[mamachell]

I was thinking today of how different my life has been for the last 2 years of this fost-adopt process. I was light-heartedly thinking about all of the the "fun" experiences I've been able to have as a result of this process. I have had changes just as the result of having a new baby in the house and also because of having to deal with the county (DFS).

So, I'm asking you to please share some things you have been able to do as a result of this process:

For example, without a baby I would never get to:
try to take a bath in a bathtub with 10 million baby bathtoys
explain to people that it's the baby that's pasing gas (not me)
wonder how long I've been walking around at work with baby spit-up on the shoulder of my blazer
have the freedom to walk into Target with my pj's on to get formula and dare someone to say anything
be a human experiment on sleep deprivation
BEG a baby to sleep, eat, stop screaming, etc.
grit my teeth when the cw keeps referring to my daughter as "the kid"
visit 3 different rehab centers all over the city for visitations
explain to the daycare why my fd's official name is "Baby Girl"


What have YOU been able to do?

[Withay]

I've been able to:

*spend a LOT of time on the freeway for 2+ hrs going to dr appts at the nearest children's hospital

*spend countless nights "sleeping" in the recliner while holding a restless/sick/upset/coliky child

*slept in said recliner (in August) with a towel, heating pad, another towel, child and fleece blanket on top of me (all while having hot flashes )

*been on the receiving end of the messiest kisses in the world

*cried over the many children who have come and gone from my home

*and the list goes on and on and on and .......

[mom2fabtwins]

- explain to my Sunday School class that I didn't have these babies, but I am their mother right now....and no the other kids who called me mom don't live with me anymore....and not it's not because I was a bad mom.

- Explain to the 3 yr old daycare class that I use to be B's mom but now I'm other B's mom, and no the first B can't go home with me - he has a new adoptive mom.

- Explain to the check out lady that all three sizes are for my one child - I just don't know how big he is.....I meet him tomorrow.

- Drive back home after dropping the kids at daycare to get my shirt for work as I don't put that on until after the drop off. I have learned this avoids the baby puke on my shirt.

- learned the miracle of baby wipes.....snot off navy pants, jelly/mustard off a tie, scuff marks off shoes.

- the trill of a heartfelt hug followed by an open mouth kids - all over the side of your freshly made face

[dachshunds4you]

I've been able to:
* Go out to eat with kids barfing at the table and having explosive diarrhea (with no change of clothes)
* Test time-out in every store and public place
* Take a 5 minute shower, any longer and who knows what the house will look like when I get out
* Hug DH and immediately have ad say NO MY DADDY!
* See all my fk's make some sort of improvement while in our care
* Have the most beautiful little girl smile at me and tell me she loves me!

[Boulderbabe]

I've been able to utter the immortal words, "Poop is not an art supply."

(Now THAT i never thought I would do!)

[Mom2blessings]

I've had the "joy" of finding out my 11 year old foster son ate a worm! Yuck! Dug it up in our yard and decided to "prove" he could do it (We had watched the children's movie, "How to Eat Fried Worms") lol.

I've had the priveledge rocking my current adopted daughter to sleep when she first came into care....and she wanted to go home and she was too young to understand "why" that couldn't happen.

I've had to fight with the health department over NOT giving my children 6 shots at one time, to "get them caught up".

I've walked around in a fog, falling asleep everytime I sat down, after getting up with my newborn foster baby, "Tiger".

I've had the joy of dealing with my 5 year old foster son hitting me in Burger King...and having about 15 people stare in disbelief.

I've had to comfort some children who were being adopted when they were so scared to leave our home.

I've had the fun of fighting DFCS to get them to pay the after school care of our foster children.

I learned that when your local representative gets involved, DFCS listens....and quickly!

I've cried when almost all of my kids left....even if they were here only one night.

All of this amounts to good memories Even the fighting with DFCS over paying their bill.