April 1, 2009 (Wed): Mother texts that she has been thrown out of the elderly man’s house that she was living in. I speak to her briefly about getting assistance. She goes to her sister’s neighbor who allows her to use the phone to call around to get help and calls me from their house. She is going to a shelter.

April 2, 2009 (Thurs): Mother texts at 5:51am my time (almost 5am in her time zone) in a panic that her sister and sister’s children are filing felony charges for “felony-deadly force” and that this will be her third felony, putting her in jail for life. She pleads for help. Forty minutes later another text comes in begging me to tell them not to file charges.

April 3, 2009 (Fri): I unsuccessfully attempt to call 3 shelters in the area to reach the mother.

April 4, 2009 (Sat): Mother calls looking for money she alleges she needs for methadone maintenance on Monday. She claims that without the money, she will be in the hospital on Tuesday instead of in court. I tell her that I am unable to send money and ask about her IRS refund. She states that she “lost her mind and lost all her money” when the baby was removed from her. Knowing that this means she’s been using drugs, I ask her if she will even test clean at the methadone clinic. The mother hangs up on me.

Later that day Cookie’s grandmother calls me and expresses concern about Cookie’s mother regaining custody. We discuss the possibility of Cookie being returned to our state as we have no idea which state has custody; and the fact that if my family regains custody of her and the mother cannot manage to get clean again—that we would maintain Cookie’s family bonds. Grandmother is firm that Cookie should not return to her mother but instead should be sent to live with our family. The grandmother says she received a similar call from her daughter that morning (approximately 7am) looking for money. Phone calls and text messages continue between me and the grandmother until the next court date on 4/20.

April 6, 2009: My husband and I write a letter to the court stating our concern for Cookie’s welfare, our prior support of reunifying her with her mother and our desire to be included in any permanency plans if the court should pursue them. It is faxed to the courthouse and to CPS2.

Cookie’s grandmother receives a letter from local municipal court stating that they have vacated the 6 month jail sentence for the mother’s 3rd drunk driving offense and instead will allow the mother’s car to be fitted with a breathalyzer collar that requires a breath test before allowing the car to be turned on. Because the mother has not been in contact with the grandmother, the mother is unaware that she is no longer facing jail time here.

April 7, 2009 (Tues): I receive a call from the CPS2 caseworker stating that if we wished to intervene in the case, the next court date would be 4/21. Caseworker expresses concern about the ability of the mother to get clean enough to regain custody and the state’s obligation to allow her to work a case plan. When asked if we had legal standing to intervene she advised me to hire a lawyer as she wasn’t sure.

April 10, 2009 (Fri): I contact CPS2 caseworker to advise that we will be intervening. That morning the mother has a visitation with Cookie and the caseworker tells the mother that we will be intervening. The mother calls for the first time in nearly a week (from the shelter) asking what I was trying to do. I’m unable to speak to her as I’m at a party with my son and tell her that I will call her later.

Cookie is being moved to a new foster home this day and I send a care package to her first foster home—Fedex’d to arrive before the move. It contains clothing, diapers (by request of the foster mother who is not receiving board payments) and an Easter basket with non-edible gifts plus a card for the existing foster parents and the new foster parents with contact information.

The new foster parents e-mail that night with photos of Cookie. They e-mail after their Easter festivities with more pictures of her.

April 13, 2009 (Sun): mother will get on the phone with me at 5pm for 3 minutes to listen but not say anything. I tell her that she had been out of contact and we didn’t know how to find out what was going on without being acknowledged by the court as a party with interest and concern for Cookie. The mother listens but just “uh-huhs” me to acknowledge that she hears me.

Contact with the grandmother continues through phone calls and text messages. The grandmother remains firm about Cookie not going back to the care of her mother and says she will write a letter of support of our gaining custody to the court.

April 20, 2009 (Mon): I contact the grandmother to ask if she is still certain that she can support my husband and I going against her daughter in court and the grandmother says that she does and she loves us. This is the last time we hear from the grandmother.

Motion to intervene is carried because mother has not been served 3 days prior to hearing. Judge orders and expedited ICPC.