fullofstitches.com Blog

July 10, 2008:

Ben: “So, whatever happened to your period?”

Me: “I don’t get a period when I’m pregnant.”

Ben: “Are you pregnant?”

Me: “Yes, dear.”

Ben: “Wait. Are you pregnant?”

Me: “Yes, dear.”

Ben: “Hold on. Are you pregnant?”

Me: “Yes, dear.”

Ben: “It’s going to be a boy.”

Me: “Yes, dear.”

Ben: “Just like your parents.”

Me: “Yes, dear.”

Ben: “Do I have a fit now?” (apparently, Dad teased Mom by throwing a fit)

We dyed the macaroni.. among other things.

I turned around and MissC was taking the dye bottle out of her mouth. Then, she poured it on her wrist. I promptly removed the dye from the baby’s grasp and finished the macaroni.

This week, I was supposed to be enjoying the history and scenery in Yellowstone National Park, but Ben’s got a deadline. So, TJ is having his first vacation without us. We sent him on an airplane to visit Poppa & Nanna, and they’re in Yellowstone. In my family, no news is good news, so I haven’t heard from him since he arrived at their house. They’ll probably call to let me know he’s safely on the plane on the way home next week.

This week is VBS at the church family I attend. One of the gals in charge called me about a month ago and asked if I could help out in the nursery. Sure, I might as well. The girls were signed up and we waited for the week of fun & games. So, each day from 9 to noon we head to the church. The older two go to their class and I’ve got 4 or 5 just about two year olds and one little baby.

Monday, I didn’t know how many to expect, so we played it by ear. We went out to the playground when the PreK class finished and played for a bit while a helper stayed with the littlest (the Mom was set to come in to nurse in that time, so it was good timing). Then, they just played & had one snack break.

Tuesday, I asked for art supplies. We were mostly inside, and a snack. The crayons and markers arrived and we made a poster of hands and scribbles.

Today, I forgot my songs in sign language book, but we made sure to go out on the playground, had our set snack time and watched a Veggie Tale video, and made individual hand pages to take home.

So, two more days to go. I’ve been looking up ideas so that I don’t go stir crazy. I’m going to grab my sign-songs book and I’ve got a craft box and some ideas. We’ll make hand puppets one day and macaroni pictures another. I may even try a popsicle stick puzzle.

Wow, this thing has had some trouble this week. Usually, if a post begins with this sort of a title, it goes through. So, here’s hoping.

SICK. 3 down, 1 to go of the children. I’ve had it, too, but MissC’s had it hardest, so far. Sunday: MissC. Monday: I woke up sick, MissC was still sick, MissB came down with it in the afternoon. On my bed. Tuesday: I felt better, just tired, MissB perked up in the afternoon. Now it’s Wednesday, 5AM, and young Master TJ was up at 3AM to make a huge mess in the bathroom. It’s finally cleaned up, and I’m going to bed.

Yesterday, Ben decided to paint a wall that the children had decorated. The other day, they got into my rubber stamps and took the stamp pad to the walls, doorknobs, hands, eyelids, and necks around them. After a half dozen coats of paint, the wall has just a faint hint of the red showing through.

Ben’s friend from work, Ryan came over for a BBQ. The kids approved of him, and wanted to play with Daddy’s friend. MissB ran around topless like her aunties used to do (one when she was BB’s size, the other as a teenager..) and MissA took over his lap after dinner. MissC acquired a Dr Pepper and downed it.

Getting the kids ready for bed presented a slight problem. The tub has paint paraphernalia in it, and I didn’t have much time to clean it right then. Ben suggested a shower and I let the girls get in there. After a while, sopping wet MissC came into the kitchen where we were playing Five Crowns and handed Ryan the ‘toy’ she had been playing with in the shower. I’m not sure who blushed or laughed harder, but we all were cracking up and none of us could remember the name of the item. Ben mentioned that I’m going through training as a midwife, and Ryan asked, “Doesn’t it begin with an ‘S’?”

Yes, speculum begins with the letter ‘S’.

Well after Ryan went home and we turned in, MissC started vomiting. The first and last time she did was when she got hold of TJ’s Root Beer and drank half the can. I remembered the Dr Pepper and just worked with her. I’ve been nursing her, changing clothes and keeping towels handy for the last 9 hours and thankfully, she’s starting to have longer intervals between upchuckings. She’s kept a good desire for beverage, too, asking for water since about 9AM, and she’s starting to eat a bit again. She’s being so calm and only getting fussy just before, which gives me time to get her contained now. I just need to wash my mattress (or buy a new one…) and we’re all set.

Did you know that it wasn’t until our 39th president that we elected someone who was born in a hospital? The first 38 presidents were all born at home. As a teenager, I visited the then-new Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA, and was amazed to discover he was born in a cabin in the hills not far from the museum/library. Many of the presidents were also educated at home or self-taught.

One of the best ways to learn is to follow an example. In early schools, the students were taught to memorize their books: history was taught by reading the subject matter until the student was able to recite lengthy passages from memory. English was taught by copying sentences and breaking them down into the individual parts of speech. Mathematics were learned by rote and applied in class and at the general store. P.E. was taken care of with the morning chores, walk to school and games at recess.

In the last couple centuries (longer in Europe), school and birth have been removed from the home. No longer are children taught to sit and listen at Father or Mother’s knee -they ‘learn’ in school.. And, learn they do. Just as their ancestors did, by rote and recitation: they learn the morals of the peers, teacher or state, they learn their games, but they don’t learn much of the actual work.

Children will be children, teachers will be teachers, and parents must be parents. The very attitude that “it’s not my job” can easily be ingrained in the minds and hearts of our children. To affect a situation, there is only one person that you or I can control to bring about change. I can only take control of me. But, my actions, and my attitude can be infectious and bring about change.

Not everyone is able or willing, but I have chosen homebirth and homeschool. Midwifery is choosing me. What is it that moves your heart and life?

How long has he been working like mad? Let’s see, wasn’t it just 3 weeks till the relatives were visiting? And, that was the first week of the month. So, 2-3 weeks since they left.. Wow, at least 6 weeks so far. I know how service-wives do it. The husband is gone. There’s not a wishy-washy 7PM today, midnight tomorrow, I won’t see you for 3 weeks, except on weekends (which are taken up with other life events). In many ways, it’s SO much easier when he flies away: I have a date on the calendar when life will return to ‘normal.’ Not in San Jose. Such is life.

How will this all work out when I go to a birth? I think he’ll work from home..

I had such a good weekend. It was back to back class days with studying and research all night. Like stepping into another world. I look forward to getting on with schooling and beginning to attend Study Group.

Thinking out loud: It would be fantastic if the Homeschool group had a regular meeting. I know we’re all doing different curriculum, but we could touch base and compare and feel like it’s worth while.

gotta get a breather.. no, have to clean up this huge mess and figure out how to get in routine again.

MissB is officially 4 years old. She’s still trying to be 5, but she’ll have to wait another year. The grands and uncle came out for a visit the week before her birthday, so we were able to have a nice celebration with them. I made a Green Velvet cake (I was out of red dye) which MissB doted on (purple & green being her favorite colors).


I’ve done a little bit of sewing. I made this blue strawberry apron for MissB (early B-day present) and I’ve started a dress for me. I’ll get the apron pattern info later. It’s an older pattern for a ‘top or dress.’ MissB’s consistently asking for strawberry patterned fabrics every time we’re looking at the fabric store lately.

My dress is a vintage Marian Martin pattern. It scalloped neck, sleeve, and pocket edges. I’d forgotten to remove the shoulder pad allowance before cutting, so I need to rip the sleeves & shoulder seams and fix that. Otherwise, I’m so pleased with the dress!

What does MissA say as her Daddy gently lifts her back into her bed?

“Stop it, Tom!”

I bought a “balance bike” for the girls a few months ago. I like the concept: instead of training wheels, start off with a bike with 2 wheels without pedals. The child learns all about balance and later just needs to learn the pedals. In our case, the pedals can be learned separately (we had training wheels on the smaller bike, and the neighborhood children have them), then the two skills can be meshed.

MissA loves the balance bike, but is getting too big for it. She can get going and coast for at least 30 feet. So, with the start of summer upon us, I decided it was time.

Yesterday, Ben had a long afternoon with MissA helping her overcome her fears. They and the bike disappeared for a couple hours -he said he had to remove her from her comfort zone to help her focus- and they came back, panting and sweaty, to announce that she loves me more.

Today, they went out for maybe an hour. And when they came back, she was riding the bike without help. Exuberant and proud of her mighty accomplishment. Thursdays’ ride to the library should be a piece of cake (let’s make it so by riding a little each day to keep up the new skill).