Madonna steels herself for imminent visit by Malawi child welfare officers

With the future of her son's adoption depending on an imminent visit by a child welfare officer from his native Malawi, Madonna is doing everything in her power to make sure she keeps custody of 18-month-old David Banda.

Last week she flew back from New York – where she is recording a new album and house-hunting – to prepare for the arrival of Penston Kilembe, who is due to spend up to five days at the singer's £6.5 million London home.

But the 48-year-old star's plans to be reunited with her family are to be short-lived. She aims to return to New York as soon as the inspection is over, to put the finishing touches to her new album.

After a short break with her film director husband Guy Ritchie and their children, Madonna will then be working non-stop until mid-2008. "The finishing touches still have to be added to her new album, so she is flying back to the States once the officer's visit is over."

Madonna, who has a daughter, Lourdes, 11, and a six-year-old son, Rocco, has already told her husband she will be working back to back from September.

"Madonna has promised to take a six-week break to spend time with Guy and the children before embarking on her mammoth ten-month work regime," adds the source.

"After the new record is released in November she is getting ready for a world tour that kicks off next June, then she is launching a 25th anniversary box set and a set of 12 children's books."

A spokesman for Madonna declined to comment.

Source: Drowned Madonna, Katie Nicholl, Daily Mail