Preparing for Ligon

My due date is February 27th.  I have never gone into labor on my own.  I have always been induced late.  I won't go over a week overdue anymore because I have had meconium anytime I have gone more than a week overdue.  My doctor has said he would like to induce me between Feb 20th and March 5th.  I was planning on waiting until March 5th until...we found out that Roger has weekend meetings shortly after that.  I will have Roger's mom here to help me, and my parents are planning to come help for the weekend, too, but that was certainly not the original plan.  Me...seven kids...one being a newborn...and no daddy for an entire weekend...let's just say I'm a little kerflumped!  Yeah, I just made up that word because I couldn't think of another word that was appropriate!
So, I have gone from thinking I had 4 weeks to having the baby to now only having a little over two!  HYPERSPEED!!!  I hadn't even started on Ligon's burp cloths, or blankets.  I didn't even have fabric yet!  I have a lot of organizing left to do, but I got a lot done yesterday, I made a shopping trip last weekend for fabric, and I went into hyperspeed sewing Sunday afternoon and yesterday afternoon.  Here is the final result...

*click on the pictures to view better*

And then...there are days like this...

I will get to Part 2 in the next few days, but just so you realize just how much I don't "have it all together"...

For the past few days I really haven't felt well.  I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and my energy level has been very minimal today and yesterday.  I feel exhausted.  I have indigestion that makes me feel nauseous.  If I could lay in bed all day...I think I would!

I have a two year old who is just so stinkin' cute, but his energy level is through the roof and his curiosity is through...well... I don't know...the atmospshere!  He has emptied out nearly every piece of clothing from his dresser a few times yesterday, first thing this morning, and I have been too scared to veer into his room the rest of the day, so I have no idea what it looks like now.  He also had fun playing in the toilet this afternoon when I was doing something else, which means he needs cleaned, the toilet needs cleaned, and the floor needs cleaned, too.  Maybe I should have made him take a nap today?!

I have another child who seems to take pride in getting on everyone's last nerve lately....including mine!  Yes, I love him dearly, but it is still possible for someone you love to get on your nerves!

I have another child who gets overwhelmed very easily and falls apart several times a day.  When I don't have energy it's hard to muster up energy to pull him back up again.

I have another child who I think truly believes that multiplication is straight from the devil!  Is it???

I have another child who...well...he's been pretty good!

And then, I have a baby girl who just needs mommy to have energy!

Like I said the other day...not every day is lollipops, giggles and glitter (and let me remind you...I still despise glitter!), but in a few hours these little people will be sleeping blissfully in their beds, I will put my feet up, and tomorrow I will hopefully wake up with more energy!!!  Please, Lord!

And for today, I am grateful for Campbell's chicken and noodle soup! 

Even in the the energy-less, difficult days...I will choose to count my blessings...one, two, three, four, five, six...and in five weeks...seven!!!

Part 1--The Semi-Well-Oiled Machine...Helping them help you

I am often asked, "How do you do it all?"  I think it is time to answer that question!  I'm always looking for a better way of doing things, so our schedule gets tweaked here and there.  Maybe by posting about what works best for our family will help another family become a better semi-well-oiled machine!  Oh, and by the way...don't ever expect us to be a completely well-oiled machine!  The "semi" part is the best it can be!  If you leave that part off then you will set yourself up for failure.

We are a team!  Just as Jesus served others while He lived on earth...we are to serve one another.  This is probably one of the most important concepts to get a grasp of in a family.  We are not out for ourselves, we are here to serve the whole!  This is a great concept because it teaches love, humility, and selflessness.

Our children have "jobs" to do almost every day of the week.  I help them help me.  And trust me...they are  A LOT of help!  I teach them to do different "jobs" around the house, which helps them feel as though they are really contributing to the family, it gives them a sense of accomplishment, it helps them know how they can serve our family, it teaches them discipline...and it frees up some of my time, so I have more time to have fun with them!!!!  Please understand this...children are children...they should be expected to do their very best when completing a job, but it may not completely live up to your expectations.  You must teach them to do the jobs how you would like them to be done!  Do not expect them to understand your expectations if you haven't taught them how to do the job correctly!  Sometimes I have to go back and do their jobs with them to remind them about the little things (ie take things off the counter before you wipe it down, etc).  Let me reiterate this...they should be expected to do their best!  Laziness is not a good character quality!

You want specifics, right?  Here you go!
Everyone is expected to clean their own room, make their beds, brush teeth, bring me their laundry on laundry days, and the older 3 put away their own laundry
Lauren: Dishes, wipe down kitchen counters, dust when needed, sometimes helps vacuum carpets, take care of dog and cat
Franklin: vacuum under table after every meal, mop kitchen when needed, sometimes helps vacuum carpets, clean master bath (wipe down toilet, counter, sinks) daily
Ari: clean out the van each Monday, clear off and wipe off table after each meal, clean the kids bathroom upstairs (wipe down toilet, counter and sink) daily
Miles: Wipe down chairs after meals (this is more busy work than anything, and he is a little guy that needs to be kept busy), clean downstairs bathroom (toilet, counter, sink---he does a really great job!!!) daily, empty bathroom trash cans daily
Ian: he loves to clean!  He'll get wipes and wipe off the floor, cabinets, table, and just about anything he can get his hands on.  In the next year he will probably get the job of emptying trash cans and making sure each bathroom has at least one extra roll of toilet paper.
These are all little things, but they are so helpful to me!

As for me...I'm always busy!  I don't sit around and watch tv while my children work!  There is always a lot to do!  I, typically, do clothing laundry Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, sheets on Thursday, and sometimes I have to add in another day of laundry on the weekend.  I give baths to little ones, cut lots of finger nails and toenails, teach school to the older four, and a little bit to Ian, too, vacuum when needed, which is a lot since I have a baby who puts everything in her mouth, deep clean bathrooms, keep the inside of toilets clean, cook all of the meals, clean up messes, change lots of diapers, pick up after little ones.  Because my children help me I am able to do all of the other things, but still have time to play with them, and then we don't have to spend the weekend cleaning.  Doing jobs each day helps us keep up, and keeps the house almost continually clean.

I choose to do my big jobs (bathrooms, vacuuming) when I can work it in.  I used to have a schedule and try to clean one bathroom per day and choose another day to vacuum, but that didn't work for me because I need more flexibility.  And right now, I have a big pregnant belly, so deep cleaning a bathtub is next to impossible.  That is when I enlist my husbands help on the weekends or evenings!

One more thing that is really helpful is what I call "Quick cleans."  A few times during the day I can yell, "Quick Clean...10 minutes!!!"  This is great for us because during those 10 minutes everyone is expected to run around and clean up as much as possible in 10 minutes.  If we didn't do this a few times during the day then the house would be a mess by evening with little toys everywhere and big messes are much more overwhelming to clean up then a few little messes throughout the day.

So, that is pretty much how our semi-well-oiled machine works!  In the upcoming "Part 2" I will list what a typical day looks like in our house...our schedule. We have a schedule that is working very well for us right now.  At least until our next baby gets here, and then we'll have to find a new normal again!

Any questions?

I'm not SuperWoman

I am referred to as "SuperWoman" frequently.  I know people mean well, and I really appreciate the compliment, but I am a fallible wife, mom, daughter, friend, etc.  Sometimes I feel like I am being set up for failure because I am held to "superhero status."  Yes, I have six kids and I am getting ready to have our seventh.  Yes, I deliver our children without medication (not really by choice).  Yes, I homeschool our children.  Yes, I sometimes go grocery shopping, or to stores, or to doctor's appointments with all of my children with me.
And here is some reality for you...
-Our new baby was a surprise, and it has taken me all these months to adjust to adding another child.  I am truly grateful for him, though!
-I hate labor and delivery!  It's NOT fun.  It hurts.  I don't enjoy it.  BUT, I get to hold a sweet baby in my arms when it is over.
-I am glad I homeschool our children.  I feel that it is best for them.  BUT, some days are really tough.  It's not all giggles, lollipops, and glitter (I despise glitter, by the way!).  Sometimes it is impatience on my part, and nasty attitudes exuded from my children.
-Going places with my kids is not always enjoyable.  Sometimes, things get placed in a cart that weren't supposed to be there.  One time...not too long ago...something got broken....oh, that was really bad!  Sometimes, little ones say things...not to be mean...but because they noticed...such as, "Mom, she has a wart on her face.  She must be a witch!"  Sometimes a hole to crawl into would be nice!

I don't post a lot of mishaps/misbehaviors on my blog, or on facebook because I want to remain positive about my children.  I don't believe the world needs to know about every little catastrophe thing they do wrong.  Let's face it, though... I have a two year old!  Enough said!  I truly try to be mostly transparent.  I don't try to give the impression that every day is giddy, giddy gumdrops!  At the same time, I want to encourage other moms!  I want moms to know that some days are tough, but you can always start fresh the next morning.

For the most part, I think our family functions really well.  I am training up my tribe to serve the Lord. I enjoy being with my children...for the most part.

They love.  They argue. They laugh. They hit, occasionally. They hug. They get angry. They giggle. They get on each other's nerves. They can't stand to be away from each other.  They.are.human.  They are learning.  We all are.

I do my best to stay on a schedule, stay organized, remain consistent with disobedience, praise obedience, keep everyone busy, find enjoyable moments, give as many hugs and kisses as possible, and find laughter throughout the day.  We are a semi, well-oiled machine.

I love being a mom...most of the time.  I don't love disobedience, or nasty attitudes, or messes, or spills, or poopy diapers, or cleaning up puke... BUT... I love their hugs and kisses and "I love you's" and watching them learn to read and cuddles and accomplishments and the way they serve each other and the way they want to please me and the way their faces light up when I walk through the door even if I've only been gone for a few hours...and...and...and...
God has called me to be a wife and a mom.  I am so thankful.  I choose to focus on the positive.  If that makes me a SuperWoman then so be it!  But remember...even superheroes make mistakes!  I'm just going to do my best to get back up and dust myself off.

I love a great deal!

My mom always taught me to be a bargain shopper.  Anytime we went shopping we would go straight to the back of the store...to the sale racks.  We were cheap frugal!  We were always dressed very well, but we never paid full price for anything!  Still, to this day, I refuse to pay full price for clothing.

I love the JC Penney coupon's we get in the mail that are "$10 off" with no minimum to purchase.  You can literally get something for free, as long as it is under $10.  I never buy jewelry for myself unless I have this coupon.  Every time I get this coupon I get super excited because I get to buy something for ME!  I cannot bring myself to waste money on jewelry, but if it's free...then count me in!  Last night I got the coolest necklace and earring set that were originally $18, marked down to 10.80, and my grand total was $0.85!  What a great deal?!

 I have another coupon for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more.  I don't usually use these, BUT Roger could use a few more sweaters this year, and they have a really great sweater marked from $49.99 down to $24.99, so I will get something small for someone else to get me up to $25 and I will get that $50 sweater for $15!  He is going to look so GOOD!

There is a consignment sale this week, too.  Lauren and I went last night and got some really great deals.  I got the cutest sweater for Ligon for $4, and GAP overalls for $2.  I also got Bethany a Christmas outfit for $3, and some dressy maternity pants for me for $5.  And lastly, I got Ari a pair of Timberland constuction boots for $10 that look practically new.  Later at the mall I found the same boots for $65!  Now, you see why "I love a great deal!" 

Pregnancy woes

I am not one to complain when it comes to pregnancy.  Even when I puke for months!  I feel blessed each time I get pregnant.  I have friends with fertility issues, so complaining about being pregnant seems very selfish to me.
This post is more for me to look back on in the future and see where I was...to remember.  It is also to help anyone else who has felt this way, feels this way, or will feel this way in the future...to know they are not alone.

This pregnancy is, by far, the most difficult.  I made a comment on facebook recently that I felt like I was going through post partum depression...and I haven't even had the baby yet!  Thankfully, others chimed in and said that it is absolutely possible to have depression during pregnancy. 

This is what it feels like...
moody, beyond belief...about nothing...and everything...at the same time
crying...over nothing...and everything...at the same time
anger...over nothing...and everything...at the same time
completely overwhelmed...over nothing...and everything...at the same time
absolutely intolerant...over nothing..and everything...at the same time
feeling like I need to get away from everything and everyone and curl up in a ball until I feel better

It's kind of like the very worst in me is right at the surface.  It is not the typical me.  It is not me at all.  I don't know who this person is.  She comes and goes.  She was here with a vengeance this weekend.  She seems to have taken a vacation today at the moment.

I studied Psychology in college.  It still fascinates me.  Maybe even more now.  I knew depression was real.  I knew it could be chemically imposed.  Hormonally imposed.  I have a new compassion for those who suffer from depression.  I understand the feeling.  The feeling of it being completely "out of control."  You cannot talk yourself out of it.

In the end...it will be worth it.  It always is.

Well Visits...Franklin, Ari, Miles and Bethany, and Ligon, too!

Franklin and Ari had their 8 year and 6 year (respectably) well visits with the pediatrician September 1st.  Franklin weighed 47 pounds (7th %tile), and was 47.75 inches (10th %tile).  He is staying on the smaller side, but following the same pattern he has had since he was a baby.  Ari was 45 pounds (37th %tile) and 46.5 inches (56th %tile).  He has always been on the taller end of the spectrum.  Franklin and Ari have been wearing the same size clothing for quite a while now.  So far, it doesn't seem to bother Franklin (he doesn't even think about it) that he and Ari are almost the same size.  According to Franklin and Ari,the best part of the doctor visit was "getting to pee in a cup."  The least favorite part was when Ari got 2 shots.

Bethany and Miles had their 9 month (she'll be 10 months on Sunday!) and 5 year (respectably) appointments yesterday.  Bethany weighed 16 pounds and 13 ounces (10th %tile), and measured 29.75 inches long (90th %tile).  Oh, to be tall and skinny like her!!!  She got a flu shot, but that was it yesterday.  It was nice to have an easy day for her.  She barely even cried when she got the shot.  Miles weighed 40.5 pounds (48th %tile), and was 43.5 inches (61st %tile).  He was in the normal range for Iron, but the very, very low end, so we need to increase his iron intake over the next year.  It was suggested that we buy Flintstones vitamins with iron.  He went to the allergist a few months ago because of a terrible reaction to a wasp sting, and because of the testing they did (9 little shots!!!  Ouch!) he is terrified to go to the doctor.  Actually, he is terrified of nurses because the nurses did the testing at the allergist.  Much to his dismay, he got 2 shots, which he said "they didn't even hurt" and he was "fake crying."   He could have received as many as 5 or six, but we declined the flu shot since Bethany was only getting her first and it is a live vaccine and we also declined the chicken pox shot because it is another live vaccine and she will not get that shot until her 12 month check-up, and we lastly declined the pneumonia shot.  Everyone will be getting a flu shot when we go back in 30 days for Bethany to get her second flu shot.  Shhhhh...don't tell them!  Miles will get his chicken pox shot and one other when I take Bethany for her 12 month well-visit.  That should be fun!...two kids getting shots at the same time!

I had a quick check-up yesterday for our newest little guy, Ligon, yesterday, too.  I was 22 weeks pregnant on Monday.  I am doing well, except for being dizzy off and on, so I am going to boost my liquid intake/trips to the bathroom, and protein.  Other than that, Ligon seems to be growing well, he is active, and his heart rate is great!  Grow, Ligon, grow!!!

Conversational tangents

Anytime I get one-on-one time with my kids I consider it a wonderful blessing!  They love it, too!  Our time usually consists of them talking, and talking, and talking!  They love the fact that they can talk without being interrupted, and I have their undivided attention.  The conversations usually go in tangents because they want to talk about everything!  It is always enjoyable and very cute!

Last night I took Lauren's friend home and then decided to leave Lauren there to spend the night.  So, it was just me, Franklin and Bethany.  It was his chance to talk!  And boy, did he ever?!  He talked about wanting to be spiderman when he grows up, and Miles, too, so they could save New York.  I asked him why New York needed to be saved and he said, "Because of Venom, of course!"  Well, of course!  He talked about our recent trip to Disney World, and the scary Haunted Mansion, and about spending time with his best friend and cousin, Levi.  And then the conversation moved to Bethany, and this is how it went:
Franklin: Mom, is it possible that Bethany is a boy?
Me: No, Franklin,  she is definitely a girl!
Franklin: Maybe she just hasn't grown her part yet.
Me: *laughing hard* No, she would have grown her part while she was inside me if she were a boy.
Franklin: Well, I don't know. I think it's possible.

I'm still laughing!

Good news...followed by bad stuff...but it's okay

Wednesday morning we received an email from our landlords.  They have agreed to allow us to stay in their rental home until July 15th.  That is a HUGE answer to prayer!  We are grateful!  We told them that we would remove as much as we could from the house, so it would not looked cluttered and they agreed that they would prefer that we do that.  So, this weekend we will be busy packing and decluttering!  I LOVE decluttering!

I was elated at our good news.  I was excited, too, because we were going to a friends house for lunch, play time, and for me to look over her homeschool curriculum.  I got everyone loaded into the hot van.  Lauren couldn't get the portable dvd player to work, so I was untangling cords and replugging everything and still could not get it to work.  I told the kids we would listen to music instead.  So, dripping with sweat and ready to turn on the air, I put the key in the ignition and ....nothing.  We had a dead battery.  I unloaded all of the kids, called our friends with great disappointment (especially for Lauren because her best friend was going to come home to spend the night), and called Roger to let him know what was going on.  We were all bummed.  Then, back to good news...a friend from Roger's work told him about this place that will send someone to your home to replace the battery!  That was great!  In the end, our friends came over, ended up staying for dinner, we had a blast, Lauren's bff got to spend the night and everyone was happy!

Up and downs

Our lives have been full of ups and downs since we moved in December.  Here is how life has been (as I remember it, anyway!)...
Ian got an ear infection, so I got him to the doctor quickly to get him on meds before we moved.
We left Florida December 15th, and woke up to a terrible ice storm in NC the 16th.  Roger and Franklin had already left to meet the movers at our rental home (they were stuck in NC, too!).  My MIL, Frances, and I got on the road in our 15 passenger van with our other four children and me due to have Bethany in a little less than two weeks.  The roads were scary!  Roger called and told us to get off the road because they were watching cars and semi's slide off the road left and right.  After a few hours he called again and told us to go back and find a hotel.  Thankfully, we found a great mall with a very nice hotel in the parking lot and stayed for the night.  We had fun at the mall walking around and watching a movie.  We bought some clothes to go swimming in the hotel pool, too.  We had a great time!  The next day we hit the road again and couldn't wait to make it to our new/temporary home.  Roger called as we were driving and let me know that he was having problems with the movers and that we were going to have to make the family room the master bedroom.  Wait!  What???...lose connection...ughhh!  When we finally arrived at the house Roger was very frustrated with the movers.  At one point they threatened to throw everything in the street and drive away.  They put almost everything in the basement(the basement is ground level), which put us in a terrible jam.  Roger was able to carry the bunk beds and crib upstairs and set them up, but I was too pregnant to help him carry anything else.  We called one of our new pastors and asked if someone could come help us carry everything else upstairs.  In walks Rusty!!!  A BIG man with a caring heart!  We could not have done it without him and his two sons!
On Sunday we went to our new church for the first time.  It was love at first visit!  Ian woke up with a rash on his torso, but we weren't too concerned.  Sunday night Ian woke up in the middle of the night vomiting and with a fever.  Monday evening we had dinner with the Dys family from our new church, but left Ian home with Frances.  On Tuesday Ian's fever was higher and he was vomiting again, so I decided to take him to the doctor.  Keep in mind, he had been on antibiotics for 8 days at this point, so it was odd for him to have a fever.  Problem...the pediatrician did not want to see him because he was not an established patient.  I explained that we had just moved there on Friday, and didn't know what else to do.  They decided to go ahead and see him that morning because they were concerned about him.  I took him to our new pediatrician who said that he still had an ear infection, and his glands in his neck were swollen.  She sent him for bloodwork and ordered a different antibiotic.  As I was waiting for his new antibiotic the ped office called and said that his white blood cell count was really high and that I needed to take him to the emergency room to be admitted for testing.  There I was...in the middle of Rite Aid...big pregnant...tears streaming down my face...and so many kind, compassionate strangers telling me everything would be okay.  We got to the hospital and they did another round of blood work.  This is no easy task!  Ian has terrible veins!!!  His white blood cell count went from 33,000 to 48,000 in a matter of about 4 hours.  It should have been no higher than 12,000.  Panic set in!  They were calling in an infectious disease doctor...and...an oncologist.  Oncologist...cancer...one of my greatest fears.  Once again, tears were streaming down my face and I was very afraid.  I needed Roger to get there!  They were running numerous tests and nothing was coming back positive, so they decided they wanted to do a spinal tap.  "Wait a second!  He doesn't have any symptoms of spinal meningitis.  Why would we do a spinal tap?"  "Just to rule it out."  "But he doesn't have any symptoms!  No, let's wait until tomorrow."  "Well, I don't recommend waiting, but okay, we'll do it in the morning."  When we finally got to our room (after midnight) the nurse told us that there would be no reason to do a spinal tap because they had already started him on IV antibiotics, so the test would not show anything.  Hmmmm...  And then the next morning...  His white blood cell count had come down a little, so they decided not to do a spinal tap.  And then the following morning...his white blood cell count was back up, so they wanted to do a spinal tap again.  Thankfully, they consulted with the infectious disease doctor who said there was no reason to do a spinal tap.  In the end, Ian spent four days in the hospital.  It has been assumed that the terrible infection in his throat was causing his white blood cell count to go up, even though it was a viral infection.  He was not getting any better in the hospital.  The antibiotics were not doing anything because the infection was viral.  We were ready to go home!  I wanted to be home with my family Christmas morning, so I convinced the doctors to let us leave.  We got home Friday night, Christmas Eve, and spent Christmas with a terribly sick little boy.
Sunday night...Ari and Franklin woke up in the night...vomiting.  Nooooooo!!!  Roger woke up Monday morning feeling very sick.  And it all went downhill from there!  Lauren and Miles got sick on Tuesday, I got sick Tuesday evening and then Frances and I were both sick on Wednesday...and I was scheduled to be induced on Thursday.  Oh my!  I went to bed Wednesday night feeling awful and was up all through the night.  Roger asked if I would cancel the induction, but I really didn't know what to do.  I wanted to get labor over!  The hospital called at 4am and told me to be there at 6:30am.  I decided I would go ahead and do it.  I didn't feel well during labor, but I felt better than I had the day before.  Bethany arrived Thursday evening (I still need to write down her birth story!), and we felt like things should get better from there.
Ian got better and then worse, and then better, and then worse...over and over.  When Bethany was two weeks old we took Ian to get tubes in his ears.  We hoped that would help.  It helped his ears, but not his throat.  He could not get rid of the infection in his throat completely.  Finally, I took him back to the ENT for a check-up and told him we needed to do something else.  He had been on four different antibiotics and a steroid in 4 weeks and he was still sick.  The only thing left to do was to take out his tonsils.  Ian was the youngest patient our doctor had operated on for tonsils and adenoids, but it seemed to be the only thing to do.  Ians tonsils were so bad that they were literally falling apart and the ENT had to be very careful while cutting them out.  Ian breezed through surgery and mostly through recovery and is finally a healthy little boy!
Our house situation...
We have had a terrible time finding a house we want to buy.  We are looking for something very specific and don't want to settle too much.  The house we are renting was put back on the market in March, which we agreed to in our lease agreement.  In April they got a contract on the house and we were told we needed to be out May 15th.  In the meantime, we found a house we want to buy, but cannot move in until July.  So, what do we do for 6 weeks?  Good question!  We found a house to rent for 3 months, but as Roger got to the house to sign the lease agreement the owner was in the backyard shaking hands with another man...he had just sold the house!  We had movers ready to come on Wednesday to move us into the house.  This was a Saturday!  Once again, I was panicked!  We wanted to talk to the buyers of the house we are renting to ask if we could rent the house from them until July, but no one would let us speak to them.  When the house was inspected they found problems with the foundation. It was up and down for a while, but in the end, the contract fell through.  Now, the owners have given us until June 15th, but we cannot move into our new house until July 15th.  What now?!  We have no idea.  Roger is going to talk to our landlords and plead for one more month.  As for me...I just cannot wait to get into our new house and finally get settled!!!!  Bethany is 5 months old and I have still not been able to nest!