One Step Forward

Last Thursday we found out we are finally getting a parent aide and will not longer have to work with the case aide. If you don't know why this is exciting refer back to my frustrations a couple months ago. Parent aides have a higher level of education than case aides and actually work with the birth parents on parenting skills. I'm just excited to have someone with education - hopefully she won't be biased towards the birth parents and won't ask ridiculously stupid questions.

For the first time since we've had the twins, both birth parents attended the 4 month doctor's appointment. Previously only birth mom had attended as birth dad has a job. This was also the first time I have been alone with the birth parents. I got to hear for 30 minutes how CPS stole their babies, they didn't do anything wrong, and now CPS is trying to make him lose his job so they can prove he doesn't deserve the kids back. I was extremely irritated because 1. I can't do anything to help them get their kids back so stop complaining to me and 2. I don't like liars and I'm pretty sure CPS doesn't just take kids for the hell of it. I will be requesting next time to have a nurse or doctor in the room at all times as I don't think that was fair to me.

The twins are healthy and happy. No concerns from the doctor, they are right on their growth charts in height and weight. It's always nice to hear that I'm doing a good job.

We took a resource parent tax training class and found out we can actually claim the twins on our taxes! I realize I'm an accountant but you should know that I am NOT a tax accountant. I can research topics but I really don't like to as tax code is very dry so it was nice to be able to take a class and know our rights as far as claiming them as dependents. 

Last week we had our first CFT (Child & Family Team) meeting. Typically birth parents, foster parents, foster children, CPS case worker, and the GAL (Children's lawyer) attend these meetings and everyone discusses how the child is doing and if anything needs to be changed. The idea is to get everyone on the same page. Want to know how ours went?

Birth mom brought up a concern that Jon and I are not communicating with her enough via e-mail or phone. She gets concerned if the babies are sick on Thursday at her visit and she can't see them again until Tuesday. The case worker agreed that we should try to have more contact with her via a new e-mail that's just for her to use to protect ourselves. I felt attacked. Honestly I don't have a lot of time to be e-mailing her all the time and when I do have time, it really isn't my top priority. In case she doesn't know - I work full time, so does Jon. When we come home we feed her babies, read to her babies, bathe them and put them to bed. Then at 8pm we decide to cook ourselves dinner, eat, and head to bed because we never know if we'll be up in the middle of the night taking care of her babies. When I have a free moment I'm typically paying bills, cleaning the house, or trying to get a quick minute of relaxation in. Apparently that's not acceptable so now we have to update her via e-mail. 

As much as I complain, they aren't the worst people in the world. Birth mom did offer to let us visit the kids after they are reunified to help with the transition. I hate talking about it but it is a possibility and as much as I hate to admit it, that really is a very nice gesture. Whether or not it is valid, it is an impressive thing to offer. 

This weekend we took the twins to a music and dancing program at the library which was lead by our good friend Jennifer. She is amazing and baby boy LOVED it. He is a music boy and Jon had a good time making driving noises with him. Baby girl also enjoyed it and had quite a bit of fun putting the music toys in her mouth (Sorry Jenn!). 

MILESTONES:

• Baby girl can roll over from her back to her stomach and does so very frequently!
• Baby boy has started pushing buttons on toys
• Baby girl really giggles if you find the right spot
• Baby boy sleeps through the night 90% of the time!
• Attended their first half marathon as spectators
• Jon dressed baby girl in matching colors to me and baby boy matched him - I really wish I could post pictures as they are adorable!
• Baby boy loves standing (with assistance of course)
• Baby girl got her first ultrasound (no issues)
• Baby girl got her first bandaid
• First juice: Pear juice!
• Both babies have started teething
• Graduated from the bathroom sink to the bathtub!

4 Months Old & Loving Life

Great news! We finally heard from our new case worker. We met him in person and he's been pretty responsive to my e-mails along with e-mails from counselors, our agency, etc. It's nice to know some CPS workers take their job seriously. However, the bad news is it appears we are sort of starting over with the case plan for birth parents. The birth parents stated the prior worker didn't explain what they were supposed to be doing so the new caseworker explained it and now we just wait and see what happens. I just don't understand how it wasn't documented that the case plan was discussed or that they had to sign something. Why do we just start over with a new worker? Anyway the next hearing is January 30th so hopefully I'll have a better update then.

This month hasn't been as difficult as others. I'm not sure why but the twins seem to be in a routine and everyday something new is developing. It's fun to see how they change and find new things interesting everyday. A new habit of baby girl's is to throw a little tantrum while being burped which is mildly irritating however during Christmas she'd stop crying when she saw the Christmas tree lights. Then she'd just sit there and stare in awe - it was amusing. Baby boy has really start laughing but only when you take or put on his clothes. It's such a cute little giggle that I just want to change his clothes all day long. He also seems to only want to perform for one parent at a time because if I'm changing him and he's giggling, Jon will come running from the other room to hear but if baby boy sees Jon, the laughing disappears. Such interesting little personalities are forming!

We attended our agency's holiday party which was really fun. They throw a big event with catered food, a DJ and dancing for the kids, hot chocolate bar, arts and crafts, Santa, and a present room where each foster child gets to pick a Christmas present. It was a lot of fun to see some of the people from our classes and see their children.

Our daycare is amazing. They gave the kids Christmas pajama's from Santa, books, clothes, stockings, and gave us ornaments from the kids. We were overwhelmed with the amount of gifts the babies received from everyone!

This month I also booked our tickets to Kansas for my cousin's wedding in March. I got approval from CPS to take them with us!! Booking a flight with a lap child and twins is very difficult! Then I started thinking about hotels and rental cars and car seats and cribs and all the items babies require! Basically airlines can't charge for car seats or strollers so we will probably check the car seats. I'm not sure if we are bringing the stroller or not yet. However, pack n play's cost the price of checked luggage which is quite expensive for twins. So I started calling around to hotels and some have cribs available but some only allow 1 crib per room. RIDICULOUS! Luckily my parents and sister are all going so I may have them reserve a crib to one of their rooms too. They don't come with sheets though so that's another thing I'll have to pack. Traveling with babies is very difficult! I'm excited to take a 4 generation picture with my grandma though!!

MILESTONES:

• First Christmas
• Baby girl can roll over from her stomach to her back
• Baby girl is pushing buttons on her mirror toy
• Baby boy is giggling when he's being changed
• Both babies are grasping toys
• First New Years (neither baby made it to midnight nor did Grandma!)

Baby Girl's first new years resolution is to stop throwing tantrum's while being burped and realize it's for her own good.

Baby Boy's first new years resolution is to start sleeping through the night!

Anyone have any advice on flying with a 6 month old?