Still here...on the floor

Today's the day we meet LBM's foster carer. I find myself running around like a crustless apple pie before work, hoover in one hand, frantically febreezing the dog bed with the other. It dawns on me just how un-child friendly our house is and I start to panic. Will she judge me on this? Is this ignorance? No, it's just us being cautious and not quite believing this is really happening. It's a long day at work but I dash home early to meet them. LRUN is home already having his customary 'just before the SW arrives' poo. Aargh!
I open to the door to the familiar smile of LBM's social worker, Little Miss Scarlett. With her, is a very young girl and I stand there speechless. Surely this can't be LBM's foster carer? She looks about 12! Little Miss Scarlett must have seen my confused, quizzical expression (I'm rubbish at acting!) and she quickly introduces her as a guest student (phew!) And there hidden behind the corner of the Land Rover was LBM's foster carer. A sweet smiley woman not far off the Fairy Godmother.  She is small and round and  I immediately warm to her,  I like small round people. Don't ask me why, I just do. Everyone comes inside and in a jiffy, we break into the tea and cake and the atmosphere is really relaxed. The dogs are desperate to join the party and the Fairy Godmother beckons them in. It's chaos for a minute as Big Dog does her rounds of hugging everyone but they soon settle down. It's obvious they know something is up and they just want to be in on things. Ok, ok...it's the cake they are really after but let's give them the benefit of the bone here.

The Fairy Godmother starts talking about LBM and I just sit there, soaking up all this sweet juicy info. He loves In the Night Garden, he has a special blankie he takes to bed with him, he sleeps 12 hours a night (whaaat?)  he loves his buggie and being outdoors and has a special love of celery. LRUN and I laugh out loud. We both hate celery. In fact LRUN states it's only good in a Bloody Mary. I resist the urge to elbow him and say 'inappropriate honey' but they they all giggle and we carry on just having a whole hour of LBM appreciation time. The Fairy Godmother says she has some recent photos of him for us and she passes me the neat, new shiny Boots photo envelope. LRUN scurries over and leans hard against me to see. My heart literally melts as I take in his cute little cheeky grin and gorgeous little face. I am overwhelmed at how scrummy he is. The other photo I admit is not his best. It shows just how chunky he really is and he is grimacing so much, I reckon he is probably having a poo at that exact moment but you know what....that is him and we love him so much already, it has earned it's place on the fridge door. I show the Fairy Godmother around the house and after a few minutes I get the feeling she actually wants to move in. It's not a big house but so many people tell me our house has such happy vibes to it. Like they always feel they are on holiday when they come to visit. She loves it and is so positive about everything. She stops outside the bathroom door and looks me dead in the eye and says, " I don't think you realise just how lovely he really is. He honestly is the loveliest little one I have ever fostered, you know.  He is simply gorgeous!" It sinks in then just how lucky we are.

I send the photo to my parents who have already cracked open the bubbly and are literally in tears, wishing they could be there with us to share the moment.  My sister is revelling in the magic he is creating already. LRUN calls his family and they talk for ages. The next day the girls at work are all speechless at just how cute he is. Lady Godiva, amongst others are in tears. Will everyone please just stop crying! Now, excuse me, I need to find a recipe for a celery cake.