New Placement

I know, I know, you have to learn to say no.

DSS called me asking if we could take a 6 year old boy, they had several kids that they were trying to take placement of and sounded kind of desperate. I asked my husband and he said go ahead and accept him, we can put him in Anthony's room.

We start discussing moving a bed and they call back. They have his 10 year old brother there as well and it is expected to be just a few weeks as an aunt has already passed the background check. We decided that we would actually move little man in with Anthony and let the two boys stay in that bedroom together.

The boys arrived with nothing, not even a toothbrush. We find out that they had been in a foster placement for 10 days and when they went to pick them up for a visit the foster parents said not to bring them back. They had given no warning, told the worker that they were going to the beach and didn't want to take them. They also had their sister. Their sister went to the home where their other sister was placed.

Obviously something was going on. I don't know if they were overwhelmed or what but the fact that the boys came in the clothing that they went into care with is just not right. We haven't been taking the older boys so I was not prepared at all. I had to go out and buy underwear, swimming suits, clothing, toothbrushes and such. I realized too late that I forgot pajamas so they made do with big t-shirts and shorts.

They have been acclimating well, went swimming and out for sno cones today. The 10 year old came up to me and said that he wished his sister was here, he said she would have fun. It has to be hard to not know where your siblings went and to wonder if they are doing well.

Thanks to a group I am on on facebook I have been able to find the foster mom who has the girls. We are hoping that the kids go to their aunt quickly but if not we plan on meeting up every other week, opposite of their visitations. Neither of us is in a position to take the other two, we both have 8 kids under 18 in the home! I really wish that I had just one more bedroom in our home. Not so we could take more kids, so we wouldn't have to shuffle around to place kids where they would do best.

In other news, Miguel did not get to come home today. They want to observe him one more night and they are expected to come home tomorrow afternoon.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I am cleaning my garage between parenting duties.

What a Day!

It has been quite a day here. Joselin and I took baby Miguel to the doctors. He had a temperature of 97 when they first checked him. They wanted us to bundle him and see if his temperature went up. Nope, it went to 96. Once more we bundled and snuggled and his temperature went down to 95. At that point he was sent to the hospital.

Our appointment time was 8:30 and when we made I thought that I would have plenty of time to make it home by 11 am to meet with my moms social worker. I was wrong. I stayed long enough to make sure Joselin and Miguel were settled so didn't make it home in time to talk with the worker, luckily my husband was off and filled in for me.

Joselin and Miguel have been at the hospital all day and are supposed to come home tomorrow morning. Apparently his blood work came back fine and his temperature has come back up to normal. According to Joselin she was told that something was low and he needs to be double bundled to keep his temperature up. This is new but I assume he is having problems regulating his temperature.

I have been spending so much time away from home that Benjamin is acting up and everyone swears that the baby is now having 2 year old tantrums. The house just doesn't run the same without momma home.

Vaida was over so the kids did some water coloring. It is nice to have a big stash of craft supplies to pull from.

Benjamin's art

Benjamin holding Vaida's masterpiece.

I love it, same paint totally different results.

I made a few short trips to the hospital to check up on Joselin and take her items that she needed. We weren't anticipating that she would end up in the hospital all day. I also made a milk run, a lunch with husband and Benjamin run and then later a pizza run and Walmart run. I feel like I spent very little time actually home today although I really tried!

We also accepted placement of two foster kids. I know, so much for saying no. I just couldn't keep doing it! They need to stop calling! Supposed to be a short term placement as background checks have already cleared. I will talk about it tomorrow, I am very tired and am heading to bed.

Nite

Feels like Saturday

The day felt like Saturday all day. I started my day taking Miguel to the doctors. He has another appointment tomorrow morning. I think that he wants to keep an eye on his coloring.

My husband took today off so we went to go see The Incredibles. The kids all enjoyed it. Benjamin isn't a big TV watcher but does great at the movies. Maybe it is the popcorn.

Larissa starts her modeling classes next weekend and needed some black pump shoes for runway walking. I took her to Belk's where she had an elderly black lady come up to her and tell her that she was beautiful and should be a model. I could see the surprised look on Larissa's face. She later told me that she is not used to people saying positive things to her so it always surprises her. Just a few words but they meant a lot to her. It is amazing how a few kind words can really lift someone up. We should be doing that more often instead of tearing each other down.

I haven't gone to the grocery store in two days and noticed that I have an emergency, only half a gallon of milk. I will have to stop off at the store after Miguel's doctor appointment in the morning. Normally I would take late night runs to Walmart. However, I am just too tired. I probably need to pick something up to cook for dinner too. I am so tired of cooking. I feel like I cook the same stuff over and over. I need to find some simple, cheap, quick recipes but I just don't make the time. Anyone else feel like you get in a cooking rut? I find that when I do that we tend to eat out too much. That isn't really a healthy choice and it is breaking my budget. 

Send me your simple recipes, we will test them out!

Home

Joselin and Miguel got to come home today. They both are looking real good and Miguel has his first doctor appointment tomorrow at 8 am.

This is the only picture I have taken of him with his eyes open. Yes, I took about 15 pictures to capture him. I don't think he was happy with me.

I think that we are all exhausted. I tried to spend as much time as possible at the hospital. I had some concerns. On the first day I recognized that Joselin didn't always understand what was being said to her. I thought maybe it was the medications she was given for the C-section. However, I noticed the same the next day as did a friend of mine who sat with her for a bit for me.

I had not noticed this before. I assume that it was the setting. Maybe the medication and the stress. I am not sure but it concerned me.

Now we settle into a new normal!

Yesterday

I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep really early! I spent the entire day before at the hospital and then a majority of yesterday at the hospital and getting ready for the baby and Joselin to come home.

Benjamin helped carry our the car seat.

I actually left the hospital early as she had a bunch of friends coming and the family wanted fed. We went out, it wasn't cooking or shopping.

Around midnight I got a call from DSS, wanted to know if we would take a 12 year old boy. I said that I have girls ages 11, 12 and 12 and I can not take in 12 year old boys. Yes, they will call you outside of your designated ages. I have had to learn how to say no!

Today I head to the hospital to wait for them to be discharged. More later. I have lots of thoughts and concerns at this time.

Meet Miguel

Joselin and I headed to the hospital this morning for her scheduled C-section.

The procedure went well and even on schedule. We did learn that there was a reason why Joselin had a breech baby and it had to do with the shape of her uterus. Any other pregnancies she has will be breech. 

This is my first baby where I was able to cut the umbilical cord.

I felt that I was very blessed to be able to be with Joselin during this time. 

As small as Joselin is I thought that baby would be small. He weighed in at 7 lb 3 oz and 19 3/4 inches. He is bigger than any of my babies!

Just perfect with a stock of dark black hair.

Baby overload pictures ahead.........

Baby Shower

We started our day at church and spent our evening celebrating baby Ava.  Kassi had her baby shower today and it was a great party.

 Benjamin showing how pregnant women walk. He is surrounded by pregnant women!

One of Kassi's friends made the cake, it was super cute and very tasty too!

I have a painting planned for Ava but haven't found the time to do it. I seem to be getting behind on projects. OK, I am always behind on projects but at least she isn't due for another 8 weeks or so.