Nathan 2

[sumbirdy]

Nathan is 20 months today! I can't believe he is growing up so fast. Everyday he looks more and more like a little boy and less and less like a baby. I just wish he didn't have to go through all this and he can have a more normal childhood.

[Catty1]

You know, I haven't ever been a parent, though I have dealt with kids - I mean, they are people I also talk to!
However, I have read a few times over the years that even if a child has a terrible homelife (which Nathan has a great one with you), ONE great adult can make a difference - another relative, a teacher, any close adult.

Nathan has had to be near his mom a few times, I know...but his home is with YOU, and he has Daddy and all the rest of you.

LOVE and his knowing he is SAFE will do a lot - actually, I think it will save him from any real damage from his biological mom.

[sumbirdy]

You know, I haven't ever been a parent, though I have dealt with kids - I mean, they are people I also talk to!
However, I have read a few times over the years that even if a child has a terrible homelife (which Nathan has a great one with you), ONE great adult can make a difference - another relative, a teacher, any close adult.

Nathan has had to be near his mom a few times, I know...but his home is with YOU, and he has Daddy and all the rest of you.

LOVE and his knowing he is SAFE will do a lot - actually, I think it will save him from any real damage from his biological mom.

I really hope so.

I would add pics, but photobucket won't let me edit them, and it won't let me attach them here.

[sumbirdy]

Nathan and Uno. This has got to be one of my favorite pictures.

Checking Uno's teeth. Nathan is obsessed with teeth (human or animal) and will examine anyone's teeth who will let him. Uno puts up with everything from Nathan (they are best pals) so of course, he's fair game!

[Karen]

What a patient doggie Uno is! Thanks for sharing the pictures, Nathan looks a lot like his Daddy! He's gonna be a heart-breaker when he grows up, that's for sure!

[sumbirdy]

When you think things can't get much worse-they do. Charles had a pre-trial today and Stephanie got unsupervized visitation. She gets to take him for 4 hours every Saturday. This Saturday she's supposed to show up at 12 so we can teach her how to give him his nebulizer treatement and then bring him back at four and do it herself at our house. Then every other Saturday after that until June 10 (the trial) she gets him at 1 and brings him back at 5. She's already made threats that she was either going to run with him or kill him. What was this judge thinking?! He said he wants to see how she does. Why give her a chance to hurt him? He just handed a child abuser a child. I can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen to him on one of those visits. This judge was supposed to be a good one, he's supposed to be in it for the kids. And Charles' lawyer didn't even fight this. He AGREED to it. With all the stuff against her, she still gets to have him alone? It doesn't make sense. Nobody is acting like they care, there's no way I can hand over Nathan to her Saturday, but I HAVE to, and in that sense I'm failing Nathan. That judge failed Nathan. She has LIFE INSURANCE on him and that scares me to death. If he dies she gets money, and she loves money. I just can't believe this has happened. I thought there was so much obvious stuff against her that no judge in his right mind would let her have him unsupervized. It could be worse, but I wish it was better.

God, where are you?

[Catty1]

Surely this can be appealed???? WHY would Charles' lawyer agree?

Sure, it's fine to give a person a chance - but NOT with the history Stephanie has. ONE VISIT and she could run off with him.

This is a head-shaker! I hope Charles and his lawyer have a good talk.

Wish there was a way to put a tracking bracelet on Nathan....omg...

Do you know any neighbours who could keep an eye out for him?

This just SUCKS. I hope something changes soon!

[sumbirdy]

Surely this can be appealed???? WHY would Charles' lawyer agree?

Sure, it's fine to give a person a chance - but NOT with the history Stephanie has. ONE VISIT and she could run off with him.

This is a head-shaker! I hope Charles and his lawyer have a good talk.

Wish there was a way to put a tracking bracelet on Nathan....omg...

Do you know any neighbours who could keep an eye out for him?

This just SUCKS. I hope something changes soon!

It can be appealed if Nathan seems disturbed after the visit. We're supposed to take pictures before he goes and after he comes back. If he has night mares we're supposed to right it down, and tell Charles' lawyer. But this is just the way our area works. They're not in it for the kids, and this place is a little crooked. According to mom, at the court house Stephanie was sticky-sweet. It all makes me sick.

[jennielynn1970]

Wow... I can't believe she got unsupervised visits! If Charles' lawyer agreed to it, wouldn't that be because Charles also agreed to it?? I'm just inquiring, because I thought a lawyer was there to speak for the person, not against them.

I really hope things go ok. I would be so worried, just as you are.

Sometimes I have no idea what the child welfare systems is doing in this country, let alone others. "Let's give the child abuser the chance to abuse again." That always make sense...

You and Nathan, and your family, will be in my thoughts and prayers.