Be anxious for NOTHING....

-Philippians 4:6

I'm not worried...God's got my back! :)

New post on the OTHER blog :0)

Random... {or NOT so random}

The caseworker called this morning. He's writing a report for the boys' {Arizona & Lil' Man} court date next month. I took the liberty to ask about the boys. They have been gone almost 6 weeks and I figured if I wasn't privileged to this info...he'd tell me. He said they're doing well in their new home. Visits have been extended to a 4 hour unsupervised visit. I am glad to see that Hope is progressing in her case plan. He mentioned that the boys have a hard time going back to their foster*homes after the visits but I think that's to be expected. Not sure if reunification is on the near horizon but either way WE are at peace with our decision in moving them.

On the adoption front... I have not had any calls from the home finder and I'm ok with that. I'm still working on getting some things in order so that when that call DOES come...we're more than ready. I have also contacted an adoption*agency and will be meeting with them early next month. :)
I am hopeful, with each passing day, that we are closer to finding out exactly WHAT {who} God has for our family.

I wanted to explain why I made the decision to call D*S*S on Baby 'C's mom. I think I'll feel better if you understand my heart. Baby 'C' was placed with us from another foster home at 4 months old. He had already been in care for 2 months. He was a shaken*baby. There were NO allegations...someone actually SAW his father shake him and his mother stand there and do NOTHING. When asked about this incident, she said that it NEVER happened. These people are transient and have never had a stable place to live. Baby 'C' was brought home from the hospital to a motel room. Baby 'C' was the youngest of 6 {between both parents} at the time of his birth. His former foster mother requested to have him moved because she couldn't handle his high pitched scream. {First red flag} Of course, as our first placement, I was THRILLED to take an infant boy. and thought LOVE could heal ALL his problems. (Pride comes before a fall) He never made good eye contact {2nd red flag} and would arch his back when held close. {3rd flag}. After months and months of therapies and doctors appointments they labeled him severely globally delayed (duh). When it came down whether or not we wanted to adopt him we HAD NO CHOICE but to say no. He was so delayed and we don't think he was able to bond with us. My husband and I felt that we had done the most we could for him and we were scared for his future. His adoptive family is wonderful. A few months after his adoption was finalized his bio mom told me she was pregnant. Same father. They still didn't have somewhere to bring this baby home to. Most of the time I saw them hanging out on the street because they admitted that where they were staying was only good enough to sleep there. I called D*S*S when Sweet Pea was born. Baby 'C's FULL BIO baby sister. I explained my concerns to D*S*S and at that time I found out that I wasn't the only one who had concerns. Sweet Pea was taken from her mothers arms when she was less than 24 hours old. Bio dad threw a tantrum in the hospital and was escorted from the building. He was unable to be with bio mom for the rest of her stay in the hospital. {She had a c-section} Although they are dysfunctional...they DO love each other and had been through more than most couples I know. Anyway, Baby 'C's adoptive family brought Sweet Pea home with them as their new foster daughter. Fast forward exactly 15 months and she is now their adopted daughter. Sweet Pea is stable and secure. She is normal and healthy. The fear of bio mom bringing this new baby home from the hospital to the chaos that is her life...it's a VERY scary thought. Especially when whatever potential danger COULD BE AVOIDED!!! Bio mom is now living in the next state and D*S*S is aware of what county she is in. Phone calls will be made and whatever CAN be done to save this new baby from a life of instability and pain...WILL BE DONE. I think that bio mom trusts me and knows that I am looking out for her best interest. She never has had stability in her own life and is a product of the system herself. This new baby is not a full bio sibling. That is a part of the story I have yet to hear. I have been looking for bio mom whenever I am in that part of town. I really made that call as a preventative measure. I am scared for that baby.

I did it. I called D*S*S and informed them that Baby 'C's bio mom is expecting a baby. It turns out that the home finder was Sweet Pea's caseworker. She was a bit shocked to hear the news but I'm sure it will NOT fall on deaf ears. Updates to come as soon as I hear something...

It never ends.

Yesterday, I found out that Baby 'C's bio mom is pregnant. This will make a total of 6 kids (none of which she has custody of). Last I knew she was living in the next state over comes back to this area OFTEN {daily} because she "didn't know anyone over there". Then WHY did she move, you ask?? {I KNOW you REALLY wanna know this}. Because (I KNOW you're NOT supposed to start a sentence with because...BUT this situation calls for it!) Anyway...BECAUSE she cannot qualify for social services in our state anymore. She tapped them out!!! When I saw her back in November she mentioned that Baby 'C's bio father is still in prison and wasn't being released until later this Spring (2010). She also mentioned that she hadn't seen him (bio dad) since he left for prison May 2009 that she wanted to have another baby. I guess she didn't want to wait for bio dad to get out of jail. :P About a month ago my hubby saw her walking through town with a HUGE black eye and I was told (by my source) that she also had strangulation marks on her neck. Not sure what I should do with this info. Do I contact D*S*S? The supervisor that placed Baby 'C' with us is no longer working there. Do I contact Baby 'C's adoptive parents to see if they're willing to adopt another baby so we can make sure the kids are all together?? Do I just sit here and wonder how this whole thing will play out??? Ok, yup! That's what I'll do. :)

Read about a shortened version of Baby 'C's life in foster care ... Scroll down to the archives to June 1, 2009. There are 4 or 5 posts about our time with him.

Got a call for 2 little ones this morning. A (just) 2 year old boy and his (just) 1 year old baby sister. (12 months apart) Home finder had NO information on them. NO reason WHY they're coming into care. I asked to call her back so we could talk it over. (See!!! I'm learning!) We decided that since we really don't have any info on the situation, that maybe this wasn't the right case for us. Of course, I imagined 2 cribs, double strollers and diapers :) All of which I would GLADLY so...but then I remembered 2 little boys from not so long ago and thought of the tantrums, throwing of toys and holes in the bedroom walls. And I said "thank you anyway...but please keep us on the list". :) I am learning.