this will never end…..

When I decided to intervene on Gracie’s behalf back in 2007, I had no idea what I was getting into- I just wanted to make sure Gracie was safe. I would NOT change that decision for anything but here in 2013 we are still in court- R trying to get custody of G- me trying to keep G safe. We went to court yesterday- Mn judge asks- “Why am I hearing this case? shouldn’t this be dealt with in Texas?” I guess she didn’t get that this started in cps- bc of drug use and abuse. Now that she knows that- from the GAL- she is more inclined than ever to move it out of “family” court- She can’ t properly get this handled from Mn- bc the allegations are not on me- but on R- in Texas- I wish R would just give up- when G is older- i suspect she will want to know her but now she is just scared and angry at her. I am not inclined to push it- on behalf of G- R is now going to file a custody suit up here- the judge told her “good luck” she probably doesn’t have grounds but will wait to see what the motion says before she dismisses it. Motion should be up here some time next week- judge should make some sort of decision in the next couple weeks.

oh- the report from the gal came back and was biased for R- not in the best interest of Gracie- her recommendations were for me to take g down there for 10 day visit – unsupervised- phone calls 2x a week and counseling for g. I am fine with counseling- even phone calls if r understands some times- most of the time- g doesn’t want to talk to her- and doesn’t yell at me for it- but that won’t happen. I was freaked out when I read the report- but the judge didn’t deal wiht it but to say- she is hard pressed to send a child to tx for any length of time to a woman who had her removed at birth for drug use- she isn’t drug tested- home study-…. i said- PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!

And I meant it- God is in control of this whole thing- He wants me to quit freaking out- He has got this! So- on my knees again- thanking God for being who He says He is- oy- when will I learn?

thanks for your prayers-

In other news- G wore a Twins jersey to school today for jersey day- we need some Texas garb-

My sister- B got married last week and we are going to Tx in May to celebrate at her reception- G can not wait! counting the days!!!!!!

1 comment April 19, 2013 ohjul

oy vay….

Yesterday- the gal came over yesterday- it was good- she talked to both of us- then g took her to show her her room- they talked for about 20 mins then came back down- gal said g is definatley scared of r bc she hit her with a belt- and her brother- but gal asked her if the rule was that ro could not hit her at all- would she be willing to go down there-and g said- yes- so we will see what happens but looks like g may go there for a week this summer- i am not excited but nervous- i jus t pray she will be okay- if she goes- sigh- at least the gal interrogataion is over for now-

in other news took g to the eye dr. last year the old eye dr. gave her glasses- this year- she has 20/20- but may have other issues- with movement- she is struggling with reading- paying attention at school and writing from the board- so next stop is a specialist who deals with eye issues that aren’t related to vision- so more to come on that- and i also have to get g into therapy-

oy- i need another income stat!

Add comment March 17, 2013 ohjul

Saturday…..

We are still in piles of snow- and getting more tonight and monday- ugh- I am truly over it this year. ready for some sunshine! bike rides and grillin’. We are doing good- i had my visit with the gal and G has her’s on Saturday- i pray she feels like she can tell the truth- and that the gal hears her- I am so over this whole deal too.

Work is good- very busy but good- continues to prove this was a good move for us. This summer i am going to work from home 3 days a week and in the office 2- this way G doesn’t have to go to Adventure cl_ub all day everyday- and it will save me some money. She is thrilled because she can stay home and play with friends.  I hope it works out well.

My lil sis is getting married 4-14 in dallas- i am so excited but will not be able to be there- it is a wedding in a hot air balloon- so no one will really be there- I am planning to get down there for the reception in may. So very happy for her- G is sorta happy- but i havne’t told her we can see the wedding- or about the reception- i have to get plane tickets first- then i will tell her-

that is about all for now- wishing i were closer to my buddies! ;( Miss me some HotStuff!

1 comment March 13, 2013 ohjul

met with gal…

I met with the court assigned guardian ad litem- i like her- met with her for about 2 and 1/2 hours yesterday. We talked about the history- why we are where we are today….. she seemed to get it- wants g to go to therapy- have scheduled weekly phone calls with r and maybe have r come here to visit this summer- spliting the cost of course- thank GOD!

I also found out that if you are more than $500 behind on child support- the state will intercept tax returns… heheheheheeee- should finish paying for the disney cruise i just scheduled for june of 2014.

work is a wreck- oh so frustrating to have other try to tell me how I should do my job- clean up your own back yard then i will listen if you have criticism of mine- i bite my tongue- i try to keep a cool head but it really makes me crazy.  Fortunately my boss is supportive- my team is okay and we will get through this.

thanks for your prayers.

Add comment February 21, 2013 ohjul

June 2014 will be here soon! and we will be cruising the Disney Cruise!!!!!!

Sooooo excited- going to do the Disney cruise next summer with my G and some friends I met through this blog- “little did I know…” she and some friends are taking this cruise and we are tagging along- CAN NOT wait!  I’m hoping to get my siblings and other foster/adopt blog friends to go too! I am more excited than Gracie but she will get there- 🙂

I spoke with GAL- meeting with her next Wednesday afternoon- prayers appreciated. Have not yet scheduled Gs time with her. I guess Ill do that when I go.  Im not sure what to expect but am going with open mind and eyes- hoping she sees the truth.

In other news-I had lunch with G at her school friday and then read to her class- so fun- so cute-  work is crazy busy but i still like it- G had another slumber party with the posse last night-  good times were had by all. but i  need a nap… tonight is mommy time and G will stay the night with one of them. And of course there is no school on monday- ugh! but I will be working.

Add comment February 16, 2013 ohjul

assigned…

i got word today- the gal has been assigned. Should be contacted within next few weeks.  Still so angry but this too shall pass. In the mean time- r called to see how G is doing in school- this is the first time she has asked this in a year or so- I told her i would send the report card- along with it- i will provide her with all the medical reciepts for the last 6 years. 

G still wont’ talk to her on the phone- screams- cries and runs away. i am sure that will bite me in the butt in court- but what do i do? i can’t make the child talk to her.

this whole situation sucks- grrrrrrrr

Add comment February 4, 2013 ohjul

cuss….

Add comment January 29, 2013 ohjul

it continues….

Court was last thursday- it didn’t go as well as planned- i do think the outcome will be the same in the end- I pray it will but this is going to take awhile- AGAIN- for no good reason. So the judge didnt’ think R had enough time to respond to the case based on the court sending documentation to the wrong address. SO she wants to know more and give R time to respond appropriately. Oddly- I didnt’ get to say one word in court but that will change next time.  My issues with this whole thing is this- because I have a full time job- I have to pay all the court fees- R on the other hand only works 24 hours a week- and she will have all her fees waived- she has no financial skin in the game- so she can do this all she wants- I on the other hand will have to pay to defend myself every time- ARGH!!!!!!!!! where is the justice?  

So as it stands now- the judge is assigning a guardian ad litem to speak on Gs behalf- so they will come visit us- interview- me – and g- and call rondia on the phone to interview about our relationships with G and what G wants- this is a little good news- as Gs voice will be heard in court even though she is only 6 1/2 yrs old.  Now I hope she just is as honest with them as she is with me.

My sister V came to town this past weekend to help me get organized and the house ready for whatever inspection they have in mind. I have no idea what they will do- visit us here? some center? I just want to be prepared for anything they do. So the house is clean- organized- many things have moved to Good will-  and I am forever grateful to my sister for coming and all her help! It was a big task- and one that has overwhelmed me for a long time- but 3- 12 hour days- and life is good.  We are preparing to move closer to Gs school in the spring so it is just step one in that process- lots is already packed up- and ready to go- 🙂 YAY!

Can I just say how much i like my job up here? I love my boss- most of my co-workers are great- a couple challenging but it is all good- today I find myself working from home with 2 snoring dogs and 1 snoring child at my side while I work.  G has been a little under the weather the last few days-winter cold-  so the time for her to rest is priceless. She had the last 2 days off of school for MKL and an inservice day. Yesterday i had lots of meetings at the office so I took her with me- she was GREAT!  we were there all day- and she was a trooper – well behaved- content- THANK YOU G!

Now to make it through the next few months- next court date is April 18th.

Add comment January 22, 2013 ohjul

So here we go…

tomorrow is the court date- sounds like i will testify regarding the whole case- R will not be there- but I have been prepped for the questions. Pray for me! that I censor myself and don’t get too animated- that will be tough- R sent the judge a letter- not my attorney- not me- just the judge- so it won’t be such a slam dunk- I spoke with my attorney yesterday and we went through the likely questions and he told me what to say- and not say- ha!

THANKS!

Add comment January 16, 2013 ohjul

I am taking a moment during my lunch break to blog- this weekend was a bit uneventful- G was grounded for being disrespectful to me and she actually handled it pretty well- when she asked if she could go somewhere- and I said no- your grounded, she didn’t question it.  We did have a good time reading my blog about her baby days-  so glad I wrote back then- and hope to continue to fill in her life here-

She is growing up so fast- the things she says and the way she says it- hilarious! She has a GREAT sense of humor- very witty. I just crack up- I will try to remember more and get it down here- Mostly- i laugh in the middle of the night when she talks in her sleep- so much must happen in her dreams- one night a while back I woke up to her sucking on my hand- sleeping- “theres my ice cream” I will never forget that-

I found out today that i do have to show up in court on Thursday- I filed for “sole custody” and supervised visitation- she hasn’t responded yet- and the due date is passed so I figured we would not even have a court date- but alas- i have to show up anyway. Oh well- the main thing I want out of this is that I can change her name- She wants to be my last name- and G is not her legal name- and she hates her legal name- so it is time to get that solved. I doubt I can do that this week but will file once I get sole- and get it done.

Oy- this has been such a long road but I think we are finally seeing the end of the legal tunnel. prayers appreciated. 🙂

Add comment January 14, 2013 ohjul