[Ashbre]

We have been fighting the state of Kentucky for two years for approval to foster/adopt a sibling group of six kids ranging in age from twins who will be 9 to the oldest who is 15. The state has thrown one roadblock after another at us along the way and we finally hired an attorney to fight for us to be considered to adopt these children. The Cabinet did say that we could do respite care for other children, just not any child in this group.

Normally he said, the state doesn't like to step on the toes of the Cabinet but in our case, the judge allowed our motion to be put on the motion hour docket - our attorney had a chat with the judge about why we were fighting so hard for these kids. At motion hour, the Cabinet attorney made a comment about not wanting to set a precedent wherein people who are denied are allowed to seek to overturn the Cabinet's decision.

The Judge then ruled at Motion Hour that she wanted to know to what extent had the children bonded with us. If it is proven that there is a significant bond between the children and my family, then we get to seek to adopt them. And if there was no bond found, then we wouldn't.

The children's therapist is going to be reporting to the Judge that yes, there is a strong bond between us, especially with the oldest two whom we have been allowed to see over the past two years.

So now we come to my problem - my husband and I are seperating and will be filing for divorce at some point although I intend to hold off on doing so as long as I can.

Will I be allowed to seek to adopt these children (we're looking at primarily the oldest two since the youngest have been in their foster home since April 2005) even though the marriage is over? I know the Cabinet is going to use it against me (the divorce that is) but as far as being a single parent, I have two bio daughters of my own that I have primarily raised on my own since the husband is an over the road trucker and is rarely home anyway.

I know that single people can adopt so I'm hoping that it will be ok. These oldest two girls are really counting on us/me adopting them.