goodness, i dont even know where to begin. hence, why i am choosing my first post back to be part of the five minute friday blogging party.

all i have is about five minutes.

so please excuse the poor grammar.  also my shift key is broken.

oh friends, it has been too long.

i must apologize for leaving you hanging with my whole nephrostomy tube ordeal.  things got really crazy.  and not a good, busy crazy.  a bad, sick crazy.  which will have to be explained at another time, on another day, when i have much more time and focus.

because currently, my three month old little boy (yes, so big already!) is crying as he is awakened by three screaming crazy little girls who are so tired of being cooped up in our house.

but it is finally spring.  and things are looking up.  i am healing.  the baby is sleeping better.  we are no longer catching fevers or colds.  (well, for the most part on that last one.  my kids will forever have runny noses i believe.)

and i’m giving thanks.

for being here to share with you. i look forward to being back and continuing to share our crazy life, with now four kids under age five.  three girls and one stinking cute little boy.

praying you enjoy your easter weekend.

giving thanks to Him.

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 I’ve labored through and birthed three babies.  And while I did end up getting an epidural with each one, I have had quite a lot of pain experience with labor contractions and pushing a baby out.  The pain I was experiencing this time was 10,000 times worse than anything I had ever experienced.

Excruciating, non-stop pain.  And on top of it, I was vomiting every 5-10 minutes.  Soon I didn’t have anything left in my stomach, so I would switch between dry heaving and stomach acid coming up.

Couldn’t these nurses see how much pain I was in??!!  What in the world was taking so long to get some pain medication?!!

The nurse finally explained that they were unable to give me anything until my urine sample came back.  She thought it was most likely an infection or kidney stones.  Once the sample came back and she talked with the on call OB, then she could go ahead and give me some pain meds.

So, there I sat, rolling back and forth on the bed, trying to somehow manage the pain and vomiting.  Bryan was pretty scared out of his mind and sat in the corner wide eyed, unsure of what to do.  He shuts down when he gets scared and nervous.  So while I would have loved to have him right by me, I understood.  And it’s not like he could have done anything anyways.  I did send him off to ask about the pain medication probably every 10 minutes.

After about an hour of being in the hospital, the nurse had finally gotten the go ahead to give me something for the pain.  However, they first had to put an IV in me.  Why this wasn’t done first thing is beyond me.  I was extremely dehydrated by this point and both nurses were unable to get the IV in.

Anesthesiology was called in to hopefully be able to find a vein and get the IV started.  In walked an old man and my first thought was oh my goodness, this is going to take another thirty minutes!  However, this guy was quick and good and funny.  For the first time since being in the hospital, I felt comforted and at ease.

As soon as the IV was in, the nurse pumped in the drugs and a wave of dizziness swept over me.  But the pain was instantly numbed and I felt such relief.  Praise the Lord, the pain had finally ended.  Or so I thought.

Right after the pain medication was given, I was helped into a wheelchair and taken down to get an ultrasound of the baby and my kidneys.  It was so great to be able to see Jordan again, even though I felt extremely doped up from the drugs.  And I couldn’t stop talking!  I am not even sure what I was saying, but I know I kept rambling on slowly and with a slur.

As I was switching back and forth so the technician could get a good view of everything, I could feel the pain start to come back on my left side.  It quickly became bad again, although not as excruciating as before the drugs.  However, I found myself taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly, trying to manage the pain.

When we got back to the labor room, the nurse could see that I was in pain again.  She told me that I would have to wait another hour before I could get any more medication.  I asked if we would be able to up the dosage, but she said probably not because of the baby.

Thus began my “laboring” through the pain.

Once I got my medication, I was good for an hour.  I tried to rest and sleep during that time.  But soon I would be awakened by the pain and have to get up and get into the shower.  I found that the hot water right on my left side helped to alleviate some of the pain I was feeling.  So, I sat in the shower for the next hour until I could receive more pain medication, slowly deep breathing and exhaling, feeling like I was about to birth a baby.

I did this routine for the next 7 hours until the morning.

Check back soon for Part Four!

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As we were driving to the hospital, I wondered if we were making a bad decision going to the closest one. We had never really been to this hospital and I was worried if something was really wrong with the baby, if this hospital would be able to deal with it.  Such a scary thought.

But like I said, my pain was so incredible and nonstop that I also knew neither Jordan or I could afford to make the 30 minute drive to the hospital we normally use.

When we pulled up to the emergency doors of the hospital, Bryan threw the car in park and came around to help me out of the car.  As we walked through the sliding doors, I fell to the floor crying in pain unable to walk.  It really must have looked like something crazy out of a movie.

Bryan called out for someone to help and a wheelchair was quickly rolled to where I was.  I got in and someone ran me to an elevator.  We headed up to the labor and delivery floor, where the nurses looked at me like I was crazy.  I told them through the pain that this was my fourth baby and this no way felt like early labor or contractions.  Because I knew they were thinking I was being overdramatic.  I told them I was 30 weeks and something was very wrong.

I was so confused why everyone was just staring at me and not rushing to see what was wrong or if my baby was ok.  This deepened my worry that we had made a bad decision in coming to this hospital.

The nurses wheeled me into a labor room and changed me out of my clothes into a gown.  They told me they were going to see if the baby was ok.  This made me a little relieved.  As I laid on the bed in pain, I waited to hear if Jordan was still alive.  Huge waves of relief and thankfulness swept over me as I heard his heart beat steady and strong.

Then the nurse decided to check me to see if I was dialating and in early labor.  After some discomfort, she decided that I definitely was not in early labor.  While this was very good news, I was still rolling and crying out in pain, having no clue what in the world was going on.

Now that I knew Jordan was ok and safe in my belly, I wanted pain medication.  Badly.  Right now.  I wasn’t sure how much longer I could handle the pain.

Come back tomorrow to read part three!

Click here to continue the story and read part three!

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Before I landed in the hospital last Tuesday with intense pain that ended up with a nephrostomy tube coming out of my left kidney and side, draining my urine into a bag and hopefully being able to pass the kidney stones I have and relieve the pain.

That’s the short version.  Crazy, right?!!

I’ll be a bit quick on the long version and then give you an update on how things are going and where we go from here.

Tuesday, October 30th, I had been really uncomfortable.  I figured it was because I was nearing 30 weeks and getting into that super uncomfy stage that lasts the rest of the pregnancy.  Tuesdays are Bryan’s long day at work and he wouldn’t be home until 9pm the earliest.

The uncomfiness grew as the day wore on so I sent the littlest to bed by 6pm and got into my bed with the other two to watch a movie and rest.  I kept getting up to go the bathroom because I felt like I needed to have a bowel movement but I just sat and sat and grew more uncomfortable by the minute.  I figured maybe Jordan was in a bad spot.

Around 8pm I sent the older girls to bed and decided to take a warm bath, hoping that would alleviate the pressure I was feeling and get Jordan into a better position.  It ended up working (or so I thought) and I spent the next hour feeling really good.  I asked Bryan to pick me up some food since I had been unable to eat earlier.

While he was out getting food, I had the urge to go the bathroom again.  This time, as I sat on the toilet though, the pain really began to creep in.  I thought maybe I was constipated (something I have never been in my whole life) so I asked Bryan to also pick up something to help me, you know, go.

A few minutes later I called him in pain telling him that something was seriously wrong and he should get home now.  I called the birthing center and they called me back.  At this point I was really trying to breathe through the pain.  When asked what it felt like, all I could think of was one big contraction just on my left side, wrapping from my back around to my pelvic area.  And the pain wouldn’t stop.  At all.

I was actually sort of worried that maybe I just had really bad gas and would be embarassed if that’s all it was.  But once I actually started crying from the pain, I knew that it probably wasn’t gas and that something was wrong with Jordan.  The midwife told me to rush to the hospital so I called Bryan’s mother to come over and stay at the house.

When Bryan got home, we jumped in the car and made the 10 minute drive to the closest hospital.  Which felt like forever.  I cried, screamed and moaned the whole entire way.

Since I am no good at doing a quick long version, come back tomorrow to hear what happened next!

Click here to read Part Two

Click here to read Part Three

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When I saw this quote on Pinterest, it resonated within me like something fierce.  I struggle with the way I talk to my children.  I wish I didn’t, but the truth is that I do.  If I am a absent from the blog, it’s usually because my three littles and the one growing inside me are keeping me busy.  Very busy.

It’s exhausting.

But it’s not an excuse for my impatience and short words.  I often find myself repeating the fruits of the Spirit to myself throughout the day, so I know what my voice should sound like.

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

Patience.

Kindness.

Goodness.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

Self-control.

What do you want YOUR voice to sound like?

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Have you ever bought something for one place in your home and then ended up using it all over your house?  That’s exactly how I feel about Rubbermaid’s new Bento Boxes!  These boxes are so durable and versatile I know they will last us through the years!

And what’s better than durable and versatile storage boxes?  Beautiful ones!  Rubbermaid has really hit it spot on by making a product that is not only extremely useful but also adds to the beauty in your home!

  

When I say versatile, I am referring to the limitless possibilities Rubbermaid’s Bento Boxes offer.  There are flex dividers that open and close to compartmentalize items inside (see below).  The Bento toppers flip over and fit snugly inside to provide a resting spot for magazines, books, glasses, remotes, etc.  Boxes stack on top of each other and inside each other giving you a huge variety in helping you organize.  I am incredibly impressed!

Rubbermaid states that the Bento Boxes and Toppers will help you divide and conquer your clutter because they organize items for easy access rather than simply containing them.  And I have to wholeheartedly agree with this statement!

You can view the Rubbermaid Bento Boxes in action over on the Rubbermaid YouTube channel or at this clip from Lifetime’s Designing Spaces TV show.

Here is how I used Rubbermaid’s Bento storage boxes to help organize various spots in my home!

I used the large box and topper to create a reading center in our new playroom.  The red color (called Paprika) complements our primary color scheme quite well.  The roomy box does a great job of fitting all of our tapes, books and tape player.  My favorite part is the lid flips over to create a mini desktop (see below)!

The x-large box topper is being used on top of our ottoman in the living area.  This has solved a good amount of issues for us.  One, it keeps the little one from climbing onto the ottoman.  Two, I now have a place to put new magazines until I am able to read them.  Three, we have a place for our remote control!  I love creating places for things!

The medium lid topper has created a place to put keys, sunglasses and miscellaneous items when we come home.  The textured surface keeps the tray from moving around and is the perfect size for our entryway table!

The x-large, medium and small boxes will all have a place in Jordan’s superhero themed nursery.  Again the red paprika color will be a perfect complement to the color scheme!  Even though I have the boxes nestled inside each other (see below), I plan on using the smaller sizes to organize diapering items on the changing table.  And I am sure the x-large box will house and organize his toys quite well!

Interested in adding a set of the Rubbermaid Bento Boxes to YOUR home?

 Rubbermaid is giving away the same Bento set I received in paprika.  This set will include an x-large box and topper, large box and topper, medium box and topper and small box.  That’s a $215.93 value!

Simply leave a comment below telling us why you’d like to win Rubbermaid’s new Bento Boxes!

Giveaway is now closed! Thanks to all who entered!

Don’t want to wait to win a Rubbermaid Bento Box set?  The Rubbermaid Bento Boxes and Toppers are available at Jo-Ann’s Fabric and Craft Stores. Jo-Ann’s will be carrying Bento in Chadwick, Loose Linen and Lombard patterns.

 Browse the Bento Boxes online at JoAnn’s

 *This giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents and ends Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at midnight EST.  The winner will be contacted by email and has within 24 hours to respond or else a new winner will be selected.  Good luck!

**Sample provided free of charge by Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. and Rubbermaid®. I was not compensated in any other way for this post and all opinions are completely my own!

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I mentioned Friday that hubby cut down on his hours at work to be home more with me and the girls.  Especially for when we expand to a family of six in January!  Already I have felt the blessings of having him home more and am so very thankful!

Since this means we will have less income coming in and I am not working anymore, it was super easy to let the panic of money, means and bills set in.  However, sitting down with pen and paper, I decided to make a list of ways I can personally help my family save money and ease the burden of bills off my husband.

Here is my plan to save our family money…

1 – Stick to the budget.

Hubby does a great job of making a budget for us each month.  This used to be my responsibility when we were first married but it caused me too much stress.  Bryan loves numbers and math, so he set up a spreadsheet on Excel and now manages everything.  My job is to make sure I stick to the budget.  No matter how good a deal!

2 – Run outside purchases by hubby first.

This happens every so often.  I find a great deal on something we have been on the lookout for.  But it’s not in the budget for the month.  But I buy it anyways.  Because it is a good deal!  However, I really need to call Bryan first to make sure we, one, have the money and two, it really is a good deal.  Because I do tend to be a bit impulsive.

3 – Continue to garage sale.

We already garage sale almost every week because hubby resells on eBay and we believe in buying used rather than new when we can.  Garage sailing can be a great way to buy clothes, household items, school curriculum, craft supplies, etc. all for a fraction of the retail price.  But remember, it is really easy to get caught up in all the good deals you come across when thrifting.  So make sure that you and your family will really use what you buy!

4 – DIY it! (Go handmade when possible.)

With the huge popularity of Pinterest and blogging, there are limitless tutorials on how to make things.  Really anything you can think of, there is probably a website showing how to make it yourself.  Since I have three young kids, I let the time issue talk me into buying it brand new instead of trying to make it.  For instance, I really want new curtains and shades in our new playroom.  I debated going out and just buying some.  But after calculating the cost of blinds and curtains for our three big windows, I knew it wasn’t a wise choice.  So I am slowly in the process of making some!

 5 – Pray for provision & wise choices.

When hubby went up in hours, his paychecks doubled.  It was nice.  A little too nice.  To the point to where we got a little too comfy and didn’t really think about how we were spending our money.  So even though money is tighter now, it really helps me to be reliant on God to provide for us and think about whether or not I am being wise with our money.

Tomorrow I will share five more ways I plan to save our family money.  In the meantime, leave us a comment and share how YOU save your family money!

And don’t forget to enter our giveaway from Made Just For You By Lisa!!!!

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Every Friday I will feature some of the best freebies I have found around the Internet.  Sometimes the freebies are good forever or sometimes they are free for a limited time only.  Just a warning of caution.

Here’s what I found for FREE this week…

Fall Dot Marker Pages & Additional Fall Printables - my girls loooove using their BINGO markers to do these pages!

Free Interactive USA map - I could not open this using Google Chrome on my Mac but am going to try later to open on it on Safari.  Anyone else have web browser issues on their Mac???

World’s Greatest Artists: Volume 1 at Confessions of a Homeschooler – normally $5 but FREE right now! This is an in-depth 73 page unit study!!!

Two FREE reams of multipurpose printer paper at Staples after coupon and easy rebate!!!  Find out how to score this deal over at ChaChing On a Shoestring.  Deal expires 9/29/2012!

FREE Covergirl Eyeshadow at Dollar Tree using $1 off Parade coupon from 9/23 Sunday paper! (If your Dollar Tree carries CoverGirl products.)

FREE preschool curriculum, God’s LIttle Explorers: A-Z Adventures in God’s Word and World for Preschoolers.

 Find any freebies this week?  Share with us below!

Don’t forget to enter our Made Just For You By Lisa GIVEAWAY!!!

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I am so honored to be offering this giveaway to you this week!  Made Just For You By Lisa is a sewing line devoted to providing luxurious and luscious items for mom and baby.  And I say luscious because it’s the only word to describe the ribbon blankets I was sent!

Lisa is a stay-at-home momma to three young girls, very close in age.  Just like me.  How she has time to sew and sell such top quality items is beyond me!  Here is a little blurb from Lisa herself…

My line includes pacifier clips, nursing covers, reusable snack bags, burp cloths, car seat strap covers and ribbon blankets.  I have many items in stock but my passion is making custom items.  Visit my Facebook page or Etsy shop to choose your favourite fabrics and I will get to work making a special product… just for you.

And that’s exactly what Lisa did!  She first sent me this beautiful and precious reversible ribbon blanket and also a pacifier clip when we thought we were expecting a girl.  Made just for me.

One side is a dragonfly print and the other a purple minkee, with securely attached ribbons for baby to enjoy.  The blanket features a corner ribbon with snaps so it can be attached to a stroller or car seat.  Fabulous idea, I must say!  The blanket also features two additional ribbons with snaps to attach additional toys for baby.

The pacifier clip uses snaps to secure the pacifier in place.  Lisa also offers elastic loops in place of snaps. The leash is reinforced with interfacing to make it more durable.  And the print?  Well, it’s gorgeous!!!

When Lisa later found out I was expecting a boy instead of a girl, she whipped up another ribbon blanket and pacifier clip based on my superhero themed nursery.  When I received them in the mail, two words came to mind – LOVE and PERFECT!  Hubby thought they were pretty awesome too!

I am so excited for Jordan to enjoy his ribbon blanket and pacifier clip!

Since I am no longer in need of the girly ribbon blanket and pacifier clip, I am offering it as a giveaway to you all!  These two items would be perfect for your little girl or as a super sweet baby shower gift!

Want to win the girly ribbon blanket and pacifier clip?

Leave a comment below!  That’s it!

Giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to all who entered!

Want an extra entry into the giveaway?  

Like Made Just For You By Lisa on Facebook and then come back to leave an additional comment letting us know you did so!

Want to check out all the other fabulous items over at Made Just For You By Lisa?

Head over to the Made Just For You By Lisa etsy shop and look around.  Use code purpose10 to get an additional 10% off for the next two weeks!

*Lisa will be on vacation from the 4th to the 10th but if you send her a message during that time frame and quote the discount code, she will email you back and honor the discount once she is home. Thanks!

*The giveaway is open to all US and Canadian residents and ends at midnight EST on October 10, 2012. 

**I received these products to review from Made Just For You By Lisa. I was not compensated in any other way for this post and all opinions are completely my own!

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Here are the before pictures of his room.  Warning… it’s pretty bad.  Let me tell you, it was so. hard. to tear apart the playroom and “mommy only” closet.

Again the picture quality is horrible.  But it will make the after picture very dramatic.  Right now, Jordan’s room is serving as a multipurpose room until I get everything organized and in it’s place around the house.

Here is my plan for his room, thanks to Olioboard.  Which is one of the coolest room decorating sites ever!  I had so much fun dragging everything around!

Here are some links to my inspiration:

• The colors from this chevron bin from Target has become my color focus.
• The backdrop from this comic book themed baby shower inspired the use of black and white and to also use the shower curtain as window treatments!
• The superhero brother print from Etsy was another color focus and also ties in our comic book and superhero theme perfectly.
• And this modern superhero nursery has had me drooling before I even knew we were having a boy!

I am itching to get in there and get everything done and organized, but we are collecting things slowly and frugally.  So my nesting instincts are going to have be satisfied in another part of the house.  Which can easily be done since the whole house has been turned upside down!

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