Our first day with our first foster kiddo

So we got the call about little D needing a home on Wednesday, made the decision that night, and he got dropped off on Friday morning. Thursday night I figured I better get some groceries, I hear kids like to eat. So I spent over an hour wandering around Meijer, looking at food thinking “I have no idea what this kid will like?”, “what do two year olds even eat?” It was so strange, knowing that a boy was coming to live with us and knowing nothing about him. 

Mark and I were so nervous waiting for D and the social worker, we sat staring out the window thinking how everything was about to change. Well they pull up and he is in a pink car seat, fairly dirty and reeks of smoke – but is literally the cutest thing I have ever seen.  He has a full head of curly black hair, and the deepest brown eyes ever, and the sweetest toothy smile.  He has a laundry basket full of belongings and clothes that were dirty and smelly, and a sippy cup with rotten milk. He came right to us and let us carry him inside. He sat and colored while we signed the papers, saying that we were responsible for him.  Our social worker did not know much about him at all, no ideal any medical conditions, allergies, who is doctor was, even how to spell his name.

He then introduced us to his fits, when he was asked to not color on the table, complete with arching the back, banging his feet on the floor, etc. Oh yeah, and he does not talk, so that almost makes things difficult with understanding what is wrong. We were told that he did not know any words. The social worker then left, and we were alone with him. It was honestly so weird. We played with him for a while at the table, and fed him lunch.  I started going through his clothes, many which were sizes too big or small, and summer outfits, all which desperately needed washing.

Then about at 3 o’oclock I thought “what are we going to do with him on Monday?”, you know when we are both are at work? We talked to the social worker, and she suggested the CDC, and after some research the closest placeis Borgess, which would work out fairly well. I called them and talked to the director, who asked us to come in and discuss options. We got a few days covered for the next week,  which would really help us. We filled out his paper work the best we could, and she was very understanding and compassionate to our situation.

Both my sisters happen to be coming home for the weekend, so they got to quickly meet him. It was great, and he loved them, but I can see what all the books and blogs about traumatized kids and attachment problems say about keeping the kids worlds small. Each time someone would leave he would have a huuuge meltdown.

We figured bedtime would be difficult, as we did not know what his previous sleeping situation had been, did he use a crib, have lights on or off, what time, bottle? We were clueless. We knew we had to get him into a good sleeping routine as quickly as possible – with a newborn coming and all. He finally went to sleep – but it took hours. HOURS. But I mean, the poor kid didn’t know us at all, have a clue where he was, we were probably doing his bedtime all wrong . We eventually got the precious little guy to bed.

And that was our first day with little D.

 We were totally in love, excited and nervous for this adventure, and went to bed knowing that God had shown up, and would continue to everyday with new mercies each morning. 

This is the verse that has been the verse we have clung to with D

Love,
Brittany