Maggie's Birth Story

Maggie Rose is born!  She arrived Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 7:39 pm at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Missouri.  Her birth experience was different from any I've experienced before.  Here are the nitty gritty details in case you want them!  Be warned: there are some personal details you might find a little too personal!  If you don't want to read the details, you can just scroll through and see the pictures!

The kids and I hadn't really gone anywhere the week before she was born.  We had stayed at home most days that week so by the time Saturday came around, I was eager to get out of the house.  With Matt home on a Saturday we decided to go out and do something as a family.  We thought about going to the zoo but it was bitterly cold and I didn't think I could walk that much being 39 weeks pregnant.  Matt and I had been to the new Ikea the month prior and thought the kids might want to visit the store as well, so we all got ready for a family adventure to Ikea.  I called one of the young women that I teach at church, Jenette, to see if she wanted to join our fun which she did so we picked her up on our way and drove the 1½ hours to the giant furniture store in Kansas.

Ikea was packed!  We walked through the store surrounded by masses of other shoppers.  We weren't planning to buy anything but it was still fun just to walk through the maze of the store see the different items they offered for sale.  The kids were more interested in the pizza and soda we told them would be available at the end of our trek through the store.  I could feel contractions as I was walking but this was normal for me.  Whenever I did anything active I would feel contractions.  I didn't think much of it at first.  But by the end of the walk through Ikea the contractions were strong.  I was surprised by their intensity.  When we bought pizza and soda for lunch I had to sit down for a rest.  The contractions were tiring.

Matt and some of the kids walked back to the freezing cold parking lot to bring the car around to the front of the store where Jenette, Klaus and I waited.  While waiting I could still feel contractions and I also felt something leak from me which wasn't pee!  I started wondering to myself, "Could I be in labor?!?!"

We drove towards my sister's house in South Kansas City to hang out with cousins.  I wanted to take a picture of her and I with our big pregnant bellies.  I figured if the contractions continued while I was sitting and resting in the car, then this could be the real thing!  If the contractions abated, then labor was not imminent.  We took a scenic route through some real nice areas of Kansas and then through downtown Kansas City.  The contractions continued and I felt like it would be a better idea to drive towards home than to drive further south to my sister's house.  We texted back and forth and she called me a "lucky bum" that I felt I might be in labor.  (She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her eighth baby, Maggie's soon-to-be-born boy cousin).

Now we were driving north toward home again and I timed the contractions.  They were about 2 minutes apart and they were increasing in intensity not decreasing with inactivity.  This could really be it!  I was getting excited!  I called our babysitters to see if either of them were available to watch our older kids but one family was sick with strep throat and the other family wasn't answering their telephone.  We made alternative plans with Jenette's family.  We'd drop off Jenette and drop our kids off too.  Then their mom could be in touch with our babysitter's mom to get our kids for the evening.

We stopped in Kearney to drop off and pick up books at the library and for a bathroom break.  We all had drunk a lot of lingonberry soda for lunch!  When I went to the bathroom, I lost the mucous plug and had a little bit of bleeding.  I knew then that this was labor for sure!

Matt sped towards home when I told him I felt this was the real deal.  I did not want to get to the hospital in Chillicothe too late to get an epidural.  I wanted to get there quickly!  The contractions were getting stronger, still about 2 minutes apart.  We dropped off the kids and zoomed to the hospital which was another 30-40 minute drive.

About 5 pm we got to the hospital which felt deserted.  There were not many people around.  I was put on the monitors and checked by a quiet and petite nurse, Martha, who determined I was about 2-3 cm dilated.  That surprised me because I felt the contractions were strong enough to put me further dilated.  She called my doctor, Dr. Peniston, who advised me to walk around the hospital to see if I would progress further.  Matt and I explored the hospital and I felt the contractions get stronger and stronger.  By 6 pm, they were strong enough that they hurt and I had to stop and breathe through the pain.  Matt made further babysitting arrangements on the cell phone during our walk through the hospital.  The kids would be well cared for Saturday night and even into Sunday afternoon.

When we came back to the OB department I had progressed to 4 cm dilated and my water had broken! I began leaking fluid everywhere!  I was admitted to the hospital and changed rooms.  This delivery room was bigger and nicer than a hotel room!  There were huge windows lining one whole wall.  There was a couch and a recliner and of course all of the medical equipment needed for labor and delivery.  The contractions were painful and I had to stop to concentrate on breathing through them.

I had made it clear to Martha that I wanted an epidural and I didn't want to miss my window of opportunity for an epidural and that I usually delivered quickly so the next nurse who was in charge of me, Sarah, got blood work ordered and all other details necessary for receiving an epidural.  I was told that Anesthesiologist Joe was on his way.  He explained the procedure to me and got me all set up by 7 pm-ish.  The contractions were strong and painful but they quickly went pain-free with the spinal and epidural and Fentanyl he gave me.  He gave me a spinal because I had mentioned I progress quickly through labor and didn't think the epidural would reach low enough quick enough to prevent pain during delivery.  The contractions continued on the monitor but I couldn't feel a thing.  I laid back when the epidural was placed and felt great.  If the baby had been born a boy, I think I would've called him Joe.  That's how grateful I was for the pain relief!

Nurse Sarah checked me and commented that sure enough, some women progress quickly when an epidural is used.  This was a fear I had discussed with her previously, that the epidural which I had never had before would slow progress down.  Without telling me that I was fully dilated and ready for delivery, she ordered that Dr. Peniston be called right away.  I thought that meant I might be close but honestly, I was just so happy to be pain free that I didn't really care what was happening in my body.  I really felt so relieved the epidural was working.

Apparently, 5-10 minutes after calling the doctor, the baby's head crowned and Nurse Sarah then ordered that the ER doctor be called upstairs because Dr. Peniston hadn't shown up yet.  This all happened within minutes.  But even the ER doctor couldn't walk up the stairs in time to catch Maggie.  Her head came out and I didn't feel a thing.  Sarah asked me to give a little push.  I strained the tiniest bit and out she slipped into Sarah's hands.  The ER doctor walked in (TOO LATE!) and minutes later Dr. Peniston showed up.  I caught a glimpse that the baby was indeed a baby girl and I was full of relief at her birth, gratitude at her health and wonder and awe at the miracle of life.  The baby's nurse, Kelli, put her immediately on my chest and we had over an hour of skin-to-skin bonding time and nursing.

Her birth was incredible.  She literally slipped out of me.  It was pain-free.  She was healthy.  She was perfect.  She was smart.  She was busy sucking on her fingers.  I felt so much love for her!  Daddy called the older siblings to let them know Maggie was born.  What an amazing experience it was.

Geometric Discoveries

Found on the floor of Kian's bedroom: a lined paper with the following information.  It looked interesting to me, so I picked it up and read it.  "What is this, Kian?" I asked him.  "Oh, I've been using my ruler to learn about triangles and squares."

Is he a future scientist or what?!

Triangles, squares and circles

laws I have found

1. a right triangle's hypotenuse is directly proportional to its other sides.

if Lx and Ly increase by one, its Hypotenuse increases by 1.4

(here is drawn a triangle with sides labeled H, Lxy, Lyx)

2. adding on to the first law, some triangle's hypotenuses = their other side length x 1.4

(here is a triangle with sides labeled H, Ly, Lx)

H = Lx * 1.4 but only if Lx = Ly

3. when a square with a triangle inside increases by 1, then

(here is a square with a diagonal line across it splitting it into two triangles, the sides each labeled L)

T.P = 3.4
T.A = ( (L-1) + 0.5)

I found his protractor today which somehow made it's way onto Felicity's bed and he was so excited to continue explorations which could now include angles!

Homeschool 2014-2015

-->

Abby to Mom: “Do we get to do Shakespeare again tomorrow?!"

I spent dozens of hours this summer preparing for this homeschool year.  I do every summer actually.  I love to plan!  My favorite resource for homeschool is www.milestonesacademy.com.  The woman who has put together this “curriculum” is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and promotes a few educational styles that I have come to love: Montessori, Suzuki and Charlotte Mason.  Check out her site if you aren’t familiar with these learning styles and want to know more.  I have enjoyed every resource she recommends!

I have come to learn about myself that the better prepared I am for homeschool, the easier it will be to execute.  Homeschooling five children isn’t easy.  They range from high school to preschool and all require daily personal attention in addition to subjects we study as a group.  I know that the more I have prepared ahead of time, the more successful our school year will be.   So I plan A LOT.

Here is what our week looks like.  (This semester we are working extra hard, knowing that next semester will require a couple of months off to celebrate and enjoy our new baby sister!)

Daily:

8:00-8:45 am  Devotional during breakfast (this includes prayer, primary song, hymn, scripture memorization, poem, praise, character training and scripture study.  We are continuing our study of the Book of Mormon this year.  The character qualities we are trying to develop include orderliness, hospitality, contentment, responsibility, patience, gentleness, joyfulness, obedience and thoroughness—one per month)

8:45-9:00 am Brush teeth and cleanup after breakfast

9:00-9:15 am Team Clean Up (this is where we all work together and do some deep cleaning.  Our house is divided into five areas and we all pick something to do in the same area.  For example, vacuum edges of the living room and hallway or clean under couches and couch cushions, etc).

9:15-10:00 am Preschool with Klaus (see below for more details about preschool!  The older kids begin their individual workboxes including English lessons, math and literature)

10:00-10:15 am Mom Time with Felicity (we work on reading out loud together, writing practice, and poem memorization.  Klaus has preschool-aged activities to work on during this time which I call “tot trays”)

10:15-12:15 pm Snack and Block 1 (this is usually as a group while Klaus has an activity box to work on to help him be quiet)

Block 1:

M: Zoology with Girls (Kian has literature and Latin on his own)

T: Zoology with Girls (Kian does biology on his own)

W: Read Aloud Literature (all)

Th: Voice and Piano Lessons (all)

F: Wild Day/Nature Study/Drawing Lesson (all)

We break for lunch and do lunch cleanup.  Then back to school by 1 pm.

1:00-3:00 pm Block 2 (Klaus is supposed to nap)

Block 2:

M: History/Geography (all)

T: Plutarch and Shakespeare with Kian and Abby (Ella and Felicity do drawing lessons, Read Aloud biography or history, and science selections)

W: Spanish and Chinese (all)

Th: Biology with Kian (girls do their own work including Read Aloud, handicrafts)

F: Music and Picture Study (all)

The kids then have to earn screen time by playing outside for as many minutes as they’d like screen time if they haven’t been outside previously during the day.  I’m usually making dinner by 4:30 pm so screen time has been drastically reduced this semester.  That makes me happy!

I have been very surprised at how I’ve had the energy to get through and even enjoy these longer school days.  I give all the credit to my generous Heavenly Father answering my prayers.  I’ve experienced a greater happiness as a mother and enough energy to handle such busy days.  Considering that these are exactly the blessings I’m praying for, I am thankful for direct answers!

Preschool: I divided each semester into 16 weeks.  Each week covers a new topic.  We read some fiction and nonfiction books on the subject, learn a song and poem related to the topic, and do a different activity each day, also related to the topic.  Some of the activities we have done for week 1 have included going outside to observe ladybugs, using clay and pipe cleaners to make our own bugs and spiders, using string to make spider webs, doing bug puzzles, sprinkling cookie crumbs and watching ants collect the pieces, etc.  They have all been fun for Klaus and I’m glad to make the time for us to have just him and I.  That’s why I planned for 2 semesters.  Even with a new baby, I hope to keep the tradition of he and I with quality time each day.

Week 1: Bugs and Spiders

2: Trains

3: Dinosaurs

4: Trucks

5: Weather

6: Colors

7: Fall/Leaves

8: Apples

9: Animals

10: Maps and Neighborhoods

11: Plants

12: Pumpkins

13: Airplanes

14: Indians

15: Thanksgiving

16: Gingerbread/Christmas

Semester 2 Week 1: Teddy bears

2: Snow and Winter

3: All About Me

4: Families

5: Birds

6: Love

7: Cooking/Food

8: Houses

9: Springtime

10: Counting

11: Ducks

12: Ships and the Sea

13: Easter

14: Farms and Gardens

15: Butterflies

16: Camping

Collage Making Fun

Here is a collage I made today expressing my feelings and inspired thoughts from General Conference this weekend.  President Uchtdorf's talk about Jesus Christ as the light of the world inspired it.  It may be hard to see in the picture but the bottom half represents a sun.  As I do the things mentioned here (trust in the Lord, serve, have faith, pray, give to the poor, etc), I will experience His light and the many blessings which come from Him including clarity, peace, joy, strength, testimony, courage and personal revelation.  These are the rays of the sun.  I will feel God's influence and God's love for me more fully.

This is a collage I made last month for our forthcoming baby, Maggie.  I have pondered on a middle name and I think I like the sound of Maggie Rose best of all.  Hence, a rose collage.  It is already hung up in her nook in my bedroom.

A guest post!

This is an email from my dad that I received today, one day before a General Conference of our church when all 15 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to hear from the living prophet and his apostles and other general leadership of the church.  It is always an inspiring weekend filled with encouraging words, beautiful music and inspiring prophetic counsel.

I asked his permission to post his email here and he agreed.  Let me know if you find it as inspiring as I did.

As I prepare for General Conference, I have another story for you.

Kind of long -- but believe me, I have abridged it down to the bone.

{I can already hear grandkids saying, "He sure talks a lot about himself !" }

Back on July 18, 2014 I sent you an email that said, in part:

"Every day I study and ponder apostolic authority.  Why?  Simply because God nudged me to do it.  {That's another story.}"

So, here's the story -- about apostolic authority -- in preparation of General Conference.

Background:

As you already know, in the spring of this year, when Jackie and I decided to start re-attending The Episcopal Church (TEC)I had already accepted Jesus as the Christ and Redeemer of the world, and I was ready to partake of the sacramental emblems of the Last Supper.  {FYI:  Pretty much anybody can receive Holy Communion in TEC.}

And although Jackie has always been a "cultural" episcopalian I wanted more than friendship or culture from the body of Christ with whom I worshipped.  So, I began to do a lot of studying about TEC, and I began to listen very closely to the sermons -- some sermons given by our resident priest, and other sermons given by visiting priests.  Please understand that Episcopal priests are highly trained -- in both theology and church management -- and that their sermons are carefully (and often beautifully) worded.

But I noticed what I would call a "slight movement" toward mythologizing the scriptures.

You might remember in a previous email, I wrote:  

"I told him {the priest} how much I appreciated him as an Episcopal vicar --  even though he did change the Gospel reading from "... for fear of the Jews"  to  "for fear of others"  -- an inside joke between us how Episcopalians flow to and fro with cultural pressures."

But it was actually not a joke when the priest did it, and after services I talked to him about it.  {FYI, Jackie was always afraid of the questions I asked.  She said Episcopalians don't ask a lot of questions -- they just go with the flow.} The priest explained that it was a way to make up for all the anti-semitism the scriptures had caused over the millennia.  I will only report two of the many questions I asked him:  

"And will you next remove any reference to the Jews who stoned Stephen?"

"Or any reference to the Jews who cried, 'Crucify him!'?"

Visiting and presiding at this same service was an episcopal canon (above a priest, but below a bishop} that I also spoke with about the issue of changing the words of Holy Writ.  She (correct pronoun) confirmed that the bishop of the diocese approved the change of wording.

Now, changing/adding/correcting Holy Writ is not hard for me to accept,  BUT it awakened in me the desire to understand HOW the Episcopalian leadership makes such decisions.

In addition, I repeat that I wanted more than friendship or culture from the body of Christ with whom I worshiped.  I wanted to commit myself to communion with this body of Christ, to sanctification with this body of Christ.  I actually started to study the process of confirmation to dig deeper into what it meant to become a full-fledged Episcopalian.

So, I read a few hundred thousand words (or more) from lots of good sources -- all of which lead me to one great question:

DID I TRUST THE LEADERSHIP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?

And the unambiguous answer was .... No.

So, I expanded my reading to study the worldwide Anglican Communion (AC) leadership.

And the unambiguous answer was .... No.

And I expanded my reading to study various evangelical Christian groups and denominations.

And the unambiguous answer was .... No.

And I even expanded my reading to study Catholicism.

And the unambiguous answer was .... No.

Then on to the next great question:

"WHY didn't I TRUST them?"

And the unambiguous answer is/was:

"Look to the living prophets."

Which I did, and then the answer was .... Yes.

So, as I prepare for the blessing of being able to listen to God's chosen leaders at this moment when I am alive, I am filled with gratitude and anticipation.

Love to My Wonderful Family,

GranDad Chad

Financial Blessings

My part-time job at the library provided me with an extra few hundred dollars each month which I deposited into our savings account.  $250 was automatically withdrawn from my paycheck and deposited directly into savings.  Remember that figure; it’ll come up again later in the story.  The rest of the money (if there was more than that) was used toward flat tires, car emergencies or extra expenses that pop up occasionally.  There’s always something that comes up, right?!

In our 14 years of marriage saving money has happened rarely because each dollar earned usually pays a bill or feeds our family.  There’s not any extra money at the end of the month for fun or luxuries.  So being able to save my paycheck was actually fun for me.  I would rather save it than spend it!  I’ve always loved studying finances.  It is a passion of mine.  I love to make financial goals and pay off debts early.  I always want to save; it just doesn’t get to happen often.  So working at the library was not only satisfying for me personally but also financially.

One of the things I’ve had to do since becoming pregnant is quit working at the library.  I did get permission to take a couple of months off due to sickness, but I felt inspired to quit entirely because I knew that when newborn baby did finally come, the last thing I would want to have to do is leave her at home while I went to work!  In hindsight, I’m so glad that I did quit entirely because there is no way I could’ve handled the fatigue of this pregnancy on top of working evenings and some Saturdays.  I might’ve been able to take June and July off, but I was NOT ready to go back to work in August.  I was still throwing up some evenings!  And I still wouldn’t have been ready in September!  The nausea is gone but the exhaustion isn’t!

It was a concern of mine, however, that our financial goals would be thwarted and that money would be tighter without the extra cushion my small paycheck provided.  I knew I didn’t have to work, however, and I moved forward in faith, knowing that through the blessings of tithing, my family would be lovingly watched over and provided for.  (In my church, we tithe 10% of our income.  Matt and I have experienced so many blessings by following this financial-spiritual principle, I am thoroughly converted to the obeying of this commandment!)

Matt and I proceeded with our decision and preparations for a future pregnancy and I put in my two weeks notice at work.  It would be a little sad to leave my friends and coworkers at the library, but I felt comforted that it would be for a greater good.  (By the way, if my friend, Al, from the library is reading this, Hi Al!  Hopefully I’ll see you sometime when I stop at the library with my family!  I miss seeing your happy face!)

Fast forward a few weeks.  Toward the end of the school year (April or May), Matt received his annual contract to sign for the following school year.  He called me when he received it and gave me some good news.  “Honey, it looks like I’ve been moved up a couple of tiers on the pay schedule.  I’ll be getting about a $3,000/year raise!”  That news was completely unexpected to both of us!  Truly it would be a blessing but we honestly didn’t think much more of it than that.  The financial increase was still months away from happening.

It was a few days later as I was pondering (okay, worrying over) the reality of my impending loss of paychecks when I realized what a $3,000/year raise translates into per month.  Can you do the math?  $3,000 divided by 12 = $250!  That is the exact amount I had been saving from each of my paychecks.  The exact amount!  Who could’ve possibly planned this so perfectly?  Who could bless us so exactly and so directly and so obviously?  God only!  What a comfort that was to me and an assurance that my loving Heavenly Father would take care of me and my family as we take this next step. 

Now that the new school year has started, Matt has received his first paycheck.  It isn’t exactly $250 more per month that he takes home.  Of course, the state has to take it’s share of retirement funding (15% of his income mandatory!) and the federal government has to take it’s share of taxes.  But still, I love to live the gospel and witness first-hand the direct and personal financial blessings from obeying the principle of tithing and knowing my Father in Heaven cares for me.  God is so good!

Transportational Blessings

I was going to post a new blog today entitled “Financial Blessings” but due to unexpected circumstances this past weekend, I am instead writing about our experience with a flat tire.  Hence the title of this post is “Transportational Blessings.”  I don’t think transportational is a word, but I’m a teacher.  And Matt says that teachers are allowed to make up their own words.

Last night Matt and I were able to attend a High Priests Group Social for our area at the newly acquired, moderately tamed, but still fairly wild campground our church uses for Girls Camp and other fun outdoor adventures.  Matt had the duty of shuttling the older folks who couldn’t walk the uneven ground from the crude parking area to the main campground meetingplace.  Up and down he drove in the Suburban, carrying passengers and lawn chairs and potluck offerings over bumpy, rainwater-covered tracks.  The thorny locust trees in that location are so prevalent, I had thought beforehand we would probably get a flat tire due to a puncture from a thorn…  Surprisingly, the flat tire came after we arrived home!

We pulled into the garage after our date and heard a crunch.  Uh-oh.  Matt commented, “I hope that wasn’t a scooter.”  The kids have been having so much fun riding their scooters throughout the garage now that the weather has changed and there aren’t wasps flying around so much.  It was worse than a scooter, however!  It was a wooden board that the kids had been hammering nails into that contained 5 giant nails sticking straight up (now only four because one of them was stuck in the tire)!  We drove right over that board! 

We could hear the air rushing out of the tire.  The kids came out to welcome us home.  Dad was not so happy.  He quickly got to business loosening lug nuts and jacking up the vehicle.  We would have to put on the spare tire in order for me and the kids to get to church in the morning.  It was already after bedtime so he went straight to work.

After I got kids to bed I joined him outside and again, Dad was not too happy.  The spare tire would not loosen from it’s home under the car.  We went through the manual instructions step by step but that darn spare tire was not coming off!  I called our friend who used to own the Suburban to ask for his advice.  He ended up coming over and we all spent about 2 hours outside in the cold trying to get the spare tire.  It was just not happening no matter what we tried.  While this friend was helping, we were chatting.  He had just spent the last 3 days as Mr. Mom while his wife was in another state visiting her sister.  He was not only on full dad duty, but his own car had broken down the day before and was at the mechanic!  He had been so busy that day he hadn’t had a chance to shower.  He had just picked up his wife and they were still eating dinner when he dropped it all to come over and help us!  Talk about service!

At 11:00 pm, I finally went to bed.  Matt came in a while later.  I decided to stay at home Sunday with the kids.  Matt would drive his car to church and take our flat tire in to Walmart to fix it after church was over but before two more church-related meetings in the afternoon.  (Whoever said Sunday was a day of rest has never served in an LDS bishopric!)

Church went well.  “Where is your family today?” Matt was questioned several times by caring ward members.  He told them the story of the flat tire.

Matt forgot his wallet so he came home directly after church (he really didn’t have enough sleep, poor guy!)  He grabbed some food and took a cat nap before driving in to town to hit Walmart before his next meetings.  What a surprise when he opened the trunk of the car and he pulled out a tire without a nail puncture and with stickers and the tire pumped full of air!  After bouncing it and beginning to roll it into the store, he realized this was not the flat tire!  He figured out he must’ve been the lucky victim of some deliberate act of kindness.  He remembered a comment from earlier in the day and texted a particular friend whom he suspected.

“Did you fix our tire?” he queried.

“Yes, I hope I’m not meddling too much in your business” was the reply!

Matt called me and told me the good news and we both digested this blessing.  We feel we are blessed.  We know we are blessed.  But doesn’t this particular act stand out from others?!  What an incredibly Christian, selfless, generous, and immediate blessing this kind friend was able to bestow upon us.  It’s astounding and it’s inspiring.  Thank you, you know who you are!!