The many faces of Micah....

~exhausted~

~so sweet~

~*gasp* NO WAY!!~

~I'm starvin' here!!~

~groovin'~

(I think it looks like he's trying to snap)

~HOW many brothers & sisters do I have???~

~ugh...does this binkie make me look bloated??~

~the brainwashing starts so early~

~Ok...explain this "economy" thing to me again~

I love this little man!!

Hmmmm???

Didn't I used to blog here??

**Things were a bit crazy this week with doctor appointments and such.  And now I have to buckle down and get this kid's spring musical in performance order in less than a month - ACK!!!!

**I have pics to share, they're just still on my camera.

**The anti-yeast diet?  Oh my goodness, how can anyone do that for any extended period of time?  Our thrush issue is SLOWLY getting better, and it'll get better even quicker if I can stay away from more of the carbs & sugars (seriously difficult!).  At least I can nurse now without wanting to scream out loud.....bonus!  ;)

**I still have moments of panic whenever Dean leaves the house......like, how can I possibly do all this by myself?  Oh ya, I can't.  God (and my five children) teach me this lesson each and every single day (I'm a slow learner).

**Lastly, I actually had to make more laundry soap (first time since the beginning of the year) - all I had to buy was another bar of Fels Naptha soap (like $1.25 or so).  Yes, I use a bit more stain spray, but overall, I am still saving LOTS of money and our clothes are clean (not dingy).  Excellent~

the anti-yeast diet

I am officially on the anti-yeast program.  At least, *my* version of one.

A good friend sent me to this site:  The Yeast Connection.  I spent a good portion last night reading and reading and searching out more information - anything I could find, actually.  I went to discussion boards too.  After all of that, this is my new plan.

Today I began my new "diet".  It's not a typical "lose weight" type of diet - instead it is very restricting in regards to sugars & carbs.  The goal is to stop feeding the overgrowth of yeast I believe is in my body.  I have to do this for 2-4 weeks.  If you are intested in what this entails, the basic diet can be found at the Yeast Connection site.  I'm basically just reading off their grocery list and seeing what I have in the house.  We have so much food already in the house, it's silly to go buy more food - so I'm just making due with what we have.  So....my diet is not as precise as the web site's, but I'm working on it.

My supplements:

*Acidophilus Blast (to add in good probiotics to my body)

*Yeast Assassin Lite (to kill the exsisting yeast - I ordered this today)

*Supermom (just an overall good multivitamin)

Medicines:

*Nystatin oral suspension (Micah and I are both using this, so we will both be treated and not reinfect one another)

Last night was AWFUL!  I don't know how best to describe it, but it is just PAINFUL to nurse.  You start off being itchy, but it progresses to dry, flaky skin - to a burning, painful sensation when the baby starts to nurse  - to NOW, a horribly painful sensation every single time the baby suckles, swallows, or just plain ol' moves the nipple in *any* way.  I can't have ANYTHING touch me there, or it is very painful.  I heard one momma describe it as feeling like glass shards on the nipple as the baby nurses.  Yes, glass, that's about right.......OUCH!!

Considering how much I love my sugars & carbs, this would *have* to be serious in order for me to give those things up - even for a short amount of time!!

Ok, well, I need to go have a salad and a hard-boiled egg.  I also need to go nurse the baby (*sob, sob*).......if anyone has any advice for me, feel free!!  I'll be back later and let you know how things are going~

p.s. today is also the first day with all five kiddos and NO more help.  I was a bit frantic when my dh left for work today.....but things have gone fine.  We still have plenty of food and leftovers, so I'm getting away easy in the food department.  We are also only doing one or two things a day in regards to homeschooling, so it's light in that department as well.  All in all, not bad.  I think I can do this, I think......  ;)

it's starting already...

With Elijah, my fourth baby, I dealt with "thrush" - basically a yeast infection that happens while nursing.  Baby usually gets signs of the infection in his/her mouth (white spots on tongue/gums), while Momma gets very sore, red, ITCHY nipples.  Ouch.

I dealt with this on and off (mostly on) for 11 months with Elijah.  Seriously.  11 months.  It was awful.  I tried the prescription cream, but apparently I wasn't consistant enough, as we kept re-infecting each other........over and over and over again.

So yes, this time, not even 1 1/2 weeks into lil' Micah's life, I have thrush again.  Micah is also now showing the "white spots" on his tongue.  Ugh.  I can't believe it happened so fast!

Now I'm sure that I have an OVER-abundance of yeast in my system.  I'm not dealing with other kinds of yeast infections (PTL!! - ugh), but this one alone is awful!  

Soooooooooo.......

What I want to know is has anyone else dealt with a over-abundance of yeast in their body?  How did you deal with it?  What did you do to get rid of the excess yeast?  Did you try a certain diet?

I am on a probiotic (Acidophilous Blast) that, while it doesn't kill the yeast, it *does* repopulate the body with the GOOD guys!  I just found out that my supplement provider (www.beeyoutiful.com) now offers something called YEAST ASSASSIN LIGHT.  This actually does kill the yeast, yet doesn't contain all the harmful-to-pregnant/nursing ladies ingredients as it's full-strength counterpart (Yeast Assassin).  So I will be ordering some of those here soon as well.

I have heard of anti-yeast diets, but I'm not sure about any in particular.  We are currently eating a lot of meals from others, so we are taking what we get (thank the Lord for those families!!) - but after that time, I could really use some suggestions as to how to EAT my way out of this mess.....  And just saying "lay off the sugar".....well, what does that mean?  Just no sweets?  Nothing with sugar, or just no white sugar?  Can I have honey?  What about stevia powder?  

I have heard that basically, in order to combat the yeast, my diet should be mostly proteins (meat, beans, etc.) and veggies - while cutting back BIG TIME on carbs and sugars.  Yup, carbs & sugars......I'm guessing those are my main diet ingredients at this point.  That's what I crave - all related back to the over-abundance of yeast - which craves sugar......vicious cycle......ugh.

HELP?!?!

Overall, things are great!  My mil leaves tonight (after she takes us out to dinner - how sweet!), so I will be missing my laundry queen..........yet overall, I enjoy laundry, so it's not *that* bad.  My parents arrive tomorrow (my dad's first time to see baby Micah!), bringing back Selah - HURRAY!!  I miss that lil' girl.....

So all in all, life is great.  Right now, it just comes with itchy boobs.  great. :/

Never before....

I've never been this tired before and still completely happy and content at the same time!

It's amazing~

**just printing off some homemade thank you cards, eating a few homemade cookies (thanks Jeni & Roz) and watching my new lil' one sleep.  Thankfully, my husband and MIL are terrific and I've still been getting plenty of rest......did I mention my MIL is like the QUEEN of laundry?  I thought *I* was.... but no...... she is a machine!  A wonderful blessing of a laundry machine!!

**btw, I was told we are "cheating" because we haven't really had to deal with all five children at once by ourselves yet.  We have had lots of help since the birth:  my mother, my mil, various friends who have watched our children (even overnight - even 2 nights!).  My mother even took sweet Selah home with her on the train for a visit this week, so I am down one child there as well (I *do* keep feeling as though I'm forgetting something though and I keep counting my kids wondering who is missing....ha!)

Yet I wouldn't consider this "cheating" - I would consider it SMART!!  Planning ahead and easing into a new "reality" of five little blessings.  I feel great, the family seems happy and we all think Micah is a joy!  PRAISE THE LORD!!

Gotta check the printer...

Hope you are all enjoying life~

One of these days...

I just can't seem to work up any motivation to get on-line.

Not to check my email, my facebook, my Beautiful Womanhood board, not even my very own blog (nor my fabulous friends' blogs).  I'm just not interested.

All that interests me at this moment are my babies.  Such sweet babies.

Micah is a joy ~ I am truly enjoying every single moment of holding him, nursing him, kissing him, yes even changing his ever-changing poopy diapers!  He looks amazingly like Dean to me (and most other people) and I just can't stop touching and loving on him~

My other babies are so sweet ~ each in their own way ~ with new lil' Micah.  

I do believe Elijah now considers himself to be one of the "big kids", which he thinks is FANTASTIC!  He is also very snuggly and huggy with me - running over to hug me every few minutes, then running back to play - as if to just keep tabs on me, making sure I'm still here and still available to him.

Talitha thinks it's great that she is now the BIG SISTER to 2 lil' brothers.  It's just 2 more people that she is "in charge of" rather than them being in charge of her (at least in her 3yo brain).  She is VERY talkative as of late and I just *adore* some of the sweet things that come out of her mouth!!

Selah is very much a lil' mother's-helper!  She wants to help in *any* way possible (except those diapers!) and even spends her "playtime" up in our room, watching me nurse the baby, or change his diaper, or even just holding him.  She is fascinated with "momma's milk" and Micah's ability to "suck that milk right outta there!".  Yup, that's fascinating dear...  She also took one look at my incision and said, "Momma, they put *staples* in your body!?!".  Yes, they did.  But I didn't feel a thing (still don't, btw, things are fairly numb down there after 5 times of being cut in the same place - duh.)

Isaac is....well...he's always been a terrific big brother!  And now he has TWO lil' brothers, which is apparently a great joy to him.  He was enjoying his moment "in the spotlight" at church tonight.  Actually, Micah was more in the spotlight I'm guessing, but Isaac thought for SURE people were impressed with his "Big Brother" status, and the fact that I am *his* Momma too!  With so many children wanting to touch Micah (my dh is the Children's Pastor), we implemented a "no touching" rule (at least for tonight).  Isaac made sure to stand right next to Micah, saying, "uh...excuse me....no touching, please" if anyone got just a bit too close for his comfort.  Sweet, protective, big brother Isaac.....

So anyway, that's what's happening around here.  My mother, who has been here all week, is leaving on the EARLY train with Selah tomorrow (it's Selah's turn to be spoiled all week by Mema & Papa - such fun!).  I sure am going to miss that extra set of hands here and there - you know, just when you need to change a diaper, get a sippy cup of milk, the baby begins crying for you and your pain meds decide to stop working 2 hours before you can take another pill.....ya, especially those times....*sigh*

There's lots more to talk about 

(I went to a few second hand stores with my mom after the birth and got a few great finds!!), 

lots of people who need to be thanked 

(I'm not going to have to make an actual meal for weeks!), 

lots of pictures to be oooohhed and aaahhhed over 

(seriously, how can God take a bit of me and a bit of Dean and make 5 such beautiful, amazing, sweet individual blessings??!?!  I am in awe.)

I have also not wrapped my brain around how I am going to manage 5 lil' babies, a home, a hubby, homeschooling, directing the kid's choir (plus just being there with Dean in so many other Children's Ministry areas), meals, laundry, staying organized, being consistant with behavior issues.................ACK, you name it!?!?!

Yet, I wasn't sure how to handle four when Elijah came along, and yet we managed (and dare I say, thrived - after a time).  If I look at that list (and all the stuff I *didn't* type) - right now - I'm ready to start hypervenilating....  'Cause that's just not how God works, eh?  

He doesn't give me the skills and patience and abilities and confidence and energy to tackle all that stuff before I need to.  He'll give me EXACTLY what I need, EXACTLY when I need it.  So if I'm overhwhelmed, it's probably because *I* am taking on too much, not keeping my focus in check, not asking God where He would have me spend my time.  'Cause once I'm lined up with HIS will, He will provide a way.  He will provide the time.  He will provide the patience, the love, even the organizational abilities needed to keep me sane and keep our home running as HE would have it (not necessarily as *I* would have it).

Please Lord, YOUR will be done, not my *idea* of what is needed, what is essential, what is important and *has* to be done.  No, Lord, not me.  If I'm learning *anything* with each new blessing, it is how very little I know and how awesome our God is!!

Time to go grab a quick bite to eat (which I feel like I'm doing 24/7 lately), then love on my baby in the quiet hours of the night.  This is honestly the first time I'm enjoying these late nights.  I haven't hit "reality" yet (we aren't homeschooling right now, I'm not having to make meals, I have help practically around the clock, and I'm still taking pain meds), yet I also am not trying to "rush things" this time.  Micah will eventually get on a schedule that works with our family.  But for now, I'm enjoying our "non-schedule" and all this cuddly-time.  I'll get to the schedule soon enough - you know me, I love my schedules - but not yet, not quite yet please.....

So.......I'll be back.  Someday.  In the meantime, please praise God with me for all His wonderful blessings!!  I am blown away by what He has done in our lives.  Thank you God, thank you!!

~Lori

Hello Everyone~

**I typed this up the other day, yet forgot to post it - so here it is.  It's kinda garbled and confusing, but gives you some info as to how things went those first few days.  Enjoy~~

I'm tired, but I thought I would pop in and say hello!

You've already met Micah (isn't he adorable?!) - thanks my hubby!  

All in all, things went fairly smoothly.  My OB said the surgery could not have gone better!  She said I have a thin section which we already knew about from last time, but that she would not call it "dangerous".  She is most concerned about a future placenta attaching to, and growing THROUGH, the incision scar on my uterus.  This can happen with *any* repeat c-section, as you can never be sure where the placenta will attach on the inside of the uterus.  So obviously, with each pregnancy, you are taking that risk.

Also, you heard about my spinal headache.  That was fairly awful!  About 3am, the evening following the c-section, I began having a headache.  It just kept increasing in pain.  It was first between my eyes, then also began at the back of my skull, towards my neck.  My OB arrived abotu 7am and I told her about it - she thought it *may* be a spinal headache, and told me she would send anesthesia to come talk to me.

Basically, during my spinal, my spinal cord membrane was punctured.  Some fluid began to leak - this caused the fluid level that surrounds my brain to go down a bit.  So my brain - yes, my BRAIN - settled down a bit onto my skull.  Ick.  It began to pull at the connective areas inside my skull (the front part, inbetween my eyes & the back of my skull, towards my neck).

My only relief was to lie down flat.  That took away the pressure and the pain would mostly go away.  Except I needed to nurse the baby (I can't really do that lying down in the beginning).  I took pain meds, as much as I could, drank lots of caffeinated pop & laid down as much as possible.  Yet 24 hours later, things were not improving - so we decided on the more aggresive form of treatment:  a blood patch.

Basically, they go in the same place as the spinal, except this time with an epidural, and insert some blood (taken from my arm, right there) and try to get it right by the puncture.  This forms a clot and kinda seals up the hole.  The fluid amount return to normal and the brain no longer rests against the skull.  Instant pain relief.  Amazing!!

I would tell ANYONE - if you have this type of headache, just do the blood patch!!  Save yourself the pain.  My recovery from the c-section was really great, but I couldn't get past the pain from the spinal headache enough to even realize how I was doing.  

I am now at home, trying *really* hard to take it easy.  My other four kiddos are with a friend 'til Friday afternoon (what a blessing!).  The docs told me to take it easy, as the blood patch could potentially come undone and reopen the puncture if I push myself too hard.  I also have a backache, which freaks me out with each pain, as I'm petrifried it means I have dislodged the blood patch and the headache will return.  Ugh.....

I've got tons to share, lots of pics, all that jazz, but I'm tired and need to nurse lil' Micah.

Birth Update

Well, the last post was from Lori's husband, Dean....and true to form I left something out....

Lori!

She is doing well in terms of the surgery itself.  Everything went well and her pain level is quite manageable.  She did develop a "Spinal Headache" today from an apparent leakage of a small amount of spinal fluid.  It hurts whenever she sits up.  They are trying to treat it with rest, having her drink caffeinated drinks and water.

Here are a couple more pics of Lori and Micah:

God Bless.  Hope to meet you guys someday!

Baby has Arrived@

Well...is it killing ya????  Lori is still in the hospital and doing fine.

As of 8:03 AM.....

On March 9, 2009....

We welcomed into our quiver...

A Baby.....

Boy!!!!!

His name is...

Micah Dean!!!!!

Micah weighed in at a personal best of 7'13" stretching 19" long.  

OK, Here are a couple of pics:

More pics to come in the future days.

after 10pm

I can't help it ~ I'm so excited!!

Time to *finally* go pack the hospital bag.  I gotta leave in 7 hours, so I should probably get on that, eh?

Dean has a laptop, so hopefully I'll be updating at some point tomorrow.

Girl??  Boy??

What's your guess??

blessings

Someone got us pizza the other night, just 'cause Dean and the boys were sick....

Everyone keeps telling me they are praying for me and the lil' one....

My mom arrived tonight to help and to see the new lil' one...

My husband is an amazing man!!!

My sweet babies are *so* excited about this new baby....

I have everything a new momma could possibly want for this new baby....

My to-do list is (mostly) completed....

I am incredibly content....

I have some great friends to help with my four older babies over the next two weeks....

I get to see my dad in two weeks!!!

Someday soon, my feet will stop swelling... ;)

Monday, I get to lose 15 lbs ~ just like that!

We are blessed with an amazing church family....

I get to nurse another lil' one ~ God's way to get a busy Momma to sit down already....

***I could keep going, on and on, but my hubby is asking me to come to bed.  Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!!  Luv ya,

Procrastination

All you have to do is scroll down through my next post (the REALLY long one) to realize that I am doing *anything* and *everything* to get out of some of my "to-do" list.

*sigh*

Okay, time to tackle some of that list.....NOW!!

Wish me luck~

**updated (6:43pm):

car is vacuumed out and wiped down.  Car seat covers are in the washer, car seats are awaiting a good cleaning as well.  Kids played outside (beautiful weather!!) and are now cranky and hungry ~ gotta run ~

**updated (10:37pm):

Carseats are cleaned and put back together.  Dean put them back into the car and informed me that our plan of having three certain seats in the back is simply *NOT* going to work.  Great.  Now what?!  I'm guessing we're gonna have to go buy Elijah a smaller/narrower car seat (has to be a 5-point harness - the seat in the middle back, with the lap belt, can not be a booster seat).  Tomorrow.  *sigh*  This is what we get for waiting until is warms up to check on the car seat situation....oh well, we'll figure it out.

Alright, well, I refuse to get all freaked out about NOT completing my list.  I knew it would be hard, if not darn near impossible, to get done.  It's just a goal.  I've not been nice to my dh since he arrived home (after working all day and evening long), so I need to go apologize and show him some love.....it's not his fault I'm so tired and cranky.

Speaking of cranky, I'm about to have some PB & chocolate, my ultimate remedy ~ Thank goodness for peanut butter.......;0)

Basic Update & Thoughts on "older children"

*Master Bedroom furniture is moved - cradle is completely set up and looking so cute!

*All kids' clothing bins have been gone through, reorganized and relabeled, including new larger size bins.  PTL I am done with that (for another few weeks/months at least)!

*All winter gear (excluding current coats) is put away in new large bin or smaller bins for hats/mittens/scarves/etc.

*DVD's/movies have all been gone through and reorganized (thanks hubby!)

*storage closet has been organized (thanks hubby, again!)

*Girls' toys have been gone through (again).  Girls' closet straightened up.

*Laundry is caught up (seriously, I didn't think that was possible)

*new pillows have been distributed

STILL TO DO:

*minor sewing on bedroom shades (Selah broke these  quite a few weeks ago and I've been procrastinating......still am.....)

*grocery list - shopping on Saturday

*van cleaned out, carseats cleaned and reinstalled  (hopefully today during lil' kids' quiet time - it's such a beautiful day, I hope Isaac can run off some energy in the backyard)

*scrub down red couches, re-fluff with blankets and old pillows (another job I'm apparently procrastinating on)

*boy haircuts....I would love to get this done before baby arrives, but I'm doubtful...

*kids' portfolios updated (just basically insert some demonstrative papers/projects to show what they've been working on - nothing too complicated)

*one last time to mop the kitchen/bathroom floor - another great chore to procrastinate on, eh?

*PACK THAT DARN HOSPITAL BAG......come on, Lori.....

And the dishes are out of control.......well.....maybe not really, but, ugh, I dislike dishes.  Even with a dishwasher.  I know, silly, but so be it~

IN OTHER NEWS,

Selah has strep..........well, we think so.  We have her on antibiotics and I'm gonna call the doc today to confirm.  

I am also on antibiotics, for a sinus infection.  It should cover me for any possible strep as well.  Now I just need to go make myself a yogurt smoothie and take my probiotics (to avoid any yeast overload issues).

Lastly, it's so much fun to see how excited the kiddos are about this new lil' baby!  Isaac tells me daily, many times a day, how many days are left.  As he runs through the count-down, his voice gets higher and higher 'til he gets down to one day - then he squeaks out, "and then we go to the hospital and the baby comes out and we see him.   or her.  Yeah!".

Tali just loves to go to the bassinet and look at the clothes I've picked out (a small pile of pink and a small pile of blue).  She'll tell me how these clothes are for the new baby - "these ones" are for Willow, and "these ones" are for Micah.

Selah kisses my belly at every opportunity.  She loves to finger the crocheted blankies and talk about how the new baby will "use these to keep all warm and snuggly".  She is the one who "talks" to my belly and tells the baby that she is his big sister and will help Momma take care of him (or her).

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Here are those thoughts on "older children" and new blessings.  Just my rambling thoughts....

It is very sad for me to hear parents talk about how jealous an older sibling is acting or "will act".  How do you *know* how your child will react to a new baby?   From "the experts"?  If you expect your child to act jealous, most likely he or she WILL.  

Instead of worrying about how horrible it's going to be for your older child(ren), do everything you can to get everyone *excited* about this new life coming into the family!!  It's THEIR new lil' brother or sister.  THEY get to be the BIG brother or BIG sister.  Talk up how cute babies are, how much they need our love and attention.  Talk about what WE (include your children here) will need to do to take care of the new baby (diapers, feedings, kisses, singing lullabies, swaddling, cuddling and loving).  

If you make it a "family affair", they are much more likely to be excited and happy about this new baby.  It won't be just someone else who is going to take away all of Momma's & Daddy's time and attention and love.  

I'm wondering how much of this issues stems from how much time we are actually (as a society) spending with our children.  Dean read somewhere that today's parents spend about 10 min. a day in DIRECT INTERACTION with their children (not watching t.v. or playing video games or just sitting in the same room).  10 minutes.  Wow!

I know that as children get older, sometimes just playing video games or just "being there" to listen is a great thing.  But for younger children, this is simply not interacting and building relationships and tying heartstrings.

Since I am home all the time with my babies, I can say to them, "No, not right now, Momma is busy.  Momma has to take care of Elijah - he needs my help right now.  I'll help you in a few moments".  And they can accept this.  They know their turn is coming.  They realize Momma is only ONE person and I love ALL my babies and I will help them/be with them as I am able.

Yet if a parent is only spending 10 min. a day with their child, to tell that child, "Sorry honey, Momma has to feed the baby/take care of the baby.  I just can't read that book right now.", the older child will obviously feel jealous.  Hey, he only gets 10 min. a day.........it's incredibly precious and he's not about to give it up without a fight!!

Now, again, I'm not saying if you have to work outside the home you are an awful parent.  No.  I'm saying if you are part of this statistic that is only spending 10 min. (or whatever little amount of time) with your child, this *may* affect how an older child reacts to a new little one.  Instead of that new life being a blessing and being excited about him ~ that child may react negatively (and justifiably so).  

And in no way am I saying I'm perfect about this.  There are times when I push my kids away too often, tell them no too often, etc.  Yet I honestly feel this gets balanced out over time.  Yes, I need my "ME" time, ALONE, occasionally.  Yet because I am with them all the time, it all balances out and they do not feel robbed of attention and love.

Just another reason to choose home.  If possible, it is such an amazing opportunity~

p.s.  I'm really hoping not to upset anyone with these thoughts.  I know there are situations where Mommas have to work - I get that.  I also know there are situations where Mommas DECIDE to work (not NEED), and feel this is a perfectly acceptable decision.  All I can comment on is the decision WE have made for our family and the direct results of this decision.  If by sharing how wonderful it is (yes, it's hard too) and the rewards we are all reaping ~ if I am able to encourage another Momma to give it a try ~ then I am happy!!

Since our society today tells women day in and day out how worthless it is to stay home (and how to have true appreciation and satisfaction in life, you must work outside the home), I simply want to be ONE voice stating THAT'S NOT TRUE!!  I am only one voice, but here - at my blog - I can say what I feel and hopefully someone will hear it and wonder why it goes against *everything* they have heard and learned in their life.  Then they can make a decision based on more than just whatever "society" has been drilling into their heads for 20-some years........

It's not easy, but it's a blessing~  I don't say that enough, I complain too much.  Sorry about that.  It *is* an amazing gift and blessing to stay home with my babies.  I need to tell them that more often as well....

God Bless~

Lori

Keep on swimming...

I know I've used this "Nemo" line before, but that's kinda how I feel right now.

What I really want to do is be lazy and lay around....not exactly an option ~ and I'll have a week of that next week!  So for now, I just have to "keep swimming" - even if it feels as though it's upstream here for a bit ;)

The boys are improving.  I don't really think Elijah ever had strep - he's certainly not showing the classic signs that Dean and Isaac both displayed.  Dean is back at work today (Thurs), while Isaac is right in the middle of the "sore throat" stage.  Tali never did present with a fever, so all the girls are still fine.  PTL!!  Elijah's nose *seems* to be "drying up" (it was really gross there for  more than a week!!), so I'm hoping his poor face will heal up soon (it had "streaks" where he kept rubbing the snot - gross!).

Here is my updated list (not too bad):

*put new labels on my kids' clothing bins -- including the new bigger size bins we bought.

*wash and put away the majority of the winter gear --  also in the new LARGE bin we bought.

*wash/disinfect all linens --  get new pillows onto the beds.

*clean out car -- rearrange car seats (will be done tomorrow - the temp will be in the 50's)

*take back library books -- order new unit of library books

*pack hospital bag (nope, still haven't done this)

*rearrange master bedroom furniture (to properly fit in the cradle)

*scrub down red couches & "re-fluff" with blankets and old pillows under the cushions...yup, we use couches until they *die*!

doesn't everyone rearrange furniture in the last week of their pregnancy??  It's a nesting thing....

Besides the normal stuff (keeping up with laundry, dishes, baths, meals), plus the normal weekly stuff (bible study, ob appointment, church stuff), I've got to get one more grocery shopping trip squeezed in to hold us over until I heal.  

All in all, not too bad ~ I feel pretty good about it!

I guess that means I now need to get off my booty and actually WORK my way through the list, eh?  Yup, keep on swimming, Lori, keep on swimming.....

p.s.  I pray you are all doing great as well, getting ready for spring and the warmer weather.  My schedule is a bit wacky, with the birth and all, but I can't wait for spring either!!  We will school throughout the summer (lightly) to make up for this time after the new baby arrives.  I've been so excited to see my little ones learning to read ~ plus they are working their way through their math workbooks (LIFEPACS), and having weekly piano lessons (Selah, in particular, loves this!).

There are some days I think it just can't get any better than this.....then I feel this little one rolling around in there and realise God has blessed me beyond measure!!  Each day is such a blessing, and I pray I can look on them as such (even amongst the diapers, the messes, and behavior issues).  Praise the Lord~

Test? or Temptation?

Could it simply be how things are?  Is it a test of my faith and trust in the Lord?  If so, will I allow it to become a temptation to self-pity and wallow in "poor-me's"??

Here's the deal:

Sunday evening, my dh basically runs to bed, shivering uncontrollably, and falls asleep with a fever (he may have taken some meds before hitting the pillow).  We wake up Monday, with big ol' plans to make a trip to IKEA *without* our children (being watched by a wonderful family with 6 of their own children - what a blessing!).  I was excited.....my dh was sick.

great.

I spent the first half of the day semi-upset 'cause my poor dh wasn't acting all happy and excited about our "big day out".  (He was sick, hello?!)  But I had been looking forward to this day and really only had eyes for Lori, apparently.  I tried to straighten out my focus, get my eyes off myself and realise how he must feel ~ so the rest of the day went...better (well, I'm not *perfect*!).

We actually got lots accomplished at IKEA ~ got our linens, including a new duvet cover for our bed (whoo-hoo!), lots of pillows, including an ergonomic pillow for me and really nice ones for my dh (again, whoo-hoo!), some floor mats, some kid's room wall shelves, other odds-n-ends......plus meatballs, sauce and lingonberries!!  Yum!

Afterwards, my feet were like HUMONGOUS sausages!  It was terrible!  Yet I wasn't in pain (other than sporadic contractions.....not really terribly painful).  I was just glad to have one more thing to check off of my list.

Speaking of my list ~ how come it doesn't seem to be getting any smaller, huh??  Weird..... ;)

I guess, in the back of my head, I figured my dh would be better by the next day.  He hardly ever takes off work and doesn't really give himself much sick-time (what parent does, really?).  Nope.  He made a doctor's appointment the very next morning (Tues) - which I had encouraged him to do, if he still felt bad, as I didn't want his sickness to get worse.  You know, something horrible like strep or pneumonia....

You know, something horrible, like strep....

Like strep....

Yup, strep.

Ugh.

And as it turns out, our doc wants our little ones to be checked out if they show ANY symptoms ~ he wants them treated.  Well, little Elijah sounded pretty sick these last few days, but I don't really take 'em in unless it's bad:  a bad fever, if it lasts too long, etc.  So I called and made an appointment for him tomorrow morning (Wed).  

Then right before bed, Isaac told his father, "Daddy, why can't I stop s-s-s-s-s-h-h-h-h-h-aking?".   Yup, he too had a fever, along with the chills.  Exactly how Dean's sickness started.  Poor baby.  He got some fever meds and I plan on taking him to the doctor's tomorrow as well.

Thus far, all of us girls are holding out.  We'll see....

ALL OF THAT TO SAY,

I'm trying, trying, *trying* not to fall into all that silly self-pity.  You know, "Why is this happening to ME?"  "Doesn't God know I'm having major surgery in less than a week?" "I have too much to do to nurse all these people back to health as well"  "AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

God knows I'm pregnant.  God knows I'm having major surgery.  God knows strep is very contagious and icky.  Yet still we are going through this.  So go through it we will.  And I pray I will learn exactly what God has for me through all of this.  I'm thinking it has to do with my focus, my selfishness, my control-issues, my obsessiveness, yada, yada, yada ;)  Yup, I need LOTS of help~

So I will continue to take my vitamins, my ACV/honey tonic, drink tons of water, my probiotics, etc.......and pray for God to keep me healthy and strong!!  I will pray God heals my family *quickly*!!  And I will pray for God to get me through day by day, moment by moment, with my eyes on the LORD!  Praise Him that He is the Blessed Controller of all things~

YEAH!!  Lil' one in just about 5 days~

Essential Oil "Carrier"

Hello~

So, as I was reading the back of my new essential oil packages, it said NOT to put directly onto skin - instead to use a "carrier" (that you mix the EO into - it gives the ratio).  So what "carrier" do you use with your EO??  I don't have the listed oils (sweet almond, coconut) and was just wondering if I might have something else on-hand that would work, or if I needed to run by the HFS one more time....

Thanks for all your help through this process.  I am fairly EO ignorant, apparently......oh well, I'm learning~

About that time...

You know it's getting close to your c-section date when.....

...the 10-day forcast from the Weather Channel includes your baby's birthday!!  

Hurray for 40 degrees with rain/snow showers!!

How exciting~