tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320821452024-03-21T21:52:56.439-07:00Motherhoodtheciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-29725190788592151582010-08-29T19:49:00.000-07:002010-08-29T19:56:01.155-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><u>THIS WILL BE MY LAST EVER POST!!!</u></span><br />Are you nervous? Don't worry, I know you check my blog everyday to see when and if I posted! However, this will be my last ever post! I SAID, don't worry... its just the last one on THIS blog! I just can't do it anymore... the webaddress for this one is zech-n-lily-r-blessings... well, that is true, but I have a new blessing, and she HAS to have equal rights on my blog. I just can't handle her name not being there. I tried to change it to theciskekids... but it still haunts me that it comes up with only two of my three blessings' names! So I am starting over. I will be posting on my NEW blog... same me, just new site. So since I KNOW you have me bookmarked, or you follow me... you will have to start following the NEW me!<br /><a href="http://lovetheciskekids.blogspot.com/">lovetheciskekids.blogspot.com</a>. I hope you still like it (it looks just like this one! hehe)<br />So come on over and I'll see ya there, where ALL my kiddos are present! :)theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-30091052537195777222010-08-06T08:33:00.000-07:002010-08-06T10:10:48.839-07:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">A Mother's work is never done...</span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Meet the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciske</span> family...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502321535383490802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUsMe3kasznykjqjnixXT7C5qICIK_52HhdcNKyA2-kYFrKlVKZV88ouLB0KEgP0Hv1BlT4xWt4Snlhp1WHlhj77IsEYsSsA9lvskUR_pfydd-9pZ3YkKcTsnzHaELbex6CyoMA/s320/meet+the+ciskes.jpg" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="left">This may not be the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciske</span> family you've seen in portraits, this is the everyday <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciske</span> family. And in response to a creative project prompt "A mother's work is never done" I'd like to give you a few (just a few) snapshots into our day. Keep in mind that a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">momma's</span> day is VERY busy and its just way too hard to stop and take a photo of <em>EVERYTHING</em> we do. This is just a glimpse.</p><p align="left">First of all, the youngest of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ciske</span> clan has decided its tremendously fun to wake at 5am. So before I hit the day, I hit my knees, however quick it may be, I make sure I ask God to get me through... even at 5am!</p><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322200148920962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbI-o2tXHDC_0fTodfxSXLSXuCX27SJFGK-ExN5oYjQFaXT6E-sgEaA-3s65jv_hhAJuLvbXvD0jIFZJ41yGnBEeeG7-I-JwMoNjRVGwyqGMmZ9NcwtYy2c-HFE0ePt3CXU78_Iw/s320/praying.jpg" /><em>Of course this is me, what do you mean it doesn't look like me! man, I just woke up, I may not look perfect, but I do the best I can!</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center">So for the next two hours I try to get Ruby BACK to sleep, or at least to lay still so I can go back to sleep. It rarely works. So I begin my daily routine. Sometimes I clean while everyone sleeps.<br /></p><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502321543573940434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhFjphLaIId1XjZhNbMAWFzyuAMnaOWkVgzyiWcU5LsiB_YuqB0f042AlC4SwRM6hAdTq8Iv5drUxVay4mA9esMsaw2TXF4waYOAi0nZrKDrrsN529LGDe1CsrQBOxjdcgMJn4A/s320/cleaning.jpg" /></p><div align="center"><em>Yes, I live in a castle!</em> </div><p align="left">When I don't clean, I lay around... ya know, doing nothing. And <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">that's</span> okay, I mean, its only 5am. But then all of a sudden its 7 and I realize I have a very limited time to shower, brush my teeth, get some clothes on, and dress my three beauties. Today is grocery day, and I've seen a sale on crayola crayons at K-mart (25cents!) so I MUST make a stop there, and I've promised we'd go bowling. So I hazily grab clothes for the kids to wear (remember how I got up at 5am?)</p><p align="left">Sometimes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Zech</span> dresses himself, and even if he looks like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Diego</span>, I'm okay with that just so its one less thing for me to do.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEv10Emgn3zvU4_sQNxWrX06rP-w2-38i0hxiCJmOFIyd2fR-_Vx7xBUPS3ORfPpw5aY9mxlNQyrQ2ASxTZXjs1WXvX91owSpdbOWwPWHLu_7plI7uJKJvdV9IqR0cPJ45fLr-w/s1600/zech.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322925595617234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEv10Emgn3zvU4_sQNxWrX06rP-w2-38i0hxiCJmOFIyd2fR-_Vx7xBUPS3ORfPpw5aY9mxlNQyrQ2ASxTZXjs1WXvX91owSpdbOWwPWHLu_7plI7uJKJvdV9IqR0cPJ45fLr-w/s320/zech.jpg" /></a> I attempt to dress Lily, who always has an opinion on what she wears. If I had gotten enough sleep last night I may have had the stamina to go 3 full rounds with her, today, I let her wear her favorite outfit... a bathing suit and tights<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502321572434251970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTFa1ODdiMlip7O3NaXORtleHRBajfLcWenUq-hzsPm4aCwuscsA-KsPmi55ES6ddSG6CT6qwTX4rb2P-ZDbpFQn9b25KtdLO1-RcHrCHFU8cMGxtm0O6_tDKs6ZszcWXCDsJ1g/s320/lily.jpg" /> <em>of course, she really, in real life, wore a denim skirt that she LOVES but that is 2 sizes too big for her, but for the picture purposes, I had to stay real to the character!</em><br /><br /><p>By the time I get the first two dressed, the third fed (bottle and bananas & Strawberry cereal that I pureed myself) I have barely anytime to get myself ready for the day. So I ask Dave, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">superdaddy</span> to please dress Ruby.<br /></p><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322205653619586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjhXifFvOf8_0xWaISIgQKj_zW-EPErRyNtVIX6gPVMs4-iAXVNz_yIOGScVLDycB65TbG9PE1H4F9pXl5ux8wkM4VFOrJHyMNW9W1YkpwrVyRuj477Ru6VIvosDocv9fYYEQjQ/s320/ruby.jpg" /> <p align="center"> <em>I really try not to micromanage my husband, so I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">swallow</span> the words I have to say to him, and allow him to dress my daughter as a ninja! (And really, in the real world, he would never do this... he'd ask "What is she wearing today" knowing I'd never let my kids go out looking like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Diego</span>, strawberry shortcake, and a ninja!)</em><br /><br /></p><p>So, I have decided that my body may need a shower, but my hair does not have time for a thorough cleaning and style. I take my extra short 2 min shower, throw on some clothes and we are off to drop <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Superdaddy</span> off at work.<br /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 251px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502330240921812626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01_ZeMepTEn7_-fEhxwR4dkNuwBtyQ6I2kd-36tZz9_PeOJpR5Al8e1TOJsEvmoMGAnBqWGmg32mpEa4p_CsWGZAHuoV81mpSMvn9UExQ-CL2JOESMjTnFGYFGHqD5kfW0ZTs8Q/s320/dad+to+work.jpg" /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Yes, he's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">superdaddy</span>. One that goes to work everyday so I can live the life I live!</em><br /></div><div align="center"><em>***And for a DUMB reason, this picture is originally landscape, not portrait, so it looks like he's flying... but it wouldn't allow me to rotate in this blog... stupid blog, so tilt your head and look at it the right way, would ya... now YOU look stupid! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">hehe</span>***</em></div><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="center">We them begin our errands. Driving from bowling, to k-mart, to lunch, because we all know you can't get groceries hungry, nor can you take three STARVING kids on an hour long errand with you and still stay sane!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322900125998866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JcG6hBBXtnOIyuYoXysc676LE7IEsWUaWGOR5f14iyBktkjuTLRaVSDWit3epzfzWOJN9ps4GkpO3VIeV5lvJjDAffuSufK9GyvMJT-wiZ_3qwZewf8U6owc6Zq8oFMjTuKMhA/s320/transportation.jpg" /><em>I used this coach for this part, well, because its missing the horse, and if you ever rode in our van you may think its missing something too, but we treat our trusty van like a royal coach, it is the van we have, and the ONLY <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">transportation</span> we have.</em></div><div align="center"><em>***and for all my super safety conscious friends, remember this is pretend pictures, and in real life my children all sit in age appropriate/ state regulated/mom approved <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">carseat</span>... all of them!***</em></div><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">At lunch my super husband tries to convince me its a bad idea to add groceries to the already full day with the kids. He suggests I go home and put the kids down for nap and maybe see if I can take a nap as well (see, he's superman!) and maybe get groceries when he is home in the evening. Great idea, except he has worship practice so that means groceries start at 8pm! I play it over in my head, envision 3 tired kids helping me get groceries, and decide to take superman's advice! We head home, I put them all in bed, and try to tidy up the castle a bit more.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaKlkr69maBu3gb5ksqbcELT5kwHJM4n4GqAXQgemF18ubhsO_K8LER60eKPIN0hocNh6gD97_thSytv4ixl4GgWijvMnGuMbMh0KJP8yI9iLdlp27GOOlAoi8gbl0s-qSg6Anw/s1600/cleaning.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502334613842614450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaKlkr69maBu3gb5ksqbcELT5kwHJM4n4GqAXQgemF18ubhsO_K8LER60eKPIN0hocNh6gD97_thSytv4ixl4GgWijvMnGuMbMh0KJP8yI9iLdlp27GOOlAoi8gbl0s-qSg6Anw/s320/cleaning.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><em>Yes, like I said, I live in a castle!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="left">The nap doesn't go well, and Miss Ruby is awake but doesn't really WANT to be, so she's crabby, and needs some Mommy time. And really, I wouldn't mind sitting on the couch and lounging with her...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322191957171362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtL9bVflHDe3ZjNOvs0O3Colm73YRRe_UExp68c0ierOg87rB5gFwXzBZVLjjw7pbLpnMrmYMNpuyIHGMPlCVu5YMZyId3nvOrKyt-F-60j8YY-1WAVpz7Sr8I5G0_-xxMizV6w/s320/reading.jpg" /></div><div align="center"><em>I decide a mommy really can't sit and just lounge, there is always more that needs to be done, so I do what every mother does... multi-task. I rock my baby girl while I read "</em>The Joys of Teaching Kindergarten"<em> because in less than a month I will be a kindergarten teacher! Even if it is only to one kindergarten, I want to be as prepared as possible!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Ruby wants to read too, the book is taking up too much of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Momma's</span> attention! And the book is all over the place, but since I am somewhat of a SUPER multi-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">tasker</span>, I attempt to bounce the baby WHILE reading... But it goes something like this...</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nlgGVUntR-cslTS68c-SkbSKnVhfYmOKotLTmtLU6u9HhLcY_jheRFS656as0qw-UoyJqbgS3_a3696eCtVuUCw9rx_9iIu0tRLF9EKWQZmZM48rwiLDQNuyPrRHTPpQxatrJw/s1600/trying+to+read.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322919682791826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nlgGVUntR-cslTS68c-SkbSKnVhfYmOKotLTmtLU6u9HhLcY_jheRFS656as0qw-UoyJqbgS3_a3696eCtVuUCw9rx_9iIu0tRLF9EKWQZmZM48rwiLDQNuyPrRHTPpQxatrJw/s320/trying+to+read.jpg" /></a> And eventually, I realize: She is only going to want to be on my lap for a short time, I love her soft hands, her bouncy personality, and I don't want to blink and it be gone! I can stay up until Midnight (like I did the night before) and read... this is Ruby time!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322890804010962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFarJLmIKPz1vmAklC_TmGIrHBV2-LKUgyGQ4vk8yGuZy3ioXATM-CeV9legJQt6ZtAq5O5ZiXVcSt8TSfpaiXlq6-P7x10VOXE9vlKjgEDjtuXqZg4tIymWxoiHJCjxjsmC6Olg/s320/time+w+ruby.jpg" /><em>even if she is dressed like a ninja... and kicks like one too!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="left">Once she is fed, and seems like it may be nap time, I try to take my superman's ideas and take a nap (I mean, I am a submissive wife as well as a momma!)<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWG0H4VbFsxFG-_ljtVcX9QvE-835kwjSyaKaTqsIPBiupAVApzt7rh-W2mwfEf8VW6itW_6nN7JOx7DtutEgXn9f_miPvnen-RD2SMk_CsjmrGthnwAqHStsz4VScVWv2b-uFg/s1600/trying+to+nap.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322908425663970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuWG0H4VbFsxFG-_ljtVcX9QvE-835kwjSyaKaTqsIPBiupAVApzt7rh-W2mwfEf8VW6itW_6nN7JOx7DtutEgXn9f_miPvnen-RD2SMk_CsjmrGthnwAqHStsz4VScVWv2b-uFg/s320/trying+to+nap.jpg" /></a> <em>Sometimes nap time doesn't work! But if I lay down and let them talk AT me, and crawl ON me, maybe I can get some physical rest while they get some mommy time! (Don't judge me!)</em></div><p><em></em></p><p>I decide that I will attempt the grocery shopping before I pick up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Superdaddy</span> from work, if they aren't going to nap anyway, might as well. I give the older two notebooks with the 4 food groups written inside. I tell them they will need to keep track of what I buy in their nutrition journals and make sure we are being healthy. They LOVE the idea, and I love the idea that maybe they will be focusing on this instead of focusing on driving me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">nutso</span> in the store. (It worked for about 2 isles and then the notebooks became swords! But hey, it was better than nothing!)</p><p>I go get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Superdaddy</span> from work (you'd think he could just FLY home, but hey, his royal carriage <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">trekked</span> on to pick him up.</p><p>We get home, I want to crash, but want Superman to unwind as well. So I fix dinner<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0iDiAEEn5WQjZN7Q0EEqyFjV1eeyXJKgUgOJCMDLmNDk749ABaOcpKeGo6NP5_aatxS-i2Z1YN9JgemkhWcauetNnCBL4WbpwUipM5FivhBx6Xg8ux_S1waHOz9RBDD4oGXCJQ/s1600/set+table.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322214095194498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0iDiAEEn5WQjZN7Q0EEqyFjV1eeyXJKgUgOJCMDLmNDk749ABaOcpKeGo6NP5_aatxS-i2Z1YN9JgemkhWcauetNnCBL4WbpwUipM5FivhBx6Xg8ux_S1waHOz9RBDD4oGXCJQ/s320/set+table.jpg" /></a> <em>Don't worry, I made it for everyone, not just two... you HAVE to give me a break on these pictures, people, and enjoy the CREATIVITY of them! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">hehe</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00"></span></em> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">SuperWorshiper</span> has to go to the church for worship practice, so I am at home with the kids. Trying to get them bathed, teeth brushed, read to, played with, and loved on before bed.</div><div align="left">Finally, they get to bed, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">SuperWorshiper</span> is home! and its US time!<br /></div><p align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502321550327237202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWirpUzHDaNl8OXKqdc77HDirNoYiqFsbwjtkFBNOF03uOejafNt_9nmtG1Cq09SbTSZcWvdf7gwhV5MngRGP94VfLMfkCDR_zmMTXfvSMf9lbId6bwlO3QXYX-6pQaCQ7ccnYdg/s320/couple+time.jpg" /><em>Superman loves couple time, he is praising the Lord for it even as the picture is taken! And I get to sit! The day is finally coming to an end.</em></p><p>Keep in mind that even writing this I am still a momma! So I can't give full accounts of all that went on that day, I mean, I still have kids to feed, play with, be a trampoline for, love on, and encourage. So for times sake, i will leave you with the way I end my day, the same as I begin...<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2oNZMQNCBgL3dRjGDcTFfCIhVEYWxIWvRbhEnWmpfq952hMhEpzxDvG9jpm4vdtm2vIG8tER5sPgt6xvjxRtMQV_be2gK3azHlzQhWFEcCnd8nkMK_0DSm7Off3r0h3NN-aByA/s1600/praying.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502322181362530274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2oNZMQNCBgL3dRjGDcTFfCIhVEYWxIWvRbhEnWmpfq952hMhEpzxDvG9jpm4vdtm2vIG8tER5sPgt6xvjxRtMQV_be2gK3azHlzQhWFEcCnd8nkMK_0DSm7Off3r0h3NN-aByA/s320/praying.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><em>A Mother's work is never done. She must start her days on her knees and end it in the same position. Without it, the work is all in vain. I consider my "work" as mother/wife a calling, and I dare not venture into that lighthearted. (no matter how silly this became).</em><br /></p><p align="center">And there you have it!</p>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-34282047786570857062010-08-05T19:33:00.000-07:002010-08-05T20:20:58.743-07:00<u>The Joys of Teaching Kindergarten</u><br />I have one month left before kindergarten starts. I'm nervous when I think that his education is in my hands. Everything he has to learn he needs to learn from the experiences I can give him. However, I'm excited that his education is in my hands. I'm excited that everything he has to learn he gets to learn from the experiences I can give him. And I am taking my anxieties to God. I've been reading an old textbook about the kindergarten experience, and although I may not have the same techniques, or teaching styles as some of the other homeschooling moms out there, I am picturing a great learning experience for the kids. I love how I can take my worries to God and I can see Him working in me to calm my nerves. As I read the book I have my highlighter and postits marking things I want to implement in the "learning experience"... but as I read, I am also getting tons of ideas and envisioning all kids of ways to teach this or that. So I jot them down inside the book. I never studied like this in school! I am enjoying it, looking forward to it, and praying over it! I've got a big job ahead of me, and although I see so many doing this homeschool journey, its new to me. I'm learning as well! I can't wait!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-84512169888858377442010-04-20T08:51:00.000-07:002010-04-30T13:54:16.173-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrtIeDlhXwCAqk9EaXJu9z0o7KpVwGdHC8ra8ma6q3szhXuWRvZmD3CE8DGx-F_CRPbiStB82WLUgKz16M1q92nbLfyNI8UK4fcF6iR4J_imECpB1uSFhT_syDMtqXKMmuteNtw/s1600/IMG_6354.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249645218393202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrtIeDlhXwCAqk9EaXJu9z0o7KpVwGdHC8ra8ma6q3szhXuWRvZmD3CE8DGx-F_CRPbiStB82WLUgKz16M1q92nbLfyNI8UK4fcF6iR4J_imECpB1uSFhT_syDMtqXKMmuteNtw/s320/IMG_6354.JPG" /></a> <strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">On your knees, cleaning up messes?</span></u></strong><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We had an incident in our home recently that God really used to speak to me.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> My 3 year old LOVES beads. She loves to organize things, and make patterns, so to give her a bag of tiny beads and a leather strap is like candy; A HUGE TREAT! So, I had been watching her for awhile and saw how she was very responsible with her beads, how she placed them in the perfect spot, kept them clean and orderly, and how she truly enjoyed the experience. So I went ahead and let her take the beads to nap time with her. Surely she would daintily make gorgeous necklaces, bracelets, and doze happily off to sleep. Instead at the end of nap time I enter her room where there is not one <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">crevasse</span> untouched by beads. She had scattered beads ALL OVER her room. Under her bed, in the corners, on toys, in her bed, in her pillow case... the beads were everywhere... NO jewelry in sight! I was SO disappointed! I trusted her! And deep down I went against my first feeling of not letting her in her room with the potential mess makers. I told her to begin cleaning up. To put the beads in a cup and bring them to me to dump into the bags. I left the room. Came back 10 minutes later and saw a crying crumbled mess... of a three year old. No beads picked up. I gave her another 10 minutes with a punishment looming over her if beads were not picked up. 10 minutes later it became very clear that the mess was too big for a 3 year old to clean up. I sat down with her, showed her where to begin and guided her in cleaning the big mess she had gotten herself into. Then it dawned on me. This is the way God deals with us many times in our lives. He gives us something, entrusts something that we think we love and adore only for us to mess it up, leaving ourselves in a crumbling mess wondering how we will ever get it cleaned up.</span></p><p>I did not clean up Lily's mess while she sat and watched. I showed her how to clean, I guided her in getting it done. I got to the pieces she couldn't reach alone. God won't come in and miraculously clean everything up. God is our biggest supporter when it comes to cleaning up our lives. He equips us, guides us, teaches us, and stays with us until the mess is cleaned up (and lingers even when its done!) He works deep within us to clean the mess that we can't get to. And reminds us when there is more to clean up.</p><p>There are many times in life that we get ourselves in a mess that we ourselves can not get out of. And what is our response? Do we crumble in a heaping sobbing pile and stare at the mess? Frown faced, broken spirit, helpless? Or do we cry out to God for help. Do we let our pride get in the way of receiving the help we need. Just as I sat beside Lily until every bead was picked up, God will do the same for you. He will be there, he will see it through the end. There are no beads left in her room. I do not have a looming punishment over her anymore. (God probably never had one!). But I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">guarantee</span> she learned her lesson. She won't be scattering beads all over her room, the mess taught her it isn't a place she wants to be. </p><p>If we let God get us through, and let him teach us for the future we just may realize that it was no fun to be in the mess to begin with!</p>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-43291575078136725502010-01-21T13:26:00.000-08:002010-01-21T13:40:03.828-08:00<div><div><div><div><strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">Wanna Blog!</span></u></strong></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Yep, I WANT to blog... I have lots to say... but no time! Its hard to blog with one hand to type! Oh wait, you may need to know WHY I have no time, and only one hand! Its certainly not because of any kind of hand disease, or amputation. But more of a total and complete blessing that has happened in our lives... here let me show you...</span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429309269340172338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiEAzdD7llGSLdQ4uhyphenhyphen8fgUDvtP675FwNex_uHVnql27ALMgljahVm-51wpM6GH4tqEK9cNe__6s29DobGNAoGodG3tUYHIF4N1voKwNdAtWK5EveLkuS2kXhXWBlLiiRLKwSRg/s320/106.JPG" /> <div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Ruby Grace arrived Jan 4th at 1:40pm weighing 8lbs 13oz and was 20.</span>5 in tall. She is perfect! So content, so easy (so far) and so loved! We are working on routines and how to get everything done. So far I want to nap when all three kids nap, and still need to figure out time to clean house and do the homeschooling... so blogging is... well, not on the front of my mind at all times.</div><div>So, soon I will put out one massive blog to catch up (not sure if anyone reads this or not anywho!)</div><div>But I leave you with a few more gorgeous pics of her! (She's just so cute!)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429310829424485298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_lkVyb9FshHmyYcgPIpEjdzx-CcPHWhtrkGmw5auWld2XT5bGod5QXzINEWAmoxQf3s8amDfxJ0qWGwBGsUOCJZNfEXcFmJ56XBCMZPLSOHVNgjH33LPWeER_le04Dk4hf60Cg/s320/039bw.jpg" /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429310190265379010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQke90OEzPtgo1Rm5SNFzHaroCgX6yVCOoPs9N5xe9KF0ucNaPLIEz6mCPpv_LfttO0YyLHaq3RIVSpXylMldwmfOkUhi6Ga2JOzeOHovJB9CWb0vfd7GShtEtCZ-39aZCrE6yA/s320/044bw.jpg" /> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429310497670958418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincqukiXcjPuvSoG-5CR3SmDdb8qR_lTmEI4UyPVZyq1BXnYwI5-I4SDAZtMrnDN4_250HLHrDrA6s6zojz9akCAqUwvmSRAUxLGkcZdlmNaSs4DrTVKswdtenPmJSQqEtvCt7Ow/s320/028bw.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-13027106529289331102009-12-30T03:14:00.000-08:002009-12-30T03:43:07.582-08:00<u><strong><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;">2009 in Review</span></strong></u><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Wow, what a year! I understand I have one more day left in the year, but who knows what tomorrow will bring, I figured I'd finish the year out now!!! As in 5:17am on Dec. 30th! I start my days early now... really early! Just like it did with Lily, sleep doesn't come easily for me this pregnancy. But I have come to enjoy the early (EARLY...sometimes 2 or 3am) times of quietness. </span><br />Ruby is scheduled to arrive on January 4th. And although her actual birthday will fall in 2010, I have to say the theme to 2009 for me is RUBY! Its been quite the ride for me, and it has all kinda revolved around getting Ruby.<br />Starting the year off, Dave and I had made no real resolutions (other than the normal, lose weight... which we purchased a bike and wii fit to aid us!) but we had made a mutual decision that we wanted a baby in 2009. And right away, realized we were pregnant. I will never forget taking that test at midnight (maybe it was 10:30) and laughing with such delight! I was SO excited! October was going to bring us a new baby! For two months all I thought about was this baby that was coming. I enjoyed the idea of being pregnant even though a majority of the time (just like with the first two pregnancies) I did not feel pregnant. Then I remember in March telling Dave I had a bad feeling and could I really call the dr based on a bad feeling? However, that bad feeling was my body telling me that the baby wasn't ganna make it. And we found out by the end of March that the baby had passed a few weeks earlier. I faced a decision then. I could mourn and blame, and protest, and throw a fit... or I could CHOOSE to trust in God. choose to believe that HE was in charge of this life I was given (and the life of the baby) and if I was going to say I lived for Him, I needed to do so in the midst of my heartache. And although it was a very tough time for me, I learned something VERY useful and wonderful that will always stay with me. God is a graceful god. A God that WANTS whats best for me, even if that means he has to allow a bit of pain to my current situation. He desires whats best... and for whatever reason that baby (who I named Julianne Rose) was not the best for us, and I have to trust Him andbe okay with that!<br />Shortly... VERY shortly after, I realized I was pregnant again. And this time, I'd had a great time with God before finding out and was confident that God would allow me to hold this baby. My connection was SO strong from the very beginning. Not that it hasn't been with the other kids, but it is VERY different. Its like I'd speak to her in my mind, and she'd respond... I know seems strange. But I asked for morning sickness... how odd is that! And She gave it to me! hehe. If I hadn't felt her move in a bit I'd just have to sit back and kinda telepathically tell her to move...and boom, she'd give me a good kick in the ribs. And although I know those things come from God, I believe he is creating a bond between us through these little quirky things.<br />The year has gone by VERY slowly... yet kinda quickly as well. My kids are growing so fast, and going through two first trimesters (with the last one pretty hard on me) and a non energetic 2nd trimester, and now a VERY painful 3rd trimester, I have to say that 2009 hasn't been the BEST year for anyone in this house. Dave's had frustrations from work that he's never faced before. The kids are getting older, picking up on the stress, and figuring out how to cope with it as well.<br />But there is so much to be greatful for within their lives as well. I feel like 2009 was a year of learning and growing for them. They both have bloosomed in homeschool, and are growing up to be very fun and smart kids. I know they are only 3 &4 years old... but a momma knows!<br />So back to my THEME... Ruby... not just a name, but what she represents. When times were rough, and honestly there were lots of rough times, emotionally, stressfully, physically... There was a jewel growing within me... not just in my belly, but in my heart. God really began to design a gem in my heart. Allowing me to persevere, and see His works even in the midst of trials, frustrations, and even heartbreak. And Grace. whew! What a year of grace! He saw my pain, greived with me, and comforted me in a way that no one else could ever do. He reminded me that His grace is sufficient for me! That He is ALL I need! So, Ruby Grace will bring in the new year for us, and I can't wait to see all the things that come along with her, and the new year.<br />Zech and Lily are SO excited to meet her. I can't wait to hold her, smell her, kiss her, thank her!<br />But even outside the realm of motherhood, I believe 2010 will bring about some changes that Dave and I will be very excited about. And I look forward to every moment... and I mean EVERY moment. I don't want to miss a thing, God!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-74615616693185422972009-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:002009-12-18T11:13:45.203-08:00<strong><u>23days???</u></strong><br /> Am I reading my little ticker right? 23 days... when I should be scheduled for 7 days earlier than that... that means SIXTEEN DAYS!!! Oh, my, with Christmas and new years nestled in those 16 (SIXTEEN) days I think Ruby will be here before I know it! I can not wait! The back pain and leg pain, and hip pain, and contraction pain hasn't gotten any better, however, I am handling it! I know that God knows this baby girl's birthday and I trust it will be the right one.<br />Soon and very soon! I can't wait to meet her!!!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-11095017463549450942009-11-14T04:03:00.000-08:002009-11-14T04:16:30.468-08:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;">Wailing into Dancing...</span></u></strong>
<br />
<br />Psalms 30:11-12 says <span style="color:#ff6666;">"You turn my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent."</span>
<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">
<br /></span>This is one of the scriptures that I posted up on my wall when I miscarried in March. I had decided that I may not be able to get through that difficult time in my life if I was not surrounded by God's promises that "life does go on". So I put similar verses all over my house. I've taken some down, but some still remain up. This is one of them.
<br /></span>
<br />This morning I had the priveledge of sleeping all the way until 3:45am! (2 nights ago I got up at 3, and last night I was up at 1). I am just SO uncomfortable. My legs are restless/itchy/achey. My back is in sharp pain, and my hips hate me! I dread bedtime each night. And, unfortunately, it then affects the rest of my day as I strive to just stay awake and functioning (but hopefully I will be ready for night time feedings this way, right?)
<br />
<br />So, this morning I was finishing up a Bible Study, in which I am studying the book of Esther. In this part of my study I was asked to revisit the part of the story when the first law was put into motion by the wicked Haman. Where all the Jews hear about their upcoming doom. There were 4 emotions/actions taken by the Jewish nation of the time... (Esther 4:3)
<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">Great Mourning, Fasting, Weeping, Wailing....
<br /></span>Yep that is about it, thats what I did when I miscarried. I was in such a pit! I mourned by staying silent, I couldn't eat, I weeped secretly, I WAILED at times. I was So hurt, so wounded, so saddened. It was such a sad moment in my life. Not only was I going through actual physical hormonal changes that occur when you were pregnant, and are no longer, but I also had emotional changes. I went over it over and over thinking the drs were wrong and the baby was still alive. I couldn't fathom not having that baby come October!
<br />But I became pregnant again very quickly. (D&C on March 27th, positive pregnancy test on May 1st)
<br />
<br />In the story of Esther, Esther goes to the king, finds favor with him and he allows her to write another edict that will allow her people to live. And when the Jews received that edict (Esther 8:16) they had 4 new emotions:
<br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong>Happiness, Joy, Gladness, and HONOR!
<br /></strong></span>All the things I felt as I learned that new life was within my belly again. I was nervous at the begining. Worried I would face another demise, and relive it all over again. But it wasn't long that I realized that God was still in control,and had been telling me for a month now that he would grant my requests. It was definately a lesson in trust. And now even more than ever I realize the HONOR behind getting to carry this healthy baby! To be the womb that nurtures it. What an honor we mom's have. So I choose to be happy, have joy, be glad, and feel that honor even if I never get to sleep past 2am again! hehe!
<br />
<br />Back pains will go away, hip discomfort will only last a "moment" but the honor of being this baby's momma will stay with me for eternity! And I am SO very blessed to be able to feel those feelings of happiness, joy, gladness, and honor after feeling the "other" bad feelings. I am just so very blessed to have Ruby as my own, to care for her, to nurture her. What an honor! Thanks, God for finding me worthy enough!
<br />theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-79998305897042405922009-10-28T06:58:00.000-07:002009-10-28T07:20:10.030-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">My First Time</span></u></strong><br /><br />Before you stop reading and think what most think when you say "My first time" just remember the title of this blog... MOTHERHOOD! Its not what you think!<br />Here I am 50<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ish</span> days from having my 3rd baby, and I feel ecstatic about her arrival. I feel like a little kid that just can't wait for Christmas (which ironically is about the time Ruby will arrive). She is my rainbow baby! I look forward to seeing what has been growing and moving and stealing my heart for the past 7 months! Because I thought she was a boy from the first time I ever dreamed the 3rd child up in my mind, I am stuck as to who she might be. I think I am in for a big surprise, and I CAN'T WAIT!<br />All this has caused me to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">reminisce</span> about my FIRST TIME becoming a mother. There was nothing like it. Recently my sister-in-law became a mother for the first time. We waited in the waiting room until the baby was born, and got to see some of her first moments as a mother. There is a saying that says "When a baby is born, so is a mother" and it was such a great day that flooded memories of when I first became a mother. You carry this child for 9 months, you talk to it "Hi, baby, its me MOMMY" but it isn't until that baby comes out, cries and is held in your arms that you become a MOMMY! Your life is totally changed. And I have never loved change more than at that moment.<br />My eyes swelled with tears, and my chest with pride as I could honestly pronounce that I had become a Mommy! This was MY baby! I grew it, I birthed it, I get to keep it! Then the huge pressure hits... UH! I am A MOMMY!!! How do I hold this tiny thing? (which who are we joking mine are never tiny). How do I FEED this baby? How do I calm this baby? And as stressful as it can be, its still YOURS. And there is something so overcoming about calming him, and feeding him, providing safety for him. And knowing God has trusted you enough to parent him!<br />With my first things were not easy those first few days. he went over 18 hours refusing to eat. He cried so hard he lost his voice. We did not sleep, he did not sleep. Dave and I both cried a lot. But it never crossed my mind that it wasn't the most glorious couple of days of my life. There is this fear of not being able to do it, then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">there's</span> a supernatural confidence that tells you "I am a MOM! I can do anything!" We eventually made some decisions that were very hard for me to make (I chose to bottle feed him, *gasp*) and all was good. He just needed to eat, and I guess he chose to eat from a bottle! And life was good again. And I remember thinking that it was the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">epitome</span> of motherhood. Casting your own desires (for me to nurse) aside for the good of your kids (for him to EAT!). And it felt good to be selfless. It felt empowering to provide ANY way I could for my son! to cuddle him, to snuggle him, to love him... unconditionally.<br />I watched my sister in law as she held her fragile daughter in her arms and wanted so hard to comfort this crying baby, and I remembered instantly the feeling of becoming a mother. The hardest thing you'll ever LOVE doing (and will venture out to do it time and time... and maybe even time again!). "R" held her tiny baby in her arms and even though she felt she couldn't do it, she instantly calmed that baby! She did what she felt right and that baby felt secure, safe in her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">momma's</span> arms. There is NOTHING better! No better feeling than becoming a MOM, Mother, Mommy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">mamma</span>... lets just say it "SUPERWOMAN!!!"<br />And although the children that come afterwards are very special in their own little way. And your heart grows with each one, never lacking in love for any of them. There is nothing like your FIRST TIME! When you stopped being YOU, and became MOM for them! Totally and completely amazing! (*** For the record, I am sobbing on the other end of this keyboard... completely sobbing! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hehe</span>***)theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-33373414689508881072009-09-18T06:37:00.000-07:002009-09-18T06:50:22.215-07:00<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><u>Emotional Lately??</u></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> This pregnancy is so different than the previous ones. And one of the major things that is "VERY NOTICABLE" is how emotional I am. There are days I just want to cry, don't really have a reason to, nor am I sad, or feeling down in the least little bit. However I just wanted to cry, and it won't take much to get me there. For a quick instance, watching the dad hug his daughter after she threw his one and only foul ball caught in the stands, back... that really got me! And for a good 36 hours after hearing the Green team woman from Biggest Loser's story about losing her family I was an emotional wreck!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> But what I'd like to focus on here is what I cried about this last Wednesday Night. I take Zech to Cubbies on Wednesday nights. Each week Lily asks to go to. She wants to be a cubby so bad. So when it started up this year I learned there was a class for her age too. Puggles. I checked it out the first night, then came home discussed it with Dave and decided to let her go. Wednesday she got dressed with such delight, talking all the way about going to cubbies, and how much fun she would have. I reminded her that I was not staying but that I'd come back for her. She would frequently repeat the promise that I'd come back, but was confident in her excitement to go. I drop her off, she quickly says "Bye, Mommy!" and goes to play. No need to hug and kiss and prolong it. She knows I will come back. So I leave. My long walk back to my car I am reciting to myself "Don't cry! Don't cry!" I mean, seriously she's going to be there for 90 min. She isn't being raised by someone else, she isn't going EVERY DAY, she will come back to me!!! But as soon as I get in my van I burst into tears. WHY AM I CRYING??? The anxiety was just building up. my kids need this. My kids grow because of this. They may not NEED the spiritual training. That is something they get from us, and from our teachings at church. But they love the separation, the friends, and the independence. They need this to give them more confidence. So I know its a good thing and by staying and hovering, they won't get what they need to get from it. But it really filled me with such anxiety. I am not one of those moms that can't wait to get rid of my kids. I admit that I wouldn't mind time away from them from time to time. But mostly I enjoy being with them, teaching them, and watching over them. This is a dream job for me! And its hard to see them venture out without me. Rewarding to know that they are maturing into well rounded kids, able to socialize away from me, but hard to let them go. And this is such a little letting go... Oh, I hope its just pregnancy hormones!</span>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-28958642454378475752009-09-01T06:01:00.000-07:002009-09-01T06:16:49.655-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">So much. Brain swelling. mind racing.</span></u></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Is it possible to have "nesting" but only among thoughts and "planning". I still don't have my 100% energy back, so there is no massive cleaning and organizing going on within the house (although every morning laying in bed my mind is delighting in how nice it would be... the body reminds me NO! when I get up!) But I've been really wanting to make some changes lately. More organized, more frugal, a better mom! I think there is something to being pregnant for a year (well, at this point since January) that changes a person. I didn't feel it with the older two. I felt like pregnancy with them was just something added to my life, it didn't slow me down, nor did it change my habits. However this time around (added with the last one) I am dragging every day. So, I am hoping this kick-start will change routines for us!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pre</span>-K starts in our home next week. I have new curriculum, the first month's lesson plans and worksheets are printed, labeled, and organized for each days use! I have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">todo</span> list, and a check list for purchases! I feel great. I pray it continues each month. I still have the classroom to tidy up and organize and switch around a bit for the "new year". But I am getting excited and a bit nervous as well. (maybe one of these days I will blog about my homeschooling philosophy... it differs from MOST I've met that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">homeschool</span>... and that makes me feel a bit on the "outside"... but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that's</span> another blog!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I have also begun to clip coupons, check the save big money blogs, and am dedicated to make some money for my family through massive savings! I am getting really excited, and then bummed that until I start getting the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sunday</span> paper I can't save as much. I am organizing each coupon along with post-it notes telling me where to spend it, which store coupon to pair it with, and how to get most things FREE or for less than a quarter. This new adventure is going to take up more time, so that means I have to organize this time of mine even more. Its like I've picked up a few part-time jobs. 4 hrs of teaching a week, plus 2-3 hours finding fugal finds each week plus the added time shopping at the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">multiple</span> stores. However, I save a preschool tuition bill, and so far without much searching I saved us $100 this month in groceries... so i am making my family money! And its kinda a fun job!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">And here I am talking about this organization I am doing in my MIND but when it comes out in the blog I seem so disheveled! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hehe</span>! I guess its just what stays inside there that seems organized! I'll get better! (hey, I am just pleased that when I spell checked the word <em>disheveled</em> was spelled correctly... GO ME!)</span>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-14044411511942145382009-08-21T17:01:00.000-07:002009-08-21T17:10:38.222-07:00<strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;">Meet Ruby Grace</span></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu9B2K00lUJAS0mztQhuaLgxZvIe1yQF6PL_ZuPGI6BBrKaqwN9a45RVrUWbvdfIQlA3-85jqigw_-M6e729R6iqeSA4tVkZYLvW2AVjYKuk8im4pmso3g9reJEn2Dg1OD_9XGA/s1600-h/Image08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372571896437023394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu9B2K00lUJAS0mztQhuaLgxZvIe1yQF6PL_ZuPGI6BBrKaqwN9a45RVrUWbvdfIQlA3-85jqigw_-M6e729R6iqeSA4tVkZYLvW2AVjYKuk8im4pmso3g9reJEn2Dg1OD_9XGA/s320/Image08.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;">Although she won't be in our arms until late December/early January, we got to see what she <em>kinda</em> looks like! She looks just like Lily if we go by these pictures!</span><br />She was curled into such a ball (knees up to her ears) that the tech could barely measure her. But thankfully, I drank a tad of Mountain dew before going in to try to get her moving... it worked. She was adorable!<br />We thought she was a boy since we knew we were pregnant. We were wrong. And thats fine with us. I love the idea of saying "The girls". I was always one of "The girls" growing up, so I am happy that Lily and Ruby have a sister!<br />Right now she is "transverse" laying side to side which explains the pain on one side (its her head!!!) But I am smiling big, and thinking about all I can shop for! YAY for girlies!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-72887492212528278172009-07-28T08:23:00.000-07:002009-07-28T08:46:46.142-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;">The terrible Twos, the silly boy, and the thump thump thump!</span></u></strong><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br />So, lets get the negative out of the way. My poor sweet well behaved two year old is... well... how do I put this... TWO! I mean, she's been two for over 8 months now, but now you can really tell she's two. I thought maybe perhaps this curse of the twos would pass her up, but no, she's caught the bug, that horrible, nasty, terrible two bug! But I have to admit, I spend more time laughing at her than I did when we went through this the first time with the boy. She is nothing in comparison to what I went through the first time. Zech was so "fun". So fun that I found my self sitting on the front porch crying almost on a weekly basis. Trying to calm down before I flew off the handle. This time I am "seasoned", I am calm, I am humored. She wails and screeches, and even tries to hit me... where did this little girl come from? She's such a sweet precious spirit, I don't know this "ugly twin". But I laugh right through it reminding her that she has a long ways to go to push me out on that porch. So as I held her down in time-out, I remember holding Zech's door shut as I tried to feed poor lily about 2 years ago. And how the time was so stressful. I wasn't getting much sleep due to having a 3 mo old, and then when I was awake I was dealing with a strong willed 2 year old. And how now, as I readjust myself so I can hold her down without hurting her, or letting her hurt me I realize how different it is. I have a 4 year old who is laughing hysterically at his rage induced sister (which is probably why its hard for me not to laugh) and a baby growing within... I then realize I get to do this all over again in about 2-2.5 years! YAY! But as it seems its getting easier and easier, maybe next time the plague of the twos will pass right by us! <em><strong>MAYBE??</strong></em><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />Zech is so funny these days. His personality always gets stronger when he's around all his cousins. We just got home from a visit with my sister and her kids along with my brother's little girl and at times various other children. My mom's living room at one point had 7 little ones under the age of 5. And there's Zech being the police patrol. Making sure no one takes toys from anyone else, and if they did he was right there to snatch it back and give it to its proper owner. He kept babies off the stairs, and <em>dealt</em> with behavior issues from his cousins. So funny, but a bit tiring. More and more of my personality coming out. I remember the days of feeling like no one followed the rules and how frustrated it made me! I could see the frustration in his face. And today as he guarded the trash can so Lily didn't throw a bowl away, he began the two year old fit... then laughed at it... He's so so so funny! or should I put quotes around it "funny!" Believe me, it is more funny than it sounds. And didn't I always say I liked chaos! maybe not THIS kind of chaos, but the good kind. <strong><em>Right?</em></strong><br /><br />Oh, and on to child #3... What a delight he is! I know I know I don't know (read that again, it sounds funny) that its really a BOY, but I am really really sure... as sure as I can be... watch, I'll be wrong (and if I am, I will say "I knew I was wrong all along!" hehe). I've felt the little flutters for a couple of weeks now, but recently I've felt that thump thump thump of kicks and jabs and overall movement and it brightens my day. I love it! Its my very favorite part of pregnancy. It does seem that this one is VERY VERY active. I mean, i am 16 weeks and already noticing a lot of activity. I'd assume you'd need to be active with those other two as siblings.<br />My belly grew even more. I got a new shirt from my mom and wore it last wednesday for the first time, then wore it again on Sunday (hey, don't judge me, I am limited on clothing!) and I called out to Dave that I thought I'd grown since wearing the shirt the first time. He came in and gasped "I'd say so! Man, your going to outgrow everything!" I am glad I love my husband, or I would have drop kicked him! hehe So, when I get my battery charger for my camera I will take a 4 month pic and post it... My former youth pastor said to me on Sunday "So, your due pretty soon, October, right?" I laughed and said "nope, not until January! I just look like I am 7 m preggers!" hehe! I don't mind. It doesn't offend me! I have big babies, and big bellies with them all! I love it!<strong> LOVE IT!</strong>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-76272700045219647602009-07-08T07:51:00.000-07:002009-07-08T08:04:46.574-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;">The power of encouragement!</span></u></strong><br /> Yesterday we went to a friend's pool to chill out (and I mean CHILL! it was 73degrees out!!). It was just me and Dave and the kids. I put arm floaties on Zech and tried to see if he'd get in the water and try swimming. He was terrified and stayed on the stairs. I eventually just pulled him out to the water to show him how the arm floaties would hold him up. It kinda scared him, but we tried to make sure he felt secure in the water floating him back and forth between me and daddy. Then we gave him a noodle and completely let go. He was VERY scared until we started shouting "you are so brave, you are such a great swimmer, Look how great your doing!" His demanor completely changed, his sholders stiffened with new confidence and he began to swim, and swim and swim. He went from one side of the pool to the other with ease, asking Daddy to back up, and not touch him. He got faster and faster. He gained more and more confidence as we shouted more and more encouragement. We were telling him that he was a new ninja warrior champion (from a show he watches) and he would swim even faster. i couldn't believe how fast he learned! But it goes to show how easily things can be accomplished if we were to just encourage one another.<br />Lily, too, found an innertube and clung to it and set off to floating. She didn't need our hands holding her up, she was reminded how proud we were of her, how brave we thought she was, and what a big girl she was, and that gave her the confidence to have that freedom in the water.<br />Just imagine who else we can set free with our encouraging words?theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-61645380323927130162009-07-06T06:50:00.000-07:002009-07-06T07:06:08.945-07:00<div><strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">What should I eat, NOW?</span></u></strong><br /><br />I think I am beginning to transition from feeling nauseous all the time to feeling hungry all the time! I still feel sick about 2-3 hours total all day, so thats not as bad as before, but I feel famished all the time. I have nothing really to snack on, and I don't want to start gaining a bunch of weight just yet (I tend to do that a lot at the end... and this time the end means Thanksgiving and Christmas) so I want to watch it this early on. I eat, I just keep it to healthier things (minus that snickers bar calling my name for snack today!!!)<br />The baby has fingerprints now! Its forming into its very own person. I am DIEING To know what this little one's name will be. Dave decided against Ruby Anna. I told him I loved Ruby too much that he could change her middle name. He chose Ruby Grace, and I like it even better! So I try to picture this little Ruby (I do so with really red hair though) and I imagine my little Nate too, and he's just as cute. So I guess I don't care, not that any of my kids have come out looking like what I expected!<br />This little one is about 3inches so far, the size of a medium shrimp! I however am as big as 600 medium shrimp... you may not believe me that I look 5 mo pregnant at 13 weeks, so I took a picture...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355345854644433442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxE4nLax0R8bNZb_0kSewriVQ4lS4a2dfP3RtGLCJlXhHVAmhS_mJJtl_uENBcJ1BGUP7_Bg1aDHE-MPuEiNTTVzL6nFgraA8qBkvsBJzfY3J9IuDgof0Oh2I9JTe_Ojeha9zDQ/s320/014.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>See, isn't that big! I am a bit concerned. More so than with the other two when I was bigger. I was NEVER this big... I am pretty sure there are multiples in there, but I have to trust the 4 Ultrasounds we've had so far and assume they didn't miss the extra baby. Its just the strangest thing!</p><p>I am feeling the baby moving. He must wake up when the older ones to go bed... or thats when I settle down, but its mainly in one spot and it tickles and makes me VERY happy! I felt it at 14 weeks with both the others, so I am pretty sure thats what it is.</p><p>So, here's the latests week preggo post!</p>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-8220196596520836882009-07-02T06:46:00.000-07:002009-07-02T07:06:33.026-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">Blasts from the Past!</span></u></strong><br /><p>Yesterday we drove more than normal, so I listen to K-Love for more time than normal. However I am convinced God was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">orchestrating</span> the music! All the songs were worship songs from my teen years.</p><ul><li>Shout to the Lord</li><li>Heaven to Earth</li><li>Know you More</li><li>Holy Love</li><li>& more</li></ul><p>It took me back to a spot in my spiritual life that I enjoyed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">immensely</span>! I could enter into worship with such ease. I heard God's voice on a regular basis, I woke up praying, went to bed praying, and read the Bible many times throughout the day. (finished the entire thing in a year 2 years in a row). My witness was strong, and my verbal <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">testimony</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">occurred</span> easily and often. I could speak to my friends in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">high school</span> about God on a regular and real way. I had friends (unsaved friends) that would come to me for prayer, or counsel on a weekly basis. I was not seen as a hypocrite, I was not made fun of, i was respected for my beliefs and felt like it was the highlight of my spiritual walk.</p><p>I am not saying that my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">relationship</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">wavering</span>, or that I don't wake up and go to bed in prayer. But it doesn't seem the same. I feel like my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">relationship</span> with God is much more mature, and very solid. Its not as much "work" (used that word because I couldn't think of another one). But I miss the passion! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">I miss</span> the worship experience, I miss the evangelism, the carefree bliss of that time of my life (spiritually speaking). I've grown cynical, frustrated, worrisome. I can't blame the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ministry</span>. I want to sometimes. When we know so much about things from a pastoral view things tend to get bogged down... but I CAN NOT blame the Ministry. I can't blame the world we live in. When sin prevails throughout our world, and within our leaders, its sad that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">spirituality</span> no longer means a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">relationship</span> with Christ... but I CAN NOT blame the culture. I can't blame my friends. When I was young I was surrounded my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">like minded</span> Christian friends. My youth group ROCKED, my youth pastor had passion and vision. I had friends to hold me up, to support my walk, now I do not have those friends surrounding me anymore... but I CAN NOT blame my friends. So... WHO can I blame? My age, my experiences, my life? Nope... just plain ole me! I love my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">relationship</span> with God. I love to listen to my music and sing to him daily, I love outreach (even though I tend to get upset more than I need to), I love the instant connect I have with God right now in my life... but I need to keep my focus on HIM! My passion focused on HIS passion. And serve Him for Him! I still miss those times in my life, but realize I have THIS time in my life to serve Him and be passionate about Him. And all that depends on me. I have nothing else to blame, or pin it on... its between me and God. I look forward to see what He's going to do in me in the coming months!</p>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-43094450810306534172009-06-29T07:26:00.000-07:002009-06-29T07:40:28.890-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3tXCvpveveUnbV5NCMAY0l361uwSYkqeNZaGq_RNaO35Yzpl0qc9Hf2Azo8c6jsuusbQNZpvrJdAmN4awIgkXe5fMY1-55lY5aUrQ1Se_Q5p5zbA8pIZw_huLh3sdemKrQQgVg/s1600-h/12+wks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352756025398172722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 256px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3tXCvpveveUnbV5NCMAY0l361uwSYkqeNZaGq_RNaO35Yzpl0qc9Hf2Azo8c6jsuusbQNZpvrJdAmN4awIgkXe5fMY1-55lY5aUrQ1Se_Q5p5zbA8pIZw_huLh3sdemKrQQgVg/s320/12+wks.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">official</span>! I am FINALLY out of the 1st trimester! I've been in this dreaded 1st trimester since January. With only a technical week between the two pregnancies, I've had low energy now for 6 months! I wasn't as sick the first 10 weeks, but with the 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nd</span> pregnancy I've been sick now for a little over 8 weeks! I am ready for it to be past. I am looking forward to feeling those little flutters and kicks! I really look forward to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zech</span> and Lily getting to feel it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Zech</span> is really excited and has been dreaming about this ever growing baby inside me.</div><div>My tummy is getting big fast! I am hoping it tapers off for a bit. I have outgrown most of my pants. I have one maternity pair of jeans, and I bought two pair of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">gaucho</span> pants to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">accommodate</span> the bigger belly. I hope that will hold me until I get to the fall and can wear jeans and pants. Then I can justify spending money on the pants. </div><div>I am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">beginning</span> to feel better and have more energy, but I am stuck in the middle of no nap needed and "oh now I over did it" stage. Then I crash about 8pm!</div><div>The baby is the size of a lemon now, my uterus is supposedly the size of a softball. I am thinking more like a soccer ball! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hehe</span>... not quite!</div><div>The baby is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">beginning</span> to practice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">swallowing</span> (you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">don't</span> want to know what it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">swallows</span>!), and its eye lids are gaining muscle strength so they can open and close later. The most exciting thing is that the brain is developing very rapidly. synapses are forming <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">vigorously</span> making him so smart!</div><div>I am still in awe of this little one! so happy to have him in there (or her in there) and so blessed to get to carry this one! Thank you, GOD!</div>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-21906267694809616512009-06-21T13:40:00.000-07:002009-06-21T14:58:03.065-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">It just melts my heart!</span></u></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;"><strong><u></u></strong></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3D3gWTHObrT22VYbM7D8jgpq-1DOKsNsNbr22EELM0qQvG0VFMvYZRwZLhoGSD215gBdc66vcg2WQSiYz9Ffv2XI-Lar1e58nVJSdX-kkCAvr-yZ7Ewk1AxbF1jSxZeqDmxxPA/s1600-h/11+week.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349884304674664338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3D3gWTHObrT22VYbM7D8jgpq-1DOKsNsNbr22EELM0qQvG0VFMvYZRwZLhoGSD215gBdc66vcg2WQSiYz9Ffv2XI-Lar1e58nVJSdX-kkCAvr-yZ7Ewk1AxbF1jSxZeqDmxxPA/s320/11+week.jpg" border="0" /></a> So at 11 weeks my little blessing baby has all its organs! They may not function completely on their own (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thats</span> why he needs me!) but they are all present. My rocket scientist baby is practicing opening and closing its fists this week too. Those little fingers and toes are REAL fingers and toes, no more webbed, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">amphibian</span> type fingers and toes!<br />This week is the biggest growth spurt my baby will every go through. It will over double in size and will begin to add more and more functions daily! I feel a nap coming on! This is an important week! The baby has made it past the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">crucial</span> times and will now focus on perfecting each bodily function!<br />I look at this picture, and melt. I feel so SO pregnant all the time! And I talk to him (or her, I guess) all the time. I rub my belly and remind him that he's such a wonderful gift from God, That I love him tremendously, and that he has this mighty plan already for his life! That God has a purpose and desire to see him grow and develop! And I weep thinking of how people can decide even at this stage to abort their babies! I think about how many "scientists" if they found some organism in a lake that had every organ we adults have, could move independently, and had measurable brain waves, would they not do everything they could to protect this newly found "LIFE"? Yet we have these babies with souls and heartbeats, livers, pancreases, neurons... the list goes on... and so many that discard them for "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">convenience</span>" sake. It breaks my heart!<br />This will probably be our last pregnancy, and although I am sick about 60% of the time, and tired the rest of the time, I cherish the opportunity to carry this baby! I am thankful to my God for the gift of this awesome life within me! One more week and I will FINALLY be out of the 1st trimester!<br /><br />We already have names! If I didn't mention them last time, here they are... (if I did, oh well, you can see them again!)<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Nathanael Paul</span> (Call him Nate) Nathanael means Gift from God... and there is no doubt that this baby is a true gift to us! Paul is Daddy's middle name! If my sons can be half of what their daddy is, they will be completely awesome boys! (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Zech</span> has Dave's first name!)<br />OR...<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Ruby Anna</span>. Ruby is a gorgeous red jewel. Very precious, very gorgeous... just as I assume this little girl would be. Anna means Grace; favor... and its been obvious to me throughout this pregnancy that God has shown favor upon me! His grace is sufficient!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-64224343669439739982009-06-11T10:27:00.000-07:002009-06-11T11:04:22.461-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">Oh Baby!</span></u></strong><br /><br />So, its been a fun year... hehe! Not completely, but its been 6 months now that we've been in 2009, and as I blogged about before, a rollercoaster ride is all I can compare it to. In January we found out we were pregnant. I was so overjoyed. Then in March we found out we lost the baby, I was so overwhelmed with sadness. Then in the end of April we found out we were pregnant AGAIN! This is the part of the rollercoaster where you are smiling with tears of fear streaming down your face.<br />I had been charting my Basal Body Temp since the D&C March 27th. I wanted to see if I could figure out my cycles. I had no clue what to expect after a pregnancy loss, and a d&c. So I got up everyday and took my temp and recorded it on really cool site I found.<br />Around mid april I went to the drs office for a UTI and asked the dr to take a pregnancy test before they prescribed me anything. The dr said the test was negative and explained that I would probably ovulate late because of the recent events. So I had some left over ovulation kits from back in Dec/Jan and tried those. They were indicating that the date was approaching, however i ran out of tests. I didn't buy more thinking that I wasn't sure if I wanted to be pregnant right away anyway. So I was just continuing to chart my temps. Then one day the website says that I had ovulated the day before. I was a bit bummed at the idea that we had missed it, but thought "Oh well, this is in God's hands, and He knows if I can handle it right away" So I continued to chart to see if I could determine with the end of the cycle would be.<br /><br />Well, the temps kept rising, and next thing I know the website is telling me that my temps are showing signs of pregnancy. I showed Dave, asked him what he thought. He just brushed it off. Then I started feeling sick. I counted the days, and was only about 8 days past when I supposedly ovulated... but I was definately sick. So I waited 2 more days and thought "well, maybe I can wait until monday (it was friday)." I was cleaning under Lily's bed when I had horrible side pains. I'd felt those before, so I looked and lo and behold I still had a pregnancy test under the sink. I took it about noon, and it instantly came up... POSITIVE! I literally fell to my knees and cried... and cried... and cried! I kept saying "thank you God, now keep it healthy!"<br />I called dave and told him he needed to be praying for me. He asks why and I tell him I took the left over pregnancy test. He immediately assumes I am upset that I took a test to find out its negative. He says "Why did you do that!?" I then tell him that I was pregnant. And of course I begin to cry!<br />I call my dr, he has me get my hcg levels checked until they reach 2800 and I am far enough along for an ultrasound.<br />I get my first Ultrasound! I go in and the tech asks my Last Menstral Period... I tell her that technically is was in January, but I informed her of the D&C. I tell her that I'd plotted my temps and know when I ovulated so we could date the pregnancy by that date... yeah, they don't do that! So she puts on the screen that I SHOULD be 6w4d. But I kept in my mind that I am probably 5w2d. She informs me that the baby is very small, and that I am not measuring 6w4d. So I say "Am I measuring around 5w2d?" She says very enthusiastically, "Yes! You are measuring 5w1d!" Then she knows that I am just REALLY early. She thought she detected some fluttering, so she has me hold my breath and try to keep as still as possible. It was completely amazing! As soon as my body was still its like the tiny dot on the screen had another even smaller dot inside that had the tiniest of flutter. I about DIED! I was so happy. The tech said she had never seen a heartbeat this early before. She raved about the new equipment and how wonderful it was, and how she's been there so long, and was so blessed to get to see that tiny little flutter (too small to even measure!) I responded with "Yeah, God just wanted to bless my socks off today! That was ALL for ME!"<br /><br />I cried all the way to get the kids<br /><br />About a week later, I woke up about 4 am and discovered that I had been bleeding. I was terrified. I woke Dave up, had him pray for me, then headed to the Living room to discuss this with God. I just told him flat out that I was VERY confused, that I thought for sure that I had heard him correctly, and felt very confident that He was going to give me this baby to have, to hold, to nurture. I didn't feel like I was losing faith in GOD, but in myself. Did I really hear him? Why was I so positive and felt so blessed only to have this baby die too. I was so upset. I ended up going to the ER and asking them to just look and tell me if it was all over. The dr looked and saw no blood, said the cervix was closed, so they had me go down for an Ultrasound. I got the same girl from before. She explained at the very beginning that she could not show me anything on the screen because I had come through the ER. I tried not to crane my neck to see, I tried not to look at her face, I just prayed. Then she turned the screen towards me, and said... "See that strong heartbeat?" I lost it. I cried and praised God so hard. I had to stop and sit still so she could finish the ultrasound. I was just so relieved. My baby was measuring perfectly, to the day, and had a very strong heartbeat.<br /><br />I was diagnosed with a Subchorionic Hematoma, where the baby's sack separates from the Uteran Wall. It causes bleeds in the uterus, which, duh, come out... but the baby is fine! I was put on bedrest, and other restrictions. I was still very scared. I felt so out of control with fear! If I bled, I couldn't stay calm. If I felt better that day, I'd freak out. I was not myself. then I heard a song saying that God is my healer, he will calm my fears, and my raging seas... I needed it so bad that day. I needed to give things over to God. I needed to let him carry those burdens. I couldn't do anything to help myself. I needed His healing.<br /><br />Since then, I've had 2 more Ultrasounds, all look positive, all have great heartbeats, and the most recent one revealed that the hematoma is perfectly fine. My dr raised our success rate to 95-98%! The same as 2nd and 3rd trimester patients!<br />This baby is doing fine! I am about 10 weeks, and already showing. I am sick sick sick... which is weird since I never had that with any other pregnancy. However at the very beginning, way before I even found out, I asked God to give me a small sign that everything was okay, something that would remind me daily that baby was there and growing! And he blessed me with lots and lots of nausea!<br />So, I feel like I've gotten to the part in the rollercoaster where I can start to enjoy it. I can let go, raise my hands and let out a "HALLELUJAH!" I am sure there will be more scary parts to this year, but I've already learned that the belt is fastened tight, I am secure, and to sit back and enjoy the ride!<br /><br />Oh yeah, the due date is Jan 11, 2010!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-38376528872569271112009-05-28T09:42:00.000-07:002009-05-28T10:00:09.835-07:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><u>Keep your eyes open, arms up or the roller coaster isn't as fun!</u></strong></span></div><div align="left"><u><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></u> </div><div align="left">This week has been a pure rollercoaster ride. And not one of those that you WANT to be on. There is a lot of fretting, more worrying, and even more trying to have fun on this ride. I am praying its like a real coaster that lasts such a short while! I appologize in advance for my "vague-ness". Until I get more information, I want to keep my prognosis to myself (and my family, of course). Last week I found myself in the ER , the diagnosis doesn't seem "That serious" but has the potential to become a huge issue. So I have some restrictions put on me, I can not lift my children, need to keep my feet up, and stay calm. HA! So although I am praying that I have a mild case that will heal before my next check up, I am battling the "What if it gets worse" thoughts on a regular basis. I trust my Lord, so I rely on His words, and pray for His healing... </div><div align="left">Whats bothering me the most is my lack of energy, and the fact that I can't carry my children. Not to bed, not to the car. Not in playtime, nor when they are hurting. It is so important for me to get a good report at my next appointment that I am being very good at obeying. However, its breaking my heart. When Lily needs me, she usually needs to be carried around. Its breaking my heart not to carry her to bed, not to stand and sway with her when she's upset. I can see her behavior changing. I am pulling her to my lap anytime I can, but I know she knows the difference. </div><div align="left">Today I look at my house and think, "I've got to pull my energy and get this house clean... the STEVIE-WAY clean!" I can do a little here, and a little there... then I decided to lay down. Lily comes up and asks to become a baby burrito (she likes to be swaddled in her blankie). So I wrap her and pull her to the couch with me. She lays there and lays there, and lays there. I lay there looking at all the school that needs to be finished before the summer, the clothes that need to be put away, the house that needs to be cleaned but close my eyes rub her back and relax a minute to just be mommy to my baby burrito! There was no stress. No thinking of what the dr could say at the next appt. No worrying about the next "drop" in this ride, not questioning if I was doing enough to stay healthy... just cuddling, just being mom, just loving on my daughter! And the thrill of this ride overcame me!</div>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-82330860009593474532009-05-04T14:26:00.000-07:002009-05-04T14:37:21.736-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">Invisible Playthings</span></u></strong><br /><br />My kids have quite the imagination! They have these invisible play things. Sometimes its a baby, sometimes its an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">alligator</span>, sometimes its "The Wild". It drives me nuts. One will have this "plaything" and the other will take it away, then the first child screams and cries because the other "took it away!" I try to convince them that they can manufacture another INVISIBLE-NON-EXISTENT toy, but it doesn't work that way!<br />Today, I snapped. I took their invisible toys away! I snatched those baby <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">alligator</span> wild things right out of their little hands and "THREW THEM AWAY" (which was really just behind me in that IMAGINARY trash can). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zech</span> gives me this tiny smirk showing me that he completely understands that this is just a silly game... however, that also means he "steals" hers just to get her to scream and cry! Lily however is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DEVASTATED</span>! She is acting the same way she would if I went in her room with a trash bag and threw away her most favorite toys. It broke my heart.<br />So I explained to them that we don't take things away, and that we need to respect <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">each other's</span> toys (imaginary or not!) And then we dug it out of the "trash" so she could play with her... whatever-it-was-this-time toy. All was good in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ciske</span> home... then I looked up and noticed Dave staring at me. He's probably wondering "What in the world?" HA, the dramas of the invisible are still my problem!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-85087737221167344122009-05-02T12:33:00.000-07:002009-05-02T12:43:49.426-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Some recent Kidisms...</span></u></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></strong>Keeping in mind Zech is 4, Lily is 2 (going on 13)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Zech: </strong>He picks up the Cheez it box and asks me what they are (we don't normally get them, but they were on sale). I say "Those are Cheez its" Zech replies, "Oh, I didn't know they could put Jesus in a box". We now know how they get their cheesiness... Jesus can do all things! hehe!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Lily:</strong> Her new pants were sagging big time. I had asked her to pull her shirt up so I could see if they were sagging in the front, she didn't understand so I rephrased and said "Let me see your belly". She raises her shirt up and I see what I want and say "yep, they are falling off." She shrieks in horror "My BELLY IS FALLING OFF?! MY BELLY IS FALLING OFF?!"</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Lily:</strong> After making some homemade bread with her mommy says "This bread is Crackilackin!" (From Madegascar)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Zech: </strong>He is giving me the synopsis of Wall E (as if I haven't seen it 8 million times). He says "Beware, NO Robots". I say, "ya know, I think they said <em>Rogue Robots</em>" He looks at me like I am a complete idiot and says "Why would they say <em>Rogue</em>? That is not even a word!" I have since tried to explain to him what Rogue means, he hasn't given in!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">THERE ARE SO MANY MORE! If only I had hours to sit and write them... I remember them though, and will be making a book soon! hehe!</span>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-69620471442662658292009-04-06T10:42:00.000-07:002009-04-06T10:54:56.555-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">Julianne Rose</span></u></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I usually have my ears open for just the right name. I even think about it when I am not pregnant. And since having Lily, I have thought of girls names more frequently. Lilian Jewel was the best name in the world at the time, and it meant so much to me. So to come up with another girl name was agonizing for me (as you may have read in earlier posts). However, when I found out I was pregnant I literally could not sleep as I had to come up with the perfect name. Dave was convinced that it was a boy so he would say "Name her whatever you want" then roll over and fall asleep. I'd be awake, then wake up only hours later with it still on my mind.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">At one point in that short lived pregnancy I tried to stop obsessing over it. I thought "I have a long time before I have to come up with a definate name... I must stop" But I just couldn't! I just HAD to come up with something great.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I announced to Dave that her name was Julianne Rose. And I told him I would not be changing my mind! Then I could sleep!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So today I had a drs appointment. The pathology results were back on the baby. He told me that they had labeled it "product of conception" meaning it was something to do with Chromosomes of some sort. They don't go into much more detail because there is just so much to investigate. The good news of this is that there is nothing wrong with the womb that would indicate complications in further pregnancies. My baby just couldn't sustain life for whatever reason. And the report indicated that it was a girl. So I immediately began crying. It was easier thinking it was just a baby, but now to know it was my daughter makes it a bit more "personal" as if it wasn't already... I hope you understand the lack of words I have to express it. However, all the obsessing seemed to make sense to me. I am so happy that I had a name for her. And if it isn't already a precious name, it means youthful. And It dawned on me how fitting that name is. Julianne will never grow old. She will never have wrinkles from worry, she will never experience pain from her evergrowing bones, she will never experience the horrors of this world... she will forever stay young with her God. And I can't imagine anything better for my baby girl! Julianne, have fun with Jesus, we'll see you someday!</span>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-55738975735095760652009-03-30T16:20:00.000-07:002009-03-30T16:42:46.525-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-size:180%;">Psalm 139</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> O LORD, you have searched me</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> and you know me.<br /> You know when I sit and when I rise;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> you perceive my thoughts from afar.<br /> You discern my going out and my lying down;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> you are familiar with all my ways.<br />Before a word is on my tongue</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> you know it completely, O LORD.<br />You hem me in—behind and before;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> you have laid your hand upon me.<br />Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> too lofty for me to attain.<br />Where can I go from your Spirit?</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> Where can I flee from your presence?<br />If I go up to the heavens, you are there; </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.<br />If I rise on the wings of the dawn,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> if I settle on the far side of the sea,<br />even there your hand will guide me, </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> your right hand will hold me fast.<br />If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> and the light become night around me,"<br />even the darkness will not be dark to you;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> the night will shine like the day,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> for darkness is as light to you. </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">For you created my inmost being;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> you knit me together in my mother's womb. </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> your works are wonderful,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> I know that full well.<br />My frame was not hidden from you</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> when I was made in the secret place.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,<br />your eyes saw my unformed body.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> All the days ordained for me</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> were written in your book</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> before one of them came to be.<br />How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> How vast is the sum of them!<br />Were I to count them,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> they would outnumber the grains of sand.</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> When I awake, </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> I am still with you.<br />If only you would slay the wicked, O God!</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!<br />They speak of you with evil intent;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> your adversaries misuse your name.<br />Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> and abhor those who rise up against you?<br />I have nothing but hatred for them;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> I count them my enemies. </span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Search me, O God, and know my heart;</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> test me and know my anxious thoughts.<br />See if there is any offensive way in me,</span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"> and lead me in the way everlasting.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">This is one of the chapters of the Bible that is really ministering to me during this time. I want to just miraculously be "over" this. I want to feel like its in the past... yes, this soon. I feel like I am doing well, but I don't want to think about it anymore. I don't want to bring it up to Dave anymore. And I know it hasn't been very long, but I don't want any of it. So, sometimes I feel like I don't know how to feel. However, I can go before God and feel any way I want. So I walk around my house reciting the chapter (sometimes I leave out all the things about my enemies... I can deal with them later... hehe).</span><br />My Lord searches me, He knows me. I don't have to worry about feeling good when people think I should be crying, or for crying when people think I should be "over it". He knows my heart. he knows when I pace. When I sit for too long and begin to think about all the "what ifs" or "what nows". He is familiar with all my ways. I rejoice and find comfort in the fact that I can go no where away from His spirit, I can not flee from His presence! And PTL i don't want to! When negative thoughts creep in, I know that even in that darkness, it will not be dark to God. The night will shine like the day!<br />I absolutely love that he created my inmost being! And that that is true of my unborn baby. He created this baby's inmost being. And although I didn't get to hold the baby or see her/him I know that he/she was wonderfully made for His works are wonderful and I DO KNOW THAT FULL WELL! And I am so happy that He saw this unformed body. And there are times when I do ask God "Why if he was wonderfully made did he not make it?" But He quickly reminded me that all the days were ordained for me... and my baby, they were written in His book before one of them came to be. And I am okay with that. I feel so close to God knowing that he didn't let my baby die for some random reason. he didn't allow my sorrow for the heck of it!<br />How precious to me are His thoughts! He has so many of them. He thinks about me often!<br />So, Lord, help me heal! Search me and know my heart. Test me (which I think you are doing.. let me pass!) and know my anxious thoughts!<br />I want to try for another baby, but the anxiety is so huge. I know that He knows my thoughts, he will lead me in the way of everlasting!theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32082145.post-54188314812721346902009-03-29T17:29:00.000-07:002009-03-29T17:39:07.860-07:00<strong><u><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Just Bored</span></u></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">This weather we are having is just boring! I mean, it was nice weather out, and maybe we should have played out, but instead we thought it'd be fun to have a jammie day and stay in... BORING!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">I've been searching the net all day. i am just about overdone on the miscarriage threads I've been a part of this week. I mean, they've been a lot of help. They give me some idea of what to expect. However, I want to get over it, and not have to talk about it anymore.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">So I started to search other blogs/sites... I ran into one that was called "How to preform a Striptease". Don't get me wrong. It was on weddedbliss and I thought that was a Christian site, so i thought "Hey, they're just ganna tell me how to spice things up... yeah, it wasn't! I had to stop watching this video and pray that the AG doesn't come in and do any random searches on our computer! He he! My husband still wants me to try the strip tease some day (sorry, mother-in-law, I am sure you don't want to read that!) Maybe someday! hehe!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">I read a bunch of sites on crafts we can do this week. Zech is obsessed with "is it Easter yet!" so I may begin our easter crafts this week and decorate the house a bit! He is also sad that it snowed since it doesn't snow in the spring and spring time means CARNIVAL TIME! I don't know where he gets this, but he can't wait to go to a carnival... I will have to keep my eyes open and some cash on hand just in case one pops up!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">I read an old youth group friend's blog. he found out he has Cancer... he is holding up VERY well, while I feel like the week of losing my baby was horrible, I realize there are much worse things that could have happened.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">I look forward to this week. A normal week. Its like I lost last week. I got nothing done! My kids didn't even wear pants yesterday! How horrible!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">So, there is my random blog... more later!</span>theciskekidsrblessingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15025194863355548257noreply@blogger.com0