And Now There Are Two

Yesterday afternoon about 1 pm Kurt and I were driving away from an Orem apartment, where for the first time since we've had him, Braylon was visiting with his parents in their home. We knew this was a big step for him and for them especially since this would be his first 8 hr unsupervised visit. 8 hrs. I could think of several things I wanted to get done that day but top on my list was attending an endowment session with my lover.
We were dressed, ready and headed straight there from dropping off Braylon when I got a call from my RFC, Dan. He's a funny guy because some how he always for gets our situation and calls us up for placements that we just can't take. I answered the phone (blue tooth buzzing through the car speakers so Kurt could hear). Dan of course asked us our situation again and I told him just like every other time that we indeed have a foster boy until March or April and couldn't place another child unless they were under 2.
DCFS has a rule that you have to have a certain amount of square footage in bed rooms per foster child. So we do have enough room for two children in our spare room but the other kicker is the children have to be the same gender and siblings to share a room. UNLESS its a child under 2 in which case you are allowed to keep them in your master bedroom.
After explaining the situation and expecting Dan to say the usual "ok well sorry to bug you. I guess this won't work. I'll make a note of that...." He said "Well I have a 3 week old little boy that will be getting picked up today. In just an hour in fact."
AAAAAHHHHH!!!! Is what I felt. I told Dan to give me 10 mins to talk it over and he promised not to call anyone else until then. I bawled as I hung up the phone. What a decision to make in just 10 mins! We made it in 5.
I called Dan back and told him we would take the baby and then I bawled again. How could we not accept such a rare opportunity. This was a baby for goodness sakes! It's what we had hoped for.
After that moment you're put "on call." I now needed to go to the temple more then ever but because the case worker could be calling at any moment we had to be near the phone. Kurt obliged me by driving to the temple so we could say a prayer of help and comfort. That's all the time we had and we turned the car around and headed home to set up the crib and clean up a bit.
The case worker, Candice, arrived around 3:45 or 4 pm with the teeniest most precious thing I ever hoped to have. February 8th, exactly 3 months from getting Braylon (November 8th), we got to meet our newest love Jaren Harrington. We found out he was only 12 days old.

I love this picture

Kurt trying to text all the family with the crazy good news.

Braylon didn't come home that day until 9:30 pm which is 1.5 hrs past his bed time, so he didn't give much interest in his new "brother" until the next morning when curiosity got the better of him. He was so cute touching Jaren and asking question after question about the little baby. Braylon's mom is pregnant right now so this will be good practice for the time when he gets to return home.

Big Brother

Checking out all the little baby parts

Welcome to our world Jaren. For as long or as little as we get to keep you in our arms I cherish this moment.