Appointments

If there is one thing that we weren't told during the training process, it would be the amount of appointments that would be required.

I have never been great at time management but that has had to change. My giant desk calendar and Google calendar have become my BFF and I feel lost without them. As I look at my calendar for the month of June, it is almost overwhelming to see no empty squares. We have something every day. Some things are fun but some are things that I wish we didn't have to do but I know we must.

After receiving the children, we had to arrange a meeting with our foster caseworker, Mary*, within just a few days of getting the girls. We were also required to arrange a meeting with a case worker from the county, Miranda*, as well. Luckily, I was able to get them both to come to our house on the same day at the same time. Mary is supposed to check in every 2 weeks and Miranda said that someone else would be assigned to our case in 30 days and they would have to visit the home (from what I remember) once or twice a month. Jon and I are both on a full time schedule so finding holes for these meetings is limited.

Each girl also has to have a physical and the oldest has to have an eye doctor and dentist checkup within 30 days of being with us. I called to arrange physicals with their regular doctor and told me that they do not make consecutive appointments for siblings and that I would have to schedule their appointments on different days. I begged the secretary to make an exception. I even said I would pay a fine if I didn't show up... or better yet, bring baked goods when I did! She laughed and said that she could not make exceptions. So, there is another 5 days of appointments with a doctor, dentist, and optometrist within 2 weeks of each other.

Now visitation. The children visit with their parents twice a week. I love that. I think that is great. There is a lot that I could say about what I think about how the whole visitation situation has been handled but that will have to wait for a different post. These are appointments that I don't mind getting them too. ;)

We have had other visits with different county agencies to make sure the girls are on track developmentally but thankfully, those visits have taken place in our home and I don't have to load 5 kids in the car for them.

I don't even what to think of what it is going to be like in August when school picks back up.
I can't wait until I drop down to true part-time and eventually per diem at work. These kids are amazing and to care for them requires a lot of organization, dedication, and sacrifice. It is all a process to get the girls reunified with their mom.

*Names have been changed because it's the nice thing to do.