My Support Countdown Hit a Milestone Today

We are at three years and 11 months exactly on when we can look for a house large enough to fit us all comfortably. That coincides with the end of child support where you will find me doing a BIG happy dance. It's not like I'm wanting to buy a jewelry box full of yellow gold diamond necklaces (though one would be nice). We are crammed into this house (four kids and two adults and then the two stepkids when they decide to grace us with their presence).

I know it is in the best interests of the children to receive child support and I think both parents SHOULD be financially responsible for supporting their children. My problem is with accountability and the unfair tax advantages the ex gets. Hubby pays taxes on his income and then hands it over to the ex (who it is tax free for). Then, she gets the tax deductions for two kids on top of it! Even when hubby paid part of their child care, when they required child care, he didn't get the child care credit either. Some states require both parents to alternate on the tax advantages on a yearly basis. The county where my husband's court order is says the ex would have to agree to it. Good thing I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

Read more...

Over 50,000 Visitors

I just went over the 50,000 mark

for visitors to my stepfamily blog!

Thanks guys!!

Read more...

Working From Home

I work from home and I'm doing OK, but I am wondering what the medical field has to offer. The medical field is something that will always be in demand. So I've been looking at transcriptionist and coding work-at-home job requirements. Without taking medical coding training courses, I won't be able to do very much though. My administrative and managerial background are all great (and I can type like a fiend) but with the unique requirements for medical coding, I'd definitely need to go back to school.

Read more...

Stresses of a Stepmom

I can feel my jaw starting to ache again. I have TMJ and stress aggravates it (and makes it worse). Every time something comes up with the ex or stepkids anymore, I get tense. Does anybody else get that way? Between Father's Day and my stepson's coming birthday, I'm feeling a bit tense.

I guess my jaw pain is my indication that I need to let it go before my body becomes more damaged by the years of stress (that continue). It's not like I can run off on Caribbean cruises or anything like that but I really need to find a way to let go and relax (that doesn't cost anything).

3 years, 11 months and 3 days left until I will feel free. Yes, I count the days.

Read more...

Anybody done a cleanse?

Has anybody done the Master Cleanse? I thought about doing the lemon juice, cayenne pepper and syrup in water bit to see if I would lose any weight. It required Grade B syrup though and I couldn't find it. I decided to try it without the syrup. Oh my gosh! It was horrid. Talk about burning! Guess I should have waited until I found the syrup.

I thought it was a safe thing to try because it didn't involve pills and such. I am leery of trying weight loss pills, especially since I don't know how they'll react to my thyroid medication. I know there are diet pill reviews sites I could look at to see what works and what doesn't but that won't tell me if I, personally, will react to them due to my thyroid medications.

Read more...