My World

It has been a long time and I can't guarantee it won't be a long time until the next post. It's been so long I had to set up anew password because I couldn't remember mine.

I feel like all I have done since January is battled Gestational Diabetes. It seems to have become my life. I think about what I can eat, can not eat, when I need to eat and what time a ate so I can check myself and hour later. In the very beginning I was scared to death, I have had to see a specialists that comes from another city on Monday's. The first time I saw him I was scared I had some how caused this baby to have some sort of birth defect because I didn't know I had GD. I asked my family to fast and pray and for this little one on the way because I could not. What a growing experience for me. I don't think I have felt my Savior's love so much as I think about what He has done for me because I can not do it. I thank my family for being so unselfish and putting my babies needs above there own. The ultrasound showed and still shows a perfectly healthy baby girl. She is growing right one schedule so far. I have only gained 15 pounds with this pregnancy so far with 2 months left as opposed to 43 to 63lbs so there has defiantly been some blessings coming my way. I can tell you where to by the best low carb soy milk, low carb yogurt, ice cream bars, bread, hamburger buns etc. I sometimes have to go to 3 different stores for my grocery shopping so I can get all the food a I can eat. If this kid comes out looking like a vegetable I know why, I have always been a veggie eater but sometime I have two salads a day and lots of other veggies.
For the next 8 weeks I go to the Dr two times a week, once for an appointment and a None Stress Test to make sure the baby is active and once for an ultra sound, I could make a photo album of all the ultra sounds I have and will have. Today I could see that she has lots of hair just like the others. So that is what I have been up to Dr appointments and controlling my GD, which I have to say I have done a pretty good job at.

As for everything else we have been having a wonderful summer. We wake up get dressed, make beds, eat, do reading. And then the kids usually play until lunch, we eat lunch, lay Brooklyn down for a nap the kids watch a learning video and then they each have workbooks they do and then more playing until dinner time.
Things we have done this summer so far is , going to lot's of parks, the splash pad, lot's of bike rides, hikes, camping, gone to the lake, the Dinosaur Museum, B-day parties, BBQ's with friends, we have had water days with friends in the back yard. We celebrated 2 B-day's. We go to the library often, we have done bowling and lazer tag, 4-H, planted and weeded out the garden, gone to the local zoo, have gone to the community pool. I also got to spend a weekend with my sisters and sister-in law in Park City which was a nice fun get away. I feel like we have had a good summer, we have done a lot around town and I have tried to keep the kids up to grade level in reading, math and writing. One of my favorite things this summer is watching my children interact, I love standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes while all four are outside playing together, they have had so much fun together this summer, from playing in the water to building fairy houses. It's great when they all get along so well.

I have also discovered that I could home school. I really love being home with my kids and teaching them. I have enjoyed these last 8 or so weeks with them. I love being a Stay at Home Mom, when Jeremy got a HUGE pay cut a few months back we laughed because it never even crossed our minds for me to go get a job. Instead we tightened the belt. We do things more locally we find good deals or free deals so we can go do things (if you know my I always am finding good deals so it was not that hard). I make breakfast every morning now instead of cereal, except for Sunday, I am grateful for our year supply of food I don't know what we would do without it. I am grateful I always but the kids clothes a season ahead when they are on sale for such a good deal so that my kids can be fully clothed in cute clothes, like the $4 old navy jeans I got them.
I know that not everyone can do this or wants to but I feel lucky that I can. I love my job it's the best, I always worried that I would hate being a SAHM when I had my first because all I had done since High School was work 40 plus hours a week and went to school. But I can't say I will ever regret choosing to have my family when I did. I have heard many say to wait until you are done with school or been married for so many years but honestly I am glad we did not wait. Hadley was the break I needed when going to school, when I had Madelyn in the middle of semester I was able to take her to class with me where my teachers loved to carry her around as they taught. I feel so blessed and grateful for each of my children even though sometimes I struggle with them and I smell like throw up because Brooklyn woke up for some unknown reason and threw up all over everything including me, they are my world I love them and even though I am scared to have 5 kids I know that I will love her as much as the others and I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who is willing to let me raise one of his precious spirits.

So if this blog doesn't get updated for awhile it is because I am busy being Mom and I can't seem to find the balance in everything I want to do. I am grateful for those who update their blogs because I love to sit at night and read them.

Look Out Beauty School Here I Come!

Last Thursday I went and got my hair cut...
Madeyln's hair looked like this this morning...
but I suppose she was jealous of mom's hair cut and decided she needed one to.





This is only a fraction of the hair she cut, it was on the couch, on the other side of the room.


I wanted to just shave her head but after I cut off the long part that was left she was in tears, so I tried to call a friend who cuts hair but she was not home. So I took her to a place called Cookie Cutters where she was spoiled rotten for cutting her own hair.

She got to pick a movie to watch and what car she would like to sit in.

You can't see but she even got sparkles in her hair and a sucker and balloon when she left. What a spoiled girl for doing something she was not suppose to!

I must say they did a pretty good job! She had to do a little comb over since the hair under that is cut to her scalp!!!






Now I know that when I have that feeling to take the scissors away(she was cutting out shapes on paper) I should take them away!!!


I have to say I didn't even get mad and for me that is a huge deal. When I first saw it I laughed and so did my two friends that were over when it happened but then I got serious and took her to her room. I think she knew that she had done something wrong because she did not even throw a fit, which is what always happens when she is sent to her room. When I cut the long part and saw her tears I realized that was punishment enough. She loves to get her hair done and to play with all her hair stuff. I guess hair is just hair it will grow back. I don't think she will ever cut her own hair again!!!

I love those guys!!!!!

Short Update:
Okay sorry I have not kept this up. I did lose 17lbs. Yes I new that I would not be able to lose 52lbs but hey it's still my dream. I didn't eat sugar until Easter and I am going to begin not eating again very soon, because I have gained 6 lbs back since last time.

Okay for the real reason I am here typing this post. I just needed to write about my great kiddos, so I figured why not here. I love those little guys, sometimes it amazes me how much I really can love them.
I love how when we go to Hadley's soccer games Bradley yells "Go Hawee",
I love how Brooklyn all day laughed with this evil sinister laugh that there was noway I couldn't laugh.
I love how Madelyn went outside all by herself for an hour today and tidied up the play house and swung on the swing singing as loud as she could to herself.
I love how Hadley found out yesterday that he has is first lose tooth and you would have thought he won the lottery.
I love that when Brooklyn cries Bradley comes running and pats her gently on the head.
I love the when I sneeze Brooklyn pretends to sneeze then cracks up laughing.
I love that when Madelyn is upset all I have to do is remember to hold her in my arms and cuddle and she just melts. She is defiantly my attention girl and loves her one on one snuggle time.
I love how when I told Hadley we couldn't pay for a shirt they were selling at school because it was to much money he said "okay" and then today he came home with a flier about how Kindergarten is having their trial run to eat lunch at school and that we could send $1.45 so they could eat and he says, "Mom, I know we don't have a lot of money so you could just make me a lunch maybe a sandwich and a banana and please can I have some juice".

Whoever said money buys happiness? I know they lied. My children are my greatest JOY!!!

Crock Pot Yogurt

You may use any type of milk, whole milk, 2% milk, low fat, soy milk, organic, etc.
It is thicker when using whole milk but more calories. I use low fat milk and when it is time to add the yogurt start I add 4 TBLS Non-fat dry milk. This makes it thicker. After 8 -12 hours it may seem a little runny still, you can use a cheese cloth to drain it to make it thicker if you would like. The longer it sits it will get thicker but it will be more tart. I only like mine to sit for about 10 hours. If you use the non-fat dry milk with the whole milk it is more like Greek yogurt.

I don't drain mine it is still thick but it's runny enough to just drink, we call it "drinkable yogurt", I know very creative. I put it in cups add a few teaspoons of honey powder (I think the honey powder works and tastes better than honey) and a little bit of vanilla or other flavorings. I also like to add jam, fruit, granola etc. VERY IMPORTANT DO NOT ADD ANYTHING WHILE COOKING IT BESIDES THE YOGURT START AND NON-FAT DRY MILK. It will not set up if you do. So whatever you want to add don’t add until after it is done.

You can use the yogurt from your first batch to make one or two more batches but after that you will have to buy a little thing of plain yogurt from the store as you will need a stronger live active culture to make it work. You can always freeze plain yogurt in ½ cup containers and when ready to use it thaw it out and it should work just as well as the fresh yogurt. I like to use the Yoplait plain Greek yogurt for a start. But you can use any plain yogurt (I have heard that Dannon plain yogurt does not seem to have enough live culture in it, if you try it let me know what you think)

Now for the directions:
• Turn your crock pot to low and pour in 1/2 gallon of milk
(8 cups).
• Heat on low for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Once 2 hours and 30 minutes have elapsed turn your crock pot
off and unplug it. Let the milk cool in the crock with the
lid on for 3 hours.
• After 3 hours remove 1-2 cups of the warmed milk and place
in a bowl. To that add 1/2 cup of yogurt with live active cultures
and optional 4 Tbls non-fat dry milk and mix very well.
• Pour the yogurt-milk mixture back into the milk and whisk thoroughly.
• Place the cover back on the crock and wrap the entire crock pot
in a thick bath towel or two. VERY IMPORTANT do not bump
Crockpot it messes up the whole process.
• Let it culture overnight, 8-12 hours.
• In the morning stir yogurt (if desired) and store in glass quart
jars or a container of your choice. Or I just take the pot out of
the crockpot with lid and put in the fridge.
• Refrigerate then add what you would like
to eat a wonderfully healthy yogurt.

HAPPY YOGURT MAKING!!!!

HONEY my new best friend.

A little over two weeks and I have remained sugar-free and aspartame free. No cookies, candy, bread with sugar yogurt with sugar... everything with sugar and as much as possible artificial sugar (a few things have had sucralose in them but I am trying hard to stay away from all artificial sweeteners). It has been difficult but easy I think it's easier to say no sugar instead of no chocolate this way I just stay away from everything. I have learned a lot of new healthy ways to make things and on how to eat things.

I would say the first time I realized what am I doing was about the third day when I made oatmeal, if you are from my family we eat it with brown sugar and lots of chocolate chips :). I made the oatmeal then realized what in the world do I put on it. HONEY!!!! and raisins or cut up bananas. Yummy and healthy!!!

I was eating a lot of yogurt until I realized how much sugar or artificial sugar is in them so I have started making my own yogurt again, which is so easy you don't even have to have a yogurt maker. My mom use to make yogurt when I was a kid and it was gross and plain. I have learned that you add some honey to it and a little bit of jam or vanilla and there is a yummy treat and even my pickiest kid ate it so I know it was good.

I will try to do a post on yogurt making it is so easy and it is so healthy for you.


Pancakes. I always add a little sugar in mine. I made up a new recipe to make some healthy pancakes.
2 cups oats in a blender until powder then add,
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 whole egg and 1 egg white
2 cups skim milk
1TBLS of honey

They were pretty tasty with some sugar free syrup. I still need to play with the recipe because they are kind of flat but I like thin pancakes better than fat ones. I think maybe some baking powder or something.

I have realized that I will be buying honey in bulk from now on:)


*FYI I have lost 4 more pounds.

Good

Me: What are you doing, Bradley?
Bradley: Good

Me: How old are you?
Bradley: Good


Me: Would you like a cheese stick or a banana?
Bradley: Good


Me: Why did you hit her?
Bradley: Good


Me: Where is your blankie?
Bradley: Good

LENT

Nope I am not Catholic but I think I am going to join them in Lent. I hope they don't mind.
I am giving up SUGAR!

My goal is to lose 52 lbs by May 1st. I have lost 7 so far and could do more if I wouldn't eat so much chocolate, I can down a bag of milk chocolate chips in two days easy, that is why I am giving it up for the next 40 days. My hope of posting this is so I am somewhat held accountable and if you are in my presence you will tell me no don't eat that have the carrot stick instead.

I have lost 45 pounds in 4 months before by portion control and exercise so I know I can do it again!!! I also kept it off until I got pregnant. I just need to stick to it!!!

My goal weight is 130 lbs!!!

Last time I could not break 146 but I am determined to this time!!!!

Wish me luck!!!

If this turns into a weight loss blog I apologize in advance but I need something to feel like I am being accountable for my actions.

I just love this girl!!!

I can't help posting more pictures of this little girl but I just think she is so cute!!!
She is now 7 months old and 14 lbs, you would never know she was a 10 lbs baby she is so tiny now!!!
She started rolling over the week after Christmas and started getting up on all fours the third week in January. She is not quite crawling yet, she gets up on all fours and flops forwards and repeats. We have to make sure there is no paper of any kind on the floor because that is her favorite thing to go after and try to eat. She has been sitting up for about two weeks now.
She gave me the best V-day present she slept from 7:30 to 7:30. She usually goes to sleep around 10 wakes up about 3 or 4 eats and goes back to sleep for awhile.
Some more fun things about her id that she loves to be held
She loves the camera, whenever it comes of she lights up into big smiles.
Madelyn is her favorite person.
she can have some crazy bedhead with all that hair!
She got her first two teeth the week after Christmas!!!
She loves to give wide open mouth kisses.
She is a true blessing, I have realized that she brings so much joy and patience to our lives.

I thought I would get on here an update before I do my taxes.
Christmas came and went, it was fun but New Years had to be favorite. Jeremy had 5 days off and we relaxed the whole time and played with new Christmas toys and went ice skating with friends.
We started a new tradition last year on New Year's Eve, we roast hot dogs over the stove and marshmallows. Then we try to play as many games as we can before 10 o'clock and then we let the kids sleep in the three man tent that we set up inside. It was a blast we also had plenty of new games to play thanks to Uncle Chad and Aunt Lyn's family. It was just fun to be as a family since we don't get Jeremy much to ourselves anymore.

Jeremy got Brooklyn growling it was cute so I thought I would share. One she is laughing the others growling.

The Best Kids Ever

A few months ago I heard a talk and the women said, "how did I get the best kids ever?" I thought I am going to say that to myself more often and it's funny the difference it has made. I am more patient and laugh more often at things I use to get upset at. Just a random thought for the day :)

Here's some random pictures of us during Thanksgiving. We went to hang out with my family. It was a lot of fun and relaxing. We ate took walks, went to Bridal Veil Falls, hung out and played games (just a point for future reference if you want to win don't have me on your team if you want to have fun pick me:) ) I love my family it's fun to get together since I don't see them very often.

A little update on Brooklyn, at three months she started rolling over from back to tummy and a weeks ago she started rolling around the room. She started as my biggest at 10 pounds one ounce and at four months is my smallest at 13 pounds 7 ounces. If she is awake she loves to be held, she loves to laugh and no she is not sleeping through the night.

And then there are some pictures of Hadley's B-day, I can't believe he is 6. At least now when people ask how many kids I have and how old the oldest is I can say I have 4 and the oldest is 6 that doesn't sound as shocking as 5. I quit on the cake decorating so you can see my decorating skills, he was all excited about it and that is all that matters.