1200 Congress

I am nervous. This is an understatement. I am petrified....no wait mortified about tomorrow. Tomorrow is court day.....supposed TPR day. Let me explain a bit about how the process works.

When a child is taken into custody thru CPS there is a court date after the initual 30 days with a judge to determine if the child should return back to their biological parents or if the child should remain in custody of the state. They are given a court appointed attorney, a CPS worker and sometimes if the case is severe enough, a CASA worker, which is a Child Advocate worker. Then lets say the child, like our little butt monkey, remains custody of the state the bio parents are given what is called a case plan and visitation rights. Another court date is set up in 6 months. At that court date the judge reviews all the progress of the case and determines if the child should remain in custody or if the parents are doing well enough to receive full custody of the child at that time or a later date. I know Brittany's last court date was in June, at that particular time the bio parents were not doing their case plan and their visitation rights were completely stopped in May due to some problems with something or other, we are not too clear on this. The judge, who we have been forwarned from CPS and her attorney, is one of the strictest most old fashioned judges in Houston. So at the June court date he basically said unless a miracle happens he would be terminating the parents rights (TPR) in Septemeber when the next court date was set and didn't want to see their faces ever again because he was so disgusted at the case. So now September is here and CPS and the judge and everyone is all in favor of TPR except the parents which refuse to work their plan but refuse to voluntarily sign over their rights so they are basically asking for the judge to terminate for them. So sad. Heres the deal though, here's the ever so lingering loophole I am worried about. In the state of Texas a bio parent legally has 12 months to complete a case plan, if at that 12 month point, which for us is tomorrow, they can prove that CPS has been neglectful to help them follow their plan (which is bacially what all bio's claim at the 12 month point because they have nothing else that would back them up) then they can be given a 6 month extension but only....ONLY by the judge. We know good and well this is gonna happen. Either the bio's are gonna say "Oh poor us we didn't know such and such, CPS lied the whole time and we had no help with working our case plan give us an extension." or they will have a change of heart and walk into the court room pen in hand to wave their rights.

I suspect a good fight, in which case the judge will say negative, extension denied, my decision rules and kicks ass. THEN he gets to decide what will happen to butt monkey. At that time we will be presented to the judge that we want to adopt her, he will view our homestudy and recommendations from DDC and CASA and CPS and make a decision. Please keep in mind here, CPS (hates us) and will be present tomorrow, CASA (LOVES us) but will be on vacation, her supervisor on the other hand who is just as big of a bitch as CPS will be there and I am under a good impression via CASA worker that she is in favor of us as well (I know so many people and so confusing I hope you are keeping up) and Brittany's attorney (who likes us) will also be on vacation. So yea.....like no one in favor of us will be there, BUT their reports will........okay this blog is good and definetly helping to hype myself up. We have nothing to worry about right? RIGHT?

So me and Jeff are going to wake up and take Brittany to school (we like to call daycare school, it makes butt monkey happy) and then we will travel downtown for court at 9 am, with Jeff's parents literally attached to our ass. I swear if something stupid goes down I am gonna be so pissed.

Or if like they reschedule and forget to tell us, or something completely gay. I know I sound like a crazy but I am actually handling myself pretty well as far as keeping it together on the outside.