Well, shut my mouth wide open.
Did I tell you I was kind of relieved that K was set to be a short-term placement? That I was not going to be the one to get him into Early Intervention and Head Start? That I was not going to have to hide out forever from the creepy gangster prostitutes otherwise known as the Raising Arizona family who live in the next town up the freeway?
I did? Hahaha!
Grandma down in Southern Cal did not pass her background check. All is once again in limbo.
I actually adore little K and would love, love, love to keep him forever. He is funny and sweet and soooooohoho darn cute.
But ... Early Intervention and Head Start make my stomach hurt. And my house is a wreck every single day. I thought my big boys wrecked it but I was dead wrong, compared to the way a 3-year-old can wreck it. And my work -- I am using up all my goodwill there as it comes in with my leaving to pick up kids and mental health days and doctor appointments. I don't know how much further I can push it.
And we are going to Alaska in three weeks, and we have four, count 'em, FOUR plane tickets. We do not have a ticket for K and while he could totally pass for an under-2, there's that whole stinker of a requirement for showing birth certificates. Which reminds me, I better get one for Z. I think they are going to let us take her (I hope, I hope). We could maybe get him a ticket for somewhere in the neighborhood of $900, IF there are even seats left on our flights. I am actually considering doing that rather than sending him to respite care, because I think that would just devastate the poor little guy. Gulp.
(What do you think would happen if I called Alaska Airlines and told them about all this? Does anybody know a PR person there? Because something like this is a PR dream opportunity. I should totally know.)
Best of all, I get to wonder: Can I make all these sacrifices just to lose him in 6 months to some other family member they dredge up?
This, my friends, is why there is a shortage of foster parents in this country. The process is just one sea change after another, all in a teeny tiny cup. You can't plan for the future.
Stay tuned. It's coming whether we plan for it or not.
4 comments:
What a roller coatster ride Ana! Ugg. I hope there are more ups than downs.
Wow. That sounds stressful! Really, I'm so in awe of you and your husband and the choice you've made to help these kids (seasonally and eternally). Are you both basically calm personalities :)? I'd love a post sometime on how your husband deals with this rollercoaster or how it affects family/marital dynamics . . . just 'cause I'm fascinated. You have my constant stream of prayers and best wishes. I'm a virtual fan.
Oh my goodness. The constant uncertainty is something that I don't know I could deal with! I have wanted to foster parent ever since I was a teenager. DH isn't very keen on the idea. You are and will continue to be blessed for what you are doing. I'm praying for you and thinking of you often!
Hang in there, Honey. I can only imagine how tough this is for your whole family! You're in our prayers.
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