I'm starting this blog after being inspired by an online friend who is journaling her adoption journey. I thought it was a great idea, as things that once seem so fresh fade into memories in the blink of an eye. Thanks Christie for the inspiration. I named it "foster ride", as it truly is a roller coaster ride being a foster parent, you have high highs and low lows and everything in between and never know what lies around the next corner. But like a roller coaster fanatic, we've boarded this ride once again and are excited about the journey ahead.
Due to confidentiality issues, I can not use any identifying information or post pictures that the children could be identified through, so they will be given nicknames and some details will be vague, I hope you understand.
"Your Nuts!" That's what my older sister posted on my Facebook when I announced that we had finally gotten the call for our first foster children since reactivating our license with the county we now live in. Oddly enough, it was the evening of our 25th wedding anniversary and where at one minute I was thinking about where I might like to go out to dinner, the next we were wondering how quickly we could toddler proof the house once again being as our youngest is now 8. It has been about 10 years since we've been licensed and had almost forgotten how crazy this ride can be, but it doesn't take long to be refreshed.
The call came in for 2 little girls, 18 months and 2.5 years, due to malnutrition and neglect. The 18 month old was in liver failure just 4 weeks ago. We were at first told it was due to the malnutrition, but her foster mother of the past month clarified that the liver failure was due to a tylenol overdose, apparently administered by her mother. I don't believe at this time there was intention to harm the child directly, but the medication was over used and most likely at the wrong doseage. There are other issues within the family that I will not be going into, as this is about the children, not about the parents. So the younger of the two was taken in to care about a month ago, immediately after being released from the hospital. She is expected to make a complete recovery but her liver enzymes need to be checked for the foreseeable future to be certain she continues to improve. The older girl was not taken into care by DSS at that time but rather placed with a friend of the family, as she was not severely injured as was the younger. However DSS is uncertain how long term the arrangement with the family friend will last. The friend stated earlier in the week that she was struggling with caring for her and would like DSS to find a home for her with her sister (that's when they called us) but after we had agreed to take them both, the "Friend of the Family" started wavering a bit and wanted to give it a little more time. If either the "Friend" decides she can no longer care for her, or the parents agree to sign a "Voluntary entrustment" then she will be coming to live with us in the near future. If neither of these happen its anybody's guess what might happen down the road. At this time the offical diagnosis on both the girls is "failure to thrive", but this is a very new case and its anyone's guess what may be discovered as things progress.
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