What makes up a polymer?

This type of glue that we made is the same kind of glue used by the Egyptians to glue furniture together. I had no idea you could make glue out of milk!
We used our new glue to glue hearts to our lab to show our conclusions.  We talked about that polymer make up plastic toys, Styrofoam cups, clothing, and chewing gum. Polymers are also in the horns of animals, turtle shells and our finger nails!

Cardiovascular System

As a homeschooler you take what life throws at you and you make it an educational opportunity. So we are all becoming heart experts! This week we made a model heart with graham crackers icing and marshmallows. This was an easy way to show everyone what Henry's heart is missing, it even helped me understand a lot more of how the heart works as two pumps rather than just one. We also watched a DVD by Answers in Genesis on the heart, it was excellent I absolutely love learning new stuff and my kids take in way more when I get excited with them.

Building building building....

Gears Gears Gears! The Children have been busy building in the late afternoons. This great new toy allows them to build different structures and see how the gears  all work together.  I love when I buy a new educational toy that my bigger ones get right in there to help the little ones. I have always found when there is a new baby in the house and your sitting on the couch a lot of the time nursing you really get to observe and listen to your kids interact the conversations they have are really entertaining.

 We recently set up three school computers for the older ones to work on their studies. I wish I had done this years ago rather than sharing one lap top. Our school days are less frustrating and moving way faster.

I saw this fantastic idea I believe on Pintrest but I can't remember, I took a sharpie and wrote all the letters of the alphabet  on them. Then I gave Rachael a list of spelling words and she put the blocks together to spell the words. Even my thirteen year old got down on the floor with his spelling and worked right along with her. This has also become a great tool for my preschoolers learning letters and the sounds.

Pumping

 Almost 8 weeks of exclusively breastfeeding Seamus and 8 weeks of exclusively pumping for Henry. I nurse Seamus on demand aka every time he realizes he is not nursing, and pumping every 2.5 hours for 30 mins around the clock. Henry's feeds take about an hour a feed. He starts his feed  with EBM in a bottle but is only able to take in 20-30mls max and then tires out due to his heart the rest goes down the tube.
 Not being able to breastfeed Henry and pumping instead has been exhausting,  overwhelming, and to be really honest I feel inadequate. Which is nuts because this is all out of my control.
The feeding tube has become my frienemy. I hate it for all of its inconveniences and resent it because it represents that I feel like I have failed at the basic task of feeding my baby. At the same time, I love it because it means my baby is alive and MUCH healthier than he would be without it.
Henry having breast milk is so important to me, this baby has been threw so much already and really needs all those live antibodies to keep his immune system high.  Pumping like this makes me feel like I am doing SOMETHING to help this baby, every time I pump I tell myself "one more time".
  As hard as it is I also know it's one season of my life and each day, week, month that goes by I am so happy he has the very best.

The Day I Became a Heart Mother

One day my world came crashing down,
I'll never be the same.
They told me that my child was sick.
I thought, "am I to blame"?
I don't think I can handle this.
I am really not that strong.
It seemed my heart was breaking.
I have loved him for so long.

I will not give up on this child.
I will listen to your advice.
I will give my child any chance.
No matter what the price.
I will learn all that I need to help my child thrive.
I'll even use that feeding tube.
My child must survive!

Will he need a lot of therapy?
Will he gain the needed weight?
Please God, help me do this.
I will accept our fate.

When the monitors beep at night, it serves as my reminder.
How many parents would love that sound.
Tomorrow I will be kinder.
As another Angel earns his wings,
I run to my child's bed.
I watch him sleep for quite a while.
I bend down and kiss his head.
I cry for the parents whose hearts have been broken.
I look to You wondering why?
Oh Lord, I just can't know your ways....no matter how I try.

And yet, I trust you hold his life, and guide us through each day.
My mind says savor each moment he's here,
but my heart begs, "PLEASE let him stay"!

From pacing the surgical waiting room, to sitting by his bed. From wishing for a good nights sleep, to learning every med.
From wondering, "will he be alright?", to watching him reach out his hands.
With every smile my heart just melts, despite life's harsh demands.

For all who see that faded line.
I look to them and smile.
You see my child is loved so much.
I would face ANY trial.
That scar I trace with my finger (It's the door to his beautiful heart).
God must have known how much I'd love him (Just as He loved him from the start).

A heart mom is always a heart mom.
Now wise beyond her years.
For those who have angels in heaven,
Our hearts share in all of your tears.

Every day I will try and remember,
I was chosen for him (and no other).
I will always embrace that beautiful day.......
When I became a "Heart Mother".

- Author Unknown

Looking Ahead 2014

 Since Christmas Day I have been held prisoner to my bedroom with two very delicious baby boys. The stomach flu has ripped through our house so to keep the babies safe we have isolated and all the sick ones have been evicted downstairs where they all can use the same bathroom. Let me tell you this past week has been extremely hard. Six children puking all at the same time laundry that isn't getting done fast enough.  I think we are at the tail end now though, nobody has been sick in almost 24 hours just very sleepy. Five days in my bedroom has given me a lot of time to think about this up coming  year.  I never in my dreams thought Children's Hospital would be such a large part of our life.   Chris and I have taken time to give each other pep talks when fear and worry creep in.  Let me tell you when you are holding those precious little gifts all the Sunday School answers go flying out the window.
So things this year I want to focus on..

• Prayer.. cause really it's all I got.
• A positive attitude, speak blessing into situations and people.
• To see the wonder and beauty in everyday even the hard yucky days and write it down.
• To love more.
• To smile. 
• To give.

2013 IN PICTURES

Jan

• Tubing
• Skiing
• Chris and I had our very first night away in 15 years
• I had my wisdom teeth out

Feb

• Hannah turns 2
• Valentines Day party
• Chris and I go for fondue Valentines Day

Mar

• We find out we are expecting!
• Austin turns 14
• St. Patrick's Day party with homeschool friends
• Spring walks

April

• The snow melts and some outside fun starts.
• Jude turns 4
• Quad rides
• Bowling

May

• Horses come back!
• Horse back riding
• Presley turns 8
• Garden gets started

June

• Swimming!
• Natalie turns 10
• Kayaking
• Boating
• Fishing
•  Swimming in the lake with friends
• Community BBQ`S
• Water slides at H2O

                                                                                     July

• VBS
• Camping at the cabin
• Bon fires
• Sleeping in the tent
• Find out we are having twins!

                                                                                    August

• Daily swimming in the back yard
• Hatching baby chicks
• Back yard movie night
• Friends from out of town come
• Road trip for the day
• Butchering chickens at a friends
• Pot lucks
• Getting fire wood
• 15 years of marriage
• Bought a 15 passenger van

                                                                                   Sept

• Soaking up as much outdoor summer fun as we can.
• Chris turns 35
• Chris`s brother gets in major motorcycle accident in Mexico
• A very good friend threw me the most awesome diaper shower
• Kelly O's nights with girlfriends

October

• Rachael turns 6!
• Learned how to make my own tea from my property
• Weekly ultrasounds start
• All you can eat sushi nights with family
• Swimming at the pool
• I turn 32.

Nov

• Count down to babies!
• Seamus and Henry arrive!
• Henry had open heart surgery at 6 days old.
• Met some of the most amazing new friends.

 

Dec

• Soaking it all in!
• Zachary turns 13
• Austin and a friend go see the long awaited Hunger Games
• Zac and Natalie go see the Hobbit.
• Henry gets re-admitted to Children's
• NG tube put in
• The flu hits

The First 6 Weeks

 

Six weeks have whizzed by in the blink of an eye. We found ourselves back in children's hospital this past week and as you can see Henry now has an NG tube. He is taking way more expressed breast milk now.  I have never been more exhausted, lonely, stressed, insanely happy, thankful in my life.

I have been trying very hard to find a new rhythm in our home. Our family has a natural organic type flow to it, but with Henry's needs and many appointments it shakes things up a bit. Not in a bad way but a new way. I am enjoying the long hours rocking babies to sleep.  This simplicity of life and peacefulness of rhythm is a gift that comes with having babies and young children. Taking time when we are home and not at appointments to really soak in the normalcy of motherhood. We have come into a natural

My older children have been such a blessing, it heals my hurting heart to hear my almost 15 year old son sing babies to sleep.  Even though much has changed I feel a strong need to keep my nest, a strong protective fierceness has come over me.  My faith in the Lord is challenged and continues to grow, everyday I wake up to two smiling babies I thank-him for all nine of my children.

Blessed Beyond Understanding

  I realized my last blog post might not have made sense to those that didn't know what went on.
An hour and a half after the twins were born the pediatrician heard a heart murmur in Henry. He was took to the NICU to be looked over as his oxygen levels were a little low. After an ultrasound and phone calls with children's we found out our baby had a very rare heart defect that would require surgery.    I bluntly asked the pediatrician  "could he die?", and when he answered back "Yes" I felt as if he took a 2X4 to my head. I cried and prayed all night. Every couple hours Chris would help me into a wheel chair and take me to him, I would lay my hands on him tears streaming down my face praying not caring who was right there.  We were air lifted to Children's early that morning.  There are so may details I could share but to be honest it's exhausting.

We have been home a week and it's been good to have Chris home and process it all together.  Learning more about what the next 18 years are going to look like.  On Sunday our pastor said something to the effect of " look around at the people in your life and that God has placed them there".  We have been thrown head first into the medical world and are meeting some pretty fantastic people. I spent nights in the PICU rocking Henry and talking to nurses for hours.  Having nine children is an awesome conversation starter and because the choice to have a large-ish family is so strongly attached to our faith we were able to share so many things.

   I have never prayed for a doctor like I have for this man. He truly is amazing! It took everything in me when we were leaving to not tell him I loved him. :) 
Henry was on Global News 

 Henry is starting to take in a tiny bit more a feeding, but Thursday we will decide with the pediatrician if an NG tube might be a little easier on him.  I think we are leaning towards that has feeding is so hard on his breathing right now. I am thrilled he has made it back to his birth weight this week where Seamus is now well over 8lbs! 
Other than the high demands of my little man adding two has been absolutely wonderful. I am blissfully exhausted and enjoying every second of them. Henry is easy going and relaxed exactly how I knew him in the womb and Seamus has a little more fire, believes he is truly starving when not attached to me. He makes pumping for Henry a little difficult cause he really gets mad when someone else takes him for a moment.