Sunday will be a difficult, yet fulfilling day.

Sunday, I am going to accompany my field supervisor to a local hospital to pick up a Safe Haven infant. The baby boy was born late last night, so he will be discharged early Sunday morning. The birth mother has told the nurses that she would like to leave the child under the Safe Haven Law, but in order to do that, she can't be present when we arrive. It's disheartening, to me, that she doesn't want to be involved in finding a good home for her baby (i.e. choosing the adopted parents, or at least being involved at some level) but I completely understand her reasons not to. It probably makes the situation a tad easier when you just walk away from it. I do not judge her for her choices, and I do hope that she finds peace in her decision. I will not be able to go to the hospital and see this tiny infant without thinking of birth mom, and how much she is suffering. However, I am completely excited to finally have the opportunity to retrieve an infant from a hospital and deliver him to his new devoted and extremely thankful family.

It will be a bittersweet day.

Next Field Internship

So, I'm filling out my field application for my next field internship. I am excited about some of my choices:

• A couple of Independent Living program serving adolescents in foster care. This is a MAJOR interest of mine! Program focuses on activities that prepare foster youth and homeless teens for successful independent living when they turn 18. Offered during after-school hours, the curriculum includes core classes, job coaching, substance abuse prevention activities, sports clubs, broadcast journalism training and life skills classes.

• A community-based, gender-responsive prevention, diversion and early intervention program serving girls, ages 12-17. The particular model of this org has been recognized nationally for helping girls find success in school, with their families and in their communities by integrating education, counseling, training and advocacy. Another area of interest!

• Social Work in Schools!

• A charitable organization that is composed of a network of host and sponsor faith communities that help homelessness families with children. The program brings immediate but temporary shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families. The goal is to restore the families to long term self sufficiency. I think one of my classmates is currently interning here

Spring 2010 Semester

My new semester starts tomorrow. I am going to be taking my Practice w/ Groups and Families course, as well as my Field Seminar. I am starting my field practicum back tomorrow at my internship. I look forward to what this semester shall bring, even though it means less book-reading for fun and more for pure learning. :(

I am working one less job this time around, which is highly affecting my lunch money fund. I left my graduate assistantship, which did not pay a lot but did pay my tuition, so I could have more time to breathe. I kept the job I work from home, as I make more money, but work less hours. Still, it is not enough income to support all of our bills, so I still need to take out loans, right along with the bazillion dollars Todd is racking up in school loans. It is a sad state of financial affairs in our home, but we will get by...With lots of Wii games, Netflix movies and leftovers! Oh, and we are hitting the gym TOGETHER tomorrow after our days are over and I hope to make it a common weekly occurrence (maybe Mon, Wed and Sat?). We need it.

P.S. I sent an email to the School of Social Work to tell them I going to attend full-time next school year to get done in 3 years, instead of 4. I will hopefully take my 3 electives this summer (if available) to lighten the load a bit. I am freaking out over the amount of work I will have on my plate. I've never done college full-time, and doing grad school full-time makes me want to either vomit or pass out. However, I'm a dedicated woman who doesn't give up easily. So - wish me luck! (I am doing this so Todd and I can start a family. I need to be done with school first though, and since I turn 31 in a few weeks, I feel we need to get the ball rolling!)

EDIT: Todd and I just made a pact (sealed with a kiss) to hit the gym every Mon and Wed after our day is over, plus do some sort of exercise on Sat - gym, walk, Wii, etc. YAY!