Our 1st year as foster parents

Today marks the one year anniversary since Zachariah came to live with us. He was 6 weeks old. Most of these photos are repeats from previous posts, but I just wanted to put it all together to do a recap of our 1st year. Mainly, first of all, I want to say, through all the ups and downs this past year, I wouldn't trade any of it...for anything in this world. It has been such an amazing experience for all of us. I have watch all of our hearts grow, and it overwhelms me with pride for my family. I had worried how our children would adjust to the new additions....they have done it beautifully, I could not have asked for more from them.

This photo was taken while he was still living with my friend Christie, the night before he came to live with us. Do you see how excited they were to meet him? My heart was about to burst at this moment, and I was so frustrated I had forgotten my camera! Luckily I thought of my phone, and it was just recently I figured out how to get the photo off my phone. This picture is gold to me.

He was such a fussy little thing at first..."Mr. Disagreeable". His faces just crack me up.
He was so little! He was still in newborn size clothes

that sun was so bright in their eyes! My first attempt to photograph my 4 kids. The kids started public school just 3 days after he came. I had thought I would be glad for the 1:1 time to devote to Zach, but when he was napping, I was incredibly lonely. I put in an e-mail to our caseworker, and told her things were going so well, we were open to taking another child if they needed us too....but preferably someone older.

But it was only 2 weeks later, we added 2 more to the bunch. We got a call on Labor Day, the day before Rachel's b-day. It went like this..."Maury, I know you already have a baby, and that you only wanted to take 1 more. BUT...I have a sibling group here that has been waiting in the office all day, and I can't find anyone to take them. They were taken in from a raided Meth Lab". I looked at Clay, and he said, "we can try it, but I don't know for how long". That day started a wild ride. They arrived at our home at 11:30 pm that night, with only the clothes on their back...and a diaper bag that REEKED of meth...that and their clothes all went in the trash. Luckily, a good friend had just given me a ton of boys stuff, and Amber could wear Rachel's outgrown stuff. Someone from church donated some more clothes, and they arranged for several meals. At this point, I had vowed I would never put a foster child in daycare....

It only took 2 days that I changed my mind on that. The kids were in school, and Amber was begging to go to school too....so I started her in a daycare near our home...she did great there.

Her 1st day of preschool with us

I got a routine going as best I could with 2 babies, and things went well. We thought that within a month or 2, Amber and Hunter would go to their grandparents, so we were determined to stick it out.

Amber fit in really well with the girls, becoming fast friends. We had plenty of our moments, but she was part of our family. Hunter thrived. He was 7 months old when he came, but functioning at a 2 month old level. He began catching up pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, we didn't all fit in one vehicle, so we didn't go places much. This was our first family outing to the zoo...as a family of 8!

I just kept struggling through the day with everyone's appointments, and homeschooling, (which we returned to after only 1 month in public school) so I put Hunter in daycare as well. That allowed us to do some family things and go places in one vehicle. On this day, we took the kids to the Pumpkin patch to celebrate Amber's 4th b-day.

Rachel and Amber really bonded. I had worried so much about this relationship at first....but Rachel, going from the youngest, to having 3 younger siblings in the home in just 2 weeks time, adjusted very well, and I began seeing a loving side of her that she didn't usually show us. She shed her "tough girl" exterior showing a tender side...a side of her that has been such a blessing to watch.

Christmas came, and we decided to not go anywhere. My mom's family came to our home for the first time, and I was so excited for my 91 yr old grandmother to get to come see our house and celebrate Christmas with us.

This was our family....

My heart was bursting with love for my 6 children as we celebrated the holidays....but it was also such a rough time. Hunter got a 2 week long stomach bug....and passed it around. That is what did it for me. Not just b/c he was sick, but just everything put together...I just realized I couldn't do it anymore. At this point, their caseworker told me that she was recommending that the grandparents not get them, so I was looking at a very long-term placement I thought.....and I just couldn't do it anymore.

At this time, I made a gut wrenching decision, and made the call....they had to go. I cried and cried over this decision....and still feel guilty. I love them so much, and hated for them to go. Luckily, though, they went to a WONDERFUL family, and Jenny has told me that it was such a blessing, and God's plan for them to get Hunter and Amber. See, they hadn't planned on being full-time foster parents, but they felt compelled to take Hunter and Amber, and then when they left, they took on another adorable boy, that they still have.

This photo was at the park the day they left.

We were so excited to get to go to their new home to celebrate his 1st b-day!!

They still got to come over and see us. In fact, I got to missing them one day, and called and said, "hey, you want a date tomorrow night?" Well you know they didn't protest, and we had a blast getting to have them over for the evening.

I had the amazing opportunity to take the photographs for my friend's book...even more special since she had been the reason we got Zachariah. This is her adopted daughter with her.

We then took on a move to a new home, and Clay got a new full-time job, away from home, so I had a whole new set of adjustments.

Hunter and Amber's grandmother then got in touch with me, and said Amber had been missing us, and wondered if we could see them. YES....such a blessing to get to see them....they still feel like part of our family.

I am a little out of order here with my photos....b/c next, Talan came along. After reading Christie's book...my heart just felt compelled to take on another child. I had been feeling this way for awhile, and the kids had been asking as well. We sat down, and discussed it as a family, and decided that a baby would fit us best again. Zachariah was now 10 months old, the same age Noah was when Leah was born, and I felt I had the experience, I could handle it. I prayed about it a lot, and at midnight one night, I sent an e-mail, saying we were ready for another. I fell asleep praying that night. When I woke up that morning, I had an e-mail, and a phone call waiting on me about Talan. Our caseworker said she thought it would be a perfect fit, and that I was an answer to prayer. Talan joined our family on May 8th (that would be Kris Allen day here in Little Rock! haha) I felt so much peace about taking him. I felt this was exactly where the Lord had led me.

So since my photos are off, this one below if of Zachariah on his b-day. Someone was so sweet to make this cake and donate it...she does this for all the foster kids from his office...isn't that generous? The caseworker told me that sadly, many kids won't get a cake any other way. That makes me furious.

This is in the spring when we had just 4 kids again.

Talan got sick. Very sick. He had problems eating the whole time we had him, but finally just stopped eating, and had to go in the hospital. He was put in ICU with a serious infection, and came very close to dying. This was the worst week of my life. We were also anticipating a very critical hearing for Zachariah, and I was worried I was going to lose both of my babies in the same week. There were so many prayers going up for us that week....I am overwhelmed by the love that was shown to us.

Now we have 5!

So now, we are waiting a hopeful termination for Zachariah in October. I just found out this week his awesome caseworker is leaving next Friday. I am so sad....but totally understand. Luckily, the case will still be seen by her supervisor, that has been involved with everything, and the person that will take over his case will be another person that has been there...not a new inexperienced case worker. She also told me that if he is terminated in October, he will be turned over to an adoption specialist...who I know all very well with my work with the heart gallery, and she is going to request one of 2 that are really good. YAY!!

Talan is doing very well health-wise since coming out of the hospital. He just started his theraputic daycare this week, and is doing great. Everyone up there is super, and all love on him so much. That is such a relief to me. Zach goes to daycare 3 days a week, and our new homeschool year is well underway. I have no idea where Talan's case will lead, but now, as I have all along, I feel that taking care of him is exactly what I am suppose to do. I never planned, or imagined that I would care for a baby that has so many special needs, and it was overwhelming at first, but that, just like everything else, has worked itself out, and I am handling it just fine...(most days anyway...except the days I freak out on facebook, and all my friends are there to encourage me, and pick me back up!)

I complain a lot...b/c the system really sucks. Big time. But I have met some awesome people this year....that are in the same boat as me...that love these kids like I do, and our family has been blessed with 4 new children, along with our 3 amazing children that are forever ours. I wouldn't trade this journey for anything, and am anxious, and excited to see what the Lord has in store for all of us in the year to come!!