If you remember, back in June it was mandated by the judge that should Dad miss or have any more (+/abnormal) drug screens that he have a substance abuse evaluation. Well, he has. The CM told him about the need for an evaluation but didn't give him an official referral form. He told her that he would not be doing the evaluation because he felt like he didn't need to. This all makes the possibility of a TPR a bit more possible should the judge choose to not change his placement. If she decides to go ahead and change the placement anyway, the plan is PG, but they are also open to adoption, so I am not sure what would happen at that point.
Continued prayers for a miracle appreciated....I know they're working already!!!!!
Sharing the life experience of becoming foster parents to the least of these!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Court results
Well, I guess it was a positive that our case was actually HEARD today :) It became very clear after the CM testified that this was not going to be quick and easy. The GAL's lawyer was there today and made the CM account for lots of things that were not completed and made it clear that the CM didn't really know her stuff.
The judge (who is very pro-family) commented that this child has been with us for a year and half and NOW the aunt/uncle are interested???? I was very happy to hear that. Uncle tried to chime in and was shut down very quickly. Oh...bio-Dad never showed up.
Next Uncle was called to the stand. That was surprise! The GAL's lawyer interrogated him and he was lost on dates and had no clue! He backpedaled about lies he has told and said that the person (who was not there) was lying. The GAL immediately asked for a continuance rebuttal against what the uncle just said. SIGH! She continued to ask questions.
Then I was called to the stand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was not told this would happen and certainly did not expect it. I was the only person to know all the details(thank you Holy Spirit!!)...when the original visits were, when they made contact with the CM again, when the visits started again, and when overnights started. I know the judge took note of that :)
SOOOOOOOOOOO......................we wait another 22 days till Oct 1st when the hearing will be continued. The aunt/uncle walked out FURIOUS that the judge wouldn't even listen to any of their banter and saying "if we are such bad parents then why do we have the other two?" I walked out FRUSTRATED and THRILLED all at once! I want a decision to made NOW but I will soak up any additional days with my Baby...that's for sure!!!!
The judge (who is very pro-family) commented that this child has been with us for a year and half and NOW the aunt/uncle are interested???? I was very happy to hear that. Uncle tried to chime in and was shut down very quickly. Oh...bio-Dad never showed up.
Next Uncle was called to the stand. That was surprise! The GAL's lawyer interrogated him and he was lost on dates and had no clue! He backpedaled about lies he has told and said that the person (who was not there) was lying. The GAL immediately asked for a continuance rebuttal against what the uncle just said. SIGH! She continued to ask questions.
Then I was called to the stand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was not told this would happen and certainly did not expect it. I was the only person to know all the details(thank you Holy Spirit!!)...when the original visits were, when they made contact with the CM again, when the visits started again, and when overnights started. I know the judge took note of that :)
SOOOOOOOOOOO......................we wait another 22 days till Oct 1st when the hearing will be continued. The aunt/uncle walked out FURIOUS that the judge wouldn't even listen to any of their banter and saying "if we are such bad parents then why do we have the other two?" I walked out FRUSTRATED and THRILLED all at once! I want a decision to made NOW but I will soak up any additional days with my Baby...that's for sure!!!!
Friday, September 7, 2012
As the day draws closer...
- every hug seems sweeter
- every word he speaks seems more adorable
- every time I put him to bed I hold on a little longer
- every dinner time when the floor is trashed makes me think how I will miss his messes
- every time he does a silly dance I try to burn it in my memory
- every time he whimpers in the night I secretly hope he'll need some extra cuddles
- every time he giggles and plays with his brothers I think how much they will miss each other
- every time I brush his teeth I wonder how many more teeth I will get to see pop through
- every picture I take I treasure more and more and wonder if I will get pictures of him in the future
- every 1 yr old tantrum bothers me less
- every cuddle he gives me I try to breathe him in as much as humanly possible not wanting to let go
- every smile melts my heart
Oh there is so much more....if you have ever had to say goodbye to a child whether a long-term foster child or perhaps your child was called Home, then you know what I mean. It's like living every day like it's your last....I guess we should live like that always huh?! :)
Surprise!
It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!!! Nope..not us :) I got an email from Michael's birth mom yesterday saying hello and asking what was going on around here. I wrote her back very casually. She responded with chit chat, then threw in a sentence something like this {yup I'm gonna have a baby in November it's a boy} and went on with more chit chat. Whoa whoa whoa!!!! What?
Sigh...her and birth dad are " in love and we will be together forever and ever!" It makes me sad how she thinks that this toxic violent relationship with a drug using dude is worth staying for :( This will be their 3rd child together. So far the other 2 are not with them. I am wondering how long this one will be with them??? I have contacted Michael's old GAL and she is talking to her supervisor to see if there is anything that needs to be done with this information (I think this is the reason "A" hasn't told me she is pregnant sooner). There is not an open CPS case so I am sure that they will be able to keep the baby, but I definitely think that with both their histories and involvement with CPS that they should be followed. They got pregnant soon before the finalization of Michael's adoption.....not by accident I am sure.
God has allowed this to happen for His purpose! I have to keep telling myself this!!! I am praying SO HARD for this little one because I have read the files, I know what has gone on in this family and it breaks my heart that another child would have to endure that kind of life. All the boys (she's had 3..one was a miscarriage) have "M" names. Wonder what this one will be??? Michael's bio-sister looks *exactly* like him so I am curious to see the baby. I bet it will give me a really good idea of what Michael looked like as a small infant :)
Sigh...her and birth dad are " in love and we will be together forever and ever!" It makes me sad how she thinks that this toxic violent relationship with a drug using dude is worth staying for :( This will be their 3rd child together. So far the other 2 are not with them. I am wondering how long this one will be with them??? I have contacted Michael's old GAL and she is talking to her supervisor to see if there is anything that needs to be done with this information (I think this is the reason "A" hasn't told me she is pregnant sooner). There is not an open CPS case so I am sure that they will be able to keep the baby, but I definitely think that with both their histories and involvement with CPS that they should be followed. They got pregnant soon before the finalization of Michael's adoption.....not by accident I am sure.
God has allowed this to happen for His purpose! I have to keep telling myself this!!! I am praying SO HARD for this little one because I have read the files, I know what has gone on in this family and it breaks my heart that another child would have to endure that kind of life. All the boys (she's had 3..one was a miscarriage) have "M" names. Wonder what this one will be??? Michael's bio-sister looks *exactly* like him so I am curious to see the baby. I bet it will give me a really good idea of what Michael looked like as a small infant :)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Acorn anyone?
We were happily driving Isaac to speech today...all 4 kiddos in tow. We were 1/2 way there when I hear from the backseat "there's an acorn in my nose and I can't get it out!" Me:"WHAT???????" I tried everything I could think of to get that darn thing out!! Pepper, pushing from the top, clogging the other nostril and having him blow...nada! I ended up having to take Michael to the ER today where they were able to blow it out his nose with a lovely "pop" sound! He told the nurse to go ahead and give it back to the squirrel. Umm yeah...I don't think that squirrel wants a snot covered slimy acorn back! LOL!
This was his story.....
"Squirrels! TWO squirrels put da acorn in my nose Mom! They had a taste then put it in there to save it!"
So his story is that 2 rogue squirrels hitched a ride to speech class with us today. 1/2 way there these 2 squirrels tasted the acorn and decided to stick it up his nose to save it for later. Oye! We were in and out of the ER in 1 hour...it literally took 1 second for the darn thing to pop out! I'm chuckling about it now, but I have a STRONG feeling that I will frequent the ER with this child more than any other! So far he's winning with 3 trips. Baby has 2, Isaac has 2, and Andrew has 0! :)
This was his story.....
"Squirrels! TWO squirrels put da acorn in my nose Mom! They had a taste then put it in there to save it!"
So his story is that 2 rogue squirrels hitched a ride to speech class with us today. 1/2 way there these 2 squirrels tasted the acorn and decided to stick it up his nose to save it for later. Oye! We were in and out of the ER in 1 hour...it literally took 1 second for the darn thing to pop out! I'm chuckling about it now, but I have a STRONG feeling that I will frequent the ER with this child more than any other! So far he's winning with 3 trips. Baby has 2, Isaac has 2, and Andrew has 0! :)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
God appointment
Yesterday was Isaac's first tumbling class! He is not our most graceful child and we are hoping that working on balance and some more physical activity will be good for him! I was sitting there with Andrew and Michael (Baby is on a weekend visit) and there was a woman sitting next to me. He daughter was in the class as well.
Over the course of the class she began asking me questions...lots of questions! She originally started with talking about her desire to have another biological child. Over the course of the conversation she kept remarking how well-behaved my children were (thank you Jesus!) and how beautiful they are etc. By the end of our time together she had a WHOLE NEW view of foster care/adoption, what it means/looks like to be a foster/adoptive parent and a desire to talk to her husband about this possibility in the future for their family!!! :-)
This has happened many times in our 3 years as foster parents and I love how God uses our regular family, doing regular things, to do mighty things for His Kingdom :) Praying for her, her husband's heart and *hopefully* the children that will enter their home in the future!
Over the course of the class she began asking me questions...lots of questions! She originally started with talking about her desire to have another biological child. Over the course of the conversation she kept remarking how well-behaved my children were (thank you Jesus!) and how beautiful they are etc. By the end of our time together she had a WHOLE NEW view of foster care/adoption, what it means/looks like to be a foster/adoptive parent and a desire to talk to her husband about this possibility in the future for their family!!! :-)
This has happened many times in our 3 years as foster parents and I love how God uses our regular family, doing regular things, to do mighty things for His Kingdom :) Praying for her, her husband's heart and *hopefully* the children that will enter their home in the future!
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