Well , what a week. Have been home by myself, Rog is on the west coast doing some business stuff and I have held the helm with 10 kids at three different schools, and one working to transport. I am looking forward to him coming home even if I am leaving for Nashville just after that. Just a flying (meaning fast) trip to record one song then back to the always eventful Cressbrook Creek.

Cooked up a storm for dinner tonight and Isaiah has finally started to only have two helpings instead of three. I suggested he would be better off with some more lunch so he wouldn't be so hungry as he is away for eight hours in the day. He is beginning to realize how much of his learning he has missed. He has tired and dry eyes, probably the air conditioning which he is not used to, and his brain is just about worn out. He is also beginning to understand the rules of the house, which are not many, mainly respect to each other, tidy your room, bring your dirty clothes (of which their are piles and piles) down to the laundry, and have manners at all times. Also chewing with your mouth closed is a biggie in this house!! Munch, munch and slurp, slurp is not a sound I relish.

One of my precious daughter in laws had to go to court for a traffic thingo yesterday. I surely felt for her. I am very intimidated by anything that looks like a judge or policeman who wants to pull you over. She is just about three months pregnant with my seventh grandchild and their second child. So, anything like being pulled over is like major emotional meltdown at this stage of the pregnancy. She is also an Australian, adjusting as I did many years ago, to Southern American life. At least she wasn't chucking up yesterday in court, but managed to do that all day today. As they already have a precious little boy, but they would love a little sister, so in my travels to "Wally World" (Walmart for those of you who don't know the slang) I found the most precious little pink sleeper and one of those extremely hard to find pink sleeping bags with no feet to cheer her up. I left the tags on just in case, but let's face it five to one in the boy to girl ratio must mean we are due for another granddaughter!

I am also in a tizz about the play I am directing. It seems I just can't find a "grandfather". They have all left home, gone out of town, or are going out of town, or have just plain fell of the face of the earth. The one I had has some health issues, which I know are going to be fine, but are a priority over a silly little (not to me mind you) British comedy. I am looking sideways at hubby who is used to being before many audiences (speaking mind you) with a comedic flair. Pity he still has his teeth. I really would have loved a "gummy" grand-dad. Sort of like my youngest grandchild, who just has one tooth, and smiles his big "gummy" smile. You know the one I mean, and it comes with the big bald head with no hair yet. But oh, so precious, wish I could bottle it and bring it out on the tough days, just to remind me that somehow it all works for good in the end.

My toughest twins have had a week too. These are my nine year olds who weren't supposed to do anything at all including live, but are simply amazing and continue to astound me every day as they show all the doctors and pessimists that love and nurture and early intervention does count. They have just started the third grade (a year behind because of their incredible struggles) and the math in their lovely private school just isn't right for them. Well after realizing that the "new teacher" was not comfortable with trying something different for them in the class room, I didn't know whether to be angry, laugh or cry. But I am so incredibly blessed by those around them who have poured into them believing in them as much as I, that their teacher from last year (organized by their tutor for dyslexia and my wonderful friend who is the principal) is going to teach them their own course of math. Dyslexics have a very hard time with math and not because they can't learn it, but because they learn in an entirely different way.

So with all of that going on, the ear infection, the temperature which I was hoping was not Swine flu, the cuts and scrapes that come with ten kids running around, the poison ivy that one of the twins managed to get on his leg from somewhere (why does all this happen when Rog is away), I think we managed pretty well. The washing is all done, the house is tidy (mostly) the kitchen is clean (except for those last minute before bed 14 year old snack remnants) and the sounds from above are abating into the quiet that I hope is my night.

Saturday Life with 14 kids

Did I ever tell you that Ben, my youngest biological, thinks his dog Roxie, cannot stay home by herself. If they ever leave the house she seems to be put through the door and even sometimes picked up without a word. I think because we have six dogs they think we don't notice. Well Roxie was with us today for a while along with our two wonderful grandchildren while I picked up constantly (I must have OCD about cleaning and tidying) because we had guests for a BBQ.

Not that my wonderful friends who also have a large extended family would notice, but I am somewhat house proud. I don't think I was always like this, because in Australia, where I grew up, we are used to being spontaneous. Here a lot of the time, I have to consult my agenda sometimes weeks ahead, but in Aus., or with my Brit. friends. we seem to have the same colonial thing going on.

It may also have to do with the fact that back then I only had four children and now I have fourteen. But, having said that, when you have a lot of children, you are either tidy and structured or messy and chaotic. I am the former. So, today, because we have guests, I am more paranoid about presenting the house and the food. Crazy, I know, but it's a fine line between OCD and OCB (if don't know look it up) and I like to think that other people don't view us as being crazy and disorganized. Crazy, yes I accept that, but I am an organized on time person and want to be perceived as such. I fail on several occasions. I think I being tested.

Now my hubby, was late for our wedding. Need I say more. This is what I contend with on a daily basis. Does he make up for this in other ways? Thank goodness he does. He loves the vacuum cleaner, but does leave it in the middle of the floor where somehow I constantly trip over it. Oh, and did I mention that his computer has a home on my kitchen counter where I cook. He also has at least two other offices in the house, but prefers my kitchen. Of course, I don't have to cook much, so it isn't a real problem, and he is wonderful company.

Mentioning company, he invites people around, and then there's an emergency, where he just has to disappear for hours on end and leaves me with company I sometimes don't know. I remember once, admittedly a long time ago, he invited some persons known or unknown for a BBQ, and decided when they wouldn't leave (they did come at 3p.m and now it was 11p.m) that he was adjourning to the bathroom. After about half an hour or so, and they were still there, I decided to join him. We sat in there until they left. I guess they must have liked something about us or my cooking. We can't remember who they were. But that was thirty odd years ago.

Speaking of which, we will have been married thirty years this coming September. The one positive thing we have learned through the years, is that don't invite people you don't know, unless they are coming with friends you do know. Well all jokes aside, we love to entertain, and our children, all fourteen of them love a party, lots of food, and fun.

So, in the morning, which is coming all too soon, we will get up and clean up, breakfast twelve children (oh did I mention the grandchildren are sleeping over) get them dressed, combed, fed and out the door for church. I really love church. It is a two hour break where we get to get fed, receive and replenish while they are doing the same. Tomorrow, Ben and his family (and I am sure Roxie) are coming for lunch after service. Seeing that Ben really loves Nathan hot dogs, we might feed him the left overs from tonight and cook something different for those who care, before I go to my first rehearsal for the British comedy.

Now, I am going to spend some quality time with my better half before we hit the sack and start again.

Another day, another dollar. At least I hope so. It costs a fortune just to feed everybody here. I had forgotten just how much 14 year old boys eat and I have three of them! They seem to inhale everything in sight, I wonder if they really taste it at the rate the consume it. They were really keen to go to the high school football game tonight, but after they just heard the big rumble of thunder overhead, I think they are glad to be inside.

My eldest boys at home are identical twins, with Isaiah just four months younger. He is suffering from a sore thumb tonight from writing so much this week. Devin, one of the twins, was proud of his 100% on his Math test and when I asked Dustin his twin brother, he said "which math test?" I think and I hope they are in different classes. He just came in and said "oh! that one" when he saw his brother's little white sheet. Their voices are changing just now and sometimes they are really funny. At least they have a great sense of humor! I am not sure I am going to see his test. I may have to sneak peak in his book bag.

CeCe my 18 year old was a little sad tonight. She has been an apprentice for a hairdresser (her dream) for the last couple of months and just found out that while she can still work there, she will have to apprentice for Cosmetology, which will give her another skill, while she gets her GED at night. When she realized that she would be extremely talented and skilled at the end of all this, she was happier.

My hubby Rog is trying hard to catch a muskrat who lives down at our pond. We have two fishing ponds where the kids catch large mouth bass on a regular basis. We don't keep them; we put them back so we will keep the pond stocked. He has this rather big silver cage that looks like an elaborate rodent trap. Of course the muskrat is too smart to be caught. He has lived there for a long time and has lots of big holes (or burrows I guess) all around the edge of the pond. Funny thing happened on the way to catching him though, one of the kids left a fishing rod, with hook etc on it, lying near one of the holes he comes and goes from. When we went to pick it up we found the line (with the hook on) was down the hole. Upon trying to retrieve it we found it wouldn't budge. Rog tugged and tugged just like when you have a really big fish on the line, and it did just what it does in the ocean when the big one got away. It snapped. So we think the muskrat now is running around with a hook in him somewhere! Tough little critter!

Bri, my aspergers child, was much better today with a tweak to her medication. Sometimes I think I am a lobster, swimming around thinking it is all well, then realizing the water is boiling. At least I can do something about it and jump out. With all the furore of the last couple of weeks, Isaiah coming home, getting all the kids to three different schools, organizing the British Comedy, which is going to be a riot by the way, and getting Rog ready for the west coast and me ready for Nashville, I should have predicted that Bri would have a hic up. But she is back to her sweet, if somewhat unique self with a minor adjustment.

Six of my kids at home are at a private home schooling academy with teachers. I am very fortunate to have found it as they have small classes and a very loving Christian environment in which they thrive. The good thing is they have Fridays off. The bad thing is they have Fridays off. So today was much about them, homework for the weekend (they don't really get Fridays off - I am the teacher), swimming, playing tea parties and watching favorite TV shows. I have just picked up the ten or so towels and tidied up for the night. They are watching the last of a disney movie and then it will be time for the blanket show.

Tomorrow, I get my two of my grandchildren (I told you we swap off) as my son and his wife are off watching the tennis somewhere for a few days, and Rog has asked an army of British people we know and their friends for a BBQ. Ah! Never a dull moment at Cressbrook Creek.

Oh P.S. He also has offered the "ranch" for yet another wedding!!

Well what a day. Seemed like it really was life in the fast lane today. This week has been filled with dentists, doctors, cleaning (which I love and hate) and topped off with the first run through of a British Comedy that I am directing. Yes I do another life other than children. It keeps me sane.

One of my special needs kids just had such a hard day. She is my Aspburger's Bi-Polar etc one. We were just a little up and stuck so needed to make a quick trip to our wonderful Physch. and are crossing our fingers for the morning. Isaiah was frantically trying to study for his "first" ever test tomorrow on local Geography and was struggling with the spelling of such long words. It sort of seemed like everyone was talking at once and the phone didn't stop either. And to top that off they all couldn't seem to understand that swimming in a thunderstorm was just a little dangerous. Maybe it's the heat that is making them all a little crazier than usual. Oh, and the first run through of the play was at my home so of course I was trying to make dinner, keep the house tidy, do the homework, keep them all away from Dad who just happens to be filming on the west coast next week and needed to get his script right. Whew!

At least the six dogs and two horses were being friendly. Did I mention them before? We seem to collect animals as well. We have a three legged poodle, (her leg was chewed off by another dog years ago) and have rescued two miniature horses, Lady Bug and Angel. They eat the grass on the three acres. Keeps the mowing down just a little. They also poop a lot, but that makes great fertilizer for the small vege gardens we have begun to experiment with. The kids adore the horses and spoil them and the dogs rotten. We have toy poodles and English Cocker Spaniels.

Cooked 30 chicken legs in their favorite fake fry in the oven, three pounds of potatoes into sour cream and cheese mashed potatoes and a big old dish of mixed veggies. A couple of french loaves were also demolished and then they lined up for apple pie and ice cream. The older boys just came back around 9.00p.m. for the leftovers (of which there was not much). Finally they are all (hopefully) asleep. I must admit they are a lot of work but the reward and joy of seeing them grow into wonderful kids makes it worth while.

Looking forward to a small break in Nashville for me when my better half gets back from the west coast. Off to do some recording (I write and sing too) and a breather to get recharged. That is something that is really important when you dare to have this many kids with needs. It is not always easy to get away together, but we do make an effort and grab a day or two where we both recharge our batteries and get to think without being interrupted every 30 seconds or so.

We have discovered that hotels and getaways are not so good for us together. Our older kids are gracious enough to swap babysitting and when we need time out together we spend it at our wonderful home "Cressbrook Creek" and stay in, cook a couple of steaks with seafood and buy an excellent bottle of wine to relax and talk without interruptions.

In fact, my sweetheart has just cooked up some coconut shrimp and I am going to join him and review the day and what we were blessed with.

I realize that I am in the minority having fourteen children, ten of whom live at home. This is a journey I did not think I would ever participate in, but now that I experience this everyday, tired as I am at the end of it, I am glad I didn't miss any little bit.

I am prompted to start a blog because our tenth child at home and number fourteen in total, has only been with us for three weeks. He is a native Liberian child, raised in poverty and war in an orphanage in Monrovia. He is also the product of a "busted adoption" where he was sent back to this war torn, chaotic environment.

Because his older sister came to us in similar circumstances we couldn't leave him there. He is a green carded Resident Alien, with all the privileges of a citizen other than voting. He is also only 13 years old. He is totally unschooled (testing to grade 1.8) even though he has lived in the USA for the last four years, was homeless for much of the time back in Liberia from March to July until part of his birth family came to find him, suffered Malaria, and was exposed to TB.

He lived with no electricity, no fresh or running water, no phones, no toilets and a cup of rice per day. If he has survived that he deserves a chance at what life at the Thompson home can give him.

He has started middle school this week in IEL (Intensive English Language) although he speaks and understands English well. But, he cannot spell, write, do anything other than basic math, has no understanding of history or geography, and wonders why he has not discovered school before last Monday. I thought we had a policy of no child left behind, so how come he was dumped? And how many other children are there in schooling systems that seem to have no accountability.

He has not had a medical check up for four years, nor dental, no shots and a belief that most foods seem to be "bad" for you. Fortunately, hunger over rules the last one. After adopting eight children through a very carefully monitored system, I do not know why there was not more care in placing this child in a home that failed him miserably. Not only failed to educate, provide medical and dental, but failed to parent in the basic necessities.

I believe, he is smart, willing and eager to learn, waking up every minute to the fact that he has a chance in this life and is running with both hands and mind outstretched to receive all that is poured in.

Tune in for his progress and life at the Thompsons, with ten kids at home, including three sets of twins, four with mild cerebral palsy, four with dyslexia, four with expressive/receptive language disorder (mmm. and maybe five; haven't got the results yet) four with mood disorder/bipolar, one who has Tourette's, bipolar, Aspergers, and I can't count the ADHD kids, that seems normal to me, six dogs and two horses and six (and counting) grandchildren who all seem to love being on the ranch at Cressbrook Creek situated in the heart of suburbia.