Such a girl!

Adara cutie

Count your blessings...

Nothing makes you stop and realize how good you have it more than when someone dies. When it's a little innocent baby, it's that much more of a realization that we need to hold our loved ones close and let go of all the pettiness in life that gets in the way of our relationships. It's so easy to get caught up with all the daily problems and concerns and forget those are all just distractions on what God has put us here for. So take time today to love your babies (even when they are fussy or naughty), let your kids climb in your lap and hug and love on you... cause one day they will think they are 'too big' to sit in your lap.
So take a moment and realize... life's too short... don't miss your opportunities...

Pondering

Usually as I sit to write a blog, I have something in particular to share... but this time I'm just inspired to write due to a couple of my friends who have blogs and so honestly share what God is doing in there lives... even when it reveals their 'humanness'...
I've said it before that this year was by far the hardest year of our lives... so much tearing out the old, healing, restoring, etc... We have seemingly had to go down to the very foundation of our lives, our marriage, our parenting and try to figure out what solid ground we really had to stand on. We are so humbled when we take a look and realize that we have nothing... N-O-T-H-I-N-G good in us... we are selfish, we are egotistical, we are truly full of yuck! We might fool ourselves into believing we have good intentions, but to be truly selfless means we don't have ulterior motives, we do it not because it feels good in any way, shape or form... but because we are letting God work in and through us... but for that to work... we gotta get rid of a lot of that garbage in us first. This involves work!!! Seriously, there are days when it feels like we would like to just crawl in bed with the covers over us! However, it's like Paul says... 'we keep pressing on towards the prize'... you see... it IS going to be worth it! We ARE being refined! We are being purified like gold. (Course that means we have to go through the fire first!) SO I guess the question is... do we WANT to get to the other side? Do we want to be a better person? Or would we rather just stay in our lives, just the way things are... (like that's working out so great!) So... we continue to make the choice, moment by moment, day by day... to keep on walking, knowing God is stregnthening us enough for this moment, then the next... until eventually we are the beautiful workmanship He has created!
I know in my heart that all we have/are going through is for the good... I KNOW that... but does it feel 'good'... heck no!! But I also don't want to stop mid refining and think that I'm done, I'm
good enough'... no... GOd doesn't call us to be good enough, He calls us to be GREAT!
So... we keep on plugging along, trusting in the ONE who is the Healer and Restorer of our souls!

But I don't WANT to (dang it!)

Imagine if you will... saying that and stomping your foot for emphasis. I recently attended a delivery that when push came to shove (literally), she just took this stance and eventually, we went to the hospital and she ended in a c-section. It was definitely one of those days where I leave wondering why I am a midwife! However... I always ask God to reveal to me what I can learn from my laboring mamas. Nothing came to mind too quick on this one... however by the next morning I found myself at a point of frustration between Joe and I that seems to come up over and over again in our marriage... and I so felt inwardly like stomping my foot and just telling God I just didn't WANT to deal anymore! lol... hmmm... instantly that little conviction light went off! Just like my laboring mom, I could choose to not push through the pain and get my reward, or... I could cop out and miss out on the amazing growth that can take place (if I'm willing!) Anyway, maybe it only makes sense to those who have experienced that moment in birth where it's a choice to push through the pain. (Or maybe you've experienced it in LIFE!)
Anyway.... I like birth, God teaches me many things through it! :) And even after all of this... I still love my job!

Of course....

Joe and I recently agreed to co lead a small core group at our church. The subject... the book of James. In my mind this week was persevering through trials so that we can mature... Hmmm, are little warning bells going off in your head yet? YEah..... so it really just came down to what would be our trial.... we just didn't expect to be hit on so many fronts at once!! Kid issues... attitude problems, laziness, negativity... then came the hit on the financial front... our bus repair cost... $3100.... then w/ in half hour of leaving the shop, it completely dies!!! Argh! The part that most likely needs replaced grand total is like $850... Then my cars radio freaked out... new one $250... sigh. It's been a crazy bad month at work.... lots of transports and not so many births..... I think I forgot what it looks like when a baby comes out naturally!! On another front we've been attacked by the nasty winter yuck bug!!!
However... as I was leaving work... I was singing that song... "Count your blessings, name them one by one" And I was reminded that even though it feels horrible and no one wants to be squeezed or stretched... I really do have hundreds, even thousands of blessings to count. And so I did just that... started naming them out loud... one by one! I could totally see my dad singing that song as he used to when I was growing up...
So, even if you're discouraged today... your kids being a total rebellious brat, your boss is ticked at you, your husband forgot your birthday... whatever... just remember, it's all about what we focus on.
So... I'm off to focus on my childrens homework... love love LOVE IT!!! ;)

Our crazy n strange bunch!

Since I've lacked in the picture department... here you go... all taken since this last summer.

Need I say anything about this picture?

Samking in his eating contest... believe it or not, he didn't win!

Joziah is loving his scouts! Not so much into the winter camping, but looking forward to this summer when they are supposed to go to Hawaii (if he can raise the money that is!)

Sadly... the beautiful school room Joe built doesn't get used much since we put most of the kids in public school... but it still looks cool!

The kids harvested potatoes this last fall. They had a super fun time! (What kid wouldn't when an adult tells you that you can dig in the mud?)

Yeah...not so much a morning person!

Adara... growing up already!

Tonia... growing up waaaay to fast!

My cutie, drooling girl!

Levi holding his guinea pig

So... there you go... a little insight into our world! Every time that I want to whine and complain... I remember the verse to count my blessings... so I name them... Tonia, Joziah, Sam, Brian, Tyler, Meghan, Levi and Adara. And even when I don't feel like it's such a blessing being a mom (and believe me... there are definitely MOMENTS!)... I just try to remember to be thankful for their health and the vibrance they bring to my life! And to just be happy that there is never a dull moment in this life!

Blessings!!

I keep meaning to update this thing... but I guess good intentions just don't get it done! I seem to always be on the wrong computer (the ones w/o the downloaded pictures on them)... but anyway...
We are all alive and well. I continue to work. November and December were crazy busy with most of the time having one of the three midwives gone for this or that... leaving two of us to man the birth center. At one point we had 11 babies in 14 days! Such crazy fun!
January has been MUCH slower, so much so that I actually have had some free time! (I'm not sure what to do with myself when I have free time!) By March it will pick back up to craziness again... we have like 6 women due on the same day the first week of March!
God has been doing so much I wish I had the words to describe... but amazing healing has been taking place and we feel like we are finally to the 'other side' of our grief. It's nice when you can get to the point where you can see God's hand at work, even through all the tough times. Sometimes you can even catch a glimpse as to the why's of it all (though just a glimpse!) We are excited to be it His will... wherever that may lead us.
On the home front... the kids started public school back in early November... it was just too much to try to homeschool all of them and work full time. They have for the most part enjoyed it, though we are hoping to transfer to a charter school next year as I firmly believe that boys need more time to MOVE during the day... one 30 min recess just doesn't cut it for my boys!
Joe continues to work his own business... he stays pretty busy and it's certainly nice to have the flexibility of staying home w/ the baby while I do births (she's getting too big and busy to bring to births!)
Adara seems bound and determined to grow up waaay to fast! I can't complain about the sleeping a 6-8 hr stretch at night, but she seems to think she would like to be mobile already! Thankfully she's not quite yet! She's in this taste everything stage... anything that comes w/in grasp of her little fists goes straight to the mouth!
Well, sorry for the no picture thing... eventually I'll get on the right computer and post pictures!

The first family photo!

Welcome Germain #10!

Adara Josephine arrived on September 29th! All children are completely in love with their new sister... in fact it's a good thing she needs me for her nutritional needs or I might not get to hold her! She's a super easy going baby thus far, even handling her first cold without too much fussiness! She comes to work with me and even has her own bed in the midwives office. All the staff thinks she sleeps too much cause they never get to hold her! I haven't yet gone to a birth since she arrived, but Tonia is anxious for me to... cause she gets to come and babysit. :) Anyway, all is well here... we are recovering from colds and some sort of flu bug, but hopefully it's passed completely now...

And for my midwife friends... here's the quickie version of the birth story.

I started contractions that were more serious around 3 am on the 29th... I hadn't slept pretty much at all that night, so I wasn't really 'in the mood' to be laboring! lol... By 5am I was tired and I sat on the toilet and told God I was just too tired to deal with being in labor and could I please sleep! Amazingly contractions stopped and I was able to get about an hour and a half of sleep before I needed to get up for work. I headed to work with contractions coming intermittently throughout the morning. By lunch my boss insisted on a prenatal that day (and when she insists...) I was 4 centimeters at that point. By 5pm I was definitely tensing up to try to hold the contractions at bay... thus making my back feel horrible. I headed home to try to nap before things kicked into high gear. But having a houseful of kiddos and all the hubbub around dinner and getting them ready for bed wasn't quite condusive to sleeping! By then the contractions were coming every 3-4 minutes, but not really that painful. My boss (and my midwife) had decided that the baby was going to make her appearance that night and so she didn't head home, instead she went grocery shopping for us and supplied us with a bunch of dinner stuff for after the baby was born.

We finally headed into the clinic around 9ish... I got into the tub, but my contractions pretty much stopped, so I got into the rocking chair for awhile. Around 9:40 I was laying down and things finally started to hurt a lot more so I got in the tub again. My back was hurting a lot, but there wasn't that cervical pressure (meaning the baby was still high). I figured by this point I was at least 6cm and we could do AROM (break my water) to speed things along. However when I was checked at 10pm... I was still only 4 cm... (I pretty sure I thought not nice words at this point, but just said 'lovely' and turned my back to everyone)... My midwife suggested I get in the shower and hold my belly up as I had a contractions... that along with some lunges immediately brought her down... and I had the "I need to poop" feeling! I sat on the toilet and told Joe to go away cause I couldn't 'go' with him in the room... With one push I realized something was coming out... I reached down and felt the bag of waters coming out... Joe quickly went and got my boss and the apprentice. I remember her saying "oh.... so we're going to do a toilet birth are we"... and I knew she really didn't want to (cause no midwife really likes the bathroom births... messy!) When on the next push the water didn't break she asked if I would like to move to the bed... (heck NO!)... but I moved... On the next contraction the apprentice did AROM and I really really wanted off my back, but I couldn't get two sentences together so I figured the only way to end the back pain was to get the baby out! By two more pushes out came the head... I waited for the body... but nothing! Seriously, I haven't pushed any of my baby's body's out... they always just slid out! So I pushed again and out she came! (Joe caught her)..They held her up for me to see the sex, but I couldn't see! All I heard was my boss say... "guess I was wrong"... and I knew she was a girl! (She was positive we were having a boy). We had decided beforehand to use 'active management' w/ a shot of pitocin since I had had a couple hemorrhages in the past. I will just mention that pit shots suck, but they work... out popped the placenta on the next contraction and very minimal bleeding... no tear and we were settled in for the night within a couple hours. So... from when I was checked at 10pm till baby out... 48 minutes! They told me the next morning I was actually only 7 when the apprentice did AROM... 81/2 w/ the next push and then baby out with the next... my boss said it's a good thing that my body cooperates since I'm not patient! hmmm... (I could argue that she never TOLD me I wasn't complete, but... whatever!)

So... anyway... our biggest baby yet arrived safe and sound! The kiddos came the next morning and met her before we headed home as a family.

So that's it!

ok... OK!

When God spoke the word to Joe and I at the start of 2010 that this would be a year of new beginnings... we had NO idea how right that was going to be!!
Some have asked why I stopped blogging... life was just too confusing, too much depth to the emotions and changes that we ourselves are just finally feeling like we're getting back on 'top' of it all...
I have to say that when we came back there were some tough questions in our minds... sometimes even feeling like God had abandoned us, feeling as though missions in general was a big crock, etc... yep, pretty strong emotions and not ones we wanted to work through on a public forum! We still struggle with our adjustment to this 'new' life we have... but God has been ever faithful to put people and situations in our lives to give enough encouragement just when we needed it. Living in Wasilla has been a change for us 'small town' folks, so figuring out connecting w/ others when we already feel like we have barely enough energy to make it through the day... well, it's been a bit tough! But we are encouraged by our churchs' Fresh Start program and are slowly getting to know a few people here and there. The kids thankfully have made friends here and there through their various activities. I had to laugh today to have Tyler (who is 7) get his friends number after gym class. Then later he took the initiative and called and chatted w/ him for a good 15 minutes!
In other news I finally got my Alaska midwifery license! (Just in time to take maternity leave!) lol... jk. I am still working and plan to right up until I deliver.... though my boss at this point only calls me to the 'easy' births...
Speaking of births... we have just entered the 'I'm so ready to be done w/ this' stage... though technically I could still go another couple weeks (God forbid!). Joe says he thinks the baby will come on Friday.... if he's wrong... hmmmm...
Our homeschooling is in full swing, though I have yet to add our science curriculum... guess I better hurry since the first unit is on leaves and stuff outside... and pretty soon the snow will fly to cover those leaves! We are already down to freezing at night and not even reaching 60 in the day... .brrrr!
We know the inevitable is coming... winter... but I am just NOT ready for the blowing cold winds... good thing I'll have a snuggly little excuse to stay inside! :) Too bad kids will still need run to their various activities! And then there is those middle of the night calls for births... I told Joe what I really wanted for Christmas was remote start on my car!!! That way my car can be warming up while I get in my scrubs!
Well, it's that dinner hour... and though I'm not cooking, I do need to go taste test!!!
Jenn
p.s. For those who have asked me for preggo pics... sorry, I HATE my pic taken when I'm like this... so... there is only one... and it's located at www.matsumidwifery.com Enjoy! lol

Update

Well, it's been awhile! (Again!) Alaskan summer is upon us (course its currently raining... hmmm), but we are in full swing of activities! Joziah is currently off at an 8 day boy scout camp... his first time really away from home! Yikes! Tonia is enjoying her new horse (I can't remember if I mentioned we got an amazing deal on a horse for her)... Joe has been busy clearing the back property in order to fence in for the horse (it is currently boarded too far of a drive away!)... I am working up a storm, or so it seems. We have been slightly short staffed at work and so we pretty much alternate every other birth going to... sadly we have had a more than usual transport rate lately... :( Our stats last year were only 12 transports in 187 births! Not so for this month!
Anyway, besides that depressing part, I love my job...the ladies I work with are amazing and the care given to women during their pregnancies is something I love!
It's definitely been an adjustment for the kiddos with both mom and dad working... sometimes we alternate, but sometimes both of us are gone... this is a new thing for them and some struggle more than others. We have been blessed that Joe's sister has come to live with us before she heads off to college, so it's been a big help to just have someone help keep the system rolling. She found out I love mexican food so she makes that once a week which is yummy!!! (and a great blessing to find dinner prepared when I come home from work!)
The littlest Germain is still growing steady... after having some low platelet issues in early pregnancy, my boss kicked my butt into eating healthier and taking supplements... so now my platelets are well within normal range! (this significantly decreases my risk of bleeding at the birth)... so... 3 more months! I'm sure it's going to fly by!
I know there is lots more to tell, but that's it for now... and I can't seem to get pictures to go from my camera to my blog, only facebook... so, until I get my camera back, you'll have to deal with no pictures (or find them on my fb)!
:) Jenn

Hey! What happened to MAY?

Wow... life in America is SO fast paced! May has flown by and I'm not sure what happened, but I know June is fast approaching! Since May sped by... I will just speed through some highlights of the month.
-Joe worked down in S. Anchorage for a week... it was a good job, but nice to have him home!
-His business seems to be taking off pretty well... busy is good, right?
-I got a job at a local birth center and have begun my training there. We're doing a trial run for the summer and then if it's a good fit then I'll join the staff full time.
-I have been continuing to LOooonG paper trail to get my AK midwifery license.... blah is how I feel about it at this moment... seems just when I think I'm close....
-Kids 'summer' activities are in full swing. Tonia continues w/ her horse riding lessons (meaning mom runs her to and from the barn frequently)... Joziah is loving boy scouts and I am sure when I pick him up from his first camp out today he will have many adventures to tell me. This campout was just an overnight, but he is scheduled for an 8 day outing this summer... it'll be his first time camping w/o family/friends!
-We took a week break this past week from school, and I'm sure it will take me this week to switch over into our new curriculum, but hoping to start back to school in a week or two... (I'm sure the kids are thrilled... lol)
-Joe left today for another week... this one isn't paid though (DARN)... but his little sis is graduating from high school and he is bringing her back w/ him to live w/ us for awhile. It'll be a HUGE help to have a live in sitter! Relieves a bit of pressure from Joe and I to be sure!
-The baby continues to grow... though I get told I am tiny for my gestational age... (bless those people!)... but working around midwives constantly... they don't cut me any slack w/ eating/drinking healthy!! I've had to resort to sneaking my peanut m&m's at night! :)

Well that's the update for now... I actually have a camera on my phone... I just have to figure out how to load them to here!

Ah the joys of being pregnant!

I was having one of those moments tonight where I was reflecting on how good God is... and how he meets each NEED we have just at the right moment... and I felt happy... happy enough that I almost cried! lol... I used to say that God planned so many children for me because the only time I cried was when I was pregnant! lol... maybe so...
Updates on our ever chaotic life...
Joe is getting his business off the ground... making 'just' enough to pay the necessary bills at the moment... but at least our needs are being met!
I made some really good contacts for midwifery... so hopefully will get back in that scene sometime soon...
I am waiting ONE document to be able to finish up my midwifery licensure for Texas... praying it comes before my CPR expires and I have to take another class!!!
Kids are loving all their extra curricular activites... I'm realizing why American moms are so exhausted!!!... (running children to their various activities!)
On a random side note... my 5 yr old just made our 14 wk old (and 50+ lb) Mastiff puppy lay down on command! lol...
And then our 7 yr old teased her w/ his stuffed bear... yeah... that'll be toast by tomorrow! (I TOLD them NOT to tease the dog w/ their stuffed animals! ;P)
I am listening to my children ready themselves for bed at the moment... and I love how each child knows what the OTHER child is supposed to be doing, yet amazingly forgets what THEIR task is! hmmm... guess I should go dictate!

How great is our God?

We have been doing a study at church on being fearless..... of course we all have fears we know about... but really this is about all the fears that lie in the undercurrent, the ones that maybe we don't really acknowledge, never the less they control many aspects of our lives.
Most people who know Joe and I would describe us as pretty fearless... bugs, snakes, living in the jungle... that's all good with us. However... fear has gained control in many areas of my life over the past several years, and it's been an interesting process of revelation and healing.
Awhile back, right after adopting our two kids... slowly a fear crept into my life without me even realizing it... it was a fear of what others think of me. Of course we all have a little bit of that fear in our lives, but this one started becoming bigger and bigger, even being a driving force in my life.... like a tapeworm it was sucking all the nutrition from me (ok, you get the picture)... While this fear grew bigger, so did other fears... (ever notice how that happens?) Once while in counseling in High School, my counselor pointed out to me that I had a perfectionist mentality... I of course had to disagree as I am one of the most disorganized people I know! But it wasn't in the normal way...it was more that I expected absolute perfection of myself in relationships, in meeting other peoples expectations. Of course we can't always meet others expectations, because people are people... and they WILL fail us. However knowing this mentally doesn't always solve the inward driving force inside.
So needless to say, between caring way to much what other people think and striving to meet other peoples expectation... Stress began taking over.... Then to not be able to meet leaders expectations, relationships seeming to fail and being flat out told you are a failure... it kinda shook my world. I came back feeling confused, abandoned, rejected, etc... Where was God in all this mess anyway?! Shame became a seemingly constant companion... shame when I used my food stamps card, shame to ask my sister for help to pay the bills until we got on our feet, even shame that I drive a piece of junk car instead of the nice ones we used to). I was even angry at God... angry that we had given up everything to serve Him, and feeling that we got gyped in return...
Then several weeks ago at church the speaker was admitting his own struggles in the past w/ dibilitating fears... and as each week has gone on and we have delved deeper and deeper into overcoming our fears, I have realized these fears that had taken over my life. And with the realization of the fears, has also come the realization of all the far reaching effects of these fears. I no longer am as open and trusting with new people, I no longer think of the good in people first, I tend to be more stern with my kids and less likely to just have fun... most of all the joy that I've always tended to have for life (my passion and zeal) seemed to have just been sucked right out of me.
Lately I've been thinking and studying... just how great is God anyway? And realizing that He is only limited in my own mind of putting him in a 'box'... of thinking that I have to somehow 'perform' to get his blessings... when in reality, I am only 'performing' for man, which of course brings no satisfaction, only more guilt and shame when we cannot meet everyones expectations all the time. Wouldn't it be awesome to just be free of worrying about man's expectations , to get rid of that as the motivating factor in our lives and only be driven by our love and passion for Christ and EVERYTHING that HE is!?
Phew! It's a lot to think about... peoples lives could be radically changed by this revelation... don't you think? I know mine is....
Sorry if this has confused you, sometimes I still feel confused... but I still stand on the faith that God WILL be faithful and we will see the otherside!
Be Blessed!

PHEW!

As I write this my daughter has just informed me that the third of our little baby bunnies has made it's way out of the nest at night and froze to death.... this tops the wonderful week we've had of kids w/ the flu/diarrhea bug. Our downstairs renters have 7 children and last week they all had this flu/diarrhea bug (which in turn means a LOT of extra laundry...as we share a washer/dryer). We were hoping we would avoid it, but the other day the youngest woke up throwing up, then the next night two more children were puking and pooping... then last night another was added along w/ daddy (who still had to go to work)... currently we have just 3 functionalble help (me, Tonia, and Sam)... and Meggie isn't sick, but is liking to pretend she is sick! So we are entertaining ourselves w/ old home videos of Grandma and Grandpa that are up in heaven w/ Jesus as well as home videos of kiddos when they were little (a great hit!)

On other news... life has been busy w/ getting the paperwork trails started both for me to be licensed in midwifery in the state of Alaska (a very looongg story) and for Joe to start his own business. We realized that if I was going to be able to practice midwifery at all, Joe definitely couldn't be in the cop/security business.... so he started his own handyman business and it seems to be taking off already. We've got rabbits going, both meat and the kids business of small rabbits to sell.... it's a learning experience to deal with cold weather instead of hot weather!

Tonia has been keeping busy w/ her horse riding lessons.... she came to me a few weeks before her birthday and informed me that she wanted a horse, saddle, riding blanket, etc... for her birthday (I informed her to keep dreaming!) She is like most girls her age and obsessed w/ everything horses (dogs come in a close second).

Joziah has joined boy scouts.... and is loving all the fun projects and cool things he learns there. This week (as long as he is feeling better), the troop will be heading to help out at the Air Force base and be victims for the paramedic training. He's hoping they get to have fake blood and everything!

Bri has informed me that he really really wants to be a soldier when he grows up! Somehow we mentioned jr ROTC programs and CAP... he insisted that we look it up and find out how old he has to be... we of course have pointed out that he needs to study hard if he would like to be in those programs (gotta get our digs in when we can!)

Well this seems like a long enough update for now! Please continue to pray for us as we are still adjusting to life back in America!

Just can't stay away!

LOL.... how could I ever think of giving up blogging? Who would I vent to then?!
Yesterday was one of 'THOSE' days... the kind where you wake up wondering if the day is really going to go as bad as you feel... and you go to bed realizing that it went way worse! Seriously I was ready to give up on being a wife, parent, human being... I woke w/ a pounding headache, decided to push through and help get breakfast on for our large crew of hungry kiddos (we were staying at friends house in Homer who have 6 kids, along w/ our 7 that makes 13 kiddos to feed each meal... amazingly it goes well)... Anyway, before breakfast was served I headed about 20 min away to what I thought was a meeting w/ my kids school advisor. Apparently there had been a misunderstanding and she thought I was just dropping reimbursement receipts... so an hour wasted, I headed home. I would have to say at this point my mood was that I wished I could just take that little car and drive, drive, drive.... as if somehow the freedom of the road would make my mind less confused. But of course I love my family and decided they would probably NOT appreciate mommy having some sanity time, so I went back to face the packing and loading ordeal... A couple hours later everyone had pottied, all random stray items had (hopefully) been thrown in the bus and we were off for the drive back to Wasilla. I went to put a movie in the tv/vcr only to discover that it was no longer functioning (Joe thought maybe it was just cold... I have no idea if a cold tv would randomly make it eat video tapes, but whatever)... so of course trying to explain to the younger kids why the tv wouldn't work went over super well... After a stop for lunch in Soldotna and a potty stop in Girdwood... we made it to the other side of Anchorage and were in the final stretch for home.... when my phone rings... It was our downstairs renters, who had been watching our 2 mastiff puppies for us... she hated to tell us, but they had put the dogs upstairs and they had somehow gotten out while she was gone... awaiting us at home was not a pretty site!
2-30 pound puppies loose in a house for hours... one had diarrhea BAD... they have big paws... we have light tan colored couches and carpet everywhere in our house.... The only up side of the story was the kids' bedroom doors were shut! So we went right to work... first picking up the big pieces of chewed this and that... the larger piles of poo, soaking up pee spots... then we brought out or handy dandy carpet steam cleaner.... the hand tool being the only part that was working, but at least we got the major spots cleaned up... Then Joe tore apart the main part and got it working... only to have it break, then fixed, then break... you get the idea... We did manage to get it ALL clean and smelling MUCH better.
We fed kids spaghetti (thank God for quick meals)... put them in bed and after a bit more cleaning sat down to catch our breath. Our two 'innocent' pups were cuddled up w/ me on the couch when suddenly the one who had had the diarrhea stood up and puked... A LOT... all over the top of her sister and the couch.... NICE!! More clean up followed... it continued till late when finally the immodium started to take effect and poor puppy was able to sleep... (meaning mommy n daddy can hopefully sleep!)
This morning I think our kids were realizing what little tirdlets they had been yesterday (we gave them a big lecture on demanding this and that instead of helping out)... Bri woke up and immediately starting putting away dishes (without being asked!)... Sam started washing down counters.... WOW! I had to laugh when their older brother came in and told them "HEY! That's not YOUR chore!"... they told him they were just helping out... he said... "Oh... well it's still not YOUR chore!"... haha... firstborns!
So there we go... today is going much better... the outlook for today is that we WILL survive...

To blog or not to blog...

I've seriously been considering giving up my blogging days... not that I didn't thouroughly enjoy it, in fact I've loved it! I've been reading over the past year or so and just in awe of all God has brought us through. However now we live back in North America... what is there to blog about? I mean life is the normal 'American' life! We live in a big house, we drive a big car (ok a shuttle bus to be exact), we have our 2 dogs (who happen to be Mastiff's), we have our 7.3 children (ok, so maybe that's more normal for Alaskan and not American)... anyway... on the outside we look like it's all nice and pretty... and on the inside a jumble of mixed up emotions that volley from extreme anger to sadness and happiness multiple times a day... see... the normal 'American'!
And I have to say, since blogger doesn't actually tell me if people visit my blog, I have to assume they don't anymore since there are no comments anymore.
So, we'll see... it may be just a random extreme emotion to want to stop blogging, amplified by the ever increasing pregnancy hormones... lol.. who knows.
Well, seems I must cut this blog short, I have a 4 yr old who also is having random angry thoughts brought on by the fact that his mommy won't let him eat a yummy snack when he didn't eat his lunch... sigh... the terrible life of a 4 yr old.

It's hard to believe that we've been home so many weeks already... and yet it feels like we're just settling right back into life in Alaska... we have been blessed to find an amazing home church... the kids LOVE going and just can't wait to go back each week! They are making some great friends and enjoying some of the many activities Alaska has to offer.
Tonia has started horseback riding lessons in preparation to join up with a 4H group here. Her first week the poor teacher was mortified when her horses freaked out when something hit the barn and spooked them into a canter across the indoor arena... Tonia managed to keep her seat until the horse stopped, then she went down... but it didn't phase her a bit. The teacher says she has a natural grace about her which will serve her well... :) (K... done bragging now).
Joziah is joining boy scouts, which he is super excited about... the other boys are still deciding on their activities... I think Brian is gonna do some sort of shooting club, but we'll see.
I would post pictures of our latest adventures, but sadly we left our camera sitting on a shelf in Manila... thankfully the person whose house we left it at will be coming to the US this summer, so can bring it then... but until then... :( No pictures!
Job hunting has begun in earnest this week... so pray that the right job comes along... :) Thanks and God bless!

ALASKA

We arrived safe and sound in Alaska! We were greeted by sub zero temps and then within a couple days... SNOW! BRRR!!! Thankfully we were met at the airport w/ winter jackets and warmed up vehicles!
We have 'recooped' a bit as far as jet lag, though we got the winter 'colds' to go with our arrival... blah... but we are loving the big house to run and play in, the kids are loving playing outside in the snow (mom skips out on that part)... our tummies took a bit to adjust to the American diet, but we are slowly adjusting... tonights dinner... salmon, potatoes and corn!! YUM!! Our friends were so kind to stock our freezer, fridge and pantry before we came home. We have enough meat to last a month or more!! Ah... PROTEIN!
We have been busy setting up all the necessary accounts, and getting all the fun 'paperwork' and business stuff done that we've been putting off for waaay too long!
Joe interviewed for a job the day after arriving home, we are praying that he gets it as the schedule would be sweet for everyone... but like all security/cop jobs... the hiring process takes a looonngg time since they have to make sure you're as clean as a whistle...
Anyway... I met w/ a midwife here in our city and was able to listen to the little peanut growing and bouncing around inside... I hadn't been able to hear the heartbeat on my doppler cause it went caput... Anyway, it's always nice to hear the little gallop of the heartbeat of the miracle taking place inside of you..... I forgot to how much I MISSED American midwifery... I LOVE the personal time/care midwives give you...
There of course is always much, much more... and I wanted to finally post pictures, but unfortunately we seemed to have left our camera at our friends in Manila! Grrr... There have been many emotional ups and downs to moving back to the US, lots of soul searching and all that fun stuff... but lots of just being blessed by those around us... the kids came out of sunday school on Sunday SO EXCITED about their lessons, about the activities, etc... they couldn't stop talking about it and begged us to go back to that church so they could go again. It may seem trivial... but when you've been attending home church, or village church for so long... it was so refreshing.
Well, time to see what Joe is whipping up in the kitchen (he's an amazing cook!) :P
Thank you again for all your prayers and support.