Still sick

Although I am sick,if we didn't sit in cubicles then I could sneeze without feeling like I am endangering the whole floor.

I guess I will have to clean up really good and get rid of the germs in the sheets and all.

Parents come Friday and then a four hour with the boys.

Suggestion the visits should start off one a week then two then three and so on. It may be inconvient for people but isn't that part of it. The new parents should have more and more interaction and then the transfer day is really just a move. The children would be use to seeing you everyday and you would be in their schedule.

Cold on Monday

I went to sleep knowing this was happening. I have a bad cold. My head is stuffed. My throat hurts. my head hurts. I just took the day off since I could.

Visitation

It is wonderful that FM says we are welcomed anytime. We also don't want to wear out our welcome. I feel like we missed so much of their lives in between visits. I also know that she needs this time to disconnect. I am sure she is spending her time holding on to them but also knowing she will be letting go soon. Begging March 4 I probably will begin a countdown.

I am getting another cold. In fact the whole house has colds. DH is coughing, the dogs are coughing. I am the last one but it is starting. Let me get some sleep early.

No show PSI

Yesterday was a scheduled meeting with observation from the PSI SW. I got there about 6:15 pm DH came straight from work 6:25pm the boys around 6:45pm and the SW never showed.

The boys were excited to see the playground which was surprising as it so close to their home. It is a great place for them to run out energy. They played and played.

Baby boy3 was so cute. When he would come out the slide he just looked for Tony then me and a smile I wish I could have caught on camera.

Long three day week

Amazing this week has only been a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and it took forever. I am so happy Friday will be here soon. I can't wait to see my boys Friday night. It seems like Monday was a week away. I have a few plans for friday to occupy the two hours. I want to spend some one on one time with all the children but mainly Omar. The other two don't seem to have a problem with bonding but Omar is a little more reserve. Don't get me wrong he is very receptive to us but as an older child he is not into being held as easily. I want to sit with him and maybe play with the tablets or a book. See what he like to do. Just talk with him one on one.

More for CFSA

I feel like I should be rewriting the transitioning manual for CFSA. If the whole purpose of the eight week transition is to get the kids to know us and to help us to learn their habits and routines then let's bring more into it. Like instead of evening visits and saturday visits how about some morning visits. I have no idea what their morning routine to get ready for school might be. Going over in the evening and putting them to bed is very helpful. I know that I have three bundles of energy that don't want to go bed. Their bath routine is way to active to say go to bed right after.

I am taking off for the first week but knowing their routine would help. I guess I will ask if I can come and help get them dressed on morning. I understand the need not to get in their way of day to day living but there is no way around certain things.

We did start sending noted to the teachers to allow me to come and visit the class room.

Saturday morning with the boys was great. They didn't want us to leave. Foster Mom has started to drop hints to the boys that we are going to become Mommy and Daddy. The baby was excastic. Middle was OK with it. Oldest was like OK but what is going on.

DH is not feeling well this morning. He does have a bad cold but frankly he is just to easy to say I am not going in. I guess that is the difference between men and women. Women have learned each month to work through the pain if not we would be out once a week every month and that just doesn't work (although my boss does it every month. And annouces it).

He is sick though.

Our next meeting with the boys is Friday at chick - Fil-a from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. I have a game to play, and coloring books. The children are so active and you want to bond with them. Two hours without a plan under overservation could go so wrong.

Saturday Morning

We had a great Saturday morning. Took breakfast to the kids. Went outside with the kids and played for a while. We had so much fun. We enjoy spending time with them. I am going to goodwill and get each boy a bike. Don't want them to have new ones but good clean ones.

It is getting hard to leave them now. I want to just be home. Have them in their beds or playing right here in the room. I will wait. I am just hoping I don't get on the nerves of the foster mom. I jump at every chance she gives us and I am thankful for them.

Thank you Jesus.

Saturday Morning

I am going to see the boys in the morning. I told their FM I will watch them in the morning provided that she get some sleep. That poor woman really is doing to much. I am going to have them color their names for me on letters then I will take the letters and put them in frame and hang them in their room. Probably over their beds.

Just waiting for Monday

We didn't go over last night and I miss those little buggers like crazy. I am practicing patience. I have to wait my turn and I will.

It is so quite in our house. DH was so tired last night. I am probably going to put him on a half vitamin in the morning and in the afternoon.

Friday is a half day for me and I have monday off. Should be able to get plenty of rest.

Bedtime two nights in a row now a little break

The adoption worker had some papers for us to sign last night that also needed FM's signature so we had a great excuse to need to come back by.

She allowed us to help with dinner feedings and bath and bedtime. DH read the boys a story or two before they hit the sheets. Babyboy has a little virus and threw up at dinner. after trying to settled him down which he seemed to enjoy being babied he looked at me and said "Tony". Trust me he will be Daddy in less than two weeks. And Daddy is eating it up.

Just had a lunch time conversation with FM. It is good to talk to her because she can tell me stuff that is not covered in the class at all. I remembered I asked in the class can we take the children out of town or do we have to ask permission. The answer was always yes take them but she is telling me that we can't take them more than 50 miles away. That is PSI's rule. We are under DC gov so I am waiting for another ruleing. Around DC 50 miles is not far. But we get TPR'd in April so that won't be long anyway.

The Adoption Worker just came by the office and I was so excited to tell her all that we have been doing that I didn't ask her any of the questions I have.

oh well

I get so emotional Baby!

My boys are wonderful. The Foster family is wonderful. The boys took to us like old friends. We played all night. My baby boy can speak very well. He is very intelligent. My middle is a heartbreaker. He knows he is cute and plays on it. My oldest is very smart. You can tell his brain is just taking in everything around him. He wants to learn. He took to the camera so quickly. Of course Tony is buying him one Saturday.

Meeting today

Finally!!! I get to meet the boys tonight. I am so excited. I keep moving the time up as to when I am going to leave work. We don't go until 7:00pm but I need to walk my dogs and the ones next door.

The FM has sent me video's all weekend which were a great distraction with the Whitney news.

I have video's of the baby telling the world how he peed in the pot. Actually he was telling Stephanie. I have a video of the middle child telling how his brother will get in trouble if he writes on the wall. I have one of the oldest showing how he has lost another tooth.

We sent them pictures of the dogs and the Foster Mom says the boys are excited to see them.

Well dinner is tonight. I wrapped up a big Tow Truck and we have balloons and potato chips for the other two boys. This will be so much fun.

Thank you Jesus. I know Whitney is at peace. Both of them.

Whitney Houston

Last night Whitney Houston died. Doesn't matter how it just happened. What a wonderful voice. The only other thing any of us really know about her is that she loved her mother and daughter. She was so happy when she was pregnant. She had a miscarriage prior but this pregnancy just really suited her.

It also makes me wonder why she didn't take better care of herself just for her daughter. Now her daughter is alone.

Busy Day

This was a busy but stupid day.

First let's start with yesterday afternoon. After DH picked me up a bicyclist came out of no where and we hit him. I scan a little more than DH and I saw the whole thing comming but it happened so fast I couldn't stop it. The really weird part was that the guy got up and just took off. We pulled over and waited for the police and they said since the guy left and the car had no damage everything was OK.

I will make it 8 weeks

We had the meeting to iron out the transition schedule last night. We went day by day of a proposed schedule. This will be an eight week transfer that begins with meeting the kids at BJ's Birthday party on Monday at 7:00 pm for some cake and ice cream. We will be introduced to the kids as a friend of the family and have the boys see us interact with the FM family. Then overall the visits will begin each weekend and once a week or so there will be different visit of some sort. Through March with them moving in on April 4. I have one work obligation to work out but overall we should be OK. I will keep myself busy in between visits planning for the next visit or one after to make use of all the time.

Planning for
Feb 13 Birthday party @ 7:00 pm
Feb 20 Dinner with the Family

Come on 4:00 pm

Our meeting is at 5:30 pm today. I will leave the office around 4:00 - 4:15pm. Don't want to get there to early. It will really only take me about 30 minutes or less to get there but the weather may be bad.

I keep replaying that smile in my head. Still looking for a couple of extra activities to do. Want everyone involved.

It's 2:51 and I know one thing I am leaving at 4:00 pm. I'd rather sit there than here.

Just heard from my cousin. His daughter's house burned down last night and his wife had a hysterictomy yesterday. So much going on and I had to read about it on facebook. He will here about that one.

The biggest smile I have ever seen!!

OH what a day!!

We went to the IEP meeting for Joseph. At this meeting they were discussing the plan to lable Joseph with mental retardation. We were told the wrong time so the AW, the SW and us all ended up 30 min late. After hearing alot of information that I still don't understand we overall agreed to hold the lable until April. Then the teacher showed us video of Joseph which was exciting because we hadn't seen a picture of him. He was beautiful. Then they wanted to show us the classroom. The Fostermom needed to leave and take Joseph somewhere and they brought him in to the room.

He was so beautiful I just wanted to scoop him up and really just . . . it was so emotional that I had to stay cool because they didn't want to confuse him. When he left I broke into tears. It was wonderful and I just didn't know it would feel that good. I am about to take a nap now for the first time in a long while I might actually get some rest.

New Car weekend

We picked up the family car on Friday. It is really nice and the deal was spectacular. 0% financing is really great. The car is great color and my father really liked it. Funny how you are always wanting your parents approval. Loved spending time with the family.

My cousin had her baby this weekend. I am very happy for her because I know she has tried for quite some time. Glad it finnaly happened for her.

Well tommorow is the school meeting. I still am not slepping well. Maybe I can sleep in before the meeting.

Stress and sick

Apparently I was able to make myself sick with stress.

I went home after feeling so down that I couldn't even stay awake. Then I got home and couldn't get any sleep.

Eventually the ASW was able to schedule the meeting for Wed of next week in the evening. She has also brought in the GAL (children's attorney). I think I see that we have an underlining problem of a foster mother that doesn't want to let go. There is a court date in Feb and I think the GAL is going to state that the transition needs to happen sooner than later.

Everyone but the FM has at least emailed that Wed works with their schedule so we will meet on Tuesday and then again on Wed. 24hours is better than a week later.

The movement was great but the damage I have done to my body for the day was done. I know I went to sleep but it wasn't a good sleep. DH was on one side and Simba on the other and he may only weigh 8Lbs but last night it was dead weight and moved me.

I hope my accupuncture appointment gets me back on track today.

Stress it out!!

Yesterday we got a call from the ASW asking if Tuesday can we come for the IEP meeting followed with the transition meeting right after. We agree. Then at 8:50pm the Foster Sister sent an email saying that she has been thinking and she think we should push the transion meeting back another week so she can be present for the whole meeting. WTF!!

DH and I have already taken leave and frankly no we are not going to do it again the next week. I called the ASW this morning and I pleaded with her to advocate for us that some consideration needs to be made for our schedules. With the long delays that we have had to sustain it we are only asking for fairness. I told her of the delays in the process (and that I know those are not her fault at all). I also mentioned that this is not the first time that the FMom/sister has made request to be worked around her schedule and this needs to be nipped in the bud now.

I think I very calmly and respectfully conveyed my request to advocate on our behalf. She was very appologetic and I told her I certainly don't hold her accountable at all but that I really needed to see CFS take control and move this along.

At work we had a workshop on Disrespect in the workplace. Now there is 2 hours of stress. It was terrible. The facilitator was horrible. She wanted us to name names of people with problems. It was stressful and many people were upset or felt that time was wasted.

ASW said she would speak with her supervisor and try to call before Noon.

She calls and basically explains that FMom is holding the cards because she has not told the kids yet and maybe having a little separation anxiety. They are in contact with her and are asking her to meet after work hours at least and for a quick moment on Tuesday while we are all together. Maybe I will bring her something to smooth over hard feelings.

Of course he is not available

Jasmine called yesterday to let me know the email was comming to find out when we were available to set up the transition meeting starting on Friday. The email asked for our avaialbility. Of course I am available at any time and Tony after 4 and anytime on the phone. The email went to the SW and Jasmine's supervisor. Like clock work the SW sent an email at 4:59 to say he was not availble on Friday and we should schedule for next week. That's it. No suggestion of a day or time that works for him at all. For real what is up with these people. How is it that no one seems to work a full six weeks without having to take time off? I have not met anyone there who has not requested time off during the short time I have had to work with them.