Updates

We met with Destinee's parents and grandparents last Tuesday. It was an interesting experience... I walked up at the same time as they did and we were all eye-balling each other, I held Destinee up and said " I think this belongs to you", thank goodness they smiled and introduced themselves. They then had an hour visit with Destinee and after that the social worker, Matt and I, Destinee and her parents and grandparents had a team meeting. We went over what they would have to do to get her back and the grandparents got to put their two cents in. It was weird because you could tell that the Dad's parents did not think they should get Destinee back, it made for a very awkward situation since he was obviously very angry at them. Destinee's Mom has been accepted to the House of Hope, an in-patient drug treatment program and has apparently been doing as much as possible to get the ball rolling for her treatment plan. The Dad not so much, he seems to be dragging his feet and constantly complains what this is costing him financially.
So far my feeling is that Destinee's Mom might do what it takes to get her back so I am not getting my hopes up on her being a part of our family permanently. The best place for her is with her Mother if that becomes a healthy situation. I am trying to leave it up to God and not judge.

We had the girls pictures taken this week, I will post them as soon as I can.

Jocelyn's new thing is when Destinee is crying she runs to her yelling "I'm coming sweetheart". Too cute!

On another note - Happy Birthday to my fabulous husband. I don't know what I would do without him, he makes every day brighter for me. I love you Matt!

Baby D

Meet Destinee :)
The nurses at the hospital have been calling her Desi, and we may continue that unless we find a more suitable nickname!
Jocelyn is so happy to be the "big sister" . She is so soft and gentle with her. Every time she cries Jocelyn runs and gets her a binky. Jocelyn also gave her a lovey that she doesn't use.
Desi was born with heroin fetal addiction and has spent the last three weeks being weaned off that with Morphine. The only apparent setback that she has suffered so far is a terrible diaper rash, the doctors said it was the worst they had ever seen. She is a tough little girl and has already been through so much! I was expecting her to be really fussy since she just ended her Morphine yesterday but she was just like a normal happy baby.
We meet with DCFS and the biological parents on Tuesday, not sure what that will involve. We are already attached to her so it will be heartbreaking if we ever have to give her back, unfortunately I think the ones most effected by that would be Jocelyn and Desi.
More later!

Going private...

In order to post about Baby D I need to make our blog private. If you would like to be"invited" please send me an email! Thanks!

A New Addition

Matt and I found out tonight that we will be bringing a new addition home from the hospital on Saturday. Baby D is a baby girl, born March 25. She was born with fetal heroin addiction and is finally ready to leave the hospital. We will get to go to the hospital and meet her tomorrow and then bring her home on Saturday. We are excited and scared at the same time.
The parents want reunification so if they succeed with their treatment program Baby D will be returned to them at that time. I am already heartbroken at that possibility although I wish them the best. If they do not complete their program we will most likely be able to adopt her. It is so hard not knowing the future but we knew that we would go through this when we became foster parents. As tough as it may be I am so glad we made this decision and can't wait to make a difference in this precious little child's life.
More to come...

Pictures

Las Vegas etc.

We were able to spend last week in Las Vegas thanks to my Mom and her timeshare. My Mom, Cayden, Marcia, Jocelyn, Matt and I all drove down last Friday... all of us in one van, thank goodness for portable DVD players and the Nintendo DS!
We had a fabulous time going to the Aquarium, Circus Circus, Treasure Island, the M&M factory and the swimming pool. Obviously it was a very kid oriented trip but we had a wonderful time. Jocelyn loved every minute of it. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as nice as you expect Vegas to be, it was a little chilly and very windy but we did manage a little time at the pool. Jocelyn loved the water, by the end of the trip she had almost mastered swimming with the water wings. I will enroll her in lessons again soon. :)

Yesterday Jocelyn went to Myah's 4th birthday party. They had a princess castle jump house and Joss had the time of her life bouncing and climbing the ladder to slide down. She has talked about nothing else since we left. Thanks Misty, Zach and Myah!

Congratulations to Marc, Terah, Lexie and Brodie on the birth of the twins Gabrielle and Danielle. I can't wait to meet my new nieces!

I start training for the Census next week, yeah!

Pictures will be posted as soon as I figure out how to get them off our new camera! ;)