Our BIG court date...

Well, we had our day in court on our precious BB and the judge agreed to termination on any unknowns. However the publishing on any unknown dads/relatives won't be complete until April 26, so it won't be official until that day. Then we have to wait 30 more days for anyone who may appeal the judge's decision. If we have no appeals then BB will be free for adoption! It was a good day! We needed one of those. We've had our fair share of not so good days lately. So we are thankful for a positive!

I wasn't expecting to be sworn in at court. Usually I remain quiet when I attend court on my fosters, but this time the case worker felt it was very important for me to go to court and speak. So with my knees knocking, my palms sweating, and my brain going 100 miles an hour I took my place behind the microphone.

I will share "some" of what was said and some things I wished I would have said. I was so nervous that I can't remember everything said word for word , but pretty much this is close.

The case worker was first to start and she shared all the legal stuff like surrenders, etc Then she went on to explain why she felt we were the best family for BB. She also explained that the bio mom and grandparents want us to have BB and that they too feel we are the match for BB. She explained a little about BB and how he gets PT, OT, and speech along with PINES. She explained how hard we have worked and how far we have come with BB. She shared how due to BB's medical and tough start that he is very delayed but getting better every day. She explained how BB is very bonded to us and how he would be devastated should he loose us. She explained how our whole family has been learning sign language. She shared some of his medical info, etc

The first question to me by the lawyer was this...
"Can you tell the court a little about BB and his condition?"
I started out something like this...
"Yes, sir I can. I have to start from the beginning. We got a call on Feb 28th that DFCS had a 2 day old boy that needed a temporary foster home. We took in what we thought was a healthy baby boy. However, within a few days I knew that something wasn't just right with our baby. That lead to numerous trips all over Atlanta to meet with different doctors (Our case worker said she has over 50 trips documented) before our baby was diagnosed with a condition called CMV. CMV is cytomegalovirus. It is an infection that his mom caught while she was pregnant with him and she passed it to him. This infection is very common. I said, probably everyone of you in this room has had CMV. Most all people have had it by the time they are grown. His mom probably didn't even know she had it. Her symptoms probably made her think she had nothing but a very bad cold or the flu. It's kinda like chicken pox. Almost everyone has had them by the time they are grown. They are common and not that dangerous unless you are pregnant and have them. Then they could damage your baby. CMV attacked our baby's blood, caused his brain to be to small, caused him to have extra fluid around the brain, caused him to have seizures, damaged his liver, damaged his spleen, took his hearing, and damaged his eyes. Despite all of that he is still the most amazing little boy you could ever meet. We've been through a lot together and this little boy has taught me so much about life in just his one year of life.  He is precious to us and if we get to keep him I promise you we will devote the rest of our life to taking care of him.

The he asked how we are teaching BB sign language.
My answer...
We have a lady that comes into our home once a week to work with our family on sign language. She comes from Georgia PINES. That is a program for the deaf here in GA. We've also purchased over 30 of the "Signing Times" DVD programs. These DVDs are made for kids and are much like other kids movies except they use sign language along with talking. For example a bird might fly across the screen and the lady or child on the screen will say & sign bird. BB loves these DVDs and he tries hard to copy the signs. He can say mommy, daddy, ball, play, and eat (I signed them as I said them)and if that is all he ever learns at least he knows who his mommy and daddy are and he can tell us when he's hungry and when he wants to play. If that is all he ever does then he has done more than doctors ever expected. I had two doctors tell me that if they were me they would send BB back because it was going to be a lot to take care of him. They don't know me. I don't give up on my babies. We've been through to much together to give up on him.

The judge only asked one question. She asked, "Will he ever be able to walk?"
My answer...
We don't know. No one knows. His neurologist told me that on a scale from mild to severe that BB was more toward severe. I don't know if I fully agree with that because in our CMV group I've seen kids way worse than BB.  Then I said, "I serve a mighty big God and I believe with Him that all things are possible and I have a lot of people praying for our baby".

Then my final question came from the lawyer. He asked, if a person/ relative came forward for Blaze what would it be like for them?I really don't remember exactly what I said but I know I said that they would have a lot to learn and that it would be possible for them to learn just like we have but it would be a lot just like it has been for us.( I just went blank.)

(Numerous people in the court room were wiping tears)

Then the judge shared how she was moved by the testimony that she heard. She said pretty much that if there was ever a case proven in her courtroom that a child was exactly where it should be it was for sure this case. She agreed that she believes that it would be devastating for BB not to have us due to the fact he is so dependent upon us  especially because of his special needs. She could tell that BB is very bonded with us and she shared how we are all he has ever known. She agreed to sign the termination.




Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6