Guess Who? Post Partum Aunt Flo

I took my temp this am and it was only 97.4 and then as I rolled over, I felt wettish(tmi) and sure enough, I started af sometime during the night, ugh but YAY! my LP(lutuel phase) was beautiful for a first lp, lasting 12 days. So PPAF is here full force, very red and heavy, bleh......cant wait to O(ovulate) again and I am calling the dr today to get P supps to start at 3dpo(days past ovulation) maybe this cycle. I am so shocked because I kept thinking maybe i didnt really o since my LP was lasting so long and I seriously nurse round the clock 15+ times every 24 hours. some nights she sttn(sleeps throught the night), but lately she hasnt been so who knows! I guess I am lucky enough to have a high threshold for nursing and still getting AF(aunt flo). One thing is certain, this AF is killing my nips....youch~ As for ttc, I dont want to be back in that trap so I am chillin out again. In fact I dont really wanna deal with it right now so no more obsessing from me! Kenna is still small and I know my first cycles will be wacky and lengthy and I dont have the time or energy to put into it right now. Time to screw my head back on straight lol! My first post partum cycle after Tanner, i oed on cd36 so it will be a long while before I have to worry about testing and whatnot anyhow. I am sooo over it!!!!

My crazy kids and I! Just some pics

modeling her new swimsuit
art/drawing/self
EEEK

uh...huh? lol
my pretty girl
me eek self pic

Nanner and Nenna
Painted the baby piggies
me, smiling with teeth, rare!!!!

Crazy kayla
Wyatt HAHAAHA
Nenna and her nursies

What Peaceful Parenting Looks Like for LDS too

"I want to try peaceful parenting but I don't know where to start." -Cyndi

Well I would watch these youtube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as24S1Zs8SM they are short http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-CiEeLzZYE and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFBFX-m3YFs and start with throwing out discipline and then working your way into other areas like quitting limiting TV or food, etc.You can adjust it an stop where your family is comfortable. some families may choose not to have TV or may still limit video games or bedtime or have a chore time each day or what have you, that is what makes each family unique! Dont not try peaceful parenting because there are a few areas you dont agree with, just keep those areas how they are if everyone likes it. First just pick one area, master it and move on. Its a process. It will be about 2 weeks of craziness probably and when/if you remain serious and really peaceful, always viewing the situations from their limited knowledge of things, you wont see them as a bad child needing punished, but a frustrated child needing gentle guidance. Ex: Everett bit Tanner today. Punitive parenting would tell me to spank him, bite him back, naughty spot him or time him out. Peaceful parenting told me to go to him calmly after seeing to Tanners wound and ask him why he bit his brother. He says, "he broke my lego airplane so I bit him." I asked him what he could do differently next time instead of biting and he replies, "ummm, come tell you." I then asked him what he could do to make the situation better and he says, "sorry Tanner, want me to make you your own lego plane?" Tanner tells him he does and he follows through on his own terms. Not all situations will resolve as peacefully as they dont always even with adults. Kids are people too, we dont own them, we have them for a short time and guide them to go into the world. And dont beat yourself up at first. As Dayna told me, "if you are being the parent you WANT to be, 51% of the time, you are doing great" beating out the punitive parenting inch by inch and making a huge difference for your kids. you will notice your blood pressure completely quits raising in this lifestyle if you are doing it correctly. Life will be good, easy, joyful, mindful, in the moment and fun. This lifestyle takes more creativity. EX: Wyatt kept showing his boy parts in the park to my friends when he was mad. I called Dayna and asked her advice about this and she gave me the idea and it worked! I finally told him after a playdate, "Wyatt, you know when we get older, the police could get called and you can go to jail for indecent exposure." he seemed shocked and I was very matter of fact with it........ carefully so as not to put him on the defense and make him shut down and wouldnt you know, he hasnt shown his parts in over a month now! I also resolved our buckling seat belt issue. I showed the kids some "cool" youtube videos of real people flying out and being ran over and their guts all over and brains being smashed etc. They thought it was pretty cool/sick. I then asked Everett(biggest offender) if he wanted to be the carseat safety officer. He was thrilled to pieces and takes his job ever so seriously and everyone is buckled now. We are all thrilled and he reminds any offenders(nonbuckled) that they could end up like the youtube guys lol! So there you have it, some peaceful ideas. No the videos werent peaceful per say, but they were real and everyone appreciated them in some sick sorta way lol. Its not just the kids' way all day, its meeting everyone's needs together through compromise and peacefully.

What the LDS church says about peaceful parenting

http://www.lds.org/hf/library/0,16866,4227-1,00.html?LibraryURL=/Curriculum/home%20and%20family.htm/family%20home%20evening%20resource%20book.htm/building%20a%20strong%20family.htm/helping%20family%20members%20live%20the%20gospel.htm

Sometimes we think that some five-second formula or recipe will effectively change a family member's behavior. Long-term change, however, comes only from living correct principles. The Lord told priesthood bearers how the power and influence of the priesthood should be used (see D&C 121:4146). We can use some of the things he mentioned, such as persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned to teach and guide our children and others. In contrast, using sarcasm, intimidation, force, impatience, irritability or anger, harshness, and pride will neither teach children proper values nor help them change their behavior. In fact, we know that it is Satan, not Heavenly Father, who wants us to use force and hostility.
We can learn to be better parents by studying the scriptures to see how Heavenly Father deals with his children. We can also learn how not to act by observing Satan's methods. What can you learn from the following chart to help you be a better parent.

The Lord's Way VS
Satan's Way

Lord: Love unfeigned—charity, caring for others' welfare despite any wrongdoing.
Satan: Physical force—being hostile and unfairly using physical strength.
Lord: Acceptance—seeing others in eternal perspective, judging with compassion.
Satan; Blame—condemning others' faults without compassion.
Lord: Integrity—being honest, a personal commitment to righteousness.
Satan: Accusation—provoking guilt, reminding people of their mistakes to punish them and justify oneself.
Lord: Persuasion—teaching with compassion, kindly pointing out advantages and disadvantages of situations.
Satan: Intimidation—ruling by fear because others are afraid of one's power.
Lord: Gentleness—soft, not treating others harshly.
Satan: Threat—expressing an intent to physically or emotionally harm someone.
Lord: Trust—lovingly allowing others to exercise their agency to choose right or wrong and to accept the consequences.
Satan: Pride—self-righteously preaching moral truths and condemning others.
Lord: Responsibility—acknowledging and assuming your role in any situation including repenting for past wrongdoing.
Satan: Self-centeredness—refusing to accept responsibility for your actions.
Lord: Meekness—humility, uncomplaining, and teachable
Satan: Haughtiness—being unteachable, proud, and pessimistic.

Back to Peaceful Parenting

Okay I am highly discouraged with myself. I have resorted to punitive parenting over the past week as I was having some self-doubt about my abilities as a mother-stupid hormones. I have spoken to the kids this morning and we are back to our plan. I am modeling by being peaceful and living joyfully and praying they will as well. I realize why this happened last week and I am glad I caught it and got back on track. I was under too much stress last week, Wyatt has been going to the Drs to get his diagnosis for Aspergers so we can do all we can to make sure he has every opportunity possible, my sister had a 10 hour back surgery, we had a playdate with like 15 kids here Wednesday, we went to the park several times, tball, brownies, church, home teaching, still on a crappy budget that I cant stand and of course, my hormones playing wacky games with me so here I stand, determined to fix it, to make right what I wronged and do better. Yelling and threatening has ended up backfiring and causing me more stress. Our home became a place I wanted to escape just a few hours ago. With a shift in focus, its back to peaceful and I have to remain in the moment and aware to keep it this way. I worked out, some of the kids are playing a game with silverware and hiding and finding it and counting it and paying money to each other for it. The other ones are playing legos. Life is nice this way. I am off to make lunch, shower and read some "Little House on the Prairie." This goes to show that if we stay aware, correct our behavior, the whole house can change dramatically in a matter of minutes!

Tired Tanner

So I thought this was strange. He got out of the bath last night and gasp** dressed himself (so not like him for anyone who knows about his nakey obsessions) and went to the living room. Meanwhile, I was finishing baths for the rest of the kids. I walk into the living room a lil later only to find him passed out cold on the middle of the floor. My sweet boy never sleeps like that so I knew something was up. Sure enough, he wakes one hour later screaming he had an earache and was up and down half the night, poooor Tanimal!(his nickname, tanner the animal=Tanimal!)

Feel like a looser blogger lol

I have been incredibly busy so my blog has been a tad neglected. I promise to get back to writing next week so watch for updates. As for today, my 17yo sis is in a 10 hour surgery to correct her 69degree scoliosis. They are breaking and removing ribs, bone graphing and placing a rod so my mind is elsewhere and I am a nervous wreck, but staying strong for my mom who isnt coping as well. I am sitting here like a ticking timebomb waiting for Nate to get off work and take over the kids so I can go down there. I am just so nervous. Anyhow, 8dpo today, a lil early for testing, though I have gotton a+ this early before.....but with the circumstance, I figure its tasteless to worry about that today. I will test sometime this weekend or Monday if I dont have time over the weekend. I am just worried sick, I( I think thats where the exhaustion and nausea is coming from in all honesty!)

Kennanennapoo

She went for her NON vax 6 month check up at 7 months and shes.....drumroll please....... 15.5 pounds! Shes a petite lil peanut to be weighing that at 7 months. She seems to be following Everett's birdman pattern:) We love her to peices, all 15 pounds of her! hehe. She is sitting well and going on all 4s as if she will crawl soon. Oh and 6 days post ovulation today and my body seems rather quiet, I really hope PPAF doesnt show. Time will tell, I just glad my LP has held out this long thus far. Some women start AF 5 days after PPO because of an LP defect so I will be thrilled to make 8-10 days or ummmm 9 months!

2 DPO with my first PPO

I am utterly shocked and thrilled at the same time. I had been emotional all week, breaking out, bloated, just not feeling myself so Thursday we were frisky and Friday morning I woke up and took an OPK because I felt so funny still and sure enough, a VERY bold positive on the OPK.I have never had such a dark + opk before. I had major cramping Thursday night so I am guessing thats when the egg actually popped. I guess the bliss of post partum ammenorhea can't last forever and now Kenna may be on her way to being a big sis. I do worry about being preggo/nursing and my low P, but I trust in Heavenly Father to provide knowledge to the Drs to keep this bean inside and well for near 40 weeks if it so happens I am pregnant. I will know in about 8-10 days! I will keep ya posted ;) Pray we are preggs and the lil bean sticks if you dont mind. Thank you!

Dave Ramsey update

Well, we are down to owing 12,900 bucks as of Wednesday.........its taking forever! As of may 7th, that number will drop to somewhere around 7,900 because we have a lot of extra cash coming in between now and the7th. I cant wait til we are down to only owing that!

Sure I Beleive in Modesty, but Kenna needs to eat!

My lil Kenna, almost 7 months old

I don't believe Heavenly Father made breasts for infants so we would have to smoother and sufficate our babies to hide them while they eat. While I believe there is a place for everything, I wish women didn't feel they needed to sit in a closet or go in a room to nurse. Nurse your beautiful nursling proudly and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! As weather gets hotter, being discreet inevitably becomes harder and baby will probably start ripping that blankie right off him/her so just remember to tell people as the silly graphic goes, "If my breastfeeding offends you, please feel free to put a blanket over your head." :) hehe.

SO Inspirational, Please Watch

This video will only take 10 minutes out of your day and it will be the most inspirational thing you see today. Its amazing, uplifting and sad all at once. Its the last lecture by the man dying from pancreatic cancer.

http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

Seasoned Peaceful Parents, I need some help

How do I handle buckling kids who dont/will not buckle. Its seriously a major issue in my home. I have to have 5 kids bucked each time we leave and all 5 are in booster/car seats. The baby is easy so far, Kayla buckles without me asking, Wyatt will if I really get on it and stand there staring at him. This leaves me with Everett and Tanner. Everett is in a booster and the child will unbuckle 500 times in a row while I am driving. It makes me a nervous wreck and I pull over each time and sit sometimes 5 minutes straight waiting for him to buckle. I tell the kids that the car can't drive until we are buckled and safe. Tanner is fine once I get him buckled, but he dislikes his carseat so much(yeah we have asked if it hurts and readjusted it and tried other things), how do I peacefully get him to stop running from me and hiding in the very back of the car and to get into his carseat. I mean, I am pretty against external reward systems. I try to just get my kids candy for suffering through a shopping trip no matter how they behave. I am so drained after shopping, I know that "I" need a candybar recharge and they probably do to. I really try not to condemn any behaviors I dont appreciate, but to find positive things and redirect. I have tried to be creative and carry on conversations while casually buckling them and that works 25% of the time, but the rest of the time, OY VEY! I can imagine a carseat you couldnt unbuckle yourself would feel confined and freaky to anyone really so I understand his frustration. I just need help dissolving this situation peacefully for anyone with a suggestion. Oh and for those following along, Wyatt remains sleeping peacefully each night. I am so glad and so is he!

SCARY!!!! Please read

In light of all the newest Cell phone cancer/brain tumor research, we are getting a landline and will drop cell coverage for emergency use only.

http://www.safewireless.org/
Medical Alert:
Cell Phones, Cordless & WiFi
Wireless Communication Produces Dangerous Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)


Interventions to Maximize Health and Minimize EMR Risks
Recommendations from the Safe Wireless Initiative.


Increase your body’s resistance to EMR damage: Maximize your health
Increase intake of natural oxidative stress fighters, such as antioxidants, melatonin, vitamins B, C, E and folic acid.
Eat fresh, chemical-free, organic meats, fruits and vegetables. Limit heavy metal buildup by knowing the
source of your fish and other meats. Main sources of heavy metal ingestion are fish, poultry, meats
and tap water. Eat organic whole grains – test for allergic responses.
Eliminate/minimize caffeine and alcoholic beverages, especially distilled liquor.
Drink carbon filtered water.Primarily use glass or ceramic containers. Limit bottled water in plastic bottles. Use recycled paper products for drinking and eating; avoid plastic or Styrofoam.
Exercise and stretch daily to increase metabolism, not to train or work out. Breathe slowly and deeply. Surround yourself with nature as often as possible. Do sweat and clean lymph.

Minimize exposure to chemicals

Use chemical-free, natural products as they are often gentle on your body
and the environment. Avoid chemical cleansers – vinegar, salt and baking soda work extremely well.
Take cool or lukewarm showers/baths, instead of hot.
Avoid/minimize exposure to bright and fluorescent light. Use subdued full-spectrum/natural incandescent bulbs or candle light as much as possible. Increase melatonin naturally by sleeping in the darkest room possible.
Get up to a couple hours of sun exposure daily unless Electrohypersensitivity won’t allow it. When exposed, wear light-colored clothing and hat, if needed.
Take time daily for personal silence.
Consult a clinician experienced in
EMR sensitivity. Use of any intervention must be under qualified supervision, as many devices may increase long-term sensitivity if used improperly.
Minimize your EMR exposure: Decrease hazardous risks.
Minimize all exposure and usage of wireless communication: cell phones, cordless phones, and WiFi devices.
Turn cell phone off when not in use and sleeping. Never keep it near your head or use it to play games, movies, etc.
Keep cell phone at least 6-7 inches away from your body and others while on, talking, texting and downloading.
Use air tube headsets or speaker mode when talking. Wireless and wired headsets still conduct radiation!
Never keep cell phone in pocket, purse, back or on hip all day. The hip produces 80% of the body’s red blood cells and is especially vulnerable to EMR damage.-Close proximity may also affect fertility.
Do not talk on cell or cordless phone when pregnant, with a baby/small child in arms, under age 16, or while
in a vehicle (car, train, plane, subway) –Radiation gets trapped and is higher in these closed metal zones!
Minimize other EMR exposures to developing fetus via Ultrasounds and Electronic Fetal Monitoring unless absolutely necessary.
Replace all cordless and WiFi items with wired, corded lines (phones, Internet, games, appliances, devices, etc.). The cordless phone base emits high levels of EMR – even when no one is making a call.
Minimize/space out computer use, sit back from the screen; flat screens are preferable. Use wired Internet connections, not WiFi – especially for laptops. Keep laptops off of the body and away from metal surfaces.
Keep a low-EMR sleep, home, and personal zone. Move alarm clock
radio at least 3 feet from head or use battery power; 6 feet is the recommended distance from all electronic devices during sleep. Avoid waterbeds, electric blankets and metal bed frames. Futons/wood frames are better than metal-coiled mattresses and box-springs.
When using electric stoves, cook on back burners instead of front, as much as possible. Metals attract EMR: keep them away fromand off of the body. Use glass, cast iron and uncoated pans to cook with.
Measure EMR from wireless and wired devices with appropriate meters (see www.safewireless.org). To decrease exposures, install EMR filters and preventive technologies to electrical circuits, devices, appliances, etc.
Please download the Intervention Recommendations document

Some New Books I ordered!

I am off to purchase this one this morning, after talking to Dayna, I am pretty certain she recommended this book to me last night. She recommended one and I searched and this is the one I am pretty sure she was talking about.
I grabbed this yesterday for ideas when my kids bring up different subjects, it has ideas of ways to teach different things. I am not certain we will use it much, but I got it used for 3 bucks on amazon so if its junk, I'll toss it!
I got this one last night on amazon as well, really excited to read this one


This one looked super fun, so I grabbed this one too.

I Talked to Dayna Martin!!!

Oh my goodness, I feel sooooo blessed to have gotten to speak to her via phone last night. I used up probably a lil over an hour of her time, but she was so sweet and kind. Stupid me, I live on the west coast and it didnt dawn on me that I was calling her at 10pm East coast time. Who on earth would answer so cheerfully at 10 pm to chat with someone wanting to pick your brain about peaceful parenting and unschooling. She helped me so much with reminding me to appreciate my kids for their uniqueness, take care of myself in order to keep up with peaceful parenting as its involved and can burn you out, and some of the challenges I was having with parenting some undesirable behaviours. She reminded me that peaceful parenting isnt child led behavior(unschooling is child-led learning, but parenting differs) and that there needs to be a way to meet every one's needs in the home. each child cannot always have their own way, just as I cant so I need to mindfully parent to get that balance and have them help come up with ways to make sure every ones needs are being met. She used the example with Wyatt's recent sleeping issue., She says, "If Wyatt's need is not being able to sleep, your need is sleep, compromise by sleeping together in sleeping bags on the living room floor or having him sleep on your floor or whatever works to gently get him back to sleep so you can sleep!" BINGO! This is what I needed to hear. It is so helpful to know this type of parenting isnt a kids draining the life out of mom free for all. Its peacefully meeting every one's needs, saying yes often, living in joy and happiness, living in a teaching mode, ready to guide and help my children throughout the days. I just think Dayna is amazing and can't say enough praises for how she handles her kids, their education, and her constant glass half-ful attitude. I really want to be that way and I find I am that way so much more now than I ever was. She said, " if you parent the way you WANT to 51% of the time, your doing great!" what a great way to look at it and I know I am hitting for than 50% of the time so that makes me happy and I feel like a better mom today. I love how she never picks and chooses negative in her kids, she picks and chooses positives in them and celebrates those things and works on those things. I look forward to talking to her again and getting more tips and advice! Here's her blog and her other website to find her videos and other things about her and her family.

http://www.unschoolingamerica.com/videos.asp

http://thesparklingmartins.blogspot.com/

UPDATE on Wyatt! PEACEFUL parenting works!

Well, I just tried to think about what it feels like to have insomnia. We have all been there and its miserable. I have done so well with peaceful parenting and it killed me to try going back to conventional parenting during that week during the night with him. I reverted out of fear and yelled at him and threatened to take things away. I had to step back and realize that conventional parenting has never worked to begin with, yet I couldnt come up with a way to peacefully resolve this til I really thought long and hard and placed myself in those insomniac shoes. I would never go back to sleep with someone yelling at me or telling me I would lose my beloved things if I didnt get to sleep. I know what works for me on the occassion when I get insomnia is to have Nate rub my back or even just pet my hair and talk sweet to me. He has always been so good at helping me fall back asleep when I am aggitated and cant. I decided to pay my son this same respect. When he woke up 2 night ago once again like every other night for the past 8 days or so, I smacked myself in the head, came out of my sleepy stupor and made myself be kind and tucked him in and reasured him that his tv would be there for him in the morning and it wasnt his fault he was awake and I wasnt mad at him. I rubbed his back some and spoke lovingly to him. To my surprise, he went back to sleep in only a few minutes and slept in til 8 am!!!!! OMGOSH this is proof in itself to me that peaceful parenting works. Getting mad at him never solved anything and I wasnt proving anyone wrong but myself and losing much needed sleep because I was simply being a jerk. Last night, he woke for a few seconds and Nate went in and did the same thing I did the night before and WALA, it worked again. He was so happy in the morning as well because he conquered the sleep that he desired. He was so tired last week from no sleep and it was really upsetting him. Thank goodness.

Oh Heavenly Father, Give Me Patience!!

This lil boy is becoming an insomniac and its taking a major toll on the entire family. 1 insomniac in 1250 sq ft=disaster. I am having so much trouble keeping him from waking everyone, I am not getting any sleep, hes crying, saying he's board, etc. He doesnt nap during that day and goes to bed at 8ish so what the heck is wrong with him? I can't take it. I want to peacefully resolve this for him, but a week straight of him waking up at 1am and being done sleeping everynight is realllllly doing me in. I am exhausted. HELP, anyone? How do I apply peaceful parenting to this situation? Such a QT, but so rough to live with sometimes.

My Babies are Growing up too Quick

It kills me seeing all their teeth falling out. Wyatt is 6 already. Makes me want to have 20 kids because it goes by so painfully fast. Kenna is getting big, waving hello, blowing a kiss here and there and sitting unassisted now. Shes so beautful, Daddys lil angel for certain, he is so in love, he wanted her to be a girl so badly and wants many more girls lol! So we will maybe sway for a girl next time, if you count drinking grapefruit and eating diary swaying!

I'm PREGNANT!

So I called nate this morning to tell him that I took a positive pregnancy test. He giggled and was like, "No way!" I asked if he was mad and he said, "no, I kinda expected it." WHAT!? So then I proceed to crack up and tell him he's an April FOOL! lol. He totally bought it, I felt kinda bad afterwards. Oh well, someday it will happen again, but for now, lil Kenna has the spotlight and the boobies all to herself.