Got an order made giving me every Thursday (for counselling) and him every Wednesday (in compensation) until counselling is over. We will continue the week to week. Division of holidays, directions for special family events and compensatory time within 14 days. Decided how child support will be determined.

Really nothing big changed except that he sat down at the table and accepted many of the things I had originally offered. We are going to attempt to settle the financials ourselves through email.

I did feel a little sorry for him though. He is obviously taking this really badly, even after 7 months. Guess being controlling does not necessarily mean you are actually able to take control of yourself. This is where the karma comes in.

Yeah, so it was ok. Very emotionally draining, esp on 4 hours sleep. But it was empowering too. I felt intimidated, but I sat at the table with him and the lawyers and even spoke on my own. I stood my ground. I felt like he didn't have the control over me that he used to, and I saw that he knew that and was grasping at straws. He might have thought he wore the pants in our relationship, but yesterday it was so obvious who was the backbone.
Overall it was well worth the $2000 it probably cost. Yeah, I said $2000. but the relief I feel now, and the happiness I have felt in the past few weeks and will continue to feel is worth every penny.

Oh, and I weighed myslef agina this morning just to see if I had really lost 6 lbs...YES!!!

Court on Thursday.

Case conference is Thursday. I met with my lawyer yesterday, what a pain. We've proposed an interim schedule change that will make sure my daughter is with me on Thursdays to go to her counselling. I will have her every Wednesday and Thursday and he will have her every Monday and Tuesday and we will alternate weekends. My lawyer didn't like the idea she said there was too much back and forth, but essentially it makes every stretch either 2 or 5 days long. IMO that is much better than not having any contact with my daughter for 7 days when she is with her dad. I told the lawyer since we can't communicate then I don't even get to talk to her on the phone and have to go over to her daycare on my lunch break just to see her.

I just want this part over. I have court on Thursday and it is stressing me out. I just need something in writing that will take away the chance for him to control me. Everything else has basically been worked out. There wil have to be some negotiations to settle the finances, but I'm sure it won't be too bad.

As for my last post, the happiness is still continuing!! I went for a walk with a good friend on Saturday afternoon (and my dog!) and we had a good chat. I am hoping to go see Avatar tinght with another friend, and hopefully that will keep my mind preoccupied enough for me to relax.

I have started counting calories and doing tae-bo and after 5 days I saw the scale numbers go down 6 lbs! Not that I expect that trend to continue, but it was very encouraging. No, I am not starving myself. Since I have stopped taking depression meds that has probably helped, and I am focussing on eating a proper amount of healthier food and getting active again. I am so happy that I finally feel motivated to enjoy life again. Seriously, I have missed it!!