Figuring things out

I have some really great family. Both my family and my in-laws are always offering to help us out with our kiddos. How wonderful is that?! There is nothing better than to know that your children are being well taken care of, but it is the cherry on top when it comes with a lot of love and playfulness. Both our parents provide this for their grandkids and we are SO blessed with this love and I am really excited for the day that our kids can look back on this time with fondness.

 One night daddy's trombone snuck out of the case. All three boys loved it!

This past weekend Mark’s parents took the boys so that I could have a break. It was much needed and so refreshing. Jack is in a very ‘stinker’ stage. If I say black, he will forcefully say white. And continue to say it until some kind of answer comes his way. Everything was a struggle (remember the last post about the phone?!): getting him to eat, use the bathroom, putting shoes on, going to bed, taking a bath, going to the hospital, etc. Even if it was a fun activity, if something set him off there would surely be a huge fit.  This lifestyle is overwhelming for me and my soft-heartedness just doesn’t deal well with daily/hourly/minutely confrontation. Not to mention the kid is the over half my height and 40 lbs of craziness that is really hard to control when it is flailing punches!

 

 The boys drinking smoothies and watching football

Now, all this to say, I am so thankful for the break I received and am so excited to say that I think this week has brought a breakthrough. This week has taken a lot of work, but I think I finally figured this kid out! I have had the boys by myself since Tuesday morning and we are all still enjoying each other…that is pretty amazing considering I am usually ready to sell one or both of them to the gypsies after two nights alone!

Things I have figured out:

1. Jack needs to make a decision for himself. He likes options and really likes the autonomy of making a decision for himself, so if I give him two options like “You can either stop pestering Benaiah or go have a time out” and then re-assure him either option is fine with me, he will 99% of the time make the ‘right’ decision. This has been ground breaking for us because I no longer spend my entire day fighting with this kid! Halleluiah!! Praise Jesus!!
2. Jack needs time to make his decisions. This is a bit annoying for this fast paced momma, but I have learned time with this boy is really key. If he starts to take way too long, then I tell him I will make the decision for him if he can’t make it. This usually works.
3. Timing him. He has learned counting and if I start counting (in a happy voice) he will race to get something done as fast as he can. This is sort of funny to me.
4. Keeping him busy. This is pretty crucial to Jack’s make-up. He really needs a lot of ‘busy’ time and prefers it to be in the same room as Ben and I. 

 Benny reminds me of Linus from Charlie Brown. He is always dragging these blankets around! And Jack with his "elli"...this second picture was NOT posed. ha!

 These two just love each other...I was working with a new photo set-up and they were helping me, then Benny decided to love on Jackson with absolutely no prompting!

I am sure they will be so mad at me when they are older  for these pictures, but seriously?! How sweet!

I think this boy is so incredibly handsome. His blue eyes just melt me!

Will we ever get this boy's fingers out of his mouth?!

Benny had his pre-op physical and checked out great! The doctors think that he had RSV and not bronchitis, which is why the antibiotics did not clear up his cough and wheeze. Poor bubby. Anyway, we are all set for surgery early on Tuesday morning. I am glad he did so well on the first one, but I still get a little nervous about the whole anesthesia thing. Please pray for another great surgery and that the doctors and staff are well rested and make great decisions about him while he is in their care.