Winter is here!

We received winter earlier than normal here. Actually, the snow arrived on the last day of fall. We have between 4 1/2" and 5", just the right amount to play in, but still be able to get around in. Well, sorta. If you don't consider our driveway. Shawn had fun going up it sideways, and Sunday morning on our way to meeting, I didn't have fun going down sideways! That big old oat tree was way to close for my comfort!
We enjoyed sledding with the neighbors on Sunday afternoon. Noah had a great time, with Hannah and Julia escorting him up and down the hill. This was the first year Josh was able to take his own sled up and ride down all by himself! How fast my little man is growing. Zach built a nice fort, where he and Daniel had snowball fights.
Everyone is healthy, for now! Noah's burn healed up so nicely, just white lines on his foot now where the blisters were.
We do have a new inside pet! Rusty, the dog that showed up here quite a while ago, came back. I gave him to Dad back then, and he came back here on Dec. 3rd. We had been thinking of getting another inside dog, so we decided to give him a try. I took him in and gave him 2 baths. He is an awesome dog! He is already housebroke, even after living outside at Dad's for several months he hasn't had any accidents upstairs, yet. He also tolerates a lot from Noah, like tail pulling and neck squeezing, and of course I shouldn't forget climbing on his back like he is a horse. He rarely barks, and we've only lost a few toys to his teeth! Hopefully me pointing out his good traits doesn't change after this post! We think he is around 2, and the only problem we have with him is caging him when we leave.
School is working out nicely, teacher is kinda rough on them, not giving them 2 full weeks off like the public school kids have. They also won't be having snow days here, or rarely if they do! They do have the benefit of staying home, and only working in the morning. Fair trade I think!
We had our winter celebration with the children on Sunday, and we exchanged gifts and made and decorated sugar cookies, in between playing in the snow. Here is a really cute picture of Penny, she enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper!
Well, I plan to rearrange some closets today, and the hours are slipping away. Happy Holidays to you all, and may the next year bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.

Moving along

Sorry for the long spell and no posts!

Noah's foot has completely healed, or at least has dried up. The only reminder is the white lines, which is so much better to look at instead of the nasty open wound, and Noah himself. Everytime I take off either his PJ's or his sock, he always says,"Booboo." with a sad little face and in his baby soft voice that just cuts to the heart every time! I have started distracting him every time I change him, hoping he will eventually not say this to add to my guilt trip.

We went from Noah's injury to Peanut, Beauty's 5 month old colt. Beauty was bred to a stallion smaller than her which has caused all of his problems. I ended up having Dad take Peanut to the vet to see why he was limping on his front hooves first, then dragging his back legs. They said his stifle area was swollen and did x-rays, blood work, and a physical exam on Peanut. It basically comes down to the way he is growing, and being a mini. He has a 60% survival rate, which is depressing for the kids and I. I am in turmoil wondering if I should have him put down or not. I can't imagine doing that, but I don't want him to have to live a life of pain and being confined to the barn. The vets are hoping he will outgrow this at 1 year of age when he should be completely grown, if we can just bear to watch him that long, and if he doesn't go down before then and not be able to get up at all. He can only move in about a 6' radius right now, and that is pushing it. Sometimes I have to lift him up to his feet. Good thing he only weighs 83 lbs! I have been giving him medication 3 times a day for the past 2 weeks, to help in case of infection in the bones. So....., this has turned into quite an expensive little ordeal, and still not sure what the outcome will be. Here is a picture of the little guy, being wheeled for x-rays at the vets.

Noah update

Here is a picture of Noah's burn after 5 days.

It looked worse after 5 days than it did after 2 hrs. I snapped this while we were at the doctor's office on Saturday morning, waiting on the Dr. to come in and check. I had to take Noah back again on Monday morning, making it a trip to the Dr.s every 48 hours for the first week. On Wednesday, Shawn and I are to try to dress it and check on it ourselves. I watched the nurse on Saturday, she had a different technique than our regular Dr. had in dressing the burn. I thought to myself, I hope he doesn't get an infection from the way this is being done. Well, on Monday, our reg. Dr. John said it was starting to get red, and he put him on medicine, just to be safe. Unless it gets redder, our next trip back is scheduled for Friday.

Here is a picture of the green cast the different nurse put on on Saturday.

He was very fussy on Saturday afternoon/ evening. I think a lot of it had to do with the wrap, hurting his little foot. It wasn't soft like the other one, and didn't bend when he walked. He has the original type of cast on now, and doing much better!

Major injury

I wanted to report a major injury Noah suffered this week. On Monday night, Oct. 5th, while I was canning carrots and making supper, Hannah was playing violin, and Zach was playing his harmonica, Hannah called out Noah was crying. I went to him, and found him in my bathroom sink, with the water running. Hannah followed me in, and we thought he was upset about the cold water. How wrong we were, the cries quickly turned to screams and I realize this is all hot water. I turn off the water and extract him from the sink. I knew I needed to get his clothes off so I quickly removed them. Thankfully, they were a thick -button pants, one piece set. After I removed them, I noticed the red on his leg, but thought thankfully this isn't too bad. Well, he now is screaming in earnest, and tears really flowing. I then realize his sock is still on and soaking wet. I pull it off, and feel sick. The sick is angry red, with small blisters. I don't know what to do, but thought I need to get water on this, and put it under cold water. The skin just sorta rolls off. Sorry for the graphic description, but Noah may want to recall when he is older. (I'm so sorry, Noah. I wish I could be everywhere at once, or have kept you in a padded, gated area! You love to climb, even after the accident, this week I've removed you from the kitchen table more times than I can count, and my computer desk ledge, my headboard, the piano. It will be a relief when you get out of this stage, ((by the way, you are the only climber Mommy and Daddy have)).). I manage to call Shawn who is on his way home from work, only 10 min. away, and my sister Diana to come get the other children. We start to head to the hospital, when I think to call our pediatrician. He tells me from what I tell him, we can get some polysporin and advil, and bring him to the office the next day. I took him in, and the Dr. dressed it and put a cast on it, after scrubbing it. He said it was a deep second degree burn, and that we should turn down our water heater. I told him Shawn already did that the night he got burned. He wanted to recheck in 48 hrs, I took him back yesterday. He thought he'd be out of the cast, but it was deeper than he orginally thought, and that he'd have to recast and we'd need to come back in 48 hrs later again. He is making sure Noah doesn't end up with a staff infection, due to the large open wound on top of his left foot.

So, on Sat. morning, we are to go back to the Dr. at 8:15 a.m. He will have to be recast again, then another recheck on Monday, and I may be able to start dressing it here at home. Well, Shawn will that is! Here is a few pictures of when it first happened and the burn cast. Thankfully I don't have pictures of what the burn looks like now, it is 110% worse looking now, than it was then. This actually looks good, now all the area of the burn is missing all skin, bleeding, and seeping.I like to think he is saying, "Oh Mom, I still love you!" in this picture, and it definetely shows just how ornery he is. Notice the cat sleeping in the background? She is taking a much needed nap, after being chased by Noah most of the day :). On a better note, here is the carrots I was canning.Good weekend to all, here is a parting shot of Noah playing, and me hoping his foot heals and all goes well.

13 years together

Today is our anniversary. Happy anniversary, dear. Such a weird day we are having, too. Shawn left for work at 7 this morning, the children and I went through our home school routine, and in between I canned 7 pints of tomato sauce and made an anniversary cake for us. Shawn came home a little after 3 p.m., and he is heading back to work a little before 6p.m. If all goes well, he should be home around 10p.m.
So, not too romantic, not even a lot of time together today, but good for me to remember its not the day, or what we do or don't do that matters, its the marriage that counts. Thanks for all you put up with Shawn, and may we have a blessed future together, Lord willing.

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Happy Anniversary to Karen and Chris!(Shawn's parents)

Week 3 of homeschooling!

We are easing into this adventure, and what a wonderful time we are having! We all love it, especially me getting to spend more time with my children. You always hear how fast they grow, and I know for myself growing up, how true this is. I want to spend as much time with my little ones as I can, for I know before I am ready, they will be spreading their wings and starting a new chapter in their lives. This week I think we are finally getting the hang of the schedule, and how to best spend our time.
Imagine fall arriving already! Just 5 days ago, the black birds starting their annual fall meeting around our area, in preperation of the flight south. Not sure exactly what type of birds they are, they are black with orange bellies. We are amazed at the number that appear, and how loud they can get. When they all get here, I hope to video them and put on my blog, so the children can look back and remember the feel and smell of fall. The leaves have been steadily falling off too. Due to the extreme dry summer, most aren't turning beautiful colors, just brown. Maybe we will get a little rain to change that. We did have a strange summer, it really only got hot before convention, and only a few weeks of rain here and there.
Here is a cute little video of Noah spending time with Peanut. Pardon my laugh, if you could have seen it in person!

In other news, we have a new musical instrument being played in our home. Zachariah started taking harmonica lessons 2 weeks ago. He is amazingly good! So much so that his teacher asked him if he would like to be in the recital that is in 3 weeks! He said he normally would not ask but Zach is doing so good he thinks he can do it. He is going to try to play a bluegrass number called Wildwood Flower. Great job, Zach! I enjoy listening to Hannah and Zach playing together,(violin and harmonica). Have a good day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHAWN!!

Happy Birthday, Shawn.
Today was union meeting, so his birthday lunch was at Dad's house for the union meeting potluck. I planned on baking a birthday cake, with homemade icing and Dora's decorations :), you know, the works, but Shawn wanted carrot cake instead. So, Walmart did the honors of the birthday cake this year. The children made several homemade birthday cards, with pictures to go with them. We all enjoyed a Sunday afternoon nap, then Shawn's mom had us over for cake and ice cream tonight. Anyway, on your day we wanted to say; We hope you had a nice one and we are so thankful to be sharing this life with you!

(The surprise shot by Dora that he didn't even know I took!)

Just some pictures

Conventions, garden harvest, school starting, summer ending!

What a busy last couple of weeks we have had. Our favorite of course, and much needed, was the privelage of 2 full time conventions. We have wonderful family, and neighbors, that helped with the animal care to enable us to be free to go. The conventions seemed extra special this year, like we were able to take in all that we heard, and renewed the desire to give our all. Some of the thoughts we heard; [If we love Jesus, it will help us say yes, it doesn't matter what the question is.][ Here we are sitting in the light, in the future we want to walk by the light,][ Don't underestimate the power of the world, don't overestimate that we will always love God,] [Bitter tears hurt painfully, be careful of little steps that lead to bigger steps that cause bitter tears.][We are known by the company we keep, seek the right company-those that can strengthen and encourage when needed. Keep close to those putting their best in this-keep close to those gaining the victory.]
The Monday we returned from our 2nd convention was quite busy. I took Josh(and my other 3 and my niece) to the dentist for 4 cavities due mostly because of our hard water. When we got home we had a quick lunch, then I mowed grass for 1 1/2 hours while the children played. I saw the garden needed harvested while mowing, so I picked close to 100 ears of corn, both sweet and silver queen, pulled some carrots, and some nice tomatoes after mowing. The children helped me husk the corn, then I boiled and cut off what we didn't eat for the freezer. I ended up with 12 quarts of cut corn in the freezer. I also did several loads of laundry, you can image how quickly it piles up for 6 people! Time for supper, then off to work to finish scrubbing the tile I didn't get to, along with the regular cleaning. I think I dozed off about as fast as I hit the pillow! I thought I would record that day for future references, when I am feeling lazy, I can look back and remember. So many people tell me they don't know how I do it,(I think they mean care of the children, the husband, the house, the laundry, the garden, the animals, my cleaning job, etc.!) but I don't feel that way at all. I feel it is part of my life, I dearly love my husband and children, and the work that goes with it is my reward here on earth. So thankful for good health that I can even do the little I do.
I have started the course of homeschooling my oldest 2 children, with some learning for Josh too. I am so thankful Shawn encouraged me to try it when the thought first came to mind at the end of the school year 2009.
I'm not even sure why I thought to in the first place, but the desire to do so was strong, so I talked it over with Shawn. He wasn't entirely into it before, but one Sunday morning a few weeks ago, on the way home from meeting, he felt too this is the direction we should take. Our first week was wonderful! I only wish 6 years ago I would have started with tiny 5 year old Hannah. I imagine there will be days it gets crazy and I wonder if I am crazy, but my children are here, and we live in a country that I can teach them about God, here at home anyway, so I will do the best I can do for them.
Well, the rest of my family is enjoying a little nap before our late afternoon adventure, {The home school group we have joined, is meeting at a lake for a picnic/pow-wow camping adventure. Our neighbors are going and we are looking forward to visiting and catching up!} so I think I will go join them. Will post some pictures soon!

New housepet, new friends

We have a new house pet. About two and a half weeks ago, we brought one of Minnie's kittens in the house. We were considering a puppy, but the cost of the one we want, plus potty training, and barking during meeting, we decided since we already had 5 kittens, and they were litter trained to just select one of them. So, we introduce Penny.

All the animal babies are growing as fast as summer is speeding past. This is a summer I think we will always remember, because it has brought us some new friends! We have had the privelage of spending time with a family close to us, that also has 4 children very close in age to our 4. Little friendships are blooming, and adult ones too! We are planning a trip to the Lake today, and have enjoyed a few suppers together.

Last week, Shawn and I took the children on a small getaway. We went camping and to an amusement park for a few days. It rained the first day camping, then the next day at the park, but the third day the weather was great. On our way home we stopped to offer help with work day at Yellow Springs and drop off our camper(even though it was after lunch and we didn't help very much, so peaceful to be on the convention grounds).

Came home to a great surprise. Well,... great for me. Shawn didn't seem too thrilled about it. At my Mom's funeral, someone sent an orchid. I have had this flower for 4 1/2 years now. It always gets 4 to 6 blooms, but before they open, the buds drop off. While we were away, one of the buds finally opened. I didn't even know what color it was going to be, but it is so beautiful. This picture doesn't do it justice, but here it is.

Our vacation did have a bad note to it. Little Noah was climbing on the bench next to the table, and lost his balance. He received his first black eye due to falling into the corner of the table. I felt so sick for him, I know it was very painful due to the location, very corner of his eye, and the lump that popped out. Thankful it didn't damage his eye. We have decided this is our accident prone child. Sunday evening while our new friends were visiting, he fell in the barn and landed on the concrete, on his sore eye of course, and on his forhead. He is quite the site right now.

Well, convention in a few weeks, major decision in our lives Shawn and I are praying about for our children and have been contemplating all summer long, and me way behind on posting, turns this into too long of a post, sorry. Happy day!

We welcome another little baby goat, Cream

Last Saturday, June 27th, I took our 2 baby goats to our vets farm for medication. Erica told me that the momma to one of our babies died on the previous Sunday. She had twins, so I ended up bringing the lone twin home. Quite the challenge to bottle feed 3 at once, now we have one for each of the older children. Sometimes in the morning they sleep in and I get to feed all at once. So here is a running log of our animals....Horses Beauty and her colt, Peanut. Goats, Tinkerbell and babies, Coco, Cream and Snow. Bunny, Floppy. Dogs, Lucy and Benjy. Cats, Eli, Cassy, Minnie and her 5 kittens, Scooter, Midnight, Daisy, Snowball, and Princess. Oh, and our 2 birds, Tweety and Rileigh. What a zoo!

Happy 10th Birthday, Hannah!

Happy Birthday, Hannah! Wow, today you are 10! In the double digits! We are so proud of you and want you to know how special you are to us, our only girl. Daddy's little girl would be a good way to describe you. You have such a soft heart, and we are so thankful you have the desire to serve God at such a young age. I know it isn't easy for you at school, being different than the other children, but always remember God sees and knows the trials and temptations. If you ask for His help, He will give it.

I remember when I was pregnant for you and anxiously awaited your arrival, our first. Your due date was July 18th, which was your Great-Grandpa's birthday, and our cousin, Becky's too. However, Mommy was under a lot of stress at work, and went into pre-term labor at 30 wks. The doctors were able to hold you off for 6 more weeks by putting Mommy on complete bed rest. Grandma took care of me while Daddy worked. You came into this world 6 lbs, 12oz. and was 19.25" long. Impressive for being 4 wks early.You just qualified being called premature, as 36 wks or earlier is considered premature. You stayed in the special care nursery for 6 days, with breathing problems and jaundice. In fact you ended up on a wallabe light at home for 2 wks. We called you our glow worm. At your first convention, I carried you around in my sweatshirt, and no one even knew you were there. You weighed a mere 11 lbs then, at 8 wks of age. Oh how scrawny you were for quite some time. Still are, except much taller now. Please don't feel bad how tall you are, God made you this way and we love you for you! Even if you grow up taller than me! Thank you for all the help you give me, and for watching after your little brothers when Mommy or Daddy has to do a quick chore with the animals or yard or laundry. You are so special and we love you so much!

Picnic Fun

On Saturday we went to Rick and Tabi's home for a picnic/get together with 4 families, 6 adults and 12 children. The boys far outnumbered the girls, 10 boys ages 8 and under, and 2 girls, ages 9 and 8. We had a wonderful time visiting and the children had lots of fun playing in the yard. Great food, too! I love going to these get togethers for Shawn and I to have fellowship with other professing people, but also for the children to play with other children of the same upbringing. My boys rarely get the chance to play with other boys, and Hannah had fun with Lauren .

We also took the kids to the Lake for the first time this year. Noah had a blast, and is quite the brave little fellow.

Zach found a fawn!

Yesterday afternoon, while I was cleaning out the barn, the children were playing in the yard with the baby goats and on their swing set. I ran in the house to grab something and Hannah comes tearing in the house completely breathless saying, "Come quick there's a deer in our swing set!!" I fly out the house collecting the 5 children not sure what I'd find(one attacked our house dog,Maggie, last fall). Between the mini slide and big play gym, there I found the baby fawn! Zachariah found it while doing the monkey bars. He thought he was seeing things due to the medication he received earlier from the dentist(pulled a tooth that he cracked on a slide accident on Mothers Day that had a bad case of infection and the dentist put in a spacer) and called for Emily to see if it was really a fawn. I was able to get some pictures.Can you see him?We put up more hay last night, 277 bales. That brings the total to close to 1375. Not bad for a first cutting, small operation farm! Dad said last night he has 4 more fields to cut and then we'll have a break till 2nd cutting. Both baby goats are finally nursing from their bottles really well. Hannah, Zach and Josh help feed them their bottles. I am so thankful they have the privelage of farm life, even though we don't live on a farm(we have 3 1/2 acres). Just enough for our animals and the kids to have freedom to run and play. Getting ready for meeting here this evening, so I'll get back to work. :)

Hannah's idea of a wedding ceremony

I have to post this one for Hannah for future references. She is playing Barbie with her cousin, Emily. They are playing with the fancy Barbie dresses that a lady from our convention kindly made and gave(she tries to give all the girls 8-10 yrs old in our state a box of homemade Barbie clothes!) to Hannah. She had the wedding dress on the Barbie and her and Emily were performing a ceremony for "Nick" and "Jen". She asked Nick, "Do you promise to love Jen forever and serve her?" HAHAHA! I laughed so hard at her misunderstanding of the vows. Can't wait to tell Shawn he must have missed out on that part of our vows! I imagine he will say I take care of your animals don't I? Anyway, oh the innocence of a child.

Babies are here!

We now have our newest animal babies! We picked them up on Friday evening, they rode home on Hannah's and my lap! They just turned 2 wks old today, and they are 2 baby boy goats. We got them from our vet, Erica, for free to help settle Tinkerbell down. (Beauty doesn't want her around because of her colt and Tinkerbell is rather upset about that.) Ryan & Vanessa are getting 2 older ones this week also.

We are bottle feeding to help tame them and get them use to us. The brown one, CoCo, had a hard time getting the hang of the bottle, the white one, Snow, got the hang of it after 2 days. Tonight before we headed to the barn to stack hay, I tried once more to see if CoCo would take the bottle so Erica didn't have to come over, and he downed it, and half of another! The children are having a blast with so many babies here, kittens, colt, goats, human baby!

It is also hay season. Dad square baled on Saturday and after the graduation party (for a fellow my mother started babysitting when he was 11 mos old until she passed away), Shawn, Dad, Tad, and Spanky(Aaron) stacked while I mowed grass. Kids played at barn, and Noah helped me. Around 250 bales on Saturday.

Then on Sunday, Dad and Tad baled again. We don't like to do that on Sundays, but the weather was great and the hay was ready. Shawn and I, plus Dad, Tad, and Spanky(Aaron) put up Sundays hay, 480 bales. Tonight, Shawn, myself, and Spanky put up 341 bales. Tad and Dad helped in between baling and bringing wagon loads to the barn. Dad has a neat hay wagon that puts the hay in while baling, so no more picking bales up off the field and that saves a ton of work! They plan on more tomorrow and probably Thursday too, if the weather is nice.

I also had a yard sale on Saturday at my sister Angie's house. We had a great turn out, and I made $83. That's a lot of kid clothes. I had a quarter up to $2 on most of the clothes, also sold a baby walker($5), ride on toy($4), travel cradle($4), etc.

I tilled the garden today, and got a large rock stuck in the tines. Good ole Dad to the rescue! Took the tiller up to him and he removed the rock after a lot of pounding and finally removing the tines. Tomorrow Zach goes to the dentist to have his tooth taken out.

Here are a few pictures, please excuse my farmers tan! We are outside with the animals so much, that we all have good farmers tans going on!CoCo and Snow. Dora's turn with the stubborn one. Like the bib?Shawn's has the hang of it!Swinging with Snow.
Kittens in a small food dish.Don't want to forget this baby, he's the best out of all 9 babies living here now!