the call

we got the call on june 3rd. we had been chosen for foster to adopt placement of the twins. we were so happy, having been on pins and needles, patiently waiting. the social worker told us that they thought we could give the children everything they needed for a healthy, happy, loving life. once the decision had been made we needed to travel to the other county with our social worker to meet with the children's social worker. it was our one time to review all records of the the case and hear about the the children's lives in much more detail before we made our final decision. i don't want all aspects of the case to be public but will provide some details. the mother had 6 children before she was 30. her rights were terminated for 3 children, one child died before her 1st birthday, the ruling was SIDs. the 3 older children had the same father, the younger 3 had a different father. she was allowed to take the twins home because they tested negative for drug exposure. but in the 20 months she had them social services was called in 10 times. the final time they were removed from her care due to severe neglect. the county felt that no other family members were capable of caring for them so they were placed in foster care. the first long term placement was with the dads of their next oldest brother, who was 3. the couple had 2 other adopted sons. these were the foster parents who had the twins evaluated, which led to their elibility to attend the school for developmental delays. due to the extraordinary stress of caring for 5 children under 5 years of age the couple decided to have the county find a new home for the twins. the next long term placement was was with a couple that had one biological son. they intended to adopt the twins but after a few months it appeared that the mother wasn't properly caring for them. the school notified the social worker and the children were removed and placed in their current home. a very loving home of a woman who had been a foster mother for many years, she had even adopted a daughter who was 11 years old. she had as many as three foster children in her home and was happy being a foster parent, not interested in adoption. nothing that we found out that day changed the decision we made. we made arrangments to meet the foster mother and then went to visit the kids at school. they were shy with us and we decided to stay close by and observe them.