New to these boards and looking for step-mom friends to share stories with and get advice; I guess just belong somewhere....

I am 29 years old, and recently married (almost 6 months ago). Both DH and I have two kids each, although only SD(2) lives with us. My DD(forever 3) died in November 2009, and my DS(12) has been trying out this past school year with his father; SD(12) lives with her mother. Currently DH has joint-custody of sd(2.5) and she has lived with him since she was 4 months old; BM abandoned SD(2) once DH was given joint-custody.