Supplies

We got WIC!

Funny, when I first started doing foster care I was so embarrassed to use the WIC vouchers at the store. I find that now I don't care what others think. Is it an old age thing where you stop worrying what others think about you so much?
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I was glad to get those vouchers. With the cost of equipment, clothing, shoes, and formula we were way beyond the $300 and change that DSS pays us a month. I won't say how much because my husband reads my blog and I don't want to be responsible for his heart failure.
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Now I just need to determine where to store the stuff! We haven't found a good place for bottles and sippy cups, they sit on the countertop. Little toys, bottles, cups, shoes, diapers, wipes and baby equipment have invaded our home. In a few weeks it could just as quickly all be gone out to the garage to wait on the next child, who may need totally different equipment and supplies.
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I went to Larissa's IEP today. We actually had a good meeting. Larissa will be going to 4K in the morning and special ed in the afternoon. However, I will be picking her up a little early. She will also be attending her speech class in the afternoon with the 4K kids. The biggest deciding factor for me was Larissa, she really enjoys the interactions in the "second class" as she calls it.
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I have concerns about her going all day because of her uncontrolled seizures, she is frequently tired. I hope that the doctors can get it under control soon. She sees her neurologist on Monday, I believe he will be making a change in her meds.
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The psychologist in this meeting is also over Anthony's school. I asked her why I hadn't heard about a meeting for her and she said that they hadn't gotten all the paperwork from Texas. I guess that gives me a new project to work on. I really need to talk with his teacher to see how he is doing. he has gotten yellow two days in a row now. Is it his behavior is changing or is she less lenient now that school has been in for a while.
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Well, guess I'd better go. I think I will go and look for those evaluations that they are missing for Anthony, I keep copies of everything.

Busy Day

Aren't these quilts beautiful? They are made by a group of quilters in our county. They make quilts for foster children and veterans. Last Tuesday our two new foster kids received their quilts at the foster care association meeting.

They asked if families could show up today at the quilters meeting. They really wanted to see the kids who have received their quilts. We took Larissa and our two new foster babies. The local newspaper was there and took pictures of our group (no foster kids pictures).
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Wow, when I look at this picture and realize how tall Larissa is (she is slouching too!). She turns 5 on Friday, I wonder how old she will be when she gets taller then me.

As we were walking away my SW mentioned to me that she wondered if the kids bio parents would see the picture. Honestly, I doubt it. But I told the SW that I really wasn't concerned. If their biomom came up and asked to see the kids I wouldn't be against meeting at the McDonald's playplace. I have no problem with sharing pictures and letting them know how well the children are doing. The bios are a part of the children, someone who the children will always be curious about. I don't ever want them to feel that they can't talk about their biological family with me.
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After the morning meeting we went over to the DSS office where I told them that I must have a copy of the kids medicaid cards or something because I needed to take Kiwi to the doctors. The area where they told me she had ant bites was getting more infected spots. I know that she didn't get more ant bites. I have been asking for doctor and Medicaid information since day one, especially when I saw her 5 little infected spots. The 5 spots have cleared up but now she has more.

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I finally got their medicaid numbers and went in search of their doctor. I went to three different offices before I found their doctor. Their mom has not been willing to give the information. Imagine the reception when you walk into a doctors office and ask if your kids are seen there. I was able to get an appointment for 3:45.

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I left for class at 3:30 so John got to take Kiwi to the doctors. He says that he got a cool reception. The doctor was very short with him, as though he stole her. He asked John how she ended up in our home.

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He is treating her for MRSA but didn't test for it. Nice to know. Wonder if anyone in the house will get it. One of the many perils of foster care.

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After class I went to the library for a little research for a big paper in one of my classes. I stayed up late last night studying as well. I feel more caught up today. Sometimes I wonder what I got myself into!

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Nice end to my day. I walked into the house and it smelled of peanut butter cookies baking in the oven. Also, nice fresh rice krispie treats were sitting on the countertop. Mmmmm....Sarah was in a baking mood.

United Way

Our local United Way was having a September 11th fundraising event. They support our local foster care association so we decided to go.

The kids had fun and plenty of exercise. It is amazing how much work is involved in playing with all those inflatable slides and bouncers.

Larissa spotted the climbing wall and wanted to do it. For some reason Anthony did not want to try it.

Why does she seem so big to me?

She did really well (actually better then we expected). She was not happy because she didn't make it all the way, we were delighted that she even tried.

I did get up early this morning and hit up some garage sales. Naturally I did not find the high chair that I wanted but I did find plenty of other things to buy.....mostly baby stuff.

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I did however, find this attachment for a chair. It had all the straps and we have plenty of extra chairs sitting around so I bought it. I think it will solve my high chair problem......and it only cost $1. Works for me.

Last night I drove to a town about 45 minutes away to buy a Craigslist item. I had been looking for Larissa a specific birthday gift item and couldn't find it locally. I finally had to resort to a used item, the one I bought looks brand new! Another score. She turns 5 on Friday. I think this year I will make her a Barbie cake. So, I need to go buy a Barbie this week and the cake mix.

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Well, the baby is up so I am off to enjoy the rest of my day.

Typical

Budget cuts! I really don't like those words.
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My foster kids will not be going home next Friday. Due to budget cuts they have taken away DSS's court date next Friday. So their court date will be on October 8th. In my kids case I don't think that the extra time will be enough for the SW to build a case. Things are stacked against her, but she is taking the extra time to work on it.
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This is so typical. When we had Anthony and Larissa as our foster children the system was constantly cancelling court dates or extending them. The court system is the main reason why they were our foster children for almost three years. The laws can say all they want about time frames, the court system breaks them all the time.
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I find it interesting that most people want to blame the SW'ers for kids going home to bad situations. I have found that here in my county it is not the case. Many times the SW has gone to court stating the reunification is not in the best interest of the child only to have the judge send them home. The SW works the case but they are not the final decision makers.
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About a year ago, in our county, a judge sent some kids home against the recommendation of the SW. A short time later one of those kids was dead. It happens and I think that too many folks are quick to blame the SW. However, the SW can only be blamed if they did not do their job and investigate their case well.
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So, we will have the little ones a little longer. We will enjoy them and love on them while they are here. Today I spent a long time taking out Kiwi's beads (actually I worked off and on most of the day). I am not sure how long they had been in her hair but I do know that her hair is in terrible shape. I didn't realize it with all the beads. As I was removing the braids there were patches of hair falling out. I put her hair in a simple style to give it time to rest.
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I also need to get the kids in to see a doctor. I still don't have any proof of Medicaid coverage or any medical records. Monday I will head to the health department to see if they happen to have their shot records. The baby is due for 6 month shots and I don't know if she had them or not before coming into care. I really don't like doing the shot thing!
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Larissa went to school today. I told her teacher that I would keep her in school until the IEP on Tuesday. They sent her to the 4K program for part of her day. She really enjoyed it there. Sneaky of them if you ask me!
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Well, I plan on hitting up the garage sales in the morning so I should get off this computer and to bed/read. I really need a high chair and see them all the time when I am not looking for one. Naturally, I expect I won't see a single one now that I am looking. The hunt is half the fun.

The Rock

Sometimes life is scary. Sometimes those waves look mighty big.

A lot of times I have the power to make things seem not so scary.

It gives me great joy to be my kids rock.

I wish that life was so simple, that I was able to always be that rock, that safe place.

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I wish that I knew what decisions to make sometimes, that someone would give me a rule book.

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I am struggling.

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I don't know what direction to go with Larissa.

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When I talked about removing her from the program she is in, her teacher told me she wants to put her in a full day program with half of the day being in 4K. I think that Larissa would enjoy 4K. However, I don't think that she could do a full day right now. Her seizures are not under control. She sleeps, she seizes. I really think that it is affecting her sleep. If she sits still during the day she falls asleep. How can she do a full day that way?

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Why won't they just put her in the half day 4K next to our house? If she went to the full day where she is going right now then the bus wouldn't get her home until around 5 pm! I couldn't pick her up because Anthony goes to the local school and gets out at the same time.

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I will go to the IEP appointment on Tuesday, unless I hear something new, I think I have made my decision.

What a Mess

Guess what? My house is trashed. There are toys from one end of the house to the other.
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So what do I do about it? I get the kids to bed and then I read for my class tomorrow night. Then I get on my computer and decide to do a post.
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Dang, my house is still trashed. Anyone want to come over and help pick up toys, clothing, shoes, papers, crayons, etc? I am eyeballing Sarah but she is doing that dreaded algebra homework, I don't want to interrupt her or she might ask for my help.
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How quickly I had forgotten about baby equipment. Why is that when they are so little they require the most equipment? Even their toys seem bigger.
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I guess I could put the bumbo seat away since the babies thighs are too big to sit in it. Hmmmm, well that is about it. We use everything else.
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As a matter of fact I could use a high chair. I bought so much necessary equipment when they came that it broke the bank. I will get partially reimbursed, $100/kid (someday). That reimbursement is to buy initial clothing, shoes, diapers, formula....well, you get the picture. It doesn't cover equipment. I will hit up the garage sales on Saturday to see if I can find a high chair. I worry that I will get all this equipment and then never get another baby!
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When going to those garage sales I think I will also look for some inexpensive luggage or bags. Their possessions (all three Walmart bags full) are still sitting in their bags. When we send them home or to another foster home we are supposed to also send the $100 worth of clothing. I refuse to send it in Walmart bags. It just doesn't seem right. I assume that they will leave on Friday so I don't have much time to find one.
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In other kid news, Larissa stayed home today. We have decided to keep her home, pull her out of the program. I need to let the school know that fact. I know, here I am studying to be a special education teacher and I am pulling my child out of a special education program. It is just not a right fit. The program is only 3 hours long but the school is not close. We have had nothing but transportation issues from the start. But, it is not just transportation. I really wanted her in a 4K program. The class she is in is just not really what she needs and for the first time Larissa is complaining every day that she goes.
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I feel that I can meet her needs. I feel better prepared myself to deal with the selective mutism. Obviously the school does not know how to deal with it since that statement was made that she just chooses not to talk. I think that statement has just stuck in my mind, I can't get past it. Maybe it has had an impact on my decision to pull her.
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This parenting thing is hard. I just hope that I am not damaging any of my kids! Maybe they will all just end up just a touch insane like me, I can live with that.

Well, guess I better go pick up some "stuff". I might even hang some pictures in John's office. We bought him a couch off of Craigslist so I can go and visit him in his man cave.

Have a great night.

WIC

WIC is a really good program. It provides the basics for children and pregnant women who need it. Foster children are eligible for WIC. So, I head to the WIC office this morning. Actually, John, the babies and I headed to the WIC office this morning.
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This is all a new experience for John, he normally misses out on this fun. We get there and talk to the receptionist. She tells us to go get a number and wait. After about an hour the lady helping the WIC customers tells us that we should call and make an appointment since she is the only one working. Naturally she waited a full hour to tell us this.
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So, we get the kids loaded in the car and call for an appointment. Uh, we get an appointment for about 45 minutes later! So we decide to run home and grab the double stroller and more food supplies since this is turning into a long ordeal.
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We get back to the WIC office to wait. Finally, we get waited on and naturally she determines that the babies mom has vouchers and so she can't do anything for us. Our SW had told us that they were not on WIC. Bottom line, we have to get the vouchers from the mom. Yea right, that isn't going to happen.
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So, time spent to get nothing.....about 3 hours.
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We still need formula so we stop at Walmart for formula and diapers for two. Good thing we get a subsidy of about $300/month. Are we having fun yet?
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We learned later this afternoon that the kids will probably go home next Friday. Not a good situation but I can't really talk about it. Take my word for it, it is really stupid! If I would have known that this morning then I wouldn't have bothered with WIC for such a short period of time.
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So, we will love on the babies and enjoy them until next Friday. I just have to remember that we do this for the kids, but some days it really sucks and I really question those in charge. A lot of this process is beyond my control and all I can really worry about is what I can control. (Some days that is easier said then done!)