Our Day

It was a good day. The kids have such a good time playing in the snow. Carl was turning flips and doing belly flops in the snow. Rebecca made snow angels and I think Bella Grace and Renee did too....lol Bella Grace was not afraid of it one bit. She had such a good time.

After the kids came in I fixed them some hot chocolate to help warm them up quickly. They seemed to enjoy that. The rest of the day we just kinda enjoyed the snow from the inside. I like how bright the house seems when the sun shines on it. I like a bright room, anyway. I hate dark rooms.

Anyway, I decided about 2 that I was going to cook a pork roast, at first I thought I had over done it, but in the end it was marvelous! lol! I made potatoes, black-eyed peas, and corn bread to go with it. It was a very good meal.

I was out of a few things so I went to the grocery store. It was very cold out and I was ever so glad to get back home!

Well that about does it for tonight. I am headed now to go put a roast in the crock pot along with some dried peas in another. For lunch tomorrow at the church.

More Pictures!!

October 2011 Snow!

The children in the snow!

Fall Snow 2011

Can you believe it is snowing and it is October 29?! What does this mean for our Winter? Yikes! It is really coming down out there. It goes from huge flakes to small, but either way it is a steady snowfall.

Here are some pictures of this morning when we got up...

Bella Grace Sees the snow falling

A view from upstairs

A view from Rebecca's Room

The Grape Vine

The front walk

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

We have snow in our forecast! It will be the first of the season. I love the snow. They say 1-2" tonight and 1-3" in the morning. We'll see what happens. Here is our forecast:

Tonight: Rain before midnight, then snow. Low around 33. East wind between 3 and 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Rain and snow, mainly before 2pm. High near 37. North wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.


Oh my!

Pancakes!

Renee fixed pancakes today. She did some special ones for Carl! He really enjoyed them! Thank you big sister!

Daily Tasks

Today we have church so it will be rushed around the Merrell house. Renee and Bella Grace are going shopping on her day off. I am going to be cleaning my bedroom and doing some light house work in between classes. I cleaned most of the kitchen last night so it won't take long to do it today.

Jasper will be attempting to head down to NC again tomorrow. Last time he tried my transmission went out completely. He has since fixed that. It sure pays to have a husband who knows many trades. It literally saves us hundreds of $$'s. He will be gone until sometime Thursday afternoon.

I have been on the Progesterone now for several days. So far all is good. Nausea is gone now. That's always a plus...lol I just wonder if I will conceive at all anytime soon. I am 1/2 scared too, and also want too. I am mixed with emotions about it. I must admit another girl would be nice though... :)

The air is beginning to chill. We got down in the mid 30's last night. We have had a light frost already. Not sure what to expect for Winter. They say it can go either way. We have had some moisture lately so if it keeps up I am sure snow will be in our forecast quite a bit.

For Your Baby Angel

Hug Him Once For Me

My age and having more children

I am 42 and will be 43 in March. I am to some to old to have children now. But, I disagree. If a person wishes to let God give her blessings then it is hers and only her decision. Well her husband too...lol I am not the usual, I am happy if I am blessed with another child.

It seems somewhere along the way people have lost family values. Lost sight of whats really important. I don't want 2.5 children, how do you do that anyway?? If God gives me 20 I want all 20! That is how I feel.

I understand some are concerned with my health. I am fine. I feel good. Yes, I have arthritis, but that is no reason to deprive myself of a child.

So with that said, I want to say that I am not going on birth control, I am not going to "be careful" I am going to do just like I have always done. Let God choose my path in life. If I get pregnant I welcome it, if I don't I accept it.

I am beginning to take Progesterone. It is a hormone that I need to help me with peri pre menopausal symptoms. It will also help my body sustain a pregnancy should I conceive.

Hopefully those close to me who read this will understand, this is my life, my decision, my family. I love all my family, siblings, tho we all have different opinions, and lifestyles. Please respect me in my decision to live my life how I want to.

I am not angry with anyone, nor is this post being written to upset anyone. It is just a blog entry on how I feel and what I plan to do. Information for those who choose to read this blogger page.

More posts will follow on this chapter journey in my life. So be sure to check back and see what happens. :)

My Sister and her surgery

I got up yesterday at 5 a.m. to get ready to travel to Leesburg, Virginia, about 2 hours from us. Linda, my oldest sister would be having surgery to remove her right breast. she had been diagnosed with Cancer. The surgery went well and she will be home sometime today. I hope she recovers quickly and can move on. I know it has been and will be hard for her. In time I am sure she will adjust. I am thankful things so far look very good for her. We will know in a few days if the cancer had spread or not. Looking for a good outcome!

Carl's $8 Bed!

If you click the link below you can see the bed I got him today for a steal of a deal!

mail (640×480):

Erin Bates - The Love of God

Does the housework ever end?

It seems like all I ever do is clean the house. Ever have them days? You clean and clean and it looks like you have not done a thing all day. I have many of those days. Today won't be any different. I need to get so much done and pack some things for tomorrow.

I will be going to Leesburg Virginia to be with my sister as she has her Mastectomy. I cannot believe she is going through this. It's enough to keep you nervous for sure. I hope they get it all so that she does not have to have further treatment.

Carl and Bella Grace are wide open already this morning.She is in her walker and he was riding his bike. Round and round they went...lol If I could bottle that energy and sell it on ebay I would be a rich woman...lol

Well, my duty awaits, and it sure won't do itself....

Way up there fixing the gutters. Yikes!

She saw 2 nests

What appears to be 2 squirrels nests.

My lil' Snaggle

My lil' Man

I would never get off the 2 step. I just cannot

handle heights at all. They scare me to death.

Rebecca and Carl swinging. She is doing most of the work and it shows!

Jasper & Samuel repairing the gutter!
I am scared of heights, there is just no way
I could ever get that high up!

He was having a ball swinging

I love this picture Of Mr Carl!

He is just a cutie pie!

Amazon.com: Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Nine-Season Set (Complete Series + Pilot Episode): Michael Landon, Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle, Lindsay Greenbush, Scottie MacGregor: Movies & TV

Oh how I would LOVE this set!

Amazon.com: Little House on the Prairie: The Complete Nine-Season Set (Complete Series + Pilot Episode): Michael Landon, Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle, Lindsay Greenbush, Scottie MacGregor: Movies & TV:

'via Blog this'

Another day....

Got the house to clean, need to get ready for service tonight and what am I doing? Sitting here on the laptop....lol Oh my! I doubt things will get done this way. At least I have the bed made..lol Baby sitting the Grand again. She fell asleep in her walker. It was so cute. She has a small cold, so does Carl. Part of having small children. I need to go get dressed since its nearly lunch time...lol I feel lazy today. I guess I better get out of that!

Oh I almost forgot! Last night I had a bad headache and Carl asked me did I need prayer, I said are you going to pray for me? He said uh huh, so I got down beside his bed, and he put his arm around me and was praying saying help Mommy. How sweet!

my favorite place

It's Sunday

I got to bed late last night. Which is the norm for me. Getting up this morning was a bit hard. Not because I was tired, but JJ was taking a bath and I had to go! Having one bathroom is very hard at times...lol

I was a little late getting ready so I rode with Renee and Bella-Grace. we had a good service and had a couple visiting who were pastors in Key West Florida. we got home a little earlier than usual. i think 12:45pm.

After lunch I wanted a nap sooo bad, but the 3 smaller children wanted to play. So I sat and watched until I realized I was actually dozing a lot...lol Now 2 of the 3 have fallen asleep and I am sitting here on the laptop. Go figure.

Renee had to work today from 2 to 6. She is in her last hour and I am sure she is happy about that. I so wish she could find a different job. She needs weekends off. She misses her baby girl.

Jasper is on the desktop pc. He has some music playing that is soft. Nice and quiet. Makes for a nice afternoon.

Carl fell asleep eating his yogurt, and Bella-Grace is in her bed napping. Rebecca is resting in her Daddy's recliner. Samuel and JJ napping/resting in their rooms....again nice and quiet. Its a rare moment in this house! Trust me.

We think our well pump is going out. It sure would be nice if that was the problem all along. Maybe if he replaces it then we will have more water. I so hope so! I guess we will talk to the Landlord soon about that. You never realize how much water you use until you have to be careful.

We also have to get the van running before Friday. My transmission died. I no longer can go....ack! I have to have it ready by Friday, my sister is having surgery and I want to be with her. If you would help pray I would appreciate it. I need that new tranny to be right.

Tummy is growling, I better go snack.

In Memory of Jean Duke

In Memory of Jean Duke

I knew Jean in School.

Answered Prayers??

The transmission went out on my van yesterday. I was surprised that Jasper has already found a van for parts. Hopefully we will be running by the weekend! I hope it is what we need and all works out. I like my old van, it's been a good one. We bought it several years ago for $2800. It has been a lot of miles, traveled a lot of roads.

What's new for today?

Pretty much nothing...lol I have to finish kitchen mop the floor, then I need to list on ebay and create new chore packs. The term "a woman's work is never done" is an understatement!

Nevertheless, it must be done, so I better get at it..lol

Continued from my last 2 posts

I was in the middle of typing and Jasper returned. I thought what did he forget. I quickly found out that my transmission died in my 1998 Town and Country. Yikes! So, Jasper was unable to go to N.C. He is on the other computer now trying to locate either another tranny or van, which ever is the best deal.

So, since Jasper was home, I decided that I would cook a big supper. We had boneless pork chops, Potatoes, navy beans, cornbread, and for dessert we had Banana Pudding. I let Rebecca and Carl help with the pudding. Rebecca did the banana's and Carl did the cookies, while Mommy did the Pudding and Meringue. I took these pictures. It was fun for them and me.

Well, not alone after all. My tranny went out on my van so Jasper had to come back home. Sigh, oh well.
~P@m~

Wednesday, October, 12, 2011

I sit at my computer desk with a bit of a headache. Kids are playing, arguing in the back ground. It is raining out today so they cannot go play outdoors. I am doing laundry since we have a good supply of water today.

Carl has seemed to forget he was potty training so well. For 2 days he has not done well. I am hoping by printing another Potty Chart for stickers he will do well again. Sigh.

I have so much I need to get done. I will have some time tonight if I choose to work late. Jasper has a preaching appointment in NC and left right after lunch. He will be back sometime tomorrow.

I want to create some good chore charts and do some organizing in the house. I have done a lot, but never seem to get it all.

I am hoping to get some things listed on eBay too. I have so much lying around here.

Living with ADHD

After having 4 children who have never had any problems, seeing the 5th one suffer with these symptoms is very hard. My Carl, he is the sweetest lil guy, who can have some major problems daily just trying to get through the day.

I am starting Carl on some Omega 3 today, they say after 2 weeks we should see improvements. Lets hope for him and us we do.

When you have a child who cannot be still at all, it is frustrating to know just what to do for them. Even when he goes to sleep he is running in his sleep. feet and legs are twitching like crazy for the first several minutes.

I have noticed that not only dye affects him, but processed meats like Bologna and Vienna Sausages are having a negative effect as well. Red 40 makes him hyper, yellow anything makes him irritable. Put all those together an you have a major rotten day!

What signaled there was a problem was we saw a continuous increase in declining behavior and he was beginning to take it out on Rebecca. He was biting and pulling her hair. He had never done this. So I remember one night Jasper and I were laying in bed asking what could it be. Jasper responds it has to be something in his food. So the next day I did a Google search on ADHD symptoms and food. What I came up with was shocking to us. I asked a home school group on yahoo that I am on had they heard of this and yes! They had and many had children who too suffered from dye.

So I decided I would watch what I gave Carl, within 3 days we saw a more manageable Carl. I am glad we can help him some. But I wish we could see better results for him. Maybe this omega 3 will help. We also have been giving Vitamin C, it does help as well.

I feel as a parent it is my responsibility to do what helps my child. It is hard at parties and gatherings to find things dye free, sometimes I bring my own. I so hope he outgrows it. I feel for him.

The Boy who lives in the closet

Carl has said for months there is a little boy who lives in the closet. He runs to open the door and show you his friend named boy. When he opens it is a reflection of Carl in the mirror on the door...lol He says the boy does not eat, he is just always there. This morning he mentioned me coming to see the boy with him, so I got my cell phone camera ready and snapped this photo. Children are very creative!

My Rebecca

JJ & Brittany

Ready for church!
While at Blue Ridge Camp 2011