Our first foster kids!

So, I guess there's no tip-toeing into the foster care system . . it's dive in or nothing! On Thursday afternoon, Darius (5) and Xavier (2) came to stay with us for a while. I have taken pictures of them, but I'm not going to put them on here to protect them, although I wish I could because they are beautiful, African-American boys. Anyway, we had not planned on having a 2 year old. We were going to start at 3 years, and really we are gearing more towards 4-8 . . . but this is who God brought us, I guess. I am just now getting a second to blog about it, as it has been a hectic few days. All of you moms out there . . . I totally get it now how much more difficult it is to have more than one kid. When we have a moment with just Clara now, it is such a breeze! At this point, the 2 year old needs one of us to sit with him until he pretty much falls asleep, which can take anywhere from 5 minutes-45 minues (I know, I know . . we should make him fuss it out . . . if we have him past a few more days, I will, but, for now, it's worth it for him to get to sleep more quickly so the other kid can join him in the same room). Other than the sleep problem, though, the two boys are really good and a lot of fun. The two year old came to us with a cold/sinus infection that is slowly getting better with antibiotics, and he also takes Propanolol for a heart murmur problem. Clara got the runny nose, too, yesterday, and so she is actually the toughest one right now, as she hates trying to sleep or suck on her bottle with a stuffy nose! We are already having to learn that, in this "business" flexibility is the name of the game. We have been told that the boys might go home Tuesday, or else it would be 30 days, but we've also been told it's a possibility that they'd go Wednesday, but that if that doesn't happen, it would be a long term stay in foster care for 6-8 months, in which case they'd probably be here for a few more weeks until they find a more permanent home. Either way, I've kinda psyched myself up for at least a few weeks with them. Be praying for them . . the little guy, especially, struggles without his mama.

So far, my favorite peaceful moment was this afternoon when Xavier had fallen asleep on his own for the first time, Clara fell asleep getting a few more ounces of formula down her on me, (which she never does . . she rarely snuggles) and Darius was in the front room with our neighbor boy, singing the little song that I sing to Clara in the car to make her stop crying. When the neighbor asked Darius what he was singing, he just replied, "The Clara song" as if Darren should just know that. Oh, and Darius has been referring to me as mom a couple of times, but I think it's mostly because he can't remember our names . . . when he's with me, Jeremy is "my husband" and when he's with Jeremy, I'm "his wife." :)