Long time no chat {chatting with Patrice}

Patrice!!! It's been TOO long! I am guessing it's chilly there with you, so it's a chat by a warm stove, somewhere? Let's face it - the WHOLE of the USA is cold just now, pretty much. And the parts where it doesn't look cold, it actually IS for the places you are looking at. Florida. Coats. Yes! It's true! My friends in Florida are COLD!! Here, it's just wet and windy. Yuck. With a capital "Y". I have to say, however, the sun is shining today. We are flooded between here and the Church, though. It turns a scant 5 minute trip, into closer to 15 minutes. It may not seem much, but it's a big deal around here! We live in a river valley, and there is a little bridge between the villages. However, if it rains hard, the road approaching the bridge ends up under water, so it's a "no go". They now block the road when it floods, as some prize pillock usually tries to get through the flood, and ends up having to be rescued by the Fire Brigade.  Onto a nice chat, mincemeat flapjack in hand... 

1. How much baking did you do before and after Christmas? Do you get more inspired to bake when the temps are cooler?

This was probably the least baking I have done in a LONG while, over a Christmas period. Part of the reason is answered by question number 2. Since realising I have issues with gluten, I bake FAR less. It's naughty, really. Me not baking so much, simply because *I* can't eat it! Part of it was also that I baked less during this pregnancy.  To start with I was feeling ill, then I had to rest, then I just got out of the way of baking regularly, then I had Tabitha. So, you see, mitigating circumstances reduced my baking anyway.

So, Christmas. I baked cookies, with my friend. Actually. That's not true. Leah did pretty much all of it herself. I helped decorate a few. Literally, a few. She also did most of that, too!

Other than that, I baked virtually nothing over Christmas. I made a chocolate torte for my family coming. I made some mincemeat flapjack, which I can eat. That was it!!

As we were at home for Christmas, on our own, I didn't even make any desserts. The children are not fussed with desserts, and I was hardly going to make them just for Robert, especially as he had just had some surgery and was not feeling tickety boo. On Christmas day, the children had "make your own ice-cream sundae" and LOVED it!

I have previously baked a LOT at Christmas - mince pies, chocolate yule logs, cookies and cakes.  It was nice, in a way, to have a rest from it all this year!

I must do more baking, once the Christmas gifts of chocolate and tins of biscuits have all run out. 

2.  Do you have any food intolerances or allergies?

Yes, indeed I have.

I realised at the end of last year, that I was having a lot of tummy troubles. It had got to the stage of wakening in the night, feeling sick. I felt grotty all the time. So, I did an eating programme called Whole30. It cuts out problematic food groups for 30 days, then you can reintroduce things and see what happens.  I felt brilliant when I cut them out! I realised, from doing it, that gluten was a MAJOR one, and dairy to a lesser extent. 

I now have virtually no gluten. (The odd thing, which I pay for later, but not as badly as I did having it all the time...) Also, very little dairy. Cream I avoid totally, and yoghurt. I have a very little grated cheese on my bolognaise and on chillli. It's not the same without. (Again, I pay for it later, but not in a huge way). Also, a little butter in some cooking. 

I miss cakes.

That's all I'm saying.  Or I may dissolve into a hysterical, weeping mess, at the memory of my loss....

3.  When was the last time you were in a restaurant?

Now, are we counting chain type restaurants, that dish out the same old same old? Or, are we talking fancy schmancy, where they change the menu regularly.

For the first, it was just before Christmas. I took the children to Pizza Express, using my Tesco vouchers! (Free dinner - who can complain?!?) I was especially thrilled, as I realised, before choosing to go, that they do gluten free options!! It was the first time I had pizza for a LONGGGGG time! Yum! 

Just a couple of weeks before I had Tabitha, we all went as a family, with some friends, to Frankie and Bennys. It's a family favourite to go there, and as it was Joshua's birthday, we went as a treat. Gammon steak and chips is my normal, but I shared a meat  platter with my friend, as a change. Yum yum!

Robert and I have been out to some lovely places in years gone by, but they are not the kind of place that is conducive to family dining. So, Pizza express, Frankie and Bennys and Toby Carvery it is, then! 

(Sorry, to my friend, Lydia, if you are reading this blog post - too many food references.... )

4.  What's your favourite accent(speech)?

Erm, am I allowed to say "Scottish"??? Being my own accent, and all??

I say that, because living in England I rarely hear a Scottish accent, so when I do, it makes me happy and makes me feel connected to my place of birth. I can hear a Scottish person speaking from a long way off - my ear picks it up very quickly, and connects to that person. Inevitably it becomes the topic of conversation. "You're a long way from home".... 

I do like hearing a someone speak English with a Spanish accent, or hearing someone speak in Spanish. It's very soothing, I think.

Also, hearing someone speak Chinese. I love the intonation - they way the sounds go up and down. My friend is from Singapore, and she has taught her youngest to be bi-lingual and speaks often to him in Chinese. I love hearing her do that!

5.  My favourite Bible Verse is "But my God shall supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus". Phil 4 :19

It's a promise I cling to every day. It became my favourite verse when the Lord showed me that it is not just talking about your need for "things", but your physical, spiritual and emotional needs, too. These things are far more important than any "thing" you may need. God supplies all I need for every day. I may feel like I am missing something, but if I don't have it, God does not think I need it! If I need it, God supplies it, wonderfully and graciously. What a great God!

Don't forget to pop over to Patrice for a chat, and see what the others folks on the porch are saying, too! 

New Year, new project {making Tapestry of Grace student workbooks}

I have now been using my main curriculum, Tapestry of Grace, for 4 years.

Let's have a trumpet fanfare and a big cheer, for making it back to the first year again.

Yup! We're starting that cycle all over again, with my children 4 years older, and new ones joining in this time. THIS is the exciting time I have been looking forward to, when I hopefully hear my children say "Oh YES! I remember doing this before", and spouting some long-stored facts from the recesses of their minds!

She says. Hopefully...

It *IS* one of the wonderful facts about TOG. As it runs in a four year cycle, and you switch your child up through the levels of learning (lower grammar, upper grammar, dialectic and rhetoric - all classical approach), you could end up going through the 4 year cycle about 3 times in their schooling. Each time approaching the information in a more in-depth and applied way. Each time soaking in the information in a more long-lasting manner. Bravo, Tapestry of Grace, for designing it to be so!

This year we are adding in a couple of new approaches, which we haven't used as yet. I do feel it has taken me these first four years to become fully confident and able to implement some of the changes we are making. The first year was a bit of a flounder, being new to the whole concept of a curriculum where I had to do anything other than hand my children their workbooks, all purchased ready to use, and assign them page numbers every day. Thankfully, Tapestry is rather forgiving, and as it is designed to allow each family to make it fit their own schedule and requirements, I have gradually been able to add elements as I feel able.

This year I decided to tackle "paper mania" head on. You know, when you have umpteen pieces of paper floating around (obviously not literally, but on a bad day, it's possible...), and you have to constantly fight the battle of paper migration? Loose papers in the kitchen. Loose papers in the lounge.  Loose papers in the dining room. You get the idea.

As I had purchased my new toy tool, my comb binder, I feel it is good to use it as often as possible. I realised that pre-printing the pages I would need the children to use for TOG, and binding them in advance, would beat trying to file them away  as we go along after they had built up into a Mt Everest sized pile. (Let's be real, people....unless you are super-amazing-organised mother type, who files daily. Or is it just me who doesn't??....own up) If I have them in a work-book, it's neat, tidy, easy to grab for the child, and just plain simpler. No more printing every week through each Unit, just one mega-print once every few months. Additionally, since I feel highly thrilled and satisfied by the sight of freshly bound documents, it's a win-win idea! (Yes, weirdo home-schooling mother...)

This weekend, I DID IT!!! I finished them today, and they are sitting, just WAITING for school to start tomorrow. Full of promise and educational advancement.

I know that it may help some other TOG users to see what I have done, and perhaps inspire others to consider using TOG, so here I am sharing in my accomplishment.  Some of this may mean nada to you - if so, and you are not interested, please return to whatever you were doing before you saw I had posted  a new blog entry!

Right, so what went in, and what didn't make the cut?

Every workbook begins with a lovely cover. Which book is complete WITHOUT a cover?? I wanted a bigger image, but a lovely friend pointed out about how much ink a bigger image uses, and I was thankful for my choice! *grin* (Thanks Beth!)

As you can see, this one will be Joshua's. We are just beginning on Dialectic with him (excited, slightly apprehensive, squeaking noise being made - by him and me, both!!).

Here they all are, lined up ready.

First off, for the oldest 2, I put in the reading list. Then they can mark off WHAT they need to read that week, and also once they have read it.  The younger 2 will refer to the master copy in our book stand, if needed. You can see here, the reading selections are divided by level and by subject. 

Next, I put the Student Activity Pages. These outline all the suggested activities for that week. For Josh, at this higher level, there are also the "Accountability questions" and the "Thinking Questions" on these pages. 

Next, if I have any notebooking pages to add, these go here. I have put them straight after the pages that outline what we can do that week, as I will have them do this activity earlier in the week than the pages which follow. I am not sure if I have ever blogged about our TOG routine.  I shall look, and rectify that if I have not!  As you can see here, the first week is in Egypt, and they will do a notebooking page about the Nile River. 

Next, we have a mapping page. 

Some weeks there is one, some more than one, and some none at all!! This first week of Year 1, there are actually three, as they begin with an overview of world geography, as well as geography of Egypt. 

In addition, Josh will be doing a map overlay project. More of that in another post....

Next, we have the SAP (Student Activity Page) to go with their literature for that week.

Finally, I have included any Evaluation pages. First time through TOG, I did not utilise the Evaluations. Until someone kindly pointed out that they are a super addition as an extra "worksheet", if nothing else! 

So, if there is a worksheet type eval, I have included it. (Some are oral tests)

There we have it! My workbooks!

Oh, yes! I must tell you that I plan for them to write their answers to any essay type questions (and for Josh's thinking and accountability questions) in a shop bought, spiral-bound, notebook. 

(Like this, but a different design)

I didn't want to add pages into their workbooks, as they made need more or less than I provide. This allows a degree of flexibility, and also allows you to have the questions side-by-side with where you write the answers.  We will see how it works out.

I am really happy with them, and just know they are going to be a help both to the children, as well as to me.  Obviously, being a  "first" for us, we will see how it works out, and I can tweak it for unit 2, if need be. 

Over the next few weeks I will also tell you about the other elements I am adding this year. A cumulative map overlay project, having older students being involved in planning, and a timeline. (I still have not decided whether we should do the timeline as a family, or have the children doing it alone... or both!).  

I am really psyched up for starting back tomorrow, but I know it may not go as smoothly as I hope, so I am trying not to put too much pressure on my shoulders! I *DO* know, that, if I am excited about starting back, SOME of that energy is bound to bounce off onto the children and help them to feel motivated, too. 

I hope this helps out others  with their planning. 

Oh, and don't forget to nip over to this post, for a great give-away of the notebooking resource that I am using in my workbooks. 

*DISCLAIMER* - the pages I have shared with you are available as a free sample download of Tapestry of Grace. Please do not violate copyright laws by trying to reproduce these pages, or copy them. If you want to use the curriculum, buy the curriculum! 

Notebooking & a GIVE-AWAY!! {my inspiring discovery}

Until very recently, I had never heard of notebooking.

I am a home-schooling mother, of 8 years, and I had never found out what it was.

Yes, it's true.

A whole eight years not knowing about notebooking.

I had HEARD about the concept, and recently found out it involves printing off pre-prepared sheets of paper, to fill out information on a topic you are studying. I had found blank templates, that you simply print and fill in whatever information was pertinent to your current studies. You could use it for ANY topic, really! It's a great idea, and you could use it throughout all of your areas of study. Personally, I like a bit of variation in how you record what you have learnt, so I don't think I would use it exclusively.

Then, the other day I was asking, on the Tapestry of Grace Facebook group that I am on, about putting together a workbook. (That will be a whole other post!) However, I was pointed in the direction of a resource that I just had to share with you. I have been sitting browsing through it, to print off some of the pages to add to my workbook.

Let me tell you a little about it.

The company is called Scribe System. This is what they say about themselves

"Children learn by rewriting and drawing what they have learned in their own words and images.

There are programs out there that offer historical colouring books with the writing and pictures done for them,

but what are they really learning but how to colour?

With History Scribe books,

your children are the authors!

They work well in conjunction with all history programs and cover the key points of various time periods.

Each page offers a brief outline of the topic and some include timeline dates if you are also working with a timeline book.

And the rest is your children's effort.

Children learn by rewriting and drawing what 

they have learned in their own words and images.

History Scribe books are not just fancy colouring book worksheets.
Each page offers a starting point for your studies
as well as room for your children to be creative and
enjoy drawing what THEY learned...
not just a picture to colour and write about.

This is the best part about History Scribe...
your children create their own books
based on their grasp and understanding of the lesson you taught. 

They learn to put their studies into a book...

not just how to colour someone else's drawings."

I have purchased their History Scribe selection, but they also cover Bible and geography, too. An additional set it their "boys selection". These are topics particularly suited to boys, who have a notorious name for being reluctant to put pen to paper. These topics will inspire them to draw and write about subjects that will fascinate them.    The history selection covers many eras of history. I am about to start back on Year One of Tapestry of Grace. It begins with studies in Egypt, and History Scribe offers many, many notebooking pages which will supplement the curriculum I use. I am sure it would tie in with many more history curricula.  For all the eras covered,  there are several different "levels" of pages available. More basic ones have a little information on a sub-topic, such as "mummies", and then space to draw a picture, and some lines provided to write in some information of your own. The "older" levels have a couple of pages per topic. It has space for "key topic points", an area for a "personality summary", a mini timeline and an essay question, as well as other things. An example essay question, for an upper level is "If you were a wealthy Egyptian, what sort of festivities would you plan for your guests based on your knowledge of the times?".  They also provide maps and blank notebooking pages, for students to add their own information, as well as the prompted ones they provide. 
It truly is a great resource, particularly if you have children of different ages, all studying the same topic together. I am able to print off notebooking pages appropriate for all my 4 oldest children. 
I plan to add mine into my workbooks, as I mentioned, but you could collate them into a bound book of their own, or file them away in a ring binder. I haven't even begun to look at the other eras of history covered, but if they are anything like the Egyptian pages, they will be equally valuable! 
Pop over to the Scribe System page, to find more in depth descriptions of their products, and some sample pages to peruse.
The great news is, I have not one, not two, but FIVE people who can win a download of their choice, from this great company!!  Yes, five people can each choose one of the titles to download, and use with their children. Whether you home educate, or you have a child who attends school, but who loves to read and learn at home, this resource is a wonderful addition to your home.  So, have a look below, and find several easy ways to enter the give-away. The give-away begins at midnight tonight, and ends at midnight next Friday - winners to be announced next Saturday. So, have a go, and see if you are one of the winners! If not, then this resource is well worth the money you would spend to purchase it. Additionally, as ever, being a downloadable item, it makes me a HUGE fan!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Walking with Jesus {into the New Year}

On Christmas day, I had a lovely walk with our children, around the village. I had Tabitha in the sling, and an older child pushing the little boys, so I had 2 free hands. I had various children desiring to hold my hand, as we walked along.

I like that my children like to hold my hand, as we walk along. I hope they don't stop being happy holding my hand!

Along the way, Abigail had her turn. She loved holding my hand, and told me so!

Until we came to a point when there was a car in the road, which we needed to walk around. I saw that we would need to go around it, so I started to walk out into the road a little. Abi, however, wanted to walk along the white line, at the side of the road.  So, she began tugging and pulling at my hand to go HER way. "I want to walk THIS way", she said.

"If you want to hold my hand, you need to go the same way as Mummy", I replied.

Needless to say, she went my way! She so wanted to hold my hand, that her desire to go her own way was rejected, in favour of staying with me.

As I think about the New Year, my thoughts are drawn to that moment. If I want to walk with Jesus, I need to resist going my own way, and stay walking with Him. There are times when my sinful nature tugs to go my own way. My fleshly desires can try to pull me away in the wrong direction.

Thankfully, my Saviour is holding onto my hand, just as I was holding onto Abi's. He holds me tightly, and draws me back into His way. My heart needs to be knit with His, however.  I need to turn away from those desires that would pull me away from a close walk with Him, and I need to cheerfully follow Him. My life, if it is to be in step with Christ, needs to be one of following - of walking with Him, side by side. I need to seek God's Word, and find how HE wants me to walk. To search out instruction, in His Word, on the way to go, and how to walk in it. One thing is for certain, if I have a heart that loves the Lord, and that is striving to do right, I will joyfully do the right thing.

Walking with the Lord is not always a smooth path.

It is not always an easy path.

But, it's a rewarding, blessed and joyful one. One that is worth walking. One that we should cheerfully turn from our own ways to walk in.

It's a walk that is one of love. Walking with a loving Saviour, who will support us, help us, lead us, guide us, sustain us.  Which one of us would rather walk in our own ways, than walking with a loving Saviour?

I know what I desire to choose this year. My aim is to strive after a faithful and close walk with the Lord. To hold onto His hand, and not keep pulling off in my own direction. Not to have to have him tugging on my hand, but to have me meekly walking by His side, with joy.

As we walk into 2014 with our Lord, I pray that I can continue to encourage you, as the Lord challenges my heart, and as I can share the blessings the Lord gives me in my life.

Oh, walk with Jesus, wouldst thou know

How deep, how wide His love can flow;

They only fail His love to prove

Who in the ways of sinners rove.

Walk thou with Him, that way is light,

All other pathways end in night.

Walk thou with Him, that way is rest,

All other pathways are unblest.

Oh, walk with Jesus, to thy view

He will make all things sweet and new,

Will bring new fragrance from each flower,

And hallow every passing hour.

Jesus, a great desire have we

To walk life’s troubled path with Thee:

Come to us now, in converse stay:

And, Oh, walk with us day by day.

(Edwin Hood)

MYOB {being agreeable when you disagree...}

This post is going to be a little ranty. It's about an issue that has been on my heart and mind for a few weeks now.

It all stemmed from hearing about the public confession of someone who had fallen into sin.

It rattled through the internet express, and hit the headlines on a lot of blogs.

It was sad. Sad, more than anything else, because someone, to whom many people looked up to, had been involved in sin and confessed to doing wrong.

The repercussions were inevitable.

That is where my problem lies.  I don't want to analyse the sins of another, with no knowledge of the facts or circumstances.  It's not my place to judge. Knowing what I know, my only plea is "Lord, keep me from sin, and keep me near your heart".

No, my problem lies with the reaction of others. I see, so often, and hear it from people far too regularly, people airing their opinions on things that are really none of their business. I am not suggesting that we can sweep everything under a carpet, or hide from bad things that happen.  There is certainly much to be taken and learnt from the experiences and circumstances of others.  We can learn not to make the same mistakes, if nothing else.

My problem is with people who latch onto one thing they see that they don't like, and start to pick apart the entire lives of others who don't hold to the same point of view.  I have seen downright bitter and ungodly responses to the particular man I initially referred to.  People making assumptions, casting aspersions and judging the heart and motives of those involved. It's not our place to do such a thing. We do not know their hearts. Worse than that is then pulling apart their entire lives, based on one sin, or one area of their lives that the others didn't approve of.

"Quiverfull movement"

"Patriarchal movement"

These topics are being raised and torn apart.

I am not saying that I advocate or adhere to these "movements".  I am not even going to comment on what they are or what they involve. I simply have an issue with people, especially Christians, who see others with a different point of view and cannot just let them have it.  Both these subjects are not primary issues, and yet people can become rather vitriolic about others who hold to them.

Undoubtedly, some people can become obsessed with a subject, in their Christian life, and make far too much of it. People in both the camps mentioned above have a tendency to make something which IS a secondary issue, into a primary one. However, many people may hold to the principles involved in these movements, to a certain degree, not to the nth degree, and yet they get criticised by those standing by.  People who seem to think it's their business to share their point of view on what the other holds to.

It happens with home-schooling, too. Maybe you could say there is a "home educating movement"?? (Maybe people do, and I am so IN it, I have never heard it?!!??)

People like to give their view on how we have chosen to educate our family.  Our family size.  How we live our life.  Our plans for our family.  How we run our home.

It seems, that Christians today have developed an intensely critical spirit, and can't just let people make their own choices on secondary issues, without telling them they are wrong, instead of accepting them as simply "different".

Where's love, long-suffering and compassion gone?

Where has intelligent discussion, tolerance and mutual respect gone?

Instead, I find a critical spirit, harsh words and bitterness directed at those who are different.

As with all I say, I try to bring it all back to the scriptures. I don't want my blog to be about MY viewpoints, but in what the Bible tells us.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things"

I Corinthians 13:4-7

How can we not go to this chapter, and remember what REAL love is?

We need to be truth seekers, if we love.

We need to be patient, if we love.

We need to think the best of others, if we love.

We are not to be glad when others stumble, if we love.

We are to be tolerant of the views of others, if we love.

We are not to think our own point of view is more important than that of others, if we love.

If we DON'T love, then we are not the Lord's at all. Ergo, we need to display all these attributes, iN ORDER to love.

What about the fruit of the spirit?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

Galatians 5:22-24

There is never a topic that is so important that we can cast aside gentleness in how we deal with others in communicating our point of view.  We are to be gentle, when we disagree with others - when others are as strong about what they believe as we are about what we believe. We need to put to death - to cast aside - any tendencies towards a sinful attitude and behaviour, when we share a viewpoint with others. 

"Let your speech be alway with grace"

Colossians 4:6

It's what I tell my children, and have to remind myself. It's not always WHAT you say, it can also be how you say it!  Oh boy - does that really say "alway"?  I know MY speech is not always gracious. I'm talking about right here at home, never mind with anyone else. There's something I need to work on, right there. 

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Ephesians 4:29

If our speech being full of grace is HOW we say something, then this is more about WHAT we say. We need to put our point of view across in a way that encourages and builds up others. It may make them think, but it won't immediately put their up if we put it across in the right way. I think, if we always try and back it up with scriptures, that's a good start. (That is a subject, weighing on my heart, formulating in another post...) However, if it doesn't tie in with the "gracious" part, it can still come across wrongly. We need the whole package. The right words and in the right way.

I need to remember, too, that there is a time and a place for everything.  Sometimes we need to hold back on saying something. Sometimes things NEED to be said, because no-one else is saying it.  We need to wisely seek the Lord about what and how we speak. 

Oh, and another thing to remember.  Words that are in type do not have the same expression as the spoken word. Emotions, and sentiment, are not always fully understood when you read something. I try my very best to express myself with love and grace.  When I am reading, I equally try and have that same love and grace, in order to take things in the best possible light. Not to be negative or critical of the words of another - to be open to interpreting them in a way that is positive. 

Let's be more tolerant of those that may have different viewpoints on things that are secondary. Let's be more gracious in our responses to what they say or do. Let's be careful in our replies to those who we disagree with. Let's remember that we are united in Christ, and love is ALWAYS the most important thing. 

As my  Dad used to say, when we asked him what he was doing when it was none of our concern...

M.Y.O.B.

Mind your OWN business.

Keep being responsible for your own attitudes, actions and words, and be less critical of others.

Locked in {a little toilet humour}

There are moments in a mother's life where you need to choose. You need to choose between panic and calm.

I chose calm, yesterday. As Heidi St John would say I "stayed in my bubble".

It all started whilst I was feeding my bambino. These things often happen when you are otherwise occupied.

Elijah was at the toilet, and that alone can be a time consuming event. But, Simoen kept going in, because he had left the door open.

SO, he shut the door.

And, he locked the door.

Except, he then took so long at the loo, that he couldn't remember how to UNlock the door. It's not something we normally encourage children to do - lock doors.

So, as I was occupied with Tabitha, I told the older children to explain to Elijah how to unlock the door.  I could hear, from the lounge, and interesting episode which involved thinking up lots of ways to explain the same thing to a small child. My children became human Thesauruses (Thesaurusi??), thinking of all the ways to explain it.

To no avail.

He could NOT do it!

I was able to then leave Tabitha, and I went to try my own hand at explaining it to him.

Nope.

Still nothing.

Beth had even drawn him a picture, and slid it under the door, to SHOW him what to do!!!

I told him to climb on the top of the cistern, and try and open the small window, to let a sibling climb through.

Nope.

He couldn't climb up. (He's a cautious child, at the best of times!)

Thankfully, he remained calm.  those who know Elijah, will know that's a minor miracle!  He gets in a flap about a LOT less than being locked in a loo.  But, he was SOOOO good.

Next thing, however, we were getting no replies AT ALL from Elijah.  He had fallen ASLEEP!!!!

I had called Robert, to get some words of wisdom from him about what to do. He laughed. Great. Laughing does nada. (It WAS funny, I suppose...) He would be home in 30 minutes, and then he would help if we hadn't got him out.

Obviously, since he had fallen asleep, we needed Robert's assistance, because he was still asleep when he got home.

Robert tried pulling really hard on the door.  Nope.

He tried shouting to Elijah. Nope.

So, out came my husband's tools.  He loves his spacious garage, and being able to do things around the house. So, thankfully he had the right tools for the job.

A hammer.

And a chisel.

I think....???

It was flat, and wide, and had a handle?.... (yup, I have no idea about these things - it's my husband's domain!)

A few very loud, and hard, bangs, with the chisel and the hammer, along the door frame, and the door was opened. The door frame and the lock were busted, but the door was open.

Elijah?

Still fast asleep.

Where?

ON THE TOILET!!

The seat was down, from his effort to climb up to the window, and I guess he figured that being curled up on top of it was the best place to fall asleep, whilst he waited for rescue by his wonderful Dad??

We had to waken him, despite all the loud banging (yes, we breed deep sleepers.  We train them when they are young, but that's another topic)

'Twas quite a sight. Elijah, erm, naked from the waist down, curled up on a toilet, bottom in the air.

Poor boy.

But rather cute.

he was slightly confused when we woke him, and a bit upset, but he survived.

Better still, despite my sleep deprived state, at the moment, I coped rather calmly.  Phew.

All in a day, actually, an hour, in the Cordle household.

Fun times. Interesting memories.

And, yes, I took a picture.  All for wedding fodder, obviously.

And, all decent...

You have to laugh, right?

Oh, and the funny part. We had been repeatedly trying to tell him about the little knob on the door lock, that he needed to hold onto, to slide the bolt back. It helps if he hasn't screwed that little bit OFF.  then he may have been able to grab hold of it and slide the lock back, like we told him.

Groan.

Thankfully, my husband is very skilled.  He has replaced the busted door frame, and replaced the busted lock. With a cheap, easily broken in. one. He reckons one hard pull will just break the lock, "the next time".

Lectures have been given, to small people, about not locking the door again.

Bets are, it WILL happen again, though.

Time will tell!

Did I say, lately?  I love my children.

Belated Baby Announcement! {... the busy life of a new mother}

I MUST apologise.

I should have made this announcement much sooner, but life has been busy, and opportunities, to have the 2 hands that I need to type, have been few! (I have already started this and not finished it, more than once...)

I am absolutely thrilled to announce the safe delivery of our 8th blessing.

Tabitha Hope Cordle

born 3/11/13 

weighing 7lb 12oz

at 3.28am

at HOME! 

We decided, after much prayer and careful consideration, to have our first home birth.  It stemmed from the question of what to do with the other children whilst I went to hospital, and Robert came up with the "home birth" answer! I had always dismissed the idea previously. Partly to do with my noisy labouring, and partly because our hospital births had been absolutely fine. On hindsight, they were nowhere near as good as we thought they were, but they were fine, nonetheless.

It transpired to be the BEST thing ever!  Firstly, we just left the children sleeping in bed, as my prayer was answered to have the baby whilst they would not notice!  We didn't have to get them all up, and bring them somewhere else, or call someone in at an unfriendly time of the night. 

Also, we had a tummy bug hit, just a couple of days before I went into labour.  We thought Daniel had maybe just been greedy, on Thursday night, but when Elijah was sick on the Saturday evening, as I was beginining to have some "proper" contractions, my heart sank.  I couldn't imagine having a baby in the throes of a tummy bug, but I soon realised that if God planned it that way, then there was no preventing it! We wouldn't have wanted to inflict illness on anyone else, so instead we just had the baby at home - no other people involved. (other than the midwives, who went straight to my bedroom, and had no contact with the ill child!) God knew, all along, that it would be the best plan to have a baby at home! 

So, do you want the story, before the pictures?? 

You got a picture already, so lets crack on with the story. 

Well, where to start?

To start off with, I had had a false start on the Friday morning, between 4.30am and 7am I had contractions every 5 minutes – then it all stopped. I had been having lots of show, and on Saturday morning, I had loads more. Throughout Saturday I had the odd contraction, but they were decent, noticeable ones. Just not regular at all.

By late afternoon, I was having a few more.  Then, disaster struck. As I already told you, my 3yo was sick. So, amidst floods of tears, I got my 3yo sorted, wondering how I could cope with having a baby if we had a tummy bug in the house.  I just figured, in the end, if the baby was coming, the baby was coming.

It transpired the baby WAS coming.  The contractions became more regular as the evening went on, but still only 7 minutes apart.  I sat on my bed, cross-legged, watching some TV online, to keep me distracted. I decided that maybe I needed to change position, to see if things would move along quicker. I switched to standing, and immediately my contractions came closer together – the time reduced from 7 minutes to 4 ½ between contractions! At this point, it was getting close to 1 am. I am rather glad that I ended up chatting to my friend, Leah, on Facebook instant messenger, as it means I have a time log of what then happened!  She suggested, as they suddenly got closer, that I should maybe ring my midwife. I had planned and hoped to have my own MW attend my delivery. She had been an absolute gem throughout the pregnancy. She had supported our whole decision to home birth and enabled me to be able to have the perfect delivery. So, I rang her. Except, her phone rang out! I had another little tearful moment. Robert was still out studying... my MW was not answering her phone... my contractions were getting closer together. I rang Robert, and suggested he came home. He “just had to print off his notes, and finish preparing”, as he was still due to preach the next morning (those who don’t know, my husband is a Pastor....). Leah got me to pull myself together (I had told her I was tearful, and struggling to stem the flow of tears... lol ) and suggested I phone the hospital MWs. I was still slightly reluctant.  I still had this thought that I was going  to call people out, and labour was not REALLY happening!! I have to laugh at myself! I think I was so relaxed in my own home, that I was coping well, really.  I started to have more discomfort with the contractions, and phoned the hospital. I had visions of delivering on my own at home, and didn't relish that!

I phoned the hospital, and the lovely ward supervisor chatted me through my contractions, whilst trying to get the on call MW.  She couldn’t get her, and I was trying not to panic!! She eventually got through to her, and Louise, the on-call MW, rang me. She asked if I would want gas and air (ohhhhh yes!) and said she would need to go into the hospital to collect it, before coming to me. She didn’t live too far from the hospital, but I knew she would have been in bed, and would need to get dressed, get to the hospital, THEN get back out to me!! It was going to be at least 30 minutes before she would be there!!!

I rang Robert again at 1.15am... he had lost track of time (MEN! Lol ) and I told him I needed him home NOW!!! So, he said he would come straight away, and did. I ended my chat with Leah just before 1.30am, when Robert arrived home. Straight away, I felt more at peace, just knowing Robert was here as well. I got my music out, which I had prepared, and got myself into a “zone” whilst waiting for the MW. Robert busied himself, getting things ready for delivery, and getting the kettle boiled to make the MW cups of tea!! The MW finally got there at about 2am. Instantly, we clicked. She was LOVELY, and very friendly. Most of all, she wanted everything to be exactly as I had planned and hoped, and all by her suggestion, not mine! She suggested delayed cord clamping, and even *shock horror* a physiological 3^rd stage!! For those who do not know what that is, it is when you deliver the placenta without drugs. I had NEVER done that before!! She was feeling “rebellious” so we decided to play it by ear, and if things seemed ok, to go for it!! She told me she was very “hands off”, and just wanted me to labour how I felt to be comfortable. She only did very basic obs – my heart rate, blood pressure and temperature, and listened in to baby. Everything was perfect, and we just chatted as my contractions intensified. Over the next hour they got stronger and stronger, and got to only 2 ½ minutes apart. Coming up to 3 am, she wondered whether she should call the second MW in. I had been thinking we should, but STILL didn’t quite want to believe this was IT.... despite the intense discomfort, and me starting to think about gas and air. I was just standing by the bed, rocking my hips, and breathing. (I had tried sitting on the ball, but that actually slowed down my contractions, so stood up again) As I had had no internals, we didn’t even quite know how things were going.  However, I was starting to feel a change in contractions – feeling it more in my low back and in my bottom. So, we discussed doing an internal, just to give Louise an idea of how things were going.  I was happy for that to happen, so we got on with it quickly, not having long between contractions, and lying down making them worse!! I was SEVEN cm! She tried not to disturb things too much, to try not to make things more intense, and decided, YES, we did need Karen, the second MW. Then, I stood back up again. BAM! Things kicked up a gear.  BIG time.  I was onto the gas and air when she did the exam, and I really needed it afterwards. The contractions intensified to the point that it was like one big, long contraction.  I could feel the head moving down, and the pressure increasing. I could tell the baby was coming, and yet I was only just told I was 7 cm!! How quickly things can progress!!! I can remember Louise getting the birth kit open, and telling me I was doing well, whilst my pain was so intense I could hardly bear it. But, I knew the baby was coming, and it would soon be over.  I very quickly felt the urge to push, and she told me to just go with what my body wanted to do, and not worry about what she had told me only minutes before!  I couldn’t help pushing, and before long my waters went, and I heard her say they were clear (it had been something on my mind, as I was told if they had meconium they would want me to go into hospital...).  Things progressed further, and the head began to crown.  It was my most “clear” birth, of being aware of what was happening. Through it all, I was gripping onto Robert’s poor hand, for dear life, holding the gas and air in my mouth with my teeth!! I was even aware enough to stop pushing, without being told, as the head crowned. Then, the head was out, and moments later the body came.  The funny part was, even MORE waters came when she was delivered! And it went EVERYWHERE! Because I wasn’t the one who put the sheet down, the sheet didn’t quite go as much on the FLOOR as I planned, and the waters got on all sorts of things – even as far as the notes lying nearby, and on my MW’s trousers!!  Oops. Next thing I knew, Louise was handing the baby through my legs, and I was lifting up my baby onto the bed!! I had DONE it! I couldn’t quite believe it! The cord had been around her leg and up over her shoulder, even though it was a short cord! I was unsurprised, as the little pickle had been such an acrobat in utero!

It was so lovely to just be able to hop up onto my own bed (I say “just”, but it was tricky – short cord, high bed!!), and then stay there!  Everything else that happened, happened in the comfort of my own bedroom, where I was peaceful and relaxed. No bright hospital lights, and staff leaving me on my own for hours!  I didn’t tear, so no stitches were required, and I delivered the placenta without drugs! I *DID* have a bit more blood loss after that, but my obs never dipped, so we didn’t worry.  We did have the injection, to speed up the uterine contractions, and prevent any more blood loss.  It soon settled, and the MWs were never worried. I think I was more paranoid because the medics had all implied I would have some dreadful haemorrhage if I delivered at home! I didn’t!

 Without doubt, it was my best delivery.  I was so much more relaxed, not having to go off to hospital, and meet people I didn’t feel comfortable with, in a clinical setting.  Nothing was medicalised, and I was allowed to do things in a way which was natural and comfortable.  In hospital, they would have wanted lots of monitoring, and IV access etc. None of that at home, and no pressure to do things in a way I didn’t feel happy with. The labour progressed smoothly, and very quickly at the end. The second MW didn’t get there until after I delivered the placenta, incidentally! I felt very much in control, and aware of what was going on. No lengthy pushing stage, either, which I had with my first 4 deliveries.

My main concern, which previously put me off a home birth, was that I am noisy in labour. Well, with it all happening in the middle of the night, the children slept through it all! Plus, I only had that for the last 20 minutes, or less.

=]9=-[=]#

=p-]], there we have it. I may have missed out some details, but as far as I remember, that was how my labour went! Relaxed, straight forward and beautiful!

One of the most amazing parts?... that my daughter had HAIR!! Lots of it, and dark!

Would I have another home birth?? Definitely! Would I be upset if I couldn’t?  No. Ultimately, we chose this route because it was easier than trying to get someone else to look after the children, and as it happened, it would have been even harder in the middle of the night! If I needed to go back to hospital birthing again, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.  Would I choose home birth over hospital. For sure.

 I am so thankful.  Thankful to the Lord for bringing about such a wonderful birth experience. Prayer was answered at so many different levels. Right from when I had that bleed at 13 weeks - when we were unsure as to whether the pregnancy would even continue - to the very moment of birth, and the prevention of excess bleeding. God's hand was upon me, and upon Tabitha, through it all. My heart is full to the brim - and overflowing - with thankfulness to the Lord for His goodness. 

If you know your Bible, you will know that Tabitha was a Bible character who dies and was brought back to life. I know that our baby never died - but, we went through a few days of wondering if the life of our baby had gone. God, in His grace and goodness, preserved her life.  The name Tabitha then held some meaning for us, and so her name was chosen.  The Lord very clearly gave me the word "hope", the day of our scan, after the bleed. I almost knew, right then, that we would have a girl.  I was unsurprised when we were told as much at the scan! So, there we have Tabitha Hope. 

I hope to get back to blogging, now that life is SLOOOOWLY returning to "normal". I had dreaded seeing when my last blog post was, and was relieved that it was "only" a month since my last one! I thought it would be far longer ago than that! 

Right, here are some more pictures, to finish off with.

Only a few minutes old!

Newborn!

Our first trip out... a walk to the post office. Most people didn't see her at first! I love my Moby carrier. 

All snuggled up, in Mummy's coat.

12 days old.

So blessed.   God is good.