Music Monday: Three Little Birds

We were on our way to a doctor's appointment the other day, and this version of Bob Marley's song came on Pandora.  I wanted to mentally "will" this song over to Evie as we were driving along with her anxiety. 

(I don't like that this thumbnail is a sad face!  Is there a way to change it?)

Random Thoughts on My First Five Days as a Foster Mom

• I knew that I would be emotional about the child and the situation, and everything that comes along with it.  I did not expect to be so emotional about everything ELSE - every little song, commercial, comment... things that have nothing to do with foster care.
• I lost four pounds in four days.  I did not anticipate foster care being a weight loss plan.  I am eating; I think I'm just not snacking as much as I usually do.
• Pumpkin (my cat) has not been so sure about what to do with all of the strangers in the house.  But he has kept his comfy spot in Evie's room, and she likes to have him there when she is going to sleep.
• I did not anticipate the anxiety with every police car we see.  "Is that the popo?  Why are they parked there?"  It makes sense, but that didn't even cross my mind. 
• I have been around kids and worked with them almost all my life.  So then how did I not realize four year olds asked SO MANY questions?!  Constant.  Granted, almost all of the kids I work with in my career have cognitive and/or language delays, so I guess my interaction with a typically developing four year old in recent years is limited.
• Evie has had lots of emotional outbursts and bouts of crying about wanting and missing her mommy; but this has improved especially during the day.  However, there has only been one night so far that she has slept all night without crying for her mommy at some point.
• She is such a sweet little girl!  One night as I was putting her to bed, she said, "I'm glad you're taking care of me."  Melted my heart.  I'm sure it helped that her mom had told her on the phone to listen to me because I was a "very nice lady" so kudos to mom for that. 

The View from Here

Evie

I got three different calls from DSS yesterday.  The first time, I answered the phone and they just wanted to know if I was attending the foster care banquet.  Make my heart race for nothing! 

The second call was needing a placement for a sibling group of a 1 year old and a 7 year old.  I told them even though my license is for 2 children, I am really only wanting to take one for the first placement (and my license is actually only for 0-5 years old anyway so I really wanted to stay in that age range). 

The third call came about 7:30 last night and was for a sibling group of a 4 year old and a 3 year old.  I told them I was not equipped to have two different children in beds (I can accommodate a crib infant and a child in a bed), but would take one if they needed me to.  And at 9:00, I opened the door and there was 4-year-old Evie (blog name - not her real name) with a rat's nest of hair, no shoes* (only socks), and clothes the completely wrong size (18 month shirt and size 10 pants).  After a bath and some painful combing out of the hair, she settled down to sleep pretty easily; but then woke up throughout the night every 1-3 hours crying and/or wanting me to come in the room with her. 

* I have a pretty significant stockpile of clothes that have been donated and/or purchased for really cheap, in all sizes/genders/seasons.  However, I haven't purchased any shoes, with the thought that if they are the age to NEED shoes, they should show up wearing a pair and that would get us through.  Funny how the first placement I get shows up with no shoes!  Thankfully, I have had some different people donate some shoes; and my cousin had given me one pair that fit perfectly (and at the time I thought those were probably too big for the age children I would be getting).  Thanks, Becky!  You saved me from dragging a barefoot child into the store to buy shoes!

Today, we have gone to my storage unit to get the box of clothes in her size, visited the daycare, and went by my work to get some ethnic hair care advice.  She has been pretty easy so far (she even humored me and ate three carrots at lunchtime without a fit!)  Right now she is resting (I think asleep actually!) and then we're off to the store for some hair care products and clothing accessories. 

I don't anticipate that she will be with me for an extremely long time, but from all I have read about the foster care world, it's really hard to make any predictions whatsoever since things change in the blink of an eye!

Music Monday: Patience

I got a call last Tuesday to confirm that I am now available for regular placements.  Now I sit here and wait.  I have said before, that I have tremendous patience with people (especially children) but not so much for processes.  Happy Monday!

 

Said sugar, make it slow and we'll come together fine

all we need is just a little patience.

 

Sometimes I get so tense but I can't speed up the time.

 

I ain't got time for the game (Gotta have a little patience)

 

 

Shed a tear because I'm missing you
I'm still alright to smile
Girl, I think about you every day now
Was a time when I wasn't sure
But you set my mind at ease
There is no doubt you're in my heart now

Said, woman, take it slow
And it'll work itself out fine
All we need is just a little patience
Said, sugar, make it slow
And we'll come together fine
All we need is just a little patience
Patience

I sit here on the stairs
Cause I'd rather be alone
If I can't have you right now I'll wait, dear
Sometimes I get so tense
But I can't speed up the time
But you know, love, there's one more thing to consider

Said, woman, take it slow
And things will be just fine
You and I'll just use a little patience
Said, sugar, take the time
'Cause the lights are shining bright
You and I've got what it takes to make it

We won't fake it
Oh, I'll never break it
Cause I can't take it

Little patience, mhh yeah
Need a little patience, mhh yeah
Just a little patience, mhh yeah
Some more patience

I've been walking the streets at night (yeah)
Just trying to get it right (Need some patience)
It's hard to see with so many around (yeah)
You know, I don't like being stuck in the crowd (Could use some patience)

And the streets don't change but, baby, the names(yeah)
I ain't got time for the game (Gotta have some patience)
'Cause I need you, yeah (yeah)
Yeah, but I need you (All it takes is patience, yeah)

Oh, I need you (Just a little patience)
Oh, I need you (Is all you need)
Oh, this time

Read more: Guns 'N Roses - Patience Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Today's the Day...

... that I told the county I am available for them to call me with a placement.

 

Now on to the waiting for the phone call...

Music Monday: Haven't Met You Yet

I LOVE music.  So I thought I'd start a (somewhat) regular feature... or at least "regular" when the right song strikes me. 

 

Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet" is about finding that perfect mate; the video shows that.  But I think I've known deep down from the time that I first heard this song 4 or 5 years ago, that (for me at least) it was about those kiddos who would eventually come into my life. 

 

Maybe it's because of the line, "I promise you, KID, I'll give so much more than I'll get."  But pretty much the whole song speaks to me in that way. 

 

"You'll make me work so we can work to work it out."  (Yes.)

 

"And being in your life is gonna change me."  (Yes.)

 

"Wherever you are, whenever it's right, you'll come out of nowhere and into my life." (I'm waiting for you, precious little one(s).)

 

"I just haven't met you yet..."

I'm not surprised, not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times, I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in, I talk myself out
I get all worked up, then I let myself down

I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I thought of every possibility

And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

I might have to wait, I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life

And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right and we'll be united

And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility

And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get

Oh, you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah, I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet
Oh, promise you, kid
To give so much more than I get

I said love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, love
(I just haven't met you yet)
Love, love, love, love
Love, love
I just haven't met you yet

Read more: Michael Buble - Haven't Met You Yet Lyrics | MetroLyrics