Move In Day

M5 moved in today.  She came with a TON of clothing, but very little of it was what I would consider suitable.  Most of the pants she brought don't fit.  She came with 67 shirts! (both short and long sleeved) and I would say 3/4 or more of them are stained or worn so badly that I would be ashamed to send her out in public wearing them.  I'm hoping that the rest of them that aren't stained fit properly.  If they do then she should be ok in the shirt department, but we will definitely have to find her some new pants.  She seemed to remember all of us, including the pets, and ran straight to where the toys were located without even hesitating so it appears she remembers the house as well.  I think that will help her with her transition, but it will still be difficult for her.  Even though she's been told by both her foster mom and me that she's living with us from now on, I don't think she really understands that this isn't like last time-she's not staying for just a little while and then going back.  She's asked dozens of times today when she's going back to P's (former foster mom) house, why can't she stay with P, when is P coming to get her, etc.  I got a little bit of information on her case today from our foster care specialist, but even she is fairly new to the case and didn't have all the details I was looking for.  I'll have to set up a meeting very soon with her state caseworker to get all the specifics ironed out.  What I did find out is that M5 has been in care for 2 1/2 years!  Yes, you read that right, 2 1/2 years.  I was appalled that M1 had been in care for as long as he had when he came to us, but this is worse, far worse, and it appears that her case is essentially starting completely from square one again.  I don't know exactly why she was initially removed, only that it had something to do with drugs and alcohol being involved.  Her birthparents are separated, but both in the picture.  Apparently mom has done very little in the past 2 1/2 years to try to get M5 back.  Dad was apparently very close to getting her back several months ago and the case had progressed to unsupervised overnight visits, but then dad's girlfriend had a new baby and he beat the baby severely and ended up in jail!  He's just gotten out of jail last week so I'm not sure what's going to happen on his end.  I assume visits will start back up again with him, but they had better be supervised again!  I'm buckling in for another wild ride.  It'll be interesting to meet all the new players in the game and see how everyone is.  Wish us luck.