Day One Wrap Up....

Today was a day for the record books. To say the very least.

A very wise foster mother told me that the first week is the hardest and strangest thing to endure when you get a new placement, so getting multiple children is even harder. She nailed it.

When Iggy came home it was surreal but quite easy. I have had a baby before and knew what to expect. Lots of eating, pooping and little sleeping. I had those same old "baby blues" initially, which I did not understand since I did not have the hormonal surge that goes with giving birth, and I knew taking in this baby would change our family dynamic forever. It changed it for the better and I can't imagine him not being here. My kids have embraced him whole-heartedly.

Yesterday I went to the court house to pick up "Jay" who is 2 1/2 and his half brother "John" who is 5 1/2. John was terrified and cried quietly. Jay was quite excited to come home with me. By the time we got home both were in a good mood and thrilled to meet my children. We ate dinner, they played, bathed and went to bed. John was content and went to sleep quickly while Jay cried quietly, not understanding why he was still here. Mr. Clean laid next to him for a while to quell his fears. Bringing home older foster kids is a whole new ballgame and I cried myself to sleep as well. Those darned "baby blues" again and a whole new fear of how this will shake up our very stable and fantastic family dynamic.

"Jay" making an important call, mimicking Mr. Clean

Today all was forgotten and the boys woke up happy, raring to go and wanting to play. Although a small 5 1/2, we soon discovered that John likes to rough house, which resulted in Xena getting her arm hurt somehow (according to all accounts, as all the kids were together in one room, it was a complete accident). We iced it and I told her to rest a while, but a couple hours later she was still hurting. No wonder. Her arm was broken.

Fortunately Mr. Clean could arrange his day to come home often throughout the day and early, and graciously allowed me to escape and tend to my girl. Initially he had planned to take her to the doctor himself to pamper her a little with Daddy time, but I think he knew I needed a break from the chaos. So the girls and I abandoned the boys and wound up at three different doctor's offices before we came home, Xena sporting a bright pink cast.

So after a round of tears at bedtime; John, finally acknowledging this is a little scary and not all fun and games, and Xena because her arm hurt and she was tired. Within 15 minutes all 6 were sound asleep.

I think I better head to bed myself. I think I am cried out, but you never know...