Raych Anne

Wife to the most amazing man ever! Mom of two. Re-opening my home to foster care!! Wish us luck!!!

[raychann]

Things are going so well here. We are smitten with little bug. I feel like our last placement was meant for breaking us in as a couple to foster care. It was hard but we love them and we miss them still! On the other hand this placement has been a breeze (well other then the fact that we are running on very little sleep). Seems like this little girl has her days and nights mixed up although she is getting on track. One of the things that I love about this case is that while I'm working (two days a week) babies bio grandma is allowed to be my babysitter! That's right! No daycare for little bug!

[raychann]

Baby girl has finally arrived. She had to stay in the nicu a little longer than anticipated but as of this Friday she is finally here with us!!!

[raychann]

Update

Got an update on our new baby girl. I can’t wait to meet her!

[raychann]

Yesterday we gave our babies to their new family. A relative finally came forward and was approved and guys I'm not going to lie, it broke our hearts to see them go. Foster care is hard. And while we were struggling to say goodbye our phone rang asking us if we would take another. A baby girl only one month old. The need is great so we said yes. Excitement and sorrow both in one day.

[raychann]

Tonight I'm washing all the clothes for our two little babies just in case they leave in the next few days. I figured it would make things easier if everything is washed and ready in case my weekend is full of saying goodbye, packing their things, organizing, and trying to fit every detail I can think of into a letter for their next home. Things to make their transition easier... like the fact that K will only sleep with her yellow blanket, needs a special kind of milk and that J likes to snuggle and talk himself to sleep. This is a peek into the life of a foster family. We never know what tomorrow holds for the lives of our little ones, everything is so uncertain all the time. They may leave in a few days or they may stay another six months. One small meeting tomorrow evening will decide where they go. Tonight all I can do is pray that what is best for them is what will be done. God knows their future and where they will lay their heads tomorrow.

[raychann]

The roller coaster

CPS came today. The two families that were being considered for the kids were both disqualified but then at court a few days ago another stepped up. They had asked this family member months ago if they wanted to take them and she said no but now has changed her mind. They are going to go talk with her later this week to see why the change of heart and to decide what to do. They will call us no later than Friday and let us know what was decided. If they go they will leave Monday. Prayers appreciated that it will work out for the best.

[raychann]

Summer evenings ❤️☀️

[raychann]

Summer evenings ❤️☀️

[raychann]

Summer evenings ❤️☀️

[raychann]

Yesterday was a trying foster care day. CPS suspended all visits until the kids are moved to another county. Which was news to us. Mom hasn't been showing for them and they want the kids to be closer. There is a family member that they are considering right now and if approved they will probably leave sometime next week. We're not ready. It's so crazy how it only takes a little time to completely fall in love.

[raychann]

Another day off of work which means another day tackling another foster care appointment. Three hours in one office guys. I need a nap on a beach or in a secluded mountain cabin.

[raychann]

Enjoying today

The littles are doing great. They seem to be adjusting well and the baby (who I will call Bub on here) is definitely becoming a daddy's boy. My husband works nights and it never fails Bub will be asleep in his crib but when daddy leaves he wakes right up and cries. It's so sweet to watch their relationship grow. I feel like we have finally gotten to that point where I can say my husband and I have adjusted to the new routine. It's been hard but we are finally feeling like ourselves again! Never mind the fact that I got sidetracked by toddler cries yesterday and accidentally stuck my vegetable oil in the freezer and also at one point locked myself in my room with an ice cream.. okay maybe we're still adjusting..it's a process! As for the case, the future of the babies is very uncertain right now. We heard from one social worker that all family has been disqualified for kinship care then the next day at the MDT heard there are family members in the home study process. We are just not sure what's happening at this point. God knows where they will be tomorrow, next week and next year. All we can do is enjoy today.

[raychann]

These babies are so sweet. Already the case has been a whirlwind. We have no idea where things are headed. Possible kinship placement is what we heard from one caseworker, another says no way everyone has been disqualified... guess we will find out!

[raychann]

Where do I begin?

So much to catch you guys up on! The babies are so sweet and sooo rotten. They are ages one and two so that right there keeps us busy! I'm going to be honest parts of the last week have been hard. It was a huge life change going from two independent kids to four kids with two of them needing constant attention. I've cried, fussed and thought about giving up but my husband and I know this is where they are supposed to be and every day we fall in love with them a little bit more. This past week was spent making appointments, going to the doctor, arranging therapy, setting up daycare and chasing two babies everywhere. I couldn't be happier.

[raychann]

Placement!!!

Well it happened guys! God heard our prayers about really wanting to be used and become foster parents and today we received placement. It’s a bittersweet combination of sadness and excitement.

[raychann]

Honesty

I'm ready for another child. We have been trying for awhile now and on top of that are also ready to foster as well. But today it once again just felt like nothing's happening. We were thinking we may be placed with a little four year old girl and we're very excited but looks like it may not happen again. In the past month we have had six or seven possible placements and either have said no or it ended up falling through. That can discourage someone. My husband and I are praying for a child and today in the middle of the mess I just want to say this. Keep holding on. If your longing for something and it seems like your prayers not being answered keep believing. My God is very real and He hears the prayers we pray. One day soon I'm going to post on here and it's going to be a post telling about how He answered my prayers. I can't wait to see my husbands excitement when he becomes a dad to a child with me. I can't wait to get our first foster placement together, to see prayer after prayer come to pass... and I believe they will!! Some days we can't see the answers by that doesn't mean they aren't there. Who but God knows how it's all going to unfold? For now I will keep holding on to hope. My God is good.

[raychann]

Yes I'm posting two posts in one day.. :) Our Mother's Day photo and this weekends project... gardening!