Giggling at last!

My dear Petal is such a gentle soul. She has be a study in contrast after our experiences raising Mickle. One of the greatest milestones is hearing your little one laugh with abandon. We've all be trying hard to hear that with Petal. She smiles like her soul is going to break free, and her face is going to split- but is normally silent. Although she does adore her nana, and the first substantial giggle came in her nana's arms as she was bounced up and down. Her loudest and longest to date- was actually at some friends house, and I caught the latter half on my phone camera.

Here's something to smile at!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuMwZbg9W3o

Undo...please????

I am sick. No literally, I feel ill. I'm obsessive about cost. Really, really obsessive. I'll spend hours and hours researching the best price on something before I buy it. I hate the thought of wasting my monetary resources.



Which leads me to why I'm ill. We've been without any form of Microsoft office for at least a year now- seems sooo much longer, esp in light of having to work on projects for school. No outlook for e-mail and calendar management, no PowerPoint or Word for projects, ect ect. Every time I looked into it, spending several hundred dollars just was not even something I was willing to do. Which is why I was ecstatic when I found a website selling Office professional for a great deal(just one level below the "everything" version). Office Professional had pretty much everything we would need ( no "one note"- but I had never really gotten the hang of that program). On the Microsoft website office pro retails for $500. Are you kidding me??? $500???? I'm sure some places sell it less, it always works that way right? But there was no one I had seen that had a truly great deal. Until 2 days ago.....


http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ had the office professional for $99 !!!!! It required you be a student, and be able to prove such. Not a problem since I'm in culinary school. Well, after a quick glance around the internet, and not seeing it for less than $250 -anywhere.....I pressed the "purchase" button. I spent the next 2 days practically dancing around the house- thrilled to be getting my beloved programs back, and a deal to boot.

Back to being ill..... Got my office pro in the mail today. Waited until Allan got home to open it and start the installation process. After having some trouble getting it installed properly- I went to the Microsoft website for some assistance. And saw it......Office Ultimate (the everything version) for students......$59....(insert sobbing). Sooo frustrated right now. If I had seen that only 2 hours earlier I could have sent the office pro back. But, not now. Even though it's not installed on my computer, it's been opened. So I'm stuck with it......stuck with knowing that I spent $40 more for a product with less features.

I'm feeling sick......

Firefighter

Conversation with Pickle

"When I get bigger I'm gonna put my hose on the fire hydrant and make sure it works right. Then I can use it to put fires out. I will drive there in my fire truck"........................"Mom, where do you buy a fire truck?"

"You have to be a fireman to buy a firetruck"

"Oh"

"Where do you buy firefighter clothes"

"You have to be a fireman to buy firefighter clothes"

"But I am"

"You are what?"

"I'm already a firefighter"

"You think you are already a firefighter?

"Yup....I just need clothes and a truck, and to grow up taller"

LOL!!!! Love that positive thinking!

4 pounds!~

So I wanted to show off today's "harvest" (said very loosely because the quantity I get from my little garden is quite small- but steady)

Today we have cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers (my new favorite type!), okra (stuff grows FAST!) yard long beans (very interesting- I will be planting them in to future again for sure!) and a cantaloupe. I'm soo very proud of this melon (isn't that silly) He/she weighs in at 4 pounds.....and smells heavenly!!!!!! Can't wait to cut into it! Hope your yard/garden is enjoying this rain as much as mine has!!!

Decorating....

Now I know when you read that you thought I was decorating....but no. Not me. Mickle comes into the office today-
"Mom - where do you want my white table?"
I'm like "huh? I don't care (he has a bed, a litttle table, toy chest, and easle in his room)"
"Oh good- can I decorate my room???"
"Um sure- just no moving your bed" - trying to stiffle the giggle in my throat because of the serious expression on his face.

So for the past hour I've listened to things get pushed across the room, and recieved mini updates on his progress.
"Ok- so I put the white table in the closet" he says with an excited face and wildly guesturing hands. Then 30 minutes later he comes rushing in....
"Mom! so I put the toychest between the shelves (built in)(again wildly guesturing hands). "It works great! It just fits just soooo perfectly!"

LOL!!! It's moments like this that you smile and you just want to enjoy the life fire that burns in their eyes. The extreme excitement that can't even be expressed over a moved toychest! Hold onto them, and remember them on the days when they aren't as charming.....and have decided to boycott all your instructions for the day.

Rainstorms

It has been raining, actually storming, no make that a torrential downpour. As in monsoon. As in "Honey do we have a canoe cause I need to go to the store!"

Really bad timing for my family, great for my garden (well - until today when I noticed mushrooms had popped up everywhere). My sister is getting married in 5 weeks (yeah!). She's having the ceremony and reception on my parent's property. They have been working to get the rest of the outside prepared, and the house repainted. All really difficult in light of the aforementioned weather!

Anyways, so yesterday, I made a batch of monster cookies with Mickle. Shortly after putting the second batch in the oven- we lost power. Mickle was already in bed.....it was sooo late, but not asleep. He came out to inform us that the power was out. We were so grateful for his help, I'm sure you know- all parent's are dumb and ignorant, and we would have been clueless without his announcement. We let him know that we were aware, and it was ok, and sent him back to bed. Looking very worried, Mickle announced that he "could NOT sleep if the power was off!!!" His daddy and I found this quite funny- since he sleeps in a dark room without a nightlight. If I had him in bed just a little bit earlier, he probably never would have even known.
Allan and I stumbled around in the dark, trying to find a flashlight with some small amount of battery power left. There is something genetic, I am convinced, in little boys that draws them to all items battery powered and compels them to mess with it to the point of total battery drain!
We managed to find one flashlight- and then a lighter and lit some candles. After laying a towel down in the office- water was leaking down from the ac vent, and locating a bill- we called the power company. Upon entering information for our location, an automatic recording assured us that they were on top of it- and our power would be back on at 1:00am. Um No. Someone at the power company needs a watch. I should know- I have a 5 week old who likes snacking every 2 hours. Power finally came back on about 7:00am. Then about 7:30 the announcement rang out "Mom, Dad, the power is back on!" Thank you Mickle......what on earth would we do without your keen observations????

Monster Cookies

I came across a recipe on a blog, while I was surfing, about two weeks before petal was born. The recipe was for Monster cookies. I had never heard of such a cookie. I became intrigued with it as soon as I saw the ingredients. I mean, come on! How can one not LOVE a cookie with peanut butter, chocolate chips, m&m's (I care the least about this part) and oatmeal! I made the recipe, and with the first bite -and all other cookie recipes faded away from my memory. Ok, Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a little, but these are seriously my favorite cookies now.
Fast forward to yesterday. I had a serious hankering for some monster cookies. So I started going through my favorited page to find that blog. I looked, and looked, and looked, and LOOKED! But alas, apparently the page was an unknown casualty of my previously pregnant brain. I thought I have saved the page- but it was gone. After hours of blindly using google to try and find the page again(who was I kidding?)- I gave up. All I could remember was the ingredients listed above- and that there was no flour. So I began to search for a new recipe, and after a while was rewarded with one that I felt was a great option.
Mickle and I began making the cookies. Always fun baking with a over eager 4 year old. Need I say more? As if that wasn't enough. Apparently it was time for "new mommy" trial by fire. Petal awoke with a roar, and wouldn't stop howling. So there I was- with Mickle in the kitchen, barely containing himself as he desperately wanted to dump every ingredient within reach into the bowl, Petal in the bedroom howling like only a 5 week old can, and Allan no where around (he had gone to put Petal's diapers and a load of towels in the dryer at the laundry mat because our dryer decided to stop working today!). I scooped Petal up, and placed her in the sling, while rushing back into the kitchen. Oh the excitement! Mickle and I scrabbled to finish mixing the cookies, and put a batch in the oven- then off I rushed to nurse Petal- while keeping an eye on the timer. Nothing ruins cookies in my opinion like overbaking them!

I was quite pleased with the outcome. These are just great cookies. The recipe makes A TON, and actually couldn't be mixed in my kitchenaid. I'll be making some adjustments to the size and ingredients- but I thought I would share this version in the meantime.

Monster Cookies

1 cup butter soft

3 1/4 cups peanut butter (creamy or crunchy- I like crunchy)

2 1/3 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp corn syrup

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

4 tsp baking soda

6 eggs, beaten

1 1/2- 2 cups M&M's

2 cups chocolate chips

9 cups old fashioned oats

2 cups chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

Cream butter, peanut butter, sugars, corn syrup. Add vanilla and soda mixing well. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

I'd like to reinterate- HUGE recipe. You'll probably want to cut it at least in half. Chances are- unless you come from a larger family- or have a larger family- you won't have a bowl big enough to mix the whole recipe.

My plan is to make these cookies as close to a healthy snack as possible. I'll post my progress as I'm working on them. I was thinking of substitution applesauce for half the butter, dropping the sugar amount down, substituting raisins for the m&m's, and using a super dark chocolate chunked instead of the semi-sweet chips. Oh! and I'm gonna try almond butter instead of the peanut butte. But that's all....the oatmeal doesn't need any substituting - lol.

Gardening Time!!!!

I'm so excited. We finally got our garden put in. Now, what I'm calling a garden is nothing compared to what I experienced growing up. Of course I'm also not feeding a family of 9. We have plans of getting the fence fixed, and yard leveled out this summer. Due to those plans, I'm holding off on planting anything against the back fence. Not having access to that area really limits my growing areas. I will be soo glad to get that space back. Until then, I'll just have to focus on what I have. So we planted tomatoes- romas, cherry, a golden variety, and some more "regular" kind (lol can't remember the name), cantaloupe, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, oriental eggplant, okra (a gardening first for me - so we'll see), peppers - jumbo jalapeno (perfect for stuffing) bananas and TONS of bell peppers (accidentally bought twice as many as I needed), green beans- 4 different varieties, and a watermelon plant (another gardening first- Allan talked me into that one!). I also got basil, thyme, and rosemary, and mint. From seeds we inter planted radishes throughout, plus I planted marigold seeds along the borders. I don't think Mickle could be anymore excited!!! He helped us plant. Of course in his defense we have been talking about planting a garden since last fall- but with the pregnancy, I just couldn't seem to get it together until now. I'll keep updating as our plants are grown and products are harvested. Mickle keeps checking daily on the plants and informing us that "they are growing growing growing, and one day soon- they will have stuff for us to eat!" In case you are wondering about the leaf structure that Mickle is kneeling in front of.....it's a tomato support/compost pile. I still haven't decided if I like it or not. I'll decide one way or the other after this growing season. It's a large circle of chicken wire. Then inside of that we've layered for a compost and since then we just keep adding to the top of the pile. You use the chicken wire on the outside to support your tomato plants as they grow. The pile is confined within the circle- so turning it isn't an option. You just water from the top to keep the pile moist. My issue with it is two-fold. 1- no usable compost. All the nutrients from the pile leach down into the tomato bed- which is a good thing for the tomato plants, but it doesn't help any other locations. 2. It's an eye sore. Now once the tomatoes are up around it- you probably won't notice- but we'll see. I was going to tear it down this season. I built it two growing seasons ago- and didn't put a garden in at all last year. This led to a very overgrown garden area. When I went to weed and prepare my garden plots for planting, I noticed that the weeds that were in the tomato plot were literally twice as big as the weeds in the garden plot right beside it. It appears that the composting pile works as designed. We'll know for sure after this growing season.
On a couple of other blogs I follow, I saw discussions for growing potatoes. They were using old trash cans. You place the seed potatoes in a small amount of soil, and cover them. As they grow you continue to heap dirt around the plants, forcing them to continue growing upwards. By the end the trash can should be almost full of soil, and potatoes are growing along the whole length of the now underground stem. You can also stack tires to grow the potatoes in, instead of using a trashcan. I just need to figure out where I can get some seed potatoes, or if I could just use cut organic potatoes (with eyes). The thought of growing potatoes sounds so much fun, and a great botany lesson for Mickle!

Updates on Petal

I've put off this blog update for long enough. For whatever reason, I'm really having trouble writing about this experience. I've struggled with how much to write about the experience, and how much to let it fade into the past. So bear with me.....

Well, after 13 days in the hospital, we are home. On one hand it was a nightmare, while on the other- a great situation where God's grace and peace was overwhelming.

Petal started running a temperature when she was one week old. We took her to the ER, where in an attempt to diagnose her, they proceeded to get urine, blood, and a spinal tap. Unfortunately, because she was so small, they weren't able to successfully get a spinal tap. They tried 8 different times, with 4 different doctors. During this time her fever dropped below what is considered an issue- but due to her age they encouraged us to admit her . It was an emotionally exhausting day. To watch my baby undergo that- over and over, was something no one should have to do, plus the stress of not knowing whether we should admit her to be safe, or if it all was really nothing more than just a mamma's concerns overblown.

Two days later, when the test came back, she was diagnosed with a blood infection, that traveled to her kidneys and also caused a UTI. We were told that we were lucky to have caught it so early, one day later- and it could have been a very dangerous situation for poor little Petal. Later in the week the doctors tried one more time to get a spinal tap, but were still unable to. She had developed a blood pocket in the location where they preform the tap, supposedly from so many attempts. We ended up staying for 13 days of iv antibiotics (3 days extra since they couldn't rule out meningitis due to unsuccessful spinal taps). The nurses were great, and very adoring of Petal. Thankfully, within a couple of days, Petal was feeling better. Even though she was feeling better, we had to stay so that she could receive the antibiotics by IV. She was so tiny that she had trouble whenever they tried to put an IV in. I was very grateful that she only had to have 4 within that time period. Each attempt took about an hour, and her little arms and feet would end up with bruises from blown vessels. I didn't know this, but a newborns stomach is so immature that it can't regulate the amount of antibiotics it absorbs if taken orally. One dose could be correct, and the next dose could pass through without anything being absorbed.

While there we were able to successfully rule out any issues with her kidneys, or her hearing (a risk due both to one of the antibiotics she was on, and due to the potential risk for meningitis).

The love and support we received while in the hospital, was quite honestly, overwhelming! We had people praying constantly, checking up on us regularly, and supplying us with food, snacks and entertainment. Our church brought up a HUGE box o goodies, crossword puzzles, cards, ect. In addition, my mom's group sent snacks, candy, entertainment, and more up to me. They also wrote the cutest poem to let me know they cared. I felt soo overwhelmingly cared for and supported. THANKS to everyone! We are sooo grateful to be home, and to be able to be together again as family!

Conversations with a 4 year old......

So I thought I might share some of the conversations I've enjoyed having with Mickle lately....

All grown up????

So Mickle was on the phone with his grandmother, when we had this conversation

"When the baby is born, I'm gonna be ALL grown up".

"Um, no Mickle- when the baby is born you'll still be a kid. A big boy- but not all grown up."

"No, when the baby is born- I'll be all grown up- just like daddy!"

"Nope, sweetheart, - you'll be a big boy- but you are still gonna be a kid- not all grown up"

"No mommy! When the baby is born, I'm gonna be all grown up- and a fire fighter! I'll be like daddy...........just shorter!"

LOL- the conversation went on for a while until he was finally convinced that the baby being born wouldn't affect his growth, and ranking status......or so we thought :-D

About a week later we had this conversation -

"So mom, when the baby is born- I'm gonna be grown up just like Uncle Jonathan!"

"No Mickle, you will still be just like you are. A big boy who still has to obey his mommy"

"But when the baby is born, I'm gonna be grown up like Uncle Jonathan and go to that (skateboard) park"

"No sweetheart- the baby being born makes you a big boy- but not grown up!"

(Again- the conversation went on for a while until he realized I wasn't gonna back down)

Discussed one Saturday morning over breakfast.......

"So mom, when the baby is born, I'm going to get her out of her crib and hold her just like this (cradles arms like he's holding a baby)"

"No SIR! You are not going to get the baby out of the crib! Only mommy and daddy do that!"

"No, mom (like I don't understand what he's saying), when the baby is born, I will go and sooo very carefully get her out of the crib and hold her just like this! (cradles arms again)"

"No Mickle! You are not to get the baby out of her crib! Mommy and Daddy do that"

"But mom, sometimes my baby will cry.....and she will want me to get her out of the crib.....and so very very careful, I will get her, and I will hold her just like this! (and again we cradle the arms)

"Mickle- sometimes the baby will cry, and it is ok- and ONLY mommy and daddy get her out of the crib. If you do- even if you hold her very carefully- you will get in trouble!"

He wasn't interested in continuing that conversation anymore!

Giving Spirit?

Shortly after he found out that he was gonna get a sibling- he announced that he wanted to give his favorite blanket "blue bubba" to the baby. As his parents we thought that was sweet, until his amended it about two weeks later. He came up to us and announce "the baby told me that it doesn't want my blue bubba. It told me it wants a different bubba!" LOL- we assured him that the baby would have it's own blanket, and he didn't need to worry about losing his blanket.

He another time announce that he wanted to give the baby his tricycle. He talked for a while about how the baby could have his tricycle, and how he was too big for it, and the baby would just love it. Then......he announce that since the baby was gonna have his tricycle- he would need a NEW bicycle!!!! LOL- that's some future planning and processing on his part!

Mickle and Petal meet for the first time!

Within a couple hours of Petal's birth, Mickle came home to meet her. He was sooo excited to finally meet his baby sister! He had been asking daily for weeks when she was gonna come (and since she was almost 2 weeks late- mom and dad were doing the same!)

He came into the room a little nervous, but with a big grin on his face. He climbed up on my bed, and looked at me. "Mommy, your tummy is still really big! I think maybe there is another baby in there!" We assured him there wasn't another baby in there, and then introduced him to his sister. He was so cute. You could tell he was so proud of her. We got Mickle all situated on the bed so that he could hold Petal for the first time. We put her, all swaddled up, into his arms and he just grinned at her. Then he began to look a little worried. "Where are her legs??? Her legs! Where are her legs???" He started scrambling, and looking worried. We tried to explain that she had her legs. Mickle then reached over and touched my stomach. He freaked out saying "I feel baby parts! The baby's legs are still in you tummy!!!!" We explained to him that her legs were just swaddled, and that they were there under the blankets. He felt much relief when he unwrapped her legs and saw them.

SO relieved to see her legs!

Too Funny!

Petal's Arrival!!!

On March 24th 2009, we added to our family. We are now the proud parents (ok so we were her parent's before- but it's easier now- since she's out of the womb) to a sweet baby girl!

Birth Story:

I woke up about 3:00am with bad back pain. After trying to get comfortable - without success, I move to the couch and tried there. About 4:00 the pains got more intense, and I realized I was having contractions. I moved back to Petal's room and labored quietly until 5:00am. At this point realized that this show was for real, and went and woke my hubby up, and chatted with my mother on the phone. My mom clued into the fact that when I got up and walked around, my contractions would fade out and disappear. So I stayed in the glider back in Petal's room. In hindsight it's actually kinda funny. When I gave birth to Michael, I walked him into this world. Lots and Lots and Lots of walking to keep the contractions strong and close together. I really wanted have a labor experience where I could just sit, relax, and focus on breathing through contractions. Well, I got that with Petal!

My midwife was in the midst of some craziness that morning. She had two women in labor at her birth center at the same time that I was in labor at my house. My mom was there with me the whole time. I am so grateful for that!!!! She was able to check me and monitor my progress as I labored. My sisters were there, and my wonderful husband. I can't imagine giving birth without my mom and my husband there. Allan is so tender and attentive the whole time. His presence allows me to hold strong and keep going (lol not that I have a choice) My mom is such a wonderful birth attendant. Having her there gives me the peace to be able to relax. She instinctively knows where to rub, or how to help soften the pain. Thanks Mom and Allan!!!!

I was laboring in the bathtub in the master bathroom when my midwife arrived. She had sent her supplies and apprentice to the house several hours earlier. At last check I was 7-8 centimeters dilated. Shortly after she arrived I suddenly felt the need to push. My midwife and support team helped me out of the tub, but Petal was coming fast! Everyone scrambled to get the birth supplies into bathroom. We moved from the tub to the floor in the bathroom, and about 5 minutes later we welcomed Petal into the world! She was born at 12:47, and weighed 8lbs 12oz. She was 21 1/2 inches long, and to her mommy and daddy- just beautiful!

My mom had posted on facebook that I was in labor, and had given a couple of updates, including announcing Petal's delivery. Since her sex was a secret- mom wasn't announcing that, and there were several people very anxious to hear the news. My favorite comment was from a friend who demanded that "someone give that woman a laptop!!!"

My sisters were all there to welcome Petal into the world, and helped care for, clothe, weigh and measure her. I feel so blessed to have been able to have my family around me, creating such a peaceful enviroment, and a joyful home birth!

A year and a half!

How is this possible? I decided I needed to update my blog, and start writing again. I was flabbergasted to realize that it had been a year and a half since I had posted anything. How? It certainly hasn't felt that long! I've had plenty of good intentions to log on and keep things updated. I wanted a place to journal my thoughts, and the activities that fill my days. Mostly though- I wanted to be able to document the lives of my children as they grow and discover and bring laughter to our lives. I feel I've learned my lesson now. How quickly time flies by! No more long gaps in my blog. I'll forget all the little things that my children do that bring me laughter! I don't want to forget, I want my children to be able to go back and read those stories. So here's to the stories, the laughter, and the tears that make up a life, a home, a family!