UpDate on Sister.....

She's hanging on......But she's going to try to remain in Ohio for Justin's sake.....

I know my sister will not mind me telling you all what's going on cause any advice you guys can give her...I'll see to it she gets it....

She has been married to a wonderful man for the past 10 years-Michael is his name....When they met....both were into drinking, pot and drugs...After they had Justin and got married (yup he came first!) they both had that wonderful moment of clarity and realized that they needed to change....They both joined AA and pulled themselves up and out....started a cleaning business that became very profitable....Bought a wonderful house, even bought a rental property...plus thousands upon thousands for equipment and such....They had employees to deal with, payroll...all that fun stuff....but it afforded them a lot...My sister didn't have work...so she stayed home and took care of Justin...

Michael also has a daughter from a previous relationship named Lindsay....I can tell you that since Michael had met Diane...he has fought non stop to get some kind of normal visits with his daughter....at every turn his Ex (Sue-AKA The Super Bitch-not the psycho bitch-but she comes really close!) The courts put out an agreement but Sue never keeps to it...A good example is this...The courts said that Lindsay was allowed to go to Church Functions even if the fall on Michael's visitation...Sue promplty signed Lindsay up for everything on every weekend so Michael couldn't have the full visit... she also guilts Lindsay into staying with her instead of going to her Dad's..This Sue has no freinds, no life, doesn't work...she only has Lindsay and she wants Michael totally out of it....In fact she had petitioned the court that she would drop child support so he couldn't see her...thankfully the courts wouldn't go for it.....From what I could tell it basically amounted to jealousy of the life Diane and Michael had...I've heard from Lindsay that Sue would want to hear every detail of the time she spent and the berate Michael for doing some of the stuff she did....it really was an insane ordeal and she put Lindsay in the middle of it...She never called to tell Michael that Lindsay wasn't coming...But Lindsay would have to call...The courts have asked her why she does those things and well.....that really didn't solve anything...I can tell you that I've even written letters on occasion basically letting Sue know that what she was doing was very wrong....Finally Diane and Michael said enough was enough and filed for custody... They had a vacation planned to the Bahamas and wanted to take Lindsay...She was all excited about going....but Sue said "No" even though the time fell on Michael's visit time....Lindsay was crushed....When Sue got the papers....she went off the proverbial deep end and stopped all visits and calls....I don't know what she promised Lindsay but all of the sudden her demeaner changed as well. She suddenly didn't want to see Michael as well...Not sure about what happened here....At any rate...Michael went up to see Lindsay at a skating party....Lindsay wanted to try to explain to Michael but couldn't as no sooner did she start talking she saw Sue walking across the skating rink towards them...promptly started to scream at Mike to leave her alone....Mike touches her arm and Sue starts yelling "CHILD ABUSE....CHILD ABUSE" a police report later basically side with Mike's version as Lindsay couldn't really get a grip on what happened but later that week when Sue and Mike had the custody hearing....it was a no go...While Michael was restrained from coming near Sue (Yeah go figure) he could still see Lindsay on a regular basis....okay that would have been fine expect that Lindsay was waiting out side and told him that she didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore....Diane said Lindsay was shaking like a leaf and kept looking at her Mom....

One thing I will say is that I have seen firsthand what kinda of control Sue has over Lindsay...Lindsay has even told me on more than a few occasions that she just doesn't "get" her mom or why the heck she's so jealous....I don't thinks she hurts Lindsay but I do know she guilts her into staying home on weekends....I've heard her in action before....it made me sick....I mean...I didn't get along with Hayley's Dad after we split but you can believe that Hayley never saw it....when she wanted to see her Dad...she saw her dad..I at least saw to that!....

I really do think that it all boils down to the fact that Mike and Diane had the kinda of life Sue wanted and never got...Tough! I also think she used Michael to get pregnant....cause since Day one she's never wanted Micheal to have anything to do with Lindsay....she just didn't count on Him wanting to be involved...Tough again!

But since that fateful day in the courtroom...something came unglued in Michael...I don't know if he's just pissed at the world or what....but since then...he's falled off the AA wagon and has been drinking...smoking dope...and generally spiraling downward...Spending money like it was going out of style...getting into trouble...To the point where sadly he's now facing a year in Jail...he's also been doing all this in front of Justin and Diane...While Diane has been trying to sheild Justin...it's not been working too well....Justin is a wreck...She thought at one point over the summer Mike was trying to straighten out but that didn't last....he's spending what little checks they have coming in....Diane has managed to keep one hidden....Last thursday she has called me in complete hysterics as she had finally had enough...but she didn't know what to do and she was scared as things were getting turned off left and right...She was behind on everything....You know that sinking feeling that you get like you feel like you're drowing?? She had that in spades....

I told her that if she needed to pack Justin up and come down her...not to worry...she would always has a roof over her head as long as I am alive....she never had to worry about that....We talked some more and rang off...I cannot tell you how it tore me up to hear her like that...I was in tears the rest of the night with worry....I'm still worried....


I think that's what she needed to hear cause she calmed down after that....There was a light at the end of the tunnel...it just was in Florida! I had also told her that if money was the reason she couldn't come...not to worry...I'm good at laying on the guilt trips with my family and she'd have the money she needed and then some in no time flat!

Basically she's trying to remain there if she can, but she's making contingency plans if she needs to leave...We're both wondering if Mike lands in Jail it might be the "Bottom" he needs to hit...Not sure....To many things up in the air...Diane needs a break from the chaos that has become her life now....She does have a plan to remain up there should she stay...but she still may come down here...start over...She's just taking it one day at a time...concentrating on her and Justin and trying not to worry about Mike to much....She'll know in a few weeks if he's going to Jail or not...she's trying to hang in til then....I hope she makes it...In the meanwhile...I am checking in daily with her to make sure she is okay.....

If not....I think I can guilt my family into a plane ticket for me to come up and drive down with her?????? Yeah.....I am sure I can!

I want to thank you guys for keeping her in your thoughts...she's got it really tough right now...But like I said...she's my baby sister and she's is everything to me...She never thought that in a span of 6 months everything she knew and loved would be turned upside down and inside out....it's like the rollorcoaster ride from hell and she wants off!


Thanks again guys! I really appreciate it!