If you don’t know already, on the Fourth of July, our 22-month-old foster boy, Lil Bit, fell off the sofa and after an afternoon at the hospital, we discovered he had fractured his elbow.
As a licensed foster home, we reported this injury of our foster child, both verbally and by completing an injury report. We went through the arduous process of getting him medical care from an orthopedic specialist through Medicaid.
The weekend after this unplanned, busy week was one for our family to relax! Sunday after church, we were all lounging around VERY comfortably.
3:00 p.m. – DING! DONG!
Stinkpot runs to door to answer. ‘Wait!” I exclaimed. FosterDad, comfortable in his boxers, tries to hand the baby to me to make his quick exit out of the living room. I’m handing the baby back. He’s handing the baby back to me again. Then I had to grunt, “I don’t have a bra on!“ All while Stinkpot is answering the door.
The man at the door was wearing a badge: Texas Department of Children Protective Services from Austin.
“Oh, you’re hear to check on our foster baby.”
“Yes, ma’am. Is there a room where I can set up my laptop for the interview? I will be interviewing each of you separately.”
“Yes, right this way. Here is the spare bedroom.”
The investigator interviewed FosterDad first. A one-hour interrogation interview.
Then it was my turn for the inquisition interview. “I will need to record this interview. Do you have an issue with that?”
“No, sir.”
click image for photo credit
For a State agency, the laptop was very high-tech with a recording program, rotating monitor, and a program and stylus to record signatures onto documents.
I won’t go into too many of the questions, but it was very intense with every little detail being questioned. “Where were you sitting? What were the others doing? Which way were they facing? What were you reading?”
I felt as if early-onset Alzheimer’s had gotten me at the tender-young age of 46!
After my one-hour ordeal. The investigator asked if Stinkpot would talk to him. “You can see.” He questioned Stinkpot alone for a few minutes before he closed up shop to leave.
5:50 p.m. Not the relaxing weekend we had planned.
The experience was nerve-racking, not because there was anything wrong, but just because of FEAR.
- FEAR in knowing that children have been removed from families for less than a broken bone.
- FEAR that there was a very small possibility that our baby could be removed just a few months before adoption.
Now we are simply waiting for the final report. Our caseworker has indicated that there is no issue, but until then we have to put our faith into this verse:
“FEAR NOT, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” ~Isaiah 41:10
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that they would have already removed him if that was their intent. Hopefully this will all be a thing of the past and he will be officially YOURS before you know it. Praying for peace for your family during the wait!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:36 am
I believe you are right in that the State would have already removed him. Feeling better every day that passes. Thanks for your prayers!
I would be fighting those terrifying feelings as well! We all know how “fair” the “system” can be…but I would hope that this is just a process that they have to go through to cover their own interest.
We are praying for you!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:35 am
Every day that passes gives me more peace about it. CW indicated that it was routine. Thanks for your prayers!
So sorry. Praying for the day he is legally yours. Hopefully next weekend will be a little more uneventful.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:33 am
He became a US citizen on Wednesday, so we are so much closer now. Thanks for your support through all this!
It’s a matter of routine, but that doesn’t make it any less scary.
Please know I am praying!
Dianne
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:32 am
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, Dianne!
thank you for the verse. i needed it! Im sorry for what you are going through. We are guardians of a baby and were named as adoptive parents but the father is now seeking custody so its all up in the air. monday is court and we face losing her that day
thanks for the verse.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 21, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I have been there, Annette! Go back and read about Lil Bit from February 2010. God performed AMAZING miracles!Praying for you! {{{Hugs!}}}
Twitter: monkeysoup1
July 21, 2011 at 5:25 pm
So sorry. Hopefully it goes by quickly and smoothly. I am praying science you as well.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:37 am
Thanks, Kelly!
I am have been praying about this. I know you must be worried sick. You know this was just a typical little boy accident and God does too! I will keep praying!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:31 am
CW indicated it was just procedure. Thanks for all your sweet support through all this!
I will be praying –
Brooke Annessa
http://www.TheAnnessaFamily.blogspot.com
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:30 am
Thanks, Brooke!
p.s. I got your card – so sweet!
We’re praying for peace for your family and that this all just goes away!
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 22, 2011 at 7:29 am
Thanks, Mie!
I can only imagine how stressed that would make me. The fear that they would take your child away (it sounds like this child is yours now in your heart). How nerve-wracking. I hope all is well and that things proceed swiftly and smoothly.
It does give me a little more hope in “the system” to know that it was at least checked out. There are just so many stories of incidents that should have been investigated but weren’t until a tragic outcome.
Stopping by from SITS.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 29, 2011 at 6:51 am
Thanks for stopping by, Robin! I’m glad that they are checking things out, but…it does make me nervous!
Lil Bit now has his cast off and the State still hasn’t finished their investigation…
I always worry about kids doing normal kid things and getting hurt. Sorry this is happening for you. I agree with the other posters that they would have removed him already if they thought that there was a problem. Saying a prayer for your family and a quick resolution.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 28, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Thanks, Felicia, for thinking of us!
Twitter: sarettagd
July 24, 2011 at 8:42 am
Oh dear, sorry to hear about this. I do hope everything turns out fine!
Stopping by from SITS.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 28, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Thanks for stopping by! I love to hear from my fellow SITS-tahs! Have you been to Bloggy Boot Camp?
Oh wow. That would totally do me in. Really
Twitter: Foster2Forever
July 28, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Since we haven’t heard anything. Maybe no news is good news!?!!
My foster home was closed on July 23,the results of a three year old slipping on one brick step down going out the front door. we were going out to play when she slipped. there were no tears, bleeding or lacerations. Parents saw the bruising at family visitations. First charges of abuse was unsubstantiated but I was charged with unsupervised neglect(I was with her, my eyes were on her, I could not catch her before she slipped, I had her brother in my arms). My first accident in thirty years and over 130 plus children later. My heart is broken,my college student daughter is depressed and heart broken. I got her when she was 2 days old and adopted her and two others. What do I do now, how do we live with the hurt and grief?I cry everyday, I want to foster again but can’t afford an attorney and I am financially broke since foster pay helped pay the bills and my saving is almost gone.
Twitter: Foster2Forever
August 9, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Sorry to hear. DH and I have been asked to serve on a peer review board for a similar situation. Check to see if you have other options.