Early August: caseworker advises that mother would like to set up a visit and asks me to contact the mother. I call on 8/6 and 8/7 with no response; but call the caseworker to advise and within 20 minutes the mother calls back.

We arrange to visit at Barnes and Noble book store on Saturday 8/9 although Cookie isn’t feeling well. Baby is clearly not well and clingy. This is her first illness since reunification. She doesn’t appear to remember us (studying my face when I attempt to hold her) and taking comfort in her mother. Mother notes that the biological father’s parents came from their country to see Cookie and did not give the mother any money nor buy a new carseat for Cookie (there was nothing wrong with the existing carseat). The visit is short. Later in the day the mother calls me because Cookie is running a fever and she’s uncertain how to handle it. I advise her that is sounds like teething and instruct her on when to get medical attention.

Mother texts again while we are on vacation and then again while the family was sick (in mid and late August). I respond each time to let her know these things.

August 26, caseworker calls with concerns about the reunification based on a scheduled visit and the baby sleeping during the visit. She feels the mother should know the child’s schedule at this point well enough to know when she’ll nap. Caseworker knows that we visited recently and asks for feedback. I advise that when the caseworker saw Cookie, the baby was teething and the mother had put Cookie in daycare the week before the caseworker had made her visit. Knowing that Cookie refuses to sleep anywhere other than her own bed, I told the caseworker that Cookie’s move to daycare would likely throw off her sleep habits until she adjusted and that the mother couldn’t possibly know when she would finally sleep as a result; but advise her to check again in 2-3 weeks to be sure that this is not still an issue. Caseworker seems relieved to know there is a logical explanation for the things causing concern and thanks me for the call.

Mother notes that she was in the hospital on 8/29 but not why.