Can I just say.... WOW!

We took the plunge about one week ago....  We moved Weston to his own room, and were DETERMINED to help him sleep through the night.  When we went down to our sleep study, they told us the "protocol" to follow once all of his medical stuff was figured out - since his iron levels are great, and his reflux controlled (and tax season is becoming more and more distant in the rearview mirror)...  the time had come.

Night 1:  Weston slept in his new room, very excited to be a big boy, until 1am when he joined us in our room.

Night 2:  Weston fell asleep okay, but then woke up around 11pm...  and after being up with him for 3 hours, I threw in the towel and let him come sleep with us.  He slept until 5am.  I got three hours of sleep that night, and at one point he had the ENTIRE family awake.  I recommitted - and admitted my own stupidity.  I would do things EXACTLY as the sleep specialist said.  Period.  Variation is NOT an option.

Night 3:  There was some crying involved, and a lot of toys being thrown at the door.  Since the rule is "don't go in the room, no matter what" I decided that even if I had to buy a new door - it would be worth it if he slept through the night.  He made it through the night, sleeping in his OWN ROOM!

Nights 4, 5, 6 and 7:  Weston went to bed around 7:30 most nights, and wakes up between 6 and 7am.

Can I just say..... WOW!!!!!



The experts know what they are talking about.  What they DIDN'T tell me was the difference it would make in Weston.  His sweetness is now being worn on his sleeve.  He wakes up HAPPY, something he never did before.  He is so proud of himself for having his own room and sleeping by himself, and all night long.  He gets along better with his brothers, doesn't have as much of a temper, and is just generally speaking HAPPIER.  He eats better, and talks more, and is more affectionate (hard to believe that he could be more loving, I know!)  He is my sweet baby boy, and loves it when I call him that.  He's got just the best smile, and it goes all the way to his eyes.

And here's what I was so gratefully reminded of...  To be their best mom, I can't let my own feelings or guilt get in the way of doing what's best for our boys.  Ever.  Such a good reminder for me!  I know that God brought us through the last 9 months of sleepless nights for a reason, and it stretched me and pushed me so much, and I am GRATEFUL for it.  It gave me a massive amount of time to pray, and those hours in the dark will always have a sweet memory for me.  It forced me to rely on God as my strength - because I was exhausted and had none of my own.  It developed a greater and deeper level of patience in me.  It bonded Weston and I in a way that only a mom and son who've worked through exhaustion and frustration and who have snuggled for hours and hours on end can.  I understand how his little mind works so much more now.  I've learned that it's okay to admit that I'm weak/exhausted/need help.  It's okay.  I am NOT superwoman!  I am so grateful  to God for his sovereignty over my life.

And I am SO grateful to be getting so much sleep.  :-)  Actually, I think I'm getting too much sleep, I am exhausted all day long!  :-)  Seriously, who sleeps for 8 hours, uninterrupted?  I know that for me, that hasn't happened in YEARS!  I'm liking this new chapter!

Dear Sweet Weston,

At 3 years and 5 months, you are just a delightful, joyful little boy.  The look on your face when you see me come home, or when you wake up is just plain joy.  You've got the sweetest smile - and you love to give it.  You are talking more and more, and we all understand what you are saying.  Tonight you were so cute... running out into Wayne's soccer game, carrying a bag of Cheetos, with cheesy goodness all over your face and hands - running away from Dad - just to come tell me "Hi Mom!" and then run right back to Dad.  Silly boy!  I love you more than you can ever know, and am so thankful that God chose me to be your Mom - it is my privilege and my delight.  I will love you forever, and pray for you always, forever my baby you'll be!

Love,
Mom

They make me special!

Mother's Day was fairly laid back this year - and the best part was sleeping in!!!  Up to this point, we'd had  number of rough nights with poor Weston trying to learn to sleep through the night, and so I was in desperate need of more than 3 hours of sleep... and got it!  And when I did venture downstairs, breakfast was waiting.  All the boys worked together to make me an omelet and bacon, with a heart cut out of the omelet for fanciness' sake.  Wayne was so proud to show it off!

Weston was proud too... but a little miffed that Wayne got his picture taken first.

Wyatt was just happy to have found Daddy's hat (again!)

We headed off to church, and then Tyler and the boys came back home to get ready for my mom's - he made the 7 layer salad for me!  I took off for a power run to RiteAid and a little quiet time.  Then, it was a mad dash to get to my mom's for lunch.  Mochilla's and salads and MOCHA CAKE - mmm..  we missed you Todd!

But at least we had Beppe with us.  She's a pretty good sport, and isn't phased by the LOUDNESS that is our family. 

The best picture I have of me and the boys that day.  They were all getting tired and made there way to me on the couch - nothing like a snuggle with mom to refresh you!

After that we headed home, and it was quite chaotic since everyone missed naptime.  Oh well, it was a great day, but I think we should celebrate more than once per year.  :-)

Because of you

 

To Wayne, Weston, and Wyatt,

Because of you, I can get a stain out of almost anything.  Because of you I have more than one dozen "magic eraser's" on hand, because they easily clean up all the messes you make when you color outside of the lines.. or on the walls.  Because of you my body can function on 4 hours of sleep, and if I'm awake past 10pm I know that I am staying up REALLY late.  Because of you, we still have $100 of rolled quarters that have been missing for over one year now.  Because of you - I never know what I might find underneath any given register cover.  Because of you, I buy pop tarts, and eggo's, and brown and serve sausage, because you are BOTTOMLESS in the morning.  Because of you I consider it a treat to go to the bathroom by myself.  Because of you I do more than 10 loads of laundry per week, and even at 3 and 5 you are responsible for helping me.  Because of you my windows and baseboards are always clean.  Because of you, my kitchen floor is NEVER clean.  Because of you I can cook dinner in 10 minutes flat, bake cookies that take 4 hours to finish, talk on the phone, rock a baby, and check my email - at the same time, and forget what I'm doing before I even start.  Because of you I think any burp or fart is funny.  Because of you, I have never been more frustrated or overwhelmed.  Because of you I want to be the best mom that I ever could be, but because of you - I know that I can never be good enough for you either, without God as my strength and my guide.  Because of you I am stronger and deeper in my faith, and I know that it is by the grace of God that you will love and follow after him.  Because of you, I can't watch scary movies, or hear any stories of children in need - it breaks my heart.  Because of you I worry about what cabinets can be opened, what is in them, what kind of fertilizer I use, if our water is filtered, what kind of detergent I use, whether the bathroom doors are open, and whether the toilet lid is up or down.  Because of you, I believe in the 10 second rule.  Because of you, I am exhausted by 7pm, and get to sing to you as you fall asleep in your warm bed, covered in hugs and kisses.  Because of you, I am reminded of my childhood and how to see things through the eyes of a child.  Because of you I love your Dad even more - he is the best Dad I could have ever dreamed of to you boys.  Because of you my heart loves more than I ever thought possible, and it grows each and every day I get to snuggle you, read to you, feed you, and sing you to sleep. 

Because of you I have the joy and the privilege of being called "Mom."  I love you three boys more than you will ever possibly know.  I'll love you forever, I'll pray for you always, forever my babies you'll be!

Love, Mom

Opening Day for the Silves Boys - Weston's first time!

The boys were so excited to head out for fishing for the first time in 2011... and for Weston, the first time EVER!  Look at the smile on his face, he totally knew he was in for something special!he

Such sweet little brothers.  I can't imagine the years that are to come for them of hanging out, beating each other up, and beating up anyone who messes with the other!  :-) 

Wayne's got his own pole. 

Waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.... but nothing was biting.

I'm sure 'Crampa was shaking his head at all the food those Silves boys could pack down.

 

And after all the fun - they got skunked!  At least they had lots of donuts!  :-)

Soccer and MUD!

This is what our soccer game looked like on Tuesday - beautiful, sunny... bliss!

 Followed up by snacks and chips.

 Saturday???  Saturday was completely different!  Cold, wet, and MUDDY!  Our game wasn't until 1pm, so at least it had stopped raining, but....  it was MUDDY!  And Bender Muddy, which is a whole different breed of mud (trust me, I have the now dingy white team shirt to prove it!)  The first time running, Wayne fell down and got mud on his hands...  once he figured out he could wipe them on his shorts, he was good to go!

 So the kids were ready, and the coaches?  Thanks to a player's mom, we had our Starbucks and were ready to go too! 

 There's our little go getter!  This was early in the game, when he was on the ground because he was going after the ball so hard - by the end of the game, he was laying on the ground because he was EXHAUSTED!!!

Here's hoping for sunny skies and seventies this week!!!!

If you thought that I had an "excessive photo taking" problem....

it is NOTHING compared to my dear, sweet husband and father of our three boys.

He took TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT pictures during Wayne's 36 minute soccer game.  That's an average of 7 pictures per minute.  YEESH!!!!

A great deal on Photoshop Elements!

As many of you all know - I scrapbook using Photoshop Elements.  There is a great deal going on with Amazon today on the latest version - if you have been waiting for a sale, the time is NOW!

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