Tidbits

Multiple times this week I thought of different things to blog about, but I'm finally sitting down to update you on our life and I'll just have to write about lots of things in one post. :)
Cheating
This has been our first week without family helping me in 2 1/2 months! Wow, how the time flew! We've decided to have help in the house every day during the week days.  Ana is here Monday/Tuesday and then returns for Thursday/Friday. She was upfront that she doesn't want to work probably more than 6 months like this, so we will eventually need to find someone else for Mon/Tues. Ana's main responsibility is the children. She is more of a nanny while I've given the bulk of cleaning responsibilities to another lady who comes twice a week. Her name is Santa and she is with us on Mon/Wednesday. With Theo still gone due to his broken leg, we've hired another gardener for two days a week - Wednesday/Friday. We hope Theo will be getting his surgery next week and then be on to a speedy recovery. The majority of my girlfriends have a driver and while we've lived here for 3 1/2yrs without one, we are considering getting one for at least 2 days a week. Needless to say I've definitely gained the title of House Manager with all the extra help we have.
I feel like I am cheating as a mommy, especially when I think of all the moms in the States. And while I'm okay with having the extra help in order to be able to nurse in peace or deal with a crying infant while someone else takes care of my 16 month old, I'm not at complete peace about it. Maybe it's a pride thing. Maybe God in His sovereignty knew that I needed to live here during this stage of life in order to survive being a mommy to 4 under 5 1/2...or rather I needed to live here so that my children would survive this stage...know what I mean?

Silliness
I watched Adeline giggle like I'd never seen her do when we were stateside these past few weeks. I LOVED IT! I watched her be silly with my or Scott's parents or even Scott and enjoyed each moment. But then as we were doing school this past week, she wanted to be silly with me while working on phonics. I DON'T HAVE A SILLY BONE IN MY BODY! It was at this point that I realized a new way to bond with my daughter...to be silly. I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to try. It's going to take a true conscious effort in order for me to be silly....and that's no joke.

Macklin & Matthias
Macklin is now 5 weeks old and weighs 10lbs. He's only waking up once at night to feed! What a blessing from my merciful God! He smiled directly at me today while I was talking to him!

While in TX my "sweet" Matthias turned into a little terror...I'm not exaggerating. Scott didn't quite believe me until he arrived in TX and realized he had a monster to tackle with trying to teach Matthias discipline. Needless to say after daddy was his full-time caretaker for 3 weeks Matthias now FULLY understands when he is disobeying and usually does so with a smirk! He's still addicted to his pacifier and when you ask him where it is, he always knows where to find one. He actually wakes up multiple times in the night and searches for his pacifier. If he doesn't find it, he starts to cry...but he usually always finds it. I took Adeline and Darton off the paci at 7-8mths. I tried weening Matthias around 12mths...don't know when we'll try again. He's learned that Macklin has his own (one) paci and Matthias has his own army of pacifiers. He started this week trying to share his pacifier instead of trying to steal Macklin's. He also started this week kissing on Macklin instead of hitting him every time he came near! It's still a love-hate relationship, but that's to be expected.

My mom took Matthias' stitches out! Let's just say the paci really helped when stitches were being put in  AND taken out!

What to say....
Today I walked away from two conversations thinking, "Man, I wish I would have said..." Each time the statements caught me off guard, but here's what I would have said if given the chance again.
BAckground to conversation: I've challenged 5 non-Christian girlfriends to do the 30 Day Encourage Your Hubby challenge from Revive Our Hearts with me. The handout includes scripture references and the challenge is based upon biblical truths. I let the gals know that up front. That's when one girlfriend said, "You don't have to be a Christian to be nice to your husband." I said, "Well, no that's true."
But then I should have continued with.... "It's true that you don't have to be a Christian to be nice, but I know that in my flesh there is no way I could complete 30 days of encouraging Scott (without saying a bad thing to or about it) and that I need outside help to encourage and nourish my spirit to do so.  That's where God and Christ come into the picture."
Then I had a short conversation about how I plan to homeschool my children even though our company will pay for an education here which costs $10,000US a year. Moms ALWAYS say, "Wow, you must have a lot of patience." And I ALWAYS respond with that I DON'T have patience and I have to work on it EVERY DAY. The lady then replied, "And you want to work on it?" Hmmmm....didn't know what to say to that one.
But if given the chance again I would say....."Yes, I do want to work at it because I've chosen to make Jesus Lord over my life. I want to fully embrace his way of living life which means living by the spirit and not by the flesh. I want to possess love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control."
I know the Spirit puts words in my mouth for those moments when I'm defending my faith, but I haven't been in my Word enough...hence the lack of words

Darton is 4

Time keeps moving forward and yesterday we celebrated Darton turning 4 years old. For the majority of his toddler life I have expecting him to do things Adeline does since they are only 20mths a part. But then this past Spring it hit me that he is ONLY 3! Sorry little fella.

Do you have the same problem of thinking your children are "so old," 

but you see other 2 or 3 or 4 year olds as babies? 

photo credit: Milano Photography

Darton is celebrating with 4 parties this year! We had one in TX with family, a small one with rice krispie treats at school, one with just us last night, and then he'll celebrate tomorrow with a few friends that aren't in his school. This year's party theme is pirates! I chose pirates because of his love for Hook...not to be confused with a love for Peter Pan. He loves the Robin William's movie Hook. However, Hook and Peter Pan are way outdated and I couldn't find anything related to them for party favors, cake decorations, etc. Pirates of the Caribbean are a hot item right now though, so thankfully we were able to find swords, treasure coins, and pirate patches. Unfortunately Pirates of the Caribbean have skulls on everything.

For a party activity, I drew up a treasure map of things around the house for the kids to follow. At each stop they collected a coin and then they had a treasure bag at the end. 

 When Darton gets something in his mind, he becomes obsessed with it.  While in TX one of his obsession was getting a guitar. Grandmommie made that happen for his bday and he's been strumming to music ever since. I never knew he paid so much attention to the musicians at church until he showed us how to silently count to lead us into singing while he plays the guitar.

Darton's recent work writing "letters" (as in the alphabet). He's very detail oriented, which comes through in his choice of clothes as well as fixing his hair.

 I've learned a lot about my little bud over the last six months.  He blossomed out of the baby stage last Fall and we started discovering who our son really is.  He is so intense and will rarely willingly do something if it wasn't his idea. I've always said Darton came out of the womb crying and hasn't stopped. Those that know him can testify. If Darton was able to live by himself, there would be much less crying. But because he has two parents to deal with, his life is quite frustrating. I didn't know all my son's characteristics were of a strong-willed child until I began reading Cynthia Tobias' You Can't Make Me (But I can be persuaded). It has been an "ah-ha" moment for Scott and I to say the least.  Scott has also realized his son is A LOT like him, scoring slightly under Darton in the strong-willed test Tobias gives in her book.

One of the funniest quirks about Darton is how he loves to mimic adults. It started with our gardener Teo, but while in TX he picked up tree trimming (his Papa's profession) and wearing his socks high (like his Gdad). He works like I've never seen a toddler work. When he sets his mind to it, he is an incredibly hard worker and his detail oriented personality carries over in this area. Both grandfather's can testify to his work skills, rather that be pulling branches to the shredder or raking a whole front yard full of grass trimmings.

I won't lie Darton, there are times when I think life would be much easier without you. But my handsome boy, God has given you to me for a specific purpose. You are my perfect gift. You have the sweetest nature and I'm enjoying discovering how God created you. I will continue to do my best to learn how to be a good mommy to you. I love you.

Karen Hossink: Small Enough to Do Something Big

God always brings me the right encouragement at the right time. Now I must put to memory that it's okay to not feel adequate for the job of training 4 hearts for His glory. I am inadequate. HE'S NOT!

Home Again, Home Again

My mom, the kids, and I all flew back to the DR last Thursday. Our 3 hour layover turned into a 9 hour layover and the airline had sent my stroller through with the luggage! It was quite miserable, especially since my mom and I were running off of only 3 hours sleep. I am still catching up on sleep....

 Macklin was just 3 weeks old the day we flew home. Adeline was taking her turn holding Macklin. You can imagine how hard it was to hold either a 3 week hold or chase after a 16mth old for 9 hours.

Grandmommie and the kids on Easter morning. Even preparing Darton 2 hours in advance that we are going to take a picture doesn't mean he will cooperate. 

 

I was quite overwhelmed looking at four Easter baskets sitting on the coffee table. Just last year Matthias was celebrating his first Easter at 4 months old with not a single hint of a thought that I would have another child the next Easter. But here we are with four Easter baskets and enough children in my house to not have to invite other children over to have a fun Easter egg hunt! Blessed, yes. Overwhelmed, yes. But it's keeping me dependent on my sovereign God.

Matthias and a Ceiling Fan

Matthias met the ceiling fan last night. He's doing surprisingly well this morning...actually better than normal! It was a miserable experience for me, but we made it through. I initially had Macklin with us since he would need to nurse, but the doctor kindly told us this is the worst place a 12 day old baby could be....duh! So as soon as he nursed he was taken home to get out of the germ/bacteria infested environment. 

Macklin Jedediah Scott Geer

At 40 weeks and 5 days Macklin Jedediah Scott Geer was born at 6:45am on March 15, 2012. He weighed 8lbs 2 oz and was 20in long. Here are a few pictures from his birth at the Allen Birthing Center. Once again I was hit with good ole back labor, so most of my labor was spent on my hands and knees. Macklin didn't come fast and furious. I had the midwife strip my membranes for the second time the morning of March 14 and I started contracting that afternoon. However once we hopped in the car for the center at 6pm, the contractions stopped. If I walked around they would come back, but we opted to go home and try to sleep instead of sleeping at the center. At 2am the contractions had been coming on and off for 2 hours and I was now nauseous. I had never been nauseous with my previous labors (unless from medication) and for the second time we got in the car and headed to the center. By the time we arrived the contractions had once again ceased, so I walked the stairs in strides rocking my hips back and forth to move things along. Things didn't move along so at 6am she broke my water and THEN THINGS BEGAN! 

My girlfriends in the DR lit candles while I was in labor. This was my candle and my father-in-law was sitting downstairs with one lit at well. 

This was the first labor I used hot rice packs and they were great!

I didn't plan to birth in the tub, but the nurse convinced me and in the end I was glad to have water being splashed on me during the "ring of fire" moment. 

They assisted me to the bed and I held Macklin for what seemed the longest time. I had to ask them to take him  so I knew how much he weighed. So very much different than the hospital. 

We left about 5 hours after his birth. 

Adeline and Darton (with the help of Grandmommie and Gdad) made us a welcome home sign. 

They are all very proud. Matthias has spent the last 10 days in  Daddy's arms. Scott left today and Matthias has been running around the house saying "daddy, daddy" all day. :( We will leave TX on April 5 with my mom. 

Macklin's first Sunday at 4 days old. 

Matthias will have a play buddy before long. 

His name:
Macklin is my father's middle name
Jedediah is a name on my father's side as well, but I chose it especially for its meaning "Beloved of God"
Scott is...well you know

I'm not going to sugarcoat it...life with 4 is HARD. In order to not be overwhelmed though I know I must keep my gaze upon my Savior and know that I am a blessed woman who has been called to be a mommy to my four rewards. 

These are the words of my father-in-law who sat downstairs the whole night during my labor and delivery. I will forever treasure his thoughts. 

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. Romans 8:22

.....I had the privilege of standing vigil in the wee hours of the morning, this morning, as our 6th grandchild was born. Noreen was with our daughter-in-law and son upstairs at the birthing center in Allen, Texas and I sat alone at the kitchen table downstairs listening in awe of the amazing process of birth. This verse from Romans came to my mind as I sat there praying for mother and child and the attendants. Until one hears a woman in the depths of her travail, I'm not sure that there can be a good comprehension of the picture that Paul is painting in Romans 8. A new life came into the world today - Macklin Jedediah Scott Geer - and the hope that we have in Christ came so clear to me as I listened to the groans and pains of childbirth......and then that sweet cry as he took his first breaths as he let us know that he was here safely. 

What a picture of our new birth and the ultimate new birth of creation as it, and we, will be released from the curse of Adam's sin. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Here is the whole context of Romans 8:18-25: 
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

A Night Out in Dallas

A night out in Dallas (or a nice restaurant anywhere) can make a gal at 39 1/2wks pregnant feel great!