Our New Family

The following entry is not a happy one. It is probably inappropriate to post, but I find this whole blogging thing somehow therapeutic. The only explination I have for posting it is that writing it down somehow makes me feel better. I don't know, maybe someone can give me advise, or just say something to help me feel better. I am in dispair.

Mom always said "You don't just marry the man, you marry his family," or something like that. Thomas' family is awesome. I didn't mind getting married to them at all. The problem is, I didn't realize that when you marry a man with children, you marry his ex-wife and her family.

I love Thomas, and his children. I have bonded with his two youngest like they are my own. However, we are having quite the struggle with visitation (thanks to a very vague divorce decree, and a very expensive, and worthless attorney.) Thomas' ex-wife is very controlling. She continually makes rules we have to follow if we want to see the kids, then flips them to the opposite extreme when we comply without incident. Her thought patterns are bizarre, and irrational.

We have never been allowed to have the children overnight. Her reason being (in not so many words) that we have a fourteen year old boy living in the house. We offered to place a "Nanny Cam" in each of their bedrooms, and would allow her access to the recordings. Still "too dangerous." Then she suggested they sleep in our room until "he" moves out. We agreed to this extreme demand. At which time she agreed to let them spend the night, only to change her mind hours before the planned pick-up time.

The "extreme danger" is now at his father's house in California for two week, so logically they should be allowed to spend the night. Yesterday she agreed that they could stay tonight, as long they each have their own bedroom. We were more than happy to comply. Taygen was so excited to shop with me for a pair of P.J.s (hopefully with princes on them) that she could keep here for when she sleeps in her new room. We couldn't have been more excited. Both of the children cried when we left them last night.

When Thomas call this morning to discuss a pick-up time, his ex-wife told him he would never see the children again, then abruptly ended the phone call. She has not responded to text messages, or answered her phone since.

Both Taygen and Jaxon expressed excitement over spending the night tonight. Jaxon is too young to question why they aren't here, but Taygen is very inquisitive. I'm worried about Tyra's explanation. I hope Tyra doesn't mislead Taygen, hurt her, or hurt our relationship with her.

I know that with time this will all be worked out in the court system. It just won't be fast enough.

Life is not always fair, but I have faith in God. "Faith without works is dead." We will do all we can do. Today we hired a new attorney. He specializes in family law (although we didn't know when we hired him, our old attorney was a bankruptcy attorney).

Please remember us in your prayers.