Modesty Survey

If you haven't checked this out yet you should. It is quite eye opening what guys will say when they can answer questions anonymously, they are very honest.

Nesting!!!

It's started, nesting that is. I keep ripping up my house so I can "deep" clean. First it was the office. Then it was the kids drawers, purged and reorganized to make room for the new babe. Today was wall washing and filling dings so I can touch up some spots. This made me notice the woodwork needs some lovin' so I have to polish that all up. I also have been baking more too, shortcake, bagels and sweet potato bread. Yesterday afternoon I could hardly move off the couch I was so tired. Today the energy is back so I better take it while it's here. Well at least the rainy weather isn't pulling me to my huge to do list that needs doing outside. Oh yeah my birth kit came via UPS which means the clock is a tickin' to get everything done. Well I have to go dig up some paint to get the walls touched up. Have a good day.

Good Read

Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs is a must read. I would rate it a 4 out of 5 stars. I would of rated it 5 stars if he would of used the KJV. In a world that preaches that "love will conquer all" this book was refreshing and real. This book is a realistic handbook that breaks down how God created a marriage to work and thrive. Men need respect, women need love. I wouldn't say it was the most exciting of reads but it was definitally worth while to any marriage good or bad. Any marriage can stand for improvement, right? If you do read it don't skip the last couple of chapters they are the best and hold the most truth. Here is my favorite line from the book: IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE, YOUR MARRIAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR SPOUSE, IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST. How true this is. If I as a wife disrespect my husband I am sinning against God and not trusting in him and his word. I feel for most couples that marry these days because they are not beening taught how to have a biblical marriage. With a 50% divorce rate the world has it wrong on what a marraige is supposed to be and how to have it endure the test of time. So while your at your computer go reserve it on online at your local library, it will be worth your time.

Bakin'

Today is a baking day. I personally do not like to bake but I do like to eat so a have to endure every once in a while. I made a triple batch of morning glory muffins to replenish my freezer supply. They turn out different every time, I'm not good at sticking to a recipe. They call for 3 eggs per batch but I figured that was way too many so I did 6 total. Almost 4 cups of sugar, nope I did 2. I didn't want to use up all my cinnamon so I experimented with some different things like allspice and pumpkin pie spice mix. I also cut down on the oil and used all whole wheat flour, plus I used zucchini and summer squash in addition to the carrots. They are actually pretty healthy, they have coconut, raisins, apples, carrots, zucchini, summer squash and flax seeds to replace the nuts. They taste pretty good too, I already had three and I only got finished with then 2 hours ago.
Right know I'm waiting on the bread machine to finish the dough to try my hand at bagel making. Hopefully they turn out okay. I did add some whole wheat so we'll see. Dinner is barbecued chicken on the grill so I don't have more of a mess to clean up. The worst part of baking in the mess. Well have a wonderful day!
Edit: Bagels turned out awesome! I made them plain with no egg wash, I just used a little oil on top. Delicious. Pretty they were not, awkward shaped and they flattened out a bit but yummy all the same. I am envisioning them toasted with tuna, lettuce and tomato. Also made into mini pizza's would be tasty. I brought one to the hubby while he was at work, it was all warm yet, and he asked me twice if I really made them. They were that good.

Tis the season...

The hay making season that is. The hubby is swamped at work and when he gets home his head is still at work. It's only the first week or two of the busy season and is going to prove to be interesting. The kids expect and want their daddy at dinner and for an hour minimum after dinner. Trying to get it through their heads the how's and whys of daddy's mostly seasonal job is not as easy as I hoped. The other week when it had been three nights in a row of no daddy at dinner I tried to tell the kids that this is the time of year that daddy has to work a lots and lots, you have to make hay while the sun shines, right? Lula said, "so we can have lots and lots of money?" Well now how do you explain to a four year old it's not about the money but providing for the needs of the family and being wise stewards? Oh well someday hopefully it clicks. Well the hubby is wonderful and still spend about an hour with the kids when he gets home even if it means keeping them up late, which for me is hard or harder because I've been with them all day and bedtime is bliss but their time with daddy is more important. Well at least I have an hour of two in the morning by myself with them sleeping in a little. Here's to hay making and good hay making weather.

The Birth of Lula My Sweet baby girl!

I was due Jan 5. Racky came five days early so I was quite ready to have this baby when Jan 10 rolled around. Around 3:00 in the morning I was having good strong contractions that I couldn't sleep through. I got up and took a bath. I was in and out of the bath or shower until about five when I woke up the hubby. I was still smiling and excited to meet our new little one. He got up and was very glad that he didn't have to go to work because it was snowing quite hard and he was working outside at the time. I called the midwife around 5:30 to let her know that I was in labor and that we would be needing her assistance later. She asked if I wanted her to come over I said no because I was still all smiles and we would call her later. I packed up the things for Racky set out his food for the day. I was laying on the couch about 6:30 when I heard and felt a pop, my water had broken. (Thankfully it was leather.) My mood instantly changed. I made my way upstairs right away, before things got too bad. I got back into the shower. The hubby called the midwife to tell her things had changed and that she should come. He also called his mom to come get Racky. I was moaning quite loudly (slight understatement). Hubby asked me if I wanted to see Racky before he left, I didn't, I would of scared him. He kept running between me and Racky until the midwife got there. The midwife arrived and set up the bed before she even told me she was there. She then came into the bathroom and told me that my baby was coming out now, she hadn't even checked me yet. Later she said she could tell by the tone of my voice. She asked if I wanted to have the baby in the tub but I said no because there was no more hot water and I was freezing. I some how made my way to the bed. She checked me I was complete with a lip, she moved the lip out of the way and the baby plunged down. I was amazed to feel the baby move so clearly. I started pushing right away. I asked where the hubby was, he was still waiting on his mom. He finally came up and after a push or two she was born. I had to really push to get her body out because it was the same size as her head. The midwife even asked me if I was pushing because her body was coming so slowly. She was born at 7:24 am. She had fresh meconium in her hair. The placenta was stubborn too, I had to really, really push while the midwife pulled to deliver it. I was so loud that my mother in law knew the baby was coming soon too and I made her friend that was with her cry. I only pushed for 8 mins. I had a girl, I thought she was a girl from the beginning. I bought pink the first week I was pregnant. I didn't have the same feelings after she was born that I did with the first. Yes I loved her but she didn't do all the cute things her brother did, she didn't have a personality yet, but it didn't take long for her the make her way into our hearts. She was 9 lbs. 4 oz. and 22 inches long.

Anticipation!

The ticker above says only 50 more days!! Hip hip hurray!!! I know I should prepare for it to be at least 65 more days but the human pregnant brain just doesn't work that way, at least not mine anyway. The hubby keeps telling me I'm going early, really how can he tell, but I'm eating it up all the same. I think May 26th sound like a good day! My brother's open house will be over and my cousins wedding is that afternoon but after that I'm free. That way I could skip the family thing on the 28th and still have enough time to recoup for the hubby old buddies wedding the ninth. Perfect plan I'd say, know if I can just figure out how to pull that off naturally and at home. I remember with me last one everyday I'd think I couldn't get more uncomfortable until I woke up the next morning that is. I not uncomfortable enough to want it to come out quite yet. (Remember I don't like that part.) Well hopefully the month and half flies by.

Boys will be Boys

You can't leave them alone for two seconds. Last night Lula and I went to get our hair trimmed, her first professional hair cut. Well when we got home the menfolk were gone. All the lights are on and there's no note. I call the hubby cell as they are just pulling into the driveway. He has the "grin" when he walks in. He had taken them to the store to buy them a BB gun. Racky, the oldest just turned 6 and I don't even think he can pump it yet. He also got them a rubber band gun that shoots 6 rubber bands in about 3 seconds. As he said "we don't want them to be a bunch of wussies." He also said that he was playing with BB guns at Racky's age. At least for me the rubber band gun was the bigger hit even though the all took turns shooting the BB gun. Well I better prepare myself for loading the rubber band gun a million times today and getting shot a time or two. Boys. (For those worrying, the BB gun is properly stored and they can only use it when daddy is with them.)

Global Warmingshmorming!!

It's April 7 and we have 2 inches of snow and it's cold, very cold. Where is all this global warming their talking about? Don't you just love how the good LORD mocks their ridiculous ideas?

The Sweet Little Things

It's was seven o'clock on a snow covered April morning. I sleepily stumble to the kitchen to make the hubby some lunch for work. I flick on the over the sink light with Biggie a few steps behind me. That's when it happened, he found his shadow. He tried to get away from it and he tried to catch it. He'd slowly walked across the floor while looking over his shoulder to see if this new thing was still there. He carried on for a few minutes, daddy showed some new shadows and then how to make his move.
Life is good. The innocence of childhood is there anything quite like it?

My first Labor and Delivery!

I thought I write up on all my labor and deliveries in anticipation for our next blessing.
First, hello my name is Esther and I am a wimp, a complete and total wimp.
The day before my sweet hubby was to leave for a business trip in Las Vegas was the day it all started. I had been busy washing, ironing and packing him for his trip. His suitcase was downstairs and ready to go. I decide to nap because I would have five days and 4 night without him so I would prepare for the baby and scour the house while he was gone. Well when I woke up from my nap I was quite "damp", damp enough to warranted a clean pair of shorts. If you get my drift. First baby, you know, I just thought maybe the baby kicked my bladder while I slept so I didn't think much off it. The hubby and I go out to dinner and afterward hope to go pick out a car seat which we still didn't have. At the restaurant we had cheese bread and waited for our pizza. They messed it up and gave us green peppers instead of green olives so we had to wait for a new pizza. While waiting I felt a little "something", and it was let's say moist. I bolt to the bathroom and water began to trickle down my leg. First baby again, I whad up some toilet paper to help with the moisture and walk quite quickly back to the table, water still running down the legs, the toilet paper is not helping. I Inform hubby that I need to keys and that my water has broken, " Are you sure you didn't pee your pants," he asked. I grab the keys and head to the car. I remember sitting in the car and it finally hitting me that we about to become parents. He pays the bill and we leave with no pizza and head home carseatless. In the car I inquire if he is going to call his boss about the business trip. He on the other hand is trying to convince me that I just pee'd my pants. I call the midwife on the way home and leave her a message that I think my water has broken. At home I stepped out of the car and what seemed like a half gallon of water comes pours out, enough to make my shoes squish when I walk. Hubby finally believes me that its my water and it's not a weak bladder. I talk with the midwife and she tells me to take my temp, keep the area clean, drink plenty of water and get some rest because as of now no contractions, nothing. Rest? no, I start cleaning the house like a mad crazy lady. Vacuuming, laundry, to wash some baby blankets and clothes, and general people will be coming over dash and stash. I finally try to get some sleep around eleven, yeah right, I'm excited, petrified and nervous and a million other emotions. I can't remember all the details but the hubby called to midwife about 1 or 1:30 and she came over because the hubby sounded calm and not like a first time frantic father-to-be. She checked me around 3:00 and I was 3 centimeters dilated, I thought I might die from the pain. I wanted drugs and if I could of drove myself to the hospital I would of, I just couldn't move. I moved from bed, shower and toilet all night long. I kept thinking the midwife was just going to let me die. About 5 something I'm postal. She informs me that most likely I won't have the baby until around noon. I freak and tell her somethings different, I don't know what but sometime is different. She asks me if I feel the urge to push, I tell her no. She decides to check me anyway, I'm dilated to 10 and plus 2. I get to push and get this over with. It's 5:30ish. I push a few time and realize I hate pushing. I ask if the baby will come without pushing, she tells me yes so I stopped pushing. She leave for a few minutes and I still refuse to push. Finally I agree to push again and get this over. I hate pushing and ring of fire is much too mild of an expression, it does not describe the pain. While the poor kid is crowning I'm pushing on his head to try to put counter pressure on the pain. (Kind of like when you hurt your finger, you squeeze it, it helps.) The midwife asked me what I am doing. Not one of my shining moments. The hubby who hated to watch videos in the baby classes has now become totally memorized and sits at the end of the bed and watches every little thing. I use him and the midwife as stirrups and push on them to brace myself for the terrible, agonizing pushing. My beautiful baby boy is placed on my chest at 6:15, its over, and I never want to do that again. This overwhelming wave of love flooded me when I saw him. He was perfect and a very beautiful baby. The midwife measures and weighs him. She tells me he is 8 pounds even, I say "that's it?" How do people have big babies. I was fine no tearing or anything. I have a boy, I always wanted to have boys. God blessed us!

Baking and Bedrest

No I'm not on bed rest but my sister in law is. She has a over 20 weeks left before they hope to deliver the baby and she has a 10 1/2 month old chunk who doesn't even crawl yet, so it could be a very long summer of running around like a crazy person. Oh well you do what you gotta do. She has stopped hemorrhaging so now they want her to take it easy for 2 weeks and then they will reevaluate the situation. So this morning I've been baking and preparing food for her freezer. So far I've made:
one 9x13 of brownies, they are cut and bagged for my bro's lunches
one 9x13 of fruit oatmeal bars
36 blueberry muffins, over half are buttered and bagged
12 sandwiched which again are bagged for lunches
I have some baked chicken cooling right now which I hope to get 5 or 6 meals out of.
I'm sure they'll be sick of chicken but beggars can't be choosers, right? Well I'm off to shredded chicken and assemble some dinners. Have a good day and if you live in lovely Michigan stay warm.