Nathan 2

[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 went to the doctor today. What started out as just a visit to check his breathing (he's been raspy) and ears turned into a Hepititis A shot, his blood being drawn (apparantly it has become mandatory for all babies over 9 months, to check for lead and their blood count) and he now has a Nebulizer (sp?) he has to use 3 times a day. He cried worse over getting the shot than he did getting the blood taken. But the plus is, he got TWO suckers

[sumbirdy]

Nathan was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) And He also has Pulmonary Hypertension which is something he was born with. He spent 2 weeks in NICU (during which time, Stephanie sat around the house and complained about the scar from her C-section) I read somewhere that people with Pulmonary Hypertension have a 2-5 year life span. I hope that's wrong but I know the disease can be deadly. He's been generally healthy all his life except for some breathing problems. What we're really worried about is if she (Stephanie) gets overnight supervision, she could suffocate him and then blame it on his breathing problems, it's something she would do, and she's already threatened to kill him, saying that if somebody else ended up with him and she only got visitation, she would kill him so no one could have him. I'm just praying this all works out, with the custody, and with Nathan's health.

[sumbirdy]

Nathan has a new little buddy for a week. Almost 3-year-old Christian (Charles' girlfriends little boy) Nathan's never been around other kids before. His only cousin lives in Deleware and since I stay home there's never been a need to put him in any sort of child care. It was very interesting. Christian is a ball of energy! I thought Nathan was bad but nothing compares to that kid. He is adorable though and when Nathan first met him he went up to him and gave him a hug. They got along mostly fine, except for Christian seems to be going through a stage where everything is "mine!" (He tried to convince me that my dogs were his, lol) They will be staying until Monday morning. Hope I'll make it through!

[Catty1]

That's great Nathan has a play buddy!

As for his health - I hope that since he is really young and generally healthy that there are some treatments for his breathing issues. Science is coming up with more wonderful things all the time.

So I'll add some PT Prayers to the mix!

(I hope Stephanie doesn't get visitation...does Charles' lawyer know about her threats?)

HUGS to you all!

[sumbirdy]

Stephanie showed up today. She acted normal and fine.....and then Christian came into the room. Suddenly everything changed and she started coughing and saying she was sick and was going to leave at 11:00 or 11:30 (she has 9-12) so that she wouldn't get everyone sick (wouldn't we be exposed to the germs since she showed up anyway? ) Christian is hyper and he was running arond everywhere. And then Christian came up to me,pointed at Stephanie and said "I want him to leave" She has her hair cut real short and does look somewhat like a guy. lol. Christian then went to find his mother and said "Mommy, I'm scared. That guy (Stephanie) in there scares me." Shouldn't that tell us all something? A 3 year old only has to spend 5 minutes in a room with her (with someone else there) and he gets scared. Christian is not shy and he has never been scared of Charles or Dad or Mom or me.

Stephanie ended up only staying 20 minutes.

[sumbirdy]

Here's a few pictures. Enjoy!

Christian, Charles, and Nathan


Nathan And Christian

[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]

I have a funny story to tell! Every Saturday Stephanie thinks she has to tell us about her life (like we care) We usually don't pay attention, not really caring what goes on with her life. But this one REALLY makes her appear to be a nut. She should become a certified nut with this one.

Last Saturday out of the blue she started telling us how great her life was and this is what she said, "I really am doing good. I have a great life. I work all day and then I go home and take care of Nathan"
Excuse me, what?! Last time I checked Nathan was living with us! And if buying him some animal crackers and legos is called taking care of him then taking care of a kid is easy! When I called her on it, saying Nathan lives with us and how is she taking care of him she said "well, I buy him diapers" Nobody in this house has ever, ever seen even one diaper that she supposedly bought him. And he certainly hasn't ever wore any of them! So I guess I can go buy a box of diapers for-lets say-my nephew Eli in Deleware-some diapers he's never seen or worn, and say I take care of him. LOL.

Charles' lawyer said he'd be suprised if she got anything-and that's what we're shooting for-her getting nothing. But if she does get something, it's pretty much guaranteed it'll be supervized becaue....SHE AGREED TO THAT. The only thing is the person supervizing will be judge appointed (probably an advocate) and the place to meet is still up in the air. But we're still shooting for her getting NOTHING.

[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.

[sumbirdy]

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.


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...

That's what I thought too, but Charles didn't agree to that! I don't know...things seem a little screwy.