Try to Get the Gifts Early

When I was 12 I REALLY wanted the Radio Shack remote control Lambourgini. When a wraped box appeared under the tree that looked the right size, I measured it.

Next time I was at Radio Shack I measured the Lambourgini box. :) I got my car!

So yesterday I was doing some more gift measuring. This involved going to this blog and reading up about fetal heart rates. I have tried to do this before, but had never gotten the information about it being accurate early, not late, in pregnancy. Baby's heart rate yesterday was 133. But most babies this age have a heart rate around there.

So I called my sweet midwife and asked her to tell me the heart rate our first 3 or 4 visits. 160. 160. 160.

After I was done squeeling in delight I said "Now I'll really need some time to adjust if baby has a scrotum!"

HAHAHA!!

Trying to get it early--but I still have to wait for the baby.

Ginger Bread Surprise!!

Dick and Cathy are parish members and erstwhile surrogate grandparents to our brood. They came over today with a to scale ginger bread replica of a local restaurant that is made up partly of train cars: Reunion Station.

They said it probably wasn't edible. . .but all the gumdrops and licorice are gone! Boys will gnaw at anything!

We have had so much fun with it all afternoon--it has really added to the holiday atmosphere. How grateful I am to all the people around us who help my children have these wonderful experiences! From Goats, to gingerbread, I would not be able to do this alone!!!

400+ Christmas Cookies

The 4 youngers and I went to a Christmas Party today. Mary Catherine was left home with ingredients. Voila! The Blouin family bake-off has begun. As I do not have the cookie baking gene, and am too pregnant to do much of anything but dream of baby flesh, Mary Catherine is on her own this year. She is doing an admirable job.

Last heard--Babci was over 700, and Hannah hadn't begun yet. I know nothing about Mary or Anne. . .

Not that I'm competitive. . .

Tonight at Our House

Snippit of Life

I got the Moosewood cookbook in college. But I left it in the lowers common room kitchen. Then I got it when my oldest baby was about 2--that's be 12 years ago. I still love it so much, and many of the recipes are family favorites. More than favorites, they are sustainers and healers of life!

Take tonight.

Who knew that pregnancy at 37, with 5 home schooled kids would be such an exercise in sacrifice, and continually having to perform beyond what I thought was my limit?

Maybe a thoughtful person could have predicted that--but I'm not that thoughtful--I just love babies!!

Tonight I was laying on my bed--not hungry--not knowing what was for dinner--and not thinking I could move another muscle today. Some grace, some prayer ,some child noise, all worked together to get me up off the bed.

More grace and prayer and looking through the cupboards brought me to the Brazilian Blackbean Soup recipe from the Moosewood. OH JOY! The smell of onions, much garlic, cumin and carrots sauteing in my pot!! Soon I will add the beans and O.J. Thalia's biscuits will be warm and fluffy. Simple pleasures. Simple sacrifices.

I'm so thankful to God that I can smell! I don't know how I'd get through otherwise!!

My Daughter the Farmer

One of the surprises and joys of living on the Rauscher's land is the Rauscher's.

OK--it's not such a surprise~ Andrea--fully capable mother of 3 adult sons can take my boys and play in the woods and tire them out for me without blinking an eye1

Kurt has goats, sheep, chickens, and other feathery animals in the barn. Mary Catherine has been getting up in the dark of the morning to help him in the barn. When there is a special chore she helps out. Like the slaughtering of rams a few weeks ago, or the worming of the flock yesterday.

As thanks for her help, Kurt offered MC one of the spring kids. So when the sweet spring babies arrive MC will have her pick to raise herself.

I know all this work with the animals is great practical education. But also a great way for her to build competence and confidence without her fussy mother standing by. It's also great for me to see her getting up and working hard. At a stage when she's more inclined to sit on the cough, read, and grunt at me every now and then, it is a relief to see that the will to action does exist--if not the will to scrub the upstairs withing 24 hours of my request.

Goats are more compelling than toilets. I'm so glad she had the goats!

PS this photot is just a stock photot from the internet--not really one of Kurts Goats!

The New Digs!

So We are here--we are settled, and I am nesting.

We have unplugged the children, with the exception of a netflix movie 2 or 3 times a month. We have to take the DVD player out of a closet, and detach the screen from the computer, and set it all up in the livingroom. A good amount of work when one is avoiding easy media exposure!

The lego's stay upstairs.

Weggie is potty trained (he also had a small case of pinworms--but we took care of that. I love modern medicine!)

The roast is in the oven.
(so is the bun. . .hahaha)

The fire is going.

But the best result of a more comfortable life is I feel more able to be mindful. In my speech, prayers, interactions. Not that it's always perfect or easy, but with lowered stress in general, I have more energy in my will to fight for what I want.
Holiness, Jesus, Scripture Reading, high quality child care and education, same for husband care.

We call all this "The Oregon Effect"--and we are feeling it and enjoying it. The small discomforts of late pregnancy at my advanced age are so easy to bear in this new environment.

But I am tired at the end of the day. Good Tired.