Sweet Pea's Feeling Better

Sweet Pea had more blood drawn the end of this past week.  Her hemoglobin counts are up a little, but now her white blood cells are very low.  Doctors still think it is probably because of the viral infection, but need to check her blood again in a month.  She is definitely feeling better, as she is cooing and smiling and kicking again.  Please continue prayers for our sweet baby girl!

Our Foster Baby Spent 2 Nights in the ER

Our poor little foster baby Sweet Pea is sick with a viral infection~fever, diarrhea, and a low hemoglobin count.  We spent 9 hours in the local ER only to be transferred to a Children's hospital for another 9 hours.  She was poked, prodded, needled and I don't know who was more upset, her or me.  She has a follow up for hemoglobin count in about a week.  The doctor said if it does not come up, she will have to have a blood transfusion! Yikes!  Please say a prayer for our little Sweet Pea that she does not have to endure that.  Thank you friends!
Love,
The Queen Mama

DNA Paternity Test

An odd twist to the story...sort of...nothing truly amazes me this being our second time around.  But anyway, a couple weeks ago, Bio Dad requested a paternity test from his jail cell.  Beings that Mom seems to have a new paramour already, I guess I can understand why.  But, I have thought Sweet Pea looks like Bio Dad since we laid eyes on her at 17 days old. Rumored that Dad denied paternity due to child support issues.... And....the Maury Povich moment...da da da daaaa...Bio Dad, you ARE the father!
I was glad to hear this as if he was not the father, the search would be on, and that would mean the possibility of a new family/kin being able to overtake placement.This is just another example of the ups and downs of foster to adopt. You never know what is going to happen. I always say, Hold onto your seats.  We're in for a wild ride.
  We love our little Sweet Pea and pray God's blessings for her.
Blessings,
The Queen Mama

Mom Going to Rehab

Well, Bio mom told me yesterday at a visit that she is having problems and thinking about going into rehab.  I told her I was proud of her for thinking about that, and that it would be easier for her to take care of her children once she has taken care of herself.  She is certain she is getting the kids back, but she has a lot of work to do.  I sincerely hope she can get straightened out. In the meantime, I am enjoying having another baby in the house.
Blessings,
Queen Mama

When Safety of the Child is Secondary

Friends, this is not anything personal toward my county or any particular county, state or court system.  It is a general rant and rave on "the child welfare system" for children in foster care.  I have not been able to get the Josh Powell tragedy off my mind.  That visits, albeit supervised, were allowed to take place in his home is beyond me.  A suspect or person of interest or whatever in the disappearance of his wife.  A person who was under court order to undergo a psychosexual evaluation.  Hello???!!  How about no visits until the evaluation is complete?  How about visits in a neutral supervised location. 

In light of Sweet Pea's last hearing, where the mom insisted she wanted her children back immediately and the hearing was continued so both sides could gather more information because parents have every right to contest, although Dad is in jail, and Mom is most likely going to jail or house arrest in a few months, although they have weapons and child endangerment charges, theft charges, drug charges.....I am just about livid!!

Scenario:  The child is removed from the home due to imminent danger or likely threat to his/her safety.  Placed in a safe, stable, loving environment.   As soon as the child is "in the court system" it then becomes about the rights of the parents.  Parents are still allowed to visit, even though they have weapons charges.  Visits are changed, or worked around parents' schedule even though parents missed visit with no reason.  Parents are still given weekly visits even though they only make it to one or two visits a month.  Parents are still given all rights to make medical and educational decisions for the child even though the child has been in a foster home straight from the hospital and sees mom or dad once to twice a month for two hours.  

Yes     I pray for these parents           It   is just frustrating to me.

Blessings

New Info on Bio Dad

Sweet Pea had a visit with bio mom today.  Found out bio dad just went to jail and may be there a year.  To be so young and have so many problems as these two is very sad to me.  I do know some of Dad's family background, and it seems his childhood environment was also rocky, which would explain his behavior.  Mom is always so kind to me, and when I watch her trying to parent Sweet Pea and her siblings, it does sadden me to think that she may not get them back.  However, I have to be concerned most for Sweet Pea's safety, and unfortunately Mom and Dad have not been following plan and have criminal and drug problems.  Mom is also just a little bit "off", if you can understand that.  Some sort of disconnect.  Although the selfish part of my soul wants to shout hooray at this latest information (about Dad), I pray for this man that maybe the jail's chaplain will find him and he may come to know Jesus to help sustain him throughout his sentence.  Also, every time I  take Sweet Pea to a visit (when mom shows), I thank God that I have come to know him, that through His grace he has made me a Mommy, that my family is intact, and that he has blessed me with the opportunity to be a stay at home Mommy, and that he has given us the honor of raising these wonderful foster children, even if only for a little while.
Blessings,
The Queen Mama