IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!

As of today April 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm Allen, Makily and I are officially approved and we are a:

LICENSED FOSTER FAMILY TO NEWBORN BABIES AGE 0-1!!!

It only took One Year and FOUR days.

We were told that we could expect a placement call as early as TOMORROW!

I AM SO EXCITED!

It's Friday....already!?!?

Knew this would be a busy week but PHEW!

It's FLOWN by.

Okay first off Makily's gastro appt went well. Since April of 2007 she has gained a whopping:


EIGHT YES 8 POUNDS!

They were thrilled with this!

She is in the 10th percentile for her weight (32.5 lbs) and she is not quite on the charts for her height (36.5 inches, she's a little shorty!).

We went over the upper GI and her small bowel follow through.

The upper GI DID in fact state "mild reflux noted past the esophagus suggesting a slipped Nissen". The doctor and I discussed this in length. He said that since it's mild that at this point we will just monitor her. I told him she recently did vomit about 5 cc's of triaminic when she was sick. Other than that though she has not been able to get anything else up. He said as long as she is not vomiting often, spitting up large amounts or having a chronic cough that it is okay. He said the increase in retching most likely IS in fact due to the mild reflux that is surpassing the Nissen. Makily does not take much by mouth and so her gag reflex is super sensitive. He feels like the reflux triggers her to gag and then she starts retching.

He said that the small bowel follow through showed that her small intestines moves things QUICKLY. That would explain the diarrhea but not the constipation issue we have more often. He says that most likely since most of the water is absorbed in the small intestine that once it hits the large intestine things LAG and slow down tremendously and since it sits there a while it hardens.

I asked him his thoughts on the puree's through the G tube. He asked why I wanted to do it and I told him that we had tried Miralax last year and that we didn't really find a happy medium. I told him that I wanted my child to be able to poop. His concern with the puree's is that Makily has such a sensitive GI system. She was on ALIMENTUM for two and a half years (a year and a half longer than recommended but she couldn't tolerate anything else). That when we switched her to Nutren the weaning process took almost six months to do and he is afraid if we switch to puree's she will have a hard time adjusting. He wants us to try the Miralax again in a different dosage schedule. He says if it does not work this time that when we go back in four months he is willing to assist us in trying purees through the G tube. I am willing to compromise and so that is the plan for now. The nutritionist came in and we discussed Makily's caloric intake. She said we could increase her a smidge right now but that since she is doing well and gaining weight we will keep her at the amount she is at. It's quite a balancing act as far as calories, volume, retching and weight gain with Makily.

All in all it went well and we will be going back in four months for a follow up.

Yesterday Makily's class had another Field Trip to the Villages. She zonked out on the bus right over there, I woke her up a little later though. Yet again it was an amazing time and the all the kids just choke me up so much. I just want to hug them all. Makily and I rode the golf carts twice and she giggled on every bump. It was INCREDIBLY cute. Then all the little boys in her class flirted with her like crazy. I have tons of pictures (see montage below). Makily enjoyed every moment of it and flirted right back. What a popular little girl she is!

There has been LOTS of drama surrounding our foster licensing but all of the revisions requested were completed and sent to the zone yesterday morning! It really won't be long now. My friend Sarah that was literally one week ahead of me in the process got her FIRST PLACEMENT yesterday. HE IS ADORABLE. I am so thrilled for Sarah as they had many of the same "glitches" in the process as we have had. What's really exciting is that they were officially licensed on Mon or Tues and got their first placement yesterday! THAT WAS QUICK HUH!?
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We are gearing up for Makily and Delaney's birthday party tomorrow. We have all kinds of pools and water slides for the kids. It should really be so much fun and I can't wait to see what a great time the kids having playing. I can't believe my baby girl is four. WOW. Expect lots of pics and video from the party!

Enjoy the montage from yesterday's Field Trip.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

La La La LAME and I am a Weinee.

Update on our home study review:

First off I CAN'T GET OVER HOW QUICKLY THINGS ARE MOVING NOW!

Our home study got to Orlando on Wednesday afternoon.

It was reviewed and revisions requested in record time:

THREE DAYS!

They had a few questions of course involving my sanity (or lack thereof ;-)! LOLOL No really there was a discrepancy of whether or not I was on meds. The form the doctor filled out didn't specify but the home study did so I could understand the confusion there. I really thought it would take an act of congress to get the letter from the doctor that clarified things. I called the office manager Peggy and she took care of it IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I seriously figured that would totally hold things up but it was the first thing that was completed!

There were also some simple things about how we will juggle caring for Makily and a new baby. They also asked how we will include Makily when doing "normal" activities with a "normal" child.
It's when we get questions of that nature I realize how NOT NORMAL my life is. To us feeding Makily is "normal". So she has a tube and is hooked up to a pump. Takes us all of five minutes to take care of...so not a big deal AT ALL. I don't even think twice about it. Same thing with the apnea monitor and all her meds and therapies and crap. It's just normal to me and while it's different than the care you would give a typical child I really don't think it takes that much more time or effort to do on our part. We've been doing this four years now....Allen and I are pro's!

As far as including Makily in normal activities I had to laugh at that question. Part of me really wanted to say "well we will leave her out by the road to fend for herself while we go frolic together". Makily is MORE than included in EVERYTHING we do. I mean this kid has been to all the Disney parks at age FOUR more times than I can count. She has traveled more in her FOUR years than I have in my life, she's been to the mountains...THE CHILD'S BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR GOD'S SAKE! We have NEVER left her with anyone to go and do something that she can't do, (unless it's date night for Allen and I and so then she stays with Granny) we find a way for her to participate.

Here's the "La La La Lame" part:

One of our back ups is Justin. They said his name came up with "calls for service". I didn't know what that meant and they explained that it was calls to the police or 911. The first two were because there were a couple of punk kids that live near him that were stealing materials from a house being built next door. They would steal the stuff and were using it to build a skateboard ramp. Justin called the police about it and so they want him to right a brief explanation of that. They have the report and can read it so I am not sure why the heck they are wanting him to write a statement about it. The third call says something about "a five year old cousin accidentally calling 911". This one Justin has NO IDEA what they are talking about so I am going to have to get more details from them.

I WANT TO THANK MY BACKUPS FOR ALL THE INSANITY THEY HAVE BEEN PUT THROUGH:

MY MOM


MY DAD


JUSTIN AND TRISHTWO.


Seriously with each forgotten form they just QUICKLY got it all together if not immediately, within 24 hours and have done nothing but try to help speed this process along. THANK YOU GUYS, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Everyone else that plans on becoming backups I am calling today sometime to find out where/when/how to get your fingerprints done. I have been told three different ways and so I need to call and verify before I send y'all on a wild goose chase.

Here is the part where I am a wienee.

I cancelled and rescheduled my appointment to see the gyno. I just did not want to go. I know I suck and I realllllly need to go but I could not psych myself up enough to go. I mean seriously does anyone enjoy seeing the crotch doctor? I think not. I can't believe I am discussing this on my blog.....I have finally crossed the line haven't I?

I have to go pick Makily up between 10-11 so I can take her to gastro today. I hate the drive to Orlando. *sigh*

Tomorrow Makily has a field trip to The Villages again. I was told I wasn't allowed to go this time. Surprisingly I said Makily could go anyway. It was such an amazing thing last time that I couldn't imagine not letting her go. I just got a call though saying they ARE allowing me to go so I am STOKED!

Promise to take LOTS of pictures!

YAHOOOOOWEEEEEE

After..........

One year
40 Hours of MAPPS classes
Several psychological Evaluations
Countless family Questionnaire's
Six references
Two physicals
A fire extinguisher
Two Licensing Specialists
Two sets of fireplace doors
One Health Department Inspection
SIX home studies
A toddler bed
8,356 signatures
One entire fax ribbon
Countless Emails
Answering the same questions OVER AND OVER again.
Three "forgotten" forms
Two of which needing notarization
Countless mistakes made by an incompetent person (who shall remain nameless)
Being offered a baby one day and then denied it the next.
Making a great new friend (Sarah :-)
Lots of frustration and some tears (okay and a couple cuss words here and there)....

OUR HOME STUDY WAS FINALLY SENT TO "THE ZONE" TODAY AT 2:30 pm VIA COURIER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR APPROVAL!!!

Let us take a moment in celebration by watching this dancing pickle!




I have been fighting and working towards getting this sent to the zone for the past month (as our home study has been ready for at least that long). Thanks to my mother (for reasons I won't go into right now) things really got moving today and all of my problems that I had been having have been solved.

Now we just wait for the "zone" to approve us and we will be licensed. I know they are in DESPERATE need for baby foster homes right now (again for reasons I don't know if I can go into right now or not) and I do believe that once we are approved by "the zone" we will have a baby that same day or VERY quickly after.

Please pray that since our home study is NOW in the FINAL phase that things will move smoothly and swiftly.

Congestion, pictures and LAME, annoying questions.

So yeah I know it was in the last entry but I am leaving this montage up for a while. I love it and I am proud so sue me!

Things are improving here. I am feeling so much better. Still a little nasally but I can live with that.

Makily is also doing so much better. She still has lots of congestion so I kept her home yesterday and today. It was COLD this morning and I wasn't taking her out into that. Not worth the risk of her getting sick and running fevers like that again. NO WAY!


Makily's carseat is in! I am so excited. We are going to pick it up tomorrow! Nothing yet on the bed though.


Our Easter was LAME and uneventful. I tried to salvage it by doing an impromptu photo shoot with Makily. She was NOT pleased and I don't blame her. Her button is leaking (it does this anytime she has been sick), she's congested, didn't feel well and just wasn't into getting her pictures taken. The majority of them she just looks pitiful.
Here are the only ones that turned out remotely okay.







This one is significant because......




.......the egg in it is the same one she is holding here.



The foster care licensing is still in limbo. We had a very emotional home visit last week that I do not wish to repeat. Our licensing specialist had some really tough questions that mainly revolved around my being on anti-depressants. She wanted to know when my doctor felt I would not need them anymore. I basically explained that Makily's condition is FOREVER and while I have accepted that it's not easy. That I will ALWAYS mourn what she has lost and what we won't get to experience with her. I said many more things I won't type here, it's too depressing. I fought it but ended up crying which really frustrated me. She actually seemed pleased and said that is the kind of answer they were wanting from me. She also asked what Makily's "prognosis" is. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant so I asked her and she said "life span". That also was NOT an easy conversation to have. I basically just told her we don't know that the oldest case I know of is a man in his 40's. She has requested Dr. Pierre write a letter giving them a prognosis....it's basically going to say the same thing I told them but whatever.

The questions they continue to ask don't stop there. They also wanted us to write out what kind of flooring we have in each room of the house including WHAT COLOR it is. I have no idea why. In one of our questionnaire's I had written Allen and I had been together ten years and he said nine and a half. They wanted to know which it was. I was surprised they were that petty over six months.

She also called us at one point to verify that Makily at times gets constipated and then asked Allen's work hours.

Yes, I am serious, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.


I'd be lying if I said part of me isn't starting to fee violated by this whole process.

I'm a tough girl though.

All About Makily!

Things Makily likes (in no particular order):

TV, SpongeBob Squarepants, Nemo, Swings, being talked to, being sung to, cuddling, jumping in her Jumperoo (although we have to "adapt" it since she is such a big girl now), dancing (you hold her and dance), riding in her remote car, playing with her toys, all the Disney parks, swimming, watching TV upside down and looking at faces upside down (this makes her giggle like crazy), MUSIC, bath time, people with any kind of strange hairstyle, school, Mrs. Leslie and Mrs. Byrd, looking at herself in the mirror, being told how wonderful and beautiful she is, her sleeping bag, her obnoxious turtle and her "symphony" V-tech toy from Laura, her Daddy, watching other kids be naughty, Cops and Police chase shows (she always laughs when they crash), Nanny and Granny....and well okay Mommy :-)

Things Makily HATES:

Hats, things on her face, eating by mouth, laying on her tummy, TV commercials (she screams now when they come on), anything poked in her ears, blankets, shoes, having her teeth brushed, BRUSHING HER HAIR (I get the wrath of Hell every day for that one), water in her face, getting sleepy (she fights it), being put in her car seat, the sun in her eyes, being hot, EEG's and sleep studies.

Like I mentioned above Makily loves music, being sung to and dancing so much. I had her in the den the other night while I was blogging and she was playing. I put some music on and sang and danced like an idiot for her. She loved every minute of it so I decided I had to catch it on video. Makily LOVES my singing and dancing but it has to be INSANE and over the top so Sorry guys you only get to see my baby giggling and not my acting like an idiot for her.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Side note: The foster thing is taking FOREVER. We aren't getting anywhere fast. Our home study was reviewed by the agency and yet again they have more questions. We have answered HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of questions you wouldn't believe and I can't imagine what else they would possibly need to know about us. I have not received them yet but I know they are coming via email next week. We are very frustrated especially when they keep telling how bad they need homes like ours. They are desperate for newborn stay at home foster moms. Allen and I have decided to stop holding our breath and sitting by the phone waiting for it to happen. We are going to live our lives and when we get a call for our license then that's great. Will keep you updated.

At a snail's pace

That is how quickly our foster licensing process is going.

*sigh*

The licensing specialist (LC) came and approved the fireplace door. We ended up taking a regular four slated fire screen, removing one slat and then we attached it to the front of the fireplace. It's hinged and everything. My husband is Mr. Handy Man.

She looked at the medication cabinet, the locked up gun and separate locked up ammo case. She went into the foster baby's room and dropped the bomb.

She says "Oh I forgot, you have to have a toddler bed".

*sigh*

Before anyone starts asking NO this was NEVER told to us beforehand. We started this process nine months ago and have had at least five home visits and just now we are being told we needed a toddler bed.

Why do we need a toddler bed when we are fostering 0-2 year olds you ask?

Well that is because the state will not allow us to put a 2 year old in a crib. Understandable BUT it would have been nice had someone mentioned this say four months ago?

We bought the bed today and the room is all set up with a crib and a toddler bed. We only plan on fostering ONE at a time. I am a smidge nervous that they may want to push more than one child on us knowing we have TWO beds in that room.

Here is what we are waiting on now.

Our LC gives our packet to her supervisor. She reviews EVERYTHING to make sure no one has missed or forgotten anything (how that is possible at this point I don't know). Once she approves it, our LC comes out to our house again for Allen and I to review the packet and sign off on it. (she will be making sure we have the toddler bed) Then it is sent to the State of Florida for review and THEN we are licensed.

How long all that will take....I have no idea.

Here is a little montage I did of the Foster Baby's room.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com