Adjusting to a new marriage, especially when there are teenage kids, can be hard on anyone . . . let alone with MS being in the picture.

I was married, had a difficult teenaged step son and two little ones when the MS took a turn. I adored my husband (still do), but we did not handle most things well together. We had a very active lifestyle, and things changed a lot when I got sick. He was also extremely over-protective of me, and I was struggling hard to keep my independance through that time. The stress of it all was too much for me, and I ended my marriage just so that I could have less to deal with.

I thrived on stress at one time, and prided myself on multi-tasking. When the MS got bad, I just couldn't do that any more, and had to "simplify" my life as much as possible to cope. I wish I could have found a way to do it while still maintaining my marriage, but I couldn't.

Since our break-up, my ex takes the kids 2 nights a week, and has the youngest at least one night every weekend. He feeds and entertains them with movies, plays, swimming, camping, fairs, vacations, etc., and he balances out their live's in a way that he never would have done if we were still together.

He is still my best friend too.

Obviously I don't have the answers , but I would suggest you try to find a way to stay on the fringe of your husband's relationship with his kids. Ask him to take them out sometimes when they come to visit, so you can maintain as much "status quo" in the house as possible, especially when you are not feeling well.

Cherie