Blueberries in a bowl

And call it a break. Laundry going, who am I kidding it never stops! Naomi is talking herself to sleep. Noah is amazingly still on my bed, close to sleeping. The baby just realized I documented a break and I guess the. Blueberries will thaw and be good in a few minutes...ah the life!

Before and After, What is Now

All packed and ready to go have a baby! Luke painted my toes the night before and I was more than ready to meet my precious new daughter! Theresa came for the early shift and we were out to become parents...again.

All packed up and ready to go home, no more menu selections for this momma! Little Lillie was the first of my 4 babies to get a new carseat, lucky girl! The kids made a beautiful welcome home sign for her too, I will probably capture another time. And there are photos in between these ones of course, possibly a new post.

Lillie's first bath was not a big hit for her, luckily it was quick and painless!

Love this pic! Daddy and his little girls!

We are adjusting quite well to the new sheriff's orders. We will be enjoying these last 6 weeks of school, and Lillie turns 6 weeks on Monday, so very do-able. The homeschooling is working out well, but have not etched anything in stone for next school year. They are doing part-time at the local school district, which has FAAARRRR better programming than the school we previously open enrolled at to seek the social advantages of a more rural and lower class size desires. I have been nothing but impressed with the distict and staff, so that is good. They are picked up at 9:50 and brought home at 1:30. For next year I am going to shoot for a better schedule, not smack dab middle of my day. If that isn't possible, we may reconsider all together. There are some potential distractions in store for next year, so not counting any ducklings yet.
The boys wanted to do karate. Let's just say that our autism didn't mix well with karate and Adam's response to what he thought was, "I hate it!" Plus he was so worked up he was close to tears by the end of the hour. Experiencing that was good for him, but he'll stick with golf!
Noah has had a change of schedule too, I knew the last thing I would want to do was bring him to the Montessori M-F by 8am with a toddler and infant, plus he griped half the time about going. So, we pulled him from the program and decided to try the traditional preschool setting and he is going to the elementary school for their program only 2 days a week. What a nice swap that was! Plus he LOVES it! The activities and structured fine motor and academic activities are just what we were ready for. He has enough independence! That being said, he had a rough day this week. Wednesday, started out great, he was helping me peel carrots, dancing, singing, playing drums, great kid. Blame it on the parent, I should have made him take a rest or laid down with him til he fell asleep (boy wouldn't that be relaxing, but wait we need clean clothes and meals prepared among a million other things!) He found some scissors after peircing a whole in Libby and Reany's bedroom door with a stool. Then he got caught cutting Uno cards, and I noticed he snipped the blinds strings in his new room. Bummer, they are expensive! Then he came upstairs and with no explanation took a full container of baby wipes and put them in the toilet...just to be naughty! He didn't know enough that clogging the toilet means caught in a flush, which he didn't do. He was one step away from a beating! Seriously, I was doing a little meditative parental coaching there, like what the heck! And when he was caught with the Uno cards he bit David. Later in the evening he bit Libby when she was trying to help escort him off the playground for pushing a kid well over a foot taller than him. Terrible day for my sweet boy! Wouldn't you agree? He needs a ball and chain to mommy.
I am so glad it is Friday and I survived this week though! It was my second week of Luke back at work and I am finally getting my groove back. I even organized a closet, or cleared a chair off in the spare room's closet that had been there for a few months! We will need to be transitioning Noah into that room (actually Aubrey and Lexi's originally.) Lillie is a little piggy and I am guessing we will go to her 8 week and see she is 15# and that is the weight cap on the bassinet for the pack and play. They grow way to fast!
Today Lillie was up before 5 and fussed for a solid 45 minutes before I caught a wink of sleep and had to make lunches and get the girls off to school. Noah needed a bath because he peed big time in the big bed, luckily there is plastic there. I am so ready for him to outgrow that! I had to load up the girls and bring him to school by 750am. Then we did school with the boys, working on some geography together and English. They got their ride and us girls went to pick up Noah and go to Sams Club. Solid 250 in damages there and pushed the train cart (the big blue double seater in front) into the family bathroom and had to nurse the baby after we used the bathroom. Then we got pizza and the two an ice cream to share. Noah was glad that Naomi got sassy and tried smacking me in the face, as he didn't have to share ice cream after all. Then Naomi and Lillie were both discontent on our way out the store, pleasing all that we were leaving at that point. I buckled up Naomi and then set the baby in the van while loading all our goods up. Then I had to feed the baby the other side before making it home. Naomi crashed on the way home and Lillie is still in her carseat sleeping too. Noah is fighting me to not have a nap, but I am not caving. In fact, I am going to go put my feet up and make him rest, likely he will be out in 10 minutes. I just had to blog though!

Lillie Marie Neuman d.o.b. 3-5-12

And here she comes! Great c-section pic?! Thanks staff lady!

Welcome to the world little Lillie! She was born at 9:55am March 5th, 2012 weighing 8# 12oz. and was 20.5" long.
Such a creamy big baby, thinking she was 40 and not 39 weeks!

All cleaned up and ready for the real world!

Mommy and Daddy love you Lillie!

Since I was 7 months preggo,

my blogging time budget has been cut. I know it's been a while, but as you can see, our lives have been happening, just blogging hasn't! Here is an update for the last couple months, which might explain some of the occupied time...

7 Months Pregnant and looking HUGE! (Pic from 1-22-12) So happy that Eva gave me a couple belly bands, hard to keep a house under a shirt, I really carry BOoM! right out, so about 7 months and the last two are just waiting to meet the baby and be done with the bump! Pretty uneventful pregnancy, minus the psoriasis and rash issues, and 1st trimester previa that resolved, so healthy and just growing the baby (and then some:)











Our current bedtime routine, which will be changed once baby comes home, is that Noah goes to bed in our bed. With a diaper on, and then Luke will take him to the bathroom and then he goes into his own bed for (usually) the remainder of the night. He sleeps like a rock and we hope that he will soon outgrow the whole sleeping through a potty break thing. But if he is into something, he sleeps with it, this particular night it was his spider man mask. I laughed so hard when I saw Daddy put it on for his nightly bathroom escort that I had to grab the camera!





We've all doubled, perhaps even tripled a recipe before, but let me ask you this: Have you ever sevened a recipe, or what would you call that? Whatever it's called, I had 21 bananas racked up in my freezer and I needed space! But since I only have 3 pans, I wound up zip-locking two batches of batter and that was awesome to have later in the week (of course we can easily put down a loaf!) That batter that was refrigerated for a few days was super good too, like seasoned even better. So definitely do not be overwhelmed by mass brown bananas, just do your math and make it work! Thanks huge tupperware!


The girls just finished up winter basketball, it was their first year and they had a great time. It met Saturday mornings, and as usual with activities, it is nice to be done! Both girls seem to have some skill and as their coach said they are coordinated and fast. The only drawback I foresee is that b-ball and gymnastics are same season sports, so for our next sport I have to pay attention to that. Not like I am planning their athletic careers or anything, who knows, maybe by the time they can do after-school sports we will be fetching water from a well 3 miles away.




We did just get a snow day, but this was from one of our earlier 2(?) snowfalls. It's been a really mild winter. The kids made Naomi her own snowman though, isn't that cute! The funny thing too was that I gave them some mini carrots to use and then had to give them more because Noah wouldn't share. He was insisting he had to give them to the bunnies of our yard:)








Valentines Day<3
Luke did pick me up this cute little bouquet and hand wrote a sweet card. We really don't celebrate some of the minor American holidays. Our hearts are overflowing with love and bliss the other 363 days of the year too, so our anniversary and v-day go pretty low key around us. Libby asked why some people get big gifts for Valentines day, of course we just said that some parents use that day to get their kids something special or what they need, but we don't need a holiday for that and everyone has all they need. The a little soap box of not conforming to the patterns of the world and getting the latest toy is irrelevant to happiness or success. I just don't like standards or pressure. Sorry Hallmark!




With our Science Museum membership quickly expiring, we made a trip down to see some of our favorites. The tow boat is cool, but I do think they should have some type of counter, because only 4 or 5 people can go up at a time and the stairs are so narrow it makes it hard to move around. Of course, with the watermelon belly I did not tour the tow boat. We had a good time though and were glad to have the membership since it was opening day of the pirate exhibit and the wait was a good hour, we skipped ahead and got to go right into the museum. We will likely renew when the baby and I are up for a cities trip during Lukes 4 weeks off. Looking forward to the homeschool discount now too, as it's even cheaper for a membership now- even less than one day there with everyone...awesome!



The robber is an imaginative little boy named Noah, that was unfortunately informed that his new face mask was what a robber would wear (thanks David, boo.) So luckily I said during his bedtime bathroom break that I couldn't find my toothbrush. In his grogginess he ratted himself out and said that it was under his pillow. Why is it under your pillow? Because I am a robber. Nice, so this was the collection to be found under his pillow, how funny is that! The face mask, which is so great for playing outside, is hard to find though. Probably because of other robbers? No place sells them, finally I broke down and paid the $10 that Scheels was selling theirs for. But the robber thing, not too crazy about that, but is still slightly entertaining.



The little honeys! Naomi has progressed from the highchair to her booster, to the stool. We did take the stools away two nights ago though, and the counter can be unavailable, as with stool side seating at the table. Naomi had come upstairs before us and slipped while climbing up to get a vitamin c tab she loves so much. Hit the granite floor, not pretty but no chipped teeth. It was still pretty scary and we just need a break from the stool dangers right now. Noah and Naomi are best friends though, it will be so fun to see them welcome another baby into their lives. Three more days and that will be a measurable statement. Actually 6, after my 3 day vacation at the hospital. Is it bad that I am looking forward to the menu selection each morning and some silence?



So here is some updates on what we have been doing, and hopefully the start to me getting back on track archiving our lives and documenting the ins and outs of our herd.

12-26-09 Naomi Gladys

Wow! Two years came and went, but not without us celebrating my dear lovely Naomi. She is such a wonderful girl and already her character shines and we are amazed be her each day. Could have easily earned the title "Princess" by now, as she is quite a determined and persistent little lady.
She loves puppies and dogs, Elmo, reading, coloring, singing and dancing. She has been dabbling with independent potty training. She is a climber and has reaped wounds to prove it. Her mommy translator is quite effective; she tries saying everything and talks like the rest of us. She likes sleeping in Noah's bed for naps, is really excited to be a big sister, will raise both her hands when asked who is excited for the baby.
She loves playing house and babies. She loves wearing hats, eating ice cream, and having Daddy paint her fingernails. She adores her brothers and sisters and has a favorite blanket from Rhonda, still loves her nuk- now reserved for bedtime, and points herself out in books when she sees a cute little girl!
We love you Naomi SO much! You are a delightful and caring girl with a big heart for your little body! Thank you God for giving us Naomi, please guide us to guide her and keep her by your side!

Survival of week one homeschooling

Okay, checked my pulse, still breathing!
Lots of adjustments to be made. What a sacrifice, still accepting that! Interesting transition for our special needs too, considering they have learned to lack effort and confidence. Aside from David winning me over on "tomorrow is Saturday so do you mean Monday" for when math is due, I am going to clean slate each week. And also reconsider their independent essay assignments. David did not earn to make a recipe for dinner last night, so hopefully that will be the first and the last. Adam, and I made a great broccoli and cauliflower casserole side dish. Despite getting an "A" in his 9th grade foods class, when cooking a vegetable fajita dish he did in class at home, he mistakenly used cinnamon instead of cumin and forgot two main ingredients. That might reinforce my opinion of the lacking reality piece special Ed is offering. Not my kid for now, I certainly couldn't do it any worse;)

I did not get to enjoy the creamy casserole though, you heard it here first, I HAVE BEEN LACTOSE DAIRY FREE FOR OVER A MONTH!!!
Last month I did an eds screening and was off the charts for milk and cheeses. I can still have butter and mayo, so those slightly compensate eliminating my staples of sour cream and cream cheese. Maybe when I am done baking the baby, the calories saved will shed excess layers accumulated over time. So who cares? Well I do enough to keep up with the choice because it is clearing up my arms. I have bad psoriasis on my forearms and they are healing, so that is good. Hormones, or at one point I wondered if it was the diligent milk drinking or increased creamy calories, during pregnancy and nursing my skin gets even worse. When I had Naomi, docs were saying they hadn't seen it as bad on my legs before. Granted that was a pediatrician and an ob, I know the dermatologist has. Biological injections work, but not during pregnancy and nursing. I should contact them, maybe I can sell them milk after weaning and get their overpriced pharmaceuticals for free. Or better yet, keep up with the diet changes and homeopathic remedies. Enough about me. I have work to do.

Winter Wonder...

proof that the kids have played in the snow this winter. We had been wondering...is this really winter? Now in the past week the temps have crashed and we are experiencing more winter truths. Doesn't bother me any!

Noah sporting some spare snowpants, his black ones were left at school over break, but they beat his pants he started out in, evidently Luke wasn't concerned about his little legs :( Since having Noah one of the girls should always have gender neutral snowpants to hand down!

As my brother said, "oh look, it's Katie in a snowsuit." Haha I am loving my mini me!

This is my last week of the boys going to school. We will be homeschooling come a week from tomorrow. SCARY!! I always said that I would never do that with the IEPs and stuff, but as it turns out it has come down to what needs to happen. There isn't much pressure, atleast for the oldest, as in 3 years he has not made any reading or mathmatic progress. That made the decision easy, and David is being over worked. When it is said and done the whole IEP, individualized education plan, becomes pretty iffy when they are older and in the jr/sr high settings. My kid doesn't need to go to school though just to hang out and fill up the vending machines though. And remind me ISD876 why we are trying to teach checkbooks to kids that do not have basic math concepts down?
I am likely to find time to vent or hash out my triumphs and failures, but for now I am surprisingly looking forward to spending more time with the boys and being able to give them tailored programming for them to make progress. Too long have I been discontent with the level of opportunities for an appropriate education, my energy to try and fight for them can be done directly with them for a while. I will use our local district, not the one we are currently enrolled in, to get special ed services for them, primarily for the phenomenal reading intervention program they have. I am most excited about that. Any parent would be if their 9th grader has been reading at a 4th grade level for 3 years. I feel guilty to have been sending them this long! David does quite well though, and so I am going to be revisiting algebra.

The girls have Monday and Tuesday off, so really I only have 3 days of what I consider freedom left. And of course with my little ones that is an exaggeration! So there is lots on my mind, but already have my syllabus for the remainder of the year. Hopefully we will continue through next year too and then revisit the idea when both boys would be in the same school again, and will certainly use the 18-21 programming.

This week:
-Noah, Libby, and Reany have Monday off
-The girls still have dance in the evening and Annandale (who still has school, but yet takes next Monday off- poor planning when they could be better acknowledging MLKjr Day) has a mandatory drivers ed meeting for parents. Adam is in the class and will take the permit test, for the experience and hopeful understanding to pursue other transportation options.
-Girls day Tuesday because all the boys have school, we like playing Clue together and will likely make some babycakes. Haircuts for the boys too.
-Wednesday the girls have their 3rd piano lesson across the street with Ruthanne. They are so loving them and are even teaching Luke. I said when he catches up to me I will start again too:)
-Thursday I hope to have a coffee date with my long lost cousin, Kristy
-Friday work on what is left on organizing a homeschooling hub and the nursery closet project.
-Saturday Libby, Reany, and David all have basketball
-Sunday, thank God for the Sabbath Day!
-Monday 33 weeks and meet with the OB and schedule with the hospital for delivery...wow that sneaks up! We will have our orientation for the big homeschool adventure, and probably start with some cribbage. Throw in some popcorn and I just might adore homeschooling. Here's to a great week!