therapy

(Poor kid's neck is so large I don't dare snap the top snap on his outfit!)


Our foster son has physical therapy once a week. Because he was drug exposed his body was really stiff and so milestones that come naturally to most babies are slow for him. Our loving therapist Jill started just by moving his arms. Soon he was reaching out for the toys around him. Then she rolled him back and forth so his body could feel what rolling should feel like. Each time she puts toys around him, above him, in front of him and then makes the lights and sounds flash to encourage him to reach out. Sitting, tummy time, standing are all part of the 'work' he does each week. She runs a tight ship! At times he tolerates all the moving and working, but towards the end he is just down right cranky.

"To much movement, to much stretching! I want to be left alone." He seems to say.

And I reflect on how something so easy for so many is so challenging for him. I saw a program on therapy for returning vets, especially those with head trauma. They had to relearn to do such simple things like eat, tie their shoes and eventually grocery shop (OK that last one can be tricky, but you get the idea). Men and woman who once commanded soldiers into battle now start over again in humble baby steps. I also think about my Brother and Sister-In-Law who are relearning to enjoy life after their daughter died, and another family member who is learning to trust God and try His plan for them.
Keep working guys! Rolling over may be hard but the toys are worth it.

yeah!

Do you remember the feeling you got when you got your drivers license? I remember a little fluttering feeling deep down, an excitement with the knowledge that I could go ANYWHERE and do ANYTHING. Well, almost. But it was so exhilarating and free. The whole world was open to me.
Fast forward 20 years
My oldest son turned 12 this month and is a very capable babysitter. He loves the responsibility and is very diplomatic with his siblings when he's in charge. The other night, on what should have been my husband and my date night,my husband got called in to the Police Station for some PR work with the Town Council. He called me to join him. Since half the children were in bed asleep and my very capable 12 yr old was more than willing to stay up and babysit, I went.
Maybe it was because of the early 90's tune playing on the radio or the fact that I was in the car by myself. But I suddenly had that little fluttering feeling again. I had the freedom to go anywhere and do anything, almost. I was so excited with the possibilities opening up to me, I could hardly contain myself! So, there is light at the end of that long, noisy, sometimes very messy tunnel, and I'm here to tell you... it's exciting to see again.

Adam

You've waited toooo long to meet this cute little guy! Adam is now 5 months old and has been in our hearts for 3 months now. He has a great smile, but usually just has this eyes wide open look, like "who are you?" (Why do kids always look at us that way? Are we really that crazy looking?)
He has a therapist who comes once a week to help him work through stiff muscle tone and help him to catch up developmentally. He may have a long journey ahead of him, but for as long as we have him, we're working together to enjoy him and help him enjoy life!

Good bye Anaune!

We said good bye to Anaune on Friday. He went to a new foster home that was supposed to have room for he and his sister. And then his sister's foster home had an opening and now he'll go with her. Good, bad, glad and sad. This was a hard placement for us and a difficult experience as we saw the full dis-functionality of the Foster Care system. He is such a cool kid, with a fun personality. Where ever he actually is, we hope the best for him. I wish we could have kept him, but it wouldn't have worked out with Mackay so well. Mackay had a hard time sharing his room, cloths, toys and mom. I feel like I am slowly learning the system and I ask my self,"Do I really want to know all this, see all this and feel all that goes with it?"
The thought that came to my mind was this. Do not let the heartache distract you from what you set out to do.
And so we have a new child with us. Pictures will come soon, once I get used to night feedings again!

Naune

Naune is as cute as a button! We are loving his presence in our home and are adjusting to all the changes. From the beginning he just started playing with everyone and I hear the small whisper that says my family's current stage is just right for foster children. He called me Mom right away and has a large vocabulary (including some not so great words). It was only around day three when he wept in his sleep for mommy, that we saw signs of his home sickness. Other things started popping up later as well and we have managed them as they came. My least favorite words of his are 'I don't care' which he heard entirely to often, I believe and I always respond with 'Well, I care!"
After a week he learned to fold his arms and be quiet during family prayer. Taking him to our church was exciting, and I really appreciate people who come up and ask about him as opposed to the confused stares. I'm still waiting to use the line "I don't know who his father was!" but I doubt I'll get to.
I'm not sure that he's ever swam before and so we try to often. Boy do we really stick out at the pool! Naune and my white/blonde son swimming with me are quite a salt and pepper pair. We are still learning so much and enjoying everyday of this. But Naune is such a cool kid, it's hard not to like the experience.

ready...set...

Do you believe in a loving Heavenly Father who guides and watches over your life? I do. And so I trust he will help me and send the right child to our family.
We have our name on the list for another Foster Child. And we have received four calls already. Each time we are given a little information on the child, and asked 'will we be willing'. As a couple, my husband and I have agreed to say yes to any request and trust that the right one will come to our home. The Lord knows what child will teach us the most, without putting stress in our relationships with our children and causing harm to their growth. So with each call, I think about the child, what it's been through, what it will need right away and what I can do to ease the trauma of leaving it's previous situation. Now that we've had Ashley, we feel for the other side of the situation and what the child may feel after being severed from it's previous family.
So far we have not been called back,( not uncommon) and so we wait.
The hard part (ya, I know; only one hard part?) is not being able to plan ahead. Today is a crazy day. Saturday would have been perfect. But please not on Thursday morning. No I can't say when we are best able to take the child. They come when they come. That's really how it is anyway.
Wish us expecting parents luck. Maybe our new bundle of joy will come today!



Update: We are expecting a two year old boy any minute now. Removed because of neglect. He has a 3 yr old sister who is also placed in care. We don't have enough seat belts for both of them currently. I admit I am terrified. A two yr old boy, terrible twos, missing sis and mom? What are we thinking? Oh yeah-the Lords with us on this.

Good bye

A few of our favorite pictures:

A Rezean to Love


Ashley went home to her Grandparents this week and we are left to say goodbye. We have so many emotions swirling around, it is hard to categorize all of this grief. But as we sat in a circle and talked with our kids about this experience, we asked them if they would foster again. All of our children responded "YES!" And so we will.