Everyone keeps asking me if Little Grape looks like his Dad or Mom. I saw his mom at court, but haven't met his Dad yet. So, where does a foster parent whose trying to find these answers go?? The arrest inquiries page of the local police dept of course! I was switching back and forth between their mugshots to see which of his features came from each parent! I stopped in the middle thought about just how crazy this is! LOL!!
The verdict....I think he looks more like his Dad, but has a couple of Mom's features too! Everyone always comments on how long LG's fingers are and how tall he will be. That arrest inquiries page also told me that Dad is 6'1 and Mom is 5'6. He just might be tall :)
Sharing the life experience of becoming foster parents to the least of these!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Update..Praises!
What an afternoon yesterday was!!! I went to the hospital around 12:20 (early as asked) to prepare for our 1:00 ultrasound appt. We waited...and waited...and waited. They were having trouble getting his Medicaid situated. Ok...it's now 2:15 and Medicaid is finally figured out and we have our wrist band now we just need to wait to get called back. We wait...and wait...and wait!! Meanwhile I am trying to keep a 4yo, 1 yo and newborn happy and quiet! They did SO great Uuntil the end, but they were just DONE at that point!! I totally understood!!
Finally at 3:15 we got called back...oh Hallelujah!!! The tech had trouble getting the hip pictures and LG was less than pleased to have his diaper off and he was cold! She sent the pics to the Dr. who was not pleased with how they turned out, so he came down and we did it all over again! His were much clearer. He did the hands-on hip test as well and told me that he'd write a report, but that everything looked fine and we wouldn't have to do anything else!!!! Yay for no brace!!!!
While the Dr. was manipulating and moving LG's hip he peed on the Dr.! I guess that was his way of saying "thanks for making me wait so long and this is what I think of what you're doing to me!" LOL!
My plan for yesterday was to do the ultrasound, be out by 1:30 or 2:00 and have 2 hours to waste before picking up my hubby and son at the airport at 4:00. Ummm...we left the hospital at 3:50 and were 20 min. from the airport, but we swung by and the timing ended up ok even though we didn't get to greet them as they got off the tram. Add in a little rush hour traffic, tired/crabby kids, and less than stellar dinner and that was our night, but it was *perfect* because my "boys" were back home :)
Finally at 3:15 we got called back...oh Hallelujah!!! The tech had trouble getting the hip pictures and LG was less than pleased to have his diaper off and he was cold! She sent the pics to the Dr. who was not pleased with how they turned out, so he came down and we did it all over again! His were much clearer. He did the hands-on hip test as well and told me that he'd write a report, but that everything looked fine and we wouldn't have to do anything else!!!! Yay for no brace!!!!
While the Dr. was manipulating and moving LG's hip he peed on the Dr.! I guess that was his way of saying "thanks for making me wait so long and this is what I think of what you're doing to me!" LOL!
My plan for yesterday was to do the ultrasound, be out by 1:30 or 2:00 and have 2 hours to waste before picking up my hubby and son at the airport at 4:00. Ummm...we left the hospital at 3:50 and were 20 min. from the airport, but we swung by and the timing ended up ok even though we didn't get to greet them as they got off the tram. Add in a little rush hour traffic, tired/crabby kids, and less than stellar dinner and that was our night, but it was *perfect* because my "boys" were back home :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ultrasound today
Today is Little Grape's ultrasound for his "hip-click." I am taking the 3 kids (1 is out of town) so this should be an adventure! We have to go to the Children's Hospital because the pediatrician wanted it to be done by a Dr. who knew what he was really looking at/for.
The hip-click means that there could be a malformation of the head of the femur, the head is not correctly in the acetabulum (socket), or there is a malformation in the socket itself. An x-ray is not good enough right now because the baby's bones don't show up until 6 months or so. If the hip has one of these problems (because of his age and catching it early) he will have to wear one of these contraptions. Looks like fun huh?! It will hold the hip in the correct position and help it to form normally.
We are praying that it was just a "fluke" and that God has completely healed this part of his hip and no treatment will be necessary!!!
The hip-click means that there could be a malformation of the head of the femur, the head is not correctly in the acetabulum (socket), or there is a malformation in the socket itself. An x-ray is not good enough right now because the baby's bones don't show up until 6 months or so. If the hip has one of these problems (because of his age and catching it early) he will have to wear one of these contraptions. Looks like fun huh?! It will hold the hip in the correct position and help it to form normally.
We are praying that it was just a "fluke" and that God has completely healed this part of his hip and no treatment will be necessary!!!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Growing so fast!
I can't believe in just a couple of days our Little Grape will be 5 weeks old!!! It seems like a blur (with so little sleep!) but we have loved having him here!!
He has turned into a little piggie! He now wants 4 ounces every 3-3.5 hours. He has no problem finishing it at all! He doesn't go back to the Dr. until his 2 month check up, so he will probably have gained a significant amount of weight since his last check at 2 1/2 weeks.
He is really starting to get dark. When he first came he was very light skinned but looking at his ears (and other things) I knew he was going to get pretty dark. He is almost to his ear color on his face and most of his body.
We are really excited to get him to smile! We have seen glimpses of it in his sleep, but not socially yet.
He loves movement...the car, going on a walk, rocking, swinging, you name it! He also loves when you sing to him...it quiets him right down :)
He has definite periods of awake time now (some which are in the middle of the night!) He looks around very intently and tracks the other kids' movements around the room. If he hears a voice he will turn his head toward the sound as well!
Now when we get this sleep thing figured out that will make things so much better :-) I know..who expects to get sleep with a newborn??? LOL!
He has turned into a little piggie! He now wants 4 ounces every 3-3.5 hours. He has no problem finishing it at all! He doesn't go back to the Dr. until his 2 month check up, so he will probably have gained a significant amount of weight since his last check at 2 1/2 weeks.
He is really starting to get dark. When he first came he was very light skinned but looking at his ears (and other things) I knew he was going to get pretty dark. He is almost to his ear color on his face and most of his body.
We are really excited to get him to smile! We have seen glimpses of it in his sleep, but not socially yet.
He loves movement...the car, going on a walk, rocking, swinging, you name it! He also loves when you sing to him...it quiets him right down :)
He has definite periods of awake time now (some which are in the middle of the night!) He looks around very intently and tracks the other kids' movements around the room. If he hears a voice he will turn his head toward the sound as well!
Now when we get this sleep thing figured out that will make things so much better :-) I know..who expects to get sleep with a newborn??? LOL!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Little Grape's visit
Little Grape visits his Dad on the Dad's lunch break at a local restaurant. Today an older gentlemen approached them and said that LG just had the face of an angel and gave the Dad $50 for LG!!! I was hoping that money would come back with him to get him diapers/formula whatever...it didn't, BUT the FRS said that Dad said he wanted to buy the baby diapers and would bring it next week. This Dad really seems to be stepping it up. He is working 7 days a week so that he can get enough money for a deposit and first month's rent. They are going to have to see it remain stable for awhile and they want him to do a parenting class since his youngest child is currently 18! This Dad isn't the typical young Dad you see in the foster care system. He's 47 I think and really seems to want to do the right thing here, so that's wonderful to see :-) He would have to go to daycare as well and LG isn't old enough yet so we have to wait on that too.
The FRS also remarked about mom's visit and how it's totally different. She sees how I hug and kiss all over him and she said that mom kissed him once and is very disconnected. This mom does not have a good chance of getting her baby back and perhaps she's purposefully staying disconnected...the FRS has been with this particular mother since 08 (I believe) and she just can't seem to get her life together :(
I'm excited to see where this case is going to go and truly believe that Dad can line things up and be the Dad he needs to be!! It may take a few more weeks or even months depending on how long things take, but we are privileged to be the ones taking care of him for however long we get to love on him!
The FRS also remarked about mom's visit and how it's totally different. She sees how I hug and kiss all over him and she said that mom kissed him once and is very disconnected. This mom does not have a good chance of getting her baby back and perhaps she's purposefully staying disconnected...the FRS has been with this particular mother since 08 (I believe) and she just can't seem to get her life together :(
I'm excited to see where this case is going to go and truly believe that Dad can line things up and be the Dad he needs to be!! It may take a few more weeks or even months depending on how long things take, but we are privileged to be the ones taking care of him for however long we get to love on him!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Polite
I have the most polite toddler I have ever met! He is so cute that at 20 months...
**He says "sanks" (thanks) when given anything
**Always uses "peez" (please) when asking for something
**Says "Bess woo" (bless you) when someone else sneezes
**Says "scooz me" (excuse me) whenever he burps or toots!
None of my other kids we consistent in this until they were older!
I was *so* hoping to get to share a picture of him with you yesterday, but now you all will have to wait longer.... :(
**He says "sanks" (thanks) when given anything
**Always uses "peez" (please) when asking for something
**Says "Bess woo" (bless you) when someone else sneezes
**Says "scooz me" (excuse me) whenever he burps or toots!
None of my other kids we consistent in this until they were older!
I was *so* hoping to get to share a picture of him with you yesterday, but now you all will have to wait longer.... :(
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
So frustrated!
So I get to court about 20 min. early and check with the Baliff to make sure we were still in this court room. He said we were on the docket, but then an attorney (which happened to be b-dad's) said that it was cancelled!!!!!!!!! :( GRRRRRRR!!!!! So it has been postponed until April 13th. The more I think about it this could be a good thing because it will give them more time to find "mom/dad" and serve them the papers to appear at court. That way if the judge does not entertain the "aunt" idea then rights could be terminated on that date. Of course it could still go another way where the judge does entertain the idea, but from what I have heard about both new judges they both really consider THE CHILD...go figure! :)
This cancellation gave me the opportunity to sit in on Little Grape's mother's arraignment. She denied all charges so now we go to pre-trial/trial. Pre-trial just happens to be the same date/time as Little Man again...His mother would not even make eye contact with me (I knew from talking to the GAL that she would not be interested in hearing from me). Anyway, she had the opportunity to see who I was and hear me speak about how well he is doing! Dad was not there b/c no charges have been filed against him.
So....this has not been the day I planned, but God has a plan and I must wait to see that unfold!
This cancellation gave me the opportunity to sit in on Little Grape's mother's arraignment. She denied all charges so now we go to pre-trial/trial. Pre-trial just happens to be the same date/time as Little Man again...His mother would not even make eye contact with me (I knew from talking to the GAL that she would not be interested in hearing from me). Anyway, she had the opportunity to see who I was and hear me speak about how well he is doing! Dad was not there b/c no charges have been filed against him.
So....this has not been the day I planned, but God has a plan and I must wait to see that unfold!
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