tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21292187142357503382024-03-13T19:47:34.515-07:00arrowsinourfisthomesteading, homeschooling, homebirthing, dreadlocked, tattooed, gentle, natural, sentimental, Jesus loving, quiverfull mama to seven.Trying to make the most of this beautiful life!Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-41463773339756668552015-03-16T19:31:00.002-07:002015-03-16T19:31:44.836-07:00 I need to write Serenity's birth story down...time is already flying by and I don't want the details to get fuzzy. This is a birth story, with gritty details. You have been warned.<br />
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38 weeks<br />
The pregnancy went well. I gained a lot more weight than normal people do, but it is my normal. I had a really hard time this go round with swollen legs and feet, and pain when moving. I think it has something to do with being older! I had prodromal labor for a few weeks...again, my normal. Contractions would be every 5 minutes, lasting 60 seconds, every day. I still thought I would go to 40 weeks...I really wanted a Valentine baby! The full moon was February 3rd and I was very low, and crampy that day. I went to bed as normal though...other than feeling like she was down really low I did not feel out of the ordinary. I woke up at 7:30 the next morning(Feb 4th) to a weird, strong kick and rolled my huge self out of bed. I wish I could convey the huge task this was! I rolled off the side and gingerly(swollen feet and plantar fasciitis) walked to the kids bathroom across the house. I think someone was in my bathroom that is only a few feet from my bed...I don't know why I went all the way to the kids bathroom! I sat down and peed, had a contraction that brought a bunch more...wait...this felt more "solid" or thick than pee. I wiped, it was really mucousy , but the flow stopped with the end of the contraction. I stood up and went to leave the bathroom, but had another small gush.I sat down again, starting to wake up mentally and realize that this "might" be my water breaking. That kick...it was just like the way it felt when Lucian was born and my water broke. But that brought with it hard labor and I was barely feeling contractions this time. I sat for a minute, gave a small push to test it, and whoosh! Yep, that was amniotic fluid! I had a huge surge of fear...the memories of the overwhelmingness off Lucian's birth flooded back full force. I wasn't done being pregnant yet! What if this is my last baby and I didn't get these last two weeks?!? Why were the contractions I had had for weeks now not happening? Can I do this? I looked in the mirror, leaned over the sink to let my stomach really hang down, and prayed for strength and courage. I felt my resolve bolster, I felt so much excitement that I was going to meet my baby this day! I grabbed a towel from the rack and wadded it between my legs, then trekked to the kitchen and grabbed my phone. I called Ruth(my beloved midwife,the one who has seen me through the last 4 births before this as well) and told her my water for sure had broke, butI wasn't feeling any contractions. She was sleeping, having just got home from another birth(or 2...they had 8 in 6 days!) She told me to try to rest, and call her back when things picked up. After hanging up I went into my room and told Brian it was time to get up, we were having a baby. ;) He was lounging in bed playing the kindle and he just looked at me being all calm and he couldn't tell if I was joking.I laughed and told him that this was really it, my water was broke and she was going to be born today. He got up and helped me strip the bed to put the shower curtain he had bought on.( Back story...we weren't sure how we were going to afford the homebirth and had started with ob care. It was hellish from the start and Brian got a guide to unassisted birth from the library. It said to cover the bed with a shower curtain. I remember how proud he was the day he came home with one lol...he was so much more involved after reading the book! I told him the blue pads would suffice, but we still used *his* shower curtain too.) Then I vacuumed the room again, and Brian had the kids helping clean. Since I had nested the house was already in order and we were out of chores in just 10 minutes.I put on some lipstick and eyeliner lol...I had never looked very good having a baby and wanted to do it a little differently. I felt some small contractions starting up and upon timing them found they were every 3 minutes, 75-90 seconds. I just wasn't feeling it unless I was really paying attention. I called Ruth back(it was now 9:30) and she said she was heading my way(an hour drive). She told me that after laying back down she had realized who was calling and started doubting having waited lol. (My last 4 labors had been 1 hr from water breaking, 1 hr, 3 hrs, and 1 hr.) I told her things were still calm, so we should be good. I called a few family and friends and let them know Ruth was on her way. Ginni(my friend, and pastor's wife) said she would head my way. My neighbor Marcia also came over, and did crafts with 7 of the kids! What a blessing that was! Trinity(my 16 year old) stayed in my room with me. Time starts feeling hazy at this point. I recall Ginni arriving, with her husband(wait, what?)Brian stayed out in the dining room to be with the kids/talk to Derrick. I was rocking in the old rocker in my room mentally turning inward during contractions. They picked up in intensity a lot at this point. I started standing during them, then sitting back down.Then I was swaying through them and couldn't talk anymore. Ruth arrived and asked if she could check me. I was terrified to lay down, but also curious if this strange labor was actually dilating me. I was an 8(phew). I got into the shower , things were pretty intense and I wanted the relief I always got in the shower. Unfortunately it wasn't happening. I felt like she was hanging out...the contractions were getting stronger but she wasn't moving.I squatted in the shower, nothing. Just more intense contractions. I couldn't get away from them, but I couldn't change this either. I aimed the shower at my back, it felt much better than when it hit my stomach. It hit me that this was just like all my other posterior babes. The realization mingled with the steamy water and I felt super queasy. I shut the water off and got out. I threw my hair into a half ponytail, makeup forgotten! and pulled on a shirt. I waddled out to the bed, climbed up and got in a side laying position. No good. I clambered onto hands and knees. I started feeling desperate...why wasn't she moving down? I feel like I got whiney at this point, I remember begging someone to help me. Ruth ,Brian, and Ginni all said I was really very quiet, but it didn't feel that way to me.<br />
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I started to push, more to do something to try to move her than because I felt a real urge. It was horrible. I was pushing so hard and she was not coming down still. I moaned that she was stuck, and Ruth said,"Don't say that!" She told me after that she could see that she wasn't moving and was thinking of our next move. I pushed for several more contractions. This was new for one of my homebirths...in the hospital I had had hours of pushing, and forceps delivery, but at home it was always one contraction of pushing and a rapid birth. Despair led me to not stop on one really hard push and I felt her move! I gave it everything I had and felt her head come out, then had to wait a sec to birth the shoulders,body. Finally, she was born! <br />
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I was shocked at how hard it had been. Ruth said her head never moved, she was born looking straight up. <br />
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Serenity Love was born at 11:56 am. Labor was just under 2 hours from start of contractions, and the eternal pushing??? Only 9 minutes. I don't know how, we all agree it felt like much, much longer.</div>
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8 lbs 8 ozs @38 weeks, 20 3/4 inches long.She took to nursing beautifully, better than any babe I have ever seen. I birthed the placenta, which I later encapsulated myself. Brian took the baby out to meet the other kids and show her off to Marcia. Ginni left to go back to work. I sat in bed talking to Ruth while we did the post birth palpating of the tummy. I felt great! As I sat up I felt a huge gush, bigger than when my water broke. Ruth's face changed fast to a serious one. I lost about two cups of blood with that one gush.She gave me a shot of Pitocin and I took a couple placenta pills from Luke's birth that I still had. I kept bleeding, but it slowed. She said anyone else she would have transferred immediately, but knowing my past trauma with hospitals and Dr.s she waited it out with me and I was fine. I lost about 4 cups total, and am still trying to regain all my strength,but I didn't need to go in. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Trinity(16),Jubilee(8),Epiphany(5),Lucian(2) and Serenity 1 hour</div>
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Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-27444719696051076352014-06-29T19:39:00.000-07:002014-06-29T19:39:00.626-07:00 Lol, I reread the last post and it is comical now to say that life was definitely moving forward. While I was feeling so down and tired my body had moved forward entirely, and gone and accepted new life. I am now 7 weeks along with a baby that already has a strong heartbeat(122) and has been seen on ultrasound, measuring perfectly. I am due on Valentines Day,2015. I am tired, oh yes, but it is a tired I can relish. I am sick, but I am happily dealing with that as I think of the little being growing stronger each day. With each loss I have come more and more to acceptance that I am very small in this life, that the Lord is truly in control, and even the sorrowful things have meaning and importance. This is actually very reassuring for me.<br />
I am very happy that Brian and I have come up with a generic plan. Our hearts both long to be back in MI. Our physical reality makes that not possible yet. We are aiming to be back up there in the next five years. Financially we should be able to do it that way with no difficulties. It feels good to have a plan in place to get back "home". <br />
The oldest three children and Brian are getting ready to leave this week to travel to Nashville for the International Youth Convention. It is a huge meeting that takes place every other year for the Church of God youth. Brian is obviously going as a chaperone, and he has really been feeling led to start working more with the youth. I believe this will be important when we go back to MI, but am so glad he is open to it here too.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-38962840571779355492014-05-29T18:12:00.001-07:002014-05-29T18:12:38.331-07:00 Moving...forward? More like marching in place. I gave myself some extra grace in what I allowed myself to eat following the recent miscarriage and as a result went back up a couple pounds. Nothing extreme, but up enough that I am now re losing weight I already lost. My body has not cycled in a clearcut way either, so I am a little uncertain of where I should be. I have been minding other people's children often enough that I feel like the days are a bit blurry due to being exhausted and monotonous. <br />
On the other hand I have planned and purchased most of the new school year curriculum! Yay! I can hardly believe how close I am to graduating my first, and how fast it will go after that. <br />
Our garden is a little smaller this year, but growing nicely.<br />
The animals are doing wonderfully. We have Frogger separated from the girls, so we can control the kidding season a little better next year. The chicks are out in the coop in a birdcage, soon to be allowed free. Our girl bunnies need a male to give them some lovin. ;) The pond regained a bit of water this week, after going completely dry. This drought has been hard.(understatement)<br />
We went and signed up for the library's summer reading program today. They had face painting, sidewalk chalk and bubbles, and play-do and coloring pages. The younger ones and my 8 year old nephew loved it.The teens and Logan were indifferent. So odd to see them growing up like that. They found tucked away chairs and dove into their books. Gavin was happy to learn that audio books count(he has profound learning disabilities so this is the first year he is excited to do the program).Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-43787459845331575762014-04-17T15:47:00.003-07:002014-04-17T15:47:34.066-07:00 With much sadness I lost this pregnancy this week. I was seven weeks, and so filled with hope and desire. I am very thankful, though, that physically it has not been nearly as hard as my last loss(which was 3 years ago,also during Lent). I have not hemorrhaged, and because of this chance to compare I now realize how bad last time really was. I have placenta pills left from Lucian's birth and they have helped balance me out so well. I was very weepy on Sunday and after taking two a day since then I have been much more even and able to see things without feeling so depressed.<br />
We have finished with our kidding season now. On Thursday I looked out the back window and saw a little red goat laying at the back fenceline. Then I saw a big red goat laying next to it. We only had one red goat! I ran out and sure enough Calhoun had a red buck on the ground, all fluffy and adorable. My heart sank a little as I spotted a second baby laying lifeless in the dirt, a gorgeous red/paint buck. I picked him up and he was cold,but breathing. I toweled him vigorously, and squirted some colostrum in him, but he wasn't really perking up. I brought him in the house and blow dryed him until he was warm and he started doing much better. We gave him colostrum from his mama, bu he couldn't suckle. Long story short...we bottle fed him and cosseted him for three days,but he died. I feel rather guilty for even interfering in some ways, as though I prolonged his death, but at the same time I would do it again because he had a 50-50 shot of making it. His brother is doing wonderfully, strong and growing. That same day Vanellope had twin bucks(I was out there for this one). Her boys are both traditional red head white body Boers, and are hearty and big. I thought we were good for a month or so, I could swear Seamus wasn't bred until later, but she had twin bucks yesterday! I looked out the window in the morning after they had been fed and she was laying apart from everyone else. I knew what that meant, and booked it outdoors in time to clean baby 1 and a few minutes later help her with a malpositioned(minorly) baby two. The first one got her wattles, the second is traditional, both big and healthy. While I was marveling at all our gorgeous babies I noticed one of the triplets is in fact a boy...I think I must have checked one girl twice!!! So we now have 8 bucks and 2 does that made it this year, 16 goats all together.<br />
Lucian is turning two tomorrow. I am not sure what we will do...normally we go to the zoo on Fridays but to be honest I don't feel up to it. My sister is having voluntary surgery so I will have both my nephews all weekend. Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-141214310411775402014-04-02T09:17:00.002-07:002014-04-02T09:17:59.284-07:00Spring time! I love it!!! <br />
Things are turning green outside. The white and purple buds on the trees light up the background. Our pear trees have a new little companion, we planted a nectarine tree between them. It is self pollinating, so we only need the one, but I would love to get another next year just because they are so pretty! Also, I love nectarines. ;)<br />
The five wee goatlings are adorable and energetic. The two boys are super sweet and friendly, while the three girls like to play together and ignore people. There are two more does who should be kidding soon(the next two weeks?) and one more who I believe has two months to go.<br />
And...my bit of happy Me news...I am pregnant! I tested positive on day10, and have tested throughout, pleased to see darkening lines! It is really real! I am 5 weeks now, due the beginning of December. I am so hopeful, so excited. I am trying so hard not to worry, or think of how devastated I was with the miscarriages, because I don't want it to go that way. I have not had any November or December births yet :D so that will be fun. I am still doing Trim Healthy Mama as a way of eating, so hopefully I will have a decently controlled weight gain this time around. I am starting 20+pounds heavier than I ever have before. :/ Squeal...so excited! <br />
I have been watching my nephew full time(he arrives Sunday night and stays until Friday night) and my whole system is skewed. I am trying to get back on track, reorganize and come up with some new ideas. Having two one(almost two) year olds is tricky!!! They do not play well at all together.<br />
Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-74205215823665338572014-03-14T09:31:00.000-07:002014-03-14T09:31:01.174-07:00I can't believe it has been almost a year since I blogged. :( I just lost my mojo...but it is spring and I feel good so I'm back!<br />
So much has changed, while still being basically the same. The kids are all doing well. Trinity is weeks away from getting her license...a somewhat daunting idea, but she drives very well. Christian has a new little dog who adores him, and he feels very much the same. Her name is Gizmo.She is the first small dog to be a part of the family and she is sweet and so good for Christian to have. She sleeps with him, he bought her a jacket. He works now with a paintball company, so he has money and I think she is the only one he has spent it on! He is fantastic at saving. Gavin has been seen, and diagnosed officially. We are in the process of finding some curriculum that really suits him, and rethinking what will best help him on his learning road. Logan is really blooming and coming out of his shyness. He is such a clown! He will be joining the youth group this fall, that seems so odd. Griffon is doing really well in all he endeavors to...he loves to draw and write and is addicted to Minecraft. Jubilee had a thumbsucking deterrent put in her mouth, and will have that in until July. I am glad she will be over that, although she has a hard time talking with it in. She is going in for a diagnosis as well. :/ I guess it is not that unusual for multiple children to have issues, but it is hard!!! to go in for so many kids! I feel like I contributed faulty genes, irrational though it sounds. I am working through it, and the kids are really all thriving so it is more of a mental block. Epiphany is an amazing girlie. She is 4 now, and so smart, funny, and vivacious. Her long brown curls stretch down her back and she picks out the funniest outfits for herself. Lucian is 22 months and such a sweet boy to those of us he knows. He tends to growl at strangers, which is funny but completely not ok, so I choke back the giggles and try nto teach him to be a nice kid lol. He has a heart melting smile(even with the big chip from his front tooth >:{ ) and is quite the mischievous boy .<br />
We had triplet does born yesterday, 3 weeks to the day after a set of Strong bucklings! We already have more kids than last year, and still have three does to go!!!The bucks are so handsome.<br />
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Here are the twins meeting the rest of the herd.</div>
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Here are the triplet doelings right after they were born. When the first one was born I immediately knew it would be triplets because she was a bit small for how big mama was, and sure enough there were two more not long after. Both times the mamas had good straightforward births that I was able to be at and all the babies have been healthy(Praise God!).<br />
We have a few chicks and keets in my room to squee over until May when we will get our Murray McMurray order of 50 birds.<br />
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The kids on a recent zoo trip.</div>
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<br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-44500521545623390752013-04-24T12:51:00.001-07:002013-04-24T12:51:12.585-07:00Lucian is 1! What a whirlwind year it was, and how absolutely bittersweet that he is already this big. He walks, climbs, plays, laughs, points, eats as a toddler now. He is everyone's favorite, and he loves everyone.<br />
Ms.Pacman had twin doelings. One red little girl and one traditional redhead,white body big girl. It was a tricky delivery, and I had to glove up, go in, and assist her. I was so aware of each second ticking by as I tried to straighten bent legs and sort out which baby was going to be born first. Thankfully all went beautifully and both were/are healthy,big,and strong. Mama nurses them like a champ and they are frolicking with the herd now. Metroid is due in the next couple weeks with her first, and I am praying for a delivery that is even easier, with equally strong and healthy babes!<br />
We got two little doe bunnies! They are so small and sweet. I have been watching Craigslist to get the breed we wanted at a smaller than show bunny price. I saw this ad and jumped on it, and a good thing too. The man sold out within the hour!<br />
Pippi has the next birthday, on May 2nd. She will be 4...I don't know how these years keep going on so quickly. We may be in MI for her birthday, or soon thereafter. Brian had some legal issues to resolve from 18 years ago. We hired a great lawyer and did a lot of footwork to get things ready for a trip up in August to make this all right. His lawyer called on Tuesday and said they are dismissing all charges!!! Praise the Lord!!! All we have to do now is go get some court papers filled out and it is done. We are still going to take our vacation in August, but will be popping up really quick to get this finalized in good time. I am so happy,excited,and relieved. I also LOVE road trips and am very excited to be going "home" if only for a day.<br />
I can't load pics today...gonna have to figure that out.<br />
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Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-2571410693240140092013-02-08T13:25:00.001-08:002013-02-08T13:25:17.924-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Totoro had 5 healthy kittens. 3 are striped and 2 black, I have not even attempted to look at gender. After the sorrow of her first litter and the one that was not meant to live I am thrilled that they are so big and strong! I am also wishing she had only had 3 strong healthy kittens lol...less to find homes for. Griffon had his extra allergy testing and he is most allergic to dogs, but has strong allergies to cats as well.So does Gavin. I am sure a couple more do, those are the only two I know for sure.So we need to find homes for these cute little ones while they are cute and little. We thought we would get all the male cats fixed first but Totoro got out and we soon saw the folly in that plan.<br />
I am watching Ms.Pacman closely. She is our Boer female and seems close to kidding. I am only able to go off what I have found online...not my favorite way to do this but it works. Her tail ligaments are almost gone and the angle of her tail is different than normal.Her teats have grown and are filling in, though being a first time momma she is not too full. She is very affectionate. So we wait. I am pretty sure Metroid is pregnant too, maybe a few weeks behind. Frogger seems qute proud of himself. :) I had to move the llama from their pen as he was not acting as much like a guardian as he was a Frat boy jerk!Always bullying Frogger, and acting as though the girls were "his" even when they wanted nothing to do with him. He is back in with the donkey, who does not put up with his brash ways.<br />
I am re doing Trinity's bedroom. Her floor is the paper bag method I did in our living room, minus the darker dye. It looks great, although I ran out of brown paper 3/4 of the way through and will have to wait until tomorrow to get some more. I painted her walls purple and added glitter to one wall. I want to put the large bunk bed set in there, leaving the bottom without the bed and creating a loft with it. Ikea inspired basically. I hope for her birthday I can get her one of the cool lamps they sell.<br />
My sister is bringing me home a lamswool for Lucian from Ikea. I have always wanted one and she mentioned she was going so I excitedly asked for it.I can't wait for him to have a special,soft play place. I will put a basket with his bean bags and playsilks next to the rug...even the idea makes me smile.<br /> I took a lasagna and some cookies to a family that just had a baby in our church. Christian(13) came with me(as did Jubilee,Pippi,and Luke, but they fell asleep) and we got lost in the back country onthe way home. We had such good conversation!I asked him if he had any ideas of what he wants to do career wise that we could start learning about. He said he doesn't but he has some life goals.(We are having him tested for OCD,dyselxia, and possible autistic spectrum disorders). He would like to make Lembas bread that tastes good so he can feed the poor all over the world. Tears came to my eyes...he has a heart of gold. He also wants to have children and teach them to love God and people...I do not ever brainwash my kids, but to know that they enjoy the life they are living, to know that they like it enough to want to pass it on makes my heart swell. <br />
One of my due date clubs was discussing growing up, parenting, and how the way we were raised affects the way we are striving to raise our children. It was wonderful to read so many positive stories and see so many people who had good role models. I was sad to see a couple that also had less than stellar times. I can't discuss this with my siblings, because they are loyal to a fault and think it means I don't/didn't love my mom and dad if I say I hate the way we were raised. We all turned out pretty good :D , but I postulate that this was mostly despite how we were raised, not because of it. For the first sixteen years any memory of my parenst involves physical abuse, yelling, screaming, fear. My sister was so mouthy and I was so protective...she would stand there and talk back and get hit so very much and I had an ulcer from worrying about her. I would cry and plead to take her "spankings" for her, I threatened to call the police once and had my fingers bent until they broke, and was told to try to dial now. I remember seeing her kicked in the stomach and screaming at my dad to stop and running as he came after me.Then my mom told me to go back to him and accept my punishment for being disrespectful. After the divorce things got better between my mother and I. I think a lot of that is because I snapped and stopped caring about being a good girl anymore. She had to talk to me like an adult, hitting didn't work anymore. My dad didn't get that memo, and even at 16 I had to hide black eyes from my friends. I started running away and we reconciled after I got married. I loved my parents, and to them they were less violent then how they had been raised. My dad told me of some of the punishments he had endured and it broke my heart. I am not only not spanking/hitting my kids, I am teaching them that they are worthy of respect and that they should love and respect their children enough to ensure that no one hits them, even in the name of teaching. There are other ways to teach. Oh...I could go on and on...I have studied and taught myself creative ways to discipline. I have looked into gentle Christian parenting...knowing there had to be others who did not equate having a relationship with Christ to using a rod on children.(There are great resources out there!)<br />
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These wonderful babies are worth it!!! <br />
<br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-75510130008859991722013-01-15T09:56:00.002-08:002013-01-15T09:56:59.428-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We found the Dalek from the Christmas parade in Tulsa, to the extreme delight of our Whovian children. It definitely amuses me that they like Dr.Who, and I have to be careful who is watching as some are more sensitive to scary stuff than others, but this was just fun. Logan does a creepy good ,"Exterminate" impression.</div>
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The blackberry,strawberry,pomegranite,raspberry,blueberry mead is in the last fermentor now and will be ready for bottling in a week or two.(This pic is the secondary fermentor). The last batch was easily the best stuff Brian has brewed. He wanted to do a lambic this time but the one he was going to do is out of production so he went with a mead. I am glad for it.</div>
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We have picked up a couple gingerbread sets on clearance and the children have had a blast decorating them. Jubilee and Pippi have especially enjoyed playing with their Lalaloopsy minis in the gingerbread train.</div>
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Lucian is about to be 9 months! He loves to suck is lip, blow raspberries, and "sing". He is taking four steps at a time,consistantly now, and is really just the most joyous baby! He has a fever today and is still happy and gurgling, despite radiating heat. I am nursing him as much as possible and just holding him to keep him from overdoing it. His resperations seem a bit labored too. I despise cold and flu season. Pippi was vomiting a few days ago, but no one else seems to have picked it up. We did miss church just to be on the safe side...this week seems all out of order now.</div>
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Today I am continuing my quest to reduce stuff in the house. We are moving the parrot cage that we house chicks in out to the henhouse. We can heat it just as well out there and that will free up a lot of laundry room floor space! I want to get rid of half the furniture in the house too. Especially the couches, which are really not suitable for our family.</div>
<br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-50908129468329861592012-12-28T21:17:00.001-08:002012-12-28T21:17:20.662-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been baking up a storm each day. Not because of the holidays...just because there are a lot of us and we like to eat good food. I made a wreath challah and six strand braid challah today.I like how easy it is to make, and it seems more filling than my other main bread recipe. Plus Griffon can eat it and that is always a plus! Other foods on the baking list have been giant chewy chocolate chip cookies, banana bread(another allergy friendly recipe), swirled sugar cookies, artisan bread(I need to go throw a batch together before bed). I know there are more but I can't think of them. I blame/thank Pinterest for the yummy inspiration.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are starting a unit study on the Hobbit. The goal is to read/study it for a few months and then see it when it hits the dollar theater.The children are really into it(the Lego sets they got from their aunt don't hurt :P ) and I am enjoying it a lot more than when I was a kid.I did go see the movie already with Brian(and LOVED it). We got a Kindle for Christmas as a family gift and I have downloaded three Hobbit resource guides to use. I also am playing the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOo2OMUhB8" target="_blank">Misty Mountain song on Youtube.</a> We had big mugs of hot cocoa (a tradition for the first snow of the season, but it also seemed rather hobbity). It was nice.<br />
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I am soooo loving babywearing lately. Luke is a hefty 25 pounds and I have no problem holding him on my back while I cook or better yet on my front so I can just wrap my arms around him for a little snuggle while I work. In this picture he fell asleep in the wrap so I sat down and just snuggled him for a while. I adore this baby!!!<br />
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Pippi and Lucian in the morning. I mean, how could I not love my life with these cute smiley babies around?!?<br />
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<br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-74322433831002314742012-12-13T19:30:00.000-08:002012-12-13T19:30:04.348-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Around noon I got a phone call from one of the neighbors up the road a bit. She told me there was a dead owl on the side of the road(a little further up) in case we wanted to go see it and try to identify it. She added that it wasn't bloody or otherwise injured looking. I was so glad she called! She is a homeschool graduate and from her facebook posts I think her "geeky" side is right up our alley.<br />
Anyhow...I scrambled to get everyone in matching shoes and to find our two favorite bird identifying books and we hopped in the van.<br />
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We determined it to be a barred owl. They aren't very common here. The feet were stunning! This picture doesn't do justice to how large and perfect they were. I wouldn't let the kids touch it, and didn't want to set a bad example, so we didn't turn it over(oh, how I wanted to).We looked up the procedure for what department to notify of a dead raptor(health dept) and I called them but they weren't there. Apparantly they like to test them for West Nile virus.<br />
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I love owls. I am so sad this one died. It would have been awesome to see it alive. </div>
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I saw my first bald eagle of the season a couple days ago. I love spotting them all winter.</div>
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And...more bird news lol. We got to church Sunday morning and there was a large box by the nursery. Inside was a rooster for me! One of our friends had an extra that was getting picked on and gave him to me.His name is Elvis and he is a cochin/copper maran mix. Handsome boy!</div>
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He is the silver and black boy. Georgie,our delaware hen(the white with black speckles on her neck) was the dominant one but she has gladly stepped down to Elvis and they galavant about. It is so nice to look out back and see that big guy leading them around.<br />
Griffon rolled his foot while playing outside today. I have had him stay off it all day and will be taking him in tomorrow for x-rays if it still hurts like it does today. He is my most active boy and loves to flip/run/jump so sitting still has been a challenge for him.He keeps saying it doesn't hurt anymore and then he tries to walk and grimaces.<br />
Christian has a visit with the orthopedic surgeon next week to discuss his leg length discrepency from when he broke his femur at gymnastics. It has been 3 years and he has a hard time. I am very curious to see what the Dr. has to say.<br />
Luke has taken to standing for about 5 seconds, many times throughout the day. He also loves to bounce into a kneeling position. I love watching him find his balance.<br />
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Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-27912250833323047152012-12-09T17:16:00.002-08:002012-12-09T17:16:33.813-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My sister gave us an elf on the shelf. The funniest part about that is that we do not "do" Santa Claus. This is a little elf that is supposed to spy on kids and fly home to Santa each night to tattle...ummm...report. Mandi is doing it with my nephew and he so wanted his cousins to have an elf too. The moving it around and posing it funny part appeals to me so I am going to play along, minus the santa bit. This is her introducing herslef. Her name is Holly.<br />
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Tomorrow we have dentist appts for Christian, Griffon, and Pippi(her first one). Tuesday I have a dental appt. Trinity gets her braces off next week. <br />
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<br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-3125296092101592282012-12-08T09:42:00.001-08:002012-12-08T09:42:57.754-08:00I decided to put Luke's birth story here, as I neglected my blog and never got it done 7 months ago. :P<br />
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<strong>Lucian Danger, born 18 April 2012 at 11:00 pm. 9lbs4ozs,21 3/4 in.</strong></div>
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<strong>I began contracting regularly at 30-32 weeks...like every 5 minutes. They were mostly painless, sometimes requiring some attention, but always there. This was nothing new, it has happened since my third pregnancy. On Tuesday the 10th they moved to two minutes apart, dropping me to my knees for several, very intense. I called Ruth(midwife) and said I still wasn't sure, but maybe something was going on. After 6 hours of this I realized it just wasn't making any change and went to bed dejected and still contracting. I woke up Wednesday morning to the same contractions that lasted all day at 2 minutes, but no show or any indication this was actually going to give me a baby.Thursday was back to 5 minutes apart and normal. Things continued like this until Tuesday the 17th. I had an appt with Ruth and then Brian and I had plans to go for sushi with some friends.Brandy(apprentice midwife) called and said they were at a birth and asked if I could come in Wednesday morning instead. I said no problem and went and had an awesome sushi lunch during which time I felt very emotional (in a good way) and I wondered again if this might be something starting. All day and evening Tuesday things stayed steady at 5 minutes. Wednesday morning I woke up to 4 minutes apart(I am guesstimating, I never actually timed these) and really did not want to drive the hour by myself to the appt. Ruth called and said she was at her 4th birth in 24 hrs and could we please reschedule. I replied that that suited me wonderfully as I was feeling worn out from all this "false" labor. She said to call her or Brandy if anything changed and she would see me Thursday morning regardless. I hung out at home all day, contracting in a 3-4 minute pattern like clockwork and losing mucous but nothing blood tinged(my marker for progress :P )I took the older two kids to Youth Group at 6:45 and felt like things were slowing down a bit...not time wise, but they just barely registered anymore in intensity.Several people from the church came out to chat and say that I would be having the baby soon and I politely laughed at them...I really felt like it was going to be another full week of this! I left church at 8:15 and drove the youth pastor home, told him I would call his wife in the am and chat(she wanted to be at the birth).I got home at 9ish and got the kids settled in for bed and laid down with the two littlest(Jubilee sleeps in her own bed in my room, Pippi sleeps with me. We were all laying in my bed this time). I was pretty resigned and really at peace with the realization that I would likely not have him anytime soon. I tried to doze off as the surges kept coming gently...enough for me to know they were happening, but really not painful in any way. At 10 on the dot I felt two strong kick/jerks that made me jump! They hurt and I could Hear my water break as they happened. There was no fluid and I wondered what had just happened. I ran to the toilet and water started gushing out of me. It was completely clear, leaving me wondering if it was actually waters or urine. I felt his head shift a bit and the water stopped. I got up, called Ruth at 10:02(gotta love cell phone records for timing purposes) and got hit by a freight train contraction...like my body was screaming ,"Push!!!". She answered and I tried to speak and convey what was going on. She was out the door before I finished a sentence.She asked where Brian was and I said I didn't know...he may still be at work in Tulsa(an hour away) or he could be on the road home...I would call him as soon as I got off the phone with her. She said to get someone there and to call an ambulance if I felt like I needed it. I thought that was odd...my water broke but I had no bloody show or anything, so even though contractions were now 2 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds and I was feeling my hips spreading I still had hours right? Lol...she knew better.I hung up, called Brian and found out he was a little over half an hour away. He made it home in 25 though ;) . After calling him I called Ginni(pastor's wife/good friend)and she hung up on me in her exxcitement.I moved Jubilee to her bed, still asleep, and Pippi jumped up wide awake. Trinity and CHristian were on the computer in the next room so I had Christian take Pip to watch tv and Trinity(who desperately has wanted to be in the room for one of my births but it has never panned out) asked if I wanted some water. I said no, and she just kinda hung back(exactly what I neededher to do)I yanked the blankets off my bed and lay two blue pads down. Ruth called back and asked me where Brian was. I said he was on his way and she said she was going to stay on the phone with me till someone got there. I kinda groaned as a contraction hit and she asked me to lay down. I tried and screeched that there was no way I could lay down. I got on all fours instead(my arms are still sore from doing this) and felt more water gusheverywhere. I asked how much the blue pads could hold. She assured me it should be fine, but I got off the bed and laid two more on the floor and knelt there instead. I looked down and saw the blood I knew meant rapid change/end is near. I was shaking like a leaf at this time. I was trying to remain coherent and polite on the phone, but also trying really hard not to push. Eventually Brian and Ginni arrived at the same time(10:40ish?) and when Brian walked in the room I threw the phone at him so he could talk to Ruth instead. I was literally fighting the urge to push at this time, and was starting to recognize it as a losing battle. I kept yelling, "Can't push can't push can't push ohhhh." Brian,Ginni, and Trinity stayed back as I fought this battle, and I climbed on the bed at some point trying to get higher than the pain. Then I got really quiet and I heard Ginni tell Brian that I was pushing. I was kneeling in the middle of the bed and just decided that I had to see if bearing down would help.(this was the first delivery I have been vocal for and it unnerved me how loud I was yelling). I felt his head coming out immediately and then time stopped as his shoulders just stayed there. I was pushing with all my might, one hand propping me on the bed, one hand holding his head(amazing!!!) and felt him start to move a bit. All my others have been deliver the head and they shoot out babies, I had three distinct sticky points with Luke...head, shoulders, and again at the chest. It still only took three minutes. Not even two contractions. At some point I know Brian came and tried to help but I yelled for him to get back( as I was trying to figure out how to move to make the shoulders dislodge, but I didn't say that, just yelled Get Back). I finally birthed him into my own two hands and brought him up to me and collapsed back on the bed in absolute shock. I saw the headlights of Ruth's car as he let out a little cry. She got in the room two minutes too late for the delivery(Brian missed Jubilee's birth by two minutes). He latched on beautifully, I delivered the placenta about 15 miutes later. He was pink and plump but I said he looked so much smaller than I had anticipated...probably not even 8 lbs. Ruth laughed good naturedly and said he was easily more than that. She weighed him and he was 9lbs 4 ozs, my biggest by almost a lb. 21 3/4 inches. 14.5 inch head, 14.5 inch chest. I am still in awe at how it all ended up. He is the spitting image of Gavin, my only redheaded son prior to Luke. We are sooo happy to have another ginger!!!</strong></div>
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Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-72319018171424141332012-12-07T09:37:00.001-08:002012-12-07T09:37:42.675-08:00It is drizzly and overcast today. Yay for water though...I am going to walk down to our humble attempt at a pond and see if the water level is up any. Seeing the footprints during this little first year is pretty inspiring. We have seen deer, cow(yeah...some rancher makes poor fences!), raccoon, oppossum, rabbit, dog,cat, and mountain lion! We also put a salt lick down there for the deer to lick on. <br />
Luke and I are having a very snotty day. :P I think a cold spell is moving in, so our noses are not happy, but after it is here we should be good again.Poor baby flinches when he sees me with toilet paper!<br />
We got the ornaments on the tree yesterday. Only the non breakable ones, and we have a tabletop tree this year since Luke is in love with pulling up on things and trees...a bad combo! <br />
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That is Jubilee looking slightly crazy next to the tree. She is a bit over the top excited with all the holiday happiness.<br />
We watched the <a href="http://store.whatsinthebible.com/?__utma=228404315.925845114.1353982292.1353982292.1354901635.2&__utmb=228404315.3.10.1354901635&__utmc=228404315&__utmx=-&__utmz=228404315.1354901635.2.2.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=what's%20in%20the%20bible%20christmas&__utmv=-&__utmk=134119565" target="_blank">Why Do We Call It Christmas</a> Buck Denver show yesterday. It was fantastic, as are all of the videos in the series. I highly recomend it!<br />
Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-2794611339373996832012-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:002012-12-05T10:00:04.844-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We went to Rhema's lights last night, with Brian's mother. In priot years we have gone when it is so frigid that the wind stings your eyes and the lights are a pretty blur as you squint through the chilling pain. Last night was a balmy 45 degrees, and so much more enjoyable! <br />
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Wee baby boy(who is really not so wee at 24 pounds) was strapped to me in the Mei tie. Here is a pic of the teething ginger boy earlier that day.<br />
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Here is Kuzco the llama and Ms.Pacman, Metroid, and Frogger the goats. Also a one legged guinea boy who can apparantly survive any kind of attack and live to tell about it(loudly). He is the last guinea we have, though I plan on getting more*all together now* "in the spring". One pen over is the donkey, but I didn't take her picture because she is cranky and I couldn't get a decent angle.<br />
I made up a couple new batches of deoderant yesterday night. One scented with rose, one with sandelwood and lemon. I think the sandelwood one smells terrible, but it is for Brian and he likes it so yay! I am so glad that this deoderant works better than the chemical laden Secret I "had" to use before. My skin is a gazillion times softer , I do not sweat as much, and when I do it doesn't smell. Seriously, this stuff works! Brian is a convert also, and he is not nearly as hippy dippy as I am.<br />
I have on my to do list for today: make two loaves of bread, two loaves of banana bread, make granola, do history,science,and math with all kids, do spelling with 4, do phonics with 3, tea party tonight while the bigs are at youth group. Yikes...I better get off here and get to work!<br />
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<span id="goog_14205222"></span><span id="goog_14205223"></span><br />Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-68303304069869255142012-11-29T12:40:00.001-08:002012-11-29T12:40:42.933-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lucian didn't want to stay put and kept crawling off. He is 7 months. Pippi is 3, Jubilee is 5, Griffon is 8, Logan is 10, Gavin is 12, Christian is 13, Trinity is 14. Right behind them is the snake enclosure...the one Copper(ball python) keeps escaping from. We found him(again), this time after a week plus of searching. We have plans to redo the cage(which started as an iguana hutch and worked well as that).<br />
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Luke has been mobile from very early on. He began rolling over at just a few weeks old, consistantly.He started scooting at 3 months, crawling on his belly at 4, full crawling at 5, standing at 6, and is cruising furniture at 7 months. He has no desire to stay still. His middle name is Danger and he seems determined to live life on the edge!<br />
I am doing research today on homeschooling with processing disorders. I sort of fumbled my way through with Christian and Gavin...managing to help them learn to read and write over time by using just about every trick I read about. Now I am getting ready to do it again, with Jubilee, but there are a lot more resources available even in just a few years. Maybe I can streamline the process and not have it take so much time and energy(which I am fine with using, but if it can be easier I am for it!).<br />
Life is turning back to that very simple(hard work and busy, but simple busy) way I love. We only go to town on Mondays for errands and violin, and maybe one other day a week for dr or dentist visits. Sunday is church. Everything else is being at home, learning,playing, being together. It is a soft and gentle rythem and I missed it for a season. Nursing(giant)Luke has forced me once again to slow it all down, and reminded me how much can be done when not doing too much.Ahhh.<br />
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Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-72421519207353954922012-11-21T07:19:00.003-08:002012-11-21T07:19:51.459-08:00I don't even know what my last post was...Blogger has changed since I was here last.Ha! It took me half an hour to get back in, I forgot my password even and had to do the whole email me a new one deal. So I am back, it is almost winter, so I will need to write to stay sane ;) .<br />
Lucian is 7 months now. He is a giant redhead! 22 lbs,28 inches long. He has 5 teeth with a few more poking through. He bit the heck out of me as the first top one came in(as in drew blood on three seperate occasions and made me crings at every latch) but we seem to be ok now. He is such a sweet baby, looking up at me while nursing and just grinning this heart melting smile as milk driblles out the corner of his mouth.Then he puts his attention back to eating lol, and he nurses quickly. 5 minutes per side and he is done. We haven't started any foods yet, though he will put anything he finds on the floor into his mouth.Ugg.<br />
Pippi is turning out to be a super smart girl. At 3 she knows all her letters and numbers,and can identify them on paper. She is doing Jubilee's kindergarten lessons with her and is actually mastering them faster than Jubilee...this should be a fun ride.She is also an extremely funny girl, full of sweet mischief and very exuberant in everything she does.<br />
Jubilee is being seen by a dr to try to identify her allergy/stomach issues. She has a pronounced sacral dimple too, so depending on what the blood tests show the next step is a neuro consult. She is still just the sweetest pixie girl. She really doesn't care a bit about schooling, but she loves her friends and family and is always full of smiles and laughter. I can not for the life of me figure out who thought it would be a good idea for her to turn 6 in 6ish weeks...too fast!!!<br />
Griffon is dealing with a major dairy allergy, as well as soy,cats,and dogs. We have to go for more testing because even with the elimination of those things from his life(well...as much as possible on the animal front)and being on medication , he still has a bleeding rash covering him. I was opposed to putting him on meds, but the difference in him is significant so I feel better about it. He loves to draw his "Jane" books, a series he is creating that is full of spies and violence and large family drama lol...he said people need to be 9 to read the series(he is only 8) because it is so violent(it really isn't that bad, but we rather frown on most violence).He has also entered into an obsessive Legend of Zelda phase. <br />
Logan is quite the character. He is so LOUD at home...like he doesn't have an indoor voice or an inkling of what that might be. Anywhere else and it is pulling teeth to get him to talk...he is shy! He prefers to stay home...he will choose that every time if it is an option. He has turned into a great reader and is ahead of the game for schoolwork.He seems to be intuitive in many things(which I am so thankful for!). He also thinks he is older than he is because he gets on so well with Christian.They are birds of a feather.<br />
Gavin is still a major daredevil...cracking ribs or scraping of his skin in crazy stunts outside far far too often!He is such a sensitive,sweet,caring individual. It is an odd Sunday if some parent or another doesn't come up to me at church to let me know something special or caring he did for someone. He has a heart to help, all the time. He still struggles terribly with reading and spelling. I have an appt for him and Christian to be seen to discuss a few things.<br />
Christian is in the tten years now and while I see the struggle he has with being a little moody, it is really so seldom and so minor, that I feel like I dodged a bullet. He is defintely an anxious person though and we are trying rescue remedy to see if that will help him. He loves to read and is soing so much better with that. He has online forums that he goes to that are helping him develop storywriting skills, and he is very thoughtful.<br />
Trintiy is 14 now and well on her way to independance. I pretty much let her regulate her day and she is up half the night doing her online persona thing. She has several forums she frequents and she does well with the contests and making (very guarded)internet friends. She has real life freinds too lol, and they all tell her(and me) how she is such a strong,different person and that she is unique. She is a major hippie(in spirit,she dresses pretty trendy to me!) . I am treasuring my time with her because I see that I have 3-4 years before she takes off for Colorado(that is her plan for now).<br />
We have been busy with the land. We have 3 goats right now, and the two females should be pregnant. I will keep watching them for signs of heat but so far I am thinking kids in March/April.I have a cage ready for rabbits but have hesitated for some reason...I am thinking of starting in spring. We just got two new hive setups given to us(english...I am a topbar hive kinda gal, so I don't know if I want to use them!) and are so reday for spring to get new bees.Our old hive was wiped out by wax moths.That is actually what happened to the people who just gave us the two hives as well. Ugg. We also have the winter crops in the garden, after a really great year of harvest. In spring we will be adding a second raised bed in.We will also be getting at least 3 turkeys next year. I am pretty excited for it.<br />
I need to get my camera set up with this new computer so I can dump a gazillion photos on here(including goats in trees!!! Like 15-25 feet up!) Right now I need to get going to pick up our meat from the butcher. :) Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-9189720392373144252012-02-17T06:09:00.000-08:002012-02-17T06:47:01.077-08:0030 weeks. It is wonderful to feel Luke growing in strength and size. He has been breech throughout, so all the kicks I feel are down low, and his head bumps out at my right side ribs. It is kinda funny to be able to reach down and rub his head!We are all starting to get excited to see what he looks like(especially to see if he is a ginger) and it feels so imminent. Lent begins on Wednesday, and at the end of Lent I will be 37ish weeks! So soon!<br /> We have been doing intensive schooling for awhile and honestly...it feels great. The kids don't gripe because we still only school a few days a week and take plenty of time to do other things. It also helps that they love the curricula we use(Story of the World, God's Design for Science, Sonlight lists for read alouds, and a hodgepodge of internet things to fill us out.) Urg...I am using this time to print out the worksheets for the day and my printer is not eating the paper properly! It never acts up, this is really annoying.Finally...printing of the Samurai commences.<br /> It is almost baby chick time, and we are getting goats soon too.We are keeping our eyes and ears open to see if we get a Kiko buck or Boer(we both are leaning heavily toward the Kiko)and will be raising meat goats this year. I do wish we were still getting pigs, but we aren't. I am much more of a pig person.<br /> In order to not repeat the crazy squash bug issues we have had for 3 years running we are not doing vining plants this year. We will focus on tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.We have sprayed with Neem oil and hand picked squash bugs till we wanted to scream last year. Hopefully a year with nothing to feed on and the other organic methods we use will rid us of the pests.<br /> We are ordering three large apple trees this year also. We will be fencing them in, as the deer have been stripping the trees worse than usual.I hate the fence intruding on our ideal scenery, but we need to keep the orchard safe.bah<br /> I have been extremely active at church lately. Sunday mornings(in the nursery of course), followed by a Revelations study Sunday afternoon at a member's home. Tuesdays I lead a small group. Wednesday is Youth group. We have started a once a month community dinner on Fridays that will kick off next week. I attended a seminar with other leaders about beefing up the church(not expanding numbers, but enhancing things).It feels very good to be involved. I love my church family!<br /> Ok...lots more prep work is calling me.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-75241073163624171232011-12-27T06:16:00.000-08:002012-12-05T21:38:02.272-08:00It has been a little bit...no surprise.I am 22 weeks along now with our baby boy,Lucian. He is growing and kicking and it thrills me to feel his strength. At the last ultrasound they had me see a genetic counselor and talked a lot about his heart. It is scary, and I have been battleing the what if's. I am fighting to keep a peace about this, and I go for another ultrasound in a week.<br />
My glorious midwife has asked me to allow her to do my birth for free. This is gut wrenching hard for me...if ever there was someone I wanted to pay it would be her, but we just do not have the funds. I am glad I had something to give her in appreciation that was worth quite a bit...it will stay in my head to repay this blessing either forward or back. I am so excited to be birthing at home again though!<br />
My sister and her husband are on again off again. She had purchased a cruise for the two of them and he left so she asked me to go! It was a wonderfully neat experience.I won a Harry Potter trivia game on board the ship. :P We went to Key West, Freeport and Nassaue Bahamas.I would love to go again someday with Brian.<br />
I can't believe the new year is upon us. I have a few things to acomplish this year and I feel really good about them at this point.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-87495185061828465012011-11-04T09:33:00.000-07:002011-11-04T09:43:30.478-07:00It has already been a very busy day and it is only 11:30. I got the chicken coop <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thoroughly</span> cleaned, which added a full deep wheelbarrow full of stuff to the compost pile. I piled brush to burn in a little bit...it is supposed to be slightly less windy than normal until tonight.I did 2 loads of laundry, made breakfast, excersized for 20 minutes.<br /> Bella leaves tomorrow for her new home. We are all pretty happy with where she is going so it isn't too sad that she is leaving.We are really eager to get going with the goats in Spring. Probably Boers, although I really like Kikos. Boers are much easier to get here.<br /> We have taken two deer to be processed and the guys are going to hunt again. I really am not thrilled with hunting every last freakin deer on the property, but I am reminding myself that there are three empty neighbors who are not hunting this year. We will use the meat, I just really enjoy seeing our herd of deer grazing in the back yard in the winter.I still think we will have some, and plan to feed them when hunting season is over.<br /> I am 15 weeks! In 4 weeks we will find out if baby will tie us or make the gap Big for boys and girls. I am definitely thinking girl, but have boy twinges every few days.<br /> Epiphany gets her cast off her arm on Tuesday. I think it is too early, but I am not the Dr. He mentioned a brace but I can't imagine how we will keep that on her. They still see no need for testing, saying her bones are plenty strong. It is very aggravating to hear that and worry about my little climber.<br /> I am excitedly planning Thanksgiving dinner. It is one of the highlights of the year for me!Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-68550034208584765692011-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:002011-10-21T10:45:40.675-07:00MMM, a salad of spinach, cucumber, tomato, mozzerella, and slow roasted pork. It tasted so good I really want to make another, but I know I just want to taste it, I am not actually hungry for it.I haven't gained any weight yet and want to keep doing well.Plus we just discovered how AMAZING nutella is and have eaten one and a half jars in less than 24 hrs(granted, that is 9 people eating.)<br /> We(I) rearranged the house a bit again. I took the lego table and bins of legos out of the boys room and returned them to the playroom. I really hope we can keep Pippi out of them, but their room really was too crowded with 4 beds(triple bunk and a twin) and two dressers.It looks clean and simple now. The playroom does not. The boys won legos and star wars action figures, I am not simplifying past that. The little girls have dolls, a play kitchen, Thomas tracks, and wooden blocks. Definately keeping those. The problem is the two bins of play clothes...tutus and capes and silks and such. I heart all of them...but I do not want two bins! I am going to try to weed it down. There is also the easel and bookshelves, the snake cage, the parrot cage full of homeschooling materials...it drives me batty but is really all used and there is nowhere else for it. All the rest of the rooms are simple and minimal and I feel good in. This room overwhelms me.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-77768337943554919322011-10-19T09:09:00.000-07:002011-10-19T09:18:00.751-07:00Fall. I love this season so much!<br /> Yesterday one of the roosters got me while I was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">graining</span> Bella. I don't know how I didn't see or hear him coming up on me but he actually caused my hand to swell. :( We have nine and they will be gone by the end of the week(into the freezer). We are down to 14 hens, but they are great layers and we are swimming in eggs.<br /> Tonight is supposed to be our first freeze. I am going to the thrift store to buy some extra sheets to cover our tomato and pepper plants, and we have bottles to cover our smaller plants. I really hope we can prolong this a bit, the tomato and pepper plants especially are almost ready to give a huge yield!<br /> I am 13 weeks today. Still <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nauseous at night. My belly is pooched out. My ultrasound is on Nov 29th.<br /> Pip is in a long arm cast again. She broke both her radius and ulna on her right arm. She climbs a lot. I get that. But why will her dr not agree to metabolic testing to see why she has 4 broken bones in 12 months?!?I get the falling thing, but other kids have fallen and they don't break like this?It torments my heart.<br /> </span>Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-62511856306438877252011-10-02T20:32:00.000-07:002011-10-02T20:43:39.603-07:00Oh thank you Lord for the easing of my morning sickness. I only get very ill about once a day now and am feeling mostly functional again. The house is in good order, we are back to schooling, the animals and outdoor chores are coming on nicely. I so relate to Rabbit from Pooh sometimes...feeling like Fall is a rush to prepare for Winter. I love Fall...easily my favorite season. I have made several pumpkin cheesecakes, and several pumpkin breakfast bundt cakes. Fall is pumpkin, and cocoa, and soup. Stacking wood is one of my fall obsessions. The old goose house is full of firewood, and I am seriously thinking of filling half the chicken coop with deadfall. I am very tempted to use my dutch oven in the fireplace this year, though I really don't think the fireplace is large enough for it. MMM...apples is the dutch oven, with oatmeal. Cider. Crunchy leaves. It makes me content to even think about fall.<br /> Brian is working the State Fair with a fellow from church this year. He comes home to sleep for about 5 hours, then is gone again. It is hard for him, he is covered in bruises(paintball ref), but the money is decent and guaranteed. I will be so thankful when it is done though! He calls when he is on his way home(usually at 1:30) and I scoot out of bed like a hyper mouse and bustle him up some warm grub lol. I chatter at him while he mechanically eats, then he collapses into bed and falls right asleep and I lay down and take a good half hour to fall back to sleep. When his alarm goes off I wait till he is up and showering and force myself to get up and make him some coffee and breakfast sandwiches. He always protests that I needn't wait on him, but I feel like it is one of my few chances to show him my love in a practical way. Then after he is out the door I collapse back into bed with the two little girls.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-39334522607335663982011-09-28T13:28:00.000-07:002011-09-28T13:35:56.654-07:00I had my ultrasound and got to see that glorious heartbeat! I am measuring exactly where I knew I would be(a week later than what the drs are using as my due date, but I know my cycles lol).<br /> I keep reminding myself I am seeing student drs and I should be patient with them as they learn. The problem is they want to do every test imaginable, they have already said they will induce me because I have a history of short labors during my homebirths, and they want to put me on anti seizure meds despite a lack of seizures for a considerable amount of time. So I remain patient but firm and try to show them the beauty of a natural process . :) <br /> I am starting to not be as sick,Praise the Lord!!! It still hits hard at night, but I am functioning during the day much better now. My home is clean and organized again, I am cooking creatively again, I even made laundry soap for the first time. It was easy peasy btw, I will definitely keep that up.Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129218714235750338.post-60854652767097082702011-09-14T11:36:00.000-07:002011-09-14T11:41:17.501-07:00I am 7 weeks now. The queasiness is overwhelming. I made my first appt for the 22nd. It will merely be the nurse visit to get history and all, hopefully I will get an actual appt quickly after that. I hate fearing another missed miscarriage, but it is hard to truly give in to excitement and bond with this baby until I Know there is a baby growing. I know that sounds negative, and I am acyually thrilled to be experiencing the symptoms...it just doesn't seem real that I will hold a new wee one in April/May. Be gone negativity!<br /> The goats head weeds are back. It is so rewarding to see it not grow where we weeded last year. If we stay on top of it each year it should get easier and easier.<br /> There have been no showings of the house. I know it only takes one person at the right time, I do not feel discouraged at all. If we stay here so be it. I do yearn for up north though!<br /> The honey bun cake I baked is done and I am so eager to go eat a nice gooey warm piece!Wendy@arrowsinourfisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03493370324087981830noreply@blogger.com0