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Monday, November 20, 2006

++++++++++++++

BFP..that's what I got! Saturday night, I tested, but nothing would ever show up. Finally, I just went to bed, thinking I had bought a dud of a test. Sunday morning, I rushed in to look, just in case something miraculous had occurred with the test. There was a BFP +++ staring me in the face. I knew I was pregnant anyway, even if the test didn't show anything.

I'm really happy about it and feel I'm really ready. Dh got all smiley and made some comment about his 'boys', etc. You know, the macho thing. Other than telling our children, we haven't told anyone. I'm just almost 5 weeks, so we will probably keep it hush-hush until Christmas or so.

I'm feeling fine, just some funny feelings in my uterus--tightenings and some hardness. I was a tad bit nauseous yesterday morning, but nothing today. I know the next 2 or 3 weeks will be tiresome for me as my body starts to grow this mass of cells into a baby. How exciting!!

I'm off this week for Thanksgiving Holidays! It is sooo nice to be home. I'm such a homebody. I love piddling around my house, cleaning, mommying, and just organizing. That's what I've been doing today. Emory decided to no-nap, but he's on the floor playing. I stressed to him that Mommy needed some quiet time, even if he wasn't going to nap. He is being good.

I raked up some pine straw for my flower beds which didn't take long. I hope to work outside a little bit every day. I've also managed to keep the fire going successfully.

Going to try a new recipe for supper tonight. Got it off of www.whatsfordinner.net. It's a cool site with a new recipe for each day. It's just about to start on dinner.

I guess my blog will sort of turn into a pregnancy journal, too, huh?
NaturalMamaX2

Saturday, November 18, 2006

360 degree turnaround

Last night, I slept with Em for two reasons. 1. I felt the need to be close to him and 2. I wanted to help keep him warm. We have an old, drafty house and Emory's room doesn't have a heater in it. We have those small portable heaters, but I do not feel that he's safe with one of those in his room. So, we just dress him warmly and put lots of covers on him, including a fleece blanket. This morning, we were so connected and have had a great day so far!! He is such a joy today! I feel better today, too, so that helps tons I'm sure. I've heard that old adage, "When mom's in a bad mood, the whole family is in a bad mood." Yikes, that's scary to know the family's outlook depends on mine so much. I think it's true, though.

Some cute Emoryisms from this morning: "Mom, do you have a China?"
Me: "Huh?" "What do you mean?"
Emory: "You know, girls have a China"
Me, flabbergasted: "OH" "Yeah, I have a China"

I cannot believe my 3 yr old is asking if I have a vagina. Yikes! I heard years ago on Family Life Today that we shouldn't refer to our privates with embarrassment or make pet names for them. That just makes kids more curious and will cause them not to be comfortable with being who God made them (to a small extent). Anyway, Emory knows just what he 'has' and he knows what sister 'has'. I don't want him to get 13 and realize that his 'tallywacker' (MIL's term) suddenly has another name. Anyway....

Last night I made Spiced Apple Cupcakes w/cream cheese frosting (totally organic, minus the frosting). This morning, Emory sits up straight in bed and says, "Come on, let's go get some fresh cupcakes!" Hilarious!

I really feel pregnant today. Cramps have subsided some and I have this heavy feeling in my lower abdomen. We are going to Meridian tonight so I will get me a test. I can't stand not knowing.

Last night, I stayed up a bit researching Unassisted Childbirth. I really, really am interested in this. Doing what our bodies naturally are designed to do without intervention. I know the hospital has saved thousands of mamas from dying, but the hospitals so take away from the natural rhythm of what your body is supposed to do. First of all, you walk in and they stick Pitocin on you. I'll wager that 95% of labors are 'aided' with Mr. Pit. If someone else out there finds a true statistic, Email it to me. Then, the Pitocin causes excruciating pain (been there...twice) which makes the anesthesiologist very happy ($$) and you, too. Finally, all of this intervention sometimes (a whopping 50%) results in a C-section, which makes the surgeon happy ($$), but could have easily been prevented. Not to mention, after baby is born, he or she is stuck with needles to 'check for sugar' (they did Emory constantly b/c he was so big) or prick the heel, or delay breastfeeding, and load them up with vaccines before they are days old. So, you go from having this perfectly healthy baby, to a seemingly healthy baby loading with chemicals we 'have' to put in him.

I hate it all. I want to be in control of MY body and let nature take care of what is normal for me and my baby. I am just curious about an unassisted childbirth. I am a woman. I am strong. I hold my family together (with God's help, of course), I can do this. Women have birth for ages unassisted. Sure, some died, but that was predicted in the Bible. The Bible also says somewhere about a woman being 'saved in childbearing'. Will have to look it up later....

As for the pain, nothing could max what I felt with Emory and Erin. I had an epidural, but I was 8 cm with both of them and had Pit. The pain doesn't scare me at all.

I'm so jumping around, but you know that in some parts of Africa, women just go out into the woods, squat, and have their baby? That is amazing and so natural to me. These women are my heroes. American women are such sissies. Medical intervention makes us all sissies. We don't want to use natural herbs to cure ourselves, eat naturally, birth naturally, use natural products, etc. We want what the doctor says is best. Ick. It's like a bad taste in my mouth.

It is a beautiful day outside. Emory is hanging out with Dad now, Erin is sleeping, and I'm about to clean up a bit and head outdoors for a little sunshine. Can't say I will be raking up 12 piles like I did last Saturday! It was fun, though.

Later!
NaturalMamaX2

Friday, November 17, 2006

Ever feel like a failure as a parent??

Yikes, today was one of those days where I did not connect with my children (esp Emory). I woke up ill, not ready to put up with toddlerisms. I think I was PMS-ing, but more about that later. I couldn't get a fire started, so layers of frustration began to add. Emory and Erin are in that stage where they love to chase each other and be silly together. It's cute for a while, but eventually one of them gets aggravated (usually Erin) and it turns ugly. My aggravation levels increase dramatically. Especially today. Ugh. Emory detects my aggravation which causes him to act horribly all day long (disobedient, intolerant, in general). I went to town which may have not been the best idea, but I didn't think I wanted to be stuck at home with him today. I feel awful about this because this is was my first day home for awhile (T-giving H-days). Anyway, at town, we were in line, and I felt like the mom and kids that the books talk about (whiney, "I want that", "I have to have that", etc.). I mean, it was if I was looking in on a scene from the Pearl's books. Anyway, it was a tough day. I think it was partly my fault. Emory needed my love this morning and I gave him frustration. He behaved as a result of my frustrations. Anyway, we 'talked' about our rough day and I told him I was sorry for being frustrated and we had a lovey time. We'll try again tomorrow. On a second thought, his dad being gone a couple of days could have played into his behavior. And, on third thought, he hasn't been able to play a lot (outside, etc) because of the cold weather. It makes sense that that would make one crabby. I really want to do the right thing as a parent. It's sooo hard to know exactly what to do and how/when to discipline when you there is circumstances involved. I mean, on a normal day, everyone and everything normal, and he misbehaves, I know how to handle it and it's effective. Anyway, it's just frustrating (there goes the frustrations again).

Onto another topic. This morning, I realized my ill temper was due to AF knocking at the door. So, I pulled out the calendar, and sure enough, I had 'started' on the 18th of last month. Today, being the 17th, time for her. However, looking at the calendar more closely, I began to count the days of my cycle for this month...over 28. Went back to count previous month's cycles..28 days exactly. Today, lots of cramping, no period. Funny. I always have period and then cramping. Hmm, EXCEPT the times I've been pregnant (3). I would always cramp about 3 days, all the while expecting my period, which would never come. So, since this evening, I really feel like I might be pregnant. Went online, date of conception would've been Oct 31 (Halloween...not necessarily a romantic holiday, eh?), but since I'm fertile about 20 days per month, it doesn't have to be Oct 31, per se. It could be Oct 21 or 25 or something like that. My little egg is really attached to me (no pun intended) and likes to stay for a few days (it's been proven...uh, my children). Go figure. So, I dunno. I know that if I don't start tomorrow, I'll go for a test. I'm really hoping I am. And if I'm not, then my excitement about *possibly* being pregnant means I'm really ready to get pregnant again. It also means, I really take my frustrated day lighter than normal people would. Cause normal people would probably be saying, "That's it. No.More.Kids." :)

Life is good, though. My adoring husband is back home. I realize when he is gone how so incomplete I am without him. My children, however they acted today, are my miracles, my offspring, one-half of me and the other half from the love of my life. Ahh, God is good.

Here's hoping for a fun, nice, productive, family-oriented, clean house, outside Saturday.
NaturalMamaX2

Thursday, November 16, 2006

The way my children turn out depend on what I decide about their education...

Here are just a few reasons why I will homeschool....
*from http://home.rmci.net/abell Some have been revised for my personal preference.

1. Because I think schools damage a child's self-image, ability to make unassisted decisions, motivation, trust in him/herself.

2. Because I think I am more intelligent and more capable than any teacher my child might have in a school (hee..esp since I am a teacher)

3. Because I think my *children* are more intelligent and more capable than any teacher they might have in a school (well, don't you?).

4. Because I think schools shortchange girls in science and math education and encourage violence in boys.

5. Because I do not value traditional measures of success.

6. Because what I learned in school definitely should not have taken 13 years to learn. (more like 3, maybe)

7. Because I don't trust people who don't love my children and who don't have their best interests at heart.

8. Because I don't want my children's socialization to be hampered by being stuck with a random group of 25 agemates for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week.

9. Because I don't believe in traditional measures of "appropriate" child behavior (what child should have to sit still for 5 hours a day??).

10. Because I want my children to have the freedom and flexibility to learn what, when, and how they choose.

More later.....

7.

NaturalMamaX2

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Why I will be homeschooling....

NaturalMamaX2

Just a reminder to myself to do a blog on this before I forget what I want to write down.

Come back later...

Sunday, November 05, 2006

NaturalMamaX2

Geez, I have not blogged in ages! I think about it quite often, but nothing gets done about it. A summer has gone by and another school year is well underway. I lot has happened since I last blogged including a miscarriage and a few pounds put on! Both of those are very sad on which to think. I think they are related, tho. After the miscarriage, I really, really want to eat like, LOTS. It is so hard to eat healthy when I have to eat at school and take no time to take my lunch. I do take an organic oatmeal package every day, but I'm not always faithful to it.

Emory took his first 'road trip' away from us. He went with my mom and dad to my sister's. I think he had a blast and I have reports that he was on good behavior the whole trip! I realized when I saw him tonight just how much I missed him. I believe a *small* leave of absence does one good at times, you always realize how dear the person is when they're gone and can't wait to make it up to them when they get back! Anyway, I couldn't stop loving on him when he got home.

Erin has been really, really sick this weekend. I have her on Umcka and Wally's Ear Oil because I'm pretty sure she has an ear infection along with a nasty cough/cold. I won't take her to the doctor unless she shows symptoms that I've never seen before in my children. She really looks great since we've come in from church. Her color is right and she has been playing with Emory. They are so close these days and play really great together. Cute kids, they are!

I must face the inevitable: lesson plans. So much for getting into bed by 10pm. I did go to bed early this weekend. For some reason, I DIE on the weekends. Like, never stay up late on the weekends. I have to have sleep.

Until later,
NaturalMamaX2