I have decided to move my blog over to xanga.   The new address is www. xanga.com/sonie716.

It seems as though the month of August is just flying by. So I thought I would update with some pictures.

 Catherine doing tummy time!

 Auntie Angie and Calvin playing trains. She hung out with us for the night.

Grandma Kitty cat (Mil) and catherine! 

 Me, Mil, and Sil at a family reunion.

My Family. 

 Calvin holding his street sign. His auntie angie does this for her job so he wanted to be like her.

 Catherine telling Calvin something. I just thought it was funny!!

 Both of them listening to Dad!

 Dad, catherine and calvin. Do you know how hard it is to get three people to smile let alone look at you?

Beautiful Rose my husbands coworker gave me for putting up with my Dh all day .

 Auntie shanni with calvin reading.

 Calvin doing his school work.

  

Catherine doing her school work.

Catherine doing tummy time again.

 

 My big boy is growing up!

 I caught her red handed licking her seatbelt. This was the look she gave me.

AWWWWW snugglies

So thats our life in pictures so far.

One of my friends is giving away one of her newest creations, a beautiful apron. She is an awesome seamstress, so this is a great win.

Just go to her blog Apron Giveaway. Leave her a comment with you blog address and she will draw monday morning. Good Luck everyone.

 

Oh also stop and read her blog, shes awesome.

Well it has been awhile since my last picture update. I had planned on trying to do a daily update. HAHAHA! not going to work, so I will try my best. Catherine is doing excellent, she is getting the sleep she needs and is a wonderful happy baby Praise God.

Here is my Happy baby who is 2 months old

 

Here is Calvin doing the dishes, he is doing a great job.

 

Here is catherine talking to the camera. She always gives the big grey camera some of the weirdest looks.

 

Here is daddy and catherine. I could never get the two of them looking both at me at the same time. Well in this one daddy is looking and catherine is laughing at her brother next to her.

 

 

 

So as a homeschool educator, I need to implement some sort of physical exercise into our daily routine. So this is one of my least favorite things to do. I will admit. My dh made a great suggestion and I am totally on board. This is were The Kellogg Christian Academy Gym Class was born. Each day this week, dh,I, and boy wonder are doing 1 push up,1 sit up, and 1 windmill. Yes Yes I know, this is not very much. You might guess though that I am so out of shape with my arms and my abs(after 2 babies) that I can not do one full situp or a pushup . Oh well. I always hated gym class and swore I would never do a situp or pushup in my life again. I did hold out for 12yrs, but the time has come to suck it up and join the team. Next week we will do 2 each day and so on and so forth, maybe one of these days God will grant me the strength to get a situp and pushup done. .

Here is a link to the recalled food list. I did have to throw away two cans of hot dog chili. It seems like its getting to the point where you can not eat anything out of a can anymore.

Recall List #1

Recall List #2

Here is my staple cornbread recipe. I had to change from the other one I used because of the no dairy thing. I got this new recipe off of Recipezaar.com as usual. I have made some changes for our family which I will put in red.

CRUSTY QUAKER CORNBREAD

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour   I use whole wheat

3/4 cups cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoons salt

1 cup milk  I use rice milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil  I use olive oil

2 egg whites, beaten or 1 whole egg beaten  I use the whole egg

Preheat oven to 400F, grease an 8 or 9 inch pan.( I do not grease, I use a pampered chef 9x9 stone)

Combine dry ingredients and stir in wet ingredients,mixing just until moistened.

Pour into prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven 20 to 25 mintues or until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Our saturday went really well. It was the big day of my cousins wedding. So we had to leave the house about 11:30. In the morning we just kinda hung out. We had lunch. We used up some of the roast and barbeque sauce on whole wheat bread, with corn and grapes. These are black grapes they are not olives.

 

Then it was time for everyone to get ready for the wedding. Going to a wedding is a first for both my children. My son calvin has been to numerous funerals, but this is the first wedding that we have had in our family in a long time. Here they are all dressed up.

 

 

Don't they look great. So everyone was set and ready to go. We got in the car, and baby girl slept the whole way there. Awesome. She was excellent through the wedding as well. So this wedding was for my cousin on my dads side of the family. She is a great girl, and I am happy that she has married a great guy. Now this was my first Catholic wedding. It was 1hour and a half long. A very different wedding thats for sure. When you are the minority in something you kinda feel out of place. My sister and my dad were there as well, and there not catholic, so they did not know all the rituols and chants and so forth. Over all it was great. Catherine and Calvin each got stuff from there aunt and uncle so that was great for them.

I do have to say were has modesty at weddings gone to. I mean you are in a church, and I seen more skin in that church then I cared to see in my life time. . Ok off the soapbox.

After the wedding we went to my parents house and hung out there for awhile. I did try and make my sling. I did get the machine to go through the first group of fabric but could not get it to go through the doubled over fabric. Oh well. Calvin had fun playing with his grandparents. It was getting late so we headed home. So that was our day of firsts.

Today was a great day. Catherine slept for 7 hours last night . The third night in a row for 5 or more hours of sleep at a time. Praise God.

This morning threw in load of everbody's sheets.Then got started on finishing up painting the celing in the spare room. This has room redo has been a project in the making for over a year. I figured we better get cracking on it again, since we have a new baby that could use the small room, and calvin would get this room. I did get the celing finished, now I just have to wait for more funds, to get two more rollers for the walls, and some primer and paint.Then we went down and got the mail, and then started working  in the front yard. Yesterday we went to the inlaws and I was able to borrow there Garden Claw. The thing works wonders on our horrible thatch grass.  I am going to  transplant my hostas up front, because they were not getting enough sun, by the back steps.

This is the before shot of the front of our house. This morning I was able to make one pass with the garden claw before it was time for lunch. For lunch we had strawberries, and grapes, and grapefruit. Calvin had his first taste of grapfruit. It was not up his alley. Then it was time for him to have quiet time, and catherine was sleeping so I pulled out some sewing. I was working on doing some mending. The first dress is an Amish dress I picked up for catherine at a yard sale for 1.00 it needed to have a hem in it.

So I finished that in no time. The next dress for catherine I also bought at a yard sale. I had to mend the back alitte, which I had done last week, I also noticed the elastic was bad in the sleeves, so I took care of that today. I am not the greatest at the elastic sleeves yet, but we are working on it.

So after that dress, I got all my stuff ready for making my ring sling. I ordered the rings a couple of weeks ago from Slingrings.com They have awesome shipping, and its really fast. I had my fabric cut out before catherine was born. It is a grey jersey. I bought 6yrds. I cut the fabric in half and used one half for a moby wrap type carrier. Then the other half I cut in half  again and am going to make 2 ring slings. So I get my fabric out and my slings.

 

I put it in my machine to sew through the fabric. I am using the instructions from Mayawrap.com. Well my poor machine, just could not go through the 5 layers of fabric. I was using the jeans needle, and tried 3 different times, no such luck. So when we are in Grand Rapids tommorow, I will see if my moms machine will work, if not I will contact my sewing lady. So I put my sewing mess away and plated up dinner.

 

Tonight we had beef roast which I cooked in the crockpot along with our Organic Potatoes, that we got in our fruit and veggie box. Salad with organic tomatoes, and whole wheat corn bread. Everything was great except the salad. I am still getting used to not just eating Iceberg lettuce. So it takes like I am eating grass. Yes I did eat grass as a youngster. Also with no dressing. So this is still kinda yucka to me. Oh well. Then I shredded the rest of the roast.

 

Then mixed it will Kc materpiece barbecue sauce(the only kind my husband will eat). So tommorow we will have barbaque sandwiches. After dinner everbody went outside and worked. Chris mowed the yard and I did another pass with the Garden Claw, and then transplanted my flowers.

 

This is calvin, catherine, and I working in the yard. Here is the finished front yard.

 

Well we were out working Chris got a call for a side job, so we all went in cleaned up. I gave the boys haircuts, as we are going to a wedding tommorow and they looked shaggy. Then Chris left for his side job and Calvin to bed. So I am just blogging waiting for Dh to get home. Hope you had a great day. I know I did.

Here is some new pictures of the family.

Here is Catherine and I

Calvin on his 4th birthday

Calvin getting a hair cut by mom

Calvin and Catherine

Calvin,Grandma, and Catherine all smiling

Catherine talking

Calvin enjoying fishing with his dad and grandpa

Calvin and his sunfish

Calvin and Catherine

Catherine Smiling

Daddy's Girl

Calvin and his new shoes

Calvin showing some love

 

So thats the new pictures

So in my ever searching for new recipes. I went to my favorite of all sites, Recipezaar.com. I found this new recipe, and tried it oh it was great.

Makes 4 servings

Garlic & Parsley New Potatoes

12 small red potatoes

4 cloves garlic,minced

2Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

3t. lite olive oil(divided)

salt and pepper

1. Scrub the potatoes well

2. Pare a 3/4" strip around the middle of each potatoe

3. Place potatoes in a saucepan,cover with water and bring to a boil.

4. Simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until tender

5. Drain potatoes and place them in a bowl add two teaspoons of oil & toss

6. In a non stick frypan add the remaining oil over medium heat.

7. Add garlic,cook approximately 1 min

8. Add parsley,salt & pepper,mix well

9. Add potatoes, reduce heat to low and cook stirring constantly for  or 2 minutes.

10. Serve

So it is my turn to list eight things about myself that you may or may not find interesting. I was tagged twice.

 

1. One annoying habit I have is I chew my fingernails. I know yuck but its one of those nervous things.

2. I am very shy, I actually do not like talking on the telephone to people I do not really know. I just do not like confrintation.

3. Ironing is my least favorite chore, thats why I do not buy anything that needs to be ironed.

4.I have always wanted to be Laura Ingalls, ever since I saw the first episode on t.v. when I was a young girl. I always say I was born in the wrong era

5. I like ring bologna, but hate the kind made for sandwiches.

6. I been married to my Dh for 6 years. We were married in Vegas.

7. We are planning on starting homeschool this fall with my son calvin

8. I love to shop at garage sales, or anywhere that has a cheap bargain.

How important is one little boys voice? Around here it seems to be mighty important. My sweet little bird girl catherine can not seem to sleep as well through out the day, if her big brother calvin is not here talking her ear off. Since catherine has been born we have told calvin shhhh, I do not know a bizzillion times, when she is sleeping. Well he still talks, maybe a little quieter.

When calvin and his dad went fishing on saturday, it was just me and catherine. She did not sleep good at all. It was just to quiet for her. Even the tiny little noise would wake her up. When her big brother got home, and talked and talked she slept like a rock. So I am convinced that Calvin's constant talking has its place, and catherine seems to love it. Well she has heard his talking since she had ears in the womb.

Yes he does need to learn to be quiet when we tell him, but bird girl already loves her brother.  AWWWW!!!!.

 

Since I have had to cut the dairy out of my diet, there has not been much left for me to eat. So we had thought about eating more healty anyways, and the new baby, and wanting to rid yourself of the extra baby weight helps put that into play. At our birthcenter we heard about a company called DOOR TO DOOR ORGANICS. Our birthcenter had a co-op. So every week or in our case two weeks, you have fresh organic, fruits and veggies delivered to the co-ops house and you pick up. This has been great as I go to by fresh produce and have no Idea what to by and always stay with the safe stuff, never venturing out of my comfort zone. So we recieved our first box, last tuesday. We get the Medium box. All of the produce has been great, except I had two rotten zuchnni. Otherwise great. So the cost of the medium box we get is half of our grocery money. Which is fine since we should be eating mostly fruits and veggies anyways. You should check them out and see if there in your area.

Well my baby girl or bird girl as I call her( she makes little bird noises). Is getting better. Awhile back I had cut out the dairy from my diet to help her screaming. Well it did help some. I still am diary free. I really do not miss it to much(ok the Ice cream I do). For the sake of bird girl I keep going. Its also good for my figure.

As she has gotten older. (5weeks as of the 4th) I have come to figure out what her problem per say is. Its the lack of sleep, or quality sleep. Since she has been born she has never been a good sleeper, ok she really never had slept much at all. Which I thought odd as my first son slept all the time as a newborn. Well after really watching her patterns and such, she would never go to sleep during the day, maybe nap 1-2 hours total. Then during the night maybe a couple hours. Not the recommended 15 hours or so. She would be so over stimulated that she could not get her to sleep, and neither could we. She is not much of a deep sleeper so she would wake herself up(ugh). Well the other day we went out and bought her a sound machine, and set it for white noise. That night she slept great, six hours then woke up and ate, then another 3 hours then ate. Awesome. Then has slept great through out the day, as well. She naps alot in her swing or bouncy seat. I have now started sorta a routine with her. She wakes up, she eats, is awake for maybe half hour, then nap time, and we keep going like this. She is doing great. Last night not so great. Let me back up here, the last two nights she has gotten up every three hours to eat, ok I can deal with this. It does take us about an hour to get her to sleep by rocking her at bedtime. Last night however, it took me a long time to get her to sleep, then the pacifer would fall out, she was awake, ack. This happened 4-5 times. By this time I was tired. Fed her again put her sleep, she woke up at her usual(what there is nothing usual about her) time, but was wide awake and bushy tail at 2 oclock. So rock her, in the chair, did the mama sway, she fell asleep, put her down, awake she was. Dad put the pacifer in two more times, something must of sunk because she finally slept. So on to today, the boys are fishing and she has slept some, not much though, I think she misses her brother talking her ear off when she sleeps.  Oh the joys of being a mom. I love them though.

 

Well folks, I am back. My husband chris went back to work yesterday. So we are back to the daily schedule. Yesterday was not bad at all. Catherine slept like she should and ate like she should, so all was well with her. Calvin was pretty good, it back to training time with him. Catherine slept in her own bed, she did wake every 3 hours but thats ok.

 

Today on the agenda is washing diapers(we use cloth) and dishes, I also need to make another batch of granola, and do some general cleaning. Calvin and Chris are going fishing tommorow so it will be just us girls. Maybe I will do alittle sewing. I need to fix some dresses of catherines, most of them need new elastic in the sleeves.

 

Have a great day.

Well it seems it is about time, I put in an update on how are newest addition to the family is doing. She is doing wonderful. She is eating like crazy, and smiling like crazy to. She does have one small issue, She does not do well on dairy. So what does that mean for me. You guessed it. No Diary. Ugh!! How can a girl who loves, cereal, Ice cream, cheese, and butter survive with out diary. Well we are making it work. Our sweet girl was having trouble sleeping at night. Not just up and atum, but screaming hystarics. Well I talked to my midwife, and its the diary. Thought yesterday I would try some(two peices of cheese pizza) after I had not had any for a week(and she was great) well last night she had a rough night. That convinced me, no more diary. Other than that she is doing wonderfully. She does love her momma and sleeping by her is the one way.

Her big brother Calvin, loves taking care of her,and helping mom in anyway he can. Oh and I am recovering quite well.

 

Thats about it around here.

Catherine Elaine's Birth Story.

Where should one begin. I will preface this by saying, that it seems that pregnancy and birth do not come easy for me. Each pregnancy and birth has made me stronger and rely on our heavenly Father more and more. As you will see in Catherine story every single detail was worked out my God himself.

 

On saturday May 26th( which is 11 days past my due date) I start laboring at about 4:30 in the afternoon. The contractions started out at every half hour, they were strong then closer and stronger as the night progressed,  I was able to get about 2-3 hours of sleep, then they started up  again about 10 minutes apart and stronger. They were getting stronger and closer, but then will change alittle.The next day the contractions were still coming, they were about every 15 mintues to 20 minutes or so, but not as strong. This baby just wants to be born at night. We walked around meijer grocery store. Now we are home resting, nap time for hubby, and calvin. I took a small nap earlier between contractions. My contractions usually pick up around 5 or so we thought we would hang out and see what happened. Then around 7:00 the contractions were really coming, they were strong(not strong compared to what I know now) and about 3 mintues apart. It was around 11:00p.m. and we called the birth center and told them we were coming in.  We arrrived at the birth center and labored there till 1:00 the next afteroon. We had Calvin with us,because he was going to be there for the birth. He was great, played and kept busy.My contractions were stronger but were not getting closer together but slowing down. Our midwife shelly checked me just before one to see my progress and I was fully effaced with a soft cervix, but only at 2cm dilated.

 So they sent us home, to take some benadryl and sleep. I  slept some, but the contractions are crazy now, the contractions were getting stronger and coming about every 10 mintues apart.Chris's mother just happened(God) to have tuesday off, so she came and spent the day with calvin at the birthcenter. I think I totally tramatized her with all my screaming. She said it was just that she wanted to make it all better. It was about 9:00 am on the 29th that we called the birth center up to say this was it and we were coming in. My contractions we very strong and from that point kept getting stronger. I was checked and was told I was 4-5 Argh. I really wanted to make it past 5 because thats were I stalled at with calvin. So I continued to labor. Now realizing that my labor was pure back labor X 6000.  My contractions kept gaining strength and slowly gained in closeness. I was in pure agony. The midwives gave me every suggestion known to man on how to get this baby to turn. I was laboring on the ball, in the tub, standing, sitting, rocking, laying. Nothing helped or made my pain better. They checked me again a few hours later and I was at 5 oh to say I was defeted was an understatement. At least I had made it to 5 that was a goal. So I continued on, by this time I was in pain I had never felt before or never hope to again in my life time. The baby felt like it was coming out my back and my hips. I was screaming at the top of my lungs with every contraction. I did this for what seemed like an eternity. I got into the tub and my dh was spraying my back with hot water for an hour at least. It did not help but it took my mind off of it for a while. The strength that I had at that point  only came from the Lord. At this point the midwives got the stuff ready for the birth. They thought by how I was screaming and breathing and the closeness, that I was in transition. This was at about 6:00p.m. on the 29th. During this time, I was just taking one contraction after another, afraid to go to the bathroom, it seemd to bring one on. The only thing I could do was stand and try to scream my way through. I was getting tired and burnt out. It was about 10:00p.m.( so at this time I had been there for 13  hours) and she checked me and said I was an 8. Awesome. With this pain I should have been a 10 though.  I prayed and asked God to help me,(I had done this the whole time) but I needed help on what to do. I was in pure agony and going no where. The midwives thought things were changing. I on the other hand new, that my body felt the same way as when I came in. They kept saying you sound pushy. I was like there is no pushy here except out my back. So I asked my husband what to do, I could not go on like this any longer. I said go and ask the midwives if there is anything for pain(knowing there was not but hoping) he came back and said no theres nothing. I said get kip(my midwife) I need to talk to her. I asked her what my options were. She said you can keep laboring, your close, or you can transport to the hosptial. I said ok let me think this over. The contractions just kept coming. I said to my husband I have given it my best and I have peace. I can not do this any longer. I need an epidural. He said whatever I think is best. He is crying at this point. Thank God for my mil she took calvin to her house to sleep for the night. At the birthcenter when someone goes to the hopital usually the dula that works there goes with you. Well she happened to be having a dula meeting at the birthcenter that night, and was still there. She also had another dula there that had stayed and they were praying for me and coming up with ways to help me. After I decided to go to the hospital, she came in and was pushing on my pelvis that helped relive some pain for a little while, but then it was just as bad. I said we need to go.

 

So we got in our car and followed her to the hospital, which is about 15 mintues away. The Lord spared me, I only had 3 contractions on the way there. They were horrible). Once we arrived at the hospital, we were in the parking lot and one of the valet guys asked my husband if I was in labor, which he responded yes, and asked if I need a wheel chair. Oh praise God bless that young mans heart. I sat in the chair and he wheeled me to labor and delivery which I would not have made if I would have had to walk. Luckly my midwives had called and told them i was coming, and had gotten my paperwork ready. I got into my room, and  dula met us there. I had a great nurse. She had to start and Iv. before they could do the epidural. So she did that sitting up because I could not lay down. She said she does better if I lay down but she will try it. She got it first time. Then they got just some fluid in me and called the epidural man. He was there in what seemed to be a flash.  He got the epi started right away. Oh Praise God. I could not understand the man, is acient was so strong, just nodded and agreed. He got the epidural in and with it a few mintues I felt relief. Relief that felt better than I could ever imagine. They started antibotics, because I had not take the gbs test during my pregnancy. They checked me and I was still and 8. I actually got to breath and nap alittle. I was feeling some sort of human again. I labored like that for quite awhile. The doctors had agreed to let me try and deliver this baby vaginally because thats what I wanted. Also a praise God thing. So I labored through the night at which point my water broke, sometime in the early morning. As we were watching the monitor for my contractions, nothing really seemed to be changing. They seemed to be spacing out some. So the doctor came in and made sure my bag of water was totally broke and checked me and I was at a 9 which is the farthest I got. I labored at nine till about 10:00 in the morning. The new docotor who happens to be a worry wart was getting anxious, to do a c-section. Well we diecided to start pitocin, instead. We had to wait for some paper work from my previous c-section from a different hospital, before they would start it because of my uterus. So finally after a couple hours it seemed they started the pitotin. I only labored with that for a little over and hour and a good dose and my contractions more or less stopped. Which is opposite from what they are supposed to do. So we knew it was c-section. Which Chris and I were ok with, we were at peace with it at the beginning of the pregnancy, and were for sure now. So they Made sure I was totally numb with the epidureal. I made sure this time, last time I was not. I was so drowsy at this point from lack of sleep that I could barely keep my eyes open.  So right around noon they wheeled me into the or and got me all set up. I do not remember alot of it,I kept saying to the epi man, that I was so tired and he said go ahead and sleep. So I did. All i remember is them saying to my husband heres the baby and him trying to tell me that it was a girl, then the room said it was a girl, and I heard her screaming at the top of her lungs, and thats all i remember. Catherine was born May 30 at 12:36 p.m. 8pds 5ounces 21inches long.After coming out of the room and back the the recovery room, I got to hold her which was awesome, and breast feed. I also did not have the shakes like I did with calvin. My baby girl was perfect. I thought for sure she would be a cone head, because of her time in labor but her head was perfect. So my back labor was my baby coming out my back because she was never planning on coming out the way she was supposed to. Mil brought calvin to the hospital to see the baby and to switch off, my parents were going to take him till sunday. Praise God for our parents they saved us.

Our time in the hospital was short. Most in our area are there 4-5 days. I left on day 3.  The surgery went alot smoother then the last and my recovery has been alot better. I was up and moving shortly after suregery. I had great nurses the first two days. Catherine was a great baby. She nursed great, but we were ready to go home. I hate hospitals. Catherine was not having the amount of wet diapers they wanted right away so they were trying to hold us ther longer, because she could lose more then her 10 percent. So we were aguring with doctors and nurses and were so ready to go home. This hosptial is a teaching hospital so every human being thinks they need to check the baby. Ugh. So God put the works into motion and we were both able to go home on the third day. I was up and about on the first day and was not on many pain killers. Praise God.

We have all been doing great, been having a few rough nights but she sleep through most of the night last night. Nursing like a champ and her brother loves her bunches.

 

Through this whole ordeal it has made me realize that God Almighty is with me every step of the way. I can look at every little thing that happened, From my dula being there, chris's mom having the day off, my parents beinging at home, the wheelchair man, the epi guy being right there, to my doctor coming through for us again at the last mintue so we could leave. It is so amazing and reassuring that we have the Almighty by oursides, never leaving or forsaking us.

 

Here is a picture of our baby girl Catherine.

 

Well our new bundle arrived on May 30 2007 42weeks and 1 day. She arrived at 12:36p.m. weighing in at 8pounds 5ounces, and 21inches long. I will have pictures and they long birthstory for you later. I ended up having a c-section so now its time to recover.