I HATE TEETHING!

Did you hear me scream that title???? LOL!!!!!!!!! Oh my!! The four molars went better than this one stinkin' tooth that just won't come all the way through. Grrrr....it's been 5 days of a screaming baby! Today he was actually doing well for awhile so I decided to run to the store. They happen to have carts with steering wheels (his first time) and that did the trick while in the store! Whew! Well...I knew there would be drama when I took him out, but I had no idea...I think I should count myself blessed that no one called the police! The way he screamed when I pryed his little paws off that steering wheel made people stop what they were doing and look! Oh my!! The LOUDEST scream I have ever heard...it hurt my ear! PRAYING that this tooth pops through over night, that he gets some relief and we can all feel free to resume life as normal :-)

Excited to read this one!

http://www.sweetwaterstill.com/thismeanswar.htm

There is so much spiritual warfare in adoption/foster care and we have simply been waiting for a book that discusses the very real nature of what happens when you decide to adopt/foster. We have experienced both, so even though I haven't read it, I am very excited to get my copy!!

You can also go HERE and try to win a free copy! QUICK...the opportunity ends Wednesday!

Really?? LOL!

Little Man's birthmom has some interesting takes on things...

1) She is convinced that when he gets a diaper rash it's because the CM and I have his car seat straps too tight...the fact that I told her it was from antibiotics was not considered-LOL! OK!

2) Today "mom" was putting Little Man in his car seat in the CM's car and asked the CM to turn her air on right away because the tint on her car windows was making it too hot in the car! ROTFL! Everyone in FL has tint to keep it COOLER in the car. Oh my!! She has some interesting ideas on things!!

The other hard part in her note to me today was when she asked if he asks for mama or dada. I'm still thinking about how to put that gently in my response to her. Yes, he asks for mama and dada, but he means Mr. M and I rather than her and bio-dad :( I don't think that she understands all that Little Man has been through and how a 1 yr old perceives all that.

There is a training coming up on how we as foster parents can recognize grief in the children in our home and help them through that. I am all for that and I hope I can attend the training, but I emailed our FDS back and asked if there was a training/teaching for birthparents to also recognize the signs of grief in different age children and how to help them cope. It is incredibly traumatic for a child to leave his/her birthparents (no matter the age) and it is important for us to know that, but at the same time when a child is in a foster home for so long, and then they have to say goodbye to all that they are used to and return home, those same grief feelings will occur. Just because he is back with her doesn't mean it's going to be roses right away. I didn't receive a response, and my guess is that nothing like that is in place. I'm going to have a book written for "mom" when Little Man goes back home (so much to tell!), so maybe I'll just send some info myself that will kind of explain what she might see and not to take it personally, but to understand what it is and help him through it.

The staffing that was going to be held on Tuesday was cancelled, so we are still waiting for the rescheduled date. Until then, we are continuing with supervised visits.

Court today

So not a lot happened today in court. The "legal" father "birth" father debate continues, but something was done today to hopefully get things moving in the right direction! :) I had the opportunity to meet the birthfather today. He seemed like a nice guy and although he didn't get what he wanted in court he was very respectful to the judge. It was also mentioned today that mom has received a diagnosis through her counseling and further sessions have been recommended with a target completion of December 2010! December 1st will be one full year that Little Man has been with us. It breaks my heart every time I hear about pushing things back farther and farther because it's Little Man who is going to be the one suffering. The longer he is away from them the more he is attached to us. We are praying for God's complete and perfect will to be done!!

These two verses were in my devotions today....

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

"....what I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." Isaiah 46:11

Ditchin the bottle!

Woo Hoo!!! Little Man is *officially* done with the bottle!! I am always leary about switching over, but it has proven unfounded as none of them have had an issue with it. As long as they have the milk, that's the important part :) I am always certain to break the bottle habit before 15 months because that's the age when strong attachments to things take place (blankets, stuffed animals and bottles!!) So, we are at 13 months and using big boy sippy cups! Actually he's getting really good at using an open cup too, but for cleanliness sake we're hanging onto the sippy for awhile! :)

Pulmonologist Follow-Up

This morning we had Little Man's follow-up appt with the pulmonologist and she said he is doing **GREAT** His breathing treatments have been decreased to once a day for the next 3 months and then to wean him off of them! :) Yay!! She also suggested a visit with her, myself, Little Man, and his birthmom to train her in signs to look for that he may be having trouble, how to manage his asthma appropriately, and how to give his breathing treatments. Awesome!! Hopefully she will agree to come and we can get it done in the next 4 weeks or so before both L.M.'s b-mom and the Dr. have their babies!! :-)

Just in case I don't get a chance to post before next week....please be in prayer for us especially on Monday and Tuesday. Monday is another status hearing which from what I hear b-dad will be attending. This will be my first time meeting him and the length of this case could be extended??? Tuesday is the unsupervised visits and/or reunification staffing for L.M. Please just be praying for God's will through it all and that I shine His light as this sweet little boy's future is determined. Thank you!!!

Well Visit

Little Man had his one year check up the other day and is doing great! He lost a pound after being sick, so was down to 22lbs and is 30 inches tall. That makes him 50%ile for height and only the 25th for weight. She was impressed with his language skills (has at least 10 words/approximations) and he started signing "all-done" and "light" this past week :) He tries to say pretty much anything you ask him to and enjoys spending time creating his own little silly 1 yr old games! He also finally started initiating going down the stairs backwards rather than head-first. Thank God! He desperately wants to be a big boy like A and I and each day is getting closer!

Baby A is still here until tomorrow morning. If we were asked to keep him I would jump at it in a heart beat! He is such a pleasant newborn! He is a great eater, he sleeps well (2.5-3.5 hours at a time) and is just a sweetie! Nothing beats the smell of a newborn's head either :-) Little Man cared the 1st day, but after that he has been laughing at the baby and doesn't really care if I am holding him. Progress :)