My Facebook Status

I love facebook. It’s such a great way to connect with friends and keep in touch with people that I would have lost contact with otherwise. Here is my facebook status tonight. I am posting it here as well because it sums up so nicely how I am feeling!

Here are my thoughts this evening… I love the nice weather we are having. I really want pizza. I miss my husband and don’t like it when he works nights. I have the cutest kids ever. I am head over heels in love with my little Jacob, who is one week old today. I am so, so blessed.

A Tired Morning

I’m tired. I’m 9 months pregnant (in one more week anyway), I still feel weak after my recent illness and I didn’t sleep well last night. Of course, I got up a lot for pregnancy-related issues, and then a nightmare woke me at 4:30am. Asher woke up at 5:00, obviously in great pain as two molars are working their way through his tender gums. He’s never had an easy time cutting teeth. He screamed in my arms, refused a binkie, and kept shoving his hands in his mouth. His anguish was obvious. I gave him tylenol and orajel (which seemed to help) and took him to bed with me. I snuggled in with my boys- Asher on one side and Braden on the other and Sweet Baby #6 (and Boy #4) in the middle, rolling around in my belly. It was so nice to snuggle with my three youngest sons like that (I include this unborn baby boy because he was so active that he was definitely making his presence known), but I didn’t sleep well.

The kids were up early as they usually are. It’s my own fault that they get up early even on the days that I hope they will sleep in. Our schedule is busy and full and an early start to our mornings helps us to fit everything in. When I am well and we are on a normal schedule, we are up and going strong between 6am and 7am. So it’s really no surprise that my kids can’t sleep past 7am… though there are obviously days that I wish they would!

It’s 9am now and I am still tired. But it’s time to start the day. We have some errands to run and lots of cleaning to do. The sky is blue though and the world outside looks cheery and welcoming. The weather is supposed to be nice today. In spite of being tired, I am looking forward to getting out of the house and enjoying the fall weather.

Nightmares

I am unable to sleep after a horrible, horrible nightmare. I won’t go into details (because it’s honestly upsetting for me to recount them) but suffice to say that this dream involved my precious son Braden and a man who wanted to harm him in the worst way. The dream was all about my struggle to protect this little boy. I was screaming for my baby right as I woke up.

I brought Braden to bed with me the night before and I was so glad to wake up and find him beside me. It comforted me to have him in my arms, safe and breathing and in no danger at all. Obviously, I understood that the dream was just a dream and that it was not real. But it disturbed me so greatly that I couldn’t sleep. I turned on the TV and watched reruns on TLC. I still couldn’t settle down so I got a bowl of cheerios and pulled out my laptop.

I am sitting here, with one hand still resting on Braden’s back as he sleeps, and I still can’t settle down. My tummy is still knotted up. I hate bad dreams

I Missed It

I love, love, love the transition between seasons. No matter which season is ending or which season is beginning, it’s always a magical time.

I really haven’t left the house much in almost two weeks. Before I got sick, the weather was still really warm and “summery” even in September. But now all the status updates on Facebook are about how cold it is outside, and I hear rain and wind pounding the windows in the mornings, and when Rick took Josh to football practice he told him to put on his Underarmor Coldgear, and Asher wakes up with cold hands every morning. It might even be time to start running the heater at night. 

So apparently, autumn came with the arrival of October. And I think I missed that magical transition time this year. I’m sad that I did.

I am hoping for a long autumn. I am so ready for jackets and sweaters, for chilly mornings and darker nights, for warm comfort foods served for dinner. But I am NOT ready for winter with snow and boots and freezing temperatures and wet footprints tracked across the floor. I’d like to spend a month or two in the comfortable cool of fall before the chill of winter really sets in.

Grandparents

Rick’s parents came yesterday. They helped us out so much. They filled our pantry, fridge, and freezer with groceries. It’s been nearly two weeks since I’ve shopped so it was nice to finally have food. Brenna looked in the pantry and declared that it was more full than it had been in weeks. She was right.

Grandma helped out with kids and baths and bedtimes. She got me caught up on laundry and dishes and she scoured my bathrooms. I even got to take a long nap today while she took care of the kids and the house. Grandpa helped shuttle Josh around to football practice and joined him at his game today. Josh was thrilled to have Grandpa with him.

We were all so thankful for Grandma and Grandpa and their help!

I think that I am really getting better. I’ve been queasy and tired today, but I’ve been able to eat and keep food down. I’m starting to feel a little better. Hopefully this is the end of this bug- for good this time!

Angels Among Us

Yesterday was really depressing for me. I had felt better on Wednesday. I was finally keeping food down and getting my energy back again. I was optimistic, thinking that I was finally on the mend. But Thursday morning I started throwing up again and felt as bad as ever. I was weak and dehydrated and sick. Rick isn’t able to take any time off this week so I have been on my own during the days, and Asher is cutting painful molars so I have been up most of each night with him. 

By yesterday afternoon I was physically wiped out and a complete mess emotionally. I cried and cried. After nearly two weeks of being sick and after a day of thinking that I was finally on the mend, I felt worse than ever and I just couldn’t stop the tears. I was tired of being sick, tired of not having help, tired of watching my house fall apart around me, tired of it all.

My sweet cousin Sarah called me yesterday. She’d read my blog and wanted to help while I was sick. It cheered me greatly to know that she cared so much and I looked forward to her visit.

Sarah came today with her four darling kids. She brought a pantry’s worth of food, with lots of “regular” food and tons of gluten-free options for Joshy. She brought brownies, with GF brownies and cookies labeled just for Josh. She even baked gluten-free bread! She brought four meals, all neatly labeled and ready to be frozen and then cooked as needed. Most were gluten-free and for the one meal that was not GF she kindly made a GF equivalent. For lunch she ordered pizza from a nearby pizza place that serves gluten-free pizza- two regular pizzas and a gluten-free pizza as well.

I was totally blown away! I felt tears in my eyes as I looked at all that food and at how hard Sarah worked to accomodate Joshy and his Celiac Disease. It meant so much to me. Sarah drove an hour (each way) to being us tons of food and she was aware of Joshua’s needs with every single item that she brought. I was so touched. I wanted to hug her tightly, but I kept my distance because I also didn’t want to send her home with my nasty germs. I’ll hug her when I am better!

The kids all ate and then Sarah walked them all to the neighborhood park to play. I stayed home and rested, so thankful for a quiet house and the chance to close my eyes. Sarah’s kids are close in age to my kids and they all had a good time at the park together.

Heavenly Father does send angels to those who need them. Sarah was my angel today. Not just because of the food she brought, but also because she cared enough to do so. It’s incredible what a little love can do! I feel better already, just knowing that I am not alone.

Rick’s parents are on their way. They are coming to help and I am so thankful for their willingness to drop everything to help a sick, exhausted mommy who is 8.5 months pregnant. I really could use the help and it touches me that they are willing to give it. Once again, I recognize how blessed I am. When I married the most incredible man in the world, I also got two wonderful parents as a part of the deal. I am so thankful for their help.

I am emotional again this afternoon, but for a much different reason. Yesterday I cried because I felt so alone and so frustrated. Today I find tears in my eyes because I feel so surrounded by the love of family and friends. I think about the kind people who are serving me now while I am sick- Sarah, Rick’s parents, Rick’s cousin, my visiting teachers, and many far-away friends who have sent well-wishes on Facebook and on my blog. I remember so many people who have served me in the past- my own parents again and again throughout my life, my sister-in-law Angie who drove 3 hours to clean my house and do my laundry while I was so sick with morning sickness during my pregnancy with Asher, and so many others who have brought meals after babies were born or tended my kids so that I could sleep for an hour or two. I think of those who will serve me in the future- my other sister-in-law Elaine who has offered to come take care of our five children when this baby is born.

My heart is full. It’s amazing to be surrounded by such love and kindness and generosity. I see the hand of the Savior in my life, through the hands of those around me who serve so willingly. It feels wonderful to know that I am not alone. I am so thankful for so many angels!

And I am feeling better physically as well. Love really is wonderful medicine. I ate some goldfish crackers that Sarah brought and I actually kept them down. I was able to drink some juice and some water too and I am feeling stronger just because I’m a little more hydrated. I feel optimistic again, certain that I can climb out of this hole and feel better again soon!

I am excited to feel well again. I am excited to enjoy my children and to reclaim my house and to get back on our regular schedule. I am excited to prepare for this sweet baby boy, who could arrive in just a few more weeks. I am excited to serve those around me as I have been served. I hope that I can be an angel for someone else who needs one!

THANK YOU to all those who have served our family! You will never know how much it all means to me!

No Fair

I have started throwing up again. At least I got more hydrated yesterday. That’s got to help.

Still Alive

I’m alive… barely! Not to be melodramatic, but there were times when I wasn’t sure if I’d make it through the last few days. I was sick all last week with tons of sinus pressure and a horrible cough. I was achy, weak, and totally miserable. Being pregnant and unable to take any medication, made it a lot harder.

But on Monday things took a turn for the worse. I began to vomit uncontrollably. I’d been sick for a week and at a point when I should have started to feel better, I was rapidly getting worse. Throwing up so hard and so often was especially bad. I can’t remember the last time that I threw up so frequently or so violently (really, I don’t throw up often).

I finally broke down and saw the doctor. I was diagnosed with a UTI, walking pneumonia, and the flu. (My doctor “suspected” a case of H1N1 and prescribed tamiflu. Basically, because of my symptoms they were going to treat it like swine flu “just in case.”) I came home with several antibiotics and some OTC meds. I threw up, violently and constantly, for two days. On Tuesday my OB told me that she was “this close” to admitting me to the hospital. She doesn’t mess around when it comes to really sick, really dehydrated pregnant ladies.

Things finally started looking up yesterday when I started keeping crackers and juice down. I was so thankful to escape being admitted to the hospital. I’d much rather be sick at home. I am still really weak, still queasy and headachy and short of breath, but I am so thankful to be improving at least. I’ve stopped throwing up and I am feeling more alert and stronger now. Rick gave me a blessing late Tuesday night and I am sure that is what helped me finally “turn the corner.”

I am going to rest for the rest of the week. No homeschool, no cleaning, no errands. Rick has been helping a lot over the past few days, but he can’t miss work this week so the kids and I are on our own now. I am so very thankful to have such helpful, compassionate, mature children! Brenna and Joshua have been taking care of Asher and Braden, changing diapers, making meals, and keeping the house sort of clean. They are so sweet and I am incredibly grateful for their help! 

Hopefully I will be fully recovered by next week. We have lots going on next week. Also, we’ll be only a few weeks away from possibly meeting our new little baby. (Braden was born in two weeks from now. Even though we do NOT want this baby to come a month early, it’s still crazy to think that Braden did!) I still haven’t prepared for this baby so I have clothes and bedding and car seats to get ready. I hope that if I take it easy for the rest of the week, that I will be able to get caught up on cleaning and start getting ready for baby next week.

I only get sick about once a year, but when I do get sick, it’s always really bad. Hopefully this fills my quota until next year though!

A Sunday Nap

I enjoyed a wonderful, refreshing, and much-needed afternoon nap today. It was so nice!

2009-2010 Schedule

Our daily schedule will be roughly the same as last year, but every year is a little different because we add in more subjects and new extracurricular activities. I will be up by 6am and waking the kids by 7am. We will eat breakfast together as a family each day (Daddy included) and have Family Scripture Study every morning. We will do an hour of chores each morning, on a rotating schedule.

Homeschool will begin at 9am. We will have about three hours of homeschool before lunch. Our morning classes are seminary, reading, writing, math, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. After lunch, we’ll have two to three more hours of school. Latin, history, geography, science, art, and creative writing will be covered during this time. We will study each subject two days per week. When school is finished, the kids can have freetime and time to invite friends over.

Activities are every evening. Brenna will have gymnastics on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Joshua will have football on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (but I heard that they are cutting back to three days a week in September). Braden has gymnastics on Monday morning. Maddie has cheer on Monday, but it’s in the same facility as Brenna’s gymnastics practice and during the same time as well so it’s very convenient! Brenna has choir Tuesday evenings.

Weekends will be busy as well. Rick works Saturdays and has Mondays off so we use Monday as our personal Saturday (no homeschool). Our morning schedule will remain the same on Mondays, but rather than starting homeschool around 9am we will take our weekly library trip. It will work out well because the younger kids can listen to Story Time at the library. We will also be able to get all the books we need for the week of homeschool. Gymnastics is right after our library time and right across the street. We will go grocery shopping and run errands after gymnastics.  Saturday will be my weekly baking day. The kids can do craft projects and have friends over. We will have football games and gymnastics meets on certain Saturdays, and wrestling tournaments starting soon. Rick is doing the piano lessons for the kids (along with voice lessons for Brenna) and will be having lessons on Sunday afternoons. Family Home Evening will be on Sunday night, followed by our weekly Correlation Meeting (Rick and I take an hour or two each week to discuss kids, school, budget, schedule, meals and so on for the coming week and to review the previous week as well).

Thankfully, it works out to squeeze dinner in between activities from 5-6 each evening. Once Rick is on nights, he will be able to eat with us during that time as well.

Bedtime will be between 8:00 and 8:30 (with quiet reading time afterwards) on nights we don’t have football practice and 9pm on the nights that we do. The 9:00 nights are later than I like (I really prefer a bedtime between 7:30 and 8:30) but there is no way around it during football season. This is another reason that I am looking forward to practice being cut back to three nights a week, and by the end of the season our coach has said we’ll probably be down to just two nights a week.

That’s our schedule for the coming year. I know it sounds very, very full (and it is), but it is so similar to what we did last year that I am sure we will be fine. Each child and each family is so different and a busy lifestyle is not for everyone, but so far our children and our family is thriving on being active and busy.

We are striving to still create balance in our lives. Our busy schedule still allows for down-time and social time for the kids, and time as a family. And it enables us to eat breakfast and dinner each day as a family with Daddy and study the scriptures together daily. Even though it’s full, the important things are all fitting in easily, and the less important things (but things that we still want to include) are falling into place as well. It’s like a big, giant puzzle that just fits together perfectly. The beauty of homeschool is that I can easily change our schedule if it doesn’t work for our family. But, for now, I am sure it will work well and I am looking forward to a busy, full school year.

UPDATE…

We began our fall schedule this morning and the day went beautifully. I was sick today thanks to the iron supplements that I just started (I just found out that I am anemic). But even between barf-runs to the bathroom, I was still able to get everything on my list done. We were up on time, and we finished breakfast and scripture study and chores as planned.  The kids and I took our weekly library trip and went grocery shopping afterwards. I ran the kids to their various activities and finished the flash cards that I needed for Latin and Greek. We enjoyed some quiet downtime while the kids all poured over their new library books (they even chose reading time over computer time when both were offered as options). Before bedtime we made gluten-free doughnuts for a yummy treat. Everyone was in bed on time and most of them were asleep before 8:30. School starts tomorrow and I hope that it goes as well as today went.