SS11.5 arrived yesterday. He has been a perfect angel and settled back into the household with little issue, despite being away for 5 months. He has helped with chores, been wonderful with DD, and not made a fuss about anything. 

As many of you know, SS11.5 has always been over scheduled in our opinion. BM has him in sports year-round with maybe a week gap in between - soccer in the spring, football in summer and fall, and basketball in the winter. These sports practice 3-5 days per week, with games every weekend. This doesn't include extra off season training or camps. SS was also taking foreign language private lessons up until recently. 

As many of you who have been following my story know, I've been in steplife for about 11 years. I met DH when SS was 10 months old. BM and DH dated on/off again in high school and into college, BM falling pregnant with SS at 19. The only thing that has been consistent with BM since then is keeping DH away from SS as much as possible. 

My grandma passed away last Saturday. She was surrounded by family and friends and passed as we said prayers, shared laughs, and shared what she meant to us. It could not have been a more perfect send off if we had planned it ourselves. It was very peaceful. Within minutes of her passing, I went outside to get some air. My grandparents live on a lake and the moon was pointing directly toward their house, the reflection illuminating the lake, creating almost a "stairway to Heaven." It was beautiful.