[you are truly the most precious of human beings. I got goose bumps. Also congratulations about the course. The part about your dog was so funny.
Your story is a miracle come true. So inspiring
Keep us up to date when you find the time
Bobby


QUOTE=Bdix;347941]***TRIGGER***** Child neglect/abuse discussed.



















Hi everyone! Its great seeing so many you in one spot!

The family is doing good. We legally adopted the girls in March of this year so they are here for good. We got them early last year when the state was moving in to take them from their mother and step-dad again, and we told their mom that we would take them and not go after child support if this time she signed over physical custody while retaining her status as "mom". She agreed. They came back with horror stories, and the PTSD / depression in the younger one was at an extreme level. The older one was just sad. All the life had been sucked out of her. She even had a list of food she had stolen from a local grocery store with how much is had cost because her mom and stepdad would leave on the semi for a week at a time and not have any food in the house. She asked me to write a check and mail it to them because she felt so guilty, but at 12 she didn't know what else to do. We did and she felt better about that. Then the typical drug/alochol parties that she would have to clean up after and listen too.....yeah, it got bad.

Sooo, long story short they got back and settled back into their routine (it took a lot for the younger one though, and a whole lot of help). We got them enrolled into the charter school my boys go to (They snuck them by the waiting list for us because of the situation) and they LOVE school.

Long (long long long) story short, their mother got sentenced to 3 years fixed for making and selling drugs (crystal meth) with her husband, and we told her we were going to fight to adopt the girls. (their biological dad is still in prison until at least 2010, and will not be allowed near children so he was no problem) Their mother decided she didn't want to fight it and just agreed. So we had the paperwork drawn up, appeared in court, and wala - are now the proud parents of 4. The kids are all very happy to have each other back. (8th, 7th, 6th, and 4th grades now!!) The older one asked to legally have her name changed during the adoption to the nickname we've used for her since birth. (Crystal was her real name chosen because that is her mom's drug of choice and her mother told her this all the time, so she hated it)

As for me, I finally bucked up and quit taking the 1 class a semester for my masters and just took a year and a half and did it. (holy moses did my ADD and anxiety surface.) But i finished in July!

We also got a dog a year ago - a little lhasa apso. He is adorable and hasn't quite figured out that he's a dog. He's quite content being one of the kids lol.

So updates for the rest of you!! I'd love to hear how everyone is doing! (Even if I don't know you yet!)
Bobi[/QUOTE]