What Jacob Is Thankful For

The kids made paper turkeys during Sunday School last week. The teacher then wrote what the child was thankful for on the turkey. One of Jacob's friends stated she was thankful for toys. Another friend stated she was thankful for Mommy. Jacob was thankful for....TURKEYS!

Mouth Pain

After 5 days, Jacob's mouth is slowly starting to look better. He didn't wake up once last night which is the first time since this started. He didn't even want any numbing medication this morning. The gum still looks red on top but it doesn't look quite as swollen or red on the sides. It is a huge improvement. I left Tylenol at school to make sure Jacob can eat lunch today. They are having their Thanksgiving feast today and he will have lots of food. Jacob did want cereal for dinner last night but I think that was just a choice and not due to any mouth pain. I am glad it is finally getting better. He was really miserable for a few days.

Doctors and Dentists

This week has been a challenge medically in our household. M came down with his 4th ear infection in 12 weeks. It is very frustrating! Two of the ear infections followed colds. One was discovered when he had pink eye and the other one was related to teething. The doctors aren't concerened and my social worker assures me it is just the way M's body is. I have heard from other parents that their children outgrew the constant ear infections after they stopped teething. I hope so! M is in the middle of teething and won't be teething for more than a few more months.

Jacob started complaining last night about a tooth hurting when he ate. I took him to the dentist and he has a sore on his gums behind his tooth. Nothing major but it is making eating a challenge. He tried eating stuffing and chicken casserole but that proved to hurt too much to eat more than a few bites. He is currently eating a large bowl of cereal. That seems to be working much better. I'm not sure his nutritional needs will be met with just cereal but I'm not really sure what the alternative is. At least it gives him some nutrition and energy.

7:30 AM!

M slept in until 7:30 this morning! Jacob slept until shortly after 7. That may not sound late to some of you but it is in this house. I normally get up at 4:50 AM and the boys wake up around 5:30. This is the first time that M has really slept in since he arrived. Maybe he is beginning to learn how to enjoy just relaxing.

Seventeen Kids

Jacob and I were watching a show on TV last night about a family with 17 kids. I cannot imagine having that many children. I have one sibling and always wished we had one or two more children. I know that my family is not complete yet but I think seventeen children is a bit much for me. People regularly ask me how many children I want to have and the answer is that I don't know yet. Maybe one more. Possibly two more but definitelly not 15 more!

Last night Jacob announced that we need more kids in the family. I asked him how many and he stated seventeen like the family on TV. I told him that I thought that might be too many for me to handle. He then stated, "Three Jacobs!" Wow! I love my son but I think one Jacob is definitelly enough.

So now we have one Jacob and one M. I would love to have a girl someday but not for at least another year and maybe longer. I admit that M is pretty settled now and that I have the itch to add to the family again. I just think it would be in everyone's best interest to wait awhile. Two toddlers is enough for this mom right now! It is National Adoption Month and I offer my support to anyone going through the adoption process right now. I just think that fostering M and waiting to see where his case goes is enough for right now. Maybe next year I can begin to think about another adoption.

A Stunning Conversation

Jacob and I talk frequently about adoption and his adoption story. We also talk about other children's stories and he knows that our foster children are with us because their parents' cannot take care of them. The following conversation is not one that came from Jacob's personal story (which I won't share here) but rather his general understanding of adoption. Over the past few weeks he has enjoyed playing "Mommy" and having me be the baby. M is always "Daddy" and also plays a loving role in Jacob's fantacies. Last night the story took a slightly different twist. Here is how it started:

J (said in a loving and soft voice): Baby, your mommy died.

M: Oh, that makes me sad!

J: No! I'm your mommy now! You have 2 mommies.

M: I have two mommies who love me?

J: Yes! One died but I am here forever. You have 2 mommies who love you.

I guess he does understand adoption after all.

Foster Care Appreciation Dinner

I attended a foster parent appreciation dinner earlier this week. First, I was touched by how many businesses had sent door prizes and donated money. We received a beautiful quilt made by someone in the community. I didn't realize that their are people who make these beautiful quilts just to give them to the foster families.

For anyone who has considered becoming a foster parent, I urge you to look into it. These children really need the love a stability a foster family can provide. The ultimate goal is for the children to be reunited with their parents. It is wonderful when that can happen. The children will remember the love you gave them long after they return home. For the children who do not get to go home again, they will benefit from the love you provide them whether it be until they find a forever family or long after the adoption is finalized and they become your children.

M's case is progressing but slowly. It will most likely be about a year before any definite plans can be made for his long term future. Whether it be as my son or returning to his mother. Either way, I am enjoying being his foster mom now.