March 18-19, 2009 Visalia, Ca, - Natalynn had a secret she didn't want to share. She wore it heavy on her face and in her heart, but she wouldn't speak of it. I could tell something was wrong, and I looked her straight in the eye and I asked her “Honey tell me what is wrong, why are you crying like that?” Her eyes welled up with tears and she blurted out “I just want to stay with YOU!” I was very puzzled by her reactions, none of them made any sense and it was really out of character for her to act this way. It's almost as if she has something she is afraid of at her mom's house, but she doesn't want to talk about it, (correction) she refuses to talk about it, and when questioned she gets extremely upset and starts balling her eyes out, and just wants to hold on to me and cry.

Her mother was supposed to come and pick her up last night but she called and asked if it would be ok if Nat stayed one more night. Of course, it was ok, Nat started jumping around and dancing when I told her that her mother wasn't coming to pick her up, but now it was the next morning and Nicole was on the way. I had Nat all ready for school, teeth and hair brushed, clean clothes, breakfast, and her Bunny. Her Bunny was very special to her. I guess every child has a special toy that they decide is their favorite thing. For Nat, it was her Bunny Peddle Rabbit. She had gotten it as a gift after she was born and it was so soft and furry, she loved to rub it against her face and she would always fall asleep sucking her thumb with one hand, and holding her bunny next to her face with the other.

I sat down on the couch and said, “come here” She jumped up in my lap and buried her head in my chest. I just sat there holding her head while she was sobbing. I squeezed her a little bit and reminded her how much I loved her, she let out a little whimper and said: “I love you too daddy”. I asked her not to cry anymore and told her that her mom was almost there. I wanted her to have a good day at school. Today was Thursday, March...