The Big Reveal

While eating dinner the other night Jaron asked me if I had any "old pictures" of him. I said of course I have thousands! He said "you know with my cleft lip." I said yeah why? He said he wanted to show his friends at school. Are you having show and tell? No. Did someone ask you about your mouth? No, I just want to show my friends. So I sent a text to his teacher asking if I could come in and tell the class about Jaron's cleft lip and bring pictures.

She said SURE! So I scrambled trying to get my hands on a book for children about clefts. There are several out there but I couldn't get one fast enough because I planned to go to the school the next day. So like usual I waited around to the last minute and didn't get anything prepared so I grabbed his baby book and rushed out the door. Thank God I had that made! I make all their baby books because I like to create my own pages for them on the computer with the things we like to remember. So all the pages are in clear protective sheets and I had tons of pictures of him.

I got there a few minutes fashionably late. :-D Mrs. Smathers asked me to sit down in her rocking chair and she wanted to record me. She first reminded the class how they had been talking about "then & now" and how things change over time. (that explains him wanting to bring baby pictures) So I started by telling the kids I had a surprise to tell them about Jaron. I asked if anyone had ever seen a baby with a cleft lip. And they all said no. So I turned his baby book around to reveal the picture of Jaron on the front. They were all very curious.

I began by telling them to feel their top lip and notice the little dip (cupids bow). I told them that is where our faces grow together in our mommy's belly. Well Jaron's didn't finish growing in my belly. So when he came out he got special squeezable bottles and went on 23 airplanes to go to the Children's Hospital and get surgery. While I was talking Jaron is passing out pictures from his baby book. He was not shy and I was so happy to see him confident in himself. Then I told the kids to feel the roof in their mouth with their tongue. I said Jaron had a hole there and the doctors had to make him a roof in his mouth. I asked Jaron to open up and show them and he did!

One little girl asked "why did he look like that?" I told her that God makes us all special. Some of you have red hair, brown hair or blonde hair. Some have blue eyes, green eyes or brown eyes. I said well Jaron is special because God gave him a cleft lip. That was it noone had any more questions. I of course expected it to be a lot harder to explain. But they are kindergarteners...I kept it simple and they understood. My last statement was "If you learn one thing today I want you to always remember to never make fun of a person because they look different." He almost cried when I left. He wanted me to stay but I had to go. I left Justus at home with my mom (1st time I had ever left him with anyone).

His teacher sent me a text that night saying how good it was and she was very pleased. I got the book I ordered in the mail 2 days later and he took it to school today and read it to the class. "A Special Smile"

Stand Still...

Discouraged

Chris and I have been married for 12 years and we have been regularly attending church for about 11 years.  We are trying to allow God to guide us in every area of our lives. Chris has been called to preach and I am learning every day more and more how to be a submissive wife. I love my husband and I trust him with our future. I know he is looking to God for His will in our life.

We attended our first church for 9 years and our feelings were hurt....things were said....and we decided it was time to move on. God sent us to this church we are at now and it hasn't been easy. We always feel like outsiders. Even at the other church. We never really "fit". I am not sure if it's because he's from up north and southern people like to make lots of jokes about that. Or maybe it's because I don't wear pants. God convicted me about that when Chris got called to preach. So as a preachers wife I try to set a good example and dress modestly. Maybe it's because we aren't fake. We don't want to be fake and we don't even know how anyway. If there is something we don't agree with or we're not happy about you can see it on our faces.

I guess most people in the world today know how to put on a pretty good show even when they are boiling inside. Life isn't always easy...fun...or perfect. We all have our ups and downs. I don't think there is anything wrong with showing your emotions. Chris has been criticized for being a "hot head". Well I have news for you people I am just as bad as him. We just don't pretend to be something we are not. What you see is what you get with us. In church, walmart or at home. We are always the same. We don't have split personalities. So maybe people think if we get angry in public it must be worse at home. Well it's not....what you see is what you get.

Our pastor recently resigned and our church is in search for another one. It's not easy. We are praying and looking for the man God wants us to have. It can be discouraging to hear other christians talk bad about preachers. I know that people aren't perfect and we all sin, but it's hard to live for God when so many are falling out of church all around you. It's no wonder people don't go to church at all. When you've been hurt like we have it can be very discouraging and make you never want to go back.

But we have children we want to raise in God's will. They need to know about His mercy and grace. We have to prepare them to face the world on their own one day. It's our responsibility as their parents to keep doing what we know is right. No matter how much the devil uses others to discourage us. We refuse to let the devil steal our joy!

speechless....

My mind is consumed...wondering if things will ever be the same...
I have so much to say...but I can't think of the words....so just enjoy the picture....

Window washers

I found myself on the crayola isle at walmart the other day and I got a little excited at all the new inventions. So I bought a few things. One of them was window crayons! They were a big hit!

 (the little girl is the one I babysit)

After 10 baby wipes and 3 paper towels we finally got it all off but it was worth it for them to have some indoor fun on this cold windy saturday.

I did it again!

I made snow pops for our valentine's banquet at church. They were a big hit so I wanted to share the recipe.

Make a 13x9 sheet cake~any flavor. Let it cool off and crumble it up in a bowl.
Add 1/2 a can of icing~I use cream cheese for all cakes.
Smash it all together with a fork into a dough like texture.
Roll 1-2 inch balls in your palms and put them on a plate in the freezer for a couple hours.
Take them out of the freezer and put popsicle sticks in them.
Microwave " candy quick" and dip the cake balls in it.
Have your sprinkles ready and (while spinning the cake ball on the stick letting the white candy drip)
cover it with sprinkles.

After a few seconds it will harden and you can lay them down on a plate. But this time I got creative and bought a green foam used for artificial flowers. 

Guess Who?

I broke the law...

...and I'm sure this won't be the last time. By that mean, my law, my rules. I set all these standards and rules for myself and then I can't always accomplish it. So I feel like a failure. I am making myself crazy.

I will fold that laundry before naptime today and if I don't get around to it I feel ashamed when Chris wakes up and folds it. (he never complains~it's just me worrying what he thinks)

Dinner must be at 5 and if it's not I feel like I have messed up the whole "schedule"

Homework and baths immediately following dinner. Sometimes we do these out of order and it bugs me WHY DO I CARE? as long as it gets done right!

Bedtime at 8 EXACTLY not a minute later and if they aren't in the bed I get impatient with them and aggravated with myself for not getting it done.

Or I might tell myself  "I'm not going to yell at my kids today" and when I do I feel like such a bad mother.

What is wrong with me? Surely I'm not the only mother out there who does this. Or am I?

"Is he your boss?"

I was in Walmart the other day with Justus and Jonah. My rule for Jonah is he is allowed to get out of the buggy and walk with me once it's full. So he was walking on the cereal isle and pointing at sugar (junk) cereals he wanted. I was saying "no come here". A man came down the isle on a scooter and asked me "Is he your boss?" to which I quickly replied "No I have 4 boys and I'm the boss". :-D

I don't like the idea people have that our children rule us. Or the little comments people make "OH BOY you've got your hands full!" Why do they say that? Of course I do and yes I'm busy but don't say it so negatively. I love my boys and wouldn't change a thing about my life. 

So yes my hands are full but you should see our hearts! 

A few firsts

 This is the first time he ever kept a passy in his mouth. I have tried them several times but he never liked it. And this was last week. He hasn't taken one since. I guess he won't ever like them....

This was his first little nap in his crib.

And this was my first time allowing my son to mix colors of playdough. It felt good :-D Jonah said "It's beautiful!" But of course I had to sort it back out in the correct containers when he was done. I know I have issues.

Why we don't vaccinate.

When our first son Jacob was a baby I did let them give him whatever they told me he needed. I was young and didn't know I could say no to their "vaccine schedule". But when Jacob was 2 months old I think he was having seizures after getting some shots. That's when I started researching them all and learned how dangerous they can be. I went to this website http://vaers.hhs.gov/index and read all about children who died the same day or the next after getting their shots. I knew then that vaccines were not for me.

We are christians and we trust God to take care of us. As we say "our every need". We pray to Him and ask for healing when we're sick and comfort when we're sad. Why can't we trust Him with this. Most of the diseases they vaccinate for are no longer around. The risks just seems to FAR outweigh the benefits to us.

This government funded organization VAERS was set up to compensate people who have reactions to these shots. That should raise a red flag right there. You can read about thousands of cases since 1990. what shots they had when their symptoms started, age and if they died or not. It's very heartbreaking to read. go to the website and click at the bottom "search vaers data" then scroll down the second page of their disclaimer and click I have read. The third page will be a list of spreadsheets from every year since 1990 showing everyone that reported a reaction to a shot. Even gardisil, flu or anything.

So the first thing people ask "How will you get them in school?!" Well its pretty simple actually. I just went to this website for a vaccine exempt form for my state and printed it out. We signed it, had it notarized and gave it to the school when we registered them, with no questions asked.

So this came up today when I took Justus for his 2 month check up. I of course refused and they of course tried to scare me into it. I told her that we are christians and we are trusting God to take care of us. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to me. So he was weighed and measured and we were sent home. :-D He's a whopping 13 lbs 6 oz  and 24 1/4 inches long. That is the 90th percentile for both.What can I say~he really likes my milk!

I know vaccines are a touchy subject and I don't want to come across as critical. I just need to do what I feel is right for my boys. It's a personal conviction. I just want to inform others of the information I came across in my research incase you didn't know.

Huey Duey & Louie

So last saturday I was feeling rather brave and decided to get the boys out of the house to let daddy sleep. He's been working overtime a lot. (Thank God for that!) We went to walmart first...

Then I took them to Monkey Joes! It's an indoor jumping place for kids. I forgot my camera so we used my cell phone.

We had a little snack and I had Jacob take a picture of me holding Justus in the wrap. Not because I wanted to be photographed....but because I wanted you to see how I hold him. And he loves it.

Now to explain the title....My Nanny told me one day they will go out to the bus like Huey, Duey & Louie. It was so funny but so true. When Jonah starts school they will all go to the same school for one year together.

Everybody's doing it....

A lot of the blogs I read are featuring rainbow pancakes so of course I had to try it. But they are healthy FLAXSEED pankcakes. I got the recipe online. I know food coloring isn't good for us but once in a while won't kill anyone. Of course I had to make all the colors of the rainbow...ya know ROY G BIV

I seperated the batter into 7 coffee cups (because I didn't have 7 juice glasses) and added food coloring to each one. Everyone loved them....even daddy!

Wanna know more?

Is there something you want me to blog about? Something you want to know about me or my family? Just ask....I am open for suggestions or questions. Family, Friends and whoever reads my blog. Ask me anything....well not "anything" but you know what I mean. :-D

I'm running out of things to say....is that possible...me? Speechless? I think not but I don't always have the sharpest mind by the end of the day when I sit down to type. Sometimes I sit here with my fingers on the keys and nothing comes out.

Our days are mostly very routine and nothing much exciting happens but when it does...you'll be the first to know.

So comment below and ask me something or give me ideas....PLEASE!

Justus' Photo Shoot

My hand holding Justus' & Jaron's hand

 Litte "camo" brother

 Not that he played in the snow but this is his "snowsuit" :-D

 So handsome...

Nuts about grandma!

A little busy...

Somedays I want to blog and think about it but never get around to it. I just prefer sleep. I've been trying to go to bed earlier and read my Bible more instead reading other blogs. Guess you could say it's my new years resolution. (I've never really made one before)

But lately I've been preparing the necessary paperwork to complete our tax returns. It's that time of year again (my favorite) and I often get calls from friends and family to do their taxes too. So I've got to stay on top of my game. So I've increase my coke intake to two per day. I need that extra caffiene to get everything done.

Justus is doing great. He's nursing good (whenever he wants) and growing out of all the newborn clothes already. He sleeps in the bed with us right now. All our boys did until they were 3 months old then they go in the crib in their room. Justus will do the same. It's just easier to have him in our bed when I nurse him at night.

Jaron's principal called to "recognize" his AWESOME reading skills! I told her I wanted him to be tested for being "gifted". So they are going to do that soon.

I took Jacob to our first PTO meeting at the school tonight. He got up with all the kids and did a little skit. It was cute and then we went to the library to learn about the new grading system they are switching too. I had Justus in the Moby Wrap and everyone was staring. I wear him in that a lot in public. It's just easier and he LOVES it. I dread the day he's too big for it.

Jonah is talking so good. He's making complete sentences and learning new words to describe things. It's so cute to hear them develope their language skills. He's so smart just like his brothers.

I'm late getting in bed. goodnight.

Jaron's teacher called today...

At 2:00 before the boys left school I got a call from Jaron's teacher. My stomach does a flip when I see her number always thinking "what did he do now". She said "I wanted to let you know I tested Jaron and he's reading on a level 14." So I said what is average for kindergarten?" And she said "Level 3 or 4 so I wanted to see if he could go into the 1st grade class for 30 minutes everyday for reading time." She was asking me if I minded. She said she talked to the conselor and they decided he is not ready to be put into 1st grade permanently because he is a little behind on his fine motor skills. (writing & scissors) He is very smart in math and she said "he wants to teach the class". She also said Jaron is a leader and is very confident. He likes to use her pointer and wants to help other children read. I am so thankful he's not shy. Knowing the years to come will get harder for him, I am glad he's not shy. He does still have a hard time sitting in his seat. But I told her it's because he's bored. He already knows everything they are teaching and he needs more to keep him busy. So anyway....I am so proud of my little boy. He is so smart!

So much to do....

...so little time. I will just give you a general idea of how my day goes (when the boys are home from school):

I start by making breakfast for the kids (cereal or oatmeal) and nursing the baby while attempting to eat something myself. Then I change Justus' diaper and take Jonah potty (praying he doesn't pee in this pullup). Put in a movie for them and bring the baby in the bouncy seat into the bathroom so I can take a shower. Chris is home from work by then so he watches the big boys while I take a quick shower and get on my clean (work clothes) Pj's for the day. I nurse the baby again while staring at the pile of laundry on the couch, trying to decide if I want to fold it or not. I change another diaper and sit at the computer to check my email. I get distracted by the pile of reciepts on my desk so I start to balance the check book but I'm interuppted 3 times by the boys wanting to play games online. So the checkbook can wait. I take Jonah potty. Unload the dishwasher. Get more clothes out of the dryer. Press the pile down so they don't fall off the couch. :-/ My phone rings....doctors appt reminder. "Jaron stop wrestling!" "Mommy I'm hungry" says Jonah. "I'm on the phone!" Put the baby down in the swing. (thank God he's a good baby) I finally start on the laundry and it suprisingly only takes me about 30 minutes to fold 3 loads. The boys are getting bored and I am getting a headache but the show must go on. So we make a HUGE train track covering their whole bedroom floor while watching Thomas. Snack time...Jonah needs to potty again but I'm nursing so I have to balance Justus in my lap (still attached) while squatting down to help Jonah get his pullup off. That is not easy. But I'm a professional right. I mean I should be by now with 4 boys. right? So I drink a coke and take my vitamins & some ibuprofen. Almost naptime....I think I can I think I can. We color some pictures and play with legos then it's lunch time. I whip out 3 PB&J's and cut off the crust (that's my lunch). We all eat around the coffee table and then it's naptime. Ahhhhhh I made it. I lay Jonah down for a nap in his room and I lay on the recliner with Justus. That is quiet time for Jacob and Jaron in their room (right beside the living room). They stay in their room and watch a movie and color or whatever they want to do, quietly while I try to nap on the recliner with the baby monitor beside me to hear Jonah and Justus laying on my chest. About 2 hrs later Jonah wakes up from his nap and comes out waking me up. The lights come on the diapers and potty training start all over again as I wrack my brain trying to decide what's for dinner (grilled cheese or frozen pizza) :-D

All of this while daddy's sleeping SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Stuff

Chillin in the chair...

So sweet

If you can zoom in you will see his milk mustache

He's too big for the kitchen sink so he got his first bath in the tub the other night. He loved it!

Jonah was all dressed up to go outside in the snow. Check out those eye lashes!!!

MORE SNOW!

Loads of Love

This is my mother and her mother

Had to put the bathrobe and slippers on him atleast once for the picture :-D