Life is tough right now.
Blending a new little one into a family is a joy but it is a long and sometimes difficult process and my energy and joyfulness have taken a beating.
God in His renewing mercy has led me to read these blog posts today and I am encouraged!
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenting. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Baby is Here!
Sadie Teresa
born on: May 21st
time: 5:51 p.m.
weight: 8 lbs. 8 oz.
length: 19 inches
It is my pleasure to announce the much anticipated arrival of the newest member to our family! She arrived on Thursday, May 21st after a few hours of labor and an interesting delivery. She is healthy, beautiful and adorable. Her siblings are enthralled with her and love to help with all facets of her care:) We are enjoying a quiet rest this week while the rest of our children are whooping it up and Grandma and Grandpa's place (thanks mom & dad).
Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.
Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Staying Sane and Enjoying Life during the busy years
Well it's been a rather odd year for me and I thought I'd share a few things that I've learned in hopes that other mamas of lots of little ones will benefit.
It's been almost a full year since I began dealing with postpartum hyperthyroidism
and while I've had a few good months where I thought that I was "normal" again I mostly have to judge things on a day to day basis. Some days are good, others are bad to very bad. But one of the blessings in all of this is that it has forced me to be a bit more creative than I normally would have been and it has forced me to slow down.
Two things have been absolutely key to maintaining sanity for all of us.
First, training my children to clean and help and then actually utilizing them. I don't think I would have realized how much they are really capable of and how much they enjoy helping if it hadn't been absolutely necessary for me to rely on them. My older three are amazing little cleaners! They can each clear and wipe off the table and highchair, unload and load the dishwasher, and sweep floors. All four of the older ones are very adept at emptying trash cans and carrying dirty laundry downstairs to the laundry room and then bringing clean laundry back up (some days I'm not physically able to walk the stairs). I'm currently expanding their work experience portfolio to include washing, and drying dishes by hand and wiping down counters. The other day I needed the fridge cleaned out but didn't know how I'd get it done so I assigned them to the job and they all worked like a well-oiled machine to empty, wipe down and return the food! What a blessing they all are to me:)
The second "must" has been inspired by other mama's. It is a daily "Quiet Time". Every day from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. you will hear classical music playing from the radio but no other noise except the rustling of pages. I am blessed to be able to separate each child to a different room at this point but can see it working just as well if I had to separate them in different parts of one room. For now Wesley and William lay down in their beds and 90% of the time take a nap, while Alissa, Tom and Emily take turns spending their hour at the kitchen table, the livingroom couch or my bed. I spend my time parked in the recliner with my feet up, a book in my lap, a cup of water and tea by my side and a piece of dark chocolate melting in my mouth:)
I cannot tell you how wonderful and refreshing this time is for all of us. The kids get to do their own thing during that time without having to share or take turns which means that when they come back together to play they are much more equipped to play well together. I let them choose books to read or listen to (with headphones), puzzles to put together, paper dolls to play with, coloring books and crayons to use and other "quiet toys". My only requirement is that they must return everything they use to it's proper place at the end of the hour.
Most days I spend my time reading for the first 30 mins and then napping for the remainder of the time. I have found it best to turn the ringer off on the phone so that none of us are distracted by the noise and I do require that if any of the kids do any talking that they whisper.
That's about all I have to share for nuggets of wisdom today:) Now I think I"ll follow another good piece of advice and get myself to bed!
step by step,
Jessica
It's been almost a full year since I began dealing with postpartum hyperthyroidism
and while I've had a few good months where I thought that I was "normal" again I mostly have to judge things on a day to day basis. Some days are good, others are bad to very bad. But one of the blessings in all of this is that it has forced me to be a bit more creative than I normally would have been and it has forced me to slow down.
Two things have been absolutely key to maintaining sanity for all of us.
First, training my children to clean and help and then actually utilizing them. I don't think I would have realized how much they are really capable of and how much they enjoy helping if it hadn't been absolutely necessary for me to rely on them. My older three are amazing little cleaners! They can each clear and wipe off the table and highchair, unload and load the dishwasher, and sweep floors. All four of the older ones are very adept at emptying trash cans and carrying dirty laundry downstairs to the laundry room and then bringing clean laundry back up (some days I'm not physically able to walk the stairs). I'm currently expanding their work experience portfolio to include washing, and drying dishes by hand and wiping down counters. The other day I needed the fridge cleaned out but didn't know how I'd get it done so I assigned them to the job and they all worked like a well-oiled machine to empty, wipe down and return the food! What a blessing they all are to me:)
The second "must" has been inspired by other mama's. It is a daily "Quiet Time". Every day from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. you will hear classical music playing from the radio but no other noise except the rustling of pages. I am blessed to be able to separate each child to a different room at this point but can see it working just as well if I had to separate them in different parts of one room. For now Wesley and William lay down in their beds and 90% of the time take a nap, while Alissa, Tom and Emily take turns spending their hour at the kitchen table, the livingroom couch or my bed. I spend my time parked in the recliner with my feet up, a book in my lap, a cup of water and tea by my side and a piece of dark chocolate melting in my mouth:)
I cannot tell you how wonderful and refreshing this time is for all of us. The kids get to do their own thing during that time without having to share or take turns which means that when they come back together to play they are much more equipped to play well together. I let them choose books to read or listen to (with headphones), puzzles to put together, paper dolls to play with, coloring books and crayons to use and other "quiet toys". My only requirement is that they must return everything they use to it's proper place at the end of the hour.
Most days I spend my time reading for the first 30 mins and then napping for the remainder of the time. I have found it best to turn the ringer off on the phone so that none of us are distracted by the noise and I do require that if any of the kids do any talking that they whisper.
That's about all I have to share for nuggets of wisdom today:) Now I think I"ll follow another good piece of advice and get myself to bed!
step by step,
Jessica
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Good Things
Over the last few weeks God has straightened out my priorities out quite a bit and so my time on here is no longer a great priority. I hope to plan 1 day a week or so that I can drop in and share encouragements and ideas with anyone who might happen by but for the most part it will be fairly quite around this spot in the web.
Here are a couple of items that God has brought into my life to encourage me and direct my steps so I wanted to share them with you.
Managers of Their Homes: A practical guide to daily scheduling for Christian Homeschooling Families
Raising Godly Tomatoes: Loving Parenting with only occasional trips to the woodshed
Both of these books have opened my eyes to my duty to my children and family and have clarified for me the direction God is leading us.
I hope to share more about these as we journey through them as a family. My current goal with my children right now is training them in the "habit of obedience".
I am enjoying going through the process of gathering material for Year 1 of Ambleside online,
and will be attending my first homeschool curriculum fair since having my own children. I am using this Charlotte Mason planner to help me lay out everything and have added these resources to use as well.
Harmony Fine Arts
Hearts and Trees Spring Kit
Heart of Harmony Green Hour Challenges
Anyway that's all for now. Have a blessed day!
Jessie
Here are a couple of items that God has brought into my life to encourage me and direct my steps so I wanted to share them with you.
Managers of Their Homes: A practical guide to daily scheduling for Christian Homeschooling Families
Raising Godly Tomatoes: Loving Parenting with only occasional trips to the woodshed
Both of these books have opened my eyes to my duty to my children and family and have clarified for me the direction God is leading us.
I hope to share more about these as we journey through them as a family. My current goal with my children right now is training them in the "habit of obedience".
I am enjoying going through the process of gathering material for Year 1 of Ambleside online,
and will be attending my first homeschool curriculum fair since having my own children. I am using this Charlotte Mason planner to help me lay out everything and have added these resources to use as well.
Harmony Fine Arts
Hearts and Trees Spring Kit
Heart of Harmony Green Hour Challenges
Anyway that's all for now. Have a blessed day!
Jessie
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