We got Dumplin's MRI day done.
Ugh.
He couldn't have formula after 3am since his appointment was at 11am. I think this may be the only time in all my baby days that I woke a sleeping baby to feed them. We wanted him to have that 'last meal.' After this, he could only have clear liquids up until 8am. By waking him around 3am to feed, he slept until nearly 9am. We packed a bottle for later in the day....I couldn't wait to feed him again. Poor baby.
Ugh.
Dad DID show up. He was a little late, but he found us in the correct waiting room when we were first waiting to be called back. Since Dad isn't "paternity test positive" dad, he wasn't able to sign consent for the MRI. The hospital actually had to get in contact with Mom where she was to get her consent. (Y'all, such new territory for us. We aren't supposed to sign ANYTHING that would make us the responsible party in such matters. I basically have to write "DCS" in most spaces. Pretty strange doing things for a child who isn't your own....)
When they called us back to the 'triage' type area, Dad wasn't allowed to go with us. Again, him not being "official dad" meant that he had no rights. Dumplin is legally in our care...Dad has no say.
Dumplin was a very drowsy all morning. He mostly slept while we held him. He didn't get really fussy while we were waiting his turn....until about 12:15, then he was OVER. IT. Nothing would comfort him. While he was super mad, they came in to start an IV in his arm. Didn't matter much since he was already upset. As he started to calm down and drift off to sleep, they came and got him for the procedure. We kissed him and left the waiting area.
We went back to where we had left Dad and told him we were going to the cafeteria to find some lunch. He came with us, but he didn't eat, even though we tried to buy him food. He gave my husband his phone number in case we moved from there, then he stepped out for a smoke break.
We finished lunch and headed back down to wait for Dumplin. Dad told us he had to go to work so he left. A nurse came to get us about 20 minutes later and led us to the baby. Dumplin looked sweet and pitiful at the same time. They kept him hooked to the IV but allowed me to pick him up. Once we were holding him again, he began to awaken. It was so good to kiss his sweet face after this kind of day. It wasn't long before he let us know that he was ready for a bottle.
The nurse said that our doctor should receive the MRI results by the afternoon. She released us and I couldn't get that baby home quickly enough.
Sweet baby. That's what I call him. :)
***It was Friday and I didn't expect to hear anything. I was pleasantly surprised when I received a call from the doctor at about 5:30pm!! He said there was NO evidence of trauma. His brain looked good. Dumplin had evidently not been shaken or beaten...and there was no damage from the seizures he supposedly had at two months of age. Praising God for this news!! And kudos to a doctor who didn't make us wait all weekend to hear this news!
Now, we have to wait for the next ophthalmology appointment. What's going on with this baby's vision?
Monday, June 23, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Father's Day
When we got Dumplin, we knew the other 'characters' in the story were bio mom, bio dad and maternal bio grandpa. The only thing we knew about any of them: Mom wasn't where she could ask for visits. Dad was 'dad' but hadn't had a paternity test.
Just before Father's Day, Dumplin's caseworker, Dee, called me to see if we'd be willing to meet bio dad for a visit. Apparently he had told her that he understood that asking for a visit ON Father's Day wouldn't be fair to my husband, so he was wondering about the day after. We thought that was kind and agreed to the visit.
I printed off a few pictures of Dumplin to give Dad. I also framed an "I love you, Dad" on which I had stamped Dumplin's feet. In our certification classes, we had discussed that recognizing holidays for the bio parents could be a warm gesture....so Dad would get a little Father's day gift.
Husband and I took Dumplin to the visit together....we needed to both meet bio dad. It had been about two weeks since he had seen Dumplin. He spent the day with him in the DCS office the day the first foster family dropped him off. From then, Dad didn't know who had Dumplin. I can't imagine.
We updated Dad about the doctor visit we had had and informed him about the upcoming MRI, giving him the time and location. It was actually only three days away.
Dad seemed nice. He was able to comfort Dumplin when we was fussy, so that was nice. Although, it was quite hard to not step in and offer assistance, I let dad deal with him. I think it made him feel good that he could comfort him. We gave him the little gifts and he seemed to really appreciate them.
We stayed about two hours. Lots of small talk. Got a few more details about him and Mom....and I decided in my brain that they probably shouldn't be together.
When it was time to leave, we parked in different directions, so we said our goodbyes.
Dad said he'd try to come to the MRI appointment.
We'll see.
Just before Father's Day, Dumplin's caseworker, Dee, called me to see if we'd be willing to meet bio dad for a visit. Apparently he had told her that he understood that asking for a visit ON Father's Day wouldn't be fair to my husband, so he was wondering about the day after. We thought that was kind and agreed to the visit.
I printed off a few pictures of Dumplin to give Dad. I also framed an "I love you, Dad" on which I had stamped Dumplin's feet. In our certification classes, we had discussed that recognizing holidays for the bio parents could be a warm gesture....so Dad would get a little Father's day gift.
Husband and I took Dumplin to the visit together....we needed to both meet bio dad. It had been about two weeks since he had seen Dumplin. He spent the day with him in the DCS office the day the first foster family dropped him off. From then, Dad didn't know who had Dumplin. I can't imagine.
We updated Dad about the doctor visit we had had and informed him about the upcoming MRI, giving him the time and location. It was actually only three days away.
Dad seemed nice. He was able to comfort Dumplin when we was fussy, so that was nice. Although, it was quite hard to not step in and offer assistance, I let dad deal with him. I think it made him feel good that he could comfort him. We gave him the little gifts and he seemed to really appreciate them.
We stayed about two hours. Lots of small talk. Got a few more details about him and Mom....and I decided in my brain that they probably shouldn't be together.
When it was time to leave, we parked in different directions, so we said our goodbyes.
Dad said he'd try to come to the MRI appointment.
We'll see.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Sleep
Thankfully, this baby only gets up once per night for a feeding.
I'm nearly ten years older than I was when I had my last baby.
I've gotten used to sleeping through the night.
Maybe Dumplin will, too.
I'm nearly ten years older than I was when I had my last baby.
I've gotten used to sleeping through the night.
Maybe Dumplin will, too.
Friday, June 13, 2014
More
Let's talk a little more about Dumplin's health.
I previously stated that he was in good condition. By that, I meant that he had not been abused. He had no evidence of trauma. He had been in a foster home, therefore, there was no real concern about how he had been treated recently.
How is he really?
- At nearly five months old, he was wearing a 0-3 outfit when we picked him up.
- He sounded very congested all the time.
- He spit up a LOT after every feeding. Like, forget the burp cloth and just use a blanket kind of spit up. Or prepare to change your clothes, his clothes and clean whatever chair you're sitting in.
- He was a face-down sleeper....literally, he smashed his nose into the bed.
- He could not hold his head up. He was chin-to-chest.
- He could not hold his upper body up....so sitting him up on your lap wasn't happening.
(These two things are what the first foster parent meant when she described him as 'limp baby'
- He has a 'birthmark'
- He doesn't focus on or track anything with his eyes. Blind??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I got concerned about all the congestion/spit up so I told his caseworker that I wanted to take him to the doctor. She sent me a picture of his insurance card and told me what doctor he has been seeing. Turns out, this doctor has seen him since his birth in the hospital. I felt that it would probably be beneficial to stick with this doctor since he knew Dumplin's history. If I liked the dr, we'd keep him.
I got Dumplin to the doctor. He weighed 13.8lbs and was 23 3/4" long. We discussed his congestion and spitting up. The doctor said he has reflux and that, as a reflux baby, he naturally produces more mucus...so that's why he sounds congested all the time. He said he didn't want to treat Dumplin for the reflux; he doesn't like to 'turn stomach acid off' unless the child appears to have painful reflux. "Acids are there for a reason, we're gonna let them do their job."
The 'birthmark' isn't really a birth mark. It's a Strawberry hemangioma and apparently it wasn't there at birth. The doctor said it typically develops soon after birth and grows for the first year of life. It could shrink and fade with age. Either way, we'll watch it.
The dr also checked Dumplin's eyes. Sadly, the baby didn't fix and follow on anything. It's as if he didn't see anything, although at home, we're convinced that he turns towards and stares at light, the tv and the geometric curtains in his room. The doctor told me that Dumplin had already been taken to an ophthalmologist and that an MRI was scheduled for later this month. The MRI would let us know if there was an obvious reason for the lack of vision, ie, trauma to the brain, perhaps from seizures or physical abuse.
Doctor: He's a healthy little guy, but he just can't see a darn thing.
Me: (nervously, with a look of pity) Ok then.
The doctor gave me several cans of formula, for which I was SUPER grateful. (I nursed both of my bio kiddos, so I was blown away when I learned how much formula cost and how much I'd be buying.)
In about three weeks, I'll be bringing Dumplin back for his six month check up and shots, yippie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the doctor visit: I cried. And worried. And cried.
Would this sweet baby really be blind for life? Would we have him long enough to see what happens? How would WE raise a blind baby? Would his parents keep trying to get him back if he's blind? Would they just sign off and let him go? And then what??!!
Worry and fear are not from the Lord...my wise husband said, "One day at a time. We just need to love him one day at a time."
I previously stated that he was in good condition. By that, I meant that he had not been abused. He had no evidence of trauma. He had been in a foster home, therefore, there was no real concern about how he had been treated recently.
How is he really?
- At nearly five months old, he was wearing a 0-3 outfit when we picked him up.
- He sounded very congested all the time.
- He spit up a LOT after every feeding. Like, forget the burp cloth and just use a blanket kind of spit up. Or prepare to change your clothes, his clothes and clean whatever chair you're sitting in.
- He was a face-down sleeper....literally, he smashed his nose into the bed.
- He could not hold his head up. He was chin-to-chest.
- He could not hold his upper body up....so sitting him up on your lap wasn't happening.
(These two things are what the first foster parent meant when she described him as 'limp baby'
- He has a 'birthmark'
- He doesn't focus on or track anything with his eyes. Blind??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I got concerned about all the congestion/spit up so I told his caseworker that I wanted to take him to the doctor. She sent me a picture of his insurance card and told me what doctor he has been seeing. Turns out, this doctor has seen him since his birth in the hospital. I felt that it would probably be beneficial to stick with this doctor since he knew Dumplin's history. If I liked the dr, we'd keep him.
I got Dumplin to the doctor. He weighed 13.8lbs and was 23 3/4" long. We discussed his congestion and spitting up. The doctor said he has reflux and that, as a reflux baby, he naturally produces more mucus...so that's why he sounds congested all the time. He said he didn't want to treat Dumplin for the reflux; he doesn't like to 'turn stomach acid off' unless the child appears to have painful reflux. "Acids are there for a reason, we're gonna let them do their job."
The 'birthmark' isn't really a birth mark. It's a Strawberry hemangioma and apparently it wasn't there at birth. The doctor said it typically develops soon after birth and grows for the first year of life. It could shrink and fade with age. Either way, we'll watch it.
The dr also checked Dumplin's eyes. Sadly, the baby didn't fix and follow on anything. It's as if he didn't see anything, although at home, we're convinced that he turns towards and stares at light, the tv and the geometric curtains in his room. The doctor told me that Dumplin had already been taken to an ophthalmologist and that an MRI was scheduled for later this month. The MRI would let us know if there was an obvious reason for the lack of vision, ie, trauma to the brain, perhaps from seizures or physical abuse.
Doctor: He's a healthy little guy, but he just can't see a darn thing.
Me: (nervously, with a look of pity) Ok then.
The doctor gave me several cans of formula, for which I was SUPER grateful. (I nursed both of my bio kiddos, so I was blown away when I learned how much formula cost and how much I'd be buying.)
In about three weeks, I'll be bringing Dumplin back for his six month check up and shots, yippie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the doctor visit: I cried. And worried. And cried.
Would this sweet baby really be blind for life? Would we have him long enough to see what happens? How would WE raise a blind baby? Would his parents keep trying to get him back if he's blind? Would they just sign off and let him go? And then what??!!
Worry and fear are not from the Lord...my wise husband said, "One day at a time. We just need to love him one day at a time."
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Dumplin
Our sweet daughter wrote a poem for Dumplin.
I'm happy to have kept it where I could find it.
I'm even happier to get it edited in order to share it.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Timing
My brain likes to think about the timing of things.
What was I doing the year xyz came out?
OR
When did I meet so and so?
You can remember such things based on the other circumstances at the time.
Where you were working. What you were driving. What song was popular.
So I was trying to figure out what was going on when *Dumplin was born.
He was born on a Tuesday in January of this year.
On a Tuesday, my big kids, let's call them Dude and Darlin, would've had school during the day, a music lesson in the afternoon at one nearby church and group music lessons at a different church that evening. Tuesday afternoons are a busy for us.
It's also about the time we would take our second or third PATH class.
That Friday was hubs' day off so we had appointments to go have our fingerprints done for our file. (We took pictures of each other being printed, and the lady doing them was super sweet to explain the computer imaging process to Dude and Darlin.)
Then, I'm thinking about the time that went by between Dumplin's birth and him coming into foster care. He was with his birth family until sometime in March. The details are fuzzy, but it's a mess. I believe he came into care toward the end of the month and placed with his first foster family. Meanwhile, we were doing our classes, and everything else we needed to do, to become licensed.
The first family was caring for him the entire time we were waiting for our homestudy to be completed and approved. One week after receiving our approval, that family decided to disrupt the placement. They met with DCS and handed him over, along with his belongings, even though they were supposed to give notice and allow DCS time to find another family. Dumplin spent all day in a DCS office with one of his parents. The parent was called in simply to watch Dumplin while DCS made phone calls. It had been a long day for a baby. In an office. Without a bed.
***I do not like the fact that they disrupted the placement...at all...but I did not walk in their shoes. The reasons they disrupted aren't clear to me. I heard, "It took too long to feed him" as the major reason, which I have an opinion about but I'll get to that later. His health/vision issues could've been a huge factor, but I just don't know if I agree with 'quitting' on a foster baby so quickly. It seemed like a convenience thing. You signed up for foster care....what will be convenient about it? Maybe I"m wrong, but they only had Dumplin for about 2.5 months.***
I believe God used that family as a bridge to us. (That helps me get over the disruption mess.)
Even if I don't like the disruption, I have to believe that God wanted to place this child with us for a reason. God always knows what's coming next....He will equip our family to deal with it.
What was I doing the year xyz came out?
OR
When did I meet so and so?
You can remember such things based on the other circumstances at the time.
Where you were working. What you were driving. What song was popular.
So I was trying to figure out what was going on when *Dumplin was born.
He was born on a Tuesday in January of this year.
On a Tuesday, my big kids, let's call them Dude and Darlin, would've had school during the day, a music lesson in the afternoon at one nearby church and group music lessons at a different church that evening. Tuesday afternoons are a busy for us.
It's also about the time we would take our second or third PATH class.
That Friday was hubs' day off so we had appointments to go have our fingerprints done for our file. (We took pictures of each other being printed, and the lady doing them was super sweet to explain the computer imaging process to Dude and Darlin.)
Then, I'm thinking about the time that went by between Dumplin's birth and him coming into foster care. He was with his birth family until sometime in March. The details are fuzzy, but it's a mess. I believe he came into care toward the end of the month and placed with his first foster family. Meanwhile, we were doing our classes, and everything else we needed to do, to become licensed.
The first family was caring for him the entire time we were waiting for our homestudy to be completed and approved. One week after receiving our approval, that family decided to disrupt the placement. They met with DCS and handed him over, along with his belongings, even though they were supposed to give notice and allow DCS time to find another family. Dumplin spent all day in a DCS office with one of his parents. The parent was called in simply to watch Dumplin while DCS made phone calls. It had been a long day for a baby. In an office. Without a bed.
***I do not like the fact that they disrupted the placement...at all...but I did not walk in their shoes. The reasons they disrupted aren't clear to me. I heard, "It took too long to feed him" as the major reason, which I have an opinion about but I'll get to that later. His health/vision issues could've been a huge factor, but I just don't know if I agree with 'quitting' on a foster baby so quickly. It seemed like a convenience thing. You signed up for foster care....what will be convenient about it? Maybe I"m wrong, but they only had Dumplin for about 2.5 months.***
I believe God used that family as a bridge to us. (That helps me get over the disruption mess.)
Even if I don't like the disruption, I have to believe that God wanted to place this child with us for a reason. God always knows what's coming next....He will equip our family to deal with it.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Eight
It has been eight years since we:
- had a baby
- packed a diaper bag
- had a baby spit up on us so much that we needed to change our clothes
Now, packing a diaper bag will include a shirt for myself.
If you see me in a wrinkled t-shirt, say nothing.
Or you'll get to hold the puking baby. :)
- had a baby
- packed a diaper bag
- had a baby spit up on us so much that we needed to change our clothes
Now, packing a diaper bag will include a shirt for myself.
If you see me in a wrinkled t-shirt, say nothing.
Or you'll get to hold the puking baby. :)
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Still VBS
VBS day 3....and now I had THREE children to get up and out the door.
I decided that rather than drop the big kids off and run around with the baby, I'd set up camp in the nursery....and I'd hold that baby all day. After all, we had to get to know each other.
This is where I began to be blown away by the love of Christ shown to our family and this new baby.
Countless friends asked what we needed....and some just showed up with stuff. We very quickly had all the larger baby items, and tons of small items and clothes. And bottles. Remember, he only came with two? Now I had about twelve!
Blown away. And grateful.
I decided that rather than drop the big kids off and run around with the baby, I'd set up camp in the nursery....and I'd hold that baby all day. After all, we had to get to know each other.
This is where I began to be blown away by the love of Christ shown to our family and this new baby.
Countless friends asked what we needed....and some just showed up with stuff. We very quickly had all the larger baby items, and tons of small items and clothes. And bottles. Remember, he only came with two? Now I had about twelve!
Blown away. And grateful.
Learning
This is quite different than bringing home a brand new baby who you've birthed.
The obvious difference is that the one you birth is yours and this one isn't, but beyond that, this baby hasn't been with us since the beginning of his life. Does he like to be held a certain way? Does he require an uber quiet environment to sleep? Does he burp after every ounce or just at the end of the bottle?
One thing we learned very quickly: He spits up after every feeding. A LOT.
Our bio son was a puker. We tried medications for reflux. They worked for about two weeks and then he was at it again. He wasn't in any pain, that we could tell, so it was merely a laundry issue. Not just his laundry. MY laundry.
If I remember correctly, Baby only got up for one feeding during the night. That doesn't mean I slept peacefully. I still had to get used to baby squeaks and grunts during the night because he slept in the pack n play in our room that night.
We have a baby.....still surreal.
The obvious difference is that the one you birth is yours and this one isn't, but beyond that, this baby hasn't been with us since the beginning of his life. Does he like to be held a certain way? Does he require an uber quiet environment to sleep? Does he burp after every ounce or just at the end of the bottle?
One thing we learned very quickly: He spits up after every feeding. A LOT.
Our bio son was a puker. We tried medications for reflux. They worked for about two weeks and then he was at it again. He wasn't in any pain, that we could tell, so it was merely a laundry issue. Not just his laundry. MY laundry.
If I remember correctly, Baby only got up for one feeding during the night. That doesn't mean I slept peacefully. I still had to get used to baby squeaks and grunts during the night because he slept in the pack n play in our room that night.
We have a baby.....still surreal.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Baby Inspection
We had been told to 'inspect' any children who come into our home and make note of any marks/issues going on with them.
We found what we thought was a birth mark and took pictures for our records.
Baby also came with a rather nasty diaper rash. :-/ Sweet friends were coming to bring us a mattress for the crib we bought and asked if there was anything else we needed. Diaper. Rash. Cream. They graciously picked that up for us. Poor baby.
Other than those two issues, baby seemed to be in pretty good condition. Sounds like I 'kicked the tires on a used car' or something.
Our goal? Make him less of an object and more like a family member.
We found what we thought was a birth mark and took pictures for our records.
Baby also came with a rather nasty diaper rash. :-/ Sweet friends were coming to bring us a mattress for the crib we bought and asked if there was anything else we needed. Diaper. Rash. Cream. They graciously picked that up for us. Poor baby.
Other than those two issues, baby seemed to be in pretty good condition. Sounds like I 'kicked the tires on a used car' or something.
Our goal? Make him less of an object and more like a family member.
6:00pm
On the way to meet the caseworker, I believe we inhaled some sort of fast food. It's a blur, really.
We got to Walmart a little early and went in to look for that crib that the other store didn't have. It had also dawned on me that we didn't have diapers, bottles, burb cloths, etc. Fortunately, the caseworker called and we were able to ask if he was coming with any of those items. He was. I did pick up a few things. While we were loading up the car, the caseworker called again to say she was there, sitting in the car, feeding the baby.
We got in the car, drove around the lot to find her car and parked when we saw her.
Here we are. In a Walmart parking lot. Meeting a lady we'd never met. Who didn't ask us for ID.
And we got a baby. At Walmart. She handed me this tiny almost-five-month old boy. Smitten.
I spoke to the caseworker a bit. She tried to give me details about what the baby had been through that day and a little about what he was like.
He came with a tub full of clothes, blankets, diapers, 2 bottles, formula, a diaper bag and a car seat. We transferred everything to our car and the caseworker left.
We have a baby...
- Bald
- TINY, wearing a 3m outfit
******************************************************
Did I mention it was crazy hair day at VBS?
I'm so glad my hair was normal....but our son looked like this....
We got to Walmart a little early and went in to look for that crib that the other store didn't have. It had also dawned on me that we didn't have diapers, bottles, burb cloths, etc. Fortunately, the caseworker called and we were able to ask if he was coming with any of those items. He was. I did pick up a few things. While we were loading up the car, the caseworker called again to say she was there, sitting in the car, feeding the baby.
We got in the car, drove around the lot to find her car and parked when we saw her.
Here we are. In a Walmart parking lot. Meeting a lady we'd never met. Who didn't ask us for ID.
And we got a baby. At Walmart. She handed me this tiny almost-five-month old boy. Smitten.
I spoke to the caseworker a bit. She tried to give me details about what the baby had been through that day and a little about what he was like.
He came with a tub full of clothes, blankets, diapers, 2 bottles, formula, a diaper bag and a car seat. We transferred everything to our car and the caseworker left.
We have a baby...
- Bald
- TINY, wearing a 3m outfit
- Sporting a double chin and mini-leg rolls
******************************************************
Did I mention it was crazy hair day at VBS?
I'm so glad my hair was normal....but our son looked like this....
I tried explaining this to the caseworker....
3:22pm
I'm at the music lesson with my children and my phone rings. I didn't recognize the number so I let it go to voicemail since I was IN the lesson. I notice that whoever called has left a message. I was just about to check it when my husband called. I was still in the lesson so I let him go to voicemail, also, (bad wife) so I could listen to the first voicemail. It was DCS (Dept of Children Services). The lady said something about being our worker, whom we hadn't met, but even though we hadn't met, she was calling with a potential placement. <insert shock>
I stepped out of the lesson and called my husband, who was a little...excited?...as he told me he had just gotten off the phone with a caseworker about a placement. He began to give me the info he had:
- white, male. 4 months old
- being transferred from another foster family
- has 'limp baby' syndrome
- possibly blind
- foster mom said "it takes too long to feed him"
- can we take him today?
He told the lady that he needed to speak to me before he gave her an answer.
While I'm on the phone with hubs, a similar mystery number called me. I let hubs go to answer this call. It was a different caseworker. She gave me the info hubs just ran down for me. I told her that I needed to speak to my husband before I gave her an answer.
While pacing the halls of the church where the music lessons were held, I called to speak to hubs again. We wondered, "Could we deal with a blind child?" "How severe is 'limp baby syndrome?'" "Why did other foster family disrupt their placement?"
The ultimate question though, "Do we want to take this placement?"
We decided to trust the Lord.
Hubs called the caseworker back and told her that we could accept the placement.
Talk about butterflies in your stomach. Oh my word. We just agreed to take a baby. Someone else's baby.
The caseworker explained that their process is to call three families. If they get a 'yes' from all three families, a group of caseworkers reviews all of our files and decides which family might best fit the child. We were told that we would be called back with a decision.
<Begin freak out>
As soon as the music lesson was over, I told the children that we *might* get a baby in a few hours. They were excited. So excited that I had to prepare them for it not happening, lest their hearts be broken.
Hubs and I decided to meet at, where else? Walmart. If we were getting a baby, we'd need a car seat stat. We also looked at cribs, even though we had a pack n play. We were told that DCS prefers a crib....it's more "permanent."
While strolling the aisles and comparing prices, hubs' phone rang. It was DCS and we had been chosen to get the baby. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) His caseworker said she'd meet us to give us custody. Where did she want to meet? Where else?? Walmart! A different Walmart, across town. In one hour.
We purchased a travel system, but this Walmart didn't have the crib we chose. Good thing we were headed to another Walmart...
I stepped out of the lesson and called my husband, who was a little...excited?...as he told me he had just gotten off the phone with a caseworker about a placement. He began to give me the info he had:
- white, male. 4 months old
- being transferred from another foster family
- has 'limp baby' syndrome
- possibly blind
- foster mom said "it takes too long to feed him"
- can we take him today?
He told the lady that he needed to speak to me before he gave her an answer.
While I'm on the phone with hubs, a similar mystery number called me. I let hubs go to answer this call. It was a different caseworker. She gave me the info hubs just ran down for me. I told her that I needed to speak to my husband before I gave her an answer.
While pacing the halls of the church where the music lessons were held, I called to speak to hubs again. We wondered, "Could we deal with a blind child?" "How severe is 'limp baby syndrome?'" "Why did other foster family disrupt their placement?"
The ultimate question though, "Do we want to take this placement?"
We decided to trust the Lord.
Hubs called the caseworker back and told her that we could accept the placement.
Talk about butterflies in your stomach. Oh my word. We just agreed to take a baby. Someone else's baby.
The caseworker explained that their process is to call three families. If they get a 'yes' from all three families, a group of caseworkers reviews all of our files and decides which family might best fit the child. We were told that we would be called back with a decision.
<Begin freak out>
As soon as the music lesson was over, I told the children that we *might* get a baby in a few hours. They were excited. So excited that I had to prepare them for it not happening, lest their hearts be broken.
Hubs and I decided to meet at, where else? Walmart. If we were getting a baby, we'd need a car seat stat. We also looked at cribs, even though we had a pack n play. We were told that DCS prefers a crib....it's more "permanent."
While strolling the aisles and comparing prices, hubs' phone rang. It was DCS and we had been chosen to get the baby. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) His caseworker said she'd meet us to give us custody. Where did she want to meet? Where else?? Walmart! A different Walmart, across town. In one hour.
We purchased a travel system, but this Walmart didn't have the crib we chose. Good thing we were headed to another Walmart...
VBS day 2
(I took that funky fabric to my friend today. Can't wait to have some curtains!!)
Felt so weird dropping off the kids.
It also felt weird to have everyone at church who knows you typically work VBS asking why you'rebeing a slacker not working this year. Since we've announced that we're going to foster, this has been my reply, "I'm expecting a child." No really. It's been fun.
So, VBS this morning, with crazy hair day. Later, our oldest has a music lesson. I love taking them out in public on crazy hair day!!! (GLAD I'm not working VBS with crazy hair of my own. Something always happens before I can calm my hair down, so then I'm in public with crazy hair...and it isn't Halloween.)
Felt so weird dropping off the kids.
It also felt weird to have everyone at church who knows you typically work VBS asking why you're
So, VBS this morning, with crazy hair day. Later, our oldest has a music lesson. I love taking them out in public on crazy hair day!!! (GLAD I'm not working VBS with crazy hair of my own. Something always happens before I can calm my hair down, so then I'm in public with crazy hair...and it isn't Halloween.)
Monday, June 2, 2014
Curtains
Here's a fuzzy picture of the fabric that will be curtains.
Just as soon as I get around to asking someone to whip them up.
In our old house, we finished a bonus room upstairs. The walls were the light blue color and this was the fabric that would've been a futon cover and a curtain for one window. Those items were never made....and then we moved. I'm so glad I held onto this fabric!!! There's tan in it, so the tan walls will be perfect. I plan to paint canvases that mimic the squares. It's funky and I really think we can consider it gender-neutral.
**Update: I asked on Facebook if someone could make four simple panel curtains out of this. I got a response and I'm taking the fabric to her at VBS tomorrow. We'll have curtains soon!!
Just as soon as I get around to asking someone to whip them up.
In our old house, we finished a bonus room upstairs. The walls were the light blue color and this was the fabric that would've been a futon cover and a curtain for one window. Those items were never made....and then we moved. I'm so glad I held onto this fabric!!! There's tan in it, so the tan walls will be perfect. I plan to paint canvases that mimic the squares. It's funky and I really think we can consider it gender-neutral.
**Update: I asked on Facebook if someone could make four simple panel curtains out of this. I got a response and I'm taking the fabric to her at VBS tomorrow. We'll have curtains soon!!
Sunday, June 1, 2014
VBS
I have worked VBS at our church *I think* every year since I had our first baby.
I was called back in March and asked to work. At that point, we hadn't told many people that we were getting licensed to foster. In fact, we didn't announce it on the mighty Facebook until last week when we received our approval letter.
Anyway, I felt I should decline the commitment this year. I knew that we could be approved by April or May, because that would be around the six month mark of us starting this process and that's the "ballpark" timeframe for getting licensed. I have heard story after story about foster parents getting calls very soon after receiving their approval. Like, even THAT day.
I really thought I should keep my calendar clear beginning in May in case our approval came and we quickly got a placement.
VBS starts tomorrow and I'll be dropping my kids off.
Weird.
I was called back in March and asked to work. At that point, we hadn't told many people that we were getting licensed to foster. In fact, we didn't announce it on the mighty Facebook until last week when we received our approval letter.
Anyway, I felt I should decline the commitment this year. I knew that we could be approved by April or May, because that would be around the six month mark of us starting this process and that's the "ballpark" timeframe for getting licensed. I have heard story after story about foster parents getting calls very soon after receiving their approval. Like, even THAT day.
I really thought I should keep my calendar clear beginning in May in case our approval came and we quickly got a placement.
VBS starts tomorrow and I'll be dropping my kids off.
Weird.
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