Neak has mentioned that her sister has 3 adopted kids. They are 11, 9, and 8. At the time of the adoption, Neaksis was only 25. For these children, like yours, CPS was absolutely useless to protect them from what was happening in their own home with the cooperation of their own mother. Their father was in prison. We became so disgusted with the impotence of "officials" that we hired an attorney on their behalf. It was expensive, and I seem to remember reading that money is a struggle for your family. It took a total of almost 3 years, and they were unpleasant ones, and often discouraging, in addition to being costly. But at the end, both parents' rights were severed, and the children were legally, permanently adopted into our family. I would never rely on the tender "mercies" of government agencies to work for me. If you can afford it, and you are sure of what you want to do, find yourself a lawyer and let him get to work for you. Once the courts get involved, CPS is forced to pay attention because the judge MAKES them. I wouldn't live the last 4 years again for anything, but I'm glad we did it and the children are safe now and nobody can take them away. Our family will keep you in our prayers.

t&L

Kimmy

Yours is a situation without any 'right way'. You keep the babies and lose your mind, you keep sane and lose the babies.

Might sound lame but this really is one to give up to God, Darl'. He is never perplexed by situations and does what is right for His plan.

Prayer cover coming your way.

{{{{{Kimmy}}}}}

Thank you all. I tied him up (not literally) when he got home from work yesterday for a helping of holy what for mixed in with "I'm proud of you for doing the right thing" (I didn't add "finally"), and "no one ever said the RIGHT thing would be the easiest thing."

OW has been playing ugly with every pick up and drop off...and sometimes in between, and it seems he was getting a double dosage of hopelessness what with how much time it'll take to actually GET the kids away from her, and then on top of it all her evil spewings.

We've agreed to take it a day at a time for now to see how much and what we're willing to live with in order to do what is best for the children.

On a happier note (?) CPS called us about the most recent lice infestation (like it ever ended?) today. That was a glimmer of hope...however small.

Wookie took OC2 to the doctor today. OW never had him circumcised, and because she felt "odd" cleaning his poor winky has fused so that he HAS to have a circumcision. ARGH. My poor baby. Better now than as a teen, I suppose.

Oh. And she asked us to keep them longer. Seems she somehow broke her wrist. Like maybe the time she got so drunk she fell and broke her finger...or perhaps the time she got so trashed she fell and ended up with a concussion....she won't tell how it happened, tho.

I'm off to read a book. I'm re-reading the Gateway series by Frederik Pohl. Nothing like huge mathematical strings imbedded in a story to get your mind off of things.

Oh! Had 1 job interview today and another one tomorrow. I'm also going to go to the kids school to see if they need any teacher's aides.....it'd be nice to have a job that had the same holiday schedule as my babies.

- Kimmy