This afternoon was Liam's first part of his termination hearing. Bio mom already signed off her rights, so it's just dad they are terminating on at this point. Today we had a new judge! They were almost going to give us a continuance and a new date, so he could look over the paperwork, but decided not to, SO GLAD!

Dad's was found "unfit." This means that we then were to make a second date for the other part of termination, the best interest hearing. I'm a little, well, ok, quite a bit nervous, for that hearing, which they scheduled for October 21st at 2pm. Bio dad can still come to that, and I have to testify at it. I have to talk about and answer questions about my relationship with him, my love for him, and my willingness and want to adopt him. I don't relish the idea of saying those things in front of a bio parent. I have not had to do this before. In Braeden's case, I happened to be out of town, and had been told that it was not my best interest to ever meet or let them know who I was. It was an unsafe situation. In Olivia's case, bio mom had dropped out of the case 8 months prior, which we later found out was because she was pregnant and hiding the fact. So she didn't show up. (The baby - girl - had been born a week prior we later found out.) In addition, if that wasn't hard enough, Liam's bio dad has a violent past. He is currently in jail and will be for some time, but it still makes me nervous, and a bit scared.

So, I look forward, with anticipation, nervousness, and relief that the end is in sight, to OCTOBER 21st!!!!

From there, bio dad will have 30 days to appeal. IF he does, it will only prolong the process. IF he doesn't, then the agency will begin subsidy paperwork. Once that is completed (totall up to the worker assigned and how long they take), I will look it over with my lawyer, assuming it's ok it will then be sent to the state to be ok'd, once it is then we will be given an adoption date! I'm thinking it may be this spring! :) yay us!