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update on my week - long
hey everyone!
just thought i'd update you on my week. MIL's surgery went well on Monday, she is home now from the hospital and recovering. She said she is still in a lot of pain and the shattered elbow was a bit more rebuilding than anticipated, but at least she is home and out of the hospital.
i forgot to tell you too that yesterday, FIL had his knee operated on. apparently he did something to it when he was here and played in our annual "Santa Bowl" football game! oops! he didn't have to spend the night in the hospital, though, so he is home too. hobbling around taking care of MIL.
As for my dad, it didn't go well at all. nothing we expected happened. Even though the prosecutor, defense attorney and court appointed liason recommended 15 months (which would have ended up being 12 months and 3 weeks for good behavior) the judge went above the recommended guidelines and sentenced him to 24 months (which will be 20.4 months with good behavior). therefore, he will get out in september of 2011. Me, my mom, and two family friends had to testify, which was not easy either.
then we expected him to come home with us until they found him a bed and the judge remanded him immediately. He stood up and 4 armed marshalls surrounded him. I was already crying when the judge sentenced him, so when that happened, i became slightly hysterical, so TJ took me and my grandpa (who was also pretty upset) out of the courtroom. TJ went back in and I told him to tell me if we were able to say goodbye to my dad, but apparently, he couldn't talk to anyone, they took him out of the back of the courtroom.
he will be staying in a holding facility in west palm beach for another week or two until they find a facility to take him for the remainder of his sentence. i know that 24 months is only 9 months longer than we expected, but it was still a shock to us, and he will be missing so much of our baby's life. 
even the newspapers here reported the sentence as harsh considering the evidence the prosecutor had and the charges against my dad. we are still debating whether or not to appeal, it will be pretty expensive and it seems the judge had some leeway in sentencing, so i'm not sure what happens next.
thank you to all you ladies for your thoughts and prayers!
some good news, two of our good friends had babies this week, and one had one last week, so we've met some of baby sharpie's friends already. 1 boy and 2 girls, so cute!
Re: update on my week - long
Oh Jen I am heartsick for you. I'm so sorry that things with your dad didn't go as expected. I'll keep you in my prayers while you go through this very difficult time.
I'm not sure how things work in "club fed" but send him money - my brother had to buy all of his things (from soap to food - they feed them meals but they can also buy snacks and things) in his facility. He was also able to buy a TV so see if your dad has that option because it helps George pass the time. Write, a lot! Letters from home are like tiny hugs and visit as often as you can. And bring your LO to visit him if you want and you're comfortable with that - people do it all the time at the place where George is. If you need anything let me know, I'd be happy to lend an ear or a shoulder any time.
Oh my god Jen!!!!! WTF?! How horrible. I am so, so sorry to hear how things went down. I can't imagine how hard that must have been to watch. How devastating. I don't really know what to say other than I am so sorry and I think it's horrible to be such a tough a$$ in front of his pregnant daughter.
I'm so sorry.
Oh Jen =( Im so sorry darlin....my heart is hurting for you right now. I agree with everything that carrie said.You'd think that they would at least let his pregnant daughter give him a damn hug!
Yay for baby sharpies new friends!!
I'm so, so, so sorry Jen, I can't even imagine what this feels like. I'm just happy to see that you see the positive spin on things, baby Sharpie will be part of your dad's life regardless of the situation. We love you and we are hear for you whenever you need us.
Yipee for baby sharpie's future playmates, that's great for your friend having babies together. Your bond to them will be so much more.
:::HUGS!!!!!!!!::
Oh Jen i'm so sorry I don't know what to say but I hope the next 20 months fly by for you!
I am so sorry! You have had such a rough week.
I am glad the IL's are doing better.
OMG!!! What a week you have had!
I am so so so sorry to hear about what happened with your dad. I don't know what else to say but that I hope the time flies for you. I think Carrie had some good advice.
We are all here for you if you need anything. And my guess is still that Baby Sharpie is a boy!!
thank you all so much for your kind, sweet words!
carrie, thank you too, for being so honest with your experiences with your brother. it has really helped me understand kind of what to expect and to believe that it won't be so bad once he is finally found a "home" for the next 2 years. i'm sure i'll be asking lots of questions as the time goes on!
Jenn I am so sorry for everything that you are going through right now!
I am with Elisa, I think baby Sharpie is a boy too!
oh jen, my heart breaks for you.
i definitely agree with carrie's advice, 100%. my cousin has been in jail for about 7 years now. letters are a godsend, and definitely visit if you can. my cousin is in her third prison, and after 7 years, i am finally able to go visit, and i will be taking mia with me. if it's something you feel comfortable with, definitely take baby sharpie to see his/her grandpa.
i want to wrap you and your belly up in a bug hug.
It took me a long time to figure out how to deal with my brother's sentence and realize that he's not the only one doing time - that we're all doing it waiting for him to come home but we're just more comfortable
It is MUCH easier when he gets to a permanent place. When George was in jail before he went to his prison it was nuts he was all over the state of Virginia.
I'm glad I can help and really any time you need anything let me know I'll be happy to offer some advice or anything you need