Sweet little girl.

Sweet little Rylee. Our first foster child just happens to be a little baby girl. Wow! When we got into fostering I requested 3 1\2 year olds and younger but no babies. And yes I knew how small of a range that was, I just wasn't sure I was ready to foster a baby. This process went SO fast!! When I got the call for Rylee I couldn't say no, it seemed so wrong to even consider that. And let me tell you, I'm SO incredibly glad I didn't. 

What a little sweetheart she is! Rylee is almost 5 months old and such a little peanut. She drowns in 3-6 month clothes at about 12 1\2 lbs. She sleeps all night from about 9pm till 8am. She follows a 3 hour schedule during the day and eats like a little piggy. Ugh! Formula, what a stinky fake milk substance! Ick! But she loves it!! And we just started her on rice cereal and two different baby foods. Doc said it's time! Seems the pediatric association or whatever it is changes SO much on what they recommend as safe...think I'll just follow my instinct! And man does she smile. She is just such a little happy girl and I just can't help but think how sad...her Mom just doesn't know what she has. 

But my heart is heavy today. When we got into fostering we were told that when you get a child its for a minimum time of 6 months but in most cases the child stays a year. Well we of course came across a little girl who has a different situation and we have no clue when she's going back home. Rylees Mom is in state prison. And no one knows when she's getting out, even her parole officer. It could be any day now. And because Rylee wasn't taken from her mom a judge could just request she just goes home. However at this point her mom has no home, no job, and there is no stability. I just find that all very sad. Her mom has 3 other children who she doesn't have and she's been in and out of jail and yet a judge might just say send Rylee back home?! I don't understand and yet it's not my job to understand or make that decision, it's simply my job to take care of Rylee and love on her while she's in my care. Friday Rylee is going to visit her mom and for some reason I'm bothered by that...what a punishment. We have also been asked by Children and Youth if we would be willing to take Rylee to see her mom in jail...scary! And I so wanna say no. I don't think her mom should even have that right. And yet I want to build a relationship with this woman and to do that I need to try. I need to be there and let her see the type of people we are and so I need to put all my feelings a side and just focus on being there for Rylee and her mom. Loving like Jesus loves.   

Can't imagine what our house will be like going back to just 3 of us again. I did tell Children and Youth we're ready for another child, hoping to always have at least two foster children in the house so it doesn't seem so crazy quiet when one leaves. It will defly be sad putting all the baby stuff away again. I do however know that God is in control and his will will be done in Rylees life and ours in whatever way he sees fit. So far this has been a great experience. I'm learning lots about how the system works and figuring out how to deal with a now family of 4.