Creating Family C: Adoption Timeline

After 712 days in Foster Care, my Little Guy is officially my

FOREVER SON!!!

After fostering 9 children and being a single foster mom for 4 1/2 years, I am blessed to have adopted my 7th foster child -- my Little Guy!!!! I can't express the joy and relief it is to call him MY FOREVER SON!!! MY SON. I never thought the day would come.

With being a foster parent and taking in children from the foster care system, the case plan always begins with reunification back to birth family. I have reunified several children and My Little Guy is the first one that became adoptable while in my care. There were many ups and downs. Times where it seemed he might leave. Times when it seemed he might stay. Times where it was so unclear. Up until the adoption, I still worried that something would come up and he would leave.

Having the final adoption papers makes things "official". Little Guy has always felt like he was mine. Now, he is home Forever!

Here is a timeline of court hearings and events that led us to our adoption. Unfortunately I did not blog when I first received Little Guy in my home, so much of that is lost in time. One day I plan to go back & fill in the details. For the story of when he was first placed into foster care with me, click here.

I have documented almost every single step of his life, wish I could share his Life Books with you. I can't believe that I get to watch him grow up and become a young man. What an amazing blessing this has been, more than I could ever have hoped or dreamed of.

Timeline of Events and Court Hearings

2013:

December: Little Guy placed with me through foster care at 4 days old. Case plan: Family Reunification.
December: Court - Preliminary Protective Conference/Hearing.
December: A relative was looked at as a possible placement. The relative was considered not to be able to follow the case plan and was denied custody.

2014:

January: Court - Initial Dependency Hearing. Birth Father contested the dependency.
February: Court - Birth Father Mediation and Pre-Trial.
March: Court - Report & Review, Publication hearing.
April: Court - Birth Father Trial, he ended up agreeing to the dependency & avoided trial.
May: Court - Permanency Hearing, both parents did not attend. Case Plan changed to Severance & Adoption.
July: Same relative came forward again and wanted custody of Little Guy - relative not approved previously and not approved this time.
July: Court - Initial Severance Hearing - Continuance issued due to Birth Mother unable to attend.
August: Court - Continuance from 7/15 Initial Severance Hearing and Report & Review.
October: Court - Mediation and Pre-Trial. I offered a post-adoption agreement to the birth parents, it was declined. The same relative came forward again and wanted custody of Little Guy - home study & background check ordered by Client Manager.
December: Relative did not continue to pursue custody of Little Guy.