They came and took him! What do I do now? *UPDATE PAGE 5!*

[sumbirdy]

My parents and me have been raising my nephew since he was 2 weeks old. When he was about 3 or 4 months old his parents moved out and left him here. When they got a house they didn't try to get him. We had a date set at court for them to start paying child support. She went to the police yesterday and told them we had her baby and wouldn't give him to her. DHS told them to come get him (but they told us she couldn't have him until she got 2 years of anger management) The police said that if we didn't give him to her that my parents will go to jail for kidnapping. (They left him here!) She told them that we abused him (not true) I had just changed his diaper and was feeding him lunch when they came. The policeman said that I was sleeping and that I left him in his high chair by himself (I thought policemen were supposed to tell the truth!) I was not sleeping I was sitting at the table with him. Stephanie (the babies mother) also said that he had a poopy diaper (again not true) and a horrible rash on his groin (I would like to know what they did to him because that wasn't there when I had changed him) They also said we were "unfit" because our grass wasn't mowed and we had a lot of dogs. ( ) They also said that he was dirty. But that was because he was eating lunch and babies get dirty when they eat lunch. My mother has a seizure disorder and told Stephanie that this was killing her and Stephanie said "Well, maybe it will" She also told her that she "hopes she hurts for a long time" We've had him for almost a year and were very attached. This is ripping our hearts out and we're going to fight every step of the way. Stephanie said she wasn't going to let us see him again and she was going to put a restraining order on us (we didn't even do anything to her) She is a con artist and lies every other word and she has friends who have known her for all of two months who believe everything she says. We've tried to talk to them and tell them but they won't listen. They know about her history, about how she tried to kill her mother, but what they won't listen to is how she abused that baby while she stayed with us. My dad seen her shake him and I've seen her shake her fists at him. They won't believe us. We tried to get a lawyer and we need one for tomorrow morning but the only one we could get a hold of today wants half of the money now (which would be 1200 dollars) We don't have the money and no one is willing to help us. No one will loan us the money and we have nothing worth selling. I just don't know what to do. I miss him so much... I just want to see him again. I just want to hold him.

[Kalei]

Wow, I don't know what else to say except that is all so terrible and I can't believe you even have to go through something like this. You sound like such a great person and I can't believe people can make up such nonsense, specially policemen! How awful!!!

Please keep us updated to what happens, I really hope you can get your little nephew back away from these terrible people.

[joycenalex]

i am so sorry! was there any type of formalized custody order for your parents to have him? if so i'd call your caseworker tonight, leaving a message about this, do you have witnesses to that the baby was happy and healthy with you, like close responsible neighbors, your minister, the peditrician who can speak to your high quality care of him, and to his good health with you, any individual that a court would find to be credible. don't talk to her or her friends, as tempting as it would be don't engage with them at all, no matter what. you all have to be above reproach and as pure as fresh snow. make sure the yard and home is immaculate, take photos to prove it. an experienced family law attorney is going to cost money, there is no way around that. stephanies history will catch up with her. i am so sorry that this has happened to him and you.

[sumbirdy]

i am so sorry! was there any type of formalized custody order for your parents to have him? if so i'd call your caseworker tonight, leaving a message about this, do you have witnesses to that the baby was happy and healthy with you, like close responsible neighbors, your minister, the peditrician who can speak to your high quality care of him, and to his good health with you, any individual that a court would find to be credible. don't talk to her or her friends, as tempting as it would be don't engage with them at all, no matter what. you all have to be above reproach and as pure as fresh snow. make sure the yard and home is immaculate, take photos to prove it. an experienced family law attorney is going to cost money, there is no way around that. stephanies history will catch up with her. i am so sorry that this has happened to him and you.

My dad had a paper saying he was the custodian parent. But it didn't matter because it wasn't stamped by a judge. We have one woman who will be on our side. And several caseworkers,nurses, and such have been out and seen him, seen that he was happy and healthy. We don't have the money right now for the lawyer and can't find one that doesn't want money right now. I don't know if I can live without Nathan...It's so hard.

[Karen]

Call the state bar association, they may be able to refer you to a lawyer who will work with you, and work out some sort of payment plan. You'll be in our prayers, and especially baby Nathan.

[Catty1]

I would think the court appearance tomorrow could be adjourned until your family finds a lawyer.

Maybe Johanna or someone here knows about that.

HUGS!

[sumbirdy]

I would think the court appearance tomorrow could be adjourned until your family finds a lawyer.

Maybe Johanna or someone here knows about that.

HUGS!

The court date wasn't supposed to be until the 16th. We're going tomorrow to show them all the evidence we've got against her and that everything (his Medicaid, ect.) is under my dad's name. We have his birth certificate, his social security car, everything. We're going to do everything and anything we can. We can't wait until we are able to find a lawyer. That's too long. He's not safe with her. We have her dad on our side. She has a warrant out for her arrest in another county (where her dad lives) but in this county they won't do anything because the other hasn't complained. Her dad knows the police there and he knows the DHS workers. They were called on her there by the hospital when he was a newborn because they didn't think he would be safe. He couldn't go home with them unless my parents are there.
Thank you all for your suggestions. We are doing everything we can. Just keep us in your prayers. God doesn't give us more than we can handle right? I'm just praying that He has a good plan worked out for Nathan.

[Catty1]

I am glad her dad will be there! I guess he doesn't have time to get any paperwork.

Hopefully there will be a postponement til all the info can be gathered.

And there's a police officer or two who owe you a HUGE apology!

[sumbirdy]

So far there has been nothing we can do. We have DHS going to investigate. The cop told us that he had orders from DHS to come get him but DHS told my dad that they didn't do that. He did this illegally. Stephanie is telling everyone that me and my dad came out yesterday and banged on their door and tried to break in. We didn't do that! She also said that I was wearing short shorts. I rarely even wear shorts. My brother told her that. Then she said maybe I was wearing a skirt. I don't wear skirts either. Then she said maybe dad was wearing the short shorts! None of this ever happened.
Dad said if we go through the courts to get him back we won't have him for at least a month. His birthday is Saturday and we won't even get to see him. What do we do with his presents? I miss him so much. I dream about him every night and he's all I can think about anymore.

[Catty1]

The DHS can move mountains quickly, especially if their name has been used fraudulently!

Keep the faith, sweetie! I am glad this was reported to DHS - without a legal order from them, I HOPE Nathan will be back with you soon.

And that "mother" can go through the courts, like everyone else. Let HER wait for a month and get told NO.

HUGS HUGS HUGS!

[sumbirdy]

This hurts so bad. It feels like somebody has ripped my heart out and all I can feel is pain. His stuff is everywhere, even after we have put a lot of it in his room and shut the door. Everything reminds me of him, from the portable clock he loved to play with to the doorknobs he liked to touch. But I can't let her win. I can't let her break me. I will fight. I will fight until he's 18 if I have to. My brother won't leave her even though she is killing my mother (mom has had several major seizures since Saturday) He says all he wants is his family (which is Stephanie) She's lied to him so much and he believes every word she says. He believes her over my dad who has never lied to him a day in his life.
I try to remember what dad said, that time, although it won't make it better, it will make it more bearable. But that may take a long, long time unless we get him back or are at least able to see and hold him. I cry for him 5 or 6 times a day. I don't know how I can live like this much longer.

[Alysser]

I am so sorry you have to deal with this situation. It sounds terrible for you, your family, and poor little Nathan. I'll be thinking of you guys! If you have strong evidence, there is a very very high chance you'll get him back.

[Catty1]

I hope that DSH confronts Stephanie while her husband is with her. Sometime, somehow, he will 'get it'. I am sure DSH has seen LOTS of spouses like him before.

His family is STEPHANIE? What about his son???

Prayers and hugs - this will work out. You'll see!

[sumbirdy]

Prayers and hugs - this will work out. You'll see!

I hope so.

[sumbirdy]

Time drags on and on these days...