Change in physical custody - denied

We would like to say thank you to everyone who thought about us today, prayed about us today, asked their family and friends that don't even know our family to pray and think about us today. There have been numerous tears over the amount of support and love we have received in the last 24 hours, it is absolutely amazing. In fact, we were so touched by the support we received that we wanted to share it with everyone - the purple states represent love, thoughts, and prayers that were received today. If I missed a state, please let me know!

Today didn't go as expected but then again, nothing in this case has. I expected 1 of 3 outcomes to occur today:

1. The judge would decide family is best and the kids would go to the maternal uncle today.
2. The judge would agree with the psychologist conclusions and leave the children in our care.
3. The judge would decide family is best but take the psychologist recommendations to transition the children slowly over the next 3-4 months.

More or less, #2 occurred. Long story short, the state rescinded their motion to move the kids but birth mom's lawyer still asked the kid's be moved asap. The judge denied that motion stating there was no reason to relocate the kids when the severance trail was right around the corner. He also stated he would have another trial regarding placement of the children pending the outcome of the severance trial. Partial win for the children.

What I definitely didn't expect was for the department to request  a continuance for birth mom's severance trial. Basically they thought there was more evidence they needed in addition to adding reasons to their basis for severance. They added something called 15 months in care which means the kids have been in care for so long there's no reason to continue working on reunification. The kid's lawyer objected to the continuance stating the kids need permanency. Unfortunately, the judge granted the state's motion and the severance trial was pushed to August 7th. The judge has 60 days to make a decision on the severance trial so now we are looking at early October. 

I'm not sure I've completely digested court today. Jon and I were ridiculed and degraded in court today. We were told that someone needs to remind us that we are just a "temporary" placement for these children and we have just "fallen in love with these cute children". I know that foster care is considered temporary but my definition of temporary is 1 year or less. I've been a mom for 22 months today. That's not temporary if you ask me so someone else screwed up, not me. Have I fallen in love with these cute children? The answer is obviously yes. I've fallen in love with them because I got up 4-6 times a night to feed them and then proceeded to go to work the next morning and somehow managed to work so hard I got promoted. I've fallen in love with them because I watched them learn to hold their bottles, roll over, learn to crawl, pull themselves up and start a wobbly walk. I've fallen in love with them because I've seen them progress from signing "milk", "more", and "please" to putting together 4 word sentences. They have taught me to remember the simple things in life - laughing, running, playing, and enjoying each other is simply enough to make you fall in love. I know I haven't completely digested everything as we left court, changed clothes and picked up our little ones as the minute we walked into that daycare I was distracted by my children's smiles and adorable runs to give me and Jon the biggest hugs. Someday's I wonder what I did to deserve to be dragged through this court process but the minute I see those children I wonder what I did right to be able to be loved so unconditionally by them. 

The battle is not over but we have definitely moved forward. We ask you continue to hold our family in your thoughts and prayers.