The Anderson's Blog

This week at our class, we were informed that Woodbury County has no available homes for foster kids starting this week.  This really tugs hard at me becasue there’s 20 of us (approximately 10 homes) in this 10 week class axiously waiting to get our licensed.  Jason and I started this whole process back in September and really wish we would have gotten into the October class.  But, I must believe that things happen for a reason and there is a reason why we were our background checks came in 2 days too late for that class.

My sister’s father-in-law passed away suddenly this past weekend.  No one was ready or knew where anything was.  So, just so everyone knows, we have a safe deposit box and most of the information is in our 2 filing cabinets in our bedroom.

Bailey was the first person in her class to move up to the 2nd grade word list.  She plans to have it mastered by the end of the week.  We’ll see.

Last night was our first home visit with Betty, who is licensing us to become foster parents.  She came over around 6:30 and stayed till a little after 8:00.  She spent a lot of time discussing foster parenting with Bailey.  They went through different scenario’s and how it would make her feel.  About 6 months ago, she fostered a pig and had to give it back to her Aunt Laura’s family.  This really helped her to see how it will be to say goodbye to her “friend” / “Foster sister”.  Other things we talked to her about is that they may not go to her school, which really dissappoints Bailey.  Also, that she will need to ask those coming to live with us if she should call them a friend or a foster sister. 

Betty looked at the room that she will be staying in and says that we could take up to 3 kids, but we are thinking 2 at the most at any one time.  The more I thought about it, our vehicles can only hold 5 people.  Now, we need to work on a floor plan of our home that shows the dimensions of each room, where the doors are located and windows located.  We need to take some interior pictures of our home for the foster children to see and more paperwork :)!

Here’s a funny story that all of you knowing Jason would laugh about….  Last week in class we were talking about the needs of humans.  Everyone was saying Food, Water, Air.  Jason whispered to me sex.  I told him it must not be the case since he’s still alive.  But, then the 2 trainers said that the class forgot sex since it’s needed to continue on the human race.  He then said, “See, I was right”.  So, Jason is the definately the smart one.

Tomorrow is Bailey’s 100th day of school.  Lincoln Elementary makes a HUGE deal of it.  She had to bring 100 of the same items (we counted paper clips).  Also, since she is on Student Council, she gets to have a pizza party for lunch.  Everyday this week she has come home with a sticker everyday like the one today “1 day till 100th day”.  This is picture of her 1st day of school.

Bailey is selling Girl Scout Cookies.  They will be delivered in March and cost $3.50 per box.

Here’s the choices

• Caramel deLites
• Peanut Butter Patties
• Shortbread
• Thin Mints
• Peanut Butter Sandwich
• Thanks-A-Lot
• Lemonades
• Reduced Fat Daisy Go Rounds

Call Bailey to order yours today!

So, who said TV wasn’t educational?  On a Disney Channel show tonight, Bailey learned a brain teaser that stumped Jason and I…

“Today is Friday and our uncle came to stay with us for 3 days and he is leaving on Friday.  How can he do that?”

We were stumped that she knew the answer and we didn’t.  Turns out the he was leaving in 3 days on his horse named Friday.

We got Bailey’s report card for the 2nd 9 weeks of school today, and we were VERY pleased.  They guage children’s reading levels from A (Beginning) to U (Expert).  The expect a Kindergartener at this level to be at a B, and Bailey is at a C level.  She has a 101+ on her Reading Progress Rubic for 2nd Quarter (101 is the top score).  She had +’s in every category other than writing her name.  She needs to work on her Y’s still.  Her teacher said “Bailey has shown growth in all academic areas this nine weeks.  She should continue to practive retelling skills.  Bailey should also practice sounding out words and writing short sentences.

She had 3 hand written notes from the Principal, Dr. Banks.  “Terrific Grades”, “Excellent Attendance!” and “Good school behavior”.

Thank you Bailey!  Because of her good grades, our family went out for supper to Taco Johns!

Jason and I decided about 6 months ago to become foster parents.  We both would like to have more children in the house, but would prefer to not enter the unknown of pregnancy again.  During my first pregnancy I was on bed rest or half days at work for a few months.  Bailey was still delivered 5 weeks early by Emergency C-Section and, to this day, they don’t know what caused my uterus to do the things it was doing that day.  So, I’ve been told to expect to take time off of work for my next pregnancy and my job relies on me being there.  And I love my job.  We love Sioux City and enjoy giving back to the community.  Becoming foster parents is another way for us to assist families to create a stronger future Siouxland.

During our orientation meeting, we were excited to know we were one of six couples that signed-up to attend the orientation, but quickly saddened when we were the only couple that showed up.  We quickly felt that foster parents had a lack of committment.  But, as we walked into the actual 10 week Foster Parents classes 2 weeks ago, we met a class of future foster parents that are going to be great parents.  I am very excited to get to know each one of these individuals throughout these 10 classes and to keep in touch following the class.

Many people warned us about the homework.  I wouldn’t call it homework, I’d call it paperwork.  There’s a lot of assessments, documents and reading to be done.  Also, we need to write a letter to our foster children, foster children’s parents and draw a floor plan of our home.  Bailey even got to draw a picture of the foster child apart of our family.

Looking forward to finishing up my homework on Friday night for our Saturday class!  Nite

We woke up Friday morning getting excited for our visit from grandma & grandpa Janicek after work/school that day.  On the way to school, Bailey couldn’t believe that it was already the day they were coming.  Her week went sooo fast.  We were scared that they were not going to make it as it started raining later that afternoon , but it did quickly turn to snow.  They were just going to have to take their time.

Once they arrived, we headed to Hy-Vee for dinner and then came home with the movie Narnia, Prince Capia.  It was good.  Bailey fell asleep 1/2 hour before the end of the movie.  During the break from a fight scene.  Not sure how she could do that.  But, she was able to see the ending on Saturday before I brought it back.

On Saturday morning, we had our 1st PS-MAPP for foster parents.  We were encouraged to see the participants in our class.  We had left our orientation with the impression that most people wanting to be foster parents were not really dedicated to the cause.  However, we did come away with a different impression.  Over half of our class is grandparents trying to get permant custody of their grandkids.  That surprised us at first, but as we talked about it, it didn’t really surprise us.  There are 5 younger couples also in our class around our same age.  So, I really look forward to the next 9 weeks of getting to know them more.

Bailey had a great basketball game (even though she fell on her funny bone).  We went out to eat with her, grandma & grandpa Janicek (who took her to her game for us) and grandma Charlotte at Little Chicago.  Then, off they went to Aunt Laura & Uncle Robert’s house to celebrate my sisters birthday with her.  And off we went to Jacki Kelly’s baby shower.

Bailey was the winner of the pin game.  Everyone started out with a pin and if you said the word BABY you had to give you pin to that person.  Bailey got a lot of people in the room.  So, she won a coffee mug and some mints.  Jacki got a lot of awesome gifts.  Things have really changed since we had Bailey.  It’s amazing the type of tools you can have to assist you in the first year of a childs life now days. 

After the baby shower, we went home and made a Taco Ring.  Angie Cox came over and we hung out playing wii.  Zach showed up later. 

It was a late night, and it hit Bailey hard.  She went snow boarding with SCGO & daddy in LeMars.  I guess she fell off her tube and got hit by a lot of people.  She cried a lot, cause it was scary, but no bumbs and bruises to show for it.  When she got home, her and dad played wii and the tiredness set in.  She cried anytime she made an error.  Everything frustrated her.  So, she is now enjoying a nice quiet bath.  Then PJ’s and a movie to calm us down before bed.  What did I do all day, like I have been doing many other Sunday’s…. studying for my real estate exam.  Unit 7 completed.  I believe there are 15 units total.  UGH.