Doing Respite

Waiting to be able to foster a baby makes me very impatient. Well, who am I kidding? Everything makes me impatient!! :) We wanted to take a baby right after Memorial weekend since we were camping. Just like I had hoped, we got the call on May 31st, hours after we got home from camping. They wanted us to take in a 15 day old baby girl! I was thrilled, specially knowing that all my baby girl stuff was still in Gentry's dresser and hanging in her closet.

I told them I'd need respite (foster babysitting) while I went to YW's camp and for 2 other short weekends for other YW's stuff and my bro's mission homecoming. (because in the 1st 45 days, you can't leave the county with kids- that is considered "protective custody" and after the 45 days they are then considered "wards of the state" or "foster kids" and you have regular freedom back) Marilyn, the placement worker, wasn't sure that it was a good idea to have me take the baby if we were going to be so busy. BUMMER! But I guess I agreed.

Tuesday, one of the YW's weekend trips were cancelled and I had figured out a way around July 4th weekend (another time needed for respite) so besides camp, I was FREE to take a baby. I called them right away to let them know I was ready and should only need respite for camp. Turns out, Marilyn wasn't just saying no because I was too busy, but because you can't use respite at all in that 45 day investigation period. What kind of rule is that?! So dumb! Respite parents ARE foster parents, so why does it matter WHO the kid/baby is with!? I dunno- annoyed me.

I won't have a time when I will be in the county (for 45 days straight) and not need respite until July 26th!! That is a long time to wait, now that we're ready for a baby.

But on Thursday, a placement worker called us and asked if we'd be willing to do respite for another foster parent. They had 3 kids: 7 yr old girl, twin 5 year old boys that needed respite June 8th-21st. How fun? We said yes.......hours later I realized.....we'd have my sister's kids Bailey 8, Colby 5 - from June 14-18th. That means: for a whole week we'd have SEVEN kids!
Girls: 8,7,6 Boys: 5,5,5,4! Madness, complete and utter madness, total insanity~ Hilarious!

Because my bro-in-law is now getting sod this week, he can't go to camp with my sister. He needs to stay home to water it daily and so he'll keep his kids home with him. Whew- we're down 2 extra kids. Meantime, the placement worker was working with our licensing worker to temp. up our license to take 3 kids. (we're only licensed for 2) She is off on Friday, when the foster mom called in a panic to find out if respite was found yet. Another worker not knowing we had committed to this, found foster homes- they had to split them up because there were no families to take 3. (besides us)

I wasn't sure if we were taking them today or not since I never heard back. But I shopped for all kinds of kids on Saturday still thinking we'd have 7! Oh well. So Tonya just called to say we wouldn't be taking them since all this went down while she was off work. BUT, she has lots of needs for respite.

Insanity now off our plate, I agreed to take in a 20 month old African American girl on the 10-14th. That's a fun age and we're excited to play with her! ALSO, a 3 month old baby girl on the 19th-23rd.

That should keep me from being impatient until camp is over and Dougie has had his mission homecoming. (July 11th) Wish me luck! :)