Change and Adjustment

We are attempting to settle into a new normal around here. Nine months ago I thought this year would be a little easier, calmer, and that more would get done (all those pesky piles and projects that keep building up). Well, this year hasn't turned out that way at all.

First, I've had some health issues that have slowed me down. I'm fine for now, but I just can't move as quickly as I used to. Unfortunately, this culminated a few weeks ago when I pushed it and seriously pulled a muscle in my side. It hurt even to breathe. I had to call in reinforcements and begged my parents to please come help. Thankfully, they are awesome and came as soon as they could. My mom has been here ever since, helping wherever she can. I'm doing much better but have to constantly remind myself not to push things.  This is HARD.

Second, we added our precious Miracle to our family. I wouldn't change this for the world. She is truly the easiest baby ever, but another child, especially an infant, is more work. The other kids have had to adjust too. The big ones help quite a bit, but there is also some whining and complaining associated. The little ones have to be watched to make sure they don't smother their little sister with love!

Third, our wonderful nanny of over five years, Miss M, let me know in the spring that she would be leaving later this year. This was a hard decision for her to pursue other avenues in her life. I spent hours and hours on the computer researching and looking for a new nanny, as well as sending out feelers in every direction I could. After many interviews and a couple of dead ends, we finally found a super new nanny with all the right experience. She has been helping us out for about a month and has now assumed the full-time nanny position.

Fourth, the school situation has changed this fall.  BB now attends developmental preschool three mornings a week and goes to daycare those afternoons. He and Precious and Miracle have therapy the other two mornings and stay home for naps in the afternoon. Buddy switched to the elementary school campus of the Christian school where May has attended junior high for the last two years, and May started high school on the junior/senior high campus. They both ride the school bus for over thirty minutes each way, but so far that is working out fine.

Fifth, we added a dog, Daisy, to our family about a month ago. She is a perfect fit! She is well trained, mellow, but still likes to play. Daisy is about four years old and lived at a rescue shelter for four months before we found her.

Finally, Sweets' dad is both more and less of a challenge to deal with than in the past. More because he is unpredictable and avoids talking directly to me whenever possible. He talks through Sweets but plays her as a pawn along the way. Less because he is less involved most of the time. Since bio mom moved in last spring, he seems to be gone most of the waking hours, but he still insists upon control and decision making (as in bio mom can't make any decision that has an effect longer than bedtime). So, most of the time I just tell him when I will pick Sweets up and bring her home. Sometimes though, he gets upset with her and tells her she can't go anymore because she has been gone too much. Usually that fades before the following weekend but just upsets her in between. The never ending saga!

Six Months Already

Miracle is six months old.  She has been in our home five months.  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time can fly by.  Miracle is a very easy baby.  She is such a joyful child, with a huge grin!

At six months she is 13 lbs 13 oz.  She has started eating baby cereal and L.O.V.E.S it! She can hold her own bottle most of the time.  Her favorite resting position is still with both hands tucked behind her head, no matter what position she is in.  She can roll all over the floor and has even rolled over in her bed.  She likes standing in the stationary walker and playing with toys on the tray.  She loves interacting with people but can also entertain herself.  She really likes to babble and make sounds.  No teeth yet, but I'm sure they are coming.  Her hair gets curlier every day!

Last night was a first.  Miracle sat by herself!  May and Buddy were playing with her on the floor and kept encouraging her to sit.  Finally they ran back and got me to "come see" what Miracle can do.  Sure enough, as long as she didn't look over her shoulder, she stayed upright and balanced sitting on the floor.

This little baby is such a beautiful little girl.  I feel so sorry for her birth mother, but I am so happy God has chosen us to be Miracle's forever family.  TPR is complete.  The remaining steps are to transfer the case to the adoption unit and get the paperwork filed.  I am very hopeful we will have the same adoptions case manager that we did for Precious' adoption.  If so, everything will go very smoothly once the case is transferred.  I'm hoping for November!

She Rolls!

Miracle can roll over!

This week she has developed the ability to roll

both back to front and front to back.

Now she rolls around in circles.  :-)

Major Step Forward

Parental rights were terminated for Miracle's parents today in court.  I listened to the short testimony of the case manager followed by the findings of fact and orders of the judge.  A sadness came over me during the findings of fact, as the judge said, "No parent has ever visited this child."  What a crying shame!

I'm very happy that Miracle is with us, being loved on by all of us, and that she will have the opportunity to grow up with her siblings and know members of her birth family.  We had a visit with aunts and cousins of the three little ones a few weeks ago.  This was the first time they met Miracle, and they couldn't believe how much BB and Precious had grown since spring.

Next steps: transfer case to adoptions unit and contact attorney.

Finalization, here we come!

Definitely Moving Along for Miracle

Today was the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) hearing for Miracle. This is where 4-5 trained volunteers review 20+ case files and meet with whoever shows up for each case on one scheduled day. Everyone involved in a case (foster parents, bio parents, case managers, therapists, lawyers, CASA, even family) are invited to attend. The FCRB listens to everyone who wants to make a statement or request and then makes a written recommendation report to the court regarding the case. They also have a standard list of questions that they must answer for each case, like "Is the case plan appropriate?" and "Is there compliance with the case plan?" An FCRB hearing is held every six months for every case where foster children are placed out of their parents' home. It is often the best avenue for foster parents to make a request for therapy or other needs to the court. In my county, there are many different FCRBs to handle all of the cases, but a given case always goes to the same FCRB (people).

I took Miracle with me to the hearing because they always like seeing the little ones and because she is just a joy to be around (not biased here or anything). I made my statement regarding her progress and status. I did let them know that she has been recommended for occupational therapy (OT) twice a week and now the pediatrician is also recommending physical therapy (PT) as well. I'm really hoping these can be done either together or back to back. The case manager came in a little late and confirmed that the case plan was already changed to severance and adoption and that termination of parental rights (TPR) should occur later in August barring any unforeseen circumstances. She also said that there has been no contact with mom or any possible father since before the case was transferred to her in April.

Since Miracle's case is so new (March), they still had a lot of Precious' case notes in the file (files are per mother). When compared to old notes in the case file which indicated a lot of the issues Precious had early on, the review board members were thrilled that Miracle was doing so well even though she is so little (41% height, 17% weight, < 5% head circumference). They were also very happy Miracle was present today and very pleased that she would be adopted with her biological brother and sister.  

When it came time for the standard questions and the FCRB "findings", they answered everything as one would expect, but all the comments made to summarize stressed moving this case along. They want TPR this month. They want the case transferred to adoptions ASAP. They confirmed my adoption certification was still valid (a major hold-up in adopting Precious). They stressed getting reports done. Bottom line, they don't want to see this case again in six months; they want the adoption finalized!

So much to do...

So little time...

Miracle was evaluated for OT.  She is doing very well, but OT was recommended because she is very stiff and at risk developmentally.  We see the pediatrician tomorrow for her four month well check and will discuss it.

Precious bops around like a little Shirl*y Temple lately with all her curls.  She is pointing more and trying to communicate but resorts to crying and temper tantrums frequently.  I think the terrible twos arrived early.

BB had his first day of developmental preschool today.  It is just under three hours.  Then he rides the school bus to daycare for lunch and nap and play.  He was exhausted tonight but I think he loved the day.

Buddy arrived home from Ohio this afternoon.  He had a wonderful time.  After he gave me a hug and said he missed me, he told me he left his DS in Ohio and then asked when he would get to go back again.

Sweets seems to be liking sixth grade.  She and May participated as leaders in Sunday morning's worship service which was led by the youth.  Sweets is very excited about moving up to the church youth group.

May is still working on finishing her summer online math class.  Thursday night is final registration for high school, when a decision must be made about which math class to take.  I believe she can pass this class if she gets with it!

My computer is toast and out to be rebuilt.  Unfortunately, I don't have a very recent backup.  I'm so glad I'm not still in school.  Besides getting everyone back to school, children's chorus starting again, multiple routine doctors' appointments, and general schedule coordination, so many annoyances keep popping up like the computer, a plumbing issue, the pool cleaning system, van a/c problem, and new alarm system city permit requirement, to name a few.  I need more hours in each day!

August

It's hard to believe that it is August already. The summer has gone by so quickly. Sweets is almost done with her second week of 6th grade and it sounds like it is going well.  BB has "Meet the Teacher" this Friday night for his developmental preschool which starts next Tuesday. May and Buddy have "Meet the Teacher" next Thursday and start school a week from Monday. Children's Chorus starts with a meeting on Tuesday night. Several doctor's appointments are set up for next week. Whew! Yep, "summer" is about over. Unfortunately, the 100+ degree days will be around another month or two. Rain, you can come any time!