Wow, it's been a while (long post)

A lot has happened since I last posted almost a year ago. Chris and I decided to become foster parents. Chris has always been willing to do whatever we need in order to have children in our home, I have always hesitated because I really want to have our children, but I finally just got so sick and tired if not having children in our home that I contact DCFS to get info on foster care.

It happened fast after we made the decision. We had classes that we had to go to and after we completed that process along with a homestudy and background check, we became licensed. They originally said that I could work and still be a foster mom but Chris and I felt strongly that I needed to be home. We discussed it one night and decided it was best and Chris wanted me to give my notice the next day. Wow, what a big step!!! I had worked at Deseret Mutual for almost 12 years!! It was a lot of pressure and a very large change for me. But I went in and worked up the courage and finally talked to my boss. It made it easy that he is a good friend of mine and is married to one of my best friends. We had talked about the possibility of me quitting, so he knew it was coming. Everyone was really supportive and it made it a little easier. I miss everyone terribly!!!

In November we got a call to take 3 kids. A 5 year old, 2.5 year old and a 6 month old. We were nervous, but figured we just needed to jump in. The baby was needing a daily visit with the mother to breast feed and after really thinking about it, we decided that was a lot of work with the daily visit so we told them we couldn't do it. They asked us to take the 5 and 2.5 year old and then we would get the 6 month old when the daily feedings were done. We told them we would do that but the day of court was just a few days away so they wanted us to wait until after court. The judge ended up ordering them back home which was a shock to all the case workers involved. But that is what judges can do!!

They called us the next day and presented another case of a 4 year old girl and a 3 week old boy. We said sure!! I was at the festival of trees with my in laws and at 5 pm they called and I hurried home. They beat me home by about 15 minutes. It was so crazy!!! They are way cute kids and the baby was sooooo little!! Me heart broke for the mother that her sweet new baby was taken from her. Granted it is her fault, I still felt sorry for her. It was a rough couple of days trying to get things figured out. The baby ended up having colic and reflux so he was and still is a lot of work. We only had the 4 year old for 6 days and then she went to her dad (different dad than the baby). I cried when she left, but I was a little relieved. She didn't take naps anymore and with the baby being up so much, if made it easier to focus on him and his needs. Many nights sitting in my closet on the floor crying with him laying in front of me screaming and knowing there is nothing I can do for him. It has been a rough ride, but he is so sweet and so cute that it makes it worth it.

He turned 3 months today and he is smiling and cooing and talking up a storm. He has been having weekly visits with his parents since the first part of January. He goes on Tuesday and Thursday from 2-5 and Saturday from 12-8. Chris and I feel that the parents really do love their children and they seem like good people, they have just made some mistakes which they are trying to correct. We had a meeting yesterday about doing a trial home placement. The general feeling is that he should go home. So in a few weeks we will be losing him, but it is best for him and his family if they are together. they also extended his visits so he will now go Tuesday and Thursday from 1-6 and an 8 hour visit on Saturday and Sunday. It is going to be so hard to give him back, but I just have to remember that we helped them when they needed it and now it is time for them to be together again.

So who knows what will come next. His caseworker really liked us and said she would send cases our way for sure. That's encouragIng when people feel that way about you.

So that's it in a nutshell!! I love being at home and being able to spend time with my sisters and mom. It has been everything I always dreamed it would be. I just hope eventually we can keep some of these precious kids we get in our home. I hope to keep this up to date a little better, but only time will tell!! Baby is crying, duty calls!!! See ya!!