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Hi Connie!

How did the meeting go?? I don't want to bug you, but have been thinking about you and your family non stop since yesterday!

It sounds like every one had a great time with the great great grandmother.

Hey Brandii...well, the meeting was like a 3 ring circus. At one point my husband got upset and started over the table at the mom of our babies mom. 12 adults were there and no one did anything to stop the verbal abuse. She was blaming everything on our dead son and I wanted to scream "he has been gone a year and she doesn't have the baby back....hello!". Later she started in on me and I just told her to just hush. There was lots of crying and screaming and I wanted to just crawl under a rock. Her husband and daughter kept telling her to be quiet but she just couldn't stand it. The workers kept telling her the past is the past and we are working towards the future. We are not here to rehash the past.

So anyway, mom has to do 6 weeks worth of visits (3 times a week, at least 2 hrs a visit) and if she cannot do that then this will be over. But on Friday she came for her visit and has called several times and I invited her and her family over today (it is MJ's birthday) at 2 so ya'll be saying mega prayers that her mom will be able to keep her mouth shut. I am trying very hard to be nice and accomodating because I don't want to be sorry later if they will not let me see my grandaughter. I will know in my heart that I have done everything and more than I had to.

We still go to court the 17th but I don't think the judge will decide anything different than what the caseworkers plan is.

On a good note, we had the baby's birthday on Saturday and had my son's step sister and her husband, my mother in law, my daughter that lives in the next town over and her boyfriend and my grandaughter, and my daughter that is visiting with the baby and her 3 yr old. So we all had a nice time.


Happy Birthday Mary Jayne


All my grandkids

Couldn't leave out Morty! He is enjoying lots of water out side!

Hi Connie!

Wow--it sounds like it was one crazy meeting. I'm so sorry you all had to go through that.

You are so strong to keep thinking about the future and not the past, and I'm sure that is harder than words can say. Don't you wish everyone else could do the same?

I'm glad there at least seems to be a solid plan in place.

On a light note, the pictures are precious! You have such beautiful grandchildren, and of course, Morty is adorable as usual.

There are so many other people that can relate to your situation, either through grandparents taking in grandchildren, and taking care of them or being there to adopt them if possible.

You are such a great example of how to make this work, and how to keep the best interest of the child in mind. I know it's been harder than you can express, but you and your husband are such good examples of what it means to be a parent and grandparent.

I know the party is about to start, so please check back in and let us know how it went. I've got my fingers crossed for you that everything goes a lot more smoothly than the last meeting!

Well, I was waiting for Jerry Springer to show up with a stripper at that meeting LOL. Hubby still can't laugh about it but I have to or I would sit in the floor and sob all day!

The birthday party was good. No one said anything "off" and Mary Jayne had a good time. They brought cake and lots of presents. So 2 birthday parties in 2 days time...pretty lucky little gal!

Hi Connie!

Your sense of humor is wonderful!

I bet Mary Jayne is one happy gal with two birthday parties in two days!

I am thrilled that everything went well. I'm sure it was a relief after the last meeting.

How are your house projects going?

Brandii, I have my dad's sense of humor. He is a funny guy. He tells the best stories. Reminds me of my grampa more and more as he gets older. My sister always tells me I can always cheer her up is she is blue.

My daughter with the 6 month old has been here for a week and I think may stay another week. So right now I am just having fun being gramma. Today I am taking all the grandkids to have photos made. I thought it would be nice. Also I go to see the councelor today and I am looking forward to any suggestions she might have. I am feeling much better since changing my medications but I know having someone to talk to who is out of the circle will really help.

No house projects right now. It is just too hot to do anything. One day this week it is supposed to be 95. I think the hottest day was 118. My poor air conditioner unit can't cool it much under 84. It is all I can do to motivate myself to slave over that stove at night! We have a really old turkey cooker (actually I have 3, I picked 2 up at garage sales for under $10 each. Those things didn't get much use) and yesterday I put a roast in there with potatoes, onions, carrots and mushrooms and we only cooked some squash on the stove and it was still too hot. I cook my roast all day on low and so I put the cooker in the basement and the house didn't get so heated up. Going down to do laundry made me hungry though! Today is b-b-q with the leftovers, potato salad and some deviled eggs. Makes me hungry just thinking of it!

Poor Morty, no water playing today. He was very disapointed when I didn't water him. It is too hot to leave him outside and I don't want wet dog on my bed!

Hi Connie!

I have two words for you: SlOW COOKER!

It will not make your house hot at all. I have used two at one time. The only way I knew they were even on was the wonderful smells that filled the house.

I use mine for breakfast casseroles, soups, roasts, veggies, baked potatoes, bbq, cobblers, and even lasagna (using the no boil noodles).

You could say I'm a little obsessed with the slow cooker. Ok, a lot!

Have fun with the grandkids today! I bet you'll get some great photos.

Good luck with your appointment as well! I hope you'll get some additional suggestions, to help along with your meds (and I'm so happy that you're feeling better with those)

I do have a slow cooker, but that roast was just too big. I always buy a big one and then freeze some of the leftovers for BBQ on another day when I need a quick meal. I have a few slow cooker recipies, I will have to look into more. Mostly we make beans in it and I have stew meat recipe I love and I make a loaf of bread to go with that. I do love that breadmaker! I make 2 loaves a week.

Hope you aren't too hot today! It is already too hot here.

3-ring circus, huh, I used to call it a soap opera. Did that meeting occur in your house? Sometimes ours were in public areas, but I've 'hosted' some as well. You'll be having your granddaughter's mother in your house 6 hours each week. Will that be difficult for you? I think you and your husband have a good handle on how to deal with the situation, so I'll only offer my encouragement to keep it up.

Connie and I have talked in the past about the Minnesota winter weather. So, I'd like to thumb my nose at you but I don't know how to spell it - nanna, nanna, nanna??? We are not expected to reach the 80's this week - and that's almost normal. It is said that our summers are God's compensation for the winters he sends us. The last 2 days northern Minnesota has waken up to temps 'just' warmer than freezing (35). I've always known that there is only one month in Minnesota that there has been NO snow. I never could remember if it was July or August. We're now so close to the possibility that it must be August. Where do you live Brandii?

I've also told you, Connie, that my son and his wife would be journeying to Enid, OK on his motorcylce this month. That trip has fallen through. I won't have the two that I call Tweens for that stretch. The normal GrannyCare is doing fine.

Tomorrow I have the 3 year old. His mother does not work so I don't normally have him. He always want to come, but doesn't like staying. I may have to stir up a batch of play dough tonight. He loves that.

I'll keep your friday meeting in my thoughts. GrannyH

The meeting with all the people was at the DHS office. The birthday party was at my house. Yep, soap opera I do totally relate to that feeling!

I don't mind having the mom at my house. It is her mom that really gets to me. At first we are supposed to do all visits at our house and then as time goes by we will go to her house.

Your son will be glad that he didn't go to Enid. It is so hot here. I see people on their motorcycles and know they are frying. Hubby used to have a Harley and around here nice riding weather is a small period of time. Most of the time you would have to wear leather in the morning and then be melting in the afternoon.

Good luck with the 3 yr old. They can be so muich fun and so frustrating too!