After seven years and $100,000 later, Levi Johnston has been granted joint custody of his son, Tripp, with Bristol Palin.

Johnson took to his Facebook to explain his side of the story:

“I have been getting a lot of inquiries about recent articles and headlines in the news. I have been asked what I think and while I would rather not have my words twisted in an interview I have decided to post a little statement on here,” Levi wrote Tuesday evening. “I’m so happy to have my son in my life, and to put all of this back in forth in the courts behind me. It might have taken me 7 years and cost me around $100,000 in lawyer fees, spread out among 3 different lawyers, as well as a lot of patience, but it was all worth it.”

“I’m happy now to be successfully co-parenting,” he added.

After ending his engagement to Palin, Johnston married Sunny Oglesby and the couple had two daughters, Breeze Johnston, 3, and Indy Johnston, 13 months. The two have been married for three years.

“Although I do owe some back child support, altogether I have paid $50,000 in child support for Tripp, which is $600 a month, since Tripp’s birth so at the end of the day I know I have worked hard to meet my obligations as a father,” continued Johnston in his statement.

“Despite what some have heard I’ve always been there for him, and I go to almost every school event that I can and spend all of my free time with my kids. Right now life is really looking up for our family,” he added.

Johnston has been battling for his son’s time since 2009 when he first sued Palin. The two reached a child custody stipulation in 2010, allowing him to see Tripp on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. The courts never approved the agreement so it was never finalized. Then, in 2013, Johnston filed for joint custody.

Palin hasn’t formally released a statement but she did post a quote on her Instagram that reads, “☝?just thinking out loud this morning.”

☝?️just thinking out loud this morning

A photo posted by Bristol Palin (@bsmp2) on

Leave a comment

Read more about: