The visitor

[dallasdiver]

We had a new visitor dropped off to us last Monday. We are foster caring for him for child protective services. We will probably only have him for a few weeks before they take him back, but I sure would like to keep him. He was 7 days old when we got him. A little more work dealing with a newborn than I remembered. He eats about every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. It make the night shift pretty tiring, but he is a wonderful baby. The other child is our daughter Kristina and my wife Lisi.

 

[Oldsarge]

That's the trouble with fostering! When you get a sweet one, you want to latch on and bring him/her up right but the bureacrats won't let you. I've had the same feeling about some of my students . . .

 

[dallasdiver]

Yeah, the actually birth mother has a multiply history of neglect and phyical abuse with her other children and also tested postive for narcotics at birth, but the baby was clear on his drug screen. The state wants to give the baby back to the grandmother, but I really don't see how this would help the baby because the grandmother lives with the birth mother for the past year.

I really worried for the little guy. We have to take him to CPS offices on Friday for a visitation with the mother.

 

[island_sands]

Good luck Ken! I hope it goes well and it work out for you

 

[dallasdiver]

They just had a CPS court hearing again and the birth mother still can't get her sh*t together, so they said we will have the baby for another 90 days until the next hearing. That mother doesn't know what she is missing. What a great baby. :inlove

 

[Erik]

I work around that profession amigo. All I can say is that the world is a much better place because of people like you
Peace to you brother!
Erik Y.

 

[dallasdiver]

Thanks Erik
There is a definite need for foster parents in the Dallas area. At the last meeting I went to hosted by CPS, they said we had over 5000 children waiting for homes just in our area. Very sad. We got really lucky to take care of Anthony, he is a very calm, happy baby. No signs of drug side effects.

 

[BatRay]

Looks like he's in a good place now .

 

[dallasdiver]

:inlove Eight and a half months and things are still going great. They said there is about an 80% chance we will get to keep him. We are just waiting for January for the court decison. He has really grown alot in such a short time. He weighs 20 pounds now.:inlove

 

[island_sands]

awwwww that's brilliant ken!!! certainly a cute little thing - you must be getting very attached to him :inlove

 

[Erik]

Fantastic!
Erik

 

[BatRay]

Great to hear it, Ken. I hope things continue to go well

 

[dallasdiver]

CPS has dropped a bomb on us last week :waterwork :waterwork :waterwork They sent an email last Wednesday to pack Anthony's stuff and that they would picking him up on Friday and he was going back to his mother. We have been in shock ever since. I was so sure that we would get to keep him after 10 months. We started making phone calls because we couldn't believe it. They said the mother was drug free and had completed her services. The court decision was confirmed. I later find out that the mother has had two children taken away permanently for physical abuse, and now they want to give her a baby?!?!

We requested to attend his final visitation at CPS before he was handed over and went the next day to meet his parents to explain to them about Anthony's breathing treatments for his asthma and also about a few foods he was allergic too. It was even more depressing after meeting them. Two obese people with rotten teeth, dressed in filthy clothes. The father also seemed to have a mental handicap. They mentioned that they were on welfare and had applied for WIC to get formula for Anthony. We said we would send them packages of diaper and wipes and several cans of his formula.

When we discussed the ideal of babysitting or visiting him once in a while, they didn't seem to warm to the ideal. We then offered to assist them financially with anything Anthony may need and they said they would take any help they could get. It may be the only way to ever see him again.

I must accept the fact that Anthony was never mine, but simply on loan to my family. It was a wonderful experience for all of us, except the parting of Anthony. The only positive thing I can think of right now is that Anthony had a warm, loving family to love him during his most important stage that gave him thousands of kisses and hugs. Anthony you were loved and will be greatly missed. :waterwork

 

[cigarlung]

Ken Very Sorry To Hear This My Heart Go,s Out To Your Family.

 

[Lockedin]

I'm very sorry to hear the news. I hope they eventually decide to leave one with you (that'll be a lucky kid).

Rick

 

[BatRay]

Damn I'm so sorry, Ken. You did well with Anthony.

 

[josedesucre]

Sorry man, this is really a heart breaking story, but don't lose faith. Miracles do happen.

 

[Donna]

I just read this and its put tears in my eyes...

Well done Ken and the rest of your family, what a fantastic start in life you have given Anthony.

Donna

 

[saver]

Oh, Ken..I'm so sorry..:waterwork

--SAVER--

 

[Erik]

Ken, please try to consider that you have brought something wonderful to this little being at a time in his life that is most important. No matter what the outcome, you have contributed a love that most likely would not have happened without your help.
Your love will live on and help baby develop into more than he would have otherwise.
And dont be surprised if he shows up again, sooner or later

Respect,
Erik