strong & patient (most days)

[karen43]

OK, if you have time, warning this is going to be an H4H length post. Busy day this week. I met with the lawyer twice! I woke up with laryngitis again yesterday (had it Thanksgiving too). The L says if it doesn't get better they will have to postpone the D hearing on Monday, and warned X's L as well. I meet with her tomorrow afternoon if I'm better. Still have it today though. I'm trying not to talk as the kids are going to be with their dad this weekend, but really had wanted to go to church and a party tomorrow I was looking forward too. I'm drinking hot tea now and resting my voice, so hopefully that'll help. Oh, I tried to get into the dr. office yesterday after the L, but they closed at lunchtime and there were no drs. They said it's going around town though (half my friends here have it) laryngitis and coughing and they're not giving antibiotics for it to anyone. I have been sick 12 days already though!!! You know if it weren't for bad luck...but I know it will all work out eventually. Right?

Two of my friends are acting as witnesses for me. Typed up their info and they are very sweet and supportive. My L thinks they are excellent witnesses. Also I've been told my pastor is going to be there (hopefully if we have it!) to support me and has on his calendar. Very sweet people.

My L is planning on kind of an almost battered-wife defense, well verbally battered anyway. A huge thing she wanted to do as an opener is show one of the little space heaters X bought to warm the house ($10-15 ones from WalMart) to prove he is not a caring father. The thing that bothers me about this is that I think that also shows my poor parenting at the time. If the heat broke today I would insist he buy good-size heaters and/or get it fixed or move somewhere else. Something. B/c I was desperate and trying to prevent the D, I did not act in my children's best interests, as I do believe I would if it happened today.

I understand she wants to attack X and reveal his character (or lack thereof) and financial motivations, but I think there is SO MUCH stuff she has other than that as I've told her everything pretty much at this point. So I'm at a crossroads about this. I've told her I don't feel comfortable about that, and she insists on it though. Thoughts anyone?

Also, she says by tomorrow I need to have a firm schedule in mind of custody/visitation at both homes. I initially told her I would be fine with X's request of Sunday, Monday, and every other Sat. night, and just not tuesday b/c of the kids' activities. This would also give me an extra day to help S16 with his virtual schooling online as we're having a hard time fitting it all in 3.5 days. A good friend was telling me last night she thinks I should try to get them Monday through Friday afternoon, i.e. the school week b/c of the problems we've had.

And just today, S16 told me his school schedule for next semester had been sent home last week. They put English 1 on it which he already took at flvs (counts for public high school credit) and he got an A. I asked X if he had the copy of it for me, as S didn't know the other classes on it either, and he said no, he was going to call her Monday (I think the head of ESE at S16's school. I emailed him I would still like a copy of S16's schedule. It's stuff like this (his severe lack of communication) that makes me think my friend might be right.

Karen