FAITH

A fantastic VBA3C   :)

-vaginal birth after 3 cesareans-

I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Never A Dull Moment

Actually, there are dull moments around here.

Take today for example.

I have been sick. VERY sick, all day. The most excitement we have seen today was the boys forts and subsequent war in the living and family rooms.

Until this evening.

When my Noelle called.

I could not speak with her for a lack of a voice (I told the boys I lost my voice and Presley asked me where was the last place I had it) so Josiah said that Noelle wanted me to check out her blog. 

That I can do.

So I read the latest post...in the life of the Griggs...who NEVER have a dull moment. 

E-V-E-R

This was no exception.

And it was so funny, so classic, so....typical..... that I have to pass it on.

And so ironic. My little, tiny Noelle. The sweet, homeschooled, Christian, virginal until married Noelle. (her and Jon actual shared their first kiss -at the alter- when they got married. YEAH)

So this is just the most hysterical thing I have ever heard of. Enjoy!!!

Jon and Noelle's life on a farm blog

"LJ"

Laz....LJ...LazJude...Lazzy....whatever we call him, he smiles and laughs  :)

My sweets!

His new favorite thing is climbing the stairs.

ROCK ON

The ever present tongue.

The boys were singing karaoke and Laz decided to join in! Apparently the taste of the microphone cord was far more exciting than singing.

See all those teeth?! 6 already!!!

VBAC of Twins!

A really sweet, modest video of a mom giving birth to twins.

At home. 

After having a previous c-section. 

Enjoy!

I Have Been Tagged

....by my darling Audrey.

And apparently I have to write 7 random things about myself. Then tag someone else.

Okay, here goes:

1.) I am chlosterphobic. To the point where it is difficult at times to even wear closed shoes like boots, running shoes, etc. so I tend to wear flip flops or Chacos all the time. Even in winter. Even in snow.

Yeah.

I also cannot hold hubby's hand in a certain way unless my hand is on top and slightly open. Otherwise I feel trapped and cannot handle it. And being the hilarious man that he is, Josiah will sometimes grab my hand and hold it tight just to see what happens. HA. HA. HA.

2.) I am really good at finding bargains. It is a thrill for me to go shop for something and see just how cheap I can get it. And when I see the cheapest price I will ask for a manager and make him a cash offer for it...even cheaper. No, hubby will not go shopping with me. I mortify him. However, he is quite happy with the deals I get!

3.) I love to cook. Anything and everything. I love trying new recipes, making my own recipes and perfecting the old favorites. The only catch...I HATE cleaning the kitchen afterwards!!! I will spend all day cooking a gourmet meal(s) no problem, but when it comes time to clean I balk at the idea and put if off as long as possible.

So if you happen to "drop by" my house without giving me an hour (minimum) lead time you will probably find a dirty kitchen. But I will be able to feed you well! 

4.) I am going to write a book one day. And when I do I will solicit YOU to purchase a copy.

Just giving you a heads up!!!

5.) Josiah and I want to adopt one day. Seriously, we really do. We are praying about when, where and how many (we would love siblings)...and funds...so if you want to donate towards the cause feel free.

 The Bible says we are to take care of the orphans and widows...and we believe that means to take them into our home and share the Gospel with them. So if you ever hear Josiah or myself refer to "buying our daughter" this is what we mean. Yes, we would take a boy as well, but we do joke about a girl.

6.) Now your wondering if I will ever push out any more babies. Wellllll...........I would love to. I really REALY would. However, due to the complex nature of my extremely sensitive body my husband does not feel comfortable with me being pregnant again. (read Lazarus's birth story to learn more about what I went through to have the little guy)

SO, although I would love to have more kids, I am not sure that will ever happen. 

We always wanted a large family and we really do not have a "number" on our kids.

But then again, I am only 30...so who knows what the Lord has for me?!  :)

7.) I am getting  a new Yukon!!!!! By "new" I mean new to us. It is a few years old but in perfect mint condition. My mama mini van is on it's last leg (161,000 miles) and we have been praying about what to do. We have committed to no longer use debt so we were kinda wondering what the Lord had in mind for our next car. Thankfully, He has a plan that we know nothing about and had already set in motion the events that have led up to this.

My in-laws are the ones that own the Yukon and will no longer be needing it, so they made us a fabulous deal that does not require us to go into debt. Praise the Lord for His provision! 

So in the next few weeks I will be getting it and will post pictures of the beautiful thang. 

Yeah baby.

Sooooo....I am "tagging" Angela, Jenn Bailey, Natalie, Noelle , Courtney  and   Melissa

If I know you and you are offended as to why I did not tag you, then consider yourself tagged  :)

Just let me know!

Fill out this Birth Survey!!!

The long anticipated Birth Survey has officially launched!

Go HERE to read about it and fill it out.

EVERY MOM who has given birth in the past 3 years needs to do her part and help the other moms coming along after her! Whatever kind of birth you have had...natural, c-section, hospital, home, birth center...your experience is vital to help others during this special time in their lives.

It took me about 15 minutes to complete, however, if you get started and then need to stop you can save where you are and come back later. 

Apparently there are so many people filling it out that it can sometimes load kinda slow. There were only 2 or 3 pages that I had to wait over 20 seconds to fully load...so be patient and hang in there.

Let me know how it goes for you!!!

Please be in prayer....

I was homeschooled.

From 4th grade till I graduated and went to college. 

When I was a teenager I went to several homeschool training conferences all across the USA. One such place was in Indiana. I was only there two weeks, but I met a wonderful girl named Casey. She was from Alaska and I always thought that was SO cool. We were instant friends and kept in touch over many years. We lost touch sometime a few years ago, but last week I was reconnected with her through Facebook. As it turned out, she was pregnant with her first child, a son, named Asher. Asher had been diagnosed with Omphalocele and the family was anxiously awaiting his birthday...August 27th. She was going to have a cesarean to ensure a gentle delivery for Asher.  The amnio had given good news and the doctors seemed very upbeat about his condition and prognosis.

On August 9th Casey's water broke.

You can read the specific events here at Casey's blog, but she went in, had the c-section, and Asher passed away shortly after. This was a shock to all.

He was a beautiful baby boy, weighing 5.5 lbs with a dark head of hair.

Casey and her husband Dan are obviously grieving the loss of their son, but are rejoicing in the fact that he is safe in the arm's of Jesus at this moment!

I am grieving as well. I almost cannot function in my daily tasks. My heart is so heavy for this family! I have cried for days...and yet I am amazed at the peace the Lord has given them through this time...and I am sure that I could not handle something like this with such trust. On the one hand I am jealous at the closeness they have found to Christ, but on the other I do not think I could survive going through it myself.

I spoke with my friend Corey yesterday (her son Larson passed away at 23 hours of age 6 months ago) about the whole thing and she was so encouraging and willing to help this family. She told me about what she has been through and how faithful our God is to see us through! Personally it strengthens my own faith to see His work in the lives of those around me.

My dear Audrey lost her son Jacob at 6 hours of age 5 years ago. I have also seen God's hand in her life so clearly since then. Her trust and her faith is such a blessing to me!

So here I am...numb from the pain. Wanting to run outside screaming MY FRIEND JUST LOST HER SON!!! HOW CAN YOU BE CONCERNED WITH DAILY LIFE?

I feel this way as well. Why am I upset that my floor needs mopping? That my laundry needs folding? Don't they realize that a tragedy has occurred?

And yet I will go on with life...and my tears will go into His hand. And I will still praise His name through this storm...and know that He is seeing me through. And Casey through. And Corey through. And Audrey through. 

I will rejoice when they rejoice and I will weep when they weep.

my 30th birthday

August 10th is a very special day in history...it is the day that I was born  :)  

(to corny? sorry)

This year my birthday began a day prior...when I was treated to a hot volcanic stone massage and a Shirodhara scalp massage at a day spa.

Ummm...YEAH BABY. Hello 30's!

Yesterday my hubby took me to breakfast and then watched all the kids while I went to church...ALONE. (for a mom of 5 sons this is a large privilege). No cooking. No dressing the kids. No refereeing in church.

Just me and God  :)

After church my mommy took me out to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. We had a wonderful time...not to mention a delicious salmon.

Afterwards the boyz wanted to take me somewhere special...so we loaded up and went to play Laser Tag! It was actually a ton of fun and a great workout  :)

Then...NAP TIME. OH YES. Again...a rare privilege around here! I slept for 2 hours. It was fantastic.

Josiah made dinner for the whole family (his famous spaghetti and meatballs) and we all watched the Olympics. The kids are really into them this year and we had a blast seeing the men's swimteam win the gold in the relay...after the Frenchies were talking trash about us. HA! (oops...pride...)

In the midst of the Olympics we did icecream and cake...my favorite...carrot cake!

It was a wonderful, relaxing, fun weekend and a great way to usher in the next decade.

laser tag

My birthday cake...with an OVER THE HILL candle.

WHATEVER!

Me...upon seeing the candle.

WHATEVER.

Two parents, both over 30!!!

Oh yeah...I dyed my hair R-E-D  :)

My Mama and my Laz. Look closely and you can see his new top teeth!

Ethan and Kell. Ethan is saying, "The beach is THAT WAY"   :)

Our beautiful Tarin

Laz waving at me...his new thing is waving ALL the time. It is precious!

the king...Presley Solomon...the king of cake

the whole family

Mommy and Tarin

My beautiful mother and I

Isn't she gorgeous? I have great genes  :)

Lazzzzzz

Trying to grab the camera. my attempt at an "artsy" shot. YEAH.

The Abortion Debate Continues...in a different way

It seems that the debate concerning pregnancy/abortion has taken an interesting turn.  See the video below for details, but in a nut shell ("Help! I'm in a nutshell!") there is a proposal that outlines abortion as anything that interferes with a baby being born...from conception to birth. 

Some define pregnancy as "from conception" and some "from implantation"...and as science has gotten more precise I doubt there are many who would describe a growing baby in the womb as a "blob of tissue" as they used to say....however the debate now is WHEN life begins. Fertilization? Implantation? A heartbeat? Viability outside the womb?

The Bible says the the Lord knits us together inside the womb.

God is the orchestrator of ALL life.

So the question is:

Should drugs or devices that cause a mom to not have the baby that was fertilized in her womb be considered as an abortion?

This video raises that question and points out the fact that "the pill", IUD's and the morning after pill all cause a fertilized egg to be aborted. Should a health care worked be disciplined for not wanting to participate in anything that would cause an abortion; including prescribing these drugs/devices?

Interesting. My stance is, I am sure, obvious. These things do cause abortions and although they are popular and widely used, the right thing under God is what matters, not popularity. I do not feel that a person should be put in the position of losing his/her job if they do not comply with an abortion causing procedure.

It is also interesting to me that after SO many years it is being noticed that the pill does cause abortions. Do you know how many people have told me I am insane for saying that? That if the pill really did cause an abortion then there would be millions of women not taking it. That if it did cause abortions then preachers all across the land would preach against it's use.

Riiiight.

This assumes that people care more about what is right than being popular.

They don't.

CNN Video

Anniversary and the Boyzzzzzz

Josiah and I went to Texas de Brazil for our 12th anniversary last weekend. As usual, the food was outta this world. 

(or...at least this country. HA!!!)

The lovebirds

After dinner we went to Outdoor World.

Yeah.

Don't feel to sorry for me yet...they have some really awesome stuff, including some SWEET Keen bags!!! 

Sitting in a $35,000 pontoon boat. I'm thinking that payment would take the fun right out of it!

My man getting some "practice" in on the shooting range. He did very well....especially compared to me. I usually shoot better than him (grew up shooting all my life) but this time the gun I used had NO SIGHTS on it. Sooo....I lost  :(

I know.

A REAL woman would have been able to beat him without sights.

*sigh*

At -almost- 30 I am losing my edge.

I snapped a few pictures of the kiddies playing today. 

I love this picture!!! It just so accurately depicts everyday life around here.  :)

New Favorite Blog...

...and it has nothing to do with birth!

-well, except for that ONE-

I have spent far to much time looking and laughing hysterically at this site...so enjoy!!!

Cake Wrecks

A New Baby!!!

There will be another addition to the family come next March.

Our little Courtney is pregnant!!!

She is "due"  (ha)  at the end of March 2009. Hannah will have just turned 2 years old.

We are all SO SO SO stoked...and will be out to Georgia in March to welcome the new baby!

I cannot contain my enthusiasm...as usual.  Yippee!!!

12 Years

Yesterday, August 3rd, Josiah and I celebrated our 12th anniversary! Whoo-Hoo!

Pictures soon...gotta go cook dinna.

Just wanted to say happy anniversary to US!!!! Praise the Lord for His goodness and love towards our family.

the past 2 weeks

here are a few pictures from the past two weeks....

my baby is 7 months old.

SEVEN MONTHS OLD!!!

he rolls, crawls, waves, says "mama" (or at least what i translate to be mama), reaches for me  :), has two bottom teeth and one new top tooth.

i am so in LOVE  :)

our most beautiful, precious baby boy!!! the slobber all over his face is a small indicator of the teeth that cut through the next night. yeah, NIGHT. he now has a tiny top tooth peaking through!

celebrating Jon's 30th birthday!!! this was just a few night's before they headed home  :(

the birthday dinner....Italian wedding soup. YUM-O

the birthday boy...er, old man  :)

my handsome birthday boy...with his "cool" smile, of course

ethan is 11 years old...however, i forgot the rest of the candles (bad mommy!). he did not mind, though...he is such a sweetheart!

mr presley solomon

kell and brennah

on a date with the hot hubby

walking out into the mall parking lot to the car....seeing the sunset. 

hey, SOMEONE has got to live in Paradise!

my tall tarin  :)

my friend christy and i took our oldest kids to see Shakespeare's "As You Like It."

the kids LOVED it and ethan cannot wait to go see another play again! 

tarin using his brain to swim around the pool with little effort.

Laughter

While at a friends home last weekend we were introduced to a comedian named Tim Hawkins.

This guy is HYSTERICAL.

He sings some really funny songs as well ripped straight from today top 20 (like that?!) So go to his site and watch the Homeschool song and the Cletus Take the Wheel song (yes, sung to the Carried Underwood song). You can also get on Youtube and see a bunch more of his stuff.

One of my favs:

I Don't Drink Beer

Sung to the Steven Curtis Chapman song from years ago.

And don't miss Kid's Rock.

Just funny, clean stuff. My kids enjoyed it...especially the Cletus song. Yes, considered sacrilege to some to make fun of Carrie Underwood...but considered comedy by others (me).

Well, I am off to bleach some more stuff.....if I die of cancer you know who to blame.

 THE MICE.

I'm Outta Commission...

....I have no internet. Well, basically none to speak of.

I am not living in my house anymore.

I cannot handle it.

"It"....being the mice that are now running amuck in our household.

So all the kids and I (and Josiah when he is off work) are staying at his mother's house down the road. She is not living there at the moment and has graciously offered to let us stay there until the "problem" is Taken. Care. Of.  (that is code for KILLED)

I seriously have no idea where this "issue" came from. I cannot live with rodents. Sorry!

So now I am in a two bedroom condo...within walking distance to the library and our favorite park...and is completely mice-free.

11 years ago....

...I was snuggling with my brand new son!  :)

Ethan was born on July 17th at 12:30 a.m.

I had a waterbirth at home, which saved me from a c-section. I doubt any doc would have "let" me labor for 44 hours! I LOVED my birth and wanted the freedom to labor and birth as needed. I had that freedom and the result was a very strong, confident 19 year old who became a staunch advocate of a moms right to labor and birth as she wishes. Within that first year I became a childbirth educator, labor doula and a midwife's apprentice/assistant and was well on my way to becoming a midwife.

Ethan Chandler weighed 10 pounds...a hefty size considering the doctor told me I was "to small" to give birth vaginally to any baby over 7ish pounds. (how did he know that at 6 weeks of pregnancy?) 

My "little" baby was 22 3/4 inches long!!! Poor little guy never even fit into newborn clothes or diapers. He was a chunky monkey. Years later my dear hubby admitted to me that he was worried that we would have to send Ethan to "fat kids camp" because he was so big. Naturally, this made me SO mad since Ethan was fully breastfed till about 9-10 months old and all that fat was normal. Josiah knows better now...believe me  :)

So today we will be celebrate my baby being 11. Bittersweet, letmetellya. 

Ethan is a fantastic kid. He is kind, helpful, sensitive, smart, a wonderful big brother, gentle, obedient and a JOY to have in our home. He brings us laughter with his dry humor...he always has a soft answer...he cries with those who are hurt and he laughs with those who are merry...he is a true friend to his family and beyond. I love him with every fiber of my being and I count myself blessed by the Lord to have him as a son...to be entrusted with his upbringing, his education and his manhood. I pray that the Lord will give me the strength, courage, patience and wisdom to bring him up in the teaching of the Lord and to prepare him to someday have his own family. 

11 years.

What will the next 11 years hold???

11 years ago....

...still laboring. 

Ethan was posterior so labor took far longer than normal. I also had back labor until about hour 40 so that was not to fun...but I prayed that the Lord would have mercy on us and turn the baby into the right position...and a few moments later, while walking through the living room, I felt him turn...and from that moment labor took off like a runaway train and he was born in the perfect position!

But right now -9:55 p.m.- I am still in labor....in the warm birthpool (in the kitchen!)...about an hour away from starting to push......we are at hour 42 1/2 now.

11 years ago....

....you guessed it! S-T-I-L-L in labor! Oh, but was he worth it!!!  :)

We are around hour #34 right now....only about 10 more hours to go! Yippee!!!

11 years ago....

....I was STILL in labor!!! Hour #28.