One Extra Kid

Our newest addition has arrived.  He came at 3:34pm on January 20th via planned c-section.  He weighed 8lbs 9oz and measured 20 inches long.  He will further be known as "Fuss" on the blog until he outgrows his collicy tendencies!  Worth every minute though, just means extra snuggle time for us both.  :)

2013-2014 Curriculum Update

We're almost done with the first semester of homeschool so why not update you now on what we've been doing all fall and will continue to do for the rest of the school year.

Big Brother - 2nd Grade
Math: Horizons 2
Phonics: Spectrum Phonics 2 (completed already)
Spelling: Spelling Power
Handwriting: A Reason for Handwriting
Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 2
Reading & English: BJU Press 
History: The Story of the World, vol. 2
Science: Answers in Genesis God's Design for Science
Geography: A Child's Geography by Ann Voskamp
Bible: Christian Liberty Press Studying God's Word

Half-Pint - Preschool
Letter of the Week (but I'm VERY relaxed on her school . . . )

Doc - Therapies
Infant teacher - about every other week
Occupational therapy - every other week
Physical therapy - every week
Speech therapy - every other week
(each is about 1 hr at a time)

Thank goodness for God's grace and direction.  I have felt like a complete failure more than once when it comes to schooling my kids or maintaining therapy on my own during the rest of the week but for some odd reason - okay, a God reason - they do continue to learn and grow and amaze me.  Thank you Jesus for Your blessed help each day!

Our Newest Addition

Lord willing, this little man is due to come in January 2014.

American Homeschoolers

Source: TopMastersInEducation.com

7: Thoughts on Jen Hatmaker's experimental mutiny against excess.

I just finished up reading 7 by Jen Hatmaker.  It's incredible.  I hadn't heard of her or read her blog or any of her other books before but now I think I may be hooked - if I had time to read blogs (which is sort of odd that I keep one but don't have much time to read. . . .that's life with little ones I suppose.)  Anyways, I have a handful of books I've started this summer and am still reading.  This one was on my "to read" list but forgotten as I had to library loan it from a library other than mine and it took a LONG time to come in.  So long that I had forgotten that I requested it and when it came in I almost gave up getting it.  However, it happened that it was still waiting for me when checking out books for the kids and I took it home.  Once I started it I could hardly put it down.  Jen puts into words and ideas and experiments almost everything I've been feeling and thinking in my heart and head for a long time.  I see commercials and billboards encouraging consumerism - it will make you rich, it will make you happy, it will get you better behaved children, blah blah blah - and how easy it is to fall into that trap sometimes.  How easy is it to buy new these days.  We're not encouraged to reuse or fix - junk it, it's going into a landfill somewhere where you'll never see it again or put it in a "in case I get a round tuit" box using up space in your house (space that could be used for better).  Just buy new and buy now.
Also - another issue I have, in particular with my own flesh and blood and that of which I married - media!!!  Ah!  I am taking another facebook hiatus because of 7.  I've done it before and it was wonderful.  I feel like I don't talk to half my "friends" besides facebook and some annoy me terribly and make my day miserable just by reading their status updates and then I end up being judgemental either towards them and sometimes  towards myself when I compare a "friend" and me because I can't be the super-mom-woman-career person-athlete (insert any number of hats here) that they are and forget that God made me to be and do what I'm doing and He's given me grace beyond measure so stop comparing!!!  My kids and hubby on the other hand don't facebook but TV and video games are entertainment of choice.  The childrens think I'm a terrible mom because I only allow 30 minutes of screen time a day per child.  They are going to hate me when I make it an hour total for all of them - like when Doc gets to start choosing time.  Right now they watch each other play computer games or each other's shows so they are sitting in front of a screen for an hour total, which would turn to an hour and a half when Doc gets in on the action and two hours when The New Baby (yes, due Feb. 1st) gets to that point.  Now throw in Hubby who also loves computer games and the wii and playstation . . . the kids really get more when he gets home because that's his play of choice for Big Brother and sometimes Half-pint "plays" too.  And after the kids are in bed, Hubby likes to "relax" with a show or movie, but I don't, but I end up watching because it's our time together.  I like a few shows and I enjoy a movie here or there but it's not my entertainment of choice.  Thankfully neither of us are smartphone people yet, especially the ones that sit with each other and don't speak a word because they are busy surfing, texting, facebooking instead of having meaningful conversation with the one Right. Next. To. Them.
The book 7 talks about excess in 7 different categories, I mentioned two already - spending and media, the others ones included clothes, waste, food, possessions, and stress.  I think spending and media are my biggest pet peeves.  Possessions and stress are close in second but I do have to say that Hubby and I have been very careful so far (hopefully it continues) about becoming over committed to outside activities, specifically the ones the kids do.  It's western culture to give them all the opportunities one can afford (or put on credit) but it's not healthy for the family unit and we've been aware of that.  We don't want to run a hundred different directions every day to makes sure they get to soccer practice, church program, ballet, cub scouts, 4-H, piano lessons, guitar lessons, football practice, swim lessons, etc. etc.  We've limited their activities to at most 2 per season - and they both go to the church one so that's one direction for the entire family.  I know that will probably increase somewhat as they get older but we're going to do the best we can to limit stress on our family and keep us together as much as possible.  That's our job.  As far as possessions - well, we can always do better, live on less and give away what we don't use.  You should see the "garage sale/goodwill/give away" pile I have put together just in the course of reading this book.  It's huge!  The clothes category, which there is always room for improvement, is probably the least of our worries because no one in my family is that concerned with what's fashionable and I regularly go through my closet and get rid of stuff I haven't worn or doesn't fit.  I shop second hand for as much as I possibly can for all of us and rarely pay retail price for anything clothing wise (aside from socks and unmentionables.)
When it comes to food and waste the Hatmaker family learned to eat responsibly, eat out less often, grow a garden, enjoy the wonderful food that can be grown at home, recycle almost everything, and other stuff but you'll just have to read it yourself.  You will not be disappointed.

I would like to quote a favorite paragraph that just resonated with me, it's actually one paragraph in a small section of book that just spoke my heart:

"What would the early church think if they walked into some of our buildings today, looked through our church Web sites, talked to an average attender?  Would they be so confused?  Would they wonder why we all had empty bedrooms and uneaten food in our trash cans?  Would they regard our hoarded wealth with shock?  Would they observe orphan statistics with disbelief since Christians outnumber orphans 7 to 1?  Would they be stunned most of us don't feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, care for the sick, or protect the widow?  Would they see the spending on church buildings and ourselves as extravagantly wasteful while twenty-five thousand people die every day from starvation?"

Okay, I want to continue a bit, it is so right on . . . 

"I think they'd barely recognize us as brothers and sisters.  If we told them church is on Sundays and we have an awesome band, this would be perplexing.  I believe we'd receive dumbfounded stares if we discussed "church shopping" because enough people don't say hello when we walk in the lobby one hour a week.  If they found out one-sixth of the earth's population claimed to be Christians, I'm not sure they could reconcile the suffering happening on our watch while we're living in excess.  They'd wonder if we had read the Bible or worry it had been tampered with since their time."

I want to quote more but I don't want to get into trouble either.  Just go read it for yourselves, or not if you are happy to live as you are without being challenged and are content to think that American western culture is how God really wants us to live as lights.

Leg News for Doc

So, technically this post is probably a month late, but I thought I better record it.  Doc met with his plastic surgeon and everything is looking good there, as far as his skin is concerned so we don't have to see him unless something else comes up.  He got the "all-clear"!  Next we saw his orthopedic surgeon.  We were expecting, based on his check-up in March, that surgery of one type or another (amputation or symes) was going to be scheduled however his doctor was happy with the progress he is showing just using his new orthotic that we don't have to think about surgery right now, and don't have to see her again for a year.  We're happy, happy, happy!  Our PT goals are for him to start pulling up and walking (w/ a walker), hopefully by next year (although I am not so sure we'll make that . . . )  Maybe Doc will surprise me!  (He's been known to at times.)  :)

I will try to post a picture soon of him sporting the orthotic.

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

<I really like this song, and love my Lord.  So that I can read and sing these words whenever I want I'm recording it here.>

(Chorus)

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

(Chorus)

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

(Chorus)

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore

(Chorus)

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your hold name

Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship your Holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name

I'll worship Your holy name

Check-Ups for Doc

This little guy had his 2 1/2 month post eye-surgery check-up just this past Monday and he's doing GREAT!  (As far as his eyes are concerned.)  Yesterday he had a check-up with the orthopedic surgeon and he is going to need some sort of amputation surgery on his right leg.  However, we are going to try a "boot" that fits over the right leg until June and then go from there.  The ortho doctor is suggesting taking off the foot but leaving the heel or amputating mid-calf-ish.  He has terrible circulation in that foot, it is almost always purple even when he's wearing a sock and a sleeper - which I always have to dress him to keep it warm enough.  Also, the lower half of the leg isn't growing the same as the left and that is projected to continue making the difference more and more noticeable and inconvenient for him.  Prosthesis have come such a long way and at this point it will be just like normal to him, being he is only 16 months.  So, this summer should be interesting, to say the least. 

Eye Surgery

Doc had eye surgery today to fix his crossed eyes.  You'd think that having experienced a child (or two) having had surgery before that it wouldn't be as hard.  Well, you'd guess wrong.  I even thought that until last night, and then early morning came, and then we were driving caravan style to the hospital (since hubby had to head to work as soon as Doc was in recovery), and then we were checking in, and then being taken back to "triage", and then having the anesthesiologist take your baby boy back, and then sitting in the waiting room watching the screen and seeing the "in surgery" highlighted beside your child's ID number, then I realized that no matter how common or rare the surgery, when it's your child it doesn't matter and it's just hard.

But God answered our prayers the way we hoped He might.  Doc did "perfectly" according to the doctor and nurse.  The only trouble was getting the IV in, but that is to be expected with tiny, pudgy arms - and he was asleep for that.  We arrived around 6:10am and were leaving around 10:30am.  He's sleeping now, a little fussy when he was awake a short while ago, but other than that doing great.  Thank you Jesus!!!! 

Toothless

Isn't he cute?  He lost 2 teeth yesterday, pulled them out himself during dinner (it hurt too much to eat prior to).  That makes a total of 5 baby teeth lost.  Big oops on part of the tooth fairy though . . . somehow after staying up too late to watch Harry Potter he/she managed to forget about collecting said teeth.  OOPS.  

It's okay to weep.

I think it's okay to weep over what has been lost.


http://chantrynotes.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/how-i-absorbed-three-punches-and-stood-up-anyway/

I hope I can wake up tomorrow, get up off the mat, and continue working as working for the Lord.  Here's to hard work, perseverance, patient endurance and everything else we're going to need to get by.  Come, Lord Jesus.

My Song for Now.

Do you ever feel like there is a specific song (or two) that just describe your needs/wants/desires/life for the time being?  It speaks to you and speaks for you.  This isn't always the case but right now I am drawn to, love listening to, and feel connected to what the lyrics are in Jimmy Needham's If I Ever Needed Grace.

I'd like to share them here.  Now.

Verse 1
It still feels like yesterday
A lifetime of empty days
My hungry heart was desperate for a meal
I feasted on the Bread of Life
Forgiveness pierced me like a knife
Your breath filled up my lungs and I could feel
I was broke and all I could say was

Chorus
If I ever needed grace, it's now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace, it's now

Verse 2
I met the woman of my dreams
Wanted to give her everything
Then fear came like a thief in the night
But my journal pages prophesy
That one day I'd make her my bride
Soon my best friend was wearing white
With our lives ahead all I could say was

Chorus
If I ever needed grace, it's now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace, it's now

Bridge
In every joy and pain
Whatever comes my way
God I need Your grace

Verse 3
Nine short months 'til she arrived
Little hands and lions eyes
And I'm so scared I don't have what it takes
But I hear Your voice Sunday morning
Father give me eyes to see
All I need's the power of Your name

Chorus
If I ever needed grace, it's now
You are strong when I am weak, somehow
I am weak enough to see
I need You to cover me
If I ever needed grace
If I ever needed grace
If I ever needed grace, it's now

Happy 1st Birthday!

I haven't had one extra minute to spare lately, the kids have been sick the past two weeks, starting and ending with colds with the stomach flu in between but last Thursday, October 25 our little pumpkin, Doc, turned one year old!  We celebrated yesterday with a small party, just family.

Here is Doc a few weeks ago, happy boy helping me fold the diapers.

Here he is at his party, he was beyond ready for a nap at this point but stopped crying when we started singing "Happy Birthday" to him, then he went  down for a nap and slept through the rest of his party. 

At one year old he is still riding and being carried around in his infant carseat, he's been in 6-9 month clothes for about a month now, he can't sit up without support yet or get up on hands and knees in 4-point position.  He will turn pages of large board books, roll to get where he wants to be or explore, prefers his Mommy, brings us lots of joy, and is an incredible blessing.

Happy Birthday Doc!

Update: Took Doc to the doctor's today because he's had his cold for so long, and although this isn't his official well-child visit he measured in at 16lb 12.6 oz and 26 inches long.  Such a little peanut!  He has bronchial-pneumonia and is on antibiotic now.  His official well-child visit is in about another month (if I remember correctly), since he has to have a pre-op appointment a month before his eye surgery they're just going to combine the two.

My Birthday Cake

Hubby did it again!  He made my birthday cake for our celebration tomorrow at my parent's house.  Yup - I love moose, fall colors, blue . . . Great job Dear!  I love it!  :) 

Here is Hubby (boyfriend at the time) holding the first cake he ever made me - October 4, 2000, he brought it to the CCC Girl's House which is where I lived from my sophomore year until we got married in January of 2002.

He made me this cake for my birthday in 2001 - It's the Appalachian Trail, which we hiked with my Dad the previous two summers (a week at a time.)

(In both pictures we're in plaid flannel - can't tell we were students up in da UP, eh?)

PBS

Wow - such a BIG deal over PBS.  If it's that important to the state of raising our children then maybe we need to donate more of our own $ towards them.  I like(d) PBS when we got it but we don't anymore and SURPRISE - we're surviving.  I know, right, with 3 children to raise and teach and educate by myself (for at least all but roughly 3 hours a day).  It's downright amazing that I limit my kid's TV screen time to 30 minutes each and allow them to watch each other's shows for a total of 60 minutes a day, and we do it all without PBS.  When the digital system took over we didn't get it anymore on our TV.  There's no reason why we don't but we don't and it was/is sad.  Amazingly, my kids survive by picking out their shows on Netflix or watching the DVD they get to borrow from the library each week.  Fortunately, most of what they pick out is educational, other than Spongebob but given Big Brother only gets 30 minutes a day he's going to choose that over anything PBS offers anyhow.  Yes, I limit the time they're allowed to watch but don't dictate what they can watch (unless it's entirely too inappropriate.)  

Do so many moms rely on PBS to educate and entertain their little ones that it is going to affect the election of the next president of the United States???  Wow (did I say that already?)  It is is our job to train and raise up the children entrusted to us, not the television's or creative minds behind the broadcasting.  You know what not letting your kids watch TV when they whine produces: patience/imaginative play/discipline/self-control/etc/etc/etc.  Basically, stuff that's way more important than what they can learn from PBS.  

I'm not saying we shouldn't have it around, if we got it I know Half-pint and someday Doc would choose their shows from that station, but it shouldn't affect who we're going to vote on as our leader for the next four years.  (In case you're worried, DVR it, or invest in the DVD's.)

ArtPrize 2012

Half-pint's favorite

Big Brother's favorite

Nana's favorite, Top 5 for Half-pint and me.

Top 5 for Me.

My favorite - I loved spending time (labs) in the cedar swamps of the U.P during my college days.

I'm sure this is Doc's favorite since his P.T. created the upper right hand corner piece of this 13-piece collage.  Also one in my Top 5.

Happy Down syndrome Awareness Month!

Vacation

What do:

Empire Bluff Hiking Trail,

Pretending to be Sand People in the dunes,

Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive,

Perfecting the Yoda voice around a campfire,

GIANT s'mores,

Dirt,

Campfires, and then more campfires,

Late nights,

Cold nights,

Perfect days,

D.H. Day Campground,

Lake Michigan,

Fall color,

Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail,

Hot Coffee & Hot Cocoa,

Catching up with old friends,

And family time have in common???

All was enjoyed by us last Wednesday through Sunday at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  I'm so thankful for the beautiful weather and enjoyable time we had.  Thank You God!!!  We were tech-free, even turned off my cell phone except to ring up some friends nearby, didn't even take pictures.  (I brought the wrong memory card - but I think it made it more relaxing.)

Propped-up Sitting

It seems like we've (Doc, his OT & PT, and I) have been working on this position FOREVER.  I know that is how it's always going to seem.  But, when he did it by himself this weekend for the first time it was sweet.  And again, long enough for me to take a picture even!  Good work little man!  Now that you have this down your therapists can add one extra thing to your daily regime!

Black & White

WARNING: Post is not pc!

There is a LOT of gray stuff out there.  Issues that can't be decided for sure one way or the other.  There are just countless situations which require different and difficult decisions.  But there are still some black and white issues.  With the upcoming election I'd like to go over some of these black and white issues.  These apply to those who believe and have put their trust in God, the One and Only, and believe and trust that the Bible is His infallible Word.  (If you don't believe in God or trust the Bible as His Word, this will mean nothing to you, FYI).

Marriage:
Genesis 1:27-28
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"

Genesis 2:24
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

1 Corinthians 7:2
"But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband."

Romans 1:26-27
"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

Children:
Psalm 127:3
"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him."

Psalm 139:13-15
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in that secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth."

Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you . . ."

Exodus 20:13
"You shall not murder."

The Economy: don't let the sorry state of our economy deter you from voting morally.
Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

Matthew 6:25-27
"'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

Haters:
1 John 3:15
"Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him."

John 15:19
"'If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.'"

Remember:
Hebrews 13:6
"So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?'"

Romans 13:1
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God."

AND

Ecclesiastes 1:9
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

(If you don't believe me look it up for yourself.  I encourage you to study these truths.  These are quoted from the NIV and all emphasis is mine.)