"still in training"

Today we went down town for another errand run.

We:

• stopped at our PO box - Success!!
• Dropped in at the book shop to hire out more DVDs - better than last time = not entirely happy with children's behaviours or listening ability or obedience levels = practice makes perfect we'll be back next week!
• returned to the car where I had left the DVDs to return - Success!!
• Returned to the book shop and returned them - Success!!
• Went to Duncs to hang up 'for sale' signs - semi-okay, too much asking for lollipops and why do they have lollipops in sight of children anyway? Grrr!!
• Returned to car - 10mins later all strapped in, lollypop in mouths, wrappers on floor, ready to go...
  
• Off to Community Health. Children waiting for me to get other children out of car and holding on when I said so!! YEAH :D
• Children held hands on the way across the parking bay, inside and around the corner to the booth bit - SUCCESS!!!
  
• Children stood QUIETLY, holding hands, observing the weighing in of our WHOPPING BIG 380grams above weight last week Princess!!! w00t w00t - SUCCESS!!
• Back in car - holding onto ladder while unlocking doors, getting kids in etc - success
  
• Off to the Library. Fed bubba on the grass, kids hung closely around.
  
• Jarah in pram, Isaiah pushing pram, Amalia holding my hand, bubba in sling into the library. Success!! So far mostly all good!!!
  
• Up to the desk to get us each a card, Jarah climbs out of pram, Amalia takes off, Isaiah is being annoying - FAIL :(
  
• Lady feels sorry for me (or something) and asks what kind of books I wanted to get out. I told her and she shows me exactly where things are - Success!! :D LOL
• Choose some books, pile them up, get out of library and back in car - So much room for improvement!!
  

That was it... Another trip down town with the realisation that we need to perfect this outing thing...

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. A better, smoother, easier, trip down town then last time
2. Experience is a great teacher & Practice makes perfect
3. Car big enough to fit us all in (even if it is a painful experience getting kids in & out)
4. My beautiful sling!!!
5. Chubby milk for my chubby feeder :) 380grams YEAH!!!

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RTTT Winners Scaling Back Plans

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/30/26rtt-states_ep.h30.html?tkn=XLLF1Rbe6aD95yVdKdTH72R1Ea3pl6COvEjT&cmp=clp-edweek

Note:  Delaware gets major mentions, for moving forward, not scaling back...

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easy peasy or hands full?

As I had my arms filled with a bubba and my table surrounded by 3 little kids it dawned on me that 4 little kids 5yrs of age and under is easy peasy. I reflected upon my afternoon with admiration that once again I had done it again - joined a bubba into our family and managed to survive [but for how long one may wonder?].

The afternoon consisted of a nap for everyone (inc. me), lots of facebooking (mostly giggling), online chatting with one bestie, and some blogging. Amongst feeding bubba, cuddling bubba, nappy changes, child cuddles, chatting with kiddies, supervising play etc. As in I checked the time at 4:40pm to realise that hubby would be home soon and I hadn't thought about dinner. Whoops.

One handed put some macaroni on to cook, threw frozen vegies into another pan, sieved the pasta and tossed it into the pan with the vegies and stirred some carbonara jar sauce through. Grated cheese and all three kids asked for more. Queen of 20 minute meals I reckon!!

I even thought that my arvo was so 'boring' that perhaps I should get a job, or study something or add something else to my life. As if 4 kids, house keeping, home schooling isn't enough for me to do.

I will honestly say that I am deeply challenged in the 'getting out of the house' part and running errands down town, and being OUT with 4 kids on my own. The older children are relatively well trained so it is *me* that keeps doing silly things. Yep, I need more training in the smartness area of being out with the kids on my own. It'll happen, I have plenty opportunity and the stamina to keep trying after failing/stumbling/falling.

So be nice to me if you see us down town and I am about to pull someone's hair out. I wont pretend I've got it all together and put on a show that I know what I'm doing (yet) = I am out of my league. And I am not worried at all.

People often comment on how 'busy' I must be, or how I must 'have my hands full' and I think that I had my hands filled when I had one child, and I am not anymore busy now than I was with two kids. But mostly they say well done on getting two boys and two girls as if I miraculously did something 'right' to get that. I call it a blessing from Above. I'd do it again, I'd have more!

Why do people never comment on how much washing I must have piled up or ready to hang out that will need to be put through the machine again or needing to put away or that I'd have enough food scattered across my kitchen floor to feed a starving child or that I must need to vacuum daily, or sweep up to 3 times in a day or the price of feeding us all, and clothing us all or that my body must feel/be wrecked after having 4 kids in 5yrs. Why do they not congratulate me for managing to remember to brush my own hair? or wearing matching socks? or that the children's faces have (finally) been cleaned? For these are the things that are challenges for me.

So what will I do? Not sure yet. Maybe I should work on the washing??

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Quiet/Nap time in the afternoon
2. That pile of washing - because we all have enough clothes
3. That parenting is more of a journey into excellence then a first and final exam
4. No matter where you are in your life's journey there is room for improvement, failures AND success's
5. That I find aspects of parenting 'easy peasy'

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Look What TCBN is Doing NOW!

 NEXT TCBN MEETING:  

VACCINATIONS

Fear not!  You did not miss the vaccination meeting for the Tarrant County Birth Network!  It is this Thursday, March 31.  We moved our meeting place and day so there has been some confusion.  Please check the TCBN website for details.  Just a reminder though:  Meetings will be held on the last Thursday of the month, not the fourth Thursday.  There are a few more of those this year, too.

We are expecting a large turnout for this next meeting.  Drs. Jim Bob and Cindy Haggerton will be addressing us on vaccinations.   There is so much conflicting information out there and I think a lot of us are quite confused.  Our pediatricians, and family doctors, are telling us one thing, but we've all read enough resources to know that there are potential risks associated with vaccinations.  This is a great meeting to bring your husband, but again, as always, lap babies only.  Thanks so much for your cooperation.  No one has put up a fuss over this "rule" and we know it is an inconvenience for many of you.  We appreciate so many of our TCBN dads that stay home and put kids to bed so moms can attend our monthly meetings.

THE ART OF BIRTH:  

A BOLD FORT WORTH RED TENT EVENT

I put this up here on my blog a few weeks ago but didn't say much about it.  Have you studied our logo?  Have you figured out what it is?  Yes!  It's a placenta!  Our producer of BOLD Fort Worth and TCBN Chapter Leader, Shannon Blackwell, has a bit-of-an-odd obsession with placentas and she came up with this logo.  We all love it so much, we are printing the cutest black fitted tees!  Visit our website to buy one for yourself!

The Art of Birth is a mixed media art and performance show, in addition to spoken birth stories.  Come see birth photography, belly casts, sculpture, henna, live art, and dance -- all celebrating this life-changing event called birth.  

The t-shirts will be available for purchase the day of the event, as well as a book TCBN is printing consisting of birth  stories of women who have birth in and around Tarrant County.  Let us know if you'd like to make the book available to your friends or clients by emailing us at birth@boldfortworth.org.

The Art of Birth will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  It is a free event being held at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center at 1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth 76107. 

If you have birth-related artwork you would like to display, please contact BOLD Forth Worth at birth@boldfortworth.org.  Likewise, if you'd like to share your birth story, please contact us at the same email or call (682) 710-BOLD.

We are looking forward to sharing with the community how wonderful birth can be though The Art of Birth.  See you there!

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The Trouble I've Been Up Against...

{posted February 15th 2011}

We've.Got.Mice...

... & I suspect a fair few of them too...

You see...

Awhile ago now...

... We got ourselves an organic mouse trap...

and named him "Bella"...

but discovered that 'bella' had boy bits...

... so was renamed *ahem* bumfluff...

... ... ...

I know right!

Anyway...

Bumfluff was our chemical free completely organic and natural mouse trap...

But before we got our Bumfluff and after we had our Bella we first got our "Ranga" who was MEANT to be our boy to make a pair so they can have babies - for the benefit of 'homeschooling'...


errr...

... ANYWAY...


So...

I've been WAITING...

...

...

...

and waiting...

and still the mice roam freely!!!


So in a burst of complete anger lacking all management...

... I got ourselves a box of mouse poison...

I know right!

SO not natural... SO not organic... SO not chemical free...


But I opened the pantry door to discover ONE mouse eating the inner tube of the gladwrap...

I screamed... it scampered... I told Isaiah to get the vacuum cleaner...

and PROMPTLY SUCKED IT UP!!!!

Mouse 0: Amy 1

... since the scattering of green poison pellets BEHIND the cupboards where children and 'mouse trap - non-working cats' could possibly reach...

there have been 3 dead mice... and 1 get away...

But NOW that the mice are half drugged the cats have been 'catching them'...

WHAT THE?!!

These mice are getting expensive and they have been really really really REALLY upsetting me!!!

Vacuum cleaners = the ideal mouse catcher + the ideal mouse poop cleaner-upper... Works every time...

{ETA 28th March 2011 : Bumfluff has since been renamed Esau - because Esau (& Jacob) had an over eating problem and Ranga has been renamed Gideon because that cat, somewhere, in the heart of its little flea ridden body must have the heart of a lion, a warrior, a fighter. How has it survived this long? Bumfluff aka Esau has run away, Gideon had his first bath yesterday and is still hanging around. APOLOGIES to anyone who may be or may want to be offended by our 2nd cat's name. I had NO idea ranga was an 'offensive' term - until my *ahem* ranga sister in law told me and I was as mortified as she was}

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Kids that torture non-working kittens with pink baby suits and blue bunny rugs
2. Little Green Pellets that make mice look DRUNK
3. Dead Mice Retrievers... ... ...
4. Hysterical Laughter... when you realise what you've JUST DONE!!!
5. VACUUM CLEANERS that suck those mice right up and away...

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Blessed with a(nother) sleeper

Bubba has reached almost 3 weeks of age. I was thinking she'd be making me stay up half the night for a long long time but nope. She's settled down and gives me 4-6hour blocks of sleep between feeds.
In fact I get more sleep NOW then I did in-utero and I feel great for it.
The funny thing is she still wants me up for a full hour. Even though the feed is finished in half that time. She wants to be cuddled and snuggled before she goes back to bed.

So there we have it. Another beautiful baby that gives mummy plenty of sleep at night.



5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Feeling on top of the world albeit however creaky I am
2. 4-6hour blocks of sleep
3. Night Company of a certain 3yo who doesn't stay in her own bed ALL night
4. The cuddle hormone Oxytocin
5. ANOTHER sleeping baby =]

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RTTT Redux - One year later...

In this forum, I've decidedly shied away from Rttt of recent, in an attempt to avoid the bile that rises in my throat when those four little words are uttered.  Unavoidable as it is, the one year anniversary of Delaware's winning bid has descended upon us as rumors run rampant that the remaining six Partnership Zone schools are to be named by April 1st.  Knowing full well that while DOE has no intention of leaking the list, odds are that another Christina school will find itself enveloped in the PZ flurry.  There are words to be said...


School board members simply can't avoid the trajectory of failure that Race to the Top has propelled us upon.  Poorly conceived, upon data that was neither longitudinal nor empiracle, the models of reform hurt children far more than they help them.  Rttt has decidedly become about adults... and business.   From light-switch-flippers-come-reform-experts to the sham of the US Sec. of Education, Rttt has brought about an ugliness in education of which I have never seen.  It's fueled a full-frontal attack on front-line educators, those we should value above all else, and has become the basis of union busting at its national core.  In Delaware, DSEA signed on well before school boards, but even then there were grumblings among the rank and file that Rttt would be more bite than betterment.  Many never really believed that Delaware had a shot, much less, would enact the reforms therein.  Few if any saw the fall-out before us:  an assault on educators neither warranted nor productive.  Where has Rttt really led us?

I am reminded of a visit last year to an elementary school when an excited principal showed me her MAP scores.  "These kids right here, the highlighted ones (they were numerically coded), these are the kids my staff has to really work with right now.  Pull-out all the stops.  These little guys are within a few points of scoring a 3 on the DSTP."  What about the rest of the kids in the class?  "Oh, we're working with them, too; but these are ones who we are really targeting." Targeting? Coaching the data to tell you who to teach, who to deploy your best resources to?  Who to educate?  There wasn't a drive to target the kids at the bottom of the barrell, it was the ones who could propel the school into AYP.  Yes, that's data coaching: using data to determine who gets a good education and who doesn't.  In a state where the DOE is investing so much Rttt dollars into Data Coaches, one can't help but see the lines of disparity deepening. And how can the handful of school board members who are Rttt dissidents reform such widespread misunderstanding? What the hell are we to do?

And what exactly is wrong with the example above?  Rttt flows $119 million into education.  But, not into human capital, as we've come call our educators.  It's added administration, but not teachers.  When a school deploys its best resources to target the kids on the cusp of success, it pulls them away from children who are both already successful and seeking challenge and those who have fallen behind.  It doesn't add teachers to the pot, it just re-allocates their time.  This is the class-size waiver war and the earned-unit allocation nightmare.   This is failure.  And Rttt re-confirms this failure.

On March 24th, the News Journal published an editorial by Delaware's Sec. of Education.  It lauds the "new Delaware Way," a path of collaboration that's led to the adoption of the Common Core Standards, the implementation of DCAS, the development of student growth measures that "will help Delaware lead the nation in building student performance into teacher assessment."  Furthermore, "RTTT will fund data coaches, who will meet with teachers twice a month to help dissect student test scores to inform their teaching. The program is being piloted in six districts and a charter school now and will spread statewide in the fall."  All of this excitement culminated in an invitation-only pep rally at Howard High School attended by Duncan and V.P. Joe Biden.  (I wasn't invited.) http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011103250313

Yes, Rttt is one year done, with three to go.  And I've yet to see it in the classrooms.  Of course, I'm waiting on the data - coached to support the goal of proving the Rttt reform models - from the growth model DCAS when the year's trends can be analyzed.  I just don't have the faith that the revolving door of education "deform" that has become the norm will succeed where so many have failed, especially when we turn a blind eye to an empirical method of reform with pr oven results - smaller class sizes in earlier years. 

The insidiousness of Rttt is this:  It's competitive from the top all the ways down to the Sig Grant - the School Improvement Grant.  The fallout of the PZ zone looks like this:  Two demographically identical schools, just blocks apart.  The PZ school has been steeped in a deep and expensive plan to reform it, while it's non-PZ sister continues to suffer.  Now, imagine that instead of buildings, these are students.  PZ dictates that one student, based squarely upon a feeder pattern, deserves a better education than the other.  Rttt deepens disparities in education. And it breaks my heart to see this program heralded as the "Delaware Way."

To add insult to injury, our President spent yesterday spinning a sound byte. According to AP, "President Barack Obama said Monday that students should take fewer standardized tests and school performance should be measured in other ways than just exam results. Too much testing makes education boring for kids, he said."  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110328/ap_on_re_us/us_obama_education

"One thing I never want to see happen is schools that are just teaching the test because then you're not learning about the world, you're not learning about different cultures, you're not learning about science, you're not learning about math," the president said. "All you're learning about is how to fill out a little bubble on an exam and little tricks that you need to do in order to take a test and that's not going to make education interesting."

"And young people do well in stuff that they're interested in," Obama said. "They're not going to do as well if it's boring."

It is an about face?  More like a slap in the face.  NCLB has teachers bending over back-wards teaching to the test.  Obama's Rttt has funded DCAS and as part of Delaware's plan, DCAS will eventually tie back to teacher evaluations.  We've eliminated critical thinking skills from our schools in efforts to avoid the punishments set forth by NCLB.  We've destabilized schools through the shifting of leadership in order to qualify for competitive grants. In Christina, we are about to unfurl small learning academies in one of our high schools, the success of which will be measured by testing.  Delaware is investing heavily its Rttt money in data coaches to ensure we effectively use the DCAS testing results, to determine whether or not the reform efforts have made for a better-prepared, smarter, more effective workforce of miracle workers... I mean teachers. Liken it to a pregnancy test, if you will:  the ability to read the results doesn't make me (or you) a better parent. 

Funny thing about pregnancy tests - They are never proof-positive. 

Never...
Proof-positive...

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Baby Capsule... saving grace...

{Photograph: Michael Bell 20th March 2011}


When I was preg with my first I decided against the capsule for the $ factor. Same when pregnant with my second. But when it came to my third I wanted one, I needed one, I didn't want to imagine life without one.

My second child was a handful (or two), a runner, a squirm, a wriggler and NEEDED restraining every where we went. I viewed life without a capsule as pure chaos.

But we 'broke' our extra-wide-will-fit-3-baby-seats-along-the-back-seat wagon into a stronger-than-us-tree at around 35 or 36 weeks gestation and with no insurance and no savings ended up with a teeny-weeny-fit-two-baby-seats-and-squish-a-kid-in-the-middle-with-no-car-seat. ((relax... it was legal that year))

Bye bye dream of capsule-carried-bubby. Fortunately I was involved with people that had arms to cuddle, eyes to admire, lips to coo & hearts to adore my precious baby boy.

[This is the part where I say going from 2-3 kids was an absolute BREEZE!!! Or rather 3-4 as I was ALSO babysitting a 10mth old Prince 3-5 days per week even before my baby reached his 7 day mark. - It wasn't until we moved house that things turned the other way for me]

THIS last pregnancy with Michael out of work for 6 months I decided that the capsule was happening NO MATTER WHAT and onto layby it went with no discount *gasp*

It has been one of the best purchases we've ever made on baby stuff!!!! I RECCOMMEND BUYING A BABY CAPSULE!!!

I can take bubby shopping and put her in the capsule on top of a single trolley and still have hands free to shop, control other children and play games with other children while they sit in the kiddy seat (For when I DO go grocery shopping without 2 extra people helping me)

I can take bubby into church and know that bubby won't be passed around :) *bliss* because she will be fast asleep in her capsule and when she wakes its feeding time anyhow

When we are about to leave a designation and bubba starts stirring/crying I can pick the carrier up and lightly swing it backwards and forwards and she will settle back to sleep =]

Actually anywhere I go I can take her in the capsule and still have that ability to chase the other kids, squish the other kids, annoy the other kids and know that bubby is safe.

I would love to use the sling carrier a lot more but unfortunately my back doesn't allow it for long periods at a time, and using the sling means the other children need to be careful not to squish bubba so the capsule is an option that I am in love with.

[[Now to get good value for money: I would LOVE LOVE LOVE another bubba PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Hun xx]]

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. $$ that came in just in time for her birth
2. Work that provided the $$ for the capsule (plus extras)
3. That I do not regret spending so much $$ on something that 'lasts' 6-8months
4. The ease and peace that the capsule has brought to my life
5. The Capsule

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Six Years Ago...

((Yesterday))
{26th March 2005}

...4 kids later...
{Photographs: Michael Bell, 20th March 2011}






(Yep, I was scared!)

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Smoggy States' Rights Issue gets Cloudier - Common Curriculum?

Published Online: March 23, 2011

'Curriculum' Definition Raises Red Flags

By Catherine Gewertz

Calls for shared curriculum for the common standards have triggered renewed debates about who decides what students learn, and even about varied meanings of the word “curriculum,” adding layers of complexity to the job of translating the broad learning goals into classroom teaching.

The most recent calls for common curriculum came from the American Federation of Teachers and the Albert Shanker Institute, a think tank named after the late AFT leader. Many others are working on pieces of that puzzle—an array of instructional resources for states, districts, and teachers. But the calls for “shared” or “common” curricula have sparked particularly heated conversations.

Scholars, bloggers, and activists are exchanging fire about whether shared curriculum means lessons dictated from afar. They’re worrying that the public could lose a voice in shaping what children learn, and asking whether the federal government is overstepping by funding curriculum development.

The common standards, devised by states and content experts under the guidance of governors and state education chiefs, have been adopted by all but seven states.

Some of the debate about common curriculum for the standards is driven, observers say, by the multiple meanings of the word “curriculum.”

To some, that term can mean a scripted, day-to-day lesson plan, while to others, it’s a lean set of big ideas that can be tackled in many ways. In some states, a textbook becomes the de facto curriculum. In others, academic standards and broad outlines called frameworks, with or without model lesson plans and other guidance for teachers, are rolled together and referred to as “state curriculum.” Some school districts purchase off-the-shelf programs they refer to as curricula, and others craft their own.

The multiple meanings of curriculum animate discussions about how to teach the standards. And some observers worry that lack of clarity about the meaning of terms like “curriculum,” “frameworks,” and “curriculum guidelines” risks muddying a public dialogue about an important issue.

“Curriculum is not always easy to define. But it’s crucial that we have clear understandings of what we mean by terms like this,” said J. Wesley Null, an associate professor of curriculum and the foundations of education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. “Otherwise, we have curriculum being implemented that doesn’t do what states or districts hope it will do.”

Local Control

As controversial as standards can be, curriculum can make people even more nervous because it gets one step closer to the classroom and to defining content, some experts say.

“That’s where dicey decisions need to get made. And curriculum, done really well, is going to involve some pedagogical decisions,” said Kathleen Porter-Magee, a former curriculum director for a charter school network who now oversees the standards program for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a Washington think tank.

In calling for “a core curriculum,” the Shanker Institute’s manifesto, issued March 7, drew criticism from some who saw its proposal as a threat to local control over what is taught. The 200 signatories—leaders in education, business, and government—advocated crafting one or more voluntary, broad outlines of the key knowledge and skills students need, not dictating daily lesson plans or specifying how teachers should teach.

Such distinctions are meaningless, said Neal P. McCluskey, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute in Washington. It’s impossible to make a plausible argument that decisions about even “big ideas” in curriculum won’t prescribe what happens in classrooms, he said.

“The whole point of having national standards is to drive curriculum,” Mr. McCluskey said. “When they start talking about curriculum, they’re putting meat on the bones of the standards. That gets closer and closer to the students.”

Additionally, Mr. McCluskey argued, the common assessments being developed with federal funds by two consortia of states will shape the curriculum. “It’s a tricky semantic debate we’re having, but those tests will have to test something,” he said. “When they test specific readings, we will see that we now have a national curriculum.” ("Tough Work Begins for Race to Top Assessment Winners," September 14, 2010.)

EVEN MORE HERE:  http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/23/26curriculum.h30.html?tkn=WRYF8u%2BC2cweGQ6tFHos80uGFXuqPOEACVau&cmp=clp-edweek

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Be A FUN MUM

A blog I've seen here and there... but today when I stumbled across it just reading the name made me choose to 'be a fun mum' this afternoon after the kids had their quiet time. I mean after I had MY quiet time & the children all slept.

So I counted up my 5 cent coins Yep $1.50 just enough for 3x 50cent cones from M for Mummy's (Or McDonalds - I have to use every possible learning opportunity to teach when I am car-schooling).

So off we go to get our ice creams as part of me just being a fun mum. But to make it more fun for ME & an excuse to see one of my favourite sister-in-laws/friends I dragged Vicki along too :)

Even after the shocking down town trip that we had I ventured outdoors and down town with those same kids in tow. This time with the prospect of ice cream and a play at M for Mummys the kids were great. Lots less screaming, lot more hand holding and food.

They made me proud when I handed them a napkin to wipe their ice cream covered chins to watch them cleaning up the drips on the table. Isaiah pointing out that Amalia had missed a spot until she wiped that clean. And again when Isaiah WALKED NICELY all the way to the bin with the tray and threw it in with the tray on the shelf.

They made me giggle as they sat at the McCafe part and said to no one in particular two ice creams please (Its a game they play at home)

Or when Isaiah told me to ask the lady for "FREE Ice Creams" and as I turned the manager was standing half a metre from me. lol He meant THree.

Then again when Isaiah took the second tray to the bin and dribbled ice cream/milk onto the floor and declares that the lady needs to mop the floor up.

I think they had a fun afternoon. I know that I had a fun afternoon. So for this singular afternoon I was a "Fun Mum"

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Inspiration hitting suddenly - even if just a title of a blog
2. That I managed to scrape together $1.50
3. Vicki - one of the best SIL's that a SIL can have
4. Inspiration, Admiration, Motivation, Energy & Excitement to come from Vicki
5. Personal Revelations

(((NB: Is that enough of a blog mention for you V???)))
**giggles**

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A Trip Down Town...

Nothing like a 'quick' trip down town to discover that children need training in obedience and speed and trips down town. Or is it mothers who tell them self "I did this yesterday, it was easy" and pridefully drives her tank down town laden with lots of little kids.

I had originally planned on taking my beautiful princess bubba Avigail down town for a casual stroll/errand running and mummy/daughter time while the ferals were feral elsewhere. But elsewhere called to say I'm too sick to have them today but maybe tomorrow?!

It was already 11:30 so lunch time was near. We took forever getting dressed appropriately, finding shoes and getting into the car without blowing noses, wiping faces, washing hands and brushing hair. *sigh* but we managed.

The drive down town resulted in children screaming over the sounds of Christina Aguilera singing "Beautiful" to announce the tractor on the oval is like the tractor in the homeschooling. Information I could have done without.

Parking nice and close to the PO box & book shop I dragged the kids out one - at - a - time! Yep won't need the pram we can all WALK. ***FIRST MISTAKE***

Checking the mail box results in needing to walk to the post office. How big is the parcel and can I carry it with this lot? Probably not!

Dropping off DVDs at the book shop results in toys everywhere in the playpen, shoes off two kids & an escapee pushing me to the limits. Atleast Bubba is strapped tightly to my chest and apart from breathing has no escape routes planned. The rush to leave is a nightmare! Toddler doesn't want to stand still and hold my hand, 3yr old doesn't want to put shoes on, 5yr old says he didn't get to play with the puzzle. Should never have let them in the play pen for that short a time!!! ***SECOND MISTAKE***

So we finally get ready to leave the shop and walk back to the car... No Problems... Until we ARRIVE at the car with more cars passing by and instructions to HOLD ON TO THE LADDER are ignored. Grrrr I had let them be on the end side of the car while I was closer to the curb ***THIRD MISTAKE***

I get two strollers out. One for the toddler, one for the 3yr old. Strapped in. Away we go. No problems. Til we are in the Post Office. Isaiah thinks its funny to put the 'hood' on the pram, Amalia thinks its cause to scream. GRRR But it was a small parcel that fitted into my bag *phew*.

That $700 pram at the baby shop is looking mighty good right about now!!!

Then I make the decision to WALK all the way to centrelink ***FOURTH MISTAKE*** It is a really stinking hot day today! The kids are all red/pink faced, fortunate I didn't see my own face but I had bubba strapped tightly to my chest so she was sweating and heating me up and I was heating her up in return :(

The office is full of people waiting so we stand waiting "quietish" for our turn. Amalia doesn't want to sit in the pram and attempts her escape. Jarah starts squirming I can see he's trying to escape. I pull bubba out of the sling to face the minor aircon that they had going on. *sigh*
The lovely lady in FRONT of me offers her place in the line and we were next. When we arrive at the desk both the older children are making demands. HELLO I'M TALKING HERE!!! Isaiah wants to colour in. Amalia escapes out of her pram. Then Jarah escapes out of his pram. GRRRR kids Ssshhh! & get back in your pram! But it is lunch time & Mik calls right when I am talking (Relax! I didn't answer it).

We walk as quickly as we could back to the car, open one door at a time and put a child in. You know this 7 seater vehicle we only JUST bought is so absolutely not suitable for the ages of my children *cries* & I still have another errand that needs doing :(

Finally! We arrive home, one child asleep without lunch :(
*sigh* it is so hot, we are all red faced, Michael is red faced.

These are the events that I used to call training. I thought they were trained.

What was I thinking to take 4 kids 5yrs of age and under down town to run errands during LUNCH TIME when they weren't fed??? with NO water in my bag???

Why did I think it was so important that it gets done TODAY???

How did I forget about the mummy-tactic of Bribery???

***SIGH***

I now have 4 sleeping kiddies, the house is quiet apart from the tick tick ticking of the bob the builder clock and the rustling of the cool breeze blowing through my windows...

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Sling carriers & that I got one... some...
2. Stroller x2
3. Those days when the kids are cared for that I can run my errands child-less
4. Extra pair of hands & the aunty to cuddle them
5. The relaxing afternoon of peace and quiet.... Referred to as QUIET TIME!!

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Dear Sleep,

Why do you elude me during my time of need?

We could have been great together!

Ever since I brought the new baby home.

Your distance and lack of empathy, they are wearing me down and wearing me out.

Please come back to me again, move back in and quit your jealous hissy fit!!

She's just a baby!! A tiny one at that.

Regards
Another sleep-less night

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Atlanta Mayor eyes takeover of district

Published Online: March 22, 2011

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/21/414351gtlantaschoolsmayor_ap.html

Atlanta Mayor Eyes Takeover of District Embroiled in Controversy
Atlanta
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed says he's been meeting with Georgia lawmakers regarding a possible takeover of Atlanta Public Schools, which has been embroiled in controversy in recent weeks.

Reed tells WSB-TV that he has met with Georgia lawmakers and asked them to consider options for a temporary takeover of the school board.

The mayor says he's been hearing from people all over the community who have told him that progress to resolve problems is not being made, and that the school board is ignoring recommendations from its accrediting agency.

In January, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools—which accredits about 5,000 school districts nationwide—put Atlanta Public Schools on probation.

The mayor told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he would ask for the temporary ability to appoint members to the school board to help "break the logjam that exists around governance and a search for a new superintendent that is transparent."

"I didn't want this at all," Reed said. "But in August, if we are where we are today, what do we do? I want laser-like focus and concrete results to reassure the public that we are on the right path."

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Detroit to turnover 1/3 of district schools to Charter Operators

47

Published Online: March 21, 2011

New Urban Playbook: Hand Over Schools to Charter Operators
"The financially embattled Detroit school system has announced a controversial plan to turn nearly a third of the district’s 141 schools over to charter operators or education-management organizations by next school year. Officials say their only other option is to close dozens of low-performing schools."

More here:  http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/21/26detroit.h30.html?tkn=PPMFhrdg%2FMnyc3IPWmjcoeC90sBxE8a4BLpM&cmp=clp-edweek

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What's in a name?

Jarah Josiah
July 2009

The Story behind Jarah:
Michael has a friend who lives in "The States". So Jeff asks Michael do you have a name picked out to which Michael replies no. Half an hour later Jeff says "What about Jarah?". We look it up and it means God gives sweetness. We think about it, pray about it, talk about it. I am a bit unsure given the way that Amalia's name was given to us I guess I was expecting God to speak to me the same or similar or a more miraculous way then someone 'suggesting' a name. But I am won over and peaceful about the name Jarah - God gives sweetness. God speaks to us in varying ways that are unexpected and unusual. This time he spoke through a friend.
As this child came into the world and has spent the last 20months with us he truly is a sweet child - true to the meaning of his name.

The Story behind Josiah:
Michael was filling out the birth certificate and says to me "What about Josiah" for a middle name? I ask what it means "Jehovah Helps". Yeah sure I say if you think so. And he says yep. And I ask are you being serious? & he says yes. Nothing super spiritual, or miraculous. Just peace in the heart and a word of knowledge.

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What's in a name?

Amalia Joy

(December 2007)

The story behind Amalia:
One night as I was falling asleep I audibly heard the name "Amalia" being whispered to me. I thought 'wow, maybe we could use that as our babies name?!'
As morning came I woke and remembered this name "Amalia" and shared it with Michael. He says yeah maybe. We looked it up to discover it was of Hebrew origin (what I had prayed for) and it meant 'Work of the Lord' which was and is extremely fitting for the season of life in which we were in at the time.

The story behind Joy:
From birth we didn't have a middle name picked out. But as the months passed on each time I looked at her it was like I saw or heard the words "Delight" & "Joy". At the age of 5 months I said to Michael what about calling her Amalia Joy because each time I look at her that is what I seem to 'see'. He agreed. The name is not official on her birth certificate but official enough to us.

You know what I find amusing? Calling a tantruming child "Amalia Joy". hee hee hee xx


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Answered prayer
2. *hearing* the name Amalia
3. That season of our life being over
4. God disciplines the ones He loves (He MUST love me A LOT!)
5. The Princess He gave us in the form of Amalia Joy

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What's in a name?

Avigail Shiloh

5 years ago the Lord impressed upon my heart the 'importance' of a name. Adam & Eve, Jacob & Esau, Jesus, Abram who became Abraham, Sarai who become Sarah, Daniel, Meshac, shadrack & abdendigo (Dont tell me they are the veggie tales names!!), Jesus's Disciples, Saul became Paul. They all had reasons they were named the name they were named.

And so with every pregnancy I have prayed and asked the Lord for a name for our bub-to-be-born. He has given to us:

• Isaiah (Salvation of God), Lemuel (Dedicated to God - from Proverbs 31)
• Anaya Lysandra (Chosen one - This bubba went home at 9 weeks gestation)
  
• Amalia (Work of the Lord), Joy (Happiness/Joy - Fruit of the Spirit)
• Jarah (God gives sweetness), Josiah (Jehovah helps)
• Avigail (Father's Joy), Shiloh (His gift)

The Story Behind Avigail:
Michael went on one of his regular 40km bike rides around the tourist loop when the Lord impressed upon his heart the story of Abigail, Nabal & David. More specifically the character of Abigail and her name.
As we looked it up we discovered it is Hebrew and means "Fathers Joy". For Michael it means that he shall find Joy from this bubba, for me a whole different story.
I learned about Abigail, what she did, what she was like, her husband, and David. The Lord spoke to me personally about specific details too private to share on an open blog. I found encouragement, excitement, joy, peace and My Father's Love for ME from the story. He blessed me.
But as I said to Michael, Abigail seems too 'plain' and 'ordinary' a name for one of our children. Given Amalia, Jarah & our pronounciation of Isaiah is 'different' or 'unusual' as well as the chosen middle names Lemuel & Josiah (Joy is regular right?). Just the way that *I* like it. So we decided to go with the ORIGINAL spelling and pronounciation of Abigail... being aVigail fits better with us don't you agree? Yes, she does get called ABigail but not by me & Yes I do need to spell her name when someone needs to write it down. Same with each of the others.

The Story Behind Shiloh:
Many months ago I was putting Miss Amalia to bed in her room where she slept all by herself. It seemed so lonely, so boring and... well lonely. So I asked the Lord for a sister for Amalia. After no conception I became a bit desperate. Swinging between trusting Him, believing in Him, having faith, and just being fearful that I would never have another bubba let alone a princess to share with Miss Amalia I begged, I pleaded, I cried, I submitted it all over to Him, then begged some more. I know it seems so faithless, so shameful - it is. But that's just me & He loves me all the same.
Then it happened. But I didn't know if bubba was a he-bubba or a she-bubba. During our ultrasound we discovered she was a she-bubba and I was overjoyed knowing and believing that He had indeed given me what *I* had asked for. How Truly Blessed Am I!?!!!
Avigail Shiloh is undoubtedly a GIFT from Him. Shiloh means His Gift. Fitting? I think so!
But he's given me more than just the bubba that asked for in the gender that I asked for. He gave me the strength to endure the longest labour, the longest morning sickness, the longest pregnancy, the most difficult pregnancy and the most difficult time. The endurance, freedom, new found knowledge and dare I say even a bit of wisdom. Gosh so many things in regards to just this Princess. I am so in love with her!!

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. The way He speaks to me
2. What He told me
3. The Princess that He has blessed us with
4. All the children He has blessed us with
5. The sleep that I hope to get tonight :)

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He Equips

God does not call the equipped, He Equips the Called.

If this statement is correct then that is what He is doing in me. I can feel it too! That feeling of "WOW I'm so out of my league right now!!" but in the knowledge that with a bit more time and a lot more experience I shall become a pro at being a mother to four little kids 5 yrs of age and under.

My capacity has begun to stretch that little bit more. I am up for the challenge - just as soon as I get a deep sleep. Oh perhaps the not sleeping thing is a part of the equipping. I was prepared for that! No wait... I get more sleep now then I did while she was in-utero. I'm just having a whinge.

My perfect morning routine has been tipped upside down along with a kilo of oats and a litre of milk, my washing has bred and grown up into a mountain load worthy of praise, and my once semi-cleaned kitchen has become a never-cleaned kitchen (or so it seems). Exchanged with the fussing of a demanding CUDDLE ME FOR AGES newborn Princess of whom has made me clucky and totally in love with her.

My days are quick rushes of tidy-ups and clean-ups and pick-ups and sit-downs with slightly bigger children while bubba rests peacefully. Right up until 'need to get dinner happening' when the fussing begins again and the demands return. Remind me why a 5 & 3yr old can't cook dinner for the family?

My patience has quadrupled, my energy has/had returned and my love for these snot nosed, grubby faced, sandy little mites has grown along with it.

I am glad this is my life, my dream is fulfilled, and I am being equipped as I live it. He truly gives everything I need.

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Sleep, especially when I get some more so when I don't
2. Kids close in age - which means: they are playing while I am blogging
3. Sleeping babies
4. Warm Jumpers
5. Coffee, or Mocha, or Iced Coffee, or Awake-In-A-Cup

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Why the Closest Hospital May NOT be the Best Place to Have Your Baby

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was asked a number of times during the pregnancy where I was planning to have my baby.  I thought this was about the dumbest question ever (next to "Are you having the drugs?").  Obviously, I was having my baby at the closest hospital.  I'd seen enough TV shows and movies to know that I would have to get there really fast, so it just made sense to pick the closest one.  It wasn't until I was pregnant with my second baby that I discovered the significance of choosing a hospital wisely -- that maybe distance was not the top priority after all.

When people email me or call me about classes, one of my first questions is "Where are you currently planning to having your baby?"  The word "currently" throws them off, but I want them to know upfront that it's not set in stone.  More than 50% of people that take my class do switch their care provider and/or birth place. 

It seems that most people choose their hospital because that is where their OB delivers.  They've been with him/her for years and just loves him!  They honestly believe that their OB will support their decision to have a natural birth.  This post is not about your OB however, but the hospital.

Fact:  You are more likely to have a c-section in a busy hospital than elsewhere.  Define busy?  Well, the hospital I had Daymon averages 30 babies a day.  I'd call that pretty darn busy.  There's a hospital in the Ft. Worth area that touted more than 5000 babies a year on a billboard.  It is normal to think, Oh good, they do this a lot, so they must be really good at it.  Practice make perfect, right?  If you do the math, that average is almost 14 babies a day.  Doesn't sound so bad after the average of 30 a day I just threw out!  This particular hospital's c-section rate is 35-40% -- straight from the horse's mouth.

But does practice make perfect?  Why would a busy hospital have a higher c-section rate?  Let's face it -- it's like the Olive Garden (I worked there for  4 years and love the OG, so this is not a slam on them!) and you cannot sit at a table all night.  We need your table.  The lobby is filling up and your server needs to make money.  We cannot allow you to take up this table any longer!

And so it is with labor.  They simply will not allow you to occupy a room longer than a day.  At 24 hours, or very close to it, your time is up.  The OB can make up a million reasons why you need a c-section (fetal distress, baby too big, water broken for 24 hours, failure to progress, maternal exhaustion, the list goes on and on), but ultimately, your time is up.  You failed to progress on our time frame.

If you've seen Born In The USA, a PBS documentary, you've witnessed the scene where the residents are sitting around a conference room discussing a particular labor where the woman had a c-section because her time limit was up on pushing (my words, not theirs).  Part of that dialogue includes an OB explaining that it goes against their very nature to not do anything in the hospitals.  She explained that in the hospital, nurses and doctors are constantly monitoring and assessing, monitoring and assessing. They will not just sit around and wait on your labor.  You expect a baby out of this, and darn it, we will be the ones to do that for you!

So, we have imposed time limits.  Next, we simply have hospital policies.  Things such as:  continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), routine vaginal exams (usually every 2-4 hours), no walking after water breaks (which you're not doing anyway if you have EFM), and a routine IV.  I talk about all of these things at length in class, so I don't want to spoil all the fun here.  Suffice to say, none of these things are good for your labor.  You are more likely to have a c-section when these policies are in place.  These are red flags!  Run!  The local hospitals that have these policies have 60% c-section rates.  Ultimately, your baby is left to figure labor and birth out on his own.  You will not be moving around, changing positions, rotating hips, or using gravity to assist the baby on his way down and out.  Labor is harder for mom and baby under these conditions.

Another red flag along the lines of policies are no VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean).  Over 800 US hospitals banned VBACs in the last decade.  ACOGs recent statement said that women should be given a "trial of labor" -- don't get me started! -- but I haven't seen any change as of yet.  A hospital who does VBACs is hopefully following evidence-based maternity care in other areas as well (allowing women to eat and drink in labor, intermittent fetal monitoring, hep-lock instead of IV, and no routine vaginal exams).

Honestly, I believe you are more likely to find this type of care with a midwife than an OB.  The vast majority of OBs simply are not trained in normality.  They are trained in the management of labor and birth.  And make no mistake -- they will manage your birth.  If your hospital does not even have midwives, this is also another red flag.  Midwives bring a different attitude and philosophy of birth to a hospital.  As long as the staff is open and willing to listen to the evidence, midwives can make a huge impact.  If the doctors won't listen to the midwives and let them be midwives, again, run. 

Birth is very political.  I was speaking with a CNM the other day about this topic.  She's only been out of school for about a year.  She said they didn't talk about how political things are in birth while she was in school and she's been shocked by it since working in the field.  It's like I always say, as long as the baby is still inside, you have options. I've had a handful of women change their plans in the middle of labor!  Don't let your birth be a political battlefield.  Fighting with the staff is not an option.  This also is not good for mom or baby and is not how anyone should remember their labor.

No matter how scary you think it may be, changing care providers or hospitals (or even switching to a home birth!) can be the difference between a c-section and a vaginal birth.  If you have an outcome you are not happy with, you will always wonder what would have happened if you had switched to a better birth place.  Like Tim sings, "There's no such thing as what might have been, That's a waste of time, drive you outta' your mind."  (Had to sneak him in there!)

You might have to drive a titch further, but in the long run, you'll only give birth to this baby one time.  Regret is a yucky thing, especially when you had the red flags laid out before you and you chose to tie your blindfold on and hope for the best.  Don't be a victim of bad hospital policies!

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A New Season

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about a time for everything...

Today marks the first day of a new season for us. The first day of Mik's (well paying) full-time job, the first day of working towards our $10,000 deposit goal, the first day of providing for our future, the first day of me being a (lone) full-time stay-at-home-mum to 4 kids 5yrs of age and under, the first day of the children having just me at home with them day after day after day (again).

I suspect a few challenges to arise, a few behavioural adjustments needed, and a trip (or more) down town for the first time on my own with all four. I think I have it sorted - no! wait! I will have it sorted (not sure when though).

I have a bit of house work planned, a bit of home schooling planned, some washing to do and put away and some games/dvd/fun planned with the kiddies. Not sure how much we'll get done though.

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. 12 days of not doing it completely on my own ALL the time (prob half?)
2. 6 months constant training in the 'morning routine' - kids can do breaky just about without me
3. Milk shakes - my form of quick meal - which means I wont starve
4. Bubba waking up once for a night feed
5. Possible opportunity to buying our first home :)

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This is the life...

... that I once dreamed of...


Today we had a great day. Woke up feeling good, with little-no back pain. Wore the back support belt thing and it helped out heaps. So my body has been feeling great.

The children played really well together and quietly and with fun and with their new toys that I replaced the dead batteries to.

I ran some errands down town and spent one-on-one time with Isaiah.

Children went to their nana's and Mik & I went down town on a 'date' with Bubby.

But it feels good... to be doing what I am doing... xx

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Is Title I Broken?

Published Online: March 14, 2011

Key Parts of Title I Broken, Researchers Say

By Michele McNeil
Washington

Several pieces of the Title I program are broken and doing little for the disadvantaged students the law is intended to help, according to seven researchers offering new analyses of the multi-billion-dollar cornerstone of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

That message, delivered March 11 as part of a conference sponsored by the Center for American Progress and the American Enterprise Institute, comes as the Obama administration is ratcheting up efforts to redo the ESEA, the current version of which is the No Child Left Behind Act. Title I, which currently carries $14.5 billion in federal aid, is intended to provide additional money for educating disadvantaged students that is distributed to schools based on the number of students in poverty they enroll.

Chief among the problems with Title I, researchers say, is the “supplement, not supplant” requirement, designed to ensure that federal dollars are truly extra dollars and not just used to replace state or local funding. Also problematic is a loophole in the law’s comparability requirement, which seeks to ensure districts are offering similar services in Title I and non-Title I schools. Researchers also found problems with the law’s “supplemental educational services,” or tutoring, provision.
MORE HERE:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/03/14/26titlei.h30.html?tkn=UUOFQz1ReOSp8b1KVd6Zqcn5%2FBfLoGOmEDhk&cmp=clp-edweek

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what a great night

Bubba slept beautifully last night. Long feed before bed, sleeeeepp, long feed, sleeeep, long feed bit of fussing - just wants cuddles, sleeep then its morning :)

Which means that I slept well =D

But Jarah woke crying so I brought him to bed with me for a 'little' snuggle and woke up many hours later with a sleeping toddler over 3/4s of Michael's pillow (PILLOW HOG!!!)

He's a bit unwell. All three of them are a bit unwell :(


But this morning I think its safe to say I've won "Mummy of the Day" Award by buying a pile of batteries and replacing dead ones in the toys. I think it could be possible to assume I've lost "Wifey of the Day" Award for the same thing. Sorry hun xx

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Great night sleep
2. Toddler snuggles
3. Happy kids first thing in the morning
4. That I woke up with a wet butt because of a sippy cup and not 'something else'
5. Good, long breast feeds

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Let's send Ron Williams back to school...

Really, I try not to pick on the folks over at the News Journal.  But, sometimes, I can't keep my mouth shut and perhaps that's why I'm not the best of politicians.  So, here's my vent:

For last couple years, Ron Williams has been singing the Gov's tune when it comes to School Resource Officers.  The Gov. wants to take SROs out of our secondary schools and put them back on the highways.

Markell has suggested replacing the officers in the schools with a specially trained corps of sworn officers who would easily qualify to move up as state troopers with a bit more training. Instead of spending tax money on school resource officers who were trained to investigate burglaries and homicides, the school resource agents would be trained both as police officers and school guidance/social service personnel. http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011103090319

Ron, honey, you just stepped in it.  The Gov's been offering up this idea for three years.  He's never once ventured to tell us what qualified as "specially trained" or its pricetag.  School discipline is hard.  Christina abolished its zero tolerance code of conduct and adopted a model that allows for some real intervention for students who truly have mitigating circumstances.  But, that requires an amount of expertise and experience that only tried, true, and experienced SROs in concert with district officials can deftly apply.  My SROs are my first line of defense in a secondary school.  When a student presents with a weapon, a fight occurs, or fire is set, I need the calm, clear-headed tenacity of a solid officer.  Glorified guidance counselors with tasers won't fit the bill.   
Why, Ron?  Why run this editorial of persuations the same day the Journal reports that my Newark High had a particularly violent week?  The culmulative effect will be a heightened police presence this week - Officers "trained to investigate burglaries and homicides."  Officers that will not be on the road ticketing speeders or cell phone bandits.  And why put our most experienced (and expensive) cops on the traffic beat?  Why not divert the funding the Gov. would have to expend to create his special team of social workers-come-cops to create your highway patrol?  A greenback has to earn his stripes somewhere and schools should not be training grounds for a career in law enforcement, nor should they become stepping stones in the career ladder.

My guess is that the truth is in the numbers - as in, a highway patrol will generate income for the state - through increased tickets written to all the folks speeding up Route 1 while calling grandma and playing Angry Birds on their smart phones.  But, why does the Gov. and Ron need to pull some of the best officers from our schools to do this?  They don't. 

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Utter Chaos

Two words to describe the majority of my day... or the morning which has given me the belief it was like that the majority of my day...

*sigh*

As we draw near the end of the day I want to record the memory of a chaotic and hectic morning - so I can look back when the desire to have more children reaches its begging stage and think again.

While I fed a fussing bubby the children set up for breakfast. Nothing abnormal about that apart from half a kilo of oats being spilt on the floor and cleaned up by Isaiah (5) and scattered around the kitchen floor by Jarah (20mths). The milk seemed every where and the children fought over who sat on what chair while the toddler squeaked and squealed about not being able to get into his high chair and then not getting his food. He had to wait for the milk.

Michael got called to work so my plan of getting out to get library cards and book shop card to hire out DVDs and books etc, buying a birthday gift for my youngest sister-in-law (9), checking the mail box and picking up a parcel, stopping in at woolies to get a couple of their specials, the baby shop for a 'back support' thingy, feed store for chook wheat, bunnings, red dot, and a variety of other errands meant that I was on my own with four children ages 5, 3, 1 & new born.

On top of that I needed/wanted the kitchen cleaned up, lots of washing washed, hung up, brought in and put away, lounge room tidied, cleared and vacuumed, the front porch cleared out and swept and re-arranged, the patio cleared up, cans picked up and bagged. I wanted the hall way cleared, childrens bedroom tidied and vacuumed, our sheets washed and bed re-made, bubbys sheets changed, washed and re-made. I wanted to sort some toys out and put them away. I wanted our bedroom to be completely spotless and cleaned which is a giant job in itself. I wanted every flea on the property to suddenly stop breathing and just DIE!

Avigail was feeding little bits at a time and going to sleep. Each time I put her down she'd fuss and cry for more feeding or to be held. I'm not sure why she was fussing... teething perhaps? (jk)

Avigail is such a beautiful baby (to me atleast) to look at and admire - but I still wanted these things done before I went out.

After flustering myself into a pile of GRRR's I gave up the idea of going out until Michael came home in the afternoon. Then we'd do them together and have a bit of fun as a family of 6 in our semi-trailer of a vehicle.

Without that rush of trying to get ready to go out I dropped the lot to simply feed the fussy baby and do some school work with the children. They did well with their school work today. Made me feel proud.

Isaiah has come along such a super duper long way in the year that we've been 'official'. He knows so much and has a desire to learn so much more. So ready for the next lot of stuff I've got planned for him.

Amalia was even following my directions and did it all right :) She usually likes to do her own thing. So independent that one!

I did manage to get 6 loads of washing washed and hung up, 3 loads brought in, porch swept and cleared out, lounge semi-tidied, kitchen cleaned, sheets washed, bubs bed changed whilst maintaining school work and play supervision. If only my back ached a lot less.

The older children had quiet time watching The Incredibles, Jarah had a nap in bed, Avigail and I cuddled and fed - I even got spewed on. Blessed am I!

I tried putting car seats into the car to discover the car is totally unsuitable for my needs. 4WD is too high for me to reach into and put the baby and toddler into. It has no side board? kick board? thingy for me to stand on to make me higher to reach. I can't put the two boys in the boot part cos I can not reach in to strap the toddler in and he cant/wont climb into his own seat. To get 4 kids in I have to open 3 seperate doors. I can barely lift my leg up high enough to get into the vehicle myself. And it drives like a giant tank. *sigh* Least we got a 7 seater vehicle??

I think Michael had either not listened or forgot that I had been planning on going out and would appreciate him being with me. Cos when he got home he was planning on going for a run... and the whole time we were out he didn't want to be there... So our outing completely sucked and the errands didn't get completed. The older children played up and so have been sent to bed early tonight. What a carry on! I am the least impressed.

Michael has taken Jarah to his parents to celebrate his youngest sisters 9th birthday.

On top of this... ALL day and in fact many months my lower back aches and is so extremely painful. Since birth it feels like it has seized and that it needs warming up just to function. Lying down hurts, sitting down hurts, standing hurts, walking hurts.

And so you have an utterly chaotic day for this brand new mother to 4, 5 and under.

5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Peace and Quiet that bed time brings
2. Flexibility in being a stay at home mum
3. I have some *me* time tomorrow - Just Avigail & Myself to run our errands
4. Michael finally has a bit of (casual) work
5. This back support thing I now have is relieving much of the pressure on my back making it bearable.

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"My" Epidural

Have you ever noticed that when a woman refers to getting an epidural, she uses the word "my" epidural, not "an" epidural?  It is the only time I can think of off the top of my head that someone refers to pain medication as "mine."  If I have a headache, I don't say, "I took 'my' ibuprofen."  I say, "I took 'some' ibuprofen." 

So why is there ownership of the epidural?  Even the L & D nurses refer to it as "your" epidural, or "her" epidural.  You own it -- you better claim it before someone else steals it!  It is the weirdest thing.

When doctors in Europe were using a combination of different drugs to "help" women through childbirth towards the end of the 19th century, American doctors didn't want to use them.  They didn't feel they were safe.  I know, hard to imagine now, isn't it?  It was the women who demanded to have the rights to these drugs.  Up to this point, the majority of American births were assisted by midwives, not doctors.  More than 95% of all American births took place at home.

Much like today, women were afraid of childbirth, just for different reasons.  When male doctors started assisting in childbirth, women were willing to put modesty aside (no small thing) at the promise of having "pain-relieving" drugs for childbirth.  The doctors found it easier for the women to come to them in the hospital rather than have to travel to their homes.

And so it began.  Hospital birth.  In the beginning, only the affluent could afford to birth in the hospital.  It was fashionable to be "delivered" by a male doctor with his drugs and forceps.  Eventually, if you had a midwife-attended homebirth, you were obviously too poor to afford a hospital birth.  By 1940,  two-thirds of American births took place in the hospital.  (Both my parents were born at home.  They lived in southern Illinois in the middle of nowhere and were poor!)  By the 1950's, only 1% of babies were born at home.  It has largely remained the same after 60 years.

Historically, women fought for the right to vote just a couple of decades after drugs in childbirth were introduced, and birth was migrating from their bedrooms to the hospitals.  Women entered the workplace in the late 1930's during WWII to support their families.  During the Women's Rights Movement of the 1960s, women wanted equal pay and treatment.  We deserved it!  We wanted rights!  In the same decade, midwives began to resurface and the natural birth movement began rising up.  Make no mistake, 99% of women were still giving birth in a hospital with the drugs.  Just like today.

For the last 110 years, women have demanded drugs in childbirth because we should not have to endure the pain of childbirth, no matter how dangerous it may be for the baby, right?  As a woman, I have rights to those drugs!  I owned an epidural from the minute that pee-stick told me I was pregnant!  The doctors warned the women early on that the drugs went straight to the baby and were not good for the baby.  The women didn't care.  Today, we have doctors telling women that epidurals are safe -- there are no risks.  Why would you not have one, they say?  "There is no medal at the end of this race."  Oh, I beg to differ --  a drug-free mama and baby is quite a reward to behold.

Yes, women's rights have done some very important things.  But at what point did we get so wrapped up in our own discomfort that we can't see beyond ourselves?  Is it just human nature?  That sense of entitlement?

Here's the real kicker -- if women only knew the absolute empowerment that comes with giving birth to your baby without intervention or medications, they would understand that that is real Women's Lib.  Don't own the epidural ladies, own your birth!

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Day #2 of life with Avigail

{Pictures taken on my Nokia phone so are of the upmost quality *cough*}


Thursday 10th march 2011

I awoke feeling somewhat refreshed even with broken sleep. Hey I probably slept more that night then I had in months!

I was looking forward to getting up, having a shower and changing into human clothes. I was also looking forward to seeing my other children again and for them to spend more time with Avigail.

The lady across from me asked if she could go home today so I did too. No problem they said "YEAH!"

So I messaged Michael to say I'm COMING HOME :)

But he came in to see me first, then pick up a bigger car, pick up the children and take us home. You know how long it takes to drive from the hospital to woolies to Nulsen and back to the hospital? About 2 and a half hours!!! Yeah... that long... (via an extra trip to the boulevard to be me a matching Gold Cross that is ;) )

Avigail got her hearing tested... and passed...

We popped her into her "Strider Plus Infant Carrier" (I've wanted one for every child and finally put my foot down and got it). She cried!

And went home, then went to see Aunty Vicky at work, get my beloved choc milk and go home.

She cried lots, fussed and squirmed. I sat on the couch mostly and just fed, fed, fed.

Aunty Katie did more than was required of her. Looked after kids, did washing, got food, cleaned, cleaned more, picked up and did everything that I usually do (& more). What a Champ! Couldn't have gotten by as smoothly without her...

She was up lots during the night too. Fuss fuss fuss.


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Early, non-fuss Going Home
2. Aunty Katie babysitting and caring for the house
3. Baby Capsule
4. Lunch being in the fridge
5. Food, lots and lots of food

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Day #1 of life with Avigail

Thy Princess was born at 6:11am Wednesday 9th March 2011 only 2 days after her Due Date.

We settled into our room quickly and settled into feeding and admiring. It had been a long night. Actually it had been a long two nights, or two weeks or rather 9 months.

I was delighted with what I saw, the relief that I felt, and the knowledge that I could have still been in labour with nothing happening.

Michael rang someone to bring the children in. I was so joyful in seeing them again after being shoved in the car at 4:30pm the day before (I know I'm a sook!) and for them to meet the baby that had been making me feel sick and kicking them.

Michael and the children all went home with *Aunty Katie* who was babysitting until around 2pm so that Michael could sleep/rest after his exhausting ordeal of being in the birthing suite with a labouring woman. He appreciated it. I knew he'd need it. Oh and I knew the children would've needed it!!

Isaiah looked at the Canula on my hand. He asked if it was my "gun". Must've thought I was like Buzz Light Year "peew peew" lol

Even though the children had been told and understood that I was at the hospital to get baby avigail out they kept saying I had a baby in my tummy. They wanted to feel Avigail NOT kicking in my tummy. lol Funny little things!!

Michael said he'd get my phone charger brought in. I didn't have much to do when Avigail was asleep so I just laid there. No visitors all day. No way to contact anybody. And no I couldn't just go to sleep or rest cos my body doesn't like doing that after having a baby as much as the rest of me would like some sleep.

At one point I asked one of the staff if I could have a sandwhich or something. I was so hungry. She came back soon afterwards with a picnic basket saying this will last you awhile. Made me think the hospital was extremely generous. But she said I know that woman she works in produce. Ahhhh it was Sharon (MIL) brought in some food right at the perfect amy-is-about-to-burst-of-starvation time. Discovered that I like lychees and nashi pears. YUM.

Around 2pm the children were scheduled for their regular afternoon with Nana Shaz and their uncle and 5 aunts. They were kind enough to offer to feed the children and put them to bed so Michael could be in hospital with me.

I asked the nurse if I could get the Canula taken out. Such a relief cos that thing was hurting still.

They brought all the children in to see/meet Avigail and have first cuddles. 15 Bells in a 4 bedroom shared room? We went to the visitors lounge and filled that up instead. lol =D

Finally *Aunty Vicki* arrived with gifts & I <3 them!!!

*Aunty Libby* & *Uncle Brock* arrived with chocolate and I ate them!!!

*Uncle Daniel* arrived and even had baby cuddles "naaaww" (& told his wife he's not getting one)

Michael stayed a little while afterwards before heading home for some sleep. Katie had another sleep over to help Michael in the morning.

I managed to get 3 blocks of 2 hours of sleep. The nurses took Avigail for 2 lots of those 2 hours so I could get some rest. Avigail spent a fair bit of time feeding, crying and sleeping. Our first crying baby.

and thus concludes Day 1.

NB: Re-reading our Birth Story I realise that I have forgotten a lot of the details. But I guess the memory I want to remember is the feeling of the stuck head - so when I get all clucky again I'll stop and think about the labour part. Why does it seem so worth it and that I'd go through it all again? She's only 5 days old and is totally adored already.


5 Things I am Thankful for:
1. Round the clock & on-call babysitters that have taken care of the house, Mt Washmore, the kids and Michael
2. Huge basket of food
3. Getting that Canula out
4. The things my children say/said about the baby/canula/my tummy
5. The sudden weight loss which has felt so lovely

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Five days into the race, one School Board Candidate Withdraws...

CHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT


District "B" expires 2016 - David C. Resler (Mar. 2, 2011)

District "C" expires 2013 - Robin L. Broomall (Withdrew Mar. 9, 2011)
- Frederick William Polaski (Feb. 15, 2011)
- Howard L. Steadman (Mar. 4, 2011)

District "F" expires 2016  - Gina R. Backus (Mar. 4, 2011)
- Joseph J. O’Leary, Jr. (Mar. 4, 2011)

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Birth Story #4 - Avigail Shiloh Bell

{Avigail Shiloh - Hours old - & that's not my chest ;) }


For male and child readers:
After a long 9 month pregnancy came a long labour and after the long labour came a big baby. Mother and baby did well.

For others:
After an incredibly rough and stressful 8 1/2 months of pregnancy came a variety of "Braxton Hicks" that gave me the impression from time to time "it" was happening. Though nothing eventuated.

until

Monday 7th March 2011 at 7:44pm the "Braxton Hicks" changed into "real labour contractions" at a more regular basis.

Tuesday 8th March 2011 I awoke still pregnant and these "real labour contractions" were fairly the same as throughout the night. I felt a mix of emotions but mostly excited that it was FINALLY happening. Our Avigail was FINALLY going to be on the outside and in my arms.

Michael went off to work his second day at a casual job - we really need/needed the money after 5 months of unemployment.

I spent the day 'in labour' pottering around the house tidying up, cleaning up, washing up. The children were kept occupied and busy. I rested, they rested. They played absolutely beautiful...

until...

4pm when the youngest of our three woke from his afternoon nap. From that point until 4:30pm the children took it in turns to upset the middle child and fight and argue and scream.

I had had enough. These regular "Braxton Hicks/Real Labour Contractions" were annoying, I was growing weary of never having anything happen, My body was sore and aching, the fluid was at an all time high.

I told myself I just had to get through an hour and a half (thinking Michael finished at 5:30pm)

at 4:30pm I burst into tears not being able to handle the children fighting and the constant contractions. I texted Michael to come home NOW.

Michael arrived home moments later all dirty and grotty from a day's work. Changed pants, rang his dad to get the children cared for and bundled me in the car to go get our baby out.

We became peaceful, joyed, had some fun in the labour ward. Chatted and laughed and prayed. I was excited that this long and stressful pregnancy was going to end, I was excited that I'd have the babe that I asked God for would VERY soon be in my arms.

They checked me out with a 5cm dilation around 5pm- YEAH!! Half way there...

I used the shower as a pain relief. We prayed, I prayed, Mik prayed, I sang (quietly), he sang. That was fun too.

The contractions came and went came and went. Barely close together, all bearable.

8pm with a 7cm dilation they broke my waters with the hope/expectation the contractions would come quicker and stronger and bub would be out by 9pm.

9pm came and went with no change in contractions. Michael's sister Katie came to tell us about her terrible dream (HA HA HA) and that she was heading to our place to have a sleep over to watch over the children. Love that girl!! Michael's parents and younger siblings came to watch them at the drop of a hat.

10pm came and went. I think this was the hour they put in a canula and gave me antibiotics and I tell you what - The Canula in the hand is THE MOST PAINFUL PART of labour!!! A device to torture the labouring woman!

11pm came and went

midnight came and went

2am came and went

3:30am We were tired and weary. Why was nothing happening? Nothing had changed!

4am came and went :(

The Dr came and did his rounds, checked me out, had a chat. Thought it was happening as I had the feel to push. Such a labouring effort. Nothing.

The scary part came after he checked me out to say "Uhm" Made me think arm? Why is he talking about an ARM is she the wrong way? Well she was slightly crooked and totally stuck. According to the midwife my uterus was tired from such a long labour. So was I. By this stage I was so tired, so over tired that I cried. Finally after all that time I shed tears. What was wrong?

But the real scary part came when they started this medical speech, someone else came in, they put stirrups on the bed and 'things got serious'. WHAT WAS GOING ON??? I Begged for a chance on the 'birthing stool' and they let me. I had 20 minutes to get her out. After about 5mins I failed and said nope no more I can't do it.

Grateful for that opportunity but it was the worst position for me to be in.

They gave me some morphine through the canula to relax me and take the edge off the contractions. I complained HEAPS cos it REALLY hurt!!

Dr said the 'suction cap' wasn't going to do me any good cos she was stuck so they put me on a drip of syntocin to bring contractions on just after 5pm.

An hour later the drip machine went beep beep beep and the contractions came strong and heavy and after 34 hours of labor I finally felt her head bearing down and urges to push push push.

I tell you what... This baby sure was a labour of love. A 9 month labor of love with a 2 week labor (or 34 hours counting from Mon night).

The pushing parts were hard cos I had to push without contractions. Her swollen chubby head was stuck and I had nothing to push with. I was in a fair bit of pain. I didn't want to go through that again. 4 kids was it I decided then and there! So did Michael. Did I say she was stuck?

@ 6:11am Avigail Shiloh arrived
Weighing a whopping 9lb 5ounces
52cm long

Miraculously I have no tearing nothing. My body worked in our favour again.

After she arrived there was kuffafels everywhere. People trying to hand me my baby while I was trying to turn around, needles, scissors, pegs. Instead of the peaceful here is your baby and cuddles and smiles it was still full going with demands being made of me. It was stressful. I couldn't feed straight away from all the action going on in the room.

Her cord was tiny and couldn't reach me. I told them to cut it which was not my original plan and not what I wanted. But I was in distress.

They jabbed me with the oxytocin needle for third stage labour - that hurt more than contractions. More demands to birth the placenta, I just wanted to see and hold my baby. Discomfort much?! *sigh*

I was relieved to hear no tears and no stitches needed. I let them know I didn't want them to even look!!

Finally some people left the room, the Dr left, I was allowed to shower (Mik babysat), and we went straight up to our room. Couldn't wait to see my beloved children and let them meet their newest sister :)

Finally some peace. We were left to admire and cuddle our new beauty. She fed beautifully and for a long time. I was instantly in love =D and overflowing with thankfulness (Col 2:7)


5 Things I was/am Thankful for:
1. Safe, natural, healthy arrival of our 4th Bubba
2. Being given a chance to birth before they yanked the baby out (& it not happening at all)
3. No tearing!!
4. Dr taking charge and giving me syntocin and morphine
5. Michael staying by my side just about the whole time - I know it was hard on him too!

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