The Players

Just in case anyone else ever actually reads my posts, I thought it might be helpful to introduce the players in my game of life. Although I could write volumes on each one of them, I'll try to give a concise snapshot.

I'm a 46 year old mom of 3 boys, two teenagers and a 6 year old. We are a blended family with a "yours, mine, and ours". I work part time for a boss who is amazing, flexible, understanding, and just plain awesome. My husband and I are also part owners in a business in our small town. And lets not forget the whole sandwich generation thing. My parents are elderly and I now have many responsibilities for them.

Mr. Fixit is my husband. He can truly fix anything. I have no idea how he does this, I believe it is a talent he was born with. And one he has to use daily. 3 boys means many broken things: toys, furniture, windows, cars, appliances, and sometimes skin, teeth, or bones. He's  also known as the resident medical personnel who takes out stitches, digs out deep splinters or performs other minor medical procedures. All this in addition to his own full time job which sometimes takes him out of town. I'm thankful that he is at my side most days.

Miracle Boy is my 17 year old son (the "mine"). He was given his moniker at 3 months of age when he had emergency open heart surgery. Given a less than 1% chance of surviving, he has proven all the doctors and specialist wrong. He is now a senior in high school, an honor student, a soon to be 4 year letter athlete, and generally a "typical" teenager. He is our kid that pushes the envelope on everything. Sometimes I think this is the result of knowing he faced death and won...he simply thinks there is nothing he can't do.

The Quiet One is my 16 year old stepson (the "yours"). The Quiet One became a full time member of our household a year ago. Even though he'd always spent a fair amount of time in our house, making the move here full time came along with some adjustments on everyone's part. I'll probably write more about that later. But, things seem to be working out pretty well. The Quiet One can easily slip under the radar as he is quiet, doesn't challenge you on most things, and simply goes about his day. Which, if he had his way would mostly include sitting in the basement playing video games.

Bambam is our 6 year old son (the "ours"). He was given his moniker by family friends as he is a BIG boy, very strong, and well, he actually looked liked Bambam from the Flintstones as a toddler. Bambam is on the Autism Spectrum, has sensory issues, is hypotonic, and very likely has ADHD. In spite of all these labels he is very loving and affectionate and is the a happiest kid I've ever known. He seems perfectly content to walk his own path in life, where ever that may lead him.

So there they are, the players in my game of life. Not perfect, but mine. And I'll keep them.