Anticipating Baby 6

When I was a kid, I would say, "I am going to have 6 kids, a really big family!" I said that until I married James. I'm not so sure I believed it though. Now that its happening I am surprised, anxious, and happy. We weren't trying to get pregnant or anything. This is just a happy unexpected blessing.

I am looking forward to welcoming our new family member when he/she gets here. We have decided we do not want to know the sex this time. Its the sixth. There aren't many surprises left in this whole pregnancy thing. So why not have something to wonder about till the big moment. Only problem might be the fact that I am so good at identifying what is being shown on the ultrasound that I might see by accident!

When we first found out, I thought I was due in early to mid March. When I went to the doctor I thought I was about 10 weeks. But when she did the ultrasound, she said I was only 6 weeks. So my due date is April 7, 2011. I doubt I will make it to then though. I never do. My guess is March 29th-31st. My exact due date I predicted with Emily was right. She was due February 9th and I said she would be born on the 1st because that is my sister's birthday. I said that because her son was born on my birthday. Emily was born on February 1st. So we will see this time.



We can't wait to welcome our 6th baby!

Being A Mom

I just have to say something because so many people either feels sorry for me, think I am so stressed, or look down on me in some way because I have 5 kids and one on the way, am a homemaker, and was a homeschooling parent too. I'll give it to you, being a mom is the hardest job there ever will be and I am not just saying that. I know there is no other job so demanding, stressful, and tough as the one of Mom. I also know that being Mom gives me the most rewards. There is nothing else one can do that will have more benefits than being a parent.

First of all, I choose this roll. I love being a mom. I love being home with them all day. I love taking care of them. Sure there are things that aren't to great like fussing and fighting. Or the diaper changing or potty training. Or the early a.m. mornings/late p.m. nights. But being able to see them grow, watch them work hard and succeed, or being able to uplift and encourage them far out wiegh the unpleasent things.

Second, if I offer to do something or help you in some way. I mean it. If I didnt want to do it I wouldnt have offered. There have been to many that have either not answered my offer of help or have said "No, you got enough to on your plate I dont want to add anymore." Really! Why would I offer to do something if I wasnt able to or I was too busy to do it? Sure I am busy sometimes but I am pretty much flexible. Even when we were full time homeschooling I was able to do things for others or lend a helping hand.

So, basically all I am saying is dont feel sorry for me because I have the life I do. I chose it. I want it. I dont feel totally stressed. I dont feel like I cant do anything other than what I do on a daily basis. I love to help. I love to be there for others. My family is wonderful. I wouldnt want anyother life than the one I live everyday. I know this is the way Heavenly Father wants for me and my family. I know that being a parent is called of God. He has instructed us in the scriptures to have children and that they are blessings from Him.

Homeschool to Public School

So yesterday was one of the final steps for getting the girls registered for school. Since we homeschooled last year we had to have her tested to make sure she is ready for the second grade. She was so nervous about going back to school. She kept saying " I don't want to go to school. Cant I just stay home again!" To which I reassured her that she would do just fine and we will see in December what she needs as far as school.

We have put our homeschool journey on hold for now. I have had a lot of trouble keeping Hannah focused and willing to work on school work. I also haven't been able to do as much with it as I thought. I wasn't able to take her on the field trips and play groups and all due to financial and vehicle difficulties. I haven't been able to get our curriculum exactly right yet either. We started out with several but none were right for her/us. I know, that is always a work in progress. We decided to put them in school this year and see how it goes. See if its better for Hannah there or home.

So Hannah was really worried and nervous. So we practiced all the reading and math stuff before we went to do the testing. Turned out they dint even test her math which kind of bugged me because she is a whiz kid in math and struggles with her reading confidence. She did great on it all. The only thing she was slightly behind on was fluency in reading. They wanted her to read at 40 words and she was at 31. I believe that was nerves mostly.

So after the testing was complete and we were leaving, Hannah was excited and thought that she would be able to do it. That school might not be as hard as she had worked it up to be. I was happy that she got that confidence boost.

I know Chyenne needs to go to school. I believe there is something different about how she learns and I do not know how to teach her way. So I am hoping school will help with that. Plus she is such a social child school might be best in that sense for her. She is excited about going to school. i think she is looking at it like an adventure ahead.

I am still working on getting Jordan into the preschool program. He has special needs and was evaluated by them last September. At that time they said he was find and would catch up on those delays quickly and that he couldn't be in their program because of that. They told me if he's the same bring him back in a year. Well I have been trying to get things going for him in this past year and the only thing I have succeeded in is getting him Occupational Therapy at Easter Seals. He needs speech and special instruction as well but we are still waiting on those too.

I have contacted several places to try to get him tested for a diagnosis but there are waiting lists here that the minimal wait will be 6 months! Its extremely frustrating. I have him on the waiting list of one place and working on the second place. I know if I had a diagnosis, they couldn't deny him services at the schools. They would have no choice. Its the law.

For now I will continue to work on all these things, trying my hardest to be my children's advocates. I hope I can look back one day and say I tried hard enough and did what I had to to help my children succeed. I will just keep trying.

Siblings

I am amazed at the bond that can develop between siblings. I never had that. I only have one sister who is 3 years older than me. We never had a good relationship growing up. But what I am learning is that there can grow such a bond that is just awesome to watch happen.

My three almost four year old son and 6 month old daughter have such a connection. He has been fascinated with her from the day she came home. She loves him just as much too. Jordan will get down and play with her. He was the first to get her to laugh out loud. He is the one who can calm her when she is upset and Mommy's busy at that second.

When Emily is hungry and I am making a bottle and she is screaming, Jordan will talk to her, give her a toy, or be silly to make her laugh. She will calm down for him so easily. I'll ask one of my girls that are older than Jordan is and they will try the same type of things Jordan does but its not the same I guess. She will not calm down. But let Jordan come over and talk to her, pat her tummy, and play with her and shes happy to wait the few minutes until I get to her. Its like they were best friends before they came here to this earth, like they were sent here together to help one another.

I was watching them this morning and it brought tears to my eyes to witness the love they so freely share. Its in thier eyes when they are interacting. Its in thier grinning faces. Its in the words he speaks and in the giggles she replies. Its marvelous to watch.

I love my children and am happy that they get along for the most part. They have their fights as any siblings do. But over all they play well together and try to help one another. I am glad they are so close in ages because I think it helps with their bond. I am amazed at how different their personalities are yet they love each other so much.

Time4Learning.com Review

So I signed up a for a free month on Time4Learning.com in exchange for a review.

I think its been a good experiance. Hannah has enjoyed the lessons. There are plenty for her to choose from to do each day. She enjoyed the was they were presented. It kept her entertained while she was learning. It didnt get old for her. There were things that kept her attention through each lesson. I especially like the chapter tests. That is a great tool. I love being able to go in and check the reports and see where she is struggling.

Im not so sure it should be the only curriculum used. I do not believe it is complete enough for that. But if you suppliment it, I believe it could be your core curriculum. I think if you do some more lessons outside of the computer that corrispond with what they are learning on Time4Learning it would be perfect. Also reading a lot of books too.

So my over all opinion: Its a good program that requires some supplimenting to be complete.