SweetPea Castle

Rejoicing in the simplicity

I promise that there isn't anything drastic going on and I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  However, I have found that I have to take the proper time and be focused on the tasks the Lord has laid before me right now - training up my young children in the ways that they should go, being a Godly wife, praying for my young adult children and being a Godly example.  This means that I've got even less time than before to be online posting updates.  But, this is a GOOD thing.  However, as I have family and friends that DO keep up with me through this... I thought I'd update a bit.

Dash... he is staying here with us at this point.  Some things changed and Jason decided that he was going to take on the training responsibilities for him.  I think Dash read my email and blog posts... because he totally started sucking up to Jason and stopped peeing on the floor around him.  Totally different pup!  I took both of them to be professionally groomed yesterday and they look like new dogs.  It's amazing how much a bath and good haircut can help things.  ;-)

Noah is doing fantastic with his third grade homeschool studies.  He is my biggest helper and is growing up way too fast.  Eliana is being very patient with me and her kindergarten studies.  I need to be more diligent in spending quality time with her on this.  I'm spoiled because she really already knows most of this work.  Tabitha is studying right along with us.  She is doing really well with tracing her lines and letters.  And they both love having tea parties with me.  Josiah is... a wild boy!  He will be 2 in January and is fearless.  I am happy and yet sad to see him getting big so quickly.  We are going to work on potty learning in the next couple of months.

Speaking of Jojo and being a wild child... he gave me a mild concussion on Monday night and my head is still spinning.  Don't worry... HE is fine!  I was laying on the floor in the playroom, coloring with the girls, when he decided to jump on my back and ride me like a wild horse.  Only, he decided to give me a big bear hug at the same time as I decided he was being a bit rough and starting sitting up.  The end result was that he cold cocked me with his forehead just behind my left ear.  I saw stars and the ground swirled around me.  Jason and I spent a portion of the night in the ER getting a CT scan and being told  what to watch for, while Memaw watched the sleeping littles back at home.  My regular doc checked me over again

yesterday.  As long as the headache continues to go away, I'll be just fine.  But, if it gets any worse I have to go back in for more testing and a referal to the neurologist.  However, in the meantime I'm just supposed to take it easy and not get hit in the head again in the next month.  ;-)

Having to spend all this time just resting quietly on the couch has given me time for reflection and enjoying the simplicity.  I am blessed beyond measure by my family.  I often cannot believe that the Lord saw fit to give us these six amazing children.  And, I love my husband beyond words.  And, I've had an amazing time being able to catch up on lots of teaching podcasts.  God is awesome!

Now, I am truly praying that this headache goes away quickly.  I have a ton of things that have been set aside while I recover... but I am anxious to get back to sewing.  Money is tight and I could use the diaper sales.  However, HE is my provider and I trust that we will have everything we need in HIS perfect timing.

Surgery Follow-up and more

The doctor's report was a mixed review.  He is happy with the repair itself, but not confident that we won't still have problems... either now or later.  Jason and I are taking this to the Lord and taking one day at a time.  I am still in regular pain.  We'll see what God does over the next several months as to what (if anything) we do.

The pups... Ace and Dash are doing great!  They were nuetered on September 10th and are healing nicely.  They get their staples out a week from tomorrow and we can hardly wait.  They are STINKY boys and seriously need to be bathed and groomed.

Homeschool is moving along.  I am looking forward to getting back into our "normal" routine in the next two weeks and being able to maintain it without all of these appointments and stuff.  The SOS curriculum is working for Noah, but I'm just not sure it's what is best for us.  We'll see how the rest of the year goes.

Noah, Eliana, and Tabitha have dentist appointments next week on Wednesday.  This will be Tabi's first visit.  We've also got her speech therapy on Tuesday.

Mudpiebabies... I'm going to start sewing (well, the cutting and prep-work anyway) for my next stocking this coming week.  I have some bills to pay and get under control.  So, I am praying that a few nice big stockings bring back the customers and bring in some new ones.  I need to see if I can get someone to do some banner ads for me.

Knitting... I recently finished a lovely test-knit shawl and will be purchasing yarn for several more.  I frogged back a pair of finished longies for Josiah and added to the rise.  I'm just about to start the legs again and need to be sure they are longer this time.  They would have fit perfect... for about a month... as they were.  But, I wanted them to fit the season.  I've also got another shawl on the needles and a child sweater.  I'm waiting on some handspun yarn to start knitting a sweater for Noah.  And, I just saw a perfect pair of fingerless gloves that I think I'll cast on for next.  I LOVE knitting!

I have a bunch of things to get done today... so I best be getting off here for now.  I have some serious menu planning to do.  If anyone has some recipe ideas that might work for picky littles, please feel free to share.  Between their pickiness and Jason's diabetes... I have my work cut out for me.  But, I am determined to start making proper meals again.

I am most grateful for the place the Lord has me right now.  It isn't comfortable... but I know that He is growing me and drawing me closer to Him.

Still living... just overwhelmingly busy...

I am hoping and praying to be able to post a fresh Monday update this coming Monday.  But, I just wanted to take a moment and let everyone know that I'm doing okay.

I take the pups to get neutered tomorrow and will be in Fairfax all day for that.  I'm taking Noah with me for a wee bit of a homeschool fieldtrip, since the vet is a good friend.  I will NOT miss the territorial fighting that they've been doing recently.  We are looking forward to their new training that is scheduled in November.

Sunday is my brother-in-law's birthday... Monday is Noah's 8th birthday.  And then I have my post-op appointment on Tuesday.

We are also back into the homeschool groove.  Noah and I are both adjusting to his new computer-based third grade curriculum.  So far, so good.  And, Eliana is doing very well with her kindergarten lessons.  Tabitha is also joining in a bit too... nothing structured, but as she shows an interest she joins Eliana.

Other than that, I'm just knitting a lot and trying to stay off my feet whenever possible at the end of the day.

God is good and has me right where He wants me.  I may be overwhelmed... but He is NOT!

Time for healing

tomorrow... Friday, August 7th at 10:45am... that's when my next (and prayerfully last) surgery is.  My heart is prepared for whatever outcome the Lord deems.  We are praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

I am looking forward to His healing...

Meltdown mode...

My next (and prayerfully last) surgery is scheduled for August 7th.  So, I've now got less than three weeks to get a ton of stuff done in preparation.  So, I'm wondering what I'm doing here... oh yeah.  I wanted to write a quick update.  hee hee...

I've got bloodwork and an ekg and a physical to get done.  I've got housework and family preparations.  I need to get all of the important family paperwork back into it's proper safebox for Jason.  And, a ton more.

The puppies are going to attend a two-week obedience training camp starting 10 days after my surgery.  This will be good for them and good for the family.  Our last puppy went through this type of training and it made all the difference in the world.

Tabitha turns 3 on the 29th!  She's doing VERY well with her speech therapy and we are very excited.

My surgery is still a bit uncertain.  I will be in the hospital a minimum of overnight... and possibly for several days.  It all depends on what they find when they get in there.  We are praying for the best and preparing for the worst.

Everything else is just a blur right now and I really have to get back to cleaning the master bathroom right now.  I need to prepare my home for my recovery time.  Have a great week everyone!

Monday Musings...

Today I am spending a little time in the sewing room while the children are agreeable to it.  I have some AIOs to finish for a very dear sister in the Lord who will probably have her little girl today at some time.  So, I am also spending my time praying for her and her husband and their precious miracle.

I will update more as I am able... when I'm able.  Have an awesome week in the Lord!

Contemplative

Sometimes we just need to be quiet and focused.  Perhaps God just doesn't have anything that He wants me to share right now.  Perhaps I just don't have anything that "should" be shared publicly.  Either way, I feel the need to sit quietly with my four littlest ones and enjoy the summer in as much peace and fun as we can.  We've all got a touch of a summer cold, so it's not really all that quiet at the moment.  But, that's okay.  I wouldn't trade these days of quietly reading Bible stories and building with blocks and little people... not for anything.

I hope to update more again soon.  But, right now I need to spend this precious time with these little miracles while they are still so willing and moldable.  And the puppies need to go outside again too.  ;-)  Godspeed... ~ Tiffani

Monday Morning ... a new week begins

And it begins with the sounds of whining puppies and 17 month old's throwing tantrums in the middle fo the floor.  Some weeks just start out rough from the very beginning.  Perhaps if we get all the frustration out on Monday the rest of the week will flow smoothly?  hmmmm... probably not.  But, one can always dream.

I am extraordinarily busy right now...

The puppies are doing well, but are challenging me in ways I had not anticipated.  Training TWO puppies with TWO very distinct personalities and learning modes was not something I really considered.  Shame on me.  But, I've always tried to be open and honest about every aspect of my life.  I'm going to look into some training help... perhaps from here: http://www.campbellsk9s.com/index.html - that's the same kind of training we did with our previous black lab (Meaghan).  It was well worth the investment.

We completed our homeschool curriculum for Noah.  He is now officially a third grader and we will start our studies again in late summer or early fall.  Eliana will also be joining us and starts Kindergarten in the fall.

Tabitha is doing very well with her speech therapy.  It's a long process and we aren't expecting any overnight "miracles".  We are always open to the Lord's divine intervention, however we are also expecting to live life right where He has us at this specific moment.  She is doing amazingly well... especially when we consider that 4 months ago she only said two or three things verbally.  We are still working on her signing even while we encourage her to strive for vocal communication.

Josiah will be 18 months old on the 3rd of July and is my little dare-devil.  He has NO fear and is into everything.

I've got a massive diaper order that is for a dear friend of mine who is due any day now.  I haven't been able to step foot in my sewing room, but I have to find a way to resolve that right away.  And, then we've got family coming into town the week after and staying with us.  So, I've got a lot on my "to-do" list for the coming week.  And, I need to take the children and pups outside to play before I get started.

So, on that note I'm out of here... have an amazing week and remember that Jesus loves you!

Seasons...

My heart is heavy... I've so many things running through my mind right now that I need to sit down and sort through it all - most of it anyway.

This December will be 9 years since my tubal reversal.  I went into that surgery asking God for "just one more".  Just one more to carry and feel growing in my womb.  Just one more to nurse and snuggle.  Just one more to raise for His glory.  He lovingly gave me four more miracle blessings on this earth.  And then he closed my womb for good.  It was NOT how I would have envisioned things ending.  But, obviously He didn't ask my input on this subject.

May 6, 2008 was the day that the Lord closed my womb permanently.  After Josiah was born on January 3, 2008 everything sort of "fell out".  I had a pretty severe pelvic prolapse that required surgical intervention.  That was my only real option.  Jason and I were at a place of asking the Lord to either close my womb or give us an extended break when found that we were expecting Josiah.  Again, this is not how we would have envisioned Him answering our prayers.  But, again... He didn't ask for our preferences in this matter.  We are still dealing with complications from this original surgery and are praying that my surgery next month will resolve everything finally.

In preparation for this upcoming surgery, the doctor really wanted for Josiah to have been weaned.  I told her that he was my last and I refused to push him before he was ready.  Well... one week ago he was ready.  His last time to nurse was just before bed on April 25th.  I knew it was coming.  We were down that week to nursing just 2-3 times a day at most.  But, I still wasn't entirely ready.  I rejoice that the Lord granted me so much.  And I know that this is for the best.  Now, my body has plenty of time to adjust and be prepared for surgery.  AND, I get to go away for a weekend alone with my husband in two weeks (thank you mom and daddy!).  Yet, my heart is still heavy as I gaze upon my baby who is growing up entirely too fast for me.  Well, really they all are.

Seasons... we've been in a season of childbirth and little children for 8 years now... and this season is ending.  Thank you Lord for trusting us so much with these precious miracles.  Now, I prepare my heart to move on faithfully in this next season.  And I rejoice knowing that You are directing my every step.  Help me to be more faithful in ministering to my husband's needs and being the wife and mother... and keeper of my home... that YOU'VE called me to be.

Technical Difficulties

My laptop has to go in for repairs... dying hard drive and overheating issues.  So, I won't be able to post for a wee bit.

Praise God it's still under warranty.  And, no computer means more time to knit.  ;-)