Oh Baby Cute Ma!

It's official! Once again, we're foster parents!

Last Friday we got a call about a baby who was in the NICU and was in need of a foster family. At the time he was on oxygen and was born with cataracts in his eyes, this means he will need surgery in the very near future to avoid becoming blind.

Luckily, Tanner was home that morning working on his computer before going to work (something that is very rare around here). I told the worker I'd speak with my husband and call her back shortly. We were shocked that we were called to take a two week old baby! We are willing to accept siblings and older children (sometimes that's rare in foster care) so we thought we'd always be saved for older children. In fact, most people who only accept infants wait 7 months to a year to get a phone call for an infant. (We've been licensed a year exactly.) So we were, needless to say, surprised and excited and decided we'd take in baby boy!

Then came the agonizing wait until court and the approval to go see him in the hospital. Finally, on Wednesday We were approved to visit. I was so excited and anxious to hold and cuddle him! It was the longest 45 minute drive of my life! When we finally got there and we're lead back to his tiny crib in the bustling, noisy NICU,  I saw tiny little frame wrapped up tight as a bug in a rug with his dark brown hair sprouting out in every which way. We instantly went to pick him up and to our delight, he was oxygen free! We had been told he'd come home on oxygen until he could breath easily on his own so this was a pleasant surprise! (Never under estimate the power of prayer and fasting, he'd been our focus all weekend) The nurse told us he had been doing great without the oxygen since the previous night and if he continued to do well, he'd be released the following day.

We sat with him holding and loving on him for the better part of the day. Every nurse, doctor and aid that passed by was so excited to see him being loved and cared for! They wished us the best and told us he was the sweetest baby around. (They're right, we still haven't heard him cry!)

The next day, we went in and were able to check him out and bring him home! Tate and Emerson love him! They take turns holding and feeding him and keep saying "oh mom! Baby Cute!" He's a special little fella!

As far as the case goes, it looks likely that he'll be adoptable, but we've heard that before. . . We are of course hopeful he'll be here forever but we are choosing to focus on enjoying the day to day for now. He deserves our whole hearts and let me tell you, he has them!

PS he's like Tate's mini me only a little darker! ;) he's SO CUTE!!!

Happy 4th Birthday!

My baby boy is four!!!

I try not to think about it too much because it makes me want to cry a little! He's so big and I have no idea where all of the time has gone!

Tatem is getting better and better at talking, in fact, he pretty much says anything he wants to but has poor pronunciation so that's the next battle. He starts preschool at Stansbury High school next month, they offer a hands on learning program for the high school students and as a result, the preschoolers get one on one attention. He doesn't start kindergarten until 2016 so we're hopeful that two years of preschool will give him the social and academic skills he'll need to be successful in a mainstream kindergarten class. It's amazing to see him make such huge strides! There was a time, not long ago that I often felt heartbroken for him and wondered if he'd ever get to live a normal happy life. Things are now looking so hopeful and I truly enjoy every moment of being his mom! He's a very special part of our family... plus he's super handsome if I do say so myself!

He's also smart. . . A week or so ago I told him his birthday was coming up and asked him what he wanted. He said "rollers". A couple hours later, he asked to watch a movie on my phone so I put the lock code in and let him. A little later I got an email from Amazon "thank you for your order". And what was my order? Angry Bird roller skates. My little stinker had found them online and ordered them all by himself! Everyday after that he'd check out the window waiting for them to get here! I didn't cancel the order because I figured it's what he wants and it was only $14 (I don't know what makes me more proud, he's ability to order on his own or his bargain shopping!)

He's a sweet heart through and through and I feel so blessed to be his mom. I'm so grateful that four years ago Heavenly Father saw it fit to trust me with such a sweet, tender spirit. I'm thankful for everyday with him!

P.S. we have HUGE/tiny news, check back within the week so to find out what it is!

Also aunt kinzi's wedding was the day before so he got leftover wedding cake for his party lol Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

I'm Not A Baby!

Happy fall y'all!

I CAN'T wrap my mind around the fact that it's already September! School is back in full swing and the weather is cooling down...(sometimes, mostly on the days my kids have their kiddie pool set up and ready to go!) Anyway, I've always looked at fall as the season of change, in Utah at least to me, it seems like it's the time of year with the most changes! We're going through changes and awaiting to see if there will be more as time goes on.

We have been foster free for about 6-8 weeks but that could change any day. We're going to give it another shot with some younger kids (if they call us!!) And see if we can turn fostering into adopting, that's the hope.

Our kiddos are getting way too big, and the problem is, they know it. Until lately, I've been pretending Emerson was still my baby but she won't accept that anymore... Emerson is so firey! If it's not her idea it's a bad idea in her mind. Tanner was cuddling her the other day and told her that's how he held her when she was tiny and she says "well I'm not a baby!" And Tanner said your my baby and she says "no I'm not a baby and I'm not tiny!" Rude! So we're in a baby free phase for the first time in four years and I don't know what to do, let's be clear it's lots easier! But it's weird!

AND Tanner has been applying and interviewing for work promotions so depending on how that plays out, we could have big work changes too.

I use to be afraid of change, I'm not saying I love it now, but I'm starting to see that it keeps life exciting and makes me rely on Faith and our Savior all the more! I must say, I usually have a plan, but I have no clue what the next couple months has in store for us! It's nuts! I'm excited to see where it goes! For now I'm trying to keep things steady in the ways I'm able to, and buckle up for life's unpredictable changes ahead!

I'll keep ya posted! Until then, I'm practicing my sewing skills, I've had lots of fun with it! My favorite blog right now is:

icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

It's awesome with fun patterns so try it out, I'm a terrible seamstress but even I've made cute stuff!!