Four years of Joy

Yesterday we celebrated four years of life with Shandie Rhylin. Her name means "God’s Gift of Joy" and she truly does bring us so much joy!

I went into my pregnancy with some fear. I was in the middle of some chronic health issues and dealing with an autoimmune disease, I had hemorrhaged the last three births, and I was 43 years old. I didn't consider my age a factor at all but when dealing with the medical field your age can definitely make things tricky when I preferred to go completely natural and your health provider wants you to do every test imaginable! I was probably his worst nightmare as a patient because I said no to everything! 

I had a wonderful pregnancy with Shandie and ended up going two weeks overdue with her. My labor and birth was uneventful and I didn't hemorrhage with her! I pushed her into this world without the doctor being in the room and our sweet nurse caught her.

This brown eyed, curly haired beauty has been such a blessing to our family. She is all things girlie! Tutu's, baby dolls, ribbons and bows, and she lavishly shares sweet kisses with everyone she loves! The Lord has mighty plans for Shandie's little life! I absolutely love this tiny girl and am so grateful that God chose me to be her mama! 

HaPPy BiRtHdAy SHANDIE!!!

 

Pumpkin patch fun

Last night we did a last minute pumpkin patch trip. There's sure something about going to the pumpkin patch that really helps usher the fall season in. 

It was a rare moment when both our big girls were able to go with us. I'm not particularly fond of the season were in. Between Shelbie working three jobs and Shaylah gone at school full time its hard to find a time that is "good" for everyone to do outings like this.

 Last night was lovely! All my people together!

Life with Shiro

Life with Shiro can be very exciting. I think every Mama should have a Shiro in their lives. It is very refining and keeps you on your toes and also knees! I must say having a Shiro is not for the faint of heart though! Here is an example of a day with my sweet boy. These are some texts I sent to my hubby the other day.

Text #1

How's my morning going you ask? Well, your son pooped in his underwear unbeknownst to us and proceeded to take off his underwear and use a half a pack of wipes to clean himself. He then left said wipes in the reading book basket and the underwear with poop still in them on the floor next to it. He then sat on my coffee table to put on a brand new pair of shorts leaving smeared poop all over the table. He then pooped again. This time the poop slid down his leg and on the floor since he forgot to put on underwear that would have “caught” the poop. Unfortunately he stepped in it so everywhere he walked left a trail.

Text #2

Fast forward after the poop clean up and bath. I'm upstairs trying to get dressed and Shelbie and Shaylah are both gone, all 3 little girls are up in the bath and I realized that little boy had snuck out of the room. (I had been making him stay up by me) I come down to look for him and he's gone. I'm looking and calling and the big boys come out of their room to help. We look everywhere, by this time even Shayden and Shannen are sounding panicked. We check the pool, run down the road, we looked everywhere. Just as I'm ready to call the police Shannen says maybe he's hiding. I'm still outside looking down the road when I hear Shannen yell that he found him. He was hiding under the kitchen table the ENTIRE time! I will be taking extra adrenal support today!

Text #3

Newest update...he threw all his stuffed animals and some clothes into the full tub of water that I left when I went to go find him.

I should probably mention that these texts took place before 9:30am! To contain the little storm I contained him!

Look at this sweet face! Hard to imagine that he spends his days disguised as a tornado! Life would be so very boring without Shiro! I’m so thankful for this little guy!

Story time

Years ago story time at our local library was such an ingrained part of our week, but since the years have passed it has been something that has kind of gone by the wayside.  We’ve hit it here and there but nothing consistent like in the past.

This year I have purposed to once again make it a staple in our week. Instead of viewing it as something to do “if” we have time I am looking at it as part of school for my little ones.  We quit  going as my last batch of little ones started outgrowing it and losing interest. My newest batch of little ones LOVES it! It takes a bit a determination on my part to get out of the house and go. It has also taken a bit a managing of sorts to juggle the boys math class and piano lessons which take place at the same time. Fortunately we have a great piano teacher that comes to our home and doesn’t mind teaching my little ones first so we can run out the door to make it on time to story time.

The last two years I have really gotten away from the “fun” stuff with school. I’ve turned into a “let’s just get this done and over  with mom”, you know, the no fluff kind of gal. I saw Lolly start out so enthusiastic for school and watched that enthusiasm get snuffed out fast. I’m working hard at changing that and also not making the same mistakes with the newest enthusiastic kindergartener. It takes a bit of bending and sacrifice on my part but they are so worth it! \ Head, shoulders, knees, and toes…..

The one room school house

This is my 16th year of homeschooling! I really am shocked when I think about how long I’ve been doing this. We started out with Shyloh with the intentions of just “trying” it out for a year. Well, here we are 16 years later and it’s pretty safe to say we are in it for the long haul.

This year I have a 10th, 8th, 7th, 5th, 2nd, 1st, and a preschooler. Our days are kept very busy and I really need to give up the idea that there is ever a “normal” when it comes to homeschooling, because there isn’t. The Lord really does have a sense of humor and has worked on teaching me lots of flexibility over the years!

I am so blessed to be able to be home all day, every day with my children. I really couldn’t imagine having them gone from me everyday. This is such a privilege, one that I am so grateful to have. Lolly tracing her numbers Tiny girl working diligently Teddy bear math

Skip counting puzzles from Confessions of a Homeschooler. I love, love, love this blog. This year I purchased her “Letter of the Week” curriculum for Shylie, and also her “Road Trip USA” to do with Shadd, Poppet, and Lolly. We have not been disappointed at all. The kids ask to do geography!

Head bumps and faith

Yesterday was a rough day in Neyville. The day started out like any other but quickly went bad. The girls asked to eat outside on the picnic table for lunch. A few minutes into their meal Shylie girl fell backwards off the bench onto the brick patio. Shannen ran out and grabbed her and as soon as I had her in my arms I realized it was serious. She was crying, but not like you would think after the hit she took. The cry was almost as if she was to hurt to cry. We quickly started our normal routine with head bumps. Usually 5 doses of homeopathic Nat Sulph will pull the child out of it within 15 minutes. Not this time. When I realized that didn’t work I tried Arnica. One of the basic rules with homeopathy is if one remedy doesn’t work it’s not the right one and you need to try a different one.

The arnica didn’t seem to help either. She laid sleeping in my arms but you could tell she was hurting. Then all of a sudden she started throwing up. I’ve dealt with other head injuries before that involved throwing up so I didn’t panic over this. I prayed over what to do and called Duane. After years of playing sports, seeing and also having concussions he said to watch her and wake her every 30 minutes or so. We don’t usually run to the doctor without really praying over it and asking ourselves what they would they do. In this case we knew they would do x-rays or cat scan and then just watch her. We decided to watch her here and continue treating her here.

She laid on the couch looking very pale and threw up a few more times. I put a call into our naturopath, but there was no answer. Two hours had passed and I was very concerned. I texted Duane asking if he was on his way home because I wanted him to assess the situation. I was ready to go in.

I sat by her praying and praying and then it suddenly occurred to me that I really spend more time in prayer asking for things instead of offering up thanks. I really wanted to continue to just pray for healing but felt in my spirit I needed to give thanks instead. I started thanking the Lord that Shylie was fearfully and wonderfully made. I thanked him that He held her in the palm of His hand, thanked Him that He died on the cross of Calvary and took all of our sickness and disease on His body. I sat there and continue thanking Him for all He is, all He does, and for the grace He freely gives.

I went to use the bathroom and asked Him for wisdom on what to do. I didn’t want to make any decisions based on fear. As I walked out of the bathroom Shaylah met me in the hallway and said it was our naturopath. I filled her in on what was going on and she told me some things to try then I was to call her back in an hour. We still didn’t see a turn around but I had a peace about staying home, at least for the moment. An hour later she had us start a different remedy. 20 minutes later she threw up again, then promptly dozed back off. About 30 minutes later she opened her eyes and asked for water. After that she said she was hungry.

That was one of the longest 6 hours in my life watching her lay there and feeling so helpless. I had to completely surrender her to the Lord and moment by moment seek Him as what to do. Today as I have spent the day telling her to stop running, no climbing, and having the kids rotate reading to her and keeping her calm I am once again marveling at the Lord’s goodness. We are continuing with the remedies for 3 more days for good measure, but besides a small headache off and on she is doing great. I am so thankful I didn’t react based on fear, but rather I responded and sought the Lord.

I am also once again in awe at how the Lord designed the human body and how amazing it is that He has provided plants and herbs that can be used to heal the body. Normally with concussions you just watch and wait. I am so grateful that we could give her something to allow her body to heal. It truly is amazing!

This evening Shylie was sitting in the doorway to the back patio blowing bubbles and she stopped and had her little head bowed so sweetly. My mom motioned for me to snap a picture because of how sweet she looked. I asked her what she was doing to which she replied, “I’m pwaying for Shelbie in Afwica!”  

Love Languages

I’m sure many of you have read the book “The 5 Love Languages” by Dr. Gary Chapman.  It’s a wonderful book that I think every one should read.  If you click here you can take the assessment test to help you determine what your love language is.

I took it and had Duane and all my older children take it as well.  It was very insightful to see what everyone’s love language was.  With some of us we knew and it was just confirmed what their language was, but with others I was really surprised.

Now that I know what each child’s language is I’m going to really make it an attempt to love on each one in a way that will help them to really feel loved.  I can already see that it’s going to be a challenge with some.  My primary language is physical touch.  I love to hug people, to pat them on the back, touch their arm.  If I meet you then you better count on a hug the second time I see you! I have one child that didn’t score 1 point in that area…not 1!!! Yikes! I have totally not been speaking that child’s language.  I’ve got my work cut out for some of my kiddos and for others it will be easy. 

Go take the assessment and have your family do it as well.  It only takes a few minutes but will give you some great insight  into what you need to do to show your family that they are really loved…in their own language!

A Lolly kind of conversation

Yesterday Lolly was supposed to be in bed, but got up and came in and said that she wanted to buy a necklace. She loves jewlery!

Lolly- "can we go to Walmart tomorrow and buy me a necklace?"
Mama -"well, do you have any money?"
Lolly- "no"
Mama- "well then how are you going to buy one?"
Lolly-"you can buy me one!"
Mama- "no, but maybe you can work to make some money to go buy one?"
Lolly- "I don't want to work, you buy it for me"
Mama- "Daddy works so we can have money to buy things"
Lolly- (getting a bit worked up and scared a bit) "No! I don't want to go to work"
Mama- "why?"
Lolly- "I don't want to leave the house to go to work!"
Mama- "you don't have to leave the house, I have work you can do here!"
Lolly- (all relieved and excited) " O.K!"
Mama- "I have some really dirty baseboards that need washed."
Lolly- "O.K! I can do that!"
She left completely excited about what the next day held!
We teach our children early on that they need to learn to work for things they want. We know that they will appreciate things so much more and take better care of them if they have worked for them. Lolly's whole worry was that she would have to leave her house to go to work like Daddy does. Once she learned that she could clean Mama's baseboards to earn money she was so excited! I will be getting some baseboards cleaned off and Lolly will be getting a trip to Walmart to buy her necklace!
(She is just so stinkin cute! You had to see her big, brown eyes and animation during our conversation!)

Moving out

I was going to let Lolly stay up from nap today, but as she was outside playing the meltdown began. I went out and picked her up and promptly marched her upstairs and took off her sandals, the whole time she is crying hysterically. She was crying so much I told her I was going to go use the bathroom and I would be back to kiss her. I figured she needed a few minutes to get some self control. I was in the bathroom less than a minute and the crying stopped suddenly. She walks in the bathroom wringing her little hands and stands in the doorway catching her breath.

Lolly: "I'm moving out!"
Me: Oh? You are? Why?
Lolly: (still sniffling and trying to breath) "Because you're mean to me"
Me: "Where are you moving to?"
Lolly: "Shyloh's"
Me: "Shyloh will make you take a nap too"
Lolly:"She won't be mean to me" (still doing that little gasp for air thing that they do when they cry so hard)
Me: "But you'll still have to take a nap"
Lolly: "Well, I'll listen to Shyloh!"

This child! Oh,my! The good thing is after falling asleep only 10 minutes after being laid down and getting a nap she was a new little girl. I asked her if she was still moving out and she hugged my neck and said, "NO! I love you and want to live with you!"

Riding bikes

Poppet turned 5 this month and decided that it was time to lose the training wheels and ride a bike like a big girl! She did, in only a matter of a couple of days.

Daddy helping her

She dressed herself this day and was ready to go!

Riding all by herself! She was feeling pretty good about achieving this goal!

Our weekend

Our weekend started off with finding out that Poppet and Lolly cut their hair the night before. Lolly decided to take a chunk right out of the front! I asked Duane, "why in the world do they always cut in the front?" He says, "because they can't reach the back!" Why didn't I think of that??

(notice the chunk missing in the front?)

We headed up the hill to Knights Ferry and watched the Civil War Reenactment. It was a beautiful day! We took a lunch and ate on the hillside while watching the war, then we went down to the river and hung out while the kids chased minnows in the water.

(watching the battle from the hill)

(I have no idea what Shyloh is doing! Sleeping while sitting up??)

On the way home we stopped by the Oakdale cheese factory. Unfortunately they weren't making cheese that day so we walked around and looked at the animals they had.

(Can you believe they've been married for 7 months now?? Time flies even after they get big.)

Makin Daddy's lunch

The kids love to make Daddy's lunch. Today Poppet asked if she could make it. Thus began a joint effort with Lolly to make Daddy the best lunch ever. Making a peanut better sandwhich. (There was lots of licking fingers and spoons)

Almost done.

Done and cut in half. (Notice she used the heel of the bread. lol)

Notice the big bite out of the sandwhich! As she stood showing me her finished product the dog jumped up and swiped a bite!

A new sandwhich was made and she is feeling good!