tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313170342024-03-07T12:00:24.145-07:00~A Day in the Life at Our House~Join me as I share with you the joys and tribulations of raising a large family, including my sweet hubby and our six beautiful blessings and a new blessing due to arrive this winter. If you do not see a recent post, please hit the refresh button on your browser!! Enjoy and may the Lord bless you!!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-20498660156303945052009-03-30T09:12:00.002-06:002009-03-30T09:18:34.054-06:00Time for Change!hello from the long lost!! So many changes and new things have happened in the last month, I have a lot to catch up on!<br /><br />So since we moved in real life, it only makes sense to move over my cyber world!!<br /><br />So update your bookmarks and so on, since I will be updating over at the new place from now on. This blog will still be open for archive purposes!<br /><br /><a href="http://amamainseventhheaven.blogspot.com">A Day in the Life at Our House....3rd Edition</a><br /><br />Be blessed!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-50305733941332305592009-02-13T11:10:00.002-07:002009-02-13T11:17:01.702-07:00I *HEART* Salma Hayek!!Oh yeah, you knew I would be all over this!!!<br /><br />My first thought was "It's about time!!" We are so behind in dropping the stigma attached to breastfeeding. I applaud Salma for standing up and doing the right thing!<br /><br />Now people are talking and breastfeeding is the center of it again.....God bless her for giving warm nourishment to that little baby and hopefully educating the Mama's there (and the Daddies!!) on giving their babies the best possible nourishment possible.<br /><br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6854285&page=1">Salma Hayek Breastfeeds a Starving Baby</a><br /><br /><br />Back to the craziness and chaos of packing....whew! Almost there!!!<br /><br />Have a blessed weekend!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-62666300632764700692009-01-31T10:01:00.002-07:002009-01-31T10:34:34.214-07:00How it's Made...Formula!Here's an excellent post and it's not at all a bashing post, just facts presented very well.<br /><a href="http://mamamojo.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/whats-in-formula-whats-not/">What's in formula? What's not?</a><br /><br />Some people may think I have a hate on for formula...I don't. I do however believe it should fall into the category along with other medical interventions...such as antibiotics. Use with caution and only if absolutely necessary. Having just been through what I went through at the hospital, we have so far to go with building up women to successfully breastfeed. It's very bizarre in the NICU, everyone says "Breast is best...BUT" Everywhere you look is formula labels....the tiny bottles I was given to use...thanks to Ross Laboratories...boxes of Neosure and Enfamil sitting everywhere. Where was all the breastfeeding stuff......tucked away in a back room. Oh sure they have pumps available and the Lactation consultants are absolutely WONDERFUL (I mean they really ROCK!!!)but they're very limited as to what they can do. I mean, they certainly cannot override what the doctor says.<br /><br />But, where was the signs and pictures of nursing babies in the NICU? They're aren't any. Where's the promotion of that? Nowhere. Most women in there end up feeling as though their breastmilk is inferior and either needs to be supplemented with Human Milk Fortifier (which, BTW, can be done WITHOUT any notice or permission from the parents...they just add it to the breastmilk at their discretion) or the baby needs a 'top up' of formula. *sigh* OK, let's look at Preemies.....they are a very special type of infant, one who is desperately trying to finish the amazing growth outside of the womb that really should be taking place inside of the womb. The rate of growth that happens inside the womb is astonishing....and the doctors are trying very hard to mimic the nutrition that is needed to sustain this rapid rate of growth.<br /><br />They do that by supplementing the babies with a carefully man-made designer milk, fortified with a careful amount of vitamins and nutrients based on cow's milk (casein), whey and other oils......my issue....THESE ARE NOT NATURAL! They are exposing their tiny guts to cow's milk protein which is KNOWN to cause bleeding in the gut...do you see why I get upset?!?!? Our doctor even freely admitted that they are finding more and more infants are having casein sensitivities in the last 10 years than ever before. <br /><br />Ugh, I could go on and on....ideally, I would've loved to have seen much more effort being put into helping these mamas believe that their milk is the perfect food for their babies...even if they can't fight the man-made stuff being added. It is so very lonely and difficult pumping for that long, they need support to help them through that and encouragement that it can be done. They need to be educated and reassured....all of which the lactation consultants do, but when the doctor starts the conversation with "Breastmilk is best, but......." it becomes a very difficult situation. Dr.Jack Newman sent me some wonderful info on breastfeeding preemies...as well as some fascinating pictures of young preemies latched on and feeding. Breanna latched on perfectly at just 32w3d and nursed beautifully...like she'd done it all along. So, it can be done!!!<br /><br />My LC was an absolute dream.......she was so funny and blunt...praise the Lord she's there trying to make a difference and maybe just maybe if she can reach just one mama, another preemie will be able to experience the glorious bonding and nutrition that breastfeeding can offer him/her.<br /><br />Once again, I thank the Lord for the wonderful gift of being able to breastfeed my daughter...I cherish even more than ever before.<br /><br />Blessings!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-78195959913543576022009-01-30T07:34:00.003-07:002009-01-30T08:12:42.927-07:00Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm......<a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/023014.html"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3236545875_11f184ce19_o.jpg" width="434" height="398" alt="plan-for-global-food-supply_600" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/023998.html"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3237388564_697f75b4f7.jpg" width="434" height="500" alt="Plastics-Are-Good_600" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/025061.html"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3236545419_92e2942820.jpg" width="380" height="500" alt="melamine_600" /></a><br /><br />Click on the cartoons to read the relevant info. Whoa! I realize that this is American info, BUT, you can bet it is the same here. We are soooo long over due for changes...I encourage you to go over to <a href="http://naturalnews.com">Natural News</a> and read up on some of the articles, education is the key to change!!<br /><br /><br />On the homefront.....cleaning/packing/organizing....every day!! Breanna is changing so much, although not by huge leaps in the size department, but this week she began smiling at us and trying to coo and talk! It's so funny to see because she *looks* like a 6week old baby!!lol I'm so happy that the other day I managed to get Breanna on my back!!Whoohoo!! She loves it there and spends a good portion of the day there, she loves to be able to watch everything that mama is doing and then drifts off to sleep when she's had her fill! This pic was taken on Jan.19th<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3239182978/" title="002 by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3239182978_ee5c02e627.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="002" /></a><br /><br />and here is another of my happy girl:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3238348245/" title="002 by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3517/3238348245_6fa354b82c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="002" /></a><br />taken on Jan.24th<br /><br />Grocery shopping this weekend!! You have no idea how nice it is to be able to put all the kids in the van AND all the groceries...at the SAME TIME! I'm really looking forward to making the trip out to BC this summer if we can (still trying to budget that all in), it will be nice to be able to pack things and have it all fit!lol<br />Here's a pic of our new family vehicle:(it was taken through the window of our new house)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3238350425/" title="010 by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3436/3238350425_1a9f38f3b0.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="010" /></a><br /><br />I will be posting a couple of pics in the habitat blog today and will hopefully have a recipe over in the food blog later today!<br /><br />Have a blessed day!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-68404187467390962572009-01-22T13:50:00.003-07:002009-01-22T13:56:00.233-07:00F~R~E~E~Z~I~N~GOh my did the weather change, like within a few hours...brrrrrrr!!<br /><br />Anyways, just popping in here to let you know there are some updates in the Habitat blog and I have been adding to my new blog (whose debut has been put off...lol)it's coming though!!<br /><a href="http://homesweethabitathome.blogspot.com">Habitat Blog</a><br /><a href="http://amamainseventhheaven.blogspot.com">New Blog</a><br /><br />Now it will just be tedious task of re-adding all my links...but on the flip side it will give me a chance to make sure they're all still good!!<br /><br />Blessings!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-81451440467567540092009-01-21T09:45:00.002-07:002009-01-21T09:51:16.494-07:00Finding calm in chaoshave you seen it???? Nah, me neither. I wouldn't mind a few extra hours in a day though, but I guess that would really mess things up globally, now wouldn't it?!?!lol<br />So, I will make do with the 24 I have.....too bad I need sleep!!lol<br /><br />Well back to work I go, here's some pics for you!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3215865146/" title="smooches from the big sis by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3215865146_9d1d474a83.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="smooches from the big sis" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3215015281/" title="Sister snuggle time by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3215015281_853f7bce3a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Sister snuggle time" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3215016135/" title="Kayla and Breanna by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3297/3215016135_9c56b0f08e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kayla and Breanna" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3215867776/" title="Breanna *11wks* by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3351/3215867776_8b592d9c78.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Breanna *11wks*" /></a><br /><br /><br />Have a blessed day!!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-29093500049806874602009-01-17T14:41:00.002-07:002009-01-17T14:49:00.604-07:00Updating....again!!Goodness, I blink and a week is GONE!! <br /><br />Great news!!! We are moving at the end of February!!! Praise the Lord, that is so awesome! I'll update more on that and some pics in the Habitat blog later this week.<br /><br />We are also the proud owners of a 15 passenger van now!!! Another wonderful answer to prayers!! What a lesson in patience that was....we waited 26mos for a vehicle that would fit us all and it is so sweet to have it now!!!<br /><br />Unfortunately I have so much more to 'talk' about but I need to help *motivate* the big kids into cleaning the basement....so much to do now!!!! YIPPPPEEEEE!!!<br />(why yes, I am a *little* excited!!)<br /><br />Oh, you gotta check this out! So very true and absolutely brilliantly done!<br />~At a meeting of the AARP (American Association of Retired<br />People) they showed a video that was submitted in a contest by a 20 <br />year old. The contest was Titled 'u @ 50'.This video won second <br />place. When they showed it , everyone in the room was awe-struck and <br />broke into spontaneous applause.So simple and yet so brilliant. Take <br />a minute and watch it.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Have a blessed Saturday!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-35244075043153350242009-01-10T10:23:00.003-07:002009-01-17T14:34:18.133-07:00Updates!!!Happy Saturday my fellow cyber posse!! <br />Things are going wonderful! I hope everyone had a great New Year and is all geared up for a brand new year!!<br />This is the first year I didn't make any resolutions..per se. I do have some goals that I would like to accomplish in the next year though!<br />We have so much going on right now...so please excuse the bullet point updates!<br /><br />FAMILY:<br />Everyone is doing good...the Il's, SIL's and us too. SIL is now engaged (Bills sister) to a great guy, so we're very happy for them. They are planning for a wedding in 2010 in the summer. MIL is doing good and has been feeling good as well. My Mama is doing great and and praise the Lord, we are approaching 3yrs sobriety!! I am so very proud of her! My sister is doing really good, they moved back to the city!! Henri is doing great and growing like crazy.....hopefully we'll all be able to see each other in the new year!!<br />We as a family have been doing really good, everyone is so happy to have Breanna home safe and sound and not have Mama trudging to the hospital every night. We have been really enjoying being an unschooling family......plenty of life lessons the past few months! <br /><br />BREANNA:<br />This is one tough cookie, let me tell you! As I said before, she is breastfeeding exclusively after only had the opportunity to nurse a handful of times given the amount of time she was NPO (no food by mouth). This was achieved by my going on a dairy/casein free diet. There is a story that goes along with that and when I have a longer time at the computer I will share it with you...because like the majority of the stories from that experience, they are long! Breanna has a severe allergy to both and hopefully she'll outgrow it, but for now, this is how it is.<br />She is a doll, but very outspoken! If she is not happy she will yell until it is fixed...which is typically just a feeding or a bum change! She HATES to have anything on her head or her face and will scream if this happens, she also does not like to have her hands/arms restrained in any way (no swaddling!!) she does however, LOVE the wrap! She would happily spend the entire day there and has done so!!<br />PICS!!!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3185437018/" title="mama and baby by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3185437018_ed455b2eb5.jpg" width="287" height="500" alt="mama and baby" /></a><br />*Breanna all wrapped up in Elsa *10wks old*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3185381576/" title="Breanna *10wks6d* by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3185381576_caeb7aea21.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Breanna *10wks6d*" /></a><br />*Breanna 10wks old with her beloved suckie from the hospital*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/3185382712/" title="Breanna *10wks6d* by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3185382712_29f8eae2cd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Breanna *10wks6d*" /></a><br />*Breanna 10wks old....finally her eyelashes have darkened a bit!!*<br /><br />She is just so precious and I thank the Lord every.single.day for her....I thought for sure when I saw the blood that frightful night, that I was losing my baby girl.<br /><br />***ETA: This was from last Saturday!!lol***I had intentions on coming back and writing more, but alas, it did not happen that way! But I'll post it anyways!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-1593671123374150042008-12-31T08:46:00.002-07:002008-12-31T08:50:51.232-07:00Happy New Year!!Helllllloooooooo!!!<br />Oh goodness I am sooooo sorry for the super long hiatus...the longest in my 5 year blogging history!! Just thought I'd post uber quick before princess Breanna starts to holler....<br /><br />we are doing positively wonderful!! <br />-Breanna is home!!! and is exclusively breastfed...we beat the odds stacked against us!!<br />-we are DONE our habitat hours<br />-our house is *almost done*<br /><br />Oh man, so much to update ya'll on!! I have to run for now, but we are all doing excellent and enjoying the extended newborn stage we have been blessed with!<br /><br />I'll be back in the new year with pics and stories and updates!!<br /><br />May the Lord bless you all and here's to health and happiness in '09!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-21920276952561506532008-11-10T08:08:00.003-07:002008-11-10T08:29:12.015-07:00Happy Monday!!Just a quick little update until I have some more time to write a real post.<br /><br />***THANKYOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR WELL WISHES AND PRAYERS*** it is most appreciated!<br /><br />I have been an emotional wreck lately, although the last couple of days have been a bit easier. This is the most difficult experience I have yet to go through, not to mention the most painful. (both physically and emotionally) I have had to lean on our Heavenly Father immensely, I am so thankful for His mercy. <br /><br />Breanna is doing wonderfully! She is such a pillar of strength and an amazing little blessing. There is a slight possibility that she might be able to come home this weekend!! Or at least sometime in the next two or so weeks. Right now, she just needs to be able to take all her feedings through the bottle and not need the nasogastric tube at all for a full 48hrs. She has been having trouble with doing back to back bottle feeds as she still gets pretty tired. I think over the next couple of days she'll 'get it' and go crazy and not look back!<br />Praise the Lord sh nurses beautifully, great latch and will nurse until she is full. I could not ask for anything more! I'm hoping that once she is home and attached to my body that it will come together. I'm very confident it will!!<br /><br />So after we reach that goal, then we will give the carseat test a go!! I am really confident she will do good. You have no idea how nice it will be to be able to hold her whenever I want and to be her caregiver and not have to ask before touching her........I am soooooo looking forward to that!<br />I managed to get some preemie clothes off of Kijiji, Bill will be picking them up on Friday! I also made enough from the boys stuff to get two of the swaddling blankies I wanted. Next I am saving up for a diaper bag (I want a pure cloth one with no vinyl stuff) I am hoping to make one, but haven't found the perfect material. I also have my wrap on the way it is a loooong one, so I may hem it and use the fabric to make a bag. We'll see! Then I need to get an organic mattress cover for Breanna's bassinet...the playpen ones. Then of course some yummy bath stuff, I use <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/category.aspx?categoryID=7">this stuff</a> on all the kids, so that will be easy. I also need to get some woolies made for her, the newborn one I made will be a little big....mind you all the cloth I have will be big. I may just pick up a pack of organic cotton facecloths and use those for her dipes until she grows a bit!! I will also need to pick up some cloth lined baskets to hold her stuff, hopefully I'll heal up here soon so I can get over to Value Village!!:o)<br /><br />Well, my time is up on here, breakfast is over and it is time to get the day going!!<br />PLease pray that I can bring my sweet blessing home this weekend!!!!<br />~PennyThe Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-56875699552460346072008-11-06T08:56:00.002-07:002008-11-06T09:16:07.260-07:00Announcing our newest arrival.......Breanna Isabel Faith<br />born Oct.25th<br />weight 4lbs<br />length 17"<br /><br />Breanna decided to come early!!lol She is doing good, still in NICU, but hopefully only for a few more weeks!!<br /><br />I will type up an official birthstory eventually....I endured my very first c-section! Go figure! I suffered a placental abruption which triggered labour to begin and my water to break. Praise the Lord my water broke and Breanna didn't have to be in a womb filled with blood.<br /><br />Here's kind of a breakdown on what had happened.<br />Went to bed around 12:45am of the Friday night(oct.24th). A few minutes later it felt as though I was peeing myself and realized quickly that it could not be pee. I jumped out of bed and screamed when I realized that the spot I was lying in was soaked with bright red blood (we have white sheets and I could see in the darkness of our room) Bill jumped and flicked on the light and there I was standing there pulsating blood all over the floor trying to find something to soak it up. Called 911. Paramedics arrived and quickly get to work since I am feeling a little light headed. Off I go in the ambulance, it's 1:25am. (We praise the EMS team for arriving so quickly!!)<br />Get to the hospital and sent to triage. At this point, the bleeding has slowed and it seems like I am just leaking amniotic fluid and having mild contractions.Within a few minutes it is decided that I will have an emergency c-section and will have to go to the regular OR because of how much blood I had lost (they figure by this point I am close to have losing 3-4L of blood....4cups of that in my bedroom!!)3:15am I am downstairs and getting ready to head in....we are terrified. 3:30am, the alarms start going off as my blood pressure plummets down to 40....38....34....25.....I hear them yell all sorts of codes as my vision and hearing go weird and the anesthesiologist looks over me and says he will give me something and to hold and stay with him. I remember telling God in my head "I promised him I'd be coming out (meaning my hubby) don't you dare take me now!!!! over and over again. Suddenly I feel normal again and I stabilize. Bill comes in just as they're making their cut. 4:01am the yelps of my baby girl echo through the OR!!! I cannot see her, only hear her and I can't believe she's here, exactly 2mos early!!! Off they go with her and my hubby to the NICU. I still have so much they need work on and the freezing begins to wear off (for some reason I metabolize freezing at a crazy rate) the docs don't believe me, but the anaesthesiologist does and tells me he can give me something good to take away the pain and 'remove' me from the situation. I say yes, and WHOA!!! I don't remember too much until the recovery room, where I can feel the worst pain I have every felt before. After three shots of morphine, I can kind of get my head around things. All I want is to see my baby and my hubby, but apparently I wasn't stable enough. Finally, I get wheeled to a room and see my hubby. At 7:45am I climb into a wheelchair to go and see my baby!!<br />I got to hold her at that time too.<br /><br />The next few days are the longest I have have ever endured. I looked as though I had been beat up as a hematoma develops in my stomach which causes sever swelling and bruising (my skin was completely purple from the belly button down...my girlie bits were 10 times their original size....all of this without a word of a lie) Slowly but surely I kept walking and getting up (like I wanted to hang out in bed anyways!!lol) My haemoglobin dropped down to 58 (normal is 140) and they want me to have a transfusion. I decline on the basis that I am asymptomatic (my vitals were perfect!!) we agree that I can try to raise my numbers on my own with food and supplements. Then my incision decides to bleed and not stop (like I had any blood left to lose!!!) it just slowly trickles. They can't figure out why and decide that it's from the hematoma and the fluid is just escaping through the closest opening. Then I get severe edema in my legs and feet and develop a rash on them....more cream and stuff. Then I get impetigo on my face (I think from all my crying and nosewiping!!lol) I'm an emotional basket case and cry at anything. The nurses keep joking and saying I should enjoy my 'vacation' away from ALL THOSE KIDS!! UGH!!! I happen to love and enjoy my kids and have never been away from them like this before...I miss them so terribly bad, I can't even talk about now without getting a lump. My family is my life and no one in that hospital seemed to understand that, it was so lonely. I felt as though I had been transferred into a time warp where AP did not exist and everyone relied on medical stuff rather than their bodies. Pump at this time, take this medicine, sleep (but we'll be in here every 10mins for something) eat our disgusting non-nutritious food to get better......unbelievable!!!<br /><br />I had hubby bring fresh high iron juice from juicer and all my Greens+ supplements including an iron supplement and my Emergen-C. As well as a bag of flax seed bread (THANKYOU to whoever sent that....I was soooooo happy to have that for my pumpkinseed spread toast!!YUMMO!!) the staff poo-pooed my little collection but I knew that my body needed wholesome food to recover, not processed, wilted, crap!<br /><br />So I am now at home and getting better....so happy to be able to have my juice whenever I want and snuggle my kids. I miss Breanna terribly and hate their protocols, but my goal is to get her home and that seems to happen quicker when they can all have their numbers and volume and all that jazz, so we'll concentrate on breastfeeding when she gets home and I can get her back ontrack. I plan on wearing her topless in a wrap for the daytime and sleeping with her on my chest at night. Hopefully we can re-establish a good latch and she won;t have to have any bottles though. I'm hopeful!!<br /><br />Thankyou for your prayers!! Also those of you who had emailed me requesting my paypal address it's pennyandbillATshawDOTca (changing the words AT and DOT to the symbols) and I can only accept funded paypal (Nancy, that is why yours wasn't working, try with funded xoxox) since we don't use credit cards ourselves and don't have an American bank acct.<br /><br />Thank you so much for everything everyone has done. All the blessing we have received have been so very much appreciated! Friends my AP group dropping off meals. a wonderful Friend I met through my mom dropped off yummy meals too. Another sweet friend came by (I swear God sent her that day...I was having such an emotional day) on Monday bearing more good food (she even made sure to include vitamin c and iron rich foods...isn't that sweet?!?!) and the most adorable preemie girl outfits as well as some clothing that her little girl has outgrown. It just totally lifted me, so much so that when Bill had called he said "WOW, you sound so much better. What did you do?!?" LOL!!! Just our heavenly Father taking care of His daughters! ;o)<br /><br />Time to make my way back to the couch!!! Gotta rest, especially since my incision is still oozing....ugh...I don't have blood to spare! ACK!<br /><br />God bless,<br />Penny<br />PS. I will post pics soon...just have to upload them to the Flickr!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-29816510134623422222008-10-24T10:26:00.003-06:002008-10-24T11:02:20.952-06:00Freaky FridayOkay not really, although switching places with my oldest wouldn't be such a bad idea.<br />Today is crazy, I am pulling from all of my internal resources and prayer. The children are SOOOOOOO grumpy...this is totally not like them. Yes, they fight and argue, but this has been non-stop since 7:42am! They have screamed, yelled, stomped, fought...you name it! <br />Hopefully things will come down a bit now...I told them all to snuggle up on the couch and order a movie...although I am certain there will be some rumbling over WHICH movie to order...oi!<br /><br />Tonight I am going out with my Mom. It's her birthday today so I wanted to take her out for a coffee, but first I am going to hit Value Village. The kids would like something for Halloween and I want to scope out some wool and cotton and maybe a pair of maternity pants...since I've discovered that I have no pants!!!lol All I have are capri's!! I have two prs of cotton ones, but they no longer fit!!lol I've posted some stuff for sale on various sites in the hopes to be able to earn some paypal to buy the stuff I need...but the economy is so sad right now and then the exchange rate...ugh! It's awful!!! <br />I am selling and have sold all my wraps and carriers...(I have two for sale if you're interested!!!) I have sold and am selling cloth diapers (I have a beautiful Berry Plush diaper lot for sale!!) Bill is taking all my itty bitty baby boy stuff to the consignment on Sunday....so hopefully I get a bit back from there!<br />I am trying to make as much as much as possible, but my time frame is slipping away!!lol<br />So here's my TO GET FOR BABY LIST:(or rather, a wish list of stuff I *hope* to buy!!!lol)<br />-clothing (the extent of this list, I don't know...a friend of mine is passing down some of her little girls items...Have I mentioned my love of second hand things?!?!)<br />-I am hunting for an all cloth Diaper bag, preferably Mama made and girlie<br />-more wool sweaters for mitts, longies, breastpads etc...everything!!lol<br />-Aden & Anais swaddling blankies (saving up!!)<br />-Organic mattress pad for the baby's bed (saving up!!)<br />-Maruyama wrap (should be able to get her at the end of the month!!)<br /><s>-more cloth pads for me</s><br /><s>-Babylegs for baby</s><br /><s>-wash cloths (I was going to make these, but this turned out to be too time consuming without owning a serger)</s><br /><s>-a couple receiving blankets</s><br />-herbs for labour and postpartum<br />-Emergen-C vitamin stuff (for labour and PP)<br />-1-2 prs of good mat jeans for me (brrrr, it's getting colder around here...capri's don't quite fit the bill!!)<br />-2-4 more Kissaluvs or AMP's in NB size, but will see.<br /><br /><br />This list is just some random thoughts.......we'll just have to see what I can come up with!! some I have already got and am awaiting to arrive!!!<br />I will post pics and stuff when they arrive as well as links to where I got it!!<br /><br />Well, I'm off to post a long overdue update in the Habitat blog!!!<br />If any of you Mama's are interested in seeing pics and knowing prices...send me a line!! I accept <b>funded</b> paypal only, but all my prices include shipping (to USA and Canadian addresses only) and all prices are USD if you're in the US and CAD if you're here in Canada!! If you're on my Flickr, you can see pics there!!<br />email me at:<br />mama26blessingsATyahooDOTca (changing the DOT and AT to the symbols!!)The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-2011984975390843282008-10-11T15:31:00.002-06:002008-10-11T15:54:03.048-06:00So Do You Wanna Know?????????????Because I know what we're having!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />First here's a couple of pics:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2931901323/" title="front of face with two little fists 29W6D by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2931901323_ac699af193.jpg" width="500" height="366" alt="front of face with two little fists 29W6D" /></a><br />*two little eyes and two little fists*<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2931896529/" title="Baby #7 right foot 29W6D by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2931896529_cc0a721ea4.jpg" width="500" height="390" alt="Baby #7 right foot 29W6D" /></a><br />*right foot*<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2932763076/" title="side profile of face 29W6D by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2932763076_2ea2d9708c.jpg" width="500" height="412" alt="side profile of face 29W6D" /></a><br />*side profile of the face*<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2931893165/" title="Baby #7 Fingers 29W6D by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2931893165_9f8f9bc306.jpg" width="500" height="386" alt="Baby #7 Fingers 29W6D" /></a><br />*fingers and thumb*<br /><br />Welllllll, I suppose I could tell ya'll..........................<br /><br />It's............<br /><br /><br />a.........................<br /><br /><br /><strong>G-I-R-L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</strong><br /><br />Absolutely, without a doubt!!!<br /><br />Sooooooo, I have been cleaning out all the BOY stuff I had put together and organized!!LOL I decided I will have Bill take it to a consignment store and the money I receive from that I will in turn go and get some girl stuff I need. Since I had only kept a small box of cute little girl sleepers and had over 4 large boxes (the 77L Rubbermaid bins, I think) of BOYS stuff. So I was right in the very beginning...DOH!!! Should've stayed with that gut feeling....but the morning sickness totally through me off this time around.<br /><br />The bummer part.....my placenta is still within 1cm of my cervix, so I will have to go back in 5-6 weeks again to see if it has shifted upwards with some growth occurring in the uterus over the next few weeks. I'm a little concerned because although this has occurred with all my previous pregnancies, it has ALWAYS been far up and away from the cervix by this point in time. If it hasn't moved at my next scan....it's c-section. Ugh, I am really praying hard on this one. I really do not want to be healing from a c-section, having Christmas, packing and getting ready to move, AND all the typical newborn/postpartum stuff. Please pray if you feel led...I really want to have a nice, easy normal natural birth. Really, really badly. I don't want to be stuck in the hospital for 3 days and dealing with nurses and doctors.<br /><br />Well, time to get back to tidying the kitchen and getting ready for Thanksgiving Dinner....pies to bake and dishes to wash!! It's going to be just us, with us fighting this stupid cold/virus thing I just felt it was best to have a quiet dinner.<br /><br /><strong>~*HAPPY THANKSGIVING*~</strong> to all my Canadian friends and family!!<br />May the Lord continue to bless us all!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-90334693307972381262008-10-07T08:39:00.002-06:002008-10-07T09:35:22.264-06:00It's Tuesday.........My brain is a little warped so I couldn't think of a better title....other than the obvious!<br /><br />Sorry I haven't updated for awhile, it has been so busy around here that the days are gone before I can blink!<br />I will update house stuff in the other blog sometime this week.<br /><br />As for other doings around here:<br />We seem to have a chest cold floating around (like the rest of the city!!lol) so far it has hit Bill and Alex, both whom cough and hack all night...as if I didn't have enough trouble sleeping! Finally at four this morning I gave Alex the jar of Vicks and told him to cover the soles of his feet with it...voila!! I really should've done that earlier. Man, does that work like a charm! If only I could get Bill to do that!!lol I'm hoping this virus steers clear of me!! I have not one spare second to waste on a virus!!<br /><br />Oh, I had some fluffy mail arrive the other day!! I ordered some Unbleached Indian prefolds for both Matthew and the new babe. I also ordered a couple tiny ones for the baby and some Bummis wraps in newborn size. Here's the pic:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2921169711/" title="Fluffy Mail!!! by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2921169711_1db10b27cb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fluffy Mail!!!" /></a><br />I already have a good stash of newborn/infant dipes, but I wanted to try out some different fitteds and needed a couple more covers. <br /><br />Here's my latest food loves...(gimme a break I'm preggers, food is a very big part of my life right now!!!LOL)<br />NEWEST SMOOTHIE CONCOCTION:<br />*~Berry Blaster~*<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2922016658/" title="The 'MIX' by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2922016658_7faf9f3580.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The 'MIX'" /></a><br />The Final Product:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2922017648/" title="Yummo, berry blaster smoothie by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2922017648_52cfcdbe36.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Yummo, berry blaster smoothie" /></a><br /><br />My Twice a Month Treat:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2921172847/" title="My twice a month treat by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2921172847_849416aa20.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="My twice a month treat" /></a><br />~Baked Potato Supreme!!<br /><br />I have been busy doing crafts as well, trying to see what kinds of things I can make with recycled materials. Here's what I have thus far....<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2921173857/" title="Matthew's Recycled Materials Quilt by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2921173857_9d2b6816d5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Matthew's Recycled Materials Quilt" /></a><br />~Matthew needed a bigger blankie for his bed so I used up some wool sweater material, an old flannel sheet and some pantlegs from some corduroy pants that didn't fit Bill. I still have a bit more to finish on it, but this gives you an idea!<br /><br />Next is my Mama sized cloth pads. I refuse to use disposable pads after the babe is born and wanted to make something big and absorbant for me, especially during the first week. Blech!! I have been trying all different types of patterns, this is what I have thus far:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2921174971/" title="Mama sized Cloth Pads by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2921174971_047a4ddce2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Mama sized Cloth Pads" /></a><br />I am hoping to make at least 9 more and then some smaller sized ones as well.<br /><br />Also on my crafting and sewing list to do:<br />~Felted Wool Bag<br />~Felted wool mitts and socks<br />~More wool longies for new babe<br />~finish up new babes recycled blankie (I'll post picks asap)<br />~get started on Christmas presents (I'm making each child their own pillowcase and then filling it with handmade treats for them.(jammies, a book, soft wool doll for the littles, felted wool hairclips, I-Spy travel bags etc)<br />~Make each child their recycled Denim stocking<br /><br />In other words, I really need to hit Value Village ASAP!!!! I need some old jeans, old flannel sheets, old wool sweaters and glass jars.<br /><br />Well time to get moving...laundry awaits as does various science projects and a good book (Alyssa is really enjoying her Little House on the Prairie books). I also need to get another belly pic done....I'm already 29W3D and I haven't done my 28W pic yet..(too busy taking pics of food!!!lol) Oh YEAH!!!!! Ultrasound is this Friday!! WHOOHOO!!! 3 more sleeps!! We decided that since no one is allowed in there with me (we'll have three little ones with us and their rooms are just too small) I am going to have the technician write the gender on a piece of paper and then I will open it when we get home so that we can all find out at the same time as a family!!!<br /><br />Have a blessed Tuesday!!<br />~PennyThe Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-71378504768072695092008-09-29T09:24:00.002-06:002008-09-29T10:22:47.488-06:00Recipes, Answers and Updates!!<b>UPDATES</b><br /><br />Went to the drs on Friday, here's the stats!<br />weight: 131 lbs (total:31 lbs)<br />Blood pressure: 107/64<br />measuring: 29 weeks<br />babes HB: 142<br />I go for my second ultrasound on October 10th....maybe this little bean will co-operate!! Although, I have been going along as though it's a BOY!!lol<br />She mentioned that I should start booking my appointments for every 2weeks...I told her nope. I said that if I felt something wasn't right, I'd be sure to come in. In the end, she said alright. I also haven't gone for my Gestational Diabetes test yet....got a teeny lecture about that since they're sticky about it and want the test completed between 26 and 27week and no later than 28weeks. I'm not going to be losing sleep over trying to get there to get the test done.<br /><br /><b>RECIPES</b><br />*Honey Blemish Treatment*<br />1.soak a cotton ball in a saltwater solution and then hold on blemish for around 3min<br />2.dab honey onto blemish and let sit for about 15min<br />3. rinse with warm, then cool water<br />The saltwater will gently dissolve the tip of the blemish and allow the honey to penetrate and do it's work!! Honey is soothing and antibacterial!<br /><br />*Vinegar Toner*<br />1 tbsp of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR<br />1 cup of distilled water<br />I use this as a toner after a shower or if my face could use a little pick-me-up<br />Store in a glass container and do not rinse. Depending on use this amount can last about 2weeks.<br /><br />*Parsley Splasher*<br />1 large handful of fresh parsley<br />2 cups of boiling hot water<br />put the parsley into a bowl and dump the boiling water over it. Allow to cool and then strain. Pour the lovely green liquid into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Keep in the fridge if you like for a WAKE UP in the morning!! Apply to face with cotton pads or put in a spritzer container and spritz on your face whenever you'd like!! I haven't had any issues with the greeness!!lol<br /><br /><br />*MAC 'n' CHEESE*<br />I didn't use any measurements so bear with me!!<br />-in a med sized pot add:<br />about 1/4 cup of butter, 1/4 cup of flour and some diced onion and garlic (or just use powder if you have people who do not like chunks of onion)<br />mix on med-high heat until you have thick, gooey mixture...don't burn it otherwise it will have a bitter taste!!!<br />-then add to the mixture about 1-1 1/2 cups of milk (or cream, the higher the fat content the richer your sauce will be..I use 18% and I've also used 2% milk with no real difference in taste)whisk until you have a thick white sauce.<br />-add about 2 handfuls of your favourite shredded cheese and stir until it is all melted and you have a yummy cheesy sauce!!<br />-add your pasta of choice and coat those noodles in the yummo sauce.<br />You can add roasted veggies sliced or diced, ham, tuna..whatever!! have fun creating a yummy dinner!!<br />WARNING: this is a very filling meal, especially if you use whole wheat pasta, but it is delicious!!<br /><br />*SMOOTHIES*<br />ahhh, the nectar of health and wellness.......<br />This is where you can be ever so creative!! There is no right or wrong way!!<br />The one in the pic below was<br />4 lemons<br />4 oranges<br />1 small handfull of parsley and spinach<br />tbsp of Raw Honey (to sweeten it a bit)<br /><br />You can whisk a raw egg in there, I love that...I just don't do that while I'm pregnant. I simply just wash the eggshell before cracking and throw it in. I have been doing that since my early teen years!<br />You can add soy protein powder, yoghurt for some calcium as well. I typically just stick with fruit and veggies because I drink a lot of milk (I can make rice, almond and soy milk with my juicer too!!!) and eat a lot of yoghurt regularly already.<br />Thus far, my favourite is berries, spinach, carrots and parsley...YUMMO!!<br />If you add a banana, the taste takes on a totally banana flavour and thickens a bit.<br /><br />BTW, you can do all of this in a blender...I just really wanted a juicer because I am a wimp and HATE pulp and really thick drinks!!LOL <br /><br /><br />Cloth diapers........<br />Ok here's the ultimate wash method I have found...<br />first, take all your diapers and wash them in HOT water until the water looks fairly clear after swishing. You m ay need to do this a few times. <br />Dry as you normally would (high heat in the dryer or on the line)<br />Now in your diaper pail, sprinkle some baking soda and some Borax in the bottom. I use a combo of a wet/dry pail. The night before it's diaper wash day, I fill the bucket with cold water (my diaper wash days are about every 2 days) and let 'em soak all night. I then dump the bucket into the washer and put it on spin.<br />I then put it on regular wash, on hot, and add a small scoop of <br /><a href="http://www.claudiaschoices.ca/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_11&products_id=1">Claudias Choices</a> and let it go!<br />Here are some tips I've learned along the way...<br />*do not use any soap that has any type of plant based oils in it. This will put a coating on the diapers and not allow them to clean.<br />*If you're having trouble with homemade stuff, switch to just baking soda for awhile. You can add a cupful of white vinegar to the rinse cycle if you'd like. See if that helps. Baking soda and the odd scoop of Borax will do the trick just fine!<br />It's what I've used when I don't have any Claudia's Choices.<br />I typically do a strip on the dipes about once a month or so or sometimes I just skip any soap and just use baking soda every few washes to prevent any buildup. It's buildup that will cause them to not works as well, clean as well or smell most of the time!<br /><br />Well time to get back to cleaning and organizing and the dailies around here...it smells as though Matthew has a treat waiting for me in HIS dipe!!lol<br />Have a blessed Monday!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-10175433430012758182008-09-23T08:18:00.003-06:002008-09-23T09:20:46.479-06:00Mish Mash of Mush 'n' MuddleI'm still working on the other blog, I was hoping to make the switch over there by the middle of this month, but of course as per the usual...that hasn't happened!lol<br /><br />We have been just so busy lately. I have been cleaning out like crazy and have a donation pickup coming next week. Which is great, however that is a week away!!!lol My house is a disaster with bags and boxes everywhere! I was originally going to Freecycle it all, but honestly it is just too much and I don't have time to deal with people who can't be bothered to show up or whatever.<br /><br />Anyhoo, onto to other happenings....<br />We had Kayla's birthday celebration on Sunday evening. She had requested that I make her cake and was very specific as to how it should be! I used vanilla pudding/custard mix for the center to cut down on the sweetness. I figured everyone would be on a food coloring rush and didn't need the added bonus of excess sugar too!!lol!! Here's the pic:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2881665861/" title="Kayla's 6th Birthday Cake by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/2881665861_cb0f4ba9a5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Kayla's 6th Birthday Cake" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of food.....<br />Here's what was for breakfast yesterday:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2881667737/" title="Yummo!! Juice! by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2881667737_5eccf9f8fa.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Yummo!! Juice!" /></a><br />Refreshing and high in vitamin C...I also put some ginger and garlic in there as well!!<br />Here's what was for dinner:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2881668725/" title="Dinner!!! by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2881668725_86b9582427.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Dinner!!!" /></a><br />Tuna casserole with a twist!! I made a yummy cheese sauce from scratch (I'm trying very hard to eliminate the fluorescent stuff from our diet) and mixed in tuna. We also grilled up asparagus, tomatoes, green and red peppers, and carrots. It was DELISH!!<br /><br />Next up....<br />In my Babywearing group a gal posted <a href="http://archives.cbc.ca/lifestyle/homemaking/clips/15185/">this link</a> all about babywearing in 1963. It was just so cool to see a glimpse of what it was like back then and that YES babywearing truly has been in North America for quite some time and is not something new!! :o)<br /><br />Last on the list of updates...<br />The Used Toy and Clothing sale was on Saturday and it was good turnout!! I managed to sell a lot of outgrown stuff and stuff that just doesn't get worn. Now, with the money I made (well some of it...I *did* buy a carseat and a ton of baby <b>BOY</b> sleepers, two blow up beds for the little ones, and a few other things) and the money I am hoping to make from selling off a wrap, I will be getting some stuff for the boys who need some clothing and some winter stuff.<br /><br />Oh and also for an update...<br />I have been on a mission to rid myself of chemicals and have been trying out more natural methods. So here's a list of what I've done thus far and then a list of what is next on the list.<br /><b><u>NEW METHODS</b></u><br />-I've gone completely *NO POO* for myself and Matthew (and the baby will be too)!<br />I'm still trying to figure out the best method of keeping my ends from drying out.<br />I've started this in the past and then chickened out, but now I'm fully on board!<br />I found this over at <br /><a href="http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com/2008/08/06/guest-post-poo-free-hair-care-no-bubbles-required/">Crunchy Domestic Goddess</a> it was the post that actually got me back on track!!<br />-No skin care products. I haven't ever been one to really use much on my face. I went through a Dove phase a couple years ago.....but, for the most part I never used much of anything because my skin would freak out. Now, I've found a method!<br />-baking soda scrub every few days...typically my hair wash day<br />-Honey Blemish Treatment on whatever little blemish rears it's ugly head<br />-Parsley rinse every few days<br />As a daily treatment...NOTHING!<br />-No toothpaste, just good 'ol baking soda, been doing that for awhile. The kids aren't too fond of it so I get them a fluoride free (much to my dentist's dismay..hehe)cinnamon paste<br />-No deodorant. I'm a lucky one and have never been a sweater and when I do, it rarely smells, so this is an easy one for me. If I am going out, I will use a chemical free deodorant (as do two of the kids who have obviously inherited their fathers perspiration) or a light dusting of baking soda!<br /><br />in all honesty, baking soda is a lead star in this house now. I use it in laundry, cleaning, on my skin (you should try it and see just how beautifully soft your skin is after a Baking soda scrub!!!)...really, it can replace almost any chemical!<br />The lead supporter is vinegar, for cleaning and laundry it's top notch. Don't use it in your hair though.....only use Apple Cider Vinegar on your hair!!<br /><br />So, baby steps!! It's such a long haul eliminating unnecessary stuff from your home, diet and life. Bill wants us to go even further and eliminate Made in China products....I haven't got that far yet on my list!!lol On the other hand, I am very excited to see him on board and showing interest!! He's still not quite ready to give up his deodorant or toothpaste and is thoroughly disgusted over my love affair with my juicer...but he's doing well! I just have to remember that this is a complete overhaul and it will all take time, some adjustments are easier and other's are more difficult. <br /><br />I'm off to do a quick update at the Habitat blog and then I am off to get laundry going and hopefully make some newborn sized wool longies!! If anyone would like the recipes from above, leave a comment and I will post them!!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-29457940053985164932008-09-15T09:38:00.002-06:002008-09-15T10:07:57.617-06:00Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!!!!Well, Miss Kayla is officially 6yrs old today!! Although it feels like yesterday that I just gave birth to her!! She came out in a mad dash when she was ready. Giving me true "real" contractions at 7:35am....I sent Bill to go get his Mom after the next one at 7:41am...he left and I continued to contract...they were about 5min apart until 8:05is and then BAM!! 3min apart and I couldn't stand, talk or walk through them. In fact I was moaning and the older kids were following me around mocking me!!lol Bill arrived home and we left the house at 8:20am...the entire ride Bill was doing close to 120km and begging me not to let my water break in the van!!lol They continued at 3min apart and every once in awhile they would be 2min apart.<br />We pulled into the parking and Bill went to get a wheelchair for me, when he came back to the van and opened the door I was in the middle of peaking in a double contraction and was being loud apparently...lol....we were in underground parking so my moaning echoed and people across the way shouted if everything was alright..Bill shut the door on me!!(this is such a funny story for us now...at the time I could've killed him!!!lol)We got to triage and I was assessed...the nurse said "you're 7-8cm and bulging!!!!" ACK! It was 8:40am. They managed to get me into a room of sorts, throw me on a bed (literally) strap some oxygen on my face and then my water exploded (I just missed Bill, but the hit the wall....and there was Meconium staining!!!lol) and then I yelled..."I am pushing...N-O-W" and in one big long push out came Kayla at 8:46am!! She was perfect and a healthy 7lbs 6ozs and no problems. She screamed and screamed at them until she was nestled in my arms and took to the boob like a pro. We were home by 6pm that night...it was perfect! Crazy, but perfect.<br /><br />My birthday was good too on Friday!! I'm officially in a new decade of life...I'm looking forward to my 4th decade, I have a good feeling about my 30's! ;o)<br />I think it's a good stage of life and I'm happy to have been blessed as I have been!<br />My awesome children made me a super delicious birthday cake from scratch<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2859138073/" title="My "Birfday Cake" by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2859138073_b046834df4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="My "Birfday Cake"" /></a><br />It was so yummy!!!! Thankyou guys!!!<br />My Mom got me a juicer for my birthday......it is my new love.<br />I have been loving the creations I have been able to make and it's so awesome because I hate fruit (I am a veggie girl) but I don;t mind fruit as a juice or a smoothie. It's been absolutely amazing how wonderfully fabulous I have been feeling!!<br />Today I was adventurous and made a smoothie with this:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2859975576/" title="the "Mix" by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2859975576_e7f0204157.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="the "Mix"" /></a><br />YUMMO!!<br />Fresh Organic spinach, parsley, carrot, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and grated ginger. The I add: grated Flax seed and my <br /><a href="http://greensplus.com/product_info.php/products_id/34">Greens+</a><br />This is what I had after:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2859977810/" title="The "Juice" by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2859977810_582f0153b5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="The "Juice"" /></a><br />Of course, it looks kinda funky, but it's very smooth and so Delicious! I put it in the freezer while I clean up my juicer. I think using either frozen fruit or almost frozen would be ideal.<br /><br /><br />Well, I have a ton to do this week and I suppose I should get started!! I plan on posting an update in the Habitat and the Homeschool blogs this week.(psssst! If you are a friend/family on Flickr, you can take a sneak peek at the pics!!lol)<br /><br />I'll wrap this up with a belly pic on my 30th birthday...sentimental because I will never be pregnant on my 30th birthday again!!;o)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2859137111/" title="On my "Birfday" 25w6d belly pic by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2859137111_822147d602.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="On my "Birfday" 25w6d belly pic" /></a>The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-88702942729708406932008-09-08T11:53:00.002-06:002008-09-08T12:42:08.938-06:00It's Monday, It's September...............So it has been a bit of a crazy morning...well, pretty much every morning is crazy here in some sort of way!lol<br /><br />We had a really nice weekend, just an easygoing, relaxing time. Bill went and did hours on Saturday, while I hung out with the kids watching them build with K'Nex and did laundry. Sunday, we all just did the pretty much the same thing except that Bill was here all day and helped the kids with some of the K'Nex stuff (totally not my area of expertise!!lol). It was just calm and peaceful, the way life should be.<br /><br />Alyssa decided as well on Sunday that we needed to go through each of the girls' toy bins and clean them out again....well who am I to disagree?!?! We're still slowly making our way through it all today as well. I hope there will be a donation pickup in our community soon!! Gah! I have boxes all over my house! Some are actually our stuff packed and ready to go, but most of it is stuff I am getting rid of!lol<br />I am thinking if there isn't a pickup by the end of the month or so, I will Freecycle it all, but I don't know yet.<br /><br />Friday, I officially join the 30's club!!! Whoohoo!! In reality, it's just another day in my mind!!lol I'm pretty sure my Mom is getting me a Juicer for my birthday!! I am so excited about that.....then I'll be able to make some yummy smoothies much easier!! Next on my list is a food dehydrator! <br />After we move and get a garden going, I plan on doing some canning...but that's a ways off yet.<br /><br />So, let's see this week.....hmmmmm, not much really! Doing some more fall cleaning and organizing. Everyone tried on their winter stuff and everything fits!! I just need to get Mariah some snowpants. We'll tackle the boots maybe this week and see what the situation is with hats/gloves/scarves. <br />Then, I want to try to find some time to make some wool longies in newborn size!! But, we'll see. Then this weekend should be a repeat of this past weekend!<br />I will probably sit down and do my menu's and grocery list this weekend once I find out what the specials are after Saturday, since grocery shopping is Monday as is Miss Kayla's 6th birthday!!!<br /><br />well, I best get going. The kids are finishing up some yummy homemade vegetable beef soup with lentils and homemade multigrain bread and will be wanting to get outside!!<br />Have a blessed Monday!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-38810466165645177242008-09-06T09:33:00.003-06:002008-09-06T09:45:40.504-06:00The Magic of Milk....Mama's Milk that is!!!!Ok, so we know that breastmilk is a nutritionally complete and perfect food...BUT did you know that breastmilk can also be used for many other things?? Yes my friends this is true!<br />Check this out <a href="http://rawmom.com/blog/?p=230">HERE!!</a><br /><br />I have used breastmilk to effectively treat pinkeye, bum rashes, skin irritations, soothe sore ears and to help clear stuffy noses!! I challenge any formula to preform like THAT!<br /><br />Breastmilk truly is...LIQUID GOLD!<br /><br />Have a blessed Saturday!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-8549714633603546532008-09-04T09:24:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:11:37.410-06:00ThirteenThankful Things for Thursday :o)Here's my list.....I haven't done one of these in awhile!<br />They are in no specific order by the way!<br /><br /><b>1.</b>my husband. I am so very thankful for him each and every day. I love to take care of him and in turn be taken care of by him. He makes my heart sing and I love being so close to him and hearing his heartbeat and warmth against me. He is my very best friend and I adore him!<br /><b>2.</b>my children. Each of them are such amazing people with such amazing personalities. They bring me so much joy each day and make me laugh more often than not. I love my time with them and can't imagine not having one of them here, each one has completed the family in a different way. They help me to re-think my actions and keep me grounded with reality...yet take me back to that special place of childhood regularly!<br /><b>3.</b>pregnancies. Yup, I am thankful for the ability to conceive naturally and have easy pregnancies. I am thankfully for each and every pregnancy I've had, even the ones I lost. I am thankful for being able to BE pregnant, it is a gift and one I treasure. As well as the ability to birth naturally and have fairly easy deliveries, another wonderful gift!!<br /><b>4.</b>a home. This house that we are building through Habitat for Humanity is a dream come true. Honestly, there are no real words to explain what a difference this is going to make in our lives. The security and stability that owing your own home offers is going to be such a huge relief. Living in a home that we don't have worry will be taken away for various reasons (high rent, landlords changing their minds..fill-in-the-blanks)It is an answer to our prayer of many, many years!<br /><b>5.</b>breastfeeding. While I believe that the vast majority of women have the ability to breastfeed, there are a few that cannot due to mastectomies or other serious health problems. I am thankful that I am not one of them and can breastfeed my babes without much problems!! Another true gift to treasure!!<br /><b>6.</b>the ability to homeschool my kids. I am so very blessed to be able to stay at home and offer my kids an alternative to *school*, one that I feel is the best choice for them and offers them the greatest flexibility to learn the way children are designed to learn.<br /><b>7.</b>being a mommy. I am living my dream right now, I am right where I wanted to be from as long as I can remember. I am so thankful for being a Mama, it is the most rewarding job and is so much better than I could have ever imagined. The days are long and some days are downright crazy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world!!<br /><b>8.</b>the ability to make things. Sewing, cooking, baking, crafts and gardening....I am thankful for the resources and ability to be able to do these things.<br /><b>9.</b>French Vanilla coffee. yes, I could not leave this one out!!<br /><b>10.</b>weekends. I am thankful that Bill doesn't have to work on weekends (well, normally...lol...with the house building him or I are working every Saturday!!)<br /><b>11.</b>harvest spice scented potpourri. Yummo!!!<br /><b>12.</b>my love of organizing and cleaning. A very good trait to have with a large family!!lol ;o)<br /><b>13.</b>A loving, forgiving, understanding, Heavenly Father who knows me inside and out and answers my prayers accordingly...sometimes yes and sometimes no. Who has blessed me in abundance and shown me patience and forgiveness. Who continues to help shape me into a better person each and every day. Who even though at times I have felt alone, is right there beside me as I walk through turmoil and learn from that experience.<br /><br />Have a blessed Thursday Everyone!!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-10996872785540026172008-09-03T08:53:00.002-06:002008-09-03T09:32:58.911-06:00Hurray!!!! It's *FINALLY* September!!!Yeah, I'm little happy!! lol I wait all year for this time of year...September 1st until December 31st are my absolute favourite time!!<br />Hot chocolate, cinnamon buns, pumpkin pie, fresh bread baking, the leaves changing, the coolness in the air, warm fuzzy clothing....I could go on and on!!lol<br />I've switched my menus over to our fall/winter selection, I've switched out the clothing and have taken inventory on who needs what for the fall/winter. Thankfully, everyones winter jackets fit...just have to try the boots on everyone. Next on my list is the furnace filter and to clean out the windows/wash the curtains before it get's to cold. I think I will just pack up the curtains that are mine and put back up the rental ones (I HAD to have my Sunflowers in the kitchen and my sheers in the living room).<br /><br />Bill went and registered me for the Used Toy and Clothing Sale...I have two tables again, especially since I am hoping to sell out my entire stock of all seasons worth of clothing. The sale is on the 20th of this month!! Whoohoo!!!<br /><br />Here's a 24 week pic for ya'll!! I can't believe we're here already!!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mama25blessings/2825292530/" title="24w2d.....already!!!! by mama26blessings, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2825292530_efa4377156.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="24w2d.....already!!!!" /></a>The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-74218726527791610052008-08-29T11:16:00.002-06:002008-08-29T11:30:39.852-06:00Doctors Updatewell, we're back! Good grief that was a long appointment! My fam doc has always just copied all my medical info from my previous births onto a new file...but not this place. Oh no, they had to had everything firsthand, so I had to sit and go through my entire medical history, every pregnancy/labour and birth. Good thing I haven't had a lot of complications! They didn't seem too pleased with my stance on being induced since I have been labeled as precipitous (fast labours). I said I am certain that the minor complications I had with my last two were a direct result from being induced and that I didn;t feel that this being my 7th labour that Pitocin was a good option for me due to the increased risk of Uterine Rupture. Apparently doctors do not like being told medical stuff back to them! We'll see what happens...I told them I would rather *risk* a homebirth than risk complications due to an induction.<br /><br />Anyways, onto the details!<br />Ultrasound was great, baby is perfect, placenta is low and we will be going for another one at 30weeks.<br />Weight:126lbs (total thus far at 23W6D is 26 lbs)<br />Blood Pressure: 111/68 <br />Baby's heartbeat:156<br />measuring: at 25wks<br />Other than that, not much else. I am supposed to go for the GD screen during my 26th week. Another test I am kind of against for me, since I am not at risk and have never had issues before.*sigh*<br /><br />Anyways, got to get back to getting things organized and then it's off to get groceries tonight! Oh, but first I will post pics in the homeschool blog!!<br />Blessings!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-74280840515082030472008-08-28T09:37:00.004-06:002008-08-28T10:24:18.175-06:00Recalled!!ok, so many of my Canadian readers are already well aware of the massive meat recall going on right now. Some of the meat has been tested and has resulted in testing positive for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listeriosis">Listeriosis</a> Maple Leaf Foods has expanded the recall to include the majority of it's deli/sandwich meat as a safety precaution.<br /><br />All of the meat in my fridge was recalled (I used Bologna, Ham and Turkey breast in Bill's lunches). In a strange coincidence, I had already been in the process of revamping our eating habits to reflect a healthier approach to our diet....cutting out processed meats was next on the list!!<br />Yes, we did consume some of the meat before we knew it was recalled, I am trusting the Lord completely that he will keep us healthy and safe...especially this little bean in my tummy. No one has exhibited any symptoms of any kind, so I am praying.<br /><br />So, I got a major shove into creating better lunches, mostly for Bill. Thankfully he enjoys other types of sandwiches. Our new food list NO-NO's are:<br />*<b>NO</b> processed sandwich meat of any kind<br />*<b>NO</b> hot dogs (we only ate these about once every month or so)<br />*<b>NO</b> pizza meat or pepperoni sticks (homemade jerky as soon as I can get my hands on a food dehydrator!!)<br />My goal of no processed foods has been pushed into full gear, my challenge is going to be to buy and prepare as much of our food as possible. We had already been on our way in this direction, but now it's in full force.<br />It means a lot more work on my part for some things, but in all honesty the health and well being of my family is worth every bit of it. I am positive that with time, these changes will become second nature just as the other changes have. <br />I REALLY wish Bill could start hunting again (ethically and legally for all my vegan, animal lovers) One deer or elk lasts us all year and supplies all of our meat and oh my stars do I miss venison!!!YUMMO!! Unfortunately, back when we were in serious financial crisis (when Bill had hurt is back and was unable to work or do anything) he sold his stuff....I wish we could've hung onto his gear. *sigh*<br /><br />Well, time to get back to the day. We received all of our homeschool stuff yesterday so we've been busy organizing!! I'll post tomorrow with some pics of all our goodies, as well as an update from my doctors appointment tomorrow. got to go grocery shopping tomorrow night as well. Then it's the LONG weekend...WHOOHOO and we are in SEPTEMBER!!! Yipppeeee!!!<br /><br />Have a blessed Thursday!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-30243637972829569562008-08-26T09:40:00.004-06:002008-08-26T10:24:44.525-06:00Money..Money....MoneyDo you love it or hate it?<br />Is your relationship with your money a healthy one? Do you know what a healthy financial relationship IS???<br /><br />Like a lot of Mama's, I am in charge of the finances and believe that it is my job as a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom) to be smart with the money that comes in and be a good steward with it. I take my job very seriously and feel a great sense of trust that my my husband has entrusted me with this job. I'm not an expert..by ANY stretch! I make mistakes and so does hubby...we're still learning!<br />What I have learned, especially as money becomes more and more scarce and times are getting a bit harder, is to have a healthy relationship with our money. Money needs love and nurturing just as any other family member, it needs tending and understanding. Don't hate it and don't obsess over it, either one is going to cause more pain than necessary. Be thankful for what you have...I'm very serious about this one!! Look around your house and be thankful for each and everything you have.<br /><br />Don't try to spend more than what you have, this will eat you alive. Credit cards and debt will devour your soul...i know this sounds crazy but it's true. If you have racked up your credit cards it keeps you awake at night!! If the Lord has provided you with an income, LIVE WITHIN THAT INCOME!!!<br />It might mean that you cannot have certain things...or better yet, you must save for those items.<br /><br />Realize your WANTS and NEEDS and be honest. This is tough, we live in a society that is constantly bombarding us with media that tells we NEED this or that. It's simply not true. We NEED food, we NEED clothing and shelter. What kinds of items fulfill these needs is where it gets murky. Do we NEED designer clothing? Do we NEED big fancy houses? Only you can decide, but I urge you do think long and hard about it...you'll be surprised! <br /><br />Find joy and happiness in your friends and family, in the end, they're the ones who'll really matter. You're far richer in the time you invest than the money you generate!!! <br /><br />Look at your current finances and decide if you're living above and beyond what you can afford, if you are, then it's time to make changes. You'll feel so much better emotionally and physically. It's tough at first, but after awhile, it really becomes second nature and you will just feel so much better!!<br />There are many resources available to help you and some of them are even free! <br />Find what works for you!<br />For us living without credit cards has been difficult at times (only because of stupid stores who REQUIRE them as proof of identity...like Blockbuster!) but for the most part, it's been a huge relief!! If we need something, we save...sometimes it takes all year!! But it's worth it. I've noticed we have a much higher appreciation for the item after we've worked hard to save up for it, rather than stressed and worked hard to PAY IT OFF. KWIM?!?<br /><br /><br />Just some random thoughts for you on this Tuesday morning!!<br />Be blessed!!!<br /><a href="http://frugalabundance.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/great-depression-vs-current-recession/">Other Random Thoughts</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/DepressionCooking">Learn With Clara about cooking during the depression</a>(I found this link from Maggie's site in the comments section...ooooh what a treasure this is!!!)The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31317034.post-62922849606957811482008-08-22T19:22:00.002-06:002008-08-22T19:31:09.337-06:00Busy, busy...............I know it's surprisingly hard to imagine! I have decided it's time for a fresh new blog, of course I'll post here when I make the move with a link of course!!lol<br />If you would like a sneak peek check out <a href="http://amamainseventhheaven.blogspot.com">HERE!!</a><br /><br />Today I spent some time adding blogs to my bloglist over there...I discovered that it has been a really...reeeaaalllyyy long time since I last visited some of you and you have moved!!!ACK! I haven't decided if I will keep the template I have there or change it to the 3 column one like I have here....we'll see!<br /><br />Not much on the go this weekend, we're taking it easy and I will probably start some of my fall/winter cleaning...just minor stuff. The kids talked me into going through their fall/winter clothes last night, so we'll have to finish folding and putting that stuff away. Bill will be earning hours tomorrow doing some work at a different housing complex from Habitat.<br /><br />What's going on in your neck of the woods?<br />Well, best be going...the children are snacking on ice cream for dessert and they tend to get a bit messy....ya know, just a bit!!lol<br /><br />Blessings!!!The Nurtured Empathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318804059404290272noreply@blogger.com0