Scared, nervous and excited

[SenSationsMad]

Didn't want to say earlier, but two little boys coming to stay at the SenSations house next week!
We've met them twice already and will have contact again on Saturday.

How on earth will I cope?
How on earth will THEY cope, poor little things

[SquidgyBrain]

WOOOOHOOO - congratulations :) Really pleased that it worked out in the end :)

really great news :)

[threeandcounting]

Congratulations!

Is this your first placement? (nosey emotion!!)

Our social worker was round today..and we have finished our f1 form-so hopefully we will be in your shoes soon!

Hope all goes well!

[shaz298]

Congratulations!! xx

[SenSationsMad]

Thank you. Yes first placement, we've been registered three months.
Finding it hard to juggle work and running to meetings etc at the moment. I plucked up enough courage to phone my boss and ask for some flexibility. Hasn't been confirmed yet, but they've told me to do what I can and that's fine, so one less thing to worry about!!
I'm hoping it'll all settle down in a while and we'll get into a routine, and SS will need less meetings.

[SenSationsMad]

Another successful contact today, and now I'm shattered! Well and truly out of practice but the boys were good as gold, and no tears.

Here's hoping its a good start to our first placement

[SquidgyBrain]

Glad that your contact visit went so well :)

When are they due to come to stay?

So pleased for you

x

[SenSationsMad]

Tomorrow.[scared emotion]
Will post again soon to update you and to check in on what's happening at yours x

[Sazisi]

Aw, congratulations, bet you'll be wonderful :)

My mother had a foster family, her happiest childhood memories are all of them.

[sumum]

Good luck, how old are they?

[SenSationsMad]

Well, I've had a busy day, but I'm glad to say that it all went well. Maybe too well? Can't be this easy can it?
Only thing is, I'm still as nervous as hell. really on edge. Hope I sleep tomight seing I was awake all night last night with nerves!
Hoping it'll get eadies for me
and less traumatic for them.
Thanks for your support.

[SenSationsMad]

that's meant to say EASIER

[SquidgyBrain]

OOOH Fab congratulations Foster Mummy SSM!!

how old are the little poppets?

Hoping they settle in well :)

[SenSationsMad]

They're five and one. ( only meant to have one child between 4 - 9
They're really easy to have at the moment. My DD is a GREAT help
I'm absolutly shattered! It's very tiring looking after some else's child, I feel ashamed to say that I'm overwhelmed!
I know this placement is very easy compared with a lot of placements - we've met LAC maternal grandparents, and they're really lovely, supportive and positive people.
I'll be sleeping on me feet by the time Holby's on! ( Didn't sleep well last night even though both of them slept from 7.30 - 7 this morning. Was listening out for any noise!)

[sumum]

Hi SenSationsMad,
it sounds like you are doing a fab job, it's normal to feel overwhelmed, don't worry you will soon feel like an old hand.

I never sleep the first night or two when new kids come and have been doing it twenty years.

Try and rest when they go to contact.

[SenSationsMad]

I'm glad to hear that feeling like this is normal. The enormity of what were doing hits my right in between the eyes sometimes and panic sets in.
Glad to hear it'll be getting easier!

[ajandjjmum]

I think you're wonderful to be giving these little ones a home they wouldn't otherwise have.

[SenSationsMad]

[SenSationsMad]

Well, they've been here no 6 nights and have settled in really well. I'm also feeling more confident and less nervous ( though the feeling of "what the heck am I doing" still pops in to my head at weird times)

I'd like some gentle reminders please regarding a normal daily routine for a 13 month old. ( It's been SUCH a long time you see
For example, how many milk bottles a day? breakfast, lunch, tea supper and snack ideas.
Is a morning nap usually enough? Is waking ua twice a night still normal, and how to settle him back to sleep? AIBU to expect him to sleep from 7.30pm - 7am ( I know it's early days in a new home so please forgive me asking a silly question)
Any other general advice gladly received! Thanks a lot you lot, knowing that you've been there across the cyber waves has helped me a great deal this week.

[SquidgyBrain]

hey :)

Glad to hear that you are all settling into one and other :)

Unfortunately I was a breast feeder so have no advice about bottles - although isn't there a feeding guide printed on the tin?

snack idea - depends on what stage of weaning they are at - but mine all loved rice cakes (esp the organix apple ones) fruit breakfast - ready brek or weetabix were firm favs round here lunch - normally a plate of nibbly things - fruit cheese toast ect dinner - normally what we were having if it were suitable

Sleep - well that is a difficult one - could he be hungry/thirsty durning the night? equally it could just be him - a friend of mine would love it if her 3 yr old DS would only wake twice a night! If you are sure that he is only waking and needing settled you could try not lifting him right out of the cot - but giving him a cuddle and some reassurance over the bars as it were and trying to settle him back down - then reduce the amount you are talking to him gradually so that he learns to settle himself IYSWIM?

so glad that things are working out :)

[SenSationsMad]

Thanks Squidgy.

My youngest is 10 so it has been years!
The baby slept the first night through, but I knew then it would be too good to be true! DH got up with him at six this morning so I got a lie-in.

I'm worried that he's getting too much bread, sandwiches or marmite on toast nearly every day

[SquidgyBrain]

possibly it is just new surroundings that have unsettled him, I would try getting him to settle back down with the minimal intervention.

Could you ask his previous career what his dietary intake was like?

I wouldn't think that he is getting too much bread - that is pretty standard for most kids I think - you could try some tortilla wraps as an alternative - my kids adore them and you can gently grill them to make a very easy pizza

a 1 - 3 year old child typically requires about 10 - 13 hours. (this includes day time naps) of course there are always kids that need more or less!

[SenSationsMad]

We've had "permission" today to apply bonjela to his gums, so I'm hoping that this will bring us some more sleep!
I'm worried that our snoring is disturbing him and have considered moving his cot to the spare bedroom where his brother is sleeping. See how it goes tonight.
Good night Squidgy x

[SquidgyBrain]

we found ambusol to be brilliant for teething

how did the LO sleep last night?

[p99gmb]

Hi Sensations.. hope you enjoying your first placement - we are!!!

My sleep pattern has just changed completely, and even though we rarely hear a peep out of them, I seem to drift in and out of sleep waiting for them to wake up!!!!

We can't believe how well our 2 lo's are doing and people are telling us what a difference they are seeing in them - its been 5 weeks now and I can't remember what we used to do with all our free time - waste it I think!!!

Ours go to bed at 7pm and normally don't wake until 7am - we really are being spoilt.

Tip - we had the kids a couple of nights ago eating tangerines (seriously tarty) ... ok - a bit of tomato sauce did the trick - but the next day and since they eat them quite happily without the sauce!!

I also read a bit about giving them finger food - we make chips out of parsnip & carrots and they love them...

So pleased to hear you coping - it is a huge responsibility and I still can't get over the fact that SS trust us enough!!!

Accepting that there are so many missing bits of info is a toughie... we haven't a clue about so many things but somehow have to just 'get on with it'... we are loving it!!

Keep in touch

[SenSationsMad]

It's a good thing I've only sat down because three hours ago I'd ve been on here crying and asking for help!

DH is away now until Wednesday evening and the feeling of overwhelment came back big time. LAC had contact tonight and I don't think it went well. 5 yr old want to go to grannys house

Any how, we managed tea, we played, I made packed lunches, washed the dishes, LAC had a bath, had supper and now everyone's asleep. ( My DK are upstairs but not asleep as yet - 50% not bad!)

I think I started off this morning on the wrong foot cos the baby woke up at 4.30am, managed to get him back to sleep more or less until 5.30am and that was that then, gave up the fight at 6am. Don't know what else to do.

Like I said, by now I'm feeling better about things, all's well and I've even had my tea

Thanks for your positive posts X