I Did It!

Yay for me!

Last Monday, I started a painting project in our bathroom.

Tuesday we were gone.

Wednesday, I completed it. All the way. And got a few other things painted as well.

Now, to some, this may not seem like much of an accomplishment. But for me, this is pretty big.

After about a year and a half of marriage, I painted our kitchen. My husband agreed to this project willingly. Paint the kitchen. No big deal. I was going to handle it so he wouldn’t have to do anything. And it was a tiny kitchen, so there really wasn’t that much to paint. Sure, paint the kitchen, honey. J

2 weeks later………………………………..

I was almost done painting. J

I have since done a few other painting projects, and none have lasted nearly as long. But, after such a tramatic beginning to my painting adventures, I have a lot to live down. (At least in my mind…….)

I don’t have a pic to share yet, but I will get one up soon.

I am still not superwoman, but sometimes,…………yeah, I like that feeling that I have conquered the world. J

At least in my mind.

A Responsible Choice?

From someone whose been through it.

 

 

Just So You Know...

I have been doing a study by Nancy Campbell, “The Power of Motherhood.” I have been enjoying it very much. Much of it is not new to me, but it is very encouraging and uplifting. I would recommend this to any mother, young or old. Check it out!

So, do you know what a 'Wrapper' is?

Well, I am one.

 

I think I even have a bit up the fever that wrappers are prone to.

 

It seems to be a bit of a virus. Once exposed, it takes a varying amount of time to manifest, but in many cases, once it does, the resulting disease, wrapperitis, can be severe.

 

Symptoms of wrapperitis include dreaming of wraps, all conversations turning to wraps, all fabric examined for wrap worthiness. The most certain symptom is the strong desire to build one’s wrap stash, filling it with wraps of all fabric types and as many colors as possible. Those infected believe themselves to be happy wrapping their babies and will usually not hear any arguments against wrapping very well.

 

There is no known cure for wrapperitis. The only hope is to pacify victims with diversity in wraps. In some cases, sidetracking for a time may be possible, esp with other ethnic baby carriers. However, those truly infected, always return to their wrapping obsession.

 

For more info and details on this strange malady, you may be interested in the following websites.

 

www.wearyourbaby.com

www.thebabywearer.com

 

Finally...Pictures!!!

Here are a few pics of Travis. I am working on the birth story and hope to post it soon.

Travis is such a joy to all of us. I enjoy every minute with him and am so thankful for God’s grace each day.

Sorry for not posting! No posts means I am playing with my baby!

Welcome to the World, Travis!

This is Nichola's sister, Cilla.  Nichola asked me to let everyone know about the new arrival in her family.

 

Travis Brawner was born Friday, Nov 28th, at 5:14 pm.  He weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz, and was 22 inches long. 

 

Nichola had to be transported to the hospital for an emergency C-section because of a prolapsed umbillical cord.  Thankfully her midwife was there and knew exactly what to do.  They lost the baby's heartbeat momentarily but Carol got everything under control quickly and he was not deprived of oxygen or otherwise affected.  Cord prolapse is immediately life-threatening to the baby so she did save little Travis's life with her actions. He is healthy and from the sounds of it, very happy.  Nichola is recovering well, but said she is quite a bit of pain, especially when she has to cough.  She plans to be released from the hospital tomorrow afternoon and should post the full details of the birth when she is better.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all reading my Blog today! May the Lord bless you and keep you and yours!

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who has posted comments! Thank you so much for your prayers. I am feeling better today than I did yesterday, but am not quite over this. I did get my kitchen cleaned and reorganized yesterday. I had really been wanting to do that…

Now, let’s start praying up some contractions…

Past The Due Date...

Yesterday was my official due date. There was no sign that this baby is getting ready to do anything. Other than feeling it lower in my pelvis, everything seems pretty calm. I am thankful, on the one hand since David and I have still not shaken this junk. On the other hand, I am ready to get this baby here! =) But I do have quite a to-do list that would be nice to get done first. Not feeling well is making it hard to do that… So, keep us on your prayer lists!

A Special Thank You!

I don’t know if the person that this thank you is for reads my blog or not, but if not I know that there are those that do who can get it to them! (hint, hint)

Last week, we received a box in the mail from OR marked ‘Baby…’ Inside were some very sweet and essential items. The gift blessed our whole family. So, to the giver, (or givers?), thank you. Thank you very much.

Maybe I won’t get to use swaddling clothes after all… =)

Hmmm...

Well, last night and this morning I have been having contractions. Nothing major, but enough that I am taking notice. It seems like the baby has dropped some more and so I am having someone banging around on my pelvis…

I would covet the prayers of those reading this out there in blogland. We are all still dealing with some head cold stuff. I am fighting congestion and pressure in my head. Not really the way I would like to go into labor. I know that the Lord will give me grace in all circumstances, but I am asking for healing! And for healing for our family.

And, I will try to post if things pick up and I go into labor. Or maybe I can show David how to post…

The Good Thing About Computers...

…is that if you were talking to me in real life, I would be exposing you to whatever bug is circulating at our house. As it is, the only thing that viruses affect in the virtual world is computers. So, be thankful for your buffer…

We are still battling this junk, although I think we are about to see the last of it. No one has fever anymore, (I had a round of fever last night), and the coughing does seem to be subsiding a bit.

Speaking of coughing, my syrup pic on the post below does look rather awful! As I have though about it, I think it looks more like a bowl of worms… Actually, the only part of that concoction that is used is the juice that the honey draws out of the onions. We did try to eat the onions, and they were gross.

I do think that this baby will be coming soon now. As I am feeling better, I am having more contractions. In the past, I have not monkeyed around too much with contractions days and weeks ahead of time. I think I did some with Keilah, but not with the others. It seems to me that things are just waiting for a good excuse to get going.

I hope I am right…

Cough Syrup...

I have been asked about my cough syrup.

Yes, the one mentioned in my previous post was my own invention, although I was drawing on things that I had tried or read before.

Although the kids did like that one, I don’t know if it did anything major to help or not. I know that it didn’t hurt. :) I think it was about as effective as many commercial syrups, without the yuckiness.

I did look up and try a few recipes. Of course, I always have to monkey a bit with the ingredients… At least I am learning more about things that are helpful.

One interesting syrup that I have been messing with is very simple to do. And it tastes great. You simply slice up some onions and dribble honey or sugar over them and let the mess sit for 5-24 hrs. The honey draws the juice out of the onions and makes a very tasty syrup. It does seem to help, esp in conjunction with some of the other concoctions. Do a Google search for ‘homemade cough syrup’ if you are interested in several ideas for dealing with the different types of coughs. I found that adding butter or coconut oil to them helps to coat a sore throat as well.

BTW, if anyone has any interesting info to share, I would love to hear things that have worked for you and your family…

Good Morning!

I stayed at home today, even though David is sharing at church today.

No, I haven’t had the baby.

All the kids are coughing and doing the sniffle thing. And, one by one they have made the thermometer throw a fit and give a reading that lets me know that they’re bodies are fighting something. Right now, the girls are reading normal and Jakin has a low fever.

So, we are listening to Caedmon’s Call this morning and drinking vinegar and wonderful things like that.

Actually, I made a cough syrup this morning that everyone seemed to like. I melted some coconut oil, honey, lemon juice, a pinch of cayenne, a tiny sprinkle of garlic powder, a bit of vit C powder and a small dribble of apple cider vinegar over low heat, just enough to melt the coconut oil and warm everything up a bit. I also added a few drops of peppermint extract. They requested more so I am assuming that they liked it. :)

I am also not feeling over the top. But so far no fever on my side. I’d like to keep it that way.

The baby seems to be doing fine. That is if kicking and spinning are any indication. :) The way I am feeling this morning makes me think that it won’t be long. I am starting to have contractions off and on. And, while the baby hasn’t dropped, I am feeling more movement and pressure in my pelvic area. I think somebody is starting to play with the idea of getting out of there.

I was thinking this morning about how my labors have been in the past.

As far as I know, all my mom’s labors started at night. She usually had the baby in the middle of the night or early morning.

I have, so far, started labor in the middle of the night or early morning.

Also, my mom seemed to be more affected by the moon phases. I have not been.

Just randomness that I was thinking about this morning…

38 Weeks

Today I am 38 weeks pregnant. One week closer to having the baby.

Last night I had some contractions. Nothing major, but contractions nonetheless. I was happy to be having them, but at the same time, trembling.

My sister is also pregnant. She is due before me by about 2 weeks. In a conversation the other day, she warned me about having my baby before she has hers. According to her, it just better not happen.

Of course, I can’t promise anything.

But, I was wondering what the consequences might be if I have my baby early…

 

Prayer

Sunday at church, nearly all the women suddenly surrounded me. I knew something must be up.

Grinning, Sue said, “Can we pray for you?”

It was so sweet to have the prayers and support of my sisters in Christ. They prayed for the birth, for my health and the baby’s health. And for my midwife. They also asked what they could do to help us out in whatever way was needed.

I am very blessed and thankful for loving support and help from our family in Christ.

37 Weeks! (Warning: Long Post)

Today I am 37 weeks pregnant. Wow. The time has really gone fast. I could have the baby anytime now, although, I don’t really anticipate going into labor earlier than 39-40 weeks.

Still, it could happen…

Am I ready?

Well, it depends on how you define ‘ready’.

If you define ‘ready’ to mean having all the baby clothes and supplies, gear, etc that one would normally have ready before the impending birth of a baby, then, no, I would not say that I am ready. As of today, as far as clothes are concerned, I have one onesie and a few pairs of socks.

If you define ‘ready’ to mean having the basic equipment and supplies needed to have the baby, and some of the things needed for taking care of the baby, then, yes, I would say that I am ready. I have a wrap, cloth diapers, a few blankets, and a nursing pillow. What else do I really need?

Oh, yeah. Clothes.

Well, this is the way I see it. None of my kids have ever gone naked. I have always had what I needed. I will with this one, too. Whether that is through finding what I need myself or through the Lord getting things to me, I know that I will have what I need for this baby. I was thinking about this the other day, and as we are approaching the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I was thinking about how God’s Son came into the world.

Joseph and Mary were not rich. They were away from their family and friends at the time of the birth, and in a town that had no place for a lady in labor. I don’t get the idea that they had intended to have the baby in the stable. It sounds like they tried the inns and that is why it is recorded that there was no room for them.

My guess is that if the inns were full, the stable probably was too. And it was probably not all that private or quiet, either. I would think that there would be people in and out tending to their animals, or servants/slaves tending to the animals. Do you really think they were tip-toeing around? Maybe, maybe not.

Plus, can you imagine having a horse, donkey or camel watching you while you are in labor? Not that they would really get it, but I can just see a camel with a mouth full of hay, munching and swallowing,(and probably belching), and watching the proceedings in the stall or corner Mary and Joseph were finally able to secure.

Oh, and have you been out to a stable lately? It doesn’t smell all that pristine and sterile. Just the kind of place you’d expect to find the King of Kings being born…

They might have brought clothes with them, but it doesn’t sound like they had much to me. The bare minimum that they would need is probably all they had. Swaddling clothes are not a big part of the Western culture as far as baby care is concerned, but at that time they were used. After reading here and here, I don’t get the idea that they were very elaborate or would that it would take a lot to be able to quickly convert something into swaddling clothes.

I was looking at baby furniture catalogs the other day. I don’t know what options Mary would have had had she been in more ideal circumstances. But surely, even in that time, she would have preferred to have something a little more high class to be able to lay her Baby in.

(BTW, I wonder if this was anything close to the picture she had had as she had thought about the birth of the Baby during her pregnancy? She got pregnant by a miracle, was told that she was carrying the Messiah. I would be thinking that there was going to be some kind of awesome occurrence at the birth of such a One. There was, but I wonder what Mary was thinking as she prepared to give birth in a stable, and as she laid the Babe in the manger.)

So, back to the new baby expected at our house…

I am confident that the same way that God provided for His Son, that He will provide for our new little one, even if we just use swaddling clothes… :) I am praying for the things that I will need, but am in eager anticipation of what kind of stunt God is up to here. The birth of this baby will be nothing compared to the birth of the Son of God, but this baby is a miracle. The fact that I am typing this post is a miracle, and the fact that I was even able to become pregnant is a miracle as well.

I know that I can continue to trust Him. Where is the line where we stop trusting God and start worrying? What circumstance is the one that is finally too big for God? So far, I haven’t found it.

Do I worry?

Yes, I do. To my shame. But when I turn my brain back on, I quickly see how stupid it is to be worried about any of the circumstances in my life. God has had a totally consistent track record, not only in my life, but down through the ages. He has kept His word in every area. It is just my silly human fears that would cause me to question the Almighty in a given situation.

Okay, now I am preaching. For the sake of the reader that might have something to do and got trapped reading my post, I now release you. I’m done, for now…

Home Birthers Have All The Fun!

I just had to post this. Some will not see the humor, but I think it is hilarious!

The other day my midwife was planning to stop by my house and do a prenatal since she was going to be passing through. Well, things didn’t go as planned, and she ended up leaving way late. That meant that she would be passing through at about 11 pm.

As she had some things to give me and equipment to leave at my house, and since she needed to do a check up, I agreed to meet her in the parking lot of a convenience store on her path through.

Yes, you read that right. I met my midwife for a prenatal appointment at 11 pm and did my prenatal check up in the back of my Suburban.

Who else gets to do crazy stuff like this?

Next time someone says to me in reference to home birth, “Oh, you’re brave!” or “I could never do that!” I am going to grin inwardly and think,

“You don’t know the half of it!”

*Yawn*

I got out of bed about 2 minutes before 9 am.

Pitiful.

I was going to get up sooner, but fell back asleep. I really didn’t want to stay in bed the whole morning. Oh well, maybe I won’t need a nap later…

Hmm. As I was typing that, I yawned. I see a nap in my future…

And The Webs Came Tumbling Down...

Okay, I don’t think that is how the song goes…

But, I did get the yucky webs wiped off my walls today. Ah, THAT was a good feeling! We had a hatching of spiderlets down here that invaded everything. I thought I better get all the webs down before someone mistook my house for the haunted house event! :)

Now if I could get my windows washed…