I'm blogging with Baby Girl on my lap. Ah, I love her curly mohawk hairdo... can't seem to get it to flatten out. Wish I could post pictures because it would make you smile! Today has been a great day despite some sleep deprivation. It's 5:30 and I haven't showered yet- yum. Jimmy had a "conversion" for work last night, which means he spends most of the night on the phone/internet/conference call monitoring software upgrades at a hospital. Poor guy didn't sleep much and I did all of the baby feedings. I know that so many moms do all the feedings because they are breast feeding... I'm in awe. I'd be a total zombie if I didn't have Jimmy to help me. I have, however, caught up on more TV than I could have ever wanted to watch. I've found that there is not much on at 3 in the morning unless you want to see an infomercial on how to get rich, get flat abs, quit smoking or lose weight. Thank goodness for the plethora of CSI and Cosby episodes!
We have some good news regarding this fall. Not sure if I mentioned that I got hired to teach "full time" at the local community college? I'm really excited for the opportunity. I'll teach about 2.5 days a week with two full days off and won't go in until 12 the days I do work. I do have to teach two evenings, but it isn't a bad trade off for having so much time with Samuel. I was nervous about child care- it's tricky and even more so when planning for potential foster kids. So I'm delighted to have found a nanny! She's a former student of mine and grew up in Spain (her parents are missionaries there), so she speaks fluent Spanish. I am thrilled to have Samuel get more exposure to the language. Plus she has experience working in bilingual preschools- can't get any better! I praise God for working out these child care details. It makes leaving Samuel easier knowing he will be in great hands.
I'm off to do some more cooking- tomorrow is my Papa Jack's birthday party- he's 86!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Foster baby update
Things are going well with our foster baby. She has gained weight well, so we don't have to wake her to feed anymore... although she still gets up every 2 1/2 to 3 hours anyway. Last night we had a 3 1/2 hour stretch and I was pretty excited. I've decided the sleep deprivation makes me a little socially awkward.
Between the wedding and just being out and about here, I've had lots of inquiries about her. I've had a few women look at me with hostility and say something like "Please tell me she isn't your baby" because I'm wearing my normal clothes and the baby is so young. I guess I should take it as a compliment, but it's a little awkward. Then people say things about how they don't understand how her parents will care for her well or why they will get her back. I've had people recommend us fighting to keep her. It has been emotionally draining. The thing is, our job as foster parents is to care for her and to work towards the goal of reunification with her parents. So I have to be hopeful and pulling for her parents. In this case, I think they genuinely love her and she will be ok. Will her childhood look like Samuel's? Probably not, but I have to withhold judgement that the way I do it is always the best. I do find myself having selfish thoughts like "I know I'm getting more wrinkles from the sleep deprivation and it isn't for MY child that I keep." Isn't that awful? :)
I am holding on to the fact that God called us to do this. I'm not sure of His plans. He knows we desire both to serve the children in our community, but He also knows how my heart aches to grow our family. I go back to Isaiah 58 that talks about how what pleases the Lord is working to "loose the chains of injustice (vs6)" and "spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed (vs.10)" In verse 12 it talks about being called "Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." When I read those verses, I am thankful because I do think working with families allows us to be involved at a small level in some of these things. There should have been a verse in there, however, that says "Yes, it will be stinking hard." So I'm stuck between my desire to be a good foster parent and my desire to just move forward with growing our family NOW. I have found that God's timeline and mine are hardly ever the same, so I'm pretty sure for today I'm supposed to sit tight and wait. Oh, I hate that word... wait. :)
Between the wedding and just being out and about here, I've had lots of inquiries about her. I've had a few women look at me with hostility and say something like "Please tell me she isn't your baby" because I'm wearing my normal clothes and the baby is so young. I guess I should take it as a compliment, but it's a little awkward. Then people say things about how they don't understand how her parents will care for her well or why they will get her back. I've had people recommend us fighting to keep her. It has been emotionally draining. The thing is, our job as foster parents is to care for her and to work towards the goal of reunification with her parents. So I have to be hopeful and pulling for her parents. In this case, I think they genuinely love her and she will be ok. Will her childhood look like Samuel's? Probably not, but I have to withhold judgement that the way I do it is always the best. I do find myself having selfish thoughts like "I know I'm getting more wrinkles from the sleep deprivation and it isn't for MY child that I keep." Isn't that awful? :)
I am holding on to the fact that God called us to do this. I'm not sure of His plans. He knows we desire both to serve the children in our community, but He also knows how my heart aches to grow our family. I go back to Isaiah 58 that talks about how what pleases the Lord is working to "loose the chains of injustice (vs6)" and "spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed (vs.10)" In verse 12 it talks about being called "Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." When I read those verses, I am thankful because I do think working with families allows us to be involved at a small level in some of these things. There should have been a verse in there, however, that says "Yes, it will be stinking hard." So I'm stuck between my desire to be a good foster parent and my desire to just move forward with growing our family NOW. I have found that God's timeline and mine are hardly ever the same, so I'm pretty sure for today I'm supposed to sit tight and wait. Oh, I hate that word... wait. :)
We're back!
Our internet has been down the past week or so. I get cranky when technology isn't working, because it requires patience and "troubleshooting" (as Jimmy would tell me), neither of which are my strong points.
The last week or so has been full! Last week Jimmy and Samuel were in the wedding of a couple that is near and dear to our hearts- Jordan and Kailey Wilson! I had both of these "kids" (yes, I realize they are now really adults!) in class at BSHS and then was Kailey's Bible study leader for years. We love them, we love their families and it was a privilege to be involved in their big day.
Samuel was the ringbearer and did his job well, although the wedding coordinator was about to take him down for not being "quiet" enough before going down the aisle. Do you know how hard it is to keep a 2 year old quiet and contained in one spot for 20+ minutes? Especially when the child refused a nap that day and was up until after 10 at the rehearsal the night before? Do you feel my pain!? Between keeping him and our foster baby entertained and quiet through the ceremony, I was so thankful it wasn't a long, Catholic wedding (no offense to those of you who are Catholic!).
Family pic...
Sam in action...
The beautiful bride...
Sam and the groom
Sam and Jimmy looking sharp :)
The last week or so has been full! Last week Jimmy and Samuel were in the wedding of a couple that is near and dear to our hearts- Jordan and Kailey Wilson! I had both of these "kids" (yes, I realize they are now really adults!) in class at BSHS and then was Kailey's Bible study leader for years. We love them, we love their families and it was a privilege to be involved in their big day.
Samuel was the ringbearer and did his job well, although the wedding coordinator was about to take him down for not being "quiet" enough before going down the aisle. Do you know how hard it is to keep a 2 year old quiet and contained in one spot for 20+ minutes? Especially when the child refused a nap that day and was up until after 10 at the rehearsal the night before? Do you feel my pain!? Between keeping him and our foster baby entertained and quiet through the ceremony, I was so thankful it wasn't a long, Catholic wedding (no offense to those of you who are Catholic!).
Family pic...
Sam in action...
The beautiful bride...
Sam and the groom
Sam and Jimmy looking sharp :)
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