Teacher Appreciation Week / Permanency Goal Changed in Court / X's Birthday Party / X's School Program / Lake Livingston Party / More Foster Care Training
Monday - Friday, May 2nd - 6th - Teacher Appreciation Week. At X's school, all week long he brought things for his teacher:
Monday - A wooden tulip wreath
Tuesday - Candy Basket
Wednesday - Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Thursday - School Supplies (big Rubbermaid tub with poster boards, pieces of small wood useful for crafts, construction paper, etc.)
Friday - Diet Coke in a flower pot with X's hand prints
Tuesday, May 3rd - At court today, Jack was there to hear CPS officially make the change of their goal to "Adoption with Non-Family Member" and the judge ask if the goal was to place them with us (the foster parents) and CPS confirmed. We have had X and A for a little over 9 months, so we cannot legally "intervene." In Dallas County, they do not recognize foster parents as having any rights in determining the welfare of the children until after 12 months of placement - which will not be until July 27th, 2011.
Thursday, May 5th - X has his pre-kindergarten graduation pictures taken. Yes, you graduate from pre-kindergarten and yes, there will be a big ceremony.
Saturday, May 7th - X's birthday party at Nanny's house. He got a very nice art easel with paints, markers and crayons, a bucket of dinosaurs, a neat school-themed set of LEGOs, several books and a very cool "3-D" dinosaur night light with moving images.
Wednesday, May 11th - X's birthday at school. While the school system does not allow full-blown parties, parents (or in this case, foster parents) can bring a single snack for each kid in the classroom. Jack has a "home economics" teacher at his school that sells cupcakes on the side. Her cupcakes are incredibly delicious and we find opportunities to order some. Mmmmm...cupcakes!
Friday, May 13th - We all had fun playing at the park.
Saturday, May 15th - Another "Fostering Hope" (adoption and foster care support group) meeting at Tapestry. Learned some interesting information about adoption from one of the other couples who have been through the whole process.
Saturday, May 21st - "Holds" training. This annual, mandatory training teaches (or reminds) us the only State of Texas-approved method of restraining a child. Melinda went and I stayed at home since we did not have a babysitter. I will take it next month while she stays with the kids.
Sunday, May 22nd - Jack had his annual Robotics Club swimming pool party at our house. There were lots of hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks. All the students had fun interacting with A and X and playing with them in and out of the swimming pool.
Thursday, May 26th - X had his end-of-year school program where he participated in fun, moving songs. We all ate picnic-style on the school grounds.
Friday, May 27th - Buddy Fun Day and lunch picnic at X's school. Lots of neat activities!
Sunday, May 29th - Memorial weekend family reunion at "Aunt Kiki's" lake house at Lake Livingston. A and X loved going fast when their "cousin" Chance took them jet skiing. X did a lot of swinging by a rope and jumping into the lake. The bay area was so shallow that the teenage "cousins" could walk around chest-height. Everyone thought X and A were cute and interacted with them plenty between big meals!
Another big month ended with lots of fun things we did!
Getting Caught Up: April 2011 Happenings
CPS Intends to Change the Permanency Goal to "Adoption - Non-Family Member" / Inventory and Foster Care Accountability / Dallas Zoo / Easter Egg Festivals / Best Friend Visits / School Field Trip to the Library
2nd Saturday - Drive-in movie night in Ennis. Always a fun night!
8th Friday - Oliver and his sister Zoie come over for some fun while their mother performs at the "House of Blues" - a big night for her!
9th Saturday - We went to the Dallas Zoo for a epilepsy-awareness charity walk. We were on team, "Walk for Jake." Jake is the son of one of Jack's co-workers. This is the first time at the Dallas Zoo for us. It was not as exciting or grand as the Fort Worth Zoo (where we are members), but it was exciting none-the-less. One of the unique things at the Dallas Zoo is that you can feed the giraffes! A was a bit timid at first (sticking out a big lettuce leaf and having the giraffe eat it right out of his hand), but X got right in there. We got one good picture of that, but plenty of great shots of everything else!
12th Tuesday - X and Jack went to the Planetarium. We had high expectations since there was supposed to be a big exhibit. Checking out the "stars" inside the planetarium was pretty neat., but the Russian space program exhibit turned out to be dud (simple PowerPoint slide show and a small bit of memorabilia).
15th Friday - As discussed in the February blog (the 7-month court date), CPS can change the permanency goal. We got a call from CPS officially checking with us and asking us if we would be interested in ADOPTING X and A. Officially, before this call, we were just listed as "foster" parents. This would move us into the "foster to adopt" category with CPS. Of course, having fallen in love with X and A, we calmly said "Yes" (while jumping up and down inside)! We have had them for almost 9 months, but it feels like we have loved them a lifetime. What does this mean legally? CPS recommend at the next court hearing (May 3rd) that the goal be changed to "Adoption / Non-Family Member." The judge would ask if that is the current foster parents and CPS would say, "yes."
17th Sunday - We all went to the Richardson Womens' Club Easter Egg Hunt. This turned out to be anything BUT a dud! Not only was there a nice, smallish, well-run Easter egg hunt, but they also had face painting, games, a petting zoo and, the best part, a donkey ride. Both kids LOVED the donkey ride.
22nd Friday - while not discussed prior, this seems like a logical place: we have to do quarterly inventory of all of A and X's possessions. I totally get this. If we were BAD foster parents, all the gifts given the kids (by family, CPS and other agencies and non-profit organizations) would be taken and sold. CPS (through our agency, Covenant Kids) requires this very detailed inventory of all their clothes, toys and monies. Also, we, as foster parents, do receive a small set amount for "monthly expense reimbursement" by the State of Texas for taking care of the children as foster parents. While we always spend more than the reimbursement, it does help some. The expectation is that the money we receive benefits the children. CPS, therefore, set minimums of what each child should have to wear (e.g. 8 underwear, 8 pairs of socks, 1 pair tennis shoes, 1 pair dress shoes, 4 pair of jeans, 8 t-shirts). We are responsible for making sure that X and A are in their current sizes. It is the reimbursement money that goes toward those clothes (which they have WAY more than the minimums) plus the added costs of transportation and food (which is the bulk of the monthly expenses) and reasonable entertainment (which, hopefully you have read here, we always blow out of the water!)
23rd Saturday - We invited X's best friend (and his sister Zoie) to come with us to a huge Easter Festival at a local church. The bounce houses and air-filled "bounce" slide was a huge hit. The Easter egg hunt was organized, but there was also just too many kids running at the actual hunt.
26th Tuesday - Melinda joined X at yet another school field trip. This time it was to the city library where he learned about how to check out books and what a library does (with books, but also lots of other media).
While not usually mentioned in these blogs, we attend church regularly and went every Sunday this month - always a big hit with the kids.
2nd Saturday - Drive-in movie night in Ennis. Always a fun night!
8th Friday - Oliver and his sister Zoie come over for some fun while their mother performs at the "House of Blues" - a big night for her!
9th Saturday - We went to the Dallas Zoo for a epilepsy-awareness charity walk. We were on team, "Walk for Jake." Jake is the son of one of Jack's co-workers. This is the first time at the Dallas Zoo for us. It was not as exciting or grand as the Fort Worth Zoo (where we are members), but it was exciting none-the-less. One of the unique things at the Dallas Zoo is that you can feed the giraffes! A was a bit timid at first (sticking out a big lettuce leaf and having the giraffe eat it right out of his hand), but X got right in there. We got one good picture of that, but plenty of great shots of everything else!
12th Tuesday - X and Jack went to the Planetarium. We had high expectations since there was supposed to be a big exhibit. Checking out the "stars" inside the planetarium was pretty neat., but the Russian space program exhibit turned out to be dud (simple PowerPoint slide show and a small bit of memorabilia).
15th Friday - As discussed in the February blog (the 7-month court date), CPS can change the permanency goal. We got a call from CPS officially checking with us and asking us if we would be interested in ADOPTING X and A. Officially, before this call, we were just listed as "foster" parents. This would move us into the "foster to adopt" category with CPS. Of course, having fallen in love with X and A, we calmly said "Yes" (while jumping up and down inside)! We have had them for almost 9 months, but it feels like we have loved them a lifetime. What does this mean legally? CPS recommend at the next court hearing (May 3rd) that the goal be changed to "Adoption / Non-Family Member." The judge would ask if that is the current foster parents and CPS would say, "yes."
17th Sunday - We all went to the Richardson Womens' Club Easter Egg Hunt. This turned out to be anything BUT a dud! Not only was there a nice, smallish, well-run Easter egg hunt, but they also had face painting, games, a petting zoo and, the best part, a donkey ride. Both kids LOVED the donkey ride.
22nd Friday - while not discussed prior, this seems like a logical place: we have to do quarterly inventory of all of A and X's possessions. I totally get this. If we were BAD foster parents, all the gifts given the kids (by family, CPS and other agencies and non-profit organizations) would be taken and sold. CPS (through our agency, Covenant Kids) requires this very detailed inventory of all their clothes, toys and monies. Also, we, as foster parents, do receive a small set amount for "monthly expense reimbursement" by the State of Texas for taking care of the children as foster parents. While we always spend more than the reimbursement, it does help some. The expectation is that the money we receive benefits the children. CPS, therefore, set minimums of what each child should have to wear (e.g. 8 underwear, 8 pairs of socks, 1 pair tennis shoes, 1 pair dress shoes, 4 pair of jeans, 8 t-shirts). We are responsible for making sure that X and A are in their current sizes. It is the reimbursement money that goes toward those clothes (which they have WAY more than the minimums) plus the added costs of transportation and food (which is the bulk of the monthly expenses) and reasonable entertainment (which, hopefully you have read here, we always blow out of the water!)
23rd Saturday - We invited X's best friend (and his sister Zoie) to come with us to a huge Easter Festival at a local church. The bounce houses and air-filled "bounce" slide was a huge hit. The Easter egg hunt was organized, but there was also just too many kids running at the actual hunt.
26th Tuesday - Melinda joined X at yet another school field trip. This time it was to the city library where he learned about how to check out books and what a library does (with books, but also lots of other media).
While not usually mentioned in these blogs, we attend church regularly and went every Sunday this month - always a big hit with the kids.
Getting Caught Up: March 2011 Happenings
A Gets Teeth Capped / Museum of Art / Fort Worth Zoo / Wildlife Safari / Papa's Farm / Dinner with Friends
Thursday 3rd - A visits the nutritionist and Dr. Partap. He is slowly losing weight and gaining height (so we are going in the right direction), but we still have a ways to go.
Saturday 5th - Melinda and I go to Tapestry Adoption and Foster Care meeting held at Irving Bible Church. We always learn so much from these.
Sunday 6th - We had dinner with the Brooks family at our house. Lots of fun and laughter and getting caught up with what is going on with them. They finally get to meet A & X.
Monday 7th - A undergoes oral surgery for capping 8 rotting teeth. There was a lot of sugar in his diet prior to coming to stay with us. He now matches X since X has 12 capped teeth. At least the dentist was kind enough to make them white porcelain caps. Evidently, STAR Health insurance that the kids use only pays for silver caps. For foster kids, his office personally pays the difference so they don't have a shiny mouth. Of course they have to put him out since he would have been impossible work on a 2-year-old's mouth without knocking him out.
Friday 11th - Drive-in Movie (one the kids can watch) the animated feature "Rango" with Johnny Depp. It was very odd, but a nice story.
Saturday 12th - We have the brilliant idea to take the DART Train downtown instead of driving to the Dallas Museum of Art. Our reasoning: the kids like trains and this will be a new experience for them. It most certainly WAS an experience. Little did we realize, the 12th was the annual Irish Festival downtown. The trains were packed going downtown with some people already drunk by 10:00 when we were on the train. A single mom who evidently does a lot of museums with her little girl suggested that we get off a stop earlier than we were scheduled to and then jump on the old-fashion trolley, Ooh...fun! (the other option we thought was just to take a bus from the next stop). We got off where we were supposed to and had to walk a quarter mile or more around the underground train station trying to get to the exit (lots of construction). When we finally emerge from underground, we walked to the nearby trolley stop. It appeared that we had JUST missed the trolley, so we waited for the next one due to come 19 minutes later. It never came. No problem, there is another one in ANOTHER 20 minutes - it never showed. Jack called DART (since they handle the trolleys). They claimed they were showing there were no delays and should have been there. Another 20 minutes went by (59 minutes from when we got there) and no bus. In frustration, we are about to go back underground and just go home. As we start walking away the trolley finally comes. He tells us that the other trolley broke down that morning and he was the only one running. Odd that DART did not know about it!
So we take the trolley 20 minutes to the Dallas Museum of Art (on par for the course, we get off too early and have to walk a few more blocks). The museum was great. While we went there on "Family Day" (they had lots of kids activities and crafts), it was the actual art that X most got into. He loved anything that was three-dimensional (e.g. sculptures, Indian masks, statues). After a very long day, we decided just to walk back to the train stations and skip the trolley. We were shocked to find that we were a mere four blocks away! After 1 hour and 20 minutes trying to GET to the museum and we could have walked there in 10 minutes. Oh, well... now we know.
If we thought it was crowded on the train getting TO downtown, going home at 4:00 after all all-day Irish (drunk) fest was horrible. Melinda and A got to sit down after someone gave up their seat. X had to stand the majority of the way and I finally got to sit down one stop before we got off.
It is important to note that I was in the Army for four years and yet I have never heard as many "f-bombs" during a single hour as that long ride home. Every 20th time or so someone would note that there were young children around. Ironically, the loudest drunk claimed she was a kindergarten teacher. We actually became concerned that they kids would repeat some of what they heard (and then we would have to explain where they got that language), but it never became a problem.
Monday 14th - Fort Worth Zoo! We had been building up to this for the last three weeks. This was the day that X finally got to see a real dragon. When made sure that he completely understood that it was NOT like the fictional huge fire-breathing dragons, but rather 7 to 9 foot long Komodo dragons. We watched a few videos and, when we finally got to see it, he did not appear to be the least bit disappointed. We got to see rhinos, giraffes, elephants, penguins, kangaroos, birds of prey, meerkats, lions, tigers and bears (oh, my!) Perhaps the coolest parts were feeding the parakeets in the free-flight area and the Museum of Living Art (MOLA) that holds all the reptiles and amphibians. The train ride took quite awhile to get on and it is very short, but it was still lots of fun.
Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th in Nacogdoches and Papa’s Farm in Lilbert. Going to the farm means riding the golf cart, riding tractors, getting to pet baby chickens, running around in the fields and woodlands and then lots of games with grandma.
Saturday 19th – “South Pacific” Chorale Concert. Some family friends of ours, the Chiu’s are members of the Dallas Sea Sky Choir. They have an annual concert that Melinda and I enjoy attending. The vast majority of it is always sung in Chinese (since the choir is 100% Asian), but they always have a theme. It was very entertaining and educational. X and I were the only ones to go since A was feeling “under the weather” and very cranky.
Monday 21st – back to the dentist for both A and X. Everything is on track for healthy teeth and gums.
Wednesday 23rd – fun in the local park for both A & X. There are great rock walls to climb and awesome other playground equipment where we go. Often Melinda will come by at 3:00 and then I will stop by after getting out of school. The kids get an average of 1 ½ hours to play at the park. It wears them out and sets them up for dinner. They love it and it is super for socialization and recreation skills.
Thursday 24th – Family Night Out at X’s school with Melinda and X (Jack stayed home with a slightly sick A). They had fun in the classroom.
Friday 25th – We had dinner with one of X’s friends and their whole family. There were delicious burgers and wonderful dessert. Of course there was lots of totally wild yelling and screaming (in fun) with four kids under 7 years old!
Wednesday 29th – Already planning for 2011 – 2012 school year, it is time to register X for kindergarten next year.
As you can see, it was a very, very busy March 2011!
Thursday 3rd - A visits the nutritionist and Dr. Partap. He is slowly losing weight and gaining height (so we are going in the right direction), but we still have a ways to go.
Saturday 5th - Melinda and I go to Tapestry Adoption and Foster Care meeting held at Irving Bible Church. We always learn so much from these.
Sunday 6th - We had dinner with the Brooks family at our house. Lots of fun and laughter and getting caught up with what is going on with them. They finally get to meet A & X.
Monday 7th - A undergoes oral surgery for capping 8 rotting teeth. There was a lot of sugar in his diet prior to coming to stay with us. He now matches X since X has 12 capped teeth. At least the dentist was kind enough to make them white porcelain caps. Evidently, STAR Health insurance that the kids use only pays for silver caps. For foster kids, his office personally pays the difference so they don't have a shiny mouth. Of course they have to put him out since he would have been impossible work on a 2-year-old's mouth without knocking him out.
Friday 11th - Drive-in Movie (one the kids can watch) the animated feature "Rango" with Johnny Depp. It was very odd, but a nice story.
Saturday 12th - We have the brilliant idea to take the DART Train downtown instead of driving to the Dallas Museum of Art. Our reasoning: the kids like trains and this will be a new experience for them. It most certainly WAS an experience. Little did we realize, the 12th was the annual Irish Festival downtown. The trains were packed going downtown with some people already drunk by 10:00 when we were on the train. A single mom who evidently does a lot of museums with her little girl suggested that we get off a stop earlier than we were scheduled to and then jump on the old-fashion trolley, Ooh...fun! (the other option we thought was just to take a bus from the next stop). We got off where we were supposed to and had to walk a quarter mile or more around the underground train station trying to get to the exit (lots of construction). When we finally emerge from underground, we walked to the nearby trolley stop. It appeared that we had JUST missed the trolley, so we waited for the next one due to come 19 minutes later. It never came. No problem, there is another one in ANOTHER 20 minutes - it never showed. Jack called DART (since they handle the trolleys). They claimed they were showing there were no delays and should have been there. Another 20 minutes went by (59 minutes from when we got there) and no bus. In frustration, we are about to go back underground and just go home. As we start walking away the trolley finally comes. He tells us that the other trolley broke down that morning and he was the only one running. Odd that DART did not know about it!
So we take the trolley 20 minutes to the Dallas Museum of Art (on par for the course, we get off too early and have to walk a few more blocks). The museum was great. While we went there on "Family Day" (they had lots of kids activities and crafts), it was the actual art that X most got into. He loved anything that was three-dimensional (e.g. sculptures, Indian masks, statues). After a very long day, we decided just to walk back to the train stations and skip the trolley. We were shocked to find that we were a mere four blocks away! After 1 hour and 20 minutes trying to GET to the museum and we could have walked there in 10 minutes. Oh, well... now we know.
If we thought it was crowded on the train getting TO downtown, going home at 4:00 after all all-day Irish (drunk) fest was horrible. Melinda and A got to sit down after someone gave up their seat. X had to stand the majority of the way and I finally got to sit down one stop before we got off.
It is important to note that I was in the Army for four years and yet I have never heard as many "f-bombs" during a single hour as that long ride home. Every 20th time or so someone would note that there were young children around. Ironically, the loudest drunk claimed she was a kindergarten teacher. We actually became concerned that they kids would repeat some of what they heard (and then we would have to explain where they got that language), but it never became a problem.
Monday 14th - Fort Worth Zoo! We had been building up to this for the last three weeks. This was the day that X finally got to see a real dragon. When made sure that he completely understood that it was NOT like the fictional huge fire-breathing dragons, but rather 7 to 9 foot long Komodo dragons. We watched a few videos and, when we finally got to see it, he did not appear to be the least bit disappointed. We got to see rhinos, giraffes, elephants, penguins, kangaroos, birds of prey, meerkats, lions, tigers and bears (oh, my!) Perhaps the coolest parts were feeding the parakeets in the free-flight area and the Museum of Living Art (MOLA) that holds all the reptiles and amphibians. The train ride took quite awhile to get on and it is very short, but it was still lots of fun.
Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th in Nacogdoches and Papa’s Farm in Lilbert. Going to the farm means riding the golf cart, riding tractors, getting to pet baby chickens, running around in the fields and woodlands and then lots of games with grandma.
Saturday 19th – “South Pacific” Chorale Concert. Some family friends of ours, the Chiu’s are members of the Dallas Sea Sky Choir. They have an annual concert that Melinda and I enjoy attending. The vast majority of it is always sung in Chinese (since the choir is 100% Asian), but they always have a theme. It was very entertaining and educational. X and I were the only ones to go since A was feeling “under the weather” and very cranky.
Monday 21st – back to the dentist for both A and X. Everything is on track for healthy teeth and gums.
Wednesday 23rd – fun in the local park for both A & X. There are great rock walls to climb and awesome other playground equipment where we go. Often Melinda will come by at 3:00 and then I will stop by after getting out of school. The kids get an average of 1 ½ hours to play at the park. It wears them out and sets them up for dinner. They love it and it is super for socialization and recreation skills.
Thursday 24th – Family Night Out at X’s school with Melinda and X (Jack stayed home with a slightly sick A). They had fun in the classroom.
Friday 25th – We had dinner with one of X’s friends and their whole family. There were delicious burgers and wonderful dessert. Of course there was lots of totally wild yelling and screaming (in fun) with four kids under 7 years old!
Wednesday 29th – Already planning for 2011 – 2012 school year, it is time to register X for kindergarten next year.
As you can see, it was a very, very busy March 2011!
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