Good morning.  Well all the snow is gone...and it is downpouring rain as I type.  

My daffodils seem to be none the worse for the snow...and hopefully will be blooming in a week or two.  I can't wait!  The advantage of a 100 year old house is their are daffodils in the most unimaginable places.  I love being suprised as to where the next ones are gonna pop up. 

My snow bells are blooming they are also planted by a previous generation.  And are beautiful decorating the back outhouse.  hehehe.  I need to take a picture as it is very pretty....even if a bit different.  Someday I should probably move them to where all can see them...but they kinda give that old outhouse a "romantic" look.     For the those of you new to my blog or fairly new.  My house is a 100 year old schoolhouse complete with a girls & guys working outhouses.  hehehe.  They have a better foundation (concrete) then my house (post & block).  Go figure   I've been told they were prefab outhouses ordered from a company in town...which EVERYBODY thought was a major extravagance.    The things you learn when your restoring a building. 

Church was really enjoyable last night.  Unfortunately the computer with the words to the music quit....and as 98% of the songs are new that made for a lot of people listening rather then singing.  But it was still fun.  And they've started bringing refreshments for after church so everybody just hung around and visited which was ever so enjoyable instead of the MAJOR rush to get home.

Kaylin spent the service taking all the hymn books out of one side of the pew and putting them into the other holder on the pew.  Then removing them and putting them back where they came from.  Rob and I are CONVINCED if church was still going on she'd still be doing it...she just NEVER got tired of it.  LOL

Jamari cuddled with daddy.  Samuel with mommy,  and Zeria snuck up to the pew in front of us and sat with our Christmas grandma.  I think that made both of their days.  And this was a never before done thing so that made it even more fun

This was one of the songs we sang last night which I'd heard before..but didn't quite know ALL the words to.  I want to type them out...and then share how much it touched me.

Above all powers, above all kings.

Above all nature, and all created things.

Above all wisdom and all the ways of man

You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones

Above all wonders the world has ever known

Above all wealth and treasures of the earth

There's no way to measure what you're worth

(Chorus)

Crucified and laid behind a stone

You lived to die rejected and alone

Like a rose trampleed on the ground

You took the fall and thought of me above all else.

How many times have we (and I mean we) blogged about loneliness, depression, is it worth it?  Nobody loves me...etc, etc, etc.  If ONLY my hubby understood me, or my mom, or whoever.   And why is THIS happening to me. 

But then the God of the universe who was above ALL, all power, kings, nature, wisdom etc.  The CREATOR and SUSTAINER of the universe.  And he was.....

REJECTED

ALONE

TOOK the FALL

For who???????

ME!!!

Brings my life back into perspective somehow.  He did it for me.  I should NEVER feel alone.  He's there waiting, hoping to help...wanting to help...begging to help.  And loved us FIRST...not because of something we did or will do...just because.

Pretty amazing huh?  And  then I saw these verses in my devotions this morning.   

Deut 30:20 Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Okay done preaching   I hope that it comforts somebody as much as it did me.   

Good afternoon.  Headed out in 5 minutes to dinner and evening service.   Our church is finally doing their "contemporary" service and I really want to support it.   But I JUST HAD to share this first.  Jamari decided that playing was just plain hard work yesterday morning.  And fell asleep on the stairs.  LOL  Poor guy.  Turns out he was fighting a bit of a bug...had a mild fever when he woke up.  But it was gone by afternoon...tend to suspect a low reaction to the vacinations he had on WEdnesday.   Too cute though.

Go here and congratulate mammie on the birth of her twins    Now that is NOT an every day occurence.  CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN!!!

Good morning   We still have a ton of snow outside.  BLUCHKY.  And I'm not dragging my kids out in it.  Yesterday every time they went out they came in with at least one child in tears.  TOO cold even with snow suits etc on.

And then theirs my charming and brilliant babies.  (read dripping sarcasm)  They wanted to go out and "help" daddy get firewood.  So they wandered two steps out the back door BARE FOOT...yes that's right bare foot.  And instantly started screaming cold blooded murder.  Kaylin was smart enough to walk back inside.  And cry.  Jamari just stood in the snow crying at the top of his lungs.  By all means don't get your bare feet off the snow...just stand there waiting to be rescued.   

I was 3 minutes short of being done removing all the wallpaper from one wall....and was very much resenting this interuption.  So let him scream for over a minute hoping beyond hope he would figure out that turning around and taking two steps would alleviate the pain.  He didn't.  So I got down off my chair, and went and brought them in.   (not happily)  Brought them inside.  Aren't they pathetic?  And aren't I mean for not cuddling them.  I took this just as I was helping Samuel's boots off and couldn't hold them temporarily

  Meanwhile Samuel comes inside and he's crying cause he's cold.   Okay this is 3 babies screaming.  *sigh*    

Rob is happily doing his "chore" oblivious to the fact that I'm ready to climb up a wall....and STAY there...preferably with ear plugs in

He finally clues in I have 3 kids screaming.  So comes in and takes Jamari.  Samuel is wandering on the floor semi-happy.  I have removed his boots.  But he's still COLD.  I'm attempting to make dinner.  Kaylin is on the floor "happy"  I've put her in warm pajamas and that has taken care of her complaint.   Zeria is hyper.  So the girls are running around back & forth screaming (happy screams)  like banchee's.   

Jamari is NOT happy...he wants to be held.  So Rob is holding him.  We realize Samuel has not removed his wet socks.  He's sniffing/crying/whining.  Rob is getting grumpy.  hehehehe.  So Rob sits on the stairs puts Samuel on his other leg and starts to "help" Samuel remove his socks.  Samuel pulls his helpless act and will not sit up straight, etc.  Samuel looses his balance off of Rob's lap (who is currently holding Jamari) and bangs his head on the step behind which they are sitting on.  Samuel is no longer whimpering he has full blown screams going.   Jamari has sympathy screams going.

I take Samuel as I KNOW I can comfort him.  Rob takes Jamari.  I put Samuel on the kitchen counter beside me.  Give him tippy cup and realize his teeth are still chattering.    I send Zeria upstairs for his blanket to wrap around him to help him warm up.  Dinner is ready except for 5 minutes of simmering.  I take Samuel and cuddle with him on the rocking chair.  He has two blankets over him and he continues to chatter...and GUZZLE water.  He empty's a tippy cup post haste and wants a second one.   Jamari is now happy though still wanting to be held...if Rob puts him down he howls.  The girls are still screaming like banchees back & forth back & forth across the full length of the house.    Samuel is laying very still teeth chattering.  He starts guzzling his second tippy cup.  Rob is setting the table carrying Jamari in his arms.  I'm amazed theirs any room left for water in Samuel's tummy.    Samuel lets go of the tippy cup for a second.  Cough, cough cough he goes...and then looses both tippy cups of water out of his stomache along with the rest of his stomache contents all over me.   Rob runs to get me a towel to clean up.   I send Samuel to the toilet to finish the job.    Samuel comes back wants to cuddle.  Rob has brought me a new shirt as the old one is drenched (ewwwwwwwwwy)  

Samuel cuddles on my lap teeth chattering uncontrollably.   And stays there until dinner is ready.  He eats dinner and is fine.  I guess he was just super cold. 

I look at my watch and realize.  That all of this yes ALL of it has happened in less then 15 minutes.  How's that for a record worth of stress   Dinner was a very quiet affair lol.  And the kids got to sit and finish Pete's Dragon after dinner...as mommy and daddy figured kids moving was a sin by this point.  We needed a quiet time. 

Bed time cameth early...and the day was quickly forgotten.   And now I can laugh at the insanity of my life...and at greeneyes who says my blogs make her feel "peaceful"

There IS a lesson learned hear too.  I lost my sense of priorities there for a couple minutes.  The most important thing was to comfort my kids and get them OUT of the snow.  Not finish the last 3 minutes on my project.  If I had stopped when the first howl started things would have gone much easier.  But I was soooooooo close...and lost my sense of priorities.  And as a result things became much much worse.     BAD mommy moment.  But I think I learned from it...so that helps right????

Father God, I thank you for this day.  I ask that things go well, and that Zeria has fun at the party she's going to.  I thank you that I get to run away tonight.  And I ask for wisdom as I shop for lights etc that I will NOT get carried away spending money.  I pray that you will keep Rob safe on the slippery roads today, and guide each of us today in your sons name Amen.

Good morning

Its a gorgeous day today.  Blue sky, sunshine, and 8 inches of snow.  EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

My kids are greatly looking forward to grandma & the kids coming over and sledding so that will make them happy.  And it IS beautiful on the trees.  But my daffodills were 4 inches tall.....and I don't think this is gonna do them any good     sniff sniff

My kids were very entertaining yesterday.  Especially the babies.  Yesterday morning Jamari was on the floor wandering around and Kaylin still in her high chair.  And they started growling at each other...and "booing" each other.  It got very very loud...and oh I was laughing soo hard.  I love watching them interact like that  

Kaylin followed me into the bathroom (normal every-day stuff)  and we had a discussion about toilet paper, the tub, etc...she always points each of them out and I always say the names.  Someday she might say the words back.  I'm beginning to despair of her ever "really" talking.  She has words...but only when she wants.  Anyhow.  She hung around entertaining me   and when we were ready to leave she walked out just like mommy.  Stomache sticking out and waddling just as if SHE were pregnant.  Have you ever seen a pregnant almost 2 year old     Man I wish I could have video camera'd that. 

My big kids helped me a LOT yesterday morning and we did a 27 boogie fling in the lean-to.  WOO-HOO.  And I even wiped down the dusty shelves in there.  This room is our laundry room/rec room/ catch all.   And it can get VERY scarey in there.  Looks quite clean in there right now.  Except for the 70 year old falling down wall paper.  hehehehe.  I'm gonna work for bits at a time taking that down...and then we'll decide if we're gonna sheet rock OVER it...or just paint it.  If its painting...I can do it here and there.  I LOVE to paint.  And in less then 2 weeks all my pregnancy restrictions are gonna be lifted  

The reward for all the big kids helping was we emptied out the tv box of the styrofoam...and they got to play in it the rest of the day.  It was a MAJOR hit.  Even Jamari entertained himself with it.   

My friend didn't come over yesterday as she refuses to drive in the snow...and it just kept a snowing.  *sigh*   I *think* its finally stopped.  But my mom & kids did come over...so that distracted my kids for a bit anyhow.  And Zeria *gasp* actually came inside from playing BEFORE she was so cold she was crying hysterically.  She got MAJOR praise for that   She has a hard time listening to her body...and always goes until it collapses. 

Today the theory is Rob is gonna mortar our chimney and replace the clean-out grate that broke when the fire happened.  Our no-project zone went out the window...with all this insurance mess.  If the chimney actually get mortered it will mean the main part of the house is ALL finished except for linoleum in my kitchen.  WOO-HOO-HOO   

Kaylin just had a first.  She got her pj's off all by herself without any help this morning   She's been working hard at it for over a month.   So oh no this means she's growing up. sniff sniff.  But its also a major help for us too. 

Well, that's my meanderings for the day.  Samuels waiting to call Grandma and see if the kids can come up...so I probably should hit submit  and let him do so. 

Father God, I pray that things would go smoothly today.  I ask that Rob would get his work done and not get himself too side tracked.   I ask for a extra dose of keeping my mouth shut when he wanders around instead of working.  And that this project for once would get done the first time around.  In your sons name, Amen

Good morning

We have a little skiff of snow all over the ground.  Not ons...just enough to make it look COLD 

The kids are happily watching Arthur something I rarely let them do in the mornings.  Rob is outside working on the outside of the house before work. 

The bank has told us the insurance they would provide is TOO expensive....so we're having to try to find insurance some more.  And as dh is incapable of "selling" the house..its my job.  I would really appreciate prayer as my emotions are at the top and its very hard to sound business like when you start crying.  The joys of being pregnant 33 weeks pregnant. 

My parents have a insurance broker whom they really respect.  And so we're gonna try her next I guess.   *sigh* 

Today I'm having a friend come over with her 3 kids.  2 boys one girl.  The girl is Zeria's age and was the first baby/child/kid that Zeria ever actually "played" with.  They are both adopted which gives them extra in common.    The boys are  a bit older then my kids...but they still get along pretty good.  And Samuel will actually have BOYS to play with.  The best thing about all of this is usually when Samuel is around kids he can get a teensy bit agressive.  Not tons...just boy stuff.  Well around other parents I feel like I have to be constantly jumping on him.  Around this family...we just ignore it.   Last time Samuel hit C (the girl)  and she hit him back and they were best friends for the rest of the time.     Okay I probably just horrified all of you huh?  But sometimes its just easier to "pretend" you didn't see something and let the kids resolve it themselves.    So hopefully the day turns out well   (Yeah I'm not a hermit )

As soon as Rob has the van full of garbage I'm running it to the dump before he goes to work.  *joy*  We don't have a ton of stuff lying around...but we figured every little bit helps in the attempt to impress the wretched insurance agent. 

Father God, the thought of another insurance agent overwhelms/depresses me.  I'm so not able to deal with this in my own strength.  Please work miracles and make this next situation work.  And allow Targ to behave, the kids to behave.  And the insurance agent to be willing to support us.  I thank you for your love, in your sons name, Amen

      Something to

     smile about

I hope they gave you the chuckle they give me.  I was on the phone with the bank.  She was not giving me good or helpful news.  I was getting stressed.  And this card walked up to me.   

Good morning.  Well I'm out of here in about 10 minutes to go take Jamari to his healthy baby checkup.  And hopefully get his meds refilled.  Fortunately I REALLY like this doctor, so there should be no problem getting everything refilled.  UNFORTUNATELY this means shots.  And as I can't comfort Jamari when he's in pain a LOT of days...it should be a intresting day. 

Rob will keep the 3 bigger kids at home...so I'll only be wrestling one.  I'll race back home, and then he'll go to work. 

My contractions stopped.  And I'll listen to my midwifes appeal to be good for 2 more weeks.  And then man are we gonna have a party in our bedroom.  (Okay I know oversharing)  But I'm getting very very desperate

So in 2 more weeks we are going to be leaving 4 very precious children with my mom, and driving an hour from here to a lovely motel with hot tub suites.  And ooo la la.  The last big hoorah before we are again tied to a nursling baby.      Counting the hours!!

Today, hmmm what are we doing today?  LIfe I guess.  Oh yes and tonight I get to watch Enterprise.    Tomorrow I'm having a friend over with her munchkins to play.  See I'm really doing it.  I MIGHT be getting out of the hermit zone.     I just have to call her and remind her...she has a good forgetter like me

Today, I also have to call the bank and tell them we need to arrange insurance through them.  It should not be a problem at all.  The bank manager is a long time family friend who has bailed my dad out of situations no one else in the world would.  And has an incredible amount of respect for our family.   

Still thinking about the loan thing.  Its a MAJOR decision for us.  Because we have worked very hard to be this debt free...and we really, really enjoy it.  Even if it does mean living like a bit of poor white trash

Thinking I will call and get bids to see how much it would cost to get the wiring done, and the sheetrock done, so we have something to go with.    And see if somehow we could swing it without the loan.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Father God, I ask once again for your wisdom.  We've tried so hard to honour you with our money and house.  Show us the right path to go to honour you with our family as well.  Give the doctor wisdom today as we discuss Jamari as well.  In your sons name, Amen

Don't worry...I didn't do anything profitable at all today except grow the "bun" thats in the oven.

I got back from my midwife's appointment to have the 3rd run around with an insurance agent.  I finally started talking with her...because I could tell Rob was well being his usuall negative self.  As he says...he couldnt sell the cure for aids to Africa  

She was pretty discouraging...and hmmmm and hawing around.  So I got off the phone ready to conquer the world.  I.E.  finish the rest of the lean-to in the next 2 weeks.  Fortunately my mother talked some sense into BOTH of us (Rob & I) .  And while I was sobbing because of all of the mess my contractions started.   And stayed.

sooooooooooooo I decided not to conquer the world, and to lay on the couch instead.  

We've decided to tell the insurance companies to go jump.  And will be paying the insurance the bank has.  Once the baby is born, we will slowly finish the lean-to and then start the game again.  (yippie!!NOT!)

Orrrrrrrrrrrrr we're also talking about something else possibly taking a second out to PAY somebody to finish what's left.  We owe very little on our house.  And we only make one car payment which will be payed off in August.   Other then that we are debt free.  We've been very determined NOT to do this.....but we also need a life.  And the stress of number 5 coming into the world...is gonna be enough.  Don't think we need the house-project on top of it kwim?

We're soooooooooo close to being done.  We could HIRE it done for $10,000.  Or a little less.....oh so tempting.  Please pray as we make the decision.

Good morning.

I have this major desire to do a spring cleaning today.   Unfortunately I know how much energy I have...so I think I'll be (mostly) good.  Today I have a midwife appointment at 9:45 (8:05 right now)  And then I'm hoping to get up enough energy to paint our chimney.  If it doesn't happen oh well. 

Why does a chimney need painting...trust me its the ugliest part of the inside of our house.    And I've been in the mood to paint for quite awhile.  Unfortunately I KNOW dh won't let me up on the ladder...so I'll reach what I can....and he promised he would finish it.    WE shall see.

Probably I'll come home from town have my nap...and the day will be shot.    Oh well doesn't hurt to dream right. 

It is GORGEOUS outside.  So Rob and the munchkins will be out as much as possible.   And I relented a bit on the NO project zone...and he's gonna be hauling dirt to put in around the front of the lean-to to replace the dirt that was removed when we were pouring.   IT shouldn't take that long...and it will DEFINITELY make things look better.    I offered to paint the one wall of the lean-to today that one of our various insurance companies protested being none-painted.  It is actually nice enough...but somehow I don't think dh will be letting me do it.

Oh can you tell I have this major nesting thing going on?????

I have a picture of me last pregnancy 8 months pregnant at the top of a ladder.  Man did I get chewed out when my mom found out..............somehow I don't think I'll be attempting that again. 

Zeria does NOT have anything wrong with her...so I guess her accidents are just do the stress of our current life.  We'll just keep struggling on.  The doctor also said if it continued for another 2 weeks...we could do another clean catch and bring it in...to see if they missed something.  So I'll keep that option open.

Kaylin's rash is much less.  And still isn't causing her distress.  So I guess will just let it ride for now.  

Father God, I pray for wisdom in doing only what is necessary today.  And stopping before I hurt my body.  I ask for your energy to do a little extra as well.  I thank you for your love, and encouragement when I'm struggling.  In your sons name, Amen

Drum roll please....

Our dog bit the insurance agent.  This is a very gentle, very quiet dog.  He lets my toddlers maul him.  They will not insure us as a result.  It was more a nip then a bite...but alas it made the insurance agent mad, and they will not  us have insurance.

One more insurance agent left....and they KNOW we've been turned down.  One little lie and we could have kept it a secret.  Of course we didn't do that.  But we also didn't have to tell them ALL of the houses flaws like Rob did....

I guess its official 

We are poor white trash...

And its all my fault seeings its "my" house.  Rob would have never bought this house in a million years.  But I had it long before we were married.  And I KNOW God gave it to me.  Having a hard time remembering that right now.

Of course Rob gets mad at me when I say that...but I'm having a pity party so don't mind me.