The Hearing & The Visit

Things have been hectic around our house lately, what with The Husband's work schedule, our home repairs, the kid's activities, holiday events, and then this whole thing with BabyBoy's sibling. I was nervous about the 72 hour hearing but kept reminding myself that either way the baby was with us for now. The hearing went fine and the lawyer is doing his thing to get things taken care of in a timely manner.

Birth Parents voluntarily signed over legal custody to us thereby preventing the new baby from being in foster care. CPS withdrew their legal stuff meaning they have no control over this situation at all.

The previous adoptive mom left the Birth Parents at the court house (i should mention that her unsuitability was due to sexual abuse of a minor, kidnapping, and other stuff that would have shown up on the homestudy had they even done one). She got mad while we were in court and just left them there with no way home. We had already planned to have a visit after court but I didn't want to provide transportation for them as I needed to go pick up BabyBoy from daycare and didn't want them seeing where he was located. This is because they have a history of trying to take the kids from school. But as I was driving to the visit destination, the Birth Parents called my cell. There were going to have to walk about a mile or two in the pouring cold rain to the visit and then walk the 15 miles back to their home. I went and picked them up. We visited for a few hours where they fed BabyBoy icecream (he is lactose intolerant), gave him sweet tea out of their own cup (didn't want him drinking after anyone - and no sugar and caffeine!), repeatedly tried to get BB to call them Mom and Dad, and again walked out of my sight while holding the kids. Then they needed a ride home, of course.

I knew they didn't have electricity but I was not prepared for the living conditions. No heat, no water, no electricity, no food, etc. The trailer is rusted and dilapidated and has no installation or underpinning. On the way there, they saw someone driving a big truck, said it was Birth Dad's uncle and wanted me to stop and show him the kids. Asked for me to stop by two places where they used to work to show them the kids. Then wanted to take the kids into another trailer where one of their friends lived to show them the kids. I said no to all accounts but let their friend come out and see the kids inside the vehicle. While their friend was with BirthMom looking at the new baby, BirthDad took the bottle of Rx pain pills that BirthMom got for having a baby and sold them to some guy WITH ME RIGHT THERE. They proceeded to hint for money and have called about 4 times per day since, each time hinting for money. They also talk about moving to our road. The hospital nurse wasn't careful when she got my DL and wrote down my info ... Birth Dad read it and now knows where we live. He has a history of hiding in the bushes at the other kid's home and trying to abduct them. He also has a history of physically assaulting the other foster/adoptive mom that has the first 4 kids. He also has a history of shooting at SWs, doing drugs, and domestic violence. I'm all for monthly visits at a neutral location, but I do NOT want them living within walking distance of our home. Our safe place.

So we have legal guardianship of the new baby and BabyBoy's adoptive placement meeting is set for next week done and there is talk of doing both adoptions at the same time. I can't believe something good is actually happening. I keep expecting something to go wrong or something bad to happen like it usually does. I'm holding my breath, crossing my fingers, and calling in favors in hopes things continue to go forward in a positive, smooth, quick manner. Then, I'm considering the possibility of no longer fostering.