Moving on

Well, we are moving on to a new phase in our family life. I have accepted a job working at our local hospital working about 32 hours a week. My license has come through so I should start working in a week or so after all the obligatory background checks and drug screening. I am sad to be leaving home, but at least I do enjoy my field of work. I am thankful that we have this option. This job also comes with medical benefits so that is a huge burden lifted.

I accepted the job because the board meeting for the Captain's company did not go well. I will spare you all the details other than to say there is not a job for him to come back to. There really seems to be no plan for the company at this time so there's no point in holding out for a quick come back.

So the Captain is going to start sending out more resumes and being a full-time stay at home dad. I figure by the time this is over with, we are both going to have a greater appreciation of what the other spouse does all the time.

Specific prayer requests:
1. A great job that the captain will enjoy will be found soon.
2. When this job arrives, all the transitional things like fixing up the house, selling the house, transferring schools, etc will happen smoothly and quickly. (It's a really, really bad time to be selling a house especially one you have only owned for 5 months.)
3. Pray for the Captain and I during this time so that we will support each other and strengthen our marriage.
4. For the kids: I can tell this week has already been a little weird on them. Pray they will adapt to the change in parent roles and schedules for a time.

Thanks so much for all your prayers. I know they work. I feel so much more at peace this week than last. My hair dresser was admiring my calmness. I know it's the "peace that passes understanding" because it's sure not from me. Thank you God for that.

Sleep problems

So many of my parenting dilemmas are just not described in any parenting books. We are in the middle of one now.

For the past few weeks, Crash has been having a hard time going to bed. (FYI- this started way before the job chaos so it's not related to that.) He generally has at least one spanking before he stays in bed.

Now he's added a new twist. He turns on all the lights in his room: room light, closet light, and bathroom light.

For instance last night: he got out of bed shortly after I put him to bed and turned the lights on. So I disciplined him and turned the lights out. That was the last we heard of him and we went to bed a few hours later. When I awoke at 5am, all his lights are on but he is now asleep on his bed.

He's been doing this for several weeks. We thought maybe he's becoming afraid of the dark so we gave him flashlights and put a night light in the room. That didn't help.

Is this a discipline issue? Is this a weird sleep issue? Why would you wake up in the middle of the night and turn on all the lights and then go back to sleep?

He is tired during the day right now. He is occasionally waking up his brothers with his escapades. Actually, I am surprised he doesn't wake them up more often.

He's a funny little kid that way. Always got to do his own thing...

My Interview

My job interview went very well today. Actually, amazing! I was so nervous about the 6 year gap in my resume. She basically offered me a job and wants to know when I can start. That was a huge relief.

God is just so good! During the interview, the director is giving me a tour of the unit and we run into 1 person that I go to church with. She happens to work on the unit where I would be. And she introduced me to several other therapists who said they had heard about me from some mutual friends at my church. It was just very encouraging to be "known" and to be so welcomed. I know it wasn't necessary but it sure did make the whole experience even better.

I am just thankful to God for this opportunity to help out with our family during this time. Please pray for Captain and I this week as we decide how much I should work.

Movie Night

It's been a crazy, emotional week, but we are doing ok considering. The captain and I are really trying hard to keep things somewhat "normal" regardless of what the future may bring us. One idea we had was, "Movie night."

Our kids, especially the test pilot, scare pretty easy during movies. The theatre is dark, all the sounds are super loud, and they don't always understand what's going on so they get scared and we have to walk out of the movie theatre. We have been able to watch some movies at home where we can talk the test pilot through it and it turns out ok.

So going to the theatre is pretty much out for us for a few years. The Captain's sister sent us a box a couple of years ago of every Disney movie ever made on VHS that her son had out grown. We have barely scratched the surface of this box.

We told the kids at dinner and they were excited. We got the box out and we all decided what movie to watch (the ones with a smaller scare factor for now.) Mary Poppins was the pick.

We popped lots of popcorn. The boys love that stuff and all huddled on the couch. We all enjoyed the movie and singing the songs together.

It was great fun and didn't cost one dime. Even better!

One of our goals through all of this is become a closer family no matter what happens.

Jobs

Here's a little update. The captain has submitted his resume to a couple of companies. One of them has already contacted him and are sending his resume around the company. It looks like it could be a good job but it's a long way from here.

I have submitted all my papers needed to get my PT license moved to TX. I just have to wait for everything to be processed which could be up to 2-3 weeks. In the mean time, I have a job interview on Monday at 10am. I an excited and scared out of my mind! It's been awhile since I worked outside of the home.

I really am very sad to be leaving home, but I know it's only for a season and we feel it's the right thing to do right now. I will work as long as Dan is at home looking for a job that way the kids aren't in childcare.

Now six years ago, if you would have told me that I would be a full-time mom with 3 boys I would have said you were nuts. I always pictured myself working. Of course, at the time I had no children and couldn't comprehend the joy that was to come.

Thanks for all your prayers and kind words! It helps- I only cried once today. I hate crying!

It's not good news

Well, today we found out that the Captain did not survive round 3 of the airplane company layoffs. I think they are down to about 40 employees from the 400 a year ago. I am still in the "crying everytime I think about it stage." This stinks.

For now he will start looking for another job which will more than likely mean a move for us. There just isn't much in his field around here. His industry as a whole is really hurting in this depressed economy so this isn't the best time to be looking for a job.

Please pray for us during this transition. Pray that a great job for the Captain will show itself soon. Pray that God will give us guidance during this time.

We're back!

We have returned from our Christmas expedition. It feels like an expedition because we have 2 days of driving (each way) and along the way we get to see aunts and uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, second cousins, 2 sets of great grandparents and our final destination brings us to grandparents. The kids love every moment of it.

Ok- the baby might be getting a little cranky by hour 6 in the car but who can blame him.

Here's us Christmas day at my parents's house. This is the largest tree I have ever seen in any one's home. Thank you Grandave.

The boys received some new additions to their Geotrax set. My parents and my sister all contributed pieces to the airplane set. I highly recommend this set of trains to anyone with small boys. Fisher-Price got this one right.

We went sledding. It was 25 degrees and nearing white out conditions. Crash and I lasted a few sled runs until his glove came off and he realized how cold it was. The captain and the test pilot lasted a bit longer. They were thrilled to see snow.

The boys got some cool dress up gear. They received these clone trooper helmets.

And some awesome race car driver helmets. It's fun to watch them make up stories while dressed up.

We had a great Christmas. Piglet's favorite part was rolling under the Christmas tree and trying to take down the ornaments. His second favorite part was tearing apart the packages and eating tissue paper. (You can tell he is my 3rd kid because I don't fret if he eats a little tissue paper.)

Now I better get back to cleaning up after Christmas. Hope you all had a great holiday too.