Life has changed in our household, a most wonderful and happy, tired out change!
We have become "weekend grandparents" of a sort....
It has been a most welcome gift to us but sadly comes at a price to a little family...I will only say that we are hoping for reunification some day...but for now we are opening our hearts and home to a very, very special little one....
Mark, myself and Ashton were asked to become foster parents for the little one...one who has touched our hearts since the day he was born....Ashton especially has been his guardian angel ever since he came into the world and we came to know and love him very much over his first year...
Sadly for Mark and I we couldn't become full-time foster parents only because of my health, the darn fibromyalgia that has stolen so much from me in the last year or so, my doctor said NO very emphatically to full-time but I am Grammy every other weekend. My heart said I must do this even though my body says whew...alot!
So the once quiet emptynest is now overflowing with tiny toy trucks, blocks and blocks and more blocks (we have just as much fun with them as the little one does!) popcorn popper toys that make lots of loud noise as a little one happily pushes it all around the house over and over and over... there is a tiny trike that he tries to move about and watch out feet he is on the move. There are books and books that he loves to "read" for perhaps 30 seconds and then zoom is off to something else....
There is a now a crib in Ashton's bright pink room! A rocking chair that rocked my first baby 33 years ago is now being used at nighttime to settle and soothe a wee one....oh how I love the feeling of a little one cuddled up to me as we rock and sing softly bye bye rock-a-bye... He has claimed my own little rocker (55 years old!) for his very own and you can hear him sing very softly "bye bye" as he rocks....tears fill my eyes when I see and hear this. He had worked very hard to be able to climb into the little chair by himself and finally one day he did it! Then I caught him standing up in it ,wobbling about but the biggest smile on his face.
There is a big quilt covering our entire coffee table, because there is a little one who just seems to miss hitting the edges as he speeds by on sturdy little legs! Its not a pretty sight for the living room but we don't care...its a HOME that is illuminated by such a sweet little face and those wrinkled-up nose smiles...that is what is beautiful about our home. There is a big metal fence around the hearth so there will be no boo-boos...I forgot what it feels like to step on little toys in barefeet in the middle of the night...oh yes the feeling never goes away...
There is now a highchair sitting next to the dogs "dining area" in the kitchen. The dogs tiptoe about as if not to disturb the little one...their tails and noses have been known to have been grabbed....they are very good natured about all the noise and running and jumping that goes on here....they sit patiently beside the highchair at meal time...one never knows what juicy morsel might just fall onto the floor...and the little boy who has figured out that if he throws food onto the floor it will be quickly snapped up! We are working on that....
There are diapers stacked in his room, ointments and a tiny toothbrush and the tub is full of bathtoys....oh he does love ducks! There is much splishing and splashing and laughter from Ashton and I as we watch him having the best time...then into snuggly footed pjs and then a bit more fun before its time for night-night.
There is now a stroller taking up space in the entryway....a car seat is buckled into the car. And who knew that they now come with a cup holder and snack cup built right in! And there is a cup holder on his stroller too...for the adult! Perhaps for the coffee I have to drink to keep up with those tiny feet....and to wake myself up at the very early hour of 5:30 a.m. each morning....but when I go into his room there is a smily face looking up at me to start the day off with...it's so quiet in the house at that time, still dark outside and the two of us happily eat breakfast together, he with his juice cup and me with a BIG cup of coffee...we have our oatmeal and he says "yum yum yum" while I slice up a banana for him. I taught him that when he was just a visitor to our home and it makes me smile to think he remembers that!
There are no decorative items about the house anymore....all packed up for now. There are outlet covers and cabinet locks and small spoons and cups and cuddly bears....
He has captured the heart of Mark's sister, she buys him cute clothes and is anxiously awaiting a visit to us tomorrow so she can give him a bouncy toy that she found and knew he would love...he made his first long trip (1 1/2 hours-ish)to my Aunt Jean's house and met her and Uncle Ken and Molly the dog...he ran through fallen leaves in their backyard and saw his first antique auto! He came away with a gorgeous sweater and hat knitted by my aunt and books too! I think he came away with their hearts too....
Community members have donated toys to him, a wonderful young mom has overwhelmed us with her donations of clothing and a stroller as she has tiny twins that are six months old, a toddler and an older child herself but she has the biggest heart! Ashton is always "finding something" he might need from people are so very kind. When we first learned that he would be our guest for awhile I turned to the local Yard Sale page on Facebook and found a crib and mattress for him...the father who sold us the crib delivered it to us and set it all up for us! We found a great deal on a highchair and a tiny table with two chairs, clothing was looked through and sorted out for him, someone found the hearth gate, winter clothes, stuffed animals...the love and support of our community has been truly overwhelming!
I think I finally understand what it means to share, to give and most importantly to live each day to its fullest through this journey. Yes one day I hope to have grandchildren of my own and of course we have Bode our granddog but this wee fellow has brought so much to our lives in his short life...we pray and pray that all goes well with his life and his family's...but for now I will continue to kiss that sweet head as much as I possibly can and take those sweet hugs he is starting to offer and change diapers and try to dress him as he runs about wily-nily and cover him with his blankie as he sleeps. We will give him as many hugs and kisses that we possibly can, we will continue to share our families with him and shelter and protect him.
He is a gift.
