If you get primary custody then the child support issue is no longer an issue, is it? I mean, your income, even if attributed to you as a standard waitress income, is lower than your ex's, right? So focus on the custody thing and not on the support thing.

And I'm not saying you need to buy Hollister for the child... rather, that you need to stop shopping at all for her if there is an outstanding child support obligation. Put the numbers into the formula used in your state. Is it the $450-$500 amount that you think it is? Not too likely. Not when he's got a reasonable income and your onw income is tiny... not when you've got 3 new little ones (only one of which was planned) two of whom are sick.

But your best bet is to focus on getting custody back in your favor or at least 50-50. Focus on waht's best for your child and put the dollars involved aside for a while... make certain the judge knows this is about your little girl's best interest and has nothing to do with you needing to ease up your household budget for your new family.