Salem Ann

Littlest lady had her 2 week check last week. She has been such a good eater, she came out rooting. So thankful! Any who...... she weighed in at 9 lb. 2oz. a very significant increase from her 7 lb. 13oz. birth weight. I've been exclusively nursing her, the Dr. asked if I'd been supplementing b/c of the major weight gained. I just said "God wired me to produce some hardy milk".  This has been one of many ways I've seen God providing for me and caring for me in this time of change.  Sweet girl is such a darling baby.  My first female baby to enjoy snuggling on my chest. Her spitting up is minimal, she is already sleeping a good 5 hour stretch at night (now I just need to figure out how to coordinate her feeding with that feeding pump).  I hate to say it, but if all babies were like Salem, who knows how many we would have? But alas, they are not, we are all created in own unique way, with individual strength and weakness. Her only issue for now is a clogged tear duct, and I'm praying for that to resolve.

On a side note...... to re-answer the "how are things going" question, as I seem to get it a lot.....

Last week was very difficult. I usually find my self crashing on week 2 when the adrenaline of "new" wears off. But I would have to say week 3 this time around proved to be most challenging.  I won't go into too many details but just a couple of the rated PG items on the list; i burnt my right hand and it was painful for a couple days, it was a steam burn from opening a lid on some steamed broccoli in a poor direction.  Shiloh neglected her earring maintenance and allowed for the back of her earring to grow into the back of her ear, that's right, it was embedded. We had minor surgery and a firm lecture on my bed.  Hosea had some sort of flu, thankful for the short 2 day version. I'll stop here.

Amidst the chaos of it all God is providing for me.  Mike's work schedule has loosened significantly which is unmerited favor given to him from his CO, resulting in being granted additional days off, and he has really stepped it up in intent and execution of serving within our home.  He has started taking an online class, kicking off seminary, so he has been also doing that.  He is loving it, it has put some pep-in-his-step. He has been intentional in being helpful, which is a huge blessing to me.  Additionally Salem's temperament, has been an answer to prayer, and thus provision from the hands of her creator.  We've had meals prepared and brought to us, and have been served by many eager hands.  Thank you Lord for your kindness!

Confession

I just got on my blog to be reminded how to make hooded towels, and got sucked in to reading it for about 5 min. and then realized that I was on here to do something??? What was it? Oh, yeah towels.

Aggie's First Day of School

We loaded up with our monogrammed gear and off we went.  They said we needed a full size back pack. So I decided to do it with style, matching with name on it.. The teacher said she did well. She got a little fussy around what use to be her nap time, but was coaxed out of it with food. She ate well. She spent 30 min. in an assistive walking device, and is now home resting. Day 1 appears to have been successful.

Photo Shoot

Expressions................

The happy dream

 We get this one a lot

 See what I mean

Surprised!

Smile

Out

 I am forever trying to capture shots of all my people together, looking, and smiling.  I can tell it will be a life long mission as MY mother, and pretty much every mother I know desire the same thing.

So here's what I did get......

So pretty

Facebook Post

I wanted to archive this 15-30 min. segment of my morning. I elected to peck it out on FB yesterday while nursing, and decided today it was a memory worth saving. So here is some uncensored footage from the Schloss home.

"First morning with out the man home.... The little sister starts crying, i leave the school desk and big sister to her math. I take little sister to diaper before feeding........ ugg, not quick enough with clean pamper. I hear big bro yelling from living room "she knocked over your ice water".... I hear crunching between mid sisters teeth, she loves ice, even served on carpet. I strap little sis to wet table, retrieve towel to clean up ice platter, who knows what else is in my carpet? A least it's just water, right? Mid sister proceeds communicate her discontentment with my interrupting her snack with loud whales. What's this?????? Big sis running toward me with a ringing phone.... why did I push talk? Instinct i guess.? Having a conversation with with mid sis yelling in my lap, trying to get her braces off so I can put her down for morning nap. Phew convo. over, mid sis down, little sis still in puddle, belly not yet full and letting me know it. Finish feeding, go to put down for nap......ah man I forgot about that early morning blow out, must change crib sheets. Ok.. both little and mid are down for nap...... now...... to shower or to school? That is the question. Just a little something to laugh at."

Random Thoughts

I think the only kind of thoughts one has 1 week postpartum is random?  Maybe it's just me?

I always wonder how my friends are doing after adding to their family, so I've decided to give a brief synopsis of how I am doing.

I am well........

I went to church today.  We took the kids to Home Depot Sat. to do the free kids project.  It was our first outing as a family of 6, and we all survived and some even had fun. :)

So far in my experience; I find caring for a healthy newborn to be an easier task than being 8 and 9 months pregnant.  I find I get longer stretches of sleep, though not frequent or long, and my body feels much more able for the task.

I have found myself thankful on numerous occasions for my bladders ability to once again fill to max capacity.  This is saving me much time, and my hands are grateful to not be so dry from all the washing.

Salem is a joy. She is such a sweet little doll. I call her little sister.  She likes it. She makes the funniest faces often.  I find myself chuckling at them even in the wee hours of the morn.  The most frequent is the brow furrow.  I find myself wondering if it is related to generational sin, on her mom's side.  During her pregnancy I found myself doubting often, struggling with cynicism. Her furrow reminds me of my attitude, and may be something that we will get to work though together some day, though I have gotten a head start on the matter, I will certainly be able to relate if in fact it does follow her as she grows.

The kids love her.  They ask to hold her and kiss her often.  They are diligent to wash their hands before asking, knowing I will ask them before I allow them to touch.  Every time Aggie see's her she says "Baby".  I'll take that as acknowledgement of the little sister.  She's not allowed to touch, she doesn't know how to be gentle. We are working on that.

Mike's been helpful while on "baby leave".  He is back to work tomorrow, but has a lot of days off he needs to use up between now and his separation from the Corp this summer, so we are hopeful to get to see more of him.  He got caught up on a lot of "man chores" while home, our hallway bathroom is in much better order now.  The toilet is fixed, the towel rack is hung at a kid friendly level, the walls are painted a pretty color and I even picked out a new shower curtain, which is really a treat around here.

Our church family has been bringing us meals, and i am so grateful for it!!!  They will continue though this week, which will be a great help while trying to find my new groove.

Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve

 Hosea's gift to Shiloh

 Mema and Papa's gift to Aggie

 Mema and Papa's gift to Shiloh, a home-made america girl doll bed, which Jesse is borrowing.

 Hosea's Monster Truck

 Hosea's light saber

 Aggie looking cute

 Matching Night Cloths 

We were blessed with many things including having mom and dad with us this year. Thanks for waiting around with us for little Salem's arrival.