One day at breakfast that week Max and Ozzie surprised the women and asked Bette if they could call her ‘Mom’ and then asked Tina if they could call her ‘Momma’, as they loved them like they were their own. The two women were floored and simply thrilled that the boys felt that way towards them. They both agreed and the four of them shared a very long and special hug. Max could also see that both women felt something special for one another and loved that they were going to be family now.

So, over the next two weeks, after Bette arranged to take them off, she worked hard to organize Max and Ozzie’s new life living with Tina, Shane and her in the new apartment. Together, the two women found a pediatrician and took the boys in for their exams and to update their vaccinations. Ozzie would only take his if he could sit on Bette’s lap, hold her hand and close his eyes. Max was much braver.

Afterwards, the little family went for ice cream to sooth the anxieties of what they had just experienced at the doctor’s office. Tina found that Bette and the boys all loved vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and sprinkles. She smiled at the three of them as she ate her coconut ice cream cone. When they finished, they went shopping for school supplies. The boys were so excited to get their own backpacks and stuff for school.

As much as possible, Tina and Bette did everything together in dealing with organizing the boys’ lives, and getting them comfortable in creating a family with everyone. Ozzie and Max seemed to relax and finally smile most of the time in feeling safe and secure with their new situation in being family with the three women. Tina and Bette were also adjusting in getting used to a new living situation with this potentially new relationship in their life. 

One important issue the women had to deal with was finding good therapists for Ozzie to assist him with strengthening his body in dealing with his cerebral palsy. After a few visits to different offices and asking lots of questions, they finally found an office where he could get physical, occupational and speech therapies with very knowledgeable therapists. The best part was that he would have only one morning per week initially, where he would go to the office and get treatment.