If you are lucky enough to still have your parents.... can you thank them for me, and the rest of us?!

Oh Jesus, I'm almost in tears reading this. You are a lot stronger than me.

Ha, I tried doing temporary fostering of kittens five years ago. They're sleeping on my bed right now.

I can't imagine the selfishness that some folks exibit when they do drugs with little ones around/and, or pregnant.

You are the earthly form of a saint, who gives hope to these young people. We could all act more like your family, and this world would be a better place.

So sorry for your loss, but your heart will recover, and hopefully extend itself to someone else in need...THANK YOU.

You and your wife did an amazing thing for this kiddo. I worked in a large group home for young boys who had been removed from their bio homes. The State's focus on keeping families together has some merit but can be taken too far. I'll stay off of my soapbox for now and just say thank you for taking care of this soul and I hope you and your family realize how special you all are.

I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude that you and your family are helping so many that cannot help themselves.

I can't imagine what that pain of having a child taken away would be like. No words.

After our first child was born my wife and I decided we would adopt our next child. In the next few years while we were getting ready to adopt two different stories were in the news about couples who legally and permanently adopted babies right after birth. After years, even though everything was done by the book, the courts said the children had to be returned to the birth parent and the children were forcibly taken away from the only parents they had every known.

My wife and I said no way we could go through that and decided to never adopt since we can't trust the legal system to do what was best for the child.

Not much more to say than what has already been said. You are good people.

Our 14yr old daughter is adopted from birth. The time waiting for it to be legal was very hard.

We are in an open adoption, so daughter has relationship with birth mother. Even when things go sideways as with most teenagers, she never once has used the 'you're not my real parents' line. I'm sure your little guy wont forget either.

That picture is off-the-charts awesome.

We're the ones that should be thanking you.

I think all our hearts are a little bit better after reading this.

This song came to mind almost immediately.

I think his message is hit the road, keep moving forward no matter what.

Good on you and your beautiful family.

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You doing God's work. I am an in awe.

Thank you.

Thanks again for the kind words. I'd have to PARF this thread up to fully explain how/why we're able to do this. But I'll leave it at being called to this ministry.

It means a bit more now when we tell our adopted kids that we are their 'forever family'.
Nothing can change that (whether they want to or not. :D )

Ha! They're stuck with you guys. Not a bad place to be. SmileWavy

I have 5 children and could not imagine not having any of them in my life.

You and your wife are amazing for giving your time and love to these kids no matter how long!

Thank you for being such a positive role model.

Wish I had seen the pic.

But yes, you are heroes. Stay strong.

Things are progressing here and were moving through the grieving process. This is the time when I wouldn't recommend to anyone they get in to foster care...

And then a very interesting thing happened.
Before I could even get my head around whether or not I could do this all again we received a call about a new one. Similar situation.
Getting out of the NICU and in need of a home. Maybe even today...
The details are getting worked out as I type.
The great unknown. Maybe it will, maybe it wont.
There are times we don't really know as we're driving to the hospital.

Here is the boy, Rockin the Vans!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569864527.jpg

Wow, and I won't let my wife get a Newfoundland dog because i don't want to go through loosing a pet in just eight years (their life expectancy), and your 30 day notice is not up and you are in queue to do it again with a real person (small person, but a person).

I need to hang around with you and absorb some of your karma.

Thank you for what you do. Your reward will be great. For a brief few years, my mother did the same for young girls who were willing to go full term but were not in a position to keep the baby. Very hard work as you know. She had the last one from 2 days old until about 8 months, and my sister with 5kids of her own stepped up to adopt him. That paperwork kicked up some dust and the birth mother reappeared and wanted him to be placed among people of his own color. That was her only criteria. By now we were all very attached to him. After coming to terms that they were going to lose him, no suitable adoption candidates appeared and the birth-mother relented and my sister did adopt him for life. He’s 15 years old now and has a wonderful life. His life could have been much different if it wasn’t for selfless people much like you. Thank you again for the reminder.

Been there before . I will not go into details online but should you want to talk about pm me and we could chat and share story's. We have been on thos roller coaster many many times.. We will soon be done fostering.

Time is flying by, and the day is drawing near. So far the bio-parents are keeping it together. I can't believe it's been three weeks since the last post.

Here we are catching up on some light reading.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1571684195.jpg

And we did add a new little one so it's been three weeks of no sleep. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...leys/sleep.gif

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

God bless you and your family!