Archive for March, 2005
Gorgeous last day of March!
I cannot believe this is the last day of March! It went out with a bang too! 
Absolutely gorgeous! Blue sky and sunshine. Temp reached 60°F again finally and you could tell there was an “atmosphere quality change” too…there wasn’t a “bite” in the air. It actually felt warm away from the side of the house out in the yard! 
I cleared the deck in one day - half this morning, half this afternoon. The morning part was absolutely dry by the time I went out again. I sat out with the children for nearly two hours and could actually feel the skin on my arms (short sleeved shirt) getting that I-could-have-a-sunburn-if-I-stayed-here-too-long feeling! I was very uplifting. I did make it out to the garden box and spread around the straw from the last chicken pen cleaning. If I had better shoes on, I would have been tempted to actually get a hoe or shovel and chop it in/turn it over. 
The dirt in the boxes is only partially thawed but I could have gotten a “fix” of some sort.
Ok, off to bed with me. It’s only 8:36pm but I’ll read for quite a while. I’m not sure if dh is doing bedtime for the children or not…guess I need to determine that before I actually crawl between the sheets huh?! 
‘Night!
Baby Update
35 weeks today!!!
And, it’s official…I’m huge. You know it’s getting close too when your belly button starts to turn inside out!! 
I’m ready to have this baby - physically. Not mentally yet. Too much to still get cleaned up around here. I’m so cumbersome though. Ugh. My hip and lower back are painful every moment of the day. Again, quite literally, I’m not getting around (much). I am and I’m not. It takes forever to get the simplest things done. I’m exhausted from taking a bath or shower. I’m afraid of my hip giving out (which it has minorly a few times) and falling down…particularly on the stairs. So… Next week begins the weekly count down and the birth box comes home. I’m irritated and grouchy because I cannot accomplish on my own all that needs to be done. Dh is just too pressed to help when I need him and, per usual around here, I can see it only happening at the last minute. I was in labor pretty seriously last time and he was scurrying around trying to clean the kitchen and bathroom while I was trying to prepare the bed with old sheets, etc. Of course, everything worked out fine…but that’s not my “style”. I don’t like to be down to the wire like that…so pressed. 
I did find and try an Arnica gel as recommended by my midwive. Guess what? I’m a believer! I’ve heard for years that no home medicine cabinet should be without Arnica. I don’t know why I stalled so long in actually aquiring some. Anyway, this stuff is amazing! Dulled the pain within 5 min. Makes it possible for me to actually go about my work and not think about it too much. (Of course, it doesn’t help the actual - gee, I don’t even know what to call it - physical weakness (?) of the joint itself…the leg giving way on me. That’s still something diconcerting.) It lasts about two to three hours near as I can tell. I haven’t actually tracked it by the clock. It says to apply it 3x/day or as needed. I try to only do it when the pain becomes unbearable though…otherwise I’d have to “live” on it and I’d might as well invest in company stock. 
A tube of this would only last a couple of days at that rate and it don’t have that kind of “disposable income” at the moment. 
I highly recommend it though for pain relief amongst other things. Here are some good links:
Arnica
Arnica 2
Arnica 3
Arnica 4
Of course, a search will turn up more if you want it.
Another *Spring Sale*!
My dh is having a “Spring Clearance” Sale over at his business site too! He’s gearing up/planning for more time in his shop and wants to have all of the old inventory gone. There isn’t much over there now but if you’ve ever wanted an Alaskan Ulu or Backscratcher now’s the time to get them at a great price!!
Egg Report
3/19/05 2 (brown)
3/20/05 2 (brown)
3/21/05 5 !
3/22/05 5 !
3/23/05 1 (brown) 
3/24/05 4 (3 b, 1 g)
3/25/05 4 (3 b, 1 g)
3/26/05 3 (brown)
3/27/05 5 !
3/28/05 5 !
Snow Report
Woke up to it snowing heavily again this morning. It lasted an hour or a little more. Another 2 inches fell.
Total snow fall this season = 76 ½ inches
The sun has come out now. So nice after these three days of grey dreary overcast (and snowy!) skies. Oldest daughter says the temp is at 36°F I’m sure it will climb higher. We are starting over getting the driveway, etc. clear again. I wish it would get to 70 and take care of it all in a day! Realisticly, I know it will be the weekend before it’s back to (or close) to what it was before. (drumming fingers)
Resurrection Day!
The snow didn’t stop us from having a very blessed, peaceful and happy Resurrection Day!
All were up early and had their traditional “Easter” gifts - some candy, a toy or two, a craft project, etc. Then, a light breakfast of fruit, muffins and tea/coffee was had. 9 people then had to be “processed” through our 1 bathroom. All were out the door in time for church - a major feat considering! All was well until Mommy realized she had forgotten the food we were bringing! Luckily, we were only a ¼ of the way there. I had dh stop our vehicle and I ran (waddled! ) and switched seats w/ one of the children riding w/ Grammy and Bumpa. Then, we headed back to the house while dh and all but one child (Miss M.) went on to church. Whether they waited for us (a small home-church) or not ;-), we made it in the nick of time. Good thing as today was special in another way…
All of the rest of our children were baptised today!!! B. and C. have been ready for a while. But, being without a church for a while and then not having joined this one, we just hadn’t been able to do it for them. We joined this church last weekend and dh decided, since the grandparents (one set) would be here, that this weekend would be an opportune one for it. It’s in keeping with our embracing Reformed Theology. (Although I’ll admit that still lean more toward being a Reformed Baptist… Maybe I’m just too sentimentally tied to the imagery, etc. that immersion brings. Actually, it’s a little deeper than that…but I did miss the phrase, “Buried with Christ in His death…” (insert the dunking ), “…raised to newness of life.” (insert coming out of the water) ) —-> Although, you wouldn’t have been able to tell due the tears in my eyes. That little bit of internal conflict was by far over-shadowed by the ultimate significance! So, we have entered into a truer living example of what it means to be a “covenant family”… I’m sure my Reformed brothers and sisters out there will rejoice with us in that!
I’ll stop trying to wax eloquent… A wonderful potluck meal was enjoyed by all and then we headed home in the late afternoon. My parents, after picking up their stuff at our house, head down the highway for their home. The children spent the rest of the afternoon/evening playing with their new stuff and I hit the couch. Both my ankles terribly swollen. 
Sat. I had run “errands” again with my mother which contributedgreatly. The feed store was, of course, on the list. I finally picked up my seeds…but forgot my potting soil . At this rate, I wonder if I’ll ever get a garden in… A few other stops including groceries. Anyway, I wasn’t getting any rest on the couch as our newly turned 2 year old wanted to sit with (rather on ) me and play with his new toys. I humored him for a few minutes…then went to my bed to read and put both my feet way up!! Mostly it was a case of dehydration! I realized that over the course of the last 2 -3 days, I hardly had water…most certainly NOT enough. It was a challenge to keep having someone bring me some H20 but, when I reminded them, they happily waited on me. Dh did bedtime - bless him!
That about covers Resurrection Day 2005…a memorable and might fine one!
I hope all of yours was a blessed one too!
Snow Report
Grrr, a snow report. Woke up to snow this morning…2 -3 inches. By the end of the day, and by the time it quit, we had a total of 6 inches.
Total snow fall for this season = 72 ½ inches
HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!
To our little Q.!
You are such a joy,
our dear little boy!
You light up our days,
in your own special ways!
Everyone dotes on toddler Q.,
we thank God everyday for you!
