Logan's Court Hearing

So, today was my first time in an honest to goodness court room, so I thought I'd better document it for posterity. Plus, for those of you who know the circumstances I thought you might want to know how it went in court today.

But first, I have to tell you my funny court room story! So, I arrive there @ 8:45 am (as ordered), and we all sit around waiting/staring at each other for about 1/2 and hour then we are let into a little court-room looking room that we are supposed to wait in until summoned to the actual court room. We are in this room for approximately 2 minutes before they call up ALL the cases at once and have us all proceed upstairs to wait in a different, less comfortable, more crowded room. Anyway, as we are all standing around in a little hallway area in front of the court room everyone is chatting up a storm about all their sides of the cases etc and I am just standing there like a very insignificant, miniscule bug when I spot some chairs in the next area. So I figure since nobody seems to care what I'm doing (or if I'm alive and breathing) I'll go sit down and read the book I brought. I make a beeline for a chair and as I'm walking I see this kind of strange tattoed man staring at me and watching me walk over. Weird. As I sit down and get out my book this guy is still obviously staring at me . . . and it's starting to freak me out. I can't figure out why he's doing that. But, I'm thinking, maybe I took his chair or something.

Anyway I start reading my book and trying to ignore the crazy tattoed man when he just blurts out (really loud) "You're too pretty to be in a court room" --Who knew, evidently there is some rule about how ugly you have to be to go to court . . . if I'd known I would have worn my frumpy shirt. I kind of laugh nervously and mutter "um thanks" and pointedly turn away from said crazy man to read my book. But, he's nothing if not persistent and he proceeds to blatantly hit on me in between his crazy explanations of how the DUI he was just convicted of is completely wrong and he is --of course--innocent! I keep turning further away from him and my responses keep getting smaller and smaller until my back is almost completely to him and I've been reduced to prehistoric cave man grunts as my only form of communication. I'm beggining to think this guy is never going to leave me alone. But, finally after his winner line "I bet you've never been flirted with in a courthouse before" fell completely flat he made a little bow and wished me a "Beautiful Day" and thankfully left! Not so funny when it was happening (he was too scary looking and persistent) but once he was gone I saw the funny side. And you know, honestly I have to say he was right . . . that court house has a ridiculous number of ugly/crazy looking people. The normal ones stood out like a sore thumb!

Other than that somewhat strange incident it was all horribly strange. I've never been to court before and had no idea what to expect. The worst part of it though was being stuck in a room and forced to hang out for hours at a time with all of these people that HATED me --I have the kid and they want him. It seemed like they were all spewing some sort of underhanded, malicious venom my way. In the course of a two hour wait at the court house I was berated over and over by Logan's grandmother for not showing up at a visit the week before (a visit neither I nor the foster care office knew about), told how I already had too many children, told I was dumb in about 20 different underhanded ways (again the grandma), and I had his Aunt explain to me in no uncertain terms that she was definately the better option for Logan because first I already had too many kids, second she can't have kids of her own (somehow that makes her a better mom than me) and lastly I'm not of mixed race, so I can't raise him properly. I was also told straight to my face (by the grandma) that she didn't care who ended up with him as long as it was family and it wasn't me. I think for the first time in my life I'm being descriminated against because I'm white. (not a pleasant sensation)

Anyway, the actual court process only took about 5 minutes--the grandma/mother's lawyer asked for a continuance which was granted and the rest of the time they mostly spent arguing about which day to continue to. The only issue that was really discussed was the grandma's visitation, so now Logan has visits with his grandma once a week instead of once a month. All that build up and suspense and then nothing even happend. So, in a little less than a month I get to do it all over again. Oh goody.

I don't know why I was so upset when court was over. I could barely get out the door fast enough, and when I made it to my car I spent the next 1/2 hour in hysterics. I couldn't seem to calm down. I just couldn't stop crying. Nothing like pregnancy hormones to get the tear ducts flowing. But really, I think it might have been that we were so close to losing Logan. That judge could have just made a split second decision and taken him away from us forever. Of course, I'm sure some of the venomous remarks probably hit their mark too. But, what can you do.

I guess just try to enjoy life until next month and then panic all over again.

News July/August!

Here is our news from July and early August (sorry if some of it's redundant from earlier posts, I snail mail it to my grandparents who aren't too computer savvy, so I have to put all the old news in too!)

This month has been a very fun one for us! We went down to visit Jerry's family in Fresno, and were able to spend some quality time with all the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins as well as Grandma and Grandpa Coleman. The kids were very sad when we had to leave. It's certainly nice having all those built in playmates that live so close together! We went to the Chaffee Zoo while we were there and we all had so much fun!! We love the Zoo! And the kids each got to hand feed a giraffe, so that was definitely a highlight!

Logan learned to roll over last week!! He can now go from back to tummy in a split second, but once he gets on his tummy he gets very mad!! So we keep flipping him back over, and he rolls back over and then starts to yell again. It will be nice when he is able to go from tummy to back as well! He no longer has visits with his dad, which has made my life a lot less crazy (2 hours 3 times a week can add a lot of busy to your days), but it is sad that he hasn't seen his dad for almost 2 months now. In just under 2 weeks there is a court hearing set for him where they will decide if he gets to stay with us until final placement is arranged, or if he will go live with his maternal grandma (she would be his foster parent) until things are worked out-or not- with his parents. For lots of reasons we (and the foster care office) think it is by far best if he stays with us rather than the grandma, so that is what we are praying for. Your prayers would be very much appreciated also.

Nathan turned 2 last week and is now a big boy. We measured him on the wall and he has grown a full 7 inches since his last birthday! He got lots of great stuff for his birthday and loved all the attention! He had so much fun with the wrapping paper and the party hats and his very own monkey cake! He gets more and more fun all the time!!

Emma has slimmed down so much this summer, I almost don't recognize her. She has lost all her baby fat and is now a tall slender little girl. She is absolutely adorable, but I have to say, I kind of miss the baby in her!

Lindsay turned 6 last week. I can't believe she is so old already! She is a beautiful little girl, and she loves all things girlie! Her birthday was a princess/barbie theme, and she got all sorts of pink girlie barbie stuff, so she was in 7th heaven! She is very excited to start school one week from today, and can't wait to see all her friends again. We got a call from her teacher already, and I think it's going to be a really good year for Lindsay!

I'm 2 months pregnant and battling all the exhaustion and morning sickness that goes with that, but we are all looking forward to the new addition in our family. The kids are always very careful of my tummy now (which is way bigger than it should be at only 2 months) love to ask how the baby is doing and if he eats when I eat etc. They are absolutely fascinated by the whole idea of a baby growing in my tummy. Makes for sime interesting conversations!!

Jerry spent a lot of the month rearranging the office and preparing for a merger with Countryman Insurance. He had to make some room for them to move into the office with him, and now it is a bit of a squeeze, but it seems like the transition is going very smoothly. That is actually the reason we moved to Redding, and now-- 3 years later-- it's happening, so that's exciting!!

Anyway, that's all the news for us! Hope you have a wonderful August! Love, The Coleman Clan

Logan's First Haircut

I know it is ridiculous that he should already be getting his first haircut, but his hair is 4-5 inches long all over, and was begining to look distinctly like a baby mullet. So, he got his first haircut on Saturday. Just a quick trim around the ears and the back of his neck. I couldn't bear to cut off any of his curls on the top.

Lindsay's 6th Birthday!!

Lindsay's Birthday Cake. She was very definate that she wanted a princess crown made out of cupcakes. So, here it is . . . (although I did cheat and used twinkies as the skinny part of the crown)! I have a newfound respect for people who make cupcake cakes. It's a LOT harder than it looks!

Wearing our fabulous SUPER STAR party crowns during dinner! Even Daddy and Logan joined in! (The little girl sitting by Lindsay is her best buddy from kindergarten, Myranda)

Blowing out the candles and smiling about her secret wish that she wouldn't tell anyone!

Hugging Nathan after opening the swimming barbie he got for her. It was exactly what she wanted!

Out in the street riding her brand new Barbie bike!! She was so excited because with the bigger wheels she can go a lot faster!!

She was so excited about everything for weeks before her birthday, and then when she was all finished opening presents and playing and it was almost time for bed she climbed up onto my lap and gave me a huge hug and said "thank you for making this the best birthday ever!!" Sweet huh??

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Nathan turns 2 yrs old!!

This is a busy week at our house!! Nathan turned 2 yesterday and Lindsay turns 6 tomorrow!! Nathan had such a fun birthday and was actually old enough to really enjoy everything, from the present unwrapping to blowing out the candles! And he is soooo cute, so I took tons of pictures!

In the afternoon before his party we all played outside in the sprinklers and the wading pool!!

Here is everyone during dinner wearing our super-cool puppy dog party hats!! Nathan loved the party hats and kept checking over and over to be sure he still had his "AT" on!!

Here we are opening/playing with some of the presents!! His big present was a picnic table from Mom and Dad!

Here is his monkey cake!! I thought it turned out pretty cute, and Nathan LOVED it!!


Here he is blowing out the candles! It took a couple of tries and a little help from mom, but he got them out!!

Cheering for himself once he got the candles out!! And then choosing what part of the cake he wanted to eat . . . he picked the eye.

And last but not least, here we are enjoying the cake! Seems like a shame to put so much work into something we ate in less than 15 minutes, but it was cute while it lasted!