It's Been A While

I know...I'm a slacker...a big one! I have not visited my own blog in so long. I don't have an excuse, yes I've been sick and not feeling myself and this pregnancy has been difficult but I shouldn't use that excuse to ignore my blog right???

I am now 38 weeks pregnant...a lot has been going on! I started getting really ill especially in the mornings. Nausea, dizziness, grumpiness, feeling faint, headaches it seemed like no matter what I did I just always felt so horrible. I couldn't even get in the shower or stand for long periods of time because of the way I felt, I would just fall over. The weeks went by and the doctors just kept saying it was just normal pregnancy symptoms and I'd be over them soon...and they never did.

At my 34 week checkup they sent me for a glucose test which I took a week later at 35 weeks and was immediately diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. What a shocker that was! I had NEVER had it in before in my previous 2 pregnancies and here I am with 4 weeks to go and I have to go on medicine (Glyburide) and change my diet COMPLETELY!! It's been such a hectic few weeks, 2 doctor appointments a week plus ultrasounds and learning how to eat right. I am WORN OUT!

Needless to say I'm ready for Faith to get here. She will make her arrival due to repeat C-Section on August 22nd. I'm really excited. I can't wait to meet her and dress her up! She has so many pretty little dresses! I'm afraid most of her newborn size clothing won't fit her for long, she is estimated to be 8lbs 6oz already!! Which is bigger than both of her brothers were when they were born!!! So I think we're going to have a big girl! I'm so excited though! I'm going to post pictures of her nursery as soon as it's all put together. There's still one of the boy's dressers in her room that is currently where my changing table should go.

My wonderful daddy bought her a whole new nursery set! I was perfectly content with mismatched, used furniture but he went out of his way to buy her a new crib, dresser, and changing table...what a blessing! I feel so grateful! And wonderful friends of ours bought her the prettiest bedding set! I am so in love with it! I never got to do nurseries with the boys so for us to be blessed with this for her is just amazing and yes I will be keeping it all to pass down to her which will be really special :-) I had planned on passing down the boys' crib which they shared but it is a drop side crib and apparently they are a huge NO NO.

As for life besides pregnancy, everything has been chaotic. With me being so sick I haven't been able to teach Hayden like I planned so our school schedule changed to start in September, which will be ok I guess. My house is a WRECK...a complete wreck and I feel like I shouldn't even bother because we will be packing up and moving again in a couple months...which won't be so bad we're moving to a more permanent home that we will not be leaving for many many years. I'm really excited about that too! And hopeful that Randy finds a new job as we've been praying. His current job pays our bills but there's very little left for groceries and such. Please pray for us and him to find a new job we would greatly appreciate it!

Devyn is progressing so much in his speech, it's amazing! I LOVE to hear him talk! Now he is a little chatter box and I just love it so so much! Hayden has finally realized he can't talk for Devyn anymore he has to let him learn how to say what he needs or wants and I love when Hayden tries to teach his brother how to say words...I love the bond they have I hope they always stay so close!

Well I am off to make a To Do list of everything I need to accomplish before Monday...it's a big list, including freezer cooking that I hope to get done on Sunday..wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jaymie

Menu Plan Monday 6/26-7/2

Really trying to stick to a budget.  I started a new budgeting/finance system the beginning of the month and I’ve tracked every single expense since June 1st and I’m not proud to say we spent WAY to much eating out…in fact we spent more eating out then we did in groceries…I could’ve added all that money to my grocery budget and had groceries for 2 months!!!  Ridiculous…I’m so ashamed.

SO I sat down and made a two week menu with grocery list, I shop every 2 weeks after payday and I budget $150 for the two weeks. Usually I don’t spend $150 but I give myself that much to spend anyway.  I’m not a big couponer because I find (at least in my area) that buying generic brand stuff is cheaper even with using coupons on most items.  Saturday is supposed to be my shopping day but Randy worked until 9:30 at night and I’m finding it more difficult with 8 weeks to go to walk around the store without having to sit down a few times and that makes it kind of hard with the kids so I’d rather him come with me to help.  But since we didn’t get to go Saturday I’m going this afternoon. 

I’m taking advantage of some freezer cooking and make a lot from scratch, especially our snacks and breads.

Here is my menu for the week!

Sunday:
Breakfast- honey buns & milk
Lunch-McDonalds (ugh I know it was Daddy’s idea)
Dinner-Pizza (We were out fishing until dark and enjoying the day)

Monday:
Breakfast-Cereal
Lunch-Leftover Pizza (Not going shopping until after lunch)
Dinner-Spaghetti with meat sauce & steamed broccoli

Tuesday:
Breakfast-Oatmeal & Banana
Lunch- Sandwiches
Dinner- Chicken Enchiladas, rice & beans

Wednesday:
Breakfast- Eggs, sausage, & toast
Lunch-Sandwiches
Dinner-Grilled Pork Chops, Rice & veggies

Thursday:
Breakfast-Pancakes & eggs
Lunch- Sandwiches
Dinner-Grilled Chicken Ranch Salads

Friday:
Breakfast-cereal & banana
Lunch-Sandwiches
Dinner-Homemade Pizza

Saturday:
Breakfast-waffles & fruit
Lunch- sandwiches
Dinner- Honey dijon chicken sandwiches, potato wedges, and coleslaw (trying out something new)

SNACKS:
Oatmeal cookies
Fresh Fruit Cups
Pretzels
Celery or Apples with PB

The plan is to make up some meals to have for the freezer so that I can just thaw it and cook it.  Also instead of buying packaged cookies I’m going to make them myself and instead of canned fruit (which my kids love) I’m going to make fruit cups with fresh fruit. 

Thanks for Stopping By!!!

I’m Linking up with: 

 

Jaymie

Happy Father’s Day!!!

Happy Father’s Day to all the great fathers out there.

I love my Daddy he is very special to me and I will always and forever be a Daddy’s girl  

To my honey, the father of my children.  He is a wonderful, amazing, father and I could not have imagined having a better man in my children’s lives than their Daddy. <3

And NEVER forgetting my father in HEAVEN!!! To him I owe EVERYTHING including putting these two wonderful men in my life to raise me and guide me and be there for me  

Here is a song I heard this morning by Third Day  “You are beautiful my sweet sweet song”

“You are so good to me, you heal my broken heart, you are my FATHER IN HEAVEN!!!”

Our 2011-2012 Curriculum “Plan”

This is our first year really homeschooling.  I did Pre-K at home with Hayden since I’ve been at home with him again and now it’s on to Kindergarten.  I’ve done a lot of researching and reading and planning and I think I’ve found a curriculum plan that will work for us this year…hopefully it’s not too overwhelming.

We didn’t go for the boxed curriculum type, instead I put things together based on what I’ve read of reviews and what I think will work for us.  It’s a mix of styles and types so bear with me.

So here is Hayden’s Kindergarten Curriculum Plan for 2011-2012

Bible: 
            Explorer’s Bible Study-Beginnings
            Daily Devotions
            Scripture Memory
            Easy Bible Story Books from the Library

Math: 
             MEP Primary Year 1 (oldfashioneducation.com)
             Skill Sharpeners Math K Workbook
             Hooked On Phonics Math K Workbook
             Lesson Pathways

Reading/Literature/Phonics:
              Explode The Code 1 & 1.5
              Skill Sharpeners Reading K Workbook
              Hooked On Phonics K Workbooks “Beginning Words” & “Rhyming Words”
              Lesson Pathways
              BOB Books
              Mother Goose Rhymes (oldfashioneducation.com)

Writing/Language Arts:
               Lesson Pathways
               World Mastery (oldfashioneducation.com)
               McGuffy’s Ecelectic Primer (oldfashioneducation.com)
               Skill Sharpeners Writing/Spelling K Workbook
               Hooked On Phonics Super Workbook

Science/Nature:
                Lesson Pathways
                Old Fashion Education
                Lapbooks

History (Family History/Local History/World History)
                 Old Fashion Education
                  Lesson Pathways

Social Studies (Neighborhoods, Maps, Foreign Countries, Immigration, Government):
                   Old Fashion Education
                    Lesson Pathways

Biography/Historical Novels:
                     Old Fashion Education

Other Resources:
                      Ambleside Online Book Lists Year 0
                      Simply Charlotte Mason Book Lists
                      Starfall.com
                      You Can Read program from 1+1+1=1

 

A lot of what we’re going to study is coming from Old Fashion Education, Simply Charlotte Mason, and Ambleside Online.  I know it seems like a lot BUT this is just a plan, this is what I have so I’m going to utilize it all and see what works and what doesn’t work for us.  I also have the Well Trained Mind I’m reading to get prepared for 1st grade.  Not too many Classical/Charlotte Mason paths really suggest a program for Kindergarten but I feel like my big boy is ready for more “school” he’s getting bored with coloring, cutting, pasting, etc (preschool stuff).

I also want to do some nature journaling for him and lapbooking…I think he’d really enjoy that.

As for Dev-Dev, he is about 29 months old now and I’m not going to force him into anything but we are going to do a lot of work with his speech and fine motor skills.  We will probably use a lot of the Tot School plans for him.

I'm linking up with

Where Have You Been?

I know I haven't been posting much and I've stayed off of Twitter also. I found it was becoming completely time consuming and my house was going down hill really quickly. I became really motivated by the 31 Days To Clean challenge but I didn't finish reading the book I've just been cleaning and organizing my home. My house is clean, laundry and dishes are caught up and I have started something new where I don't turn the computer on or check my phone until AFTER my cleaning is done for the day. It's working out for me but I feel bad for neglecting my blog.

I have one last room to de-clutter and organize and that is our bedroom...I've been putting it off and putting it off because it's such a big job but I have to get it done at least the de-clutter part as we are having a yard sale on Saturday so all the crap will be out of the house! LOL

Also, look for a pregnancy update video on YouTube...I've decided I'm going to start filming pregnancy updates mostly for my family out of state but I watch a lot of pregnancy and baby videos so I thought it would be fun to contribute to the mommy community on YouTube :-)

So that's a little update...I'll be back posting in full swing as soon as I get this house to my liking and I have time without sitting here feeling sorry for myself because I could be doing something more productive with my time..LOL.

Ok I'm off to cook dinner!

Thanks for Stopping By!
Jaymie

Busy Busy Busy

I know I’ve been lacking in posts recently but I have been really busy…working on the 31 Days To Clean challenge plus trying to accomplish my May 3in30 goals has kept me very busy.  I’m trying to get everything done before July, the big stuff anyway so that when I’m huge and fat and can hardly move I won’t have to worry about organizing and heavy cleaning. 

I do have good news to report though! I am almost done!!!  Faith’s room is pretty much done just have to figure out where to put the boy’s toy box that I successfully consolidated from 4 boxes to 1 box for toys, 1 small box for train tracks, and 1 small box for blocks…very very happy about that!!! Goodwill got A LOT of deliveries from us this past weekend! I also got Devyn’s dresser cleaned out and I put his old clothes up in the closet for storage (we always have babies coming in this big family so I kept the clothes lol)

Randy worked on the living room closet and got that all cleaned out and organized (there were 2 bags of toys in that closet that we also went through and got rid of some and put some in the toy box.  I just can’t believe how much stuff they had!!!  No child needs that much stuff seriously! LOL

Today I’m tackling our bedroom.  I’m sorting clothes and washing them and going to attempt to fix Randy’s broken dresser and get all of our clothes folded and put away then tomorrow I’ll work on the papers and files and getting them put away.  I should have our room done tomorrow which is really really exciting!!!  I’ll post after pictures when I’m all done.  I won’t show you before pictures because honestly I am that embarrassed of the way it was.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Jaymie

31 Days To Clean Days 2-15

 

I haven’t updated in a while about my 31 Days To Clean journey.  This is because I have found myself batteling myself reading this book.  The book speaks to me and moves and stirs things within myself, but I’ve been stubborn (and suffering a tad from preggo fatigue). I haven’t let myself just give in and admit that I need to change!  Yes I am lazy and unmotivated and I have that “Why Should I” attitude and it’s really all about my attitude. 

It saddens me…I don’t know why I’m like this.  I want to change so desperately and I can fully admit to my attitude problems BUT I can’t seem to overcome my SELF.   I’ve been recognizing this problem and praying and talking to GOD and trying to get myself to turn around and say “Hey it’s time to get over this, move forward and provide a happy home envirotnment for your family! STOP BEING SELFISH!!”  And that’s what it boils down too…I’m being selfish.  Oooooo how I do not like to admit that I’m being selfish. 

SO last night we had a late dinner and I was in one of my “I don’t feel like washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen” moods…I started to think  I would just do it in the morning and it would be ok.  My feet were swollen and my back hurt and I just felt ick and man I soooo did not WANT to do those dishes but I NEEDED to do those dishes so for the first time I said you know what I’m just going to DO IT.  That’s what the book says just get up and do something and I know how much better I’ll feel in the morning when I can go into a clean kitchen to make breakfast.  Sooo you know what…I DID it…I stood in that kitchen on my swollen feet and I did the dishes and I sang along with the radio and I didn’t think any negatie “I don’t wanna” thoughts…I just stuck to it and did it.  I went to bed with a clean kitchen. 

I know it may seem silly to some but for me this was a big step towards the right direction.  I lack motivation…I’m LAZY and me just telling myself to just DO IT really helped. 

So I think I can get through the rest of the book with a more upbeat mood.  I see myself changing, I can envision myself molded into what I need to be and I’m going and pushing through this lazy slump I’m in.

Now I’m off and get up and just DO what I NEED to DO!!!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

I’m linking up with Joyful Mothering..click on the above button!