Well two days from today, on 1-11-12, we will celebrate Jamie's Adoption Day 1 Year Anniversary. We don't plan on having a party, just keeping it simple. We will pull out his first year life book and look at all the pictures, talk about his adoption, and talk about the commitment we made to him that day. I plan to make his favorites foods for the day, including his all time fave, pancakes for breakfast and cupcakes for dessert.
The really neat things is that we inadvertently planned to have some friends from church over for dinner that night. It will be super fun for Jamie as they have a child his age and he loves play-dates. But the super cool, super blessed thing about our dinner...they are coming over because they want to talk about fostering and adoption. What a special way to honor our son on his Adoption Day. We can hopefully inspire/encourage another family to reach out and embrace a child that is in need of a family, whether it be for a little while or forever.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tiny Baby 2 Month Checkup
Well the holidays took a toll on my blog writing. Sorry for the long delay. Tiny Baby had his 2 month checkup at the end of December. He almost doubled his birth weight at a whopping 10 lbs 9 oz. He is now 22 inches long. The doctor was very pleased with his progress. We did have a concern as he was not socially smiling yet. Well don't you know, a few days after his appointment he broke out the smiles for all to see. He is talking and cooing and just delightful.
There is nothing to update regarding the situation. No family visits, no news, just continuing to take it day by day. My specific prayers are the following
1. That his Mom can do what she needs to do to provide a safe and loving home for him and their relationship can be redeemed. As much as we love him and as hard as this would be we know that this would be the ultimate win for him.
or
2. His Mom would realize her current situation is no place for a child and voluntarily relinquish her rights so that he can have a safe and loving home. I don't want the state to have to terminate, but if that is necessary then of course we would support that.
So please join me in prayer.
There is nothing to update regarding the situation. No family visits, no news, just continuing to take it day by day. My specific prayers are the following
1. That his Mom can do what she needs to do to provide a safe and loving home for him and their relationship can be redeemed. As much as we love him and as hard as this would be we know that this would be the ultimate win for him.
or
2. His Mom would realize her current situation is no place for a child and voluntarily relinquish her rights so that he can have a safe and loving home. I don't want the state to have to terminate, but if that is necessary then of course we would support that.
So please join me in prayer.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Late Night Text
Well, he will remain with us as a foster placement until one of two things happen; One or both of his parents are able to do what is needed to regain custody of him, or parental rights are terminated. If parental rights are termed then unless another family member wants and is able to parent him then we would be able to adopt him. The chance of a family member coming forward is slim as no one has even asked to visit him up to this point, and his sibling was adopted by another family just this year.
So this is big news as we move forward. Now we just love him, pray for his parents, and pray that God would direct the decisions of everyone involved in his care. This will be a long term placement more than likely as most cases do not go to TPR (termination of parental rights) before one year in care.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
5 Weeks - Update
So we are 5 weeks in. CPS came out today and the visit went really well. The frustrating thing is that we still have no new news about this "other family" that Tiny baby "might" be moving to. I do find it strange that five weeks have passed and that we have not been contacted for them to even meet him. There must be something that they are unsure of. Please pray that we would get information regarding their intentions and desires quickly.
If they desire to have Tiny Baby placed with them it would be in his best interest to start forming a bond with them. Right now they are simply names in a file. If they decide that they are unable to or do not desire to take him then we are very open to the boys (they adopted his brother) having a relationship and would do everything to make sure that happens. Again, this would depend on their desires.
Our CPS CW told me today that there will not be any family visits right now as no one has come forward asking to see him and his parents are unable to see him right now.
Other than the big unknown, things are going amazing. He is thriving. Eating and sleeping well. We changed his formula and he seems to be more comfortable now too. Routines are slowly getting established and our days are starting to look normal as a family of 4. Praying God's will over Tiny Baby and his future as we love on him today.
If they desire to have Tiny Baby placed with them it would be in his best interest to start forming a bond with them. Right now they are simply names in a file. If they decide that they are unable to or do not desire to take him then we are very open to the boys (they adopted his brother) having a relationship and would do everything to make sure that happens. Again, this would depend on their desires.
Our CPS CW told me today that there will not be any family visits right now as no one has come forward asking to see him and his parents are unable to see him right now.
Other than the big unknown, things are going amazing. He is thriving. Eating and sleeping well. We changed his formula and he seems to be more comfortable now too. Routines are slowly getting established and our days are starting to look normal as a family of 4. Praying God's will over Tiny Baby and his future as we love on him today.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Fostering is Water
My husband, M, had quite the revelation this weekend. He was talking with a pastor friend about our newest foster baby. His friend commented on just how hard parenting can be. But M had to interject that yes, parenting is hard, but fostering is harder.
You see when you are simply parenting, whether it be your bio or adopted children, you are investing in your future with them. Granted, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, but you understand what I mean. When you parent a foster child you are investing in his or her future and the future of their bio family. There is no personal gain on the investment. Witnessing the fruits of your labor and their future impact are gone the moment that child leaves your home.
Don't get me wrong, the joy of the moments and the love you shared will stay with you forever. But more likely than not, this little person that you loved, sacrificed for, lost sleep over, and helped wounds heal, will take these gifts with them and you will not get to see them bloom, someone else will. You will not be part of any "remember when" moments like the ones I had with my family on a recent visit. You know, when you sit around your childhood home and reminisce about a million little things, laughing till your sides hurt, soaking up the love of a shared past.
So if you love parenting because you get to see the fruits of your labor brought forth in your children, then fostering may not be for you. If you can invest all and not ever expect anything in return (long term), then what are you waiting for?
Fostering is the water. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." Be the water for some children and know that God will carry forth the work, to bless them and those that love them.
You see when you are simply parenting, whether it be your bio or adopted children, you are investing in your future with them. Granted, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, but you understand what I mean. When you parent a foster child you are investing in his or her future and the future of their bio family. There is no personal gain on the investment. Witnessing the fruits of your labor and their future impact are gone the moment that child leaves your home.
Don't get me wrong, the joy of the moments and the love you shared will stay with you forever. But more likely than not, this little person that you loved, sacrificed for, lost sleep over, and helped wounds heal, will take these gifts with them and you will not get to see them bloom, someone else will. You will not be part of any "remember when" moments like the ones I had with my family on a recent visit. You know, when you sit around your childhood home and reminisce about a million little things, laughing till your sides hurt, soaking up the love of a shared past.
So if you love parenting because you get to see the fruits of your labor brought forth in your children, then fostering may not be for you. If you can invest all and not ever expect anything in return (long term), then what are you waiting for?
Fostering is the water. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." Be the water for some children and know that God will carry forth the work, to bless them and those that love them.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tiny Baby
Well little Mr. Tiny Baby arrived at our home Monday afternoon right from discharge from the hospital. We had to cut off his arm and ankle bands. He is so sweet I can't even use words to describe it. Jamie is just as smitten with him as we are.
So what is the plan for this little man's life? We are really uncertain right now, however things are pointing towards him being placed with a sibling that was previously adopted. So, unless something about that situation changes or was misunderstood by my agency, then he will probably only be with us a few weeks.
We are just taking it one day at a time, enjoying him and marveling at the perfection of God's creation. Our home is always open for any child to stay forever. However, our arms are open to God's perfect plan for each child and often (as we are learning) that is for us to be a stop on the road but not the final destination.
We are enjoying all the wonders of a newborn baby. The lack of sleep is not even effecting me yet. I am sure it will catch up soon enough.
The only challenge we have right now with Tiny Baby is that he was small for gestational age so we are on a two hour feeding schedule to get some weight on him. Other than that, no issues at all.
So what is the plan for this little man's life? We are really uncertain right now, however things are pointing towards him being placed with a sibling that was previously adopted. So, unless something about that situation changes or was misunderstood by my agency, then he will probably only be with us a few weeks.
We are just taking it one day at a time, enjoying him and marveling at the perfection of God's creation. Our home is always open for any child to stay forever. However, our arms are open to God's perfect plan for each child and often (as we are learning) that is for us to be a stop on the road but not the final destination.
We are enjoying all the wonders of a newborn baby. The lack of sleep is not even effecting me yet. I am sure it will catch up soon enough.
The only challenge we have right now with Tiny Baby is that he was small for gestational age so we are on a two hour feeding schedule to get some weight on him. Other than that, no issues at all.
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