So today the judge ruled on allowing Cookie to come for an extended visit to our home. I'm the only one in the house that's seen her since January 26, 2009. So this is what was relayed to me from my lawyer...

In court, of course her mother opposed (as she opposes visit requests when I'm there and Cookie doesn't have to leave the state). Cookie's lawyer opposed stating that it was "inappropriate given that the goal was reunification and mom is working her service plan". Ummmm... we're 7 months into the case and mom has no job or housing. Last time Cookie was in foster care, mom was already working for several months and housed for at least 1 month. The CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) noted that while she felt that Cookie wouldn't be in any harm or danger, she felt it was inappropriate for a reunification case. (I honestly can't be sure that's exactly what the position was--I may be confusing this and she may have had another reason why not; but I'm clear that she was firm about feeling Cookie wouldn't be in any harm or danger with the visit).

Initially, CPS opposed because "the goal is reunification with the mother". We knew this because we asked them for permission before taking it to the judge. But they apparently paused the hearing and pulled the current foster mother outside to ask her about the whole thing. She's seen me with Cookie and noted to me that if she hadn't seen it herself, she'd have never believed such a bond could exist with this child. Well, the caseworker's supervisor and the CASA spoke to the foster mother in the hall and when they returned, CPS changed their opposition to the visit and stated that they were neither going to oppose or support it--that they would do what the judge felt was best. Their only request was that it not interfere with the mother's visitation--that mom not miss a single visit (which she has every week).

The judge decided that Cookie's mom could miss ONE visit and that Cookie could come to us in early January. I'm not sure why so far off, but I'm grateful for not having to travel at the holidays and having advance ticket purchase discount. :) We are required that I travel down to accompany her here and the same going back--which we knew would be the case (and we wouldn't have it any other way).

We have a hearing between now and then. I'm nervous they'll cancel the visitation.

I know that it came up that they want to try extended visits with her mother when mom gets housing. She's been accepted into a program to help with that--but not until January. There was apparently concern about this visit interfering with that. The judge asked if the mother would have housing by a specific date in January and they admitted it wasn't likely. So he said that the visit could take place before that date.

I was stunned. Happy, but stunned. We're all kind of surprised.