SS13 arrives tomorrow for 4 consecutive weeks (the longest time we have EVER had with him in his entire 13 years). It's sad it took us this long to reach this point, but we are thankful that it finally happened. I have been extra nervous about SS coming, especially for this long, since he has been struggling at BMs. It's like Jekyll and Hyde; you never know what SS you're going to get. We spoke to SS a few times over the last week and he is SO EXCITED to visit (and we think to finally have a break from the constant extracurriculars BM has him in). However, BM did email DH to let him know that she enrolled SS in two private foreign language lessons while he is here (45 minutes each via Zoom). DH told BM that he would only allow it if she gave him a say on dates and told her flat out that anything that interfered with our plans would not happen. DH picked that two dates and it's done. SS didn't seem thrilled about those lessons, but DH made it clear to SS that it was BM's doing. 

BM emailed DH last week and said they caught SS hacking the parental controls on his cell phone and accessing things he shouldn't have, so he is grounded from all video games until September. DH told BM that we would be placing restrictions on his access to his phone while he is here (which BM didn't love since it limits her and GFs access to him) but we aren't encouraging phone use this summer. We also told BM that we would LIMIT video game access but we aren't fully eliminating it. SS is the type of kid where if you take things away entirely, he will binge the second he gets it back. We would rather him have it in moderation and learn how to be responsible with it. BM also let DH know that SS is done with therapy. He only had 7 sessions and it resolved whatever "issue" he was having. BM and SS still have not said a word about why SS was in therapy, but based on snippets of information we have caught, it makes us think he is struggling with BM and GF being LGBTQ or he is being bullied for it. Again, nothing to do with DH, which is why I think BM didn't say anything. Typically if she is blaming DH for SS' issues, she spells it out in great detail for record keeping purposes. Luckily DH's portion of therapy is only $180 total and after consulting our attorney, we were advised to pay it and only fight if she attempts to enroll him in therapy again later, citing lack of transparency in co-parenting. 

DD3 is estatic that her big brother is coming home. She has been asking every day, when he's coming. I am 13 weeks along with another GIRL. SS and DD will be getting another baby sister in late November/early December. SS will be finding this out upon his arrival tomorrow and I'm nervous for his reaction and the hell BM and GF will raise when they find out. Their retaliation was heavy and strictly financial when DD was born, seeking out a thousand dollars in medical expenses for unnecessary physical therapy and ENT consultations. It's like they realized they couldn't reach DH any other way to punish him, so BM sought medical attention for any little issue because she knew DH would be ordered to pay his share. We received medical bills every two weeks, one after the next from the week after DD was born until she was 8 months old. It was insane. 

Prayers for a good visit are appreciated!