Court was interesting.  There will be more details here but to give you the run down...

I got there just as the agency and county workers were getting there. They said I looked tense.  (I was)  ...(duh)  Bio mom and grandma were there and asked where Sprout was.  I explained I was told NOT to bring him.  They were a bit disappointed.  We were all called in and they put bio dad on speaker phone.  The judge explained that bio dad was entitled to a lawyer and he said that yes, he wanted a lawyer so court was adjourned for another few weeks.  Again, more details over here :)  

Random thoughts...

The Screamer is on his way home.  The county worker picked him up this morning. 

Sprout has court today.  A few weeks ago I was told to bring Sprout.  2 days ago I was told to leave him home. 

Paternal gma will be there.  Bio mom will be there. 

I am kinda nervous. 

I know that it's only a permanency hearing. 

The judge will most likely keep Sprout in care for another 6 months. 

But still.  I'm nervous. 

I am trusting God for His best for my sweet baby boy. 

Sprout had his 6 month well baby visit yesterday.  Earlier that morning he was supposed to have a visit with his bio mom as well.  She never called to confirm so the visit didn't take place.  I was on my way to the dr appointment wondering if she'd show for the appointment.  I got there a bit early and they took us right back in.  I spoke to the nurse about Sprout for a minute or two...then the agency worker knocked on the door.  After a few minutes of catching up, he told me that Sprout's brother's case worker saw bio mom with some other people hanging out (literally...she had her shirt tucked into her bra) and there was most definitely a baby bump.  Ahhh, well, job security.  Gotta keep us foster parents working somehow...  Anyway...  I updated Sprout's 6 month check up in the post below and I'll be updating the other blog later today with some really RAW thoughts and maybe some pics of The Screamer and Sprout!

Guess who's going to be a BIG BROTHER!?!?!?!  :)

SPROUT is 6 MONTHS OLD!!!
Where has the time gone?!?! A whole 1/2 year!!!  My sweet boy is growing so fast and I'm SO thankful that he is healthy!!!

He is now:
*  trying to crawl (as of 6/22)
*  eating baby food (sweet potatoes for the 1st time yesterday and apples today)  
*  in size 2 diaper
*  in 6-12 month clothes
*  still taking a pacifier 
*  sometimes sleeping through the night (usually gets up once)
*  LOVES having a buddy here while were doing respite
*  reflux seems to be getting better :)
*  a whopping 16 pounds 6 ounces and is now 25 inches!!!
*  he LOVES his feet and will drop WHATEVER he has when he sees them.
*  holding his own bottle (sometimes uses his feet too)
* is going to be  a BIG brother!!!

The Screamer did MUCH better last night :)  Thanks for asking!  I tried a few different tricks.  I let him play for quite a while before bed.  He was rolling on the floor with Sprout and talking up a storm...it was SO cute!  I fed him his cereal and bottle then let him play some more.  He DID NOT go to bed at 7:30pm like the foster mom said he would but hey...that's the deal when you put your kid in respite..right?!  Whatever works!  Then when I put him down for bed I had a white noise machine that I turned on.  He went down at 10pm and slept till 4am.  Had a diaper change and a bottle then slept again till 8am.  Ahhhh.  Sweet sleep!!! He is also very constipated.  What I thought was him screaming to be held I now think is him crying out in pain. It's only been a few days and we're still figuring each other out.  I'm sure we'll have things running perfect in time for him to leave :/ 

Beck, In our county you are allowed as many kids as your home has room for.  I know his foster mom has adopted 5 children (all ages 10 and under) and is fostering The Screamer and another boy about 18 months old.  Not sure what the rules are but The Screamer is a relative of hers so maybe since she is already certified she asked if she could foster him as a relative placement?!?!  Hope that helps!!

We have another baby here for respite.  I'd love to call him Screamer...but that would be not far off but WRONG.   His foster mom tried to pull one over on me.  She told the home finder he'd be here 6 days, she told me 7 days then she called this morning to 'check on him' and asked if I'd keep him an extra 3 days.  I called the home finder and told her it would be ok and she said she knew NOTHING about him staying that long.  Hmmm.  Anyway.  He did NOT sleep last not...AT ALL!!! The home finder mentioned that the foster mom said he 'was the fussiest baby she'd ever dealt with'.  Nice to know...AFTER I take him.  The home finder asked how things were going with him and I didn't feel right to give her an answer after less than 24 hours with him.  He definitely likes to be engaged and held and always part of the action.  His foster mom (who happens to be his great aunt) also has 6 other kids in the house. The home finder wants to make sure she is not in over her head.  (Um, she might be!)  So, about Sprout's visit.  He was supposed to have a 2 hour visit today.  She told the agency worker that she 'misunderstood' and made plans for today.  She thought that she had an hour today and 3 hours on Friday.  She also told the agency worker that she had friends coming over so she couldn't do the second hour today.  Not only did she choose her friends over her son but when he was fussing after the first hour was over she put him in his car seat and sent him home hungry even though he was due for a bottle.  Glad the agency worker realized this.  Sprout came home starving!  She is making very bad decisions.  The county worker thinks she's pregnant again...I kinda do too.  She denied that she was pregnant with Sprout till 3 months before he was born.  Can't wait to see how this one plays out.  I already prayed (months ago) that it would be a boy...so Sprout could have a brother that lives with him  :)