5 Weeks and Counting

Well the past five weeks have been some of the most blessed and difficult of my life. I knew three kids was a lot but nothing can prepare you for how hard it really is.

We've been to the doctor several times, dealing with breathing treatments, ear infections and strep throat. I think we're finally getting everything under control.

The oldest throws several temper tantrums a day and does not listen. He is almost three so I'm not sure if that is being a foster kid or being a three year old!

The middle is the physically violent one. I have had hair pulled, been kicked, punched, slapped and pinched. It's definitely getting old - and almost exclusive to me. Both the boys have an appointment next week with a play therapist.

The baby is a sweetie. She doesn't sleep through the night, but her loving personality makes up for it.

Whew!

We're still getting used to being stared at out in public. After all, we are a bunch of white folk with three black kids :)

In the last two nights, the boys have asked that I come kiss them goodnight. This is significant because Greg is "Daddy" to them, but I am always "Brandi". The oldest called me Mommy twice but immediately corrected himself :) We are slowly creating a bond.

In the meanwhile I am working on finding a teaching job and will be graduating in less than 35 days. If you know me in real life, expect an evite to my graduation party!

Greg has put off his job search until the kids are returned to their parents.

Well I'm going to bed.... exhausted but happy!

Tired but happy!

The kids came last Monday afternoon. It was a little awkward but looking back everything went well. It has been tough but awesome. I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. The baby is a sweet thing, but I think she has a respiratory infection and I've already taken her to the doctor twice. The boys throw temper tantrums but nothing too outlandish (yet!).

Their parents are trying to get them back, or at least Mom is. She sends clothes and diapers every week.

It feels like they have been here much longer than they have.

I've been on Spring Break this week and basically got nothing accomplished for school. I did take my last certification test today and hope I passed. I was so tired I feel asleep three times while taking it :)

I'm pretty sure we won't be taking a placement of three again. Unless they are much older, and potty trained!

I'll try to write more later when I have time. Keeping up with the kids and the paperwork has us pretty tied up right now.

Stressed but blessed!

Two's Company, Three's a Crowd :)

Yes, three.

They should be here Monday afternoon: 5 months (girl), 1-1/2 and 2-1/2(boys).

I am freaking out a little.... but I am peaceful as well. Greg is a mountain of confidence. I never dreamed we would get so many young children - if any at all. They have been described as "a handful". I went to meet them Thursday evening and they are all adorable.

Unfortunately we will be their third home since coming into foster care in January.

I went to Wal-mart last night, but had no idea what to buy. I had asked my grandmother if I could have her crib if I ever needed it, but never seriously thought I would end up with an infant. Now I am just praying that three car seats will fit in my backseat!

Please pray for us... my biggest concern is not the children themselves, but taking care of three while trying to finish up my degree (May 17th ya'll!). Student teaching has been a challenge (a good one) and picking up three kids and taking them home does present an issue :) Fortunately I have a wonderful husband, sister, mother-in-law and countless friends to help.

Speaking of help, I already have about five car seats en route, a baby bath, pack-n-play and stroller. Woohoo! The kids also come with clothes, diapers, formula, etc. Their parents bring clothes, diapers and wipes for them when they see them each week.

I agreed to do respite this weekend for what I thought was an 18 mo. baby boy. It turns out that Arthur is actually 12 mo., but he has been so much fun. Such a happy baby!

I have to try to "CPS-ify" my house so I'll post more later.

About being on "The List"

I called our agency today to find out where we stood on "The List".

I still don't completely understand, but the girl I talked to said we were still up for the next call, but that placements are down (which is both a blessing and potentially scary). She also said that they get more calls for sibling groups of three and more, which we are not accepting.

Either way, my phone stays on vibrate in my pocket at all times! Fortunately I am staying busy student teaching so I am not "dwelling".

On a brighter note, it looks like my graduation date is May 16th. Party at my house! Woohoo!

I found this on my friend Rachel's blog. Read her story here.

The poem was written by Chris Malone, an adoptive dad who is about to travel.

I Wonder

I wonder...when it was 10 days before I met God and He adopted me, was HE this excited?

I wonder if His stomach did flips and He got tears in His eyes when He thought about holding me for the first time.

I wonder if His heart ached when He thought about my life without Him as my Daddy.

I wonder if it grieved Him to know that I was living as an orphan andhad no hope of a future without Him.

I wonder if He was as okay with paying my ransom as I am with paying our boys'.

I wonder if, for Him, there was no cost too high, no sacrifice too great.

I wonder...

We got a call today, but...

we weren't picked.


I happened to glance down at my phone during one of my classes, and saw a familiar phone number on the caller ID. I went out in the hall to check my voicemail, and it was our agency.
The message said they had a boy, almost 2, whose mother was surrendering him. The mother thought that the little boy, who is non-verbal, might be autistic, and can't meet his needs. The message also said that I needed to call back in 15 minutes.

I did, and accepted the placement. If only it were that easy :) At that point, the agency sends our information to CPS (along with every other agency in the area). 5 hours later, our agency called to say we had not be chosen. The little boy was in a county about an hour from us, and a family from his area had been choosen.

Talk about a roller coaster ride. I kept my phone on vibrate in my pocket all day, thinking about getting that call. I'm beginning to understand that the wait has only begun.

I was a little surprised at how emotional I was when we got the call. Another teacher in our school has adopted three children through foster care, so I went down to tell him the news and started to cry a little. Fortunately he understood. It just became so real.

And so we'll wait for the next call - and God's perfect timing.

We're Licensed!

It's official today. We go on the waiting list this week. Our social worker (who is also our case manager) said while there are several families ahead of us, we are the only family in our county willing to take such a wide array of age, race and gender.

I noticed while updating our adoption timeline that today is one year to date that I attended the first information meeting. I never would've believed it would take us this long to finish.

I will post again if anything changes!