Hello, question about foster to adopt

You'll find a ton of drug addicted baby stories over in the special needs sub-forum. Many of us have adopted kids with alcohol and/or drug histories, or mentally ill parents. have you started classes yet? They cover several of your questions As for books, it depends on what you are signing up for. Are you only planning on taking babies? Early on, I found it useful to read memoirs from both foster parents and kids. Another place at the Table by Kathy Harrison Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter were both amazing good luck!

Thanks! Classes start in March...it just felt like a long time to wait to hear about it all...especially since we will be asked before then what we are willing to consider as far as special needs! Thanks again...I'll go take a look in the special needs subforum! Blessings!

We are adopting our fs next week. We were called for him when he was 3 1/2 months old. He had a lot of issues when we first got him. He was on a apnea monitor and an oxygen tank with a heart monitor. He had GERD and sensory issues. He has now outgrown the need for all his medical equpiment and medicines. He does still do therapy (he was up to twice a week therapy for his sensory issues but now to once a month). It is very time consuming getting them to attach and we still have problems with him being affectionate towards us. (he is almost 2 now) With hard work from us and his therapist he is now one of there sucess stories. He will always have sensory issues but he will have to have new ways of dealing with them as he grows. I dont want to sugar coat it and say it is anything like bringing a non-addicted child into your home. There will be lots of screaming tantrums and all around fussiness. Our fs de-toxed for 4 months and it was very diffuclt seeing him go through that and know there is nothing you can do. But we loved him no matter what and with that love and the help of some amzing people he is now considered a normal little boy. I hope this helps. Good luck it is quite an adventure but well worth it when they cuddle with you for the first time.

Thank you for the response lil_libby! =) I appreciate the encouragement...I wonder sometimes if I can really know what I am getting myself into! I am not sure it's possible..there are bound to be moments when I am standing with a screaming child and wondering what the heck I thought I was doing! LOL! It just seems like the direction God is taking us in... Can you tell me what all is involved in GERD? I have read some, but it's better to hear first hand...I know it's a common issue with drug exposed infants.. Thanks again for the response!

We've had several drug exposed newborns and infants, one had GERD with no puking, he was conjested a LOT and had to have soy formula. He was fine, happy GERD. Our STBAD had the projectile vomitting kind of GERD from birth, the 5 bibs a morning, three-outfits a day kind. She was miserable and so were we! She required several formula changes and what finally worked was meds in the AM and the PM, sensitive forumla for spit up and all the tricks like keeping her upright, etc. She is almpst a year old how and happy, healthy and hitting all her milestones. Love of my life. We have had other babies that were just kind of... miserable. Depends on the drugs, the amounts, the resilliance of the baby, the habits of the mom and just dumb luck.

In the past few years, I've had over a dozen children 3 or younger placed in my home, none of which became adoptable. In most cases, I had the babies for about 6 months before they were placed with someone in their extended family or sent home to their parents. Many of them came drug exposed. Babies who are born into this world drug exposed tend to be very fussy, clingy, high strung babies. They often have trouble sleeping well, or have issues to do with their feeding, like being under weight, or colicky. And because they tend to be more high strung than other infants might be, they tend to cry more easily, and more often. Even with all the issues the poor dears come with, I am always so broken-hearted when they get sent home.