Today went better than yesterday but then again John went to school from 8:00-1:45 and Don came home at 4:00 and Brynn was home by dinner time. Oliver got his nap in today which was huge for him because he is such a sleeper. John is almost two years older and can do without a nap much easier. Elizbath is not a napper or a least I cannot figure it out. I guess I have been fortunate to get a 30 minute one out of her once during the day.
The mom is interesting. Sadly she isn't very educated and has no idea how to be an advocate or active parent to her kids. There is an older brother that lives with the maternal grandparents. E needs to get some help medically and Mom has no idea how to do it or that it really needs done. The kids' guardian ad litem and I are going to work together and get it done and help Mom to learn how to be her daughter's advocate. If you can't fight the system you might as well try and help the kids get better parents out of it.
Oliver and I had some time alone today which was nice and having two kids most of the day was better. I was proud of myself this morning when I had three kids fed, dressed with teeth brushed at 7:30 this morning including a nebulizer treatment! There is hope for me yet!
I ran out while E was at therapy today and got John shoes that fit, socks, underwear and a pair of clearance jeans. He proudly showed it all to Don and Brynn tonight at separate times. He is so excited about it....we picked out tomorrows outfit which also was a shirt with the tags on it (Target clearance that I bought for O), new socks, new shoes, etc. He cannot believe he has Lightning McQueen underwear. Just breaks my heart, I will never think of a new pair of shoes the same again in my life. His mom is going on a field trip with his class on Thursday and he is already planning what to wear for his mom to see. I know it gave Brynn and Don some perspective today too.
Okay, the cute thing is....John is taking to Brynn! He came and took her hand tonight and asked her to play trains and to read him a bedtime story. I know my daughter's heart will be forever changed by this one little boy. Oliver sure did! They also packed up his "old" clothes in his suitcase together to save for when he goes home. I will be sure to send him home with lots of his "new" stuff too! I did keep a couple of his things for home in the mix but most were not things I would let Oliver play in the dirt in:(
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Day one of fostering!
Holy cow I am exhuasted! What a day today was for all of us. Oliver had speech therapy this morning. The social worker/case manager was supposed to be at our house at 12:00 but we were both running late so they got here about 12:30. She forgot the custody letter and phone numbers that I needed along with other pertinent information. She didn't even know if the kids had eaten. WHATEVER! I got to work with the system I have been give not try to fight it, right? So she left me a hungry 4 year old boy who is very lonely and sad, a 13 month old little girl who is more like 6 or 7 month old in size and in development, a dirty diaper bag with 2 outfits for the baby, some diapers, baby food and a nebulizer. Nothing for poor John.
So, we had lunch. Chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, tater tots, carrots, and fruit what every 2 and 4 year old boy loves. John warmed up to me pretty quick asking for ranch and more food:) I fed the baby two jars of stage 2 baby food and some juice from a sippy cup. She did feed herself some Gerber puffs. Then I made some calls. Lizzie goes to speech, occupational and physical therapy on Tuesday mornings. So, tomorrow we will go to them (bmom is coming, not sure about how I feel about it). And John and I got to talk to his preschool teacher and so he is going back there tomorrow! He is very excited and his teacher was much relieved to hear from both of us. She said the fact that he is talking to me is huge, he is very very shy.
The baby barely napped, not sure how to get her down. Going to ask Mom tomorrow for how to accomplish it amongst other things. Oliver and I rocked and had a bottle but no nap for him either. I am hoping to change all that, I could really use an hour break. Oliver and John had a lot of fun today playing together. John can't believe all the toys and the swing set in the backyard and got big eyed over the pool and water. After an early dinner (Lizzie threw hers up all over) we all got in the car and went to meet their former (for a week) foster mom to get John's suitcase and for me to get a quick demo on a nebulizer.
Home for baths and bed. Lizzie went down at 7:00 and the boys at 8:00 with no problems. John gave me a hug and a kiss. He was so excited to get two drawers in the nightstand next to his bed in Oliver's room and a toothbrush that he got to pick from my stash. So sweet! He had some rough times today, welled up with tears that he misses his mom. Oh, the cutest thing....Lizzie had to have her finger and toe nails clipped and he then wanted his done, then Oliver his. It was just too cute that they all wanted them done and all sat still as could be for me to do them.
How am I doing? It was a tough day, I missed my time with Oliver but know he was fine. He was having a great time and didn't seem to mind that I was having to tend to two other kids. I didn't get to focus on his eating like I should of but I will with time. I plan to do breakfast and lunch while John is at school which should help. John is in school 8:00 to 1:45 Monday through Friday. I am hoping as the days go by I learn better how to manage my time and juggle three kids. I was basically home alone with them today, Brynn was just home for a couple of hours that involved a nap....this has to be tough for her too. She isn't working too much this week and Don has a break between mini-terms so he is only gone Monday and Wednesday evenings this week. I just have to remember to ask God to guide me many times each day and to give me strength but overall it was a great day!
Tomorrow should be interesting and each day will get better!
So, we had lunch. Chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, tater tots, carrots, and fruit what every 2 and 4 year old boy loves. John warmed up to me pretty quick asking for ranch and more food:) I fed the baby two jars of stage 2 baby food and some juice from a sippy cup. She did feed herself some Gerber puffs. Then I made some calls. Lizzie goes to speech, occupational and physical therapy on Tuesday mornings. So, tomorrow we will go to them (bmom is coming, not sure about how I feel about it). And John and I got to talk to his preschool teacher and so he is going back there tomorrow! He is very excited and his teacher was much relieved to hear from both of us. She said the fact that he is talking to me is huge, he is very very shy.
The baby barely napped, not sure how to get her down. Going to ask Mom tomorrow for how to accomplish it amongst other things. Oliver and I rocked and had a bottle but no nap for him either. I am hoping to change all that, I could really use an hour break. Oliver and John had a lot of fun today playing together. John can't believe all the toys and the swing set in the backyard and got big eyed over the pool and water. After an early dinner (Lizzie threw hers up all over) we all got in the car and went to meet their former (for a week) foster mom to get John's suitcase and for me to get a quick demo on a nebulizer.
Home for baths and bed. Lizzie went down at 7:00 and the boys at 8:00 with no problems. John gave me a hug and a kiss. He was so excited to get two drawers in the nightstand next to his bed in Oliver's room and a toothbrush that he got to pick from my stash. So sweet! He had some rough times today, welled up with tears that he misses his mom. Oh, the cutest thing....Lizzie had to have her finger and toe nails clipped and he then wanted his done, then Oliver his. It was just too cute that they all wanted them done and all sat still as could be for me to do them.
How am I doing? It was a tough day, I missed my time with Oliver but know he was fine. He was having a great time and didn't seem to mind that I was having to tend to two other kids. I didn't get to focus on his eating like I should of but I will with time. I plan to do breakfast and lunch while John is at school which should help. John is in school 8:00 to 1:45 Monday through Friday. I am hoping as the days go by I learn better how to manage my time and juggle three kids. I was basically home alone with them today, Brynn was just home for a couple of hours that involved a nap....this has to be tough for her too. She isn't working too much this week and Don has a break between mini-terms so he is only gone Monday and Wednesday evenings this week. I just have to remember to ask God to guide me many times each day and to give me strength but overall it was a great day!
Tomorrow should be interesting and each day will get better!
Friday, February 26, 2010
We Are Expecting Our First Foster Kids!
Today, just as I was arriving home from Oliver's last (as in final) GI visit (he got a clean bill of health), I got a call from our licensing social worker. "First, congratulations you are officially a licensed foster family. Second, we have a situation we want to talk to you about." I had heard that this is how it goes, as soon as you are licensed you get kids. The thought of us (yeah right) because the little girl (13 months) has some developmental delays and is in therapy already and I am experienced in these things because of Oliver. The little girl E is 13 months and her brother J is 4 years old. He has been in preschool where the kids I used to watch go to school. When the kids came back in to foster care earlier this week he was pulled out of preschool to go to work at the daycare with his current foster mom. These kids have sadly been in foster care before and come from a home with a history of domestic violence.
So, tomorrow and Sunday we are in Tampa at ZTA parent's weekend and then Monday we will get the kids sometime in the afternoon. Sometime this weekend we need to trade the crib and a twin bed around so they are in the right rooms. I am currently washing clothes for them and have a list for Target that also has to be accomplished this weekend. I am excited but nervous. I know these kids won't probably be with us too long and it totally breaks my heart that they have been a home with domestic violence and already in and out of foster care in their short little lives. I guess it is time to put my armour on and prepare for my heart to be broken but know that these kids need lots of love and good home and we can provide that. Say a prayer for them and the horrible times they are going through and also for our family as we set out on this journey! God hasn't failed me yet and I know he will see all of us through this to stronger people.
So, tomorrow and Sunday we are in Tampa at ZTA parent's weekend and then Monday we will get the kids sometime in the afternoon. Sometime this weekend we need to trade the crib and a twin bed around so they are in the right rooms. I am currently washing clothes for them and have a list for Target that also has to be accomplished this weekend. I am excited but nervous. I know these kids won't probably be with us too long and it totally breaks my heart that they have been a home with domestic violence and already in and out of foster care in their short little lives. I guess it is time to put my armour on and prepare for my heart to be broken but know that these kids need lots of love and good home and we can provide that. Say a prayer for them and the horrible times they are going through and also for our family as we set out on this journey! God hasn't failed me yet and I know he will see all of us through this to stronger people.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
What is happening
Nothing is really happening. We have worked very hard the last few days at our church yard sale that I organize each year. It was a huge success, we raised over $1500 for our church. I got lots of good things for our new endeavour. Another foster mom, who is friends with my good friend Tina, has started accepting donations from families for clothing, shoes, etc. for the kids that are hopefully coming to Southwest Florida. I have offered to help her get the word out, sort everything and store what I can in our garage. We hope to sort everything by sex and size and then we can easily give it out as the kids arrive in to our foster system. We will also need strollers, high chairs, car seats, bikes, etc. it is just a matter of what to do with it all while we wait. It will come that I am sure of! It is amazing how the hearts of people are so big.
I keep reading and hearing how there is no real plan in place for these kids to come. Please pray that our government figures out how to allow these kids in to the US and out of the devestation that they are currently living in. From what we have been told they are working on it and it will happen but there is no system in place for it right now. The thought of how to document these kids for immigration overwhelms me. There really is no way.....I think their paper history will have to start now. It is so sad to think of.....
I keep reading and hearing how there is no real plan in place for these kids to come. Please pray that our government figures out how to allow these kids in to the US and out of the devestation that they are currently living in. From what we have been told they are working on it and it will happen but there is no system in place for it right now. The thought of how to document these kids for immigration overwhelms me. There really is no way.....I think their paper history will have to start now. It is so sad to think of.....
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A new adventure for our family
It has been so long since I blogged and I had thought in February I would do my final post to celebrate Oliver's 2nd year gotcha day. However, the Baers' den is about to grow again so I decided to start blogging again. You must be wondering what we are up to if you haven't had contact with us in the last few months (I know my bad blogging doesn't help).....well, we are embarking on a new journey fostering children in our home. It is something that has been in both Don and my hearts for some time. We both feel that God has led us to this decision.
We started MAPPS classes to become parents this past fall only because one of Don's classes at the local college was canceled at the last minute. We kept looking at taking them but couldn't find the time. But low and behold we could manage it. Our intention was to foster one child close in age to Oliver (under 4) until this fall when Brynn goes off to college. Well this last week an earthquake in Haiti changed all that for us. God kept talking to me and I to him. Then the news media showed picture of all the devastated children in Haiti and I cried, stopped watching the news because my heart couldn't take it.
Well this past Saturday was our 11th anniversary. We were in Orlando visiting our parents. So, we got a rare indulgence of a night out by ourselves. We chose the same Outback steakhouse that Don picked 12 years ago to tell me that he loved me and wanted to be a part of my life forever in. I don't think either of us thought of that on Saturday but I have since. Well our conversation somehow turned to Haiti, our fostering and that Don thought we needed to do what we could by fostering more children and I was totally on board. We then went to see the Blind Side and if you have seen it I don't need to say more....for those of you who haven't, it shows what a difference a great family can make for a child without parents. Then on the news that night we saw Haitian children get off a plane at the Sanford airport with only the clothes on their backs going to foster families.
Sunday and Monday we kept talking about it and how we were going to do it. We honestly had and still have no real idea how we will manage three more kids with the trauma that they have been through not to mention the language barrier, etc. Well on Monday evening I sent an email to our social worker and asked what we could do, can we quickly go from 1 child to 3? I quickly got an answer on Tuesday, "move your furniture around and show us you have a bedroom and beds for 2 more kids and take a picture FAST." They were going to call us anyway as they are expecting a large number of Haitian orphans to begin arriving soon and need to find beds and homes for all of them. Our license was at the perfect place in the approval process to be quickly changed to 3 kids.
So a post on Facebook and an email to all the folks at North Naples Fire District and guess what?? The Lord has provided us with an abundance of love and support not to mention furniture and clothes. Don took yesterday off and we moved bedrooms around, picked up furniture and displaced Brynn from her pretty room to the den. We will get her better situated this weekend. Thank you Brynn for helping us and trying to get on the Tanya train. We are still in need of clothes, toys, car seats, etc. but I am sure it will all come together. We don't know when it will happen, ages of kids or anything. I am hopeful we can help keep a sibling group together. And thank you to my husband for believing in me! I love you! I think our 11th year of marriage has some awesome things in store for us!
We started MAPPS classes to become parents this past fall only because one of Don's classes at the local college was canceled at the last minute. We kept looking at taking them but couldn't find the time. But low and behold we could manage it. Our intention was to foster one child close in age to Oliver (under 4) until this fall when Brynn goes off to college. Well this last week an earthquake in Haiti changed all that for us. God kept talking to me and I to him. Then the news media showed picture of all the devastated children in Haiti and I cried, stopped watching the news because my heart couldn't take it.
Well this past Saturday was our 11th anniversary. We were in Orlando visiting our parents. So, we got a rare indulgence of a night out by ourselves. We chose the same Outback steakhouse that Don picked 12 years ago to tell me that he loved me and wanted to be a part of my life forever in. I don't think either of us thought of that on Saturday but I have since. Well our conversation somehow turned to Haiti, our fostering and that Don thought we needed to do what we could by fostering more children and I was totally on board. We then went to see the Blind Side and if you have seen it I don't need to say more....for those of you who haven't, it shows what a difference a great family can make for a child without parents. Then on the news that night we saw Haitian children get off a plane at the Sanford airport with only the clothes on their backs going to foster families.
Sunday and Monday we kept talking about it and how we were going to do it. We honestly had and still have no real idea how we will manage three more kids with the trauma that they have been through not to mention the language barrier, etc. Well on Monday evening I sent an email to our social worker and asked what we could do, can we quickly go from 1 child to 3? I quickly got an answer on Tuesday, "move your furniture around and show us you have a bedroom and beds for 2 more kids and take a picture FAST." They were going to call us anyway as they are expecting a large number of Haitian orphans to begin arriving soon and need to find beds and homes for all of them. Our license was at the perfect place in the approval process to be quickly changed to 3 kids.
So a post on Facebook and an email to all the folks at North Naples Fire District and guess what?? The Lord has provided us with an abundance of love and support not to mention furniture and clothes. Don took yesterday off and we moved bedrooms around, picked up furniture and displaced Brynn from her pretty room to the den. We will get her better situated this weekend. Thank you Brynn for helping us and trying to get on the Tanya train. We are still in need of clothes, toys, car seats, etc. but I am sure it will all come together. We don't know when it will happen, ages of kids or anything. I am hopeful we can help keep a sibling group together. And thank you to my husband for believing in me! I love you! I think our 11th year of marriage has some awesome things in store for us!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Help a family in the process of adopting
I stumbled across a blog a few weeks ago of a family that lives close to me. I have only encountered a couple families with Russian sweeties that live here. Sad but true! Well Elizabeth and her husband have already been on trip 1 and met their darling daughter and are leaving in about 6 weeks for court. They are trying to raise the funds to complete their adoption of this very sweet 8 year old girl. She has several great fundraisers on her blog. One is for magazines, Adoptive Families is on of them. It is a pretty great fundraiser as 40% of the subscription goes to their adoption. Another is Creative Memories which she sells. They are having a dinner and silent auction on May 16th here in Fort Myers! If you have anything you want to donate, please let me know and I would be happy to pass it along. I am hoping to put together a couple of baskets for the silent auction. I can't wait to meet Elizabeth in person on Thursday, I know she is looking forward to meeting us too! So if you can please help Elizabeth & Don bring their daughter home!
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