Sunday Scaries

We made it to Sunday Night!

I am exhausted in the best way possible! This weekend has filled my heart to the point of overflowing! If I wasn't still adjusting I'd invited everyone over to spend time and to show how appreciative I am!

Mister Man

• He is 5 months old.

• He has the most magnificent smile, it makes his cheeks look AMAZING!

• He loves snuggles, like newborn snuggles -- curled up on your chest, wanting that warmth and love.

• Chatterbox - it took until today for him to show this! He was so quiet and slowly has started smiling and chatting, and I'm LOVING it!

• He is super chill, very relaxed so far - might be part of adjusting or could be his personality.

• He has been a great sleeper, I'm keeping my FINGERS CROSSED that it's not a honeymoon phase.

• He enjoys outside! Fall is perfect for him to observe different colors and movement from the wind.

• He likes to eat! When it's time for his bottle...HE IS READY!

• He's been adjusting well - at least in my opinion. After each nap or night, I see him open up more in his actions. It will take time, but we will get there.

Transition

The transition feels like it happened in 3.5 seconds but also felt like it couldn't get here quick enough. Between the call and mister man being dropped off was about 36 to 40 hours.

Wednesday: I received the call Wednesday afternoon, discussing mister man and if I'd be willing to accept his placement. I was able to ask the questions I had regarding him and then about my personal plans for the next two months. I shared I had obligations and I'd love to take mister man, but I need to be sure it's okay to have these weekends with babysitters. She assured me that was fine and we discussed her coming by the next day with paperwork.

Thursday: The caseworker for mister man came over Thursday afternoon. She was here for an hour and a half to make sure all the paperwork was ready for him to get dropped off the next morning. We made plans for all three weekends that I have weddings and made sure that those who needed background checks, would be completed prior to my first date I'd be gone. Then she left, the anxiousness & excitement kicked in and I barely slept.

Friday: Woke up with two dogs (I'm watching my sisters since she's visiting some of the fam bam out east), let them out, had some coffee, taught my first lesson, and paced the kitchen. Mister man got dropped off a little after 10:00 a.m. and then the day became non-stop excitement/busy! I feel like I need to note when I say dropped off I truly mean dropped off! I took him out of the car while my caseworker unloaded what he came with and then she left. I was on work until 2:45 -- THANK GOODNESS the day ended early! Two of my friends came in the afternoon to help with the dogs and see what I needed, which I truly appreciated. Mister man went down for both naps with ease. I had a little more trouble with bedtime, it took two rounds as I didn't give him enough to eat the first round. He slept that first night with ease...myself, not so much.

Bonding

This weekend I primarily focused on our bonding. He came with notes and a routine and I made sure to stick with that as closely as possible to ensure a smoother transition. When he was awake my goal was to make sure he was fed and comfortable, felt loved with snuggles and play, and had a clean and dry diaper if he was upset. We successfully completed that mission!

I feel that I can tell he's becoming aware that I'm someone he should be familiar with. I'm who he sees when he's getting up, when he's eating a bottle, getting changed, being put to bed. I want to make sure he knows I'm going to be consistent. That was my biggest worry for the weekends but I'll get through it! I am able to tell he's becoming comfortable based on the way he relaxes when I get him out of the crib, or he knows when he lays a certain way its time for a bottle and finally by tonight he didn't cry when I readjusted our sitting positions.

How are the dogs with him?

Jovie is a curious cat about mister man. She is also a little jealous. When he first got dropped off I put the dogs outside. I brought them in during his first nap to let them sniff his stuff. When I went get him from his nap I put the gate up and left them in the kitchen with a play area in the basement. Rudy ran around in the basement without care. Jovie laid at the gate and whined the entire time.

Overall, they were both intrigued but good. They get too close and try to lick him - especially after a bottle or some spit-up. But after telling them no or creating a block zone, they've both been good.

*That's not to say it won't be a bit easier with only one dog next week!

Teacher Dana

I am lucky enough to work from home until we begin our hybrid model on October 26th. I am very grateful for that. It allows me to bond with mister man a bit more before he starts with babysitters and then daycare.

I feel that this is such an intense time in the world that it wouldn't be fair to not help with this transition to hybrid for my students or their families. I am able to tell them that I am a licensed foster parent and received my first placement. I made sure to discuss with my administration prior just to ensure I was still being professional, but also so my family knew why I'd be home, that I was healthy, and why there may be a baby in my lap or strapped to me at some points.

Reunification

I have received numerous questions or comments already regarding how challenging it's going to be when he enters the time of the reunification. Without being completely rude I want to say:

WELL DUH!

Obviously, it's going to break my heart into pieces! It's going to be worse than my worst breakup - not that there've been many (haha). But that's not the purpose behind this process. I'm here to be a loving and safe home for mister man in the hopes that his family can be whole again. I know my feelings and opinions will be a roller coaster as this process continues, but that's for me to vent out as I please. I knew what I was signing up for, knowing that my heart was going to get shattered at some point. It was my choice to complete my licensing with that knowledge.

As my feelings grow and change - as I'm sure they will! Please be gentle, and I mean very gentle since I'm a sensitive one, and remind me that I have a solid foundation for being a foster parent and if that changes I have some self-reflecting to do.

Sunday Scaries

I don't have the typical Sunday scaries that are talked about, and I want to be mindful and change that into my Sunday intentions. I'm going to set 3 for this week in this post, with the goal to set 3 every week for myself.

1. Find 1 positive for the week in all aspects of your life right now: mister man, the pups, teaching, grad school, and everyday home living.

2. Take 2 scheduled hours a day away from the screen. 1 for exercise and 1 for something I enjoy.

3. Declutter/clean 1 area before bed each night. As this transition has taken place I've left lots of things lying around the house that are not necessary and not for mister man. If I can take the time to reset how my house should look before I go to bed, I'll wake up feeling better!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

I honestly feel I cannot thank everyone who has supported me in any way during this process enough. It's only the beginning and I know I will need continued support, especially at times I might not be the most willing to acknowledge or show my appreciation all those who have helped me.

God has been so good to me, and I just want to appreciate the life I have at this very moment. I have a sweet boy who will let me care for him. I have two pups sitting on both sides of me while I type this, and I have a crazy amount of texts, messages, and love coming my way! I appreciate every part of it!