My husband and I do not sleep in the same bed at the same time regularly, only 1-2 times a week. It is a rare treat when we do get to actually sleep next to each other and wake up next to each other. It is certainly one of those things you take for granted if you get that experience all the time. For us, it has been rare for most of our marriage.
Nevertheless I still know that we are different when it comes to dreams. I remember every detail of my dreams. In part it has to do with the way my memory works and in part because of narcolepsy. My husband on the other hand rarely remembers his dreams. We've been married nearly 11 years and I think I can count on one hand how many dreams he's told me about (and I've asked!). Usually they're nightmares...we all have them.
When we woke up this morning he immediately said "I had the worst dream last night". This is what he described, from his perspective:
For some reason we were staying with my dad (his childhood home). You and the kids were all gone to a party or something and me and Baby Baby were home by ourselves. I saw a crack in the wall and went to go check it out in the backyard. When I looked out there I saw it was really, really stormy. There was a lot of rain and wind.
At this point I thought he was going to tell me that I was in a car accident with the kids and we died. But he didn't.
It was really bad, the flood waters were rising and it was getting worse. I went to check on Baby Baby who was sleeping in (my youngest brother's old room). I could tell the front half of the house was ripping off. By the time I got there the bedroom was almost completely gone and half of the crib was gone. I reached in and grabbed him just in time.
I don't know if you believe in supernatural things like prophetic dreams. I certainly do but not to the point I think every.single.dream is a message from God himself.
However. In this case I wonder.
This dream precisely describes our case right now (except maybe my husband's dad's place...). There is a fierce storm going on. This is definitely the hardest case I've had and will be one that is fought to the end (I think). Our kids are safe in our home for what feels like once in their life. Our children are healing in a way that I can't describe unless you're there. Baby Baby knows no other parents. He doesn't. The kids do not want to go live with their birth family. They pray about it every night (on their own, not because I tell them to). On Sunday, one of my children woke up and randomly asked mie "Is this the day I get to go talk to the judge?". When I said no (where would he get that idea?) he said "awww...I REALLY WANT TO!". They have had a couple visits canceled recently and they get excited about it. Everyone "on the kids' side" seems to be in favor of them staying with us (and NOT going home) and the official case plan is termination with unrelated adoption. Yet, every momentum in this case so far has pushed toward reunification. Everything I hear from everyone involved along with the way visits have been handled and it appears the judge has leaned (though I haven't been there myself to hear it every week) is that the kids WILL be sent home. The storm has been brewing for a while and rages on outside the quiet (!!!) safe life we've tried to setup in our home.
Last Friday I got word that something happened in the case that dramatically pushed the likelihood they'll be going home MUCH closer. I really wish I could share more. It left me fairly confident (though still not hopeless!) that the kids would be leaving within the next couple weeks, possibly even this weekend. My heart has been torn in two all weekend. Caring for these children - watching them make plans for the fall - knowing at some point when I get final confirmation I'll have to break the news that they'll be leaving and heading to a place where they don't feel safe and I don't have confidence they'll actually be safe.
The storm continues to strengthen but now the flood waters rise and our children are in imminent danger.
Then there's the dream. Not sure why it was just Baby Baby and not all of them. The end was very clear though...my husband got there just in time to save him from the storm.
I don't know what the future of this case holds. There is no firm, agreed to plan. People involved are tight-lipped. I know what I want and I feel like I know what these kids need and yet the fight is on to save them. We're doing everything in our power but now it is not up to us. Our hearts and more importantly these children are completely vulnerable. It has been very, very difficult.
But in the dream....daddy saves Baby Baby. It was the last minute. But daddy saves him.
I learned today from folks in the case that return does not appear to be as imminent as it did on Friday. In fact, several changes in visits and court hearings leads me to believe we've taken a few steps back from return altogether. This information was shocking.
This journey has been described several times as a roller coaster. This one will not be over until it is really over. Up and down, twist this way and that, upside down, up and down.
Father, I do hope this dream was a promise to us that you will save our babies, even if it is at the last minute, though we'd ask that you save them now before the danger gets way too close.
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