update on our boys

Our borrowed vehicle is full again.  It’s brimming with bags and snacks for 7, as we wear a path between North Florida and Tampa.  But I am thankful for all of the loud voices and our space challenges.  It means that we are all together again.  I find myself taking in our craziness with tears in my eyes – thankful for all of it and thankful our season of separation has come and gone.  We survived and I now have a deep appreciation for single mothers.  Wowzers.  Parenting three kiddos on my own for 7 weeks was totally enough for me!

Granted, the last 7 weeks have not been normal ones.  With one kiddo healing from major surgery and a second who is learning how to be in a family (but his family was oceans apart) created some interesting days.  Like the day I was driving 6 hours from the hospital to our summer home and it took 8 hours because I learned our newbie gets car sick and Little Man was allergic to one of his medications!  Fun times.

But, honestly the hard days were few and far between.  Things went so much smoother than I could have dreamed.  Little Man continues to heal and is delighted with the progress that is being made on his new prosthetic.  Weekly trips to the hospital are tiring, but will be worth the effort once he is walking again.

He has been measured, casted, and chosen a color and design for his new leg.  This past week he went for a fitting – everything has been made except the outer shell.  He walked on it.  The prosthetist adjusted the rod and metal plates that make up the inner parts of the leg after watching him walk.  So cool how they can match his legs and help him walk with an even gait.  Every time we have a new one made I am amazed at the process.  One more week and we should be done.

Little Man isn’t the only one making progress.  Mo has gone from being car sick every ride and screaming in his car seat….to being a better traveler.  I wouldn’t say a great traveler, but he is doing much better.  He also is learning new English words every day – dinosaur, corn, and neck to name a few.  He often will say a new word over and over – proud as punch that he has figured out another piece in the puzzle of communicating with this crazy new family he has been dropped into.

We are learning new things too.  We have discovered that Mo LOVES swimming.  I mean all kids like swimming, but this kid wakes up every morning and only wants to wear his bathing suit and has taken to sleeping with his puddle jumper.  Teddy bear?  No, thank you.  His new comfort thing is a flotation device.  I can’t make this stuff up.  He also likes trains, singing, eating (almost anything) and jumping around after his big brother.  His first 4 months with us have flown by.  He continues to delight us with his sweet ways and I often wonder how we have been chosen to be so blessed by these kids I get to call my own.

If this post is going to be true to its title, I should update you on Soccer Dude as well!  He is about to start an online driver’s ed course and before long he will be starting his Sophomore year of high school….say what?!  Time is flying with this one.  Hubby and I keep asking ourselves what we need to pour into him before he leaves our nest.

Today at the beach Soccer Dude carried Mo on his shoulders out into the waves to give me a break from the toddler who never wants to stop swimming.  (Such a good teenager, right?!) I watched them wrestle in the water and play way rougher than I ever dreamt necessary – laughing, sputtering water, and enjoying each other.  Love my boys.  This mom, who grew up with only sisters, is a much better person now that I play with trains, wrestle and can shoot a nerf gun.

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