I realized the other day that it has been two months since I last posted.
That is how crazy life has been lately.
Foster parenting sometimes feels like a whirlwind. Well, maybe more like a hurricane I think. Lots of crazy, followed by some calm, then a little more crazy before the calm comes back. It's like a roller coaster of hurricanes. Constantly. As soon as you adjust to a new normal something changes and you have to adjust all over again. Then, before you get fully adjusted something else happens and you start all over. It's hard. It's crazy. It's worth it.
In the two months since I last posted so much has happened.
We had court dates for both our girls. It's incredible how many parts and people are involved in each and every case. Caseworkers, foster parents, biological parents, kids, attorneys--for each party at that, supervisors, the list can go on.
Three weeks ago tomorrow we assisted our older foster daughter in her reunification with her biological father. It was such a sweet process. This dad worked so incredibly hard to get his baby back and we are SO happy for them. He has kept in touch with us and we have seen this sweet girl since she's been home. It's beautiful. To know that we played a small part in this family's story is such a privilege. We are hopeful to continue our relationship with them so that this baby feels all kinds of love her whole life.
Our now six month old foster daughter is also doing great. She is continuing with us and is thriving. She is one of the happiest babies I've ever known, and after her rough start it's a beautiful thing to see. Her laugh is beautiful. Her smile is infectious. The way she lights up when she sees us, and the dog, are just about the cutest things I've ever seen. She's started getting fussy and chewing on everything with LOADS of drool, so we are anticipating the first teeth very soon!!
About a week after the departure of our big girl we accepted a short term placement of a newborn baby boy. I quickly realized with the first diaper change that I had a lot to learn about boys!! Every time I opened that little stinkers diaper he peed. And more often than not he pooped, too. I think I changed his clothes almost every time I changed his diaper. It was amazing that he could pee and poop so much with the tiny amount he drank every bottle! That sweet little fella was with us for a week while his family worked on the things they needed to get settled, then he returned home to them.
This lifestyle is not for the faint at heart, that's for sure. It's also a life that I would choose all over again if given the opportunity. I never dreamed that I'd be thankful for the infertility that Drew and I have experienced, but here I am saying just that. If God hadn't led us down the path of infertility we probably wouldn't have reopened as a foster home. We would not have gotten to love on the three precious children who have been in our home over the last seven months. There have been many, many, sleepless nights. So many tears shed. Countless loads of laundry. And we would choose do it all over again in a heartbeat. God has been incredibly faithful throughout this journey, I am eagerly anticipating what He has for us next.
That is how crazy life has been lately.
Foster parenting sometimes feels like a whirlwind. Well, maybe more like a hurricane I think. Lots of crazy, followed by some calm, then a little more crazy before the calm comes back. It's like a roller coaster of hurricanes. Constantly. As soon as you adjust to a new normal something changes and you have to adjust all over again. Then, before you get fully adjusted something else happens and you start all over. It's hard. It's crazy. It's worth it.
In the two months since I last posted so much has happened.
We had court dates for both our girls. It's incredible how many parts and people are involved in each and every case. Caseworkers, foster parents, biological parents, kids, attorneys--for each party at that, supervisors, the list can go on.
Three weeks ago tomorrow we assisted our older foster daughter in her reunification with her biological father. It was such a sweet process. This dad worked so incredibly hard to get his baby back and we are SO happy for them. He has kept in touch with us and we have seen this sweet girl since she's been home. It's beautiful. To know that we played a small part in this family's story is such a privilege. We are hopeful to continue our relationship with them so that this baby feels all kinds of love her whole life.
Our now six month old foster daughter is also doing great. She is continuing with us and is thriving. She is one of the happiest babies I've ever known, and after her rough start it's a beautiful thing to see. Her laugh is beautiful. Her smile is infectious. The way she lights up when she sees us, and the dog, are just about the cutest things I've ever seen. She's started getting fussy and chewing on everything with LOADS of drool, so we are anticipating the first teeth very soon!!
About a week after the departure of our big girl we accepted a short term placement of a newborn baby boy. I quickly realized with the first diaper change that I had a lot to learn about boys!! Every time I opened that little stinkers diaper he peed. And more often than not he pooped, too. I think I changed his clothes almost every time I changed his diaper. It was amazing that he could pee and poop so much with the tiny amount he drank every bottle! That sweet little fella was with us for a week while his family worked on the things they needed to get settled, then he returned home to them.
This lifestyle is not for the faint at heart, that's for sure. It's also a life that I would choose all over again if given the opportunity. I never dreamed that I'd be thankful for the infertility that Drew and I have experienced, but here I am saying just that. If God hadn't led us down the path of infertility we probably wouldn't have reopened as a foster home. We would not have gotten to love on the three precious children who have been in our home over the last seven months. There have been many, many, sleepless nights. So many tears shed. Countless loads of laundry. And we would choose do it all over again in a heartbeat. God has been incredibly faithful throughout this journey, I am eagerly anticipating what He has for us next.
PS If you're reading this far down and would like to know a tangible way to help us in this journey just send us some formula. Baby girl can only tolerate Similac Sensitive so far and formula is dang expensive, y'all! ;)
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