Here we go again

So, it's been over a year since I've posted anything...yeah.  Just a little bit going on around here. 

We welcomed numero cinco to the family almost exactly 1 year ago.  She is beautiful, funny, smart, and loads of fun!  We've been busy with sports, church, school and family events.  I also started teaching Pilates and Pilates-Inspired Circuit at a women's only gym here in town and I love it!  However, there is not enough time to go through all of the mundane details of the past year. 

I just wanted to take a moment and jump back in to the blogging world for my whole 5 followers. 

Last spring and early summer I started hosting a story time in my home because the Bloomington library stops in April and I was missing the social aspect and fun that my 3 year old had there.  We moved it to the backyard as the weather grew warmer and had quite the turn out every week (a dozen or so moms with millions of kids ;-)  I loved having an event to which I could invite new friends and help the old meet the new.  As our schedule got too full and my backyard too small, we couldn't host it anymore.  I had been thinking and praying about a way to create those same connections in some way and things are falling into place for a new location. 

So, I am pleased to announce that I am going to be hosting Brew Me a Story at  Fusion Brew in Normal!They have graciously allowed me and my other at-home mama friends (and their friends and their friends) to hang out for some story and latte time.  Tuesday mornings at 10:30.   I start next week with a fall theme for the stories.  I am really excited!  


As a side note, we don't really do too much for Halloween and so I won't be reading any scary or witchy books in the month of October as most story times do.  So, if you're not into that stuff either, you can bring the kiddos on over. 

I will read a few books in the same theme and usually we'll do some type of song or rhyme or actions to engage the little listeners.  I want to welcome all ages and would love to have older homeschooling kids come as well! 

Please, invite your friends (and their friends and their friends)!! 

Baby Girl!

Got on to blog again and found this old post I hadn't published.  How timely.  The story of my little Brinley who just turned one 2 days ago (today was her due date).  Made this Mama cry remembering how this sweet little blessing busted her way into our hearts and lives and we wouldn't want it any other way!

So, I haven't been able to blog for a while.  I suppose that's what 5 kids does.  I do, however, want to share my birth story of Baby Cinco. 

September 14th--contractions about 5 minutes apart for a couple of hours.  Called the in-laws to ask for help picking up the kiddos.  MIL brought them home and I was still contracting regularly.  I decided to take a shower to see if they became worse or stopped.  And...they stopped.  Bummer!  I hate how I'm always second guessing if it's the real deal or not.  This was about the 3d time I'd had contractions grow steadily stronger and more regular but then stop. 
September 16th--Doctor's appointment.  I told the doc that I had had some bloody show that morning which usually means about 24-48 hours (less than 24 in my history) until the baby comes.  She told me that she would be out of town learning a new surgery technique at a conference.  Oh well, it's baby 5--I just hope we make it to the hospital.  She told me that my old doctor would be on call (whom I really liked, but he switched out of my insurance coverage so I had to switch to Dr. Emm).

Our car seat had expired, so we went into Toys R Us to trade in our old one and get a new one, thinking we'd need it that night or in the morning.  Everyone was put on alert.  Went to sleep that night with a few contractions, some even strong, but nothing too regular. 

Saturday, Sept. 17th.  Went the whole day without many contractions...starting to think she may not come in the 24-48 hour window that is usually predicted by the show.  This is a bit discouraging for me, but hey, she's coming sometime, right?

Before I went to bed that night, I sent out an email to all of the kidschurch workers saying that I would most likely be there in the morning since nothing was going on, but just in case I included the 3-4 year old lesson plan that I usually go over with the teachers before church.  Clint and I watched a movie and I did have some strong contractions through it, but I didn't even pay that much attention to them because they still weren't regular.  Since this is my 5th kid, I knew that I was 0% effaced and not at all dilated.  I contract for about 6-12 hours before my body does anything, but once it starts, it's game on!  I go from 0-10 in a matter of about 2 hours. 

I woke up about once an hour (I think--I didn't look at a clock) with a kind-of strong contraction, but was able to go back to sleep.  Can't be labor, right? 

5am I woke up with a big contraction.  It felt like I might have had one pretty close before that, but I was asleep, so who knows.  I looked at the clock, woke DH up and told him I thought we should pay attention to the contractions.  I got up and went to the bathroom. 

"Call your mom now!"  "Are you sure?"  "Nope, it's just my 5th kid and I've only been up for about 10 minutes and I'm 2 minutes apart with crazy hard contractions, but if you want to wait, that's cool."  No sarcasm there ;-) 

I got dressed, told him which bags to pack and went downstairs to wait for his mom.  The contractions were very hard and the only thing I could do was run back and forth in the basement.  I hadn't moved that fast in months!!  Realizing it was pretty nice out and I could go a little farther, I went out and ran up and down the sidewalk while waiting.  I made him call his mom again to see where she was.  I thought we might have to call a neighbor and get on the road.  I kept thinking that I must look awfully funny running up and down the sidewalk between about 4 houses nonstop bc now the contractions were right on top of each other. 

His mom made it, and I climbed into the Yukon directing DH to get a towel in case my water broke.  "You call the hospital, tell them I'm coming and that they need to have a wheelchair ready to run me up to a labor room and an anesthesiologist waiting."  DH is always calm and collected (grrr) and started laughing telling me that it was going to be fine. 

We got to the hospital at about 5:45.  I am out of my mind in pain.  Who knows what kind of junk is coming out of my mouth.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, nurse, get me upstairs so I can push this baby out!! 

They checked me, and I was at a 6.  A 6!!  You've got to be kidding me!  Hecks yes, I want the anesthesiologist!  I'm only at a 6!  I didn't think I was going to make it! 

Dr. O came in and checked me again about 10 minutes later and I was at an 8.  That's more like it.  "Do you want to wait for the anesthesiologist?"  "No!  Just break my water and let's get on with it."  So, he did.  Then, he left the room so they could ready it for delivery. 

I started screaming and heard the tell-tale "DOCTOR!" from the nurses.  He came back in and told me I was at a 10 and it was time to push.  Okay. Here we go.  Crap.  I can't do this...I CAN'T DO THIS!!  DH chuckles "You have no choice and you've done it before.  You also might want to stop squeezing my hand so hard."  Does it HURT?! (as in, are you kidding me, you're complaining?) "No, but you'll probably hurt your hand."  He grins.  GRRR!!  How is he always so calm?! 

So, I'm thinking about how I don't want to tear...at all.  (never have, so this is somewhat irrational, but you never know, right?)  I push and Dr. O gets right in my face and says "Kimberly, I think you're ready to have this baby, but you're working against yourself.  Next contraction, give it all you've got."  Fine.  I guess I'll be okay if I tear.  Women recover from that, right?  So, I give it all I've got, yell an expletive and here she is!!  My sweet, perfect, nameless beauty!  They placed her on my belly and she crawled her way up to nurse.  What a beautiful baby!  How'd she get that perfect head? 

DH and I marveled at her and at how fast she came.  What is her name?  We settled on Brinley Maria.  Maria is my MIL's middle name.  The best descriptor of this little one was "perfect".  She didn't get a bath or weighed for at least an hour or more.  DH waited to make the calls until we knew what she weighed.  7 pounds, 3 ounces 18 inches long--my biggest girl! 

What a whirlwind, but so happy she only took about an hour and a half of labor.  She was born at 6:17 am on Sunday morning, Sept 18th.  (Due on the 20th) 

Crazy the euphoria you feel after that!  I know a lot of people think it'll be hard to add another baby and have enough love to go around.  Not at all true!  Your heart simply multiplies, it doesn't divide.  God has blessed us with 5 perfect babies.  I cannot begin to explain what that means.  He has trusted us to raise 5 of His children--what a responsibility!! 

I heard there was some buzz at church about the Hillardbillies missing (it's unusual) and wondering if I had had the baby.  Only the pastor's wife knew, and she didn't share.  I guess Brinley's announcement came through facebook and everyone knew right after church.  (funny how soon news can travel these days with all this fandangled technology).  We had a quiet morning in the recovery room since not too many people knew, and those that did were waiting to come until about noon. 

3 of my big kids came at noon with my MIL and my parents.  Oh so sweet to see them all!  We had a few other visitors over the next day and left on Monday around noon.  Miss B passed her hearing test with flying colors (which might be a sign of intelligence ;-) 

So, now, 3.5 months later as I reflect I realize how fast time flies.  It seems that not only does your love multiply exponentially, but how fast time flies does as well with each child!  I just changed out all of her 0-3 month clothes with the 3-6 months and it always makes me sad.  Bittersweet.  I'm thrilled that she's smiling ALL the TIME, belly laughing, rolling over, and filling out, but sad at how fast it's all happening. 

God sure is good!!

Mr. Fix-it

I am SO BLESSED to have a DH that can fix just about anything (excluding most electronics)!  He has done so many things for us and our home from building furniture, to building a garage, to trimming trees, to remodeling from the studs, to cleaning out years of neglect in our yard.  He is an organizing nut and loves for everything to be in its place (me too--I love for everything to BE organized, I just can't seem to keep it that way--must be all the "help" I have).  He is also very particular and thorough in any job he does.  He is also VERY busy with work, family and church responsibilities so "extra time" is hard to come by. One time, I asked my BIL if the water to his in-door refrigerator dispenser was fixed and his answer was "Did your husband fix it yet?"  Pretty much sums it up--he's in high demand.  He's even become the neighborhood "Rent-a-Clint." 

You'd think I'd have one of our two freezer ice makers hooked up after over 4 years of both of us complaining about it and never having enough ice for parties/small group (a weekly event).  Must be a pretty hard fix with the drilling through the floor and hooking it all up.  

So, last night the big 2 were heading to VBS for a couple of hours.  The baby and I headed to Meijer in between drop off and pick up (and again after that--more on that to come.)  DH had #3 with him and went over to the church to check out the project I volunteered him for (he can do anything!) and then on to Lowes to pick up the supplies he needed to do it.  I think there was also a DQ stop in there as well--I saw the milkshake ;-) 

I was busy picking out a bday present for #4's first drop-off birthday party on Saturday and getting all the items on my list with the coupon matchups.  I was checking out with about 20 minutes to go before I had to pick up the big 2.  Wow, shopping with only 1 kiddo sure is a lot easier than with 4!  We get up to the check-out line and are done.  I'm grabbing for the wallet...nope, not in the purse.  I'm praying it's in the car.  I'll be right back--I think I left my wallet in the car.  As we're walking out, I say "Peanut, do you know where my wallet is?"  "Yeah!" she says with a cheery grin.  "Where?" "I take it out of you puhhs and hide it.  In the couch.  In the cuuushins."  Really?  "Yeah!!"  Again, very proud of her little self.  "Are you supposed to play with Mommy's wallet?'  "Yeah!"  "Noooo."  "Oh. Noooo."  I'm trying to be stern, but at least grateful that she knows where it is.   So, we head back in to tell them I'll be back later.  I was pretty happy that with coupons and sales, I was able to keep my major bill for 2 weeks at $95 and I bought a lot of cleaning supplies!  They put the cart in the cooler for me.  Must not be the first time that's happened...not even the first time it's happened to me *blush*

So, we rush back across town to get the big ones and I drop everyone off at the house for Daddy to put to bed.  Peanut has a FIT when she realized I was leaving.  Snot, drool, body flomping (that, apparently is a LeRoy, IL term that means thrashing/uncontrollable movements--according to DH, I'm good at this when sleeping), the whole nine yards...think Daddy needs some more time with her. 

Driving back home and now I get to put away the groceries.  DH has all the kids in bed, helps unload and says he's headed back to Lowes.  He gets back home and says he's going to hook up the 2 ice makers.  It's about 9:30, so I'm going to bed expecting that he'll be up for hours doing what must be a hard, time-consuming job.  15 minutes.   15 minutes and both ice makers are hooked up!  Awesome, but are you kidding me?  4.5 years I've waited for a job that took 15 minutes!!  I'm giving him a hard time, but I am really grateful to have a wonderful Mr. Fix-It as a husband.  And very thankful to have ice without having to fill trays!  It's the little things :-)

Lillielocks and Biblical lessons

Well, if you know my LJ, you know she is tender-hearted.  It is hard to get through any movie with any conflict without her sobbing (and me along with her--it's probably just the pregnancy hormones ;-) 

Case in point: Pollyanna.  I have fond memories of it from my childhood and remember being shocked when Aunt Polly said "Oh My God!"  See how old I am and how we've gone downhill as a society? 

I rented it from the library and we tried numerous times to get through it (it's an awfully long movie).  But, she and I were watching it together and **spoiler alert** when the accident happened, I expected her to break out in incontrolable tears.  Nope.  Not one tear.  Until, Pollyanna was too upset/depressed about her situation to even play the "Glad Game".  As the townspeople she had touched came out to encourage Pollyanna, it was a river of tears and sobbing!  She saw the despair and the encouragement of others and it moved her to tears (and me--bah those pregnancy hormones!) 

I just love her sweet spirit and how empathetic she is.  It became a good lesson on being mutually encouraging (right now we're working on this within the family) and how little things can have an impact.  A good lesson to remember. 

Another quick story about Lil.  Yesterday, we were reading in Matthew about the rich young ruler and how he believed he had kept the commandments since his youth.  In discussing the commandments, I asked the kids how they thought they were doing following them, Lil says "We're really good at the stealing one!"  Pretty sure she meant they're good at not stealing :-) 

We continued the discussion and they decided that they needed work on honoring their father and mother.  (I love summer because we can continue conversations like this one in whatever mundane things we're doing.)  As we were driving around, I asked them again what they thought they had to do to be saved (just as the young ruler had asked) and they thought about it and answered that they needed to keep the commandments.  Nope!  Obey and listen to our parents?  Nope!  Believe Jesus is God's son?  Yes!  Can we do that without God?  Yes, it's our choice.  Nope!  Guess we were getting a little too philosophical for 8, 6, 5, and 2 ;-)  I reminded them that they couldn't do anything to earn/keep God's favor nor could they do anything to loose His love.  Just like their imperfect earthly parents.  I love you because I love you.  No. other. reason. 

I think it'll take time for them to figure it all out, but we're praying daily that God would get 'em and that they would love and enjoy Him forever.  What's your prayer for your kids? 

Lessons in couponing

So, I'm still not so sure if I'm liking couponing.  Haven't quite gotten that "couponing high" so many other describe...come to think of it...I never got the runner's high either which is probably why I don't run, much. 

Anyway, I subscribed to a local group that sends me the local matchups with the local paper, ordered 2 papers for Sunday delivery and am gleaning extra coupons from my neighbors.  Good start, eh? 

Let's just say preparedness is not this "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-girl"'s strong suite.   Nor, is it my husband's--okay, so maybe it is his (remember the paper towels and the windex at the park?).  After a hectic day of me not feeling well and a trip to the er to check out the baby (all is well--she's just good at cutting off my circulation), he had to go to the store to pick up "dinner" on Sunday night.  Well, "dinner" cost $120.  There goes my budget!  So, what to do now?  Do I still spend more to get the items that are only on sale this week and for which I have coupons, or do I skip a week (gasp!)?

See, if I had been prepared, as instructed by my coupon guru, I would have had a list in hand with the coupons for the week all ready for the next trip to the store.  I could have sent him in with the list and the coupons and he should have done as well as I would have, right?  Not too likely.  I'm pretty sure I've never seen Clint use a coupon on anything, except maybe at Lowe's.  Lesson: be prepared. 

I also dragged all 4 kids to the Lair of Covetousness aka Toys R Us for $5 diapers yesterday. Just wanting to have a back-up stash of disposables even though I mostly use cloth.  Our Toys R Us is remodeling...not so fun to navigate.  Guess how many $5 diapers they had left?  ZERO.  Not one and they weren't offering rain checks :-(  boo!  I had already spent a while on the computer trying to find some printable coupons that could help me make it a better deal.  What a waste of time!  Lesson: call first on crazy sales like that.   


Oh well.  Now, I'm having the kiddos clean for small group tonight (still not feeling 100%) while I figure out which deals are the ones I need to get this week.  I am thankful for the legwork being done for me (the coupon matchups).  Lesson: work smarter, not harder. 

I'll let you know how it goes.  Think it'll be Target, Walgreens and Jewell (my fav) if I can make it to all 3 this week.  

Couponer?

So, as you know, I hate grocery shopping (see previous blog).  I seem to do pretty well with keeping our family's grocery budget to a minimum.  I spend about $350/month that does not include eating out or school lunches (probably around $400/month in the summer).  I do however, want to save more (don't we all?!) so I've decided to give couponing a try.  I know, I know, you've seen those crazy people who are filling bathtubs and their children's bedrooms with unecessary items that will take them 25 years to use, but I don't want to be that extreme.  I just want to save more and be able to donate more. 

So far, I've been quite frustrated with the whole deal.  I go to couponing websites to find the coupon match-ups for what's also on sale/has a store coupon with which you can stack to get better deals.  I print off those printable coupons.  I make a detailed list in excel of what I will buy.  And all I usually get is a stress headache and not enough savings as to make it worth it. 

But, I'm not giving up.  I went to a class to learn more about couponing.  And I did!  I learned how to be more efficient in my organization and preparation.  I also learned that I may have to go to more than one store/week to get the best deals--yeah, probably not going to do that (did I mention my last blog and hating grocery shopping?) 

I used to hate cooking though.  Hated how long it takes and how messy it was (just more to do after!) and how quickly it was gone.  Let alone how soon I'd just have to do it all again (Mom, I'm huuungry!!!).  However, thanks to some great recipes and inspiration from my sister (here's her blog ourgatheringtable.com), I actually enjoy cooking and entertaining more, so perhaps once I get more into couponing I'll like it more. 

Right now, the goal is to be able to put more money toward paying off debt (goal is to be debt-free excluding the mortgage by 2013).  I also want to be able to give more to local food pantries and shelters, so anything I can get extra of that we won't need I plan to donate.  If I can save about half, or $200, I'd be a happy woman! 

So, don't look here to find any fantastic deals or probably not even run-downs of what I bought where, but I will keep you updated as to any tricks I find helpful along the way and how well I'm doing.  If you want more information on details, let me know and I'd be happy to help you out.  I can't spend my life on the computer looking for/trying to get deals/printing coupons.  I also can't spend it in grocery stores trying to save a buck--my time is more valuable than that.  I have 4.5 babies to raise :-) 

Grocery shopping = awful night

I H-A-T-E grocery shopping.  Loath it.  Cannot stand it and it's SO much harder with 4 kids in tow.  Case in point: last week.  I had all 4 kids and we were out of nearly everything (a common occurrence around here--how do we eat so much!?), so we had to make a trip to the grocery store.  I had my handy-dandy excel spreadsheet with my coupon matchups and my coupons in hand...coupon organizer...purse...childrens' grubby hands.  We have a limited amount of time bc that's how I roll most of the time. 

Here is a quick snapshot of the conversations happening repeatedly between me and the 4 monkies in the 1 hour it took to get everything for 2 weeks and get out the door:
Mom, can we get this?
No.
Why?
Because it's not good for us.
Does it have high fructose corn syrup (hfcs) in it?
Yes.
Stop kicking your brother.
Put that back. 
Why are your shoes off?
Get the cart disinfectant wipe off of your mouth!
Mom, can we get this? 
No. 
Why?  Does it have hfcs in it?
No.
Then why?
Because it costs too much.
Just use your debit card.
It doesn't work like that.
Stop eating the grapes.
Why? 
We haven't paid for them yet. 
But you let us open and eat crakers once.
Sit down in the cart.
Stop singing so loud.
Stay over here. 
Please keep your hands to yourself.  (I'd like to think I said please anyway ;-)

I think you get the picture.

We rushed from the store to the library to drop something off to home.  Calling my DH, I realize that he's forgotten about the 5 o'clock game and is still working 1 hour away--so much for help.  While the 3 oldest all rounded up their gear for a baseball game for the oldest followed by soccer practice for the middle two I put away the cold stuff, packed the cooler with dinner and we headed for the pony field. Perfect.  10 minutes to get there-no problem. 

Shoot.  The baseball bag is in the back of Daddy's truck--can't you play without your glove, hat, bat, helmet and cup? 

So, I headed the wrong direction to the shop to get the baseball bag out of the truck.  What's that light on the dash?   As I'm getting ready to turn into the parking lot at the field, I lose all acceleration and coast in on fumes.  Now, we're 15 minutes late (as the game is starting) and thus 15 minutes late for my shift in the concession stand.  Calling the DH again, I tell him to arrive asap with gas tank in hand. (it is his fault I ran out of gas, right? ;-)

I drop the kids and their dinner with the in-laws who have been waiting for us to arrive (thank God they were there!!) and head for the concession stand.  Phew, everyone's happy nice and forgiving that I'm late.

Weird akwardness for the next 2 hours as I work with strangers whose names I don't know to fill the unhealthy desires of all the pony leaguers and their fans.  Nothing looked good to me in there...and I'm pregnant and I haven't eaten dinner...and usually everything looks/smells good to me. 

DH has already left with all 4 kids to head to soccer practice.  A moment of peace.  A beautiful night. 

I stopped to chat with a friend for a minute that turned into 30.  I got into the car to find my cell phone sitting on the seat.  Whoops, forgot to take it with me.  And a it has a dozen missed calls/ alerts (it's a Nextel) and messages. 

Uh-oh.  The 2yo has had an accident (#2) at the park and Daddy's frantic.  Fortunately, he has already remedied the situation with paper towels and windex (always has those in his truck to keep those windows clean), threw away the undies and sent the oldest back to the house for clean clothes (only time he's been allowed to go that far without an adult!). 

I am so thankful my car starts (thanks to DH) and I head home to bathe the kids and pop them into bed.  (I'm still reaping the "benefits" of DH having to deal with that mess on his own--"You're turn.  Remember the park?")  Now, I get to finally put away the rest of the groceries.  And dang-it, why didn't I get any chocolate?