Oh, my!

Isn't he adorable?!!
Here it is for those who asked!
Here is grandson's Christmas picture!!
Isn't he just precious?!! I'll try to get more
pics up later (we have several!), and update his
blog maybe over the Christmas holiday. He also turned
6 months old on the day these pics were taken (yesterday!), so
we took a change of clothes and created two different picture sessions
to mark the
occasion!


He smiled and laughed the whole time! He's definitely the STAR on our tree!

Doin' the Happy Dance!!

Hallelujah!!!

I could feel all of you thinking of me and praying for us all through this morning. It gave me courage and strength in the midst of the hearing today. The very most we had hoped for, wished for, prayed for, was a continuation. We hadn't been given any time by CPS to get any kind of case ready. We had a corrupt case worker. We had rules being broken and the wrong people getting all the rights.

That ALL changed today!!

The lawyer took one look at the papers, talked to the kids, talked to the D.A., talked with CPS, and immediately went before the judge asking for a continuation! We now have one month for the lawyers to get together and gather up all the information they might need. They allowed us to speak with the kids' lawyer!!! (Yay!!! We weren't expecting that at all!!) I have a calendar with the dates of everything written down and receipts from everything we've ever bought for her (for him). We told them all about her behavior, the fact that she left the county without permission, has unmedicated bipolar, and everything else we could think of that was relevant. We told them about the case worker who would give her days in advance warning of home visits, and visit often as a "friend." We told them how she refused to communicate with us, but was always in contact with the other grandmother.

By the time the hearing was finished, the case workers boss (and her boss's boss) were in her face telling her that she was off that case immediately. She wasn't allowed to contact the other grandmother ever again -- not even as a friend. The case was on the spot handed to another caseworker! We talked to the lawyer about visitation, and he agreed there were problems before, but that he would work toward getting something set in stone and require that she be there or be held in contempt of court! He said that even better than that was trying to get a CASA worker set aside for us!! (The other case worker said absolutely NOT. We couldn't have one.) They are also going to get counseling and parenting classes set up for the kids. The other worker refused to help with any of that.

So all in all, it was a very good day. Obviously, I would have loved for the judge to say that we could have full custody of grandson, but it doesn't happen that fast or easily. It's baby steps to get the best for him. At least now, though, the bad apples have been weeded out, and the kids have lawyers!! I must be thankful for every step of the way...

And I'm VERY thankful to all my friends who have been praying for us and holding us in their thoughts! Believe me, I truly could feel all of you with us this morning. It gave us a calm that I can't even begin to explain. Thank you all...

MUCH LOVE AND MANY HUGS FOR ALL OF YOU!!!

We went to visit grandson yesterday. As usual, she put us off until 3 p.m. (It's been much later quite often. Our 'normal' visitation is 1 p.m.) She won't let us sit with him in the house for 5 minutes while she runs across the street, and yet she let her daughter take him to a coworkers house and SPEND THE NIGHT!! Now, not only is her daughter not supposed to have him at all, she isn't allowed to see the baby without her mother's direct (right in the room) supervision. That blows my mind. And she still won't let us have him for 5 minutes without her being right there. I took her on errands one day, and she wouldn't even let me sit in the car with him by myself!!!! It really makes me angry.

Nonetheless, we had a wonderful visit with the little munchkin yesterday. It was very nice to see him. We brought along the video camera, as well as the normal digital camera that we normally bring. We are hoping to send my parents some videotape for Christmas. They've still never seen him except in still photos.

Well, tomorrow is the court date. I'm so nervous I don't know what to do with myself. I do know from talking to a friend who has dealt with Texas CPS for nearly 5 years now what to expect, and I've talked to our own lawyer. Basically, not being listed on those court documents, we have no rights. We cannot ask for visitation tomorrow. We can't ask for the holidays with him. We can't ask for or testify for anything at all. We will only be there for moral support. It's been a heart breaker, but it's reality. It makes me very sad, but we must go anyway. I have to know what is going on, plus I know that son will appreciate our continued support in this matter. He is going to ask for a continuance since they refused to call him back about his lawyer until just this very morning. That leaves him with no time to talk to him until court tomorrow. I guess that's pretty normal for CPS, too. A continuance would help his lawyer dig up new information, though, so we're hoping it goes that way.

Can I ask that you send up a few prayers in this direction? Pray that the judge is kind and fair, the lawyers are fair, and that the 'right' things begin to unfold for all of us. I know that's probably selfish, but I'm not asking for everything to be perfect for us, just what is fair. I pray that they see what a manipulative, mean-spirited, and unwell woman his other grandmother really is. I pray that they see us for what we really are. Thank you all for all your support and prayers thus far. It means more to us than you know. Your comments and concerns have lifted my spirits. I'm very thankful for you all.

Well, the bad stuff is still there. The court date is next Tuesday. In the meantime, though, I had a very nice visit with grandson this past Tuesday!

She said that he had just had his bottle and was sleeping. He was sound asleep, too. I took him from her. I tickled him and talked to him. Slowly his eyes opened. Once he opened them enough to see me, his eyes became HUGE!! He smiled a broad smile that seemed to cover half his face!! He was so animated and excited that I was there. We laughed and played. I took several pictures and even one video. He is always so happy when I (we) are there. You can tell he's so glad we are there.

But after an hour or so when I began to leave, he became different. When I put him down, he started to fuss and whine. He just kept looking at me and reaching out for me. He kept trying to "talk" and get me to pick him up again. (Which I did a couple of times.) He would sit on my lap and put both little arms around me and bury his face in my chest. He didn't want me to go. When I finally had to go for the night, his other grandmother had to pick him up. He was reaching for me and pouting with his little lip. He was sad to see me go. Of course it broke my heart. ...all to bits.

Then I realized something. He remembers me. He knows me. He's elated to see me come in. He's to an age where he knows, and he wants me there. Though it broke my heart to leave him, I was also very happy in the knowledge that he's understanding now and that he's so happy to be with me. He loves me. How precious and wonderful is that?

It just doesn't get a whole lot better than that...

It warmed my heart tremendously, and left my heart overflowing with love and emotion.

What a precious little one.

**Edit***

I really wish I could say that I was overdramatizing some of this stuff, but if anything, I'm probably not telling you all that goes on. It's far too frustrating and heartbreaking to go into every detail. But it's true, I believe that they just don't care how much she lies. I kept hearing "prove it" from the CPS worker when I brought it up. It's just our word against hers, and heaven forbid they go back on what they've done so far. It just MIGHT prove they were wrong!!! Can't have that...

**End Edit***

Just spoke to the case worker for the first time in about 3 months. Wouldn't you know it had nothing to do with the fact that I've called her many times already. She called me because the other grandmother (if she can be called that) called her and complained about us.

Her exact words were, after about 20 minutes of conversation and questions on my part, "You're just the grandparents. There's nothing you can do. There's nothing I can do for you!"

After this conversation, I'm livid. I haven't been so angry in a long time.