It's getting exciting to think of Cookie visiting. Her mom is still without housing where she can have her children with her, but that's because she's declined housing that would allow her kids because it would be too restrictive for her for the first 30 days (5 minutes of cell phone time/day and not seeing her boyfriend--who is not the father of the baby that's about to be born). Priorities--right?

But we're looking forward to being all together. I'm REALLY nervous about all the flying, but overall, we're really psyched. We have no firm plans while she's here except to see her paternal uncle and her maternal aunt. Otherwise, we're playing it by ear based on how she manages being outside of her "home". Her foster mother feels strongly that she'll be fine as long as she's with me as she is so clearly bonded to me. I hope she responds similarly to Mike.

Mike and I agree that one week of her being here certainly wouldn't be a fair indication of what life would be like with her back; but we do both hope it goes well.

We finally have firm dates (and plane tickets) for Cookie's trip. Her stay was cut down to 8 days at the request of CPS and really, we're just glad she's coming.

We also don't go back to court until February since it would appear that mom won't have housing in time for the January court date. But she could give birth anytime from late January/early February onward.

At this hearing, the judge asked if our intention was still to adopt Cookie if mom couldn't complete her case plan. I think he sees that progress is not coming along as well as it should've by now.

I had to send a "proposed itinerary" to our lawyer, but have yet to hear back about dates for Cookie's trip back here. Court is a week from tomorrow and I'm really wishing we could have tickets in hand at that point.

In the meantime, Cookie has had to get glasses for her "lazy eye". She adapted to wearing them without taking them off, but has to go back to the doctor in a month to see if there's any improvement. If not, she'll require surgery. :(

And her foster parents have moved her into a toddler bed. We shall see if she manages to STAY in it!

We got a new foster placement here in our house--an 8mo little girl who has been in care for about 4-1/2 months due to domestic violence and a healed skull fracture. I'm not sure she'll be here long. I think the funny thing is that her former foster mother called her "Cupcake". I had to laugh... "Cupcake", "Cookie"... But this little one almost never cries and can't really bear any weight on her legs. She also can't sit up on her own. So she definitely has some troubles. We'll see how it goes.