Annual review meeting

This afternoon we had our 12-month post-placement home inspection, with the baby's SW and our licensing SW. They spent a little over an hour at our house, sitting in the living room on comfy chairs and couches, making small-talk and joking with the big kids, then discussing baby's development, daily life, visitation schedule, upcoming court date, concerns, etc.

Because it's been almost 2 years since we received our foster parent license, our licensing worker was required to ask us about changes in household (no, we don't have any new people living here), changes in income (Mike still has the same job), bedrooms and bed arrangements, making sure our stove, fridge and water work, etc. Now we have to update our medical records, background checks, and re-take First Aid and CPR classes, plus complete another fire inspection. It is a pretty decent pile of paperwork, but we've done it all before, and it shouldn't take too much effort to finish everything.

(They seemed very pleasantly surprised that we are willing to re-license again, after all the drama and back-and-forth stuff in the last year. The baby's SW told me "We just don't know what we'd do without you!" I think they are really low on available foster homes/beds right now.)

Ha! Speaking of being low on beds, our licensing worker asked if we have an extra bed (we do), and mentioned another possible placement. She didn't give us many details, because all the kids were listening, and we try not to tell them too many adult details, if you know what I mean. So all she really said was that there was a 4yo boy in foster care... Didn't even tell us his name or anything else about him, only that he existed.

However, Hannah heard this part of the conversation, and told me later "Mom, I really don't want that boy to come here. We already have ONE four year old boy, we do NOT need another one! I'd rather have a bigger kid come to live with us... Like S." You know, the kid we all really, really wanted to make ours, but someone else is going to adopt instead. It was like a stab in the heart.

Anyway, the SW said this mystery 4yo would be a "permanent placement", as in, the plan for him is adoption. Well, we've heard that a few times before! :P We can't make a decision to move forward without having more information about the case... so, in the meantime, I'm trying to be patient and not get my hopes up.

That was our afternoon.

We will see what the future holds.