Reunification goal

In foster care reunification is always the goal. So says my SW for this case. In other words, don't get too attached Melissa. Okey dokey. Got it.

Basically, what she was saying is that the mom will likely get her act together and get Baby B back in the next few weeks. Of course, she's got to get visitation back first. So, we shall see. Of course, I think that if the mom can actually get her stuff together and parent, then B should go home. I'm concerned for her long-term situation, but I have no control and have to just give it up to God.

Baby B has been sick since last Friday. She seemed better Sunday, but Monday she had another fever of 101 and I took her to urgent care to get checked out. She is definitely sick...and on antibiotics for 10 days. sheesh.

Lil M is good, and asking when B will be going home. lol. I've been just frankly exhausted this week. It's work regardless, and add illness on top of it ... made for a very long week. Lil M gets to go to Cinderella with her Auntie E tonight. Tomorrow she has a birthday party and gets to go to a makeup class for her gymnastics, since we missed it on Mon due to the Dr and pharmacy stuff.

As for me, I had to take two online exams last weekend for class. Also have to work on a simulation daily for the same class. Then there's regular work. LOL. Oh, and still no TV. :( Really sick of not having a TV. It is work to do my class-work, but it gives me something to do after they go to bed, since I have no TV right now. One more class after this and I'll have a Masters Certificate on my way to completing my degree. :) I like that.

So, my plan tonight and tomorrow... REST. That's my one and only goal. I have fantascially great friends who are going to treat Lil M to some fun stuff... that way I can have one at home and have a chance to get some rest. I can't wait. I want Lil M to have some fun this weekend... it was a long week.

Oh, and T wrote me last night for the first time in over 2 weeks. I hope we can see her and G soon.

Peace.

A week and a day

Baby B has been with us for a week and a day now. Last night, she got sick and threw up all over my cousin Hannah after a book signing we went to, oh my!! :( I've been getting used to having two kids with me all week. Last weekend, Lil M was sick all Saturday and this week it's been Lil B. Poor thing. She seemed better when she went to bed, even her fever was down, thank goodness.

A lot has happened this week. I've had school, an exam, a daily simulation for one of my classes and we also hung out with friends this week.

B's mom has called or texted every day, but hasn't been to visit since last Sunday. Because of her age, she was given the opportunity to come live with us and get herself back on track, but she said she didn't want to. Today, however, when she called, she told me that she wants to. So, who knows. I do know it is in a child's best interest to be with their biological parent, but sometimes... well, sometimes I just wish those parents would have the ability to do right by their children. If that means not parenting, then they should make that decision. If it means parenting, then step up. Do whatever it takes. I just don't see that in some of these folks, though. And I have that fear here.

I know that I'm just fostering here, but I won't lie and say I didn't wish that I had the opportunity to adopt in this situation. I do pray for Baby B and whether she's here or ends up back with her Mom that she is well taken care of and has a great life.

Yes, it's only been a week, but I already worry about her. All I can do is give it up to God and be here for her now.

I got Lil M a new 'cat cat' for Valentine's day (she calls it cat cat because that's what B calls Manna). I got B a moose... who we call... moose. :) Lil M has Meow and Monkey, and now B has Moose and her own Monkey, too.

So back to last night. We went to a book signing, which was cool. I worked all day, then made the girls PB sandwiches and drove to meet Hannah. The parking lot was completely full and it took me awhile to get us in there to meet her. I was definitely feeling a bit off keel because of having both of them instead of just Lil M. Not in a bad way, just in a new Mom kinda way... Hannah was great and a huge help!! I can't imagine she really enjoyed our chaos, but I was glad to get out and see her and I did enjoy myself (even with the chaos).

The funniest thing that happened was when we walked in the door a lady walked up to me and asked me if I was Melissa and I said... yes... she said she follows my blog!!! I said, oh my gosh, I feel like a celebrity!!!! ROFL. What are the odds of being recognized from a blog, I wonder? ;-)

After we got our books signed, we went to Starbuck$. Had some tea... talked and talked... B fell asleep on Hannah... and then, ca-blam!! Sick as a dog. I was so stunned... I just stood there like a freak not knowing what exactly to do... grabbed some napkins, but that wasn't doing the trick. A lady from another table got a towel, thank goodness... and then B completely... well, let's just say we had to throw that towel away. It was BEYOND GROSS. :( Poor Hannah was right in the middle of all of it. Blech. I would never make a good nurse. She, on the other hand, was a trooper!!! Calm, not unnerved by any of it. I was horrified. Even when Lil M got sick last weekend, somehow I was able to avoid the huge nastiness, but not this time. Thankfully, it only happened once. And not in my car!!!! THANK YOU GOD. But it was bad enough driving 15 min home... I can't imagine how she felt driving an hour! Maybe someday we'll have a good laugh over this, but right now... blech. lol I washed her sweater 3 times already, but I'm thinking I might have to get her a new one!

OK, enough of the grossness that was. I have another exam to take this weekend... tons of cleaning... and i'm feeling a bit nauseous myself, plus I've had a raging headache all week. Which included a migraine the other night. :( Did I mention it was a long week?

Thankfully, we're all hanging in there, though. :)

Peace.

Cracker eat.

Baby B has been with us almost a week (tomorrow), and this morning actually said a two word sentence... cracker eat. Ok, so it isn't in the right format, but she tried for the first time! :D Still no idea what's going to happen overall, but hopefully I'll get an update by Tuesday or Wed. of next week.

I'm pretty well pooped this week. Between the weather changes and having another child in the house, my head and allergies are raging. Had a migraine last night, and that is no fun. Needless to say, school is suffering a little this week because of it. Oh well. Try, try again.

I'm also waiting STILL to get my TV fixed. That is starting to grate my nerves.

Lil M is doing well. She seems to like B, but she also really needs some Mommy time.

Peace.

Weekend and ahead

This past weekend was definitely different than I had planned! Baby B is getting settled in and is doing well, so far. She's not potty trained, but is training and did better last night than she had all weekend. Oddly, she'll go number 2 in the potty, but not 1. She finally did both last night in the potty!! I'm not trying to push her, but her Mom says she's potty trained, so I feel like I need to try to offer it to her a few times a day.

Interestingly, when her Mom came to visit, B cried a lot. Part of it, I'm sure is that she misses her Mommy. The odd part was that her Mom couldn't seem to get her to sit on the potty or do anything that I've been able to get her to do all weekend. I'm not sure why that happened. But I'm just paying attention to their interactions.

I was able to distract her when her mom left and get Baby B to bed somewhat reasonably. I'm just trying to follow the same routine I've always followed with Lil M and it seems OK so far!!

Today, I hope to hear something more about the Mom and what my agency's idea is. They had suggested she move in with me... but I need more information before I commit to that. This is why I might only have Baby B for a very short period of time. I am considering it, but not sure what is going to happen yet.

I can see improvements even after a couple of days with B's speech. She said "tinker bell" plain as day yesterday... and when her mom came over she was surprised that B could say that! It was a first, I guess. I can tell that the mom doesn't use full sentences and the techniques I use when I talk to children. Which is ok, but different. So, B is getting used to my directives and such. She's really doing great. :)

Please send up some prayers about how this situation might work out. For Lil M, me and Baby B, too. Lil M asked if B was going to stay with us for awhile, and I said that she probably would... then she said, will she go away sometime, and I said that was likely, too. So, part of it, I've got to make sure Lil M is ok....

Peace.

Another foster

I received a call on Friday to take a foster in who is just 2 years old. She is the child of one of the 20 YO independent living girls who isn't following the rules, I guess. The SW brought her over last night. She's a cutie. We'll call her Baby B here... :)

Lil M seems to be adjusting fairly well, so far! I hope that continues and that she doesn't get too upset here soon, when she realizes that Baby B might be around for a little while. Speaking of which, I do not have any clue of how long she might be here. It could be a few days, weeks or months. She is sleeping in T's old room and doing pretty well.

Lil M woke up not feeling well today. She started with a bit of a congested cough that turned into a fever and then getting sick twice before noon. :( My poor baby. I HATE it when she is sick. Thankfully, it doesn't happen that often. We had to miss the valentine's day party at the gymnastics place today because of it. I was bummed. We had lots of plans for today, all of which changed when she got sick. But it turned out to be a good day, anyway. Just different.

My friend MK brought Lil M an easel from a big store up the way. She also brought us some crackers and bread... and my friend Devi brought the girls Valentine's that she was going to give them today and some clothes and juice. My friends are lifesavers.

Baby B had one bag of clothes. So, I went through Lil M's stuff to see what else might fit. I did find a few things. I could use some prayers for my heart for this one... I have a feeling we'll all get attached here fairly quickly and if she stays awhile, then it'll be hard to see her go. But I do realize this is a foster placement and I have to try to guard my heart a little bit.

One concern I have for her, actually two... is, her verbal skills are not very good for her age, and she has no qualms about calling me Mommy. Though, we've been trying to get her to call me Mimi, so it sounds similar but not quite the same. She's calling me both. I don't want to offend her Mom, nor do I want to confuse her. Some say she's too young to know the difference, but I believe that even at 2 yo (and 4 months), she should *know* who her Mommy is and that I'm just a caregiver right now. I do not know their attachment situation.

Anyway, all is well here. Though, I'm tired! :)

Peace.

Class

I'm taking two classes this semester. One is a Project Mgmt class and the other is and Information Security class. I talked with a previous co-worker today and he's almost got me convinced to change to an MBA with an IS minor... Currently, I'm in as a MS CIT major - computer information technology - but their classes are harder to work around with Lil M and needing sitters.

My new TV went out last weekend, and the repairman came yesterday and said that the main component went out and it'll take 7-10 days to get the part and fix it. bah. Oh well. :) No excuse not to study, right?

I took Lil M to see the Symphony last week for Chinese New Year's day. We went with our friends D and Tiff. It was fun. In a couple of weeks, Auntie E is going to take her to see Cinderella. That'll be fun, too. :)

We got to see T and baby Gabe a week and a half ago... haven't really talked to her since. I hope she is ok. I have tried, of course, but not sure why she hasn't responded. Well, last week she did, but I'm thinking that might have been the BF and not her.

Tomorrow are school pics for Lil M. I'm thinking I will let her wear her purple dress that Grandma and Grandpa got her... she'll be thrilled. And I mean that. Just tonight she asked me if I could take her pic in the morning so she could wear it. I told her I didn't want her to wear it to school until I got a good pic of it, just in case she got something on it.

Peace.