I so missed blogging!! My vent yesterday got me motivated to call out Rosie and DD1. They both stepped up and we got a killer grocery list made. DD1 went shopping with me and Rosie and I prepped food and snack baggies late last night.
I was able to get a discount for WW through my work so could afford to sign up both Rosie and I. I weighed myself at was at a staggering 266.6. UGH!!! I won’t post Rosie’s or DD1 weight for privacy reasons but we are all in the same boat. My weigh-in date is on Monday, so I will keep you posted.
On a financial note, I am taking the new year to clear up some financial lose ends. I have been fighting with the IRS for years on an adoption tax credit for DD2 that was posted on my 2013 tax return. My accountant is USELESS, so I finally contacted a tax advocate and they accepted my case. When that comes through I will be $2,800 richer and can pay off some lose bills that have been hanging over my head.
I am also waiting on a paycheck for around $1,200 for one of my side jobs. I was promised it back in November and still haven’t seen it. The new promise from my employer is to have it before he leaves for a business trip at the end of this month. I am not getting my hopes up but that could really help kick off my 2016 budget.
I am trying to get some services for my foster son. He needs to be seen at the ADHD clinic and get mental health services. I followed up with his teacher on the ADHD clinic forms I sent her in September and filled out an application to get approved for mental health services through the state website. When I started foster care 7 years ago, this was usually all done by the social worker but apparently they are now putting it in my hands.
In my intro post I talked about us retiring from foster care this summer. The sibling set we have now have been in care for 1 year and have been placed with us since June of 2015. The state is taking the first steps towards terminated parental rights but it still up in the air whether their will go up for adoption or be reunified to their parents. I have a feeling it will go towards adoption but until the judge decides it can go anyway.
Rosie and I have decided that we cannot be an adoptive placement for the kiddos. While we adore them, we already have 4 kiddos with various levels of special needs and we really need to focus on them.
People always comment about how hard it must be for them to go home. Honestly, kiddos going home is easy. We as foster parents, the state and the parents did their part and it is a great feeling. The hardest part is when they become legally free and you cannot be the one to adopt them. We have only had this happen once before and this was a kiddo we had off and on for 5 years. We loved him so much but his behavioral issues were off the charts. The school called the cops on him when he was in Kindergarten, if that gives you an indication of his behaviors. Towards the end we had social workers living with us day and night to help with him and still had the cops called twice. He was only 8 years old. He is in a residential treatment center and we visit monthly.
So, my heart breaks when I realize we won’t be adopting our foster son & daughter but I found a perfect alternative. A friend of my Dad (Papi) and Stepmother’s are becoming licensed to be foster parents. Once they are licensed they are going to meet with us and the kiddos. If things go well, I will approach the social worker about considering them as a possible adoptive placement.
Have a great day!!
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