Tap, Tap, Tap...Is This Thing On??

As many of you know, we are expecting our fifth child.  And anyone who knows me knows that pregnancy is very, very hard on me.  And that, my friends, is all I have to say about the lack of blogging. 

 

So now, some updates:

 

First and foremost: Baby.  Number 5.  Wow. Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea, and sometimes I just smile knowing there will be a new little one to love and cherish.  The kids are SO, SO excited. Caleb has informed me that he just can't wait longer than ten more days.  I hate to break it to him, but 25 weeks is a little longer than 10 days. He'll get through it.  And so will I.  I've been sick, sick, sick, and tired beyond belief, but I know that eventually those things will subside and we can really get excited for a new little one.  My sweet Katie is going to be a big sister! Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord!

 

 

MISS KATELYNN: Oh, where do I begin?  My little two year old is "A little sugar and a whole lot of spice!" Man, I LOVE this girl and at the same time...wow.  Just wow.  We call her "our first two year old."  We are definitely in new parenting territory with a girl who says no, likes to hit, does the opposite of what we say, and generally thinks that rules are for other kids.

 

On the other hand, she is sweet and spirited and totally hilarious.  Even when she is being naughty, she is so stinkin' funny I can't stand it.  If we say, "Katie, are you trouble?", she will respond with, "Yea, and I naughty too!"  She routinely grabs one of the boy's swords and says, "Arggg!" to the nearest person around.  She loves her Daddy with everything in her and she loves to grab you by the hand and say, "Follow me." She loves her baby dolls and is the most maternal little kid I have ever seen. She asks for food all day long and eats almost nothing. She gives the best hugs known to man and she tells us she has three babies in her tummy. She changes her clothes about ten times a day and melts my heart every time she says, "I want you!"

 

LEVI:  I keep begging him to stay little forever.  I just can't get him to agree.

 

Levi has been my angel child.  He has never gone through a tough stage and he has always been the most sweet and hilarious kid. He loves to laugh and will do anything to get himself or others to chuckle. He gives me more kisses and hugs than I know what to do with and he has a new obsession with getting ready for bed in the early afternoon.  He loves to help me in the kitchen and every day he asks me, "Is it time for homeschool?"  He gets along with all of the kids equally well and has a hard time deciding who to be "buddies" with each day.  I regularly find him laying on "the big pillow" on our floor when I wake up in the morning, regardless of the fact that is never where he starts his night.  He lights up my life.

 

 

CALEB: Never in all the world has there been a kid like Caleb.  He marches to the tune of his very own drummer and I LOVE that about him.  Just as Levi is a direct replica of Jason, Caleb is a mini-me.  He is introverted (yet talkative), pensive, incredibly creative, thoughtful, and loyal.  He loves what he loves and dislikes what he dislikes. I love the way at dinner he just gives me a thumbs-up when he likes something and how he asks me every day how my baby is doing.  He loves Tom and Jerry and he hates all things to do with losing teeth.  He adores math and hates all things related to reading and writing, though he does them with a great attitude. He spends most of his day with the baby kitties and I am pretty sure he will grow up, get married, and have a zillion kids. He is LOVING art class at school and he comes up with the most creative solutions to problems I have ever seen. I am so excited to see him grow up and be all the man God created him to be.

 

ALAINA: I am so, so blessed to have her.

 

We spent two weeks in the States together this month and it was so amazing to be with her...just her...for such a long time.  I love that homeschooling and having all the kids together every day keeps her young (I think kids grow up WAY to fast these days!) but I am also realizing that she IS getting older and more mature.  Being alone with her gave me the opportunity to see how she is growing and changing and to get a better idea of what she needs from us. I am thinking and praying about how to help her grow and mature well.  I believe that the next few years are incredibly important as we watch her change from a child into a young woman. She is an amazing girl with a tender heart and sweet spirit.

 

Alaina loves reading (I find her in all sorts of places), being crafty, and watching the Duggars.  She plans on marrying a Duggar boy when she gets older and she was SUPER excited that two of the oldest kids visited Indonesia!  Her favorite purchase in the States was an ankle length jean skirt, just like the Duggar girls wear.

 

 

ME: Well, like I said, I have been sick.  Sick as in "I puke four or five times a day and I hate ALL food" sick.  I have had more food problems with this pregnancy than with any other one, including a complete hatred for all meat and even peanut butter.  As an O blood type that typically CRAVES protein, I have really struggled.    I finally realized that I could buy some protein supplements and although it has only been a few days, I do feel a bit better. Hoping that as the pregnancy progressess (I am 15 weeks now), the sickness and the drop-dead tiredness will ease.  I HATE not being available to my family. Thankfully, they are all very understanding and I am blessed with a man who works all day and then takes over kid duty when he gets home so that I can lie in bed.

 

My other huge struggle with pregnancy is the emotional toll it takes on me. Now, I am not the typical pregnant woman with raging emotions.  In fact, I am quite the opposite. I just become kind of dead to the world.  As a typically passionate person with lots on her heart and mind, I find it very hard to feel nothing...about anything.  I become very apathetic, uncreative, and well, boring.  I'm not happy, not sad, just there.  It's really not a fun way to live.

 

However, I do feel the slightest bit of that fog lifting...so here's hoping!

 

JASON: Jason is good.  He is enjoying the start to a new school year.  He has handed over his athletic director duties this year so that he is able to concentrate more on building the PE program at the school.  I love seeing new visions come to life including and elementary swim program and an elementary sports/field day. He is also enjoying helping coach the girls soccer team.  It is hard to have him away those extra hours, but I know he loves it. 

 

HOMESCHOOLING: The pregnancy and my trip to the States have made for a rocky and inconsistent start to the school year, but things are still going pretty well.  The kids have been so good and understanding about my not feeling well and have been happy to change the schedule or even just do school on my bed.  We are using some new curriculum this year and I am LOVING it.  I feel like our choices this year have been a better fit for us all around and I LOVE knowing that my kids are getting a great education.

I also LOVE that homeschooling allows me to work with my kids at their own pace, whatever that might be.  For example, when we found out that we were expecting we briefly considered putting the kids in school.  I was struggling with what grade to put Caleb in. He is a May birthday and a boy and I really feel like he is straddling Kindergarten and first grade. By having him at home, I don't have to decide.  We can move right along in math and take our time in language arts. At some point, if he does go back in school, we can see where he fits best. But for now, I don't have to worry about him being bored in one subject while completely missing out on a subject that he is totally not ready for.

I don't know how long we will homeschool for...maybe another year or maybe forever.  We'll take it year by year and kid by kid.  While we are getting to enjoy this season of life, I will soak up the precious time I have with my kids and marvel at the ways their minds are growing.

 

LIFE: Life is good, busy, confusing, fun, hopeful, and blessed. Things change from day to day and I definitely never know what is around the corner, but I am happy and content and ready for whatever comes our way.

 

Comments

[Amy Wolff]

Congratulations on baby #5!! Thanks for the updates on the kids, I feel like I've watched them grow up. Hope you feel better soon!

[MandaKay]

Oh my goodness Janet - I didn't know you were expecting! CONGRATS! I hope you start feeling better soon and that the yuckies don't last thru the whole 40 weeks! Your children are beautiful and from the sounds of it are even more beautiful on the inside! Great to see a post girl!

[Barbara]

Congratulations and I'm sorry you're so sick! Praying for you and yours.

[anneberit]

Congratulations! What a blessing :) Hoping the rest of the pregnancy will be easier. Love all the updates :D

[Amy]

Congrats on the new little one....how exciting!!! I love the update and especially thought it was so cute about your daughter and her plans for one of those Dugger boys! LOL! :D

[Heather]

I click on your blog from time to time and it's good to see you're "back". A very good reason for your absence though, I must say :) I get the icky-sickies too and it just stinks when you can't do what you want to do with your other little ones. Praying for a vibrant second half of the pregnancy for you. You have a beautiful life story so far and this little blessing is going to make it even way more cool to read your blog :)