My OB thinks there isn’t any reason we couldn’t try to have another baby, we’ll just try to monitor a little more closely and possibly do some progesterone shots. Nate and I are gonna think on this for awhile and see how we feel later. No reason to make any permanent decisions now and we’d probably regret them later anyway. So, in the meantime, we’re going back on the foster care list!
Why?
We describe our reasons for fostering here.
Who?
For the first time we are signing up for a child who is younger than our biological children. We’re looking at 6 to 18 months, boy or girl. We’ve had younger ones for respite, but all of our full time placements have been older than Hannah. I think it will be really good for Benjamin because he is a bit of a momma’s boy. Both of our kiddos really like babies and I’m hoping that if we get them after the newborn stage, I’ll be a little bit more sane. Hannah and Benjamin will also both be helpful with caring for, providing good examples, and loving on the little one.
Since this child will be more in the ‘birth order’ of our family we would be more open to considering adoption if that becomes the situation. But our ministry really is focused on redemption for the bio family and reunification. If we adopted every kid we had, we would be done with fostering very quickly!
Why now?
We are hearing that the state is very short on families and that children as young as three are in group homes right now. Our heart is actually for the older children (like the ones that are aging out), but that will have to be ‘phase 2’ of our fostering journey when we no longer have littles in the house. With holidays coming up and a couple trips in our future, we will have to ensure that the child will be able to go with us as finding respite will be unlikely. But that is also why we think we should go back on the list now as opposed to waiting until January, it breaks our heart to imagine a baby not having a happy holiday season in a safe home.
So what happens next?
Monday we go on the list. Our agency has a couple other families who are also available for the same age range so if a child comes into the system, our agency (and the state) will pick the best placement out of all the options. We could get a child on Monday or it could be weeks. We were on the list one time for over two months before we received a placement. In the mean time, we will be available for respite for other families and go on with our ‘normal’ lives.
If you would like to partner with us and pray for us, we would really appreciate it. Praying for a child that we can impact and a bio family that is open to us loving on them is high on our priority list. For our children to be safe and understanding as we minister to others. And for us to be prepared for what is coming our way.
If you would like to receive updates regarding what’s going on, we usually send out a more secure email periodically and with specific needs rather than posting on facebook (though cryptic messages may be found there on occasion). Please message me and I’ll add you to our mailing list.
Yay!
P.S. November is National Adoption Month!