Heart of Wisdom Academy

The secret is out. We announced today that we're expecting a baby in mid-November!! Who would a thunk it? Our family...well they beared the news as best they could, no doubt it was hard for them. I even recorded one family members reaction for fun, but they don't know that. We let the kids announce it, they're super excited.

So that's been my big push to wean the baby, well the toddler. I stuck it out, I went 30 hours without nursing and he was pretty content. But then I broke down. All he ate in 30 hours was crackers and water. I had visions. What if my plan backfired, what if instead of eating more, he won't eat anything at all and I've taken away his only nourishment? We were almost to the finish line, but it wasn't worth it, not yet. We will give up night nursing, but continue nursing during the day until he eats more.

Well that's all I have time for now...

In the words of Laura Ingalls Wilder, "Home is the nicest word there is". I couldn't agree more. The baby is "better", better is subjective so I'll use it sparingly. We didn't try to redo the picc because the heart failure has caused vascular abnormalies and we would have to go under general anethesia if it were going to work at all. Since he's "better",we'll continue oral meds. and more aggressive chest pt several times a day. They ordered a machine to do the chest pt, so it will come tomorrow and a nurse will show us how to use it. I've spent the morning trying to recover the house, and I'm going to spend the afternoon recovering myself and the baby.

They were unable to get the picc line in yesterday. His vascular system is different from ours and they couldn't thread the vein. On to Plan B. I don't know what that is. I guess we have to decide by today. Two doctors have different opinions so I guess we have to choose between the two. We're sooooo ready to go home, at this point, it's completely clouding our judgement. We'll see what happens.

He'll be getting the picc line sometime today. We should be able to go home late today or sometime tomorrow; granted everything goes well. He's pretty happy and playful. The docs. are really pushing Pediasure. He hasn't grown for about 8 months now. Cardiology has told me that he should start growing after the surgery. Because of the heart failure, his body is using all of it's energy to pump, so he doesn't have much energy left for growing. But cardiology isn't here, and the doctors here want him on Pediasure and he's suppose to see occupational and speech therapy today. We'll have a full day. I miss the other kids. They're having fun bouncing back and forth between grandparents' houses. The hospital lifted the H1N1 ban, so kids can visit the hospital now. So now I'm trying to decide do I do homework or watch Dr. Quinn?? That is the question!

We're here again. We'll be here until early next week sometime. Prayerfully he'll get a picc line put in, and we can go home and continue meds. there. The baby is stable and happy, still trying to get rid of the pneumonia he's been hanging on to for nearly a month. I'm very tired. I'm going to take an exam and then go to sleep...

Read full article here:

Imagine a new trend…people found out that they could get a lot more work done if they got a catheter. Think of it, you could go for hours without the need to stop and go to the restroom. At first people are hesitant, but after a while it catches on. Then one day somebody gets the idea that they don’t want to use a catheter–they found it caused infection and just doesn’t seem normal. Problem: the “norm” has been changed. And now, if you don’t have a catheter, you’re weird. So, authors start writing books, blogs and articles about how it’s “OK” to go catheterless. And despite all the encouragement, those catheterless people will continue to receive criticism simply for not interfering with nature. If you ask me, that’s insane. Should people be allowed to get catheters if they want them? SURE! But should that be the norm?

You’re smirking at my example. And yet, it’s entirely comparable to the birth control issue with one difference: there is a lot more at stake…namely, living people.

What would I say to a young, new mother?

1.Keep your eyes on Him who gives life. Ridicule will come–be sure of it. If the Lord has shown you that “it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves”, you can get it settled in your heart that every child born into your home is a good gift and then set your face like flint to the Son. If He blesses you with many children, pray that it will be an instrument through which you can glorify Him as you become “set apart” in a culture hostile to life.

2.Research all the health benefits from having babies, avoiding birth control, ovulating less and breastfeeding. Every bit of research I have done about health-related issues has only confirmed God’s design for our bodies.

3.Keep far-sighted vision. We have to train ourselves in this society to look past today. In an instant-gratification kind of culture, it is harder and harder to invest our time and energy into things that can take years to see the final product of our labors. Keeping our eyes focused on heavenly things–the immortal souls of our children–provides the needed stamina to keep at a job that may seem never-ending.

4.Stay mission-minded. Motherhood is a natural calling a woman can embrace with full confidence that this is God’s will for her life. It doesn’t require a plan on our part, a decision we have to make or second-guess. It’s usually the natural result of marital love. And if and when it comes, it is our mission field. Think of it as such. No missionary ever used the ease or hardship of his circumstance as a measure of God’s will in his ministry. Nor should we. The Christian life doesn’t promise anything beyond basic needs regarding our physical realm. Consider arguments like “affordability”: If God said he would take care of His own, emphasizing with the statement, “O ye of little faith”, we mock Him to assume we need to take control out of His hands. ”His own” includes our children, since He, in fact, is the author of life.

It is a foreign idea that motherhood and childbearing are natural parts of life. I certainly did not grow up with the idea that childbearing is a natural part of life, I know very few women who truly believe so. We are not "quiverfull" in the sense that we let God direct the time and spacing of our children, but we do believe that children are blessings from the Lord. And we do reject the modern ideals about children. This article does make you think...

We have been less than consistent with our homeschool this year. I've been listening to Bev Bradley's Overcoming the Distractions of Motherhood, which has helped me to better understand God's plan for my life as a homeschool-mom. Obviously I am distracted by the greater needs in my life therefore only the bare minimum is getting done in every area of our life. When you are in a crisis situation you live in survival mode and that's where we are. However the kids still need to be educated, so I have prayed tirelessly for weeks on a solution. Some moms at co-op suggested I switch to online/computer based program until things even out. I slowly had to come to grips with the fact that what I want and what I can do are two different things right now. I like teaching my children, personally. However, I am personally not here, much of the time. And when I'm here, sometimes I'm so drained that I feel like I'm not here. My friend told my about time4learning a couple of days ago and I bought a membership for the kids. Well they're as happy as can be. It seems like a great resource and it will get the job done for now. I probably won't use it forever. In fact I'm so horrified at the amount of time I think they'll be spending on the computer, I'm making eye-doctor appointments for all of them today! Just kidding. Well-I am making eye appointments, but I'm not really worried about computer time, I do know how to set limits. I guess life is all about compromise and being flexible. Two things I'm not entirely good at. But today when I go to the doctor and I'm gone for hours on end, I'll feel better that the kids will be working and not doing who-knows-what when I'm not here. When mother is away-the children do play!! :-) I am profoundly grateful that God has given me the life and family he has given me. Even though we are going through trials right now, I'm not at all convinced this is the worst thing we'll ever go through as a family. I still think we are living in the Golden Days, we have a few hiccups now and again, but we are definetly in the Promised Land and I am so thankful and undeserving of His goodness. Only God knows how thankful I am to be a homekeeping wife and mother. I'm aware that circumstances could change in an instant and I never take that fact for granted, even when I'm tired and worn out, that at least I get to do this job and no one else. When my oldest was two I worked outside of the home for a year. He had bronchitus and needed the breathing machine once or twice a day. His daycare was literally right next door to my job. My boss gave me the hardest time about going to do his treatment. I ended up leaving on my lunch. I hated that a boss had the power to tell me what I could and could not do with my own child. I hated being on someone elses schedule: when I could serve my family and when I could not. A child's illness becomes loathsome when you have to face your boss and it shouldn't. Sick children need and deserve love, sympathy, tender looks and carresses. They should not be greeted with sighs, whines, and grumbling. They should never be made to feel like an inconvience or a burden. I think a child's sickness does a mighty work in pruning the heart of a mother. It has for me, I am truly humbled.

We're home again! It's great to be home. The baby is stable. They aren't sure what triggered the respiratory distress. He isn't well enough for the surgery Mon. so they cancelled it. We're doing breathing treatments every 4 hours or 6 times a day. In theory, I'll be going to bed early tonight, because I'm exhausted. In reality... who knows. I took pics in the hospital, which I never did before. My camera was in my bag so I used it. I may post one later.

Well since I'm not doing much right now, I thought I'd update. We're settling in for the night. Poor baby has been stuck 12 times already today. Yes, I'm counting, because it's excruciating every single time. I thought my mom and G would faint! They're not used to seeing all that. After 6 tries they got the IV started. I'm currently waiting for some labs to come back. They were abnormal twice, this is the third time they've ran it to see if it will become normal. I didn't see the kids today, I was gone at 6 this morning, and they were still sleep. When G came over, I made a video for them. I've talked to them quite a few times today, they're quite happy. When mom's away the children do play. It's like having a substitute. So many people have taken care of us. I feel so loved. My mom, brother-in law, and family friend all took off of work and came to the hospital to encourage us. The children are at home taken care of. God is always in control. I'm going to go now and read scriptures that my friend sent me...God Bless you for your prayers.

He's in the hospital now. He has pulmonary edema and we're not sure what else. He's too sick at present to have his surgery on Mon, pray for healing. I'll write back when I can.

Lots of pictures in completely random order :-)
and Happy 100 Posts to me!!!!!!

He decided to use the eraser instead of eating it.
Playing games at church.
My very helpful daughter.
The baby loves my ipod, my speakers just broke so he gets to use the headphones.

In need of a haircut again.

This is a couple days after.
Just another item I refused to buy when I was pregnant: a baby bathtub. The kids don't mind him using their toy bin.
The Wedding. It was splendid. The rest of these are pictures from the wedding of our brother Q.




















I couldn't resist taking so many pictures of the flower girls. They were so cute!!!