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}  :)