Today was court day for Little Man. TPR hearing. I was running late this morning, wasn't too worried about it because they always start late. Well, I didn't realize that a judge from out of our county was doing court today and she was punctual. Normally that wouldn't matter either because we typically are the last case seen. I ran into a foster parent in the lobby who needed to talk to me. I told her to call me because I was running late.
I stepped out of the elevator to find the GAL standing there. She said we our case was just called and we had to go. Whew, what timing. On time and first, the one time I was running late.
Our case took an hour. I had to get on the stand to talk about my contact with the mother (none since last July but I was the last person to talk with her) and about Little Man's health issues. I don't like going on the stand. I have a tendency to start answering before they have finished their long question. I guess I am impatient....or the question is too long.
In the end TPR was granted on 3 different grounds. Each ground had to be proved and documented. Now we have a waiting period where the mom can file an appeal. Honestly, even if she files an appeal I don't see how she can fight the TPR. She hasn't worked her case plan, visited her child since last June 28th or supported her child.
While waiting for the appeal period to end we will work on finished our update on our adoption homestudy. I have all the medicals and other paperwork but can't get the adoption worker to return my calls. Tomorrow I am heading to Columbia to personally hand her the rest of the documents. Adoptions has to go through the selection process before we can do anything else. If they select us we will then go to our lawyer. If not, we will look for a lawyer to fight. I am not sure if our adoption lawyer would be the best choice for a fight. I hope that we don't have to go there.
Termination of Parental Rights is a huge step. I know that many talk about how it is such a loss for the mother. While I agree I must admit that in this case my feeling is one of celebration and relief. Little Man's mother did not fight for her child. She could have gotten her child back if she had done what was asked of her.
Sitting in court today I realize how little she did. We did more for this child in maintaining our foster certification than what she did to try and gain custody of him. She walked away. To say that I am sad for the mothers loss would not be true. I have had cases where I did feel that way. Where I saw the mothers work and try but just not have the ability to overcome their challenges (most of the times drugs). I have also seen some work hard and get their kids back. But in the case, nothing. Even the visits she made were for her family. They held him, not her.
So today we are celebrating. Little Man is now officially an orphan. Praying that he will soon be ours.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Kassi
Kassi has been living with her boyfriend in a very old mobile home with mold issues. Kassi has asthma issues. Not a good combination. This combined witht he issues that this home belonged to his family and they were giving her issues related to the pregnancy meant that she had to move. This actually is a good thing, we had been encouraging them to find a better place for a while.
Kassi has been living out in the "boonies". Not very convenient to get to at all and she missed out on a lot of stuff going on at home. It also made it harder for her to get to work.
Kassi and Blake found an apartment in our town. Blake later told me that Kassi wanted to be closer to home. They needed the deposit with their application so we gave them money for that. Their rent would be $500/month. They were paying $150/week at the mobile home so they could afford that.
Last week Kassi called me and told me that they got the place but she was shocked that they wanted all of the rent before they moved in. Well, yes that is typically how it goes. When kids take off before they are ready they have huge gaps in knowledge that they really could use. This makes for surprises.
Blake came to our house and I took him to the bank to get a money order for the first months rent. I also got to go see their future apartment. It is a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with all laminate flooring. It has a lot of closets and a pantry that is bigger than mine. It is in a good area with lots of opportunity to get a job closer to home. It looked really nice.
Kassi's other mom brought Kassi to the lease signing. She had come to town a few weeks ago. I think that her objective is to be here for when Kassi has her baby. I know that Kassi would like that. I just don't know if that will happen. Her mom hasn't been one for sticking around when Kassi needs her. Actually, when Kassi came in to care, her mom stayed out of state and made no attempt to come and get her daughter.
I try to remain positive about her other mom but in the back of my mind is those texts that were shared with me. Kassi running away from an abusive grandfather and her mom telling her to go home because he is pestering her. No concern for the abuse. No concern for Kassi. Only concern for herself.
However, I love Kassi and her mom is important to her so I hope that she does right by Kassi now. Kassi will need a lot of support in the next year. I don't mind sharing the support, I just don't care to watch my kid get hurt once again by her other mom.
I think that it is going to be a very exciting, stressful year for Kassi. She liked her new apartment so much that she cried. It was so much nicer than she expected. It is a start. Now if we can just get her back in school so she can get her GED.
Kassi has been living out in the "boonies". Not very convenient to get to at all and she missed out on a lot of stuff going on at home. It also made it harder for her to get to work.
Kassi and Blake found an apartment in our town. Blake later told me that Kassi wanted to be closer to home. They needed the deposit with their application so we gave them money for that. Their rent would be $500/month. They were paying $150/week at the mobile home so they could afford that.
Last week Kassi called me and told me that they got the place but she was shocked that they wanted all of the rent before they moved in. Well, yes that is typically how it goes. When kids take off before they are ready they have huge gaps in knowledge that they really could use. This makes for surprises.
Blake came to our house and I took him to the bank to get a money order for the first months rent. I also got to go see their future apartment. It is a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with all laminate flooring. It has a lot of closets and a pantry that is bigger than mine. It is in a good area with lots of opportunity to get a job closer to home. It looked really nice.
Kassi's other mom brought Kassi to the lease signing. She had come to town a few weeks ago. I think that her objective is to be here for when Kassi has her baby. I know that Kassi would like that. I just don't know if that will happen. Her mom hasn't been one for sticking around when Kassi needs her. Actually, when Kassi came in to care, her mom stayed out of state and made no attempt to come and get her daughter.
I try to remain positive about her other mom but in the back of my mind is those texts that were shared with me. Kassi running away from an abusive grandfather and her mom telling her to go home because he is pestering her. No concern for the abuse. No concern for Kassi. Only concern for herself.
However, I love Kassi and her mom is important to her so I hope that she does right by Kassi now. Kassi will need a lot of support in the next year. I don't mind sharing the support, I just don't care to watch my kid get hurt once again by her other mom.
I think that it is going to be a very exciting, stressful year for Kassi. She liked her new apartment so much that she cried. It was so much nicer than she expected. It is a start. Now if we can just get her back in school so she can get her GED.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Sorry, Kids are Noisy at Play
School is out and pool season has begun.
Sidewalk chalk and water...
Having a buddy to play with is so much fun.
My sweetie, biggest cheeks around.
I love, love, love watching Tasha love on her baby.
Our rocker has developed a leak so the kids took the middle out and had quite a good time trying to stay on top of it. Keeping it balanced was quite a challenge, they had to work together to do it. They are also very loud when they do this. Screaming and laughing and yelling at each other.
Little Man is going places too....and it makes me nervous. We have video of him coming down the slide, I didn't know that you could get some air on those kiddie slides. Believe me, you can! We have cushions on the bottom for landing.
And with the start of the pool season our neighbor issues are back. I really don't understand why he doesn't go live on a retirement community where no kids are allowed. He has started yelling at my kids again. Last night it was at 7 pm. I never let them out too early or too late. Typically they are in by 8 pm. They are in early to avoid our neighbor.
This morning I went to our neighbor to the side of us. I asked him if my noisy children bothers him. He said that he can hear them but he can tell that they are playing and it doesn't bother him. He asked me who was yelling at the kids at 7 last night. Uh, the neighbor behind us. He yells at them loud enough to be heard two doors away.
I really don't know what to do about my neighbor. We have a fence and a row of bushes in front of that. I don't know of any other sound barrier that is affordable. I am tired of telling my kids to come in or be quiet. I acknowledge that they get loud in the pool but they are so involved in their play.
Honestly, if I had known that this would be such an issue I would have moved out to the country before putting in a pool. We can't sell the house now, we wouldn't get the money back that we put into our yard. I have looked at realtor.com but don't see anything affordable. I would hate to move, our house fits all of us and we have modified it for my mom with ramps and bigger doors for shower access. We would lose so much in realtor fees, it just wouldn't' be a good financial decision. Still, when I am limiting my children's play it crosses my mind.
Anyone have suggestions for sound barriers?
Anyone want to buy a big house with a grouchy neighbor?
Sidewalk chalk and water...
Having a buddy to play with is so much fun.
My sweetie, biggest cheeks around.
Our rocker has developed a leak so the kids took the middle out and had quite a good time trying to stay on top of it. Keeping it balanced was quite a challenge, they had to work together to do it. They are also very loud when they do this. Screaming and laughing and yelling at each other.
Vaida is going places.
Little Man is going places too....and it makes me nervous. We have video of him coming down the slide, I didn't know that you could get some air on those kiddie slides. Believe me, you can! We have cushions on the bottom for landing.
And with the start of the pool season our neighbor issues are back. I really don't understand why he doesn't go live on a retirement community where no kids are allowed. He has started yelling at my kids again. Last night it was at 7 pm. I never let them out too early or too late. Typically they are in by 8 pm. They are in early to avoid our neighbor.
This morning I went to our neighbor to the side of us. I asked him if my noisy children bothers him. He said that he can hear them but he can tell that they are playing and it doesn't bother him. He asked me who was yelling at the kids at 7 last night. Uh, the neighbor behind us. He yells at them loud enough to be heard two doors away.
I really don't know what to do about my neighbor. We have a fence and a row of bushes in front of that. I don't know of any other sound barrier that is affordable. I am tired of telling my kids to come in or be quiet. I acknowledge that they get loud in the pool but they are so involved in their play.
Honestly, if I had known that this would be such an issue I would have moved out to the country before putting in a pool. We can't sell the house now, we wouldn't get the money back that we put into our yard. I have looked at realtor.com but don't see anything affordable. I would hate to move, our house fits all of us and we have modified it for my mom with ramps and bigger doors for shower access. We would lose so much in realtor fees, it just wouldn't' be a good financial decision. Still, when I am limiting my children's play it crosses my mind.
Anyone have suggestions for sound barriers?
Anyone want to buy a big house with a grouchy neighbor?
Monday, June 1, 2015
Pan Pals Wanted
This summer we are going to visit the post office, do a little geography and work on writing skills.
Anyone want to join us?
Email me at pritzen1@yahoo.com if you have any kids who want a pen pal.
Any takers?
Email me at pritzen1@yahoo.com if you have any kids who want a pen pal.
Any takers?
Larissa Finished
Larissa finished her coloring page and she is proud. She is starting on another one.
Warning, these coloring pages are rather addictive.
Warning, these coloring pages are rather addictive.
Painting
I have been working on painting Larissa's bedroom. I struggle to find time to go in there and paint but it is coming along.
Tale of the Fire Alarms
The month of December we received a letter from the Department of Social Services. The letter was dated months before but we just received it in time for the holidays. The letter informed us that we now had to have interconnected fire alarms in all areas. Oh, ad if we purchased them before December 31st we could submit for reimbursement of up to $200.
December, Christmas, many children to include foster child equaled no way to afford them at that time. We hoped that we would complete our case before the next fire inspection.
Nope.
We received a letter in the mail telling us that we were going to have a fire inspection in 5 days. It was early. I didn't even get my fire extinguisher reinspected because it hasn't expired yet.
We went out and purchased 8 new fire alarms. Those interconnected fire alarms are not cheap, we spent close to $400 on them and will not get reimbursed.
I finally got them to talk together and let DSS know. Last night I was told that she would be back on the morning of June 10th. Well, I won't be here, we have TPR court date that morning. Hopefully my moms caretaker can be here for that or they will need to reschedule again.
From what I understand our state has a shortage of foster parents. One big issue is window size. On July 1st the rules are supposed to change. Foster homes will either need window size, interconnected fire alarms or sprinkler systems. We meet the window sizes and had thought of letting the fire inspection ride until July 1st (within the 90 day limit). However, we decided that we didn't want anything to impede our possible adoption of Little Man.
I am curious, any other states making these changes?
December, Christmas, many children to include foster child equaled no way to afford them at that time. We hoped that we would complete our case before the next fire inspection.
Nope.
We received a letter in the mail telling us that we were going to have a fire inspection in 5 days. It was early. I didn't even get my fire extinguisher reinspected because it hasn't expired yet.
We went out and purchased 8 new fire alarms. Those interconnected fire alarms are not cheap, we spent close to $400 on them and will not get reimbursed.
I took most of the old alarms down and gave them to a friend who had none in her home. There is one area in the upstairs hallway where I keep our collection.
1. Original wired fire alarms. We were told we had to have battery operated.
2. Battery operated alarms.
3. Carbon monoxide detector we had to have as we failed a fire inspection for not having it.
4. New interconnected fire alarm.
We had a heck of a time getting them synced. We failed the inspection but were told that once we got them synced she would come back to check them. We have 90 days to make corrections when we fail an inspection. If we do not make corrections in that time our license is revoked.
I finally got them to talk together and let DSS know. Last night I was told that she would be back on the morning of June 10th. Well, I won't be here, we have TPR court date that morning. Hopefully my moms caretaker can be here for that or they will need to reschedule again.
From what I understand our state has a shortage of foster parents. One big issue is window size. On July 1st the rules are supposed to change. Foster homes will either need window size, interconnected fire alarms or sprinkler systems. We meet the window sizes and had thought of letting the fire inspection ride until July 1st (within the 90 day limit). However, we decided that we didn't want anything to impede our possible adoption of Little Man.
I am curious, any other states making these changes?
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