It's been just over a month since we've been blessed with three children to care for. Daily I feel inadequate to care for these needy children. The fact that they are blossoming and changing into happy, healthy children gives me hope and confidence.
A Nice Change
The cps worker who investigated their case (seeing the living condition they were removed from) came to see the children again the other day. She was very impressed at how well the children were behaving compared with one month ago. She said, "This time, I could actually sit down and have a conversation with each of the kids. Before, I couldn't do that." The kids were obviously out of control when we got them.
Just a couple of weeks ago Dos started to bloom. Before she seemed distant to me, yet clingy to Josh and especially sad when he was at work. However, one day she started to talk more and something seemed to "click" for her. She figured out what obedience meant and actually started to do just that. We hardly ever have to put her in time-out now. I was so thankful to have at least one that wasn't a constant battle!
Life as a Foster Parent
Sometimes I wonder when we have time to care for the kids between the appointments and required paperwork! It's funny because just when I thought I was done with all the paperwork (to get licensed) we have a ton more to keep up with for the kids. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that this stuff is important and am so thankful that the DFPS and our agency exist because many children are in safe loving homes now. Here are just a few of the things we have to keep up with:
- dental, eye, psychiatric, general doctor appointments (We must fax a form filled out by the doctor after every visit.)
- monthly medication logs (logging every ounce of medication given to the child)
- biweekly foster parent logs stating how we are helping the kids meet their behavioral, educational, social, developmental, etc. goals and a lot of other information
- incident reports
- visits from cps workers, case workers, casa workers, and other people
- visits with family every other week
- school paperwork
I think I am finally caught up, but it has taken me hours. The kids ask, "What are you doing?" Poor kids, there I sit signing and scanning papers all day! Hopefully, I can stay on top of it from now on so I can do it mostly during their quiet time.
School Issues
Uno is my extremely active little 6 year old. His Kindergarten teacher called us in for a parent-teacher conference. Not only is he is having a lot of behavior issues, but because he probably missed so much school in his bio home he is so far behind he will have to repeat the grade.
In the classroom, Uno sits directly in front of his teacher and when they are on the carpet he sits right beside her. Yesterday, he hit/pinched/etc other students 7 times! His teacher said he cannot sit still and suggested medication. He is missing so much school going to all of these scheduled appointments, anyway, sometimes I wonder if we should just pull him out now since he's going to repeat the grade anyway.
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