Slightly Sane...Sometimes

Self?

2011-01-30T18:38:00.003-06:00

I had a dream today that made me think. In this dream I was at Wal*Mart with my family and we were going down one of the main isles and there were boxes or something in the middle of the isle to where you had to go on either side. Well there was something on the busier side of the boxes so I went on that side and my family went on the other side. I looked quickly at whatever it was. Then continued on. I thought to myself "I will cut through between the boxes just ahead to get back with them."

When I tried to go between the boxes I couldnt find myself. It was like I separated from myself. I looked frantically around and I saw plenty of people but I couldnt find me. I couldnt even think of what I looked like! I didnt know who I was in the crowd. I watched the rest of my family continue on and I didnt know if it was me walking with them or not because I couldnt recognize my own self.
Then I woke up.

I have come to know that a lot of my personality changes when I am around differnet people. For example, my laugh has changed and changed. I have no idea why but I realized a year or two ago that my laugh changes. There are other things that change all the time too about me. Its very hard to describe this but it feels like I wouldnt know who I was or how to act or what to do if it was just me. If no one else was around me. Even when I am by myself I dont know how to act, dont know how to feel.

I know I am a daughter of God but that doesnt tell me much. Everyone is a child of God. I dont even have favorites, I dont have a preference when asked my opinion usually. I only recently(like a year or so ago when I first started realizing all this) decided I like green best for my favorite color. For as long as I remember Ive always just adapted to the people around me. When asked things I like to do or my talents or things that interest me. I have a very very short list if I come with anything at all.

I tried to come up with things I was good at and what interested me and couldnt come up with anything. I think I came up with "I like to read {and in my head I was thinking "because I like to disappear in to the charaters and not be apart of this world I live in."} and maybe even "I can listen" as something Im good at.

I dont know the point of this post. I just guess I needed somewhere I could let my thoughts out.

Tender Mercies

2010-10-31T12:54:00.002-05:00

Since losing my childhood dog, it upsets me to see an animal killed on the road. I still have a wave of chills and if its a dog or pet like animal I sometimes have tears in my eyes.

Today on the way to church, I looked out the side window to get a better look at a few ponds. They looked like there was something in there moving, so it caught my eye. Then on the way home I noticed smoke from a house we were passing and it looked like the smoke was coming from the pool that I could only see half of as we passed. This being strange it caught my eye as well. So I watched as we passed the other side of the house and the fire was a pile they were burning on the other side of the pool. The wind was blowing in just the right way to make it look as if the smoke was coming from within the pool.

When I turned around again, my husband was laughing. I knew he didn't see the smoke or anything I had been watching because he was driving. So I asked what was funny. He said,"On the way to church this morning there was an animal killed on the road. I was worried about you and when I looked over at you, you were looking the other way. Then just now I knew it was still there and again looked over at you. Again you were looking the other way. I guess Heavenly Father didn't want you to see that today."

Instantly I knew that indeed was the case. I felt it confirmed in my heart. To know that He cares enough for me to protect me from something so small is such a wonderful thing. His tender mercies are great to each and every one of us. He knows us individually and cares for us.

"I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are available to all of us and that the Redeemer of Israel is eager to bestow such gifts upon us." "We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord’s tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live." Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Anticipating Baby 6

2010-08-31T07:00:00.005-05:00

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

2010-08-25T09:22:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-06T08:20:00.004-05:00

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

2010-08-04T08:37:00.004-05:00

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

2010-08-02T13:31:00.004-05:00

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.

Emily Now Has a Free Tongue

2010-07-29T09:19:00.004-05:00

So this morning was Emily's surgery. She has been tongue tied from birth. I asked them to fix it in the hospital but they refused. So I had to wait till she was around 4-6 months. Adam was also tongue tied. They wouldn't do his for a year for some reason. I didn't like our pediatrician we were using at the time and actually had to have one of her partners refer us to the ENT to get it done. We have since changed pediatricians. I believe waiting so long interfered with his speech because now he is behind on expressive speech. The new doctor had no problem giving the referral for Emily, though.

We got there this morning at 5:30am, signed in, and did all the paperwork signing. We then were taken to the room. We talked to the nurses and waited for the doctor to get there. Yes we were there before the doctor. Go figure. So he comes in and tells us exactly what was going to happen and things started. They came in to get her. I carried her down the hall to the OR doors where I couldn't go any further. I kissed her cheek and gave her to the nurse to go the rest of the way. James and I watched her disappear around the doors with the nurse.

James had to leave at this point to get to work on time. I kissed him goodbye and went back to the room to wait. About the time I started to get restless the doctor came in to tell me everything went great. He freed up a considerable amount of her tongue and there wasn't even any blood. She was in recovery waking up. The surgery is super fast. She was into the OR and then moved to recovery in less than 10 minutes. Then about 5 minutes more in recovery and she was brought back out to me in the room. I just had to make sure she could drink some juice without throwing up and we could go.

We were out of there by 7:30am. Everything went great and shes now happily playing with her toys and doesn't know any difference. Well maybe she can because she is keeping her finger in her mouth and moving her tongue around it.

Its That Time of The Year Again

2010-07-29T08:59:00.004-05:00

Its that time again. Yep. Its Birthday Season in the Isbell household. From august through December its at least one person's birthday each month! Technically, it starts in June and goes through February but Emily isnt 1 yet and Adam has only had 2 birthdays and their months are separated by a month each. Ok. Adam's is June. Chyenne's is August. Jordan's is September. Mine is October. James' is November. Hannah's is December. And finally Emily's is February. Can you believe that?! I joke saying well all we have to do now if fill in July and January and well be on a total roll with them all!

So now I have to get thinking. What do we do about presents and gifts and all that good stuff. I love doing parties for the kids but the bad thing is most of the time no one comes other than the grandparents! It happened again with Adam birthday last month. I invited a group of people and again it was just the grandparents that came. I love them and the kids adore them but sooner or later the kids will catch on that for some reason no one else shows up!

I think I will combine Jordan and Chyenne's parties again this year. Late year we actually had people show up to that one. I am going to borrow a giant slip and slide if I can and hopefully have a lot of fun. If not the slip and slide something else fun. We'll see.

A Brave Woman...Me??

2010-07-28T08:41:00.005-05:00

OK I have 5 kids and I have homeschooled and I have been married since I was 15. I cant even begin to count how many times I have heard: "Dont you know what causes that?" or "are you done yet?" or "are they all yours?" or "you have your hands full!" or one that puzzles me most "you're a brave woman!"

My family is my number two only to my Father in heaven. I love them beyond life itself. I don't find what I do everyday to be so extraordinary or brave in anyway. I do what I need to take care of my blessings from above. James and I both make sacrifices for the most beautifully sweet rewards this world has ever seen. I know that I am not perfect and I stumble and well, lets face it, fall flat on my face sometimes on this journey that is my life. But I do know that I am trying and feel I do OK most of the time.

I try to teach my family the light and truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For me all these things are automatic. I find it strange that someone would call me brave. I can see calling our soldiers, who put their life on the line everyday for our freedom, brave. Or even our police officers and firefighters, who keep us safe right here in our hometown, brave. But not me. I'm just a mother.

I don't know if what I teach my children today will change the world of tomorrow but I know I just try my best and if I dont succeed today I will wake up and try again tomorrow.

So I may have more kids than most people and I may not fit the typical image of a 23 year old. I may have to shop in bulk or buy my dishes at the restaurant supply store but I am still just a mother. And I do not know if we will have another so don't ask me. That decision is in Gods hand and if you want to know ask him!

Preparing for Adventures

2010-07-14T14:26:00.005-05:00

Today I am preparing for our up coming vacation to the beach. I am so excited. We haven't done much as a family before and I am so ready to get into some family fun. I know the long car ride will be a bit of a task but I know we will have fun. We will be camping on an island. Yes in a tent! A bunch of people have said we are crazy in this heat and with the kids. I think they are the crazy ones. I know there will be times of frustration but what day doesn't have those? I know my kids will treasure the memories we create on our first adventure together on vacation.

I remember camping as a kid and loving it. I haven't been camping often since about 10 or 11. Its sad because those were the times we needed it the most. I hope I can keep James and the kids excited about going out and doing more things together. I know I probably wont have a problem keeping the kids into it but James might need more convincing later. As for now, hes just as excited as I am.

So in my preparations I am packing up things and cleaning the house so it will be clean when we get back. I am making lists and getting information. I am trying to get as much done as possible in advance so that it will be easier when the time comes to pack the van and head out.

We will be cooking on a fire and roasting marshmallows. We will go shelling and swimming in the ocean. We will visit a water park and play mini golf. Most importantly we will spend time together. I am excited and hope everything goes ok. I know. I know. Fat chance! But still I hope nothing major goes wrong! =D

Time4Learning.com

2010-06-24T11:37:00.002-05:00

I’ve been invited to try Time4Learning’s online curriculum for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own so be sure to come back and read my experience with Time4Learning’s educational program. Click to find out more or if you would like to apply to be considered for a review.

Homeschooling my crew

2010-06-24T11:31:00.003-05:00

This homeschooling thing has become so stressful for me. I feel ready to give it all up. I want to do it but dont feel as though i am doing a good job. I want to be able to be teaching them all and have had to concentrate on Hannah and not teach the others pretty much at all. I dont know how to do it. Hannah is a good student. She needs prompting to complete tasks but she does good in her work. Its ME! I dont know how so many people are able to spread thier minds to be able to teach their different age leveled children! I am deserperately looking for the solution because if I dont find it, its off to public school again!
I feel spread to thin some times, actually most times! hmmmmmmm...

Need Hope?

2010-06-16T12:38:00.004-05:00

My friend has been writing a blog for the past couple months. It started as a way to keep everyone updated on her husband/family's condition. I think now her blog has become a source of testimony strength for many people. See, her husband was diagnosed about 2 months ago with a massive tumor in his liver that is non operable and terminal. They have a unique out look on what is going on. For a family that could understandably be angry, bitter, or resentful they are exactly the oppisite. They have put thier faith in God and know that it is His will. She has said that she has been contacted by friends and even people she doesn't know to tell her how her words have helped them.
For me, I find thier lives and out look right now such an amazing thing! They are inspiring to me and so many people. I am so greatful to be able to witness these miricals taking place. So greatful to be able to call them my firends. Heavenly Father is truly at work in thier lives.

If you would like to know what it is that has insipired me so much, go read her blog at http://prayingforbob.blogspot.com/

Anniversary Trip to Mt Cheaha

2010-06-13T14:36:00.001-05:00

For our anniversary we went to a mountain here in Alabama called Mount Cheaha to camp for 3 days. I had a blast! It was the first time in the 8 years James and I have gotten away without any of the kids. We enjoyed it but missed the kids at the same time. I guess thats being a parent for ya. :-}
All in all it was a really great trip!

Here's some of our adventures:

We took the scenic route which took us through Sylacauga. I took James on an unplanned tour of my hometown(or at least the place I consider my hometown being that Ive moved 27 times lol). I had a blast showing James all my "this is when I..." places. =P

Then we headed out on the road. Before we left I worte the directions down from Google maps. They were good till the end. We turned on the road we thought was the right road because it had the exact same name! But it wasnt because somehow we ended up going the way we had come without meaning to. We went to the end of that road and thought that was our next turn. Then we realized, "Wait a second! Didnt we just pass that old house and that chicken coop?!" LOL

So we turned around and went the other way and some how made it to the road we were supposed to be on. Once we got to the park, we went to check in and we told the girl we wanted the 'semi-primitive' site and she looked at us strangely and said "are you sure? Maybe you should go look at the two sites to make sure."

James and I look at eachother a little worried and tell her no we want those. After that I am thinking "Oh great! There is going to be something seriously wrong with the site." But it was to expensive to go to the "Improved site" so we took our chances. We went up to the site and descovered the were great! I dont know why she looked at us and said that but maybe we just didnt look like we wanted to truely tent camp. It was "semi" because it had picnic tables and fire rings. LOL It was a really nice place. Only problem we had was finding a place we could stake down our tent. Being on a mountain made it hard to find anywhere there wasnt rock.

So we set up camp and then gathered fire wood. At one point James was walking in front of me and stepped on some big rocks. I stepped on them behind him and was looking down(I tend to trip a lot so I was being very careful) and saw the side of a snake sliding under the rock! I let out a yelp and jump from the rocks. James thought I was falling and caught me almost threw me back to the rock. I thought it was very nice he caught me. At least I know he will catch me when I fall. =)
I do not know what kind of snake it was or anything because all I could see was the side of it and when I looked after I lept it was completely hidden.

When we were walking back to our campsite there were 3 deer in a site close to ours! The obviously were used to people being around and not hurting them because they let us get really close to them before they started to go away. We were about 20 feet from them. I took several great pictures of them. Only to discover later that my camera had dumped all pictures and wouldnt save anything. It also said it was having a lens error. I was so disappointed in the pictures of the deer being gone. Later I figured out I could take out the SD card and get at least 10 pictures on the internal memory. So I at least got a few pictures.

It was hot and we wanted to cool down. We went down the mountain to the lake and swam for a while. I was demonstrating how to float with out a float for James and realized I had lost my glasses from the top of my hat!! I was so sick about that. Those are a lot of money and cant be replaced any time soon. James and I looked and couldnt find them. So we decided to prayfor help. After that we looked some more and still couldnt find them. I gave up and just swam for a little while. I heard another woman saying she had lost her glasses and I told her I did the same thing. She was still looking for hers and said she didnt doubt her ability to find them. She said she was very good at finding things. I didnt think much of it but them she found hers! I saw that hers were just sunglasses and told her mine were Rx ones.

She was very concerned because she said those are very expensive. She took it on herself to search for my glasses. I still didnt think there was any way she could find them because we had moved from where we were before but I told her the general area where we were when I lost them. She said she grew up on the river so she learned to find things really well in the muddy water. She said, "So if any one can find them I bet it will be me." She was searching for like 5 minutes and kept pulling up sticks thinking that was them. Then I look over at her and see her pull something out of the water. It was my glasses!!! I couldnt believe it! I am still shocked by it. But what had happened was right before she found them she said only way she would find them was with God's help and no sooner than she had those words out of her mouth than she picked them up off the bottom from the mud! I know HE put her there and made her lose her glasses to et me to talk to her and find both of our glasses! I am so very thankful for her faith and my Heavenly Fathers love to lead her to them! It was definately a tender mercy for just me.

That night we cooked tin foil burger meals. I cut up an onion and a couple potates and some carrot sticks. I put it all in foil and cooked it on the fire. They turned out great. We very much enjoyed our dinner. We also made s'mores for desert. I havent had those in years and enjoyed every bite of my two.

The next morning we got up early and headed to the trails. We took our map from the camp store and chose our path to the High Falls and set off. At the trail heads, we looked at the big topo map and saw some inconsistancies in our map. But we thought it would be ok and hiked on. At one point James is leading and I look at the ground as we hike and I saw something. I wasnt exactly sure but then realization set in and I thought out loud, "We just passed a snake." Not excitedly or anything just kind of a statement. With the way James took off though you would have thought I said it was next to his foot! =P

We go to the end of the second trail where it was supposed to end into another trail. We werent sure which way to go on the next trail. We looked at the direction of each side of the trail and thought it was to the left. Once we had walked a while the trail got smaller and more over grown. I could still see the trail and thought it just hadnt been used to often. James thought we should go back and go the other way. I convinced him to continue the way we'd come because we had already come so far that way and surely it would end out in the right place.

Well we walked and walk and walked and the trail completely disappeared! So we either had to go back the way we'd come(which was hard to tell where that was) or we try to cut through the woods to find the other trail. Yeah we did the crazy thing and cut through. We went for a while still not finding the trail and had to stop and get some water and rest for a minute. Thankfully there were plenty of oddly shaped trees to site on.

We continued on and found the trail after going up instead of straight like we had been hiking. We came out on what couldnt be mistaken for anything but the actaul trail. We could hear the water and went the way on the trail towards it. We crossed a little stream and thought if we kept going we might find the falls after all because at that point we didnt know which trail we had come out on. We went on for about another 3 miles or so and became frustrated because the trail was continueing to lead up the mountain away from the water.

We did not think we were going to get to the falls going the way we went so we turned around and headed back the way we came. We passed where we had came back onto the trail earlier and continued going back. We finally came back to where the trails met and realized we were on the right trail. We just went the wrong direction on it. So we went back and kept seeing things and thinking "Oh this was close to the start we are almost back" HA! We did that like 10 times and I told James we have got to stop saying that because I think its adding miles in front of us.

Once we made it back to the trail head we looked at the map. If we would have gone about 5 more miles where we turned around that last time we would have made it to the falls. James was very disappointed. He said, "We didnt make it to our destination and that really irritates me." He likes to finish what he starts. We calculatd what we did and thin we did about 20 miles total. I think that was pretty good for hiking 3 hours! Add in the fact that we are very much beginners and we did really good! =)

We went and jumped into the lake to cool down and had hot dogs for lunch. Then we went and hiked the small trail to the top of the mountain and looked out over the forrest. It was so beautiful up there. I could have stayed there forever! So peaceful and humbling. You really are just a speck when compared to the vast earth we live on. It really was so nice.

(this picture is zoomed in all the way to see the buildings in the distance)

Then we went to the pool and stayed there for a several hours. I told James he swims like a frog(The way he kicks his legs) and he called me a dolphin( I swim better under the water with my eyes open in the water than I do on top.)

Today we woke up broke down camp, showered and headed out. We went to Church in Sylacauga where I went when I lived there. I was so nice. So very different from where we go now and from what I remember as a kid but it was very nice to be there.

I cant wait till July when we all go as a family to Bear Island in North Carolina!! That will be so much fun! =D

Adam's Bad Day

2010-05-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

So Adam my almost 2 year old woke up the other morning and when he was carried into the living room and set down, he didn't move from that spot for about an hour. I checked him for a fever but he was fine. So I decided to feed him some cereal to see if after eating he felt better. I started feeding him and after about 3 bites he piked all over me! That was just lovely!

But after throwing up he acted as if he felt just fine. So he's up running around and having fun with his brother and sisters. I am doing laundry, putting clothes away in the bedrooms when I hear a scream from the living room. I ran in to find Adam with blood pouring from his mouth. I grab a towel and pick him up. I look in his mouth the best I can while he is screaming to find the source of the blood. I realized it was from his tongue. Then after trying to clear the blood enough so I can really look at his tongue, I realize there is a HUGE hole in his tongue.

I am ready to freak out. It looked like it went all the way through and the way the blood was just pouring out, I was very worried. I got my mother to come and look at it and she was able to look under the tongue and said it didn't go all the way through. So I was slightly relieved for that but the blood was still coming and the hole was so big and so deep. We didn't think there was anything they could do for him at the doctors(because have you ever heard of stitches in the tongue before?) but called just in case.

The nurse wanted to make sure it wasn't all the way through the tongue and that it didn't split the muscles. I told her it hadn't. She asked if it had slowed down the bleeding and by that point it thankfully had. So she said to give him Popsicles(cold compress, ya know?) and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't continue to bleed or doesn't get infected or anything. So no trip to the doctor. Great!

So he ate the Popsicles unwillingly because it hurt so much. It was nap time so I put him down and was hoping that when he woke up he would feel a lot better. He slept for about an hour and woke up crying. He cried for a bit more so I decided to give him Motrin to see if it would help the pain. Thankfully it seemed to help because in 20 minutes he was up and playing again.

Okay. You would think that would be enough to equal a pretty bad day right? Well obviously not for my poor Adam. While he was outside playing, he got to close to the dog run and our new dog, Sassy, got excited to run after us. Her cable slung Adam up in the air and flipped him. He landed face down in the dirt! He wasn't hurt, just shook up a bit.

He had a few other things happen that just altogether made for a really bad day. But the good thing about it was it wasn't an extremely stressful bad day. Yes, he did get hurt a lot but the rest of the kids were well behaved(except Chyenne having been the one who pushed Adam into the chair and making him bite his tongue), there weren't any other major disasters, or anything. I was thankful for it being mostly calm through all that.

When my husband got home that night and saw Adam's tongue, his face had a look of total horror! His face just said it all.

I would have taken pictures but I didn't think to the day it happened then the next day it had already begun to heal and it wouldn't have been visible.

The Daily Daily

2010-05-19T08:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday started out pretty great. I made the reservations for our family vacation. We are going to go to North Carolina's Bear Island. We will be camping on the beach! I have only been to the ocean once. When I was 10, my aunt and grandmother took me with them to Panama City. That was fun but I havent been to the oceans since. I am really really looking forward to this trip.

Also, James and I have decided to go away for our anniversary weekend. We are going to go to a mountain and camp for 2 days. We will hike and swim and just enjoy being away for the kids for a couple days. We have never been away from the kids except for when one of us has been in the hospital. So this will be a nice treat from the everyday.

So after making the reservations, my mother and I went out and worked in our garden. It is growing so well. We are very happy about that. We had to thin some of our plants. I felt so bad pulling up perfectly good corn plants and okra plants. But I know that if I dont thin them they will not grow as good. We didnt expect all the seeds to grow. We bought them last year but were unable to get a garden in at that time. So we put them into the freezer and saved them for this year. I think all the seeds we planted grew. I am really looking forward to some good veggies this year. I also hope our watermelon plants grow good and produce a couple big fat juicy watermelons!

Then I worked inthe house for a while and lost track of time. I mentioned something about calling my doctor and my mother said, "oh! What time are you supposed to be at the eye doctor?" I had completely forgotten about the kids eye appointment and it was 45 minutes from the appointment time! So I said "eat your lunch as fast as you can and go get dressed to go. MAKE IT FAST!" I was amazed we were fed, dressed, and in the van on our way in 15 minutes! That was a record! It usually takes at least twice as long. But then again I only took 3 of my 5 kids with me, so that helped. So we get there and I fill out all the paper work. They called them back and did the first part of the eye exam. I got really frustrated at the woman who was doing this part. She had me sit in a chair and hold Jordan, my 3 year old, up so he could reach the machine. She got a little frustrated at him because he was holding perfectly still. I mean come on, he's 3! How many 3 year olds will still perfectly still for an eye exam? But then when he was done and I has helping my daughter Chyenne, Jordan wanted to wander around the room and look at the different machines. She was freaking out, running over to him grabbing his shoulders and bringing hm back by me, like he was going to damage something.

Anyway, They said Chyenne and Jordans eyes were great. Hannah has lazy eye. She was diagnosed with that at 3 years old. When they first dound it her vision was20/400 but now its around 20/30. It hasnt changed in the last year so they are going to try to see if it will improve by patching the good eye and forcing the bad eye to see better. So now she has to wear an eye patch for 2 hours a day. She is very unhappy about that but it hopefully will help her to see better. So I only have to deal with the whinning for 3 months...

Than I made a mad dash into Wal-Mart to get a few things to make a dinner for my best friend and her family. They are going through a really dificult situation right now. So I got home and threw the diner together and we drove out there and took it to them. I am really thankful to be able to see the hand of the Father at work in thier lives. Its truely humbling to know how much he loves each of us and takes care of us.

So I will write next time about some other adventures we have. For now I just know life is certainly unexpected everyday.

Been a while...

2010-05-06T14:07:00.000-05:00

I havent written on here in quiet some time. Things are crazy as usual. I am homeschooling my oldest and am struggling to do so. I havent been ableto do it the way I wanted to. You know, the vision of teaching them all and being ableto keep up with the house and errands and keep the whole family happy and everything else a mother does. HA! That hasnt happened at all. My house looks like a tornado came through it. I feel like I am being buried in all this. My sanity isnt even here any more. I feel like I am doing everything but not doing anything well. I keep wishing to just get out, get away from life. Escape from the madness but I know the madness is in my head and I cant escape it.

I had my 5th child, Emily Febuary 5th. I was having a lot of pain and went to the ER and they discovered my gall bladder was full of stones. So I had that taken out March 5th. I was doing good for a little while but then realized I was still having pain in my abdomin. It seems to be getting worse. Before I really only hurt when I ate but now I wake up in pain and it doesnt matter if I eat or not I am in a lot of pain. It really sucks to have pain all the time and not have any answers. The last time I went to the doctor(about 2 years ago)about this pain he told me it was IBS. I dont believe that at all. I dont know why but that doesnt seem like what it is. I dont buy it! I havent gone back to the doctor this time because I expect they will tell me the same thing. I just cant stand all this.

I am deciding wiether I am going to send Hannah back to public school to try to take a little off myself. I have already decided Chyenne will go to kindergarten in public school. I am trying to get Jordan into headstart this year. I think that will help him a lot. I think if I send them to school it will take enough off me I can focus on helping them with thier studies instead of being the only teacher and not having anyone else there. I can help them after school. I could focus on teaching them the gosple before and after school. I would also have more time to focus on them more individually. I would also have more time to keep the house cleaner and do all the other stuff I need to do around here. That way hubby would be happier in that sense.

I just feel like I am drowning and need something to give. Right now, I am not even slightly sane.

Lapbooking!

2009-11-12T08:05:00.000-06:00

For our Halloween study we did a Halloween lapbook. It was great! We are ableto see how it all came together. Lapbooks are a great way to organize all your iformation. I know this is a short post but I just wanted to post a little about it. I will have to take pictures and post them here.

Treadmill for Sale

2009-09-24T14:26:00.000-05:00

https://post.craigslist.org/manage/1390532112/94pfi
I am selling our treadmill. there is just not enough room in this house for all of us so I hope to eliminate a few unneeded things. Its a very nice treadmill. So if you want it let me know.

My Ideal Homeschool Day

2009-09-15T14:06:00.000-05:00

I wish I would have known how things just don't go perfectly smooth for ALL the work to get done. I have to say I had no idea how very hard homeschooling was going to be.

My children are. 6, 4, 3, 1 and one on the way. My oldest went to public school last year and is now being homeschooled for first grade. I knew public school was right for us right from the first week but wasn't able to start at that point. So I planed and I researched and I planned and ...
I had a vision in my head as to how well it was all going to go. LOL! I could see my younger children playing happily while the older ones were doing their work, me doing laundry while dictating writing practice, and so on. Then we would have field trips often and go to play dates. hmmmm Doesn't that sound good?
It has been hectic from the start! The curriculum I bought doesn't work for us. The children are fighting all the time. The van has broken down(AGAIN!), so no play dates or field trips(plus we have to have someone help us all get to church) because we don't have another vehicle that can get us all in it. Add in that I am a terribly inconsistent person. It has been kinda crazy.
I have only figured out today that I should schedule all the appointments in the afternoons if I want to do the majority of our lessons in the first half of the day. All this and we've only been trying to get this on a roll for the last month. We have been sporadically getting lessons done. I have to figure out how to keep the younger children occupied while I am working with my oldest. Then I have to figure out how to keep the house clean and meals cooked while doing all the rest and still have some sanity.
I know this is the way Heavenly Father has shown us we need to go. So I know I will keep trying and maybe one day it will just fall into place better. I love doing the lessons with my daughter and will begin teaching my 4 year old to read very soon. I just haven't started that yet because she learns so very differently than my oldest daughter. I also have got to become more consistent and form some sort of schedule. I think that will help us a lot.

Snakes AHHH!

2009-08-08T20:58:00.000-05:00

James, me, and the kids were in the living room and Mom was setting up her room. Then we hear the dogs going nuts outside, which scary enough, isn't a rare thing. The back like crazy on the side of the house ALOT especially n the last week or 2. James and I ignore them because theres no one in our drive way and every other time we've looked we didn't see anything.
Mom comes out of her room and goes out there to check. The second she opened the door we could hear something weird but in that second didn't think nothing of it until mom starts screaming to Chyenne to get back in the house right then because there was a rattlesnake out there. James and I leap over the couch into the kitchen(our baby gate broke) in about a half a second. James goes to see it and I am searching for the phone to call 911 because I didn't know any of the police numbers or anything. We manage to get the dogs to come in the house and Mom and James stand guard so that if it tries to leave they know where it goes because we didnt want it to still be around here. I call and the first time the 911 operator hangs up on me after I tell him whats going on!!! I call again and they tell me animal control will only help if its in the house because outside right off my porch is its "natural habitat!" I am freaking out on that one.
We call out land lord on her cell because she wasn't home and tell her.She said she will call someone to come right away. Well while on the phone with her the snake uncurls and decides that its clear enough to get away. We start throwing thing(we are in a safe enough distance to be okay) to block it and its still going. Mom picks up a long stick and hooks the head to keep it in the flower bed. I tell James to go get the guy at the end of the road because they hunt and I know they have guns. He says ok let me get my keys and shoes and I'm like no run down there now. Instead I take off and run the whole way there (oh did I mention I an 3.5 months pregnant with baby number 5 and am already pretty big)and pound on their door and theres no one home!!! Then I run to the other house down there and they are gone too. I then run to the sheriff at the beginning of the road and no one answers the door there either!! Ahh I know its as pretty day and all but come on! lol So all this time(really only a few mins because I tell you I was running the whole time up hill or not) James and mom have been trying to keep the snake from getting away while the kids are under strict orders not to even dare think about leaving the living room. So as I am coming back from the sheriff's house, the person Connie called is driving up. We get the dogs back in the house and they shot it. One shot right in the head. They picked it up said it was about 4 feet long and counted the rattle and there were 11. It was huge as big around as the largest part of my forearm. When mom went out there to check on what the dogs were barking at she nearly walked out onto it. If she would have stepped one more step off the side walk she would be in the hospital! I am saying my prayers in thanks that she didn't get bit or a few hours ago it didnt come up when my kids were out playing and the missionaries and Brother Carlson were here helping mom move. I don't know if they kids will be playing outside in the yard anytime soon it shook them up pretty good (mostly the girls) to know there was a snake right where they like to play and dig.
We were thinking about getting rid of our puppy because she has been tearing things up in the nieghborhood. Well shes not going anywhere now! The nieghbors dog and our dog will now be looked at as heros. You may think I am crazy for saying it like that but the snake was right where my 4 small children play and we walk everyday. I am sooooo happy it is dead. I know there are most likely more snakes close around here but I feel good knowing at least one is gone especiallyh since it was 3 feet of my porch which is a concrete slab the is on the ground not in the air.

About 2 months ago there was a small snake dead in one of our glue traps we dont check that often so the anestetic had killed it by the time I was vaccuming behind there and see it. So now 2 snakes in 2 months! The one in the house was not poisonous but it was still in the room where we are the most part of the day. AHHHH I want critters of all kinds to stay out of and away from my house!

Any way I have pictures. I will come back soon and post them. for now I am going to bed and trying not to dream about snakes.

The Body of A Mother

2009-05-01T10:22:00.000-05:00

This is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard/read about a mother. Well worth the minutes to read it! Very VERY BEAUTIFUL. Please read.

http://tms-giraffesmakemelaugh.blogspot.com/2009/04/if-i-said-you-had-beautiful-body.html

Wii Fitness

2009-03-22T16:59:00.000-05:00

We bought a Wii with our income taxes. When I saw the price on Wii fitness(something that when I first heard about it I really wanted) I decided it was just to much. James went back and bought me one. I am soooooo glad he did! It is soooooo much fun!

My favorite part is the super hula hoop. Its a workout to hula hoop that long! I also like the yoga and the balance games. The strength training is okay. All the games and things on it are fun and it makes it even better that its exercise that I am having so much fun doing! My favorite of the yoga poses is the warrior pose. I have done yoga before and liked it but on the Wii balance board its better because it trains you to keep better form.

I have done the body test for a month now and with eating better and walking 3 times a week and doing wii fitness I have love 15 lbs!! So cool to hear it go from telling me I'm ob ease to saying I'm over weight. Now this might not sound good to you but I take great pride in that. I have successfully lost 15 pounds in a month. I haven't done that since I was boarder line anorexic (I had a 20 yr old boyfriend @ 13 yrs old and he broke up with me and I went into a deep depression that had very little to do with him) and I lost 70 lbs in 2 months.

To anyone who is going to buy a Wii I highly recommend Wii fitness! It is Awesome!

Nie Recovery

2009-02-02T10:25:00.000-06:00

I had heard about this when the story was shown on the Today Show but had forgot to go back and read more about how they were doing. If you haven't heard about this family you should go to the blog and read about them and what has happened.
I am glad they are out of the hospital and wish them continued speedy recovery and they are in my prayers.
Such an amazing story!
http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

Last Post of 2008

2008-12-31T15:29:00.000-06:00

Well another year is almost upon us and I thought I would get in a last post of this year. I haven't posted often in the last year but with four kids I find spare time a rare thing. These past two weeks has been kind of crazy and not just because of Christmas. My grandmother-in-law got really sick the Sunday before Christmas. She was 86 years old so we knew she wasn't going to be with us to much longer. She was rushed to the ER and they admitted her to the hospital for a bleed in the brain( I wasn't there to hear exactly what the doctor said but that's the my best understanding of what everyone has said) and she wasn't given long to live. Due to the DNR in place, the doctors were unwilling to operate. They kept her comfortable and she passed on Tuesday the 23rd. She had a lot of memory loss prior to her illness and didn't recognize many of us in the family but the night before she passed she started preaching to everyone and knew clearly who everyone was and who wasn't there. They all said she was telling them if they don't understand what they need to do to get where she was going they needed to understand. From what everyone said she was very sure about it all.

So with her passing Christmas was extra crazy. We had someone from church anonymously give us money and a gift card for walmart. So we used the cash for the bills. I couldn't believe it. We had gotten a little bit behind on the bills and the cash was the exact amount we had needed to get caught up. We used the gift card to buy the kids Christmas gifts. Then my mother-in-law's church(mostly made up of DH family) started taking up money to buy my kids Christmas all because my sister-in-law "felt the impression" that the Lord wanted her to do it. They didn't announce who it was for just that it was for a family that wasn't doing so well financially. There was also a local charity that my other sister-in-law works a lot for. She signed my kids up for their Christmas program. All the kids would have gotten from me and DH was going to be one small gift each. By the time all was said and done, my kids had more gifts than I ever remember having in one Christmas! In the picture below the tree had about a foot and a half from the bottom to the floor. The gifts are so tightly packed under it. they are stuffed in the corner behind it and everywhere around it! I was so over whelmed and grateful to the Lord and those who He had worked through for blessing our family like He has.

I am truly grateful for the gospel and the light and knowledge we have found within it. The Lord has truly blessed my family!
This has been a GREAT year!

In Memory of Wrinkles 1996-2008

2008-12-03T12:30:00.003-06:00

I don't really have a topic for this post except maybe an update.
Well, I haven't written in a while so I'll catch you up.

A week or so ago my dog got hit by a car right in front of my children and I while we were waiting for the school bus. Wrinkles has been my dog for nearly 13 years. I got her when I was 10. Several times I felt like she was my only friend. She brought me comfort so many times when nothing else did. She gave an unconditional love. I've had her since she was born. I owned her mother. We basically grew up together.

It was my first real loss. I have had 2 grandmothers pass away but I wasn't all that close to either of them so their passings didn't effect me (especially since I know the gospel and know I will see them again). But loosing my little dog hurt really bad. When she got hit I couldn't help it but I screamed. I think I scared my kids to death. I hate that I scared them but that was rough. Even now just thinking about it is making me cry. I loved that dog. I knew she didn't have much longer here in this life (she had cancer) but to have her taken so fast and so violently was very VERY hard. It was hard to go through that day. I didn't send Hannah to school after that. I don't think she could have functioned. It upset her terribly. She and I once back at the house held each other and just bawled. I couldn't stop seeing her coming out from under that car. I couldn't/can't get it out of my head. My second oldest is 3. It upset her too but I think it was mine and Hannah's reactions that scared her the most.

I had to call my mom to come get her off the road so my husband could bury her when he got home because with the kids I couldn't. I don't think I could have even if it wasn't for the kids. The car didn't stop or slow down. They just kept going. They didn't even blow the horn to try to get her off the road. They hit her so hard it drug her for like 15 feet. She was all tore up. She was thankfully dead on impact. So she didn't suffer.

I miss her. I feel like the worst person in the world because I think it was all my fault. I should have put her in the house before we went down there. I should have been paying attention to where she was. I should have done something. I just miss her. I hope I will see my precious Wrinkles again and be able to tell her I am sorry for not being a better owner to her.

If this post is written bad or makes no sense please forgive me. I needed a place to vent my grief and this is the best place I've found.

Reba & Kelly Concert in Birmingham, AL

2008-11-16T21:29:00.000-06:00

I HAD A BLAST! I HAVEN'T HAD SO MUCH FUN IN YEARS!!!

We were literally front and center. I was less than 5 feet away from the mic.
Their opening act was the girl that played Barbara Jean on Reba. She was okay. I am just not a fan of dumb humor. She did make me laugh a time or two but it was just to scripted. If I can say the next line before she does then its boring to me and I did that and cracked my mom up a time or two just because it was funny that I said the exact thing she did.

Then when Reba and Kelly came out we were all on our feet! I had my camera and was snapping away. I think I took over 150 pictures. Mom also had her camera but because it looked "to professional" they wouldn't let her use it. She was very upset by this. She still enjoyed it very much though.

Reba & Kelly looked like they were having a blast up there and I think after watching them I so could do that! LOL They were laughing and cracking up in between songs and were keeping the crowd into it too.

My mother and I both noticed things about them we didn't realize before. Mom said Kelly has a big butt. I noticed Reba has very large nostrils(this could be just the fact that I was right below her LOL). One thing about Kelly I saw that I liked was the fact that she was bare foot. HEHE I am the queen of bare feet. If it was me on that stage I would have been bare foot too. She had long jeans that came down over her feet that hid it from most other people but since I was so close I saw her toes sticking out. I loved the pants she had on they were jeans that had been split up to the calf and long black tassels sewn in the slit. I want some like that but then again I am a housewife/stay-at-home-mom where would I wear them? LOL

I probably looked crazy but every song they sang that I knew I was belting out as hard as they were but there wasn't a problem with this because there were these huge speakers on the floor in front of us and if anyone could have heard even a sound i made over them I would be amazed. The speakers were so loud they shook my body. This wasn't a problem for me but Mom said she wished they would have not had them as high. I don't see how they could have had them any lower because over all the people no one would hear the singers.

They even got their pregnant back up singer out in front a time or two. She was so cute rockin out up there, big belly and all.

They sang all my favorite songs and a few I hadn't heard before. At one point they totally had me fooled. They reintroduced one another and waved to the crowd and walked off stage. The band played a little and then walked off too. They hadn't sung "Fancy" or "Because of You" or a two more I was looking so forward to hearing live. So I was starting to get very disappointed.

Right about that time the band came back out and then Reba and Kelly came up out of the middle of the stage. They of course saved the favorites for last.

To say the least, I had so much fun. I needed it and I really enjoyed it.

My IQ

2008-10-30T10:33:00.001-05:00

Free IQ Test by QuizRocket.com fun quizzes!
» » "Who Should I Vote For?" « «
Make a Quiz | Halloween Trivia | Dumb MySpace Quizzes

Family Photograph

2008-10-29T14:43:00.000-05:00

Well, today I got in the mail a flyer/ad for Portrait Innovations and realized I really need to have a family portrait made because the last time we had one made was when my oldest was 11 months and she is now almost 6! (I know its really NOT a good one of me) To say the least, its time!

I have tons of pictures of Hannah(oldest), both snapshots and professional. I have a lot of snap shots and like 1 or 2 pro pics of Chyenne, several snapshots of Jordan, and multiple snap shots of Adam. I have absolutely zero pro pics of Jordan and Adam and no family pics at all.

How is it that from child #1 you have tons of pics but from child 2 on there are fewer and fewer pics? I always heard that it happens but I was like "No I am not going to do that." But now 3 years after my second was born I have failed in that regard. A lot of it comes from us being so low incomed all the time but a lot of it is also the fact that I just haven't set aside the time to go and do it.

When I got the flyer, I tried to call and schedule an appointment but they said they weren't making appointments beyond 2 weeks. I guess its because of the holiday season. I will be calling again in a few weeks because I would schedule it for sooner but I need to do it after James gets paid and after I go to the Kelly Clarkson & Reba concert because I need to do it on a Friday when we have the time.

I hope we can get a good one this year. I have never been to PI but I have seen some good pics they have done and I have heard its MUCH better the the Wal-mart photo place. As soon as I get them I will put one up here and you all can see my beautiful family. I admit it I really am proud of them!

Holding to the Iron Rod

2008-10-27T10:01:00.000-05:00

My husband and I got married a little over 6 years ago. At that time I wasn't attending church at all for about 2 years. I was doing just about everything I shouldn't have been doing at that time. But when we became pregnant with our now oldest daughter I decided that I couldn't imagine raising my child without the gospel. I knew that no matter what I* had done I wanted her to know the truth and know her Heavenly Father. So after we got married I started the road back to Christ. I started coming to church again. It was difficult when all the girls I knew were asking me why I could no longer come to Young Women's with them. I had to explain the I had to go to Relief Society now because I was married and going to be a mother.
I talked with the bishop and repented. It was very hard but I knew it was what I had to do. I am so grateful for the atonement and for the opportunity to be forgiven.

Well I started coming regularly and got to where I really wanted an eternal family. I started pestering my hubby to come with me and to listen to the missionaries. He listened only to please me but it took over six months before he agreed to be baptised. I am so thankful to those wonderful sister missionaries (Sister Abel & Sister Corbett) for their patients and kindness to him.

So he was baptised and was coming to church and was a strong faithful member. He was studying everyday and was talking to everyone he met about the gospel(even if they really didn't want to hear it).
That lasted about 8 months and he fell away and was doing things that weren't right and sadly enough I followed him on some of it. We were inactive for a short while. I used to say it was because my back was bad ( ended up having back surgery at 17) but the truth was we were doing things I knew were wrong. We came back and repented. I have never stopped since that time.

We were sealed in the temple in 2006 and I couldn't even begin to describe my joy at having an eternal family! We were sealed to our two little girls and any children we had after that time would be sealed to us automatically.

About two weeks after we were sealed my husband stopped coming to church. I only ever got the reason of, "I just don't want to" or "I don't believe it." He said he enjoyed the temple and wanted to go often when we were there. I do not know what caused him to stop coming but he only came like 3 or 4 times at most in the last two years. I think it was a lot of responsibility and he didn't want to do it.

He started coming back in September and has only missed one Sunday since coming back. The change of heart came about because our second son(child #4) was born at the end of June and he would be the only child of ours he wouldn't have blessed since he was baptized. It is very important to him now and he seems to be truly happy coming back. He said that yesterday during PH he actually felt the brotherhood he had longed for all along.

I am so happy to see him coming back and taking care of our family. I am so excited but on the other hand I am totally terrified he will stop coming again and it will break my heart once more. Be that as it may, I have made a promise to my self that I will not under any circumstance push him to go no matter how bad I want him to be there. I know it has to be his choice and not a feeling of being obligated to go. No matter weather he continues to go or not I will never Father willing stop coming to church and lose my eternal faith in Heavenly Father.

An Abundance of GREAT Resources

2008-10-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a list of some of the sites I have found that are full of great tips/ideas that have proved very useful to me. Some are blogs some are not. All are full of things that could probably benefit everyone.

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index1.htm

http://frugalabundance.com/

http://www.livingonadime.com/

http://www.handprintsonthewall.org/

http://www.afreebieempire.com/

http://cheapcindy.blogspot.com/

http://www.couponmom.com/

http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/

http://soprano.com/freestuff.asp?from=/vote.asp?linkno=250&linkno=250&ref=http://www.soprano.com/vote/vote.asp?linkno=250

http://www.handprintsonthewall.org/category/frugality/lessons-from-butterberry-farm/

http://familyfun.go.com/

Well these are most of the sites I have found that have been a big help to me and my family. I think if you can't find one thing on this list that can help you there has got to be something wrong! LOL
If you have a site or tip that has helped you in any way I'd love to know about it so I can learn more.
Have a great day!

Kindergaten Theft

2008-10-07T18:17:00.000-05:00

So, my daughter came home with a strike in her conduct folder for the first time today. It was kind of sad when I think back on it. She had to get off the bus and walk up the hill to the house by herself because it was raining and our van has gone on hiatus. She was walking very slowly and with her head down. She didn't but barley lift her chin when I called to her from the front porch to welcome her home. When she got to the side walk she quietly said she didn't get a star today. When I asked her to tell me what she did she stated that the teacher sent a note home. I told her, "No. I want to hear it from you." She says she can't remember. I continue to ask her but she wont budge. I finally pull out her conduct folder and read the note from the teacher once we were in the house. I read that she was "taking things from others." Then I go to the bottom and read the note from the teacher that says,"After nap, I caught Hannah trying to put one of my charts(that is poster board sized) into her book bad. I was very surprised that it was Hannah doing this. We had a talk about it."

I did my best not to crack up when I read that she was trying to shove a big poster into a small back pack. I can just imagine how that looked. I have no clue why she wanted it so bad because I asked her if she liked it and just decided she wanted it. She said no. I also asked if someone told her to do it. She again said no. I talked with her and so did Daddy and she knew exactly why it was wrong and she even said a prayer to ask for forgiveness. I know that wasn't necessary but it taught her a valuable lesson on the repentance process.

I am proud of her for doing the things necessary to make up for this mistake. I just cant believe she is so big already. Its so amazing how fast they have grown and have begun to mature. I want them to succeed and I know for that to happen I have to teach them the core principles of the gospel. The repentance process is so hard to grasp and understand when you try to do for the first time when your older. So I am trying to teach my children the things that will help them the most in life.

The Big Cookie in the Sky

2008-10-02T06:12:00.000-05:00

Well my 3 year old daughter Chyenne walked with Hannah and I to the bus stop the other morning and she was very concerned for the moon.
As we are walking back to the house she looks at the sky and exclaims, "Look Mommy!! I see the moon!!" I nod and keep walking. I mean really to me it was just the moon. Well to her beautiful mind its much more. She continues looking up at while walking and holding my hand (so as not to trip), "Mommy!" Real concern was written all over that precious face. "The moon is broken!" I get a kick out of this one and barely suppress my giggle to explain, "It’s not broken. We just can't see all of it right now."
This satisfies (or maybe pacifies) her for a few more steps. Then she looks back at the moon and back to me again. "Who ate it?!" This time there was no way I could have kept that laughter in! I laughed all the way back to the house.

Yard Sale Craziness

2008-09-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

So I haven't posted this past week because I have been so busy preparing for the yard sale we had this past weekend.
I told my neighbor and friend that we were planning a yard sale and she decided to join me out there and have one too. She said her huge attic was completely full. Well,we got permission from the guy who owns the two building and tiny church at the end of our road on the main road. He is actually the guy who owns the building that mother's company rents in another city. He's a really nice guy. So anyway, James and I get up at 5am and start moving things to the end of the road. After the 4 hours or more it took to get it all set up I was ready to call it quits! LOL there was just so much to set up and out. I probably had twice the amount of clothes I had last year and that's saying something because last year I had 4 tables worth and this year I only had one huge table and two smaller ones to work with. I really needed more tables! James helped me before work then left. He came back because he asked his boss if they needed him and he was told it was fine for him to come back home.

Well, by the time he got back I still wasn't even close to being done with all the set up. So I told him to set some things out and gave him specific instructions on how to do it. HMMM! He maybe listened to the first sentence and thought he knew what to do. well of course he didn't have I had to fix it and re instruct him about 3 times and finally when I told him to set out the homemade wheat bread I made for the sale I told him there were there 4 loaves that were different from all the rest and to set them on a separate shelf. When I look over at them I see they are all mixed and I tell him a little exasperatedly that he yet again did it wrong. Now the first few times it wasn't so bad because it was just the clothes and it was easily fixed but this time it was bad because I didn't have the different bread marked in any way! So after telling him it wasn't right he got frustrated and stormed off. I had a customer there at that point but thankfully he was over settling up with my neighbor and didn't pay James any attention.

He decided to come back after 30 mins of cool down time at the house. He apologized and we finished all the set up. It was pretty slow at first but after 10am we had a lot of people stopping and also a lot that passed us and turned around to come back. I sold a lot of the bulk stuff the first day and sold a few clothes. I was surprised I didn't sell more clothes because last year I mostly only had clothes and toys. James went back up to the house for a little while when things slowed down and when he came back he told me my mother had called. The people who rent the building the tiny church was in were complaining about us being in front of their building. I was SO mad. I mean I had permission to be there and there weren't even in there on Friday and Saturdays. I was told I didn't have to move Friday but Saturday I had to set up to the right of their building. I could be out there just not in front of their church! The problem was my neighbor was beside us with all her stuff there. That was the biggest drama on Friday.

Saturday we get up at 5:30(because it was all still set up on the tables and I didn't have to do much prep. It turned out to be more prep than I expected but a lot less than the day before. I made sure none of my stuff was in front of their church and was doing good.I was enjoying talking to the customers and helping find anything they asked for. I had several people that were surprised at the low prices I had on thing. For example, I had a toddler bed with a mattress and all for $10. I know that seems low but I didn't need it and I priced everything to go. I needed to get as much clutter out as I could.

At about 11:30 the preacher man for that church shows up and tells me we are going to have to move. They were going to have a service and needed all the parking space there was! ERRRR!!! I called my mother and she called the owner. He told us that if they are not in there we didn't have to go anywhere but if they were having a service we had to move over to where they could park. My problem with this is there was a whole other side of their church to park on. So I moved over just barely and said they can get their cars in and that was good enough. Well he gets mad and has one of the teens move his car right up next to one of my tables as close as he could and still be able to squeeze out of the car door. All the while shouting, "They are going to learn to respect me!!" To top it off they had a total of 7 cars that all but 2 fit right in front of the building and the two that didn't parked on the opposite side from us, which was closer to the door anyhow! So there really was no need for him to be so incredibly rude. I am so baffled at all this because I really think he only called a service because we were out there. The only time I have ever seen anyone at that church on a Saturday was when they had a yard sale! He just really didn't show what I think a christian attitude should be.

Well all in all the yard sale was a success. We made a little over $350 and got a lot of the junk out of my house. Now my daughters' closet will be able to be use for clothes instead of piles and piles of boxes and bags of clothes. I now will be able to catch up on bills (from since James had his surgeries). I didn't sale much bread. I made 9 big loafs and 7 small ones. I sold 3 small ones! I really thought people would love to get fresh homemade whole wheat bread but I guess not. Now we have a lot of bread. LOL I got a little burned in the sun so if I ever have one again I will be getting me a great big floppy hat.

Poison Control: Kids Eat the Strangest Things

2008-09-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

So today I read a blog post about a mom who had to check with poison control to see if dry wall was dangerous when the child ate it. It reminded me of something Chyenne did when she was around 1 year old.

At that age we called her our little goat. She would eat anything. I have pages in my journal that say "Chewed on by our little goat aka Chyenne." So one day she was playing in the living room and we were in the process or adding trim and cleaning up the dry wall mud that had fallen between the wall and the floor (there was about an inch between where it all fell while the work was being done). She decided that the dried mud looked tasty. I pick her up and see she is 'foaming at the mouth' and I am freaking out. I am searching around to figure out what she had eaten and finally my eyes land on the crack. I am like "oh my gosh! She ate the sheet rock stuff!!" I hand her to my husband and run to the phone and call the poison control. The lady patiently tells me that she will be okay and to just give her extra water.

Chyenne is the only one of my four children I have ever had to call poison control for. My oldest is almost 6 and youngest is 2 months old. Well Chyenne(3) decided a month or so ago to drink the whole bottle of gas drops which she pulled out of the diaper bag I left in the living room after changing a diaper. I am in the kitchen cleaning or something and I hear a wet rubbery squeaking. I look over into the kitchen and see she is chewing on something. I made her bring it to me. She brings me the dropper part and I start to realize what it was. I jump over the gate and grab up the now empty bottle and freak. I called poison control just knowing she was going to die of an over dose on simethicone (gas drops). I step in the next room to be able to hear the operator on the phone. She tells me yet again Chy will be okay again just to give her extra water. I go back in the room wit the kids and Chyenne has spit up/puked a little of the drops. My guess on that is that her stomach just couldn't handle the sudden amount of the drops.

I just hope I never have to rush one of them to the ER because they somehow got into something more dangerous. I know I am hoping against hope there. Kids will be kids!

Lazy Mondays, Preschool, & Lemon vehicals

2008-09-16T08:22:00.000-05:00

For some reason Mondays are my worst days for house work. I don't ever want to do anything on Mondays. I guess its the fact that its the first day after the weekend and I am still recovering from having everyone home all weekend. I love the week days when Hannah is at school, James is at work, and my mother is at work as well. I only have my 3 youngest at home. They are great. Chyenne & Jordan play great together most days and Adam is a great baby.
Now don't get me wrong, I love my family and love spending time with them. It's just that when everyone is home it gets pretty crazy and loud(mostly James LOL). So by Monday I am glad for the quiet and I just soak it up on and lounge around playing on the net, reading, or watching TV.

Our van, that we just bought in April, has stopped working yet again. This time we cant take it back to the dealer and say fix it even though i know they never really fixed it. They just did something to get it by for a month or two so we would have to fix it later on. So now, I can't go anywhere. Even if I took James to work and my mom put Hannah on the bus it wouldn't work because then Hannah would get home after school and I wouldn't have anywhere for everyone to sit in the car to go back to get James. So I can't go anywhere with out some one else taking us or getting James from work. Hmmmm. House arrest again! Not that I would be going all the time all over the place but it is a good thing to be able to take the kids to the doctor when they need to go. Adam has gotten his siblings cold and is really congested but I have no way of taking him to the doctor. Or take the kids to the play group that just started back up. We dont have the money to get it fixed so I dont know what we are going to do. I just hope something happens that we all need to go somewhere at the same time!

Yesterday was our first successful home preschool day. We are learning about the ocean this month. Yesterday we sang songs and counted, colored, cut out, and pasted seashells. The kids had a blast doing it. I also think they loved having some structured "play." That's all it was to them was playtime. I made sure not to focus on "teaching" them and focus on playing with them and enjoying the time we were spending together. Today we will be "making" a sand pail and adding sand and shells to it.
I ordered these lessons that we are doing from Home Preschool Program. If it wasn't so costly I would be ordering their programs each month because I think they are great. They provide everything from the lesson plans to the crafts and supplies to the music. About the only thing you have to get is the snacks!

2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour 2008

2008-09-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

On Monday, my mother and I saw a commercial to announce that Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson are coming to Birmingham. We were both like we want to go to that sooooooo bad!! They are my two favorite singers! I have loved Reba's music since I was little and have liked Kelly since Miss Independent and LOVED her since her breakaway album. The fact that they are coming together has me bouncing off the walls!

I don't have any money to spare and neither does my mom. James had to have 2 surgeries back to back last month and we are still trying to catch up on the bills because he was out of work so long. I want to go so bad that I started calculating the money we had to see if I could possibly find an extra $100. Of course, as anyone who struggles financially knows, there is no wiggle room in a very tight budget. I knew we didn’t have it so I started trying to think of ways to get money another way. I tried everyday to win them on the radio but of course every time I called I got the busy signal. I tried to think of ways to make money fast. I looked for anything I had around here I could sell. My husband, who knew how much I really wanted to go, was even willing to give me one of his video games. When I bulked at this one he said something along the lines of,” I know how much you really want to go and you never ever do or buy anything for yourself. You always sacrifice your wants for me or the family and you don’t think twice about it. Its time you have something for yourself." Now of course I bawled at that but unfortunately the games weren't worth enough to pay for the tickets.

So I decided my last resort was to ask my dad (my mother and father were never married and I don't ask my dad for money or anything hardly ever. The last time I asked him for something was when our car had a flat tire and we didn’t have any money to get it fixed. I hate asking him for money because we don’t see each other often and it feels like I am using him. He wasn't around a lot when I was a kid but in recent years he's been great and my kids and I love him to death but we just don't get to see him a lot because we live a good distance apart. But as I said I REALLY wanted to go to this concert. So I asked if he would give me the money for my birthday (October 3rd). I was sooooooooo excited when he said he would! Excited may be an understatement.

So I had the money and I was going to be able to get the tickets! Now I had to go wait in line to get them. Mom and I thought it was a good possibility that there were going to be a lot of people in line for tickets because Reba hasn’t been to Birmingham in 10 years. So she suggested I go up there about 4or5am but I didn’t want to wait that long so I got there (accompanied by the best hubby in the world) at like 3:30am. James thought I was crazy for wanting to go that early and his predictions came true when we got there and no one was in line. We were there for like an hour and a half before the first people got there. I was first in line. The sad thing was when the tickets went on sale at 10am there were only four people there! But I don’t care because I got front row tickets!!! I expected to get okay maybe even good tickets but I never guessed I would get front row!

Now all I got to do is wait for these 61 days to pass. Oh, how slow time goes by when you are waiting for something.

Monster Mushrooms

2008-09-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

Well this past week we have had a lot of mushrooms come up in our nieghborhood. There have been some pretty ginornous ones. I first spotted them in my nirghbors yard where I thought a larger white soft ball was there but upon closer inspection it was a huge round mushroom. Two days later it had flattened out completely on top and looked like a large saucer. There are several in my yard too. There are ones that look like pancakes and one that looks like a ladybug half pipe. LOL I can just picture a ladybug on a skateboard doing tricks on it! I'm crazy I know.

There are some normal sized ones too but most of them are huge. I found one this morning that was decaying. It was covered in fruit flies and looked pretty nasty in a cool kida way.

Homeschool Freebie of the Day website

2008-09-08T08:35:00.000-05:00

I discovered this wonderful site a little while back. Its a site dedicated to homeschooling families. They have free things for download to help out in teach you children. There are also things for you. I have gotten things like ways to cut your children's hair at home, great stories for the children, great craft ideas, and so much more! I have subscribed to the newsletter and there's even more in there! They put in "subscriber exclusives" in each email. There are the freebies on the site listed, the exclusive freebies, and a "deal of the week" in there sometimes where you get a special discount on some other resource they have tracked down. These are really great! I once got 20 ebooks for $8 when they were originally $50 and they were all very useful!!
I haven't seen anything on this site I didn't like. Check it out here!

Enjoy!

No baby, just crazy

2008-09-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

I took a test and nope I'm not pregnant just crazy! LOL as usual.

Going Crazy or Baby?

2008-09-04T11:55:00.002-05:00

So, the past week I have had to get up at least a minimum of 2 times a night to pee. I also today decided I wanted to have a handful of raisins as a snack. Then after eating about 2 I decided I wanted some chocolate chips with them. As I was warming my lunch, I also decided that a little peanut butter with them would be good(which I have never fixed or eaten before). I mixed them up with some and started to eat it and decided it still needed something. So, I went back to the kitchen and got some oats and mixed into it. Started to eat this and decided a dash of cinnamon would be the perfect addition. LoL!
All these additions were added like 2 mns apart from each other. After doing all this I realized I was craving this! Another thing going on with me right now is my mind is cloudy and I've been clumsy. What does frequent urination, cravings, mindlessness, and being clumsy sound like to you?
Well to me it sounds like me when I am pregnant. Now, my youngest is 2 months and I have an IUD! If I am pregnant this is a total shock, a welcome one, but none-the-less a shock!
I remember last time I had an IUD my period stopped but it stopped after like 3 months. This time I had my period on August 1st and still haven't started this month. So, I will have to get a test and make sure.

Family: Expect the unexpected!!

2008-08-28T06:56:00.000-05:00

This morning in all our morning craziness the baby wakes up in his bassinet screaming out in pain. My husband is in the kitchen and is closest to our room. So he starts in that direction with me on his heels in no time( men never seem to move as fast as a worried mother!). As we are going around the bed to get the baby he turns to me and quickly holds something out and says, "Here hold this." I automatically reach out and take whatever it is. I mean wouldn't you have? Well the reason he was in the kitchen was he was preparing his lunch. So I was handed 2 cold wet slices of lunch meat! Once it was in my hand I stopped walking and had to look at the gross wet things in my hand. He picks up the baby and sees the look on my face and cracks up. "I can't believe you actually took it!" was his reaction.

Now my new motto with the family is: Family:Expect the Unexpected! Not that this is a new revelation, what with all the times I find cheese and a trail of ants behind the couch(yesterday!) or hear the screams from my son's room and upon investigation find my 1 year old on the tallest dresser with no explanation possible for how he got there. There are so many things that happen in a house of 6 that are just bizarre. Most of the times its something the kids do that is the craziest or most unexplainable. Like when my oldest was just 2 she got a necklace off of a teddy bear that she had managed to get on there with out me being able to remove it. I mean I tried for like 20 minutes to get it off then looked at her and said sorry but I couldn't get it off and gave it back to her. I look at her a few minutes later and realized she had it off and it looked to still be completely intact and so did the bear. I got them from her and looked for a place where she had to have broke the necklace to get it off. There was no such place nor was the bear damaged at all! I still to this day have no clue how she got the beads on the bear or off of it.

So now I just need to remember, especially as my kids get older, there will be even more things to expect to be crazy around here.

Child Communication & Doctors Offices

2008-08-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

You ever realize how children change in a pediatricians waiting room? Well it is possible its just my children that decide to either become very vocal or want to hide behind(or under) me. A few months ago I took my 1 year old son to the doctor for his 18 month check up. I had him in his little stroller and he was set and content. We went to the well child waiting room and sat down to wait. We were there for about 5 minutes and another mom with a 2 year old daughter came in and sat across from us. Her daughter sat at the table that was between us. She was obviously very curious about my son. She kept stealing glances in his direction. Finally she came over closer to a chair directly in front of us.
She was looking at him and her mom said something along the lines of don't mess with them. I looked up and told her that she wasn't bothering us. I told Jordan(my son)to say hello. He babbled at her. Then they suddenly they were in a conversation that only the two of them could understand. It was so neat to watch them because I know they knew what the other was saying. I commented on this to her mom and she said, "This is strange! She has completely reverted back to baby talk. She normally can talk well for a 2 year old." I thought that was a pretty neat thing to see/hear.

Our rights as women to vote

2008-08-25T14:22:00.000-05:00

This was an email I received today. The sad thing is I didn't know things were that bad. I mean I was taught that women had to 'fight' for their rights but I never knew it was as bad as this says it was.

A Message for all women
THIS IS MOVING. HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET.....IF ....WE EVER KNEW...... WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE
This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.' They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work?
Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling family:georgia;font-size:85%;">booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder. All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more routine.
Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.
Sometimes it was inconvenient.
My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history,
saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk
about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought
kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said.
'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just
younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The
right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'
HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history,
social studies and government teachers would include the movie in
their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere
else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing,
but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think
a little shock therapy is in order.
It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.
The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'
Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.
We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so
hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic republican or independent party - remember to vote.
History is being made.

Heels and purses

2008-08-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

HYSo, I kept my nephew last night and his mom will be coming in a few hours to get him. Its my sister and her hubby's anniversary. So I agreed to keep the munchkin so they could have time together, alone. She lives an hour or so away from me. Her dad (we are half sisters) lives like 10 mins. from her but he and his wife refuse to keep their grandson and so my sister never gets a break. Its sad. I wish she lived closer so I could help her more.

Well its hasn't been as bad as I thought it might be. See Dallas(my nephew) is an only child for one thing and for another he is a tiny bit delayed. At one point we were worried he was autistic. A fact which I believe is still possible, if only a little. He gets very loud and doesn't quite talk as well as he should by almost 4 years old. He has done good though. He had a little difficulty going to bed last night because I put my kids to bed a lot earlier than my sister does. He usually goes to bed around 10 or 11. I put mine down somewhere between 730 -8pm. Last night I thought I should try to wait till 830 or 9 but I got suddenly tired and decided not to wait.

We moved my youngest daughters bed into my sons room and put my daughter in her sisters bed(big sister was at grandma's for the night). Dallas got in the bed just fine, we gave kisses and hugs and said good night and turned off the lights and closed the door. I went into my daughters room to say prayers and tell her good night. I wasn't in there 3 mins. before he was screaming. I finished up in with my daughter and went in to tell him he was okay and to go to sleep. I did this 3 times and thankfully he finally calmed down and slept the rest the night just fine.

Since he is an only child he doesn't have sisters or girl toys around. He has become fascinated with my daughter's heels and purse! I am cracking up at this. My son doesn't even play with the heels (by his own choice not me stopping him). I am going to take a picture or Dallas in the heels with the purse and give it to my sister. Her redneck backwoods husband will really love that. He's the beer guzzling, wrestling watching, mud ridding type. The funny thing is my sister has turned like that too. See our mother who raised us both on her own was raised in California, so we didn't grow up in the boondocks (or at least not with that mentality). Our talk is southern but not like most people we live around. NOT THAT ANY OF THAT IS WRONG OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I Do Not think I am better than anyone. My point is that when we were growing up I never would have pictured my sister the way she is now.

Anyway we shall see how the heels and purse go over when mommy comes to get him.
Really wish I could go out and do something today. Tropical storm Faye is dropping some needed rain on us. Its pretty wet outside so playing outside is out. We are broke so going out isn't an option. Gas prices are still crazy(even though they are saying on the news "they are falling" Ha! not that I've noticed!).

I guess I will find something to do (not that with 4 kids+1 that will be hard).

Getting Better at Cleaning

2008-08-22T14:29:00.000-05:00

Setting up everything for a home to be run smoothly is a continual process. I have lived in this home for 6 months and I still am not completely settled the way I want it to be. Maybe its because I have things in a certain place to keep the children(or the thing) safe. Or maybe its because I am renting this house and have a feeling that we will end up moving and haven't made myself put things in a permanent location. Whatever my reason I am trying now to get more organized and focused on my housekeeping abilities. I am widely known as the worst housekeeper ever. The sad thing is I have had a few jobs where I was a maid type worker and cleaning is what I was paid for. I can clean any house or place great as long as its not my own.

But all that is going to change! I am motivated and will not loose that motivation! I mean it! No, I really do. Okay maybe i will slip up and forget the dinner dishes and maybe that basket of laundry will sit there for a day or two but I am trying to improve.

I recently bought a few ebooks all about home (and life) organization. I have ready two of them so far and have had some pretty good tips and ideas come from them. I was thinking of dedicating an entire post to the best household tips I've ever read/heard. Does that sound like something you'd like to read? If so leave a comment to this post and let me know.

Labor & Delivery

2008-08-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

Being that my last post was when I found out I was expecting, I think I need to write now.
We had Adam Elijah on June 23, 2008. He was 8lbs 14oz 21.5 in.(he was a BIG baby. Over a pound heavier than my second biggest was at 7.11!). The pregnancy went great. I didn’t even have gestational diabetes this time, which blew me away since I had it with my last one and was borderline with my second. The labor was a different story.
My doctor had to go to France for 2 weeks and didn’t get back till the day after my due date. I was not happy about having to see her partners. I really like her and wanted it to be with her. I also know that if she would have been there for this delivery it would have gone smoother.
Well, I went in on the 23rd for my appointment @9am with one of her partners and I had been having irregular contractions since the day before. I didn’t think anything of them since they were all too common throughout all of my pregnancies from about 5 months on. I had to do the pee in a cup thing as usual when I got there but this time I was shocked to see blood in the cup and when I wiped. Before I could even say something to the nurse she said "There’s a lot of blood in your urine." She let the doctor know and he promptly came in and checked me and said I was almost 5cm (I was 3 for 2 weeks in a row before that). They called next door to the hospital and let them know I was on my way.
I got there @10 & they hooked my up to the monitors and waited a while to get a good look at how my contractions were coming (they were not in any set pattern). Two hours later @ 12:30 the doctor I used with my first came in and she broke my water and told me that when I wanted the epidural to just ask.
Ten minutes later the nurse came in and was going to hook up the pitocin since she thought my contractions weren’t getting started. I was going to tell her I wanted to wait off on the pit because I knew they were coming and were getting stronger and more regular but then she realized I was having one again after just having one like 3 mins or lees before that one. So she said "okay we can wait and see if they keep picking up." I already had my husband there but I called my mom to let her know the contractions were getting faster and a lot stronger. She was going to be there for the birth and was on her way there from work.
An hour later she got there and I was trying to hold off from getting the epidural for as long as possible because I didn’t want it to interfere with me having a vaginal birth (my 1st was a C-section because they gave me the epidural to early). The contractions had gotten unbearable and very close together, like back to back with 30 seconds or lees between. I called to the nurse and told them I wanted it. They called the guy who does it and he was "on his way." An hour later, he still wasn't there and I was dieing! They had paged him 3 times already and I was at 9cm.
When the nurse checked me and I was at 9 she should have paged the doctor but she was so worried about me being in so much pain she wanted me to have the epidural. In truth if she would have just got the doc there and let me push him out I would have been fine. Well the doc for the epidural got there (@ 2:15) and they sat me up to do it and I told them (well maybe told isn’t the right word lol I kind of yelled at them) "he's coming out!!" The anesthesiologist said we could do the epidural with me lying on my side, so that how it was done (@225). They always send the family out of the room when they do it. So when they let my husband back in the room he got very angry at the anesthesiologist for cracking jokes about "only being here for moral support."
James and my mom were at the end of the bed while the nurses were setting things up for the birth (all the while I'm still laying there in a LOT of pain). James looked up at me and realized the baby was coming out! He was like "Hey! Uhmmm Uhmmm!" Pointing at me. The nurse yelled and said "Pull that table over here!" James slung it out of the lil room they keep all the stuff in to her. She told me to push then a second later to stop so she could clean his mouth and nose out. Then a tiny push again had him out! The nurse delivered him before the doctor could even make it in the room. By the time the doctor made it they already had him off of my belly to the warmer and were cleaning him the rest of the way and doing all the stuff they do. I told the doc when she got there she missed the party and she was like "I can see that." All she had to do was deliver the placenta. I was perfectly fine after he was out. He was born at 2:37pm. 2 hours and 5 mins after the water was broke. The epidural didn’t even have time to do anything. I was full able to move my legs and felt every inch of Adam come out. After he was out, I sat up and the nurse pulled it out, saying something along the lines of "a lot of good this did ya."
So well I guess it went well as far as no complications or anything like that.

Well, I have written enough for now. I need to go fix the zoo crew here some lunch before the decide to raid the fridge themselves(oh what a mess! I shudder at the thought!)!

AnD bAbY mAkEs 6!!!

2007-10-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well I went to my Ob/gyn for my annual yesterday and they asked me "when was your last period?" I'm like "I'm 3 weeks late but its not been regular lately" She tells me I'm pregnant!!!! We are soooo excited and happy! I don't know if its just the emotional side of pregnancy but I really am extremely excited. We had the IUD removed at the end of April and now we are pregnant with #4! :D
I go for the first ultrasound on Wen. next week to determine the due date. I think it will be somewhere around the first of July. My guess for the due date is 7/9/08.
My family comes all in a line. My 2y/o daughter was born in Aug., my 1y/o Sept., I am Oct., my husband is Nov., my 4 y/o is Dec.! This baby will either end up with a June or July birth, so it just falls in line! I love it and hate it. There are no breaks between birthdays and when they get a little older I don't even want to think about the B'day parties!

But anyway I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!

Am I going deaf?

2007-10-18T20:44:00.000-05:00

I got to get my own self to the doctor! Not that we have the time or money for that but if I don’t go soon then I fear I will end up completely deaf. My hearing has been getting bad as of late. I can't hear unless your turned toward me and then other times if I'm in a room with a lot of noise I feel so overwhelmed by all the sound that I feel like my head is going to explode! I have never had any trouble with my hearing. I tell you I really am losing my sanity and at 21 no less!

So little time...

2007-10-18T20:17:00.000-05:00

I am amazed! My landlord got the tree gone this evening! I guess a tree on the house is more important than the pipes!
But anyway...
My 2y/o had a 103 fever tonight and wasn't moving around much. I don't know why but she keeps having fevers that spike up to 103 then after a few rounds of medicine it goes away. She has tubes but there is no drainage so thats why I dont think its an ear infection. I am in the process of finding a new pediatrition for my children. The doctor we were using has left the practice she was in and we dont know where she went of if she retired or something. The other doctors(well they really are nurse practioners) I really do not like. One is like she know all and doesnt listen to what you try to tell her. The other woman seems so brainless, I dont trust her. So to say the least we need a doctor. I have tried a few places around here but they are all "full". Its only because my children are on Medicade that they are suddenly full! Its sad that I have had to take my children to the ER (because they cant refuse me) for something as minor as an ear infection! I have got to make a lot of calls tomorrow.
As I get older I really dont see how there are enough hours in the day to just get the day to day things done muchless get anything productive done. My 4y/o isnt able to go preschool now because my husbands new job has him leaving out way to early to take her and my "friend" who said she would take and pick her up for me has now flaked(yet again) and wont answer her phone to me when I call. I have a ton of house work I got to get done. I will need to start preparing for our move that's coming up hopefully at the first of the year soon. And now I have to cut out more of my daytime hours to do preschool work with my daughter so she will be ready to start school next year. I really do not understand how we are supposed to get it all done or even attempt to get it all done!
Hmmm...

Maybe its just my not sane portion that can't get it together to get it all done...I don't know...

Who invited the tree??

2007-10-18T15:08:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting down to the computer to relax. I have just put the kiddos down for their nap. I keep hearing something outside and it sounds like its something moving on my front porch. I check out the window and see nothing. What is that stinking noise. I hear it a time or two more, there times i don't get up i just glance back at the window. The I hear a really loud noise this time. Sounds like someone trying to breakdown the door with an ax or something. I run over to the window just in time to see the tree about 8 feet off the front of my porch falling toward me! Scared me half to death!!! I was thinking in that 2 second span "Oh my gosh!! Its going to land on the house and me and my son(who was in the high chair behind me) and my 4y/o daughter (in the bedroom right off the living room)!!" My heart was pounding about a mile a minute! After it fell i had a reality check the the tree wasn't an incredibly tall one. It was tall enough though to fall on the house and the roof over the porch. Thankfully enough I cant tell any damage.
My husband keys me up on the nextel on his lunch break and I'm like "We have a new house guest. Yep! The tree wanted to come in the front door!"

Well now I've called my land lord(who lives in TX) to have them find someone to come out and remove the tree. Usually takes a couple weeks for them to answer me(always have to leave a message, they don't answer my calls). Well i told them there was a tree on the roof of the house they own. You think it will get their attention this time?

Zelda

2007-10-17T20:29:00.000-05:00

Well, this will be my first official post as a blogging mommy. I love reading other moms/dads blogs. Got to admit the story on the news did make me say "yeah, I'm going to do that." LoL I don't know if anyone will be reading this anytime, but if you are thanks a bunch and I promise I am Slightly Sane, Some of the time. I am a wife and mother. I have 3 kids(as of now).

Today:

I have to admit I was a bad SAHM. I didn't get anything done other than dinner. My husband bought a new games for the DS and I couldn't put it down.(The Legend of Zelda The Phantom Hourglass) I told my husband he had to take it to work with him tomorrow so I don't have the temptation tomorrow. He just laughed at me and said "now you know what its like to be a gamer!" I kept telling myself all day "after this part I'm going to turn this off." but inevitably I didn't put it down till the battery died(thank goodness I had just saved!).