All Smiles

Baby is getting big!  She started smiling almost two weeks ago, just around five weeks old.   Now at seven weeks she is such a smiley baby!  This morning when she woke up hungry at 8am I picked her up from the crib and she gave me so many big smiles.  David came out while I was feeding her and she gave him a big toothless grin as well.  Just the last couple of days she has spent more and more time awake.  This has been very fun because she is interacting with smiles and coos, but also a little frustrating because she has fussed a little more.  Her mommy is still doing very well.  She hasn't missed any visits.  We thought that something might happen around a case planning meeting on June 7th, but that meeting had actually been waved from the beginning, but nobody knew it.  The casa guardian ad litum called and asked for some input on Hennessy, and she told me that court was set for June 29th, so that is when we think baby will go home.  My friend Cameron from our ward said the most important thing to remember is that you never know what is going to happen.  I told David that if she is going to go home, I really need it to happen sooner than later.  I'm starting to get very attached.  We went to my nephew Scott's homecoming last weekend, and left baby with respite.  I really missed her and worried about her.  A couple of weeks ago I went to the shared information meeting and met the mom and her grandma.  It was very good for me.  I could see how much she loved her baby and really wants her.  It helped me want to be a support to her.  We have communicated in notes back and forth, after we met I think she could accept me better.  We will see what happens.  Oh, that's her I hear on the monitor.  gotta go.

A Good Nights Sleep

David took the baby all last night and I slept.  I heard him when I got up, but went right back to sleep.  I feel so much better.  We are getting pretty attached to this little girl.  It will be hard to say good bye.  I'm fairly certain she will go to the grandma and eventually the mother.  She visits every day and has only missed twice in the last two weeks.  H. is starting to look just a little more roundy, and not so frog or bird like.  She is staying awake a little more.  She has very pretty bright eyes.

Sleep Deprivation-a form of Torture

I do remember when Anna was born feeling like I might lose my mind from lack of sleep.  So, I didn't forget entirely.  I just forgot how it can come and go.  Two nights ago were great, and yesterday I felt like a new woman.  Last night was not so good, and I'm exhausted before even starting the day.  I have a hard time taking a nap during the day, especially in the morning when H. is visiting mom and Anna is at preschool.  I will have to try this afternoon before my class.  I canceled on Monday because I was so tired I thought I might puke :)  I gotta go tonight.  Wish me luck.

Anna's topic

My sister Cyndi says that Anna has been talking to her a lot more on the phone, but no matter what Cyndi asks her, Anna wants to talk about Hennessy.  She told her, "if you want to see Hennessy, you'd better hurry up cuz she's going to her grandma in June."  She also told Cyndi, "Hennessy is our Foster, and we are praying that the best thing happens for her."  The other day she told Hennessy that her mama was not going to die.  I asked her why she thought that.  I guess I have always used the word sick, or not well when describing why a mom might not be able to take care of her own child, and we would get to.  I didn't know how to correct this misconception since it would involve explaining illegal drug use.   I just said she wasn't that kind of sick.  After I have been feeding H. for awhile Anna wants to horseplay next to me on the couch, or climb on me.  Miss Cheryl (Anna's pre-school) teacher gave me some good advice.  She said that when her 2nd one came along she would tell the baby, "you have to wait now while I help big brother."  Although baby obviously doesn't understand, big brother (who constantly hears the opposite told to him) does understand.  It has really been a great thing.  I told a sound asleep Hennessy that she had to be good in the swing because it was Anna's turn for Mommy to play with her.  You could see an immediate effect on Anna-very excited that it was her turn, and that she still got one.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was fun.  A lot of people in the ward already knew about our new adventure from facebook and the regular gossip mill, but many did not.  You want to cause a stir, walk into church late with a baby carrier-gets people's attention.  Everyone was so sweet and congratulated us, asked a lot of questions, etc.  I asked Tamara Wallace if she would help me with the baby during my lesson.  She said, "are you kidding?"  and scooped her up.  H. got to go visit her mom after church for a special Mother's Day visit.  It is nice to have two children, even if it is only for a little while.

Like Moths to a Flame

I forgot what it was like to have a baby in public places.  When Anna was little I told my sister it was like having a puppy-people just gravitate towards you.  Perfect strangers strike up a conversation with you in the store.  H. especially attracts attention because of her incredible head of hair.  It is beautiful and black and stands up on top and there is a lot of it.  David keeps telling her how soft her hair is.

H.'s Mom

Today was the first day that H.'s mom did not show for her visit.  She is young - 17.  They told me on Thursday that she cried and cried when she had to say good bye to H. at the end of her visit.  She really loves her.  I hope she can pull it together.  They scheduled a special Mother's Day visit for her tomorrow-poor thing.  I cannot imagine how hard that would be.

Silly Me

Last night H. slept for 4 hours straight.  Woo Hoo!  Only problem was, when she woke up she was ravenous and sucked down the 2 oz. bottle faster than you can say boo.  Silly me, I gave her the second 2 oz. bottle and she also sucked that down.  After a nice burp, and a diaper change she gave it all back to me in the form of a projectile fountain all over the two of us.  New clothes all around were required.  It was awhile before we both got to bed.  I won't be foolish enough to make that mistake again... hopefully:)

Day 3 and I'm exhausted

Two fairly sleepless nights and I'm getting a little punchy.  Hennessy really sleeps fairly well.  She just wants to wake up every two hours to eat and she always poops!  She had some bad thrush and we went to the dr. today to get meds.  She sleeps all day still.  She has beautiful black hair.  She went to visit her Mommy today.  The transport lady Debbie told me that she cried and cried when she had to say goodbye to her.  I am really pulling for her.  Anna is still loving her.  I thougth she might get a little jealous, but so far she wants to help, and love on her.  Anna does seem to want to be on my lap more etc.  I have thought a great deal about the beauty and innocence of this new baby.  About how she is God's child.  I feel very priveleged to be helping her on her journey.

First Placement

Today is a very exciting day.  We FINALLY got the phone call.  Pauline the placement lady said," we have an infant girl born on April 30th - would you be willing to take her?"  I was so excited I said yes, without asking a single question.  She told me the baby was at the hospital and asked when I could go and pick her up.  I said within the hour!  Anna was very excited that we would get to take care of a baby.  She started to guess what the baby's name would be.  Her first guess was of course, Fransa.  When we were in the car Pauline called back to tell me about the baby's condition and that her name is Hennesy - not one that Anna had guessed :).

When we got there the birth mother was still there, so we waited in a conference room.  The social worker came in later and the nursery nurse with the baby. We did paperwork while Anna sang the baby lullabies, rubbed her fuzzy head.  They told us that there is a grandma who will be ready to take the baby in June.  So we are happy to take care of Hennesy until June.

She is beautiful with a full head of black hair.  She was 6lbs 5 oz. when she was born.  I thnk she is probably about that much now.  She slept all afternoon except when she took a bottle twice.  She drank 1 1/4 oz. each time.  I'm afraid I'll be up all night with her.

Yeah for a new adventure!  I feel very lucky to help one of God's children :)