Happy National Adoption Day!

Each year, there are more than 20,000 U.S.-based infants who are placed for adoption.

Today there are 1,601 kids in the foster care system in Hennepin County, and 127 kids waiting to be adopted. Click here for more info- heart strings warning- there are pictures of the kids available to be adopted. 

It's easier to adopt from U.S. foster care than internationally 

It takes about a year to adopt a child from the United States foster care system, ranging between 79 days and 2 years. Most adoptions from foster care have no financial cost to the adoptive family while international adoption can cost $60,000+.

Not all children in foster care have special needs.

The majority of children in foster care are children who have been removed from their families due to abuse or neglect. A child whose file has been classified as “special needs” may qualify for adoption assistance due to specific factors such as: being an older child, being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together as one unit, medical conditions, and physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. A child considered to have special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special educational resources.

You CAN love an adoptive child just as much as a biological child.

Many prospective adoptive parents are influenced by this fear/myth. The truth that is testified to over and over again after adopting, is that you can and do love an adopted child just as much as a biological child. The love for your children is not a matter of blood; it is a matter of love.

 “Common Myths.” Adoptuskids.org AdoptUSKids. Web. 24 Oct 2013. http://www.adoptuskids.org/for-families/how-to-adopt/common-myths-about-adoption. Source: These statistics came from the the most recent adoption and foster care statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System

Anticipation

Maybe this is normal to parenting- but I feel like I live in a constant state of anticipation.


First, wired by society- anticipating the weekend and the end of the work week. Except now that jellybean has weekend visits I just feel rushed to the weekend via the symphony of screaming and Friday afternoon Minneapolis traffic. With Roman working weekends as well, its just anticipating being alone for two days- which is just not what I had planned on happening at the beginning of this strange adventure.

Then I spend the weekend anticipating Sunday night pickup (after all the laundry is done)! Wondering what version of this child I will be receiving today. How crabby, tired, full of junk food, or sick will he be? Will he be wearing the correct size clothes?



Add in court dates and that is a whole other level of anticipating. No one knows anything beforehand about what is actually going to be decided or discussed or asked in court. For our most recent court date I was convinced in my head that jellybean was going home- But, as it turns out we have a little bit more time with him- how much time, no one knows but I am appreciative of the time we do have.

"All Dum" the double edge sword

"All dum" was one of jellybean's first phrases he learned at our house. At first, the reaction was always something like "oh, good job!" or "you are all done!" or "one more bite".  Soon after these pleasant exchanges he figured out how to unbuckle himself from his booster seat - and set himself free with sticky hands to conquer the living room.



Now when we hear "all dum" it's basically a rush to grab a washcloth and grab him before he gets too far. Or sometimes the reaction is more [internally] you didn't even take a bite you cant possibly be all done!!! Or, if he says this in the car during rush hour [internally] oh, it would be just lovely to be all done, but alas - we have at least 20 minutes left, please don't start screaming!



Its rumored that parenting is a learn as you go type of experience so let me tell you what I've learned! Buckles are important! get the ones that they need a lot of thumb strength to do so you can have peace of mind to step out of the room for 5 seconds- you know, to change the laundry, or pee or something.

Halloween!

Halloween, like new years, is usually a little bit of a let down- there is so much anticipation- but nothing goes as planned!

I spent two weekends working on this firetruck for Jellybean, and Roman's house on fire. I learned that duct tape isn't as magical as people think! (gasp!) I had a lot of trouble with the tape not sticking to the cardboard, and spray paint. I didn't put enough thought into how to attach these things to their persons, so I ended up slapping straps on at the last minute. With Jellybeans  the truck ended up being too front heavy to walk around. However, he was ecstatic just to have a new toy truck to play with- the ladder is the favorite part.

Me (fire hydrant) Roman (house on fire), Jake (match), Hannah (mad scientist), Neighbor Kids (power rangers) Jellybean (fireman)

complete with working lights, steering wheel, and ladder

Since it was the coldest Halloween since 2006, we just went to the Hopkins police station and one house for trick-or-treating. even this abbreviated trip ended with a fireman down! in the middle of the street. crying. Too bad it didn't blizzard-like '91- a toboggan would have made a big difference!

Halloween 1991- Bug costumes made by mom, dad as the exterminator

Jellybean did enjoy playing with glowsticks and answering the door for other kids. Uncle Jake fed him skittles one at a time. Overall it was a pretty good family night! the trick or treating part is just a little out of reach for our two years old!