Nadia is heading home to Brandal after three days of trial at the County Council for Child Welfare and Social Affairs (Fylkesnemnda) in Bergen. She has been told that she will get an answer about the custody of Caspian in two weeks. While Nadia waits for a verdict in the trial, her lawyer has been told that she will be allowed visitations. Nadia has asked for the four hours of visitation she missed this week in addition to the hours that she is being given before the upcoming decision.
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Nadia’s thoughts:
“I have a good feeling about the case,” Nadia said. She wished this update to be published so that people would know what is happening and hopes that people will continue to keep her and Caspian in their thoughts and prayers.
My thoughts:
I’m still learning about Barnevernet procedure. I had not heard from anyone about this two week wait until today. Nadia had mentioned to me a few days ago that she might have to wait a “week or so.”
When any information about the visitations becomes available, I will let you know.
The future of Nadia and Caspian will be determined by the trial that starts on Wednesday (August 24th). The trial, scheduled for a few days, will be held at The County Council for Child Welfare and Social Affairs (Fylkesnemnda) in Bergen.
On Wednesday of this week (August 17th), Nadia received a verdict from the Barnevernet about the 9 1/2 hour hearing on Monday, August 8th.
The verdict states that she is unstable. She is considered unstable because of reactions she had months ago at the Vilde Mother’s Home in Horton. At Vilde, when Nadia found out that another mother was losing her child, Nadia would sometimes cry. This is the reason the verdict gives for Nadia’s instability. The verdict also states that Nadia is forgetful at times. The same verdict states that Nadia is a good mother when she feels safe.
On Thursday, the day after Nadia received this verdict, she had her scheduled visitation with Caspian. The report from the visitation was very good.
After the visitation, the head of the Årstad Barnevernet met with Nadia. She has known Nadia since Nadia was pregnant. She is also the same Barnevernet employee who sent Nadia from the Sudmanske “Home for Mothers” in Bergen to the Vilde “Mother’s Home.” Caspian was just over a month old at that time.
The head of the Arstad Barnevernet told Nadia that, “They want me to see him three times a year.” The reasons the Arstad employee gave for Barnevernet’s wishes that Nadia see Caspian three times a year were the same reasons as those given in the verdict Nadia received on Wednesday.
Nadia had another visitation on Friday and received a very good review for that visitation.
Caspian is being held in a place unknown to his mother. It has been this way since Caspian was taken from Nadia on June 13th, more than two months ago.
Mother and child now wait for the important decision that will be made this week. The decision will determine the future of this family. ————————————————— Nadia’s thoughts:
First, Nadia would like to thank everyone who has prayed for her, thought of her, and supported her during this very difficult time in her life.
Second, Nadia thinks that the “Barnevernet is trying to scare me! But I will never give up. I miss him so much. The verdict that I received this week along with the “3 days a year” comment on Thursday took an emotional toll on me. But I will never stop fighting.”
My thoughts:
A verdict of some kind was expected on Wednesday the 17th. As far as I can tell, the reasoning in the verdict is additional evidence that there is a great lack of common sense in an organization that makes very important decisions. If Nadia was upset when other mothers were having their children taken from them, it means she has empathy, something that most view as a wonderful trait in a person. The verdict says she is forgetful. Anyone who has read about the observation techniques at the Mother’s Homes would never forget them and Nadia hasn’t. Also, it is obvious that the vast majority of people would be more forgetful than usual when exposed to months of intense scrutiny.
Then, there is this: ” The same verdict states that Nadia is a good mother when she feels safe.” What is Nadia to think of this? Here is a young mother who has had virtually no control over the fate of her child since he was born. When was she supposed to feel “safe?” I know she felt safe at the Hennum home because she told me so. THE ONLY PLACE NADIA HAS FELT SAFE WITH HER SON WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER BY THE BARNEVERNET.
I was surprised, and I think Nadia was too, about the meeting with the BV Head after Thursday’s visitation. There had been some mention of a meeting after Friday’s visitation but it has been hard to know when important events will occur in this case. I agree with Nadia that Thursday’s meeting could be very intimidating before her important court case. For anyone to tell Nadia of wishes to give her only 3 visits a year with Caspian less than a week before her trial is very cruel. I will let you decide how bad it is that a Barnevernet Head did this.
I have received information from other sources besides Nadia that state she is a very good mother. I know that Nadia fears Caspian’s future away from her because she believes that no one can love him like she can. How many places has Caspian been moved while away from Nadia and where has her son been? She has no way of knowing. Caspian has given Nadia a purpose in life that she didn’t have before him. The bond has been strong during visitations and 3 visits a year would destroy most of that bond.
An item worth noting is the lack of the term “lopsided development” in the last verdict. This term was used in the first Fylkesnemnda that took place in Molde on June 23rd. Apparently, reports from the Vilde Mother’s Home stated that Caspian may have been a little slow of speech and that it was possible that he might have “nascent lopsided development.” He was never diagnosed with this “lopsided development.” It was thought that he might eventually develop it. At that time, this was a major reason for separating Caspian from Nadia. I have always thought that it is very unjust to separate a child from the one who loves him/her the most because of some event that “might happen” in the future. In any case, Nadia’s lawyer seems to think that this reason is not good enough to be used in a courtroom and I agree with him.
For Nadia to deal with all she has been through this week (and these past months) and still have a good visit with Caspian yesterday speaks volumes about the good mother that she is. She only wants her child to be in the best place. Anyone with common sense and civility knows where that is. It is always best for the biological mother to have a chance to raise their own child. In Nadia’s case, I see no reason why she should not be given that chance and can’t imagine any court having a different opinion. Please pray for a good decision in Nadia and Caspian’s case.
This week Nadia said, “I only wish the Best for my baby.” The more I have learned about this case the more I think the best thing by a huge degree would be the reunification of this mother with her child.
Nadia was allowed to see Caspian for two hours on Thursday and for three hours on Friday.
Nadia has been given the reports from both visitations. They are much more detailed than previous reports. (Only a few changes in punctuation have been make.)
Visitation report Visitation between: Mother Nadia and Caspian
Date: Thursday, August 11, 2016
The mother came 10 minutes before and got the key to the apartment. We made an agreement that I would come in when the guardian (Barnevernet worker) came with Caspian. His grandma has become ill and will not be attending today. Y (Nadia’s friend and witness) has taken her place instead. Caspian arrives on time and I make an agreement with the guardian that he/she will stay with them until I come back (I was in a conversation over the phone).
At 10:15 the mother takes out a yoghurt that she will give to Caspian. She washes her hands, picks up Caspian at the same time as she finds the yoghurt(smoothie). “Oh how delicious!” she says as she feeds Caspian with a teaspoon. Caspian waves his hands in excitement and obviously enjoys the food. He stops and turns around to look at me as I sit on the opposite side of the table. The mother talks to him, and he shows he clearly enjoys the food he got. Caspian stop as he hears a bird. “What was that?” says the mother. “Do you hear a bird out there? I think maybe it is a crow.”
The mother says, “If I knew you where this hungry than I would have checked if you had a sandwich with you.” Y gets up to find the food Caspian had with him from the short term care home/stand by foster home. U.t. (the supervisor) gets up to make coffee and Caspian looks for me. The mother is wondering if Caspian is full and lays him down on the floor again. She sits down beside him and lets him explore on his own.
He crawls to the toy box with the big rubber puzzle game and the mother holds him so he can pick up a piece of puzzle from the box. Caspian gets up from the crawling. “Oy” says the mother. Caspian talks and gargles. He looks at his mother and crawls around her as he at the same time tries to get up in between. The mother sings “An elephant came marching…” while she solves the puzzle game (that becomes a big rubber mat). Caspian stops as he looks at his mom singing. Caspian gets to pick up the puzzle pieces as his mom keeps on assemble them.
Caspian makes happy sounds. The mother continues to sing as she tickles him. and Caspian laughs. She lifts him on to her lap and they study the toy box together. Caspian finds a blue balloon and his mom sings “I want a blue balloon…” Y’s phone rings and Caspian stops and look at him. Caspian crawls to a couple of playhouses and the mother follows. She says that she thinks she doesn’t know a song about horses. Y suggest’s “Fola fola blakken”, but than Caspian is busy with the train.
Mom sings “Nede på stasjonen/Down at the station…” Caspian crawls unto his mother’s lap. Mom drives the train around and Caspian watches. He looks at mom and smiles. He coughs a bit and his mom says “Maybe we should find some water?”. Y finds the bottle he brought and gives it to the mother. “How lucky we are to have a secretary with us to give us what we need”. Mom puts Caspian onto her lap and gives him a little water before Caspian wants to get down and crawl some more. He crawls onto his mother’s lap and wants her to lift him up. He makes a lot of sounds. Mom sings to him and Caspian hums with on his own.
Caspian crawls uneasy on the floor while babbling. He whines a little. Mom strokes him on the head and says “What a little charmer you are.” Mom wonders if she should find another yoghurt.” “You didn’t eat a lot,” she says. They get seated again and mom gives him more yoghurt. Caspian eats willingly and waves his arms. “Do you know what we talked about in the court case? What a nice and happy boy you are! That we all agree about.” “And still they say that he is uneven developed,” Y says. Caspian makes loud noises, smiles and looks at mom. Mom makes the same noises, he looks at her and smiles before he makes the same noises again. They talk like that for a while and Caspian laughs.
In between, Caspian bends forward, grabs his foot and tries to put it in his mouth. All of a sudden mom yells, there is a wasp buzzing around them. Y chases it out the window. Mom brings Caspian down with her on the floor and says she got good energy out of being around him today. Caspian crawls over to Y and Y takes his hands and picks him up and lets him play riding horse on his foot. He brings him onto his lap and Caspian grabs after his phone in his pocket. Y lets him hold it as he sits calmly on his lap. Caspian studies Y’s face and smiles at him. He tries to take Y’s glasses and Y says “No, these I want to keep in peace”. He puts Caspian down on the floor to his mom and mom puts on fake glasses. They continue to puzzle. Mom sings, “Maybe we should change the diaper soon?”
11:15:
Mom takes him with her to the bathroom to change the diaper. She comes out into the living room with him in only the diaper and sits down on the sofa with him. Caspian sits pleased in his mother’s lap while she plays with his naked feet before she starts to dress him in the rest of the clothes. Caspian looks pleased and starts to hum. They get down on the floor again. Caspian crawls under the table and to U.t.(the supervisor). He grabs after the toes to look at them (they have got nail polish on). Mom grabs him from under the table to pick him up.
Y says if he is going to eat the banana then… Mom carries him to Y. Y makes Donald noises and both see that Caspian is getting tired. Y’s phone rings and he walks out in to the hallway to talk. Mom carries him around on the floor while she lulls him. Caspian is quiet. Mom lays Caspian on the floor while she finds a dish and the banana. She addresses him while she mooshes the banana. Caspian whines. “Yes”… says mom compassionately.” Mom will hurry up..” and they get seated at the table again. Caspian waves his arms impatient. Mom sneezes and Caspian stops and looks at mom to than move his glance at the food again. Caspian starts to get uneasy on the lap. Mom gives him some banana and bread. They then finish the meal. Mom looks for the pacifier and finds it. She rinses it and gives it to Caspian. Mom walks with him in her arms and sings to him. Caspian sucks the pacifier calmly without a sound. Y takes pictures and Caspian looks at him seriously.
Ending: I tell them when it is 10 minutes left and mom continues to walk around with him. It is a calm and quiet atmosphere. I say that the doorbell might frighten him when the guardian arrives. Y offers to go out and look for Caspian’s guardian (Barnevernet worker). He goes down to open the door for her. Caspian is sleeping in his mother’s arms right before the guardian arrives. Mom continues to sing with him in her arms while she tidies the table after them. Y helps. She asks if he can check if there is something forgotten in the bathroom. Caspian’s guardian (Barnevernet worker) helps the mother to dress him while he sleeps. Mom has him sitting on the lap. She struggles a bit with getting the jacket on Caspian while he is sleeping on the lap. The guardian offers to put him on the thrust/puff but mom says she wants to do it like that.
Evaluation: A nice and maybe less hectic visitation. Even if Caspian is more active than usual. Mom follows Caspian and both are active on the floor. Caspian tries to get up several times and he “talks” right from the start this time. Mom sings to him and tries to find songs that matches the toys he find. Mom is calm in the voice and has full focus on Caspian through the whole visitation with an exception of when the wasp entered the room suddenly. Caspian is observant and catches all movement and sounds in the room. It seems as if he enjoys that mom responds when he makes sounds. No drug use suspected.
Friendly regards, Xxxxxx
Visitation report Visitation between: Mother Nadia and Caspian
Date: Friday, August 12, 2016
Mother and grandmother arrive 10 minutes before and I let them into the apartment. After I have greeted the grandmother, I inform her a little about my role. Caspian arrives with the guardian 5 minutes before and I help them in and up into the apartment. The mother stands ready in the door of the apartment and the grandmother a little in the background.
Caspian smiles at his mom and mom receives him in her arms. I couldn’t quite observe if he reached for mom with his arms cause I was standing behind the guardian. Caspian is in his mother’s arms when she says “You know grandmother?” Grandmother thinks he doesn’t recognize her. “They remember better than you think” says mom. Mom is wondering where they are on the sleeping and eating schedule. He ate when he woke up earlier (a little past 7:00 am?) and she doesn’t think he has had food after that.
Grandmother bought a wooden train for Caspian that they have packed beforehand. Grandmother sits on the sofa and Mom and Caspian on the floor. Caspian crawls around and climbs onto mom’s lap. Grandmother eventually moves down to the floor and participates in the game for a while. Caspian tries to get up and Nadia says “See? He’s getting up!”
10:09 am:
Mom begins to prepare food and grandmother sits a bit on the floor with Caspian. He plays with a pan set sitting on the floor and grandmother gets seated back on the puff. “Look how nice he sits” says mom to grandmother. Caspian plays and seems fascinated over the sound the pan makes when it hits the floor in the pretendkitchen/playkitchen. He looks at his mom and smiles at her. Grandmother makes sounds and he turns around to look at her. Mom gets seated with Caspian on the lap. She invites grandmother to sit opposite them on a chair so she can watch them.
Caspian waves his arms eagerly when he sees the food. He sits calmly and eats and looks upon mom and smiles. He reaches and grabs for his mom’s mouth and hair. Grandmother and mother make small talk and Caspian starts to twist a little on the lap. “What is it sweety? Are you tired already?” Mom gives him water from her bottle because she can’t find the cup he usually brings during visitation. They end the meal and mom puts him back on the floor.
Caspian plays a little while mom sits quietly next to him. He crawls towards his mother and onto her lap. He sits on her lap while playing with the pan. Caspian crawls towards the toys he knows next to the shelf and finds the horses. Mom asks grandmother if she remembers the song “Fola fola blakken”. Grandmother is not sure. U.t (the observer) finds the song on YouTube and offers to play the song for the grandmother. Mom brings Caspian onto her lap and watches the song and tries to sing with.
Mom comments “Are you tired already but surely we will play more on the floor first?” Caspian plays with the rubber puzzle game while mom and grandmother sits quietly and watch. Grandmother asks about the case/court case and mom explains. After a while grandmother lifts Caspian onto her lap. He grabs for her glasses she rocked him on her lap. Caspian laughs while she blows onto his neck. He “talks” with grandmother and plays with her glasses. She lets him, and he sits quiet for a bit on her lap. Mom leaves the room to make a phone call, and Caspian whines a bit.
Grandmother asks if he can hear her voice and they go out in the hallway so he can see the mother. Caspian tries to crawl to his mother. They come back to the living room again and mom says it’s not in her means to use the time on this but it is important and about changing her flight ticket. Grandmother says that he almost started to cry after mom when she left the room. “That was good to hear.” says mom. They get seated on the floor again. Caspian seems a little indisposed and mom lifts him up and cuddles him. They get back down again onto the floor. Mom crawls out to the hallway and Caspian crawls after in full speed.
Caspian and mom sit on the floor and Caspian crawls towards his grandmother and rises himself up by the puff. “Do you want to come here?” asks grandmother. She gently lifts him up onto her lap. After a while he gets uneasy and starts to whine. Grandmother gives him to the mother and she gives him the pacifier and walks on the floor while humming for him. He calms down and Caspian falls asleep like this.
11:20 am:
Mom lays down on the sofa with Caspian sleeping on her chest. Mom takes a picture and Caspian lifts his head but gets down again on mom’s chest. Y arrives 11.30 and grandmother gets ready to leave. She cries as she says goodbye to the mother and it might look as the mother cries too. The mother looks at me and smiles. Y gets seated in a chair after taking some photographs of the mother and Caspian on the sofa. The mother lies with her eyes closed and it seems like she also falls asleep in the end. After an hour the mother asks how long he has been asleep. She tries to wake him up, he opens his eyes than fall asleep again. Mom lies quiet as she takes selfies of her and Caspian.
12:35 am:
Mom tries to pry her way out of the sofa. She looks at me and says she wants to wake him up. Caspian opens his eyes looks upon his mother and smiles and falls back into sleep. She sees and smiles at him too. The mother and Caspian sits in the sofa until Caspian is fully awake. Than the mother delivers Caspian to Y and find’s the equipment to change the diaper. Y receives him and Caspian get’s a blueberry smoothie that he hold’s in his hands while they go to the bathroom. Caspian lay’s calmly on the changing mat and “babbles” while he moves the blueberry smoothie from one hand into the other. He says “ma-ma” and “røø.” The mother comes into the living room, sits down on the sofa and gives Caspian the smoothie. The mother and Y discusses the case.
Ending:
I inform them that it is 10 minutes left. “Oh no, oh no” says the mother. “Maybe we’ll get time to eat some other food then?” The mother finds a yoghurt she wants to give, too. She says that the sandwiches he has with him where a little dry. Caspian looks for the food and grabs for the lunchbox. Mom tastes the sandwiches and says she didn’t like them. She wonders if she should try to give him the dinner food she bought but Y says she doesn’t have time for that. The mother says its bad if he leaves her hungry. Y thinks he will withstand it. The mother gives him a fruit yoghurt.
Caspian’s guardian (Barnevernet personnel) arrives 5 minutes earlier and apologizes that she is a little bit early. The mother says that you came 5 minutes earlier when dropping him off and 5 minutes earlier to fetch him. Then I am getting the 10 minutes back. Caspian is obviously more hungry and mom gives him the sandwiches he brought. Y comments that he now has his mouth full. The mother stands up with Caspian in her arms and we agree on another time around next week. Caspian babbles and is with good spirit. The mother dresses Caspian while sitting on the sofa.
Evaluation:
A nice and calm visitation. Mom lets him take charge and follows on his initiative. Caspian is active and seems to like it on the floor. He looks for mom while playing and crawls to her lap in between. In the first part of the visitation where grandmother is with the mother takes charge with a calm behavior and voice. Grandmother keeps in the background and lets her steer her. It seems like mother and grandmother have a good tone in between each other. Caspian slept for one hour and 15 minutes during the visitation.
*
On Monday, after a lengthy hearing (9 1/2 hours), Nadia was informed that she will “not get an answer before the 17th of August” which is next Wednesday.
Nadia previously understood that if she received a favorable conclusion to Monday’s hearing, she would be able to have custody of Caspian until The County Council for Child Welfare and Social Affairs (Fylkesnemnda) hearing on August 24-26.
The Fylkesnemnda, scheduled for less than two weeks from today in Bergen, will determine the fate of Caspian’s future with Nadia.
Nadia has visitation scheduled for Thursday and Friday, August 18th and 19th.
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My thoughts:
I wanted anyone interested in the case to know that Nadia was allowed visitation this week after Monday’s court hearing. She apparently has visitations scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, also. The reports and pictures reveal that the visits have gone very well.
“Miss him every day. He is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last when I’m going to bed.”
“We had such a fantastic time together today.. At the end of the visit he was tired, and I was carrying him around and singing him to sleep so he was sleeping in my arms.. It was wonderful.”
These comments along with the pictures illustrate Nadia’s feelings towards her child. She naturally misses the son that God has given her to raise. Caspian must miss her, too, looking at the way he snuggles up to her in these pictures.
I did ask Nadia about how the word “hectic” was used in Thursday’s report. I thought all of the pictures seemed calm and nice. I explained to Nadia that in English “The word hectic means to do things in a very fast way that may be very unorganized.” Nadia replied, “I don’t think it was hectic and I don’t think Caspian did either.”
I think the visitation observers did a good job. I have been a visitation observer myself and I have had to make notes about visitations. I appreciate that a general evaluation is included at the end.
There is something that puzzles me. Nadia had court on Monday (8th), visitation on Thursday (11th) and Friday (12th), and she is supposed to have visitation this coming Thursday(18th) and Friday (19th). This coming Friday is the 19th and the important court dates of the 24th-26th are only five days later.
Will Nadia have a chance at custody before the important court date on August 24-26th? Monday’s 9 1/2 hour hearing was supposed to be about custody before the important court date. So, either Nadia will get very little custody before the 24th-26th, or no custody, or there is the possibility that the CPS representative who picked up Caspian at Friday’s visitation didn’t coordinate with the CPS office. In any case, a mother who has been through very stressful events throughout the life of her young child is wondering once again.
As I have mentioned before, there is no apparent good reason for this child to be kept from its mother. Nothing has changed for me to come to any different conclusion. Hopefully, there will be a good decision regarding this family soon.
Nadia does not know the outcome of today’s trial. Someone has told Nadia that she will not get an answer before the 17th of August.
The court date scheduled for the 25th of August has now apparently been changed to August 24-26. —————————————- My thoughts…
Nadia just finished what appears to have been a long day at the hearing that was to decide whether or not she would have custody of Caspian until the trial date on August 25th.
Because she seemed tired after a long day, I did not ask a lot of questions. The only new things I know are written above.
A mainstream “reporter” may have pushed for more information but I am not a mainstream “journalist.” Nadia needs time to process what happened today and to rest.
I did not ask if she will get visitation before the 24th or even the 17th for that matter.
I did not ask so many other questions I could have asked about today’s trial.
For now, the main thing that Nadia has been told is that she will not get an answer before Wednesday, August 17th.
I will share more information as it becomes available.
Until that time, please remember Nadia and Caspian in your prayers.
This Monday, August 8th, Nadia and Caspian’s case will be heard at a trial (rettsak) in Alesund, Norway. Margaret Hennum, the pediatric nurse who has been instrumental in providing real help to Nadia, and Doctor Ingvild Setså, the Barnevernet approved doctor who has given a positive report on Caspian’s health will be testifying. There will be a witness, via phone, representing those who observed the visitations in Bergen. There is also a character witness who will speak, via phone, on Nadia’s behalf.
Ms. Brynhild Solvang, the head of the Volda Barnevernet responsible for taking Caspian from the Hennum residence, and a psychologist from Vilde’s Mothers’ Home, where Nadia and Caspian were observed for four months, will be there.
This trial will determine who will have custody of Caspian until the major hearing on August 25th. Either Nadia will regain custody of her son until then or the Barnevernet will retain custody.
Mr. Harald Grape, Nadia’s lawyer, has informed Nadia that the results of Monday’s trial may not be known for a few days.
Nadia traveled to Bergen on Thursday for another visitation with Caspian. An hour before the visit, she was told that Caspian had a cold. Nadia asked for Caspian to be seen by a doctor and asked Mr. Grape to contact the appropriate authorities before her scheduled visitation on Friday. On Friday (yesterday), Nadia saw Caspian and he appeared to be healthy.
“This was a very important visit for me,” Nadia stated.
“…on Friday it went very well, I got very good report from the visit.. But I have not got them in the mail yet,” Nadia continued.
Nadia also asked her lawyer to request a two hour “make-up” visitation for the time that was lost on Thursday. Her request was denied so she has returned to Brandal to await Monday’s trial.
As information about the trial results are made, a report will be published here.
Nadia and Caspian August 5th, 2016 Visitation Bergen, Norway
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Nadia’s thoughts…
Nadia wishes to thank all who have been following her story. She particularly wants to thank all of those who have thought and prayed for her during this experience. She is very appreciative.
My thoughts…
Nadia waits….again. Because of the great connection she has with her son, Caspian, her visitations have come with mixed emotions. She has been so happy to see him. Then, Nadia has been sad to have to leave him and travel so far away.
Over half of Nadia’s 27 years of life have been influenced by a “family” she has not chosen. Most of her teen years, she has lived in an environment with a “family” that has been arbitrary. If given the choice herself, there would have been no dispute. She would have chosen her biological family. Nadia says that her mother was a good mother.
Whatever imperfections her mother had were no good reason to remove this young lady from a family where she felt loved.
“I was the only girl in that institution and the boy’s were much older than me. That’s where I started using drugs. When I lived under Barnevernet I lived in so many places that I don’t know how long or when I was in these places. You can do what you want without anyone caring.”
Nadia was forcefully removed from her real family as a young teenager.
“I spent most of my life from 13 to 18 at a Torungen Institution. During that time I was moved around at least 7 times.”
In spite of this unhappy recent past, Nadia has proven herself to be a very good mother. All reports about her efforts to be a good mom have been positive as far as I know. Caspian has been found to be well cared for by more than one health professional. Nadia has not missed one visitation date and every one of her visitation reports have been positive.
Anyone who has been following these updates knows what I think about this entire situation. A state-run institution has controlled much of Nadia’s life and almost all of her son’s life. This behavior is not the way a free society treats its citizens.
The same questions about Norwegian society keep surfacing:
“What kind of society treats its own citizens the way families like Nadia’s are being treated?”
“Why is the biological family treated worse, in many cases, than foster families?”
“How can any psychologist tell the future about a mother’s care of her child given so little information?”
“How is it that a procedural process making very important decisions can treat families in such a callous and inhumane way?”
“How can a system of ‘help’ have negative outcomes so consistently?”
These are only a few of so many other questions that have been asked and haven’t been answered well.
So, once again we wait. Now we wait until Monday or however many days it takes for someone to make a decision about Nadia’s ability to care for her own son. Whatever decision is made will only last about two weeks until the 25th of this month. After that, we don’t know what will happen.
Please pray for Nadia and Caspian. Wisdom and courage will be needed by those who will be making this decision. Please pray for him/her/them, too.
“He fall asleep in my arms..” – Nadia July 28, 2016
“They have taken everything from me. I hope things work out soon.” – Nadia (July 28, 2016)
It has been a week since the last Update. Nadia had two more visitations this week, on Thursday and Friday. She is now back in Brandal and will make the trip to see her son again next Thursday and Friday in Bergen. Nadia waits until Monday, August 8th to see if the CPS will let her have Caspian until the very important hearing on August 25th.
As mentioned in earlier reports, a decision about Caspian’s custody will be made on August 25th.
Nadia received more visitation reports this week. The first is titled:
“Interaction between mother and Caspian”
Friday, July 22nd, 2016
“Good and calm mood preferentially entire assemblage. Mom had her eyes on the child throughout the assemblage. The child seemed comfortably round toys and mother, and was curious to everything around them. He looked even be tired towards the end of companionship and mother were good to notice this. She took him up in his arms, gave him the pacifier and rocked him while she spoke softly to him.”
Thursday, July 28th, 2016
“Quiet gathering with much interaction between mother and child. My mother was good at and accompany the child and had his eyes constantly. She introduced more toys for your child by being together and spent some of the time without playing, when she spoke to him while she stroked him on the stomach and back, and walked with his arms. The child seemed a little tired by being together. He smiled a lot when the mother tickled him his stomach. He looked at toys and mother, when the Games were moved by the mother and when she sang for him. They had several brief eye contact.”
Nadia’s Mother-in-Law was allowed to see Caspian during the visit on Friday. Caspian’s Grandma has only seen him one other time, at the hospital when he was born. She was allowed to be in the visitation for one hour and had tears in her eyes as she left.
Nadia’s comments after Friday’s visit (7/30/16):
“They took the finest and most precious I had. I carried him for 9 months in my belly, I loved him from the first moment I heard his heart .. Now I’m here again with the best observations .. Caspian had it good with me and his family who loves him. I hope this works out soon ..”
Nadia also made this comment:
“I haven’t got him baptized even.”
Caspian will be eight months old Monday. His life has been dominated by decisions made by Norway’s Barnevernet.
Since the second day of his life, Caspian and his mother have been under scrutiny (observation) or apart 80% of the time.
Nadia and Caspian Visitation July 29, 2016
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My thoughts:
The reasons Caspian was taken from Nadia continue to bewilder, but she has been allowed two visits each week now for several weeks. Not all parents of children taken in Norway get two visits each week, so one hopes this is an indication that Nadia’s case has been and is being viewed favorably.
Nadia and Caspian have had three different observers for their visitations. All of the reports seem to agree that the visitations are very positive. This is an indication of Nadia’s consistency during the visits.
This week, a CPS worker in Bergen made a few comments on this blog regarding Maria’s case. Knut Nyguaard, a CPS caseworker has commented here and on other sites about cases like Nadia’s. He didn’t answer several questions I had that I thought were relevant to Nadia’s case. Mr. Nygaard did make this statement:
“I should be closer to understand how Norway, Norwegians and the CPS as a whole works than you up in the Springs, Chris.”
I agree with Knut here. He should understand the CPS system much better than I.
Why, then, doesn’t he answer simple questions? I have asked him many simple questions here and on another forum (Delight in Truth’s Blog) and I haven’t gotten answers. I have asked to see copies of training materials used in the Mother’s homes (Parent and Child Centers). This is only one request among many questions that have been ignored.
Not only is it difficult to get information from this CPS worker, I have observed unbalanced reports in the media, and gotten almost no answers from political parties in Norway.
I did get one reply from the Høyre political party back on June 8th. This is somewhat significant because the Hoyre party is the party of Prime minister Erna Solberg.
The reply:
“Hello again! The child-welfare act is a system with a need of improvement. It is a system that allows the most vulnerable children to be tossed around between various, seemingly difficult situations. In some cases childrens rights have not been properly protected, the childrens act law has been violated along with multiple limit violations on the child-welfare act, and proper cooperation between the ministry and subordinate agencies is lacking. Our new government is currently working on a reform that will provide better and more customized services. For further inquiries, we strongly advise that you take direct contact with the Ministry of Children and Equality.”
Thus, there is an acknowledgement of problems within the child-welfare system in Norway by a political party that holds powerful positions. The reply mentions: “Our new government is currently working on a reform that will provide better and more customized services.” At this point, I’m not aware of any successful reform that has taken place in Norway’s CPS.
It has been over 40 days since Baby Caspian was abducted by Norway’s Barnevernet without any apparent legal reason. On that day, Monday, June 13th, Caspian was awakened from his nap and taken away from loved ones while his mother Nadia was away at an infrequent appointment. Several police officers and Barnevernet personnel came to the home of Margaret Hennum and took Caspian. He had been sleeping soundly under the care Ms. Hennum, a pediatric nurse and Nadia’s friend.
Nadia’s next trial (rettsak) will be on Monday, August 8th. The case will be heard in Alesund, Norway. Apparently, Ms. Hennum and Doctor Ingvild Setså will be witnesses at this hearing.
Nadia has been allowed to travel to Bergen to visit Caspian. She sees him on Thursdays and Fridays and has not missed a scheduled visitation thus far. From her address near Brandal, Norway, it is a 40 minute trip by car to the airport. Nadia then takes an hour long plane trip and a 40 minute bus ride to see Caspian. This has been Nadia’s routine the past three weeks and will continue for at least two more weeks. The travel expenses and the housing costs have been paid for by the Barnevernet.
Nadia and Caspian’s visitations are monitored by people from the Church City Mission. These monitors are contracted by the Barnevernet to make evaluations of visitations. There is apparently no security at these visitations as no police have been present for the first six visitations.
Here are the evaluations that Nadia received for her first four visits with Caspian:
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Evaluation:
“Nice interaction between mother and child with calm mood. They were close together and the mother was engaged with the boy all the time. She spoke with quiet tone. Mother seems in good spirits. The child seemed to be active, engaged with everything around them and smiled a lot,”
Friday, July 8, 2016
Evaluation:
“A quiet and nice gathering. Mother plays with the baby and talked to him in a gentle tone . She follows Caspian and his initiative . Mother appeals to Caspian several times and says we’ve enjoyed today.”
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Evaluation:
“Nice interaction between mother and child with calm mood. They were close together and the mother was engaged with the boy all the time. Mother seems in good spirits . The child seems a little tired from the early moments, but was active and involved with everything around it.”
Friday, July 15, 2016
Evaluation:
“Mother has powered Caspian throughout assemblage. Has only eyes for him. Mother speaks with calm and gentle voice. Showing good face. Assemblage is much influenced by activity. After a supervisor ‘s assessment, an assemblage that something hectic as it is the mother who takes the initiative and constantly introduce new toys. Supervisor experience that Caspian seems tired after one hour visitation. Caspian showed signs of penetrating break on occasion without this being accommodated by mother.”
The Wings of the Wind is not aware of any public statement made by any source responsible for the separation of this child from this mother.
Nadia waits until Monday the 8th of August to find out if she will have custody of Caspian until thursday, August 25th.
The hearing on August 25th will be in Bergen at the County Council for Child Welfare and Social Affairs (Fylkesnemnda).
The court hearing on Monday the 25th will determine who has permanent custody of Caspian.
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My thoughts…
How the case ever began is still a mystery to me. I see no reason why, with the abundance of evidence on Nadia’s side, Caspian should have been taken in the first place.
This case has all of the appearances of an upcoming reunification between Nadia and Caspian.
The charges are unmerited. Nadia has done everything that has been asked of her. In spite of a very emotional situation, she has remained steady throughout her visitations. Her visitations with Caspian appear to be going very well.
I am not certain what some of the terminology in the fourth evaluation means but I hope this will be clearer as I learn more. Maybe there is something lost in translation or maybe there are parts in the fourth visitation evaluation are not complimentary. It is hard to tell.
I’ve learned that language has to be carefully looked at when dealing with the Barnevernet. The word “assemblage” is used. In English, the definition of assemblage is: “a collection or gathering of things or people.” The word is used twice. What does this mean: “After a supervisor ‘s assessment, an assemblage that something hectic as it is the mother who takes the initiative and constantly introduce new toys.” There is “calm” and “gentle” and then there is “hectic” and “constantly.” They seem incongruous. Then there is the last sentence: “Caspian showed signs of penetrating break on occasion without this being accommodated by mother.” What does this mean? Is it a good or bad thing? Am I being too picky here? Maybe, but a child has been taken for no good reason for heaven’s sake.
Will testimony from good witnesses be allowed in the next hearing unlike the hearing that took place on Monday, June 27th, in Molde Norway? Fourteen days after Caspian’s abduction, a decision to continue to keep Caspian and Nadia separated was made by one man called “The Tribunal.” “The report of a doctor; and the eyewitness account of the professional nurse, Margaret Hennum was not admissible evidence,” according to Mr. Harald Grape, Nadia’s attorney.
Ingvild Setså (A doctor approved by the Barnevernet) had checked Caspian’s health the day after he was taken from the Hennum home and his mother, Nadia. The doctor found Caspian to be in good health after being away from Vilde (“the Mothers’ Home” or “Parent Center”), enough to write some type of “medical certificate.” “The medical certificate dated 14 June, 2016 from Dr. Setså mentioned that “Caspian provide(s) very good contact, smiles and is very active, good general condition. He was a healthy and active boy who provide(s) very good contact.” This was a statement that was given by Harald Grape, Nadia’s lawyer.
Margaret Hennum, the pediatric nurse who has taken Nadia into her own home noted her observations of Caspian’s development. They were all positive.
A mother has been deprived of most of 40 very important days in a child’s development. A government supported childcare organization is responsible for what would be called a kidnapping had it been done by “criminals.” This is not the first time the Barnevernet of Norway has done something this unjust. Situations like this are increasing rather than decreasing in Norway.
Nadia’s case is about a mother who loves her child very much and has done nothing to warrant having her child taken from her. She has been informed of visitations with little notice and then has to wait for what seems like ages for important court hearings. The next hearing is about whether or not Nadia gets to have custody of Caspian until the next hearing. Then the next hearing IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SHE WILL GET CUSTODY OF HIM…PERIOD.
We had our two-hour visitation today with our precious little princess It was again a wonderful meeting and we loved seeing her again. She seems to recognize us and was happy, very talkative and started playing with her mummy shortly after we arrived. We brought soap-bubbles she could play with, and she really thought this was funny. She wanted to put the bubbles into daddy and mommy’s mouth, laughing a lot We also brought a book with photos of us and her she can bring to the foster parents. It was really heartbreaking when Aria took the book, pointed at a picture of Vibeke and said “mummy”. She seemed quite independent of her confidence-person, and was not in need of any particular support from her.
Actually when the visitation was terminated after two hours, she started crying.
And we doubt anyone can understand and really comprehend how devastating it is to see your own daughter cry and not being allowed to comfort her because the visitation has finished.
We as Arias one and only parents are sure that she also knows there is a special bond between us, she can feel and sense it.
Her temper is much like her father-fearless, active, but her strong headedness she gets from both her parents Even not barnevernet can erase biology, and Aria can feel the connection. So do not make any mistakes-she is OUR daughter and she belongs in OUR family, not in a foster family. Now and forever!
Before the visitation, Barnevernet and the police made a huge mistake and the visitation almost cancelled.
The scheduled visitation was cancelled, but first after we actually showed up at the location.
There we were met by the leader of Lørenskog Barnevern Arnfinn Heimstad who explained it and made some excuses. Suddenly he was not afraid of Arias father any more, very strange we must add.
We had off course been looking forward to the visitation and hardly slept anything the night before.
When we got back home, Barnevernet made a phone call to us where they re-scheduled the visitation to later the same day. Because the police did not have the time, they hired private security-guards and even paid for our taxi-expenses.
So for the first time they actually cleaned up their own mess, which was a first positive experience.
And so to finish it off, Mette Lisbet Haugen, the hired contractor, praised us many times after the visitation.
And also Aria many times during the visitation, so today we are not only full of love towards our dear baby Aria as parents, but also proud parents… BUT TO BE CLEAR on that WE ARE PROUD parents of ARIA every second and every day, SHE is the result of our love and now and forever will she be the love of our life. ———————————————-
Anyone who has been following this story will have mixed emotions when reading about this visitation. This beautiful little girl only gets to see her parents two hours 3 or 4 times a year. This family was never given a chance to start life together as Baby Aria was taken from her parents in the first days of her life. The charges made by the Norwegian authorities against these parents are a mix of outrageous and mysterious. There is no good reason that Aria is in foster care. As the numbers of children removed from Norwegian parents are reported to be increasing each year, more families find themselves in the same situation as Ken and Vibeke.
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For more information about Aria, Ken, and Vibeke, CLICK HERE.
It is almost a week since an update appeared here. There are a few events worth noting that have happened since then.
Nadia was allowed to see Caspian last Thursday and Friday.
According to an accurate source, Nadia thought that the visitations went very well. Caspian remembered Nadia on the first visit. Nadia was concerned before the visit that Caspian might not remember her very well.
Nadia has also been given visitations for every Thursday and Friday until her next court hearing.
A new date has been added to Nadia’s court schedule.
Nadia’s lawyer has sent her a text message. Apparently, a court hearing at an undisclosed location will be held on the 8th of August. This hearing will determine whether or not Caspian will be allowed to go home with Nadia until the permanent care order case is heard on August 25th.
The August 25th hearing will be heard in Bergen.
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My thoughts:
Tomorrow, it will be a month since Caspian was kidnapped from his mother by the organization that is responsible for the proper care of abused children in Norway.
There has been no abuse of this child in this case. This is why the term “kidnapping” fits the situation in its current condition.
I have looked up the word “kidnap” in the dictionary. Here is a general definition that seems to summarize definitions of the word that I have read from dictionaries, Federal law, and International law.
“In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful taking away or transportation of a person against that person’s will, usually to hold the person unlawfully. This may be done for ransom or in furtherance of another crime, or in connection with a child custody dispute.”
In this case, Caspian’s legal guardian, Nadia, did not wish for her child to be taken. As there is no valid reason yet given for Caspian to be taken away from his mother, Caspian has been kidnapped.
Caspian has not yet been “stolen” from his mother as this would have to be the new term used if Nadia’s child is taken away permanently. If Nadia has done anything wrong, maybe a reprimand of some type or counseling sessions might be necessary. However,
ACCORDING TO THE DEFINITION OF “KIDNAP” ABOVE, IT IS A CRIMINAL ACT TO “TAKE AWAY” CASPIAN FROM NADIA FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN THIS CASE.
Also, note that this publication is not aware of any public statement made on this case by the Barnevernet, the organization responsible for this kidnapping which happened almost a month ago.
In a democracy, one is innocent until proven guilty. If this case had any merit, the penalty would be far less in any civilized society.
So…Nadia waits until Thursday to see Caspian. She will then have to wait until August 8th to find out if Caspian can stay with her until the important court hearing on August 25th. It seems that the August 25th hearing will determine Caspian’s future.
Why has Baby Aria never slept in her own crib? As far as the Wings of the Wind has been able to ascertain, there were only two reasons given to her parents:
Reason #1: Aria’s father, Ken Olsen, was a danger to his wife and child.
Reason #2: Aria’s mother, Vibeke, would not renounce her husband.
The video above was made by Ken Olsen and was published one week ago. It explains other details of the case.
This is very similar to the Baby Caspian case. Caspian and his Mother, Nadia, have now been separated for almost 20 days. The Caspian story has gotten notice from many sources including this publication.
Two days after her birth, baby Aria was separated from her father, Ken. Baby Aria and Vibeke were left alone in a place called Moringen. Allegedly, Ken and Vibeke were not able to communicate as Vibeke’s telephone was confiscated. Vibeke was able to contact Ken after five days of separation. Apparently, no one called Ken to let him know what was happening.
It is now one and a half years after Baby Aria was taken from her Parents. The Wings of the Wind has been told by a source close to the situation that the Barnevernet has made NO effort to reunify this child with her biological parents.
There have been four hearings involving baby Aria, two regarding the emergency removal, and two on the “overtaking of the care.” After all other options were gone, Ken and Vibeke appealed to a higher court. The appeal was denied.
========================== Editor’s Note:
It is another baffling decision that has come from Norway’s Child Protective Services.
Why was this couple given no chance to parent this child?
Why were the mother and child taken from a father who had done nothing wrong? He had not been violent to the mother or the child.
There were 3 members on committees in at least 2 of the 4 hearings where Ken and Vibeke were present. Baby Caspian only had one person make the very important decision that a young child should not be returned to her loving parent. This inconsistency seems very odd.
Ken said, “Even the psychologist, has never seen anything like this.”
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Posted by Chris 
Wings of the Wind 
BABY CASPIAN KIDNAPPED IN NORWAY…UPDATE #14
August 26, 2016Nadia is heading home to Brandal after three days of trial at the County Council for Child Welfare and Social Affairs (Fylkesnemnda) in Bergen.
She has been told that she will get an answer about the custody of Caspian in two weeks. While Nadia waits for a verdict in the trial, her lawyer has been told that she will be allowed visitations. Nadia has asked for the four hours of visitation she missed this week in addition to the hours that she is being given before the upcoming decision.
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Nadia’s thoughts:
“I have a good feeling about the case,” Nadia said. She wished this update to be published so that people would know what is happening and hopes that people will continue to keep her and Caspian in their thoughts and prayers.
My thoughts:
I’m still learning about Barnevernet procedure. I had not heard from anyone about this two week wait until today. Nadia had mentioned to me a few days ago that she might have to wait a “week or so.”
When any information about the visitations becomes available, I will let you know.
Chris Reimers
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