TWINS!!!
Our son had twins! They were beautiful and healthy and their mother was exhausted by the end of week one! She went in for her checkup, the doctor gave her the "all clear" physically but then asked her how she was feeling.
MISTAKE NUMBER ONE: She was honest with her doctor. I am SO SORRY to sound so cynical but in this day and age, you really are better of to find a friend, confidant or online anonymous support groups than to tell ANY FORM of "licensed professional" that you are feeling sad. They can and sometimes will use that information to trash your entire life. She told him she thought she might be getting "the baby blues."
The doctor advised the new mother to get on antidepressants. Mom was breast feeding and did not want to do that, so he recommended a counselor, and she went and saw the counselor the next day. The counselor told her to get on anti-depressants and she told the counselor she was breast feeding and did not want to do that. OK, I won't call this "mistake number 2" because it was simply a repeat of mistake number one. The counselor and my daughter in law chatted until the bell went off, then Mom went home.
That night, about 11 PM my son and his wife were awakened by the sound of FURIOUS pounding on their front door. My son looked out the window and saw the cops and the woman dressed so nicely and knew IMMEDIATELY what was up. Being raised by this cynical mother saved his family, so please heed my warning...
They wanted to "see" the children, that was "all." Could they please come in and "just check on them? "It would "only take a minute..." My son ASKED TO SEE THE WARRANT. The cop tried to imply he did not need one... My son knew better and INSISTED ON A WARRANT. They finally left, empty handed.
He did not wait for them to go get a warrant. He loaded up his family and brought them to us. The next morning, my son went home to find the cops had been back and left a notice demanding he show up at a hearing the following week, and to bring the children. We later found the cop's report of serving the notice where he claimed he knew my son had been home because he could see the fresh footprints in the snow at the front door. Sure, except my son had been at my house all night, and except that my son lived in an apartment complex with covered stairs. There was no snow at his door, no footprints. It was pretty disheartening to realize the cops were LYING to try to take my grandkids from their home.
We all showed up at the hearing. Mom, Dad, twins, and Granny and Grandpa and we were not nice. We were courteous, but we made it very clear that we were concerned for the well-being of the ENTIRE FAMILY and the stress they were giving the NEW MOTHER. We discussed how much having the new mother stressed out would negatively impact the children and how it all would soon be the subject of a lawsuit if they did not... I do not recall the exact words we used but basically, BACK THE FUCK OFF.
They decided that with such a "supportive family" perhaps their intervention was not needed after all... So after mistake number one (twice) you'll notice I do not list a "Mistake Number 2." I don't think we made another one, or they would have taken those babies when they were less than a month old, from a breast feeding mother!
Understand one more thing, please. We did not "lawyer up" for 3 reasons that are unique to us: 1. We have medical backgrounds, our assessment that the babies were fine was done by an RN, my husband. That has weight. 2. We have studied law ourselves at this point. We are not experts, but we know our rights and we are not squishy about exercising them. 3. We also have a daughter who is an attorney, so we had a lawyer "in our pocket" the whole time. IF - and this is a ginormous if - you know a good attorney, get their assistance. These people are lying, thieving, home wrecking scum with the force of bad law behind them. You are going to battle, get the best army you can muster.
OK, I have to end this on a happy note, right? I can do that. They are all doing beautifully. Life has been tough at times, but that is how life is. Everyone is healthy, happy and growing like sunflowers!
With a baby sister, too! You may notice all my pictures of them are very blurry... Yep. That is just how their parents like it, and I think that is dandy.
