A day with Dorcus Beads
12 years ago
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Travelling with Twins
I hve just packed half our house to travel with the twins for a week....we will see how it goes....
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Twins - The First Year is an Adventure
I was just reflecting on the year to come.....TWO in highchairs, two in a crib...oh that's right, once they start rolling I will probably need to split them up so they don't roll on each other...thats what I was told by other twin moms.
THEN twin toddlers, imagine that. Now THAT will be entertaining...something to think abot at 5am while I tend to Wil' Guy. I was corrected by my oldest son and not Lil Guy. I stand corrected!
THEN twin toddlers, imagine that. Now THAT will be entertaining...something to think abot at 5am while I tend to Wil' Guy. I was corrected by my oldest son and not Lil Guy. I stand corrected!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Good Friends Help Moms
Lord I thank you for good friends that come and give help and in encouragement. They ae supportive and helpful....
I thank you for Miss .com as we call her who im-ed me so we can "chat" like old times....thank u for her example of laying down ones life for the gospel and she shares the love of Jesus. She is so funny and can brighten any day....
Then I I thank u for Donna, another homeschool mom, who came to visit and said something like....
In Christ we are like JELLO, even if we feel scattered we are still held together somehow. God holds us together.
That was really a funny but true analogy to me. She had LOTS of wisdom to share without even knowing it by just being the light that she is....its cool b/c knows so much about lots of things. In fact she should go on a game show one day!=) She is a good example of a mom who can take what she has to be a blessing to others. She uses her resources and shares them with everyone. She didn't as anyone permission to do this, except God and her family=) God uses her family to help alot of people. That is inspiring. God used her to remind me how important it is to just keep things in perspective in these early days with newborns. I will need patience. She also reminded me that God understands that I am a new mom again and has grace for us. She used a verse but I can't find it=) oh well.....I even checked biblegateway.com.
SOOOO I will go back to training and scheduling the twins and 3yo like I should. I'll write about THAT later. Maybe I will share some of that stuff on our HFK site too.
Please give me the strength to be the mom you have called me to be...
I thank you for these precious ones Lord.....I love You...
In Jesus Name
Amen
I thank you for Miss .com as we call her who im-ed me so we can "chat" like old times....thank u for her example of laying down ones life for the gospel and she shares the love of Jesus. She is so funny and can brighten any day....
Then I I thank u for Donna, another homeschool mom, who came to visit and said something like....
In Christ we are like JELLO, even if we feel scattered we are still held together somehow. God holds us together.
That was really a funny but true analogy to me. She had LOTS of wisdom to share without even knowing it by just being the light that she is....its cool b/c knows so much about lots of things. In fact she should go on a game show one day!=) She is a good example of a mom who can take what she has to be a blessing to others. She uses her resources and shares them with everyone. She didn't as anyone permission to do this, except God and her family=) God uses her family to help alot of people. That is inspiring. God used her to remind me how important it is to just keep things in perspective in these early days with newborns. I will need patience. She also reminded me that God understands that I am a new mom again and has grace for us. She used a verse but I can't find it=) oh well.....I even checked biblegateway.com.
SOOOO I will go back to training and scheduling the twins and 3yo like I should. I'll write about THAT later. Maybe I will share some of that stuff on our HFK site too.
Please give me the strength to be the mom you have called me to be...
I thank you for these precious ones Lord.....I love You...
In Jesus Name
Amen
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Last Day of Homeschool this year!
The last day of school is a widely celebrated event........we were thrilled. For now at our homeschool we can rest from hearing these familiar sayings:
"Focus, focus, focus"
"What are u working on now?"
" DID U read that whole book in the last 5 minutes AND answer 2 pages of ???? PPPLLLLZZZ slow down and ACTUALLY DO the work!"
"What are u up to?"
"You can take a break AFTER you check the box"
"Check the box, check the box, check the box!" (my husband's chant to the kids=)
"God has a plan for u... u have to actually FOLLOW the plan"
"...just get the work done please!"
"You CAN do this...it's NOT to hard 4 u"
"Praise God....I knew you could do it!"
"WHY are you doing this to urself....don't wait till the last minute"
"DO the work plz"
"If u go to bed at nite, u won't be so tired"
"Go help your little brother, quick"
"Stop crying.....lets go over this tooo-gethhhh-errr "
"Great! But did you DOOOO the work?"
"For Math you HAVE TO SHOW THE WORK"
"You must obey mommy, YES MOM"
"No im-ing while ur working...say goodbye...sign out NOW"
"We need to pray, I have no idea how we are gonna get all this done"
"Why do we care more about your education than YOU DO?"
"Finish well"
"If you don't hurry up we will have to do it too-gethhh-err"
"Good Job, I am SO proud of you..."
Total Exhaustion......
You know they talk about sleep deprivation for prisioners of war as a form of torture....I believe it. After a few days of inadequate sleep from being up with the twins...judgement and perspective sometimes are compromised.....amazing!
There is also a REASON for having kids young....so u can physically manage....being over 40 make me wonder how I did it when I was younger with 3 kids under 4yo...BOOOGGGGLLYY TIRED!!!!!
Then I see how I manage compared to my mom helping me.she's even more pooped.....in fact I know some heros who are 60+ who do this baby thing and are primary care-givers. Impressive. I guess if God sustains u and equips u...u can do anything.
I thank God that He keeps sustaining me....I can feel it even though it feels like my composure is challenged and slipping as I feel overwhelmed with resposibility....6kids, trying to bring order and routine back.....like normal bedtimes instead of kids passing out everywhere ....and meals together..instead of 8pm "whats 4 dinner??" conversations that are met with blank stares...
I have a newfound respect for Marj, Meg, Michelle...... parents who have 8+ kids, that are well-behaved, normal, the homeschool and one of them even runs a business with their kids....
I assume God must carry them along as they are my heros...how they manage w/o hiding themselves in the bathroom...
It feels good to vent and laugh about it all...it is comical when I really think about it....
After all there are REAL PROBLEMS in this world. Often in the midst of MY PITY PARTIES I think about women in the world who have to sleep on a mat in the dirt with their kids and DON'T have adequate shelter and food.....nor formula even at $12a can...I think abou it must feel as a mom who can't provide and watch their kids suffer.....THEN I GET MY PERSPECTIVE BACK!
In fact! I ran across an article where moms living with the effects of HIV/AIDS epedemic who are caring for their own children and othr children orphaned by AIDS. It is cool b/c they make Dorcus Beads and create jewelry that they sell to LIVE. The income literally keeps them alive. I heard about this b4 but in a magazine I read yesterday I got a link
http://dorcusbeads.blogspot.com/
NOW THESE WOMEN ARE TRULY HEROS.......so I guess I will remember be thankful today and stop "BEEFING"
I think there was a good book...."Managers of their Own Homes" or something like that to schedule family life. I have to find out...
Well my 3yo wants waffles for his second breakfast.....
There is also a REASON for having kids young....so u can physically manage....being over 40 make me wonder how I did it when I was younger with 3 kids under 4yo...BOOOGGGGLLYY TIRED!!!!!
Then I see how I manage compared to my mom helping me.she's even more pooped.....in fact I know some heros who are 60+ who do this baby thing and are primary care-givers. Impressive. I guess if God sustains u and equips u...u can do anything.
I thank God that He keeps sustaining me....I can feel it even though it feels like my composure is challenged and slipping as I feel overwhelmed with resposibility....6kids, trying to bring order and routine back.....like normal bedtimes instead of kids passing out everywhere ....and meals together..instead of 8pm "whats 4 dinner??" conversations that are met with blank stares...
I have a newfound respect for Marj, Meg, Michelle...... parents who have 8+ kids, that are well-behaved, normal, the homeschool and one of them even runs a business with their kids....
I assume God must carry them along as they are my heros...how they manage w/o hiding themselves in the bathroom...
It feels good to vent and laugh about it all...it is comical when I really think about it....
After all there are REAL PROBLEMS in this world. Often in the midst of MY PITY PARTIES I think about women in the world who have to sleep on a mat in the dirt with their kids and DON'T have adequate shelter and food.....nor formula even at $12a can...I think abou it must feel as a mom who can't provide and watch their kids suffer.....THEN I GET MY PERSPECTIVE BACK!
In fact! I ran across an article where moms living with the effects of HIV/AIDS epedemic who are caring for their own children and othr children orphaned by AIDS. It is cool b/c they make Dorcus Beads and create jewelry that they sell to LIVE. The income literally keeps them alive. I heard about this b4 but in a magazine I read yesterday I got a link
http://dorcusbeads.blogspot.com/
NOW THESE WOMEN ARE TRULY HEROS.......so I guess I will remember be thankful today and stop "BEEFING"
I think there was a good book...."Managers of their Own Homes" or something like that to schedule family life. I have to find out...
Well my 3yo wants waffles for his second breakfast.....
Sunday, June 14, 2009
SHHHUUUSSHH-ing Grandma made me laugh (on the inside of course)
TONITE…...WAS A NITE TO REMEMBER…..
3am
One of the twins, we call him Lil Guy, was crying b/c he woke up….that was ok…so I went to make bottles to supplement after I nurse. A little fussing for 2-3 min wasn’t going to end the world as he waited I thought.
WELLLLLL, Grandma BOLTED OUT OF BED and came downstairs and made her typical loud sssssshhhuussshhhh-ing sound to quiet him. This sound… at 3am seems harder for me to listen to than that of an infant crying full blast…but she means well, and I am grateful for her staying with us to help with the kids so I say as gently as I can muster “Mom its ok, really… u can go back to bed b/c I have a bottle. Really….AND if u let him blow off a little steam for 2 to 5 minute while I get ready we will all sleep better after I feed him” She ignores me of course because she raised me and continues ssssuuuusshh-ing and rocking. This goes on for a bit until I finally take him to change and feed him. Grandma goes upstairs.
3:30am
Lil guy is still nursing but “Squirmy” is starting to stir. Oh no, please Lord I think. She stays asleep…I put down Lil Guy and lay down myself for 2 minutes……Lil Guy stirs again and starts fussing. Grandma is quickly back and on to ssssshhhuuuussshhhh-ing till
lil guy settles. Grandma….pleased with peace and quiet goes back upstairs…..
THEN the fun began…
3:45am
Squirmy woke up to eat and I am ready for her with the bottle and all. I change her, nurse and bottle feed her quickly and she is UP wide eyed looking around. I put her in the swing. THEN Lil guy begins to cry again, I think grandma’s asleep so he will sit on his spoiled rump for a minute after all… I told her it would get us all more sleep.
NOPE! Grandma is back in action but this time it gets almost comical. As Grandma consoles Lil Guy he drifts for a minute and Squirmy starts. So Grandma managed to get her out of the tight grip of the old broken swing that stopped moving( we NEVER got around to replacing it with the new one sitting right next to it that only needs 5 minutes of wiping off)….and HOLDS her….after all that fussing about spoiling them. Anyway, I said nothing.. She decided Squirmy should be in the cradle this time and rocks her in there when Lil guy started up his engine again….I almost LAUGHED as I SECRETLY WATCHED Grandma go back and forth from cradle to bouncy chair across the room from each other. As soon as she’d settle one and walk away..…”WAAAA” Finally BOTH CRIED for a while. I fortunately had something important to do b/c the phone wasn’t working for my mom’s medic alert ….I just calmly sang as I worked. Hilarious I thought. How will she block crying for both (she hates crying & always has). I answer questions…..“No mom they are not hot I just turned up the a/c” “No there is no poop they have just been changed, yes I’ll recheck mom”
4:45
What a riot….this went on for a while until she wisely carried one next to the other to rock one and do her sssshhhuuussshhhh-ing and hold Lil Guy who cried even more.…
5am
After a while I felt bad that I was so amused that I bailed her out…I guess they were my kids after all….. and took Lil Guy from her and fed him AGAIN so we can all get some sleep!
6am
Uh ohhhh…I took too long to write and tidy up and squirmy is BACK AWAKE……AHHHHH!! Oh well, sleep is overrated! Right?
6:45 Sqiurmy fell asleep in my arms as I dose nursed and Lil Guy is up again!!
7am
My 3yr old wakes up asking for ketchup…..the first thing that popped in my head was………..”Go ask Daddy”
7:18
Daddy wakes up…give juice to 3yo and tells me “You need to call the telephone company, the phone really isn’t working” I realized waking up dad wasn’t the most effective strategy….as I think on my response I must have passed out because he woke me up at 9 to get ready for church……after all it WAS daytime. Oh…but I had to wait b/c Lil Guy is hungry again…at least he won’t be lil for long=) Thank God for twins and His grace….AND for Grandmas…they are truly heros even when they do their OWN THANG.
3am
One of the twins, we call him Lil Guy, was crying b/c he woke up….that was ok…so I went to make bottles to supplement after I nurse. A little fussing for 2-3 min wasn’t going to end the world as he waited I thought.
WELLLLLL, Grandma BOLTED OUT OF BED and came downstairs and made her typical loud sssssshhhuussshhhh-ing sound to quiet him. This sound… at 3am seems harder for me to listen to than that of an infant crying full blast…but she means well, and I am grateful for her staying with us to help with the kids so I say as gently as I can muster “Mom its ok, really… u can go back to bed b/c I have a bottle. Really….AND if u let him blow off a little steam for 2 to 5 minute while I get ready we will all sleep better after I feed him” She ignores me of course because she raised me and continues ssssuuuusshh-ing and rocking. This goes on for a bit until I finally take him to change and feed him. Grandma goes upstairs.
3:30am
Lil guy is still nursing but “Squirmy” is starting to stir. Oh no, please Lord I think. She stays asleep…I put down Lil Guy and lay down myself for 2 minutes……Lil Guy stirs again and starts fussing. Grandma is quickly back and on to ssssshhhuuuussshhhh-ing till
lil guy settles. Grandma….pleased with peace and quiet goes back upstairs…..
THEN the fun began…
3:45am
Squirmy woke up to eat and I am ready for her with the bottle and all. I change her, nurse and bottle feed her quickly and she is UP wide eyed looking around. I put her in the swing. THEN Lil guy begins to cry again, I think grandma’s asleep so he will sit on his spoiled rump for a minute after all… I told her it would get us all more sleep.
NOPE! Grandma is back in action but this time it gets almost comical. As Grandma consoles Lil Guy he drifts for a minute and Squirmy starts. So Grandma managed to get her out of the tight grip of the old broken swing that stopped moving( we NEVER got around to replacing it with the new one sitting right next to it that only needs 5 minutes of wiping off)….and HOLDS her….after all that fussing about spoiling them. Anyway, I said nothing.. She decided Squirmy should be in the cradle this time and rocks her in there when Lil guy started up his engine again….I almost LAUGHED as I SECRETLY WATCHED Grandma go back and forth from cradle to bouncy chair across the room from each other. As soon as she’d settle one and walk away..…”WAAAA” Finally BOTH CRIED for a while. I fortunately had something important to do b/c the phone wasn’t working for my mom’s medic alert ….I just calmly sang as I worked. Hilarious I thought. How will she block crying for both (she hates crying & always has). I answer questions…..“No mom they are not hot I just turned up the a/c” “No there is no poop they have just been changed, yes I’ll recheck mom”
4:45
What a riot….this went on for a while until she wisely carried one next to the other to rock one and do her sssshhhuuussshhhh-ing and hold Lil Guy who cried even more.…
5am
After a while I felt bad that I was so amused that I bailed her out…I guess they were my kids after all….. and took Lil Guy from her and fed him AGAIN so we can all get some sleep!
6am
Uh ohhhh…I took too long to write and tidy up and squirmy is BACK AWAKE……AHHHHH!! Oh well, sleep is overrated! Right?
6:45 Sqiurmy fell asleep in my arms as I dose nursed and Lil Guy is up again!!
7am
My 3yr old wakes up asking for ketchup…..the first thing that popped in my head was………..”Go ask Daddy”
7:18
Daddy wakes up…give juice to 3yo and tells me “You need to call the telephone company, the phone really isn’t working” I realized waking up dad wasn’t the most effective strategy….as I think on my response I must have passed out because he woke me up at 9 to get ready for church……after all it WAS daytime. Oh…but I had to wait b/c Lil Guy is hungry again…at least he won’t be lil for long=) Thank God for twins and His grace….AND for Grandmas…they are truly heros even when they do their OWN THANG.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
How many diapers do twins use?
150 diapers a week!!!!!!!!!!!!
I couldn't believe it...
Plus...Several cans of formula as we use them to suppliment nursing! I really regret offering formula in the hospital and those first weeks. I recently found out many twin moms pump to suppliment and don't need formula at all...I didn't catch that salient detail b4 so when we went to the hospital I confidently told the nurses to "botle away"....now 6 weeks later I feel like I am still plaing catch-up. I have been even praying or more milk to come in=) Funny, when I started praying a friend decided to have a box of "mother's milk" herbal tea shipped to me!!!! what a blessing. Amazingly it actually seems to work when u drink it....so while I am still playing catch-up...it will be a matter of time I believe and we'll be using LESS formula...not none, just LESS. We can't let dad off that easily.
I never really added up the COST of diapers and formula till I read the stats in a twin book...I could feel stress seeping in as I added up the monthly costs....I had to try to stop myself from worrying...I started to whine about and and talk to God about it and He reminded me to....thank God for baby showers!!! Then a few days later...a visit from a friend Margaret who came bearing gifts: MORE DIAPERS and FORMULA. A set for each twin....ok God I WON'T complain and I will try my best to NOT WORRY about your provision.
There were good reads I borrowed from our local library and twin club:
My tried and true fav book has been helping us remember milestones and answer my older kids contant questions about "How far can they see now ma?" "What colors do they see" and
"I think they can roll over, I saw them do that yesterday by themselves..Ma did U see them roll over(@ 2 weeks old...don't think so=) I smile and refer them to the book?
"Mom,at what age will they do anything besides stare in space for hours on hours at end...put me to sleep"
"Mom, I just thought of something...how are u when u start to itch?"mmmm not sure if the book will cover that one=)
This is it: What to Excpect the First Year by Eisenberg, Murkoff, and Hathaway
Mothering Multiples- Breastfeeding & Caring 4 Twins- La Leche League
by Karen Gromada
This book is helpful...I hope it helps us get on track....
I hope I can find one of the bookshelf widgety things....that would be fun. If I do I'll post it.
I couldn't believe it...
Plus...Several cans of formula as we use them to suppliment nursing! I really regret offering formula in the hospital and those first weeks. I recently found out many twin moms pump to suppliment and don't need formula at all...I didn't catch that salient detail b4 so when we went to the hospital I confidently told the nurses to "botle away"....now 6 weeks later I feel like I am still plaing catch-up. I have been even praying or more milk to come in=) Funny, when I started praying a friend decided to have a box of "mother's milk" herbal tea shipped to me!!!! what a blessing. Amazingly it actually seems to work when u drink it....so while I am still playing catch-up...it will be a matter of time I believe and we'll be using LESS formula...not none, just LESS. We can't let dad off that easily.
I never really added up the COST of diapers and formula till I read the stats in a twin book...I could feel stress seeping in as I added up the monthly costs....I had to try to stop myself from worrying...I started to whine about and and talk to God about it and He reminded me to....thank God for baby showers!!! Then a few days later...a visit from a friend Margaret who came bearing gifts: MORE DIAPERS and FORMULA. A set for each twin....ok God I WON'T complain and I will try my best to NOT WORRY about your provision.
There were good reads I borrowed from our local library and twin club:
My tried and true fav book has been helping us remember milestones and answer my older kids contant questions about "How far can they see now ma?" "What colors do they see" and
"I think they can roll over, I saw them do that yesterday by themselves..Ma did U see them roll over(@ 2 weeks old...don't think so=) I smile and refer them to the book?
"Mom,at what age will they do anything besides stare in space for hours on hours at end...put me to sleep"
"Mom, I just thought of something...how are u when u start to itch?"mmmm not sure if the book will cover that one=)
This is it: What to Excpect the First Year by Eisenberg, Murkoff, and Hathaway
Mothering Multiples- Breastfeeding & Caring 4 Twins- La Leche League
by Karen Gromada
This book is helpful...I hope it helps us get on track....
I hope I can find one of the bookshelf widgety things....that would be fun. If I do I'll post it.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Twin Helps Us With the Website=)
We were working on our website and had a laugh today!!! We were trying to set up a talking character for our homeschooler/ parents/ educator page and one of the twins decided to help!! What a riot....Grandma did NOT like the sound effects.
Can U Spoil Twins in a Month?
Can u REALLY "spoil" twins who have only been in contact with the planet 4 a month????? Is that possible? Has Grandma been right all along?
YUP!!!
We brought home our cute twins and thought it would be fun to hold them and enjoy loving on them and such. They seemed content and so were we...the kids even had disputes over whose turn it was as they drooled over the opportunity to HOLD THE BABES. (These were the SAME KIDS who were "less than enthusiastic" about mom being pregnant not too long ago.)
Grandma cautioned OVER and OVER and OVER, "Don't hold those babies all day or u r gonna SPIRL 'EM" Yea, yea Grandma we said as we passed them around admiring their features and habits and lil personalites they had that were different from each other....
This routine was all fun UNTIL I noticed that they started settling less at night...huh? They wanted to be HELD to go to sleep and HELD while awake and there is just 1 me. The festivities of the day have passed and alas I am alone on the nite shift...dad has returned to work and helps when he can but needs rest...uh oh...
YUP!!!
We brought home our cute twins and thought it would be fun to hold them and enjoy loving on them and such. They seemed content and so were we...the kids even had disputes over whose turn it was as they drooled over the opportunity to HOLD THE BABES. (These were the SAME KIDS who were "less than enthusiastic" about mom being pregnant not too long ago.)
Grandma cautioned OVER and OVER and OVER, "Don't hold those babies all day or u r gonna SPIRL 'EM" Yea, yea Grandma we said as we passed them around admiring their features and habits and lil personalites they had that were different from each other....
This routine was all fun UNTIL I noticed that they started settling less at night...huh? They wanted to be HELD to go to sleep and HELD while awake and there is just 1 me. The festivities of the day have passed and alas I am alone on the nite shift...dad has returned to work and helps when he can but needs rest...uh oh...
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