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!