Life and its current condition

[Mikelb]

^yeah, it's probably going to court for the custody thing... I feel pretty confident there... it's gonna be hell for awhile, but I think it'll all work out...

^I didn't know about the drinking thing... I'll look into that... Though to be honest, I usually feel much more rejuvenated if I drink a beer or two and only catch a few hours of sleep... (I used to drink 2 when I knew I had to get up at 8 in the morn, and it was already 1-2am)

[bigjon]

having a few before bed will help you fall asleep, but it will make you more fatigued in the morning. you will have less rem.

i am really glad you are going for custody. it will be a tough battle though. it always is when a guy is trying to take the child away from the mother. good luck.

[Mikelb]

that's alright, I've got dirt on her... I'm not really sure that it's a good idea to post it up here, but I assure you, that I can probably at least get the judge to realize that she needs mental help.

I happen to know that she's been messing around with my roommate...
I also know that her brother (where she's staying) is a pot-head and has been caught for it, several times.
I have enough case precedents on stuff that relate to our situaton, where I'll be able to negate any argument that she comes after me with.
I also have incriminating pictures of her (18) drinking, and witnesses to say that she was f'ed up at a party and so messed up that she was running into walls and falling on her ass (recommending her for substance abuse help)

I've got more, but what good is posting it up here... I'm just saying, I'm not going to fight clean, but I don't really have to be dirty, b/c I've tried to keep myself clean and outta trouble so that she couldn't prove me unfit.

^Not that I'd be out doing stupid stuff, I am not like that, and I have a daughter to care for. Just trying to play it really safe.

[Mikelb]

Ok, in a week, things have kind of been turned upside down. Here's the cliffnotes: I now have power of Attorney of Taylor, April is probably moving in, and she's going to Basic in Sept.


Ok, life seems to have thrown me another curveball... Right when I was getting ready to give my lawyer a call... I get a call from April... She goes and she wants to sign over power of attorney for Taylor. April tells me that she is shipping out for the national guard in Sept. I will have Taylor for 7 whole months.

Now, I had no choice but to hang around April this whole weekend. We both had to handle some paperwork and stuff dealing with Taylor. Her car blew a tire and I helped her out. Now, I noticed that this whole weekend(some of last week too), she has been a completely different person.

We started talking, and come to find out, she got help for her bipolar. With the meds, it's like night and day. She is a completely different person.

With that being said, she's definitely tolerable.

Now, I took off work Thur afternoon. I got the POA signed, and a way to get an allotment of money every month to help care for Taylor. I was supposed to go back to work, but all of the paperwork took too long. April wanted to go to Taylor's dr appt Friday. She got everything straight to get off work. She wanted to stay at my house, but I told her no. So I let her take Taylor for the night; since I'd be picking them up the next day.

Friday, April drove to my house with Taylor. We both took turns watching Taylor and getting ready. We got everything straight and then ventured off to the dr. Except, April forgot to pack Taylor's bottle. So, we're at the dr.'s office, and Taylor starts crying for food. We had nothing, I left to go to the Eckerd's and pick up a bottle, formula, and a can opener (doh!)... I ended up running to two stores, because Eckerd didn't have the can opener.

By the time I got back, they were already in the doctor's office, though the doctor hadn't stepped in yet. When I started making Taylor's bottle, I realized that I had picked up one of those "miracle" bottles, Browns bottle, and it was supposed to relieve gassiness and cholic.(I wasn't really looking anything special, I just grabbed a bottle.) So, I got everything together, and we fed her a little. Then the doctor came in and said that she was now 4.5months, 24" long, and 13lb 1oz(she's gettin' big on me). Being her 4 month check-up, she was due for 3 shots.
The nurse gave her that first shot, Taylor took it, and it didn't even phase her. The second one was the one that got her, and she continued crying until they were done with the third. She was still crying, so we gave her the bottle. She calmed right down, and it was all good. Taylor took the bottle and eventually fell right asleep.

We left right after that, and were off to my work. I took her and showed her to my co-workers. They loved that. After we left there, we had to go handle some bills. Then I took April to work, she cashed her check, gave me some gas money, and was back off to work.

I just stayed around my mom's house most of Friday (she has A/C). Taylor had a lil' fever, and was fussy. I had to do an oil change on the BMW for my mom (in the rain), and being the California edition that it is, it had special parts... All of which are different from the standard parts on a 318ti, but that 's a different story. So, my mom finally came home, and I got a shower(didn't want to leave Taylor sleeping on a bed by herself where I couldn't hear her). I then woke Taylor up, and took her to my house. She slept the whole time. I laid her down in her bassinet, and she actually woke up. Then I got a phone call. April called me from someone's house, her tire had blown out on her car. I packed up Taylor, and went out to help April.

I pull out her spare tire(a fullsize spare) and put it on the car. The lugnuts seemed to never fully tighten, I said that they were on good enough to make it to her house (about two houses away). She started her car, and put it in drive, but it never moved. Apparently the spare was actually from another car, while it fit the lugs, it didn't clear the brakes.

I told her she'd have to leave it, she got pissed. I told her she could take my car to drill. She said ok. So she stayed the night on my couch and watched Taylor. Then she took my car to drill (I wasn't getting up that early to haul her and Taylor anywhere) I sit around the house until about 5 Sat, then she comes over. She says that her drill instructor told her to bring pics of Taylor or she'd have push-ups to do (lol). I said, I have some on my phone I can print off; but April insisted on going to get the professional pics. I said ok, you're paying.

So we get out into town, and it's hot and Taylor's a fussing. April decides against getting pics and would let me print some at the house. Then we go off to eat. We shared a little food with Taylor. She loves pickles, cherries, and root beer; lol. (aren't we terrible parents).

We got Ape a tire, and head off to get her car fixed. Got the car running fine, and then Ape comes back to my house, stays on my couch again. (she has no alarm clock for drill).

(Now, I haven't really minded her hanging around or staying the night, b/c she has been fairly stable and easy going since she's been on that medicine)

This morning, I woke up to April leaving, and Taylor crying. I gave Taylor a bottle and she went back to sleep; for a little while. I forgot to mention that she had a bad day Sat and today, b/c of the shots. Today seemed more like stomach trouble. I had trouble keeping her from crying most of the morning, and I had been up all night (past 2 am) doing laundry; I hadn't made it home as early as I had hoped.

So I decided that I needed to stay at home(I skipped church) and take care of Taylor. I didn't feel comfortable taking her to church, knowing that she would cry the whole time, and I didn't have the sleep/patience to really handle it today.

This afternoon, April came home (from drill) and took care of Taylor, while I ran to the store. I used the last of my money for two weeks to get some food and drinks for my house. I came back and discussed what was going to happen with Taylor this week (her mommy's week). April said she had no baby sitter for tomorrow. I said neither did I, mine was out of town. April decided to call into work and ask for the day off. They fired her on the spot.
What I haven't told you is, she's paying her brother $200/mo to stay at his place(he pays $300rent/mo) and she buys groceries, and cleans his place. Now she's outta a job. She had left him her food stamp card, and suddenly her family has the money to throw a cook out (wonder where that came from).

She's shipping out in two months, and got help for her problems (the ones that we originally split for), I'm really debating over letting her move back here and be a stay at home mom until Sept. I'm pretty sure I'm going to say yes, even just the fs will help, b/c I have no money to buy any groceries with, she gets fs, and she has no job(no rent), but she can stay around and clean house. With the attitude that she has exhibited for the last week on those meds, I have no problem with her.

Guys, life seems as though it might be turning around somewhat.

I'm still being careful with how to handle this. Though I think I can move her in here under the guise of a trial. If she does well, and handles herself good, then maybe we can get the counseling and get back together. If not, when she comes back from basic and AIT, she'll have money to get her own place...

[bigjon]

wow, that is really all i have to say about that.

i am glad that the meds are helping. i just noticed you sent me the $ for the digital camera. i'll get that right out to ya. i have been real busy with my own newborn.

i really hope things work out for you. you are a good person.

[I, Brian]

Sounds like it's all a lot to handle - best of luck with it.

[Mikelb]

sry I haven't had much time to update you guys... things are blah right now... I'm making it, but things are weird having her around and not dating her...

She's on and off the meds, and it's really doin' a number on her personality... I never know what to expect when I come home... She'll be off to basic and AIT in just two months... hanging in until then...

[bigjon]

just keep remembering that you are doing a good deed.

[Mikelb]

yes, but I really feel like she should be committed somewhere...

she's messed up in the head... on a serious note... she od'd on her anti-depressants Wed, I think it was... I don't really know what to do a/b it... it's kinda scary to leave Taylor with her...

I don't wanna come home to a crime scene one day...

I also don't really feel that she cares for Taylor... I will go to my mom's sometimes, and come back to Taylor crying and Ape(nickname) sitting on the couch, like nothing's happenin'... kinda ticks me off... I mean, I love my daughter and do everything I can for her, but some of the responsibility should lie on Ape's shoulders as well, b/c all she's done for the last few days is sit on her tail...

oh, and she's not allowed to go to my mom's house, reason: she accused my step-dad of hitting on her and trying to talk her into sleeping with him...

Oh, and she is the victim of sleeping with two people within the last 2 months or so... one being my roommate, one being her ex (after me)...

and supposedly, a friend of mine was all over her at my house one night... but all of us saw it quite the opposite... she chased this guy down and made out with him, etc (while he was drunk)...

grrr....

WTH do I do?!?!

[bigjon]

i'd probably have her locked up and take custody of the child.

i know it is tough, but sometimes tough is the right way. my dad had to lock up my mom once. come to find out she was skitsofrenic(sp?). she is on and off her meds too. it is very tough to even talk to her sometimes.