Chore system ideas: Responsibility Board

     I have found a chore system that is working... It is also tied into our daily schedule... Which I will admit took a backseat while I recovered from illness last week. There are two parts to my chore system as of right now. I am trying to get a reward system in place. This first part is taking a little getting used to, but we are sticking to it...Kinda started it at a bad time with mommy getting ill and all... :/ 

     Everyday the children have "responsibilities" which are really chores in my mind, but I didn't want them to associate prayer time as a chore so we call this time "responsibilities". I took a chalk board and wrote down all the responsibilities needed to be done in any given day... It is not set up with times and is very flexible  Each child's name is written on top. As the children do their task for the day they get to draw something within that space... hearts, smiles,  flowers etc. This would work as a sticker chart as well. At the end of the day I erase parts of the board I have to, quickly redraw the lines, and its ready for the next day. 

     
     Next week I will talk to you on how the actual chore system works.... We call it the Chore Jar and it is wonderful! Come back next week to find out. Until then God's grace and love be with you.

When To Rest

   

Well on the Mend- Arthur John Elsley

      I sit here on my couch sick... I have contracted some kind of throat infection... Needless to say, I am trying to rest as much as I can to get better.... I said trying ;)..... Ever been in that situation? I'm sure you've been sick, postpartum, hurt, or just plain tired. Well, here are a few steps to help you remember to rest.


1. Stay in your Pj's- This tells those around you that you are still off the clock.


2. Stay in your room- At least as much as possible... Daddy can take care of the kids, I promise ;) And if the bedroom isn't an option, vow to stay on the couch...

    I bet your wondering why I am telling you things you already know. ;) Well, because even though I knew it to it took someone telling me again for me to remember...

3. A noise maker in your room...-We have one for our baby to help her sleep, but man oh man does it help drown out the noise from other parts of the house. Homedics makes one you can usually get at Walmart.

And finally...

4. Respect Hubby- My husband was irritated and angry Sunday because the children were not used to the change in primary care giving. So I came down stairs to help him... That made it worse... I was undermining his abilities as a father... He flat out told me to go rest and that me being up was adding to his frustrations... ouch! He is a great father but I was telling him, with my actions, that he wasn't......

    Remember mamas.... You will do more for your family in the long run if you sit down and rest when your body is telling you to... Its better than ignoring your body and ending up with more problems or in the hospital... Be kind to yourself...Its one of your greatest investments. 

     Join me next week as I tell you about a chore system that is actually working in this house. :) Until then, May the Lord bless all of you this week! 

The Well Planned Day Giveaway

     In celebration of getting a new laptop I will be giving away The Well Planned Day family homeschool planner. I recently was able to attend a homeschool convention and visited a booth that was selling planners. Being the type A person that I am, I looked the planner over and became more and more excited with each page I turned over. 

     The first thing I loved was that with each month there is an encouraging articles from the Home Educating Family Magazine. The second thing I love is a space to add a photo of my(or your) family currently. Wont it be nice to one day look back on this planner and see what our days looked like and what we looked like that year! Next there are pages for teacher plans and student plans. The next thing I love is on each day on the calendar is a scripture reference. Each month also has an encouraging quote, a place to add a reading list, field trips,perforated shopping list, weekly menu plans, and weekly catechisms. At the end of each semester there is a place for you to write all the accomplishments as well as progress reports. And at the very back of the planner are report cards for your little homeschool! 
     I dove in and purchased a bundle. Now I have an extra to give away. I need to do this fast because the planner starts in July! You may get it a tad late, but better late than never! So, enter for a chance to win this awesome planner! 

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Announcing a Giveaway!

Looking for help planning your day? Tomorrow a giveaway will go live and you wont want to miss it! Simple and easy to use, this planner will rock your day and your homeschool! The Well Planned day is full of encouragement! Come by tomorrow for a chance to win your very own copy!

The Birth Story of Avalynn Nicole

 

My brother and I one week before delivery

      My record long pregnancy and biggest test of faith and endurance. I was sure of my dates...Either I was wrong or the Lord needed to connect with me on a higher level. I never expected to deliver on or before my due date. My last two were "late" at 42 and 41 weeks, but I never expected to deliver past 42...past 43...nor nearly to 44 weeks. My patience was tested, my faith was tested, my joy, my peace...etc. Pretty much Galatians 5:22-23. Something I continually teach my children. Mom must have needed a refresher course. My thoughts were not peaceful. My heart was bitter. I nearly gave up hope, but one last encouraging prenatal, relieving ultra sound, and late night conversation with Crys, my doula, gave me one last hope to hold onto. I am still not sure what was holding things up, but that night I was able to talk to my King comfortably for the first time in months, Maybe that was all it was... My heart found peace. 

     The next morning, February 22, 2013 6AM... My son Hayden, 4, wakes up like a freight train...running around trying to wake his sisters up. Aaron, my husband, literally just left for work. I am sleep drunk, unable to think clearly... I just got blasted from REM. Some how by grace alone I was able to get that boy back to sleep... Whew... Then I notice it... That feeling. I lay there a few minutes and there is the first one. I got excited I quickly notify my husband and got in the shower... If this labor was anything like my last two I would have a baby in about 4 hours... So I expected...

      I am still unsure if this is true labor. Contractions continue and an easy but uneven pace. I call my husband home and let my mother in law, Carrie, know...That woman has sacrificed more for us than we will ever know. That woman is awesome beyond measure. I also notify the birth team. A couple hours later I am most certain I am in labor, but things are still slow going. I keep thinking, " I should have a baby by now". Gosh me and my expecting things... 

     Aaron is home now. He quickly gets everything ready while I labor easily. He gets our son off to speech school. I am sad that he is gone and hope the baby holds off until he is home..... yeah, I know I am crazy... Who wants to labor longer than they need to. Crys arrived and Aaron runs to the store, because Fridays at the Griggers house means you are hungry. My second doula in training Destinee arrives and we go for a walk. It is now 10AM. I am still laboring easily. When we finish the walk Destinee braids my hair into a beautiful birth crown while Crys sets up the birth pool. At 11:30 I get into the pool while my daughters get into the bath tub beside me. It was so cute. At 11:45 I begin to vocalize through each wave. I remember the verses I have on the wall... 

My girls taking a bath while I labor

Exodus 1:19, Lord thank you for the vigor and strength to deliver this child you have given us.

 "I praise You because I am fearfully made." -Psalm 139:14...

  Lord, you made me. You created me to carry and deliver children. Thank you for making me in such a fashion. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 40:10... 

Because You, Lord, are staying with me throughout my labor and delivery, I have NO reason to fear.... 

Those are just a few of the verses I had up. They and the prayers with them really helped me. 

     Now the midwives start arriving. First Stephanie, then Gwen, then Crystal. It is a birth party at my house. 12 total after baby arrives!  My blood pressure was checked because it had been elevated and I was rather concerned by it, but at that moment it was good...( so I was told). By noon I feel like active labor has just started. My daughter, Skylar, and little doula in training, is bringing me food and drinks while I facebook with my phone in a zip top bag, dropping my head during a wave. At some point I can not longer hold my phone anymore and need to hold a hand to help get through each wave. My husband puts Bailee, our toddler, down for a nap. I hope she doesn't sleep long. Hayden arrives home and I am overjoyed to see him.

Moments after my son arrived home from speech school

     It is now 1pm. I am no long laboring easily  but instead constantly remind myself I have control and to not panic. I try to keep my tone low and breathing even. Bailee doesn't sleep long to me, but my perception of time is way off. I feel like Dr. Who , floating in a time paradox. Just a small peak into my geeky life. 

      At around 2:30 I mention how I no longer wish to do this anymore. Followed quickly by that first pushy feeling. I let Stephanie know. She tells to me push if I have to, not because I am ready to be finished. The very next contraction I am pushing involuntary.  At 2:33 my water breaks with such force it hurt!!! Like a wet balloon popped against some very tender areas. Moments later baby's head was out. Suddenly, Destinee rushes out of the room, but moments later returns with Skylar, who wanted to be present at the birth. Thank you for remembering Destinee. Several more moments have passed and I cannot free her body. Stephanie tells me to raise up because her head was hitting the bottom of the pool. For four minutes I am trying to get her out. Finally I find an arm and pull her out. At 2:39 PM my fourth child swims air side. My husband remembers my request and turns on my birth song.... Beautiful Things by Audrey Assad. 

Taking in our new daughter

     I pull her up to my breast, her face still purple... She doesn't cry... All I see is a purple face. I start to panic... Stephanie assures me that she is pinking up, but her head had been squeezed so long that her face was bruised. Her cord had also been wrapped around her neck. She wasn't crying but was making noise and clearing her airways. Her cord is still working to bring her oxygen... I begin to relax... Shes ok... Once the cord goes limp and white my husband cuts the link. I then pass her to him while he waits bare chested.

The pass off

     She immediately is hunting her food source. I get out of the pool and get into bed to deliver the placenta... which took way longer than expected... There's that wonderful E word again. I then get up and sit in my chair... Way better than laying in bed... Type A person here... I do not like to lay around. Gwen and Stephanie look baby over while Crystal looks placenta over. Destinee has already gone and Crys is taking the pool down... I already miss it... Stephanie brings the baby over and sings Happy Birthday to her. I fight back the tears. I AM NOT A CRIER.  She hands babe to me and we nurse. She is a pro already... Must have had good practice time with dad. 

     She is 11 weeks old now and it is bitter sweet. I miss the kicks and hiccups. I miss the regular visits with my midwives. I miss the belly rubs from my doula. I miss the sweet newborn smell. I miss how she once fit in one arm. I've packed away the newborn clothes and I'm ever so close to doing the same with the 0-3 month clothes. All those things I miss are replaced with baby smiles, cuddles, and coos. 2AM sleepy eye snuggles at my breast that generously soak me, baby, and bed. Glorious diaper blowouts that require 10 wipes and new clothes for baby and mom( not so much when using cloth diapers)... I am ok with that... One day I will miss that to. While this experience was nothing that I expected, it was everything I wanted... 

     Thank you Lord for giving me what I needed. Thank you my sweet children who endured a very grumpy mother. To my darling husband, Thank you for filling the roles abandoned by your wife in her time of need. Thank you to my mother in law, Carrie, who has sacrificed more for us than we will ever know. Thank you, Crys, the doula I wanted, but didn't know I needed. Thank you Destinee for your presence at the birth. Your energy was fun and my hair was beautiful. Thank you Stephanie for teaching me that it is ok to hug, to cry, to express love. Thank you Gwen for being my primary midwife. Your energy assured me that I was ok, even when I was concerned  Thank you Crystal for your parts in my care and birth. I felt warm and loved in your presence. 

Avalynn Nicole

February 22, 2013

2:39PM

7lbs 14 oz

20 1/4 " 

Perfect creation from God

The End, hope you enjoyed!

Gotta Keep Busy

I hope you all enjoyed the giveaway, even if you didnt win. :) There will be more in the future. 

      We are nearly there... Baby girl Avalynn will be joining us as soon as she is ready. In the mean time I have been trying to keep myself busy, but I must say I am running out of things to do. Everything is prepped for the birth and the house is as clean as this mama is going to get it. I have run out of all laundry to wash... just have a little bit left to put away, if I can get it upstairs ;). There has been no real signs of her unless you count moodiness as a sign. My last two pregnancies went to 42 and 41 weeks, so there is a chance I could be holding onto her for another couple weeks... YIKES... I do not want to do that at all.

        So, if that is the case I will be doing whatever I can to stay busy. My projects this week will include turning a couple cans into something to hold the products I will need in the bathroom. Second, if I get to it, is to redo our book case. Right now it is just an ugly brown hand-me-down book case... I plan on adding molding to the top and bottom, then painting it as well as distressing it. I kinda hope I can do it soon, but the canisters are a little more important as I have no place to store products in my bathroom discreetly. I also have some baseboards that I could paint... could is the magic word there...Tomorrow I may take the kids to the park with a bunch of our homeschooling friends. Well, the dryer just rang its last for the day. Can I have lots and lots of labor prayers???

Mini Blog Relaunch, Book review, and giveaway!

     It is the start of a new year and a perfect time to organize your life and time( including myself ;) )

     I have been VERY absent from blogging and for that I am sorry. I had a solution in the form of a Tablet, but I broke it 4 days after Christmas. :( I am in the process of getting it fixed, but that will take time... In the mean time I am getting ready for baby and taking a lot of down time which should be perfect to recommit myself to blogging.

     As we get ready for baby girl, Avalynn, I find myself trying to figure out so many ways to get the house organized so daddy and the older children can function well while mommy recovers. I cannot help but reference my all time favorite book: Large Family Logistics, by Kim Brenneman( minus the Bible of course)...

    

     This book has given me a foundation to build on and inspiration to act on the growing art of homemaking. Do not let the title deceive you.... This book should be renamed to Family Logistics... It applies to all from no children( but in the future) to as many as you can think of! It is endorsed by Michelle Duggar and Beall Phillips and would make a great wedding gift for a newlywed to devour before she even has children! The topics in which it includes are building a sturdy foundation on God's word, self-discipline, managing each day( laundry day, kitchen day, etc.), homeschooling, family time, and sooo much more. There are 47 chapters plus two appendix on survival and recovering from said survival, which I use often as it has been a rather tough year!

     Because it is the start of a new year everyone is looking to make resolutions and start fresh and because of that I am giving away a paperback copy of Large Family Logistics!!!! Enter below!!!

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