the appearance of Cala Grace

I feel like I've lost most of November.  We thought we were going to have an October baby, so we spent weeks preparing and waiting for our second little girl to make her appearance.  But she decided she wanted to do things on her own time table, so we kept waiting.  At a week past her due date, we had a non-stress test to make sure she was still doing pretty well.  Everything looked good, so we went home to wait a little longer.  I'd been having steady contractions 10 minutes apart for 5 long days, so I was growing pretty weary of the waiting.  Shortly after we got home that afternoon, the contractions let up for the first time in days.  Since I was pretty sure that wouldn't last, I decided to take advantage of the reprieve so I went to bed at about 7 o'clock Saturday night, Nov 5. 

I woke up with a pretty strong contraction shortly after 1 (or was it 2? I can't figure out how the whole daylight savings time change thing works) Sunday morning.  Glad I had gotten some rest, I tried to get comfortable for another long night of contractions.  The next one came about 10 minutes later, just like before, but PAINFUL! And then I was wet.  At that time of night, I wasn't thinking too clearly and I wasn't that wet, so  I figured I must have peed my pants.  Crazy, right?  So I changed and got back into bed only to find myself wet again.  The next contraction came just a couple minutes later, and I suddenly realized my water had probably broken and these contractions had gone from 10 minutes apart to 3 or 4 minutes.  I yelled for Kevin to call his mom so she could come stay with the kids, and it is time to go NOW!

We called the midwife on the way in to town so she could meet us at the hospital.  Since it was the middle of the night, we had to be triaged in the ER.  The nurse asked if my water had broken and I thought so, but I wasn't sure.  She kind of scoffed at me and said I would know if it had.  Apparently, this little girl wanted to be different, because I was now completely dry, but it was definitely time for her to show up.  We finally got up to labor and delivery at about 2:30.  The nurses asked me a bunch of questions while Amy put in my IV and then they ushered me into the tub.  I really didn't want to mess with any drugs because my pattern seems to be that I labor so fast, they never even get a chance to work before the baby comes. 

The tub was wonderful!  The contractions were coming pretty quickly, but I still had a minute or so to rest between them for a while.  But then, out of the blue, I was hot and I wanted out of that tub! Amy kinda shoved me back down and told me to wait for that contraction to pass when here comes another one!

I have to push!

Somebody called for Kevin to come in before he missed his baby being born.

Reach down and feel your baby's head.  Here she is.  Cala Grace.

The tub was great.  The waterbirth was totally unintended.  It's not actually allowed at that hospital and it was the first time in 20 years our nurse had ever seen a baby born in the water.  But I think it was awesome.  No ring of fire, the pain was there and gone so fast.  And like I said before, this little one had to be different.

She was born so fast, we were there less than an hour.  Kevin said he was pacing around the room so the nurse had just told him to sit down and turn on the tv when they all jumped into action.  He did get to see her born, but just from the back of the room.  Poor guy can't remember what hospital our other kids were born in, but he won't soon forget little Cala's birth. 

I'm so thankful she's finally here, and I can't believe it's been a month already.  My sweet girl, my unexpected blessing. The little one I didn't know I longed for. 

Nesting and 40 + 3

I've been here twice before, so you would think I would be used to it.  But I don't think there is a pregnant woman in the world who hasn't gotten a little impatient as that magical due date comes and goes.  I try to remember that Chloe and Micah were both born 3 days late, but here we are, and I don't think we're showing any more signs of labor than a couple of weeks ago.  I just keep reminding myself, it'll happen in God's perfect timing.  Right?

In the meantime, I've gotta keep myself busy.  So I've been finding little baby projects to do.  Lots of sewing and a little knitting.  The project thing actually started way back in the summer when we found out we are having a girl.  Isaac's carseat was wonderful, but it had this nylon fabric that made him sweat like crazy.  And it was brown and red, not terrible, but nothing girlie about it for sure.  So I found this awesome carseat tutorial by Ashley over at Make it and Love it.  It was a huge project, but totally worth it.

After Kevin got my sewing table all set up in the new school room, I got kinda wrapped up in finding new things to sew and I discovered these cute little fabric shoes.

I've also kept busy making baby blankets and nursing covers for a couple other moms due this week.  Not to mention making all of the bedding for sweet baby Corbin, Jody's little guy.

Last week I stopped in at the yarn store in town and found this beautiful, soft yarn that I just had to have.  It was ridiculously priced, but I decided that I needed to splurge, so I bought it with absolutely no idea what I was going to do with it.  But that's what the internet is for.  I found a cardigan pattern made specifically for that yarn and made the little matching headband with it at the top of the page.

So I suppose my little one will just have more fun things from Mommy if she decides to take even longer to show up.  But I won't be disapointed if she shows up soon anyway :).



HOW MANY kids do you have???

I get this question a lot.  We've got 4, about to be 5 in about 2-3 weeks.  And our house is the same one we bought 9 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest, Chloe.  It's a 2 bedroom bungalow, not exactly the sprawling home you'd expect when you think about someone with so many kids.  But we like it, and we've made do.  Kevin's job is still in the "building a portfolio/client base" stage, so we really don't feel like we're in a position to buy.  BUT... we need somewhere to put all of these kids!!

A couple years ago (nearly 3 years actually) Kevin and his dad started building a bedroom in the basement wtih the idea that Chloe would move down there.  Well, fast forward to this summer, and here I am pregnant with our 5th child and she's still sharing a bedroom with 2 brothers and Isaac is still sleeping in our room.  Definitely not a great setup. 

So we made a deal, the bedroom had to be done by the time school started this fall.  The spring started out on a positive note, a couple of weekends with forward movement, but then softball season started.  That pretty much meant that NOTHING happened on the house for 2 whole months.  As July came to a close, I was starting to stress.

So I called Kevin at work one afternoon and asked what project could I do in the 2 hours Isaac was sleeping right then.  He told me and I got to work painting Chloe's closet.  I think the fact that I was asking for a job to do during naptime got him to realize this seriously needed to get done.  The next day I called and asked how to set the computer up in another room so we could have a place for the crib in ours.  After my midweek nesting craze, Kevin got the hint and started getting serious with Chloe's room.  He spent 4-5 days a week for the next few weeks working all evening after work. 

It's amazing how long it can take to get from "almost done" to "actually done"  but we finally got there!!  Chloe now has her very own room and she loves it!! 

After sharing with her brothers for the last 7, almost 8, years, she was definitely ready for some girlie space. 

A most beautiful girl

Ok, before I get into my post, I will briefly address my 11 month blogging hiatus: I've been busy.

Moving on...

A couple of years ago, I met this young girl who was babysitting for our small group and needed a ride into church every Thursday night.  She's fun and bubbly, and I've gotten to know her pretty well during those 20 minute drives every week since then.  I've learned a lot about how much she doesn't like math and how much she loves Burrus corn.  But something more than that, I've seen this girl grow into an awesome woman of God.  She struggles with all the same things that teenagers struggle with, but  she knows the loving God who's with her through it all. 

Crae loves children with a passion and she has found a very special place in the hearts of my children and me.

She lives right around the corner and often shows up to play with the kids or take them to the park.  Last summer, she surprised me by teaching Jadon how to pump his legs on the swing without me even knowing!  Now, that's the way to a Momma's heart!!

Crae is a senior in high school this year, so I asked her if I could do her senior pictures for her as an early graduation gift.  She wanted to take the kids to the park to do them, which is so typical of her. I really don't know what we're going to do if she goes off to college next year.  We'll miss her for sure, but I'm so proud of who she's become. 

Congratulations, Crae!  We love you.

first words

When you are the fourth in line, sometimes life is rough. 

Big brothers take your toys. 

Or big sister won't let you chew on her markers. 

But sometimes life is easy... too easy.  You never have to do much to get attention. 

After a year, you still don't feel the need for walking or talking because you have brothers and sister around 24/7 to bring you every toy or tell Mommy you need a snack. 

Until one night you're up a little late and something shiny catches your eye.  You point up at it, look over at Daddy and say "buffoon!!"

That's another rough thing about being number 4, sometimes boys have to play with princess 'buffoons'

Conversations with a 4 year old

On vacation, fixing a plate of pancakes for my boy~

Jadon: I want not too much peanut butter, but too much syrup.

Same vacation, early morning in the tent, looking up at the sky~

Jadon: Mom, look, the day is coming!

Later that same day, trying to get things packed up~

Me: Get away from the campsite and go play in the parking lot!

This morning, as I was getting ready for church~

Jadon: Mommy, do you know why we have 2 shoes?

Me: Why, JJ?

Jadon: Because we have 2 feet.

Gotta love that boy!

My life as a Circus

Life has a way of spiralling out of control every once in a while.  Take this week for example: my husband, a banker worked 16 hours yesterday.  SIXTEEN!! With hours like that, no one should ever make comments about him working "banker's hours." Anyway, this post is supposed to be about my circus life.  We're a little crazy around here.  Homeschooling, sick kids having chest xrays, Mom2Mom on Fridays, plus all the prep time, and redefining the term "banker's hours." So isn't it appropriate that this year our family Halloween theme was the Circus!

We even made a "Rodies' Big Top" trunk for Trunk or Treat this year.

My dear scruffy husband is certainly the ringleader for this crew.

Chloe kept reminding everyone that she was a "male" lion, because the females do not have manes.

Micah is definitely our "class clown" so I thought the costume was appropriate.

Jadon loved the elephant costume that we borrowed.  I heard a trumpetting elephant all week after this.

And, yes, that is my sick little man out in the cold.  Don't worry, we didn't stay long.  And he still managed to get well, despite the cold weather and all the sugar the other kids kept sneaking him.

Where did she go?

So this past month, I'm sure you've been wondering where we went.  I mean, there's no more softball, so surely we've been home enough to do some blogging.  Well, not exactly.  Since there is no softball, my dear husband has decided he needs to make up for it with fishing.  LOTS of fishing! Fishing for BIG fish!

So this is where we've been.  On this dock.

Fishing for these fish.

And this 34 lbs, bigger-than-my-now-4-year-old fish.

And this one, too.

Kevin said his dad tried to play it cool, but I think he was pretty pleased with the biggest-catch-of-his-life fish.  What do you think?

ONE!!

I know, I know, it's cliché.  But there is usually a reason for cliché.  I can't believe it's been a year already!  My little guy is growing up and entering that mystical time of toddlerhood. 

Zac has finally figured out how to crawl on his hands and knees rather than slither like a snake on his belly.  But the cake I made for his and Joshua's birthday party sure fit him well.

You know, they say (whoever "they" are) that later babies learn to walk and talk later.  In Zac's case that seems to apply as well, because there is never any shortage of brothers or sister or cousins to help him out.  He even has a cousin to share his birthday with!

What a blessing it is to watch this little one grow and to help him become the man that God wants him to be.  I pray we are up to the task.  Who knows, he might even become a football star! 

(But I think he'll have to stop chewing on the ball first.)



A Letter from my Baby Brother

I'm so proud of my baby brother.  The same little brother I used to pick on, and who pushed me down the stairs once.  The baby brother that was my best friend every time we moved in the middle of the summer, when there was no school to busy us or help us make new friends.  The baby brother who has no kids of his own, but loves mine with abandon and plays wiffle ball with them in his suit and tie. 

I got a message from him today and it was so moving, I called him up to ask him if I could share it with you.

everything is going well, and i'm happy to be useful, even though this situation is very strange. i feel like i have no experience and authority for getting things done, but people look at me as if i should be in charge. its so weird, but i guess its similar for other peace corps volunteers in the country.


we get treated with respect because people think we're rich and well educated. in comparison we are, but i don't feel like i have the capabilities to do some of the things they expect. its all so strange, but i guess i sometimes do. that's the reality of it.


we're here because we believe we can get things done, we don't settle, we don't quit, we show up and care and as long as we keep doing that we'll be somwhat effective.

He's such an awesome guy! I'm so proud of the sacrifice he's making to better our world.  I love him so much, even if he is a bit of a goofball.

It's Over!

Softball season is finally over for the year.  Despite many ups and downs this season, they ended on a really great note.  The Rodies ended the Sunday afternoon league in a 3 way tie for first, but somehow came out on top.  I have no idea how they figure it out, but I'm just excited for them!

We played the last game of the night, which always means we end up with a few short Rodies on the field after the game.

Girls too!

And even little Teegan!

The following week was the tournament for that league.  Apparently, our guys have never actually finished in first for both the season and the tournament.  This year they finally did it!  Of course, with a little more help from the fans!

No, she's not mine, but she's stinkin' CUTE!!

A couple of weeks ago, Kevin and I spent a few days with his sister's 4 kiddos while she and her hubby were out of town.  The thing is, Kevin and his brothers were playing in a softball tournament the same weekend.  My van only seats seven, that leaves no place for 3 of us.  So we divied up the munchkins, girls with Daddy/Uncle Kevin and boys with Mommy/Aunt Becca, and drove both our cars over to the tournament.  While we waited for the games to start, I took all 8 kids over to the really great playground.  I learned a couple of things while I was over there.


1.  Trying to count to 8 children when only one of them is still is quite a challenge.


and 2. Lydia...

likes to climb...

a lot!!

I don't think I realized she was actually trying to push Luke off the steps here.

The things cute 2 year olds get away with.  Maybe Aunt Becca should come out from behind that camera a little more.