Things are starting to come into balance here lately.  Abel will be 2 months old this week.  He's growing fast!  We are all enjoying him so much.  The only problem is a resistant thrush that we have been treating for almost 2 months now.  It's been frustrating to say the least.

If anyone reading has room on their prayer list for my Pop-Pop, I'd sure appreciate your prayers for him.  We found out earlier this month that he has cancer, stage IV - B.  He's going downhill fast but we are so thankful for his good days.  Everything has happened so fast and we are all very shocked and sad.  While a healing miracle is what we want I know that His ways are not our ways.  My biggest request is that everyone will have peace and comfort during this time no matter what the Lord's will is. 

Two months ago my Pop-Pop was here meeting Abel, throwing around a football with Austin and wrestling around with all of my kids.  Later that week he raked up 8 bags of leaves.  Having no clue of the cancer within his body.  Just 3 weeks later he was in the hospital and got the diagnosis.  Now he is unable to walk and gets out of breathe with light conversation.

Take the time this holiday season to really enjoy your family.  Don't get caught up in perfecting Chrstmas decorations and meals.  Focus on your love ones.  You never know what the year holds.

this post, not the baby! Abel Bradley was born on September 27th.  He weighed 8 lbs. 1oz and was 20" long.  He was our biggest baby.  Labor went fine.  I don't know if it's because I'm older or just simply out of shape but this one took alot out of me.  It probably took 2 weeks for me to walk the length of the house without feeling exhausted.  And I DON'T have a big house!  But all is well and he is a sweetheart. He has a bit of hair and it was blonde but it is quickly turning brown.  Good thing too because the rest of us have dark hair.  He's a good baby.  His brothers and sisters just love him to pieces.

He is 5 weeks old now and this is the first week that we have gotten school done each day as well as most chores and meals.  Everyone told me when I was pregnant with my third that going from two to three was difficult but for us that was not true at all.  However, three to four has really gotten my head spinning!

Well, because of said "head-spinning" I don't think I will get to update often but I will check in from time to time and I'll want to keep up with my "friends" blogs as well.  Ya'll post some real interesting things for me to read so when I do come on I'll feel like an adult who has been among friends!

That's what my 5 year old had been calling it.  Pretty accurate discription, don't ya think?

We're supposed to go to the hospital at 5pm to be induced.  More than likely we won't have a baby until tomorrow sometime.  I'm a little nervous.  I wanted to start  labor naturally but with my placenta previa now being low-lying, and with it possibly taking 2 hours to get to the hospital (hosp. is almost an hour away and hubby works an hour away from home) and the fact that I normally have rapid labors, the doctors would like me to be at the hospital for this.

So hopefully, I'll have an announcement in a few days! 

Update is that there is no baby yet.  I'm not due until the 30th.  I am completely released from the Perinatologist as my placenta has corrected itself enough.  Praise the LORD!  The estimated weight is that he's 7.5 lbs already...yikes...my biggest baby was 7lbs, 2oz. 

Crazy as it sounds, I'm looking forward to delivery.  I love labor and all that but I'm looking forward of staying at the hospital.  I have been very moody lately.  My kids must hate me right now.  Hate is a strong word but I haven't been as pleasant as I should be.  I know having a newborn in the house comes with it's own issues but I'm praying my attitude will be better when I have my body back to myself.  I'm going to miss all the belly gymnastics I've been able to watch and feel though.  He's incredibly active.

Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will have an announcement to share!

I've switched to cloth diapers, that's what!  Who knew that there is a whole world of cute and more importantly, absorbant cloth diapers out there?

After doing hours of research I decided that I CAN DO THIS.  The hardest thing for me was choosing which kind I would use and not overbuying.  I mean there's some SUPER cute things out there!

I decided on getting a few fitted diapers and all of my covers from MotherEase.  Then I bought lots of Chinese prefolds from Little Lions.  I also bought 2 Kissaluv Newborns for Abel.  This was the cheapest way for me to go.  And with the prefolds, you can pretty much make them fit any baby body type as they change.  I received everything and began using them this week.  We've had no leaks at all!  My 2 year old doesn't seem to mind them.  They are not too bulky.  Of course the most important test was actually changing them.  No big deal at all.  I bought some fleece and made liners out of it.  Keeps moisture away from him and makes um...poopy fall right off (sorry!!) NO dunking in the toilet, just toss in the waterless diaper pail like that.  I figure I will wash every other day.

So far we're very happy with the results.  It's so cool to know I don't have to get diapers at the store this week.  I think diapering the 2 year old was the true test and we've done great.  I can't wait for baby Abel to get here!  If you're interested in checking our cloth for you little one, this website has tons of info and links. Check out the Diaper Pin.

I had an OB appointment yesterday.  I'm at 35 weeks!  Everything is going good.  He said that they do not let you get to 41 weeks so we'll definately have a baby within 6 weeks!  I've never been late.  On time with my first son, my daughter was 7 days early and my son was 11 days early so we'll see!

Prayer Request - Please pray for my friends sister, Kelly.  She has a rare brain tumor.  It is not cancer but it is in a bad place, her brain stem.  They are sending her out of state to have surgery.  I'm not sure when.  We're not sure if they have good insurance.  She's in her early 30's and has a 9 year old daughter.  Please remember their family.

Scripture Meditation

James 1:19 - Wherefore, my beloved brethern, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Wow.  I'm slow to hear, swift to speak and swift to wrath.  Especially with my family lately. 

Prayer Requests

* Finances

* The Morgan family

* Our former church family

* My upcoming delivery - less than 6 weeks to go!

Things I am thankful for:

* The rain we're having right now

* Aaron - as we celebrate his 2nd birthday today 

* That gas prices are down

*  My mother

* That the Lord always provides and loves us no matter how hard-headed we are.

Today's Goal

I am not at church today because Aaron is sick.  I have alot of laundry to do (goes along with my "Thankful" list - the Lord always provides!) and I'd like to get it mostly done because I'm expecting lots of cloth diapers this week.  That'll mean more laundry ;-)

Things that I have learned or observed

Other than the fact that I conduct myself the exact opposite as James 1:19...I've learned that putting a fleece liner in a cloth diaper makes clean up almost as easy as a disposible.

(If that's even how you spell it!)  Our brain is fried    Can ANYONE solve those B-dazzle Scrambled Squares puzzles?????  We have the Washington, D.C. one and have yet to solve it.  Is there a hint anyone can give us?  What are we missing?  I enjoy a good challange but there's a point where it's absolutely NOT FUN ANYMORE!!!  We're there....HELP!!!!

Well, our first week of school is complete and it went well!  We still have a project to do but we may do that over the weekend.  Now, to plan for next week.  I have the basic plan but there's details I need to figure out.  I'm pleased with how everything turned out this week.

I had an ultrasound yesterday.  We got a neat "face" picture of the baby.  He looks chubby!  I still have what is condidered a low lying placenta but they feel that I will not have to have a c-section because of it.  Praise the Lord!  I go back in 4 weeks to have another one.  Everything else is looking great.  He weighs 3lbs. 4oz. already.  That sounds like a lot to me.  I'm only 31 weeks but they said it was normal.  I can't wait to hold him!

I have a prayer request.  We had a family at our church for a while.  They had been transferred here for a job.  They were a young couple (20's maybe 30) they had a baby girl who had cerebal palsy and then shortly after started expecting their 2nd child.  They moved to be closer to their family.  This morning I got an email that the husband passed away in his sleep this week.  They think it had to do with medication he was taking.  My heart breaks for the wife.  She has maybe a 1-1/2 year old and then a newborn.  Please keep the Morgan family in your prayers.

We started school today!  I had planned to start next week but we had all of our supplies and the kids were anxious, so we started today.  We had a family meeting Sunday afternoon to get everyone familiar with everythng since we are doing things a little differently.

The morning went well.  I had the kids doing their Language Arts and Math first.  My 4th grader does most of that on his own but my kindergartener needs me there with her.  We finished up early and my son did some of his Tapestry of Grace reading and I read aloud to my daughter.

Lunch time came and we breaked.  While we were eating the sun was pouring in just right and the kids we making shadow puppets.  It reminded me of those profile things so traced their profiles on black paper.  While they were having rest time I cut them and glued them to white paper.  They thought that was cool.  We may just do that every "first day" of school.

After rest time we read a cool book, Geography A to Z.  Then we filled in a world map and a map of Ancient Egypt.  We enjoyed that.  My kindergartener impressed me after seeing the Ancient Egypt map she pulled out the World map we had just finished and pointed to the Nile on that map and showed it to me.  I thought that was impressive!

It seemed like a long day but it was fun.  Am I the only one who struggles with doing it all though?  It's hard for me to get school done and enjoy it with everyone and keep the house duties up and plan for dinner and take care of any phone calls, ect that need to be made too.  Something is going to have to slide a bit when the baby comes. 

My one year old (well he'll be 2 next month!!) just plays around us all day.  He'll color or play with Play-Doh at the table (when we're at the table too).  Or he'll entertain himself with legos and matchbox cars on the floor.  I realized this summer that he likes Barney so I set the DVR to record it and he watched some of it.  Just when we needed  a laugh or diversion today, he was right there making us laugh.

This week should be a fun week.  I think we're all going to love TOG.

I have another ultrasound on Thurday.  Praying the Previa is corrected and everything continues to look great.  I can't wait to meet this little guy.  He's a bundle of energy, I know that!  Less than 10 weeks to go!!!!

I'm outgrowing all of my borrowed maternity clothes.  Very frustrating.  I really dislike maternity dresses.  They really make me look and feel very, very wide.  I like skirts and shirts better.  I went to 2 different consignment shops yesterday looking for something, anything that would fit around me.  Nothing.

So today I'm off to Kohl's.  I hate spending full price for something I'm probably going to outgrow again before I deliver (I'm 29 weeks) but I'm desparate.  I see a need for full-figured maternity shop in my area.  We have a Motherhood, but there's not much there unless you were a string bean before pregnancy.  If you want real sleeves and decent length anything, you'd be hard pressed to find something there.  I was a size 12/14 and somewhat large "up top".  That's my biggest problem.  Everything is too tight in the chest.  I may need to stay at home in pajama's 'til delivery!

On a better note.  I passed my 3 hour glucose test (failed the 1 hour) and I'm measuring normally.  Last time I had measured 3 weeks ahead but I think he just mis-measured.  I go in 2 weeks to the perinatalogist for another ultrasound to check the placenta previa.  It has gone from complete to marginal so we're praying that it will correct and be able to have natural delivery.  How exciting!

I haven't been posting much lately.  We have been enjoying our summer.  My husband is off this week which has been so very nice.  He works so much! 

Fourth of July we went to Stone Mountain.  Fifteen minutes before the Laser/Firework show was to start, it began to thunder and lightening.  We decided to start walking to the car (rather than fight the 60 thousand people there to get out all at once.)  We saw some of the show from a distance.  It was still more fireworks than the kids have ever seen before so they weren't disappointed.

I have had another ultrasound since my last post.  At that point the baby looked great!  Last week I measured 3 weeks ahead of were I am.  I hoping he just measured wrong or something.  I can tell Abel is getting bigger because he's a real mover and shaker.  It's quite entertaining!  I'm 28 weeks today.

I've once again changed our homeschool course.  We opted to not go with BJU.  I went with Tapestry of Grace, Year 1 - redesign.  It seems to be just about everything we have been looking for as far as history goes.  This is what we'll be starting as of July 31:

For Avery ~ age 5 ~ Kindergarten

History/Reading/Bible, ect - Tapesty of Grace - Lower Grammar Level

Phonics/Reading - Sonlight Language Arts

Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting - Manuscript

Math - Math U See - Primer level

Science - Exploring Creation through Astronomy

For Austin ~ Age 9 ~ 4th

History/Reading/Bible/Writing,ect - Tapestry of Grace - Upper Grammar Level

Grammar - Easy Grammar 4/5

Handwriting - Handwriting without Tears - Cursive Success

Math - Bob Jones

Science - Exploring Creation through Astronomy

Spelling - McGuffey's Eclectic Spelling

We're starting July 31 so we can get in a few weeks before we take a break with the baby.

Hope you all are enjoying your summer too!

I found these at the Fammily Fun website.  I think we've decided to do the Picture Puzzle for my husband and for the Grandpa's.  We also want to do the Candy Card for my husband too.  I'll have to make sure he takes the card to work, otherwise I'll end up eating the candy off of it.  I have been craving sweets like crazy the past couple of weeks.  I'm like a mad-women! 

Anyway just thought some of the ideas were cute and thought I'd share!

http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/ff0606-fathers-day-gifts/ff0606-fathers-day-gifts.html

I've been having a hard time pulling up my blog.  When it finally does load and I go to read my "Friends" blogs, it will usually give me an error page.  Frustrating.  So while I haven't been around here as much I have been frequenting HSB's sister site, Homesteadblogger, along with a few other interesting, informative blogs I've come across.  But I miss my "Friends" here.  I need to figure out why it's giving me problems.

I've started to fall in love with sewing again.  I sewed a lot in high school.  From pillows, t-shirts, to a Prom Dress, I kept busy on projects faithfully.  But somehow I let that skill get very rusty.  Finally after 11 years we're getting familiar again.

This past week I turned a pair of my daughter's jeans that were getting too short for her into a skirt.  I made her a dress from her brothers old over-alls and some spare fabric I've had for years.  Today, I'm trying to figure out how to make a cover for my household notebook.  I'm a long way from perfection but it's relaxing to do, especially as my belly is getting bigger and bigger!

We go for our second ultrasound at the perinatologist tomorrow.  They want to check baby Abel's spinal area again as well as check my Placenta Previa.  I'm praying that it will have corrected itself, despite what my O.B. said.  The drive to the ultrasound is pretty far and I'm hoping all is well and they will release me back to my O.B for good.  But I'm glad I get to see the baby again!

Well, that's about it for me.  It's almost time for "quite time" at my house and I need to bake a Chocolate Snack Cake (did you notice the "need", lol) and find something to make or do for Father's Day.  What are you doing for your hubby and dad?  I need ideas!  Have a great day!

While we were at Wal*Mart last week my 5 year old daughter saw a Narnia poster on an end cap and wanted to look at the rest of the posters.  I asked my 9 year old son to stand with her while I continued down the isle.  After a few seconds, I hear a commotion and see my daughter on the floor (eeww!) whining and my son trying to drag her away from the posters.  I was put out that they were fighting and made them take their sides of the cart without listening to what the problem was and continued shopping.  Later that night we were all in the kitchen when my son says something like "Well, I guess you learned your lesson."  a bit taken aback at this comment, I asked him to explain and he said "That you shouldn't let your kids look at those posters."  He went on to explain that my daughter had turned to a poster that had a girl in a bikini.  Wow.  If I had been standing there, we probably would've just kept right on flipping but here is my 9 year old trying to guard his sisters (as well as his own) eyes and heart.

We have had the "modesty" conversation many times thanks to TV and our society.  You just never know if it is really sinking in until something like this happens.   

We had the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and...It's a boy!  Everything seems to be fine with his spinal area.  Of course they have to tell you that there's still a small chance that they may not see something.  I found out that I have placenta previa.  Hopefully that will take care of it's self.  I've never had a c-section and really don't care to.  I'm one of those woman that actually like labor.

We are planning on the name Abel Bradley.  The other 3 children have A.B. names too.  I've liked the name Abel since high school but I haven't used it unitl now.  It's fun to know the name and sex of the little one kicking around in there now.  So, this makes 3 boys and one girl.

Congratulations to Dandelion Seeds, who gave birth to a baby boy this week.  He is so cute :o)

This is the COOLEST CONTEST EVER!!!!!!! 

Spunky is giving away a Benz Microscope and Apologia Biology Set this week. Click Here to get the details.

Can you imagine winning such a nice microscope.  My son is going to begin 4th grade soon and we are going to need one soon.  What a blessing that someone is going to WIN one!!

Apologia Biology set - Now, the only experience that I have with them is with their elementary series by Jeannie Fulbright - which we LOVE!  So I can just imagine what an awesome learning experience this set will create and inspire.  I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Apologia.

So, be sure to click the link above to find out how you can join me in entering to win!

Today is my husband's birthday!  He's 31 today and even more handsome than the day we met.    Everyday with him just gets better and better.

AND my daughter (she's 5) was SAVED this morning!!!!!    She has asked several times at her bedtimes prayers (aren't those sweet times) about how to be saved and say that prayer.  I would ask her questions, she would answer, but I'd stop there, thinking it was strange that she usually only asks this at night.  I talked to my husband about it and he said that's probably because she's winding down and we're and the topic of Jesus with just her then so she feels comfortable.  So, long story short, she asked again this morning, we talked and she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior.  I'm one excited mom!!

Tomorrow we go to have an ultrasound.  Hopefully we will find out the sex of the baby.  I'm 18 weeks and some odd days.  I'm having a special ultrasound to examine the baby since my last one was born with a neural tube defect.  For those who haven't read my blog from the beginning, my son is completely fine now.  He had to have a spinal surgery when he was 6 months old.  I'm not sure how we are going to do this because all 3 kids have to go with us.  My oldest doesn't want to know the sex, the middle does and of course the youngest doesn't have a clue!  This should be interesting!! 

My daughter and I have it.  She's got quite a bit.  I just have a very small patch on my side.  I have no idea how I got it there.  I assure you my side is NEVER exposed outside.  We got a book from the library about poison ivy, oak and sumac and it says you can't get it from another person but I think you can.

Speaking of the library, we got a bunch of spring books.  Friday, if it's not raining we will be identifying our trees.  We got a book on snakes, but hopefully we won't be identifying any of those.  Another neat book is called Woods Walk.  It's broken down by season and region and has all sorts of flowers, birds, trees, insects, and animals common in that area.  And then a book on identifying birds as well.

On a more exciting note, I realized this morning that my name (Fimsey) is on the new HSB T-shirt.  Great marketing tactic, now I must own one, right?  I was going to get one anyway but this just makes it more exciting!  Go check the store and see if your name's on there.  It's free shipping!! I just LOVE free shipping ;o)

From Quick Cooking Magazine:  BANDITO CHILI DOGS

1 package of Hot dogs

2 cans (15 oz each) Chili (with or without beans, your choice)

1 can chopped green chilies

1 can cheddar cheese soup

10 hot dog buns

1 onion - chopped

1-2 cups of corn chips - crushed

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Put hot dogs in crockpot. 

In bowl mix together chili, soup, and chilies. 

Pour over hot dogs. 

Cook on low for 4-5 hours. 

Serve in buns, top with chili mixture, onion, chips, cheese.

No, this is not a heatlhy meal and I promise we don't eat it often.  Sometimes, there's nothing like a good chili dog though.  I love this stuff and I don't normally like hot dogs.

Oh, and for an even more heart stopping (literally) treat, my husband likes me to bake shoe string french fries for some of that chili mixture too.

I almost won a cool HSB T-shirt from Coie (ok, for some reason the link thingie wouldn't work http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/frogiggie89/ ) by telling my most embarrassing story.  I thought I'd share it here on my blog.  What's your most embarrassing story?

This just happened a few months ago. We have 2 Wal-Marts that we regularly go visit. They are both Super Wal-Marts but everything is flip-flopped around...including the bathrooms. One of the kids needed to use the restroom, so we walked to the front of the store, right in front of the registers and the Cingular booth. I walked with 3 kids right into the men's room, right into a small group of men. Horrified, we turned right around and exited and went to the ladies room. Of course people were giggling! Why they didn't point out what was so funny before I went all the way into the men's room, I'll never know. My next embarrassing moment was having to walk out of the ladies room, knowing the Cingular women was still sitting there. Moral of the story, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS read the signs no matter how sure you know where you are.