Stress

I assume you realize that when I disappear it isn't because I have nothing going on, it is at that time that I am the most stressed! This last week was crazy stressful. Naturally it coincided with my husband going out of town. After all, isn't that when everything breaks down.

First I guess I should say that we received placement of a 10 day old baby boy. Challenges with that are that we have no information on him, no medicaid, no WIC cards. This is a challenge when they have thrush. His worker did come and take him to the doctor to get some medications for it. Too bad she didn't bother to stop and get the meds because on my first attempt to pick it up it wasn't there. This made me wonder if I had the wrong name or birthdate. Second day I did successfully get his medication but since I had no medicaid card I had the privilege of paying for it. They speak of reimbursement but I wouldn't plan on that, I am still waiting on the placement check for the boy I got the first of July.

Anyone with a baby with thrush? It doesn't seem to be clearing up. He has been on the medication for several days now and it looks the same to me. Perhaps it isn't because instead of drinking less than 2 oz every two hours he will now drink 3 oz every 2 to 3 hours.

Little man was suppose to have a court date next week to change to concurrent reunification and TPR, the judge cancelled it (no, I am not happy with that as I was hoping things would start to move along) Court coming close meant that his worker realized that he was supposed to have DNA testing. I got to take him to that and we had an appointment. An accident and traffic caused by that meant that we got their late which meant that we went into waiting list mode. We waited about an hour and then suddenly right before noon they cleared the place out. Then he was teething, then got a runny nose then a fever. I knew that meant ear infection. It was after 5 when he came down with the fever so I rushed him to urgent care before they closed and yes he did have an infection and is currently on medication. But as usual with him, that means he also wants held all the time or he is fussing.

Our older boy we received in July I shall call Mario. I have been struggling with his school placement. His teacher and I agreed that he needed help, lots of help. The records from the other school didn't show any testing or interventions. I felt that something was missing. I requested testing. The school scheduled a meeting three weeks out so that they could collect data. I said that was unacceptable as he couldn't wait that long. He was crying over homework every night. They scheduled a new meeting for next week then called while I was at Labcorp, he has an IEP and is in a self contained classroom. Our principal had to call the school and dig up more information. You would think that they would have sent this tidbit of information when records were requested! This means Monday he goes to a different school. This led to more phone calls as I tried to set up transportation. I can not take him with three kids 4 and under in the house, I would go crazy. Finally on Saturday I talked to his bus driver and we have everything set up.

He also had a visit this week. It didn't go well, his mom pretty much ignored him. His GAL talked to me and said that he doesn't talk much (he doesn't) but that he did make it clear to her that he didn't want to go back home and he wants to stay at our house. He told a friend of mine the same thing this last weekend. I don't know what to think about that as normally kids want to go back home. They really need to have family counseling but as the mom is fighting placement they haven't even got a plan yet. Court might be in October.

Between homeschooling, social worker visits (we now have three different social workers and three GALs), licensing worker visit, dance, doctor appointments, sick kids, school issues, taking care of my mom, training class for foster parents and even feeding everyone it was a stressful week. There was one day, Tuesday where I actually felt that it was an unhealthy level of stress. I deal with stress very well so when I feel that it is feeling unhealthy that The stress level is bad! I fielded so many phone calls last week between the house phone and my cell phone that I seriously contemplated cancelling the house phone, there were times that both were ringing!

I took the time to paint one rock, one. I needed to. 

I also needed this........

How was your week?