Meetings.....

I met with my Case Manager AND the GAL for C today. I had hoped they could meet M, but he had a visit with his Mom today, which meant no nap so he was already asleep when they got here. My CM peeked in at him, though, so she could see his room, etc. It is heartbreaking to see how much he misses his mommy - he kept asking me when she was coming tonight :-(

Apparently, C's Mom has her first court date tomorrow....the GAL (Guardian ad litum) said it should be interesting to see if she shows. They don't really expect her to, but who knows?

Everyone seemed happy with the kids' placement, and they changed M's placement from emergency (very short term) to placement until permanency could be achieved through placement with Gma or Mom. In other words, he could be here for months!! I am fine with that, but I know my case manager was hoping for shorter term so they could place another child.....I think they are irritated that Gma is licensed but still won't take him simply because she isn't getting along with her daughter (M's mommy). On the other hand, I kind of question why they would place him with someone who kicked her own daughter out at 16!?

I am off to my own Dr appts tomorrow and will have C in tow, which should be interesting! LOL! I am hoping my Dr might be able to give me some direction in finding a pediatrician.....I really dread returning to the clinic I had to take C to. But, I guess it's better than nothing!!

First visit, first bath!

First - just to update, I now have TWO foster kids. M is 2yo with a very young but earnestly trying mom. C is a little over a week old - she was delivered to me at 3 days old!! yes - this time when they called me I agreed to take an infant. Didn't think I would, but here I am!! They called me from the hospital needing a home asap. The poor investigator is new and was painfully eager to hand the baby over. C was born to a mom with cocaine in her system, but seems to be very healthy.....

And now - C had her first visit with her bio mom today....I was less than impressed with the case aid that came to get her - she was very brusque. I was REALLY irritated with she returned C with a nearly full bottle (after a FOUR HOUR stay??) and a request from bio mom to send a bib and bottle cap next time....BOTH of which were in the bag, along with diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, spare blanket, etc. Yeesh!

What bothered me most, though, was C's reaction after the visit. Not sure if she just didn't take to the 45 min travel each way or what but she barely slept all day, was irritable, gassy, cried a lot, ate a lot, etc. She finally seems to have settled down at 8pm! I have this secret little concern that bio mom may have tried to breast feed her (is that even possible a week after giving birth without having initiated feeding??) and thus passed on some of the drugs swimming in her system. Maybe I'm just paranoid??

On the plus side, her cord dropped off today so we were able to have our first bath! She smells so much better! It was really off-putting to smell her mother on her from her trip down the birth canal- blech!

I continue to learn....I can now use the restroom while holding a crying baby, can feed an infant AND a 2yo at the same time, have given up on hampers and just keep the lid to the washer up and keep tossing items in until it's full enough for a load, can translate more of what M is saying, etc....I have also learned a lot about AA skin and hair care. At first, when I was told to use baby oil with vaseline on top AND on the hair I thought it was nuts, but the recommendation has been repeated by everyone so I went for it and it worked!

M is having a great time with the dogs, and they are learning to ignore his occasional screeches (at first, they all ran for cover). He is also learning to keep his hands ABOVE his highchair tray unless he wants to lose whatever he is trying to eat to the nearest waiting mouth....well, YOU try keeping three dogs away from a feeding toddler! I couldn't put them out - there was a lightning storm!

M has been having a few temper tantrums and trying out sulking, but we seem to be moving past it by me ignoring him when he's in a snit.....the fits are getting shorter, thank goodness! I had to go to Sams to stock up on food - I can't believe a 2yo eats twice what I do!?! Wound up getting a bunch of paper supplies (he LOVES tissues), healthy snack foods (he has now decided apple chips are second only to bananas!LOL), diapers, and, for me - Prilosec! Oh, what a grand life I am living!!

When it rains, it pours - I have appointments with both my case worker AND C's guardian ad litem (GAL) tomorrow at 6:30pm. Should be interesting. If they stay longer than an hour THEY can give M his bath and get him ready for bed LOL! So far I have taken one call from my case-worker asking for an inventory of what each child came with (M= TONS of clothes, no toys; C - what the hospital put her in before she was delivered to my door)

I spent the day today on the phone....calling every pediatrician I could find in my area, and NONE were taking medicaid kids. Guess that's another wonderful government program that totally turns off the doctors....THEN I had to call the WIC office to set up an appointment for both kids (the formula alone could break the bank!). This took four phone calls as they kept screwing up the kind of visit. Apparently, the kids have to be certified first which means they have to come to this first 2 hour appointment to prove their existence....scary to think why these precautions are necessary! I am NOT looking forward to THAT appointment with an infant and toddler in tow! Say Mom - when was it you said you were planning to visit? ;-)

Finally, I am trying to reach the CCMS office to confirm funds for C's daycare - they came through in less than a week for M and I want to make sure they do the same with C. Can't wait for those stipends to start!! I think the red tape is tougher than caring for the foster kids!

Well, M is now asleep in his room and C and I are in bed in mine....time to catch what sleep I can before the next feeding!

I'm Learning!!

I'm slowly picking this thing up!!

I figured out that if I told M I was stepping out of sight for a moment (ie - put wash in dryer) and what I was going to do, he wouldn't scream (duh!!) Sometimes, when he is feeling uncertain, we play echo by calling OK to each other over and over until I reappear.

I figured out that what I THOUGHT was him saying "I kick you" was actually him saying "I (want a) cookie" LOL! (I wondered about the kicking since he never followed up on it!)

I figured out that he is nearly potty trained......Whew!

I figured out how to go from one load a week to one a day in laundry and every other day in dishwashing.....

I figured out how to time it so that kid and dogs each have free reign of the house at different times.....

And M is learning! He is learning the enjoy the house, and now will march over to 'his room' to retrieve toys, into 'his bathroom' to play with the faucet (oops! gotta watch that one!) over to the fridge or cabinet when he wants a snack, etc....PLUS he has slept in his own room, in his own bed for the last two nights!!!!

Now, what I need expert advice on is vegetables.....He loves fruit, but since my fav veggies are salads, asparagus and greenbeans, and he either can't or won't eat them I am kind of at a loss as to what to offer......any culinary advice out there?? I need to go shopping and want to pick up some relatively sure bets since I certainly won't be eating the leftovers! LOL

A Day in the Life of.....

A two year old!

Boy, am I learning fast!!

M was placed with me about five days ago, and the days since have been a whirlwind of locating daycare, dealing with paperwork, introducing M to the dogs, setting up visits with his Mom, etc.

He is tolerating my learning curve well, probably thrilled when I forget to do the whole teeth-brushing routine (oops!). We are still struggling with bedtime - he goes down just fine, but since he is used to sleeping with his Mom, he has a tough time being all alone in his new room.

I am learning some quick, healthy meals to cook! Great for me, but I think M could care less. I made him home-cooked chicken fingers the other night, and he proceeded to dip his peaches in the catsup and his chicken in the peach juice.....eeew!

I received another call today about taking an infant....I declined as I doubt I could find childcare for a newborn AND I am just starting to get this 'mommy' thing down.

It is truly amazing how much this parenting a toddler changes your life - I know, I know - duh! But I am referring to the fact that there is no easing into this through pregnancy and birth. One day I am driving home from work debating whether I want to stop by the store now or wait a few days. Now, I pass the farmer's market with a strong inclination to stop and get fresh fruit (M is devouring fruit faster than I can buy it!!) but I decide against it as M has already had a long day and is not in the best of moods. But, I can't wait too long as he needs more fruit, so I need to schedule that into our day tomorrow.

I am getting better at planning my time around his energy cycles - best time to do laundry is when he's revved up! I can move around and fold laundry while he runs like a crazy man around the house shrieking at his toys LOL! If I am NOT in the mood to spend time at the sink, I had best wait to fill the dishwasher until after he's in bed as he loves to 'help' by closing the dishwasher door after each item is placed inside.....etc, you get the idea!

He is getting better with the dogs, and vice-versa. Tasha still only likes him when he's eating or asleep; Teddy just watches him; Chloe thinks he's a toy just for her! Tomorrow I plan to set Chloe and M loose together to see how well they do.....I think my Mom thinks I worry too much, but I have this horrifying vision of trying to explain a dog bite to CPS (much less M's Mom)! The dogs did fine with my niece and nephew, but they were only there for short periods and are not prone to high pitched screeches or loud, flailing temper tantrums (at least, not around me.....my brother and sister-in-law could probably recount a few ;-) )

His latest funny maneuver? Sticking his face in the dogs' water bowl to 'dink' just like the dogs do! Oy!

Done!!!

I am now licensed by the State of Texas for foster-adopt!!

Yikes! Now what??

I have gone through classes on an alphabet soup of disorders, medical conditions, emotional conditions, attachment, CPR, meds, etc, etc. I have spent HOURS on the web researching childcare, education, therapy options, etc.

I have set up a kids room.....just to find out what I really need is several pairs of clothes in different sizes as kids often show up in the clothes their wearing and nothing else. I guess I'll be hitting Target or Wal-mart on my next day off!

I am doing legal-risk, which means the children will likely be available for adoption as my interest is in adoption, not long-tem fostering. It is horrible to see how many kids are in the system and how few homes there are! In Texas they are so short in emergency homes, they are housing the kids in their offices, hotels.....

My hope is for 1-2 children in the 2yrs to 5 yrs range......we'll see what fate has in store for me!

Wish me luck!