnant Leave me alone!" lol I was a little overwhelmed at that moment. So I decided to buy a card that had something to do with a baby and write Congratulations Daddy! love always Brandi and Baby C. Then I go and find him on his route, he is a mail man, and give him the card. He doesn't get it so I show him the test. He is so excited that he doesn't know what to say! Later on that night after we have told just about everyone he asked me if I can take the other test that I bought. I am a little confused at first as if he doesn't believe that I am pregnant but I agree and take the test any way. So while its still processing I tell him to come into the bathroom and while we wait he explains that he has never seen one turn positive and that's why he wanted me to take the other test. When it came up pregnant he jump up hugged me and said yeah!! He was too cute for words!

So like my title says God is so good all the time! This blog is now a blog for my tiny baby growing in me as we speak! I go to the doctor on April 3rd to find out just how far along we are! Will give an update soon!

Love always,

Brandi

TA DA!!

So I haven't had a new hair cut and color since June...so I had finally had enough!!

Here is a kinda before picture it was taken back in October before a friends wedding...








And here is after! I LOVE IT!! It is so easy to fix!


My girl Jaycee with Mather hair design is amazing! Let me know if you want her number!

Tag im it!!

Ok Fether tagged me...So if I go to the 4th picture in the 4th folder on my computer it is...

This is me and my sister Heather being goofy at Woodard park. This was taken back in 2001! One of my very best friends took this for us!

Ok I tag Heather, Paisley, and Mallory...Let's see what you got!

Love always,

Brandi

Some pictures and a court update...

Here are some of the family pictures we took this fall. There are quite a few so I hope you enjoy!

This is Ryan. I can't believe he is a senior.

This is Little man Jason. Love him to pieces!

This one we call the more bars in more places! lol

This is just a fun family pic of all of us and my two other sisters.

This is Miss Megan(sorry its sideways couldn't get it to rotate)



This is me and JD. Aren't we cute!?


Me, Cheri, and Heather (my dad's girls)

This is all my mom's kids including my hubby.

This was our Christmas card this year.

We are the guardians of my three youngest siblings!! Went to court yesterday afternoon and we were all prepared to have to get up and testify against my mother. Well God was definitely looking out for us in that my mother agreed to undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and a domestic violence assessment. Then we go back to court on February 6 to see what the assessments say she needs to do to get the kids back. Not only does she have to do this so does her current husband. They both have to do the assessments and follow the recommendations in order to have the kids returned. The kids dad was there with us to testify against her if we needed. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!!!

Thanks for all the love and support!

Love always,

Brandi

Court update...

We went to court today. My mom told the judge that she had an attorney but that they could not make it today. So the judge gave us a 45 day continuance so that they could appoint the children an attorney and my mom and her attorney could get their case together. This is good for us because now the little one's dad can come and say he wants them to stay with us. He is in jail right now but is scheduled to be released on December 1st. I haven't always gotten along with him but right now he is clean and sober. He is also going to AA, taking parenting classes, and working a full time job. So I can't knock him for trying to turn his life around. My attorney also asked the judge to order a hair follicle drug test by 5:00 pm on Friday. I don't know exactly how long it can test back to see any drug use but from what I understand it goes a ways back. My mom is allowed supervised visitation on Sunday evenings and supervised phone calls three nights a week.

We go back to court on January 7th at 1:30 pm. My little sister is starting to have a hard time not being around my mom. So we just keep talking to her and praying with her to help her through things. I also have the two littlest ones in counseling so that will help. Now we just have to get through Christmas now.

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Love you all!
Brandi

Update...Prayer request

Well we go to court this Thursday to determine if we get to keep the kids permanent or they go back to my mom's. I have incredible peace about the whole situation. Sunday morning during praise and worship I got on my knees, cried and gave it all over to God! My main concern is that Ryan, the 17 year old, might have to get up and testify against our mom. I know this is going to be a very hard thing for him. When ever my mom calls she never asked about him, never wants to talk to him and the one time she came over to see them everything he did was wrong and she was very condescending with him. I am very angry at her for what she is putting him through. He turns 18 in about 3 weeks and IS GRADUATING this May no matter what it takes!!!!!!!!!

So this Thursday morning around 9:30 am please say a little prayer for us as we head to court.

Thanks and love you all!

Brandi

Questions???

Growing up no child in their right mind thinks "one day I want to go to court and try and prove my mom is an unfit parent..." Well this is where I am now. As of last Tuesday my sister, my husband, and myself became the emergency temporary guardians of my three youngest siblings (17, 9, & 6). We go back to court on November 20 at 9:30 am to see if we can determine permanency. Its not that I doubt that my mother loves her kids but she needs some serious help. There are two different dads to the kids, Ryan's (17) dad says as long as Ryan is happy he is fine with him living with me, and Megan's (9) and Jason's (6) dad is in jail until December 1 but says he wants to kids to remain with me. So this is good news. Have I mention how wonderful my husband has been...the night we got the kids he rushed to the store and got "kid" groceries and brought home pizza for them to eat, picked up the kids early and got them hair cuts, and has stepped right up in preparing the house to keep the kids here as long as we need. All I can do is pray that everything goes God's way. I know that if my mom gets the kids back that I will never be able to see them again.

My mom is very spiteful and vindictive she says things just to hurt you. When she found out that I had been granted guardianship she told me that Heather, my sister, and I were no longer her daughters, that I couldn't have children of my own so I was taking hers, and last but not least when she kills herself it would be on my head. Lovely things for a "mother" to say to her oldest child.

Okay enough ranting...the kids are doing great and we are getting into a better routine each day. I love these kids more than anything and can't stand the thought of losing them forever. So please just pray that everything works out according to God's plans.

Thanks,

Brandi