Baseline...

We're almost back to baseline in our home.  Baby Love is doing well with her mommy and we are returning to normal.  Sprout just celebrated his 3rd birthday and he is so much fun everyday.  Trying to pack up most of the baby items until we get the next call.  We are also in the process of adding square footage to our home.  Definitely keeping busy over here! Winter has hit the Notheast!  There is snow on the ground and a snowman in our front yard courtesy of Sprout and his daddy.  I do not like Winter but I enjoy the time to be a homebody and re-grouping. I'm planning on starting a new blog in January.  I will keep this blog for foster care.  God has shown me some things I'd like to share with others. Not sure when the next call will be.  I'm enjoying the quiet until then.  :) 

Gone...

Baby Love is gone. She left a few days ago for an overnight visit with bio mom but as of today she is considered home on trial.  I know that bio mom loves this sweet baby girl and will have to step up and learn how to be an advocate for her special needs baby girl. We will miss her everyday but I'm thankful for a good relationship with bio mom. Praying God keeps her safe...as only He can.  

Almost home...

There seems to have been some confusion on when Baby Love is actually returning home. Back in October at court, it was stated that since Bio mom had nothing directly to do with the medical neglect, there was no reason Baby Love shouldn't go home to her.  They set a date for later this month for a home on trial. We have been starting the reunification process already with extended, unsupervised and now over nights visits.  Baby Love tolerates them well and seems adjusted.  Bio mom is looking forward to her baby being returned.  I am at peace with the judges decision.  My only concern regarding mom was addressed last month when she was drug tested by the county worker.  Everything came up clean.  I believe that foster care has worked in this case and I feel privileged to be a little part of something so big.  The agency worker has repeatedly asked if I was going to be all right after Baby Love leaves.  I will.  She is such a sweet girl.  We will most definitely miss her but I know she will be well taken care of and treasured.  That's what foster care is all about.  

Celebrate!!

Celebrating Baby Love's very first Thanksgiving.  Enjoy time with your loved ones and take a moment to reflect on all you have to be THANKful for!  

Reunification...

Baby Love is doing excellent.  Completely recovered from VSD*repair back in September. She's slowly gaining weight and is up to 10 pounds 3 ounces (last weighed).  She is still very tiny for 10 months old. Visits with bio mom are going well.  Last week at court it was decided that Baby Love will be transitioning home these next few weeks.  While we will miss her, I know that she will be safe with her mommy.  Grandma admitted to medical*neglect by still has a great relationship with Love and her mom.  Preventive*services will be in place for at least a year after she is home with her bio mom. Therapies will continue and they cannot 'fire' someone or change therapists without the consent of the judge.  In this situation, foster care has done exactly what is was set up for.  

Still here...

Baby Love is doing great.  My concern about her lack of desire to eat, last week prompted me to call her pediatrician.  He put her back on the feeding tube.  He also asked me to bring her in sometime this week for a weight check.  Well, that appointment was yesterday and she has GAINED 8 ounces!!!  Woohoo!  

Plan of service review...

Baby Love is doing well.  She regressed a bit and had to put her back on the continuous feed at night because she wasn't waking up to eat and could not be stimulated to suck on her bottle.  Overall, her recovery was a text book case.  I attended a meeting regarding the future of Baby Love's case plan.  Bio g-ma and g-pa were there along with the baby's lawyer, 2 agency workers and a county worker.  When bio g-pa stepped up to ask what the meeting was for the county worker explained that this meeting details the goals of the next 6 months of Baby Love in care he piped up real fast "well, bio mom is released next month and the day after that is court and Baby Love will be home".  The county worker had the deer-in-head-lights look in her eyes.  She slowly explained that they didn't know what the judge was going to do in this case and that we make these plans so we are all on the same page regarding Baby Love's care.  He truly thinks that she is going to be returned to her bio mom the after she is released from jail.  I think it's kind of funny that they think that they can use foster care as a baby sitting service. 

VSD repair and update

So Baby Love had her surgery on September 5th.  The surgery was 6 hours long and it was the longest wait ever!  Even though there were updates from the cardio thoracic surgeon's nurse every couple of hours, we didn't get to see her from 8am until almost 5pm.  It was so hard to wait. The surgery was a success and she is recovering well. She was discharged only 4 days after her surgery.  I brought her home with steri strips over her incision and a packed chest tube incision.  Her tiny feet were bruised and her groin had many holes from the IV's and sensors.  She was very happy to see us all and was all smiles...until we got home...the morphine was still in her system.  About 4 hours after we got home she was miserable!!! I went back and forth giving her Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours to help alleviate her pain.  It seemed to help some.  The nurse sent her home with strict orders of 3 ounces of formula every 3 hours.  She did so well in  the hospital and they want her off the feeding tube.  First, her belly was only used to taking 2 ounces every 3 hours and second, she is not hungry enough to take the full 3 ounces.  It has definitely been a challenge getting her to eat and I have cheated and put her on the tube or given her a gravity feed with a 60 ml syringe.  The Dr's keep telling me to make sure her pain is under control before I try to feed her.  She has already had her follow-up appointments with the surgeon and the cardiologist and her repair looks great. 
She already has more energy and is moving so much more.  I am looking into trying solids with her in the near future.  I was a bit surprised when my case worker handed me a gift certificate to the Chees3 Cak3 Fact0ry.  The note inside the card was touching.   Bio mom will be released next month and I'm sure things will be changing. As we wait to see what the future holds for this sweet girl, we are loving on her and watching her grow.  Hoping things are a bit more boring for a while. 

Countdown... 9/3/13

Waiting to see if Baby Love's surgery will be sooner than later.  Her infection is cleared up and she is looking great!  Visits have been consistent with g-ma and she is doing well with physical therapy.  My older kids go back to school this week and I'm sure that Sprout will be lost without his buddies.  It's been a quiet last week before the chaos of sports, dance, cheer and riding start up again.  The kids are getting anxious to see their friends again and I am just about ready to get back into the day to day routine.  The preschool that my older kids attended contacted me about sending Sprout.  They are excited to get to know him.  Not sure if I'm ready to send him.  He is only 2.  He is such a smart boy and I know he'd do great but I don't think I can send him off 2 days a week.  Clearly, I have issues.  I just think there's plenty of time for that. 

Holding off...

Took Baby Love for her pre-op visit for what was SUPPOSED to be tomorrow morning.  Everything was great until the nurse practitioner came in to check Baby Love's Mic*key button.  We are holding off on the surgery until later in the month because they want to treat her for a possible yeast infection around her tube site.  I also found out that the surgery is 5 HOURS long.  Please keep her in your prayers.  She is up to 8 pounds 15 ounces!!! She seems to be tolerating oral feeds MUCH better than she did when she was first placed with us.  She is still only taking 65ml's every 3 hours but we have begun to use the feeding pump less and less.  It only takes her about 20 minutes to finish her bottle and she doesn't even break a sweat. While I'm feeling a bit stressed that the surgery date has been changed...I'm happy that I have an extra few days at home with my big kiddos before they start school.  Looks like some school shopping is in the near future!   (Bio b-ma did not show up for pre-op testing). 

Catch up...

*Found out that Baby Love's bio mom had a miscarriage the day Baby Love came into care. 

*Surgery is only a few weeks away and I'm a bit nervous!

*G-ma was 30 minutes late for this weeks visit.  I wonder if it's a sign of anything to come!? 

*Baby Love gained 6 OUNCES at her last well check.  That's a total of 10 ounces in 5 weeks :)

*Sprout is SOOO cute around her.  He is constantly saying her name and cooing at her. 

Fostering special needs...

A bit surprised at how fast I'm falling in love with this sweet baby.  I guess making sure her every need is met is helping us bond a bit better.  People's reactions to the fact that Baby Love has Down*Syndrome has been mostly of pity.  I can only imagine what reactions biological parents of children with special needs get.  Some people are bold enough to tell me that 'they screen for that early on in the pregnancy'.  Don't get me started on my reaction. I recently heard someone say that babies in utero who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome are targeted for extinction.

It broke my heart.  

I have a hard time believing that just because she has an extra chromosome she is not 'worthy of life'.  I truly believe that God created her in His image and has a plan for her life...just as He does for you and me.  She is truly a treasure.  Her smile is amazing and just this past week I am seeing her personality blossom.  She is desiring more contact and telling me by crying when I put her down and following me around the room with her eyes.  Her heart surgery is scheduled for later this month and I am praying that her recovery time is fast.  She is truly a fighter.  She has a such a 'spicy' personality.   The pediatr!c cardiolog!st has assured me that after the surgery she will be a 'typical child with Down Syndrome'.  She will grow and gain weight like any other child.  Her heart is working in triple time right now and she is burning way too many calories to gain weight.  Please pray with me that God will guide the dr's hands and her recovery time will be swift. 
Trusting in a God who loves her more than I do... 

Back to the roller coaster...

There's never a dull moment in foster care.  This week has had many ups and downs.  Caring for Baby Love is the easiest part of all this!!  Found out via E*I evaluation that Baby Love's bio mom is expecting another baby.  Our agency worker was unaware.  I had the evaluation sent to her as well.  At a dr's appointment earlier this week, the agency worker asked bio g-ma about the pregnancy and it seems that bio mom had a mis*carriage.  This has been the craziest ride so far.  Baby Love is scheduled for heart surgery later this month.  Since she be admitted for about a week, I have been scrambling trying to make sure 'life' is in order with my other kids and making plans for sitters for Sprout.  In the middle of all this we are putting an extension onto our existing house so the construction crews have been here at 7am every day this week!  Nothing like waking up to the sound of someone sneezing (REALLY LOUD) outside your second story bathroom window.  Baby Love is doing well.  She has only gained 4 ounces because her heart is working so hard and burning so many calories.  The pediat*ric cardiolo*gist assured me that after the heart surgery (VSD repair) she will be a typical child with Down*Syndrome.  Sprout is too cute with her.  While he had a hard time with a child closer to his own age, he loves this baby girl. He is so gentle and sweet with her.  Her bio g-ma has come to every dr's appointment and brought her clothes and gifts.  I can't understand WHY she just didn't take care of her when she had the chance because having foster*care involved in your life is difficult.  I am starting to think that maybe she only WANTS to see her grandbaby 2 hours a week instead of caring for her  24/7.

So it starts...

Hubby is in law enforcement and has a hard time leaving his job at the station.  He usually follows the paper to see who has been arrested for what and knows some of the people who have been arrested.  On Friday, he called to tell me that Baby Love's grandfather has been arrested.  It's kind of ironic that Baby Love's family is not from this area.  They recently moved here.  Doesn't sound like they're making a very good first impression...just sayin'.

She can't OR she WON'T!

Today was our 2nd visit with Baby Love's g-ma.  Last week I left her with a 2 oz bottle and her feeding pump, tube and supplies. When I went to pick her up after the visit I expected her to have eaten about 30 ml's from the bottle and 35 ml's from the pump.  The dr's orders are to feed her from the bottle ONLY until she tires (around 20-30 ml's) THEN put the rest on a tube feed.  G-ma either can't or won't use the pump BUT she won't admit she doesn't know what she's doing!! Baby Love is burning too many calories drinking from the bottle but they don't want her to lose her desire or ability to suck.  Today, after the 2 hour visit, she told me again that the baby finished all of the bottle.  I already told the agency worker...now I have to figure out how to explain to g-ma what she's doing wrong!

Busy...

This precious baby girl is stealing our hearts.  Caring for her has been a full time job but she is such a joy.  Her smile is just beautiful and she is so social!  It seems that she is eating very often.  Her feeds are every 3 hours but it's taking anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 hours to feed her.  She has very low muscle tone so I expect she'll qualify for speech, occupational and physical therapy.  At the last consignment sale I sold all of my baby equipment so I have had to shop.  We haven't had a baby girl here since 2009 (Daisy) so I have had to shop for clothes too.  I forgot how much fun it is to shop for pink!  The agency worker has set up visits for Thursdays so we'll how that goes. 

Impromptu visit...

I forgot about the last minute visits with foster care.  Yesterday afternoon at around 2:30pm the phone rang.  It was the supervisor from the agency (who is under staffed and happens to also be Baby Love's agency case worker).  She wanted me to bring the baby up for a visit with the bio family for 3:30.  I guess they were at family court and the lawyers were fighting for a visit TODAY!  I asked her if they could make it for early this morning but she called back to say that it HAD to be done yesterday.  We weren't even showered!! So, I met the grandparents (only g-ma stayed for the visit) and left Baby Love for an hour.  The g-parents will be working the case plan.  The visit was supervised my the agency AT the county building.  G-pa left right after I got there.  Grandma is my age (mid to late 30's) and has a one month old of her OWN.  Baby Love is her oldest daughter's daughter.  Just when I thought foster care couldn't get any more Jerry Springer...  :)

OHANA FAMILY!!!!

FootPrints BLOG!!!
PLEASE email me at savingthestarfish@gmail.com
I've missed you!!!

Busy week...

Trying to get any info on Baby Love is next to impossible.  The med center PICU was very helpful with some of the supplies for her feeding tube and heart meds.  I have already followed up with her pediatrician and he is wonderful.  He has seen her since birth so he really knows her and the whole staff at his office was wonderful and SO thankful that she's in care!  The ped gave me permission to put her on continuous feed at night via the pump so the last 2 nights I've gotten more sleep :)  This makes for one happy mama.  Sprout LOVES this new baby (so do my other children).  She really blends in with our family.  Today we got started with W*I*C  and finally met the county worker (who is new).  We had a home visit too and our agency worker happens to have a son with the same heart condition.  Sounds like maternal grandparents will be working a reunification plan. What ever happens, we are trusting that God has a plan for sweet Baby Love. 

This sweet Baby Love

She is SO tiny!  I spent most of Saturday afternoon in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. I was re-trained in feeding tubes, pumps how to dose and distribute meds via mic-key button and what red flags to look for and complications of VSD.  Baby love was born at 33 weeks gestation and was only 3.7.  She is a special needs baby.  We have made it through 2 nights waking up every 3 hours to feed first by mouth and the rest by tube.  No caseworker has been assigned to the case yet.  Her pediatrician is wonderful and she is in VERY good hands. Our goal is to grow big and strong so she can have her heart repaired.  We're at 8 pounds today.  More soon!

Baby Love

Later this morning I will be heading to the hospital to pick up a sweet baby girl, Baby Love.  She is a 5 mo old with very special needs.  We are so excited to love on her and watch her tiny 8 pound 3 ounce body GROW and GROW!  Praying God goes before me and trusting that others will see HIM in all I do. 

I had a dream...

Woke up this morning right after I had a dream that Sprout's baby brother was removed from bio mom's care.  That's all I remembered but you KNOW I woke up and checked my phone and cell for any missed calls last night :)  (There were none...)  :p

New direction

This past weekend was a HUGE milestone for me. There was a large local consignment sale and I sold my double stroller, exersaucer, baby swing, gender neutral bedding sets, tons of clothes and many other items I THOUGHT would have taken YEARS for me to be ready to get 'rid' of.  So right now, I am left with an infant car seat, a pack n play, a travel crib and a bumbo seat.  So, when (if) the phone rings I either have to say no...or go shopping  :)

Court

During court yesterday, custody of Baby B was given to his father.  I left court, came home to get him and brought him back up to the court house and handed him to his father.  Praying he is safe.  Please pray for this sweet boy. We do not feel he is safe with his father.  The judge did not even ask about the living conditions or history of the bio dad and Baby B has only been with him for about 6 supervised hours in the last 11 months.  He is, essentially, a stranger. 

What in the world???

I have to laugh.  Because things like THIS only happen to me!!!!

Moments

Sprout is definitely adjusting to having another little person here.  Baby B is very easy going and always has a smile on his face.  He is quite handsome!  So many times throughout the day I stop and realize what I have.  I watch them play (or fight) and I smile knowing that God (for now) has blessed me with the desires of my heart.  Baby B is bonding well with our family.  He doesn't sleep as well as Sprout but I am learning that I don't need as much sleep as I thought I did.  Looking forward to the moment when Sprout realizes that having a 'baby brother' can be fun.  Off to enjoy my sweet baby boys.  (Baby B is not with us through foster care)  Yesterday, I found out that bio dad wants to file for custody. 
Not sure if that will happen.

It's a Baby (B)!!!

Because my life is just THIS crazy...we welcomed a new baby into our house this week.  A friend called and told me that a baby needed a possible adoptive home.  I took him in and we're waiting to see what God has planned! He is adjusting well and we are falling in love.  Sprout is adjusting to having another little person here but overall we are excited to see what God has in store for this little one!  (Baby B is NOT through foster care...we are waiting to see if it's a possible adoption situation).

TWINS!!!

I have 23 month old identical twins here for the next few days.  Along with Sprout, that about makes triplets.  Having tons of fun :) :) :)

Happy

Our house is keeping busy.  We're waiting patiently for Spring and enjoying more daylight hours.  Sprout LOVES to be outside and can't wait to get back out in the grass and kick a ball.  Life without foster care is completely dull but we're loving every minute!!! My planner has gone from being written in daily to the point where there are weeks between appointments.  I'm not complaining!! Hubby had a major job change and I am so thankful for more time with him.  Major house renovations and a possible vacation coming up this year.  Kids are thrilled that Sprout is ours and I spend a lot of time watching him learn and grow and.  I find myself wondering what it would have been like if he went home...  His problem solving skills are amazing and we LOVES to learn new things.  He can recognize the letter 'A' and the word 'eat'.  Elm0 is still a big favorite in his little world and he has a few friends that he LOVES.  His siblings are his biggest fans and he doesn't go to sleep at night unless he hugs and kisses us all!  He loves to 'pray' and when he gets hurt (or hurts someone else) he runs to get the 'ice'.  This boy has fulfilled the deepest desires of our hearts and we are so thankful that God has given him to us!  Can't wait to see what the future holds! 

Fosterhood

So happy for Rebecca :)  Clementine is coming HOME!!!! Check out the story over at http://fosterhood.tumblr.com/    Some things are just MEANT TO BE!!!!


(you may need to scroll down for the whole story which started a few weeks ago)  :)

February update

Well, it's almost the end of February and even though I stopped Sprout's monthly updates a while back I figured I'd list things he's doing.  We took the paci away in the beginning in January.  He adjusted extremely well to falling asleep without it.  He has shown many signs that he is ready to potty train.  He tells me when he is wet and stays dry for a while during the day.  On the down side, he wakes himself up at night if he gets wet :/  This mama is NOT ready for her little boy to grow up!!  He is THE cutest when he is dancing and LOVES to sing (and sings ON KEY).  We play a game with him to see if he can match what key we sing in...he can :)  He LOVES going out with daddy.  Even if it's just to the mailbox!  Sprout LOVES playing with his dinosaurs and his cars.  He can hit a ball of the tee and throw a ball pretty far.  He LOVES the pool but only at his own pace.  He is a snuggler in the morning and night but during the day he is pretty much independent (unless he needs a boo boo kissed).  A good friend of mine is fostering identical twin girls (and it looks like the case is going toward adoption later this year...yippee!)  and the girls will be staying here for a week.  He adores them!  I spend quite a bit of time just staring at Sprout an thanking God for fulfilling the desire HE gave me.  It is quite an amazing feeling to hug a wish come true :)

Training hours...

The mall is having a craft fair and my agency will have a booth set up to hook encourage others to foster.  Since it counts as training hours I'll be spending quite some time there telling others how wonderful foster care is. 

Not sure if my agency home finder realizes that I haven't taken a placement since Lil' Peanut in December of 2011??  (He left us after 6 months to go to a relative)
Does she realize I have an open bed? 
Does she realize she asked me to be honest with these people? 
Does she realize that if I had an actual PLACEMENT right now I could say what foster care actually is like? 
She thinks because I'm on the 'other' side right now I'll tell everyone to foster...

What I'll actually say is that if they sign on, take the classes and get certified..BECAUSE they're NEW they have a better chance of getting a placement than I DO...even after 7 years!!!  

Um, I said all that to say I have an open bed!!  RING PHONE...RING!!!!

My boy...

This boy has our hearts.  We absolutely could NOT love him more...  God is amazing.  So many babies have been in our home and God chose SPROUT to be ours!! We are so blessed.  A while back, I posted about the dreams I had to walk down the street with my sons chubby hand in mine.  Now, I have the privilege of doing that everyday!  Daily, I am blown away by God's faithfulness!  I always hear '"God won't give you more than you can handle.."  I disagree.  It is in the chaos and the feelings of being overwhelmed that God's glory can be shown.  HIS strength is perfect.  In our weakness HE is strong.  God will give us things that are out of our comfort zone and he will stretch us.  At times it will hurt and feel like we can't take another step.  I've been there.  It's a hard, dark, lonely place.  But the second you realize He is RIGHT THERE with you...HE takes your burden and gives you HIS peace.  This f0ster c@re journey has taught me much about faith.  He has proven to be faithful. 

Growing...

So, it's been a few days more than a month since the adoption has been final.  I don't think my son {smile} got the memo that he is supposed to be mama's baby for a while because it seems that he is growing up super fast!  In the past month, we have said goodbye to the paci, cut down {drastically} on his naps and is into EVERYTHING a 2 year old is.  Well, even though it's age appropriate I still want him to stay, well, LITTLE!  His vocabulary is growing faster than HE is!  Sprout plays well with others and is an extremely friendly little boy.  Believe it or not, we are still recovering from last months whirlwind of the adoption day, adoption party, Sprout's 2nd birthday, Christmas and a house full of people visiting for the festivities.  To be honest, I have been busy enough with 'real life' to worry about foster care.  Our house is currently still certified but our extra cribs are empty and will probably remain that way...at least for a while.  Many decisions need to be made before it's time to re-certify the house.  We have plenty of time for that...right now...I'm off to spend the day with my son!!! {smile}  :)