Trying to feed a family of 6 now on a limited budget has it's challenges sometimes. I try to cut back on extra spending on food and we don't eat out much at all, but then it seems like sometimes we go over too. I can't decide if we are just spending too much, or if our budget for food is just not feasible for a family this size and if I need to increase it.
Which gets me wondering what do most people spend for food a month? Would you mind telling me. I set up a poll on the side for anonymous answers. But I'd really like to see the average. I had a friend who had food stamps and I asked her what the government saw as the amount of money a family of 5 would spend on food, and it was quite a bit more than what we have budgeted. She felt like they could eat for less than what they give you, but that had me thinking maybe I'm just being unrealistic in our budget, but then the tightwad part of me thinks it's completely possible too if I had a little more self control sometimes! :)
So are you willing to share? How much do you spend for groceries a month on your family.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
We are getting close
To finishing these things:
- unpacking
- my BIG Scrapgirls project (which has taken any extra time I have lately)
- laying carpet so Isaac has his own room
- summer (which I'm not ready to finish up yet.)
- 2 books I'm in the middle of
- Caitlyn's Jaundice
School
Is it already that time. Savannah starts Kindergarten here in about 3 weeks, and we are in need of doing some school shopping and having lots of one on one fun time before I let her go... sigh. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. Beau luckily doesn't start till the first of September, yeah!
My silly kids
Mirian loves to wear this witch hat around all the time. She loves it for the long hair. Flipping it over her shoulders and putting it in pigtails and buns. She's just so cute. Yesterday we went to the thrift store and they had a toy lawnmower, shopping cart and stroller for a $1. They kids were in heaven and have been playing with them ever since. Mirian keeps referring to it as the "mow lawner" though, and with her little accent it's just too cute!
Pioneer Day
Today is pioneer day so for a few hours we'll be hanging out at the local park checking out the pioneer museum, pioneer town, making free crafts and eating cotton candy. (And roasting to death in this horrible heat!)
- unpacking
- my BIG Scrapgirls project (which has taken any extra time I have lately)
- laying carpet so Isaac has his own room
- summer (which I'm not ready to finish up yet.)
- 2 books I'm in the middle of
- Caitlyn's Jaundice
School
Is it already that time. Savannah starts Kindergarten here in about 3 weeks, and we are in need of doing some school shopping and having lots of one on one fun time before I let her go... sigh. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. Beau luckily doesn't start till the first of September, yeah!
My silly kids
Mirian loves to wear this witch hat around all the time. She loves it for the long hair. Flipping it over her shoulders and putting it in pigtails and buns. She's just so cute. Yesterday we went to the thrift store and they had a toy lawnmower, shopping cart and stroller for a $1. They kids were in heaven and have been playing with them ever since. Mirian keeps referring to it as the "mow lawner" though, and with her little accent it's just too cute!
Pioneer DayToday is pioneer day so for a few hours we'll be hanging out at the local park checking out the pioneer museum, pioneer town, making free crafts and eating cotton candy. (And roasting to death in this horrible heat!)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Life with Toddlers: Doctors
I didn't mind going to the doctor when I had one kid, I could relax and read a magazine. Two kids wasn't so bad, the baby could stay in the carrier and I could take care of the other one. Three kids was more of a challenge and so most of the time I arranged for them to play with friends so I could take only those that really needed to go. Today was our experience with 4 kids.
They did well and were on good behavior. Our first stop was the hospital for another Jaundice test. Poor girl. Her heels are so tender. I decided it was easier to carry her in rather than try to juggle the car seat, so with her in the left arm and Isaac in the right arm (because he refused to walk), and two girls hanging on to the side of my pants and holding hands so they were out of the way of cars.
People kept looking at us and smiling. I'm sure it was a site to behold. I had lots of people make the comment "You've got your hands full!" After about the fourth person who said this, Savannah asked me "Why do people keep telling you that you have your hands full?" Well it's because I have a lot of kids and because my hands are full with Isaac and Caitlyn.
We made it through the first visit and then had the regular doctors visit later. The kids love the lobby because there is a big neat fish tank and they play a movie. They are always good in the lobby. Today we sat there for quite a while and Mirian was saying she was hungry the nice nurse got her some crackers, which she assumed were just hers and didn't want anyone else to eat. I finally convinced her she could hold the package but she needed to share with everyone. Normally though you are in the lobby for about 10 minutes, and then you're sent back to the examination room where you can sit forever! The whole time trying to keep kids from pulling out all the red / hazardous material boxes, bandaids, etc. They have one kid book you can read to them, and then lots of magazines which they aren't interested in. The only thing they are interested in is a sticker at the end of the visit. If the nurse forgets to give them one then the world ends.
Today they were good, we've enjoyed our couple of days together and they've been really good for me. I think it all has to do with my attitude though.
They did well and were on good behavior. Our first stop was the hospital for another Jaundice test. Poor girl. Her heels are so tender. I decided it was easier to carry her in rather than try to juggle the car seat, so with her in the left arm and Isaac in the right arm (because he refused to walk), and two girls hanging on to the side of my pants and holding hands so they were out of the way of cars.
People kept looking at us and smiling. I'm sure it was a site to behold. I had lots of people make the comment "You've got your hands full!" After about the fourth person who said this, Savannah asked me "Why do people keep telling you that you have your hands full?" Well it's because I have a lot of kids and because my hands are full with Isaac and Caitlyn.
We made it through the first visit and then had the regular doctors visit later. The kids love the lobby because there is a big neat fish tank and they play a movie. They are always good in the lobby. Today we sat there for quite a while and Mirian was saying she was hungry the nice nurse got her some crackers, which she assumed were just hers and didn't want anyone else to eat. I finally convinced her she could hold the package but she needed to share with everyone. Normally though you are in the lobby for about 10 minutes, and then you're sent back to the examination room where you can sit forever! The whole time trying to keep kids from pulling out all the red / hazardous material boxes, bandaids, etc. They have one kid book you can read to them, and then lots of magazines which they aren't interested in. The only thing they are interested in is a sticker at the end of the visit. If the nurse forgets to give them one then the world ends.
Today they were good, we've enjoyed our couple of days together and they've been really good for me. I think it all has to do with my attitude though.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My To Do List...
contains one thing.
Don't have a breakdown. :) Beau has left for Scout Camp for the next two days, which leaves me for the very first time since Caitlyn's birth with the 4 little ones. Lately if I'm tired and exhausted then the emotions inevitably come. I have been wondering how I was going to handle all of them by myself especially with visits to the hospital for Jaundice and a regular doctors appointment. Hauling all of them is exhausting in itself! :) So the plan? Nothing. Don't plan on getting anything done, just take it as it comes. So far so good.
We've even been able to make it to the park, and made a trip to the grocery store to pick a few things up. All I can say is they don't make shopping carts large enough for 3 kids, a baby seat with a baby, and groceries for family of 6. But they behaved themselves and we now have something to eat!
This last weekend I was able to play with my sisters new camera and zoom lens. Not a good thing! It just makes me want one so bad! The pictures you could take! :) I love these flowers!
Don't have a breakdown. :) Beau has left for Scout Camp for the next two days, which leaves me for the very first time since Caitlyn's birth with the 4 little ones. Lately if I'm tired and exhausted then the emotions inevitably come. I have been wondering how I was going to handle all of them by myself especially with visits to the hospital for Jaundice and a regular doctors appointment. Hauling all of them is exhausting in itself! :) So the plan? Nothing. Don't plan on getting anything done, just take it as it comes. So far so good.
We've even been able to make it to the park, and made a trip to the grocery store to pick a few things up. All I can say is they don't make shopping carts large enough for 3 kids, a baby seat with a baby, and groceries for family of 6. But they behaved themselves and we now have something to eat!
This last weekend I was able to play with my sisters new camera and zoom lens. Not a good thing! It just makes me want one so bad! The pictures you could take! :) I love these flowers!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Family Time
Family Reunion
This last weekend we made a trip to Wyoming to go to my immediate family's reunion with my siblings and their families. We weren't sure if we were going to go because we have still been battling Caitlyn's Jaundice. Luckily we were given permission to leave for the weekend without having to put her back on bilirubin lights and enjoyed the couple of days with family.
We did some projects for my parents - cutting wood and building a shed, played games, had a treasure hunt, hung out with the cousins and got to bed late every night. Can I tell you how sleep deprived I am between a newborn and family?Photo shoot
We were scheduled with a photographer for a photoshoot. It's been two years since our last family shot and we've added 7 more grandkids to my parents family since then. She cancelled and so we were left to ourselves. So late that night before the sun went down, we decided to quickly do one, so with 10 minutes to throw white shirts on 22 people, clean up faces, run combs through hair, and trying to look presentable with our sunburned faces. Word of advice. The evening is not the best time for little kids to be snapping their pictures. We had kids crying, crying and not too happy about sitting down. But overall we ended up with some good ones actually without having to pay for them! Here's our lastest family photo with the newest addition.
This last weekend we made a trip to Wyoming to go to my immediate family's reunion with my siblings and their families. We weren't sure if we were going to go because we have still been battling Caitlyn's Jaundice. Luckily we were given permission to leave for the weekend without having to put her back on bilirubin lights and enjoyed the couple of days with family.
We did some projects for my parents - cutting wood and building a shed, played games, had a treasure hunt, hung out with the cousins and got to bed late every night. Can I tell you how sleep deprived I am between a newborn and family?Photo shootWe were scheduled with a photographer for a photoshoot. It's been two years since our last family shot and we've added 7 more grandkids to my parents family since then. She cancelled and so we were left to ourselves. So late that night before the sun went down, we decided to quickly do one, so with 10 minutes to throw white shirts on 22 people, clean up faces, run combs through hair, and trying to look presentable with our sunburned faces. Word of advice. The evening is not the best time for little kids to be snapping their pictures. We had kids crying, crying and not too happy about sitting down. But overall we ended up with some good ones actually without having to pay for them! Here's our lastest family photo with the newest addition.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I just saved myself $300!
Happy Day!
My hair has been getting to one of those stages of being bushy and sticking out in weird spots. It was definitely time for a haircut. We were also going to be taking family pictures at my family reunion in Wyoming this weekend, and I could not get a picture looking like this.
So I called up the girl that's been cutting my hair for about 6 months and got the horrifying news any woman hates to get... "she just had surgery on her hand and won't be back for 6 weeks." What?! Could she make an appointment with someone else? No... not right now. What was I going to do. I get way too nervous about people cutting my hair, I know they've all been trained but there are some that just don't quite get it though and it makes me extremely nervous. Especially since my hair is already short, and can't get a whole lot shorter. If they mess it up the only other option I have is to buzz it.
So for the last week I've been stewing about it. Do I just go to someone else, I can't wait 6 weeks, it'll look horrible. Maybe I should just cut it myself, for some reason that one doesn't scare me as bad as having someone else cut it. It's that visual, and artist part of me. My head is just another sculpture. I know what I want, and visually I just have to cut here and there to get it that way right? I actually ended up cutting my own hair for the year I lived in Vegas right before I met Beau. I went and had someone else cut it, and they slaughtered it, so I had to go home and try to fix it. I didn't do too bad and so figured I could do it from there on out, and I did.
In fact right before our wedding, I needed another haircut, but I was in a different apartment that didn't have mirrors where I could see all sides, so I got Beau to cut it for me. It's the biggest day of my life and I give Beau the scissors. He didn't do too bad for his first hair cut! After we were first married he cut it a couple of times and then I let it grow out, and after that he refused saying it stressed him out way too much. Well here we were this week... my hairdresser unavailable. It's been 6 years since I've cut it myself. But the cheapskate part of me really wants to just cut it myself and save that $25. So I bought a razor to thin and even it out, and after a family night of haircuts and trims for all, I attacked my own hair. The result? Not too bad of a job! Even Beau agreed. So I'm all pumped, it looks good and now I'm saving myself $300 dollars this year just in hair cuts for me! Do you know how much that will be in a lifetime? A lot! Happy Day for me!
My hair has been getting to one of those stages of being bushy and sticking out in weird spots. It was definitely time for a haircut. We were also going to be taking family pictures at my family reunion in Wyoming this weekend, and I could not get a picture looking like this.
So I called up the girl that's been cutting my hair for about 6 months and got the horrifying news any woman hates to get... "she just had surgery on her hand and won't be back for 6 weeks." What?! Could she make an appointment with someone else? No... not right now. What was I going to do. I get way too nervous about people cutting my hair, I know they've all been trained but there are some that just don't quite get it though and it makes me extremely nervous. Especially since my hair is already short, and can't get a whole lot shorter. If they mess it up the only other option I have is to buzz it.
So for the last week I've been stewing about it. Do I just go to someone else, I can't wait 6 weeks, it'll look horrible. Maybe I should just cut it myself, for some reason that one doesn't scare me as bad as having someone else cut it. It's that visual, and artist part of me. My head is just another sculpture. I know what I want, and visually I just have to cut here and there to get it that way right? I actually ended up cutting my own hair for the year I lived in Vegas right before I met Beau. I went and had someone else cut it, and they slaughtered it, so I had to go home and try to fix it. I didn't do too bad and so figured I could do it from there on out, and I did.
In fact right before our wedding, I needed another haircut, but I was in a different apartment that didn't have mirrors where I could see all sides, so I got Beau to cut it for me. It's the biggest day of my life and I give Beau the scissors. He didn't do too bad for his first hair cut! After we were first married he cut it a couple of times and then I let it grow out, and after that he refused saying it stressed him out way too much. Well here we were this week... my hairdresser unavailable. It's been 6 years since I've cut it myself. But the cheapskate part of me really wants to just cut it myself and save that $25. So I bought a razor to thin and even it out, and after a family night of haircuts and trims for all, I attacked my own hair. The result? Not too bad of a job! Even Beau agreed. So I'm all pumped, it looks good and now I'm saving myself $300 dollars this year just in hair cuts for me! Do you know how much that will be in a lifetime? A lot! Happy Day for me!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Good Morning!
Little Girl
Well yesterday she officially dropped below the mark she needed to be to be taken off the bilirubin lights! Yeah. She can now officially wear all these cute clothes, be held and cuddled and mom and dad finally had a great nights sleep in the dark! (With family in town for the last week her light box has been in our room at night, and let me tell you we might as well have slept with the normal house lights on.)
Design Time
My husband is out running errands for me, and so it's just me and the sleeping baby hanging out. Yeah! So I'm squeezing some design time in, which feels good since I've finally figured out the direction I want to take on this project. So here's to hopefully getting a bunch of stuff pumped out.
Well yesterday she officially dropped below the mark she needed to be to be taken off the bilirubin lights! Yeah. She can now officially wear all these cute clothes, be held and cuddled and mom and dad finally had a great nights sleep in the dark! (With family in town for the last week her light box has been in our room at night, and let me tell you we might as well have slept with the normal house lights on.)
Design Time
My husband is out running errands for me, and so it's just me and the sleeping baby hanging out. Yeah! So I'm squeezing some design time in, which feels good since I've finally figured out the direction I want to take on this project. So here's to hopefully getting a bunch of stuff pumped out.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Post Partum Thoughts
Postpartum Thoughts
There's something about postpartum that really starts to make you think about what your priorities are. If you're really giving your time to those things that matter most... these little ones.
We've have a good recovery, but as I've told Beau lately, someday I hope my emotions level out here and I'm back to normal. I tell him it's a no win situation sometimes. I'll tell him one thing, which I sincerely want him to do, but if he does it I'll cry. If he doesn't do it I'll feel bad he didn't do it and cry too. Either way he's out of luck. Poor guy. :) Luckily it hasn't been too bad yet. Just when I'm tired and exhausted it kicks in. Hmmm... seems like exhaustion and emotional breakdown are related. Luckily they aren't very often, it happens about once a day - Beau sends me off for a nap and I return feeling better.
But it makes me wonder if we have post partum for a reason. As women we go too fast, try to do too many things and are just too busy. It seems that during this post partum part of a new baby it has slowed me down, nursing slows me down. It makes me stop what I'm doing multiple times a day and I have time to sit and think, or read. It makes me realize how fast my kids are growing up. How I'm missing the little moments in life when I make myself too busy to enjoy small moments like the photos above. I realize they won't be this age forever and I want to soak it all in. I don't want to live with regrets of wishing I had spent more time with them and less time on my to do list. I realize how much love and attention they really want, need and deserve. I read some great quotes the other day... “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.” Professor Harold Hill, in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, "Each one of you is living a life filled with much to do. I plead with you not to let the important things in life pass you by, planning instead for that illusive and non-existent future day when you’ll have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." President Thomas S. Monson "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today." President Thomas S. Monson.
We just need to slow down more and enjoy the journey now. Enjoy them. They won't be here forever...
There's something about postpartum that really starts to make you think about what your priorities are. If you're really giving your time to those things that matter most... these little ones.
We've have a good recovery, but as I've told Beau lately, someday I hope my emotions level out here and I'm back to normal. I tell him it's a no win situation sometimes. I'll tell him one thing, which I sincerely want him to do, but if he does it I'll cry. If he doesn't do it I'll feel bad he didn't do it and cry too. Either way he's out of luck. Poor guy. :) Luckily it hasn't been too bad yet. Just when I'm tired and exhausted it kicks in. Hmmm... seems like exhaustion and emotional breakdown are related. Luckily they aren't very often, it happens about once a day - Beau sends me off for a nap and I return feeling better.
But it makes me wonder if we have post partum for a reason. As women we go too fast, try to do too many things and are just too busy. It seems that during this post partum part of a new baby it has slowed me down, nursing slows me down. It makes me stop what I'm doing multiple times a day and I have time to sit and think, or read. It makes me realize how fast my kids are growing up. How I'm missing the little moments in life when I make myself too busy to enjoy small moments like the photos above. I realize they won't be this age forever and I want to soak it all in. I don't want to live with regrets of wishing I had spent more time with them and less time on my to do list. I realize how much love and attention they really want, need and deserve. I read some great quotes the other day... “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.” Professor Harold Hill, in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, "Each one of you is living a life filled with much to do. I plead with you not to let the important things in life pass you by, planning instead for that illusive and non-existent future day when you’ll have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now." President Thomas S. Monson "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today." President Thomas S. Monson.We just need to slow down more and enjoy the journey now. Enjoy them. They won't be here forever...
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Today...
Celebrations
Well yesterday was a packed day of celebrating. Here's a few layouts of our fun day. Here the girls are eating their snow cones after a very hot morning walking around looking at booths, getting fingernails painted, making fourth of July wands, etc. It was a packed but good morning.
Later that night we lit a few sparklers at our house. The girls wouldn't touch them or even get within 5 feet of them. They were just too scary. Isaac on the other hand couldn't get enough of them. He wanted to hold one and would just sit and watch it burn while squealing and then once it finished go for another one. He got too excited about some very simple spinning fireworks too that Beau lit off in the road. He is definitely a boy. What is it with boys and fire.
Layouts
My sister called today and was talking to me and then asked me, where do you find the time to scrapbook a layout. How did you already have time to scrap one of Caitlyn. Well. The answer is 4x6 layouts. I'm serious they are fast, easy and I can get one done in about 10 - 15 minutes. It's one of those things that I enjoy, doesn't require lots of thought and I can use it to wind down at the end of the day. I usually scrap them at the end of the day, when the kids are in bed and I'm exhausted. Beau has lots of church meetings sometimes, so I'll do it then. Or sometime during the slow part of the day when the kids are playing, I can sit down for 10 minutes and do a fast one. Between the 4x6 templates and the 4x6 Assemble Your Own's I can get one done quick. The kids love them, and are always asking me to pull out the 4x6 album and wanting me to read it to them like a book. The only difference is the story is about them.
Temple Sealing
This morning Beau and I were able to go to the sealing of his cousin at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was such a beautiful and amazing ceremony. It reminded me so much of my wedding day and the amazing feeling of gratitude I felt during the whole day to be marrying Beau.
I believe that God has provided a way for families to be sealed beyond this mortal life. I believe that this life is not the end, but that life goes on after this life as well. That we can have the same wonderful and amazing relationships that we have with our spouses, children and parents beyond the grave that we have here. Today I realized even more so how amazing it is to know that we have been sealed to each other for time and all eternity and not until just "death do us part" like the civil marriages. Many people do not have this amazing blessing, nor do they know that it is available, that God did not intend for our family to end at death.
Today I have been overwhelmed by gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord for the Priesthood. For temples. For sealings. For my family. For Beau. For the atonement of Jesus Christ that made it all possible. I left wishing everyone wanted to be sealed together, wishing everyone knew that they could be sealed together for eternity, and wanting everyone to know that there is more out there available than just what many believe will end at the death of their spouse, children, or families. God has a plan for mankind, and it's all about families... his family - you and me.
Well yesterday was a packed day of celebrating. Here's a few layouts of our fun day. Here the girls are eating their snow cones after a very hot morning walking around looking at booths, getting fingernails painted, making fourth of July wands, etc. It was a packed but good morning.
Later that night we lit a few sparklers at our house. The girls wouldn't touch them or even get within 5 feet of them. They were just too scary. Isaac on the other hand couldn't get enough of them. He wanted to hold one and would just sit and watch it burn while squealing and then once it finished go for another one. He got too excited about some very simple spinning fireworks too that Beau lit off in the road. He is definitely a boy. What is it with boys and fire.
LayoutsMy sister called today and was talking to me and then asked me, where do you find the time to scrapbook a layout. How did you already have time to scrap one of Caitlyn. Well. The answer is 4x6 layouts. I'm serious they are fast, easy and I can get one done in about 10 - 15 minutes. It's one of those things that I enjoy, doesn't require lots of thought and I can use it to wind down at the end of the day. I usually scrap them at the end of the day, when the kids are in bed and I'm exhausted. Beau has lots of church meetings sometimes, so I'll do it then. Or sometime during the slow part of the day when the kids are playing, I can sit down for 10 minutes and do a fast one. Between the 4x6 templates and the 4x6 Assemble Your Own's I can get one done quick. The kids love them, and are always asking me to pull out the 4x6 album and wanting me to read it to them like a book. The only difference is the story is about them.
Temple SealingThis morning Beau and I were able to go to the sealing of his cousin at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. It was such a beautiful and amazing ceremony. It reminded me so much of my wedding day and the amazing feeling of gratitude I felt during the whole day to be marrying Beau.
I believe that God has provided a way for families to be sealed beyond this mortal life. I believe that this life is not the end, but that life goes on after this life as well. That we can have the same wonderful and amazing relationships that we have with our spouses, children and parents beyond the grave that we have here. Today I realized even more so how amazing it is to know that we have been sealed to each other for time and all eternity and not until just "death do us part" like the civil marriages. Many people do not have this amazing blessing, nor do they know that it is available, that God did not intend for our family to end at death.
Today I have been overwhelmed by gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord for the Priesthood. For temples. For sealings. For my family. For Beau. For the atonement of Jesus Christ that made it all possible. I left wishing everyone wanted to be sealed together, wishing everyone knew that they could be sealed together for eternity, and wanting everyone to know that there is more out there available than just what many believe will end at the death of their spouse, children, or families. God has a plan for mankind, and it's all about families... his family - you and me.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Fourth of July!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!We had a packed day filled with Provo's freedom festival, as we took a walk downtown to all the vendors and booths. We then did some cleaning up around here, played around taking pictures, had a cook out with Beau's family who came into town and went and watched some fireworks. As you can imagine, I'm exhausted. We'll post some of our fun pictures and celebrating tomorrow! I hope you were able to enjoy your day as well!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Home
Home
Well we've been home for the last 4 days roughly getting used to the new addition to our family. For me recovery has been SO much better than the last three. That has been such a relief and I'm so grateful. My mom has been here helping out with the kids, cleaning and cooking. Doing dirty work for me... even had her doing some stuff for me for a big project I'm working on for ScrapGirls right now. It's always nice to have help and I appreciate her willingness to come and give up her time to help out. It's also nice to have things get back to their normal everyday. The kids have really needed life to return to normal as much as possible. They've had a hard time here and there. Today was a good day with all of them. Life felt back to normal, they were happy and it ended on a good note.
Jaundice
This poor girl has had her billirubin results rising for the last 3 days which resulted in putting her on the lights yesterday afternoon. You just feel so bad for them having to lay there as much as possible only being able to get out to eat and get changed. Plus it's hard on mom, just wanting to hold her, cuddle her and enjoy these precious moments at the beginning of her new life. I am grateful though that this is the only health problem she's got. She was born healthy, with all her parts intact and working. That is a huge blessing.
So for now we're recovering trying to get home life back to normalcy and enjoying the time we have to be together and this new little life that we've been blessed with.
Well we've been home for the last 4 days roughly getting used to the new addition to our family. For me recovery has been SO much better than the last three. That has been such a relief and I'm so grateful. My mom has been here helping out with the kids, cleaning and cooking. Doing dirty work for me... even had her doing some stuff for me for a big project I'm working on for ScrapGirls right now. It's always nice to have help and I appreciate her willingness to come and give up her time to help out. It's also nice to have things get back to their normal everyday. The kids have really needed life to return to normal as much as possible. They've had a hard time here and there. Today was a good day with all of them. Life felt back to normal, they were happy and it ended on a good note.
JaundiceThis poor girl has had her billirubin results rising for the last 3 days which resulted in putting her on the lights yesterday afternoon. You just feel so bad for them having to lay there as much as possible only being able to get out to eat and get changed. Plus it's hard on mom, just wanting to hold her, cuddle her and enjoy these precious moments at the beginning of her new life. I am grateful though that this is the only health problem she's got. She was born healthy, with all her parts intact and working. That is a huge blessing.
So for now we're recovering trying to get home life back to normalcy and enjoying the time we have to be together and this new little life that we've been blessed with.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Welcome Caitlyn!
Well, we have officially welcomed Caitlyn into the world. We got to the hospital around 3 for the induction yesterday and got started. It went pretty slow until they broke my water, and then I went from a 4 to delivery in an hour. It's probably a good thing the water didn't break on it's own earlier. I always get so nervous when I come in. I hate needles, I hate getting the epidural even though it makes the labor so much better. So I always dread it. Probably because the last two deliveries I've had to have the epidural redone, which is never fun when you're in pain. But this time it went smooth, the best epidural I've ever gotten and I had the easiest delivery. I'm feeling amazing compared to the other births too. I haven't needed any pain medication since we delivered her and besides just being tired everything has gone sooo well. I definitely have so much to be grateful for.
She was 7 lbs. 12 oz and 19 inches long. She's bigger than my other two girls were but she is smaller than Isaac was. She is a cutie with lots of dark hair. We are in love with her.
The girls are as well, wanting to hold her, and fighting over who gets to hold her and for how long. I'm afraid I'm going to have two little over-helpful mommies at home.
Isaac was pretty excited about seeing her as well, practically laid on her so he could get right up close. When we asked him where the baby was immediately patted her face, rather than mom's stomach. When Isaac was born when we asked Mirian where the baby was she would still pat mom's stomach.
So life is good with us. We'll be going home tomorrow and resting while my mom is here to help out for a while. We are truly blessed to have this little one.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tonight or Tomorrow....
Caitlyn will be arriving! We're finally having contractions, nothing major, but if they don't send me in the hospital on my own tonight then tomorrow we have an induction scheduled! So hopefully you'll see some pictures or hear the word on here soon!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Waiting
We are still waiting around for this baby to come, which is frustrating in a way since I feel like my life is on hold with so many things. I know I could still be working on them until she arrives, but I'm just so uncomfortable, tired and miserable it's hard to concentrate. After a long shower last night though, and getting the house all picked up and cleaned so that it felt ready for whom ever might be called on at last minute to come and watch our kids, I started feeling better. Plus our life has been off schedule forever and it's been wearing on me. So we decided to fix that this morning.
Beau and I got up at 6:30 this morning, the first in a long time, since we've been getting to bed so late. I had time to cook some muffins and read some scriptures before we woke the kids up at 7:00 and announced to them we're going for a bike ride. So we loaded up the bikes, breakfast, and water and headed for the river trail.
So we spent the morning walking (hoping to send me into labor - yeah right!) while the kids rode their bikes on the beautiful river trail this morning. We saw our little friend the snail and had a nice relaxing morning just getting out in some fresh air and sunshine to enjoy the morning.
It was just what I needed, as I think everyone else in the family too. Some family time out of the house and some nature. We want to go for a walk every morning this summer and just enjoy getting out and being a little more active as a family. Plus it just gets things started in the right direction.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Counting down...
Only two more days till the official due date of the baby. I'm at the antsy stage of wondering when it's going to happen and busily trying to get everything I possibly can get done before then out of the way. At the same time I only want to rest, do nothing, and feel calm and rested before the day arrives.
Between trying to get everything done my kids decided to get sick on me. Isaac was sick with a fever of 104 for two days. All he wanted was mom to sit in the rocking chair and hold him. He was miserable. So it was a nice and stressful two days, because he rarely wants me to sit and hold him anymore, and I know with the new baby coming along, times like this would be far in between, so I took advantage of cuddling him again since he's no longer a baby. It was also stressful because I felt all these things heaping up that HAD to be done, and he was not letting me do them. We survived, only to have Savannah catch something next. She has spent the last two days laying around and throwing up. Needless to say I AM SO THANKFUL for carpet cleaners. We invested in one a year ago and it has been the BEST investment we have ever made. I've had to use it 4 times in the last 24 hours on the couch.
So needless to say I'm tired, and praying that I don't catch this flu bug. Labor is bad enough without the flu on top of it! :) Today I just needed to relax so we scrapped a bunch of 4x6 layouts. It was such a nice break, and the kids had fun helping me pick the colors and things to put on it. Here's one from last weekend at the reunion. Savannah was so upset about this layout. She has been learning how to sound out words and start reading. She kept telling me she didn't like his name. She wanted me to take it off and spell it with an F. Fillip.:) I explained to her about how putting the P and H sound together make the same sound as the F. She accepted the answer but it still bothers her, and she mentions it every time she sees this layout.
Between trying to get everything done my kids decided to get sick on me. Isaac was sick with a fever of 104 for two days. All he wanted was mom to sit in the rocking chair and hold him. He was miserable. So it was a nice and stressful two days, because he rarely wants me to sit and hold him anymore, and I know with the new baby coming along, times like this would be far in between, so I took advantage of cuddling him again since he's no longer a baby. It was also stressful because I felt all these things heaping up that HAD to be done, and he was not letting me do them. We survived, only to have Savannah catch something next. She has spent the last two days laying around and throwing up. Needless to say I AM SO THANKFUL for carpet cleaners. We invested in one a year ago and it has been the BEST investment we have ever made. I've had to use it 4 times in the last 24 hours on the couch.
So needless to say I'm tired, and praying that I don't catch this flu bug. Labor is bad enough without the flu on top of it! :) Today I just needed to relax so we scrapped a bunch of 4x6 layouts. It was such a nice break, and the kids had fun helping me pick the colors and things to put on it. Here's one from last weekend at the reunion. Savannah was so upset about this layout. She has been learning how to sound out words and start reading. She kept telling me she didn't like his name. She wanted me to take it off and spell it with an F. Fillip.:) I explained to her about how putting the P and H sound together make the same sound as the F. She accepted the answer but it still bothers her, and she mentions it every time she sees this layout.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Nothing Fancy
Well here's a quick view of the outside of our new place, (before we mowed the lawn and started cleaning it up a bit.) If you were imagining something big and grand you'll be disappointed. It's just a old tiny house, but it meets our needs, and is exactly what we were looking for when we thought of a starter home. It's taken some time to get a few things unpacked (it'll probably take us all year) But it's feeling more like home every day.
Not For Cars
Beau got a garage, where he could now put all his wood working and shop tools. Garages weren't meant to actually store cars right?! Plus it's a place for more storage. Off to the side of the garage is a room that's built on that is going to become the office. It needs some minor repairs and some carpet laid, and then we'll get to enjoy a separate office, were kids have limited access, and where work can actually happen without interruptions! It also leaves Isaac his own room for once. Lucky guy!
Green Thumb
I've been dying to have my own garden spot and have been itching to get it started now that we've officially moved over. It's been overcast, rainy and cold for the last couple of weeks it seems. It might be too late to get one in at this point, but it's still cold so we're hoping that we'll get be able to harvest at least something out of it. Beau got it all ready today, now we just need to get some extra soil and put in the plants on Monday! I can't wait to get my hands dirty!
Savannah got a hold of the camera and snapped this photo of the flag on our front porch. We've had it almost 6 years now and never a place to hang it. We got it for a wedding present, so when Beau found it while unpacking he took advantage of the poles on the porch.
Another Artist
I came in from outside were we where all working to find this little boy. Savannah had left her paints out from earlier. He waddled inside, found them all ready to go and though he'd take a stab at it. He actually knew what he was doing. Dipped his brush in the water, then the paints and then painted on the paper. But once he started putting the brush in his mouth mom had to call the fun over.
Well here's a quick view of the outside of our new place, (before we mowed the lawn and started cleaning it up a bit.) If you were imagining something big and grand you'll be disappointed. It's just a old tiny house, but it meets our needs, and is exactly what we were looking for when we thought of a starter home. It's taken some time to get a few things unpacked (it'll probably take us all year) But it's feeling more like home every day.
Not For Cars
Beau got a garage, where he could now put all his wood working and shop tools. Garages weren't meant to actually store cars right?! Plus it's a place for more storage. Off to the side of the garage is a room that's built on that is going to become the office. It needs some minor repairs and some carpet laid, and then we'll get to enjoy a separate office, were kids have limited access, and where work can actually happen without interruptions! It also leaves Isaac his own room for once. Lucky guy!
Green Thumb
I've been dying to have my own garden spot and have been itching to get it started now that we've officially moved over. It's been overcast, rainy and cold for the last couple of weeks it seems. It might be too late to get one in at this point, but it's still cold so we're hoping that we'll get be able to harvest at least something out of it. Beau got it all ready today, now we just need to get some extra soil and put in the plants on Monday! I can't wait to get my hands dirty!
Savannah got a hold of the camera and snapped this photo of the flag on our front porch. We've had it almost 6 years now and never a place to hang it. We got it for a wedding present, so when Beau found it while unpacking he took advantage of the poles on the porch.
Another Artist
I came in from outside were we where all working to find this little boy. Savannah had left her paints out from earlier. He waddled inside, found them all ready to go and though he'd take a stab at it. He actually knew what he was doing. Dipped his brush in the water, then the paints and then painted on the paper. But once he started putting the brush in his mouth mom had to call the fun over.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Another Day
Growing Up
Isaac is growing up and wanting to do what we do. He especially wants to be like his dad. He follows him around copying everything that he does. Now that we have moved into the category of home owners, we are now also included in the part of home repairman. Since we've moved in Beau has been fixing little things, setting things up and has his little partner following him around, carrying tools and trying to help.
He is definitely like his dad in interests. If he can put it together, fix it, or plug it in he is all over it. If a ball is involved he wants in on the action, he is such a boy and so much different than my girls who are all over dressing up and changing outfits 5 times a day. He is a breath of fresh air.
You've Come a Long Way
Savannah finished her season of dance class, and we have pictures, stories and videos to show off later. She has come a long way this year on overcoming her shyness. She still has a long way to go, but I'm proud of her for her improvement, she did a great job there at the end.
I still can't find my cable to download all our recent picture from my camera! It's driving me nuts, since I want to become a little more active on this blog than I have the last little while. Plus soon Caitlyn (our newest one) will be joining us in a few weeks, and that camera needs to be emptied for all those great shots.
Today
Today we got our washer / dryer hooked up and working. After a year of a dryer that took 3 rounds to dry, my handyman husband ripped the whole thing apart today, cleaned out all the vents, and now has me a dryer that dries in one load! Happiest Day of my life. I got 3 - 55 gallon bins emptied and put away, slowly the unpacking will end. Mirian had a fever in the 100's all day, poor girl. All she could do was lay around, sleep and ask mom to just sit by her. Hopefully she'll having a better day tomorrow.
Savannah was with me in the kitchen emptying boxes, and cleaning. Isaac and Mirian were taking naps while dad was working. She proudly told me that we were having a "mother-daughter date" because everyone else was gone and it was just me and her. I agreed and also hope to take her out to do something a little more fun than unpacking boxes. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more empty boxes and a camera cable.
Isaac is growing up and wanting to do what we do. He especially wants to be like his dad. He follows him around copying everything that he does. Now that we have moved into the category of home owners, we are now also included in the part of home repairman. Since we've moved in Beau has been fixing little things, setting things up and has his little partner following him around, carrying tools and trying to help.
He is definitely like his dad in interests. If he can put it together, fix it, or plug it in he is all over it. If a ball is involved he wants in on the action, he is such a boy and so much different than my girls who are all over dressing up and changing outfits 5 times a day. He is a breath of fresh air.
You've Come a Long Way Savannah finished her season of dance class, and we have pictures, stories and videos to show off later. She has come a long way this year on overcoming her shyness. She still has a long way to go, but I'm proud of her for her improvement, she did a great job there at the end.
I still can't find my cable to download all our recent picture from my camera! It's driving me nuts, since I want to become a little more active on this blog than I have the last little while. Plus soon Caitlyn (our newest one) will be joining us in a few weeks, and that camera needs to be emptied for all those great shots.
Today
Today we got our washer / dryer hooked up and working. After a year of a dryer that took 3 rounds to dry, my handyman husband ripped the whole thing apart today, cleaned out all the vents, and now has me a dryer that dries in one load! Happiest Day of my life. I got 3 - 55 gallon bins emptied and put away, slowly the unpacking will end. Mirian had a fever in the 100's all day, poor girl. All she could do was lay around, sleep and ask mom to just sit by her. Hopefully she'll having a better day tomorrow.
Savannah was with me in the kitchen emptying boxes, and cleaning. Isaac and Mirian were taking naps while dad was working. She proudly told me that we were having a "mother-daughter date" because everyone else was gone and it was just me and her. I agreed and also hope to take her out to do something a little more fun than unpacking boxes. Hopefully tomorrow will bring more empty boxes and a camera cable.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Back Online
Well we are officially set back up with the internet and online, although you still might not be hearing from me really regularly as we still have tons of things to unpack and get ready so that we are all settled in before the baby is born. I've got some photos to post, but as luck would have it somewhere in some box is my cord to download them off my camera! Ahhh, who knows when it will come out of hiding! We are doing well well though and will catch you up on details later!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Catch Up
How do you play catch up when you haven't written for weeks! The last couple have been crazy. Thursday I got to enjoy my mother's day present. A day to myself to relax with friends, go out to lunch, and a hour foot massage. Beau really knows how to pamper me. He picked just the right thing. He hung out with the kids all day and was a real trooper.
We also closed on the house the same day and have been in the process of packing things up and getting ready to move.
Saturday was spent all day in dress rehersals for Savannah's Dance recital. She is so shy and terrified of being in front of people. We were pretty sure she wouldn't do the recital, but she really wanted to. I was able to actually catch some fun video of her dances and some photo shots of her during the rehersal. It's a good thing too, because as soon as she walked out on stage and saw all of the people, she walked right back off. She's come so far since the first day of class, so we were proud of how much she has grown in having confidence. Hopefully next time she'll go through with it.
The last couple of days are making arrangements to move, rearranging utilitities, packing, and getting ready to leave town for the next 4 days for a high school graduation and a family reunion.
We also closed on the house the same day and have been in the process of packing things up and getting ready to move.
Saturday was spent all day in dress rehersals for Savannah's Dance recital. She is so shy and terrified of being in front of people. We were pretty sure she wouldn't do the recital, but she really wanted to. I was able to actually catch some fun video of her dances and some photo shots of her during the rehersal. It's a good thing too, because as soon as she walked out on stage and saw all of the people, she walked right back off. She's come so far since the first day of class, so we were proud of how much she has grown in having confidence. Hopefully next time she'll go through with it.
The last couple of days are making arrangements to move, rearranging utilitities, packing, and getting ready to leave town for the next 4 days for a high school graduation and a family reunion.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Craziness
Life will be crazy for us the next couple of weeks, hence probably a lack of absence here on the blog. Today was a mother's day present. A day all to myself to relax with two of my friends. Beau kept the kids all day while I got to enjoy going out, shopping (ok more like browsing) and lunch with them. Then later an hour foot massage. My husband is way too good to me. :)
The middle of my day out was broken up so we could go and close on our new house! Yeah! I was perfectly fine giving up part of my day so that we could get this ball moving. Which means I'll be MIA as we are packing, traveling to reunions and graduations next week, and then moving and cleaning the following week. Trying to get out of here by the 30th. Good luck to us. It will be a crazy couple of weeks, but at least when it's all over we will be in our own place! Yeah!!!!! It's been a blessing, and we've had so many blessings poured out on us all the way around. Life has been good.
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