Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tsunami Warnings and evacualtions!!
Please pray with us this morning! We have a Tsunami hitting the Islands in a few hours. We are only a few blocks from the beach so we are evacuating up the valley. Please pray for the safety of our Islands, our family and loved ones!
Your Secret Name
I am ever so intrigued by this upcoming book. It is written by a former college classmate, he has written other books as well. A powerful spiritual leader of our time. Visit his blog for more information on his book coming out March 15th! Great prizes but more importantly spiritual truth waiting to change your life!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Flaunting the Belly {GIVEAWAY}
Let face it, maternity styles come and go, but do you ever get tired of that soft comfy tee shirt? You know the one, the one that fits throughout your pregnancy and beyond? Now you can return your husbands shirt to him, and have your own stylish maternity shirt that is just as soft, way more comfortable and has some cute designs to boot! Now you can Flaunt it with a Flaunt It! Maternity shirt!
All shirts are actually maternity shirts, made to fit the expanding belly! They are Poly/cotton and all decals are put on using a heavy duty thermal heat press.
I was gifted with 2 of these shirts during my last pregnancy and let me tell you they are the first shirts I dig for in my drawer! I wore them after I gave birth because they hid the extra bump that was still there and I couldn't give up the comfy shirts!
Are you ready for some sad news? After much consideration, Jodi has to close up shop. After her current selection is gone, so will her shop be. So don't delay! Visit
But guess what???? You can win THIS SHIRT::
Follow the instructions below for chances to win!
For one entry::
- Leave a comment below and follow my blog (if you aren't already!)
For ten extra entries::
- Visit FlauntIt! Maternity and let me know which shirt you think is the cutest! {1}
- Purchase something from FlauntIt! {4}
- Update your facebook status with a link back to my blog {1}
- Grab my blog button and add it to your blog {2}
- Blog about this giveaway {2}
Cupcake {winner}
is.........
Bec
Okay Bec you've got 48 hours to contact me at keikikuddlerz@earthlink.net! Email me your address so I can pass it on to Christie!
It's not to late for the rest of you to get your sticky paws on these delicious little package! Visit her Etsy site::
and her website::
Please note also that ChristieCreations only ships within the US, all shipping prices listed reflect US shipping only.
Irritable uterus:: Very irritating!
Let me preface this post by saying, I'm not a hypocondriac. In fact I am probably the opposite. I am also a seasoned Mom and birth~er. After going into labor 3 times, and being pregnant for the 4th, you know what feels normal and what doesn't. Yesterday really threw me for a loop!
We ended up spending the day in L&D yesterday.
Okay rewind. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling motivated and determined to get things done! Started the day off with about half a cup of coffee and my Bible Study {2 Corinthians 12:9-10 proved to be a hands on learning experience}. Went downstairs with the girls to make a wonderful breakfast.....and about half way through that I had a contraction.
Okay, no big deal, I thought. I always have a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. They are uncomfortable but nothing close to painful. But this contraction wrapped around my whole abdomen, really tightly and boy was it painful! So I finished making muffins and bacon and bananas, sat down with the kids and read Proverbs 3:3, talking about what it means to always have love and kindness as a part of our character. All through our talk and eating, I kept having contractions! We finished breakfast and I filled up my huge jug of water, sucked that down completely, refilled it and announced it was playtime upstairs. Okay so it's 8:30 am but hey, we are having recess first today!
I layed down on the bed on my left side, continued to drink water, but it didn't help. These contractions were so strong, and so close (about 2-3 minutes apart) I couldn't even walk or talk through them. After about an hour of laying down I really started to worry. Lil' girl in there would be really still during contractions and then when one would let up she would kickbox and punch all around the inside like she was upset at me! What concerned me the most is that they were more painful than my actual labor contractions with Gracia!
After talking to the midwife and the doc they said I needed to have my cervix checked to make sure the contractions were not dilating me. So Dave got someone to cover the last class of his day, grabbed Jon and headed home. My amazing sister let me drop off all 4 kids at the office and Dave and I continued on our way.
During this time the contractions were weakening but not lessening. (They weren't as painful but they were still happening) So after a long wait in the ER and the L&D waiting room we were finally let in, undressed (lovely) and eventually checked. I was ordered to keep drinking water. Baby's heart rate was great the whole time. They tested the likelyhood of me going into labor in the next 2 weeks (negative) they checked my cervix (long and closed) though the contractions were still happening. So they sent me home after a few hours of observation.
The contractions continued last night and then this morning, Dave stayed home so I could take it easier than a normal day. After a talk with my midwife I am pretty sure I have an Irritable uterus. Between all the frequent Braxton Hicks and even the loads of contractions I've had with this baby, it seems like that is a likely diagnosis. It's not dangerous (in most cases) just well....irritating!
So I've been given some orders about what to do and what not to do. Though I admit upfront some will be hard to follow! I mean how does a homeschooling Mom of 3 littles actually relax and rest. Inquiring minds want to know! I suppose we'll be doing schooling upstairs on the bed, Roman style. And listening to my body and getting LOTS of fluids, and maybe a few herbs my midwife is dropping off will help. As long as my water doesn't break, I don't lose my plug and the baby is still jumping and a jiving, I think we'll just have to deal with the discomfort.
I'm thankful we got away with a little warning this time. I am so thankful we weren't ordered to bedrest and that little girl in there is just fine, it's me who is just a little irritable! I've already been told by Dave that cutting back on the cleaning, cooking and housework is a must....but knowing me, we'll see just how much I can give up. I'll just have to be more intuned to my body instead of my self proclaimed superwoman title. One little day at a time!
We ended up spending the day in L&D yesterday.
Okay rewind. Yesterday morning I woke up feeling motivated and determined to get things done! Started the day off with about half a cup of coffee and my Bible Study {2 Corinthians 12:9-10 proved to be a hands on learning experience}. Went downstairs with the girls to make a wonderful breakfast.....and about half way through that I had a contraction.
Okay, no big deal, I thought. I always have a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. They are uncomfortable but nothing close to painful. But this contraction wrapped around my whole abdomen, really tightly and boy was it painful! So I finished making muffins and bacon and bananas, sat down with the kids and read Proverbs 3:3, talking about what it means to always have love and kindness as a part of our character. All through our talk and eating, I kept having contractions! We finished breakfast and I filled up my huge jug of water, sucked that down completely, refilled it and announced it was playtime upstairs. Okay so it's 8:30 am but hey, we are having recess first today!
I layed down on the bed on my left side, continued to drink water, but it didn't help. These contractions were so strong, and so close (about 2-3 minutes apart) I couldn't even walk or talk through them. After about an hour of laying down I really started to worry. Lil' girl in there would be really still during contractions and then when one would let up she would kickbox and punch all around the inside like she was upset at me! What concerned me the most is that they were more painful than my actual labor contractions with Gracia!
After talking to the midwife and the doc they said I needed to have my cervix checked to make sure the contractions were not dilating me. So Dave got someone to cover the last class of his day, grabbed Jon and headed home. My amazing sister let me drop off all 4 kids at the office and Dave and I continued on our way.
During this time the contractions were weakening but not lessening. (They weren't as painful but they were still happening) So after a long wait in the ER and the L&D waiting room we were finally let in, undressed (lovely) and eventually checked. I was ordered to keep drinking water. Baby's heart rate was great the whole time. They tested the likelyhood of me going into labor in the next 2 weeks (negative) they checked my cervix (long and closed) though the contractions were still happening. So they sent me home after a few hours of observation.
The contractions continued last night and then this morning, Dave stayed home so I could take it easier than a normal day. After a talk with my midwife I am pretty sure I have an Irritable uterus. Between all the frequent Braxton Hicks and even the loads of contractions I've had with this baby, it seems like that is a likely diagnosis. It's not dangerous (in most cases) just well....irritating!
So I've been given some orders about what to do and what not to do. Though I admit upfront some will be hard to follow! I mean how does a homeschooling Mom of 3 littles actually relax and rest. Inquiring minds want to know! I suppose we'll be doing schooling upstairs on the bed, Roman style. And listening to my body and getting LOTS of fluids, and maybe a few herbs my midwife is dropping off will help. As long as my water doesn't break, I don't lose my plug and the baby is still jumping and a jiving, I think we'll just have to deal with the discomfort.
I'm thankful we got away with a little warning this time. I am so thankful we weren't ordered to bedrest and that little girl in there is just fine, it's me who is just a little irritable! I've already been told by Dave that cutting back on the cleaning, cooking and housework is a must....but knowing me, we'll see just how much I can give up. I'll just have to be more intuned to my body instead of my self proclaimed superwoman title. One little day at a time!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
What did {YOU} do today? ~Link up~
I know there are common misconceptions of what exactly a homemaker does. Though I haven't ever been personally asked or offended by anyone (that I can remember offhand) thinking that homemakers do nothing all day. But there are many days that come to and end, where I feel like I've done nothing! Now logically I know this can't be totally true. Sometimes though I think it's Satan's way of getting to me, trying to make me feel like a failure, like I have no "real" job or purpose other than babysitting. Again, logically I know this isn't truth, but when emotions run wild, this is where they lead me some days.
So yesterday I decided to write everything I did down. I was impressed. I hadn't done anything especially big during the day, in fact, yesterday was a little void of real cleaning which I try and do a little of everyday. But just the regular routine of what needs to be done actually shocked me as it started growing. And I didn't include everything like changing diapers and things like that.
SO here it is...what I do in a day {warning::it's not that interesting!!}
So here is the challenge! If you are feeling deflated about how little you are doing at home, or you just want to see exactly what you do all day every day, make a list everyday for a week. Try to add in every thing you do. Now this list isn't to prove to your spouse how much you do or validate your worth through the task of "doing"....it's just to help get a realistic view on what {YOU} do all day. Maybe you'll discover you do too much.....maybe you'll discover the 4 hours you spend surfing the net or watching Lifetime movies is kinda a waste of your time. I don't know.......But it's given me a little better perspective on what happens around here on a moment by moment basis!
Don't forget today is the LAST DAY to enter to win in my latest giveaway::
The Cure for the Common Baby Gift
Winner will be announced tomorrow!
Add your link below so we can encourage one another and get a feel for the real life of a homemaker or Mom!
So yesterday I decided to write everything I did down. I was impressed. I hadn't done anything especially big during the day, in fact, yesterday was a little void of real cleaning which I try and do a little of everyday. But just the regular routine of what needs to be done actually shocked me as it started growing. And I didn't include everything like changing diapers and things like that.
SO here it is...what I do in a day {warning::it's not that interesting!!}
- make breakfast
- start dinner
- clean kitchen up from breakfast
- morning devotions
- sweep floor
- check computer
- clean up Gracia's art on the floor
- school prep
- clean school area
- collect dirty clothes
- start a load of laundry
- Read books to the kids
- straighten bathroom counters
- straighten bedroom, make beds
- get kids a snack
- clean more dishes in kitchen
- clean Gracia the pudding Monster (mini bath time)
- wipe down the bathroom
- check computer
- fill kids laundry baskets
- switch loads
- start a new load of laundry
- Bible Lesson with kids
- made
- lunch
- clean kitchen after lunch
- fiddle with dinner
- wipe table and wipe down kitchen counters
- school with kids
- planning for school (next day)
- switch loads/ put in a new load of laundry
- get kids snack
- fold laundry
- put school stuff away
- straighten livingroom
- finish dinner
- shower
- spent time with the kids
- spent time with Dave
- got dinner on the table
- cleaned dishes and kitchen after dinner
- family devotions
- worked on sling stuff and sewing
So here is the challenge! If you are feeling deflated about how little you are doing at home, or you just want to see exactly what you do all day every day, make a list everyday for a week. Try to add in every thing you do. Now this list isn't to prove to your spouse how much you do or validate your worth through the task of "doing"....it's just to help get a realistic view on what {YOU} do all day. Maybe you'll discover you do too much.....maybe you'll discover the 4 hours you spend surfing the net or watching Lifetime movies is kinda a waste of your time. I don't know.......But it's given me a little better perspective on what happens around here on a moment by moment basis!
Don't forget today is the LAST DAY to enter to win in my latest giveaway::
The Cure for the Common Baby Gift
Winner will be announced tomorrow!
Add your link below so we can encourage one another and get a feel for the real life of a homemaker or Mom!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Acidic Photos {AKA Cheating in Photoshop}
The Before::Jonah watching the surf
I admit I am a cheat artist. I know a lot about Photography from teaching it for 4 years {and boy do I miss the darkroom!!}. But when it comes to Photoshop, I know so little. It's one of those areas always tempting me to learn more about, but with everything going on I just never have enough time to sit down and devote the energy to. So I cheat. I use free photoshop actions I find in various places around the net. I have taught myself little tricks and tips for editing, but in the vast world of Digital Editing, I truly know practically nothing. That doesn't stop my love for photography from being a hidden passion in my life. And even though I know I can't devote much of my time to it right now, I am thankful for the background knowledge I have in order to capture memories and moments that are so fleeting as my children sprout before my eyes!
One of my favorite actions is "Acidify"...it's makes the photo look kinda grungy and fun....it just changes the mood a little enough to make a difference.......
The After:: a little Acid and some burnt edges
Before:: too dark!!
The After:: popped some of the colors and lightened it a bit
One day I know I will have the time to get more into photography again, but for now I'll settle with the little ones in my life being the main focus of my photo shoots!
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