Half term fun

 A visit to my childhood friend Ioana meant we were able to visit also our family favourite the Outlook Centre in Bracknell. It was a good day and we really enjoyed catching up.

 THe Bank Holiday weekend also meant we were able to create a little different room for Zac the great roof feature in Zac;s room allowed us to create what might be imaginary camping with a bigger boy bed:)) the bed in fact is the same but having repositioned it and it no longer sticking to the wall meant it felt bigger and our forever enthusiastic Zac loved the idea:)

 We also had a visit from Ollie dog....one of our family's friends. His owners are Zac's Godparents and this dog is just a little bit older than Zac. THey love each other and Zac loves him a lot.

 We had revisited a few places one of which was Monkey Bizz where they had a giant Junk Room and we were able to create our own car:)) I must admit it made me smile to see how happy zac was just playing with junk:)) and stuffing forever stuffing....going round and round a room and filling a tube with various textured small bits....

 What an exciting day with having Alexia and Rafael visit us....it was time to build and do some colouring tooo!!!

 And our little half term project was to start doing a cardboard car and then make it and cut it and colouring it:)))

 Zac loves the Shopping Game and also snakes and ladders we play these daily...its a kind a like a routine...he loves it and he understand when one cheats, is unfair and off course MY RULES:)

 This photo of Zac reading describes him best:) He often picks up a book or two and reads....he looks at pictures...talks to the pictures....has imaginary totally unrelated conversations like: "what time is it and where are we going next" does answer it himself and its always : "its six a clock and its bed time"....he can quite happily go through lets say 5 books before he realises he is bored or HUNGRY and had enough.

 Bath time is a difficult one! We either want it or DON:T WANT BATH and so its a sore and strange subject, Happens most nights especially during summer often two times a day:) The other evening he was in an extremely good mood and asked for the bath letters....several minutes later he spelt out his name...(well I know it the wrong way round) but I was impressed. Something we had been doing with boys is change passwords to words that they can spell so that they 1 learn , 2 turn on ipads themselves. So this was Zac's password and here below he now knows how to spell his name:))

 Another great photo with Ben (Reuben's friend) at Monkey Bizz. Zac loves Reuben;s friends and really does seem to have taken to them ....I think often R would rather Zac wouldn't hang around him but I must admit its great to see that most older boys do care for Zac and have accepted him as part of the package:) in fact one or two who have no younger siblings are extremely nice to Zac....he knows indeed who these kids are.

 During school time...Tuesdays we have Zoli stay with us in the evenings while mummy is going to her college! On a Thursday we have Jack here after school...he is a neighbour and we had made this arrangement as Reuben and him have been getting very friendly and seem to like the same things. Its been working out very well....and this means that boys have regular play dates and I also can help my friends.

 Evening ritual often includes me massaging their feet with Vaseline. Its been going on forever but recently both boys love doing massages for us and each other. I do believe this is a good ritual and a very important time for soothing, sharing and giving and receiving love....boys often ask why we do this and its interesting to notice what thoughts provokes in them. I must admit my boys often fall asleep as soon as they hit the pillow somewhere between this and reading a story!!

I can say I am amazed at how Zac communicates, acts and reacts....also at his determination, he has overcome lately his fear from nail-cuts and haircut (although the latter is going in stages), he is doing pretty well with potty training and finally he is worshipping his brother....I love him so very much words can not possibly ever express....."with you Zac our family got richer and soooo much more compact" thank you my gorgeous angel!

possibly done this too?

YEAH! Well here I am....bad mummy as life just too exciting to try and catch up with it "black on white" we had been to Romania which was amazing and a little bit about this please read on Reuben's blog here http://www.reubenandthesmiths.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/romania.html
But since we had come back things have been good and bad too. Zac is very strong willed....he really does know how to protest and also he does things his own way. I remember there was difficulties with Reuben too when 4 but I guess I have forgotten a lot of what went on having been very busy trying to fit in, do things by the book and finally admit defeat. With Zac I had realised some time ago that he is NO REUBEN and he also has a different way of relating to the world. Reuben was adventurous and curious while Zac is interested in detail and often loves if we just linger in the moment for some time.

Every morning when I drop him at nursery  (3 days a week) I feel terribly defeated because I know this wasn't something for Zac but I had to be tough and put him through the anxiety of separation and more because life is not often about what we want but what we can and are presented with....HE still has bad days and good days when saying goodbye to me but thankfully another 6 weeks and we will end that era!

Stubbornness you can say it again...yes! Bloody HELL can this child send us round the bend (oh yeah) and contrary to a lot of people who know Zac and think they would be able to handle him after terrorising him for a while....HE DOES RESPOND TO GENIUINE LOVE AND CARE like most of us. I know people think I am too soft with him and too patient and such but I know and understand because I had carried him for much longer than the 9 months (4 of those total stress and worry). He was destined for living and he is a FIGHTER I know he will be achieving big things because he is so so determined and stubborn and different. but lets just wait and see.

Yap, lets not forget Zac is still not fully potty trained....its been long coming. Having had partly managed last year during summer to wee he has regressed and upon investigation we realised he actually has a rare bowel problem. We do not know weather this is linked to the abnormalities predicted at 6 months scans but we are more and more aware that he is indeed having incredible pain and difficulty with his poo. He has completed a very drastic treatment of nearly 6 months of medication to regulate his bowel movements and now still on medication which is much gentler.

I wasn't going to put pressure on him with regards to potty training however knowing we are going to be around this half term and weather being so rainy and cold we have decided to stay in and give potty training a go. We are 4 days in...a few accidents but generally using potty and toilet too...unless too excited or too engrossed in IPADS.

Weather I succeed or not or we manage this or not I will still think my boy is pretty amazing. He has had a very adventurous 4 years not forgetting he wasn't even meant to be given a chance to live....he is with us and he loves life that alone is enough for me. I remember with Reuben I used to feel the need to tick those developmental boxes to make those announcements about the milestones with Zac I am glad to see him with us alive and kicking all the rest is a bonus and more. I know he will do it in his time....all children do. I remain in awe of this monkey he is totally mine, totally crazy and amazing he gives us a boost of energy and makes us grateful of life each day. I am cheering him on we all do!! I will never forget his coming into this life...his three in one ops and just his battle with his bowel problems....he is soldiering on....he doesn't give up....he is a real STAR!