I can tell you about ONE thing..

You have no idea how hard it is for me to hold a secret. One corner of my lip always curls upwards when I know something and I'm trying to play "dumb." I'd be a horrible poker player.

Anywho, I got word first thing this morning that it happened. My ex-husband signed the paperwork we sent him asking him to terminate his parental rights so that Brandon can adopt DeLainey. It was recieved by our attorney and was notarized.

We filed paperwork this morning for Brandon to adopt DeLainey. The petition was sent and by now it should be sitting on a judge's desk.

I've waited 8 years for this day. Brandon has always wanted to adopt DeLainey. It's caused strife between the inlaws and I because they didn't believe that I had tried to make it happen. They wanted to make sure that Brandon's rights to DeLainey are legally recongized. I get it. But we've tried for years to convince him to sign and he said that he would never do it. I think the exact words were "over my dead, cold body."

I believe that my incredible prayer warriors had something to do with this (you didn't think I kept it completely quiet did you?) and I know that God has given me one of the greatest desires of my heart.

I can't describe the weight that has been lifted now that I know we are so close to legally making it where DeLainey would stay with the one daddy she knows if something were to happen to me.

I can't wait to change her social security card and such... She'll finally OFFICIALLY have our last name. The name that she has always wanted (and even uses in unofficial situations.)

YIPPEE!!!

PS: Lainey thinks it is REALLY cool that she will be "adopted" like Xander even though we've tried to explain that the two situations are somewhat different. Still she is excited! :)

I'm in a funk...

I generally try to keep the attitude of the blog light hearted and fun even if I am a bit sarcastic at times. However, today I'm in a funk. A real funk. An I-want-to-lay-here-and-cry funk.

I just can't believe that a man (term used very loosely in this blog post) can not only walk away from his child, not do what he is legally obligated to in his divorce decree and then suddenly stop paying child support as well. Well.. to be honest, he wasn't paying his child support anyway, his company was doing it on his behalf because he couldn't be trusted to do it himself. I figure he either got laid off or quit, but let's face it.. $50 a WEEK really isn't all that much. And if it were me paying the child support, I'd pick up cans on the side of the road if I had to, to make sure that my child was provided for. (Can you really call it providing for your child if you only contribute $50 a week to your child's welfare? I think not, but that is a rant for another day.)

So once again, Brandon will be there to pick up the slack for someone too sorry to be in Lainey's life, too sorry to provide health insurance like he is obligated to do, too sorry to pay half of her out of pocket medical expenses and yes.. too sorry to send $50 a week child support. Lainey is the one of the few blessings that came out of a terrible relationship. Too bad he can't see that.

So in the meantime, I'll be adjusting the budget spreadsheets to account for ZERO child support from Mr. I'm too SORRY to even call and tell you what is going on or even leave you a working phone number to call me.

Boo.