Thursday, April 16, 2009
To be continued
Court was continued until tomorrow because there wasn't a court-appointed interpreter. i have a gut feeling the kids will be going home tomorrow or at least soon. :(
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Busy couple of days
i talked to the kids' caseworker today, and he said that the grandmother has changed her mind about giving up the kids. She misses them a lot and thinks she can care for them. So there's a court case tomorrow at 1:00 Central Time. The caseworker says it's not likely the kids will go home tomorrow because they (the state) will not recommend for it given that the grandmother is an illegal alien, but the judge could still order it to happen.
Today we had our first visit with the grandmother. It started out interesting when i signed in and asked for the caseworker, and the lady at the desk said he doesn't work in this office. But that's where he said to go! i knew i was in the right place when the family turned up there, too, but it was another 20 minutes before we got the caseworker to come get us and take us into the visitation room. So there we were in the front waiting room trying to wrangle all the kids (grandmother brought an aunt and a cousin who's a few months younger than Lil Sister!) with no toys. Sounds about typical to me.
The grandmother cried when she saw them. She clearly loves them very much. But it sure was hectic with her trying to care for all 3 toddlers, so i can see why she made the initial call! i don't know if she was watching all 3 of them all day, but wow. And the little cousin has a personality more like Big Brother (meaning more of a hitter, more of a screamer, etc), so it was pretty wild. i brought them some pictures of the kids that i took on Easter (not from behind lol), and they seemed thankful.
The sad part was when Big Brother cried when it was time to go. And kept calling for Mama' and it wasn't me lol.
Please say a prayer or two that tomorrow's court case brings out the best possible outcome for these kids. Whether that means going home, or staying with us, or something else entirely, i really just want the best for the babies.
Today we had our first visit with the grandmother. It started out interesting when i signed in and asked for the caseworker, and the lady at the desk said he doesn't work in this office. But that's where he said to go! i knew i was in the right place when the family turned up there, too, but it was another 20 minutes before we got the caseworker to come get us and take us into the visitation room. So there we were in the front waiting room trying to wrangle all the kids (grandmother brought an aunt and a cousin who's a few months younger than Lil Sister!) with no toys. Sounds about typical to me.
The grandmother cried when she saw them. She clearly loves them very much. But it sure was hectic with her trying to care for all 3 toddlers, so i can see why she made the initial call! i don't know if she was watching all 3 of them all day, but wow. And the little cousin has a personality more like Big Brother (meaning more of a hitter, more of a screamer, etc), so it was pretty wild. i brought them some pictures of the kids that i took on Easter (not from behind lol), and they seemed thankful.
The sad part was when Big Brother cried when it was time to go. And kept calling for Mama' and it wasn't me lol.
Please say a prayer or two that tomorrow's court case brings out the best possible outcome for these kids. Whether that means going home, or staying with us, or something else entirely, i really just want the best for the babies.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Some cuteness from today
We got up and toured the new daycare (still no vax so i can't go back to work yet, bah), and i was very happy with it. It's within a few miles of home, is new, clean, and well-run. i was very impressed.
Then we went to the park, but it was a little too cold and cloudy to do much. Big Brother loves to swing, Lil Sister isn't so sure. They both love to slide. A pair of twins who are just a few months older than Lil Sis came and they were bigger than Big Brother! i wonder what the doctor will say about their size; they're obviously small. Big Bro was pretty obsessed with the twin girls.
Went home in time to see Alan off to work (our morning outing was to let him get some sleep), and an e-friend invited us to lunch with her and her toddler who is about Lil Sister's age. But, once again, much much bigger. Anyway, the kids did pretty well, so that was fun.
But the cutest was when Big Brother decided he really wanted to give me lots of hugs and kisses. Right before he smacked me in the eye (and got time out lol). And i was holding him and he saw some wedding and other various pics of Alan and me on the mantle and all evening he pointed at the mantle and said "Papa'!" So sweet!
Then we went to the park, but it was a little too cold and cloudy to do much. Big Brother loves to swing, Lil Sister isn't so sure. They both love to slide. A pair of twins who are just a few months older than Lil Sis came and they were bigger than Big Brother! i wonder what the doctor will say about their size; they're obviously small. Big Bro was pretty obsessed with the twin girls.
Went home in time to see Alan off to work (our morning outing was to let him get some sleep), and an e-friend invited us to lunch with her and her toddler who is about Lil Sister's age. But, once again, much much bigger. Anyway, the kids did pretty well, so that was fun.
But the cutest was when Big Brother decided he really wanted to give me lots of hugs and kisses. Right before he smacked me in the eye (and got time out lol). And i was holding him and he saw some wedding and other various pics of Alan and me on the mantle and all evening he pointed at the mantle and said "Papa'!" So sweet!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Some Pictures
Okay, good, i got some i can (i hope) post publicly. Sorry they don't actually show faces, but that's part of the privacy rules. Hopefully you can still get an idea of how cute they are!
Happy Easter!
i hope to be able to post some cute pics of the kids on their Easter egg hunt (from behind, of course). We'll see!
Thought i'd leave an entry about how yesterday went. Over all, it went really well. It was Alan's first day with the kiddies, and he did terrific. And i know it's hard for him, because he's afraid of little ones, and the lack of understanding English doesn't help at all. At all. But really the kids are figuring it out pretty well from tone of voice and body language. And Big Brother is *so sensitive* (read: if you say "No" too loudly, he hides and cries -- tears my heart UP inside) that he really tries to please.
First we took the kids out for Mexican food for lunch. i'd actually already fed them recently, so Big Bro just munched on a tortilla and some chips and Lil Sister didn't really want anything. We've been going to this restaurant since we moved to this part of town 2 1/2 years ago, so the waiters and waitresses know us. There's this one waitress who is as nice as can be, and she stopped by to ask if the family was bigger now. She congratulated us many time. Unfortunately, she told me there is no common nickname for Big Brother's name. Sigh. This is horrible, because i know it's his name, but i am SO unfamiliar with it, and it's SO, um, not appealing to me on an "ooh, that's a pretty name" level that i can't remember his name half the time. i want to call him a completely different Hispanic name that starts with the same letter. Or change the leading U to an O and the trailing O to a U. Poor kid is going to start having an identity crisis. i'm going to have to find out his middle name, or if they had a nickname for him, or something. i never thought if i adopted a foster child that i would change their name, because they came with it and are familiar with it, but i'm starting to see why now. Yes, i suck, but (and this is not his name, i'm totally making it up) you follow a toddler around trying to remember the name Yobieldo or something and see if you still feel like Judgey McJudgerson lol. Boy i hope he never reads this lol.
After lunch, we went home so the kids could take a nap, then we went to the horse farm, stopping at Sam's on the way to pick up some oil for Sunny. The kids were, of course, great (i never would have thought it would be almost easy to take two toddlers to the store, but the hardest part is getting them out of and into their carseats) at Sam's, and the horse farm went far better than i expected actually. Big Brother was, of course, very scared, but he settled into a routine of bringing me treats. Sunny is going to get fat! Lil Sister was less scared, and was the first to let Alan pick her up and pet him. The first "mishap" was when Big Brother got a little braver and stood near me near Sunny's head while he grazed. He was brave and happy until Sunny sniffed the top of his head lol. Then he screamed and ran away. BUT he did let Alan pick him up and let him pet him, nowhere near his head of course lol.
The only other mishaps also involved animals. The farm owner has a little dog. i can't remember if he's an oversized Min Pin or a Manchester Terrier, but one of those little black and tan dogs. His name is Fenton, and he barks ferociously at people. Of course he ended up being loose, and Big Brother was petrified. Which, the way Fenton barks, is understandable. But then again, he was petrified at an extremely friendly cat named Pumpkin, so i think he is just petrified of animals in general. It makes me wonder if he was taught that, or if it came naturally. Lil Sister is not nearly so frightened of animals.
The good news is they've gotten to the point where they can see the dogs through the glass doors and not freak out. They even approach the doors and say "Gua gua" (thanks Sweet Spikette for telling me what that means: It sounds like "wah wah" kind of and is kind of like "woof woof") and wave at the "bueno wah wahs" as i say in my Spanglish. i'm sure it should be "gua guas buenos", but hey. i'm trying.
My friend will be over with her 10 year old at about 11, so i'd better get the kids up and fed breakfast and dressed in their Easter duds by then. i hope i'll have some non-identifying pictures to post soon. Be warned: i do NOT have the mommy/daughter dance down yet. Translation: i can't do her hair for the life of me! Later.
Thought i'd leave an entry about how yesterday went. Over all, it went really well. It was Alan's first day with the kiddies, and he did terrific. And i know it's hard for him, because he's afraid of little ones, and the lack of understanding English doesn't help at all. At all. But really the kids are figuring it out pretty well from tone of voice and body language. And Big Brother is *so sensitive* (read: if you say "No" too loudly, he hides and cries -- tears my heart UP inside) that he really tries to please.
First we took the kids out for Mexican food for lunch. i'd actually already fed them recently, so Big Bro just munched on a tortilla and some chips and Lil Sister didn't really want anything. We've been going to this restaurant since we moved to this part of town 2 1/2 years ago, so the waiters and waitresses know us. There's this one waitress who is as nice as can be, and she stopped by to ask if the family was bigger now. She congratulated us many time. Unfortunately, she told me there is no common nickname for Big Brother's name. Sigh. This is horrible, because i know it's his name, but i am SO unfamiliar with it, and it's SO, um, not appealing to me on an "ooh, that's a pretty name" level that i can't remember his name half the time. i want to call him a completely different Hispanic name that starts with the same letter. Or change the leading U to an O and the trailing O to a U. Poor kid is going to start having an identity crisis. i'm going to have to find out his middle name, or if they had a nickname for him, or something. i never thought if i adopted a foster child that i would change their name, because they came with it and are familiar with it, but i'm starting to see why now. Yes, i suck, but (and this is not his name, i'm totally making it up) you follow a toddler around trying to remember the name Yobieldo or something and see if you still feel like Judgey McJudgerson lol. Boy i hope he never reads this lol.
After lunch, we went home so the kids could take a nap, then we went to the horse farm, stopping at Sam's on the way to pick up some oil for Sunny. The kids were, of course, great (i never would have thought it would be almost easy to take two toddlers to the store, but the hardest part is getting them out of and into their carseats) at Sam's, and the horse farm went far better than i expected actually. Big Brother was, of course, very scared, but he settled into a routine of bringing me treats. Sunny is going to get fat! Lil Sister was less scared, and was the first to let Alan pick her up and pet him. The first "mishap" was when Big Brother got a little braver and stood near me near Sunny's head while he grazed. He was brave and happy until Sunny sniffed the top of his head lol. Then he screamed and ran away. BUT he did let Alan pick him up and let him pet him, nowhere near his head of course lol.
The only other mishaps also involved animals. The farm owner has a little dog. i can't remember if he's an oversized Min Pin or a Manchester Terrier, but one of those little black and tan dogs. His name is Fenton, and he barks ferociously at people. Of course he ended up being loose, and Big Brother was petrified. Which, the way Fenton barks, is understandable. But then again, he was petrified at an extremely friendly cat named Pumpkin, so i think he is just petrified of animals in general. It makes me wonder if he was taught that, or if it came naturally. Lil Sister is not nearly so frightened of animals.
The good news is they've gotten to the point where they can see the dogs through the glass doors and not freak out. They even approach the doors and say "Gua gua" (thanks Sweet Spikette for telling me what that means: It sounds like "wah wah" kind of and is kind of like "woof woof") and wave at the "bueno wah wahs" as i say in my Spanglish. i'm sure it should be "gua guas buenos", but hey. i'm trying.
My friend will be over with her 10 year old at about 11, so i'd better get the kids up and fed breakfast and dressed in their Easter duds by then. i hope i'll have some non-identifying pictures to post soon. Be warned: i do NOT have the mommy/daughter dance down yet. Translation: i can't do her hair for the life of me! Later.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wow. i'm a mommy!
That's right. Yesterday afternoon i got the call i've been waiting for from DCS. A placement of two (2!!!!) toddlers that they think (of course you know how those things go, could change in half a second) will go to adoption. A 2 1/2 year old boy and his 1 1/2 year old sister. Yikes! And (double-yikes), they told me they are bilingual but clearly they are not. But we're getting along okay with my pidgin Spanish that i remember from high school. i guess you'd call it Spanglish. Its sentences consist of about 3 or 4 English words (such as "Do you want") followed by a Spanish word (like "leche" or milk). But they have a LOT of English to learn lol.
i did manage to (sort of) teach an English word to Big Brother. i was spinning him and Lil Sister in an office chair (to peals of laughter lol) and they would say "Ma" when the chair would stop. Which i presume is toddler-speak for "mas" which is "more" in Spanish. So i taught Big Brother to say "more". Sounds more like a cross between bore and vore, but i'll take it lol.
Introducing them to the dogs is going to be the next big challenge. Big Brother is scared to death when he sees them through the glass doors. He keeps saying "Wa wa" (if anyone knows what that means, feel free to comment with it!). i tell him "Perro es amigo" but i don't think he's buying it. Finding day care by Tuesday will also be a big challenge.
But first, Easter! i got them the cutest outfits and a friend and her 10 year old are coming over to have an Easter egg hunt. i'm hoping for a lot of pictures, and if any come out where i can post them (no faces), i will definitely do so!
Oh, and in amusing news, i realized about 2:00 today that i hadn't eaten in about 28 hours. i ate too much for lunch yesterday (with some coworkers), so i decided to skip dinner. But i ended up skipping breakfast and almost lunch as well! So, for the fun of it, i got on the Wii Fit to weigh myself and it said i've lost 6 pounds in 2 days, which i highly doubt. i guess i haven't had enough water either. Uh oh! Better go chug some water now!
i did manage to (sort of) teach an English word to Big Brother. i was spinning him and Lil Sister in an office chair (to peals of laughter lol) and they would say "Ma" when the chair would stop. Which i presume is toddler-speak for "mas" which is "more" in Spanish. So i taught Big Brother to say "more". Sounds more like a cross between bore and vore, but i'll take it lol.
Introducing them to the dogs is going to be the next big challenge. Big Brother is scared to death when he sees them through the glass doors. He keeps saying "Wa wa" (if anyone knows what that means, feel free to comment with it!). i tell him "Perro es amigo" but i don't think he's buying it. Finding day care by Tuesday will also be a big challenge.
But first, Easter! i got them the cutest outfits and a friend and her 10 year old are coming over to have an Easter egg hunt. i'm hoping for a lot of pictures, and if any come out where i can post them (no faces), i will definitely do so!
Oh, and in amusing news, i realized about 2:00 today that i hadn't eaten in about 28 hours. i ate too much for lunch yesterday (with some coworkers), so i decided to skip dinner. But i ended up skipping breakfast and almost lunch as well! So, for the fun of it, i got on the Wii Fit to weigh myself and it said i've lost 6 pounds in 2 days, which i highly doubt. i guess i haven't had enough water either. Uh oh! Better go chug some water now!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Title IV-E
Is the federal statute that dictates state funding and things like discrimination in placing children in foster or adoptive homes. In other words, states that receive federal funding cannot discriminate based on race.
Apparently its mere mention gets attention. As of today we are approved for any race of child from ages 2-10 (if we get a crib, we can take infants), or a sibling group of 2 or possibly 3.
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Apparently its mere mention gets attention. As of today we are approved for any race of child from ages 2-10 (if we get a crib, we can take infants), or a sibling group of 2 or possibly 3.
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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