Cone of Shame

The last time I wrote a blog I said pretty soon I'd find another animal in need. That very day I got a knock on my door. A neighbor told me of a hurt dog in the field right next to me. He had been attacked and won't go to her. He was shaking and hurt. Before finishing talking I ran through my back gate and out to the field. He was so little and camouflaged I almost couldn't see him. At first I could tell he was worried I was coming to hurt him. I saw bite marks on his body. Ohhh, my heart broke. With soft words I was able to get close enough to him. I could see he couldn't use one of his legs. We wrapped in a blanket with my hands and arms covered back to our house. 

He's doing much better no after a week and is running around with our other dogs. We found an  amazing product for his wounds that help him to heal quickly. Sometimes he shakes from the pain. I'm pretty sure he escaped from nearby breeders. Often their gates are open and their chihuahuas just wander the streets. I've taken in several before that were underfed and their bones were brittle. :( Makes me sad. We eventually had to get Popcorn an ecollar because he kept chewing and licking his wounds. He is such a happy dog now even though he still has a ways to go in healing.  He gets lots of loving from my kids too.

http://bible.com/116/PRO12.10.NLT The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. Bible.com/app

Chicken House Rules

Being that I've been needing to get a better Chicken coop together I decided to have fun and use the old playhouse. No one plays in it anymore. I heard rain was coming so I quickly worked on a couple of shelters to keep the bedding dry. However, I need to work on a much larger coup being I want to add about 20 more chickens soon. This last summer was tough for most people with chickens in my area. The heat was bad and I lost about 10 chickens. I would have 10 more egg layers now! Out of all the chickens still alive, which is eight, I have three roosters. Argh. That leaves only five egg layers. For our size family we need at least 20.  So, here I go again getting some adorable baby chicks and raising them up again. This time, not in the heat of the summer. ;)

I'm gonna get a sign made next to the luxury playhouse for the chickens that says...

"If you lay you stay,
  If no you go."

Rescuing Sad Animals

Our long haired chihuahua

I've done a lot of animal rescues in the past and still do.  If I find out a dog, cat, rabbit, etc, isn't being cared for, hungry, sad, lonely... I try to take them in and care for them a bit before finding a forever home for them.  I've had friends and strangers get the impression that I get animals to keep them and then decide I don't want them anymore.  Just because I fall in love with an animal for a couple of weeks doesn't mean that I intend on having them for good.  I can't help but rescue animals.  Just like I rescued a dying horse once, it doesn't matter what animal it is. I have a dog right now I'm trying to find a home for and boy is he LOVING!!! I've been cuddling him tons and getting to know him before I find a forever home. I have to know the dog's personality before I find a home and I also am picky about who they go with. I'm writing this blog in hopes that the hate mail can stop.  No, I don't have a revolving door of animals because I'm cold hearted. Yes, I love animals and if I find out one is in trouble, needs a home, or is unwell I will take them in till they are better.

A Chihuahua we rescued

When I was little I would find injured animals and take them in till they were better.  One time I took in a bird with a broken leg, wrapped the leg, fed it.  About a week later it flew away completely healthy.  I was soooo happy.  Often, especially in the winter, I would find animals like this.  My poor mom had to endure me bringing them in the house.  Ha ha. 

There is a dog recently a friend gifted me that is a keeper.  He fits right in with my Great Dane and long haired Chihuahua.  He's staying.  However, he looked like a raggedy doll when I got him!  lol.  He is my dream dog, a Yorkshire Terrier.  Why is he my dream dog?  Yorkshire Terriers don't have fur like other dogs.  Theirs is more like human hair that you have to care for.  So funny!  I love it!  I have to brush his hair just like I do all my other kids.  When I got him he was matted everywhere and dirty.  Still gorgeous but raggedy.  I know the owners and they are really, really sweet.  They both work and just had no time to be with him so they wanted to give him to a good home where he'd get lots of attention. Well, there are eight people here all day, every day so Benji has plenty of time with us!  Well, Benji is a boy but he is enduring a lot of girlie things because of his awesome hair.  Yesterday I bathed him, conditioned him, and then blow dried his hair straight.  Oh my goodness.  It was like a dog makeover.  I loved every minute of it.  LOL. (How Yorkies should look).

Example of a dog with matted hair before:

After grooming my Yorkie:

 

 

Sooooo cute, right?  Sigh, I love animals. 


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Dry-Me Bedwetting Alarm

Buyin' Me Some Silkies Chickens and Right Being Made Right

Today I headed back to the feed store to buy more chickens.  This time I was finally able to get my Silkies!  Later, once I got home, I discovered one of them has a deformity in her feet and walks funny. I don't really care but wonder if other will pick on her as she gets bigger. Hmmm... I'm gonna have to find out about that because Silkies aren't "cheep" to buy.  Heh heh.  The bigger problem I had was that once I got them in with my still tiny roosters in a shared cage, the roosters started picking on them even though they are all the same size.  I know they will eventually do a pecking order and so I wasn't sure how friendly it was and if the new ones would be safe.

 





Today is a very good day but for reasons I cannot say.  Although my friend Homeschool and Etc. might know why.  :)  I had some visitors to my house today and they stayed for awhile.  It was wonderful!!!  At one time I was really sad about some events that happened and although I was grossly wronged and hurt, I decided not to be bitter and just wait for things to calm down.  Turns out, right was made right in a particular way.  Now there is a totally confusing paragraph for you.  LOL.

 

Now that AIMS week is over I am completely shocked how much laundry I have to clean in the house.  I'm due to make another 10 gallons of laundry soap.  When I went to the laundry mat recently, I washed so many loads that I ran out of laundry soap and had to buy some Tide.  It killed me to pay $6 for a little thing of Tide when I pay only $2 to make my own 10 gallons.  I know people say they like the Tide smell but I like the frugal smell!  Ha!  I just throw in some wonderful softener and it smells fantastic.  My laundry soap last 6-8 months!  It's awesome.  :D

Life After Internet and Entertainment

Chaz and Ivy

I can't say it enough.... :D  I'm loving no internet at home!  I'm loving that we are all playing together and learning together.  If we want to learn something that we don't know about we just find it in a book or go find it in a library.  My kids are really getting along and have been working through issues more.  The only videos we allow in the house are educational, The Duggar Family, and anything about Organizing (Clean House).  Since watching some of the Clean House episodes, which I did on purpose, they have been going through their own stuff to toss.  We've made a pretty big donation pile and we're not nearly done.  I hope to get rid of lots more.

Kids homeschooling at community center



Ashley working on her Kindergarten workbook

I added a new chore for Chaz and Ryan.  As much as I love the idea that I can do it all, I just can't.  I've tried and tried and I really need them to pitch in more.  I don't ever want to be the mom that gives orders from the couch.  Do this, do that, get me this, do the chores.... blah, blah, yet not being a good example myself.  I didn't have kids to have someone do chores for me even though they make messes of their own. A supervising mommy is someone who has training in mind.  Chaz HATES to get dirty so his job is to unload a clean dishwasher at least once a day. Ryan's job is to load the dishwasher of dirty dishes once a day and start it.  I'm hoping this will also make them aware of how many dishes they are dirtying in the day.  I have been having to show them how to do it right.  I don't just hope they are doing their work right, often I have to be right alongside each one of them and walk them through it.  After awhile they sometimes try to slip through or they just miss stuff because they are kids.  It's just ridiculous of me to think I can handle the work of 9 people living in the home all by myself.  The kids are starting to understand it's not worth keeping the clutter since they are the ones having to keep up on their own stuff.  It's been nice not having any distractions at home so we can be more focused on things that really matter. We still have LOTS of fun but the differences is we play together rather than how it was before, everyone seem to go off to do their own thing. 

 

My poor dog.  The girls really like to pretend that's their baby.  You would think they've spoiled Juliet enough but apparently they haven't.  Last night when I went to drop Juliet off in the church nursery, I told them it's not my fault if she acts spoiled.  The kids pick her up at every whimper or squeak so she's learned to fuss to get some attention.  Little stinker.  I have been doing a lot of decluttering and the bassinet is one of the things I'm donating.  I guess Ivy figured it'd be a good bed for doggy till I finally take it out.

 

Surprises Kids Leave on Your Camera

My kids have been getting a hold of my camera a lot lately.  I seriously need to get them their own cameras to be creative. They make videos and take pictures.  I'm always in for some surprises every time I load all the pictures on to my computer.  Here are a few of the funny ones... Of course I edited them for better color.

Above: Ashley put on goggles to look at the new doggy bone brought into the house for our big Great Dane.  

I guess goggles make it so much safer to get near it.

Ashley posing with a kitchen tool.  

Little chihuahua watching big Henry eat a bone.  That's how I feel when I see my husband eat a candy bar and I can't have one.

Above: Kyle wanted to send a video of him singing happy birthday to a friend.  Not a good quality video but creative and funny.  LOL.  I didn't know he was making this but it was pretty darn cute.

Caleb waking up in the morning....

Juliet and Caleb in a bucket

Even though I have to wade through hundreds of photos from the kids, there are a few great treasures in them.  :)  I need to give them the camera more often.

Kyle relaxing on his bed.  Some day he's gonna mention all the teddy bears behind him.  I think he was trying to look cool in this picture.  Soooo cute though with the teddy bears.  

Learning From Bad Mistakes

Click on picture
to order

It's been soooo wonderful with my husband finding a job back in his career field.  I knew he was a hard worker before and he missed working in his field he went to college for.  Seeing him at it again reminds me what an incredibly smart guy I married.  Still, he showed his love to us but working at whatever job he could find while the economy was struggling for the last three years.  Of course before I took the money for granted and threw it around like nothing bad could ever happen.  When his company went under and we saw no one else hiring, that sinking feeling came. It's tempting to live stupid like we did before but, yikes, the last three years were like swimming against the current.  It was hard.  This time I wanted to do it right so I got the book by Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover.  Just reading it makes me so wish I knew this stuff a decade ago.  How could I have been so foolish?  I can't change my past but this time I'm not making the same mistake and will plan the best I can for the future.  I know my future is in God's hands but I can do my best to be a good steward of what He gives us in the meantime.  I will slowly go put away my list of wants.... :D He says in his book, "If you live like no one else, later you'll live like no one else."  Well said!

Ashley napping with Max

Right now I'm having some doggy troubles, as usual, and don't know what to do.  I've lost 3 chickens to my little black dog Max.  I now have one chicken left.  We are so sad! Those chickens were our egg layers.  No only was Max carrying off their eggs but he was also completely beheading the chickens.  I know, to much info.  Max is sooooo cute and I think we should just build a whole separate chicken area that Max can't get too but Charles likes that our chickens can walk around.  He's basically saying it's either the chickens or Max.  Argh...  I want both so I'm trying to convince him it's finally the time to build that chicken house we bought plans for.

I've been going through some serious mind battles about my faith. Actually, I've been going through it for at least six months.  Sitting in church was worse because I would have to hold back my tears through the songs because I would remember when I used to sing for Him.  Then my heart would harden when hearing the sermon.  It got harder and harder to look past people issues and just let things just bounce off me.  I would look around and see the faults of people rather than see that they need God just as much as I did and that's why we are all there.  I met with my pastor and he prayed for me.  That was three days ago.  Just last night during service it dawned on me that the dark cloud that had been over me had lifted.  Then a scripture came into my thoughts,

He who has been forgiven much love much, but he has been forgiven little loves little.  Luke 7:36

I had a hard time with forgiveness because I doubted that God had truly forgiven me.  I tend to lean towards the idea that God is up there just waiting and waiting for me to make a mistake so He can just be done with me forever.  I don't know why I think in such legalistic ways but I do.  I'm not taught that, (more in the past) it's just that my mind goes into this autopilot.  I almost always have to take the wheel and remind myself that God loves me and He has forgiven me like He promised.  People use the excuse to not find a church because "everyone there are just hypocrites."  Well, don't we go because we desperately need God?  Because we need to hear from Him?  Most of us don't come because we have it all together and we need some ear tickling.  We are leaky vessels.  I certainly am so I need a place to worship and hear from God.  

Trouble with Dogs and Chickens

I think I'm considered the animal lady on the block because I'll have someone knock on my door with a dog in hand and say, "Would you like to keep my dog?"  80% of the time I say no, unless I feel like the dog needs some caring for help for finding a good home.  So yes, dogs do come through here quite often but I always help find them a good home and put prospects through the ringer when they offer.  However, I got a cutie the other day.  :)  The doorbell woke me up and I almost didn't answer it but it was my elderly neighbor.  She said she couldn't care for her anymore and asked if I would take her.  Would I? Yes!  She's adorable and only 4 months old.

My only dilemma I have with my little dogs is they chase my chickens.  I know it's in their nature but it's causing a major problem.  We love our chickens and the eggs.  The black little dog is eating their eggs and I also caught him the other night hurting one of the big chickens.  He was on top of her biting her really bad.  She's missing feathers and we just nursed her back to health.  It's soooo sad.  I really want my chickens to walk around the yard but now we might have to keep part of the yard separated to keep the animals apart.  Phooey.  We loved having our chickens walk right up to our patio door.  Does anyone have any ideas about dogs and chickens?

We are thinking about raising chickens again.  I'm just wondering if I have the time for it.  It's not too hard but when I did it I only had five kids.  Back then though I wasn't a couponer either and it truly is like a part time job. I just really miss my tiny little chicks.  :(  We miss gardening also and having our own fresh vegetables.  When the season is right we'll start it back up again with the kids.

I wish there was a way to train my dogs to not chase my chickens.  I mean, it is in their nature so I can't be upset about it.  My really big Great Dane gets along with them fine.  Either that or he's too lazy to chase them.  LOL.


Wanna see a chicken that doesn't mind laying on her back and chillin'?  Heh heh.  Here you go.  Goodnight chicken.

38 Weeks Pregnant and Organizing

Cervical Ripening Balloon
Read about it HERE

At my 38 week appointment yesterday they stripped my membranes.  I wasn't dilated but she did make me a one.  I told her I'm seriously not in a hurry to go into labor (still can't believe I'm saying that.)  I'm not having any contractions at all or even braxton hicks.  Juliet is not even in a hurry.  We knew stripping my membranes wouldn't put me in labor, it would just help my body start to get ready (which is good).  So then my doctor asked if I wanted to get the balloon again sometime next week right before my due date.  Sigh.  I really want to go on my own so I haven't really wanted to think about it.  I told her for sure I don't want to go into labor on my sister's birthday and also it would be a Monday.  I picked Thursday which is 4 days before my due date (to get the balloon).  Forget Pitocin, the balloon puts you into labor SO FAST.  I really didn't believe the doctor last time when she told me to go straight home and get ready.  Yeeeeah..... that thing works.  I was completely unprepared and started serious labor while driving.  In fact, by the time I got to the hospital I had one from a 1 cm dilated to a 5.  Anyway, I told her I would think about it.

I'm about to start a semi-big project in the house to organize a bit more than I did last time. We even took this week off from homeschooling so we could focus on it. The kids thought it meant video games all day.  Daddy quickly caught on and told the boys it's to work with mommy on organizing their areas in the house.  Thank you, daddy.  :D  I really don't want to worry about much housework when Juliet comes.  

I'm dealing with a poopy puppy and being I've never been great at house training animals, he's giving me work for sure.  Since he's my dog I have to take care of his mess.  Usually after I throw up for about 15 minutes then I'm able to handle cleaning it up.  LOL.  Well, a friend gave me some fantastic pointers yesterday on training Max (full name Maximus) so I'm implementing them today. Max is such a cuddly dog and he's worth the extra work for sure.  He favors Ivy a lot and always wants to sleep next to her.

The Busy Life of Large Family Mamas

What happens when you have a mom of six that is nine months (37 weeks) pregnant to boot?  You have one busy mommy!  Between attacking the never ending laundry pile, homeschooling, and always finding ways to save money on things I need, there is not a whole lot of free time.  I'm not complaining because I'm one happy mama.  The craziness of my life brings me joy.  Odd as that might seem, my paycheck doesn't come from a company.  Being with my kids every single day of the year is the biggest payday I could ever have.  Time is so short with them I'm afraid to blink.

My latest challenge is a barrage of insults of people whether in real life or online that absolutely can't stand me because I am having yet ANOTHER kid.  The personal emails I get would shock you for how evil they can be.  Or when I get cornered (literally in a corner) with someone telling me why they think I'm having this many kids.  I just nod and say "surrrrre, THAT'S why."  The more kids I have the more enemies I didn't think was possible to make.  Well, it is possible.  So, if you are not Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, or a large family mama, you are safe.  

Want to know my latest (almost) freebies?  I got 6 Dawn dish washing soaps, 5 tooth pastes, 5 tooth brushes, 8 whole grain Barilla pastas, 3 dill relish, and one pack of Pepsi Next for a total of $3.  Whee!

Michele and I being goofy!

As I was picking up the Dawn liquid soap, a guy pointed out to me that the news had talked about the blue ones yous see in the picture.  They are safe and fantastic to wash your dog with because they kill fleas and ticks.  So, I set those 3 aside for my husband to use on our dogs.  :D  He was happy about that.  I bought some other groceries and saved about 70% off my bill.  :D  I love saving money for my family and my best friend and I really enjoy couponing and shopping together when we get a chance.  

I've been wanting a little dog for quite awhile but haven't had a chance. The last one I had died from injuries and I then dog sat a friend's dog for 5 months in another instance.  I was still waiting for my little dog and finally got the chance.  My kids are major animal lovers too and we are thinking next we might want a pygmy goat.  I might wait for better weather though before getting a goat.  Caleb carries around that chicken like it's his teddy bear.  The chicken doesn't even mind and even follows us around.  Another PLUS is we finally started letting our chickens walk around the yard wherever they want. We always worried that our big dog would kill them but he doesn't even care about then.  I hated having the chickens on the far side of the house where we couldn't see them. Now they just follow us around the yard or the kids while they are playing.

BY THE WAY, come visit my gorgeous niece Hanna's new poetry blog.  She's not just any girl, she was the first to make me an aunt, she just came back from missionary work in South Africa with her family.  She would love for you to pay a visit to her blog and leave a comment.  :)  

  http://whenthebluebirdsing.blogspot.com

Worried Baby Wouldn't Turn Head Down Before Birth

Yes!  She did!  I was concerned because I really didn't want a c-section.  I'm 36 weeks and went into my usual checkup to see how baby is.  I didn't know I was gonna get another ultrasound but she is head down.  I think she turned about a week ago because I started feeling a lot of kicks on the top of my stomach.  So, we saw about the 4th time that she is a girl for sure but the other surprise is that she is already 7lbs!  So, if I deliver her to full term she'll be about 8 1/2 lbs like Kyle was.  I don't think I'll be delivering her that late though so she thinks she'll be around 8lbs by 39 weeks.  That was such a surprise for me because my last three kids were in the 6lb range.  I got to see another 3D ultrasound of her which is pretty cool.  :D  By the way, in a week and a half the doctor is stripping my membranes.  It's never put me into labor, just helped my body get ready. She asked if I wanted the balloon in 2 1/2 weeks to go into labor but I'm not sure I want it.  I might just want to go on my own. We shall see!

The other day my kids were freaking out because they saw this bug on the mini blinds. I told them I THINK it's safe.  So while they were all admiring it, my son Ryan walks up and grabs it.  The little ones were thinking he was to be freed but Ryan headed straight to the chickens.  Well, the miniature chicken ate it like there was no tomorrow and all the kids were crying for about a half hour.  Oh my goodness, the crying felt like it went on and on.  I told them it's just part of life and this happens all the time.  :D

Speaking of chickens, Caleb has found a buddy and this poor chicken rarely gets a break. This is my miniature chicken so she is perfect for Caleb's size.  I'm surprised I've never stepped on her since she's been a regular in our house lately.  Caleb snuggles her and carries her around like a teddy bear.  Thankfully this chicken has a lot of tolerance.  That or she is just scared into silence.  Not sure which one.

Our other chickens are too big for kids to play with like this.  Thankfully there has been no poop in the house.  That would just be gross.  Ivy is so goofy with the chicken on her head.  Ha!  

Reasons to Rejoice, Cry, and Laugh Out Loud

So now I'm 15 weeks along and into my second trimester.  Thank goodness.  I've always disliked the first trimester very much.  It's just not much fun at all since it always comes with morning sickness.  In my first trimester I was hungry every two hours and if I didn't eat, I'd get very sick.  That can make weight gain just go out of this world.  So, now I'm hoping my weight gain slows down.  Babycenter says I should have only gained 5lbs.  Hahahahahahahaha!  Now my appetite has gone down to normal and so it's a lot easier.  Now the fun finally begins.  ;D  This is the trimester of finding out the sex, feeling the baby move, and getting my energy back.  The house is finally clean again!

I'm having a serious issue with my Great Dane and I can stand it right now.  Just recently I had to clean all my carpets because of dog pee. This is a new thing.  He was always trained before so I don't know what to do.  I rented a cleaner and worked on all my carpets for 8 hours to get the smell out.  Just yesterday I walked into my closet and there was dog pee on my laundry.  Smoke was coming out of my ears and I banned my dogged outside till I know what to do.  Today he threw up on my carpet because he had been eating out of our garbage in the middle of the night.  I'm pretty much done with dogs or cats.  I'm not gonna find another home for him but I think he's our last dog for sure.  

On a light night, I found some favorite videos that get my family cracking up every time we see them! This is one of my favorite.  These guys go into Home Depot and cry about everything.  Soooo funny.

Battles with Nausea and Miniature Chickens

Gosh, I have had such bad morning sickness lately that I have to sit outside to avoid any smells in the house.  You know how hard it is when you are hungry but you can't go in the kitchen or you'll get sick?  Or change a poopy diaper without getting sick?  Oh man. I hope I can cook for Thanksgiving.  I will probably have to wear nose plugs and open all the windows.  This morning I tried to do that but the roosters were crowing too loud and Charles was tired so I had to close them.  Little stinkers.  These are my miniature chickens but their crow is still really loud.  In the picture they look big but they are adult size and I can pick them up with one hand.  I'll have to show a picture sometime of them next to the big chickens.  It's gross sometimes having to change out their bedding or refill their water right now. Normally it's not a big deal but next time I using gloves.  So worth it though for all the eggs we get for breakfast.

So my big and tough boys somehow end up here every now and then once we all go to bed. It was around midnight but I turned the lights on to take this picture.  I don't feel guilty about not giving them their own room because they all end up sleeping on the same bed or couch anyway.  Caleb is even sleeping on top of Chaz. Sooooo cute!

I was up at midnight because I tend to be hungry alllllll the time.  If I don't eat I get really bad nausea.  How's that for keeping weight off, eh?  Yeah, this baby is gonna help me get some pounds on if this keeps happening.  The doctor tells me to eat a carrot or something.  Ha!  That's like serving a vegetable dish and putting a candle in it for someone's birthday.  Just mean!