We became Foster Parents tonight.

[MarianJack]

My wife, son and I welcomed a little 4 day old jelly bean named Tommy into our family tonight. He is so tiny, so cute and SOOO hungry! He went to bed a few hours ago and my wife and I just went in to visit him sleeping so contentedly in hi little crib. While we watched him sleep he let out an ENORMOUS fart, so I suspect that when Foster Daddy goes in t get him when he wakes up, weather it be during the night or in the morning, there is going to be a surprise package waiting in hi little dyddie.

He is so cute and so tiny! This placement may well be short lived because, up here in Maine, the ultimate goal of foster care is to reunite the child with the family, and we support that. If you tell me that by bringing a baby into the house at age 60, I should have my head examined, I'll most likely agree. However, for however long we have little Tommy or any future foster baby, we will love that baby weather the baby is eventually reunited with the family, is adopted by another family, or remains with us for good. We will love that baby because, if for no other reason, it is a baby's RIGHT to be loved by his or her caretakers. I have explained to my son that if we eventually have a little girl stay with us, when she gets to dating age and a boyfriend needs an ass kicking, HE will have to do it because I'll be in my 70s by then.

Anyway, we became foster parents tonight. It's a new adventure that we have been looking forward to for the better part of the last year. We don't know how long Tommy will be with us, but we have guaranteed DHHS that in the coming months, this little boy will be having a lot of cuddling, kisses & hugs, singing, stories and overall spoiling between diaper changes, feedings and sleeps/naps! They heartily approve of this course of action!

On edit, halfway through writing this, the little Prince woke up loud and hungry with a BIGload of poop in his diaper, so I had to do a change and a feeding and a burping...Yikes!!!

Thanks for reading and wish us luck!

PEACE!

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. that is so cool

[MarianJack]

2. Thanks, Liberal_in_LA!

PEACE!

[oldandhappy]

3. I heartily approve of your treatment plan ...

cuddling, kisses, hugs, singing, stories, and overall spoiling!!!

Big hugs to you. Thank you for your big hearts.

[2theleft]

4. Yay for you!!

That is so awesome, and such a wonderful thing to do. My sister fosters and while difficult at times, it is also very rewarding. Enjoy baby Tommy for as long as you can!!

[niyad]

5. no good luck needed. what a lovely thing your family is doing. hugs to all of you.

[Solly Mack]

6. That's great! Y'all are great!

Best wishes!!

[alittlelark]

7. Awesome!!

[me b zola]

8. Thank you for doing this

You sound as though you are doing well for that sweet baby

[riderinthestorm]

9. Love this! Thanks for posting nt

[brer cat]

10. You are a wonderful gift

for Tommy, who needs just what you are offering at this time in his life. I suspect you will come to see Tommy as a gift as well as he enriches your life. You guys are fantastic to do this! Best wishes.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. How wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!

I'm getting all choked up, reading your description and picturing it, and that doesn't happen to me often. It sounds like he's found the perfect place, no matter how long he stays. This little angel was so very fortunate to have found you...

[LoveMyCali]

19. Glad I'm not the only one

I got a little teary reading the OP.

Best of luck to you and your family MarianJack

[Rhiannon12866]

21. I don't know about you

But I'm kind of hoping that this lasts for quite awhile. It sounds like this little one is getting exactly what he needs...

[Scarsdale]

12. Thank goodness

So glad there are folks like you who spread love like this. Any child who lands in your care will be lucky. Enjoy little Tommy while he is with you, and the best of luck with future placements. He sounds like a loveable little guy.

[shenmue]

13. Mazel tov

[Omaha Steve]

14. K&R!

[SoapBox]

15. Wow...you folks are wonderful.

Very impressive of you.

Best of luck and enjoy the cuddles.

[realFedUp]

16. Felicitations!

N/t

[jwirr]

17. Good for you. Tiny? A preemie?

[MarianJack]

20. About 2 weeks early.

The little Prince is just a little bit bigger than my foot. He's a little jelly bean!

PEACE!

[jwirr]

29. Neat. I am 73 and I have been baby sitting with great grandchildren for years - it keeps you

young. Bless you.

[TexasBushwhacker]

18. I have friends who fostered kids for many years

They had been young parents so their biological children were all grown and on their own when my friends were in their early 40s. They just really liked raising children and felt they were especially good with boys, so they fostered several over about 15 years time, some til they graduated from high school.

[eggplant]

22. I'm right there with you.

When we took in our 16 yr old foster daughter (we've known her since birth, her mom is a bit messed up), my sister asked why we would do that. To which I replied, "why *wouldn't* we do that?"

Even though we only had her a few months before she moved back home again (a mistake she regrets to this day), it was the most wonderful thing. I like to think that we made some impression on her for the better. She certainly made a difference for us.

Now she's almost 20 and on her own and thriving. It's great to see. I just wish she wasn't eight hours away.

[Cha]

23. Good for you caring people, MarianJack! Lucky baby~

[gvstn]

24. Very sweet. Enjoy your time with Tommy.

I know you will help him get his life off to a great start.

[Sheepshank]

25. Very cool, you have a big heart.

Remember to sleep when the baby sleeps

[mnhtnbb]

34. +++++++++

[No Vested Interest]

26. I can't express how much respect I have for you and your wife and son.

Your taking this little jellybean into your home and lives is the best news I have read on DU in a long time - or ever.

Please keep us informed how it goes - the little details.

It's been a long time since I've held a small package like that, and I wouldn't be up to full-time care.

Tonight you are my heroes.

[gwheezie]

27. What an inspiration you are

The baby is so lucky to have wound up with you.
My foster daughter is 46 years old. I've known her since the day she was born but she didn't come to live with me until she was 15. My daughter actually met her when they were both hours old in the nursery. They've been friends ever since.

[Throckmorton]

28. my wife and I adopted our last foster child,

He was 4 years old, he is a genuine joy. We are in the process of getting re certified to do short term fostering again.

[blm]

30. SO happy for you, old buddy. Wishing you the best….

for you and yours.

[joeybee12]

31. That is wonderful!

Hooray for Tommy to have such love!

[Dont call me Shirley]

32. "It's a baby's right to be loved by his or her caretakers"

[mnhtnbb]

33. OMgosh, you are brave! I'm 64 and couldn't do a baby again

if my life depended on it!

Hope you get some sleep! It took 6 months for my first one to sleep through the night!

[byronius]

35. Well done.