Life moves so quickly.
I am really not good at documenting things, and I always regret it. I often look back in my blog posts to see when a certain child did this or that or when a certain event happened. I am planning on printing out parts of my blog, and so I am trying to make a conscious effort to document the things that need to be documented.
I think it would be fun to write out each child's birth stories for sure, and I am toying with writing out Noah's and my love story. Next week I am planning to attempt to spend no money, and I think I will blog about that experience. But today? Today I am going to catch up on "Quote of the Days". I have posted most of these on facebook, but here they are for those of you who are not on facebook:
---
Lincoln put Everyn's pacifier back in her mouth. I said to Everyn, "you should thank Lincoln for giving you your pacifier back". Lincoln looks up and me and says, "Mom, you know she can't say that. She has her pacifier in her mouth!" Yep, Linc, that is the reason...
---
Berean really likes Tarzan and Jane. Everyn was laying on my lap one day and Berean came up and pushed her chest up against Everyn's head and said "heart"- just like when Tarzan and Jane took turns listening to each other's hearts.
---
Deacon spends a lot of time talking to Everyn. One day I heard him say, "why do you like me so much, Everyn? I didn't exactly give birth to you."
---
Lincoln: "Deacon, can this bug fly?"
Deacon: "It used to be able to. Now it is dead."
Lincoln: "Do you think it flew into our house and than we whacked it?"
Deacon: "maybe"
---
Lincoln is convinced he wants a Blackberry. He just hasn't quite decided what kind. Roman wants a phone with a key pad that pulls out.
---
We are reading Little House on the Praire. I asked the boys if they would like to ride west in a covered wagon (my sisters and I would have jumped at the chance!). Roman said, "no way" (he doesn't like long trips). Deacon said, "no...well, maybe it would be ok if I had my DSI XL (nintendo)". Poor Laura and Mary, they didn't even have a cassette player, much less a dvd player or a personal gaming system.
---
Deacon: "If we went to McDonalds more often we would have a lot more worthless toys."
---
Deacon attempting to use the word "ravel" as in opposite of "unravel". It didn't quite work.
---
Lincoln is talking away now, all the time. When we want to tell him to please be quiet, we try to remind ourselves of how much money we paid to get him to talk. And we are happy that he is talking. Right now, though he makes his guys talk to each other, even if he is playing alone. He also is our best movie/book/cd quoter. The boy has his favorite "lines" and he uses them often.
---
This week I was complaining about pencil sharpeners. We just use handheld ones and they just don't work well, or they quit working or the pencils don't fit in them properly. Maybe I expect too much from a product that costs 99 cents. Deacon asked me if I thought that it was a situation in which the people making the pencil sharpeners KNEW that they were bad, but were just trying to get my money and giving me a faulty product on purpose. I clarified, asking him if he was wondering if it was a big scam. He did. His father agrees. (note: the boys just finished listening to The Green Ring Conspiracy so they are totally up on counterfeit rings and all kinds of scams).
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
New Questions
Before Everyn was born I got alot of questions about how many kids we were going to have, and surely this was going to be the last one.
Now those same people keep saying stuff like, "you may as well just have a 6th" and "wouldn't it be awesome if you had another one that was a girl and then you would have 3 and 3?!"
I think the whole thing is cute. For the most part, people love babies and when the baby is there it seems that everyone is happy and rejoycing and thinks it is a marvelous thing.
And it is. Babies are pretty awesome.
And older siblings are pretty awesome too.
I have had to change my tactics a little bit when we go out. I have to handle the baby carrier and whatever bags/purses I need. I also have a slippery almost 2 year old that needs to be monitored and controlled. There are keys and doors and cards that need to be maneuvered. Honestly, I just used to do it all myself- except the carrier of course. The boys tend to lose things out of bags and get distracted and let go of their sister. Now though, I give them jobs. I've been putting Roman on door duty, and I hand him the van key and he is in charge of that and getting everything unlocked and opened. Deacon gets to pick if he wants to carry bags or handle Berean. He usually picks Berean and she holds out her hands to him and he holds her hand and tells her all kinds of things as they walk along together. Lincoln usually holds Berean's other hand.
Lincoln lets go at will, though, so I can't really trust him.
It has been working, but I am thankful that it is 36 degrees today and that we haven't had cold days or lots of snow this year.
The other question Noah and I have been getting is this, "So, how is it going..." but it is said in a way that the asker expects the answer to be "it is so horrible, why did I ever do this!" or "we are dying due to lack of sleep". They seem like they don't believe me when I say that things are going fine.
Homeschooling moms with lots of children say this instead, "how's the sleep?" I tell them she sleeps at night in 4 hour stretches and they say, "you're ok then." They know, like I know, that if you are sleeping in 3 1/2 hour segments that you can conquer the world. Well, maybe not the world, but at least the pile of dirty dishes. Maybe, with some chocolate, you can even get to the laundry.
I am not going to lie, there have been hard moments when everyone is crying at once or I have had to put the pacifier back in someone's mouth for the 100th time. A couple of days the boys have watched more tv then I would prefer. Many nights I have fallen asleep before I have finished my days work.
But really, the hard moments have not been that many. Maybe 5% of the time.
It is like any job, I suppose. Some days your customers (or patients, or students or coworkers) are more needy than other days. Some days the tasks you are asked to do are harder than tasks you have to do on other days. Some days the amount of work is more than you have time for. I think that is just the way it is.
I do know that things will be harder when I go back to work in a couple of months. I am a little worried about that, but it will be ok. Right now I am enjoying my time off, enjoying my family and enjoying things not being too hard.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
An Evening Out
The title is really a lie.
Well, unless you count a quick trip to Kohls, Target and the Y an evening out.
First off, the only reason that I was leaving my warm house and family on a cold, snowy Sunday night was because I needed to go to Kohls to pay my credit card bill. Yes, I am bizarre like that. I take care of all of our bills online, but my Kohls credit card is not one that I use that regularly, so I just pay it as it comes. Well, actually I remember the day it is due and than I pay it in store on that day (yes, I realize that it makes zero sense, it is just one of those things that I do). And it is craziness like that which draws me out of the house on a Sunday evening in January. As I changed into Yoga pants in anticipation of a quick run at the Y, I caught myself wishing for a friend to run with, running with someone is a great motivator.
I walked into the store and took care of the bill. I wandered past all the clearance clothes and thought again how I really, really need a new wardrobe- maybe a whole new look- when I lose this last 15 pounds of baby weight. But now is not the time. I need to resist the urge to shop when I am postpartum- it makes no sense, because whatever I buy will no longer fit in another month. And so the waiting game persists.
The baby section was nearby so I went in to see if there were some footie pjs for Berean and Everyn. There was a pair of girl 2t footies for $5 on the rack. I considered them. I do laundry once a week, so it is really nice for her to have 8 pairs of pjs, since she still wears that stinky diaper. Wow, 8 pairs of footies, that seems like a lot. It isn't that hard to gather that many pairs, however, since she still can wear some of her 12 month ones as well as 18 months and now 2t. The NFL playoffs were on and I knew she was home sporting a pair of the boys old football footies. The holes in the toes are only very small, and her feet don't reach the ends anyway. $5, should I buy them? No, I decided, she doesn't need them. Saving $5 here and there is what makes people rich. Actually, inventing facebook makes people rich, but that has already been done. I do what I can.
I left Kohls emptyhanded: visions of my children's full closets firmly documented in my mind.
Target was next. I only needed a couple of things there, and considered the possibility of getting out of the store for less than $50. Target is a money sucker. They sell so many things there and it seems that there is always something to be purchased. I head for the nursing bra section and made my selection. A nursing cami caught my eye. $26. My eyes quickly slid to the promise of it slimming my tummy. Tempting. "No" my mind shouted. "You do not need to spend $26 to slim your tummy, go get on a treadmill for free and do it yourself!" Of course, treadmills and Y memberships are not free either, but I was living in the moment and not concerned about such details. I determined to run a 7 min mile at the Y.
And then I moved on to pick out a bag of french fries. I vaguely wondered what I was doing. My mind is screaming about 7 min miles, while I am picking out french fries. I thought about the inconsistencies in my life as I wandered by the valentine's candy. Thoughts like that helped prevent me from buying more starbursts, so I headed to the checkout lane with only 2 items: a nursing bra and a bag of french fries. You gotta love Target.
The Y was next. I had time for a quick run before heading home for bedtime routines. I was walking down the corridor when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see a woman I know from homeschool gym and swim. She was heading up to the the fitness floor, so we found treadmills together and got a nice run in. No, I didn't attempt my 7 min mile, but I did run a couple of 9 1/2 ers and walked a little too. And on top of that, we had a nice conversation.
Hmmm...
Kohls, Target and running with a friend.
Maybe that can be considered an Evening Out.
Well, unless you count a quick trip to Kohls, Target and the Y an evening out.
First off, the only reason that I was leaving my warm house and family on a cold, snowy Sunday night was because I needed to go to Kohls to pay my credit card bill. Yes, I am bizarre like that. I take care of all of our bills online, but my Kohls credit card is not one that I use that regularly, so I just pay it as it comes. Well, actually I remember the day it is due and than I pay it in store on that day (yes, I realize that it makes zero sense, it is just one of those things that I do). And it is craziness like that which draws me out of the house on a Sunday evening in January. As I changed into Yoga pants in anticipation of a quick run at the Y, I caught myself wishing for a friend to run with, running with someone is a great motivator.
I walked into the store and took care of the bill. I wandered past all the clearance clothes and thought again how I really, really need a new wardrobe- maybe a whole new look- when I lose this last 15 pounds of baby weight. But now is not the time. I need to resist the urge to shop when I am postpartum- it makes no sense, because whatever I buy will no longer fit in another month. And so the waiting game persists.
The baby section was nearby so I went in to see if there were some footie pjs for Berean and Everyn. There was a pair of girl 2t footies for $5 on the rack. I considered them. I do laundry once a week, so it is really nice for her to have 8 pairs of pjs, since she still wears that stinky diaper. Wow, 8 pairs of footies, that seems like a lot. It isn't that hard to gather that many pairs, however, since she still can wear some of her 12 month ones as well as 18 months and now 2t. The NFL playoffs were on and I knew she was home sporting a pair of the boys old football footies. The holes in the toes are only very small, and her feet don't reach the ends anyway. $5, should I buy them? No, I decided, she doesn't need them. Saving $5 here and there is what makes people rich. Actually, inventing facebook makes people rich, but that has already been done. I do what I can.
I left Kohls emptyhanded: visions of my children's full closets firmly documented in my mind.
Target was next. I only needed a couple of things there, and considered the possibility of getting out of the store for less than $50. Target is a money sucker. They sell so many things there and it seems that there is always something to be purchased. I head for the nursing bra section and made my selection. A nursing cami caught my eye. $26. My eyes quickly slid to the promise of it slimming my tummy. Tempting. "No" my mind shouted. "You do not need to spend $26 to slim your tummy, go get on a treadmill for free and do it yourself!" Of course, treadmills and Y memberships are not free either, but I was living in the moment and not concerned about such details. I determined to run a 7 min mile at the Y.
And then I moved on to pick out a bag of french fries. I vaguely wondered what I was doing. My mind is screaming about 7 min miles, while I am picking out french fries. I thought about the inconsistencies in my life as I wandered by the valentine's candy. Thoughts like that helped prevent me from buying more starbursts, so I headed to the checkout lane with only 2 items: a nursing bra and a bag of french fries. You gotta love Target.
The Y was next. I had time for a quick run before heading home for bedtime routines. I was walking down the corridor when I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see a woman I know from homeschool gym and swim. She was heading up to the the fitness floor, so we found treadmills together and got a nice run in. No, I didn't attempt my 7 min mile, but I did run a couple of 9 1/2 ers and walked a little too. And on top of that, we had a nice conversation.
Hmmm...
Kohls, Target and running with a friend.
Maybe that can be considered an Evening Out.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Homebound
I really despise cold weather. Taking 5 kids somewhere is no small task, but taking 5 kids anywhere when it is like 0 degrees is almost enough to make me cry.
Yeah, I know, I live in the wrong state.
This year has been so wonderfully above average temperatures. It has been a real blessing to me, but now the cold has come and I have locked the doors to my house. There has actually been days in the last week that I have not gone anywhere. That is almost unheard of for me. And there have been days that I have sent Deacon out to get the mail, that is also almost unheard of for me.
As an aside, when I do send Deacon out to get the mail, the other boys want to go too. So all three of them go out there and then they stand by the mailbox and equally divide the mail up so they each have something to carry back to the house. I always wonder if I actually get all the mail that was in the box.
Everyn is still sleeping a lot. She tends to be a little more awake and a little fussier in the evenings. Mostly she just wants attention. And who can blame her? She is growing like a weed and Noah and I both feel a little sad - she is already losing that newborn look. She doesn't really have much of a routine yet, mostly because she sleeps so much that her night time sleep just kind of moves right into what could be considered her morning nap. The last couple of days though it seems that her pattern is maybe normalizing a little bit. Most nights she does pretty well, usually one 4 hour stretch and another 3 or 4 hour stretch. Occasionally she will have a bad night where she apparently isn't sleepy at 0400 in the morning. At those times I lay down with her on the floor and we just sleep there.
Ok, I know that sounds crazy. Sleeping on the floor? Basically there are two reasons: 1. I don't want her getting used to sleeping in our bed and I also don't want me to get used to always just bringing her back there. 2. I think she is safer on the floor since siblings will occasionally sneak in and climb into our bed,
Lincoln is still enjoying his bus ride to preschool. I am enjoying not driving him there. I am also enjoying not taking him to private therapy.
We have so much time for school work now that I am not working and we don't have therapy. I am pretty sure I am driving the boys crazy with how much work we are getting done. Housework though is still daunting. I feel like everytime I turn around there is another mess to clean up. I feel like I never have time to get any further than just surface cleaning, laundry, dishes and basic paperwork stuff.
Oh well.
Hmmm...time to go find the wayward pacifier. Sorry about the boring post. Maybe I will talk about my shoes tomorrow.
Yeah, I know, I live in the wrong state.
This year has been so wonderfully above average temperatures. It has been a real blessing to me, but now the cold has come and I have locked the doors to my house. There has actually been days in the last week that I have not gone anywhere. That is almost unheard of for me. And there have been days that I have sent Deacon out to get the mail, that is also almost unheard of for me.
As an aside, when I do send Deacon out to get the mail, the other boys want to go too. So all three of them go out there and then they stand by the mailbox and equally divide the mail up so they each have something to carry back to the house. I always wonder if I actually get all the mail that was in the box.
Everyn is still sleeping a lot. She tends to be a little more awake and a little fussier in the evenings. Mostly she just wants attention. And who can blame her? She is growing like a weed and Noah and I both feel a little sad - she is already losing that newborn look. She doesn't really have much of a routine yet, mostly because she sleeps so much that her night time sleep just kind of moves right into what could be considered her morning nap. The last couple of days though it seems that her pattern is maybe normalizing a little bit. Most nights she does pretty well, usually one 4 hour stretch and another 3 or 4 hour stretch. Occasionally she will have a bad night where she apparently isn't sleepy at 0400 in the morning. At those times I lay down with her on the floor and we just sleep there.
Ok, I know that sounds crazy. Sleeping on the floor? Basically there are two reasons: 1. I don't want her getting used to sleeping in our bed and I also don't want me to get used to always just bringing her back there. 2. I think she is safer on the floor since siblings will occasionally sneak in and climb into our bed,
Lincoln is still enjoying his bus ride to preschool. I am enjoying not driving him there. I am also enjoying not taking him to private therapy.
We have so much time for school work now that I am not working and we don't have therapy. I am pretty sure I am driving the boys crazy with how much work we are getting done. Housework though is still daunting. I feel like everytime I turn around there is another mess to clean up. I feel like I never have time to get any further than just surface cleaning, laundry, dishes and basic paperwork stuff.
Oh well.
Hmmm...time to go find the wayward pacifier. Sorry about the boring post. Maybe I will talk about my shoes tomorrow.
First Sled Ride
 |
| That Hill Looks HUGE! (no babies left the surface of the bed in the makings of this picture) |
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Bag Lady
 |
| Ready to Go Shopping! |
Earlier today she was playing with her purse, instead of her cart. She would go over to the couch, open her purse and take out her hair binder, which she would then place on her wrist (like I do!). Next she would remove a book and page through it. After that she would remove a Barbie hair brush and comb and brush her hair. Finally everything would go back into the purse, she would put it on her arm and tell me "bye". Then she would go down the stairs. This was repeated over and over again.
 |
| Hope those babies are buckled in! |
I love having three boys too- they are also so different and so special! There is something about the way that boys love their mamas...
How blessed I am!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
2012 Goals
A couple of days ago Noah suggested that as I run I try to convince myself to not "be so psychotic". He wasn't trying to be mean, but without over-analyzing everything too much- he basically thinks I need to relax on the goal setting front.
I think he maybe needs to try goal setting.
But to each his own, right?
I have been very "lazy" these last two weeks. I have only made a couple of lists, I have spent most evenings cuddling my baby and reading to my kids. I have stayed home during the days, and I haven't created undue stress for myself.
And it was good for 2 weeks, but I can't live my whole life that way. I need goals and to push myself or else I flounder around and accomplish nothing. I can't enjoy life with things hanging over my head.
And so I will make goals for 2012, but I will also attempt to "not be psychotic". My 2011 goals were posted last year on January 4th. It is kind of funny to read them now, because I clearly had no idea that I would have another baby by the end of 2011! I was anticipating running a half marathon in the fall of 2011, not being in my 3rd trimester!
Anyway, here is the start of my 2012 goals:
PHYSICAL:
*lose baby weight (95% by March 26)
*Run/walk 1000 miles
*Run a 25 min 5k
*Run a 1/2 Marathon
*Complete at least 1 triathlon
*Start and complete INSANITY workout program
HOME/YARD:
*Plant apple trees
*Maintain garden/fruit plants
*finish lot cleanup
*Paint family room
*possibly get new furniture/floor lamps
*plan for a possible addition
ACADEMIC/WORK:
*Get CCRN! (this goal has been very elusive, I am scared to try...)
*Make a nonfiction reading plan (hope to come up with a list of books I want to read soon!)
*be diligent about putting content on my ipod to listen to while working out
PARENTING:
*read and reread parenting books to keep concepts and goals at the forefront of my mind
*be diligent about disciplining consistently so the kids and I both know that what will happen if defiance/misbehavior occurs
*work with each child to come up with specific goals for themselves
*implement a longer "family time" each week
*continue Bible Story readings and prayer time at night
FINANCIAL:
*pay off lot! (by end of January)
*save up money for possible addition/savings/new vehicle
*cut back on eating out expenses
I think he maybe needs to try goal setting.
But to each his own, right?
I have been very "lazy" these last two weeks. I have only made a couple of lists, I have spent most evenings cuddling my baby and reading to my kids. I have stayed home during the days, and I haven't created undue stress for myself.
And it was good for 2 weeks, but I can't live my whole life that way. I need goals and to push myself or else I flounder around and accomplish nothing. I can't enjoy life with things hanging over my head.
And so I will make goals for 2012, but I will also attempt to "not be psychotic". My 2011 goals were posted last year on January 4th. It is kind of funny to read them now, because I clearly had no idea that I would have another baby by the end of 2011! I was anticipating running a half marathon in the fall of 2011, not being in my 3rd trimester!
Anyway, here is the start of my 2012 goals:
PHYSICAL:
*lose baby weight (95% by March 26)
*Run/walk 1000 miles
*Run a 25 min 5k
*Run a 1/2 Marathon
*Complete at least 1 triathlon
*Start and complete INSANITY workout program
HOME/YARD:
*Plant apple trees
*Maintain garden/fruit plants
*finish lot cleanup
*Paint family room
*possibly get new furniture/floor lamps
*plan for a possible addition
ACADEMIC/WORK:
*Get CCRN! (this goal has been very elusive, I am scared to try...)
*Make a nonfiction reading plan (hope to come up with a list of books I want to read soon!)
*be diligent about putting content on my ipod to listen to while working out
PARENTING:
*read and reread parenting books to keep concepts and goals at the forefront of my mind
*be diligent about disciplining consistently so the kids and I both know that what will happen if defiance/misbehavior occurs
*work with each child to come up with specific goals for themselves
*implement a longer "family time" each week
*continue Bible Story readings and prayer time at night
FINANCIAL:
*pay off lot! (by end of January)
*save up money for possible addition/savings/new vehicle
*cut back on eating out expenses
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
 |
| Sisters! |
THE GOOD
I ran 2 miles tonight and it felt great!
Everyn has been awake a lot of the day, and I am hoping for a good night!
It is a full, beautiful moon and I am not going to be at work!
I got a picture of the girls together that does not have Berean acting as if Everyn is toxic.
Our house is full of life!
Our church has brought us awesome meals, and they have been such a blessing!
THE BAD
My kitchen is still in disarray. I am trying to take deep breaths and just go with it, but it is taking a toll. I am not irritated with Noah about it- this is just the way it goes when you have 5 kids and jobs.
My whole house has taken a beating. I don't think it has been this big of a mess since Lincoln was a baby. I am determined to pull things together, but it is not going to be easy!
This week we get back into our routine. I need to spend some time tonight trying to stratigize our activities and how they will be handled with all the children.
AND THE UGLY...
We have had some tough behavior lately with some of our children. It is hard to know how to deal with it- especially when they refuse to give us any inkling about what they are thinking...
I have been sleeping on the floor for a couple hours a night with Everyn. The reasons are perhaps crazy, but they are there none-the-less. My back hurts, I am too old to sleep on the floor.
The mounds of laundry are ginormous. That is all I will say about that.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Brain Dump
This is just going to be some scattered memories of the last 10 days- the first 10 days of being a family of 7. Of course, I was going to get things done this evening, but baby girl wanted to cuddle, so who am I to say no?
The more kids I have, the more I remember that this newborn stage is so short. Some nights can feel like forever, and I know it sounds cliche- but little newborns grow and they grow fast! Everyn already looks bigger in her carseat than she did on the day we brought her home. I am really trying to enjoy this time. If she wants to be held, then I hold her (although I am trying to be very disciplined about her sleeping in her own bed at night).
Earlier today I was busy helping a very stubborn Berean get ready for bed. She was tormenting her brothers and not obeying very well. I decided that it was time for bed- as I could tell that the boys patience with her was very thin - and besides that it was 7:30. I took her upstairs where she proceeded to tell me "no" to every song I wanted to sing to her. We read her books (one about Mowgli from the Jungle book, Barnyard Dance and a book about babies going to bed. Somehow I managed to avoid her favorite- Tarzan. No, seriously, she loves Tarzan. Noah reads it to her and explains to her how best to pick out a husband). Deacon came up with Everyn, "she needs to feed, Mom". I told him that she was going to need to wait a minute (the girl did not look starving to me) and he responded with, "didn't you hear her? She was screaming for you".
"Deacon", I replied, "I don't think that was screaming. It sounded like she whimpered once and you picked her up." (Noah was downstairs with them and confirmed this).
That is the life of Everyn. Her brothers can't stand to hear her cry and it is somehow greatly magnified in their ears- or else it is minimized in mine? Who knows. Deacon is a big help with her (he does much better when he is just home with us and not trying to show off!) and will just sit on the couch holding her and talking to her while he reads to himself or listens to me read. Roman likes to hold her while I read his school stuff to him as well. It is a nice treat for the boy who is having to do schoolwork.
Yesterday morning I put Berean and Lincoln in the bathtub, sat next to the tub and while monitoring bathtime and nursing Everyn managed to supervise Deacon's science and reading lessons. Yup, I had him bring his books into the bathroom and we worked in there. It was a good half hour of school and Berean and Lincoln got clean and had fun too!
Berean has been rather difficult during school. She wants to be right there and in on the action. The first couple of days of having Everyn at home Berean was mean to her and always trying to hurt her. Now Berean just torments the boys and essentially ignores Everyn. She does still give a running commentary on everything Everyn does, so I know she is keeping an eye on the situation, but at least she is staying away from her a little more. I hear, "baby crying", "baby sleeping", "baby eyes", "baby eating" multiple times a day. Speaking of language, Berean's language is exploding. She copies everything I say, sings little songs to herself around the house and babbles long sentences that I don't understand.
I was reviewing Lincoln's Awana Cubbie motto with him, "Jesus Loves Me". Of course, Lincoln was being noncompliant, but Berean was right in there trying to say the words with me. I mentioned the word "ruckus" today while on the phone with Noah, and she cocked her little head to the side and repeated it.
Oh! 2 items of great news- 1) our missing harddrives have been found! We still can't access anything on them, but it looks like the odds are good that someone should be able to recover the files, we will just have to be willing to pay the price. 2) the kitchen is coming along and by the end of the weekend I should be organizing cupboards instead of working around "oven islands".
Friends from church have brought meals this week which has been such a blessing. The week has been going well, and I know that in large part that is due to not having to deal with supper (feeding 5 kids breakfast and lunch already feels like plenty of kitchen work) and the fact that we haven't had to go to our normal places! Next week co-op, basketball, and swimming all start back up. We are done with speech therapy, however, so that will ease up the schedule. Oh, and next week too I have to go into work for a few hours and I think we have 2 doctor appointments scheduled. It will be hard to get into the swing of things again, but it will be good too. Next week is also the week that I am going to start running and expedite the poundage removal...
Today Lincoln went back to preschool (he goes one day a week) and it was the first day he rode the bus! This was a hard decision for me to make, but he seemed to like it and it will be much easier then me driving him and hauling the other 4 along for drop off and pick up in the dead of winter. He seemed proud to get on the bus, especially since his brothers are somewhat jealous about the situation.
Well, that seems like plenty of information for one night. It's time for me to catch a little sleep before it is time for the next baby snack time! One thing I have learned is never count the hours of sleep you may get...it only makes you feel worse!
The more kids I have, the more I remember that this newborn stage is so short. Some nights can feel like forever, and I know it sounds cliche- but little newborns grow and they grow fast! Everyn already looks bigger in her carseat than she did on the day we brought her home. I am really trying to enjoy this time. If she wants to be held, then I hold her (although I am trying to be very disciplined about her sleeping in her own bed at night).
Earlier today I was busy helping a very stubborn Berean get ready for bed. She was tormenting her brothers and not obeying very well. I decided that it was time for bed- as I could tell that the boys patience with her was very thin - and besides that it was 7:30. I took her upstairs where she proceeded to tell me "no" to every song I wanted to sing to her. We read her books (one about Mowgli from the Jungle book, Barnyard Dance and a book about babies going to bed. Somehow I managed to avoid her favorite- Tarzan. No, seriously, she loves Tarzan. Noah reads it to her and explains to her how best to pick out a husband). Deacon came up with Everyn, "she needs to feed, Mom". I told him that she was going to need to wait a minute (the girl did not look starving to me) and he responded with, "didn't you hear her? She was screaming for you".
"Deacon", I replied, "I don't think that was screaming. It sounded like she whimpered once and you picked her up." (Noah was downstairs with them and confirmed this).
That is the life of Everyn. Her brothers can't stand to hear her cry and it is somehow greatly magnified in their ears- or else it is minimized in mine? Who knows. Deacon is a big help with her (he does much better when he is just home with us and not trying to show off!) and will just sit on the couch holding her and talking to her while he reads to himself or listens to me read. Roman likes to hold her while I read his school stuff to him as well. It is a nice treat for the boy who is having to do schoolwork.
Yesterday morning I put Berean and Lincoln in the bathtub, sat next to the tub and while monitoring bathtime and nursing Everyn managed to supervise Deacon's science and reading lessons. Yup, I had him bring his books into the bathroom and we worked in there. It was a good half hour of school and Berean and Lincoln got clean and had fun too!
Berean has been rather difficult during school. She wants to be right there and in on the action. The first couple of days of having Everyn at home Berean was mean to her and always trying to hurt her. Now Berean just torments the boys and essentially ignores Everyn. She does still give a running commentary on everything Everyn does, so I know she is keeping an eye on the situation, but at least she is staying away from her a little more. I hear, "baby crying", "baby sleeping", "baby eyes", "baby eating" multiple times a day. Speaking of language, Berean's language is exploding. She copies everything I say, sings little songs to herself around the house and babbles long sentences that I don't understand.
I was reviewing Lincoln's Awana Cubbie motto with him, "Jesus Loves Me". Of course, Lincoln was being noncompliant, but Berean was right in there trying to say the words with me. I mentioned the word "ruckus" today while on the phone with Noah, and she cocked her little head to the side and repeated it.
Oh! 2 items of great news- 1) our missing harddrives have been found! We still can't access anything on them, but it looks like the odds are good that someone should be able to recover the files, we will just have to be willing to pay the price. 2) the kitchen is coming along and by the end of the weekend I should be organizing cupboards instead of working around "oven islands".
Friends from church have brought meals this week which has been such a blessing. The week has been going well, and I know that in large part that is due to not having to deal with supper (feeding 5 kids breakfast and lunch already feels like plenty of kitchen work) and the fact that we haven't had to go to our normal places! Next week co-op, basketball, and swimming all start back up. We are done with speech therapy, however, so that will ease up the schedule. Oh, and next week too I have to go into work for a few hours and I think we have 2 doctor appointments scheduled. It will be hard to get into the swing of things again, but it will be good too. Next week is also the week that I am going to start running and expedite the poundage removal...
Today Lincoln went back to preschool (he goes one day a week) and it was the first day he rode the bus! This was a hard decision for me to make, but he seemed to like it and it will be much easier then me driving him and hauling the other 4 along for drop off and pick up in the dead of winter. He seemed proud to get on the bus, especially since his brothers are somewhat jealous about the situation.
Well, that seems like plenty of information for one night. It's time for me to catch a little sleep before it is time for the next baby snack time! One thing I have learned is never count the hours of sleep you may get...it only makes you feel worse!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Some Pictures
 |
| She is usually sleeping |
 |
| See what I mean? |
 |
| Heading home from the hospital- she likes to have just one eye open |
 |
| The big sister |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)