Aug. 14, 2007 - our 5th week of school...
things are seeming to smooth out in our schedule.
the ones not reading are starting and doing okay....I hate teaching reading!
6, 7, 8ds are all done in 1 1/2 hours....
11ds, 12ds are done in about 2 hours...
15dd is done in about 2 hours...
5dd & 3dd are done in about 30 minutes...
3, 5, 6, 7, & 8yr olds all do their work while 18mnth ds is napping :) so that's easier...
15dd works all but algebra on her own...
11 & 12 do their work right after the youngers...15dd watches youngers...
We all do history together (Sonlight) during afternoon nap :)
I feel so much better about our schedule now! BUT I need to nap again everyday cause I'm sooo tired! 10 more weeks to go before our little one joins us :) At that point we will have 15wks school behind us ~ Yeah!
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Jul. 24, 2007 - Flustered...
Today was flustering for me.
No matter how hard I tried I didn't seem to stay on schedule with school. I need to make some changes but not sure what!
This is how my day goes...
15dd does all her work on her own.
11ds needs me for a couple subjects.
11ds needs me for almost every subject. struggles with reading.
8ds needs me for every subject. not reading.
7ds needs me for every subject. not reading.
6ds needs me for every subject. not reading, but reading better than 8 & 7yr olds.
5dd needs me for every subject. doesn't know alphabet....
3dd drives me crazy into everything! toothpaste, make up, you name it. today she crawled in 17mnthds crib and bit him...I was doing school.
Normally I am okay but today frusterates me! UGH! We are only into our 2nd week and I feel like pulling my hair out!
Nikki
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Jul. 23, 2007 - ....seems I am no good at this LOL!
It seems I can't keep a blog to save my life!
Update...in April my Poppy died. It was "nice", if that's possible. The VA hospital was GREAT! (he was in Bath VA, Bath, NY).
In May my dh got a job. He likes it okay. I'm not sure yet. He is so far away.
Our baby is a girl :) We are going to name her McKinly-Rhea Gravatt Brandt. The Rhea is after my FIL that died, Raymond...Gravatt is after my Poppy that died Stewart Gravatt. We wanted to honor both of these special men.
Last week we started back to school and we are still trying to get into the swing of things. I need a schedule for me! I am going bonkers trying to "do it all". This week is going better than last week though...guess I will give it time to work, then adjust the kinks LOL!
Well, better go for now...got lots to do.
Nikki
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Apr. 3, 2007 - Life
On the job front ~ still no word. I really could use some good news here. The rest of my life is crazy!
My Poppy (grandpa) is in the VA Hospital in Bath, NY. My mom called yesterday...the Dr. called her. They have place my Poppy on End of Life care. I am okay about this, yet a mess about it.
You see, I know my Poppy is "older". I know that it's "about time" age wise. He is 87 yrs old. I also know that he has had a good, but hard life. I fully believe that he will be going to heaven. I believe that he knows the Lord. So, because of that I am okay with my Poppy passing on to Glory.
Yet, I am saddened that I have not taken more time to talk with, call, visited, send pictures, send silly little gifts to him. We are in Kansas. Our lives have been "to crazy" to go that extra mile. What a piece of balony! He is my Poppy, I should have MADE the time to do these things. For awhile I did. Then I got caught up in myself and my family. We have 9 living children, 4 in heaven and 1 on the way. Our oldest has maybe seen her Great Poppy 10 times, and it gets less and less as the children come. Jakob, our 4th has only seen his Great Poppy 3 times...once when he was born, once 20 mnths later when his next sibiling was born, and then when he was 22 mnths when my Grammy (Poppy's wife) died. Jeram only saw him when he was 5 weeks old and 3 mnths old. Josiah (5), Morgann (4), Mariska (2), and Josef (1) have never met their Great Poppy.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!!! Family is family! I feel so bad that I messed up!
I ran out tonight and printed pictures and got them straight in the mail, in hopes that Poppy gets them before he dies so he can see recent pictures of his great-grandchildren (I think the last ones I sent was when Josef (1) was born). Lord, please allow that he get them before he dies! It doesn't make it all better, but atleast he will "know" them. I sent him a Christmas letter telling him all about the grandchildren. I may just type up another letter and get it into the mail about all the children...first thing in the morning, or now if I still can't sleep.
The whole point of this post ~ PLEASE don't make the same mistakes. Call your loved ones, send them a card, let them know you love them!!! My Poppy and I are in good standing, BUT if you have a loved one you are not on good terms with, PLEASE make peace. Even if they are still "mean", you can show the love of Christ to them by your actions!!!
Nikki ~
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Mar. 27, 2007 - anxiety...
the bible tells us to be anxious in nothing...yet I am still finding myself anxious ~ LORD, PLEASE HELP ME!
Bob (dh) just pulled up to an interview. I pray that if this is the Lord's will he land this job. It would be a relief to us both financially and spiritually.
Will keep you posted.
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Mar. 26, 2007 - girls need to sleep all night!!!
Does anyone else have the problem of kids in their bed at night? Our 2 little girls, Morgann (4) and Mariska (2) BOTH come into our bed at night. It is at the point that I am so tired during the day I can't stand it!
We have tried everything ~ putting them back into their beds only produces them waking up about 10 + times each night 
. When they wake up they think that they have to have pop and only pop to drink or they cry for an hour ~ I HAVE TO GET CONTROL OVER THIS!!!
I hate taking them back to bed because their bedroom is all the way downstairs. By the time I make it back upstairs they are awake again.
UGH!
Thanks for letting me vent!
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Mar. 26, 2007 - Jobs...
Dh went to the place that he really wanted to get hired at today. They filled the position. 
BUT the HR lady took him back to the back and asked him a bunch of questions...about what he did, if he was certified for HVAC and all that. He said "yes" and answered everything. She said that there was an approval Fri. to hire a maintenance person ~ newly created job, they have never had someone doing it before! She said it would be a week or two at most, they have not advertised for it and wanted to know if he was interested! He said "YES" and she said she would be in contact with him. SOOO, what does that mean?
He has another interview tomorrow. He wants to take it if offered to him...just in case. I DON'T KNOW!
Lord, we need your guidence! We need your peace! Please place your hands over our family and help us to stay focused on You and YOUR WILL, not our own. Guide us with your hand, Lord!
AMEN!
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Mar. 26, 2007 - Schedules
Good Morning!
It's almost 7am here! I have only one son up, he is 10 and woke up early to play video games (with permission). The rest of the house is sleeping! It's so peaceful, calming, relaxing! I could crawl right back into bed and sleep until everyone else woke up, about 9am. Instead I am staying up, why??? Good question...
I know I don't have to do things the "normal" way. I actually like doing most things different from everyone else! Yet there is this nagging in me that feels like I should have my children up at 7am. Why? I don't know. They are more productive when they sleep in and wake up on their own. Am I allowing them to be lazy? Am I setting them up for problems when they get older and need to hold a job that may start early morning? Am I being selfish letting them sleep in so that I have an excuse to?
I don't know. What I do know is that when we are on a schedule we work soooo much better! We haven't been on much of one since Sept. when dh had his seizure. Now I, ME, MYSELF, crave schedule back! I can only imagine the kids do too!
I want to just try up, rest, and bed this week. UP: 7am ~ REST: 12-2pm ~ BED: 8pm (for everyone)
Next week add meals. BREAKFAST: 8am ~ LUNCH: 11am ~ SNACK: 2pm ~ DINNER: 5pm ~ SNACK: 7:30pm
That means next week I have to add school too. 8:30-11am ~ 12-3:30pm
hmmm, better thing this out.
well, better go ~ wanna lay back down HAHAHA!
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Mar. 25, 2007 - checking in
On Feb. 16th, Josef turned 1yrs old. On that day we found out we are expecting #10! I am so excited! I am amazed that God has chosen to give us all these wonderful blessings! Somedays I don't feel like I deserve them, but God is faithful in giving me strength!
On March 20th, dh was 6mnths seizure-free! YEAH! The bad news is that even though all his restrictions are gone, so is his job. They filled it. AND they keep messing around about finding another position for him...so we are no jobless.
Bob (dh) says that everytime God takes us out of a job, he gives us a better one.
I know he is right, but it's alittle stressful!
He has applied at a ton of places ~ none are working out right now. He has one in at a small airport in town. That's the one he really wants! He would love to work on airplanes! The other one is at a townhome/apt. community. They called him in for an interview on Tues. Dh says he will take it, even though it's not what he really wants.
It really is bad....he has to be upfront on his seizure disorder, but by doing so he isn't getting the jobs. Even though he went from 9-04 to 9-06 without one, two years. Before that he had 6 in 9 mnths, but then once his meds got straightened out he went two years. He now feels better than ever....sorry, stop whinning now :)
If you think about us please pray for our job situation.
Let's see....OH, the baby is due 10-27-07...so we will be starting the new school year on 4-2-07 and then taking off about 10-12-07 until 1-1-08. That way we get to take with a new baby and during the holidays.
Well...better go for now...Mallory (14) just got home from a friends and won't be quiet long enough for me to think LOL!
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Dec. 27, 2006 - misc. thoughts...
CHRISTmas ~
We has a nice day. Lots of gifts for the children despite not having a job. God has been good to us. I know this sounds bad, but I am glad it's over for another year. I did okay ~ despite all the emotional junk I have going from childhood.
Babies ~
All my friends are getting pregnant. I feel so sad. I know it is all God's timing but I long for another. Don't get me wrong...I am happy for my friends, but sad for me.
Weight loss ~
I REALLY need to focus on this this year! I weigh toooo much! Lord, please give me strength.
Teens ~
UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! So far. Boy, this will be a looong couple years! Why? Because she is way to much like me! She possesses all the things I don't like about myself.
Work ~
We are hopeful that Bob will be able to get his job back in March. God has been faithful and provided for us for the past two months. Yet we are looking forward to the day Bob can go back to work and we can go back to normal. I have applied to a few jobs, but they have not worked out. I wondered why....but I feel I know why, I was called to be a mom to many and I cannot do that properly if I have to work to. ALSO, if I work, I am leaning on myself and not the Lord. So many lessons to learn :)
I am planning on New Year's Resolutions this year. I normally don't do this, but want to this year. So far it is:
1. loose 50lbs
2. get the children on schedule
3. get laundry under control
4. become debt free
Well, better go for now...children wanting some attention before bed :)
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Nov. 15, 2006 - Good Morning
It is 5:30am here. I am up and tired. I went to bed at midnight. Why am I so tired you ask? Well that would be because I have 3 children in my bed right now, along with dh AND the baby has been up off and on since 4:40am with congestion. I desided to get up and get a few things done while the house is sleeping!
Our lives have been crazy lately! After 2yrs seizure free my dh had another seizure on 9-20-06. His neurologist gave him new restrictions for work/life, for 6 mnths. Well, the last restiction is so general that he is not allowed to return to his job! It also does not allow him to get a job until the restrictions are over! I am going crazy! I have always been a stay at home, homeschooling momma, and now we do not have an income! Yesterday dh's neurologist called (we have been on the phone daily trying to get them to change 1 word, that 1 word would allow him back to work) and they are still "standing firm" on the restrictions, BUT "I will ask the dr. one more time" said the nurse. UGH! This is killing dh because he is a work-a-holic! He already went from 2 to 1 job when they started back in 1-04...now he doesn't have that 1.
If I go get a job, then it's just as bad! His meds cost almost $250 a month w/out insurance. We are trying to go the route of VA (he's a vetern), Social Services, disability at work, disability through Social Security ~ all of which take 6 mnths to get, by then he can return to work!!! UGH!
It's funny because I am soooo flustered, BUT the Lord has given me inner piece. Hard to explain. Kinda like, it frusterating, BUT He is in charge, rest in Him, He will take care of everything.
Kiddos.....ha, they are a mess! Dh home for 2 mnths now has totally messed us up! They are doing okay, but we are having MUCH more sass, meaness, sleep problems, anger issues, ect. I think it's because for the past 4 weeks we have had to spend our days running here, there and everywhere trying to get daddy back to work that they are just out of routine. I feel blah at this time...I like routine! It works! So it's hard on me too. But I have to take dh because he has 6 mnths NO driving.
Man, if I didn't know who was in charge I might melt down! I am soooooo glad God is bigger than all this! I am so glad He can carry me in my weakness!
Well, going to go start some laundry and hopefully sometime in the near future I will be able to see the basement floor again :)
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Jul. 5, 2006 - Misc. update
Yesterday was July 4th. I made tuna salad, egg salad, macaroni salad. We took chips, pop and cookies. Off to the fireworks. Morgann (3dd) was great until they started, then she screamed and cried. Whoever thought fireworks could be a problem?!? Long day!
We are still having a problem with our 2dd, 3dd, 5ds, and 6ds sleeping through the night. They are waking several times through the night. They only want daddy which is awful because he needs to sleep all night with his meds for his seizures. He starts feeling sick if he doesn't get proper sleep or if he gets to hot.
It's almost so bad that we have thought of moving North somewhere so that he doesn't get to hot. The only problem is neither of us like the cold to much. Although all our family is North ~ we are in KS. I don't know. Praying about it!
Well, better go...gotta get things done before I have to take Josef to the Dr's today. I can't believe he is almost 5 mnths old. He's so cute!
Oh, and I turned out starting a week late...so no blessing in the womb yet.
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Jun. 12, 2006 - Been a long time...
since I posted. Things here are crazy, or so it seems.
The newest thing is that my period is overdue. I had my first 5-13-06. Hubby and I had relations 5-24-06. I had a ting of pink on 5-30-06 & 5-31-06. Due on 6-10-06 and still not here. My tests say negative. Time will tell.
Will update later.
Be Blessed!
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Apr. 12, 2006 - my day
today has been pretty good! Josef (7wks) and Mariska (23mnths) both napped from 9-1pm AND during that time Morgann (3) and Josiah (4) both went to the neighbors to play with her daycare kiddos. Jeram (5) and Jakob (7) got their school done quickly and scooted outside. The older 3 sat at the table doing school ~ what a quiet morning!
Okay ~ I made bread with my kitchen aid this morning ~ sooooo yummy! I just can't get over the difference between it and by hand. I am so glad my dh loves me and spent the money on it! I can only make 2 loaves a day because we'd eat it all if I made more!
Well ~ outside playing ~ Jeram and Jakob desided to wrestle on the trampoline. Somehow Jeram got Jakob pinned down with his arm twisted. Jakob can't move his arm or anything and cries when you touch it. I think it's just a sprain and hate to take him to the ER if that's all it is. The funny thing is he keeps whinning that he can't clean 
, guess the charts are working! Ice isn't though.
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Apr. 11, 2006 - what a weekend
This weekend was a doozy! Sometimes I feel like I have so much to do and not nearly enough time to do it!
Sat. started by Mallory (13dd) having a b-day party to go to. It was from 9am - 6pm. I stayed for all but 2 hours of it ~ so that day was sorta shot. Sun. we were hoping to start work on our van ~ only to not be able to. This was upsetting. We have been without a big enough vehicle since Nov. and are looking forward to fixing it. We were blessed and someone went to get our van and bring it home so we can fix it. (it was in Springfield Ill., a 5 hour drive away) We got an engine, and want to get it in so bad! Problem is our landlord won't let us fix things in our driveway, so we have to rely on someone else to let us use theirs.
Yesterday I had an appt. Josef is 11lbs 
YAH! He is 7 weeks and weighed 8lbs at birth ~ he likes to eat! But the appt. was at 2pm, so the day was shot. I have got to develop a better system!
Here's what we have recently started ~ and it works nicely. Mallory (13dd) is in charge of bathing her sisters, Morgann (3) and Mariska (23mnth) every morning after breakfast. She also gets a bath. The boys all bathe at night, before bed. Also, at night Mallory reads to her sisters at bedtime (out of the bible) and Justin (10ds) reads to his brothers. This is making it nicer before bed. We also noticed that when they hear God's Word before sleep, they are sleeping much better! Now we need to figure out how to smoothly transition into actual sleep time. HMMM.....
OOOHHHH, my dh is such a goober! I was talking to him on Sat. about wanting a kitchen aid mixer. I love to make bread & pizza ~ but doing it by hand takes more time than I have. He said he needed to go get ice cream (a vice of his LOL) and he went to Sam's Club and bought me the HD Kitchen Aid mixer!! 
I am so happy! Sun. I made bread and pizza. Yesterday I used it for mashed potatoes ~ YUMMMY! I need to make more bread today ~ expecially since we don't have any!
Well, I better go start the bread so that we can get school underway!
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Apr. 6, 2006 - Bedtime
Something has to be done, bedtime is killing us!
With Mallory we trained her to go to bed and stay there without anyone. Then when Justin & Joshua were about 2 & 3, I started to read to them every night as they were going to sleep. I read each night until about 2 yrs ago (my dh started having seizures and I lost stopped alot of our routines due to long stretches of having to care for him). Now, not the older 3, but the rest need mom/dad to sit with them until they fall asleep ~ this can take up to 3 hours. All our evening is spent in the bedrooms and we are irritated and tired when we come out! This past July we started moving out of the room alittle each night ~ and made it to where we were sitting in the doorway. In Aug. my MIL died and then in Oct. my FIL died. Things haven't been the same since! Now the younger 4 wake at night and won't go back to sleep without daddy laying with them.
Game plan for tonight ~ read to them ~ embrase the time with them! And include in our prayer time with them a specific prayer that the Lord helps them to sleep the whole night through!
Last night after they were asleep Bob and I went to Wal-Mart. Mallory babysat for us. We got a small flashlight for me to read by. Tonight I will go to Mardels (Christian discount store) to pick up our prepaid copy of Chronicals of Narnia and a new book. We have read the first 22 books of Wally McDoogle and they have about 3 more, so I think we will start there. The kids love these books 
.
Speaking of books ~ I got a new one I am reading. Boundaries with Teens by Dr. John Townsend. I must say it's pretty good so far. I am trying to prepare myself ~ so far all we have is attitude, but that is enough! I was a VERY troubled teen and got into alot of trouble. I want better for my children without having to sit on top of them to achieve it! I wasn't prepared for the world when I left home and got married (both at 18), then my first baby at 19. I had no boundaries....I don't want that for my children. So my goal for this book is to learn how to help them have boundaries in their life that line up with scripture!
Well, breakfast is over and we need to talk about a reward system. They seem less energetic to help lately and some not so nice tones with each other. So, we bought fear factor, super hero, and pop flavored ice cream last night. If they spend the whole day with a cheerful heart, they will get to have an ice cream before bed ~ also if the little ones spend the whole night in their own bed without needing daddy to lay with them for 3 nights ~ they will get an ice cream.
I use to see these as bribes and hated to do things like this. Well, one day in my prayer time I was reading about the promises God has made to us. Then it hit me ~ would I continue to follow Christ without the reward of Heaven???? NO! So there you go....but I still had to look up bribe & reward in the dictionary.
Bribe ~ give money or gifts to someone so that the person will do something for you.
Reward ~ something that is given in return for good
So based on the definitions I concluded at bribe is getting your way on a moments notice and a reward is giving something preplanned for training (I just love my ability to rationalize). Well, better go talk to the children.
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
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Apr. 5, 2006 - And I thought....
it would be peaceful ~ YEAH RIGHT!
Today has been rather loud in the house. I am an only child soooo the loudness gets to me at times ~ today was one of those days! Well, I desided they should just go outside ~ it's 80 degrees here...
Can we say tattle ~ oh, my! They have had more time-outs since they went out than they did while they were inside.
I am trying to clean house. I got on a roll and now it looks like a tornado has been through here :p We live in a 3 bedroom duplex with an unfinished basement. The 2 upstairs bedrooms are ours and (now) the boys....downstairs bedroom is (now) the girls. The girls have a piano in their room (the only place it fits in the house). I have just switched the bedrooms around, hense the mess in the house :) EVERYTIME I get a room cleaned SOMEONE comes right behind me to play in it ~ UGH! Legos, knex, of course it's something small with lots of little parts. This is why I sent them outside. I have gotten most of the house pulled together now :)
My favorite 2 tips:
safety pin socks together
dressers in laundry room
have a wonderful day!
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Apr. 5, 2006 - Introduction
GOOD MORNING!
I though a good way to start this blog would be to introduce you to my family:
Nikki (me) 33
Bob (dh) 37
Mallory 13
Justin 10
Joshua 9
Jakob 7
Miranda ~i~
Jeram 5
Josiah 4
Morgann 3
Joab & Melodee ~i~
Mariska 22mnths
Josef 6wks
As you can see we have 9 living children and 3 who have gone onto heaven during pregnancy.
We have been married for 14 yrs. I wish I could say they have all been wonderful ~ but we are sinners.....
We attend Faith Chapel Assembly of God and love every minute of it! We are definately blessed belonging to this church!
We have homeschooled since the start ~1997. Our first year was rough though :) I wanted to homeschool, but I didn't want our children to "miss out" on anything, so our oldest went to P.S. from 8-4pm, then we homeschooled after dinner because she already knew what was being taught at P.S. LONG story ~ will blog it when the kids go to bed on night soon :)
Well, that's us ~ FAR from perfect, but striving to be like Christ everyday :)
