Finally Something!

We start our classes next Tuesday!!! I talked to our licensing specialist and told her that we would have at least 2 spots available for foster children and she was thrilled! She is so encouraging, just what I need. I keep thinking we could have a baby by October, but I am probably getting too excited and stuff. So to be more realistic, we probably won't get a placement until closer to December. Hmmm, I tried it, I don't believe it, I can't be realistic. I think we will have a placement in October, it's just a gut feeling. If it doesn't happen, then I have proof that my 'gut feeling' is flawed!!

Don't know about our background check, they sent it off today. I'm not worried about that though.

Another thought, what if the homestudy is dragged out, we may not be licensed by September....bummer. Guess I should prepare for delays...

Vacations

We have 2 vacations planned so far this year. One in MO, in August (right in the middle of training). And Disney in October. I am soooo excited about Disney, not that we haven't been a zillion times, but our youngest was only 4 years the last time we were there. He will be able to experience it all over again. Our favorite park is Universals Island's of Adventure, I cannot wait for that park!! Also my family is going with us, so it is a mini reunion also. I wonder if we will have another child to share Disney with. The time frame is so close to us finishing up our classes, I don't know if we will be licensed by early October. I would think we would, but unforeseen slow downs is what I'm thinking is going to throw our plans off course. Oh well, it would be great to have a little toddler to take with us.

I did tell a few of my family members that we were becoming licensed to foster, I figure the select few can spread the word. I don't know about foster daddy's fam, I guess he will have to tell them. Or one of the kids will spill the beans...

Background Checks Not Done Yet...

Soooo the person who runs the background checks has been out of commission. Our checks will be run next week. Not a big deal, since we don't start classes until next month BUT frustration at the slowness of the way things happen is a deal to me. I am just thinking ahead and wondering if other things are going to be slow, like our homestudy? I guess we will see.

I'm getting so excited, I want to start changing the guest room, but I don't know what I need? The room is big, so we could fit 2 twin beds, and 2 chests, and 2 nightstands. We will probably need a crib, I may be able to squeeze one in there with the twin beds. What if we need 2 cribs??? Wow, that would be awesome! We have a brand new queen set (bed, chest, nightstand, and mattress) in the guest room, maybe we will sell it...
We could put 2 cribs and one twin in the foster baby room. I can't believe we could have 2 babies under the age of 3 at once, I'm so excited!

The Past Always Comes Back

Our childhood has haunted us throughout our parenting. I am happy to say that we have worked through most of our issues and have come out stronger as parents and as individuals. However, the ghosts of the past do sneak up and try to throw us off track. It's hard to know what is healthy when you don't know what healthy is. Fortunately for us, we have made our decisions based on 1. common sense, and 2. with respect for everyone involved. When we had babies and toddlers, it seems like second nature for parenting. We were very attentive and loving. We had very little support for our young family. We were pretty much alone is raising our kids. Now, our kids are bigger and show disrespect, fight, and, seem unhappy about everything. I'm sure it's normal, but it's the ghosts of the past creep up and remind me of dysfunction within my own childhood family. On the flip side, our kids are funny, loving, and free spirited. They are close to each other, and spend lots of time together. I hope by the time we get through these teen and tween years, we will be more confident in our parenting. I'm sure we will. I have learned to reach out for help when I need it, and I can admit when I don't know what to do. Your kids don't get a certain age and then it's easier, your parenting skills have to change with them. I now fully embrace that parenting is hard work. It's wonderful, but at times can be overwhelming. We put a lot of energy and time into our kids. Maybe that is why I am so sensitive to their struggles. It's strange how when you start a family, your childhood plays out in front of you...

Telling Our Families

We haven't told our families that we are going to be foster parents. Talk about drama! I have talked to one other person who is holding out telling her family also. It's because of the negative stereotyping of foster children and foster parenting. Both of our families will think we are crazy. I really just don't want to hear it. I ran adoption options by a few close family members and they did their best to talk me out of it! I know they are thinking what is best for us, but I don't understand why adoption or fostering is so negative. Why can't it be a positive option. They tell me I'm just wanting that last baby and it's normal. Well, I would agree with them if I was 50 years old, but I'm 33. (By the way, I think a woman has the right to parent at any age). Does that make me too old to want a child? That is crazy. Now the question is: When do we tell them? 1. Now (I'm not a fan of that one), 2. After our training (early Sept.), or 3. When we get our first placement (Oct or later). I'm voting for #3!! : )
Any Suggestions?

The Training Classes

I had a great idea. The training lady could use our house and train all the parents who are ready. They can bring their kids (child care can be a issue for parents), and we can start earlier. I was going to email our agency lady but Foster Daddy said I sounded too desperate!!! I couldn't believe he said that~ : )
My reasons for wanting to have the training here and now is: 1.It's summer, better than late nights of training during school. 2. I can accommodate the other parents and their children, so no childcare problems. 3. Convenience, we have to drive a really long way for training. 4. The biggest reason is the school thing, I really don't want to be gone 2 nights a week (late), 5. Child care (for us).
Those are my reasons for wanting the training to be held at our house, I'm not desperate, I just don't want to be stressed on the nights of training. I probably won't ask our agency lady, because I don't want her to think I'm crazy... we will just deal with it and get through it.

Background paperwork: Check

Yes, she came yesterday and picked up our paperwork for the background check. It takes 3-4 days to come back. But it doesn't matter because the next step is the classes, which start August 5th. I really wanted our homestudy to start (so we can get that over with) but they will do that in August. Soooo, we wait again- which I guess can be seen as a short break before our lives will change. I also was thinking, how nice it would be if the trainer would come to OUR house and give us the classes at home! If she did that, they maybe there would be more foster parents licensed sooner...Wishful thinking.
I can't believe how excited I am about the prospect of having a little baby around! I so need to get a grip, but I can't!! Then I start thinking about all the baby stuff, and the bottles are what is crazy to me. I did very few bottles (all my babies were nursed), so the washing and sterilizing and mixing is going to be crazy!! My agency lady said they just placed a 3 day old infant, and she thought about us. I'm happy she is thinking about us!
In the meantime, we will figure out what to do with our guest room because now it's going to be the baby room.
Another thing we are thinking about are the spaces we have available for children. We are thinking we can accommodate two children max. So one spot can be for foster only (under 5) and that spot may rotate children as needed. Then the other spot could be for a child who we want to adopt? We can try to plan it that way but, from what I understand, I doubt it will go as planned. The permanent child may end up not being permanent and the foster only child may become adoptable!!

Waiting for Wednesday

I can't wait for tomorrow! The agency lady will be here to pick up our background check paperwork...Then the homestudy--I think!! At least I will get to ask her what is next. Our child classes start in August. We are going on vaca in August and in Sept, right in the middle of classes! But the good news is that our agency will 'catch' us up. Much better than the county, they were going to make us wait until the next round of classes to catch up (November) Yikes! The other news is that we are going to Disney in October and we would love to have a placement to take with us! I guess we will see, if we end up with an infant it may be crazy!! We may not have one by then either. I probably need to plan on hitting a snag somewhere. The boys are super excited, and they all want a child their age : ) They are sweeties, especially with babies. I think it's so great to give them this opportunity of loving others. They are great about helping out, as much as boys can be that is {smile}!

Paperwork!

Some time through the weekend, background check paperwork was dropped off!! We don't know when, we just found it by the door yesterday (Sunday). The agency lady will pick up the background check paperwork on Wednesday (this week). I don't know how long it will take to get it back, I would think just a few hours with today's technology...
I was surprised to see how little paperwork we got so far, I really just want to fill it all out and get it over with. I guess one step at a time. I'm sure they do it like this in case we have a dark past, it will show up and the agency hasn't lost too much on their prospective foster parents. I'm just ready to get the homestudy over with!!! I'm going to need pointers on babyproofing : ) It has been a LONG time, I hope I haven't lost my baby touch!! I will need all the locks, but those didn't work well with my kids...so maybe my cleaners just need a new home? We have 3 sets of stairs, so will we need 3 or more baby gates? One at the top and one at the bottom of each stairs? These are just some of the questions I have!

The Fourth of July!!!

Happy 4th!! I love the fourth. When the kids were little, we always dressed them in red, white, and blue. We celebrated with picnics and fireworks. Now the boys are bigger, and while they will get into the spirit, they resist my clothing choices for them. We still love our 4th of July celebration of: Picnic, grill out, eat watermelon, and enjoy the fireworks. I can give up dressing them up, I guess : )
It's just a bummer it's rainy today, it better clear up by this evening : )

Still no paperwork

Our coordinator called and she is very sorry, I understand, life happens. Really, I am so in 'la la land' most of the time that I cannot get too upset for the delay. But still no paperwork, I hope it comes in the mail today...

Delay...

So I am waiting for our paperwork to be hand delivered, kinda strange. Well, the lady apparently called in sick, so I have been waiting for nothing!! Uggh! I left her a message and asked her to drop the paperwork in the mail for us, so I guess we will see...another delay...