Patty Cake Baby!

Shaelyn playing patty cake!

Lunches for Irish Triplets

Someone recently asked me what I feed my children to ensure they are all healthy and growing as they should. So I figured I would write out a few of the guiding principles we live by, or at least try to! 1) We give at least 1 fruit and 1 veggie per meal. I love my sectioned plates that make it easy to divide out fruits and veggies for each child. 2) We give a yogurt or probiotic supplement at lunch time, or dinner if we miss it at lunch, every single day. Your body's health begins in your gut and you need the good bacteria that probiotics supply. 3) We greatly limit sugar as much as possible. We go as far as to ask family NOT to give candy, chocolate, etc to our children even on special occasions like Easter, Christmas, Birthday's, etc. Your immune system is compromised for 3-4 hours after eaten one small piece of sugary anything. 4) We offer only fruit or vegetables as snacks. They can have an apple, grapes, celery, carrots, etc. No chips, cookies, etc. We also try to keep snack time far enough away from meal time, and small enough in portion size, to ensure they'll be hungry enough to eat their whole meals. 5) We limit pre-made, boxed, processed and fake foods as much as possible. I hate feeding my children boxed mac 'n' cheese. I try to only buy boxed anything if I can read every ingredient on the label. 6) We use whole wheat whenever possible. Whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta's, whole wheat cereals, etc. White Bread, Rice, Sugar, it all decreases your immune system. 7) We buy organic as much as possible. We don't have a limitless budget but try to stick to the Dirty Dozen and Clean 10. The dirty dozen are always purchased organic and the clean 10 are organic as much as that week's budget allows. 8) We're not members of the clean plate club. When our children say they're full, they can be done. However, if we're having any dessert after said meal, they only get the sweet treat if they've cleaned their plates. We want mostly nutrient dense foods filling their bellies! 9) We offer choices. "Do you want strawberries or Grapes, Green Bean's or Broccoli"? If the kids feel like they've had a say in the foods they'll be more likely to consume them! 10) Finally: my biggest tip! Eat what you want them to eat! Sit down with your children while they're eating and eat when you are asking them to eat. We say 1 bite to be polite. Even if I don't like peas, which I don't, I still try at least one good spoonful and ask the same of them. If they see me eating cookies, candies, etc and not eating the fruits and veggies, they won't want to eat them either!!!

Knee dislocation and ER visit

On Sunday we took the kiddos to the MN Zoo to play in the splash pad and see the new dinosaur exhibit. We had a great time, even though it was insanely HOT! The kids loved splashing in the water and are thoroughly enjoying their dinosaur toys their Oma bought them at the exhibit. We were getting everybody dressed in dry clothes when I was struck from behind with the car door, thanks to a great breeze. My right knee cap dislocated and was on fire. I've had problems with my knee's dislocating for years now so I just iced it when we got home. However, knee's are pretty painful when they've taken a trip outside of their normal location. So, needless to say, the night was spent with me on the couch and my Husband, Mom & Sister tending to the children. I felt awful not being able to help with my normal responsibilities. Roll onto Monday and half way through the day I start feeling faint and like I might pass out. I end up in the Urgency Room to have some tests run to rule out my SVT causing the problems. After a few hours in the UR, some IV fluids, and a shot of Zofran I was able to sit up without feeling as though the room was spinning. I was just told to take it easy and relax the rest of that day. Again, it was another long night of not being able to complete my tasks and I hated that feeling! It really made me thankful for Mama's health. I always thank God for the health of my family and children but rarely thank Him for keeping ME safe and healthy. It was a great reminder to thank God for keeping His hand on our whole family! Be thankful for your health! Not every Mother is able to raise their children or tend to their home the way they wish they could. Some Mother's would give anything to be able to wash their own laundry, do their own dishes, bathe their children, and so on. Be thankful that you have these "nuisances" because it means you're healthy enough to take care of them! Thank you Lord!

Fixed dishwasher!!!

Our beloved dishwasher suffered a major injury on Friday when the handle broke off. I was mortified because 7 people living in one house use a LOT of dishes. I can barely keep up with dish work when I have a dishwasher but to have to wash all these Sippy cups, bottles, glasses, bowls, plates, silverware....you get the idea, by hand!!! Terrifyingly overwhelming! So on Saturday we went out to buy a new dishwasher. You know, a shiny new one with all the bells & whistles?!? Cheapest dishwasher? $200 NOT delivered or installed. Well, I also need a new dining room table to accommodate all these hungry eaters! So I prayed about it and felt led to try & fix the handle instead of buying a whole new dishwasher especially since this one works great, when it has a handle! You see, I've been of the mindset lately that if something breaks or no longer serves its exactly intended purpose, that I should just toss it out. Unfortunately, on a one-income budget that's not really possible. I didn't care though. I felt entitled to whatever I wanted, and how I wanted it, regardless of price. After more prayer I decided to try to fix it myself. Long story short; I found the model number, I researched the parts I needed, I ordered the parts and I installed the new handle (with a little help from my Husband & a fix it video)! It was a successful installation and our first load is in washing right now! The sense of accomplishment is unreal and I still get my new table!!! I guess this lesson applies to a lot in life. If something is broken, fix it, don't just throw it out! This includes my marriage, my children and my relationships! Broken doesn't mean done-for, it means SALVAGE & REPAIR!!! If my marriage isn't working the way I think it should, I should fix it, not just throw it out in a divorce. If my children aren't behaving the way I think they should I just fix it. This doesn't mean I should fix the other person. It means I should look inside myself and see what I can fix about ME! God doesn't cast us aside even though we are a broken and sinful people. He chose us and loves us, despite our many missing handles! And we are called to love those He places in our lives, in good and bad times. Thank you Lord!

Breakfast is the most unhealthy meal of our day.

Last night we took the kids to Subway for dinner. We always get them a cookie but they only get the cookie if they eat all of their sandwich. Well, they did not eat all of their sandwiches so the cookies stayed in the bag. Normally, prior to this pregnancy and my workout & healthy food obsession, I would have taken care of them, by eating them myself, after the kids went to bed. Well, I did not this time. Roll on to this morning. The kids are up and STARVING at 7:30am and I'm still exhausted. While trying to figure out breakfast my children found their cookies from last night. And what do I do about it? Turn a blind eye and let them eat, of course! I figure I can make up for it with super nitrient sense foods later on. And no, I don't feed them cookies for breakfast ever! How do you feel about letting your kids eat junk foods like cookies?

Why we're not having another Home Birth

Our first two children were both born in Hospitals. Cobi was delivered with a Midwife after an induced labor due to pregnancy induced hypertension. Micah was caught, barely, by an OB after a totally natural labor although also clouded by the hypertension. Both births were "healthy" and there were no complications. I just don't like hospitals. I hate how germy they make me feel. I hate the bright light and the beeping machines. I hate being woken up every few hours to check "vitals". I hate that their protocol takes over my natural Mama instants. I hated having to fight them off of vaccines and eye goop, blood draws and iv's. I just wanted a natural, how God created birth to be, type of labor and delivery. With my third child I just knew I wanted to deliver her at Home. I love the idea of not having to leave the house to deliver. I love that we're surrounded by our creature comforts, our germs, and our children and whomever else we wanted, or didn't want, present! I loved the one-on-one care I received from my Midwife! She was fantastic and so knowledgeable! She came to my home for every prenatal visit. She was truly a God-send! This third pregnancy also presented with hypertension but we believe it's just how my body responds to end of pregnancy and it wasn't a concern. The day I went into labor I was a little concerned because my daughter had been breech for the weeks and days leading up the labor. I did everything in my power to get her to turn and just prayed that she was head down! Labor was extremely sporadic and intense from the get-go. I was nervous we would end up having to transfer to a hospital because my contractions were so different from my two previous deliveries. My Midwife suggested I get into the birthing pool to see if that would bring the contractions into a better pattern and get me in the right mindset to actually birth this little lady! Well, it worked! Contractions became regular, although still insanely intense. My Midwife knew, although I had no idea and she didn't tell me so as to protect my birthing mind, that baby girl was posterior. That simply means she was not in an ideal position to be born BUT she was head down and would come out just fine, albeit more painfully. After 2 hours of labor and 14 minutes of pushing our little girl was finally here. Unfortunately I had some hemorrhaging. My Midwife swooped in with her magic concoctions and quickly resolved the bleed. I ended up passing out after getting up and was instructed to stay literally on my back for two days to rest and recuperate. I did and healed up just fine. My Midwife came back for her checks postpartum and was just amazing with my Daughter and I. I loved the home birth experience and it felt so right! On rolls the next pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage with substantial hemorrhaging and an emergency D&C. We found out shortly after the surgery that we were already expecting another child. We were elated but then had to decide whether to birth this baby at home again or in a hospital. So we began praying and feeling out which was a better option. We listed out our pro's vs. con's and have decided that this baby, our last and final birth, will be caught in the hospital. We're not in a place financially to afford another home birth. However, our deciding factors were based on that still, small voice. We really feel led to deliver in a hospital. We feel safest being in the hands of a wonderful OB who has quick access to anything necessary to prevent hemorrhage or to preform a cesarean if necessary. We know we're insane for going from home birth back to hospital birth but we are trusting the Lord and his direction for this birth. We are obviously praying and believing we'll be able to have another natural and healthy delivery but don't want to be foolish when we feel led to deliver in a certain place. I believe that birth should take place wherever the Mama and Daddy feel most comfortable whether that be in the hospital, birth center, home, etc. It's about giving women educated choices and supporting them! Our educated and supported decision is to birth this baby in the hospital and we're at peace with that. We are a bit saddened at the loss of our home base advantage but knowing what we know after having three previous births, we're confident we will get the birth we're desiring, however it comes to play out!

Nothing but a Hallelujah!

Crying children, lunch cooking on the stove, the dog whining to be let outside, laundry and dishes to wash and put away, toys to be cleaned up, bills to be paid, floors to be scrubbed, and an exhausted Mama. Frustrations were at an all time high and I was bursting at the seams. So, I put the kids to bed, started a load of dishes, let the dog out and then got back in touch with my life source! I cranked the worship music and started praising God for anything and everything. Days like today it seems like there's nothing in life worth worshiping Him for. Ever have a day like this? It just seems too hard to get out of bed? Too tired to open your eyes much less take care of a home and family? Ever forget to place your trust in God and rely on Him for the endurance to make it through each day? Today was that day for me! He says He will give me what I need, nothing more BUT nothing less either! Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. He says we will RUN and not grow weary. I often feel like living this life with 3 kids so young and pregnant, I'm running a marathon that never ends. I forget to look to God for the endurance I need mentally, physically and emotionally to successfully navigate each day. I forget to trust Him and instead look for my own ways of making it. So today, during nap time, I choose to say Hallelujah! Thank you Lord for your grace! Thank you for endurance and strength! Thank you for blessing me each and every day in and out when I fail you time and time over. In times of dry and barren praise I begin with the basics: Thank you God for: Health, Today, My Husband, My Children, My Family, Roof over our Heads, Air Conditioning, Washer and Dryer, Dishwasher, Dishes, Clothes, Food, Drink, Electricity, A Job for my Husband You get the idea! God blesses us day in and day out and we simply don't notice it. I get so wrapped up in the daily redundencies that I forget that TODAY is a GIFT from God!! I should be thankful I am here to watch my children grow. Thankful I have dishes to feed them food on and even more thankful for the dishwasher to clean them for me! Thankful that we are all healthy today for tomorrow is tomorrow. Thankful that He sent His Son to die for me, to wipe clean my sins, to offer me a place in Heaven for eternity! How easily I forget. How easily I complain. How easily I choose anything other than Hallelujah! So today I'm taking back this hardened heart and renewing my faith in Christ! He gave me not only life but life to the fullest should I choose to follow and seek after Him! So Praise God for today. Praise God for the up's and down's! It's like a hospital monitor showing a heart beat. To be alive you must go through the up's and down's in life. God didn't promise life would always be easy or even enjoyable. But He did promise to never leave me nor forsake me! He promised to walk this road with me and bless me if I choose to accept it! Choose today which way you'll go! Praise God for His Goodness! Forget the stuff, the mess, the frustrations of today and choose, this day, to bring nothing but a Hallelujah to our Most Awesome and Holy God!