• Dec. 21, 2006
Big Catch Up Entry
Okay, here's the rundown. It's been 6 weeks? since I posted.
We live in the Pacific NW and made it through last week's major windstorm with only a couple of bumps. Winds near our house hit 75 mph. Listening to those gusts rock our 92 year old house kept me fervently praying for several hours. The house groaned and creaked. All our trees made it, our power stayed on (that put us in the minority), and nothing hit the house. We did lose a couple of shingles off the roof, blessedly they are near the edge of the eaves, so we can wait to get them fixed.
The biggest bump is that our entire house shifted slightly (more) off plumb. Our back door no long deadbolts. We either have to rehang the door or move the strikeplate. We have metal screen security doors that do deadbolt, so we are still able to secure our house. So, again, we can wait to fix the door until our lives aren't quite so hectic.
Baby #5 is about to be booted out. I'm 37.5 weeks, the midwife says he is about 8 to 8 1/2 pounds, fully engaged, I'm 2 cm dialated and having tons of unproductive bh contrax. And I'm just plain done. I'm tired, very crabby and uncomfortable. My mw swept my membranes yesterday and my chiropractor did an adjustment that can "help". Tonight after dh gets home, I'll be trying a couple different home inductions methods, with the blessing of my mw. Hopefully a baby will appear within the next few days!
We joined the fake tree crowd this year. Our living area is so small and already full of needed furniture, that finding a real tree that would be slender enough to fit in the one space possible for it, would be difficult to say the least. And frankly, I'm tired of spending $30 for a tree that I recycle 3 weeks later. We found a nice, slender, 7.5' tall prelit tree at Target for $90. So it will pay for itself in just a couple of years...and no more needles to sweep!
Our not very old washer croaked a couple of weeks ago and we were able to replace it with a nice front loader! I can't wait to see how much our water bill drops! But really the best part is that the older girls can do laundry without me...so I don't have to drag myself up and down the very steep and narrow cellar stairs. What a blessing!!
Homeschooling is still going, just doing the "lite" version: reading and math. After much research, prayer and discussion with dh, we have settled on a curriculum. I was finding the task of picking and choosing different things for different subjects overwhelming. And knowing it would only get worse as the children got older was also discouraging. So when we get our tax refund in February, we will purchasing the Tapestry of Grace curriculum. I like the literature based-unit study theory of this package. All the children will be studying the same thing. We can tailor the assignments to our lifestyle, doing more or less depending on our needs as a family and the needs/abilities of each child. And over time, it is very affordable. Another plus is that several families in our church use this, so I will have plenty of IRL support.
Our Christmas plans this year are by necessity quite low key. :) We have plans to visit the local zoo's Zoo Lights this Saturday night with some friends. Dean will take the children if I have had the baby...and probably even if I don't! On the hand, I've heard that lots of walking can get a labor started!
I've purchased all the gifts for our children and just need to wrap them...something I usually do on Christmas Eve. I had planned to make fudge and cookies and put them in tins and also make quilted square coaster for our parents & friends. But my energy level is so low...so unless I get a burst of nesting energy soon...people may just get their gifts sometime in January!
Speaking of energy, mine is running out. I really need to get some kitchen work done. My oldest girls are doing great at helping keep the house tidy and doing the laundry, but I haven't trained them on washing dishes yet, so that is still my job. One I've been neglecting the last few days.
May you all have a blessed Christmas day!!
Comments
• Dec. 26, 2006
Untitled Comment
Posted by mumof5
Loved reading your update - keep us posted. I am now entering that low energy thing big time - and I'll only be at 30 weeks this Thursday. Being pg is definitely most of it - but chasing my 18 mth old around is very tiring too - and one thing or another has been waking me up around 4 or 5am every morning. I'm tired of being tired. Don't feel like my energetic - get stuff done sort of self.
Looking forward to hearing your baby news!
