[little_bugs_mama]

The michigan Court has finally taken the steps to remove my niece and nephew from their mother's care (my H sister). It has only taken them 2.5 years!!! The mother has had them removed before 11-04 - 5-05 when they were in our custody, they went back to their mother' custody for 1 year but the case never closed. She wouldn't stop taking perscriptions drugs and couldn't provide a safe home for them. Since the kids were placed with us again (7-06) she hasn't taken a single required drug test and she hasn't done any counseling or parenting classes, she's missed her supervised visits and has genuinely acted as if she doesn't have two precious innocent children. There is a no contact rule in place now, which suits me just fine. The neices dad has been in jail most of her life and is still in there so the termination is 100% for him, but my nephews dad is out of jail for the moment and is interested in his son. The problem is that he is a crack user and a thief and has been in and out of jail most of his life. When the case first opened he tucked tail and ran to his mom's house in KY. He stole from the kids to support his drug habit and he never cared about leaving my nephew with the Bmom when she was to high to care for them. He has a new girlfriend who is fueling the fire, but I know that he will end up in jail again or worse. If he gets and custody of my nephew he will end up being raised by a stranger. Worse yet is that he will be separated from his sister, the only constant thing he ahs ever had in his life! Michigan states that the birth family of one kid usually cannot get the sibling from another relationship. This jerk won't even want her. I'm really concerned about my nephew. Hopefully the court will see his pattern will not change and keeping the kids together will trump a crackheads need to impress his girlfriend. None of these characters are even decent human beings and I pray to God that the court will see that.

I have compiled a file that has the following in support of us getting the kids

A letter from their Doctor
Several letters from thier schools
a letter from Nieces counselor
Medical records from the dates that I have had them
Voluntary 10 panel Drug tests for my H and Me
(the reasons for the med rec and the drug tests are because my nephew dad accuses my H and I of everything possible without any merit)

[DCMomLady]

Because you and your husband are the best qualified to raise the kids AND you are related to both of them, I think it's probable that will eventually get custody of both of them. Let's hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Have you retained an attorney to represent you or the kids? That was one of the smartest things we did when I was fighting for my niece. I hired an attorney to represent her and he was confirmed by the court as Guardian ad Litum -- but he reported to me and acted as our advocate when we needed one. I told him to make sure that whatever happened in her case would be in her best interest, and he did. He fought our birthfather's petition for custody and he won termination of his rights too -- even though dad had never been officially charged with a specific act of abuse or neglect. We really believe that was money well-spent!

Do you have plans to adopt? Whether you're ready to make that commitment may influence the court's action to sever the birthparent's rights. Many states do not want to create orphans by TPR.

I am glad that your niece and nephew will finally be getting off the rollercoaster they've been riding all this time. And I'm happy for you and your husband, too, if you feel one fraction of the joy and satisfaction that we feel as new parents of the darling girl who began life as my sister's grandchild.

Good luck to all of you.

DeeCee

[little_bugs_mama]

Thank you for your advise. I spoke with the caseworker on wed and gave her all the papers I had mentioned. I did include a letter that we wrote stating that we do want them and that were ready for them to become permenant fixtures in our family, but since this is a termination hearing she told me that I have no say at this time. Maybe that just michigan law. Once the termination goes through I will have a say and I have a whole team of docs, teachers and counselors that are more than willing to testify on our behalf. No I do not have a lawyer at this time. I didn't feel like I needed one yet, hopefully I won't need one but after the hearing I might need to higher one.

[little_bugs_mama]

The hearing was yesterday 3-5-07. The trial lasted 3.5 hrs and I had to testify. My nieces father is now out of jail (wasn't supposed to be until 9-07). He has been in jail most of her life but the problem is that he has already done more that the bmom has. The good thing is that he has a stipulation on his parole that he cannot be around ANY children. He told me yesterday that his P officer will drop the stipulation if he cooperates for one month. My nephews dad didn't say anything at all in his own defense so that was good. the bmom was nothing short of embarrassing. Her tears were fake and he excuses were see through. The woman she lives with brough her and was passing out in the courtroom from the drugs she was taking. After all of that the judge set another hearing date for 4-10-07. There is still no contact but I'm in agony having to wait another month. I don't know if this is just time so the judge can "sleep on it" or if more evidence will be allowed. If there is more evidence allowed I pray to God that the judge will end it anyway. Thanks for all your support.