Baby "J"

As I write this, it’s 6 am, and we have a 5-month-old in a crib sleeping away with – I can tell you – a clean diaper and a full belly.

Yesterday, Ian called me to say he received a phone call from our social worker at about 5 o’clock pm about a 5-month-old girl. He proceeded to tell me the story of how she ended up in the system, which is convoluted and we probably don’t have all the facts – and probably wouldn’t give them all online if/when we do. Suffice to say, she was at the DCFS office, ready to be picked up. I called them to confirm we were interested in her, and was told that she was actually a he. No name yet, but come and get him right away.

(We learned his name later, and just like his history, going to keep that a secret on this public blog. Call him “J.”)

Our nursery is as complete as it can be considering we didn’t know the age/sex/number of what we would be getting. I ran out the door and picked up what I figured was the essential what-a-5-month-old-needs-to-survive-one-night-at-our-place: blue onesie for 9-12 month old, diapers (what size? No idea what he would weigh), wipes, dry formula, bottles, nipples (hee hee), and car seat.

I picked up Ian and we went to the office, getting there at about 7:30. They bought him out, and he was “cranky” as he had been all day. He howled in the social worker’s arms, and then he howled in mine. Ian took him, and he calmed down immediately, and smiled and played with Ian’s glasses. The social worker said that was the best they had seen him all day. I can see I’m going to have to work on this.
Half-way back to our house in the car, he fell asleep in the car seat, his hand gripping mine. We got home at 8 and he slept until 11. First diaper change, unsuccessful attempt to get him to take a bottle of formula, and then swinging him around the house until 1 am when he decided to sleep.

He woke up, not crying, at 5 with a wet diaper. Changed, and finally got him to eat, and again to sleep.

Got so much to do today, going to pediatrician, meeting with social worker, picking up all the additional things didn’t have time to get tomorrow.
Hopefully, he’ll get to stay with us, because we’re smitten.