custody battle - results are in

So,

For those of you that have read my blog, the results are in.

I didnt' win my kids back. That is the bad news. Despite all the evidence and issues my psycho ex wife (pew) has, the CFI could not find any evidence that equated to "endangerment". For some reason they don't equate mental and verbal abuse as endangerment. They don't equate her have a serious drinking problem as endangerment. They didn't equate not providing enough food and clothes as endangerment. They didn't equate her keeping the kids from having a relationship with me as endangerment. They didn't equate her being reported to DSS for neglect and abuse 6 times as endangerment. There isn't one single person that knows the entire story and all the facts (and I mean ALL the facts - hers and mine) that thinks that she should be raising a dog, let alone 4 kids.

So, enough of the bad news.

The good news. I did get a few things in my favor.

I did get an increase in my parenting time.

I got an official "Parenting coordinator with decision making authority" (i.e. pew is not allowed to make ANY major decisions without going through the PCWDMA)

I got electronic visitation - 1 time a week via Xbox live. (total score on this one!)

I got 1 set phone call a week. another total score since pew was always putting up roadblocks to me talking with my kids

She is required to stop blocking the kids phone from me.

she is now required to p/u and d/o at the airport - saves me tons of money in rental car expenses - i can't wait to see how she does this since she had her license revoked after her second DUI.

She is now required to use myfamilywizard.com to communicate with me about the kids. i.e. she isn't allowed to NOT provide me information about the kids when I ask.

Now for the crazy news - because this case is all about the crazy.

Illinois keeps jurisdiction of financial matters and Colorado keeps jurisdiction over custody/parenting time. Is that crazy or what? The judge in CO called the judge in IL and asked why IL is keeping jurisdiction. His answer? Because no on has officially requested that it be moved. Say What?? Well, guess what I will be doing in the next month. If it does get moved to Colorado, the judge in Colorado has already said I'd get three more things. She would be required to pay up to half of all travel costs, and my support costs would go down - considerably. I would get 3 of the kids as tax exemptions instead of just two.

Lastly, some REALLY good news. Pew was fighting to have me pay for her lawyer fees (probably more than 10k). The judge took about 30 seconds to think on that one and said NO. Pew was REALLY wanting that money since she needs it to fight her DUI case. Her final hearing on that is next week, and there is a possiblity she might go to jail.

So, not really the outcome I was looking for, but not a total loss. Especially since pew will NOT be able to control her drinking - she will have another "event". She won't use the pcwdma as described, she'll mess up the xbox time some how, and she will refuse to use the myfamilywizard.com website. All things that will lead to contempt charges. Enough contempt charges against her and the case will be re-opened. The judge is kind of sick of this case right now, and if she pisses him off, he may just award me the children.

I'm just glad this part is over. I've been so obsessed with this case for the last two years, that it will take some time for me to start thinking of other things in my spare time - awwww... who am I kidding. I'm just gonna start gaming more!

Game On!!

BW