Wednesday, December 19, 2012

It's A......



IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!
 
 
Surprise! 3 girls in this house.  I can hardly believe it!  Joey and I are thrilled to think of another sweet darling to add to our mix.  
 
We initially had our ultrasound and had the lady put the gender in an envelope which we gave to our friends Blake and Amanda.  They were going to wrap up a cute little gift to surprise us which we thought we would wait until Christmas to open.
 
Well..........let's just say the anticipation was too much for me : )
 
So we decided to open it early!  Blake and Amanda put so much thought into the gift, with 3 different boxes for each daughter and poems to go with them.  With the 3rd tiny box holding the surprise!
 
I must say I really thought this was going to be a boy, but just thinking of another girl just makes me so happy!  The Lord is so perfect in His plans, and we cannot wait to meet this little one.
 
 
Here is my baby bump at 20 weeks.  Halfway there! 
 
We are seeing a midwife for this birth and our hopes are to birth at a birthing center in San Antonio.  The whole experience so far has been so wonderful and I am excited and prayerful for a safe and healthy delivery.  This will be my 2nd VBAC (vaginal birth after cesearean), with Kay being a c-section and Jane being my first VBAC. 
 
Will try to update more often, hopefully more after the holidays.  There is so much to be excited about right now, especially the birth of our Savior Jesus!
 
 
Just a silly side note....while taking the baby bump picture I discover this.  Is that shampoo?? Why yes it is.  Boy do I have my hands full!  But wouldn't want it any other way : )

Friday, October 19, 2012

We Are....

We have hidden our little secret long enough....we have a surprise for you!





 
You guessed it! We are adding a new pumpkin to our family patch!!
 
Our new little pumpkin will be here Spring of 2013! 
 
I am 12 weeks now and feeling pretty good.  More details are sure to come on this pregnancy journey so stay tuned : )
 
"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord."  Psalm 128:1-4
 


Monday, September 3, 2012

Summer Fun

Sorry it has been a while! I guess I've been a one post a month type writer lately : )

We have had a great summer full of backyard playin, pool time, popsicles, trips to the library and many other fun things.   The weather here in the hill country is much different than where I've spent most of my life in East Texas.  The humidity is almost non existent compared to East Texas, and time spent outside in the summer is actually quite enjoyable here : )


The girls are growing up so fast, with Kay starting some preschool this month and doing great, and Jane just blossoming into a chattering toddler.  We joined a church this month and are beginning to make some great friends.



We did some traveling to see family this summer.  We went to visit my new niece who is oh so adorable, and said goodbye to Joey's grandfather who passed away.  We rejoice that he is now with Jesus and has truly passed from death to life.



Jane is 15 months old and quite the social butterfly.  She is independent, sassy, funny, and still my cuddly little baby.  On the 5 1/2 hour trips to see family, sometimes the only way she was pacified is if she was holding my hand.  She is such a Mama's girl and needs that physical touch so much more than Kay ever did or does.


I just can't believe Kay will be 3 in a few months.  I mentioned she is beginning a bit of preschool formally, and that just consists of some preschool workbooks I ordered where she practices drawing lines and such, alphabet and number review, a few sight word flashcards I made, journaling daily pictures, and her memory verses I either choose or we work on through Truth and Grace workbooks.  I also have been teaching her a hymn of the month and we just sing it often throughout the day.  She loves singing and music, so this is fun for both of us : )  She is working on recognizing musical instruments and picks that up very quickly when we listen to different music.  So that is in a nutshell what includes her preschool.  She is just a fast learner and loves learning and I am so thankful I am the one who is able to teach her these things and be the one to watch her learn.



This summer has not been without its challenges and the Lord is stretching our faith in many ways lately, but we are blessed beyond what we deserve and grateful for the grace He gives.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How Raw Milk Healed Jane


Well, here goes a highly controversial topic that I don't claim to be an expert on.  Which is why I'm not going to get into the debate here.  You can research for yourself the pros and cons and decide what is best for your family.

But first....what in the world is raw milk??


Raw milk is simply milk that comes straight from the cow....unpasteurized, delicious, real milk.


So this is our story.
Through God's providence I met my now dear friend Autumn at HEB one day.  Not only did Autumn and her family introduce us to their church, but also to raw milk. (Autumn knows ALL about cloth diapers and writes here.)

Up until this point Jane was still having bowel problems that required her to have a laxative daily.  I posted about her problem here.  And although I was glad the laxatives were helping, I wasn't happy that she had to take it everyday and was praying for a better alternative....for healing.

After talking to our friends about the incredible benefits of raw milk, we decided to do a little research.

We looked at both sides of the controversial spectrum.  The FDA claims all kinds of dangers with raw milk, and so we looked into those dangers, and discovered lunch meat is has some of the same dangers too, but it's not illegal.
We also found this statement to be questionable:

  • Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
Really? It doesn't? Hmmm...because all the other research on the other side contradicts that statement.


Anyways like I said I'm not an expert but it seems to me that there are alot of people who feel differently.  Not that that means anything, but its worth looking into wouldn't you say?

Another good resource is www.realmilk.com.

We watched the video on this page.  It's long but very educational.  

We realized people have been drinking raw milk for ages. It has even been used as medicine to HEAL people, and that is a whole food.  Why do I feel as if a veil has been lifted from my eyes?

About 2 months ago our whole family switched to raw milk.  And the results?

For Jane...NO MORE LAXATIVES!  In fact she very successfully poos her diapers like a normal baby should.

We now do our milk deals every Wednesday.  As in, we meet the farmer and his refrigerated truck every week in a gas station parking lot along with a handful of other crazy folks.  I give him my money and he gives me my milk.  It kind of feels like a drug deal every time! haha.  But the great thing is that it is the exact opposite!  I thank God for the freedom we have in Texas to purchase this liquid gold, and the opportunity to support a local farmer who takes care of his animals the humane way.

Because there is a difference between raw milk that comes from healthy grass fed cows, and raw milk that comes from a cow from a dairy factory.  Have you been to a dairy factory?  

I know have and you can smell the stench from miles away.  Would I want to drink that raw milk?  No.  Is there a reason they pasteurize that milk?  Of course.

I would strongly suggest if you go the raw milk route to know where you are getting it from.  Know the farmer.  Does he take care of his cows?  Is he clean in all his handling of the milk?  Visit the farm if possible. 
It would be unwise to drink raw milk from any old cow.

So, is there a risk when drinking raw milk.  Yes.  There is also a risk when eating a fast food hamburger, eating a turkey sandwich, eating spinach, driving in my car, and the list can go on.

For our family, it is a risk we are more than willing to take, and for us the benefits outweigh the risks by a long shot.  We see it as God's own creation of a source of food that has the potential to heal. 



And my daughter is proof.






Thursday, July 19, 2012

Potty Games



Have I mentioned Jane is obsessed with toilets?  Notice how Kay won't put her hands in because she knows she will get in trouble, but Jane is having a blast as always and Kay is enjoying the show.





And that was Joey's contact case getting a toilet bath.  The trash will be its next destination : )

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Late May Update!

Hello everyone!  We "misplaced" our camera cord that loads the pictures onto our computer.  I searched the house high and low for that thing and we finally found it today in a bag.   Now for an incredibly late update for the month of May!

On May 18, Jane turned 1!


Jane at a few days old....                                                                


And now a year later!




We celebrated with family and friends and rejoiced in our little Sunshine : )



I found these doilies in a garage sale and thought it would be cute to make a banner.

Picture banner from birth to now.  I feel like just yesterday she was born!

Yummy cupcakes : )


Sis/Cousin love

Yellow onesie dress I made her.  She had to have a yellow party dress!


Her first taste of cupcake!

Someone else enjoyed the cupcakes too!


Lots of presents!


Happy birthday sweet Jane.  You really are my sunshine and add so much joy to this Mama's heart : ) You are very cuddly and there are days when we both need that! 

You are curious and if we ever find you missing, you are for sure to be playing in the toilet....
You are almost walking...
Sleeping good at night...
Still nursing...
Happy with a baby doll in your arms and is your toy of choice...
Beans and bananas are your favorite foods...
You can't stand to drink the Elderberry syrup I made but I will continue to give it to you : )
You love your sister!
You say Mama, Dada, uh oh, bye bye, up, nana (night night) and mimic lots of animal sounds.  
You are now in cloth diapers...(future post on how that is going : ))
You love people and have not yet been afraid of a stranger...you are known to grab the hands of waitresses when we go out to eat and everyone oohs and aahs at your blue eyes.



We love you so much Janey girl!

Friday, April 27, 2012

3 Day Potting Training in Review

So earlier this week I embarked on my first trial of potty training!  I have friends who have used the 3 Day Method which is supposed to train your toddler in 3 days. I must say that sounded like the way to go to me!
Kay was potty trained after day 1.

One day? Seriously? Yes its true.  I can still hardly believe it myself.
I know there may be some moms who are curious about this and may want to try it yourself, so I will tell you about our experience!

We began on Monday and planned to take the full 3 days to potty train.  You put them in underwear and NO PULL UPS, ever.  (We broke that rule at night time but I will explain later : ))
You fill them up with fluids any way you can, which forces them to have to go potty often during the training process.  You are supposed to stay by your toddler's side all day long, reminding them to tell you if they have to go (every few minutes, so it is alot!), and letting them have accidents... whisking them to the toilet as soon as you catch the accident.  The reason you have to stay by their side is you MUST catch every accident so you can take them to the potty immediately.  This helps teach them WHEN they have to go and WHERE they are supposed to go.

I documented her progress which I will show you below:
Day 1:
8:05 a.m.- Accident
8:10 a.m.- Accident
9:15 a.m.- Accident
10:30 a.m.- SUCCESS!
10:40 a.m.- SUCCESS!
11:40 a.m.- Accident
12:00 p.m.- SUCCESS!
1:00-3:00- Naptime and woke up dry!
3:30 p.m.- SUCCESS!
4:30 p.m.- SUCCESS!
5:50 p.m.-poo poo SUCCESS!
6:50 p.m.- SUCCESS!
8:00 p.m.- SUCCESS!
Wet her bed in the night and had an accident around 6:00 a.m. the next morning in her room when she woke up.

Day 2:
No accidents.
Wore a pull up for night time.

Day 3:
No accidents.
Wore a pull up for night time.

So as you can see, Kay did really well with this method.  Even though technically she was trained after Day 1, we still implemented the techniques for day 2 and 3.  I just didn't have to deal with the accidents! The author suggests beginning this at age 22 months because she says that is the best age to potty train.  Kay is 28 months and I personally think this was the best age to do it.  I think if I did it at age 22 months Kay would not have done as well and it would have been more difficult.  She is much more capable at this age to tell me "Mommy I need to go potty."  I don't see her able to do that as well at age 22 months.  Every child is different, so judge for yourself if you think your child would be ready at that age or not.

Here is the one thing we had trouble with.  We used positive reinforcement by giving her candy or a reward when she was successful.  It worked!  However, it turned into being all about the candy.  She figured out she could "cry wolf" in efforts to get the candy.  That little stinker!  I figured out after about 5 times she said she had to go and nothing happened.  She was disciplined and explained why being dishonest is sin.  Problem solved : )


Here she is with her candy...


Yes, candy overload for a day... maybe next time I will prepare ahead of time and not do as much candy.


But if you choose to do the candy route, make sure she brushes her teeth, okay? : )


Don't forget the sticker chart by the potty.


Since you are supposed to not leave the toddler's side, it is good to have someone watching any other children you might have so they aren't neglected.  Daddy is good for that : )  If you have never swung in a Brazilian hammock you haven't experienced a true hammock!  I could fall asleep every time.


On day 3 we celebrated by painting her nails and eating cinnamon roll pancakes for dinner. YUM!

The reason we decided to bust the rule about Pull ups at night is because we knew before we started that she doesn't wake up dry.  The author said a child older than 22 months should wake up with a dry diaper, which shows they are capable of wearing underwear at night.

Kay does not wake up dry, and I love my sleep : )  So I feel fine with using Pull Ups at night until I feel she is ready.

In review, I totally recommend this method. It is hardcore and intense, but it gets the job done. The E-Book goes into much more detail about how to do it and every kind of scenario you might face and I would recommend buying it online.


Happy potty training!


Monday, April 16, 2012

The Big Move

Well, I guess the reason I haven't written on my blog in 2 months is because we have been kind of busy...


We have MOVED to a little town north of San Antonio.  The Lord has opened the door for Joey to pursue a career he has only dreamed about.  And we are on a new adventure to follow where the Lord is taking us!  I will tell more about his new job in a bit.

The past month has been full of packing boxes, unpacking boxes, trying to keep little children out of boxes, saying goodbye to dear friends, visiting both sides of family, and moving to a new town.

However, I love this town!  It is small enough that I can easily get to the grocery store, library, parks, and close enough to the big city that I can get to that if I need to also.  We were also able to get an affordable rent house that meets all our needs and beyond.  Coming from a small 2 bedroom condo, I am overwhelmed with all this space! 


The girls are transitioning pretty well, and besides Kay having a bit of trouble sleeping at night, I would say they are doing fantastic!  For me, of course saying goodbye to our church family was the hardest part of this whole thing.  We were a part of the core group that helped start this church several years ago, and we will miss them terribly!  I am resting in the Lord and praying that he will show us and guide us to a new church home soon. 

So on to why we have moved and what exactly Joey will be doing...

He will be working for a real estate company called Whitetail Properties.  They currently operate in 14 other states in the midwest and they specialize in hunting and farmland real estate.  Whitetail Properties is expanding into Texas and Joey and his best friend/ partner will be managing the startup of the company here in Texas.  Joey will be the Broker of the Texas branch and they will be recruiting and managing agents to represent each region of Texas while also doing land sales themselves. 

Whitetail Properties also has a TV show that airs on the Sportsman's Channel and Realtree.com.  The TV show is about hunting, land management, and the Whitetail Properties listings. 

This is a clip of their 2012 reel for the TV show.  Check it out!

(Turn off the blog music at the bottom of the page)



So anyways... this is a pretty awesome company that will combine my husband's love of hunting with what he does for a living.  I couldn't be more excited for him, especially since he has been dreaming of this kind of opportunity for a long time.  I never thought it would happen honestly, but here we are.  We have seen the Lord at work already and will continue to trust him for the future. 

After living in the same town for 7 years, I'm getting used to new.

New house. New church.  New friends.  New water to drink.  New neighbors. New grocery stores, and libraries, and places we go everyday as a family.

Bust most of all, new beginnings : )

Thursday, February 23, 2012

A Trying Month

So this blog has been quiet for over a month now... it has been quite a trying month for this Mama and I will do my best to explain why.  (If you have a weak stomach, or if talking about baby poop bothers you, then you might not want to read this : ))

Starting about 3 weeks ago, Jane began having these "episodes" where she would stop whatever she was doing, begin SCREAMING, shaking, and writhing, only to last about 30 seconds and then she was fine.  She also was pooping (which I will call BM for bowel movement just because I don't want to be saying poop all the time : )) during these episodes just a tiny bit each time.  These episodes began happening every 30 minutes...even at night.  She got a rash that was so severe her skin became raw and even bled.  So of course I was going through diapers like crazy and wondering what in the world was going on with my baby.  I couldn't hardly go into public because she would have the crying, screaming episodes that would hit her at any moment.  Going out to eat was a disaster!

I researched like crazy trying to figure out what could possibly be going on with her, but couldn't find anything that sounded similar.  We initially thought it was an allergic reaction to beans she ate for the first time at a mexican restaurant, but we were wrong.  After about a week of this she got a fever of 102, and then the following night 103.7.  So to the doctor I go!  Turns out she has a severe ear infection, which caused the fever, but the "episodes" were non related and our doctor ordered an x-ray of her stomach just to see what exactly was going on. 


This is her getting an x-ray.  Is that not the saddest thing you've ever seen??

Joey and I anxiously awaited the results, praying it wasn't anything too serious.  Turns out she was severely compacted and constipated.  So we were told to give laxatives to see if it would clear her out.  We went 2 days of the laxatives with no results.  At this point I am exhausted, and seeing her in so much pain and suffering day after day was bringing me to tears.  We finally gave her a suppository and viola!  It was painful for her but she finally had a huge BM!  We thought "Yes finally! It's over now and she can be back to normal." 

Two days later the episodes began again.  So I begin trying natural remedies to relieve constipation... prunes, peaches, fruit juice, probiotics, fiber, etc.  Nothing is really working at this point and about a week goes by with the episodes continuing.  Her rash does improve thanks to Crisco.  It really can be used for anything! 

So we go back to our doctor for her 9 month checkup.  She weighs a whopping 20 pounds!  That's 80th percentile friends, so she is definitely still healthy in that department : )   Our doctor believes she is showing signs of fecal retention, which he was surprised to see in a child so young.  That is basically short for, it hurts to have a BM, and I'm afraid of the pain, so I am going to try to stop it from happening.  Its pretty common in toddlers and young children.  So she was put back on laxative therapy.

The laxatives along with a very strong Probiotic have been successful this time.  And I'm relieved and happy to say that she has been episode free for 2 days now!  Whew! We are rejoicing in this house! 

At this point I am realizing that I feel so much closer to Jane and so much more bonded to her as a mother.  I think sickness or illness in a child can do that for a mother.  After seeing her suffer like this, all I want to do is comfort and love on her.  I praise God for using this to draw me closer to her.  We have prayed for the Lord to heal her and he is faithful.  Poor little Kay was so concerned for her sister.  She would come to me saying "What's wrong with Jane Mommy?"  I just used that as an opportunity to tell her to pray for Jane.  Needless to say we prayed alot!


A short 9 month update for Jane...
She is now crawling and getting into all kinds of things! 
Pulling up onto everything she can. 
She loves to bob her head to music or "dance" which is just adorable.
No babbling or words yet, just squeals of excitement.
She has 4 teeth on top, 2 on bottom.
She just began eating baby food and I thought she was just stubborn and would never eat it.  Lesson learned though... when they are ready they are ready and don't stress about it : )
We have begun training and discipline with her and she is responding to our commands.  Never underestimate children and even babies... they can learn far more then you think! We are learning that daily.

She is still such a joy and I can't imagine life without her.  I am a completely different person because of her life and God has used her to grow my faith in more ways I thought possible!


Our family is about to go through some pretty big changes soon, so stay tuned to see what the Lord has for us in the near future : ) 

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Kay's Barney Party

Here are some pictures from Kay's birthday morning...

And a cute video...
(scroll down to bottom of page and turn off music)


For over a year now we have been having weekly playdates with a few friends.  So Kay had a "playdate" birthday party.  Here are some pictures of her Barney Party...









Of course there was a Barney viewing...







What a fun day!