Sledding Fun

In honor of our frigid cold day here today, our actual temp being -20 with the windchill factor making it feel like a grand -50 outside, I thought I'd post some pictures from when my parents were here over Christmas and we headed outside to play in the snow and sled.

I'm feeling slightly claustrophobic and wishing we could at least go outside and play in the snow but it's just too cold.  Crazy, I know!!

When we all headed out for a fun day in the snow I was surprised at just how much Janessa loved being outside and sledding.  Even if she fell in the snow, she just got right back up an wanted to get back on the sled and go.  She was only unhappy when we had her go inside to warm up. 

Everyone loved it!

Big Girl Bed

We're changing things up around here again. 

We've begun the transition of moving beds around and getting ready for when our fourth baby joins our family.

The first transition involved Janessa moving to a big girl bed and saying good bye to her crib, which will eventually be the new baby's crib. 

This transition is happening now to give her plenty of time to adjust to the new bed before our huge transition of another baby joining our family comes along. 

We're using a bunk bed set, that we found used, as side by side beds for the girls.  And thanks to a photo I spotted on Pinterest, we put the rails on (that you would normally set up for the top bunk) to use for now to help Janessa not fall out of bed.

She's so cute and little in such a big bed but so far she has done a great job with the transition! 

Nathan in the New York Times?!

 

Yeah, that's right... a picture of Nate and his two bosses made it into the New York Times this past Saturday!  I shared the link on our Facebook page but if you missed it check out the link to the article here.

 (Just click on the picture to get to the article.)

New York Times Photo

 On the second page of the article they mention the "Three burly construction workers"!  Hahaha!

Nate's becoming an all around popular person with the news, along with ACB Construction, who was featured as a reliable and trustworthy construction crew in Minot this past August when our local tv news station did a feature on their work amidst all the bad contractors who have come to our town and taken advantage of people.

 Check out Nate working hard at the 1:07 mark HERE.

Homemade Soap Tutorial

 

I shared this post over a year ago on another blog.  I love using my homemade soap so I thought I'd share it here!

This past Friday I spent the day with a dear friend and she showed me how to make homemade soap! I had been researching and trying to learn about making my own soap but I was a little nervous about trying it myself, so when I realized I knew someone who made soap I jumped on the opportunity to learn.

There are many different ways to make soap, different recipes, and you can be creative to your hearts content with how you'd like to personalize each batch of soap with scents or liquids or add-ins. I'm looking forward to making more batches in the future but for now here is what we did:

We made a couple batches, the first was made with raspberry tea (for the liquid), melonberry scent and we added dried raspberry leaves for look and texture.
The second batch we used coffee (for the liquid), vanilla extract for added scent and coffee grounds.

The recipe we used:

4 c. Water (or goat milk or herbal tea)
Stainless Steel Container
48 oz. Shortening (non-hydrogenated)
32 oz. Coconut Oil
16 oz. Olive Oil
12 oz. Lye (slightly heaping 1 1/4 c.)

(*have vinegar on hand to neutralize any lye that gets on skin. *Coconut oil makes it lather nicely and makes the soap harder)

First get everything together.

Grease pan, waxed paper or molds with extra shortening.

Cut shortening & coconut oil into smaller chunks to make them easier to add.

Put 4 c. liquid into pot (water or tea at room temp., goat milk cold.

Carefully pour lye into liquid.

**Never pour liquid onto the lye and wear gloves to protect your skin. If the lye touches your skin flush with vinegar immediately. Also, because of the chemical reaction between the liquid and lye and the fumes that it creates you may want to do this part outside.

Stir carefully with a stick blender.
The chemical reaction from the lye & water heats the liquid.


Add the shortening a little at a time while stirring.

Add coconut oil at room temperature and continue stirring.

Add olive oil and continue stirring.

Add any extras such as oats, essential oils, spices, etc.


Use stick blender to stir until soap begins to "trail" or "trace".
Be watching carefully as it sets up quickly and you want to pour into pan or mold while still liquid.

Finally, pour into greased mold or pan.

Cover with a lid and blanket so it cools slowly.
Check every 30 minutes.

Cut into bars when it is solid enough.
Cover again until soap is completely solid.
When soap is completely hard, stack and let them cure for at least 2 weeks before using.
Enjoy!

Prayers For Pregnancy & Baby

 

This pregnancy has sure turned out different than my other 3 pregnancies for a few reasons.  For one, this pregnancy I have had a fare share more of uncomfortableness and pregnancy pains than I ever experienced with my others.  But those I would still consider just normal pregnancy aches and pains.  Nothing out of the ordinary.

What is really different this time around is something I have never experienced and at this time we're still left with a lot of question marks that only time will answer. 

Back at the end of October Nathan, the kids and I headed to get the first ultrasound done in hopes to find out the gender of our 4th baby.  We've done this with each pregnancy and thus far the only results to come from the ultrasound was the gender of each of our babies.  Well this time around, once again, we got a clear look at the gender of our baby.  And if you didn't receive our Christmas letter, we're excited to add another boy to our family!  Everyone walked away from the appointment excited and blessed about another boy joining our family, especially Zeke! 

Then a letter showed up in the mail about a week later regarding the recent ultrasound.  That had never happened to us before.  Our doctor informed us that there were some potential concerns.  Not just one, but 2.  But because it was early in the pregnancy she would order me a second ultrasound in a month to see if time would show any changes and possibly eliminate some of the concerns.  So at the end of November we headed back for another ultrasound.  Again, we got a good look at the gender of our baby and indeed, it was a boy.  Then we went home and waited for the results. 

Soon another letter arrived in the mail and much to this mommy's dismay, the two concerns remained persistent. 

The first concern deals with me and my pregnancy.  I have 'Marginal Placenta Previa'.  If you click on the picture below it will take you to more information regarding Placenta Previa.  My doctor is hopeful that as time progresses my placenta will "migrate" away from the cervix and will no longer be a problem when it's time to deliver my baby.  However, if nothing changes I will need to have a c-section.  After 3 healthy, natural vaginal births this is a little daunting to me.  I would much rather deliver my baby naturally, but obviously if there is an absolute need for a c-section then I am okay with it.  As much as I can be.  Also for now I have to be careful, if there is any bleeding I'll need to go to the hospital right away, with the results  potentially being bed rest or worse.  And on the other hand nothing may come of it and all could go well if the placenta migrates up and away from my cervix.





The second concern deals with my precious baby boy.  He shows to have "Mild Bilateral Renal Pelviectasis".  In normal man's words, there is persistent fluid in the kidneys.  I have not done much research regarding this because nothing can really be done until our baby is born.  Then they will assess what is going on with him.  There is no other indication that anything else is wrong, which is a good thing.  But there is talk about seeing a urologist that comes to Minot twice a year and will be in town shortly after our baby's due date. 

For now, I just wait.  There will be another ultrasound done about a month from my due date to see where things are at.  It will mostly give us an answer regarding my placenta. 

I would be lying if I didn't tell you that this has been hard on me.  There is worry and concern and a constant giving my thoughts to the Lord regarding all of these things.  I know the Lord is in control and I take great comfort in that.  He will help us through whatever comes our way.  And at the same time my mother's heart is concerned.  I am so thankful for the Lord, that I can turn to Him, that He is there to walk with me and our family through this.  That He is faithful no matter what happens and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Our hope and prayer is that these two concerns would not come to pass, but whatever the outcome is  I know the Lord will help us. 

And I would ask that you would please pray for me, that I would not give in to worry and fear, that I would keep my eyes on Jesus.  And please pray for our precious baby boy, that the Lord would heal him and that he would be born a healthy little boy.