[mellaf]

We're well into the process of foster/adopting our 12 year old FD and Hubby has had a couple of layoffs since she was placed with us. The first one was because he worked for a financial company and we all know the state of THAT industry...The second one was more of a "firing" because he had to take time off from work to care for Sparkle while I was hospitalized. We were upfront with our SW's and they have been really cool, even finding funding for Sparkle to go to an overnight summer camp in July. We showed them we're trying and that we had (somewhat) of a safety net so we could handle most of our bills. Hubby was let go from the last job in April and still hasn't received his determination from Unemployment yet! But we were lucky he found a job quickly thru a temp agency that was closer than the last job.

Just keep your chin up! We've been there plenty of times before. Because of the job situation and Sparkle being a FC, we were able to get more than 50% of her day camp fees subsidized and she has a safe and fun place to spend her summer. Ask around because there may be ways to cut costs involved with yours (child care, etc).

Sparkle also talk of getting a job to help out with things--too bad she's 12 and too young, lol. If she can show her trustworthiness over the next year, we'll let her start babysitting to earn some money.