In this video I’m finally sharing the story of how my family grew through foster care and adoption—after 783 days. I take you back to the very beginning: I’d wanted to foster for about six years, went to orientations, got close to applying a bunch of times, and then finally decided “now’s the time.” I walk through my timeline from submitting my application in October, getting my pre-assessment, starting classes in November, finishing in early December, and turning in all my paperwork early (because I’m a super go-getter). Then I explain the waiting game—home studies, being patient, and learning that the system moves when it moves. I also share the moment everything changed: I got officially licensed on January 31st, and on February 4th—while I was literally in the meeting that was supposed to be the last step before placements—I got asked, “Are you ready to take a baby today?” That’s when I got my first placement call for a three-day-old newborn boy (my “Buster” for the vlog). From there, I give updates on milestones, the reality of those chaotic first hours, and how quickly life can shift when LA County needs foster parents. I even touch on saying yes again when I got a call about a second little “potato boy,” and what it looked like to navigate two littles and still make memories together.