Adopting for the 2nd time

I am single, and have a 4 year old boy adopted from Guatemala. I am waiting for Helena, 5 mos. also from Guatemala. I couldn't be more excited about having 2. There are mornings or evenings when I have realized, "wow, it's going to be different, hard, now." But, I am lucky to have a supportive family and a real desire to expand my family. You probably questioned even having 1 on your own. Obviously, successfully. Have faith, you will do great. Just ask for help when you need it. People really do want to help. Kristn

I have 3 kids, but Friday the older sibling of my soon to be adopted sons will be moving in also, so that will make 4 kids ages 4 and under.(ALL BOYS!!) Lightning will be 4 next Monday Boogy is a little over 2.5 yrs Destructo will be 15 months this Friday Chocolate Thunder just turned 8 months yesterday L, B, & D are bio siblings and I will be adopting them in about 3-4 months. (YAY!!!) Chocolate Thunder should be reuniifed soon... Just to shock you even more I MAY also be adopting a 10 y/o old girl before the summer is out...if you're counting that will be 5 kids until my youngest son is reunified with his parents. I live alone (as in no other adults) I live at least 30 mins from my closest family member, although they help me out A LOT!!!! I work full time for an IT company and I own my own business (but I have significantly reduced the amount of work I do with my business to like 1-2 clients every month or so...) I go to church 1-3 times a week, sometimes more depending on whether or not we have an event. I am BLESSED to have a job with a flexible schedule in which I can pretty much come in when I want as long as I work my 8 hrs...I usually eat my lunch at my desk..so I work 8 hrs straight. So going to appointments is "less" of a hassle because I can just make up the time on another day. I do somewhat have a schedule, but I would say my life is more like "organized chaos" I do have a standard routine that I follow most days,but if something doesn't get done like the dishes or laundry..I DO NOT STRESS over it... We eat a lot of peanut butter and jelly and meals that take 15 mins or less to make. I bathe the kids in the bathtub (or sink ..lol) like every 2-3 days and then just wash them up on the in between days with a rag, warm water and soap unless they are just extremely dirty... Generally, unless we go to church or have a sw visit or spend the night over my sisters, my boys go to bed around 7:00-7:30 because I HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO MYSELF or I WILL GO CRAZY!!! (lol) I teach my kids to be as independent as possible... e.g. I insist that my 2.5 y/o dress himself everyday.. yeah sometimes his pants get put on backwards, but we just work out the kinks as they come along. When he was in pullups, I made him take it to the trash when he took it off. I also make him take the babies diapers to the trash as well.. I rarely pick up their toys. I make my 1 and 2 yr old do it..I don't care if it takes forever...I also make my 2 yr old take his own clothes and put them in the hamper as well as put his and his brothers plate, cups etc in the sink when they are done eating. (These are his "chores" per se.) My 15 month old feeds himself 95% of time, the only exception to that is if I don't want him to mess his clothes up. He mostly uses his hands, but slowly but surely he is learning to use his spoon. I make him walk as much as possible, in his last foster home, he was the youngest and they carried him ALL the time and sometimes he'll get to the point to where he will just plop down on the ground while we are walking (let's just say to the car) and he crys and screams cause he wants me to carry him. Guess what? I leave him sitting there and keep walking (of course I make sure he is not in harms way) but eventually he realizes that I'm not going to carry him and he eventually gets up and walks his little butt to the car. It's enough that I have to carry a 20+ lb 8 month old and he wants me to tote him too....Yeah right! My 8 month old is REALLY lazy....his bottle can be sitting right in front of him and he'll holler and scream instead of just reaching over and getting his bottle. He also hates feeding himself (not that I make him unless it is like a biter biscuit or something)...He doesn't want to even hold the biter biscuit or cookie or whatever, he wants you to hold it in his mouth. so I just let him scream until he figures out that I am not going to do it for him and eventually he puts it in his own mouth. He also likes to be held, but I cannot always sit and hold him and I insist that he sits on the floor and plays with his brothers. He screams and hollers, but eventually he gets over it... I'll be glad when Lightning moves in....he is very independent He REALLY enjoys his roll as big brother and is eager to help!! He doesn't wait for you to tell him to do something. When he sees something that needs to be done (say for instance if sees his brothers nose needs to be wiped because it is running) He'll go and get the tissue and wipe it without being asked or consulting an adult. I LOVE THAT KIND OF INITIATIVE!!!!! Makes my life easier.... As far as finances, if it wasn't for the foster care subsidy I would not be able to afford to do this...and THANK GOD, that I also get an adoption subsidy after they are adopted....it isn't a whole lot of money, but it makes the budget much less "tight." But anyway...enough of me rambling....YOU CAN DO IT! IT is very possible..if I can do it with 4, ANYONE CAN! I say go for it!!! Just have a strong support system and a regular routine/schedule and you can do it.