Running on Air

Ever feel like you are running on air and your feet just cannot find the ground no matter how hard you stretch? This is how I am feeling and I am not liking this feeling of "unknown"... don't really know how else to describe how I feel right now... KS and I have continued to discuss the Army possibility over the weekend. I am at peace with the decision for him to enlist if this is what he decides to do. I continue to feel as if this would be a good opportunity for our family, and it is the right thing to do for us. No matter what KS decides I will support his decision 150%.

I have done so much reading over the past week its ridiculous... when you start feeling nauseous sitting in front of the computer screen you know you have been reading there too long. I did manage to find this awesome site that answered so many of my questions, here, she is was in the same situation as KS and I (well sorta) they were already married when he decided to enlist. We do know where we would like to be stationed if he does enlist (not that we get to pick, but you know what I mean) Kentucky. That is where we are hoping for.

KS is leaning towards becoming an Armor if he joins or going mechanical (big surprise right?) He is going to talk to Mr. V in our town, he has been in the Army for quite a while. He wants to talk to him before he goes and talks to a recruiter. I do not want him to rush into a decision by any means, but I would like to know what his decision is going so I can start preparing the kids if he does decide to go. I am feeling very impatient to find out his decision, not that I am telling him that though. I want him to take as much time as he needs to decide what is going to be best for us.

Its weird just how at peace I am about this possible decision... well its either peace or my wonderful powers of denial... lol!

Please Pray for Stellan

Everyone Stellan is going downhill fast, he has been airlifted to Boston... please start praying for the sweet baby.

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Winds of Change

Well the winds of change have been blowing throughout our household for the past few months now... but they have just gained strength. We are contemplating a change that will rock our family to the core, but it will be what is best for us. Kiale will be talking to a recruiter soon about possibly joining the Army... We have been discussing this for at least the past 9 months, if not longer, and after MUCH thought and long talks we are leaning more towards Kiale enlisting then we ever have. So we will see how things end up panning out.

Kiale..

He wanted me to take pictures of him looking cool...

I cannot believe that my handsome little boy is almost 6 years old.

Thursday's Playlist

I may not have an Ipod but I do have a few songs that I hold near and dear to my heart. One of those songs would be "This Mothers Work" by Maxwell. A beautiful song about a man watching his wife go through labor and delivery, at least that is what it means to me. It is so beautiful and moving. So You Think You Can Dance did a wonderful dance to this song last night about a woman's struggles through breast cancer, you can find it here. I warn you though it is very moving.



This song brings back my 3 deliveries fresh in my mind everytime I hear it, because in each of my deliveries I got to that point where I just didn't think I could do it anymore... and so many times it was my husband and mother that got me through it, and this song just describes those feelings that you go through perfectly.

Labor Views - Part 2

Position, when I was giving birth to Kiale and Colin I like so many other women out there did not know how important of a word, Position, really was when it was used in conjunction with labor and delivery.

Did you know that the traditional delivery position that the majority of us have delivered in, me included... twice, is in all actuality not an effective position to deliver in? Yes I am talking about the feet in the stirrups spread eagle position, you know the one where the whole world can see ALL there is to see about you... There is two versions of the position lithotomy aka flat on back and the C-position. Did you know that the lithotomy is only practiced in the United States because of its lack of effectiveness? Both positions actually limit the blood flow to the baby by applying pressure to your vena cava and narrows the pelvic region by 30% (see cuz, no reason for your unnecessary c-section, you could have birthed that sweet baby just fine!) as well as restricting movement for the mother making tearing and episiotomies more common. These positions are used so routinely because they are so incredibly convenient for the doctors. I mean think about it the doctors and nursing staff have PLENTY of room to move around down there with your legs hiked up to your ears.

Okay, now picture this in you head, you are about to deliver your baby (can you see it?) Your feet are being held by a nurse and your significant other, where are you knees? At your head right? That is where mine were, now think about what kind of effect this has on your perineum area. This is the area that is supposed to stretch and make room for a baby to emerge but it cannot do that as it is already stretched to the max because of the position you are in. There is no more give to this area, everything in that region is tight and has no more room to stretch. We all know at least one mom who has suffered severe tear during delivery. My Aunt did as well as one of my best friends. I can not help but wonder if things would have been different if their body had been in a better position to push, maybe a position like squatting which completely opens up your pelvis and creates plenty of room for babies to emerge from.

Here is a list of effective birthing positions that many women are not even aware of...

Hands and Knees... good for larger babies
Sitting... engages the wonderful world of gravity!!
Squatting... opens your pelvis
Side-Lying... good for those long labors and exhausted Moms
Standing... also brings in your best friend during labor, her name is gravity!!

So, did you notice what position was lacking from the above list...?

Labor Views - Part 1

I came across this post this morning from Whole Mama's blog and it really got me thinking, and really irked at the same time. This is what her article said:

"So, I had a doula baby turn one a few weeks ago and was talking with the dad. Dad works at a car shop and happened to have an OB/GYN as a customer. The OB was complaining that he was missing out on $5,000 because the car wasn't done yet, and he wanted a discount or something stupid. The OB then went on to tell Dad (as he pulled out a huge wad of cash to pay his bill) that he makes $5,000 per cesarean section, mumbled something about it being "major abdominal surgery" and that he has a 90 or 95% c/s rate. I don't know if he was exaggerating, to brag about his income, or if it is actually that high, but I am so grossed out by this. I hate it because the pregnant women have no idea, I can almost guarantee that when the Dr is asked about his c/s rate would give the typical answer of "I don't know exactly... when its indicated..."

I hate that the really crappy doctors out there ruin it for all the good ones.

He could have at least kept that information for his Doctor buddies, why did he feel the need to talk to the car guy about it?"

---All I could think of is I wish he would have told my car guy of a husband that. He probably would have told the doctor that he is an idiot. The sad part is that that is what many doctors now a days see births as:

labor+vaginal delivery= long drawn out process average paycheck
labor/induction+ c-section= quick in and out and a very good paycheck

You see I believe that doctors have lost sight of what is really going on during a birth, a miracle. I think doctors (some not all) have lost the inspiration that they may have had when they picked out their profession. They see their jobs as just that, a job, not occupations where they are able to bring new life into this world. A doctors goal is to deliver mom and baby/babies safely by whatever means necessary. Good goal right? I think it is, but I just wish they would look at the big picture. Through their training they have lost sight of that picture, yes birth happens several times a day for doctors, but for women birth happens only a few precious times in a life time. Women should be able to look back on their birthing experience and say yea, this birth hurt like hell, but it was beautiful. It was peaceful and serene it has changed my life forever. Women should not have to say that they were hooked up to monitors told not to get out of bed to try and changed position for a baby who is just not "coming out." So many women are wisked away to c-sections because their baby is just too big for them to push out, yea sure the baby might be too big to push out in that position, a word that so many women don't ever realize is in a labor dictionary position. That word is the difference between c-section and safe vaginal delivery.

Blog Button- I helped bring home Lily Soo!

I am so excited, I have a button for my blog now!!! Isn't it cute, I think its absolutely perfect!!

<center><a href="http://www.adayin5.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVS0Y8jvaH-MYpTGUtTXbX18kM0VD60DSypbhcfdeiHFtJ5L44FOhdzteSuvRa-Wc63XIeOzYCCkEe-ZMhLtHFgLbHXw60tB_bal895ETie_yMmH_-9Wvnw9PAnuYCnEumBkX07miQE1fs/s1600/A+Day+in+the+life+of+5.png"/></a></center>

Now, You know you want one too. Go to Jen's blog and get one they are $5 until the 25th and all proceeds go to Another Ordinary Miracle/ Our Journey of Love to help bring home sweet Lily Soo!!!

Buttons for Lily Soo

I will soon have a blog button, I am so excited!! Jen has created a wonderful fundraiser for one of the blog families that I follow...

From Jen's blog post...


"For a couple of months now I've really felt the Lord calling me to use my hobby of Blog design for His glory! I have never charged for any of the blog design or blog services I have done thus far! I would however like to help this family bring Lily home so I thought I would do a Buttons for Lily Soo Sale!!

If you are interested in getting a button for your blog, NOW is a great opportunity to get one!! It can be a button and grab box for your personal blog or it can be for some special event happening on your blog too! Each button will only be $5! You can get a button and scrolling box to grab the code underneath for only 5 dollars!!

If you would like to purchase a button please email me at jenieshell at gmail dot com and pay the $5 fee by clicking on (the link to) my paypal donate button at the bottom of this post. This sale will be for this week only and 100% raised will be donated to Bring Lily Home Fund!! I will transfer the total amount raised next Sunday, July 25th.




If you are not in need of a blog button but would still like to help out this great family please feel free to donate through my paypal button! I will make sure to include it in the final amount raised next week!"

- Go, and get your $5 blog button and help bring Lily Soo home to her family!!

Not My Child! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Cayleigh-Grace would not dump out an entire box of Cheese Nips crackers, and I did not watch her do it just so I could get the "photo opportunity." I did not then put all of the Cheese Nips back in the bag for future consumption...
Little Kiale did not go to his first paying job on Saturday, and he did not make $5 picking up sticks for our neighbor so he could mow his yard. I would not be super proud of him for being so excited and having a good attitude about doing it. As I am absolutely positive that the money had nothing to do with him being so excited about helping clean up someones yard!

Colin did not clean up their entire bedroom that he shares with KJ after totally trashing it, and then blaming it on KJ. Colin would never do that! It did not take him a good hour or two to clean their room since he is by far the less motivated of my two boys.

After attending a birthday party for one of KJ's friends on Saturday. Cayleigh-Grace did not learn a new trick from her sweet friend Daisy... SCREAMING, at the top of her lungs, "Hello world, I am here" screaming... Thank you Daisy, our household will be forever in your debt for teaching our sweet and quiet Cayleigh-Grace such a wonderfully pleasing joyful noise! :)

I am not hoping that Cayleigh-Grace has forgotten how to make said "Joyful Noise.." we shall see today... I would never be keeping my fingers crossed though!

Slip-n-Slide Party

My house is so quiet right now I honestly think you could hear a pin drop. All three of the kids are passed out in their beds peacefully sleeping. They are utterly exhausted, and this would be why...

There were lots of...

Slipping
Sliding
Swimming
Falling
Eating
Running
Building
Fun
All in all it was a wonderful day spent with friends and loved ones! Oh, and you cannot beat McDonald's for lunch, plus WONDERFUL ice cream will all the fixins!

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not mess up a small baby blanket that was for my Aunt at my decent horrible attempt at binding my first blanket. I did not then just give the blanket to Colin, since he fell in love with them since they were "so so soft."

I did not get the boys new backpacks and lunch boxes even though Big Kiale said they didn't need new ones for school... but I just couldn't let them go to school without "new" backpacks and lunch boxes.

I do not think Cayleigh-Grace will start walking this week, she is cruising ALL around the house... while holding on the something! From the coffee table, to the couch from the couch to the wall, from the wall to our bedroom, to the chest in front of our bed, down my bed, and to the DVD's. All the girl is doing right now is walking, as long as she can hold on to something that is. I am going to have my camera ready!

I did not sneak into Cayleigh-Grace's room when she was quiet totally silent, and I did not discover my Sweet Grace sleeping on her floor. She got her special blanket out of her bed all by herself.


I am not getting really excited about the boys school starting, I cannot believe that I am going to have a Kindergartner and a K-4er.

*As of 9:50 this morning Cayleigh-Grace took her first steps!!! 4 of them to be exact, and she wasn't scared a bit!!*

All is Quiet...

When all is quiet and no sound of sweet Cayleigh-Grace can be heard... check the snack cabinet...

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not have a wonderful 4th of July that did not include Colin wondering off and almost getting lost. Go check out my 4th of July post here to learn more.

We did not spend 3 full hours at Chucky Cheese on Friday with the boys and my Mother in law.

I am not having a blast watching my friends 4 month old a few days a week. She is such a sweet and little baby, she only weighs around 12 lbs!

I did not have a very smooth and enjoyable week, so this will have to end this weeks segment of Not Me! Monday. Have a great week!! Sorry for the lack of pictures... Blogger seems to be having issues this morning.

10 Months + 4th of July= Bliss

That is right everyone our sweet Cayleigh-Grace turned 10 months old on Friday. It really doesn't seem possible that ten months ago she came into this world. She now has 8 teeth, she cut her 8th one of the 4th of July. She can say Mama, Dada, Baba, aka her Lamb for Build-A-Bear, as well as the occasional, yea and hey. She has the best personality always happy and eager to eat whatever doesn't eat her first. She has started walking around as long as she is holding on to something, she can also stand alone for a couple of seconds. She is in size 18 month clothes and size 6-12 month shoes. She also wears size 3 diapers. Its crazy to think that in two months time, my sweet baby girl with be a year old...
4th of July was wonderful. We set out early to attend the Baby Crawl. Cayleigh-Grace just sat their between Dixie's legs and didn't move. I think she was to scared of all the people yelling, she just looked around and crouched down under Dixie more. She knew where she was safe and secure. She still got a medal though! The parade was wonderful. Colin gave us all (Mom, Dad, Dixie, Dylan, Holly and I) quite a scare though, he just walked off and disappeared. Thankfully my Dad found him, quite a ways down the street... he went after a "little puppy" that he saw. We were all standing there packing everything up, one second he was there and the next second he was gone... it was so scary. Other than that incident it was a wonderful Our Country Day celebration in town. After the parade I went home to make Mac-N-Cheese and then headed over to our friend Kirby's Dad's house to have a BBQ and swim. I think we were in the water for a good 4 hours. Cayleigh-Grace had all of maybe an hour total sleep the entire day, but thankfully she remained in wonderful spirits and didn't get the slightest bit cranky.

Sundress

Well I kept seeing dresses similar to these and I just loved them, so I decided to design my own pattern. I think it turned out pretty well. I will be selling these in my store, the dresses are designed to grow with you daughter and eventually turn into a top. It isn't quite finished though, I still have to add the button onto the center of the dress.