A few weeks ago, our 2-year-old foster boy, Lil Bit, climbed onto a dining room chair while our backs were turned and broke his elbow…for a second time! Yes, the exact same elbow! After our 26-hour hospital ordeal, we knew what was coming next….
The following Wednesday evening at church, as we were enjoying a catered meal of smoked barbecue brisket, Cole slaw, potato salad, and Oreo cookie pie, FosterDad’s cell phone began chirping its techno song alerting him that he was receiving a call.
It was an investigator with Child Protection Services: he was at our home! FosterDad, always the quick-thinker never wanting to miss a church service, invited the investigator to our church to conduct the interview before our Bible study began. Lo and behold, it was the same investigator!
FosterDad sat in the sanctuary for his part of the interview while I was herding preschoolers. (With their affinity to climb onto the pulpit, one would believe they would have an early calling to minister. My personal belief is that it is an act of defiance!)
Finally, we were able to drop the kids off into their classrooms, it was my turn for the interrogation interview.
The interview process took longer than I anticipated so I was going to be late for class; however, to complete the investigation, the investigator had to visit our home. So much for “Staying in Love” this week.
I drove home, showed him the infamous dining room chair.
“Sir, notice that we have no coffee table in our living room, just a lone rug amongst the sofa suit. That is because our dear foster child is a climber.”
I even showed him how we have the coffee table lying on its side in a closed-off room. “We are doing our best to keep this child safe.”
By the end of the interview, the investigator says: “My daughter is the same age, and she is a climber, too. Just this weekend, I caught her by her shirt before she hit the floor.”
I feel much more calm about this investigation report….
Wanted: Information on Foster Care License
Foster2Forever is compiling a list of websites that discuss the process to become a licensed foster home. We will post the list on September 29th. We currently have a number of posts ready to publish. Is yours on the list?
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh good grief. Glad the investigator seems to realize that kids can hurt themselves.
Hope it is over quickly.
Check out what Debbie recently posted..And It’s Done
Twitter: Foster2Forever
September 29, 2011 at 5:08 am
Thanks, Debbie! I will be posting your foster care journey here on “How to Get a Foster Care License”.
Hello Penelope, I haven’t been by for sometime and I wanted to come by and see how you were doing. I’m soo sorry to hear of the ordeal. But God was in the midst of everything. I am so glad everything worked out well… Your family is such an inspiration and a blessing.
Lisa @ Lesapea Hugs and Luvs.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
September 30, 2011 at 4:47 am
Hi Lisa!
This foster baby just seems to be so accident-prone. Even after returning from the hospital, he turned a laundry basket upside down to climb onto it. He makes me a nervous wreck with his desire to climb! We will be adopting him on November 18th, National Adoption Day!!!
You just described all kids not just that one, they are all accidents waiting to happen, keep your eyes open and you will be fine!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
October 2, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Thanks, Lessa! He tried to climb on the sofa just today. Ug!
TWO fractures in a 2-year-old from falling off a sofa??!! I am a doctor in ER and this rings alarm bells. Has he been tested for osteogenesis imperfecta?
Twitter: Foster2Forever
October 8, 2011 at 6:30 am
One of my friends mentioned that condition just this week. Not one of the orthopedic doctors did. I will ask to have him tested at his next appointment. Thanks so much!!!!
That must have been really stressful. We’ve never been investigated, but have had the police called because our daughter was tantrumming so loudly neighbors thought we were hurting her. It was scary, even though we knew we did nothing wrong.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
September 29, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Hi Rachael! Thanks for visiting! The police showing up would scare me too! Since this was our second investigation, I knew what to expect. Not the type of frequent customer I want to be though.
Hi, I’m Anne, from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), visiting from SITS. So nice to meet you! We’ve never fostered (though I would like to in a couple years), but three of our six kids are adopted. Scary story you described!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
September 29, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Hi Anne! Thanks for stopping by! I’m so excited to find another SITS-tah with an adopted family! Yeah! I’m going to check out your funny farm now!!!