House of Five

I’m back from visiting Sis in OK.  I had a wonderful time, the baby was so sweet, Sis was really like an old pro, and Uncle Johnny was a very good and proud Daddy.  Everett really is a very good baby, I often wondered while I was there if I hadn’t read “Babywise” if I’d had a better first couple of weeks than I did with Gabe.  And to think, it was recommended to Sis from THREE of her clients.  She had warning way ahead of time not to even lay a finger on that book!

I have a continual prayer for them that they will adjust to life with a baby and a business and live their lives to the glory of God.

Now onto the title of this post.  We have exactly four weeks from today until we leave here.  We’ve got most of the minor touch ups done with the house that needed to be done if we leave here without the house being sold.  And most of the cleaning out of junk is done, so now we pack.  The trouble is that we need to pack for a six week vacation of sorts as well as pack up the house.  We’ll be staying in OKC with hubby for six weeks in a hotel/apartment gig and then we move onto TN.  We’ve got to find owners for our plants and fish.  I hate to see them go, but we don’t really have any other choice.  Unless, of course, if fish and plants can survive in a hot, dark storage unit for six weeks, yeah, didn’t think so.

We’ve had a few showings on the house, but no biters.  We hear from all of the Realtors that show it that it’s the best house on the market for the price.  The problem could be our location, it’s 20 to 30 minutes from any big town and with the gas prices going up…

Sophie’s second birthday is coming up.  She keeps saying “puppy” whenever I ask what kind of birthday she wants.  I love to make the cake of their choice (if it’s possible for me to do) so I’ll have to come up with some way to make a puppy cake.  I could use the standard pattern of the bunny or kitten cake using the two round cake pans, but I think I’m up for a bit of a challenge, so I’ll have to come up with something else, three-dimensional, maybe.  Oh, and she doesn’t just say puppy, she says, “Peek Puppee!”, I think I can do pink.

Gabe has been acting a bit distant since I’ve been back.  Hubby said he wasn’t exactly himself when I was gone either.  I’m praying for wisdom on how to handle it, I don’t want to treat it like it’s some kind of passing phase if he really needs something from me.  I just hope we can have a bit of normalcy before all of our lives are uprooted.  He was so cute when I came back.  Of course, I devoured them upon my return and was so happy to see them.  It was tough being away, but what a joyous feeling when you see them again.  Anyway, I was tucking him in that night and we always play this game of “I love you more,” so instead I said, “I missed you more.”  Now some Mom’s would break down at his next words, and although it stung a little, I understood.

He said, “I think you did miss me more.”  I said, “Really, you think so?”  Then he started to say something and then got really quiet.  I said, “What is it bud.”  He said, “Well, I was going to say something but it kinda made me sad.  I was thinking at the park today that I didn’t really miss you that much when you were gone.  I just loved Daddy more and not you and it made me sad that I thought that. “  Bless his little heart, I’m glad that he has a Daddy to love when I’m not there, I’m glad that he has a Mama that understands that sometimes boys get busy and have fun and play and don’t think about missing their Mama’s, I’m glad that he felt sad after thinking it because it says that he really does love me, and I’m glad that he didn’t miss me because it hurts to miss someone…I know.

There seems to be so much to write about.  I’ll just start and see where I end up.

Sis had her baby!!  He was born April 20th just under 8 lbs and 20 inches long.  They named him Everrett Thomas.  I will be heading down there April 30th for four days to help out as much as I can.   I don’t know that she needs me as much as I needed someone when I had Gabe, she sounds like she’s done this about 5 times!  And, did you catch that, “I” am going, nobody else.  I don’t know whether to celebrate or cry about being away from my family for so long.  I really don’t know what I will do with myself, wow, no child duty, except of course, my brand new nephew, but that also means no kisses covered in chocolate and no big squeezes from stringy and chubby little arms.  I’m sure I’ll be able to manage.  It’ll be a bit tough.

I wanted to write a bit about Sis’s birth experience.  She says it was amazing (aside from the post-partum care).  I’m sure I’ll never get the care that I had at Cayuga Medical Center, they were really great, it’s too bad that I have such high standards now, I wonder how this next one is going to be? 

Back to sis, I am so happy for her and praise the Lord that she had such a great birth experience.  However, it has been hard for me to deal with personally.  As I write this now, I am emotional because I will never have what she and other women have so easily.  I have been at peace with it for so long, but now that it is right in front of me again, I can’t stop the emotions from flowing.  I have complete trust that God has reasons as to why I can only deliver by c-section.  But, I wonder why my desire to birth naturally is so strong and why I can’t just let it go.  I’ve been on a few c-section support group sites and a lot of the women are completely content and happy and would prefer a c-section over natural birth any day.  Why can’t I be one of those?  Am I just a whiny baby that wants to cry because I’ll never have what I really want?  What’s wrong with me?  What’s wrong with my body?  I don’t know that I have ever really wept over the loss of those experiences and what will never be.

I wanted to write more, perhaps another time.

I did want to come back and add that it was such a blessing to hear my husband talk to my son this morning about him being born.  He was explaining to Gabe that a long time ago they didn’t have the doctors we do today and the kind of medical equipment.  And that sometimes babies and mothers would die when trying to deliver.  He explained to him that Mama was able to have him because we have the ability to cut the Mama’s belly open and pull out the baby if anything goes wrong.  Gabe was very interested to hear about it and laughed when hubby ended with a funny joke about him.  I am truly grateful that my son is here and smiling and living. 

I never thought anybody would here me say that.  For some reason I always thought it strange when someone said they were a “Birdwatcher.”  What’s the big deal in watching birds?  That is what I used to think!  What exciting little creatures. 

One thing that I really have enjoyed about this cold spring is the return of all the birds to our backyard.  I’ve been learning so much just about the Robin, I can’t wait and am fascinated to learn more about all the others. 

Here is a list of what we have spotted so far:

-Robin

-Red-winged Blackbird

-Sapsucker

-Blue Jay

-Red Bird (it was red, and didn’t have the crest like a cardinal so I’m just saying “Red Bird”)

-Finch or Wren (I still need to distinguish between the two, we probably have both though)

-A read-headed, black-stripe breasted, long-beaked, speckled-wing bird, about the size of a robin.  I spent a chunk of time yesterday trying to figure out the name of this one, but couldn’t find it. 

-Crow (Which I have learned is one of the top three enemies of my friend the Robin, they’re nest nabbers.)

-Mourning Dove

That is all I can think of right now.  Oh, and the kids are learning right along with me.  We’ve observed Robins mating, fighting for territory, scavenging for nest making materials, and pulling big, fat worms out of the ground.  They get really excited about seeing birds now, which didn’t happen last year.  And every bird is a Robin to Sophie, “Tee a Wobin, Mommy.  Tee a Wobin, Mommy.”  So cute!

One of the reasons I shyed away from Charlotte Mason in the beginning was because of her emphasis on Nature Study during the younger years.  How am I suppose to teach about Nature, if I know nothing about it myself?  I am so thrilled that I have stuck through and am giving my children the chance to know more about the world around them.  For me and for them.

We didn’t get a letter, we got a phone call.  They didn’t say he would have to report to the facility in two weeks, they said he needs to go to the Academy first.  They gave him a choice of three dates.  Two in May and one in June.  He took the June date.

The Academy is in Oklahoma City and it lasts 6 weeks(I think).  He will have weekends off, but I’m pretty sure that will be filled with studying.

Things for us to be thinking about.

– My trip to see Sis, she is due in 11 days!

– Do we stay here if the house hasn’t sold or do we go to OK with hubby?  We could stay near Sis and visit Daddy on the weekends.

– Maybe we could use the time when Daddy is at the Academy to acquaint ourselves with Tennessee.

–Maybe we could go the Montana or Georgia.

Well, I’m sure we will have lots to discuss when Hubby gets home. 

Oh, yes I would like to start posting about some other news around here.  It is most probably my last so I’d like to have it documented.  We’ll be having baby number 4 in November.  Right now I’m feeling okay.  As the day goes on I start to feel less and less inclined to eat, but no major morning sickness as with all my pregnancies.  I am craving eggs though and I remember that craving with Gabe, hmmm, a boy?  Yum, I have to get off here and start my deviled eggs, I’ve been hankering for these for the last week.  Not sure what else we’ll have for dinner.  Deviled eggs and a salad? 

I’m growing bitter about the cold weather here.  I have to say I thought that I was pretty good about it all over the winter, but now that we are getting a few days of somewhat warm weather, I get really frustrated when it gets cold again. 

I’m also growing impatient.  I want to know what the next step of our lives is going to be.  Still no letter.  This week, I’m praying.

I’m reading ”Heidi” with Gabe and Chloe.  I’ve never read it and I just love it.  The kids seem to enjoy it too, although they need a bit of explanation here and there.  They follow along surprisingly well.   We just read the part where Heidi returned home to her Grandfather and the mountains.  I was crying and told the kids so afterwards.  “Why did you cry, Mama?”  I said, “Sometimes when something makes you so happy, tears come out.”  Gabe said, “I don’t think I can do that.”  It seemed different to them that people cry for joy.  Probably because all their little lives crying has been a sad thing.  I wonder when the emotion of joy and pleasure are so strong that tears come.  I can’t remember the first time I cried for joy.

I also remember reading in the story when she learned how to pray from Clara’s grandmother.  She told Heidi that sometimes God doesn’t see fit to give you what you’re asking for at that certain time.  That if we get what we want when we think we want it, it ends up not being the best for us.  If we just wait and trust in His timing we will then see why His plan is better than ours. 

Does this apply to me right now?  I don’t know.  I’m not really asking for anything, except for warm weather and a letter, but I don’t think I’m desperate for it.  Well, maybe I am.  Hmmm.  Okay, so I’m just going to try to wait and trust in Him. 

I have taken a much needed, unanticipated break from the computer.  It’s been good. 

The latest news is that there really isn’t any news.  Well, hubby did get to his interview and all went well, but they are still using “tentative” lingo.  They said that he will recieve a letter within a month that will confirm his position for TN and he will most likely have to start in two weeks from recieving the letter.  He is looking at calling the facility to see if the start date can be changed. 

Hopefully my next post will be titled, “We’re Moving.”

Here it is, the homemade noodle recipe that one certain friend has been asking for!  I’m glad to write it down finally because every time I make them, I have to call my mom.  They are quite simple to make.

Gramma Hazel’s Homemade Noodles

3-4 Cups Flour

2-4 Eggs

In a big bowl mix 2 cups of flour and two eggs with a fork.  Pour one cup of flour on the counter and dump flour/egg mixture onto it.  Knead with hands adding flour as needed to form a stiff dough.  If it’s too stiff to roll, add another egg and more flour until if “feels” right.  Roll out onto the counter as you would to make cinnamon rolls.  (How wide and thick you want your noodles is up to you.  My Gramma made them like small shriveled dumplings.)  Slice the dough and cook in boiling water until they rise to the top, drain and add to soup.

 Couple of side notes.  Mom said that she remembers the dough being real stiff.  Gramma would holler for them to come roll the dough and it was quite a chore.  (Possibly why Gramma made her noodles thick, it was too much work to roll them out thin!)

Also, my aunt says she adds spices and herbs to the flour depending on the type of soup she is adding the noodles to.  She mentioned garlic and basil as a few she has used.  

She also is the one who advised I cook them first, but I have always just cooked them with the soup, it adds thickness to it too if you desire that.

I don’t think Gramma ever used Whole Wheat, but I’m sure it can be done.  I don’t know if I’ll ever do it, they just won’t be Gramma’s Homemade Noodles.

3. We only shoot when other people are knowingly playing the game.  In other words, Gabe is not allowed to just run around shooting people and things.  He has to have an established game with knowing counterparts.

I really, really want to keep up with my WCF study, but I think it might be wise for me to put it on hold for awhile.  It looks as though things could be moving pretty quickly for us if the job comes through.  I will be a very busy, or let’s say, a busier lady if hubby starts the job as soon as he anticipates. 

He has to be in Florida on March 20th for the interview and on that day we will know if he has the job.  If so, they could possibly tell him he has to start in 2 weeks.  (The estimated time given to us when he would start was any where from 3 weeks to 3 months, but two of hubbys previous co-workers who went to the FAA started two weeks after their interview.  So we are looking at 2 weeks as a definite possibility). 

That puts him at starting in the first or second week in April.  How crazy is that!  I’m looking around at my house right now, thinking, how in the world are we going to move that quickly.  I suppose there is the option of him going on ahead and securing a place for us there first and we follow.  BUT, I’m supposed to be in OK for my sisters first baby last week in April!  Perhaps we’ll push that to first week in May, but what about my kiddos, will hubby be able to take time off to care for them or go to GA as we had discussed?

And then, there’s my friends here.  Oh, the Lord has surely blessed me with the most wonderful friends here.  My heart aches just thinking about saying good-bye to them.

Thinking about this I was reminded of a journal page that I had written shortly after we moved here.  It was more of a prayer for a friend.  Wow, did God ever answer that for me.  Now my prayer will be to keep in touch with all of the great friends I’ve made in NY.  I suppose that’s when a blog comes in handy!

Well, I have much to do and think about.  I must get off of here.  Real quick, I wanted to write what Chloe has named two of her animals.  I really don’t know if I should make her change the name of the puppy or what.  

Kitty’s name:  Strawberry (Very cute, don’t know why, it’s a purple scented kitty that smells like grapes).

Puppy’s name:  Boner (It makes perfect sense to her, he eats a lot of bones.  Maybe we’ll just try hard not to bring Boner to public places). 

I don’t want to speak too early, but we could tentatively be moving to Tennessee.  I would be thrilled with this location for many reasons.  One, it’s halfway between Sis and hubby’s family (just under 6 hours for both).  Two, it’s not so far down south that we are sweltering.  Three, I may still get a bit of winter, which will be nice.   I’ll miss the white Christmas that we get here, but I won’t miss having it white and cold for 6 months.  Four, it sounds like my family would be more willing to visit us.  Five, it is a more competitive job for hubby. 

Well, I think I could probably go on with why I like that location, but I will refrain since it really is only tentative for now.  Hubby has to do an interview ( he may have to go to Florida, boo-hoo).  That will be sometime next month. 

If anything, the thought of moving has really motivated me to clean out.   We just dropped off a van load of stuff at the Salvation Army.  Wow, I can’t believe how freeing it feels to be rid of things you don’t need, use, or want.   And we’re teaching the children how to be generous.  I told them that they had to pick out 2 or 3 stuffed animals that they didn’t play with anymore to give to someone else who might want it.  They seemed more willing to give it up when they realized how much they had  knowing that there was someone else out there who doesn’t have as much.  

So along with my long list of things to do in my previous post I have “Get ready for a possible move.”  Hubby says it could be as early as April, but more likely June.  I think what makes me more excited about this and what is at the top of my list for this location is that Sis and I will practically be neighbors.  And with her having her first baby in April, what could be better than this.  BUT, I will try not to get too excited.