So much is going on around here, but I did want to do a quick foster care update!
Since the BIG meeting about baby L, and her mom getting out of jail, things have been going well with visitations. It had been 7 mos. since they had seen each other, so I wasn't sure what baby L would remember since she is now only 16 mos. old. I was able to go to the first visit. I wanted baby L to feel comfortable and I wanted to fill her mom in on things about baby L. It was great to see them together. She loves this baby so much! She was so excited to spend time with her. I was happy that with some reassurance from me, mellow little baby L was able to ease back into it. I showed her mom what makes her laugh, how to get her to talk, what foods she loves, etc. She brings presents to her at every visit now. She is getting another chance at regaining her rights to her, but the dept. states that it is very close, and may not be enough time for her. The dept. will be making their decision on who they feel the next option is, the relatives, or us, next week. A court date will then be set, and depending on what her mom does in the next few months, a permanant decision should be made at the hearing sometime in the new year.
Baby C's father continues to protest everything the dept. and the courts are doing. He is even contesting the adoption of a prior child of his that has already been adopted by a relative. Most of it is getting thrown out all the time, but apparently they have to hear him out. He was recently described to me as a legal nightmare. Since he is doing all this it is delaying her case further, while both parents work none of their plan. I guess they just like to fight the system but do nothing to really show they are doing what it will really take.
That's about it! More updates will come as I find out more!
Just one week ago, I was just out of the hospital ER, beginning to recuperate from a serious health crisis. It came out of the blue. I thought I had a slight stiff neck. It progressed to the point of unimaginable pain anytime I turned my head in the slightest in any direction. IV narcotics only took the edge off. It was crazy. It was bizarre. But, through it all I have learned to truly appreciate the access to healthcare we have in this country. I am still on antibiotics now, and off all steroids and pain medication. I can still feel the infection, as the antibiotics work to kill it off day by day. I am so thankful, and greatly blessed, as I know that if I lived in many other nations I may not have lived through this. I could have never had the opportunity to get the meds I needed. I could have had to suffer in the agony of that pain, as the infection spread from my neck through my head and brain. I am so aware of how very fortunate I am to have the medical care I needed right when I needed it. Thank you, Lord. I pray that somewhere, right now, someone else suffering will be relieved of their pain and suffering and a miracle of healing would be upon them! Amen.
My 4 year old, miss L, has been saying the sweetest things lately. She always tells me that I am her special mama, and she is my special daughter. She always talks about the love in her heart, and how happy she is that we came to China to get her. She also goes out on the front porch to sing songs to the moon each night. Tonight we all quietly peered out the door to watch her as she was singing "Twinkle twinkle little star" into the night sky. 
I loved this kitten. We decided to keep her from the last litter of kitten's M's cat had. M found her cat dead when Sophie was 5 wks. old. Because of this, we have been keeping Sophie in every night, but we let her out to play during the day and especially when the kids are out playing. The other day we went to visit some friends for a couple hours, and when we got back, she was gone. We live on a small farm, we have a huge barn and we should be able to have a couple barn cats. Not anymore. There is something evil lurking around here. We have never had coyotes, and the barn owls didn't come back this year. I just don't know what happened.
