Yet another transition

Last weekend was tough. We did respite care for two little kiddos that were the same ages as our girls. To avoid turning this post into a novel, I'll just say that we quickly learned what our limits were and were out of our comfort zones the whole time. Having four kids under three, even for just two days, was way too much.

We also learned that having another girl the same age as Josie really threw her for a loop. She did not handle it well and we paid the price for it with her actions and attitudes all weekend. There were many tantrums, bedtime was insane awful, and she just didn't act like her sweet self.

So we learn from it and move on.

To say we weren't exactly excited for our next placement would be an understatement. Neither of us felt that we had the strength or stamina for another challenge so immediately following the weekend and yet we learned that the county had gotten custody of eleven kids in just three days.

On Monday, we got a 3 1/2 year old boy. We were (and are) worried about the lack of age gap between him and Josie but thankfully she's doing well. He's very quiet and plays well with the girls. I think that being the youngest of six kids has taught him to get along with just about anyone.

That being said, my next concern is how to give my girl Josie enough of my time while still parenting this scared boy and an almost walking almost one year old.

Its a tough thing to balance and something I will never fully master.

Thank you for your prayers as we transition into a family of five for the next (?) little while. We truly are relying on God's strength as we don't have much of own left.

Patience

I've been praying for patience, more so lately than usual. Don't be too impressed. My prayer life is not what it should be. Josie and I have been butting heads the last week or so much more than usual. She's practicing her independence without giving me and what I expect or desire from her a second thought. Time outs, raised voices, and angry looks are happening too often around here and I'm not proud of myself at all.

So, I pray for patience. And God is so good. When I thought that I couldn't do it, He did it for me. When she wriggled and screamed and did everything under the sun to avoid nap time, I calmly sat next to her with one arm across her chest, reminding her that she needed to rest and that I would not leave until she was sleeping. No matter what she threw at me, figuratively and literally, I kept calm. 

You see, bedtime/nap time is when I am the weakest. I lose my patience more so at these times of day than any other. I fail more times than I succeed, and I always leave her room feeling like the worst parent in the world.

But this particular day, Josie fell asleep, I had a few moments of quiet, and the day continued. That moment was so good for me as a parent. To see God work through me, immediately following prayer (and during, I did silently pray over her while she cried for at least half of the time I sat with her) reassured me that I am not alone in this parenting thing.

I've known this, that I'm not alone. I don't always feel alone. But every once in a while, my emotions get the best of me (what mother hasn't experienced this?) and I want to cry out for someone, anyone, to understand how hard this can be, to keep me company, to just be here. 

So that moment was truly a wonderful answer to prayer.

And then, because He always pushes us to truly rely on him, he sent me two more babies to take care of almost all by myself this weekend.

We're doing respite care today and tomorrow for a girl that is Josie's age and a boy that is Audrey's age. It's like having two sets of twins, except that I don't know these two like I know my own kids, so it's a lot more of guessing and hovering to make sure there are kind words and hands. 

I don't think, no, I know that I could not do this on my own all the time. Four kids under three? Two that have come from a struggling home and have a bit of behavior to show from that? I have hardly sat down yet and the day has just begun. 

Today, this nap time is so very sweet. I have failed already today with my temper, patience, tone and volume of voice, but I have also relied on Jesus to get me through numerous moments throughout the day. He gives me strength when I just can.not.do.it.

All four kids are sleeping (thank you Lord!) and I am catching my breath.

The fun will start again soon, I'm sure.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

We took a mini photo shoot of the girls with their cousin, Dean, since they all happened to be wearing matching Halloween shirts last week. We actually got some good shots! I was excited. It just takes two moms and a grandma to get 'em. 

We'll be trick or treating tonight for a bit (costumes are yet to be decided since a certain two year old "doesn't wanna wear dat" with every choice she's given) and doing our yearly eat-out-to-avoid-the-older-kids-who-take-too-much-candy-dinner (you know what I'm talking about).

Enjoy this perfect Fall day with some fun and a little bit o'candy. :)

Only one year and two days apart, these two are buddies through and through

She's kind of captivating, you know?

Happy faces...

"We're still doing this?" faces...

Always on the go, always blurry pictures

This kiddo is quite the gem. He sits so perfectly for pictures!

Bahhhh I just love them. 

Josie says

"I'm just hanging out with Audrey listening to music. I'm her man."

I guess role playing has begun.

We play a game where I say that I'm hungry and pretend to eat her finger. The other day, she came up to me and said, "I'm hungry for your finger in here!" It took me a moment to realize what she was referencing and that she didn't actually have a strong craving for human fingers.

"I want a bread of peace. I want a bread of peace!"
I think you mean a piece of bread. :)

Her new word of exclamation is "Aff!" All.day.long. For no reason. Everyone looks at her like, "What...are you saying?" I have no idea where it came from.

She is still rocking the add ons to words typically ending in -ing. Most common are "What are you doin'in?" and "Where are we goin'in?" A few dozen times an hour. One day I tried to get her to repeat me.

Me: Josie, what are we doING?
Josie: What are we doin'in?
Me; Can you say doING?
Josie: doin'IN
x3
Cue her looking at me with a pleased smile. She's saying it perfectly in her mind.