iamwise: you are not wise just bitter.

Isn't it amazing the love and devotion that children have for their parents? No matter how bad the parents screw up, do the wrong things, or even hurt a child...the child still loves them. Unconditional love and the innocence of a child. Please think about this when posting comments about a childs parent. The girls love and miss their mother. We should not disrespect their feelings by publicly stating things that they may read or hear about.

Why is it so hard to just be happy for these three girls? In my line of work I see children who do without every day or who live in marginal environments. It's awful. But can't we take joy in the fact that SOME kids have gotten what they need and maybe something special to boot? Maybe we can't give to all but we can give to some - it doesn't mean that some children are more deserving than others or some caretakers work more or sacrifice more than others Regardless of WHO benefits initially, hopefully the recipients will "pay it forward" and help someone else later on. This isn't about three little girls, it's about all of us.

everyone is intitled to thier own opinion about this situation. i see the point many of you are trying to make. It was a very heart felt story for the christmas season. its good to see people reaching out to help others. No one denies these girls deserve better in life and someone to care for them. which it seems they finally have. I think some people are having problems with the story because we know the girls and the parents involved. This story has hit me personally with some happiness and some anger and at times has left me shaking my head. In the 1st story it said that the girls had never had a birthday cake with candles and sang too before not True i was at keyonna's birthday party last year she got lots of gifts. The mother has received lots of money at diffrent times from people to help buy things for the girls. Did she spend it on them? not sure. is it the girls fault ? not at all! But from knowing the mother we have to wonder how much is real and how much is fake. This is not the first time the mother has not been in thier lives and more then likely wont be the last. These are very smart girls and i hope they have the courage to stand up and fight for thier lives to make thier lives better then what they have been showed in life already.

Nope, my daughters have American Girl dolls. Their grandmother bought them several years ago for Christmas, against my wishes.
Life size Barbie? No...that's kinda creepy.....LOL

this is Kellie. I hate tto even reply to this type of thing. I have had all 3 girls in my custody since october. FULL TIME. Yes in fact I did offer to watch the girls after school, but with in a week they were with me full time. Since I have had them, they have seen the youngest father, whom I believe you are talking about, no more then ten times. I am not here to judge, not the mother fathers, or anyone. I am here to love the girls and make their time with me safe and loving. If at any time anyone has any questions, please, feel free to contact me.

Mikki, I am sorry you are being bashed. I agree with you. Perhaps you should have put it a bit differently.
What people don't seem to understand is that this is an open forum, that everyone has a right to his or her own opinion. Instead of getting personal or rude, perhaps folks should just listen to the ideas of others.
Guess that would be asking for people on here to be mature. That would be asking way too much, I am afraid.

Iamwise. Better watch out. You're gonna get bashed for simply stating an opinion. ihavealife seems to get a kick out of seeing their own opinions typed out, but has no patience for others'. Typical.

ihavealife, we are allowed to have our opinions. Too bad you don't realize that. You have a GREAT day!

Ok all I can say is maybe I should take my own advice and not believe everything the father is telling me, he told me and I know he had the girls as I was picking up the youngest from school just before he got the two other girls. I sat with her and did homework Keyonna is a very smart little girl. There was a day when the mother could not be found and I arranged for my daughter to watch them until the father was done working. The father said he would take care of them. Keyonna even went to Tennessee with her grandparents for a vacation in September. All I know is the father came into work saying he had the girls because the probation officer said take them or they end up in foster care. It was hard but he tried then Kellie came into his life and babysat the girls after school until he was done with work he dropped them off in the morning and picked them up after work (his words ). But with the last post maybe I will leave it alone I would like to believe the father but again take my own advice. So leave things as they are and let him deal with it. I just felt bad for him as he is a nice guy who is trying.

marina- I work with the system and have stayed out of this discussion due to professional courtesy. However, the father is not telling you the complete truth, and, should he become re-involved with the situation, I would anticipate that they would be at MUCH greater risk of being placed in foster care AGAIN. The girls need to stay with Kellie, and, please understand that by posting what you are you are placing their stability at risk. IF you think that CPS is not "keeping track" of these girls, you are naive. You may be "helping" the father in public opinion, but, you are making the case for the state to remove the children (no stable home) and separate them into foster homes, and, FYI: if this were to occur, all 3 kids would be removed including HIS, and, he would have to complete his permanency plan in order to re-gain custody of her.... Leave the girls with Kellie they at least have A CHANCE there....

I am a single mother of 2 children. I do not use drugs or drink. I work to pay my bills. My children are very well taking care of and I love them with all my heart! Is it a struggle? HECK YES! do I put my life story in the Gazette so I can get FREE hand outs and money from people who feel bad for me? No! Everyone is looking for a hand! Get a job!

I am not saying that Kellie is lying I am saying that it is not the whole truth, she is taking care of the girls as of a week and a half per the father. He is involved I spoke with him why is he not fighting because the girls are being taken care of while he works I could ask him to call the Gazette and get things corrected but I am going what he tells me and what I have seen for myself.

I am sorry you feel that way now I know why so many people tell me they do not make comments here as you just get bashed, look at the angel wings thing people are not allowed to voice their own opinions just what people want to hear. . Again the father is involved he doesn’t have a car right now and per the father just today at noon he said the kids are staying there as of this last week. Believe what you want but again the paper needs to get all the facts. Why not contact the probation officer who told the father to take the kids or they would end up in foster care not his daughter but the two older girls. Again, you are taking this out of context as so many people do. I will not write any more as you cannot bare the truth.

marinab: How do you know all of this? It's really unbelieveable that someone would lie about taking in these girls if the father is still around and taking care of them during the night. If it is a lie then the father would have come forward when the first story was printed on the 24th: http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/dec/24/...

I can only give information he has told me he is a working man his car is not working so Kellie is keeping the girls for now his boss picks him up for work. Why he did not call, the Gazette is because he is very embarrassed. Has he made good choices in life not by any means but he is trying and again this is not bashing Kellie she is a big influence in the girl’s life and the father agrees with that they need a woman’s (mother’s) love. I am just saying do not believe one side only. I did not do this to bash Kellie or make the father out to be a hero I just am tired of people getting used and the media not getting all the facts. Do the girls need to be with Kellie right now yes but the father is not the bad guy here. And I am not trying to start anything here but again the paper should get all the facts that is all I am saying.

I am sorry but Kellie is the babysitter and the fathers car is not running he is still working, paying child support and has Kellie watching the girls again maybe the Gazette should investigate more I am not cutting Kellie down by no means and I am not trying to but the father is involved. He cannot afford alot and he does appreciate Kellie and what she does but they do not live with her. He drops them off in the morning and picks them up at night. He is very upset with all of this as he is doing his best also so do not count him out as a loser he is very grateful for Kellie this is not a bashing of her. But please get all the facts.

I just would like to make a comment, the Gazette should of spoke with the father who I know personally and he has all three girls he is not the father of the two older girls but took them in. He works hard and is struggling, Kellie was and is a babysitter for the girls they live with the father. Yes, the mother has her problems but I know that the father is taking care of the girls. He takes care of all of them the two older girl’s father and his side of the family did not want them. The man who has all of them has struggled with food, cloths, and Christmas, he is the one who baths them, puts them to bed and has to tell them it will all be ok. Kellie I am afraid is giving you false information. I applaud her for taking care of an ill family member. Yes, the girls need help so does the father again the children are living with the father. So maybe you should do more checking on all the facts.

Mikki- Everyone has read your posts - this story is not about all the hardworking families out there struggling - it is about a remarkable woman and what the community has done for these three girls. The story is one of kindness and love. Everyone knows there are other families struggling and lots of kids suffering too - we read about that everyday - it was nice to read a positive story for a change. Nobody wants to bash you but instead of bringing negativity into such a heartwarming story -why don't you try just being happy that these three little girls had a Merry Christmas?

Wow, it's funny you read jealousy into my posts, because it's far from the truth. I know several families that are in the situation I described. Hardworking families, united, doing the right thing, hardly enough to put under the tree.
Sorry, no jealousy here. Just pity for people. Heck, if I had $300 to give 3 dolls out, I would have donated TONS of toys to the families I know.
There are a LOT of kids suffering out there. You people obviously didn't even READ my posts, just wanted to bash me for my opinions.

To all the whiners out there complaining about or jealous of dolls donated to the girls . . . what is wrong with you? Haven't these girls suffered enough? I am thrilled that people in the community have given of themselves to make things a little easier for Kellie and the girls. Kellie is giving of herself in every way possible and if this Christmas was made a little brighter for the girls through the generosity of others, isn't that what it's all about? I am a big believer in Pay It Forward . . . you will never regret it! God bless you Kellie and those beautiful girls. They are lucky to have you!

Kellie,
I have a few ideas for you! I plan to call this week to help you out with the girls and you. The world is a much better place to have you and your heart to be so selfless. You are more than Mother of the Year, you are what God wants us to be!!

Just when I was thinking that I was the only one who would do this type of thing, you proved me wrong! You are exactly right that it takes a village... so many are not even aware of that!

God bless you!

Listen to some of you! Quit with the put-downs towards the parents (you do not know 100% of the details, and who are you to judge anyway?), snippy comments and "poor me" junk already! You are only as "poor" as you allow yourself to be. I may not be rolling in money, but I managed 2 small gifts for my son this year. I thought he would be disappointed but he said it was more important to have a home, heat and food than it was to have more things to play with. Why is it a 12 year old can figure it out, yet some of you adults cannot? Kellie - you did what you knew in your heart was the best thing to do, and knew it would not be easy. You don't wallow in the "poor me", you look for ways to make it work. Don't give up, and certainly don't let these catty folks make you feel wrong or guilty.

Hi, I am Kellie. I would like to thank everyone so much. I have said this so many times, but without the help of friends and family, I would not have been able to make this so do-able. I would have done it, but they have taken so much stress out of daily things, that I can focus so much on the girls. My daughter Amanda, my family and my extended family like Malcolm, Lisa,Arial,Damont. There are so many. I just really want everyone to know that I love then and appreciate them. And everyone who has called, stopped by,dropped off stuff for our family, or just sent letters. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! May you all be blessed as much as we have.

This is the first I've seen of the story. It warms my heart to read about Kellie, who has opened her heart and her home to three little girls who were basically out on their own. It further warms my heart to hear that so many of my neighbors in Janesville donated gifts and money to this very needy family at Christmas. I'd like to send out a big thank you to Kellie for sacrificing her own comfort in order to bring safety and love to these sweet little girls, and many big thank yous to the good-hearted people who helped to give them a merry Christmas.

Who cares how much the gift costs? They were gifts provided by people who wanted to give them to these deserving kids it didn't cost anyone else a dime. Those of you who didn't get presents stop your whining and just learn to be happy for someone else for once. What this lady is doing for these kids is a wonderful thing.

hannah: bingo! I thought it was so adorable that each of the dolls matched the girls. The dolls came from a family with 3 older daughters...hmmm...maybe the dolls were used? Big deal if they got an American Girl doll. We bought presents for our friends' 3 year old grandson because they did not have ANY disposable income to get him even a few things (he lives with them). Were my husband and I rewarding his son for being a deadbeat and not taking care of his own son? NO! What their biological mother has done in her life should have NO bearing on whether it is fair that these girls got these dolls. No one was rewarding her. No one was really even rewarding Kellie. They were doing what ALL of us should be doing: letting kids be kids despite being surrounded by a complicatedly chaotic adult world.
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Would ANYONE have been upset if the dolls weren't AG dolls but $5 cheapies from Dollar General? Of course they would. This is Janesville. City of Parks. Land of the Jealous.

Mikki--I believe I understood exactly what you were saying, I think our comments were being written simultaneously.

Others may not like it, but I understand how you feel--it's a great thing she's doing, but there are a LOT of us that are struggling & will continue to do so.

The world needs more people like Kellie. Yes she struggles, but she has more love in her heart and soul. How many people would quit their jobs to care for an ill family member and take on three girls. I hope she has a safe home, its what is inside that counts not only in her home, but in all of us, Kellie, and those three children.

This is a great story about a great woman. It never ceases to amaze me how the people on here can come in here and whine about what they aren't getting or how life is treating them. People wake up everything is not about you. This is a good thing for these children can't you just be happy for them without whining about yourselves?

These are three of the most beautiful, adorable girls I've ever seen. If Kellie has a problem keeping them, I'd be the first one to step up and take them if I could!! These little ones are going to grow up trusting the world and hopefully be productive, caring citizens in this world of uncertainty and it's all due to one loving and caring individual and that is Kellie...God Bless You, girl!!

Was I blaming the kids? Who am I pitting against another? Did you even get my point? Obviously not.
There are hardworking, decent people in our area that have lost their jobs. HUNDREDS of them. HUNDREDS of people who had rotten Christmases NOT because of choices they made, but because of the economy.
I SAID it was a nice story.
But I feel badly that people who actually DO THE RIGHT THING ALL THE TIME get overlooked in the media for people WHO FINALLY decide to.

Mikki--I understand what you are saying. Those of us that are trying to 'do the right thing' struggle along & our kids may not get the expensive toys that the less fortunate children receive via donations.

That doesn't make it wrong, or right. It can be difficult for those that are struggling to see others get the donations--because we are not eligible for donations it can grate our nerves. Being "middle class" sucks sometimes!

That said, Kellie, you are doing a wonderful thing to attempt to keep those girls together & hopefully, you will be allowed to keep them.

Mikki, what a terrible thing to pit one child against another.
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As my own family has been the recipient of anonymous charity in times of need, I can only extend my thanks to those whose generosity reaches so far. It really is impossible to put into words what such things can mean in a crisis.
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Anyone with questions about the girls' background should read the previous story. Regardless of the errors and failings of their parents, the girls are in no way at fault.
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/dec...

What a nice story.
I know many children who would love American Girl dolls. But their parents aren't in rehab. They just can't afford them. They are trying to find jobs and are doing the RIGHT thing...working to put food on the table, not using the money they earn to buy drugs.
Sorry to sound cynical, but what about the children of parents who are actually doing the RIGHT thing, and just can't make it? Where are their rewards?

Yes, The girls do have different fathers. The girls used to live out here where we live and I know that they have had a hard life. Hopefully Kellie will be able to keep these girls as one man has said that Rehab does not always work. They are much better where they are now! God bless you girls and Kellie!

as I child I also had a mother in rehab over christmas..are Grandmother took us in and cared for us the best she could but money was very tight as she was on disability ..on christmas eve my sister and I were give two black grabage bags full of new toys by a teacher I had in school (thank you Mrs. McCan). I will never forget how much other people cared about us . So I try to pay it forward in my adult life , the three girls in this story will never forget your kindness

Is it right to think that each of those beautiful girls are from different fathers?
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And where is/are the father (s)? Doesn't matter, the answer is likely obvious.
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Ms. Everhart, you are an angel on earth, and if you are capable and allowed to keep those girls, it may be the only remedy to keep them from a similiar path as their biological mother.
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What a truly heartwarming story - well done Gazette.
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And as my ole hometown goes through a painful time with the loss of jobs, what blessings are still in the hearts and wallets of that community.