Severance: The First Steps

On Tuesday morning, the kids were still asleep at 8AM. We got out the door around 8:45AM. Jeff had Miss R's hair in a headband that looked pretty good. As we walked down the hall of the daycare, a woman with a car seat was coming in the opposite direction on Henry's side of the walkway. When she was a couple inches from him, he yelled "Oww!" She found this very funny. Indeed, Henry would make a much better comedian than a serious dramatic actor. He's lacking in realism. Both Henry and Miss R were reluctant about going into their classrooms, but the promise of snacks made the transition slightly less troubling for them.

My parents really wanted to pick up the kids today. We agreed as we had a 4:30PM hearing for Miss R. At the last hearing, the court planned to switch case plans from reunification to severance/adoption. Today was the hearing that confirmed that switch. Miss R's case will move from CPS' hands to another agency. That agency will decide who gets to adopt Miss R (with the judge's approval of course). As far as we understand it, Miss R is officially a ward of the state now. But that doesn't mean that the severance has been finalized yet. We have yet another hearing on March 15 that will finalize the severance. In the meantime, the new agency will be vetting candidates for Miss R's future "forever home." For whatever reasons, it will take a month for Miss R's case to switch from CPS to the other agency. Prior to the hearing, the CASA was informed by the CPS caseworker that the aunt is a possible candidate. In the hearing, she was not mentioned however. At the hearing, the CPS attorney and the CASA both said that we were an appropriate permanent placement for Miss R. Miss R's CASA said that she would love to see Miss R placed with us permanently. The judge asked us if we wanted to add anything. Jeff reiterated that Miss R is doing very well.

Jeff and I had planned to go to dinner and then pick up the kids. We got a call from my mom, however, when we were near her side of town. She and Poppy had picked up Henry and were headed to our house. Apparently, much to our surprise, Miss R had been picked up by CPS for a visitation. That surprised us b/c we had assumed that the visitation was canceled due to the hearing. My parents and Henry made it to our house about 20 minutes before Miss R arrived. The driver decided it was OK to leave Miss R with my parents when Miss R yelled out for "Grammy!" and went running to her. The driver was a little bit worried about Miss R in the car b/c Miss R had been very quiet. I think that she was relieved that Miss R perked up upon seeing my mom.

The kids were rowdy this evening. We watched part of The Incredibles while eating dinner in the living room owing to Lily making a mess near the kitchen. That dog has been nothing but trouble. Henry enjoyed pasta salad and potato salad. Miss R enjoyed bread. We think that she'd already eaten some McDonald's during her visit with her siblings.

Henry read books with Jeff. Miss R snuggled with me. I attempted to take pictures of Henry with his glasses on. He didn't make it easy. Then, it was teeth brushing and bed.