The story thus far...

Okay so Wednesday afternoon our agency calls and says they have a preemie that is set to be released from the NICU, would we be interested? I didn't let her finish, I say YES!!! She says okaysays I'll let you know if you are selected and hangs up . She calls back in less than an hour and says "YOU GOT HIM!! Oh and you have to make it downtown to sign papers right away and pick him up at the hospital tonight." B got home from work (he ran out of gas!) and we took off!

It was exciting and scary and chaotic! We got home with him at midnight and had not eaten all day, but I didn't care, I was in love!!!!

So about him...his name is....uhh... weird spelling of a not great name...sorry that sounds terrible, but it's true. Fortunately his middle name is a great strong classic name. The NICU nurses were calling him that. So he will be called "J" for here on...
He was born at 31 weeks 2 days to bio mom with bipolar and drug addict. She tested positive for heroin at his birth. He tested positive for marijuana but they did not do a full tox screening (??) on him. He was 3lbs 12oz. at birth and was 5 weeks old and 5lbs. 10oz. when he left hospital with us. His 1 minute apgar was only 6 but went to 8 at 5 min old. He had RSV early March but has been clear and immunized since. Oh and HE IS PERFECT!!!

I slept and ate very little the first 2 days. I watched him breath when he sleeps, I was scared of SIDS and I suppose a little first time mom syndrome. Our families came this weekend and helped me with catching up on sleep etc...They bough him so much clothes/stuff!! Love!!! He poops like crazy, NEVER spits up and only cries when he really "has" to:)

My fears, AKA his case: J is biomom's 6th child and none are in her custody. Few with their dad, one adopted (!) and one in foster care. Bio dad (of course alleged, no DNA test yet--but J looks like him) just has a 10 year old who doesn't live with him. I was told by social worker that paternal grandparents are inquiring<--that concerns me but they are in their late 60's...can't image if they want to raise a baby(??) Right?? Aggg! Lots of questions. Also, I have of course been facebook stalking... Looks like the bio parents were together for about a year, were so in love after J was born, broke up when he was 3 weeks old (Dad wrote on FB: "Well ladies, I'm single, hit me up!" then FB shows nothing in the last 2 weeks J was in NICU. Also, nothing from family in his belongings...

There was court proceedings regarding him Thurs and I know nothing about it yet. His case switches over from "investigative" to regular foster as of tomorrow. I hope I learn more then...

In the mean time we are in love and just scared of getting our hearts broken...

LIFE IS PRECIOUS!

Well, i am holding 5ibs 10oz of pure JOY!!! Will update when I can!

Whew....

This is what I've been working on the last week or so...


The two dark green pieces I really need to paint. Even have the blue paint, but I ran out of motivation. I still have wall decor coming from Etsy (told you all I love that site:) Also would like window treatments...


I know it doesn't look like much, but the "kid" room was a guest room with a queen sized bed and the furniture had to all be put together and much of it painted too. The beds I got can be bunked. I was advised to get bunks even if I don't bunk them now, I may want to in the future. The two pillows represent "girl" or "boy" room. So I just have to change pillow (I got two of each) to specify gender but trying to keep it as gender neutral as I can...



So the "kid room" is for children 3-5 years old and the baby room is set for one child under 3. Everything you see was bought from Goodwill, Second hand or garage sale!!

Intro to Foster Care:

I truly feel this was our first "test" of really being a foster parent (well, any kind of parent for that matter!) We had a great time! Little D was a total sweetheart, slept 13 hours a night, loves white milk and bananas and now Candy Land! I have a new admiration for my friends with kids now, kids are always ON...the only OFF switch is sleep;) I am not going to lie, I was a little overwhelmed Saturday morning, but by Sunday I was much more comfortable. I also have to keep in mind that D is a little attention starved, so he was just getting his "fill". Can't blame him considering all that he's been through in the last 3 months...

I am really excite to see the different little persons that will come into our lives over the next few months!

Respite

We will be doing a respite for a 5 year old little boy this weekend!! Just got the call today, we are nervous and excited! I will finally have something interesting to post about:)

Sorry I haven't blogged in foorrrevvvverrr!!!!

Still trudging along with classes for Therapeutic foster care. We have not been called with any potential matches from our foster agency. Will be officially Therapeutic foster parents by end of March...hoping for placement AT LEAST by first of April.

The potential family/friend adoption placement of a little baby boy fell through:( The potential birth father (who is a family friend of B's) says he wants to parent once paternity test comes through. Gee this news was really hard to take. And this was only a taste of what is to come with foster care. I really had a moment (or more) when I told B "I don't know if I can do this!" This guy does NOT have his life together. He owns a pit bull (mix) and he doesn't even have a crib!!! (and you know I wasn't offering ours!)

Oh boy, what are we getting ourselves into????


* One piece of good news: Half marathon training is going great and starting to see weight loss!!

Things are begining to happen!

Just a quick update...on vacation in California now. Sounds like we picked a great week to go. Ohio is very cold and snowy right now..

This morning (hello, 5:00am pacific time!) Our agency called. About a placement. Already. It was for a 6 and 7 year old and possibly baby sister. Up for adoption...uggg....we were warned this would be hard. Just not ready and to be honest, they are a little older than we hoped...We were warned about the guilt we would feel, and all I have to say is they were right! I wish we could say yes. It just didn't feel "right".

The other thing is...and this has been weighing heavy on my heart, we have a friend of the family situation. My MIL's best friend's son (follow that?)is most likely the father of a baby boy born in late September that is still in a local hospital--born early and possibly + for drugs. The mother is having her parental rights removed due to drug addiction, and a paternity test for determining if he's the father is in the works. I have heard 3rd hand that the family wants us to adopt this little guy. I am beyond excited, by my hands are so tied...have to wait it out. The family knows how we feel and how much we would love to adopt. It really would be a great situation for the family. Grandparents and father can be active in his life. Anyway, big prayers going out to this babe "L".

We are making progress on our continued therapeutic foster classes. They are definitely very interesting and eye opening!