Baby Girl

As most of you know, we cannot post the name of our baby girl, nor any concrete details surrounding her placement.  This is a public blog and we have to protect her and us.  Sorry if the term 'baby girl' gets annoying to read.  

On that Thursday I was browsing IKEA just for fun.  Both boys were in school and I had not actually taken a day to just hang out shopping around by myself.  It felt so relaxing.  I wasn't thinking about fostering, just enjoying a bit of a break in the day.  Then, while walking through the dining section, our intake coordinator called me.  Thankfully I had a comfy place to sit while he explained the situation and sent over the confidential docs concerning baby girl.  By God's design, Phil had already started working from home and he was able to be on the phone with me as we quickly read her diagnosis and immediate future medical needs.  You really have to consider all of these things carefully because a placement now could mean adoption later on.

Maybe out of desperation to actually do this foster parent thing, and without any fear in our hearts about extra medical conditions, we said YES!  Later we would learn that we were hand selected for baby girl because (1) I stay at home and she could not be placed directly into a childcare situation and (2) we live close to where visitations would take place.

To say we were thrilled would not be appropriate.  Our hearts were broken for a baby who was not going home to her mom and dad.  All we wanted to do was hold her and provide for her every need.  It was very surreal.  After all of the emergency placement calls, we had equipped ourselves a bit better to be ready for a baby and I had all weekend to collect more things.  Friends were so gracious to give an entire 0-12 month wardrobe for her along with a Boppy, bath tub etc.

I met baby girl Friday night, roomed in with her at the hospital Sunday night, and she came to us on Tuesday.  Miraculously and against all the doctor's prior prognosis, she did not have to come home on the pulse ox monitor, though she did require around the clock meds.

Placement was a bit of a whirlwind.  So many people come to see the child in your home in the first 3 weeks; CPS, our caseworker, her attorney, social workers associated with the attorney.  I appreciated their attention and learned a lot through my interaction with them.  Medical appts were scheduled at one per week and meds were procured.  It was a busy month adjusting and learning what it means to have a 'ward of the state' living in your home.  More on that in a future post.