Octomom investigated by CPS

Nadya "Octomom" Suleman is in danger of losing her 14 children after police paid a visit to her La Hambra, California home on Tuesday night after her hairstylist visited her home to do her hair, found deplorable living conditions, and filed a complaint. Not only were the youngest of her brood, the 3-year-old octuplets, dirty and walking around barefoot in only T-shirts, but they were being forced to urinate and defecate in training potties set up in the backyard because the house's plumbing was not working, according to the stylist named Stephanie (who will not release her last name). Stephanie also took photographs, which have been obtained by TMZ, and claims that while she was giving Suleman a Brazilian blowout and haircut on April 18, the children were locked in a bedroom. In one photo Stephanie took, the mother-of-14 is shown happily flaunting her new 'do — for which she paid $520 (that includes two previous haircuts and $80 worth of product), despite the fact she's on welfare — while behind her a chair is wedged underneath a doorknob, as if it to keep the occupants inside.

Stephanie went to police to report the squalor she witnessed, which she says was difficult for her because she's a longtime friend of Suleman's, but she feels so terribly for the children. "The kids are in desperate need of help, and I tried to help and she's not open to anyone helping her," she told TMZ as she left the El Hambra police station. "She thinks everything is fine with the kids, and it's not." When asked by the cameraman what exactly was wrong, she continued, "The kids don't wear clothes. I went over there yesterday and they're not wearing any pants. And they're outside in the freezing cold, it was 60 degrees, and they're shivering and she wouldn't let them come inside until they finished eating their dinner. It's just horrible."

One photo shows Suleman's kids dirty and in only t-shirts, as graffiti covers the backyard …

In other photos Stephanie took inside the Suleman home — which has been desecrated with spray-painted graffiti, presumably by her older children — one room has tiny mattresses on the floor with no sheets or blankets, as well as two cribs. The kids, says Stephanie, "are sleeping on the floor. I offered her bunk beds. I said, 'We have bunk beds, you can take them.' She said, 'No, no I don't want them. We're ok right now. Everything's fine.' It's not fine! It's depressing, I want to cry."

On Tuesday night, three reps from Child Protective Services along with a police officer went to the Suleman home to investigate Stephanie's claims. In a video, children can be heard as the group repeatedly bangs on the front door until Suleman, 36, finally lets them in. Before the video cuts off, she can be heard telling them, "Excuse the graffiti." After an hour-and-a-half, CPS left after determining the children were not in immediate danger, but a spokesperson did tell TMZ the investigation is ongoing and there will be a follow-up visit to the Suleman home.

"I love those kids, but they're being neglected completely," says Stephanie. "[Suleman] needs help, she can't do this by herself. There's too many kids and they're not getting the help that they need. They're not getting attention, they're not even wearing clothes. The boys have girls' clothes on! I go over there and cut the kids' hair for free because you can't tell which ones are boys and which ones are girls, they all look the same!"

http://ca.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/omg-now/octomom-investigated-cps-complaints-her-home-no-plumbing-185737565.html

[adgal]

So obviously many of these types of stories are exaggerated or sensationalized, but if even part of this is true?  What an awful sad situation.  I still think this women needs serious help for mental health issues and her innocent children are paying the price.  

[margypops]

Orange County authorities said Wednesday that no criminal investigation is underway after a visit to the La Habra home of “Octomom” Nadya Suleman after a complaint about her children's living conditions.

The La Habra Police Department and investigators from the Orange County Social Services Agency visited the home Tuesday after a complaint of “general neglect” regarding conditions at Suleman’s home, said Sgt. Daniel Barnes.

The person who filed the complaint was not identified.

KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported the person who filed the complaint said there was only one functioning toilet in the home and that the children had to use portable toilets. The person also claimed the children appeared unclean.

Barnes said officers conducted preliminary interviews at the home and “no crimes were noticed.” He said no criminal investigation was underway, although there could be further examination from social workers.

Suleman was dubbed “Octomom” after she gave birth to octuplets in

[margypops]

Sounds like many people have it in for this mom ...and this was one person making wrongful accusations .

[specialmom]

Gosh, who is surprised it comes to this for this woman?  How can any one person properly care for so many kids at once day in and day out???  And are't some of the kids special needs?  I know a couple of her older kids are with at least one being autistic.  

But I tell ya----------  I have some problems with this hair dresser and her report.  8 three year olds dirty.  Hm.  What does that mean exactly?  I'm guessing if I were taking care of 8 three year olds at once, you might see them looking a bit messy here and there with a dirty shirt (like, how much laundry can one person do???) and little hands with dirt on them (because I do my best to keep my kids hands clean . . . and I only have TWO . . . and find they find dirt faster than I can wash it off of them sometimes).  

I guess I will say that I do feel for her.  ha, I had my boys 15 months apart and just with those two, I was often overwhelmed.  I stayed at home with them and there were days here an there in which my home was NOT in good shape and we all had grime on us.  So, I don't know what exactly things were like . . .   but there is a difference between messy, a bit unkept, than squalor.  

Potties outside in the backyard.  Never thought of that.  But I will tell you that just ONE of those horrible kiddie potties was a nightmare for me---  so much so that I skipped that completely with my second child and went straight to the regular toilet we all use.  Hate those things . . .   can't even imagine cleaning after EIGHT kids using them.  Yuck!  Octo Yuck!  You see people on the child behavior forums all the time mentioning having kids go with NOTHING on their bum during potty training phase all the time.  I had my one son once in a while wear just his undies and a t shirt when he was training.  I didn't lock him outside but I was trying to make it easy on him.  It was summer time though . . .  warmer than 60 degrees.  the lack of working plumbing---------  well, she should skip the hair do and go for some toilets working in doors.  Locking kids in the bedroom----  not cool.  Agreed!  Matresses on the floor?  Big deal.  Did that with my older special needs boy for a few months as he went from toddler bed to real bed because HE was terrified of falling out of the bed.  He doesn't use a top sheet but I do keep a bottom sheet on his bed.  But if there is just a mattress with pillows and blankets . . .  well, that is not child abuse in my opinion.  Heck, in Africa, they sleep 5 or more people in a bed or on the floor because that is all anyone can afford and the cultural norm.  

what else?

Obviously she has mental health issues and it is doubtful she is adequately caring for her kids just based on the sheer number of them . . .  but some of what the report was doesn't make me scream.  I get upset when people are slapping their kids, ignoring them (the locking in the room part is on par with that and agree that is awful), etc.  

But . . . what is the graffiti they speak of?  My kids got hold of crayons and markers a few times and decorated our walls.  Magic sponge cleaned it off.  My kids got hold of uncooked oatmeal once and while I was in the bathroom made it "snow" all over the house.  Stuff happens.  

Anyway, just don't know.  She never should have had so many babies and the doc that allowed it . . .  should lose his liscense.  

[adgal]

And that was kinda my point in posting this.  I have no idea if any of the allegations are true or not, and am the first to admit that it's likely the source isn't the most reliable.  But I do think this women is in need of help.  There are clear mental health issues at play here, even if it is poor judgement making ability.  To have this many children on her own without a clear means of support - financial or emotionally - is a bad decision to begin with.  And there have been so many other issues.

As for the specific allegations?  Well, if someone checked my house they may very well find a dirty 2 year old if we have been outside, and I still have a lovely rainbow crayon drawing on my wall.  But I still think this women is in need of help.

[specialmom]

Oh yeah---------  she sure is in need of help.  Didn't she have a bunch of plastic surgery after the babies were born or something like that?  And I know she tried to have a reality tv show.  She's got a few screws lose and would be a bit of a scary mom for a couple of kids but octuplets??  Yeesh.  

That she is on welfare now is a bit bothersome too.  All the cash to have those kids . . .  and didn't have a way to support them.  That is irritating.  

Anyway, I love the octomom stories----------  I feel sorry for her.  Hope she gets help she needs and these kids turn out okay.  

[adgal]

You know what's wild about all of this?  She is a single mom, on welfare with....12?  or is it 14? kids.  Not sure what the laws are in the US, but here you cannot have that many kids in a home daycare if it's just you.  I'm not in favor of regulating how many kids a parent can have at all.  If you want them and can care for them, then more power to you.  But it seems this isn't the case.  It's sad isn't it.  

I follow the stories too.  I know lots of false stuff has been printed, but I suspect there is an element of truth to lots of it as well.

[teko]

Well I certainly agree that this woman is not capable of taking on the challenge of 14 kids.

I saw this on the news tonight and they had CPS on .  They had made a home visit and found nothing out of the way or considered harmful to the children. So, case closed.

She gets something like 5 thousand a month on welfare and while over 500 sounds outrageous for hair, she stipulated that that was for all 14 kids, herself and an outstanding 80 dollars and for products. Im sure she gave her a tip for making a home visit as well.

But yeah, I think anyone that thinks this chic normal, isnt normal! I do believe she loves those kids tho. I just cannot see her doing it alone. I sure couldnt.

[specialmom]

Nope, me either.  I think she is a little unstable based on various things in he r past and present.  I saw a Dr. Drew interview with her recently.  I agree she loves her kids but she is a titch kooky and picturing her holding it together to care for them all is hard to imagine.  

I just think this doctor that did the process so that she had eight babies at once really did her a disservice.  I think it was unethical and gave those kids little chance of a normal life.  But hey, what is normal??  Eight kiddie potties lined up on the patio will be their normal.  LOL  (glad it wasn't ever mine!+)  

Do these kids go to school?  At 3, they can qualify for free public preschool and I'm sure many need intervention services (I can't remember what issues these babies had but 8 babies?  They've got to have some developmental issues due to sheer lack of room to develop) and then mom could get a break.  I believe though from that Dr. Drew interview that she said that she suffers severe paranoia and am thinking she won't let them go to school.  ????  ugh.  

Anyway, it is sad in many ways and I do feel sorry for her to be honest.  

[teko]

I have to say, I think "kooky" is the perfect description, and honestly I personally think at some point the state will have to step in because I noticed the paranoia in her as well and do think she has the capability to lose it under the mounting stress as the children get older. I hate to say it but I do fear long term for those kids and what could happen at the hand of mom. I personally think the doctor needs to go to jail for the rest of his life. What ever happened to the oath of first do no harm? Poor babies. And poor mom too.

[adgal]

She has admitted she has several issues.  I really hope she is getting couseling and has some support in helping with the kids.  

As for the Dr.?  I think he should be brought up on ethic violation charges.  Or was he?  I seem to remember hearing something about that.  

[brice1967]

Not a fan of this woman and a lesser fan of her doctor....  What is either of them trying to prove?