Respite

G and I have had a few opportunities the past few months to take short trips without the kids and let me tell you, it's been a lifesaver.

Respite is an official break from caregiving and we are fortunate enough to have several options when it comes to people we can leave the kids with; in addition, foster families have access to paid
'respite care' that DHS pays for-- basically other foster families or DHS approved folks who take the kids for a certain amount time.

We were actually a weekend respite placement for Miss M and Baby A, when their former foster parents had health issues. Those health issues eventually forced them to give them up and since we'd bonded with the kids, we were able to become their official foster parents. And that weekend placement will be a year, in a little under 2 weeks!

Those same foster parents are still in our lives; we call them the 'foster grandparents'. And they were gracious to keep them last weekend when G and I went to my sister's wedding in Springfield/Branson, MO last weekend. They had a full house-- their adopted kiddo, 5, Miss M (also 5), Baby A (2), and 2 foster babies (12 months and 6 weeks). That's 5 under 6. Woo! Glad it wasn't me.

Contemplating the view at Black Mesa State Park; .can't you just feel the serenity?!

We've also had G's parents watch the kids for the weekend, most recently for Memorial Day weekend when G & I took a road trip to Black Mesa in the Panhandle, which has been great for everyone. They love spoiling the kids, the kids love them and we feel safe (and a little guilty) about leaving them with Nana and Pop Pop. They've been so generous over the years, and have not failed to wholeheartedly embrace our foster kids as their own.

So grateful for the love that surrounds us and the kiddos.

Childcare

I have never had the distinct pleasure that is locating childcare until yesterday.

Lady M & Baby A's daycare faculty was located in Collinsville and after 2 days of driving 25 miles each way for drop-off & pick-up, I had to admit that it'd be a whole whole lot easier to find daycare slightly closer to home.

Unfortunately, because they weren't supposed to stay with us past the weekend, I don't have a DHS childcare co-pay card and no one would take them without one. Called close to 10 different daycares before I found one that a) took both infants & 4 year olds b) had openings for both c) would allow me to "backswipe" the card once Ingot it.

And although I really really hated to take the kids somewhere new, I just couldn't swing the drive (which caused me to be massively late to work on Monday- thank goodness for a understanding boss- hi L!).

But to be honest, as I dropped off the kids this morning, I was a little leery of the joint. There are kids swarming everywhere, the toys are well-worn, sign-in sheets are handwritten. Nothing wrong with any of that, but it's much different from the place they were at in Collinsville (teachers in scrubs, daily feeding/diapering chart for Baby, well lit and airy).

Hmm. We'll see.

I hope I don't have to get on the phones again; finding childcare is a nightmare.