pictures as promised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

shout outs and shots!

The first half of this blog should have been posted a long time ago but...you know me.

As many of you know, I gave my two weeks notice at the end of May and had to say goodbye to some really great people. Since I was technically still on maternity leave, I was able to compose a short email informing/saying goodbye to the foster parents I had gotten the privilege to know and work with over the last 14ish months. I would like to share an excerpt from an email I received from one of these great foster parents--I received this email at the end of a very emotional and spiritually draining day a couple of weeks ago and it was exacting what I needed...

Psalm 63

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You early earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with fat marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings after to You; Your right hand upholds me...

I have read this passage before but never has it meant so much. I received this email during a late night feeding, and as I sat with a feasting Annie in my arms, I wept. I wept in His truth. I wept in my selfishness, realizing that I wasn't giving enough of myself to Him. And I wept because God made a "professional relationship" between a foster parent and a social worker to be so much more. Because of this email and so many more like it, I would like to give all my foster homes/parents a MAJOR SHOUT OUT! I want to thank you for making my job more enjoyable, for everything you do on a daily basis, for opening you hearts/homes to children and for all your encouraging and touching emails you have sent since I left TFI. I know that I have not responded to all your emails but I cherish every one of them. Thank you.

ANNIE UPDATE:

Annie is 2 months old! Can you believe it?! She is growing like a weed. Annie had her 2 month appointment today and is weighing in at 11lbs 7oz and is 23 inches long. She received one shot and an oral vaccine--she did better with the shot than she did with the oral medicine. Go figure. I was extremely proud of her because she did all her "tricks" for the doctor...lifting her head, talking and looking around the room/at items. I realize I might be bias but I'm pretty sure my daughter is a genius. Aside from today's appointment, we met with the Clef and Craniofacial Clinic/Team at Children's Mercy last Thursday and have decided to go with them for Annie's medical care. We believe we have made the right decision but there are so many unknowns (number of surgeries, recovery time...) about Annie's medical future that we ask for continued prayer for peace and guidance in all our decisions. Chris and I received a call from Dr. Goldstein (the doctor that will be conducting Annie's reconstructive surgeries) tonight following up after last week's appointment. Dr. Goldstein informed us that he would be sharing Annie's CT scan with the neurosurgeon tomorrow and would get back with us regarding his/our next steps. Wow! I can honestly say that I have never had a doctor call me after hours just to tell me that he has looked over a test and that he would call back tomorrow after consulting with another doctor. Children's Mercy-1, KU Med-0.

*Pictures to come*