Me and Thomas are homeless but I don’t think anyone’s told him yet because he’s the happiest kid you will ever meet. 
It’s just us right now. Together we face every moment in life enthusiastically and unsure at the same time.
Even his birthday was like that. I had a C-section on my own and he was in the neonatal icu for a whole month. I bonded with so many nurses being there everyday all day. One of the nurses gave Tommy his nickname “papí” and another gave me a warm winter coat before I had to walk back home late at night just praying for the day I could have him with me always. We still stay in touch
When Thomas couldn’t breathe an ambulance ride was in order. We arrived at ccrmc ER and his nurses came to see us from pediatrics loading us up with diapers and wipes even blankets. We spent Christmas there. Giving birth completely alone was the bravest saddest happiest scariest thing Iv ever done but as soon as he arrived it was like we were ready to make our life something to be proud of. Everything I do, even buying groceries, Thomas is sure to turn around and give me a look like “Good idea mah” followed by a confident stare at the check out girl “mom said it’s cool. Put it on the charge card.”
We have been very blessed to have been supported by Gabrielle Project and St.Catherine’s that’s how we got his clothes and stroller and diapers. LaCasa women’s recovery has supported us and changed our life. I still walk there with the baby after a good cry and they treat me and Thomas like some rockstar power duo. They let us get our mail there and even help with diapers or clothes. Just having them take the baby out of my arms for a moment so I can make a phone call or research a resource has been a Godsend. 
This is Thomas incredibly excited about sweet potatoes even though he’s super sick in this photo he always has a smile for you. Community living means he’s going to have one strong immune system.
We are currently at a shelter here in the same town. I had never been to martinez before and now I’ve put 3-6 miles a day on our (now broken) stroller rain or shine getting to know the community and they’ve gotten to know us a bit too. Strangers have blessed us as they recognized us strapped up and weighed down pushing that thing at break neck speed to catch the bus. …this is Thomas all cocooned in the stroller to stay warm and dry after I ambitiously took on a long backroad to get downtown he was not impressed.
However as Tommy gets older and our desperate need for a safe place of our own increases I can’t help but realize, if we were in Napa I would have childcare. I would have a few friends. I would be able to work. Napa was my community growing up and I have thrived there before. Here in Martinez we barley survive and despite A newborn in my arms I have had scary experiences I was lucky to navigate out of. 
I’ve tried everything I can think of to get Thomas what he needs in the long run. I’ve followed resources in both county’s in circles. Iv had luck with formula and other things but unfortunately everyone needs housing right now and the county offers everything it can but nowhere near enough to help everyone
Two things make me feel helpless in my current situation;
I can’t find a place to let me work with the baby strapped to my chest (bet your top dollar i march into businesses holding my head high disheveled but confident, ready to work as Thomas stares down reception in his baby shark sunglasses fastened to my body his little legs dangling!) and second the burden of not only being homeless with no one to call on but homeless without a car. A car is an absolute make-it-or-break-it blessing to have if you’re like us just looking to plant roots. It gets dangerous without one. A car means safety and you will never have to sleep on pavement if the shelters full.
If me and Thomas had a car we could get to Napa daily. We could be saving for an apartment and building the community Thomas needs to grow. I am enrolled in every resource in both county’s and there’s so little these county’s can do. The option is to wait years bouncing around shelters for a housing voucher. But Thomas is growing up right now and he’s growing up FAST. I want to work and earn a good life for my family. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to do that. 
We’re asking you to invest in us and watch us be the success story not everyone gets a chance at. We don’t just want a handout we’re praying for people to be in our story. For friends and cheerleaders. I’m telling you this kids worth it and when he grows up he’s going to take care of his community because it saved us.
I am not the mom you see on Pinterest or who’s super organized at the grocery store. I’m always losing the burp cloth and ripping apart a overpacked diaper bag on the sidewalk slowly realizing I forgot diapers… but I’m ambitious. I’m backed in a corner with this perfect (incredibly patient) baby assigned to me with great purpose who can do this. I work hard and I will build something beautiful from something that started from such a tragedy. We can do this with a little help, a few good friends and our community tracking our story as we make the beautiful life I promised for Thomas. Thank you for reading our story so far. We hope to see you in it!
Ambermosley67@gmail.com if anyone wants to reach out to us God Bless!
