My Seven from Heaven...

Dudley Farm Visit

Eden grinds some corn for the chickens.

Dan and Tommy have a "hay" photo op!

We all got a chance to pump water.

Here's Joshua at the general store... He's so cute!

Mom using the wringer--glad we don't have to do laundry this way anymore!

Dan 11, Tommy 6, Eden 4, and Joshua 2.5

Today was one of those days I decided to mix things up and go out for some fun. After homeschooling this morning, we packed ourselves up and headed out for a picnic at Dudley Farm. Unfortunately, Max was with his Dad at work, so it was just Dan, Tommy, Eden, Joshua, and me. (Jamie and Celeste were both in class.) We had a great time! The kids were able to grind corn, feed it to the chickens, operate the pump to get water, and run an old-time wringer. I'm glad I don't have to do laundry that way!! We even saw a big turkey! I think this is something we need to do more often. The farm has docents who dress in period garb and there is a cane festival the 1st Saturday in December. We usually go to that! Since Max missed going with us, we may go visit next week, too. We hope to get a family picture at the farm soon, so be looking for that.

On the Home Front

Just a little catch-up on the home front here...

We just started our 11th year of homeschooling. My students this year are Dan (6th grade), Max (4th grade), Tommy (1st grade), and Eden (K4). Joshua is 2 and just doot-doots around. We joined a Co-op that meets once a week. I am teaching history to the 3rd-4th graders. The kids are getting a lot of out it so far.

Celeste (19) is taking classes at Sante Fe College. Her proposed major is secondary education. She is very interested in teaching high school history. Currently, she is volunteering in a 2nd grade classroom. Next month she will have been working for Publix for 2 years. She is a cashier and a bagger for them. Celeste is involved with RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) and loves it! This college youth is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church and they have chapters on many campuses. Celeste is living at home right now, so we have 7 children at home.

Jamie (16) is a junior at the local, rural high school. He finished last year with a 4.2 GPA and has just been inducted into the National Honor Society. He is taking very challenging classes this year which include: AP U.S. History, AP Language, Chemistry Honors, Pre-calculus, Spanish 2, and Culinary 3. He's very active in church youth and is going to be playing guitar for them during youth group. Also, he works as a ref at the local paint ball park.

My husband, Stuart, has his federal firearms license and owns a gun shop. Also, he makes custom holsters. It has gotten a bit busier, of late, which is good! We are attending a new church and loving it. The ladies are meeting tonight for a coffee house and I am really looking forward to it. It's nice to recharge my batteries. Being a mother and wife is so demanding--even more so when you homeschool and have a large family.

A couple of extra thoughts--Eden is taking ballet and loving it! She is a girlie girl for sure. Joshua is just a riot. He finally says "yes" when he means "yes" now. It comes out, "Zess." He LOVES the garbage man! Mondays and Thursdays he is quite excited when they come in the morning and back down our street. His delight in this simple thing is precious!

We are still mourning our precious daughter, Kara Faith. Today I am thinking on her quite a bit. I want to order her heart-shaped headstone, but we haven't don that yet. I remember being pregnant this time last year and how that felt. She was safely tucked inside. Things have settled down now. Less people respond. It's that time where her death is still SO REAL to us, but life goes on and others forget. It is okay with me for my friends and family to mention her, to say her name, to ask about how we are. I love to share about my daughter. It's all I have. I covet your prayers...

Splash Park Fun

We went to the "splash park" yesterday and they had so much fun! It was good for me to get out and enjoy my kids. To watch Max, Tommy, Eden, & Joshua laugh and have fun was wonderful. I'm trying to get back to life after Kara Faith. I love all of my children dearly. Some days it's just hard to get going. I feel very blessed by them!

Dan went to Sea World with his class from school yesterday and was quite worn out when he got home. He kept talking about riding the Kracken--a big rollercoaster. Jamie turns 16 next week on June 2nd. I can't believe that. He's about to finish out his 10th grade year and he has a 4.2 GPA currently. I am so proud of him! I miss Celeste most days. I popped in on her today. I just so desperately wanted to see her. Since she moved out I don't spend as much time with her as I'd like. Celeste took Jamie and I out to dinner last weekend and that was quite a treat! I am trying to think of fun things to do with the children this summer to keep us busy. Any ideas are appreciated!

Some Cuteness

After bath fun with Celeste & Joshua

This is what your brothers do to you when you fall asleep at our house...

Joshua loves Eden's Bitty Baby!

A Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Joshua--Looks like trouble...
Pumpkin Patch Max

Eden--pumpkin sitting

Mommy and Joshua (What a cute smile!)

Dan and Tommy--Love this one!

My Cute Tommy

Me with my 5 littlest pumpkins

JOSHUA 17 months old

Today Joshua Ezekiel turned 17 months old on the 17th! He is a really cute baby and has a wonderful personality! The whole family adores him...

I caught him reading the 5 ladybug book. He's pretty attached to his "Nah" (nuk) as he calls it.
In the bath playing with his alligator--GO GATORS!

Here is Joshua making a funny face for Mommy with the camera.

Peek-a-boo!

Joshua is 11 months

Joshua is now 11 months old. It happened yesterday on St. Patty's Day. It has been an amazing journey with him. I can't believe he is almost one! I'm sad inside because I know how fast they grow up and I love, love babies. He isn't my best sleeper, but I am cherishing the moments to hold him. That won't last forever. He is currently cutting 6 teeth. Joshua has his moments with that, but is doing quite well.

Max turned 8 this week. I will never forget he was 10 pounds, 5 ounces at birth! Maximillian Isaiah is appropriately named. :)
Joshua, this morning, just being cute. (9.5 months old)

A picture thought I'm sharing...

You can never have too much fun in the bath!

Low Places

A "picture thought" I'm sharing with you...

Max feeding Joshua. He's a good big brother.

Being transparent...I'm feeling quite down right now. My life has many huge mountains and I can't see the other side at all. It's an effort to just get through the day. I'm trying to think on this verse today: "And those who know your name put their trust in you,for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10

Joshua Eats

Joshua started eating solid food yesterday. He's been taking 7 bottles a day and waking a lot at night, so I just couldn't do it anymore. Check out his little blog. Celeste found a very pretty black dress for our church Christmas social for $40 today. It was fun to go shopping with her!

We're off to a ladies' meeting tonight and Jamie is cutting up some ham for our simple dinner. We're having Ham & Black-eyed peas. I get three cans of the peas, 1 circular thing of ham diced, and 2 1/2 cups of rice and mix them together in a pot on the stove on warm. We're just having broccoli with it, too! The kids love it. I put a little ketchup on mine :).

A tooth

Joshua cut his 1st tooth yesterday! He is 6 1/2 months old. He ties Dan (now 9) for being the earliest teether. I will start with baby food soon. He is consuming lots of bottles right now, so I'm thinking growth spurt. Also, he has been horribly constipated (sorry if that's TMI) since going on Good Start formula. I have been giving him a bit of diluted apple juice to help with the problem. Hopefully, that will improve.

I'm not going to say much about the election. What do you expect when the government is training the minds of tomorrow?!? See this article.

Fewer words

Me babywearing Joshua.
Josh peeks out of his sling.

It has been a busy week here. What week is not? There's been football games, church events, homeschooling, appointments, but best of all is a ladies' fun night tonight and I get to be with the big people. Yay! At times I just need a break. Tomorrow I'm going to do some scrapbooking, too. Life is...well, life--right now. Not too much I can say about that. Phil. 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining or arguing..." That pretty much sums it up and it's what I'm trying to do. So, lately, I'm a woman of fewer words. Life is challenging. Thank goodness there's Jesus!

Playdate

Here is a picture of Joshua and I at a recent play date with the Spring Peas baby group we participate in (when we can!). There were some really cute babies there today. Babies are so fun! Joshua is now 1 week shy of 5 months old. He rolls both ways and is grabbing his feet. He babbles and smiles wonderfully. The past 3 nights he has slept 11 hours!!! Weird, but I'm not complaining.

Tonight we went to Jamie's 2nd JV football game. He got to play and was put in 4 times in the 4th quarter. He has been practicing hard and despite some ankle and knee discomfort, he is pushing forward. I am proud of all of the hard work he's been doing. We need to feed that kid so that he bulks up! Here he is in the middle...

Joshua 4 months old

Joshua Ezekiel turned 4 months old last Sunday

15 pounds, 10 ounces (75%)

25.5 inches (60%)

Joshua rolls over, grabs his feet and everything, sleeps through the night, and loves his nuk!

Joshua is gaining, although it's probably from his bottles, not nursing. We went to see the lactation consultant today and he weighed 8 pounds, 6.8 ounces. Really close to his birth weight, yay! After nursing for 35 minutes he had gained 1 ounce. Not the best, but better than last time. I'm going to keep trying for another week or so and see what happens.

Celeste starts summer A next week and is taking 2 classes. Celeste rec'd an A in ENC1101, YAY!We're trying to finish up the school year with the other kids. The baby is crying...time to feed him again!

Baby Update

Here is Joshua 2 weeks old with the sweet blanket made by Mom's friend, Teri.

A little update on things here: I got an infection of some sort around my incision site, so I'm on antibiotics. This started last Sunday evening. We started out taking meds and had to double them on Wednesday because things weren't getting better. So recovery is slow going here. 2000 mg of Keflex is kicking my butt right now. Joshua is still very slow to gain weight and nursing isn't going the best. I am taking fenugreek--3 capsules, 3 times per day and that boosted my supply a little. Joshua is still sleepy and doesn't remove milk very well. He looks good and weighs 8 pounds today. All the other children are doing quite well with the new baby. Eden likes to poke him... Dan and Max are at their last baseball game right now (most likely). They have had a winning season this year 6-4. In playoffs they lost the 1st game, won the 2nd, and if they lose tonight then they're out of the tournament. We'll see! God is good! I'm still praying I don't get too discouraged about nursing. I'm seeing my lactation consultant on Monday again. Just keep praying for success and healing for the momma. Thanks!

He's Here!

Joshua Ezekiel

April 17th, 2008 via C-Section

12:39 p.m.

8 pounds, 10.4 ounces

20 1/4 inches long

Momma and baby are doing quite well.

(Dad expected to recover, too!)