Today's visitation was very rough. I fell asleep in the truck on the way to pick Hailey up and when I woke, I was in excruciating pain. My back was spasming and I couldn't even breath without wincing in pain. In fact, I'm still in quite a bit of pain.
We got out of the truck and Charlie tried to loosen my back for me. It helped a little, but it wasn't long before I was in just as much pain as before. He had to lift Hailey up into the truck for me. No way I could do it for that moment.
I spent most of the day in pain. I enjoyed my time with Hailey. I only hope she enjoyed her time with her injured mommy. When nap time came, I laid down myself on my back in bed. Charlie brought me a back massager thing to lay on and it helped a little, but it was also rather uncomfortable.
We played hard - hard as I could any ways. Hailey did a good bit of running outside. She would run around our back yard and run to me laughing. That girl's smile is absolutely infectious. She ran around the dogs trying to steer clear of Flora. I don't think she'll ever like our weiner dog - it's kind of hyper and Flora absolutely adores Hailey and you can tell she misses her. But I took her and I back inside. I was getting bit by gnats so I'm sure she was as well.
And then came the long, emotional ride back to Charleston to drop her back off with her grandparents. I tried not to cry on the way home. Charlie and I talked as much as we could to keep our mind off of things, but it never works. I still end up in tears.
I can't wait for this to be over with.
Showing posts with label visitation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visitation. Show all posts
It's Been a Crazy Week...
This last week has been insane. From being just plain busy to trying to have a little "me time" to finding out my ex-husband married a grandma and now my friend Sara is engaged and Ooie has to have knee surgery and be out of work for a long time. Just a crazy, crazy week.
As luck would have it, Charlie is off for the next 13 days. Thank goodness. We have so much still to do. Like, I dunno... painting the bedroom. I know, you're going "Damn Kimi.. You aren't done painting yet!?" No. Humor me.. I'm short. I can't even reach the top molding while on a step stool, so I need Charlie's help. haha Hailey's bedroom ceiling could use another coat of primer. Otherwise, it's been done for ages. My office has been done for ages and we finished the dining area and 99% of the living room before the wedding. There is a small area of wall that needs attention. I want to finish that and then paint the bedroom so we can move furniture all over the house again.
I dread the bathroom. In fact, I may just leave it alone for a while longer. My landlady needs to step it up and fix the bathtub tile. It's actually starting to kinda piss me off. I think I've waited long enough and been pretty dang nice about it - maybe too nice for that matter. Don't even get me started again on the monstrosity that is the painted over, wallpapered walls. *sigh*
And then Taa-Daa! We can get to work on Hailey's playroom - finally! I'm so excited about it! It's right next to my office and it's a much bigger area to spread her toys out in. I really want to separate her room and play time so she better understands when it's bed time. It's too easy for her to get out of bed and play with her toys when she should be sleeping.
And then there is just general work, work, work. From regular commissions to IMVU stuff to looking for a job outside of the house, I am just so freaking busy. In fact, I'm typing this with wet hair when I should be in the bathroom drying it so we can go grocery shopping. Heehee
And tomorrow is finally Saturday! I'm so excited! I miss Hailey bunches. Thinking of taking her to the park tomorrow if it's not blazing hot. Otherwise, we'll just play outside at home a bit under the big tree. No idea what to feed her tomorrow. I hate grocery shopping these days. I'm still so in the habit of wanting to pick up stuff that I'd normally get for her and then remember she won't be around to eat or drink it anyways. Heck, I even made her a sippy cup a few days ago not thinking. It's been a while since I did that and it got me really upset.
*Eyes clock* Okay, okay.. I need to finish getting ready and get outta here!
As luck would have it, Charlie is off for the next 13 days. Thank goodness. We have so much still to do. Like, I dunno... painting the bedroom. I know, you're going "Damn Kimi.. You aren't done painting yet!?" No. Humor me.. I'm short. I can't even reach the top molding while on a step stool, so I need Charlie's help. haha Hailey's bedroom ceiling could use another coat of primer. Otherwise, it's been done for ages. My office has been done for ages and we finished the dining area and 99% of the living room before the wedding. There is a small area of wall that needs attention. I want to finish that and then paint the bedroom so we can move furniture all over the house again.
I dread the bathroom. In fact, I may just leave it alone for a while longer. My landlady needs to step it up and fix the bathtub tile. It's actually starting to kinda piss me off. I think I've waited long enough and been pretty dang nice about it - maybe too nice for that matter. Don't even get me started again on the monstrosity that is the painted over, wallpapered walls. *sigh*
And then Taa-Daa! We can get to work on Hailey's playroom - finally! I'm so excited about it! It's right next to my office and it's a much bigger area to spread her toys out in. I really want to separate her room and play time so she better understands when it's bed time. It's too easy for her to get out of bed and play with her toys when she should be sleeping.
And then there is just general work, work, work. From regular commissions to IMVU stuff to looking for a job outside of the house, I am just so freaking busy. In fact, I'm typing this with wet hair when I should be in the bathroom drying it so we can go grocery shopping. Heehee
And tomorrow is finally Saturday! I'm so excited! I miss Hailey bunches. Thinking of taking her to the park tomorrow if it's not blazing hot. Otherwise, we'll just play outside at home a bit under the big tree. No idea what to feed her tomorrow. I hate grocery shopping these days. I'm still so in the habit of wanting to pick up stuff that I'd normally get for her and then remember she won't be around to eat or drink it anyways. Heck, I even made her a sippy cup a few days ago not thinking. It's been a while since I did that and it got me really upset.
*Eyes clock* Okay, okay.. I need to finish getting ready and get outta here!
The Unknown DSS Worker
As I mentioned yesterday, I had a DSS Caseworker pop in on me at my home during my visitation with Hailey.
I finally got the verdict from all sides. No one knows who this woman is who came here - not my lawyer, not the Guardian Ad Litem and not Hailey's grandparent's lawyer. No one knows anything about a court date on September 3rd - in fact the opposing lawyer is busy with another case that week and his dates are protected.
So I apparently had some woman in my house this weekend that no one had heard of nor spoken to. She was here for a good 30 minutes or so. For all I know, she could have been casing my house for a robbery.
At least she thought the house was nice...
I finally got the verdict from all sides. No one knows who this woman is who came here - not my lawyer, not the Guardian Ad Litem and not Hailey's grandparent's lawyer. No one knows anything about a court date on September 3rd - in fact the opposing lawyer is busy with another case that week and his dates are protected.
So I apparently had some woman in my house this weekend that no one had heard of nor spoken to. She was here for a good 30 minutes or so. For all I know, she could have been casing my house for a robbery.
At least she thought the house was nice...
Visitation at its Best
Today was no less than heart wrenching [because really, who could resist that little face?]. It seems I'm on this weird mood cycle. I started noticing it last month - the wicked pattern of emotions I seem to be running.The day of visitation I'm excited. I'm pumped and I'm ready to go! That feeling lasts until about 6pm when I realize I need to start getting Hailey ready to go back to her grandparents. By the time I make it to Charleston, I'm almost in tears. Once I see her driven away in their car, I break down every time. [Hell, I'm crying as I write this].
Days pass and for the first 4-5 days I'm okay. By 7-9, I'm great. After than I slowly begin to crumble. Two weeks lasts years these days to me. By the time I get to the evening before visitation, I'm an absolute disaster. I'm constantly crying. I think about Hailey constantly and all of this nonsense is eating away at me.
Thank God for my mother in law. I know sometimes she irritates me like every other person's mother in law, but deep down she's a really awesome lady and I'm very grateful for her. She knows how hard visitation days are for me. I came home and not only did she straighten up a bit, she has most of my laundry done and even changed the sheets on my bed and made it. It just doesn't get better than that.
At least now when I climb into bed tonight to bawl my eyes out, I can do so on some fresh linens. I know it isn't much to look at, but it's my bed and that makes it special. Ugh it looks so comfy - even just by looking at the picture. I think I shall have a swim in it shortly.I'm so tired from today - emotionally, mentally, physically. Hailey had a fantastic time. We played hard, laughed hard. There was all sorts of jumping and dancing going on in this house. We ran around outside. We danced to music. We jumped on the bed [well she did anyways - could you imagine me doing that?]. We read books, watched Noggin and has nice naps. Lots of pictures were taken of said events.... Like these:
Watching Noggin. That smile lights rooms.
Miss Hailey-Mix-A-Lot playing with her music table.
Who doesn't love a good scream of laughter?
Worn out from the fun of it all.
Ups, Downs & Visitation
Like every other weekend, I went to pick Hailey up at the designated meeting point (conveniently a 10 minute drive for her grandparents and a 90 minute drive for myself). Her grandfather met with Charlie and I and as usual, began his chatter. Oy that man can talk. I imagine he doesn't get to say much around his wife so instead, I get to hear it.
Apparently Hailey was sick last week with a "low grade fever" as he described it. Of course then he mentioned it was actually a fever of 103.5 and that most certainly isn't mild - especially considering that this is at least the 10th time this child has been sick since January. I only wish I were exaggerating. He tells me about her visit to the doctor and about her being put on antibiotics - as if the poor child doesn't have enough medication running through her veins. What's one more?
The issue I'm having is that all of this occurred last Wednesday and this is the first time I'm hearing about it - despite the fact that I communicated with her grandparents all last week regarding other medical issues Hailey is having and not once was any of this brought to my attention. I really just cannot understand that. It's not like I'm asking to be made aware of every sneeze or runny nose. But a temperature of 103.5 and another visitor to the doctor for more medication is a big enough event that I should be made aware. I have a home phone, cell phone and e-mail. They can always reach me.
Then Les starts telling me that a new DSS worker is involved with the case. Neither my lawyer nor the Guardian Ad Litem informed me of this. No DSS worker has contacted me and I provided everyone with my new telephone number. Apparently this case worker has already interviewed them and observed them with Hailey. That's twice now that DSS has done this and I have yet to be given the opportunity to defend myself or my parenting skills. Not that I need to, but I believe I have the right to do so.
I was under the impression that DSS was no longer involved. That's what I came to understand based on what my lawyer told me. They didn't file any claims. They came to my house, investigated and left. They even said that I should be granted the unsupervised visitation I was shooting for at the last hearing. Because let's face it - it never should have been supervised in the first place. Legally speaking, Hailey never should have been removed from my custody for this mess anyways. So naturally, I immediately wrote to both my lawyer and the GAL to ask what the heck is going on. I'm kind of wondering if either of them even know about this. I assumed someone would tell me this sort of information!
In more happy news...
I love having Hailey home. It's so comforting knowing that she's right here, playing with her toys and watching Noggin. Just having her here brings such a sence of calm and normalcy to this house that I crave the moment she's away.
Charlie and I took her to the park for about 30 minutes. It was super humid and it began to rain not 3 minutes after we packed up the truck and left. She had a great time and Charlie got to spend a little time with her before coming home. He made lunch for us and it's in the oven. He'll be asleep for most of the day since he hasn't been to bed yet from working until 3am. That man is amazing. He does so much for us.
Now it's time to go dance! :D
Apparently Hailey was sick last week with a "low grade fever" as he described it. Of course then he mentioned it was actually a fever of 103.5 and that most certainly isn't mild - especially considering that this is at least the 10th time this child has been sick since January. I only wish I were exaggerating. He tells me about her visit to the doctor and about her being put on antibiotics - as if the poor child doesn't have enough medication running through her veins. What's one more?
The issue I'm having is that all of this occurred last Wednesday and this is the first time I'm hearing about it - despite the fact that I communicated with her grandparents all last week regarding other medical issues Hailey is having and not once was any of this brought to my attention. I really just cannot understand that. It's not like I'm asking to be made aware of every sneeze or runny nose. But a temperature of 103.5 and another visitor to the doctor for more medication is a big enough event that I should be made aware. I have a home phone, cell phone and e-mail. They can always reach me.
Then Les starts telling me that a new DSS worker is involved with the case. Neither my lawyer nor the Guardian Ad Litem informed me of this. No DSS worker has contacted me and I provided everyone with my new telephone number. Apparently this case worker has already interviewed them and observed them with Hailey. That's twice now that DSS has done this and I have yet to be given the opportunity to defend myself or my parenting skills. Not that I need to, but I believe I have the right to do so.
I was under the impression that DSS was no longer involved. That's what I came to understand based on what my lawyer told me. They didn't file any claims. They came to my house, investigated and left. They even said that I should be granted the unsupervised visitation I was shooting for at the last hearing. Because let's face it - it never should have been supervised in the first place. Legally speaking, Hailey never should have been removed from my custody for this mess anyways. So naturally, I immediately wrote to both my lawyer and the GAL to ask what the heck is going on. I'm kind of wondering if either of them even know about this. I assumed someone would tell me this sort of information!
In more happy news...
I love having Hailey home. It's so comforting knowing that she's right here, playing with her toys and watching Noggin. Just having her here brings such a sence of calm and normalcy to this house that I crave the moment she's away.
Charlie and I took her to the park for about 30 minutes. It was super humid and it began to rain not 3 minutes after we packed up the truck and left. She had a great time and Charlie got to spend a little time with her before coming home. He made lunch for us and it's in the oven. He'll be asleep for most of the day since he hasn't been to bed yet from working until 3am. That man is amazing. He does so much for us.
Now it's time to go dance! :D
