You are currently browsing the monthly archive for October, 2007.
Emma dear has decided she misses Papa so much that she will wail out her opinions. But even still, when Papa gets home she still fusses and complains about his absence. Still we are not taking enough notice of her so she will complain far into the night, sleep for a couple hours and fuss a few more hours. On the bright side, feedings are begining to look up! Thank you Lord. I read Psalm 117 to Euphemia today as we were being fed (me spiritually and her more physically). I was ashamed at how quickly I could go from one problem to another, complain to God and yet when He “fixes” it I show Him another area that needs fixing. That song that the Kingston Trio sings, “Where have all the flowers gone?” There is a line in there that says, “When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?” That’s kind of how my walk with God is. Life can throw some pretty curved balls your way but I am determind that though the walls fall around me I shall continue to praise Him. Why shouldn’t I? The Lord has done great things for us, therefore we shall rejoice!!!!!!!
On the more mundane list of things, I finished Andra’s quillow today. Her birthday was the 17th but I couldnt sit properly at the sewing table to make her birthday gift. I am sure she will like it and as soon as i can, I will take a picture to show off this adorable thing. I love Walmart! Cute fabric so cheap! MY kind of living! 
Pictures of the finished project:
All folded up
opened up.
Feeding is not a natural easy thing for everyone. I am going to try not to turn this into too big of a untrue rant but I just wanna scream. Nothing seems to fall into place right now. Even my poor husband is at his wits end on what to do to feed Euphemia and save my feeding equipment.
Seems like that takes up the whole day. We are so lucky to have such an understanding boss. David is going to come home periodically throughout today and we are going to have a go at feeding her.
A friend sent me this link to help me http://www.wiessinger.baka.com/bfing/howworks/latchtalk.html
Unfortunetly Emma closes her mouth too soon and we have to fight her hands. Swaddling just doesnt work as she is too strong and independent for that.
She still makes us smile. She still has her loveable moments. But when it comes to feeding, it better be here and now! Goodness girl, Mama needs a bit of a break!!!!!!!!!!
Monday sometime after lunch (2:30-3:00 for me since Euphemia has taken over the regular lunch hour ) I brewed up some raspberry tea to drink while doing the dishes so I could keep an infection from happening. At this point I am going to say that we thought I had passed all the membranes that were still left. About 1/2 a cup later I started getting really bad cramping and really heavy. I just assumed I had over did it for the day (laundry was completed, dishes almost done, all the picture taking, ect. etc.) so I would finish up dishes, take a shower and try to nap. It rapidly got worse. I took the shower but it did not relieve anything. So I laid down and after 15-20 minutes the pain still had not subsided and I was begining to moan like labor I called Mumsie to see if she thought it wise that I call the midwife and see what was going on. I hate to make a big deal or panic over nothing and I know the midwife was probably either just getting up from a nap or managing to get another one in. This was a little after 4. Mumsie said wouldnt hurt and so I did. Midwife didnt like the sound of what was going on and I guess I had a horrible sounding voice at that point and said she would be right over. I called David’s boss to get a hold of David (The shop was really slow so his boss had him doing some carpentry at his own home) and told David what was going on. Horray for terrific bosses! Mumsie sent Morgann over to help me. Actually, now taht I remember, Morgann was here to give me her phone number cause I didnt have it by heart and I couldnt get to the refridgerator. Morgann was terrific and helped with Euphemia. It was so cute, every time Emma stirred Morgann would ask, “Should I pick her up?” “No, she isnt wailing…”"She made a fuss, do I pick her up now?”"Is she still fussing?”"well…”It was too funny, but to her “delight” Euphemia did wake up about 2-3 minutes later and very hungry. There was no way I could get up to feed her. Midwife arrived and Morgann asked if a bottle of goats milk was in order. (I think she really hates to hear babies cry. LOL) Midwife asked if I could feed her and I told her that I couldnt physically get up. We hadnt done the laying down position for a while cause I cant get her to latch correctly taht way. Midwife basically plopped Euphemia and when she wailed with her mouth as wide as an alligator she shoved her face into me. Instant relief. I told Euphemia she was welcome to eat all day. Midwife then began asking question, poked and probbed a bit but was kind of stumped about what it was. She called her other midwife and they both could only guess another clot was trying to pass through. I had to use the restroom after she was finished eating and did pass the other membrane that was left. David was home at this point and it looked like a bright future was ahead of us. Midwife took my temp. and it was normal. She said if I started to get a fever and if my temp. spiked to call her and we would most likely go into the ER. I was fine at that point (but tired) so I just kind of brushed it off and thanked her. I noticed later that my ears were getting warm but I was still cold. Usually and indication for ME that I am starting to get a fever. David noticed I was a bit redder and took the temp again. I was 100.8 (I was 98 with Midwife) this was only 1-1.5 hours later. We kept retaking the temp just to be sure that we were reading this right. It was too 102 and we called Midwife and headed in. I was in the ER for about 1 hour before I was checked and about 2-3 (?) hours before they had a bed open for me. First dr. that checked me was great. He did the pelvic exam and said he need to call and OB. OB came and did the exact pelvic exam but he was a bit more uncomfortable. Oh and when he checked me for a bre*st infection he just ripped the bra up and ripped open the almost healed side. The nurse that we thought was a bit less friendly was kind of wide eye and said, “I can unhook”. It was too late at that point. David unfortunetly had stepped out to check on Euphemia and didnt see anything and I was too much in pain at that point to say anything but man was I mad. I was admitted and they were going to do a ultrasound in the AM. Ultrasound showed no more “left overs” and they think what happened was when the last clot/membrane left, it opened an infection and kind of started from there. They put me on antibiotic, which they say was teh strongets thing and it took 3-4 bags of it to let me be released and now i have to do a oral antibiotic as well. (Makes me wonder how strong it is… ) First night was I was waken so often because the fever was breaking but wasnt gone and the vitals had to be checked so often. Golly I just wanted to sleep this off! Poor David I think got 2 hours of sleep that night. Euphemia was up once for a feeding. By morning we were just exhausted. They kept me another day. It was boooorring. All you could do was lay there. I hadnt eaten in almost 24 hours at that point (in case they had to do a D&C) and I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hungry. We had great nurses. One funny Korean lady. Oh she was a hoot. Asked if the baby was vaccinated and went into details on that. I told her I was but I wasnt going to vaccinate my child. She was sweet and said, “ok, you think about it. I wont tell you too.” That day was very long. David brought some sewing and I had planned to sew up all my burp cloths. What else was I going to do? Well, the scissors was remembered, the thread, but I had no needle. Which was probably good since the IV made bending my arm a bit difficult. They kept me another night and by 1:00 the next day they prepped me to go home. Euphemia had a rough day taht morning. She was waking every 1 1/2- 2 hours on average to eat for a full hour. The room we were in was kind of cold. David slept with blankets and a jacket and we used body heat to keep Euphemia warm. I couldnt do it cause of a fever issue but I dont think David complained too much. I am sure there is more info. that could be of use but that is the jist of it. SOunds like everything is fine and falling back into a normal place. I am so frusterated that it happened but there really was nothing that we could do that would have changed the courses of events. There is nothing I look back on with regrets. This could have happened wether it was a home birth or a hospital birth. I take comfort in the fact that several nurses said the same thing, except for OB, who “wouldnt have advised any of this”. I read Psalm 116 today. And while it is a Psalm of deliverance from death I thought it was really encouraging for me as well. Thank you Lord for protecting us. Thank you Mumsie for keeping my hubby well fed as well!
It has been a long and yet short week for us. When it seemed like we were making progress on learning the ropes for family living we took 2 steps back. For an update on our little Emma, She is fine. She is healthy. She is sleepy. She sleeps most of the day and it up for about a 2 hour period during the night. She is becoming a little piglet and has up her feeding time from 15 minutes to almost 20 on each side. Of course she throws up half of her second feeding or looses it the other way. Kind of frusterating for Mama here who has to go through a lot of pain just to get it into her. It is hard to believe she has gotten so big in just one week. Her baptism was yesterday. We now have a perfect little heathen.
I am doing ok. Some difficulties regarding a possible infection. I wasnt passing a blood clot like I needed too and there was a good chance it was getting infected. I guzzled water, tea, vitamin c, ambrotose, and Eucerine (or something like taht). We might have been able to get a hold on it. Still praying for a complete recovery though. The left side for feeding Emma has healed nicely (thanks lacinoh) but the right still is being stubborn and looks awfull. Feeding has become very hard and frusterating for both of us. This is an area that prayers would be most helpful.
Papa went back to work today. That was very tough. He has been such a comfort and support this past week that it was so difficult so say goodbye. I know he will only be gone for 8-10 hours but someone might have told me that he packed his bags and left by the way I was just bawling this morning. It’s so hard to be strong on your own but I know that a loving Father will provide the comfort and stregnth that will help me make it through the day.
I read 2 Corinthians 3 today and prayed to our Father that he would give me the glory of Him to shine through me. This is my prayer, to live for Him, to love Him more daily and hourly.
We are a family. It is not just hubby and I anymore. The responsibilities have become greater. What a pleasant challenge that is before us. Every good thing comes from the Lord.
It’s all kind of a blur now, I do not know where exactly to start here. Perhaps Friday night would be good. I had asked Mumsie if she had any castor oil floating around. I needed a good cleansing (I know gross sounding but true ) and figured she would be the one to ask. We went to my nephew’s (twins) birthday party, ate pizza, had cake, and rootbear. I came home and said, “I have gotta get dinner out!” and so only took 2 tsp. Around 2:30am Saturday I noticed that the contraction I had was more backpain rather than the abdomen tightening but tried to brush it off and go back to sleep. This continued on and off until I finally got up around 5:30am. Didnt really sleep much and David had been awake since 3:30-4 (from the meal we had the night before as well?) Anyway, pass all the small talk here. Contractions were about 4 minutes apart. Getting a bit stronger each hour but manageable. About 10ish I called Mumsie and asked her what she thought, described the contractions… She said it sounded like it might be the “real thing”. So I told David. Walked around abit. I think at that time they had slowed down to 10 minutes apart, which I was like (Dont stop!) So I went outside and walked. I went for a walk. Oh yeah and I also, walked. The contractions did pick up again for which I had mixed emotions about. They were a bit harder and got to the point where I had to lie down to deal with them. I asked David at that point to call the midwife and let her know. Then we kind of just waited. Mumsie made and had chicken salad brought over. It was good too snack on! But then the contractions picked up and got to intense to do that again with. David was great, He rubbed my back. About 1pm the contractions were intense enough that I suggested to David that he call the midwife to come. At this point I should mention that during the morning David was “nesting”. I never had a “nesting” period. I was kind of irritated at all the work he was doing while I was moaning in pain but I am so glad now that he did. Sorry hubby dear!!!!!!! So he prepared everything. The midwife arrived sometime after 1pm but before 2. She had just had a baby (1 month ago?) and so she brought him along. The baby cry was a wonderful distraction. During all the contractions I was lying down. It felt better and I could cat nap for a whole minute or two between them. David continued to rub my back and I continued to moan. Contractions kept getting worse and worse and I remember a couple times people stopping by but I know that I was too out of it to know who and why. Chicken soup came! The broth was wonderful, delicious! I remember thinking, “This is so great!!!!” Around 7 I think Transition came. David called Mamacita (MIL) at that point and she came over. David got to get a small cat nap and she made sure that during the contractions I breathed and relaxed. From taht point on I really dont remember much. I do know that they needed to get sugar in me so they fed me yogurt and I was like “PUKE! this is too sweet get it away!” A little after 9 I’m told I started pushing. It didnt feel like I was doing it right and I think I held back some. Midwife had asked if I was forcing myself to push or if I was ready. I dont remember my reply but she did ask next contraction for me not to push. I told her I couldnt I had to. I was still laying on my side. I did this for maybe 40-45 minutes? At taht point she asked to check my dilation. First time. I told her, “go for it, I dont care”. She checked and said, “OK! Challice, I need you to get on your hands and knee’s. I can see the head.” Hallalujah! Got on my hands and knee’s and started pushing. Head came and Midwife asked dh if he wanted to catch her. I couldnt let go of his hand and I really needed him to keep rubbing the lower of my back. So midwife caught our little Euphemia. There was a minor tear. The placenta came about 1 hour later. Everything is great. We finally have nursing under control . God has been so wonderful!
As my dear Emma would say. (Jane Austen)
So, this morning I had my hubby drop me off at my dear mum’s house on his way to work. This is 7:30am. At 5:00pm I was taken home. So, what kept me so busy? Cleaning out totes! We cleaned and went through 15-20 rubbermaid size totes of fabric, clothes, you name it! Mumsie and I, workaholics to get this stuff O-U-T- OUT! We threw out atleast 4 bags of stuff (1-2 clothes that were just dead) 1 very moldy bag of fabric (lid wasn’t on properly and so when it rained… well the rest is history) and atleast 2 bags of just fabric that could not be used.
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We sorted all the totes, a bit here, and a bit there. Now for the great but terrible news. I get to bring home at least three bags of fabric that Mumsie didnt want but I did. *faint*. How can you resist fabric though? What am I going to tell my dear husband?! I can picture the scene now,
“My dear, its all elementary my dear Watkins”. For the men that perhaps read this blog, this is the side of women that some people say can be controlled by chocolate. Not this lady, although chocolate is very yummy and I will never refuse it, I can be more controlled by fabric. OK, that just sounds wrong. Oh and by the way, never say “Funky” when you are frusterated and have to repeat it several times… It just doesnt work.
So, guess what we are doing tomorrow? The other unfinished half of totes!!!!!!!!
*Collapse!*
I remember a site called Managers of their home or something like that. That is what I am, a manager of my home. I need to see to the peace and orderliness of it all. So that is why I am not going to get on the computer in the morning. Nope, it’s gonna be something I do in the afternoon before I start sewing. 
I am really looking forward to seeing what i can acomplish in a day without getting on the computer first thing. Some may think I am silly, perhaps I am. But it’s a challenge that I wanna say, “I did it!” and of course it will make my dear old fashion hubby so proud of me. Now that is worth it all!
So, as a manager of my home I am trying to come up with a daily schedule, (riiiight) that I will more or less follow. I don’t mean a hour by hour schedule that you pull your hair out or go crash caboom, caput to follow. I mean a basic, easy peasy, schedule. I am trying to find something online that will help me but I am not good at that part of googling. LOL. I am hoping to have three menu’s for a month of meals that I can alternate in my lil’ binder, along with a Monday schedule (which usually involves laundry), Thursday routine schedule (ie. shopping and other errands) and things like that. I am very excited, not because it will be something new for me to do, but more because I know it will please hubby man very much. I like doing that!
So, if you have suggestions or whatnot, post em! I am not a organized person in general so this is going to be very hard to ACOMPLISH. But I aim to please!
Ok, so everyone wants to know how I am feeling. Well, instead of posting all over the place trying to update everyone I will just post here. After all, isnt that what this blog is for?
I am feeling normal as can be. I was awake (as much as you can be awake at 1,2,4 am ) most of the night. I wasnt feeling all that great. Don’t know why as I feel fine now. Probably WAY over tired because I havent been sleeping well the past couple days. AS I stated in my previous entry, my dearest earthly treasure (namely dh) has been suffering through terrible depression and it has physically effected him where its hard for him to walk around. So, when he needs to get up during the night I know he is up as he stumbles to the kitchen for a drink or the bathroom. Poor guy. Dear it will pass! Anyway, so I woke up feeling like I had the flu. Couldnt move really, told dh he would have to make his own breakfast and I might be able to throw things together for a lunch and then I stumbled back into bed. 1/2 hour later, I was perfectly fine. Go figure. No labor symptoms at all. Mumsie is still giving me atleast 2-3 days. I love her so 
So this is the update. Baby is fine and healthy, mama is doing ok, really wanting a tall mocha frapuchino but not willing to pay a gas gallon for one at the moment. LOL. Although I do owe my sister for one she brought me last night! She loves me!
Well, what an exciting title… I am not creative when it comes to things like that unfortunetly. First I need to ask of those that read my little blog to please, please pray for my dear husband. The depression is very bad and I hate to see him suffer so. He is trying to be strong but feel’s so inadequit as a husband and soon to be father.
I’m hoping to try to only get online (use the computer) during the week days. For now that will be Mon-Thur and take the weekends off, unless I “need” to check something. The main decision for this is I would love to be able to be available to my dh at all times. I noticed this past weekend that when I am on, he tends to leave me alone so he wont bother me. I am married to him, not to this computer. Some people have a gluttony for food, I have it for the internet. . This will also be a great time for me to exercise self-control and denial. One of the few things in life that I daily need to exercise myself in. Ok, well, that’s it for today! Such an interesting post I know. But I hope that someone can find it enjoyable for today!
Have a cup of tea!
So, today was Jr. Muffin’s due date. Nope, nothing here. Silly child. I think he or she is quite content while Mama here is miserable as can be. So what did papa do to celebrate the day? He took Mama for a 3-4 hour drive to a place to pick apples. It was a swell and exciting time! I took some pictures but you will have to wait until I can upload them to see them… maybe… 
So, that is my brief cup of tea for the night. It’s late and I am extremely tired. Hoping for some real updates soon!
The bacon is sizzling away, Our oatmeal cake is baking nicely in the oven(http://anniecrawford.com/2006/03/29/417/) (Which we will enjoy with some of Chas’ nice Peach Butter)(http://www.homesteadblogger.com/chas/Heirloom%2BRecipes/) and here I sit with my cuppa tea and try to catch up a wee bit on all the blogs and emails.
Today will be a busy one I am sure. Dear Hubby has stayed home in order to put to order things around the house. I am not sure how much we will be able to acomplish outside for the winds are still very high, but I dont mind being cooped up inside with someone I love. Do you?
Well, since we have so much to acomplish, and we will be babysitting Michael again I should get off of here and keep this entry short.
For those of you that read this, Thanks!
Oh the weather outside is frightful… but the tea is so delightful…and since we’ve no place to go, let me sew… let me sew… let me sew…
Ok, so on today’s list of projects we have
2 girls flannel nightgowns (made with adorable fairy prints)
2 rodeo jumpers
1 gingham nursing dress for mama
1 matching gingham shirt for papa
6 doll dress outfits to make (birthday)
1 quillow for my adorable sister Andra for her birthday. (http://www.cottageprimrose.com/hksales/prairie8.JPG)
Oh and I still need to finish my poor midwife’s nursing jacket.
For today’s good news, (We need some about now!) I have done enough sewing so that we have our assistant midwife bill all paid for! YAY! This is such great news because we thought we would have to pull from the emergency black box fund in order to pay for her cause I wasnt getting enough sewing done quickly enough. But should we really have doubted the Lord’s goodness to us? This is the day the Lord has made, we will be glad and rejoice in it. Remind me of this when our mortage payment of almost $500 comes around next month. 
My dearest is not doing so well. His depression is very bad. People ask me how is it to be a wife of a man that has to suffer through depression. Well, you still are a wife and you still are your husband’s helpmeet. The method of your “help” will be a bit different than most “normal” days but you are still married to the same man and still have to do the same responsibilities. Yes, its a bit harder on days like these, but he is also having a hard day too. You arent the only one. So this morning, we had two cups of tea made. I usually drop a note of encouragement in his lunch box but today I ran out of time because we decided to nuggle’ in bed a wee bit longer. The mornings are colder. Who wants to get up and rush out the door to work? I think he forgave me dont you?
Well, I could turn this entry into another autobiography of my life on a wednesday day but I have decided not to today. Today I wanna type out how much I love my husband.
- My husband works very hard to provide for this family.
- My husband loves the Lord very much, even though he doubts his faith on days like this. Hang in there dear! I know you can do it.
- Even when his depression overwhelms his life so much he still will try to make the day a bit brighter for me. This tells me of his thoughtfulness of others
- He has a sensible head on his shoulders. He thinks things out, and while it may take a while for an answer I know its because he doesnt like to rush into something that may turn out not worth while. No one can say he isnt thurough in his research.
- He is handsome. Not a requirement but definetly nice.
- He likes us to eat healthy and will take the necessary measures in order to do so. Why? So we can have energy to do the things that we would like and need to do!
- Frugal hubby- how many can say that?! He has been teaching me some great lessons
- He works so hard to know how to biblically answer any questions I may have for him
- He loves being the leader of his home
- If I go on like this I know I will never end… and the soup is boiling over!!!!!!!!!
HUBBY I LOVE YOU!
I think I will dedicate this week to tea’s. So my title throughout the week will be the day with a cup of tea. It certainly is nice enough weather for it. And no, I do not mean the sweetend stuff that people call tea. I mean a good one that has to deal with slaving over a hot stove (ok maybe not slaving) in order to get the water boiling and your cup happy.
Today I hiked over to Mumsie’s house (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sewingfanatic) to drop off a new jumper for my three younger sisters (Jenna, Andra and Lorna). They loved em. Jenna wanted to save her jumper, Andra decided digging in her silk pajama bottoms was more fun, and Lorna brought me more fabric and previous outfits I had given her. I think she was eager for more. Then Lorna went into the hall closet and searched for shoes. She came back with one pink clog and one black sandle. She was ready to model.
“Pictures… Pictures…” She kept saying. I didnt bring my camera or I would have, cause she looked so miserable when I first arrived and now a new jumper brightened her day. Such a diva. Do you think we have trained her to be a model or what? LoL.
What is left for the rest of the day? Well, I know I NEED to make something with that ground beef in the fridge. I hope it’s still good. Enchilada’s sound easy and good. I would love to cut a shirt out. I was going to do a couple cordoroy skirts for this winter but I think I may just skip that and see what I can work with, with what I have already. Mostly denim… I do like a bit of viriety but denim… anything can go with denim. YEAH!
So, this has been Tuesday’s Tea with me. Tune in tomorrow to hear, well, Wednesday’s Tea!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OzZJO3ZRNCo
Watch it and weep……….. from laughter!!!!!!!!!
We dedicated the begining of a new week yesterday by worshiping God. Today we begin a new work week. It is 8 am and I have already, made lunch and breakfast for David, Started a white load of laundry, put away dishes, changed the sheets on the bed, and spent a small time in the closet. I am now enjoying my cup of hot choco—er tea! I will check the blogs, check email (mainly deleting spam) and see what is going on in the HearthKeeper Cafe’.
The day ahead will be a busy one.
Jr. Muffin is very active right now and it is hard to acomplish something when someone is kicking your stomache out and having hiccups every half hour. We are still negotiating the expectant arrival. I would love for him to come right now but I think he is waiting for a bit warmer weather? HA! Forget it. Does he want some more flesh/meat on him? Ok, I can handle that. Midwife will be here this evening for her weekly update. It’s hard to believe that 9 months have gone by. You have 6 days Jr. Muffin.
As of 11:25am I have,
Went to walmart and purchased some cute fabric to make my sister a quillow for her birthday,
ship a packaged fed ex
hung the white load on the line and dark load is ready as well to do so.
