A Foster Adoption Story for my Son

It wasn't your birthday, but I celebrate this day still. It was February 8th that I got the call to pick you up the hospital the next day. I could hardly wait.The Nurse on duty when I went to pick you up said she had visited pretty much everyday. She was in fact expecting her within the hour. Who is she? She is your Birthmother. She never quite made it, but I met her later. You were being released to me that day. I was there to do a feeding. You weren't a very experienced eater and they wanted to make sure I could get you to eat. You ate only an ounce and a half I believe. The Nurse was satisfied with that. I decided to leave and come back, hoping your Mother would have visited by the time I returned. Such was not the case of course and set the tone for the next year, and the next and the next. She has not seen you since you were about 6 months old. Entirely her choice, someday I hope she is able to reach out to us, to you and will be there to answer questions I know you will one day have. I waited several hours in a not so pleasant hospital that day before deciding I had waited long enough and took my Little Man home. Just beginning to think about middle of the night feedings and early mornings. Somehow we made it through. I was truly amazed when you turned 1 y/o and were still my foster child that I had kept you alive for an entire year. When you turned 2 your father had just signed a consent for me to adopt you, I knew you would be with me forever. He fought long and hard for you my son, but one day the Judge asked him to please consider after almost 2 years who you felt was your family . . . I know that reached him, he put you first as much as it hurt him. I hope you will always have him in your life. He has come so far and you are the reason he tried. When you turned 3 you were truly the handsomest little man in town and it was your first birthday with permanency. You my son have never known another Mother. I love you with all my heart. The good the bad and the ugly that we struggle through daily is always worth it, you are always worth it. You are bright, articulate and as charming as the day is long. You are such a man at only 4, you know just the right thing to say to your Mother when she needs it. Sometimes you come up with things that I have no clue how you know, how you have learned them.You can direct Grandma in the car to your Church, your Cookie Cutters Haircut shop and back home again. You understand about Heaven, that amazes me and thrills me. You love your cousins and your friends. You like school alot but hate to be seperated from me, so tell me you hate it. Mom knows better. When you told Santa what you wanted for Christmas it was a ring for Mommie . . . how SWEET is that. Mommie loves her ring. One day you will understand that we aren't married my son, lol. But for now please tell me how you made the connection that a ring equals marriage!?!You bounce like Tigger, climb like a Monkey and are as smart as a whip. Grandma shakes her finger at me for making you so independent, but I think you decided to be that way on your own. It frustrates me at least 10 times a day, but at the same time makes me Proud. I'm sure we will butt heads countless times in the future. You just remember if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy . . . ;)My only prayers for you are that you lead a happy, honorable life and that you treat others well. Your heart is full of love and you are the light of my life. I love you so much. How much is so? Way, way, way more than you know. I love you as silly as a puppy dog's kiss, as quiet as midnight, I love you like this!