sonyahaley's Journal

Today was the day of the temporary custody hearing. I was a wreck all morning! Frances called 5 times before 8 AM. I didn't answer because I knew she would start and I needed to get the girls ready for school. I did call her back and she didn't even mention the hearing. Strange. I think she is up to something. She was acting really weird. I dunno. But, we went and Robin had an attorney there. Robin had filed a motion to be there, but the sheriff's office would nto transport her and the judge said she doesn't need to be there. So, she wasn't. Her lawyer was a jerk. She requested visitations to begin immediately with Tim and I bringing the girls to visit her in jail. I refused. I told them that it would be absolutely detremental to the well being of those girls to have any form of contact with Robin. The judge dismissed the motion for visitation, stating that she can file again once she is released. We met with the Gaurdian ad litem. He is incredibly nice. He was the one who worked on the origial case in 2004. He said that he remembers Robin quite well and stated that she was difficult to work with. He recommended to the court that we be awarded temporary custody as it is in the girls' best interest. Robin's lawyer did not contest to us having temporary custody. I'm not sure who it all works, but I think that they would have had to have given good reason why we were not fit to care for them. So, the judge granted us temporary custody. Now, from here, we have to await the legal custody trial. Pretrial is set for Dec. 7th. In the mean time, Robin can file for visitation. Our lawyer said that we can ask for no visitation and feels that we could easily win that. So, we will see. The guardian ad litem is going to begin an investigation in which he will be inspecting our home and tlaking with us and the girls and everyone we know and interact with in order to determine the best interest ofthe girls. This worries me. Frances said this morning that Sonya has been saying that she hates living with Tim and I. I asked her about it and she said that she only tells Frances that so that she can get attention. She said that she does want to live with us. It worries me, though, that she will say that to the  ad lietem guy. I guess we will just have to explain. He will be talking with the counselor too, so I am sure that will help. She always comments on how well the girls are doing. So, things are looking good. Robin gets out on the 2nd and I am sure she is going to start something. That worries me. I am taking every precaution I can, though. We immediately took the new paperwork to the school. We are contacting the police to give them a heads up about the situation. That way, if the girls are taken from school, then they will know ahead of time who it is, etc. Frances is... I dont know. She's happy that Robin was nto awarded visitation, but is insistent that she still has custody. She thinks that Tim and I have temp. custody and she retains legal custody. I tried to explain this to her and she does not understand. She is going to get a lawyer. I asked why and she said that she needs to fight Robin in case the judge says the girls have to stay with her. I told her that the judge is not even considering that the girls will stay with her. I told her that the part involving her is over with. She does not seem to see that. She is insistent that she retains legal custody until the judge says otherwise in December. Oh well. She'll figure it out, I suppose.

So, we have custody! I am so grateful to all of you for your support and prayers and especially to my God. He is wonderful and never ceases to amaze me! I know that we still have a long road ahead of us and much of the fight is still to be fought; however, I am hopeful that we will win this!