[mcione]

Our daughter lost her 3 children to foster care last July. It took us 4 months of fighting FIA to get them out and back home with us. We'd had custody of the 4 yr. old since birth through OH but MI gave our daughter custody on 3/1/03 (she lost her and the two babies on 7/2/03 because of drugs) A lot of our difficulties were because our daughter tried (successfully) to convince FIA that we were the addicts, not her. We'd moved to this small MI town from OH and her innocent looks and physical beauty have helped deceive many people thru the years and this was no exception.

I finally won over the FIA foster care worker after many months-we also did the psychological testing, home study and had blood, over 30 urine and hair tests because they were so sure we were users. They finally gave up when they realized that we wouldn't and we're in the adoption process now. I'm scared to death. We aren't as financially stable as what I think they expect and though we went through a lot of our savings putting our daughter in treatment centers through the years, I guess I'm just not a good fiscal manager in the first place. We have 7 grandchildren in all and I spend freely on them but I'm worried this is going to cause them to say no.

Does anyone know if that will prevent us from getting the children? We were just at court last week and the FIA and prosecutor both stated their support of the adoptive placement but it's now in the hands of Bethany Christian Services. Will this hurt us? Does anyone know?

Thanks to all for any information and God Bless to all grandparents out there trying to care for their families.

mc: confused:

[Mom2Braxton]

MC..
WOW! yOur post really touched me. You have been through the mills. And to take on 3 grands..how loving that is.
I do not know where you live, but here in WA., the money did not matter. We just filled out the forms for our assets, etc. We had very little savings..
Also, because our grandson was special needs and was in the state custody, the adoption was paid for by the state and we also got adoption support via a check every month and also medical for him till he is of age.
my husband has a good job and medical, but I call these percs.
We had to go through the home study like everyone else but was relatively smooth.
I would be interested in having more contact with you.
my email is Mom2Braxton@hotmail.com

My web site for my 4 year old son is : http://www.geocities.com/mom2braxton/index.html
Please feel free to contact me..

Sarah