This is the 6-month permanency hearing. CPS2's goal remains "reunification". The report notes that the mother is now pregnant again, but still without employment or housing (she continues to live in a shelter).

Our lawyer files a motion to Terminate Parental Rights (TPR) and motion to adopt. This is acknowledged in court, but not explored. Another hair follicle test is requested on the mother and the results will dictate whether or not the case goes to court in October or wait until the regularly scheduled status hearing in December.

I visit with Cookie for about an hour. She tolerates leaving well enough. She remembers me but it doesn't appear to be a strong connection.

Judge requests that our visits be observed by an objective party that can evaluate our bond/relationship.

We are unhappy with the lack of progress on the case and hold a garage sale (with donated goods) to raise funds to cover a retainer for a new attorney.

I left home yesterday and arrived yesterday afternoon. I met a foster parent friend from online for early supper and drove through a horrible storm to my hotel.

I had today to myself.

I caught up on articles I was supposed to have written for the last month. That's about it.

Before I left, I managed to identify a ton of "garage sale" stuff in the attic. Matt and I agreed that 99% of it would be donated if it didn't sell. It has to go.

I had already identified a number of eBay items. They will go with us.

We're narrowing down the details of the relocation. The spring market is not projected to be any better than the fall market... but we really should've been listed by Labor Day to take full advantage. Now it's a matter of rolling the dice on what's left of the fall market, or waiting for the spring market. I'm not sure what would be worse.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the hearing for Cookie. My lawyer filed a motion requesting a jury trial to terminate the parental rights, give us custody and allow us to adopt; plus a separate motion to visit her. I guess we'll see what happens. Her current foster parents truly would rather not adopt her unless it's an absolute last resort and she'd be going to a stranger if they didn't. So we are planning for her to come home at some point.

I'm scared. I'm afraid that all of this upset will have a permanent and negative effect on her. I'm afraid of what her mother's going to do just from us filing the motion. I'm afraid we'll spend a lot of legal fees for nothing. I'm afraid of what all of this is going to do to our current family. I'm afraid of all of it.

I just need to hand it over.