On Wednesday, we got the call. The doctor had an answer to what is wrong with our precious foster baby. The last labs came back and he tested positive to a condition called congenital CMV. To learn more about it click here---> CMV INFO
At this point we really don't know what all to expect or how much he has been affected by this infection. However, we do know that we have a loooong road ahead of us. When she called, she asked if we could go ahead and take him on to the hospital to have a spinal tap done and we did. We haven't gotten the results back yet from that. Next week, they are sending him to Emory to see an eye doctor in hopes of saving as much of his sight as possible. Then we are going to be taking him to Children's in Atlanta to have some scans of his brain done to see what damage he may have. We were told he has almost a 90% chance of being disabled ,because he was born showing symptoms (small size, small head ,jaundice, swollen liver, and hematomas). However, we believe 10% means we still have hope. WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD!
Our doctor suggested we could just send him back (I know, how sad.).
After a long heart to heart talk ,Hubs and I have decided that he is right where he needs to be..with us. He is in a home that is willing to do everything we can to give him the best outcome possible. If it comes to a point where we feel we can't meet all of his needs, then we will consider moving him, but for now he is receiving all the TLC we can possibly smother a baby with.
The only good thing about the doctor's call is that now we atleast know what we are dealing with. Please keep our sweet boy in your prayers.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6
Wow!!! It's been a while since I've posted on here. LIFE has been a roller coaster ride these last few weeks. So here is a quick update ,but hopefully later this week I can post in more detail. So where have I been and What's happening around here?...
1.We have a new foster. A newborn 5 lb baby boy that we shall refer to as "Baby B or BB" on my blog. JJ named him "Baby Butter"...lol I think he thinks this baby is his brother ,because his mom just had a new baby and he's a lil confused. I've explained that this is not the baby that came out of his mommy's tummy,but he still thinks it is his brother. So baby butter "BB" it shall be.
2.New placements= Extra visits from DFCS, a meeting with our new CASA, a meeting with our new GAL, first checkups(extra because he is so new and preemie), visitations, and a WIC appointment...all in one week. Did I mention sleepless nights? Yes, I've had plenty of those this week.
3.We were in one of the areas in GA that was hit by the tornadoes ,but praise God our life and home was spared. One of the most devastated areas was our county. When the storm came over the GA line it hit Haralson county first right where my daughter Katie's home is, but she was spared. She called me from a neighbor's closet to tell me she was in the middle of a horrible storm(It was still calm and quiet like nothing was happening here), but she said mom it's bad here, and she told me that we should all go ahead and seek shelter. Then she told me she loved me. Talk about feeling helpless and scared. I hate it when storms come and my children are scattered. I wanted them here with me. Thankfully, the storm skipped Katie's ,but hit all around and damaged many homes. Then it started our way. We got numerous calls before the power went out to seek shelter immediately and we did. I know what storms can do. Thankfully it jumped our home ,but hit some homes up the road. Then it was headed toward Anna's place. ..one of the worst hit places in paulding county. It hit the three homes right beside Anna's and then jumped hers and hit the next house down. Talk about a close call. Next it was headed toward my mom's. Between my house and mom's it hit a school, the airport, and numerous homes ,but skipped my mom's and hit some homes up the road from hers. So it was amazing how close we all came. Anna had to stay with us a few days ,because you couldn't get to her home and her power was out for days. It was for sure a scary time but praise be to God, he heard my prayers and protected my most precious thing...my family. We are all just left with lots of cleanup, but we can't complain. We are alive and well. I'll post pics soon. I saw that someone had video taped Anna's place. So I'll try to find that video because you wouldn't believe just how close it was and just how much damage it done. Seeing it in person was something else.
4.No new info on JJ or Z's case. However we do have court coming up next week on JJ and then next month on Z. I don't expect anything new on JJ ,but I'm still worried about Z's. Please keep praying. We still don't have a set TPR court date. So we still have no end in sight. He has now been with us 17 out of 18 months of his life. If we lived in any of the surrounding counties he would already be our forever son, but unfortunately we chose to live in the most foot dragging and unorganized counties in this state...grrrrrrrrr I don't even know what good court will be on Z next month. I can't believe it's been 2 months since the judge said file the TPR but it still hasn't been done. It's so frustrating.
5. Other than that, we have been church attending, church play practicing, house work/ organizing(although it never lasts more than a day), homeschooling, coupon clipping, book reading, child loving, picture taking, and just trying to keep up with this thing called life ...
That's what we've been up to these days. How about you?
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6
 |
One of the hardest things about being a foster parent for me is having to say "No". You wish you could say, "yes" every single time that the call comes in, but you can't. You know that the state really needs you when they call,but ,you also just know when you are "not" the perfect match to a child or children. Since our home got approved for three more kids last week, the phone has been ringing. However, we've had to say "no" five times in a row now. I'm not good with saying "no" ,but I have gotten better than I was. I don't take in children that I know are a high risk. I've never had to have a child removed from my home and I pray I never have to, that's why I'm cautious with every call. Sadly many kids come into care with lots of baggage (issues) and some of the baggage scares me to death. I'm not sure I could handle it. I also have to consider the children in my home and how the baggage of new children may influence them. Sometimes it's tough saying "no" ,but I know deep down in my heart that it's the right thing to say...sometimes.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6
I haven't mentioned our foster JJ that much lately, but he is still here and doing great. Absolutely NOTHING is going on in his case. His parents aren't visiting (by choice). I have yet to meet his parents and he has been here since September. The parents have not even started on their case plan. Nothing. Not one single thing is going on. All I've heard from the case worker and CASA is that most likely parents won't do anything and this will most likely be a termination case. The judge (at the 3 month hearing) told DFCS to pick a forever family before the 6 month hearing. That was a first for me. So different from Z's long drug out case. How can parents not visit their kids? He's just a little 4 year old boy. How can they not care at all. These parents didn't even show up for court...that was a first for me too. All of my past birth parents have worked their case plans (some a little slower than others) but they did it and none of them ever missed a court hearing. So this is all new to me and I've been fostering for almost 7 years. I have no idea what the outcome will be with JJ ,but for now there is no end in sight.
Let me share with you a sweet little moment that I shared with JJ the other day...
I was setting in the laundry room floor folding our endless mountain of laundry and JJ came in and set in the floor beside me.
He said, "I just love your house".
I wasn't sure that I heard him right
so I asked him, "You love my house?".
He said, "Yes, I just love your house".
I said, "Well guess what?".
He said, "What?".
I said, "My house is your house too".
He said, "I know". ( With a big smile on his face:)
I thought that was so precious. It's moments like that, that I'm reminded why I do this thing called foster care.
I know, I've been quieter than normal (Thanks Amber V for reminding me). We don't have a lot going on right now around here, well except for in my head & heart. The stress of the unknown in Z's case is driving me nuts. Please keep the prayers coming for us. The paper work has been turned in to the court. Now they have (If I understand correctly) 15 days to review/accept it. Then we will be assigned a court date for the TPR hearing. Please pray that March is the month. We really need a March date, but we have no guarantee because our judge only hears TPR one day a month and our county is so backed up with TPR cases.
Thankfully, as far as I can tell, the relative (that wanted Z) that I mentioned last week,is out of the picture now. She popped up and left just that fast...hmmmm I don't know why. No one is telling me anything. I feel like I'm in the dark all alone. It's so frustrating. I have the state coming out in the AM and I hope she will fill me in on what's going on. This has been soooo stressful and sooooo loooong and soooo drug out. I feel like Z's case worker knows a lot more than she is telling me .
I took Z to his ped on Monday and he has pneumonia again. I'm not sure if it ever cleared up last month or if this is a new case of it. They changed him to stronger meds. They prescribed breathing treatments every 2 hours around the clock. Our poor baby has been so sick his whole life with breathing issues. That is why I was so worried when they were going to send him to the relative who is not only to old to be raising babies but her & her hubby both smoke in their home and I know poor Z would never make it in that house with smoke. Please pray for our little guy. He is now visiting his mom at the shelter twice a week and I think that is where he is picking up all these germs that keep making him sick.
Our Katie Bug is the BIG 20 today!!!! Happy birthday Katie!!! I can't believe our girl is 20. Time sure flies. I told my hubby if I could that I'd raise my kids all over again. I miss when mine were all little. Those were the best days of my life.
We are still working on Katie's wedding.
Well, I gotta run. I'm waiting on the transporter to bring my Z back from his visit. I guess I should get up and get dressed.
I'll post a better post soon...I promise.
