Evaluation.....routine procedure

Tuesday is a scheduled developmental evaluation for Thomas. This is part of the process to make sure there are no developmental problems. They do this because if something is found that causes problems later on, the State will cover any expenses for treatments. We know that Thomas will blow them out of the water when he shows them how smart he is. His vocabulary has gotten a little clearer and he says a lot of things now. We haven't seen anything that could potentially be a problem. Supposedly BM used meth the 1st trimester of the pregnancy. So they will check to see if there are any type of withdrawls, etc etc.
Jim is in his slow part of the fire season, so he will be able to go with us to this 2 hour test. Please pray that Thomas doesn't get stressed out and cooperates with this doctor.

Playing like a fire-fire

Yesterday Thomas was playing like a "fire-fire" Daddy. He wore his firefighter jacket, helmet and fire boots. He would sit on the ground and say "woo woo woo All Aboard"!! I guess that was his firetruck train. I love watching his imagination. I love that his Daddy is his role model early on, and he wants to be like Daddy. We went to dinner at my parents and he insisted on wearing his fire-fire stuff. Papa & Thomas rode in the wagon back to see Tucker, the neighbor's horse.

Please be praying for us as the SW has contacted us requesting Thomas' email (we setup a private - no information attached) because his BM has asked for it. She said she'd like to possibly work on building a relationship with us. I know we feel safer having an email contact rather than face-to-face, but nonetheless it seems akward. Supposedly some things happened and she's "getting resituated", so she's wanting to know about how he's doing. This is part of this process that is hard. I know we don't have to answer the emails, nor do we have to disclose a lot of information. We don't want this BM to cause any uproar in his life. He is growing and has adapted to life with us!!! Of course, given the fact that she's said she was going to email him a while ago, this may or may not happen. Please just pray that IF it does happen, we'd have the right words to say to her and we'd have wisdom how to handle this.

No news, good news

So we found out on Wednesday that this hearing that took place wasn't the appeal hearing. It was a 6-month routine court hearing, where the judge is presented with documents to check the status of the process. We haven't heard anything, and may not. So here we sit, with a child "in the system" still. This process is long and isn't a shock to us why the state is in a deficit. Every month a foster child isn't adopted it costs the state $$$.
Well, we are headed out on a family day. Daddy is home, and it's sunny. I will post an update if I get one. For now, please pray that this process ends soon.

Something new everyday

Thomas has begun to talk like crazy. He can say lots of words, makes noises and can make small phrases (i.e. "I want out" or "Up high, back down"). We have to watch what we do not only what we say. He is quite the little shadow and copys your actions almost to a tee. When Jim & I talk at dinner, he covers his ears and says "lalalalala". Hopefully he's not practicing his selective hearing :)
He is growing like a weed, too. We recently got some new pants, which he's worn every day even last week. When I put them on him on Sunday, they were too short. Guess he grew overnight. So we are now shopping for 4T Jammies, 24m Pants and 3T Shirts. Seems like yesterday he was cute in those little 12m clothes. My mom said not to blink because it happens fast from this point on.

REMINDER for prayer for the judge, the attorneys & the SW as Thursday is the court hearing to determine whether or not we move into permanent placement - aka adoption. We know this will happen, but when is the question. Hopefully Thursday the judge will see that this is the best decision and to make it final. At which if his/her decision is for permanent placement, then the next step will be the final step....................finalization!! We are hoping this all happens before fire season, which the attorney felt confident saying it would. Please pray that this judge sees that it's time to move this out of the system and make it final. It's been a long journey but now seems to be coming to a happy ending.

Big Boy Haircut

Yesteday Thomas got a haircut. He goes to the same place that his Daddy & Papa go to. Papa got his haircut early in the morning and Thomas got his later in the day. When he took his nap he said "Mine haircut". After his nap he kept saying "Happy Happy Happy Happy" so I think he had sweet dreams. We went by Nama & Papa's to show them his haircut. They loved it and said he looked like a big boy. Jim however didn't like the haircut. He said "it makes him look like he's 3 years old." How can our little boy be growing up so fast????

Winter mode

After the Christmas stuff got put away, it was time to get the firewood in closer to the house and build a warm fire in the fireplace. Thomas is such a big helper and likes to be involved in most yard or house projects. He likes to vacuum, work on things with his tools with his Daddy and help do outside chores. He even loved to help with the firewood and thought he was such a big boy. He'd help us load the wheelbarrow, then he'd carry a "baby wood" up to the house. When we were taking some pieces into the house, he insisted on carrying a piece, even if we helped him. He'd say big wood, whoa. When the inside basket gets low or empty, he says "uh oh momma wood all done" so we both go out and get more wood. Nama & Papa got him some yard gloves for Christmas, so he wears those, now too.

He brought a baby wood up to the house all by himself.

Looking for the best piece of wood to put in the wheelbarrow.

Time to help Daddy push the heavy wheelbarrow up to the house.

When we got the house warm and we cooked some yummy dinner, we invited Nama & Papa over to eat. After dinner, they enjoyed reading Thomas's "choo choo" book on the couch. He is so blessed to have such wonderful Grandparents.

This winter we are warm and blessed with many good things.