4 years!

 Alot has happened in four years. There's just no way I can completely catch up. 

Ethan became a Marine and spent four years active duty. He's home now.

My precious father in law passed away from brain cancer. 

Ethan made me a Grandma (Lola). His fiancee is still residing in the Philippines and its been a long process with one obstacle after another to try to get her and the children here. (Athena is now 2 and her big sis Jessy is 7!) The pandemic has slowed everything down. :( 

Sam crossed the Rainbow Bridge November 2019.

We now have a Yorkie named Tank and a JRT named Piper. Cookie is almost 6! 

I swear life is more hectic now with some adults kids and still having 7 at home. We still homeschool which takes up a good portion of my days and mental energy.

Gabe and I are doing fantastic. Our 25th anniversary is in 7 months. We are focusing on our health and hitting the gym 5 days a week. We started a zero-carb diet after researching healing psoriasis. Its so worth a try before resorting to internal medications. We are only a week in on the diet and I'm down 6 lbs

I gave blood for the first time yesterday. I have always wanted to but due to the pregnancy/nursing cycle for 20 years I did not. And I nearly passed out! But I'll do it again. 

I've been digging deeper in my Bible and leaning on the Lord more now than ever. I came across a sermon by Adrian Rogers on bitterness a couple months ago. I know I have been dealing with bitter feelings from things from long,  long ago. The Lord has finally healed me! Or I should say..I finally surrendered it all to Him. It is so freeing and I'm still amazed that every bitter feeling...is gone. Just..gone!  Praise the Lord. He is faithful!

https://www.lwf.org/sermons/audio/the-blight-of-bitterness-1136?fbclid=IwAR1gsLW9v9K39egSeFSJqr9sLMnbPsxA2AbRZaPJt4-CGDYYgBy3Wpp3DeM

Sweet Tirzah Beth is here.
8lbs 1oz 19.5in long.
Feb 15th.
Precious baby girl..we are so blessed!

School days and New Baby

Well..we are halfway through our school year already. Knowing I have one child graduated helps. I can do this!

Last year I started a new system for keeping track each week.

Each child has a spiral notebook of their own. Every weekend I sit down for an hour or two and write out on one page all their assignments for the week. I place a bubble next to each assignment for them to check off as they complete it. It sounds so simple...but it really works!

They each have their own three ring binder for holding their work, too. I keep a copy of their Course of Study for the year and Transcripts for the high schoolers. 

T

AND...last June we were pleasantly surprised to find out we have another BABY on the way!! I am due Feb.15th with a GIRL!!!! We are naming her Tirzah Beth.

A Graduate!

Wow it's been such a long time since I've updated on here! Time goes by so very quickly. In just a little over a week we will graduate our oldest child..our first homeschool graduate in the family! He will be 19 years old. It's hard to believe this season of our life is here..yet, we still have a 1 yr old, so we have many more years to go! What a great blessing! 
Here are a few pics of our crew from 2016...ages almost 19 down to 17 months. 

Another banana reaction...

On Sunday I decided to try bananas with Elijah again, since he had an upcoming appointment with our Pediatrician. It has been about 6 weeks since he had any banana..and has been introduced to a handful of other baby foods and he'd been fine. I was truly beginning to think it was a fluke the first time, but I still wanted to eliminate that possibility.
I gave him banana around 230pm. He only took about 3 or 4 bites. He really didn't want it. I nursed him afterward for a few minutes. About two hours passed by and i thought we were in the clear. Then at 5pm..as Mikey was holding him..he puked a little on the piano. I was busy in the kitchen, so I ran in to get him. Then he started to gag and puke again. I  knew it then.
He continued to vomit about every 10 mins. And started to get really lethargic. He would literally lay there with his eyes barely open. His face was pale..cool and clammy. At one point I laid him on our bed..and tried to lift his head. His eyes open just slits..he would't 'wake up'..until he would start to gag and vomit again. At 615 we were getting ready to take him to the ER. We had him in the carseat and bags ready on our way out the door..then he had a major diarrhea diaper. I changed him, and Gabe mentioned maybe we should wait it out at home for a while. He ran to the store to get some Pedialyte. If it were like last time..eventually he would snap out of it..as long as we could keep him hydrated.

The vomiting continued for hours..but spread out in between. As did the diarrhea. Around midnight..he DID perk up! Finally. His eyes opened wide and he would look around and started to get agitated. Then he nursed well. I thought he was better. But then he would puke up ALL the milk he nursed, all over me. Then he'd poop..out his diaper. It was like water. This went on till about 4am.

I only got about two hours of sleep. Hubby got up with him, too, to let me get some zzzz's. He continued to have diarrhea the rest of the day..but only vomited milk a couple times..and not much during the day. I do wonder, if we had just taken him in and he had some Zofran, if it would've helped him like last time.

So now I am 99% sure it's the bananas. However, my pediatrician who I saw this week about it doesn't think it's FPIES. Just said to avoid bananas.  I'm not really sure what to do if/when it happens again. So in the meantime, I will get back to jotting down everything Elijah eats and being mindful about what I give him and when. I was starting to get lax about that, thinking it was just a fluke thing. He doesn't have much interest in solid food and mostly just wants to nurse! I'm SO glad that we're nursing.

Anyway..I'll update if anything else happens!

A trip to the Emergency Room... FPIES reaction?

Well..sweet Elijah is six and a half months old already! He had his first trip to the emergency room on July 1st. I'm going to write out everything about that day that I can remember, before I forget it (amid all the interruptions and distractions from 9 children around me!)

"What the heck just happened to me??"

It was a normal day. A relaxing day. The kids played outside and I did some school planning and printing from the dining room table. Elijah hasn't had much baby food yet. I introduced rice cereal in his fifth month..he had watermelon once..green beans two times. He had a couple bites of banana two weeks ago...but then came down with the stomach flu (as did the rest of my children) so I held off on solids. So..I decided I'd try some banana again while working at the table. I mashed it well and mixed in a bit of rice cereal. He liked it. He's not real big on solids yet. It took about half an hour and he made a mess, but he ate about 2 oe 3 tablespoons worth..so I gave him a quick bath in the sink before heading outside. He was pretty clingy and woudn't let me set him down.

I sat on our front porch and nursed him at 330. Daddy had just gotten off work. He gave me a call at 4pm and as I was walking up the sidewalk with Elijah in my arms..he puked all over the sidewalk..milk/banana. My husband was like "Oh noo..not again". We had just dealt with the stomach flu two weeks prior.

I took Elijah inside and put him in the jumper in the doorway so I could change. After another 10 mins or so..he started to puke again. By then daddy was home. I pulled him out of the jumper. His face started to turn bright red. I thought he was choking! He struggled to throw up..and then out came yellow bile. Twice. Then he close his eyes and fell into my chest as if he was just tired and went to sleep. My heart was beating so fast..I panicked! Why did he go to SLEEP like that? Even when he's tired he never just goes to sleep like that.

We shooed all our other children outside. Elijah was breathing fine. He must just be tired. ?? So I sat in the rocker with him. A few minutes later his eyes popped open, his face turned red and he struggled to vomit again..bile. This continued every 5-10 mins. I tried calling our Peds office at 5. It was closed. I waited on hold for a nurse for 5 mins..no one answered. I hung up and tried again. Waiting on hold only for another min before I gave up. I couldn't find a number for our ER anywhere.
Elijah kept waking to puke. He was so out of it. My sister in law helped me find a number to St. Marys nurses. I got ahold of one at 520pm. (He first started vomiting at 4pm..so already an hour and a half had passed!) After a dozen questions she advised us to call 911. Gabe was already upstairs changing to leave. He knew they'd say to go in. We decided to drive and left immediately.

We were checked in right away at 6pm. He threw up again while on the baby scales. So far..within 2 hours..from 4-6pm..he had vomited over 20 times. It was spreading apart though near six pm. They checked his glucose and gave him Zofran around 7pm. He did perk up after the Zofran. They said he wasn't dehydrated. I said I was convinced it was the bananas. The Ped on call kind of chuckled at me. He thinks it was just a viral thing. He did order an u/s to check for intussusception before letting us head home. It was clear. We got out of the ER around midnight. Elijah nursed well over night. He woke up with horrible diarrhea first thing in the morning. It continued all day. And part of the next day. Although he seemed much better..happy. I just kept nursing him and skipped feeding him foods.

During the whole ordeal, I posted from Facebook while waiting at the ER. A friend on there said "Ask about FPIES" I didn't bother to with the ER dr on call. But when I came home I Googled it. The symptoms sounded exactly like we had went through!
I kept reading. I talked over the phone with the friend who mentioned it. I emailed my Ped. He said it's very rare, and most likely was just a virus.
I do not feel like we dealt with a viral issue though. Time will tell. I decided to keep a journal of everything that happened, and everything I feed and introduce to Elijah --just in case! Does he have FPIES? I don't know...but I'd rather be armed with information that I  never end up needing..than to figure it was just a fluke thing and end up in the ER again and again with nurses and doctors that don't know what is going on! If it happens again I'll be convinced it's FPIES, and insist on seeing an allergist.

So here we go. I'll update if it happens again. We are steering clear of bananas though, and are currently feeding him breastmilk, green beans and rice cereal. We will try applesauce this weekend, when my husband is off work.

Eleven of us!

Well..I haven't posted on this blog in a long time! We welcomed our NINTH precious baby..our eighth baby boy into our family on Dec. 15, 2014. Elijah Jase. He is SUCH a joy..and sooo adorable. Jase is after both our brothers..Jayson and Jason. :)

We feel our family is complete and are not 'planning' to have any more children...so I'm trying to enjoy and soak up every little moment! They grow sooo quickly..sorry it's sideways. Blogger won't let me rotate it!

Elijah Jase W.

New

I felt a little guilty after my last post..

The Lord has been so good to us. He's always teaching me to trust Him..in all things. I'm working on this..trying to listen and always learning..

I'm thinking of starting a new blog..or changing the name of this one. Starting fresh would be nice though.

Many things..

Since no one really reads my blog anymore..maybe I can just pour my heart out a bit?

It's been almost 5 years since I lost my mama. July 24th. It still hurts..I find I think of her just about every day..and when things happen in life when I really wish I she were here so I could pour my heart out to her. I miss her voice ...oh so much.

And..it's been 18 months since my daddy died. I miss him so much. It's still hard to believe he's gone, too..and I can't just pick up the phone and tell him about Isaiah..or about my garden..or about Ethan getting his learners permit. It just seems unreal.

And it's been almost 9 months since my 15 yr old nephew Jaycob died. I didn't know Jaycob well..but I hurt just the same. I hurt for my brother and sister in law..for the huge, gaping, painful hole in their life now..

and I look at my oldest son who was the same age as Jaycob, and every time he hits a milestone I think of him..and it hurts..and that old familiar guilt creeps up. The same guilt I had when Wyatt died..and I had a healthy baby boy in my arms.

Jesus..please heal us!

I feel like I've had to stuff this grief down inside and bury it deep. Just keep it from consuming..and be thankful for the blessings the Lord has given us now.

Our sweet baby Isaiah..who came along 9 months after dad died..and just before Jaycob died. He is such a joy to all of us..I'm so thankful for my kids, and for my sweet husband.

And then I found out recently our house has lead paint. My baby has an elevated lead level. Big deal, you say? We all grew up around lead paint and we turned out ok, right? WRONG. It's a very big deal. It's poison..and affects kidney, liver and brain development..among other things. Three of my other children will be tested here soon..and if they are elevated..then the rest of my children will be tested. I'm just sick over this..sick over this house that has been slowly poisoning my kids for 13 years. And how in the world did it go on for so long without detection?

Lord, help me be thankful!

My husband is tired..he's been working on and fixing this house since the day we moved in..and it's been one thing after another..literally!

I've started running. I'm doing a 5k with my kids in August. I never thought I could do this..but I am. And I've discovered I love running. I love pounding my feet to the pavement and pushing my body harder than I've ever pushed it. It's a release..and a challenge..and it feels good. I pray..and I pound my frustrations, pain, hurt into the pavement..and I pray for His help..His healing..His provision..and I thank Him for this body that hurts when I run, because I'm alive. And I thank Him.

Maple syrup

It started with maple syrup.

 

I had to run to the store for potatoes before I could cook supper. I took baby with me. Just a quick run to the store after hubby came home from work.

 

I picked up the potatoes, and some cheese..and walked around trying to think of anything else before I left.

 

I stopped by the discount carts to see if there was anything I needed. Another woman was looking it over, too. She was probably in her 60's or 70's.

 

I picked up a small glass bottle of syrup and held it up. She asked what it was, so I showed her. She said her hubby and her used to tap maple syrup in the woods on their property in Wisconsin. He would ride the four wheeler to the trees..and pour the syrup in a bin on the back of the 4 wheeler. She canned 60 pints of syrup that last time..and sometimes when people would help them out, she'd give them a jar of syrup.

 

He passed away a couple years ago. I felt tears stings my eyes. I told her I was sorry. I could tell she really misses him.

 

We kept talking. I told her how I buy the fake syrup in large bottles at Costco..since we have eight children.

 

She had nine! One died at 2. They were all born in a span of 13 years.

 

She told me about the coffecake she used to bake that her kids loved for breakfast.

 

About all the work they had to do on their house..part of their home was 150 years old!

 

When her husband made their kids work on the walls of the house after they came home from school, before they could have their supper.

 

I just listened..and asked questions.

She asked me my name, and if I lived in the country. I told her where I lived...here in the middle of town. And how much I would love to be in the country.

 

They both came from large families. Her youngest grandchild is two..but there is another on the way.

 

Soon we were interrupted by someone else shopping..and I told her it was nice to visit with her. I never did get her name.  I knew I had to get going...we had been chatting for a good 20 minutes or so. It was one of those conversations that happen that you feel there is a deeper meaning..you're not quite sure what it is..but it happened and you can't quit thinking about it.

 

I'm really glad he forgot to stop for potatoes on the way home. And I will always remember the lady who use to tap maple syrup with her hubby on their farm in Wisconsin.



Isaiah Valour

Where has the time gone?
Isaiah Valour entered the world on August 28th at 630am!! It's been a bit of a slow recovery for me. I am so thankful that Gabe took 3 weeks off work.

Sweet Isaiah is just so precious..everyone constantly wants to hold him!

 

 

 

3 weeks old

 

4 weeks pics....coming soon!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost 38 weeks..

My 37 week appointment went really well. I was pretty tired. Last Sunday, I woke to contractions at 2am..and they last till late afternoon. I really thought it was the 'real deal'..even though they hurt, they didn't pick up in intensity, so we didn't head in. I'm glad Isaiah waited though..it was a bit too early yet.
At my appt I was about 1-2cm dilated, halfway effaced with anterior cervix. (more than you wanted to know? lol) Those numbers don't mean much though..all of it could change pretty quickly.

Depending on the due date I go by..I'm either 38 wks on Friday or on Sunday..so I just say 'this weekend'. :) Due dates shmue dates. Babies come when they're ready! Anytime AFTER 38 weeks is fine by me..I know the longer he stays in..the better for him. I'm so anxious for him to be here in my arms..then again, I'm really trying to revel in these last days of carrying a baby in my womb.

We discussed his name on our way home from the appointment on Monday...and both agreed we want to shorten it to "Isaiah Valour'...

Next appointment is scheduled for August 27th...if we make it till then! :)

It's finally August!!

It's finally August! Yippeeee!!

We celebrated Mikey's 8th birthday on July 30th. He's such a big kid now!

 Here is sweet Isaiah at 35 weeks. I'm almost 36 weeks now. Each weekend marks a new week.
Not much longer now..could be two weeks..could be four. Aunt Angie says Sept 4th! lol We shall see!

Speaking of Aunt Angie..she suprised us with a sweet place for Isaiah to sleep..a brand new pack n play arrived yesterday via UPS! I love monkeys!!!!!

Every time I walk by in the living room...I'm giddy with excitement. It's the same whether it's your first or your eighth..it's still exciting! I can't wait to meet this little one. We're going to have a baby!

I've been nesting like crazy the last couple days. Caught up on laundry. Eliahna's room is clean. Baby's area is ready in our room and the living room. All clothes are washed. Taking care of what I can. I still have a list of things we need to get....but it'll have to wait. I think the entire city of Spring Valley is gasping for air after receiving our utility bills in the mail today! Oy. I am thankful it's not 105 degrees with 70% humidity anymore!

I would LOVE to go for walks again, but Gabe won't take me on any more until after Aug.17th (38wks) He just does not want to take any chances. Every time we go for a walk now, I get intense contractions, and pain/pressure...and it continues on for hours. I don't know whether I could go into labor or not just from walking..but we're not going to try right now!

After my afternoon cuppa coffee..I'll be tackling the little boys' room. It's pretty scary in there!

My next appointment is August 13th!!

Yogurt pops!

One of our new favorite summer treats is homemade frozen yogurt popsicles.
So easy, and super cheap if you make your own yogurt. I haven't made yogurt lately..but I bought some Yoplait on sale so it wasn't too bad.

I used about 3/4 large container of vanilla yogurt (or about 2 1/2-3 cups hm yogurt)
(if using plain yogurt..add a bit of sugar or honey to sweeten!)

2 large bananas

1 cup of frozen fruit. We used blueberries.

about 1 cup water.

blender in a food processor till smooth..pour into popsicle molds and freeze for a day.

Better than 'kool-aid' popsicles from the store!