Challenges

Each placement has its own challenges, and you never know what those challenges will be until the child comes into your home.  And more challenges appear two weeks later, and two months later and probably two years later.  I probably mention it often, but I'm not a go-with-the-flow person, so this has been my biggest challenge in fostering: the unknown.

We've now had baby P for seven weeks. It's been a rough transition for everyone, but we are making progress.  He is a very demanding baby and it has taken its toll on me, as well as the two girls.  The girls are great, though, always helping me cheer him up or giving him his pacifier.  

As I said, we have made progress.  He's mostly on a schedule now, his injuries are healed and he definitely feels safe with us, which is huge for him.  But there are still so many unknowns.  What seems to work today may not work tomorrow to get him to sleep longer than 15 minutes at a time.  

The girls are in their own phases, too.  My sweet little Jia is in destruction mode, making messes everywhere and driving Keragan crazy.  Keragan loves school and cries every day when she has to leave.  

We're hanging in there... Figuring out how to live on little sleep, especially while fighting colds.  Also trying to figure out what baby P needs, and how to balance those needs with the girls' needs.  And trying to get excited about the holiday season coming up!