Just a few of Violet Faith . . .
Babies are such a miracle . . . What an awesome Creator!
God made little girls just for their Mama’s . . . Can’t believe I have three daughters now!
Recognize the dress, Deborah? 
Love it!
Two of the most precious people in the world . . .
The love of a mother for her child is strong . . . If ya didn’t know
Children truly are a gift from God . . . one of the best kind!!!
Napping is quite the challenge around this household. Take for instance today. Ya gotta sleep when baby sleeps, right? Everybody knows that!
Violet didn’t sleep much this morning, so I concluded that she would probably sleep good at nap time. Well she went down early, like right after our early lunch. So get everybody else settled quick, this Mama needs a nap big time today! I laid down for a few minutes getting into that sleepy state only to get back up again to take needed measures to get the 2 year old to understand that Mama meant business when she said be quiet and go to sleep. Back to my room and under the covers, pillows adjusted just right, snuggled down for ten more minutes and whooops Violet must’ve just wanted a cat nap. Why, I thought she’d sleep long and hard for sure! I stand over her cradle hoping it is just a passing thought . . . Nope. Might as well get her up and feed her again, but first I try the swing cause I just fed her not long ago. Maybe that will take care of her . . .
Sittin’ in the rocker, rocking my baby, I hear a faint “Mama”. Calling up a reminder that, “No, Jaden, you may not get up yet. You have to sleep first”, I continue feeding Violet. Loraine peeps out from under her blanket house in the living room (I’d forgotten I let her nap there today) “Mom, you said I don’t need to take naps anymore.” “Yes, but you’re too tired from yesterday’s excursions, so you need to today.”
Ok, try swing again after feeding bottle, almost goes to sleep. I head back to bed . . . only to get all snuggled in nice when Violet decides that no, she really doesn’t want to sleep. I fling back the blankets and hit the floor once more. Okay, in the jumper you go and please be happy there!!!
Jeremiah comes upstairs hearing all these transactions. Wondering if it’s time to come up. “No. I’ll let you know. You are to stay in your spot till then. Understood?!?! ” Only reason I’m up is to take care of the baby. Japheth comes up to use bathroom and make sure he isn’t missing out on anything . . . Grrrrr . . . They just don’t get the point, do they?!?!
Finally, I let Loraine stop trying to sleep and just have quiet time. Now she’s over there reading a noisy book! Oh my . . . no wonder my hair is graying fast . . . cause this is just a typical naptime here at our house.
Enjoy your nap if you take one and if you don’t be thankful you don’t need on.
It’s all in the life of a mother . . .
Now that I’m not pregnant and have adjusted to a new baby, we are on a schedule. For the most part I like it. It helps me keep focused. This is good!!! So many sidetractions can get me off track of what really needs to be done. But till lunch time I am a bit frizzy brained and frazzled having to go between a third grade, a second grader, (kinda) first grader and three other preschoolers and the newborn.
And today we just had to have lunch earlier cause Mom couldn’t handle any more and needed a break. She sent them all outside expect the baby of course and just crashed on the couch, having her own “quiet blanket time”.
And for an update after my last post, I’m able to function better now . . . And so life goes on!
Not sure what to say . . . other than I’ve never had post postpartum depression so bad as this time . . . just hangs on and gets worse than ever . . . What is your experience with postpartum depression?
Just a quick note to say what has been the greatest blessing these past few weeks!!!
Our newborn has had colic( been extremely fussy in the evening with gas\stomach pains until the wee hours of the morning at times) . . . All of our children have been this way . . . this time I was just extra frustrated and desperate, I guess, due to more children equaling more laundry, more squabbles, and more mess . . .
Anyway, a few ladies had mentioned staying of milk\dairy products . . . and I’m still not totally sure cause I never actually got that far to trying it . . .
But one friend found that if she took Magnesium and Selenium she didn’t really have to worry about milk\dairy stuff anymore.
So right away I called my husband at work and he brought me home some Selenium (I was already taking Mag.) and I stopped drinking milk from a glass (though didn’t worry about dairy any other way) and just in a matter of two-three days we had a happy contented baby once again!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!
So I just had to share this . . . if ever it might help some other mother\baby\family out there . . . it affects the whole family in some way or another 
“Prayers and Peanut Butter” by Barbara Classen is one of the best “Mom” books out there!!! I’m almost to the back cover . . . Love it!!! Lots of understanding\sympathy, inspiration, challenges and good child training tips and advice.
Vision Publishers have it if you are interested. They told us yesterday that someone will order one and then about a week later call back and order a case (10), which is what I’m contemplating about doing . . . Just want to pass it out to all young or not so young moms who are in the same stage of life as I am right now! www.vision-publishers.com There’s my advertising for the day!
This has been a tough week for me . . . weary and exhausted, trying to keep things under control (house work and children ) and just needing lots of rest and quiet . . .
And of course this had to be an extremely busy week for my husband ( he’s on the quilt show committee this year). Somehow when we’re both bus and tired at the same time it is tougher . . .
But God has poured out his tender loving care on me this week also . . . Three mornings in a row I’ve had a few hours to myself, of quiet reflection and rest. And yesterday I actually slept a bit in the mid-morning and also a bit in the afternoon . . . now this is miracle stuff for me because I usually can’t sleep during the day no matter how exhausted I am . . . Anyway, I just want to praise His name and say that He cares . . . He really does . . . He came to me “in person” these last few days and ministered to my needs . . .
No, God doesn’t always answer my prayers this way . . . but He’s the Lily in my Valley anyway . . . no matter what . . .
“I found a Lily in my valley – in my valley,
I found strength when I was worn- Oh, so worn
I found a place to leave my burden,
I found a refuge from the storm.
A place to trade my dark skies,
For beaming rays of sunshine – God’s sunshine
I found a Lily in my valley
And He blooms all the time . . .”
Hello there . . . Are ya enjoying your summer?
We’re lov’in it!!!
Of course some days are sweeter than others . . .
This being one of them . . .
Loraine picks flowers every day . . .
It’s just her favorite thing to do!!!
And of course Lynne doesn’t like being left out . . .
God bless your day with sunshine and daisies and little ones to kiss . . .
Until next time . . . See ya!
I’ve been trying to teach the boys how to memorize Scripture verses by themselves . . . Finally this morning we had some good successes!!! . . . . Why is it that there is such a difficult road leading to success? . . . I’ve been trying to get them to do this for about a year, I guess (off and on, ya know )
And this afternoon right after lunch we had a major, major failure in remembering lessons on how to treat animals kindly . . . I mean we are not talking one or two or even three year olds, but almost seven and eight year olds!!!
Does God ever feel like it’s useless? . . . What He’s trying to teach me? . . . Does He ever wonder and think “Oh, she’ll never get it!! Look at this . . . again . . . over and over, she’s failed at this test . . . .
I admit, I wonder sometimes . . . Will my children ever learn . . . Like HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO TELL\SHOW THEM?! Whether it’s clearing off the table chores or keeping their room clean or being kind to animals or remembering to come ask “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mama? before they run off to play. . .
“Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain” . . . but when you’re down in the valley trying to train up six children . . .ya gotta hold on to FAITH . . .