crafting..

Lately I have had the great joy of becoming friends once again with my Singer Simple sewing machine. Now that I have a sewing machine I have been making even more things for my home. There for a few years with my husband deployed all I did was hand sewing... a wonderful time consumer. In high school, I remember making my own skirts, bags, even shoes... I was a little strange. Now I am probably even more of an oddity, I make my children's clothing, and many of my own. Toys, blankets, diapers, wash clothes... so much of it now is handmade. I was amazed when I came across people doing this and making books about the things we maternal folk love so much. I was so pleased with the ideas this encourages, that I bought Amanda Soule's newest book, the Handmade Home. I love to support women as they follow their hearts, whether that be in their home or their career.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Shoulder bag made for C's first night at Children's meeting.

C's Quilted pillowcase for her birthday.

Little Elephant puppet toy for the kids.



Toy blocks for babies.

Wash clothes for babes. These will need some friends in a couple days.

fasting from house searches....

My husband and I made a pact that we would take a break from house hunting untill the end of August. I did not realize how much of my time I gave over to simply running through the searches once a day. Realtor, criagslist, Howard and Hannah, Remax, da, da, da, da,da... amazing how many of those there are to filter through. But we seem to get to this point every three months or so where we have travelled out to a house after house only to be let down and deside just to step back for a bit and give ourselves some breathing room from the whole concept of house and land. So here is to staying home and relaxing with babies as opposed to running house searches!

House Hunting....

Our househunting today consisted of driving 45 minutes out of town, tromping around a tiny plot of land with a falling in house on it and making the long trek back to our downtown spot... I have to admit it gets frustrating putting all these miles behind us just to see a let down, (even if the property was gorgeous). But I am reminded of what Edison said :I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Not helpful, but encouraging... so, more encouragement

This, This, and This

better luck later!!

no good at blogs??

So I am not surprised to find that I am no good at blogs. I have spent a year having babies, caring for babies, taking classes, moving, and switching careers. No wonder I have not been blogging huh? On top of these small endeavors, we did our first *tiny* garden, I began making the majority of our families clothing, and we have continued our hunt for the perfect home for us. I started this blog to chronicle our search for home, independence, and a return to the simpler life of years passed, we are making our changes.... slowly. Right now, we still live in downtown, not an ideal location for raising children (or chickens... downright impossible). But we want our kids to grow up knowing how to care for themselves, how to mend and cook and grow. So here are a few pictures of training our children, with what we have for the time being. (the picture above is of our small, but very much appreciated, vegetable crop. This was my pride and joy pumpkin... love love love it!!)

more surgery

Alot has happened in a very short period of time. We found out my soon-to-be-born son was in breech position at 35 weeks. At 36 they said he had turned. At 37 they said no he didn't and at 38 (to the day) my water broke. They had wanted to schedule a c-section after the External version was unsuccessful to get the baby to turn. We simply did not have time because my water broke 2 days afterwards. We were faced with the awful choice of Cesarean or breech birth. Steven was beside himself, in his head all he heard was breech birth loose the baby, C-section loose the wife. Neither of us was prepared for a c-section since my first labor had gone so smoothly. But that is what we ended up choosing. We tried to goof around with the silly outfits and the thermometer on my forehead but we were both nervous. I was terrified of the catheter of all things. But my mother came to be with steve, and they took me back for the epidural. Steve came in and stayed with me. We heard the baby cry and we both smiled and laughed. He was beautiful. The recovery so far has been a piece of cake compared to my natural delivery last time. My husband is stretched to his limit. We just bought a new Journey to have room for the kids, the prius was a joke with 2 car seats and a dog. I already miss my car. Steve also has the NCO board to try to become a Sergeant. I am really proud of him for all the studying he has done. I know he is stressed and I am really trying to help him out. ahh life is stressful, and wonderful all at the same time. It is raining a gorgeous rain here in upstate New york and there is nothing I would rather see right now than a thunderstorm (besides my husband that is.)

Surgery

Steven's surgery was last Tuesday. His clavicle had almost an inch of bone burned off the end of it. I was terrified, he, was as cool as cucumber. Until we headed home of course. It took forever to clear from work, and get his RX filled. He also had a drip of Novocaine into the surgery site. So after about 2 days of constant Pain medications, Ice and sleeping, we headed back to the Dr. They said his arm looks great and he could even shower... I was thrilled. Unfortunately, that did not mean he could wash himself. But he has been fantastic to have around. Especially tonight. Catherine choked herself on a piece of ramen and was wheezing and if my wonderful husband had not been here I have no idea what I would have done. I kept crying and leaving the room. Thankfully, it was not nearly as bad as either of us was thinking it was. She coughed up the piece within a couple seconds and was improving, but I had already called 911. Of course it took them 20 minutes to get here and by then she was singing and dancing and thinking life was fine and I was a wreck and Steve was getting more meds in his system.. he had used the surgery arm for the heimlich. Terrible night, but it really shows how much I love for Steve to be around. He keeps everything together for me when I can't. He is simply amazing!

I think should have noticed it before, but tonight was the first time a realized something was off. Catherine was in her bath and Steve is in the field for another week and there I was sitting cross-legged on the floor reading Cate her nightly book. Tonight it was Tao Te Ching. Catherine is not even 2. The last book we read together... Leaves of Grass, and All of Shakespears Sonnets before that. When did I become the Smoothie-sipping, Early-morning-rising, Martha-stewart yoga-mommy?? Maybe I really feeled pushed to do so much and be so on top of everything because Steve really still is not home. Last week the one night we had any time to sit and talk we came to the conclusion that this is worse than deployment. We miss each other so much more than while he was gone because now, he has no set schedule, and when he is home is too exausted to help out or even hang out. He tried to send me home last month to have The baby, because he wanted to make sure someone was there to help and he doesnt think he can. But I know I simply could not leave him now, even if he does sleep all the time I see him.