SweetPea Castle

A New Journey Begins

It is hard to believe that this journey is over.  After so many years of praying for "just one more child" and finally coming to the commitment to return our fertility to God's hands, this is an adjustment.  We prayed for several years before God provided the finances for my tubal reversal in December 2000.  We committed right then to completely leave our fertility in God's hands and trust Him with whatever He gave us.  It's not always been an easy walk, but it's been more than we could have ever imagined.  So, 7 pregnancies and four living miracles later, the Lord has closed my womb.

I would be a liar if I didn't say that I am actually quite sad about this.  But, I would be even more of a liar if I didn't say that I'm also quite relieved by this.  Jason and I were definitely ready to be "done" with this season of child-bearing.  We are blessed beyond imagination with our current quiver-full.  But, we are excited about being able to focus on our children and have some restoration in our marriage.

It's difficult to go from having nearly young adults and a LOT of freedom... to having a housefull of young children who need your constant attention.  I have been pregnant, nursing, or miscarrying for the last 7 1/2 years.  My husband is looking forward to getting his wife back.  ;-)

So, as I move out of one season and into another, I am cherishing each and every moment with my children.  They truly do grow up way too fast.  I am focusing on proper training and education.  I am also cherishing the time to get my body back in shape.  I won't be allowed to do any real exercise for 4-6 months.  But, I'm going to walk and eat right until then.  I am going to take the time to bring my family back to regular meals around the dining room table - meals that are healthy, yummy, and prepared with love.

I have been married to the love of my life for over 20 years.  I have 6 beautiful children.  I have a gorgeous house and a church and family that loves me.  Life is good.

My pastor gave my husband this scripture when I was struggling the other night...

Psalms 9:10 ~ And those who know Your name will put their trust in you, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Pre-Surgery update

Tomorrow I head down to the hospital for my pre-op appointment.  Then, Monday I have the lovely bowel prep to do.  Finally, surgery is at 7:30am on Tuesday.  I'm expecting to be in the hospital until Thursday afternoon-ish.  Before then, I've got a LOT to get dealt with and it's not working so well with 4 clingy grumpy little ones.  But, they need me... and that's what I need to be doing more right now.  I just wish Josiah felt a bit better.  The poor little man is terribly grumpy.

Okay... I said I would write more about the surgery and I guess today is the best time to do that.  After Josiah was born, I ended up with a significant pelvic/vaginal prolapse.  After several doctor's visits and prayer, we decided that the best option was a hysterectomy with pelvic repair.  I will have at least 6-8 weeks of serious recovery.  I won't even be able to lift Josiah during that time.

Since I am trying to ship my laptop back to HP for repair during this time, I'm not sure exactly when I'll be able to post updates.  But, my wonderful husband set me up with another "loaner" laptop.  So, it shouldn't be too far out.

I praise the Lord that I have family and friends that are here and willing to help us during this very difficult time.  I'm still very nervous and weepy.  I'm looking forward to being healed... I'm not really looking forward to the method that gets us there.

Time to run... Josiah needs another breathing treatment and some snuggle time.  He really needs a nap, but just can't seem to get to/stay asleep right now.

Godspeed.... ~ Tiffani

Whole latta nuffin

That's what I'm accomplishing right about now.  Josiah and Tabitha are definitely both sick with some sort of upper respiratory-thing.  Of course, they are both teething too!  Eliana is being an absolute obnoxious mess.  Poor Noah is just trying to stay out of the way when we're all frustrated and overly tired.  I CANNOT get this!  JoJo would be so much better if he could breath through all this congestion.  But, it's not working.

I've got four rows to finish the heel on my first sock... then I move onto the heel of the second sock.  I'm really trying to get these finished this week, but I'm not sure it'll happen.  This colorway is really loud and definitely not my taste.  But, I thought I'd give them a try and I'm really glad that I did.  For my first pair of knit socks... this colorway and pattern hides a multitude of sins.  ;-)  I'll take and post pics sometime this week.

I emptied out my DVD cabinet this morning in order to re-organize it.  I was running out of room for the children's DVDs.  So, I took out the few of Jason and mine for now.  I'm working on another place for those to go anyway.  But, it feels much better to have all of the Signing Times, Baby Einstein, and other childrens DVDs all in one place.  This way, while I'm recovering, someone else won't have to worry about picking something that we really didn't intend the littlest ones to be watching.

Speaking of Signing Times... we are enjoying learning right along with Tabitha.  Tabi could really care less about communicating most of the time.  But, she is picking up the basic signs and we are thrilled when she actually uses them.

Time to run.  The washer is finished and I need to put in another load.  And, the children really need something decent for lunch before Josiah starts fussing again.

4/28 To-Do List

Here is this weeks list (updated 5/3 2:01pm):

1. Reschedule my May BP followup appointment.
2. Pack Noah's bag for next week.
3. Complete schedule and special instructions for next couple of weeks
4. Complete backup of my current laptop and set up on "loaner" so that mine can be shipped to HP for repair
5. Call HP for repair of my laptop
6. Bills paid
7. House cleaned
8. Pack my hospital stuff
9. Make Jason pack HIS hospital stuff ;-)
10. Jason's Prius Serviced
11. Knit socks for myself; in process... but it's going to be a LOOOOONGGGG process ;-)  ... started the heel on the second sock!
12. Start planning this knit (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTjaden.html)  I really REALLY want to knit this up for myself.  :-)
13. Sewing room reorganization ...as organized as it's gonna get right now ;-)
14. MPB Quarterly Financial Organization
    1. Quickbooks Update
    2. Local Tax Reporting
15. Family Quicken Updated
16. Download, install and evaluate USPS Shipping Assistant
17. Existing custom list (NOT necessarily in order) ... on hold till sometime in June!
    1. Joline (probable trade)
    2. Christina (trade)
18. GCDH
    • website updates
    • hint thread kept up-to-date
    • note about MIA for surgery
19. MPB Stocking
    • Next custom slots... not till after surgery.  Probably sometime in mid to late June.
    • soaker/booster sets
20. Flickr galleries updated
21. Website Update?? - in line for a redesign sometime over the summer.
22. Supply orders
    • Woven Labels (redesign and order) - re-ordering current design.  Will order fresh after redesign.
    • Fabrics
      • OBV - payment sent; waiting on shipping invoice.
      • OBCF - payment sent; waiting on shipping invoice.
    • Custom Freebies - looking at a few more options
    • PUL - partial coop order pending.  will need to evaluate what other colors are needed.

Weekend update

First... MY MOM ROCKS!  Well, aside from all of the many MANY things I could write about that say why she rocks... she gifted me with a one year sock club subscription at Little Turtle Knits for Mother's Day!  Of course, she also stayed home with a sick Tabitha today so that I could take Josiah and go to the church ladies' meeting this afternoon.  I am truly so very blessed.

I finished up all of my diapers for my stocking on Tuesday and got all of the orders out on Friday that came in.  I have another diaper that needs to be shipped out on Monday.  My sewing room is officially closed for business for several weeks.  Of course, I have a few diapers I want to sew for my own two little ones this coming week.  But, there's no pressure for those and I'm going to enjoy making something for them that isn't considered a "second".  ;-)  I'm also already thinking ahead to some special things I want to do when I re-open the store.  You'll just have to wait and see!

I am trying to stay busy to keep my mind off of the upcoming surgery.  It'll be "real" enough soon enough.  I don't need to spend the next week stressing over it all and over-thinking things.  I'm going to spend the week cleaning my house and enjoying my family.... oh... and knitting!  I'll post a more detailed update on the surgery itself and what my expectations are for the next few weeks sometime next week.

Right now, I am heading back upstairs to my room to start the heel gusset on my socks while the news is on.  Then I'm going to try to get some much-needed rest while Josiah is sleeping.

It's one of THESE kind of days...

He really just doesn't feel very well.  We've just finished our very first nebulizer breathing treatment and he is NOT happy.  So, I'm off to nurse him and just snuggle.

4/21 To-Do List

Here is this weeks list (updated 4/26 9:56pm):

1. Reschedule my May BP followup appointment.
2. Knit socks for myself; in process... but it's going to be a LOOOOONGGGG process ;-)  ... beginning the heel next!
3. Start planning this knit (http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTjaden.html)  I really REALLY want to knit this up for myself.  :-)
4. Basement cleanout
5. Sewing room reorganization in process
6. MPB Quarterly Financial Organization
   1. Quickbooks Update
   2. Local Tax Reporting
7. Download, install and evaluate USPS Shipping Assistant
8. Existing custom list (NOT necessarily in order)
   1. Joline (probable trade); tbd... I need to PM her
   2. TBD
9. Charity items; need to add a preview/snippet to my HC with Tuesday stocking
10. GCDH
    • donation item
    • website updates
    • hint thread kept up-to-date
    • note about MIA for surgery
11. MPB Stocking
    • Stocking 4/22
    • in-stock items; in the works
    • soaker/booster sets
    • Next custom slots... not till after surgery.  Probably sometime in mid to late June.
12. Flickr galleries updated
13. Website Update?? - in line for a redesign sometime over the summer.
14. Supply orders
    • Woven Labels (redesign and order) - re-ordering current design.  Will order fresh after redesign.
    • Fabrics
      • OBV - payment sent; waiting on shipping invoice.
      • OBCF - payment sent; waiting on shipping invoice.
    • Custom Freebies - looking at a few more options
    • PUL - partial coop order pending.  will need to evaluate what other colors are needed.