4-H Premium Sale

Saturday was the 4-H Premium Sale. I was very proud of the children. They each did a great job and there were no flying chickens. It is scary going into the show ring and standing in front of a crowd of people that you don't know, with a chicken ,in 95 + degree heat, and after you have been sitting waiting for your turn for almost three hours. We did not get as much money as last year (which can be a little disappointing,) but we are very thankful for all the people that donate money to support the kids showing livestock making it a little easier for the children and the parents. Fair week is over for this year. Now we need to sell some of our chickens and figure out what to do for next year.

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The County Fair

This week we have not only been busy with the beginning of soccer season, it is also the week of our County Fair. This is probably my busiest week of the year. Not only do we have to run back and forth to town to go to soccer practice, we have also had to set up the fair booth, drop off exhibits, and feed and water chickens (thankfully my wonderful husband has taken some of his lunch hour to help with this.) Also this week we had to add in another trip to town to take Christian to the doctor and pick up medicine (he's doing much better now.) Even though it is very busy, the children have a great time and really enjoy our little County Fair. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted on Saturday after the Premium Sale. Alex, Anthony, Nick and Chelsea all entered Poultry Chain chickens and they all got second place. Chelsea also entered the items she made from the Home Furnishings Workshop she went to and got some first and second places for those items. Nick and Chelsea went to a Salsa Workshop and both got 1st place for their Salsa. Nick also entered 2 paper crafts, a ceramic painted piggy bank, a bead light saber, a place mat and a sun catcher and got some 1st and second place ribbons. Alex entered a wooden painted birdhouse, a homemade lava light, a place mat, and a sun catcher and also got some 1st and 2nd place ribbons. Anthony entered a place mat and a sun catcher and both got 1st place. Chelsea's club worked on a booth and got a second place ribbon, and Nick and I helped work on his club's booth and it got Best of Show (thanks to a very creative leader, not me.) It has been a very successful year at the fair for our family.

Saturday the children have to go into the show ring and hold their chickens for the Premium Sale which is when local businesses donate money back to those showing livestock to help pay for their expenses. Please say a quick prayer that Anthony (who is only 5 and can be a bit of a wildcard) will do ok, and nobody will get pecked by their chickens and no chickens will end up flying away. Thanks!

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She's Decided to be Done Nursing

Well Lily (18 months) is officially done nursing. It has been 5 days since she has asked to nurse. Even though I really felt ready to stop it still makes me kind of sad. Never again will her and I share that bond. I am very glad that besides a little distraction during the day, I let her lead the way. It was not a traumatic experience for either of us. Over the last couple of weeks she had been nursing less during the day. Then she stopped nursing before she went to sleep. That just left the middle of the night nursing and a little extra during the day for a few days that she wasn't feeling well. Then one night she just didn't wake up to nurse and she hasn't tried to since. Since she has been nursing less and less over the last couple of weeks, my milk supply had gradually decreased, so it wasn't traumatic for me at all either. My sweet little princess is growing up so fast!

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Book Review: Out Live Your Life

I have just finished reading Max Lucado’s latest book, Out Live Your Life You Were Meant to Make a Difference. One hundred percent of the author’s royalties will benefit children and families through World Vision and other ministries of faith based comparison. In this book, Max talks about what devastating times we live in. People are hungry, desperately poor, and living in horrible situations. There are 145 million orphans worldwide. Seems hopeless, doesn’t it? We are just normal, ordinary people. Can God use us? The disciples were just regular, ordinary people. “ None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that.”

In this book, Max gives us scripture, uses Biblical examples and relates them to modern day problems. It is so common and look at the world today and think that the problems are too big to be solved. Max shows us not just what the problems are but also how each one of us every day ordinary people can do something to make a difference. Included at the end of the book are discussion questions and an action guide outlining what you can do. This book is inspiring and encouraging and will make you want to go out and help change the world.

I thought this was a wonderful book and encouraging. It is true that not one of us can do it all, but all of us can do something to make our world a better place to live in and to hear Jesus’ words that, “Whenever you did these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me-you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 (MSG)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review. I received no other compensation.

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Shadow Puppet Theatre

For our Homeschool in the Woods Revolutionary War Time Traveler activity today, we made a shadow puppet theatre. The topic of the play was from the French and Indian War and was titled" Bullet Proof Indeed " about God's providence over protecting George Washington. The shadow puppets we printed out off of the Time Traveler CD, and we made the stage from a diaper box and a crib sheet, and shined a lamp through the back. The boys had a lot of fun making battle noises and changing characters on the "stage." I got to play the part of the narrator. So far we are having a lot of fun with our History this year!

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Pregnant and Breastfeeding

Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert. The thoughts expressed here are from my own experience and research.

When we found out we were expecting again, I was very disappointed to find out that the OB who I LOVE and have been seeing for more than 6 years, is no longer delivering. It can be hard to find a doctor who you see eye to eye with, really like and respect, still gives out her home number, and will deliver you even if she is not the doc on call. Anyway, I had to find a new doctor who so far I do like, except for one thing......her view on being pregnant and breastfeeding.

Quite honestly I mentioned that I was still nursing on my first appointment in an off-handed way, and only because it can be a factor in determining due date. I was in no way prepared for the response from the nurse, doctor, and even the ultrasound tech, that this was NOT a good thing and needed to stop nursing immediately. The doctor's reasoning is that nursing causes uterine contractions that can cause preterm labor and miscarraige. Thi surprised me so much because my previous doctor encouraged me to nurse as long as I felt comfortable even when I was pregnant. I explained politley to the new doc that I have done this 4 times before very successfully and didn't expect that this time would be any different. She firmly explained to me that she felt it was an unnecessary risk to myself and my unborn baby and encouraged me to stop immediately.

To be honest with you, I will admit that I am ready to stop nursing Lily, but not because I feel that I am hurting my unborn baby. The nausea, fatigue, and let's just call it tenderness, has me starting the weaning process. Lily, on the other hand, would probably nurse for ever. She is a comfort nurser and although is almost 18 months would probably go on nursing for much longer ( I do have a little mommy guilt over cutting her off.) I cut back on one feeding every week or so, and right now am only nursing in the middle of the night. Within the next couple of weeks she will be completely weaned.

So, are there risks to nursing while you are pregnant? The answer to that is not for the majority of women. If you are an average, healthy, women with no chronic or severely acute illnessess, who has not suffered from miscarraige or preterm labor, and are haing a normal, healthy, pregnancy, you can still coninue to nurse without risk to yourself or unborn baby. Your nursing baby is not taking any nutrients from your unborn child. You may consider trying to add some extra calories and calcium to your diet. I have nursed into my 5th month of pregnancy in the past, and I know women who choose to continue nursing throughout their pregnancy and then nurse both the infant and the toddler.

If you are nursing and pregnant, don't be immediately discouraged to stop right away because one doctor tells you to if you still want to continue. Ask the reasons why they feel that way. Do some research on your own. Get a second opinion if you don't agree, and do what you think is best for all of you.

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Washington County Fair

This week-end, we headed up to my parent's house so my wonderful husband could help my dad lay laminate flooring in the kitchen/dining, living room, and hallway. While the men were busy at work, mom and I got the children out of their hair and headed over to the Washington County Fair. It was a very large, much bigger than what we are used to. The children had a lot of fun riding the rides and checking out the animals. We were worn out after about 4 1/2 hours and we didn't even see half of everything there. Our county fair will be coming up next week, and the children are really excited about it too and entering their stuff! It is always fun to go places, but as Dorothy once said, "There's no place like home!"

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