Autumn Splendor

When Mark asked me what I wanted to do this Saturday I didn't really have anything in mind. I've just been trying to rest in between visits to the Diabetes Clinic. I asked him what he wanted to do. Now, if you know him very well, you'd know Mark is not very spontaneous. In fact, I've learned it makes him downright nervous sometimes when I am. He lives with two very spontaneous women but we contain ourselves for his sake and try to be planners just cause we love him so. But I have learned when he IS spontaneous it makes for a marvelously fun time. This was one of those times! His quiet reply was, lets go to the mountains.


It was a little cool and misty and foggy at parts but oh so pretty. I had no idea the colors would look like they did. We threw a bunch of food in the van and were headed for North Carolina's Blueridge. Newborns are so portable. Max spent his day eating and sleeping mostly. Looking at the sky and me the other part.


Our first stop for a late lunch. (Maura's BG was 55!!) The kids explored while they ate sandwiches and fruit. We ate in the van. Luckily Kaley is now the family photographer and still keeps up with the kids adventures. She got so many gorgeous pictures, it was hard to pick which ones to put here. I hope she puts some more on her blog.



Josiah keeping up with the big kids. He is such a little man now. Right before Max was born I noticed he was with all the kids more and me less. I'd go all day with hardly a snuggle! He is just busy being one of them now. He yells, wait guys!




A huge leaf!

We stopped here at a place called Graveyard Fields. It used to be Balsams before a fire in 1925 cleared it out. It was so red. We decided to stretch our legs from all the driving.

Another view from the parking area before we walked down.

The path was really interesting. Muddy mossy areas, then boardwalks, then windswept grassy fields and streams. Truly unique. (that's me!)

Our elusive photographer~ see her shadow? I loved this picture.




Wild things in trees!! Or the Von Trapp children??

The river.




Fields.

Max slept the whole walk in his sling. He loves to ride there. If he's awake when I put him in he is really quiet and usually drifts off to sleep.



Grace who is almost as tall as her big brother!




Josiah doing a fake smile for Kaley. He loved the walk.

Maura who begged Kaley to take her picture one more time. You can see her pump in her pocket. Oh we are loving it. It makes life so much easier. We did our first site change at home today on our own. It does involve a needle and loading up insulin and using the needle to get the cannula under her skin. I have to admit I'd rather have Mark do it but I'll have to get better at it. It could fall out while he's at work. I'm learning.




This is Cold Mountain. As in the book. And movie. Which I don't really recommend. But I'd like to see if the book is different than the movie.

Looking Glass Rock. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is so big and amazing.




The tree color was just beautiful. I've been so wrapped up in my cocoon with Max, fall has really snuck up on me. It was just summer! We don't have color like this around our house yet, we are 2 hours east of here and a mile closer to sea level! I felt so blessed we caught this fleeting day to see the splendor.

On the way home. Lots of tunnels, Josiah's favorite. We got home late, to a roast in the crock pot and dinner almost fixed itself.

It was a good day.

blessings

ps Yes, Kaley, I will continue to ruthlessly and boldly use all your photos on MY blog. Hey, at least I give you credits!

Pump Day!

WE ARE PUMPING!

Sorry for the red eye! My camera, not Kaley's :) Everything went great with getting our pump going. We used an IV prep cream that numbed Maura's skin and she didn't even feel the insertion. So that was great! She is so proud of her pump and the nurse at the Diabetes Clinic gave her the cute pink and purple cover to go over it. So for today through Wednesday we are just pumping with saline to practice and learn the pump but Thursday we start life without shots! The pump gives a more finite dose of insulin and offers much more flexibility for eating schedules etc. So we are very happy to be at this point.

Here is our beautiful boy Max. He is so sweet and I am enjoying every single second with him. He mostly just eats all the time, sleeps and looks at me so serenely. He spends his time being loved and held and has no need to cry. We train our babies early that all their needs will be met, therefore, they never need cry for much. We don't wait for them to cry a lot and then give them what they need. And he is usually in arms or in sling so he is content and loved. Of course he complains sometimes as all babies do as they learn to fit in the big world. And he spits up a lot :) But mostly he is content. Not to say we haven't had babies that just cried anyway. Benjamin and Curtiss were doosies. They had a harder time fitting into our world, but Max is easier. And maybe that's because we've learned a lot over the years. So he benefits from the experience we've gained with those harder babies. We make it easier for him.

Here is Kaley practicing her magic big sister baby soothing powers. She seems to have a mysterious way of lulling babies to sleep. Mark's theory is that she and I smell the same. And she is wearing a new hat that she got just today. It was her first day out of the house in 9 days as well. Since she and I are not homebodies, that's saying a lot. She deserved a hat :)

We are all well and adjusting well. So thankful for Max and his birth. I'll try to post about that soon. It was very different than all our other babies. Not so much physically taxing as emotional. Thank God for good midwives and a wonderful husband. And babies than turn around in roomy pelvises and patience and well, I'll have to write about it :)

blessings

More Max

Max and a very tired big brother. . .

This is Max and his great-grandmother.

Big sister, Maura. . .

Mommy and Max :-D

Max

Simon Maxwell
Born September 25th, 2009
10 lb 3 oz
22 inches long

No Baby Yet

Sure thought baby would be here by now. Lots of goings on, just not tipped over into something active yet. I am spending my time not answering the phone, hope nobody's offended but that's just the way I am, listening to God's voice, listening to good inspiring music, enjoying every kick and wiggle and jump and squirm-knowing I have a healthy baby in there that just needs more time. Maybe because of our hard summer and lack of good nutrition and care during that really hard week or two when Maura was diagnosed. Maybe because something I could never see or feel has to line up just so. Maybe because this baby just needs extra time. Only the Lord knows. But we are both healthy so we are waiting. It's hard emotionally but I am trying hard to be peaceful and graceful about it. Trying to listen and learn the lessons God wants me to. I think one lesson for me in it is I am not a midwife right now, I am just a pregnant woman. And that's okay, that's why I have midwives, so they can be that for me. And also, to let God be in control and stop trying to make it happen, stop trying to will and beg and plead for it to happen, to let Him be in charge. He knows when the baby needs to come. Nothing is wrong, everything is right.





A good poem someone gave me a long time ago.





Waiting

Dear Baby, here beneath my heart,


I thought that you might come today;


the timing just seemed right.


But the stars are out


and the moon is high


and sheepishly I wonder why


I try to arrange the plans


of God.


For now I know


you will not come


until the One who holds eternity


rustles your soft cocoon and


whispers in tones that I will not hear,


"It's time, precious gift."


"Now it's time."






I will wait on the Lord.....And I will hope in Him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! Isaiah 8:17-18 (NKJV)










Cardinal Flower at Crowders Mtn State Park courtesy of Kaley

Blessings

Looking For Beauty In the Waiting

Crowders Mtn. State Park

Hearts-a-bursting

A past haunt for us, the beaver pond, sadly dried up. The kids were very sad and likened it to returning to Narnia and finding everything changed.

At least the creek was still there.

Sigh...

I can relate to that hearts-a-bursting.......................

Blessings

BOYS

See that tiny thing way up on that rope? Uh huh, a boy. Benjamin in particular. For someone I am always trying to fatten up, he is certainly all muscle.




Sigh, more grey hair. Boys, will I ever figure them out? Giving them room to fly but hoping they don't crash.




No baby yet. Life on hold day 4. Sigh again...

blessings

D Day Appoaching

Not that it means much for me! :) I am not looking for baby to arrive yet. Maybe next weekend or week. Our other babies have come around the weekend so perhaps...

Well, our insulin pump was delivered before the baby was delivered. It came today. Maura let me know she didn't want to wear it yet, even though she was jumping up and down excited. I reassured her we have to go to our class first so it will sit in the box for a few more weeks. I am looking forward to the way it will make life easier at meal times. Hoping for more control over numbers. I'll have to post a picture once we get going on it. Meanwhile we will be reading the workbook and watching the DVD that came with it.

We bought 3 blueberry bushes yesterday. We were actually at the peach orchard and stumbled onto them. So we are planting them tomorrow and we'll see how they do. They are rabbiteye varieties, powder blue, climax and one I can't remember! So we went to Lowe's today for peat moss and also bought a camellia. It was only $8. I have one pink that is a spring bloomer. This one is red and a winter bloomer. Camellia's are my favorite shrubs and I love that there are two kinds that bloom in different seasons. This year my pink spring bloomer had tons of blooms and buds and in just one day Josiah picked off all the buds :( I was one mad mama, repeatedly stating to myself that people are more important than plants. He thought he was doing something wonderful for me. Hopefully we've learned that lesson since the new camellia is also full of buds!

Trying to keep 3 books going, a little tip from Charlotte Mason (an educator in England whose philosophy we follow for homeschooling). She recommended that mothers always have 3 books they are reading at different levels of challenge. My list is:
One of her education books but I don't count that since I'm always reading one
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth-inspiring and encouraging
John Adams by David McCullough-excellent biography especially if you love rev war/history
and
The Fruit of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson-about marriage and being a wife, just started it and it's great.


Blessings

Free Family Fun

Yesterday we drove the big reenacting truck that Mark has been working on for our group back to Charlotte. Our reenacting friend showed us a great spot. The airport overlook! It was awesome. It's closer than it looks and we were able to see planes landing and taking off, one after another. It was amazing how busy the airport is and this was just one runway. The kids had a blast.



Next time we'll take a picnic! They loved it and Mark and I enjoyed it, too. There were all different sizes of planes going and coming and it was neat to see so many land one after another. Some are so big you just think it'd be impossible for them to take off. It's truly amazing what man has accomplished in flight.

Blessings

Great Endo Appt

Maura's ped. endo appointment went great. She had her A1C checked. That is a test that uses your hemoglobin to check your average blood sugars. At diagnosis she was an 8, too high but not too bad. She is now 6.4! That is almost what a normal person is. We are, however, honeymooning. That means her pancreas is still working a little, so she doesn't need as much insulin as she will eventually. We don't know how long this will last so we just go with the flow until we see higher numbers that her dosage isn't helping. Then we up the dose. I do feel great about how well we are doing on our diet. Our endo is fantastic and always open to all our questions.

So we had mexican to celebrate since we were in the big city of Charlotte after all. (Of course we also went to a yarn store!) Wouldn't you know I underestimated the carb count so we were chases high BG's all day! Oh well, we finally did get it down.

Our pump comes friday the 4th! The joke around here has been what is going to be delivered first, the pump or the baby! I think the pump is going to win. So it will be about juggling classes and having a baby. My hope is we can get going with the 2 pump classes quickly, they are 3 days apart and that can happen before baby. Since I am usually 8-10 days late it might happen. I am not stressing, if we need to we can wait. I figure God's got it all worked out.

Busy today, next week really busy, then ??? A baby is going to arrive around here sometime! He/she is so squirmy in there! It's getting crowded. I am getting to the point where I don't think of much else other than meeting this incredible new person. So unknown, yet ever kick and turn so known. Never seen but always felt. Not a big part of our lives yet such a part of Mark and I. I am always flummoxed at a new person in our family. How could we have another distinct personality? The children are ALL so unique. Then they get here and I say, ah ha, that's who you are and there it is, all over again. The uniquely created individual that we all adore watching grow and become. How could we have not known it was you, baby? Every baby feels like the first time. I treasure every pregnancy. As this one is soon to end, I am trying to enjoy every kick and hiccup and memorize that feeling. What a privilege, I feel sorry for Mark!


Blessings

Picked Out A Pump

Yesterday we had our appointment at the Diabetes Clinic to look at pumps. Maura had really looked forward to this. Although she does great with her shots now, she has always wanted a pump. So we had a class to explain how they work, take a look at different kinds and to pick one out.

We picked out this one: http://medgadget.com/archives/img/one-touch-ping.jpg
Maura picked a blue one :)

We tried out inserting a site, the little cannula that goes under the skin to deliver insulin. It's very small but never the less, our girl does not like change. Lots of crying involved but we got through it. In the end, we are still moving ahead. It will just take a little time to get used to something new again. She is o.k. with it and realizes it will be better to do that every three days, then 4-5 shots a day. For us, we know that long term studies show better health for diabetics who use pumps. So, pending insurance approval, we'll be getting one in the mail in 2 weeks- a few months. Overall it went well and once we get our pump we'll go back to the clinic for classes.

Tomorrow is an appt. with our Ped. Endo, so another trip into the big city :) A lot of driving this week but that's ok.

blessings

What I Am Thinking On

Love this painting. Can't wait to be doing that! Not much longer now, although it seems so far away, that's just my pregnant hormones. A few weeks really isn't that long. And besides, I have not shopped or collected everything I need for baby or my birth kit. So, I still have time for getting my baby book and calendar, the special baby wash I want etc etc. I also would love to knit some more cloth diaper covers in a bigger size since I won't have as much time once the baby is here. I'd also love to build up a supply to sell some more and I found a great resource for my favorite wool yarn in lots of different colors. I enjoy knitting with the different colors and textures so much. I don't have lots of spare time, but it's easy to do in spurts.

So here is a belly picture, 37 1/2 weeks. I'm actually smaller than I have been with all the other babies, except maybe Kaley, I can't remember. Our diet has changed so much, I think I am not growing a 10lb baby this time! I really can't wait to meet this little person and see who it is. I love being surprised about the sex of the baby. It's like the best Christmas present ever!

Blessings