It has been one month and one week since we reopened our foster home. It has been a roller coaster ride and it has had its ups and downs. We said good-bye to three foster kids, and sent them to their new homes and new lives. Last night, we welcomed a 16 month old, Tylan. He is a exuberant little guy and has been doing well in the 14 hours he has been with us!
It is amazing that we keep going. Ty is the 4th child we have had in our home, and each one of them is unique and special in their own way. We love spending time with them, and loving on them while we can. Isaiah loves being a big brother to his little foster siblings, and he seems to have adjusted well to the increased chaoticness (is that a word? Well, if it isn't it is now) that is now our lives. He loves telling people about them, and looks forward to seeing them everday. He loves helping out with diapers and feedings. He loves just watching then laugh and play, which in return makes me laugh too.
Of course, each day has its challenges. Parenting two or even three kids when you have been parenting one for so long is a huge thing. We just take it one day at a time. That is all we can do!
We have had a lot of people comment on our journey of fostering. They want to know how we do it, and how heart breaking it must be, etc. etc. Of course it is heartbreaking. But, these little babies, who have no voice in the world NEED someone to advocate for them. I would feel selfish if I did not. I stand by the mantra I have always said...if I touched the kids lives even a FRACTION of the amount they have touched mine, then I have done a good job. We will love them while we can!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Remembering the Greatest Man That Ever Lived!
I am tired! It has been such a crazy week. Welcoming Devon into our home, getting onto a new schedule, and learning each other and how we all work together as a new family unit. This weekend was the first weekend we had together so far, and it was a rather uneventful one! On Friday night, we played over at our friend's house and the kids all had a great time with one another! It was fun to see Devon interact with all of the other neighborhood kids. He gets along really well with others, and he seems to really enjoy playing with the other kids, including Isaiah.
On Saturday, we basically spent the day as a family and just enjoyed having one another around. Come Saturday night, we once again met up with neighbor friends, and went to dinner. Both Isaiah and Devon were on the their best behavior, and it was not overly difficult (knock on wood!!) to have the two of them out at a restaurant together. I think Devon enjoyed the experience, and I am not sure if he has eaten out at a restaurant before or not, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.
Unfortunately, later that night, Isaiah's asthma and allergies began acting up, and he was breathing horribly, so we gave him his nebulizer treatment. We were up for a big part of the night, so we were all exhausted on Sunday and just relaxed. We had some little friends over from next door to play. :-)
Since I napped on Sunday to catch up on some sleep, I was up very late last night and now I am dead tired. I am ready to go home and sit on the couch and relax and play with the boys. Today is a hard day, it marks 13 years since my dad passed away. So much has happened over the past 13 years, and I know he would have loved to be a part of all of this...Isaiah's adoption, us fostering again etc. This is the first anniversary of his death that I will not be making my yearly phone call to Granny. We thoroughly enjoyed crying, laughing, and overall remembering what a great guy he was every year on this date. Sure, we talked about him all the time, but it was special for us to sit on the phone and chat about him and really give ourselves the opportunity to open up and discuss how we feel and what we wanted to remember most. I hope that she and my dad, and Gramp are all looking down on us smiling, because I know I am smiling up at them :-)
Tomorrow is Gramp's birthday. I hope Heaven is planning a big party for him, and that he gets to eat his beloved ice cream and play a round of golf :-)
On Saturday, we basically spent the day as a family and just enjoyed having one another around. Come Saturday night, we once again met up with neighbor friends, and went to dinner. Both Isaiah and Devon were on the their best behavior, and it was not overly difficult (knock on wood!!) to have the two of them out at a restaurant together. I think Devon enjoyed the experience, and I am not sure if he has eaten out at a restaurant before or not, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.
Unfortunately, later that night, Isaiah's asthma and allergies began acting up, and he was breathing horribly, so we gave him his nebulizer treatment. We were up for a big part of the night, so we were all exhausted on Sunday and just relaxed. We had some little friends over from next door to play. :-)
Since I napped on Sunday to catch up on some sleep, I was up very late last night and now I am dead tired. I am ready to go home and sit on the couch and relax and play with the boys. Today is a hard day, it marks 13 years since my dad passed away. So much has happened over the past 13 years, and I know he would have loved to be a part of all of this...Isaiah's adoption, us fostering again etc. This is the first anniversary of his death that I will not be making my yearly phone call to Granny. We thoroughly enjoyed crying, laughing, and overall remembering what a great guy he was every year on this date. Sure, we talked about him all the time, but it was special for us to sit on the phone and chat about him and really give ourselves the opportunity to open up and discuss how we feel and what we wanted to remember most. I hope that she and my dad, and Gramp are all looking down on us smiling, because I know I am smiling up at them :-)
Tomorrow is Gramp's birthday. I hope Heaven is planning a big party for him, and that he gets to eat his beloved ice cream and play a round of golf :-)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Welcome Devon!
After just one week and three days since we were re-licensed as foster parents, we received the call. There was a 3 year old little boy who is in need of a home. He had just been removed from his mother, and he and his two siblings (a 2 year old and a one year old), were in need of placements. We gladly accepted, and awaited Devon's arrival.
We had received the call at about 4:50 PM on Monday evening February 28. Isaiah was so excited when he heard that his new friend was on his way. It took quite awile for him to get here, and he finally came at about 8:15 PM. Isaiah could no longer contain his excitement.
Devon was worn out from a long day, and was already fast asleep in the back of the case manager's car. We scooped him up and brought him inside, and he slept the entire time I changed him and put him into pajamas. I then tucked him into bed and we did not hear a peep from him until 6:30 AM.
It has to be hard adjusting to a new place, and new people. I can't imagine what he is going through. He is adjusting very well, and he is getting into the routine of things. He is attending daycare where he has made friends, but this is also the first time he has ever been in one, so he is having to become accustomed to the routine of it. He LOVES the playing and he and Isaiah have really enjoyed one another.
I have to toot Isaiah's horn for a minute. He has really opened his arms and welcomed Devon into our home. He is kind and caring, and has shared EVERYTHING he owns with him. He has truly been such a blessing to little Devon, and I hope their bond grows suring the time that Devon is with us.
:-)
We had received the call at about 4:50 PM on Monday evening February 28. Isaiah was so excited when he heard that his new friend was on his way. It took quite awile for him to get here, and he finally came at about 8:15 PM. Isaiah could no longer contain his excitement.
Devon was worn out from a long day, and was already fast asleep in the back of the case manager's car. We scooped him up and brought him inside, and he slept the entire time I changed him and put him into pajamas. I then tucked him into bed and we did not hear a peep from him until 6:30 AM.
It has to be hard adjusting to a new place, and new people. I can't imagine what he is going through. He is adjusting very well, and he is getting into the routine of things. He is attending daycare where he has made friends, but this is also the first time he has ever been in one, so he is having to become accustomed to the routine of it. He LOVES the playing and he and Isaiah have really enjoyed one another.
I have to toot Isaiah's horn for a minute. He has really opened his arms and welcomed Devon into our home. He is kind and caring, and has shared EVERYTHING he owns with him. He has truly been such a blessing to little Devon, and I hope their bond grows suring the time that Devon is with us.
:-)
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