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Nov. 22, 2009
Finally Done with Kidney Stuff
| Well, I hope so anyway. On Monday, I had my 5cm stone blasted with sound waves to break it up. It went really well. They got done faster than I expected. They also broke it up small enough that I didn't need a stint. I have had some pain with it. They gave me a prescription for pain killers, but they make me dizzy. I have a recheck next week and then hopefully we are done dealing with my kidney stuff for a very long time. |
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Nov. 22, 2009
Discouraged With Homeschooling
This is our 5th year of homeschooling and our most difficult yet. I know that a lot of it has to do with having a mobile baby. It seems like every time that we get into a good schooling groove, I have to stop to nurse Parker to sleep. This disrupts things and it is hard to get the boys back on track.
The boys are still not really making friends with the homeschool kids. Every Park Day, someone gets invited to someone else's house. My kids are never invited and it really hurts their feelings. I have tried to encourage them to be proactive and do the inviting. I have told them that if we start inviting people over than they are more likely to get invited back. Unfortunately they say that they don't really like those kids anyway.
So they only really hang out with the neighbor kids which are all public schooled. Which makes my kids want to be public schooled also. So they give me attitudes about doing their work. I find that very draining emotionally.
I still really feel that God has called me to homeschool them. Please pray that things will get easier. |
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Nov. 22, 2009
Christmas Photos and Knitting Presents
I like to do family photos for Christmas. It makes a good semi-inexpensive gift for my family. Especially for the ones that don't get to see the boys very often. I actually go to two different places, so that I can use coupons to get all the photos that I want for the lowest prices.
The other thing that I am doing for Christmas presents this year is knitting ornaments. I am making these little sweater ornaments. It is kind of fun. I am using up a lot of my leftover bits and pieces of yarn right now. Some of them are coming out very cute. |
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Nov. 22, 2009
Football Season Has Finally Ended
| Last night was the championship game. Kodi's team won 36-22. They went undefeated this year. He was so excited. I am kind of glad it is over. I didn't get any pictures with my camera this time. The lens cover on my camera is stuck half way open and is unusable. That is one reason that I am not blogging much. I don't have any pictures to show. |
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Oct. 18, 2009
Football
Kodi is playing football again this season. He so loves it. He is getting to play more this year. He is on the Bears again and is really getting to know the coaches better. So far this year they are undefeated. Not only that but check out these stats:
Bears 68 - Cowboys 0
Bears 58 - Jets 0
Bears 23 - Colts 20
Bears 35 - Cowboys 0
The game against the Colts was very intense. They only pulled ahead in the last quarter.
Oh, and I have a football problem. Kodi wants to continue to play ball through high school and college. The city league ends at 7th grade, so he can play next year as well. He doesn't want to play 6 man football with the large homeschool group that is 45 minutes away. He wants to be able to be seen by college scouts. I however feel that God is leading me to homeschool them through high school. If I let Kodi go to public school then Eman will be angry if I don't let him go to. So I am praying about what to do in this situation. |
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Oct. 18, 2009
I Must Be Doing Something Right.
I know I haven't been very good about posting on here again. I have been waiting until something pops into my head and says, "Hey, I should blog about this." Plus my lens cap on my camera is stuck half open, so I am not getting any new pictures right now.
Anyway, on to my point. Every now and then I get discouraged. I think that maybe I am not teaching the boys enough academically or spiritually. They still fight a lot. Which I know some of it is just normal boy behavior and a lot is probably not. However I have noticed this: Our having a new baby has done some growing in the older boys. Sure they have their moments like tonight when Parker needing me to nurse him to sleep disrupted our family game night or when Eman wanted to go hang out with friends but Parker was sleeping and I needed to drive Kodi to football practice. At Park Day on Friday, the boys went off with the other kids while Parker and I visited with the moms. The kids all head back when they notice that Park Day is almost over. They hang out nearby talking while they wait for the moms to say that it is time to go. Both of them came separately over to Parker to say hi and make faces at him. Like they missed him in the hour or so that they were away from him. Then Saturday during Kodi's football game, Kodi came over twice and checked on Parker when he was on the sidelines. Another kid almost backed into me and I kind of made a joke so that he was aware that we were behind him. Kodi said to him, "Watch out! My baby brother is sleeping there." They are very protective of him. Last night we went to Parker's aunt and uncle's house. Parker was getting to the point where he was ready to go home and go to bed. He was a little bit fussy and Kodi was holding him trying to get him happy. Parker's cousin who is two came up and slapped him in the face. Kodi got very upset and started telling her not to hit people. He was getting so mad that I thought that he might hit her. I got him calmed down, but he was still like, "You don't hit a baby that is already fussy." |
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Sep. 16, 2009
Knitting Group
| About a year ago, I saw a flyer posted on the wall of my library announcing a group for knitters. I decided to go visit it. It turned out that the lady leading the group was a woman I always saw at the library's summertime program with her granddaughter. She is a very sweet woman and had complimented me on one of my hand knitted purses. I enjoyed the meeting but since it was only once a month, it was difficult for me to remember which week it was on amidst homeschooling and life. So, I just kept forgetting to go. Back in June, there was a new flyer up announcing it again. This time it was once a week. I went once before my surgery and after my recovery I have started going almost every week. I have a blast. Parker and I are the youngest ones there. The other women are in their late 50's to 60's. We all knit and/or crochet and just chat about all kinds of things. It has been fun to see the latest projects that everyone is working on and to show off what I've been working on. Victoria (the leader) used to work as a fashion designer in New York. She is very innovative with her projects. She designs things and combines yarns in a way that I would never even think of. And it looks good too. She truly inspires me to be more creative with my knitting and not worry about sticking to a pattern. I think once I am done making my Christmas gifts for people, I will experiment a little with my surplus yarn. |
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Sep. 1, 2009
The Voice of Experience
Ok, you experienced homeschool moms, I have some questions. Please help me on these two things:
#1 - homeschooling with a teething baby. Enough said.
#2 - Eman is really bad about interrupting me while reading or discussing things during school. Many times they are justifiable questions. But if he would just wait one more paragraph or so, the question would be answered. I am getting really frustrated, because I hate all the interruptions. Especially when I am trying to hurry because something else is going on.
Any ideas??????? |
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Aug. 31, 2009
Updated Link Hat Instructions and Testing Box.net
Aug. 28, 2009
Strange Expectations
| I grew up in a Christian home. I was almost always surrounded by Christians. We went to church regularly. I went to the church school for several years. I taught at a Christian school for 3 years. I was sending my boys to a Boy Scout troop that consists of Christians. It wasn't until recently that I realized that I automatically assume someone is a Christian when meeting them. I expect all people to have the same values that I do. I even expect them to raise their children in a similar fashion. I then end up surprised when someone says something unChrist-like or shows behavior that doesn't demonstrate having the same values. I know that even though I am a Christian, I still sin and do things wrong. That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about flagrant anti-Christianity. It also really surprises me when I see people that don't make their children mind, don't spank them, or who just let their children rule the roost. I really don't know why this surprises me considering these attitudes and behaviors are becoming so common today. |
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Aug. 21, 2009
Kidney Update
| Good News! My x-ray results came back and everything looks good. I will not have to have surgery to remove my golf ball sized stone. Instead they are going to use ultrasound to break it up. I will still have to be put out for it, but it is an outpatient procedure. |
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Aug. 20, 2009
Scheduling
We are so not schedule people. Actually let me rephrase that. Eman and I are not schedule people. If we get over scheduled, we start to stress. Eman has been heard to say, "I just want one day with no schoolwork, nowhere to go, just to stay home and relax." Kodi on the other hand like to jam pack his schedule. He will ask me the night before and then again in the morning what we are going to do that day. He wants to times and everything. So, the big surprise is that I am actually going to attempt a schedule this year. I have already got it laid out, but it may require tweaking based on how the day actually goes. Usually we just kind of get up whenever and start work as we are ready. If Eman is not up by 9am, then I do get him up so that we can start our together schoolwork. This year we are actually going to do a more formal PE program. Since we live where it is hot and humid 90% of the year, I have decided that we need to do it first thing in the morning and try and do it early. Early for us that is. Some of you will look and this schedule and think how late we do things, but to each his own. Anyway so here is the schedule:
7:45am - Wake up, dress, make beds
8am - PE
8:30 - Shower, eat breakfast
9am - Bible
9:30 - Independent schoolwork
10am - English and History
10:30 - Finish up any other work
12pm - Lunch
12:30 - Chores
1pm - Free time
We will see how this works out and make adjustments from there. |
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Aug. 12, 2009
To All My Bloggy Friends
I sadly neglected my blog last summer. I was not following the Lord for awhile. I ended up pregnant and was too ashamed to admit it to you fine Christian ladies. Also, my mom reads this blog (Hi Mom) and I didn't want to accidentally say anything on here before I told her. I trying to improve my walk with Jesus now. I am trying to be more consistent in posting, so hopefully you have completely abandoned me as a lost cause. I will also be trying to start visiting your blogs more frequently again. It is definitely more edifying than playing Mafia Wars on Facebook.  |
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Aug. 11, 2009
Homeschool Open House Giveaways
To enter the Giveaway, you have to share you plans for the school year. I will divide it into three sections, both, Eman, and Kodi.
Both: Bible - Bible Class Books
P.E. - Homeschooling PE (for the PE challenged Mom)
English - I am using a bunch of various resources. We will be working a lot on the boys reading and writing skills. They will be keeping journals, writing book reports, poetry. I am kind of writing my own curriculum for them. They will be doing most of it together, but I will require more of Eman and have him do harder things.
U.S. History - Again I am using a variety of resources. My mom has been collecting them for me from the school that she teaches at. I also am using a lot of free resources. Some websites that I am using are:
Homeschool Helper Online, Easy Fun School,
Eman: Math U See Algebra
Abeka Spanish
Either Apologia Biology or this free one.
Kodi: Also Math U See
I found some science books for him at my library's sale room.
Spelling - The Basic Cozy Spelling Course
Oh, and some of the prizes include gift certificates from Families With Purpose, Curr Click, Rainbow Resource Center and Story Time Felts, free T- shirts from Homeschool Boutique ( I already have one of their T-shirts and love it), a free subscription to Home Educating Family Magazine.
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Aug. 11, 2009
God is Good
I have been going through a great period of doubting God. This is mostly because He just doesn't do things the way that I think He should or the way I want Him to. I totally don't know or understand His plans.
It has been very frustrating for me to have my business starting up so slowly. I have been having great financial difficulty. As a result, I haven't been able to do much advertising. So I don't get many clients. But if I got more clients then I could afford to advertise.
However with all that has happened with the baby coming and my kidneys, I have realized that God has planned it that way. It has been a lot less complicated having two surgeries so far this year, plus recuperation times without having to worry about doing prenatals and delivering babies. Lately I have started getting a lot of phone calls from people who have found my website or my business card at the library or coffee shop. Some of them are inquiries for one day when they get pregnant. Some of them have just not been possible, such as a diabetic VBAC who is also bipolar.
However, I now have two clients. One I did an interview and a prenatal for yesterday. The other I do her first prenatal for on Saturday. I realized that if I have just two paying clients at a time, I would not have to worry about my finances currently. That would be an awesome blessing.
I do of course want to grow my business to larger than that. Eman will be 18 in just over 4 years. His child support is my major source of income right now. I would like to get to the point where it is just extra to put towards saving for college or a car or going to visit relatives/friends.
I totally got off track here. I have actually been stressing about the money situation and had just told Eman that if these two clients didn't work out that I was going to start looking for a part time night job. I know that God has called me to be a midwife and to stay home and homeschool my kids. But when the bank balance is in the red, it is hard for me to not take that trust back. Every time that I do, He proves Himself to me though. |
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Jul. 26, 2009
The Latest on ECing
During my surgery and early recovery, I didn't even bother trying to potty Parker much. I got my mom to help me with it a little bit. But she just really didn't seem to get it, (No offense Mom) so I quit asking her to help me. After my family all left, I got back into the swing of things. As of a week ago Friday, Parker has pooped in his diaper one time. All of the rest have been in the little potty or on the toilet. Well, once he was having a little naked time and I caught him starting to go, so I quickly got him on the toilet. It helped that we were already in the bathroom though. I am doing pretty good at catching pees and potty him every time that I change a diaper. I have even caught a few dry diapers. Woo Hoo!!! I don't know that this necessarily means that he will potty train faster, but it sure is easier to clean poop out of the little potty than when it is squished all over his bottom and the cloth diapers 
Oooh, oooh. I got post a picture of him on his little potty. I have to admit that while trying to get a good photo of him on the potty, he decided to try and crawl off of it. He ended up spilling it all over. Thank God for tile floors. 
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Jul. 17, 2009
Link Hat
Our local library was having Hat Day at the Teen Book Talk. Eman asked if I could make him a hat. He didn't really have an idea in mind. He just wanted something different. Kodi and I discussed what kind of hat to make and he kind of gave me an idea based on a picture on one of their video game cases. This pattern is free for all to use, just give me credit for it please. I do sell items if someone wants to purchase the hat instead of making it themselves.
This pattern uses all 4 of the Knifty Knitter looms. I cast on with the varigated yarn onto the yellow or extra large loom using the basic e-wrap cast on. We decided that a solid color and a tighter cast on method would have been better. I did a K2, P2 pattern for the ribbing. I think that a K1, P1 would have come out a little nicer though. I worked in this manner for 1 1/2". I then changed yarn to a grey acrylic. I worked in e-wrap for 6 inches before switching to the large, green loom. When decreasing size you have to double up loops approximately every 8th loop. I then continued to e-wrap for 6 more inches. Again I decreased in the same manner to the medium, red loom. Again e-wrapping for 6". The small, blue loom was the last decrease, again e-wrapping for 6". I then bound off by threading my yarn though each loop and removing one at a time, tightening as I went. I then wove in all ends.
Please feel free to ask questions about my pattern if you have any difficulties. |
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Jul. 17, 2009
Leg Warmers
Do you remember leg warmers from the 80's. I do. I remember not liking them. I didn't like they way they felt. I also didn't like that they were multicolored so they didn't perfectly match my outfits. I really like to match. It has only been in the last 8 years that I have been able to go to bed in pajamas that didn't match. I know, I know, it's not like anybody who sees me in them cares what I wear to bed.
Anyway, leg warmers are making their debut as many of the 80's styles make a comeback. I didn't get my little sister's birthday present done in time because of all my hospitalizations lately. So when she got here I let her pick what she wanted me to knit or crochet for her. We discussed several options and she decided on leg warmers. Her friends do theme parties frequently and the 80's is one of their themes. Here is a picture of her finished birthday present.
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Jul. 17, 2009
Pictures and Update
I am now on my own again. All of my family has gone. Even though it was awesome having their help when I really needed it, I am glad to have my house back. I still have to be careful not to do too much though. Here are some updated pictures of my handsome boys.
Eman stuffed Parker in his backpack.
Kodi and Parker hanging out in the pool at my parent's motel. |
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Jul. 10, 2009
Surgery Update
| Well, I had my kidney surgery. Everything went pretty well. I got to go home after 5 days. After a week of being home, I however ended up back in the hospital with an infection. They slammed me for 2 days with antibiotics and did things like remove my staples and catheter before releasing me. It was hard not being able to do anything. I am slowly adding activity back in. The hardest thing is not picking up the baby. I have to wait for someone to bring him to or take him from me. I hope to be posting more soon. |
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