My Little Corner

Thursday, February 21, 2008 -
long lost me

Wow, it's been forever...

Let's see... Abby's almost 9 months old now. She's taking her first steps-- like she's not busy enough without walking. We're still homeshooling... year #11, and it's been rough. How many times have I wanted to completely give up? I have lost count this year alone. It's been a rough year all around... but things are coming around. We have a new church home, we've made some new friends, we've re-prioritized our life. Seems to be working.

Now-- we find out we're expecting again! This will be #7... I'm still in a haze from the last one, so I should float through this one.... lol Maybe not... but I'm open to advice from moms of many.

So, this is just a quick little update and pop-my-head-in-and-say-hi. Blogging has totally taken a backseat.

Take care all, and God bless.

jen

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Friday, August 24, 2007 -
take a deep breath.... and maybe some medication...

... Posted in Everyday life

I feel like I've been gone from here forever. Life has sure been busy! The baby's 3 months old now, and what a sweetie... it's been a time though...

She had lost a bit more weight than the new baby clinic was happy with so I had to supplement her with bottles. Then she decided she liked them better than me. It took ahile, but she finally started nursing well. She still takes bottles, though- it's about half and half, nursing and bottle feeding. I stopped beating myself up over it and have started to enjoy the fact that if she's hungry someone else can feed her for me. The other kids all love her to pieces. I'd forgotten too how fast they grow-- already into size 3 diapers and 6-9 month size clothes.

Post-partum recovery was amazing. Not a problem- except I have tendonitis in both wrists and it makes it really hard to do pretty much everything. 3 months of it, and I'm not sure if it's getting better or if I've just learned how not to move them!

School for the year never stopped. I got really lazy the last few months of the "regular" school year, and the kids sort of took advantage of it (not that I wouldn't have... but boy, have I learned my lesson.. I hope). We still have a month or so left of stuff to finish up on, then we'll take a break as long as it takes for all my curriculum to come (nothing is getting ordered until we're done).

I have to admit, this has been by far the toughest year for me. Still reeling from a miscarriage, I got pregnant again and had mixed reactions from family and friends. It was a relatively difficult pregnancy (by my easy pregnancy standards, anyway), and then right before the baby came the rug got pulled out from underneath me, so to speak, where our church was concerned. I may write about that someday, but right now it still very much hurts. I may be saved, but boy oh boy, do I ever have a problem with the sin of holding a grudge. Anyway.... it's been a rough year. I can only hope that this next year is a whole lot better.... and that I'll have it in me to be the encouragement my heart desires. Right now I'm pretty dry. I keep singing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" to the baby, hoping it'll soothe my soul.

All for now.

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Thursday, June 7, 2007 -
Baby, baby...

... Posted in Everyday life

Two weeks ago we welcomed our newest addition, Abigail. She was born on May 24th at 11:20am after a VERY short but intense labour and delivery. She weighed in at 7 lbs, 11 1/2 oz, and 21" long. She looks just like our firstborn (who incidently turns 15 in July), in fact, the baby pictures are so alike it's amazing.

I'll be even scarcer around these parts for awhile-- I'd forgotten how much time a newborn takes, even with as much help as I've got. Showering and eating takes priority over computer time when spare time is hard to come by. I'll eventually fill y'all in on the gory details and the fun stuff that's part and parcel of having a large family.... but for now, I'm holding you all in suspense... lol... just one little tidbit of "everyday" life around here....

my second oldest broke her arm... fell off a SOCCER BALL... don't know whatrever posessed her to stand on it. But not surprising, knowing that child!

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007 -
Country living in the city???

... Posted in Everyday life

Well, I don't have a cold now, just a chronically stuffy nose, and I am impossibly round with 4 weeks left to waddle around Moncton. Waddling is just sooo.... not graceful.

On the upside, spring has finally sprung in our neck of the concrete jungle (I'd say woods, but alas, we haven't found a suitable country acreage yet.... lol). Nice, warm, sunny days, and the backyard is de-swampifying itself.

In other news, we discovered that one of our deep-freezes is unsalvageable... it accidently got unplugged and by the time we realized it, it had a decidedly rank odour. Hubby was going to try cleaning it today, but decided against it when he nearly threw up from the smell (that's a pretty good indicator that it's beyond help). So, he and a couple of our kids lugged it outside, and just to keep it company the water cooler that's been sitting idle and broken in the kitchen went out with it. Now, we just need to park an old, beat up car next to them, and we'll be all practiced up for living in Albert County... by the way, I joked with a friend who actually lives in Albert County today (she's minus the beat-up old car in the yard, but she's a newbie.. give her time) that we could just use it for a garbage bin at the end of the driveway.... then what should we see on a drive out her way this afternoon.....? Yup, somebody stole my idea. I really don't belong here. Anyway... big-garbage pick-up is in a few weeks, so I guess the junk can perty up my driveway til then.

Did I mention I have only 4 weeks to go??? And no, I have never delivered before my due date. I am late with everything, this included. At least one could say I'm consistent.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007 -
Point-form update/ pity-party

... Posted in Everyday life

~~My cold isn't nearly so bad now. I'm only a little stuffed up, and the cough I thought was starting never really amounted to anything.

~~I'm going to weekly profiles and doctor's appointments now. It's a pain, but I guess that's just part of getting near the end. And boy, am I glad to be near the end. Pregnancy has it's plusses, for sure, and it's kind of nice to have a valid reason for being round, but by the time you're reallllly round, including your feet, well, it's time to look forward to it being over. I just hope the next 5 weeks go fairly quickly.

~~I miss home. I get this way when I'm pregnant. Well, the last 3, anyway... I had the first 3 in Kentville, NS, and family was nearby, but the last 3 are going to all have been Monctonians. Moncton's city hospital is a good one, but I still miss home. Times like these it would be nice to have my mom, and my sister, and my mom-in-law around. Doesn't help that one of my best friends back home is "marrying off" her youngest daughter this weekend. And we can't go.

~~There are certain people in my life (not family) I have this overwhelming urge to slap right now. I want to go right up one side of them and down another. And no, it's not primarily pregancy hormones driving it... it's being tired of arrogance, and pride, and lies, and assumptions, and I'm just so sick of it. This so helps the blood pressure issue.

~~It's cold here still. And rainy. But the snow is melting.

~~Pancakes aren't good for blood sugar.... trust me. Yummy, but dangerous.... lol

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Friday, April 13, 2007 -
Thar she blows...

... Posted in Everyday life

I have a cold.

I feel yuck.

Hey Mom-- remember "My nosey, my nosey, my poor nosey" ??? That's about it. I'm stuffed up enough I can barely get that signature foghorn effect to work when I blow by doze. I'm so glad to see a weekend... I don't have to make my brain work to explain lessons for two whole days!!!

I am so thankful for certain things... soft kleenexes... popsicles... orange juice... and friends like Jodie and Melanie who will help me wallow in my misery. Thank you girls!!! And I'm thankful for daughters who love to bake, and especially the fact that everything got cleaned up today when they made butterscotch chip cookies.

I'm going to go shower... a nice, hot, steamy one that will hopefully help me breathe. And with any luck, I'll be able to sleep without anyone waking me up because they dreamed a bear was chasing them, or to have to get up to go pee a dozen times (good luck on that one, at 34 weeks pg), or to feel like I'm drowning in my own drool. Oh, boy, what a lovely picture I'm painting, eh? Ehhhh, whatever.

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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 -
Life and then some

... Posted in Everyday life

Well, I "officially" have gestational diabetes. You can find out about it HERE... so I don't have to explain it. I'm tired. I was told that it also meant I'd be going for biophysical profiles (a type of ultrasound) every 2 weeks til 36 weeks, then weekly... I went for my first one (at 32 weeks) this week and they informed me that no, it's every week. Lovely. I asked what the point of it is, and they said "to check on baby's progress"... which one would would assume meant weight... but that's not routine (doctor has to specifically request that). So I am confused. The main thing they seem to be concerned about is that the baby doesn't get too big, which would cause delivery to be more difficult... but they aren't checking baby's size??? *sigh* I have no problem with being preventative, but it's still a lot of taxpayer money (thankfully, I'm in Canada, where medical testing doesn't come out of pocket), not to mention a pain in the ... you know. I'm not big on intervention. Plus this really throws a wrench in trying to homeschool, and keeping any kind of schedule. The word of the day is flexibility, folks....

Now... in other news.... I don't have much. Obsessing over school and food seem to pretty much take up my life. I'm praying for Catina's family. Running kids to dentist appointments. Making curriculum choices for next year (oh, wait... that falls under school too...). Trying to find time to read a Karen Kingsbury novel. Shopping for baby things (we have these second-hand places called Frenchies here, and they are wonderful!!!).

And my wonderful husband came home-- after doing the grocery shopping and buying all kinds of yummy things I'd probably not get but want anyway-- with a potted mum for me!!! Such a sweetie.

So that's it for now.

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Saturday, March 24, 2007 -
Pregnant and cranky

... Posted in Everyday life

Yup. That's me.

The latest Homeschool Minute newsletter (March 21st edition) really caught my eye-- it was about homeschooling while pregnant. Now, I can't say I've been ready to throw in the hs'ing towel this time around, but I've possibly made my kids hope I would. Boys oh boys, have I been cranky. And I mentally (ok, maybe sometimes not so mentally) roll my eyes at those who tell me me they could never homeschool because they just don't have enough patience. Good grief. Well, as my mom always says... "this too shall pass"...

Actually, homeschooling while pregnant isn't that big a deal. The biggest challenge is probably lumbering around the kitchen table to help those who need it. I didn't really get sick this time around, but I'm definitely more tired and this early daylight savings time change doesn't help. I'm kind of into the home stretch now, with the school year and this pregnancy (32 weeks this week!). I'm over the "how are we ever going to get finished before the baby comes" stage and into the "who cares if it's all done by then?" stage. I've even started going over curriculum choices for next year, in between mentally listing all the baby stuff I need (which is actually quite a lot, even being baby #6, seeing that I've given nearly everything away from previous babies... duhhh). I'm still waffling over English choices for the two oldest girls-- they'll be doing grades 8 and 10. And yet again, I'm switching math programs for the little girls (grades 1 and 3)... I've at least narrowed those to what the choices won't be. But that's another post.

So, here's to pregnancy, and hormones, and teaching our children at home. It's not impossible. Just every so often you need to give your head a shake and remind yourself what's important. Mainly, not to alienate every member of your family ! ! !

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007 -
We go through it too...

... Posted in Everyday life

I haven't blogged much lately. I've never been much of one to be at a loss for words (the exact opposite), but sometimes life gets in the way.

School has been a struggle for me. Ever just feel like you just don't want to be bothered? If it weren't for courses that practically teach themselves, we'd be in real trouble. I'm barely getting things marked. Some things I just don't. Housework is sliding. Sounds like depression? Not exactly-- I've been there before-- and I don't feel the same.

Let's see.... friends are moving back home from out west. We miss them, we're looking forward to seeing them again.... but I know it just won't be the same. I have a friend from the CHB (see sidebar) who has been struggling with a brain tumour for over a year now. Just got word she is more than ready to go home.... she and her husband have great faith, they are born-again believers, but it's still hard. I'm pregnant with our 6th child, and have had a few scares, especially after losing one last April. And today, got a call from the doctor that there was something they want to investigate further regarding the baby's heartrate during my ultrasound in December. *sigh*..... and then the usual spiritual battles and discouragment regarding ministry opportunities.

So, there it is. A heavy heart, and lots of things falling by the wayside.

I so want to be an encouragment to other homeschoolers. This ain't it. But you know, I know homeschooling is still the right choice. I'm not perfect, nor do I pretend to be. Been doing this for 10 years now, and I have good days (or months), and I have bad ones. But I keep on slugging away at it, and maybe, just maybe, someone who thinks they can't do it because of whatever, or a newbie who wants to quit because they don't match the ideal portayed in the Sonlight calalogue (or any catalogue/ magazine-- I'm not picking on Sonlight), will realize that real homeschooling families go through crap too. And we get through it.

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Friday, December 15, 2006 -
Bow to the bunny

... Posted in Everyday life

Well, not really. We've had this little guy since September and life sure is NOT dull. He's a mini-rex/ Himalayan mix, and his name is Cookie. I think I blogged about him before but I'm too lazy to go see if I did and link back to it. Anyway, I have pictures now, so I'm posting one:

Isn't he cute?

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