Jun. 14, 2007 - I've moved

I have moved my blog to a new site:

Brass Tacks And Basics

Not unhappy here -- it's just that I find blogspot easier to use.

See you there!

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Dec. 26, 2006 - A Crafty Christmas

We took advantage of being "home" this Christmas to make andor finish some Christmas crafts.  Here are my two olders` Christmas stockings.  I bought the kits for these WAYYYYY back in 1999 or 2000, and it`s taken me this long to finally finish them. 




I also dug out another old kit -- one I got at a yard sale YEARS ago for 50c.  The kit was unopened, and dates back to 1978!  I have 3 wise men too, but only got Mary, Joseph and Jesus finished.  This was fiddly but it's soooo beautiful.  Much more so in real life than in the photo.


I've just heard of the celebration of Epiphany today (never heard of it before, LOL!) so maybe I`ll do the wise men to decorate for that, if I have time.

Christmas Cookies?  Of Course!


This year I was very busy with the baby and the kit-making, so the other children decorated all the cookies all by themselves!



They did a great job!


Here is something else Em and Joe put together:


This was posted as a link on homeschoolblogger, but unfortunately I don't know where the link is.  Perhaps if I find it before next Christmas, I'll post it.  It sure was fun to print out on cardstock through the printer. 

Emily is learning to sew.  She made a whole package of presents for Joe.  In the package was a bird mask, a paper snake, a pop-up card, and these fantastic finger puppets -- made all by her, by hand.  Great going Emily!  Joe loves them.


And, here is my best Christmas present.  It is so wonderful and meaningful to have a little baby at Christmas time!

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Dec. 3, 2006 - Excitement Today!

I'm glad to say that we are getting back to normal.  I'm feeling fine, baby Toby is well (he's 4 weeks old today!)


The feeding is going better (just look at that belly!  He's gained 2lbs already!)

Homeschooling has been going fine in spite of the new baby and illnesses and whatnot.  Lulu9 and Joman8 do their work every day.  I help them mostly with their language arts, but apart from that, they do all their reading themselves and help each other with science experiments, history and geography.  It's not too exciting for me but with baby and toddler and laundry and housework and all, it's the best we can do right now.

We had some excitement here today.  Our house is in a small suburb completely surrounded by bushland/plantation/farmlets.  There are several big fires raging at the moment, all around our little suburb.  One was big enough and close enough that neighbors on the outskirts of the suburb were evacuated!  I think we are out of danger now, but, there was some excitement in the neighborhood when the water-carrying helicopters flew in!

I've seen them on the news before, but never up close.  Well, these ones flew in right over the houses, spectators and all, and dropped their hoses right in the lake across from our house!  The round trip from the fire/water drop to the lake/water pickup was about 3 minutes, and there were 3 different copters.  So about every 60 seconds we had a copter fly in, fill up and fly out.  Sometimes there were two at once -- one in the upper part of the lake and one in the lower. 

ALL the neighborhood came out to see -- it was the "talk of the town", for sure!  Here are some photos:

Smoke from the fire


Maverick helicopter flying in over the houses and spectators


Picking up water from the lake


More water pickups



Now I can tell you that the kids were EXTREMELY excited by this, and 2yo JrSpragus can't stop talking about the helicopters.

I guess it's not something you see every day.

Neither is this. 


Yes, that is a 2yo Jr Spragus sleeping at McDonalds and NOT eating his cookies.  This has never happened before and probably never will again.

Oh, and that's Daddy drinking a McDonalds cappuccino.  Here in Australia, our McD's serve up frappes, lattes, cappuccinos and 6 different kinds of tea.  Best coffee in town, I swear.  They also have a variety of cakes and sandwiches and cookies.  It's called a McCafe, and I hear the USA will be getting them soon.  Be glad.  Be very very glad. 

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Nov. 11, 2006 - He's Here! He's Here!

Our little Toby is here!  Officially, he's Tobin James, 6lbs 13oz, born at 5:01am on November 5 (last Sunday morning).

Birth Story for those who are interested:

Spent Saturday cleaning and finishing up a couple of freezer meals.  Hubby went to work in the afternoon.  It was just an average sort of day -- nothing happening.  I sat down to write down cooking directions for the freezer meals, and hubby walked in the door at about 11:00.  He wanted to know if I was heading for bed, but I thought I would finish what I was doing first.  15 minutes later, I had the first contraction that made me think, "Was that a contraction?"  Within another 15 minutes I was pretty sure (but still thinking it might just be Toby having his normally painful active time.) 

Called the midwife at the hospital and she agreed that since it was my 4th, I ought to come in and be checked.  I hadn't stopped to time the contractions or anything-- called my mom to see if she could come and stay with the kids overnight -- so on the 15 minute ride to the hospital I was surprised to have 4 contractions. 

The midwife checked me and found I was not effaced, dilated, couldn't find the cervix since it was so far back still.  But she did listen to me when I said that meant NOTHING when it came to having my babies.  Fortunately she did find that the baby was low and in good position for delivery. 

3 hours of walking the hospital floors later, I finally decided I was tired and went to lay down.  The contractions basically slowed right down (although they were getting strong) and I was really sleepy by then -- 4am-- but I was afraid that they'd send me home and I'd have to start all over again!  So I decided to get up.  Well, the change in position immediately gave me a huge contraction and my water broke.  I was 5 cm dilated -- and baby was born 20 minutes later.

It was the easiest labor and the most painful delivery.  I was in a hurry to get him out so I didn't wait for the nerves to deaden between each contraction -- I just kept pushing -- and that was a mistake.  Talk about ring of fire -- it was horrible.  I had to have some gas after it was all over to deal with the pain of that stretching!  And the delivery of the placenta was equally painful!

But, we're all home now, and he's feeding and sleeping quite well.  He gained half a pound between Tuesday and Friday.  So we are all thankful!

I've been dealing with quite severe post-baby anxiety.  This is my least favorite part of the whole birth process -- it is always the fear.  I hate being so vulnerable and with a new vulnerable little baby! 

Toby has some sort of an eye infection in both eyes.  The doc doesn't like the medicine they use here in Australia, and wouldn't use it for his own kids, so didn't prescribe it for Toby and is waiting for the culture to come back to see what else we might do.  In the mean time, we are hanging in there.

We are SOOOO grateful to God for the safe arrival of our new soft, fuzzy, cuddly, sweet little one!

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Oct. 26, 2006 - Ultrasound Update

Just a quickie because I didn't get a lot of sleep last night -- wanted to update about the ultrasound I had today (38+ weeks).  Last week baby was breech and the OB wanted another ultrasound today to confirm before scheduling a C-Section (although I did find out that there is an OB at the hospital who will deliver breech).

Long story short, the baby is head down now, engaged, in a good position for birth, plenty of fluid, good size (around 7lbs is the estimate), good blood flow in the cord, everything appears to be normal and good to go!

So now, instead of worrying and hoping, we are just waiting!  I still have to meet with the OB tomorrow, but am expecting it to be quick and "easy," LOL.

I prayed a lot about the situation with the baby -- but because of the Bible study I've been doing, it hasn't been my normal "help me get what I want/need/desire, God!"  Through Isaiah and now Jeremiah, it is so clear that God controls everything and he knows my situation -- and that His plans are His plans.  So my prayer has been more to be able to glorify Him in whatever situation he has planned for me, that He will help me surrender my will to His, that in the end I will please Him in everything.  I also asked that IF it was His will, to turn the baby and to make the labor and delivery complication free, and that we all will come out healthy and happy in the end.  MORE than that, though, I hope He will give me the power and ability to please Him no matter what situation arises. 

Some things are so much better when you just surrender control. 

So now, we wait....and see what happens!  God is so good!

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