[Tazer]

Hello Everyone...My name is Tracy and I just received a call that indicates I may need advice from you guys in the near future. Here's the thing:

I am actually a B-mom as well as a wife and mother but I read all over the forum here just for the insight. I just got a call from my brother who was coming here for lunch and had to cancel. He lives in Garland,Texas is 34 years old, married for 3 years, owns his own construction company, no bio-kids but 4 step kids that his wife had in a prior marriage, none living in their home. The wife's oldest daughter, *P* is 19 and has a 15 month old son, Brandon.

It seems *P left the baby with a friend (L) on last Friday night to go out and party. She did not pick up the baby as planned later that night and *L (also 19) dropped the baby off at HER Moms house when she couldn't locate *P and needed to report to work. Her Mom undressed the baby and discovered a large burn on his stomach resembling an iron. She took him to Children's Hospital, he was admitted. There are actually 2 distinctive burn marks and does not appear self-induced. The wound appeared to be several days old and is infected. Both the Dallas police and CPS were notified as were my brother and S-I-L. *L's Mom was asked to notify *L via phone and ask her to come to the hospital; *L was then arrested on the spot. She has posted bail and been released but an investigation continues. My S-I-L told CPS she has spoken to *P on the phone and she admits she knew about the burn when she left the baby with *L but "she isn't sure how or when it happened." Her mom told her she would have to sign a statement to this affect to stop *L from facing charges but at the advice of CPS and the detective did not tell her she would be arrested when she appears. She did not keep the appt. to do this last Monday and no one else knows where she is.

The baby is being released to CPS at noon today. He is NOT going to foster care but my brother and sister in law spoke with a CPS worker who indicated she will be willing to work with them to help them gain custody of Brandon TODAY! It does not appear to be a routine home study, back ground check deal; more like a here, he's your grand son you take him thing. My brother is in fact stopping by to pick up a used bedroom set in our Moms garage later today. Mom is out buying linens, blankets and a Sponge Bob comforter set, now.

OK...my problem. I know from my brother that *P has spent at least 2 nights there since this happened. My S-I-L drinks heavily as does my brother. I am sure she warned her daughter of her pending arrest. My brother is not doing well with the recent housing slump and might see this as an extra income. I love both of them but as a new mom I would never ask either of them to babysit my child due to the alcohol. My brother has a very short fuse especially when drinking. There are no drug or legal issues but the mere fact that my S-I-L's kids are ages 19,(f) 17,(m) 16 (m) and 11(f) and all live elsewhere with various relatives should be a red flag IMO. These are not good people IMO, but nobody has asked me. What the heck should I do? I just learned they will be getting this baby 20 minutes ago and I am speechless. Is there someone I could call? Can I do this without them finding out it was me who called? It's like even my Mom has gotten involved and not stopped to think this through. I am blown away. Tracy