So there is some initial interest in our blog. Yay. :)
Here's a little background...
We have been foster moms for a little over a year. We're signed up to take babies under 1 year old, and we've had quite a few. Three for long periods of time and then a handful of 1-2 day stays. We've really enjoyed each and every baby.

Since our goal is adoption, even though not all the babies were available for adoption, we called them "practice babies" and, whoo boy, have we gotten some practice!

We've had colic, reflux, milk allergies, crying jags, babies who wanted to be held 24/7, babies who wanted to play 24/7, and on and on and on.

Our friends and family are very supportive and that's been really important.

Our little bundle right now has been with us for 4.5 months and we'll have her for at least another couple months. She will possibly be available for adoption. This is the outcome her case worker is hoping for, at least.
It's hard for me to really hope that we can adopt her - I mean, yes, I love her with all my heart and want to raise her - but hoping to adopt her means hoping that her parents fail at their goal of reunification. That's a hard place to be in for me.

Realistically, I know it's up to them and if they really are at a place in their lives where they can do the work and get her back, then that's what will happen and that will (hopefully) be the best thing for all of them. And if they can't do that at this point, for whatever reason, then here we are ready to adopt her. Win-win for her. [And then there's the issue of the judge and how he can do whatever he wants, basically, regardless of what the parents have been doing...but that's another post...]

If she does leave us, however, we'll be completely heartbroken. Because you can't not hope and dream. We have to live our lives as if she'll be here always. It's the only way we can provide her with the best care. And I'm willing to do it, I just know it'll suck big time if she leaves.

None of the other babies we had were this close to being freed for adoption, so we've never gone down this road before.