I like to move it, move it...

On Sunday, December 2nd at 12:00pm, we will be getting together to celebrate the completion of the Planning/Visioning process to help reduce poverty in our community. EVERYONE is invited to come to the school common’s area for a FREE meal, fellowship, and to find out what plans and changes are in store for Montrose. SANTA will be there to hand out special Montrose prizes to both kids and adults. Free childcare will be available after the meal so your kids can play while you learn how you can become involved in any of the following four goals that will keep Montrose on the Move:

1. To improve the appearance of Montrose

2. The encourage the growth of Montrose

3. To provide more opportunities for all Montrose-area residents

4. To promote community spirit

All who attend will be able to take home their own copy of “Montrose on the Move - A Strategic Plan for the Future”. This manual contains the above goals for the future of Montrose, as well as the implementation processes for achieving those goals.

Come and enjoy an afternoon of fun and fellowship, and get involved with the future of Montrose. Our community needs YOU!

Wordless Wednesday...one day late

yes i do

and because of it, she is much happier now...although it is quite difficult to post while nursing...

This onesie is a 0-3 month. Yesterday I put a 3-6 month creeper on her for the Dr. and she swam in it. When #1 was holding her she said, "Mom, she only has one leg..." she had wiggled herself out of one leg and deposited both of her feet into the left leg.

She may be small...

She was 8lb. 8 oz. yesterday. She has been gaining a half an ounce a day which is the bare minimum. Dr. says it's slow going, but she is okay. This is disheartening for me because my other children gained at least twice that much at her age.

We discussed the reasons for the slower gain.
Theory #1; According to his brain, chemotherapy drugs lie still in fat cells (which I happen to have an abundance of). Fat cells are key in milk production. So, the latent chemo could be affecting her ability to properly digest the milk. But, her symptoms should include watery stools and, in his words, 'ring of fire' diaper rash. She has neither. She would be listless and lethargic. She is alert and energetic.
Theory #2; Breast reductions remove milk producing glands. I had several pounds removed. Less glands = less milk production. If she was hungry all the time I may need to supplement. She is content most of the day. The past couple of days she has had a fussy period right before bedtime. Yet, she has slept in two four hour chunks for the past two nights. She has been awake more often during the day. It is nice to see her eyes.

So we came up with the following diagnosis. As long as she is gaining at least 1/2 an ounce a day I can continue nursing without supplementation. I have to weigh her every week just to be sure.

but she is mighty...

#1 and #2 have already figured out that what #3 wants #3 gets.
She currently is the boss when it comes to;

• deciding when we will have supper as a family or if mommy just nurses her and the rest of the family eats at the table
  
• deciding whether we will be on time or late to any function/appointment according to her hunger and elimination schedule (which is not really a schedule at all :)
• deciding whether mommy can spend time with anyone else, ever.
• deciding when and how often sleep is interrupted at night (see bullet number 2)
• deciding how often we need to run to Sioux Falls (mom got smart and started getting them off Amazon.com) to purchase newborn size diapers...(we keep thinking we are going to move up a size)
• pretty much all decisions have to go through #3's approval these days...

The really shocking and amazing part is...these days don't last long.

the baby in the river

Last night my dh came home late from work, again. Even though it was well past his bedtime, #2 was still awake in his bed. He was reading. Dh checked on him and when he came down to see me he said, "#2 knows almost all the stories in that book." Hard to believe since neither of us have read to him in weeks. (Bad mom, bad dad). #2 loves his children's Bible. He reads it all the time. I mean, he looks at the pictures and he tells the story through those... I have read him a few stories and he picks up the rest through Sunday school and the Veggie Tales.

This morning, when #2 was climbing out of bed he said, "mom, dad couldn't find the story about the baby in the river, he needs to read his kids' Bible more"

"So do I, son." I said.

Alternative Christmas

I do LOVE to get a good buy. I enjoy finding the perfect gift for someone. But, you know what is even better? Giving gifts that someone really needs.

This year my family decided to adopt a family in need. We want to make it a family tradition. We will take the money we would have spent on each other and the 10 grandkids and either buy groceries or clothing and some gifts for a family who wouldn't otherwise be able to enjoy the holiday.

We had sort of a family meeting around the dinner table and we all decided this would be the best use of our energy, time and what little money we have to spend. We talked about the benefits to our children and our families. We talked about how we have been blessed in the past by people. One Christmas, while we were at church, someone came and put gifts under our tree and left a box of groceries. That was really neat. I remember that my brothers got football jerseys. They were so excited.

Now that we are all grown up it's time to return the favor.

black friday, NO WAY... online? OKAY!

Who has time to shop?

We drew names for my dh's family at Thanksgiving and I immediately began to sweat. I had no idea when I was going to get these gifts.

Luckily I am up with an infant all night long. I wouldn't have dreamed of fighting the crowds for black Friday, but I was up and shopping until almost 5am. I got 13 people on my list gifts (most have more than one) for less than $200. I got free shipping. I used coupons and codes for %10 off at Target. I even bought diapers at amazon while I was shopping. I used Google checkout to earn $10 for my purchase. I did spend a bit more time than I probably would have in the store but HEY I was in my jammies!

Anyway, I found this great post for shopping for toys. I have used many of her suggestions to search for good quality used and new toys. I hope you can use it, too.

Holiday Toy Gift Guide

Wordless Wednesday

it's a naughty word

but I couldn't help myself

i bid on this today...

Gobble Gobble

Project of the week; no month; no year...

Can you guess which one is #3's?

note to self; #3 does not like her hand traced

if you were a fly on the wall...

Here are some tidbits from our house these past few weeks...

#1 says "mom, she may be little, but she is the boss..." in observance of #3's takeover of the household
"when you are done feeding her, can I get a glass of water, I'm dying of thirst here" almost 6 going on 16, I think...
"She's still hungry, she is eating my face..."
"I'll change her IF it's just pee, you check first..."


#2 says "is tomorrow in the morning?"
" is it still hunting season?"
"I want chicken noodle for breakfast" why not?
"mom, I think she is still hungry, try the other bweast..."

or not...

on Friday the kids had 6 green olives and a Little Debbie cake for their after school snack

my goal is to do better than that today...

the definition of SUPER MOM

nursing baby and doing laundry and getting kids ready for school and tidying up and making breakfast and lunch and answering the phone and changing diapers getting groceries and making homemade bread and soup for supper all while wearing the baby in a new sling purchased on ebay last week...

Some people just do good things...

How would you like to help a few great charitable organizations with just a click of the mouse? All you need to do is click this link and select which charity you’d like to help. Tiny Prints will donate $0.10 each time someone participates at no cost to you. What a great way to help make a difference!

Fun and Educational, what more could you want?

Have you heard of this site?

Check it out! I am addicted.

S is for Saturday and Shopping

Okay people.

What is almost as good as than a freebie? A coupon for a freebie!

Here is a polly pocket coupon (click on the purple print coupon button and it will open the coupon up for you) for $5 off. Wahoo! I have a little girl who would love these and I am printing a couple of coupons for birthday gifts. Target and Toyrus both have sets for $5 or less! Leave some for the rest of us, will ya?

Happy Shopping!

Thankful Thought for TGIF!

It's 9:26 am.

I spent the last 3 hours getting myself showered, #1 and #2 fed and dressed. Nursed #3 Pushed #1 out the door, while wiping the tears off her face, exactly 4 minutes before the school bell is scheduled to ring. Nursed #3. Ate my cold toast and drank my cold coffee. I have to get better at this morning routine...

Nursing #3 again. #2 is watching PBS. Reading blogs. Friends are going through awful things like watching their mom's die of cancer and struggling with cancer themselves while raising young ones. Trying to be strong for them. I have been on my knees a lot. Feeling thankful for life...

Husband got called into work again. Hospital is a busy place. Have you seen the local news lately? Feeling thankful that I made the choice to stay home...

#3 is GAINING WEIGHT at the average of 1oz. per day! I took her to an appointment yesterday and she is coming along just fine. Feeling thankful for being able to nurse her...

Speaking of nursing. MOO! It is taking more of my time than I remembered. My sister gave me an awesome baby sling to hold #3 in, but she is just a tiny peanut, so I bought a hotsling off ebay.
Feeling thankful for overdraft protection...

Wondering if, by the looks of the bank account, choosing to stay home was the right option? I hate what money does to us. It is so hard to come out ahead. We scraped up the last of our savings and bought yet another commuter car. Hopefully, filling up only once a week will help some of the overdraft problems (If dh can keep this one from crashing into deer and other vehicles). Feeling thankful for people who sell good vehicles privately for no profit whatsoever enabling us to maybe save some cash buy not filling up so often...

Nursing #3 saves us a ton in formula bills. Thinking about cloth diapers, but I am not sure where to start. It is a little cost to set yourself up and she is still in newborn size for the moment. Once her weight evens out maybe I can get a few in one size and try them out. If she didn't poo every other hour, we might be able to get in the black. ...excuse me for a moment...here is a tip for ya...rub that Vaseline all over her bum when you change her so you are not forever wiping at that sticky poo! Aren't you glad I shared? Feeling thankful I have a healthy pooing baby, even if it costs me an arm and a leg to diaper her...

The hair is back in full force. It is sort of wavy, but not beautiful wavy, annoying wavy. I dislike it greatly. I always said I wanted hair with flair, but this is not what I had in mind. I want my straight hair back. I am trying to tame it with headbands, barrettes, and YES even the curling iron. It is not working. I am dreadfully unsuccessful. I am sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I get 3.5 seconds to work with it and I am using the same curling iron I used in 7th grade.
My dear mommy got me a hair appointment for next week hoping that I can at least trim it to make it look like I am not hair challenged. I am contemplating getting the hats out again. I never had to work to keep the straight stuff looking manageable. This is way out of my comfort zone. Feeling thankful to have hair, even if it looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket...

Prenatal Vitamins ROCK! I had to get my hemoglobin checked yesterday and I passed. I was sweating this one. I have been living off of cold toast, coffee and cereal and whatever I can grab to put in my mouth while I am nursing. My goal for next month is to eat better. Fruits and veggies have all but disappeared from my fridge. I cannot believe how much I miss not being able to run up to the store and get a few things. I need to work on time management as well as eating healthy. Feeling thankful for the people who manufacture vitamins...

Exhaustion is mounting. I am trying to lie down during the day, but something always comes up. Need to add GET MORE SLEEP to my goals. #3 eats more often at night than during the day. I pump during the day, but I am too tired to get up for a bottle so I just nurse her at night. Every 2-3 hours I am up again. I am so glad my other children are good sleepers. I did squeak an hour nap out yesterday and man it was good. Feeling thankful for sleep, when I can get it...

Thanksgiving is next week. I haven't thought about it much. Don't even know where we are going to have the big meal. I have yet to plan an baptism, a birthday party for #2, and start thinking of Christmas. I think this may be the year that the lights don't go up, the presents don't get bought in time yet alone get wrapped. I think we will be wishing Baby Jesus a happy birthday without any of the extras this year. Feeling thankful for the birth of a Savior...

Gotta switch boobs... I mean breasts. #2 knows that boob is a slang word and corrects me every time. Only he says it like this,"you mean, bweastses, mom, we don't say boobs."

Happy Friday!

It's Rally in the Valley time...

Students at the local school are conducting a "Coat Drive" to help other kids who may be less fortunate. Often times we think of issues like toke to be a big city problem. However, the village has it's own need only on a smaller scale. Please consider donating "gently used" winter clothes to the "Rally in the Valley Coat Drive".

• the drive will run from November 13-23
• there is a need for coats of all sizes
• please make sure the coats are in good condition and have been recently laundered
• drop off items at the Administrative Office in the school on the above select dates
• local families will be given first preference, a small supply of extras will be kept at the school for future use, and any excess items will be donated at the county level to other schools or families in need

Thanks for your help and cooperation in this Rally!

wordless Wednesday...

Rock me gently, rock me slowly...

Turn me on...

Positive Reinforcementcard courtesy of indexed

I love my hubby...

this is my kinda fun...

Okay, I read a lot of blogs. In fact, blog reading has replaced most of my other reading altogether.

But, I still love to write. I used to journal everyday. Now I blog every once in awhile.

There are some really great writers out there. I love to read their stuff.

This is my new, favorite for the moment, blog from an mommy who also loves to write. Today's post is a story that her child wrote. She has recipes, craft ideas, she even has writing contests. I entered. You should, too.

Click on the link to find out all the rules and the topic for this month. HAPPY WRITING and READING!

November's Write-Away Contest

UPDATE: I just was reading her archives and she has COOL crafts for all you crafting sisters out there...you have to click on her craft tag to see the old posts...knitting, book and placemat purses, beading, you name it...

You know it...

Our first visit to the $100 store was barely a week after she was born.( I have witnesses, KLW and K from Paulsen)! #1 actually won the "youngest shopper in our family"award because we stopped on the way home from the hospital with her to grab some neccessities...

thanks to bil and sil for the adorable onesie!

Got this email today....it's a good one.

Beauty of Math!

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=12345678987654321



Now, take a look at this...


101%



From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:



What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to

GIVE OVER 100%.

How about ACHIEVING 101%?


What equals 100% in life?


Here's a little mathematical formula that might help

answer these questions:


If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.


If:


H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%


And:

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%


But:

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%



THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:



L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4 = 101%


Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will
get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

43 Days 15 Hours 55 Minutes ...But who's counting?

5 minutes for Mom is at it again.

Tons of Christmas Giveaways.

I love contests and freebies.

Click on the button in the sidebar to enter yourself!

Christmas is coming!

PLEASE NOTE: Entries for all contests will be closed Sunday, Nov 25th at 10pm Eastern and winners will be announced on Monday, Nov 26th.

Shower? Who has the time?

I have been trying all week to have a piece of warm toast.
No lie. Warm coffee would be the icing on the cake.

This morning #3 was up as soon as dad left and I was in the middle of pumping. (Whoever said breastfeeding was easier than formula was DEAD wrong. Cracked nipples, engorgement, pumping to stay ahead, washing your hands so much they bleed, making sure to use bottles so #3 has no problem with nipple confusion and because who has time to nurse for an hour every 2-3 hours?, feeling like a cow... MOO!)
Anyhow, I made a pot of coffee (just so it could get cold) and fed her the bottle. #1 got up and had a low grade temp. so I got medicine for her, got her breakfast, stopped to nurse #3. Grabbed a chocolate chip caramel bar on the way to sit down. Wonder why my baby is covered in crumbs? The only time I eat is when I nurse her. Which is a lot of the time so it's no wonder I haven't lost a lot of weight yet, hmmmmm.
By this time #2 is awake and WHAT'S THIS? He looks like a tomato. A quick call to dad at the hospital to find out what #2 did yesterday as they were at grandma's. Dad said they walked some fields and #2 may have gotten a scratch or two from wild grasses. OKAY? I rubbed some hydrocortizone on it and hoped for it to disappear. The area is pretty warm so I also gave him some ibuprofen?!?!? What the heck?
Now where was I?
Okay now we are all awake and hungry so I put in toast and waffles for the kids. I get my vitamins out and set them next to the coffee mug which is now ice cold. Hot coffee is overrated. Wash the pump stuff to use it again. Get the older kids dressed. Change #3's diaper for the 3rd time in as many hours...another great joy to breastfed babies.
Kids are dressed, fed and watching cartoons.Well one is watching cartoons the other is playing with Lego's (which I purchased to help encourage independent play - but seems to require a ton of help from mommy) Now it's time for me. I grab my cold coffee and toast and head downstairs to check email. Nope,#3 is fussy. Could you ignore this face?It is now after 9 and she has been up and needs to be rocked to sleep. Perfect time to try out the swing! Get her in it and turn it on...nothing. Off and on and off and on. Needs new batteries. GRRRR.
Phone rings, dear hubby checking on tomato boy. No change.
While on the phone #2 decided to rock #3 in the swing manually.Why buy expensive batteries when you have a four year old who is perfectly content to push her in the swing? SUCCESS! It is now 10:30 and baby is finally asleep.
#2 is wanting to play a hunting game...#1 is bored and cranky. Mom is hungry and tired.Guess I'll grab that cold toast and vitamin and wash it down with iced coffee, mommy style. Uh- oh...guess who is awake again. Guess the lulling sound of clicking keys on the keyboard doesn't work, eh?
Happy Friday everyone!

Birthday blessings!

First family photo op with #3!

Chocolate cake for breakfast...this is fast becoming a family tradition!

A hug from #1 and a promise of good behavior :)

Enjoying the beautiful day!

My birthday wish...

Pastor's sermon today was about knowing God's unconditional love for us. Pastor was saying that he thinks most of us forget about God's love for us. We tend to put God in a tiny corner of our lives, maybe the Sunday worship corner, and forget about Him the rest of the week. If we could only remember God's love for us everyday, we could be a lot happier and spread the word of His love more often with others.

I know God's love.

He loves me enough to create me.
He loves me enough to give me a wonderful loving family to grow up with.
He loves me enough to find me a husband who loves me enough.
He loves me enough to give me two wonderful children.
He loves me enough to let me live through cancer.
He loves me enough to give me one more miracle baby.
He loves me enough to forgive ALL of my sins.
He loves me enough to keep on loving me even when I forget about Him for a day or two.
He loves me enough to make me keep wanting to spread His love more and more.

I wish that you will know that God loves you, too, unconditionally. It is hard to believe it.
But it is true.

my calm in the storm

a tiny hand wrapped around my little finger
the softest skin in I've ever felt
that tiny click she makes when she is swallowing
the smell of the small of her neck
the warmth of her next to me
a smile from her perfect lips
her determination to hold her head up and look at the world around her
kisses on her head from her older siblings
watching daddy hold and rockabye her
realizing what a blessing she is to our family
our little piece of peace

to the heartless fools who stole our pumpkins...

Year after year my family spends hours creating fun pumpkins and decorating them to celebrate with the community. This year my hubby found the biggest, most beautiful ones to carve. He put my expensive candles in them for the trick or treaters last night and because we are both working on less than 4 or 5 hours of sleep at night we neglected to bring them inside.

My darling rugrats awoke this morning to an empty porch. They were teary eyed and sad as they asked me why someone would take our things from right outside our door. I had no explanation.

The part that really gets me is the fact that a stranger with evil intentions was close to my home and the windows where my children sleep. You are very lucky I was not awake nursing in the chair that faces that window. I would not have hesitated to call the authorities on you.

Stay off my property, keep away from my house and my children. Grow up and learn to play with your own things.