Not only are those girls a gift from God to you.....you and your husband are God's gift to them.
What a spectacular feat to take on. You will blessed for the rest of your life.
It sounds like a dream come true for the girls....having a mom and dad that love them, food to eat, toys to play with and a roof over their heads.
God bless all of you and may you all settle in and "get to know each other" quickly.
Thanks for sharing this incredible story.

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you're doing everything right. But one thing scares me- please get to an attorney and begin proceedings to formally adopt them. I had a somewhat similar situation in my family. My brother in law's brother had a baby with his girlfriend. She didn't want the baby so she "gave" her to the boy's parents. They raised her for about ten years, had some kind of legal custody, and the baby's father got cancer and died. Then the mother decided she really wanted her child. It ended up with much court expense, but the girl stayed with her Grandparents. Anyway,pleasse get to an attorney. If you need one, contact your state or county bar association and ask for a referral.

the best of everything to you and your family

I have been waiting for an update. Thanks so much for sharing with us. I am so happy you gave your notice at work. Be sure and give the school something in writing about who is allowed to pick Tanna up. The school needs to know that you are in the process of adopting them and they need a copy of the no contact order.

Jannie...we started the process to adopt and legally change their names about a week ago. The court told us it was going to take 6-8 weeks but in the mean time Megan has signed away all of her rights and their father's did at birth. So for right now we are their legal guardians. Our lawyer told us that the name change would come around the same time as the adoption papers. Where their biological parents have signed away their rights it is making the transition for us a lot easier.
Right after Megan signed away her rights and we gained legal custody she sent our lawyer and email stating she wanted $5000.00 for the girls to pay off a credit card. We refused and I thought it was going to get really ugly but once she was told no she went away.

I'm sitting here crying like a baby! Those little girls have to be the luckiest little girls on earth!
It's got to be hard knowing that their other mother could come into the picture somewhere down the line but sounds like you will be able to handle it.Being a grandmother myself and one that has had a grandchild alienated from me for 7 years now and still no chance of seeing him,I can understand where the grandmother is coming from,but I can also understand your side of it.Just keep the door open,on your terms of course.
Have fun and God bless you and your husband!

Megan sounds like a piece of work. I think these little girls hit the jackpot. You an your husband sound like you've been parents all your life. This is the best scenario for both of you and the girls. What a happy life they will lead. Lets home Megan stays in Texas. That's a good thing she's far away. Her mother should be glad you got the kids and not some stranger when she would never get to see them.

Thanks for the update!! Keeping you, your DH and the girls in my thoughts.

We really love the update - thanks, and keep us in the loop!

I, having been in the girls' position ie mom and dad couldn't keep us, am SO thankful that she made the right decision to 'give them up', as opposed to what so many mothers do - try to hang on to them 'for the money'. This is a blessing from GOD all the way around!

I am learning how valueable nap time is. I either nap or find things to do that I can't when they are awake. We are starting to get in to bedtime routines and what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do. I find Trace is my little button pusher. I don't know if it's because she' 2 1/2 for if she's just a stinker.
She has the most contagious giggle so I have to be careful. She will be doing something she knows she's not allowed to do and start that deep belly giggling and I can't help but laugh at her so I have had to learn to keep a straight face and tell her no. Little bug!
They made daddy dessert the other night from their easy bake oven and they were so proud of themselves. It was really fun to watch them make their little cake and decorate it with sprinkles. They used almost half a container of sprinkles and bless DH he ate it....he needed a full glass of milk but he ate it for them.

One more thing I forgot to mention we did....we bought them the cutest little aquarium that looks like a little girls tv set and we got them a goldfish. They named it Mr. Orange. The tank has a light on it that doubles as a night light plus they like to watch him.

Oh, great, you got them a pet! I really think you are doing EVERYTHING RIGHT. And I'm glad you've already begun the adoption process. Bless you and your husband. You are truly God's Angels!

It sounds to me like you're doing everything right and I can't imagine all the joy and love that is in your house and hearts right now! Wow. Those girls won the jackpot with you and Mr. Fireman! And you get to stay home to raise them, that's so PERFECT. Yay for you and your new family. I'm so happy for all of you!

Enjoyed reading your update! Great news about Tanna not being so concerned over her next meal, too. It warms my heart she is loving her Barbie's and all those accessories! I was a huge Barbie fan! It sounds like you handled her meltdown very well. Sometimes all that is needed is being allowed to have that meltdown and a darn good cry!

Trace is probably pushing your buttons because she is a 2 year old!!! That is such a cute age, though.

I hope Taylor has adjusted well to her new crib! Getting her one that converts into a "big girl bed" was a good decision.

In regards to all those toys, lots of parents rotate the toys to avoid boredom. You could pack up one or two boxes of toys. Then on a day when the girls are perhaps not playing nice with each other you would bring out those packed up toys. It's an instant diversion!

Smart move about deciding to be home with the girls. That is invaluable in so many ways! Keep up the great parenting!

I have been keeping up with all of this and I think it is fabulous!!! Talk about everyone being lucky. You both needed the girls and they sure needed you. Can you imagine what Christmas is going to be like?? I would sure love to be a mouse in someone's stocking on Christmas morning...

Love to all of you!!!!! Susie.

P.S. Hang in there , your Aunt will see the light one day and thank you.. She is probably darn embarrassed with what her daughter has done... She may feel she has done something wrong some where along the line..

I am sitting here just grinning from ear to ear!!!
God bless you all!
What a happy family!

Keep in mind that part of Tanna's meltdown could be that she is worried that some day you may leave her too. After everything is settled, adoption and all, perhaps you can contact your Aunt (their grandmother) invite her out to lunch and have a long talk. As a mother, I would be devastated if my daughter just walked away from my grandchildren but in time she might come to realize that it was the best thing for the kids. Just do all you can to have her a part of their lives. If she chooses not to, then that's her choice. Very best wishes for you and all the family and thanks for keeping in touch. It's both a heart wrenching and heart warming story.

:-)

Janie

I don't know how you are finding time to share your experience with us, but we are all just "eating it up!"
Thankis.

Ditto to all the above! Another thank-you for sharing this wonderful story with us........and on those days that aren't so wonderful (every parent has them), I hope you'll come here and share those, too.

I'm glad you quit work. I understand it was a tough decision, but I think for now it was the right one.

Great to read your update! I am so happy for you/your dh & the 3 little girls.

"and then of course their dad and I went crazy picking out things too."

Those are some of the sweetest and heartfelt words I've read here at the KT.

You may want to get a copy of "Horton Hatches the Egg" by Dr. Seuss. It tells the story of Horton the elephant who takes care of "Mazie the lazy bird's" egg and after he sits and sits on it and goes through so much to take care of it, the egg hatches. Long story short, it is the story of how you don't have to give birth or sire a child (or an egg in this case) to have it be yours.

Kids love the story and so do adults! They won't really "get" the deeper meaning of it for a while but it will still be special. And when they do "get it" it is a beautiful thing ;o)

It's my favorite book of all time. My parents read it to me when I was little and when I got older and understood the deeper meaning of the story it made me so proud to have them as my parents.

(((Nora)))

Big Hugs to all of you!

((((((((((--)))))))))

Donna (^_^)

Glad to hear things are going well with the girls. Sorry about your aunt but she will come around. Just give her a little time to adjust to what her daughter did.

Linda

this is so exciting!

Oh...you sound like you and your husband are doing such a good job...

I'm sure there will be hurdles...but I like the way you are handling them.

You just keep giving them love and it will work out.

My daughter got custody of her grandaughter about 4 months ago. The baby was about 6 months at the time...didn't ever smile (she was left alone in the house with a bottle in the crib many many times we found out) no one to talk to her. You can't imagine how she has bloomed into a happy little one in the last three months. She learned how to climb the stairs today....trouble is just starting. My daughter is so good with her.

patti

I look forward to your updates. I love how your family has grown and love it shows. My DH and his 2 brothers were all adopted and it is wonderful what you are doing for these 3 little girls.

Stacie

I'm usually not speechless; I've read all of your story but couldn't think of anything that wasn't already being said.

Then I remembered this gif that I've been waiting to find a reason to use.

Now I've found a perfect reason.

Sorry the image is generic, but the message is perfect.

Sue

Thank you for sharing your life with the girls. I am so excited for all of you and sending special thoughts and warm hugs for all of you.

Sounds like you're doing well. It's probably OK to say, "I don't know," about Tanna seeing her mother -- for now. These are things I'd want to consult with a child therapist about before more questions come along. These kids have had enough unanswered questions in their lives.

Your Two will react when her big sister leaves her to go to school. (Two is often hard to tolerate, but she has to be able to say NO before her YES can be genuine.)

Can you NOT take three kids to the grocery store with you? (You may have already reached that conclusion by the time you get home! LOL)

Can you *slow down* on all the trips and purchases? You are in danger of having the girls think that this is going to be 'the norm' -- tons of new toys all the time. I hear that you and Mr. Fireman are having fun, but this can be confusing and distract from what you all need most: a calm, stable, loving home.

I don't see that you had a choice about quitting your job. Don't feel guilty at times when you wish you were Not Mom and At Work again! LOL

firemanswife wrote: "I find Trace is my little button pusher. I don't know if it's because she' 2 1/2 for if she's just a stinker."
We have a grandson about that age and I remember when his Daddy was that age. It's a terrible two thing. Our son and his son can drive you up a wall. Praise the Lord our daughter didn't really go through that stage. That's just a normal part of growing up. They are learning that they don't "have to do" what others expect of them. Their not robots, they can make choices on their own and actually do them where as when they were younger they were very dependent on other for all their needs. Hopefully sooner rather than later, she'll understand that life is easier to choose right over wrong and choose to obey more times than not.
What blessing for these precious girls to have you and your hubby as their loving parents and for you to have them as your babies. I'm so very thrilled for you all.

Sorry I missed this post yesterday. But reading it today, well, I'm blubbering. This is the most heartwarming real life story I've heard in a long time. Thank you for sharing this adventure with your KT family.

What Chisue said, especially the "slow down" part.

I think you can say that you think she probably will see her mother again, but you don't know for sure. That's an honest answer IMHO.

Keep up the good work. Hope the store went well.