Tiany is having a Homeschool open house. This is going to be so much fun, and did I mention door prizes? Lots of them! Dont miss out. Go visit HERE to see how to enter your homeschool into the open house. I cant wait to read everyones posts!

Robs Fight

We found Robs fight on You Tube this evening. He is the one in the black trunks. The guy he was fighting got off a good clean "lucky" haha OK "well placed" straight shot and well, you'll just have to watch it to find out the rest. Not bad for a 37 year old, who hasnt fought in over 12 years. You will want to turn the volume down or off, there is one loud mouth fella who spouted off a not so nice word. Yes Rob is fine, its all apart of fighting....you win some you loose some.




Edited later to answer a question: He actually was fine and going out to eat dinner right after the fight. It looks so much worse than it really is. After watching what seems like endless fights ;-) There are two types of being knocked out. There is the your out completely, with your eyes rolled in the back of your head, and then there is the knocked out where you are really rocked. When you are rocked it lasts for a split second. You can see that after Rob hit the mat (and the guy got in a few more) he sat up and shook it off. There realy isnt much residual effects except you may have a slight headache.

Rob had a few bruises but his biggest bruise was of course his ego. He's tuff though, he can take it.

You know......

....your a red neck and your husband isnt when the arm on the mower breaks and your resolution is a strong metal bar and some duck tape, while your husbands resolution is to go buy a new mower.

You know you are just a silly girl, when you are out mowing the yard and tens of hundreds (ok, maybe not that many) grasshoppers are flying at you and LANDING ON YOU and all you keep saying is I.WANT.MY.HUBBY!

Love you babe, the front, side and behind the fence is mowed.

She must be of the climbing Rose variety

Some children are just in a hurry. Whether its sitting or walking or talking. Some children take their time. I have had both, on all different levels. This however takes the cake and wins all the awards. She is 23 weeks old and already STANDING UP! For those of you who dont want to do the math, she is not even 6 months yet. Is that even possible? Sigh

Sewing Corner

Its been busy in the sewing corner lately! I have been working on quilts. I am making one for each kiddo, in their color. So far the fronts are done on Ethans (his color is orange;-) and Eves (her color is, you guessed it pink;-) Eves quilt is a disappearing nine patch block. It was so much fun. You can learn how its done here

Ethan picked out material with cute animated dragons and stars. I measured their beds and made the quilt in a perfect size so that it would not be hard for the little ones to make their own beds. I neglected to think about how hard it would be for me to change sheets and make beds on these triple bunks. So the more they can do it the better. I suppose that it is funny that I have to use a ladder to make beds around here. LOL

Elijahs is next. His color is yellow. I thought this would be a cute combination. now I just need to figure out what design I want to do it in.

Then there are the things that I am working on for the store. Here is a bib that I made the pattern for last night and sewed it up quickly to see how it looked. I am going to make a "special" bib for little girls, it will be neat (I haven't seen anything like it before) so I'm excited to see what everyone else thinks. I also have a toy line I am excited about starting, but I don't want to give away any details right now. Fun, Fun, Fun!

There have been alot of other things going on around here but none of it, anything I feel like talking about. The house is listed as of Saturday, but may not stay listed.

Busy Day & Night

A month ago to the day I was sitting in the dentist office. After having gotten up and readied the kids then drove the thirty minutes to get there. I was told I was a month early. What? OK well, we'll see you next month. So today at 7:50am my son says "mom, is this the day we go to the dentist?" I say, "Ahhh, your right, everybody get your shoes on and head to the car." We had to be there at 8:30 and we were going to be late. The kids were wonderful even though they had not eaten breakfast, the bill not so wonderful. But that was expected. So long story short I am either a month early or 30 minutes late to all dentist appointments.

I have said before that when I grow up I want to be a midwife. Well last night I got my start. A friend and fellow MOMY, was due on the 11th and had been dropped by her midwife on the 8th. Yes, you heard me right, DROPPED as she began to go into labor. WHAT?

Anyway they decided that they would go it alone. They both felt confident that they could do it, but were nervous about all the what-ifs. She began labor yesterday in the early morning hours. As the day progressed yesterday, I would call every few hours and talk with her husband, get a feel if everything was OK, then leave them alone to carry on. She was doing great and laboring well throughout the day. I called again at 10:30 yesterday evening and her hubby asked me to come over "quick" I could here her in the background (you know the transition sounds ;-) Her hubby was getting nervous because he had always been a side man, holding a leg and looking on. I hoped in my car and drove the 5 minutes to her house. I'll spare you all the details, but Airealissa(sp) Praise was born at 11:00pm. She was about 8 lbs. So I had my first delivery last night. What a blessing! GOD is sooooooo GOOD!

I have a headache today, so I'm off to find the Excedrin Migraine.

Heart of Wisdom Special Going on!

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My Warrior

I want you to know how proud I am of you. So many people talk about what they would love to do, or dream about it and never take steps to follow through. YOU on the other hand, grab for it with all your might. You give it all you have. You can never look back and say " I wish I would have"

You may not have won in the ring but you win everyday as my husband and our children's father! I feel safe when I am with you, I know that you can protect us.

We are very lucky to have you, so strong on the outside and so soft on the inside.....that's what I love about you most. You will always be my knight, my warrior and my love!

Your biggest fan,
Audrey

God speaks in the most beautiful ways!

Please read this and be blessed!

You ladies are so sweet!

My hubby called me today to let me know that he reads my blog and it is his way of staying connected to what is going on around here and with me. I don't want to take that away from him. So I am going to take a break for a while, regroup, rejuvenate. Perhaps I will change things up a bit, to focus on hubby and let him into our days more.

I have been going through things here, emotional stuff, that I need to work through. A feeling of "the world would be a better place if I weren't in it" type of feeling. I know this is a lie from the father of lies, and I am digging deep into scripture to defeat that lie. I am not one to fall into depression, it is not like me. But dispair seems to be a shadow following a few steps behind me.

I don't want to take y'all on that journey with me. Nor do you deserve to go ;-) I really appreciate how sweet you ladies are, and care for you deeply. Isn't it sad that the people to uplift in time of need are those I have never met. I do thank you so much for caring!

So I am off to take a break for a while, to focus on my kiddos and my home. Perhaps even myself. Just to simply be for a time.

Someone asked about the store, it is still open....but I will not be taking any orders until August 1st.

Farewell My Friends

Its been a long time sense my first blog entry. Four years this November! My initial thought was that sense family and friends live so far away this would be a great way for them to keep up with the children. But the truth is that they don't read it.

Then it became a sort of diary for me to put my thoughts, of good days and bad, as I have never been real good at keeping a paper diary. Plus the fun of adding pictures and movie clips made it interactive and fun.

As I began to enter into the blog world I was able to see into others homes, even others with large families. It was such a blessing, and still is. I then thought that maybe I had something to contribute to this big blog world. Maybe some nuggets of wisdom, some empathy for others, possibly even give some hope and encouragement to some. This seems to be where I have missed the mark. I have nothing to share with others that cant be much more adequately said by others. I'm just another voice in the big bucket of voices and mine is not where I would want others to spend their time. There are great blogs out there, of wonderful ladies and families, with much wisdom to share!

I will miss most the prayers that I coveted from those of you who so graciously lifted me up. Your prayers were the only ones uttered on my behalf, and they were felt. Thank You!

I will still visit my favorite homes here on the web, and look forward to gleaning from you ladies.
Have a BLESSED life, with much peace!
Sincerely,
Audrey

Is there ever a span of time where you have nothing to do but be a mom and keep your home? A time without ALL the extras pulling you in another direction. Perhaps I am just getting tired. I see my rag.a.muffin children running through the house, in dire need of baths. My baby wanting to be held and played with, yet her lot right now is the floor and some toys. My little girl being fussy because she is not getting enough momy time, and apparently girls need lots of momy time?!? My kitchen and bathroom needing that extra scrub, and lets face it....keeping up with this home and its contents and occupants is a full time job in itself.

I am enjoying seeing things pull together. Watching walls turn into what I have wanted them to be for what seems like forever. Seeing floors clean and new. Tying up loose ends. But I am still tired. I take on such huge tasks, because.well.they.have.to.get.done. I have to do them! I cant wait to get back to my regular scheduled duties. Maybe Rob will be more available in a few weeks as well, and it will lighten the load. My super powers are running low. Sometimes I think is all this really worth it, yet it has to get done. We could sell the house as is for about 20,000 less. Yet with some extra work it will be worth so much more. Simple work really....but theres just one me. SIGH!

Dont the children know that they are supposed to stand in front of mom....to cover up the 20 lbs she needs to loose. Not in front of dad who is as buff as a 20 year old, Geesh they just dont listen.

Happy Fourth of July and for those of you who had no fireworks, I'll share some of ours.

Happy Birthday!

On July 3rd, 2001 we welcomed into our lives, our 4th precious son, Ethan Issac. You have been so special. Different than all the rest in so many ways. You are the quite one. I have to go searching for you during the day as you will be playing somewhere quite as a mouse. You love to draw, and draw you must! At least a hand full of pictures a day. Your second love would be all things electronic. You have a limited menu, a texture thing I think. I have learned it is not out of defiance that you wont eat most foods. You will peacefully leave the table, skipping your meal to patiently wait for the next one, in hopes that it is something you will eat. Six years....huh, it doesn't seem like that is possible. Have a sweet sixth birthday Ethan!I love you!

Rejoice with me!

At the age of 21, six weeks after the birth of my second son. I was diagnosed with SIN 2 cervical displaysia. SIN 3 is cervical cancer. It was a very hard time in my life with struggles in every direction. I had just endured a very sick baby, whom was in NICU for two weeks. Rob had taken a job that had him traveling and gone for months at a time. I had been given the DEPO shot at my six weeks post natal appointment, during the same visit that my pap was taken. I had BAD side effects from this shot, which included non stop bleeding for the duration of the life of the shot (3 months). So I was given my diagnosis, yet we could not do the biopsy until I stopped bleeding. We waited and waited, the whole time wondering if this was an aggressive displaysia, while words like possible hysterectomy were thrown around.

My labs also explained why I had this horrible diagnosis. I had the HPV virus. After 3 months of waiting, we went in for the biopsy. I remember crying in the waiting room after the procedure and telling Rob that I was so happy that we had had at least two children, because the Dr's made it sound as though a hysterectomy had a high possibility of occurring. A few weeks later we were told our "number" of SIN and I was scheduled to be frozen. The freezing worked and The Father covered me with Mercy. I was told I would need a pap smear every six months as opposed to the normal year and we went on with our lives.

Fast forward three years, to the pregnancy of our fourth child. During my routine initial pap, displaysia rears its ugly head once again. I was only about 8 weeks pregnant, and all we could do was wait for 7 long months. But, The LORD had a miracle to perform in my life I just didn't know it yet. Many people prayed for me during this time, the men at Robs work came together in the office and stood in prayer to our wonderful Father. The folks at church, came together and lifted us up in prayer. I had my beautiful fourth son on July 3rd 2001. I went in for my pap smear six weeks later, the nurse said she would call me if the results were positive, and that it would be about two weeks. More waiting....two weeks came and went and no phone call, so I called them and asked for my results. She said "its negative" I asked her to check again ;-) and she replied again with "yes mam, negative"

You see I had been HEALED! I knew it, The LORD told me I would be. But I needed proof! I was given a word during this time by a lady whom I had not met before and it was this "You will be healed and restored from the things that you carry with you due to your sinful past." Praise The Father!!!

So moving on to present day rejoicing....it is six years later and I received a phone call from my midwife today to let me know that it is once again negative! This is just one example of how The Lord restored me and made me whole, from a life filled with heart ache and pain of all types. HE can do this for you! He can restore you, make you white as snow....you only need to ask HIM, truly give your life to HIM and HE will make you WHOLE!!!

The grey area

Well, I finally did it. I colored my hair. I didnt want to, putting it off and putting it off. Until the other day when my husband said, "Honey, it looks like you need to color your hair" Gasp! He doesnt like my gray hairs, that are creeping in? Big surprise, I know.

I just did not want to color my hair. I am soooo sensitive to fums and chemicals. PLUS, I really like the color of my hair, not the grey of course....but the rest of it. So it has been colored and seems pretty close to my real hair color. There are a few greys that averted the color.

P.S. If you ever want to scare yourself, walk outside with a mirror into the ever illuminating truth of the sun....and take a good look at your face. AAAKKKK! As I was searching for greys but could not help finding every flaw upon my poor face. Time to go pluck those eyebrows ;-)

Progress & Ponder

In case you thought that I might be hiring out to have all this painting done, here's my proof. Oh, and ya I read the top of the ladder...but I'm short and there is just no other way. Please avert your eyes from my backside. Painting is dirty, hot work.

So here's the fruit of my labors thus far. I woke up at 5:45 this morning and got to work. Much easier while there are no little fingers getting into the paint. It has been primed and is now ready for the main paint. I am amazed at how brighter and bigger it looks now!

Herein lies my dilemma. I am not sure how to get this painted. It is directly over the staircase. Rob had mentioned placing a long board across, perhaps I will try that...its just such a long way down.

Lastly, had I known that $3.48....10 minutes....and the willingness to turn your hands purple, would have been all it took to get that window panel stained; I would have done it 2 years ago! Maverick likes it.

Side Tracked and Sleep Deprived!

I got a bit side tracked yesterday. My plan was to paint the upstairs hallways. I ended up tearing the old flooring out of our downstairs bathroom and replacing it. It looks FANTASTIC!!!

Before, you can see the ugly, old grey tiles in the back corner.

After, pretty, clean, new wood tiles! I love it!

Its 4:00pm now. I finished the bathroom floor, replaced the toilet seat and cleaned ever inch of the toilet and surrounding walls ( those with boys realize the importance of that last step). I am BEAT. Monday I was woken at 12:30, and could not fall back asleep until 3:30am...I had so much running through my head. Then last night, my poor Seth was up barfing until 3:30am; therefor, I was up again with him. I have had a total of about 8 hours sleep in the past 48 hours and I'm pooped! I will be resting the rest of the evening....except for making dinner, and cleaning the kitchen, sigh...........

Painting is hard work. Walking up and down the ladder, pushing the roller up and down the wall over and over for hours. Getting in odd positions and holding it for 15 minutes while you trim in between very tight door casings. I woke up yesterday so sore I could hardly move. I had muscles hurting in places I didnt realize there were muscles. Yet what did I do, I kept painting. Heres what I have to show for this weekends work.

This is the hallway/stairs leading from the entryway.

It is complete! I will be ripping up the carpet on the stairs and either leaving the wood if its in good shape, or putting down a runner carpet if not in so good of shape. This is my next area to paint. The hallway upstairs that has 5 doors and a bunch of wood work to trim around. Not to mention, I'm not sure how I will get to the top of the wall at the top of the stairs. hmmm?
On a more fun note, here we have summer fun going on. I remember doing this when I was little, putting the sprinklers on the trampoline and jumping away...so much fun!I really have soooo much to do, if I'm not careful it seems a bit overwhelming. Along with painting the whole house. I have flooring in the bathroom and kitchen to rip up and replace. Totes to load up and take to storage as to declutter the house. A baby to nurse and children to play with. We will be taking two weeks off of school as a"special break" to give me plenty of time to complete these things. I also will not be taking any sewing orders until July 15th. I have one order to finish up today and get in the mail, then I will have that extra time available as well. Please keep me in your prayers that nothing goes out, LOL like my back or my foot, or most of all my sanity!!