she is here

9 # 3 oz 2 hours pain free
20 inch

No news yet…

Today is my 38^th birthday… I was so hoping to have the baby today but at 7:45 pm I have not had it yet J No signs of it coming either. I have been in and out of labor for about 3 weeks. Without sharing too much TMI, it is real labor and it starts and stops but is making very good progress. The real concern is we are 40 minutes away from the hospital. If my water breaks at home it's going to be a very FAST delivery! Last time I got to the hospital and was dilated to 9 cm and had the baby a very short time later. I never wanted a home birth, especially one we are not planning for.

My OB offered by this Saturday to induce, break water or I could even had a C-section due to the baby size. I am praying about all options. I am not looking for advice though. You can talk to me after you have delivered two close to 11# babies without any drugs whatsoever and broken bursting varicose veins, (btw, I have had 4/5 drug free) then I might consider listening to you for 1 second J or NOT! I have been a super woman 5 times now. I am not sure I am up for it on #6. God and I are discussing it currentlyJ. Yes I am grumpy in case you have not noticed J we want what is best for mom and baby's health and I know for sure God will not let us down. Please keep us in your prayers! I will keep you posted.

The goats have not given birth either… I would be grumpier if they did! J

xoxox

today

a photo today

this is getting old!

her or me first? you take a guess below! Do you see that antagonizing look in her face saying, "its going to be me first honey"! Well girlie, Ang is up for the challenge!





Let’s just all admit it, this blog has gotten VERY BORING as of late… NO encouraging posts to follow your dreams and convictions, no neat stories about living off-grid (although so much has been happening around here). NOTHING! Quite frankly I am ornery and sick of being sick. This is all lingering still as well as a low grade fever. If you think this blog is old, you should pay a visit here! Well actually, that’s ok if you don’t!
I feel horrible because I am no fun right now; all I do is lay in my bed and all. My children have been troopers through this. I hope they are not traumatized for life of seeing mother laying in a bed for this long and being no fun! I have so much mother and ovarian guilt about all of this right now!
Yesterday was my first day out (besides dr. appts) since about March 30, 2009! I have been lying here thinking I am really not ready for this baby preparation wise. First baby you have the nursery set up about 4 months ahead of time and your house is in order… Last time I put the cleaned used crib sheets on the crib (that was in our bedroom) and had the GREAT HIM 5 hours later. Yesterday I bought the mattress for the cradle. (The Gentle Giant had a custom built Amish cradle made for the new babe, a big surprise and it’s beautiful) I needed to pick up a few things and time seems of the essence as a Dr. Appt. last Friday said things are moving right along… I have been anxious to say the least. Dr says, “Don’t wait, and if you go in labor get there as you are about 40 minutes away from hospital”. Last time I delivered in about an hour or so of arrival of the Great Him.
So here we are last night, everything just fine and WHAM, nausea and more took over in a matter of 2 minutes, out of control, like no stopping any of it. I ran a tub bath at 12:30 pm and sat in it to relax and it kept getting worse. Finally at around 4:00 of 2-3 minute apart contractions, I woke up the Gentle Giant and said this has been going on for about 5 hours, we better go and I was in pain! So, we make the treck and get to hospital, long story real short I was contracting due to dehydration again and had a mild fever and then when they said, “Sweetie, you are not in real labor even though we can see your contractions on the screen, the contractions due to the dehydration”… Then I just lost it and started weeping like a baby. I am exhausted, feel horrid and I was at least thinking” well, I will be having this babe soon” so things seemed to be better for a moment but only a moment…
Things will be dull here for a while but I hope you hang with us, hang with me!!!
One thing is for sure, I am not going back to that darned hospital till I really know this is the real ding. That could be a head crowning.

Oh, 1 more thing. If that baby girl goat of ours (she actually is not a baby but we call her that) has her babies before me, she is in HUGE trouble!

and the saints come marching in AGAIN!

Tonight I was surprised once again with a delightful meal from my dearest cousin and friend and sister chick Gwendolyn. 2 hot homemade chicken pot pies, rolls, apple sauce and rice krispie treats!

Wendy and I have been best friends forever! My father and her mother are brother and sisters. We are “from the same dough but different cookie cutters where used on us”… That’s what her quote about us was today. She is Kathie Lee Gifford (looks and all) and I am Caroline Ingalls with a grouchy twist! But we hit it off and always have forever! She has been supportive of my decisions in life as I have chosen quite a different route than most. I wish I could say that I have always granted the same mercies back to her but sadly, I feel I may have not. BUT, with all that being said, here is to another 60 years my dearest friend! I love you! You are so dear to me and I am literally woofing the pot pie down and it is DELICIOUS!

A most gracious friend

Farm Girl Cyn just showed up at our farm today and greeted my tiredness with the BEST chicken, spinachy noodle soup, homemade corn bread and a WONDERFUL gooey cake with whipped top! I AM EVERGRATEFUL! Maybe it will help me have this babe tonight!

xoxoxo

a view from bed rest

I figure I have been in bed since the evening of March 30... I will spare you most of the drama but I have developed pleurisy in my right lung and I will start my 2nd round of killer antibiotics tomorrow after a second visit to the hosptial. I have never slept so much in my life. If you know me, this is not me! I get it why people who are sick just give up and I am not even "that" sick!

I have enjoyed the snuggle time with my dear boy and have been telling him that someone is coming to meet him real soon and that I will have to have him be momma's helper now!

these are some of my shots looking out my bedroom window...

lots of Eric Carle books between naps and all...

the entire family has been so helpful around here! Thank you for your kind sentiments!

He is RISEN!

I won’t fib about having the “off-grid” flu

I have always been honest with what thoughts I have put on this blog. I have not posted everything obviously about my life, thoughts and more but I assure you I have been honest what I post on here. With that being said during this sickness I will say I MISS MY HOT BATHTUB with continuous hot running water J. This flu has given me the aches, pain and chills beyond belief and I would love to run a hot tub to crawl into at any time of the day or night. Going to the outhouse these days has not been a cup of tea either, especially when it is SNOWING here (LIKE NOW!). I stand up and my head goes "BOOM, BOOM" as I wobble out to the hinzley!

The house if full of restless bodies crying out in fever stuppored dreams that do not make sense. Thank fully the Gentle Giant has stayed fairly healthy as well as 1 of my great helper daughters… Bed rest has been ok. Most of the time a snuggly little 17 month old is cuddled up by mamma but if anyone else approaches the bed he points to them and screams like "GET OUT"!

So much has been going on at the farm here and I feel I have not told you some of the most important parts of all of it! Each day has been a challenge as well as a huge adventure. When mamma gets her groove back I can fill you in with some awesome photos but for now you will just have to read I guess. Lots of changes going on here.

Yesterday we took delivery of 150 Golden Comet peeps, as well as 24 arucana peeps (des beplind). SO all together we have a total of 193 Golden Comets (43 are laying everyday!) and 24 arucanas (they lay the most beautiful green egg ever!) SO that is 217 chickens, 2 goats (der gayz), 4 horses (fear gaul) (2 on the way yet), 1 hundli (puppy dog) 1 turkey, a few cats and 2 pet chickens (lucky stars) The 26 heifers (des coo) are very healthy. G man has been a true horseman and driving the Belgians everywhere with the forecart. It really did pay for us to get a 16 year old team even though pricey. They are training us actually. They are the best trained and behaved horses ever. When told to drink they leave you untied, take a drink and return back to you, 1 at a time. They back up with a trailer, they step over things and will not move unless told to do so. You can leave them unhitched while taking your dinner and they just stand there! This has really helped me get over my fear of horses because I trust these two. Someone posted they could not have horses or cows do to the fear of large animals… My little secret…. I AM VERY SCARED of horses but figure I just better get over it. If I had to have a bat in my hair or ride a horse, I do not know what one I would choose…

We have been really cleaning up around here outside. The place is really sprucing up. I cannot wait until I am back to 100%... But for now I sit here and think of great ideas (that is scary in itself!)

I am excited to put in another "pretty garden" and we will have a huge large garden as well (3-5 acres)… At the old place this would have really stressed me out, but now the Gentle Giant will be here to do the big garden as he is making some changes as well on the homefront.

We look forward to the various flea and farm markets we are going to participate in around here. We have big plans for the farm like farm tours, picnics, sleigh rides, someday we want to fix the cottage so people can come and stay on their very off-grid mini vacation… Lots to do, tons to dream about and plenty of time for it all to transpire. For now I am making my little nest for this sweetheart as peaceful as life will allow at this moment J

Imagine…

Ok, Mother's Day is not quite here yet but at this time I feel it appropriate to pay tribute to my dear momma!

Friday afternoon my Father picked me up from the hospital on his way up to the farm and in the car my mom had sent a huge pan of my favorite chicken broccoli casserole, rolls, mandarin orange jello and wonderful gut cookies! My Dad picked up about 12 loads of our laundry. My dad is very small, I am much taller than both parents. It was hilarious seeing him peering over the steering wheel of his Pontiac Vibe pulling out of the farm with the entire car weighted down with horrible laundry!

Meanwhile, my momma is working her full-time job down town. Comes home and the two of my parents crawl into the little car full of dirty laundry and go to the laundry mat just to get it all washed quickly. They were concerned so much laundry at once would kill their drain field J… They got the looks in the laundry mat! They just kept bringing in basket after basket of laundry… Then the hauled it all back into the baskets to take home to dry it.

My mom is a tough cookie. Did I tell she beat breast cancer almost 7 years ago (by the grace of God!) and while fighting cancer with chemo and radiation she worked full time! Only took 2 days off because of the sickness. She would have her treatments late Friday's so she didn't have to miss work and she would literally sleep all weekend!

Back to Saturday… Mom and Dad loaded the Vibe again and when they pulled in I could see 2 mice in the front seat and I really think the back of the car was sitting on the wheels loaded down with fresh laundry. My towels are so soft! She used some fabric softener on them. She brought another hot meal of a huge pan of lasagna, fresh salad, garlic bread and rice krispie treats! She saved me! Thank you mamma! I love you so much. Not for what you do, but for who you are. Thanks dad too! I hope you back isn't out from all the laundry!

and life comes to a screeching HALT!

Hello all,
things are slowing down rapidly here it seems. I went to the hospital yesterday and ended up being admitted and spending the night on the OB floor of the hospital due to the severe flu. I came home this afternoon. I had a fever and dehyhdration and baby's heart beat was showing signs of distress. I am home now on bed rest (ha, I have always loved that word especially when you have 5 children) I feel quite lousy yet and we will see what happens. Personally I would just as soon go back to the hospital so I can make sure baby is ok...

We had a barage of company since Saturday evening and I over did it big time this week. Wednesday eve (the night before the hospital) our company left after 11 pm... When they arrived I was already quite ill and our baby had a high fever as well. I feel like a limp dish rag today still even after being pumped with IVS of sorts.

Please keep us in your prayers. Only about 3-5 weeks to go yet... It seems like a very long time feeling so yucky but I am so blessed to have this little squirming body inside of me. It seems like a very large body... I cannot wait to meet this babe! I want to keep this baby in here for at least 2 more weeks so it is fully cooked! I am only having number 6... I cannot imagine women who have given birth to 10+ babies! WOW!

All plans are officially off until the babe makes its debut here. No Easter, no nothin! Just R and R for a healthy babe. I have never had a problem saying NO... The gentle giant on the other hand is so gentle that he sometimes gets ahead of himself. He would do anything for anyone at anytime. He is a saint! He does not say no as much...

I am SO glad we finished our school year the end of March! Yeah! The children worked very hard to accomplish this. I am very happy about it due to the circumstances now. I feel the nesting urges but do not have any energy to back them up.

I am NOT writing this post to ask for help. If I have any more visitors at this time I think I will, well I don't know what but I just need some time and peace and quiet alone. That goes for after babe is born too. I am not one of those gals that likes hospital visitors. Please don't take it personal but I find it stressful for people to want to bring up all their children and hold a newborn baby or bring them over 2 days after you get home so the children can see you? and all that when mom just delivered a baby and is exhausted. I am just not that way. Honestly I like a few months under my belt to get adjusted and all. DO know I love you all though!

My dear dear mamma came and got all of my laundry and will bring it back tomorrow. AND a wonderful mamma meal!This is the best gift ever for me right now! I love you mom! THANKS!

I am still around but for all I know maybe I will post more from my beside or something... Time will tell.

You can click to enlarge photo. The Gentle Giant is 6'1". The cement the horses are standing on is only about 4" off the ground. You can see they are well over 6' but very gentle. Jim is in the blue bridle and Pearl is in the green. Yesterday we used them at the work bee and they did great. The Gentle Giant even put all their harness' on them and hooked them up to the wagon/trailer.