We are just getting back from court. The good news is the parental rights were terminated on the father. The not so good news is that the mother is currently incarcerated and was brought over to the courthouse for the trial. The judge wants her to have a lawyer before she speaks with her again. So the week of April 14th she will appear in front of the judge to petition for rights, and to make a case plan. She does not want to voluntarily surrender her rights. From what I got from the judge, she felt is was only fair to listen to her, but I believe she still has the right to terminate her rights anyway. The DFCS lawyer felt that they can still win the case based on the mother being unfit. So we wait.....
I am handling the news better than I though I would, after I picked my jaw up off the floor when they told us this morning that the birth mother would be there. It is out of my hands, and I don't regret one second that I have had to love on baby Grace. We knew going in there was a risk, and I can't imagine the last seven months without Grace in our lives. I feel confident that the end result will still make her a Shaheen, it is just going to take longer than we thought.
Thanks for all your support and prayers!
Michael, Jodi & Baby Grace
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Happy Easter & Trial Update
Hello Everyone,
Wow, the time continues to fly by. Grace was 7 months on March 16th. I continually need to check my math and count out the months, because it doesn't seem possible that she is already that old. She does continue to get cuter and cuter each day.
We go to court on Friday the 28th at 8:30 AM for the parental rights termination trial. We don’t expect the birth mother to be there since there still hasn’t been any contact from her….or the father. So they will use the court time to terminate the rights for the parents based on abandonment. Then we wait the 30 day waiting period, then 3 weeks for the 33’s to be written up. The 33's are paperwork that will release her for adoption and that we are interested in finalizing an adoption plan. Then we wait 3 – 5 months for a trial date for the finalization of the adoption. It is amazing how long it takes, especially since the mother hasn’t even been around.
Grace is doing well with physical therapy. She is sitting up (with a little help to stay up) and she loves jumping around in her Johnny Jump Up. Here she is with Daddy. I was trying to get her to laugh again as she did before when she would touch his hair....or lack of hair. He shaved his head in support of a student, a friend and a colleague who are all fighting cancer right now. You will also hear some clicking. Most of them are her, she is so loud, she makes the noise with her tongue.
Here are some shots from Easter
Gracie and Daddy watching cartoons.
This is such a cute shot of her in her Baby's 1st Easter outfit from Grammie.
Here she is just before church. Her bow is attached to about 2 hairs...so precious!
Baby girl and Daddy
Tuesday was opening day for the Red Sox and they were playing in Japan. The game was on at 6 AM. The whole family was up and watched the opening pitch. Of course Gracie had to get in her Red Sox gear.
Hanging out with Uncle Tony and Jen on Easter.
Jen with Gracie, I just love that bow!
Here are some older shots over the last month.
Here she is at work with Mommy...rough life!
Grace is Tony Plagman's good luck charm. We attended the Georgia Tech baseball games on 2 Sundays in a row, and both times, Tony hit a home run. We need to get to a game soon, I found a GT dress with bloomers with Buzz on them....so cute!!
Grace's eyelashes are so amazing! I mentioned to someone that she will never even need mascara, and Daddy piped up "Well she won't be allowed to wear any....ever!" Well girl, protective Daddy will be in for some surprises later in life! LOL
The Andrew's Family came to bring me birthday lunch in February and we had a nice visit with Jordan and Jackson. Boy kids move so much I couldn't get a good one of Jordan.
Here is a picture of Gracie with her wonderful blanket that Frances Jackson knitted for her. We love it at the baseball games!!
Cutie patootie in the tub....don't think she will fit in the sink much longer. She loves bath time!
Wow, the time continues to fly by. Grace was 7 months on March 16th. I continually need to check my math and count out the months, because it doesn't seem possible that she is already that old. She does continue to get cuter and cuter each day.
We go to court on Friday the 28th at 8:30 AM for the parental rights termination trial. We don’t expect the birth mother to be there since there still hasn’t been any contact from her….or the father. So they will use the court time to terminate the rights for the parents based on abandonment. Then we wait the 30 day waiting period, then 3 weeks for the 33’s to be written up. The 33's are paperwork that will release her for adoption and that we are interested in finalizing an adoption plan. Then we wait 3 – 5 months for a trial date for the finalization of the adoption. It is amazing how long it takes, especially since the mother hasn’t even been around.
Grace is doing well with physical therapy. She is sitting up (with a little help to stay up) and she loves jumping around in her Johnny Jump Up. Here she is with Daddy. I was trying to get her to laugh again as she did before when she would touch his hair....or lack of hair. He shaved his head in support of a student, a friend and a colleague who are all fighting cancer right now. You will also hear some clicking. Most of them are her, she is so loud, she makes the noise with her tongue.
Here are some shots from Easter
Gracie and Daddy watching cartoons.
This is such a cute shot of her in her Baby's 1st Easter outfit from Grammie.
Here she is just before church. Her bow is attached to about 2 hairs...so precious!
Baby girl and Daddy
Tuesday was opening day for the Red Sox and they were playing in Japan. The game was on at 6 AM. The whole family was up and watched the opening pitch. Of course Gracie had to get in her Red Sox gear.
Hanging out with Uncle Tony and Jen on Easter.
Jen with Gracie, I just love that bow!
Here are some older shots over the last month.
Here she is at work with Mommy...rough life!
Grace is Tony Plagman's good luck charm. We attended the Georgia Tech baseball games on 2 Sundays in a row, and both times, Tony hit a home run. We need to get to a game soon, I found a GT dress with bloomers with Buzz on them....so cute!!
Grace's eyelashes are so amazing! I mentioned to someone that she will never even need mascara, and Daddy piped up "Well she won't be allowed to wear any....ever!" Well girl, protective Daddy will be in for some surprises later in life! LOL
The Andrew's Family came to bring me birthday lunch in February and we had a nice visit with Jordan and Jackson. Boy kids move so much I couldn't get a good one of Jordan.
Here is a picture of Gracie with her wonderful blanket that Frances Jackson knitted for her. We love it at the baseball games!!
Cutie patootie in the tub....don't think she will fit in the sink much longer. She loves bath time!
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