Drama in the Courtroom

I posted on Facebook, but not officially here, that we found out a week ago that CPS officially decided it was in Sister's best interest to stay with us!  Oh happy day!  That means, all legal parties are in agreement and we are moving forward with adoption!  We've filled out the paperwork we needed to, and today was the previously scheduled follow up hearing for our case.  Today, all legal parties presented to the judge their agreed decision, case closed.

Then, Sister's paternal aunt stood up and became very animated and emotional claiming she was not given a fair chance, and no one told her anything in a timely manner.  Her and Sister's paternal grandmother feel as if she is being taken from them.  The aunt had also taken it upon herself to bring her two young children to court to witness it all.  We are sure it was an attempt to garner sympathy for herself.  For a variety of reasons, children under 18 are not allowed in court (unless they are there for their court hearing), but the subject matter is just not appropriate for children.  It was sad to see those young kids having to experience this.

After the outburst, in which she refused to take a tissue from our lawyer, and the grandma went so far as to knock the tissue box out of the little girl's hand when she was trying to hand it to her mother, we felt very unsafe.

It was a heated conversation between the aunt and the judge, but our judge calmly explained the situation and agreed that sweet girl belonged with us.

When the hearing was over, the grandma waited outside the courtroom for us.  We stayed in the court room an hour longer, trying to avoid a confrontation.  When we did leave, she followed us into the elevator and proceeded to take pictures of us with her cell phone.  One of our case workers confronted her, then upon the elevator doors reopening at our floor, alerted the security guard, who escorted her off the property.  We were scared.  What was she going to do with those pictures and what was she thinking?

An incredibly emotional journey in such a short morning.  We have to wait a month until the adoption hearing, when things would be officially finalized.