Update on boys' TPR

Tamara had asked if I would update about the boys' TPR. Unfortunately, not a lot of great news, but some good news.

First off - Little Man (now 22 months) - whom we thought was coming to us almost legally free back in June 2006 (at 14 months). Apparently, this one is going to drag on for quite a while. The mom keeps petitioning the court for him to be returned to her, no matter how many times the commissioner says "no". There was supposed to have been a regular review hearing on Jan. 19 - my hubby took the day off work, my grandma came over to babysit the boys, and we got all dressed up and went to the courthouse. Five minutes before court was to start, the social worker came running in, apparently late for a meeting. We snagged her to ask what courtroom we were to be in, and she says, "oh, I think it's cancelled". Well, it sure would have been nice to know, I think to myself. Sure enough, court was cancelled, and we just were never told. Funny how the foster parents are the last to know everything! So, instead, there will be a contested review hearing addressing the mom's petition to have him returned sometime during the first week of March. Unfortunately, we are no closer to TPR than we were in June.

Second off - Little Guy. The social worker told the parents on Jan. 19 that the state will be filing for termination on Little Guy, and filing to put the new baby girl in foster care when she is born (of course, to our house!). The parents seemed shocked and surprised at this news - which just floors me that the couldn't see it coming! They were quite upset, to the point that they ended their visit with Little Guy early. We have a court date on Feb. 6, which is supposed to be the permanency planning hearing. We received the updated ISSP report from the social worker, and we noticed that the primary plan for Little Guy has changed. Originally, as always, the primary plan was placement back into the home, and the alternate plan was adoption. Now, the primary plan is adoption, and of course, our home is shown as the planned adoptive home. Now, to see what the commissioner says to the parents.

You know, it's really sad that it comes down to this. I just wish all parents could see the blessing of a child, and want to do everything in their power to provide a loving, safe home for the children they bring into this world. Unfortunately, either life choices or mental health issues prevent them from sacrificing their own needs for the needs of their child. I've had many people ask me, "what are these people thinking?" and unfortunately, their ability, or desire, to think of the child first is hindered. I still believe God has a master plan in all of this - He put the strong desire in our hearts for children, and he slowly gave us the ability to parent as foster parents. He is building us strong for whatever He has in store for us, and we are just grateful, and humbled, that He finds us worthy enough to do this hard job. So we will continue loving and fighting for these children, because they deserve the best God has for them.