We had a huge set-back in the case. Back in April they had a week of trial to terminate rights, and didn’t finish because the father’s lawyer objected so much. They scheduled two more days, and those happened this week. We were SURE it would wrap up but…

1. Father’s lawyer’s witness arrived late and so they were delayed starting.
2. The father’s lawyer didn’t issue a subpoena to his witness, so when she said “Wlep, it is 1, I have to go,” they couldn’t compell her to stay. The county didn’t get a chance to cross the witness.

Because of 1 and 2, the county objected and said fhay if they didn’t get to cross her whole testimony should be tossed. The judge, professionally pissed, agreed to add another day.

In July.

Our hopes that this would end this summer are officially squashed because they will need to also allow time for closing arguments (they are having them written and submitted to the judge.)

Mom also fucked up big time this week. During their visit she pulled older sister aside and asked if she was SURE their father had touched her. Older sister went into hysterics and only calmed down once her foster mom was there. They ended the visit.

All the kids have been given the power now to say if they want to go to visit or not. It just needs to be recorded. Eldest sister’s GAL is also submitting a motion for visits to end for her, but the other two GALs won’t be.

Kiddo has been missing her siblings badly, so I conspired with older sister’s foster mom and we suprised them both with a sleepover. Her foster mom passed me a bag, then I picked older sister up from camp (she was sssoooo confused it was me and not her foster mom) and told her she was getting a sleepover, and then we were waiting for kiddo when she came home from camp. She got really excited and chattered all the way back to our place with her happiness over seeing V because (see non happy thread in a bit.)

We locked the front door and lied that the garage door was broken so they had to come around to the front. Thus when kiddo knocked to be let in older sister opened the door and all nonchalant went “Oh? Do you live here? So do I for the night!” Kiddo almost lost her mind with excitement.

It makes me happy coming here and seeing all the posts and comments from people who have things to be grateful for. I may not be a huge part of the community any more because I have to focus on my foster daughter, but I still all of you.

So the trial… isn’t over. They ran out of time and so scheduled an additional two days in June. We aren’t very happy about the 60 extra days the defense gets but bio parents haven’t made much movement in the last 24 months, so what can legit happen in 60 days? That is eight more visits with the kids apiece.

Kiddo didn’t go to visit this last week because she had a fever - and she has been amazing. We are babying her a lot, but she is still getting upset about stuff then COMING BACK to regulation without losing her mind. Our only big battle was getting her back into her own bed from the nest wr made her on the floor next to ours.

Child’s parents are having their termination of rights trial this week. On the advise of all of the professionals husband and I did not go. Our kiddo is the most emotionally affected and we want to be present for her - and also not hear/see the garbage/evidence put up and have it impact our opinions on things. (We know that the parents are going to try to paint the kids as liars who just made up stories during the forensic interviews, and that the county is putting up poster sized images of what kiddo has drawn in her journals.)

But hearing NOTHING is driving me beyond madness. Especially since child is home sick with a fever I’m 95% sure is nerves. (She wants to go home to mom and dad but also can’t argue that she feels safe and loved with us and doesn’t want to leave us either.)

Some of my students are scared. A LOT of my foster family friends are scared. My caseworker is stressed AF. The county has 54 foster families, and some of those are undocumented because they are kindship placements. Losing them would rock the system - oh, and they’re facing budget cuts.

I know it is hard and I respect people wanting privacy so much.

Kid walks in this morning crying. His father died over break, like, early break. It is true. Teacher is blindsided and has no idea what kind of supports are needed.

@KarmaBum
This is insane.

@helvetica

I loved being an adult parent to adult children. Multiple people played Adalyn to Norwood and I enjoyed them all.

@Pavel
This is exactly what I needed! Thanks!!!

When I upgraded my phone my old reliable mud client - Mukluk, vanished! Can’t find it on the play store either. Tried searching for Blowtorch, but alas, it also was not there.

Anyone know of a solid mobile-friendly app or web-page that I can use to check in on my games, even if I can’t actively play? I still like my friends there!

Child has informed me that my therapy is stupid, but hers is essential. I don’t need therapy because I’m an adult, and she does need it because she’s a kid.

Celebrated the girl’s 8th birthday.

Also celebrated that we are officially her longest foster family.

She said recently that if she can’t go home to her mommy and daddy that she wouldn’t mind us adopting her.

Foster girl and I had a screaming, yelling, name calling fight.

And she didn’t hit me or break anything.

I’m so freaking proud of her.

@Pacha

BossMu

Everyone is the best at everything. Everyone is the Boss. Now, Everyone has been kidnapped by aliens and placed in a simulated environment to see who would win in the battle of being the best.

What is YOUR skill??

@Buttercup

I would just embrace your occasional senior discount for longer than some of us get to claim it.

@hellfrog

Dealing with the courts and her bio family had really put a damper on my faith in humanity.

Between last night and her BFFs’ mom brushing her hair today (she won’t let me near it) my faith is beyond restored.

Our foster daughter has some pretty extreme behaviors, and today she exploded pretty spectacularly. So we had to call off going TO a fireworks show because helping her regulate in a crowd of people is impossible.

We didn’t deprive her though and went outside to see what we could of the big shows. There were A LOT. She was screaming with joy and jumping in and down out of her mind with glee.

A few houses over a family was setting of some legal fireworks and so she asked if we could go watch. I agreed and we walked over to ask permission to watch.

This family just reached out and ENVELOPED my little girl in love. First offered a sparkler, then a whole box (“don’t let the fun end!”) Then s’mores, and finally they broke out extra chairs for all of us. Grandpa of neighbors teased her like mad. Just such amazing kindness I almost cried several times seeing the joy on this little girl’s face.

There are just good people.

(Also the dad was a smoker and little girl has had some bad experiences with smokers in the past, so it was really healthy of her to have a healthy one.)

@Aria

I’m crossing my fingers for you!!! He looks like a DELIGHT!!!

I’m fairly sure the rescue I work with is one of the more unhinged ones. I swear they have added several new questions to the app, and every one has a story behind it.

We are considering a new one “Have you ever surrendered a cat due to medical needs?” Because we have a beautiful orange baby who was surrendered with half his face missing. He turned out to be FIV+, was not neutered, and we had to have his eye amputated on top of all the healing for the infection. Several thousand dollars went in and people donated specifically for his care. Now the owners who surrendered him are attempting to get him back.

I don’t think this question will make it, but this isn’t the first time a cat has come to us on death’s door, we’ve saved them, and then they try to get the cat back.