I'd better post about Christmas 2007 while it is still 2007.
We had a nice, quiet Christmas at home. I was greatful to not have to go anywhere. The children slept until 8:00!?! They got their presents from Santa*. Wild Thing actually had coal in his stocking because of his bad behavior prior to Christmas morning. He still has a present in the attic.
I cooked my first turkey using the Alton Brown brining method. It took me 15 married Christmases to get around to cooking a turkey. It was not as hard as my mother made it out to be. The turkey was tasty. We had mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and cookies to complete the meal. Everyone ate too much.
We spent the afternoon playing with the Christmas presents and taking turns on the phone talking to various family members.
*By the way, we don't really do Santa here. We play "The Santa Game" where it is known that Mama and Daddy pretend to be Santa Claus. One of the main rules is that we do not talk about "The Santa Game" outside of our immediate family.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
I'm an Aunt!
My niece was born at 12:02pm by C-section.
8 pounds 3 ounces
20 inches
Yep, she shares a birthday with Wild Thing.
Congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law.
8 pounds 3 ounces
20 inches
Yep, she shares a birthday with Wild Thing.
Congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law.
Happy Birthday Wild Thing!
Warning: Birth Story to follow.
It was about 5:00am December 27, 2003 when the contractions started. The Historian and the Crafter were asleep. I got up and started timing. Every 8 minutes, give or take. I called my mom so she could get ready to come. I called the hospital. They tried to convince me that I wasn't in labor, but what do they know. I puttered around making sure everything was as ready as it could be. I called my neighbor to tell her the Crafter would be there soon. I woke the Historian. We put the Crafter in the car and dropped her off at our neighbor's house.
We get to the hospital around 7:00am. The Saturday after Christmas is not a good time to have a baby. The nurse kept telling me that I might get sent home if I wasn't dilated enough, never mind that the contractions were now 4 minutes apart. I go to my room, undress, and await getting checked. The nurse checks me and then says "I'll be right back" Not a promising sign. Two minutes later the nurse comes back with an ultrasound machine, my midwife, and her supervising OB. Not good signs either. The doctor does a quick ultrasound. "The baby is butt down. You have to have a C-section. You are only 4cm dilated, so there's no rush. You and the baby are doing fine." Exit OB. My midwife apologizes because she was sure the baby was head down at my last appointment.
So we wait. The contractions are getting stronger. My water breaks and the contractions are now every 2 minutes. Now I can stand a fair amount of pain, especially when there's a purpose, but since the contractions are not required for this birth and I'm supposed to be getting a full spinal block, I don't want to feel them. Two hours from the time of the "butt down" announcement I'm begging the Historian to make them give me drugs.
The medical team finally gets its act together and I go into surgery. Wild Thing came into the world at 10:30 am screaming and peeing. Some things haven't changed.
Wild Thing is a source of unspeakably joy, frustration, laughter, and tears. He keeps me humble and on my knees.
Happy Birthday my precious gift from God.
Our family December 27, 2003
Wild Thing among his own kind.
It was about 5:00am December 27, 2003 when the contractions started. The Historian and the Crafter were asleep. I got up and started timing. Every 8 minutes, give or take. I called my mom so she could get ready to come. I called the hospital. They tried to convince me that I wasn't in labor, but what do they know. I puttered around making sure everything was as ready as it could be. I called my neighbor to tell her the Crafter would be there soon. I woke the Historian. We put the Crafter in the car and dropped her off at our neighbor's house.
We get to the hospital around 7:00am. The Saturday after Christmas is not a good time to have a baby. The nurse kept telling me that I might get sent home if I wasn't dilated enough, never mind that the contractions were now 4 minutes apart. I go to my room, undress, and await getting checked. The nurse checks me and then says "I'll be right back" Not a promising sign. Two minutes later the nurse comes back with an ultrasound machine, my midwife, and her supervising OB. Not good signs either. The doctor does a quick ultrasound. "The baby is butt down. You have to have a C-section. You are only 4cm dilated, so there's no rush. You and the baby are doing fine." Exit OB. My midwife apologizes because she was sure the baby was head down at my last appointment.
So we wait. The contractions are getting stronger. My water breaks and the contractions are now every 2 minutes. Now I can stand a fair amount of pain, especially when there's a purpose, but since the contractions are not required for this birth and I'm supposed to be getting a full spinal block, I don't want to feel them. Two hours from the time of the "butt down" announcement I'm begging the Historian to make them give me drugs.
The medical team finally gets its act together and I go into surgery. Wild Thing came into the world at 10:30 am screaming and peeing. Some things haven't changed.
Wild Thing is a source of unspeakably joy, frustration, laughter, and tears. He keeps me humble and on my knees.
Happy Birthday my precious gift from God.
Our family December 27, 2003
Wild Thing among his own kind.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve started unusually for us. The Historian had to leave for work at 9:30am. He works 2nd shift, so getting up and going straight to work is a big deal.
The Crafter, Wild Thing, Sweetie, and I all had colds. I had the whole sniffling, sneezing, coughing, sinus pressure and pain package. Being sick at Christmas never surprises me. It's a family tradition. I tried not to complain. Flashbacks of Christmas 2000 kept my spirits up. The Historian and I spent 24 hours throwing up at my parents' house.
The children and I spent the day watching junk on TV, playing on the computer, and attempting some crafts. I never realized how much stuff I pick up off the floor during the course of a day. I couldn't bend over without shooting pains behind my eyes. By mid-afternoon, there wasn't even a visible patch of floor in the living room. It was warm outside, so I sent the sniffly children outside for fresh air and attempted a quick clean up.
We were walking out the door to go to the Christmas Eve Service at our old church when the Historian got home, so we got to go as a family. The service was good. There were carols, skits, music and vocal solos, and scripture readings. It ended with communion and candle light. Afterwards we had cookies and cider in the fellowship hall. It was good to see our old friends.
Side Note: Wild Thing fell asleep. I spent most of the time wrestling Sweetie. About halfway through the service, I noticed white flakes on her shirt. Surely she couldn't have dandruff. Then there were more flakes. SHE WAS EATING A CANDLE!?! When we got up it looked like a miniature snow fall.
We went home and put the children to bed. The Historian gave me the best gift he could have given me: a value size box of generic Sudafed--the kind you have to ask for at a pharmacy. I took my cold medicine and slept in peace while he played Santa.
The Crafter, Wild Thing, Sweetie, and I all had colds. I had the whole sniffling, sneezing, coughing, sinus pressure and pain package. Being sick at Christmas never surprises me. It's a family tradition. I tried not to complain. Flashbacks of Christmas 2000 kept my spirits up. The Historian and I spent 24 hours throwing up at my parents' house.
The children and I spent the day watching junk on TV, playing on the computer, and attempting some crafts. I never realized how much stuff I pick up off the floor during the course of a day. I couldn't bend over without shooting pains behind my eyes. By mid-afternoon, there wasn't even a visible patch of floor in the living room. It was warm outside, so I sent the sniffly children outside for fresh air and attempted a quick clean up.
We were walking out the door to go to the Christmas Eve Service at our old church when the Historian got home, so we got to go as a family. The service was good. There were carols, skits, music and vocal solos, and scripture readings. It ended with communion and candle light. Afterwards we had cookies and cider in the fellowship hall. It was good to see our old friends.
Side Note: Wild Thing fell asleep. I spent most of the time wrestling Sweetie. About halfway through the service, I noticed white flakes on her shirt. Surely she couldn't have dandruff. Then there were more flakes. SHE WAS EATING A CANDLE!?! When we got up it looked like a miniature snow fall.
We went home and put the children to bed. The Historian gave me the best gift he could have given me: a value size box of generic Sudafed--the kind you have to ask for at a pharmacy. I took my cold medicine and slept in peace while he played Santa.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
I Crashed a Baby Shower
My sister is expecting her first baby--a girl. Her due date is January 3, but she will probably have a C-section on December 27 unless the baby has turned by Tuesday.
She has had at least 3 baby showers given by various church groups. (My brother-in-law is a youth pastor.) I was not invited to any of them. To make matters worse, my mother and grandmother were not invited either. This is simply not done. The honoree at any shower should always be asked if she would like to invite any friends or family, but I guess this fine point of etiquette has been lost.
So when my sister asked if we were going to the shower at their former church (15 minutes from my house), the females of my family decided that it was time to take matters into our own hands and crash the party. We prepared our gifts. I even got creative and made a 4 tiered "diaper cake" using 116 disposable diapers. I also had my "speech" ready in case we were questioned about being there.
We showed up at the shower and acted like we belonged. The cake was excellent. Everyone was nice, but it was evident that we were not expected to be there. My sister thanked us for coming. She wanted her family there and that was what was important.
She has had at least 3 baby showers given by various church groups. (My brother-in-law is a youth pastor.) I was not invited to any of them. To make matters worse, my mother and grandmother were not invited either. This is simply not done. The honoree at any shower should always be asked if she would like to invite any friends or family, but I guess this fine point of etiquette has been lost.
So when my sister asked if we were going to the shower at their former church (15 minutes from my house), the females of my family decided that it was time to take matters into our own hands and crash the party. We prepared our gifts. I even got creative and made a 4 tiered "diaper cake" using 116 disposable diapers. I also had my "speech" ready in case we were questioned about being there.
We showed up at the shower and acted like we belonged. The cake was excellent. Everyone was nice, but it was evident that we were not expected to be there. My sister thanked us for coming. She wanted her family there and that was what was important.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Time to Regroup
We will be doing "light school" for the rest of the year. Basically that means doing only one or two subjects per day so the Crafter doesn't forget everything she knows and doing Christmas crafts and baking. It's also time to regroup and see what we need to do to finish third grade.
Bible: Explorers Bible Study No changes.
Handwriting: Italic D She's almost finished with this. I want to focus more on copywork. I haven't been good about setting that up.
Grammar: Rod and Staff 3 She's little over half way through the book. We will start alternating with Writing Tales 1 to focus more on actual writing rather than just language mechanics.
Spelling: Spelling Power No changes.
Reading: Reading books listed in Sonlight and Veritas Press catalogues. I plan to continue this approach, but do more narrations and short book reports.
History: Story of the World 2 I need to be more diligent with history and do at least one lesson per week.
Science: God's Design for Heaven and Earth-- Weather I want to be more diligent with this too and do two lessons per week.
Math: Singapore Primary Mathematics supplemented with Saxon 54. We should be finishing up 3B soon and then we'll start Challenging Word Problems 3. Saxon will be for drill only.
Spanish: I really want to start some Spanish this year. I have the stuff (Teach them Spanish). I haven't had time to set up lessons.
Music: piano lessons The Historian is in charge of this one as I am musically illiterate (ie. can't carry a tune in a bucket with help).
Art: I really want to do some kind of art appreciation and drawing instruction. Once again, I have the stuff (Visual Manna, Drawing with Children). I just haven't taken the time to organize lessons.
Bible: Explorers Bible Study No changes.
Handwriting: Italic D She's almost finished with this. I want to focus more on copywork. I haven't been good about setting that up.
Grammar: Rod and Staff 3 She's little over half way through the book. We will start alternating with Writing Tales 1 to focus more on actual writing rather than just language mechanics.
Spelling: Spelling Power No changes.
Reading: Reading books listed in Sonlight and Veritas Press catalogues. I plan to continue this approach, but do more narrations and short book reports.
History: Story of the World 2 I need to be more diligent with history and do at least one lesson per week.
Science: God's Design for Heaven and Earth-- Weather I want to be more diligent with this too and do two lessons per week.
Math: Singapore Primary Mathematics supplemented with Saxon 54. We should be finishing up 3B soon and then we'll start Challenging Word Problems 3. Saxon will be for drill only.
Spanish: I really want to start some Spanish this year. I have the stuff (Teach them Spanish). I haven't had time to set up lessons.
Music: piano lessons The Historian is in charge of this one as I am musically illiterate (ie. can't carry a tune in a bucket with help).
Art: I really want to do some kind of art appreciation and drawing instruction. Once again, I have the stuff (Visual Manna, Drawing with Children). I just haven't taken the time to organize lessons.
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