Science

Science is one of our favorite subjects.  See here we are learning chemistry/marine biology. 

OK, really it was just clean out the fish tank day.  Amazing how much real learning takes place when you don't have to fake it.  

Homeschool perks

Being homeschoolers has lots of perks.  One of the perks is that you get serious discounts on really great gymnastics classes.  We took our first class today.  It was very fun.  

This afternoon we had our first jam session for the Gospel show that is coming up in March.  I love to hear all the kids playing together.  I tried to get pictures but they turned out really dark.  Homeschooling is good for music lessons too.  Our teacher is booked full for after school slots, but we got in because we can be there at 2:00.  I love our new teacher and all the group stuff we get to do really helps and makes playing fun.  

Of course the best perk is that we get to be together!

More studying

Can you see his tooth?  The other one popped just barely.  HAPPY DAYS!  Goodness I love my kids!

Other news.  I have been studying Rh disease this week.  It turns out that when one is first sensitized to Rh D+, one forms IgM antibodies.  IgM antibodies cannot cross the placenta!  What does that mean and why do I care?  Well I'll tell you.  

It means that as long as I take my vitamins, eat my veggies, and stick with the midwifery model of care, I could have a dozen kids if I wanted to!  Sorry, Ky I guess you can't have all my stuff just yet.  

The only way it is a problem is if I am again exposed to rh + blood. A second exposure will cause my body to produce  IgG antibodies (which can cross the placenta and attack baby's red blood cells).  

What could cause a second exposure?

Well, of course, trauma such as a car accident, but also such things as amnios, managed third stage labor, and, possibly, ultrasounds.  

Why midwifery?

Going to an OB with a pregnancy is like sending a kid to "check" to see if the Caden is awake. (Bang the door open, flip the light on, poke, poke, "Yep, Mom, he's awake!)

I love my midwives.  They take care of me and my baby.  I am a person, not a chart, and they listen to me.  They tailor their care to MY needs not the needs of their legal department.  If a problem arrises, we work together to figure it out and make the decisions together. 

God gave us our own agency, I like to use mine.  

PS No, I am not pregnant yet.  I'll keep you posted.  Don't hold your breath.

PPS I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control and Pregnancy Achievement by Toni Weschler, MPH.  Thanks for the tip, Jill!  Great book!

PSS Also Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth (spelling could be off there.)  This book will help you like your children enough to want to have more.  Again, Thanks for the tip, Jill.

Homeschool Chemistry

So I have been studying cooking lately using Alton Brown as my mentor (through his DVDs and Cookbooks that are so handily available at our local library - good stuff!).  Anyway, Randy took me on a date (yes, a real DATE!) a couple of weeks ago and we ate at Fuddrucker's Restaurant.  As we were ordering our food, I suddenly really wanted to see their kitchen.  So I asked to speak to a manager and asked him if he ever did kitchen tours for homeschool groups.  He said that he had never thought of such a thing but it sounded like fun and he would love to do it.  

I invited a few other families and we went this morning.   It was great!  I had a great time and I think the kids did too.  We got to see the kitchen and walk in the fridge and stuff.  The very best part was when we got to go into the in store bakery where they make their own buns, bread, and treats.  We got to sample some treats and play with their dough.  They have great dough! Here's what I learned: heat = height.  It's so simple, I can't believe I never learned it before.  

What, you don't know what I'm talking about?  Ok, I'll explain.

When your dough is raising, the more heat you have the higher your dough will raise (to a point, too hot and it will cook).  If you want wider dough, you want more humidity.  And, conversely, if you want less spread on your dough, lower the humidity.  

It's that great!  I love the chemistry in cooking.  Maybe I would have learned chemistry better if Mr. Bill had used more food.  The only food he ever had was bananas and oatmeal, and he never shared that.  

I love this homeschooling stuff!

 

Here Let Me Help You with That, Mom.

Look at my BABY!  He forgets all the time that he is supposed to be a baby.  Darn kid, growing way too fast.  He will be seven months old tomorrow.  

Fairytale Ball

The girls and I had a girls night out last night.  We attended an elegant fairytale ball in a beautiful castle.  There was dancing, crafts, and food.  Fun was had by all.  When the clock struck 8:00, the beautiful castle turned back into a library and all the princesses had to return home.  

We have AWESOME librarians!

quick update

Caden got his first tooth today.
Colin got glasses on Friday.
Randy turned 33 today.
Grace is a Sunbeam.

Don't Blink!

In case anyone was wondering why I haven't posted in a while, I submit these photos.  One day you give birth to a tiny, little, helpless fellow and the next thing you know, he is turning into a real boy and becomes impossible to keep track of!  He is getting so fast!  I can't keep up.  He is crawling all over the place.  Today he tried climbing on the stool and learned to crawl through the tunnels. As I am posting this, the crazy little guy is attempting the stairs.  YIKES!  

He loves to eat his solids, especially peaches, and his sisters are thrilled to help with that job. (Hooray for big sisters!  A big sister should come standard with every new baby, they are very handy to have around.)  

His pincher grasp is developing nicely and he can find choking hazards to practice it on no matter how recently I just vacuumed or swept.  

Motherhood is very scary and very, very fun!

Caden is 6 months

Caden is 6 months old today.  Crazy how time flies.  We just got back from his well baby check.  He's a well baby.  He now weighs 17 lbs - no wonder I'm so tired.  It's time to get serious about feeding the boy solids.  I am not excited, it is soooo much easier to just nurse him.  

Gracie for Mitt

I was working on the descriptions of us for this blog yesterday and I asked Grace what she liked.  

She said,  "Mitt Romney."  

That's my girl!  

I took this picture of her on Saturday at the last nursing home performance.  She was up there fiddling away, then all of a sudden she walked over to me, sat down in my lap, and she was a sleep in less than one minute.  

Grace and I like to open Lexie's blog and snuggle while listening to "The Gracie Song."  Today Colin  figured out how to get it on my blog.  Oh, how wonderful to be the mommy of such a talented boy!  Thanks to Lexie for the inspiration and the great song.