The Kid Exchange

Oh, how I hate kid exchange. I've posted that I was married before, and divorced...at least I think I have. That was a long time ago, and it's been dealt with between God and I. So, for the summer, my two oldest kids go to see their dad. I absolutely hate it. It feels like I've lost an arm or something. They are a part of me and now they aren't here.

This summer, just Saren goes. Aimee, at 16, is working, and there is summer basketball this year, so she wants to stay here. Saren had planned on staying, but decided last minute that he wants to go. The kid exchange has to be today, due to other summer plans that dad has going on. Saren decided...last night.

So I was up until 3 am doing laundry, and am still doing laundry this morning. Larry wants to leave in 20 minutes and laundry isn't done LOL. The last load is in the dryer, but still. I will still have to fold it and put it into bags. I am quite OCD about how I pack, so it's all laying out in neat piles on the bed right now. I'm highly emotional after 2ish hours of sleep and I know it's because I had gotten my heart set on Saren staying here. It would be the first summer they've been here in five years.

I know that's selfish, and I'm really trying hard not to be. Their dad doesn't see them very often. They don't live tremendously far away, but his days off are stable and he's subject to call in, so we can't just take them down for a weekend. We meet about 2 hours away and drop them off. And I hate it every single time. He gets them every other holiday and spring break, and as much as he wants during the summer. Saren will be gone for two months. I know that he will have a good time with his dad, and I'm not at all worried about his dad's ability to take care of him. I just hate him being gone.

So I'm sitting here at the computer working on my blog because if I go sit down on the nice comfy couch in the living room I will be asleep in about 3 nanoseconds. It's going to get real fun around here once Larry leaves and Aimee goes to work. Me and Nikki and the two littles. Just how little sleep can one get through a day on?

I love you, Saren, have a great time.

My boys, Saren and Roan.

Cast of Chracters

Above: Front Row of the fully loaded van-Roan, Nikki, Aria

Back Row of the Fully Loaded Van-Aimee, Saren, Jamie

Where to start?

At the beginning, I suppose, with introductions all around.

I’m Keisha, a 35 year old wife and mother. My family and I live in a small town in Southern Colorado with a population of about 650. We are a zero stoplight town, although we do have multiple stop signs. I am chronically tired. Of course, I’m pretty sure that I haven’t slept through until the alarm went off more than three nights in a row for the past three years. I bet, if you’re reading this blog, that you can relate!

My DH is Larry, he’s 42. He’s currently going to school to be a lineman. He’s at the top of his class, and I’m really proud of him. We’re hoping that he’ll get hired locally as a groundsman with the electric co-op when he graduates. He’ll move up to being a lineman after serving an apprenticeship.

Oldest DD is Aimee, she’s 16. She plays lots of sports, dyes her hair burgundy red, paints her fingernails black and only wears jeans. Every single day she is a source of joy for us.

Our oldest DS is Wayne, he’s 14. He’s Larry’s son from his previous marriage, lives with his mom. We don’t get to see him very often, and we miss him and love him every single day.

Next on the list is Saren, our 9 year old DS. He’s a bit of a different breed, but different seems to be the way of things in this family. He’s growing like a weed, up three pants sizes in the last year!

Then we have Nikki, a 7 year old girlie girl to the core! She’ll be the one who’ll take an hour to get ready, once she truly discovers boys. She’s a smart girl, and is learning to give as good as she gets!

Next on our list is Roan, he’s 2. He’s wickedly cute, with eyes that are going to cause some broken hearts someday. He loves Legos and cars, but isn’t averse to playing dolls with the girls.

And last on our list of biologicals is Aria. She just turned 1. She’s an explorer, and despite my efforts to the contrary, very definitely spoiled!

Our cast of characters (and boy, are they characters!) also includes what I call “Add On Kids”. I didn’t birth them, but I feed them, hug them when they cry, yell at them when they screw up, and love them as if they were mine.

First there’s Laura, Aimee’s 15 year old best friend. She’s not around as much as she used to be, but I still love her just the same.

Then there’s Big Jessica, she’s 23 and introduced me at church as her “Other Mom”. She’s a single mom and spends a lot of time hanging out here.

Jamie, 4, is Jessica’s daughter. We babysit her quite a bit. She’s very willful, and I’m hoping that will evolve into a quiet strength as she grows up, instead of going the other way. She’s a source of both frustration and hours of laughter.

Little Jessica is 21 and developmentally delayed. She lives in our apartment complex with her mom, and spends quite a bit of time with us when mom is working or she wants to hang around with the kids. She has a love of life that sometimes leaves me speechless!

Well I think that’s it for our little group. Hope you enjoyed meeting them!