So we had court two weeks ago, and they severed the parents rights. But now they need to hold a placement hearing (or trial, I can't keep all the legal words straight) in January. This will finally determine if Matthew will stay with us or go to his great-aunt in Texas. I feel like there is no way the judge will want to move him to TX at this point. He has been with us his whole life and he will be 16 months at the trial. However, keeping children with their parents is the goal, and this aunt is willing to take the bio mom and Matthew. This possibility absolutely terrifies me.
I will be asked to testify at this hearing. Just thinking about it makes my heart race like crazy. I stay up at night rehearsing what I think I'm going to say, wondering what will be asked, wishing this process was different. And yes - JANUARY is when we go back. It's not that far off, but it feels like forever when I'm obsessing like this.
If it does go our way and we are chosen as placement for Matthew then we start the adoption process. Which from what I hear typically takes 6 months. So maybe by like July we will have all of this behind us and he will officially be ours. I try not to let myself get too carried away thinking this far ahead, but I've already planned the party and know what I'm going to wear.
As far as how Matthew is doing - he is wonderful. Still just a happy, easy going, teenie tiny little guy. He finally started saying some words, sort of. He has "uh-oh" down. And he started saying "iiiii" for hi and bye. And he makes a lot of sounds, sometimes some of them sound like words, but he's definitely a little behind where he should be. He's been so interested in the Christmas decorations and I'm so excited for this holiday season to see both him and Nora flipping out about the lights and decorations is just so much fun.
Our Thanksgiving was great. My parents were able to fly out and we had a nice, pretty quiet Thanksgiving. It was so good to see my parents, but their flight was cancelled and they ended up having to lose 3 days of their vacation.
Well I have more to write but nap time's ended. Nora and Matthew are both crying.
