Mommy Monday

I'm going to try something new. 
I start and try a lot of things.  What will last is the infamous question always under the surface of any new idea but since we seem to be pretty consistent with our Wordless Wednesdays, Dan encouraged me to give this a try.  I've been wanting to intermix all his paper postings with things about the kids and well, my mommy life, but the best time for me is after the kids are in bed and sleeping.  These days, however, I am on the verge of sleeping too.  :) 

What's up with the five frisky (soon to be the sweet six or half a dozen) Howdys these days?
 
Toby is sick; really sick with a high fever and vomiting for the past three days.  We are getting a bit worried about him as he's eaten hardly anything during that time and once the tylenol/ibuprofen wear off, his fever is not breaking.  He doesn't like being by himself so has been laying on the couch while the other kids run around and play near him. There is a possibility that it could be chicken pox but no sign of a rash yet.  Please pray for him.  We've been in contact with our teammate/doctor and are not sure what the next step is if his fever doesn't break tomorrow. 

The weather is getting HOT and cacadas can be heard.  It is the sound of summer and Christmas for us.  It also means that I am nearing the end of this pregnancy (8 weeks to go) and slowing down.  But something about a big change coming has me cleaning and rearranging and trying to get little things done that I've managed to put off before.  We have a name picked out but aren't telling and it is driving the kids crazy!!  Hee hee hee.  Eli doesn't like not knowing and keeps asking me, "What does it start with?"  Nope, not telling...yet.  Sammie tells the baby "You know your name and I want to know but I don't know."  She, especially, is excited about a little baby sister.  I might actually look forward to late night feedings so I can hold her!!  Sammie will be a wonderful helper. 

It has been raining a lot lately and our electricity keeps going on and off.  Recently we fried our internet box and had to wait till we went to the city to get a new one.  We still need to put a special surge protector on the new one but we are getting better at remembering to unplug it when it starts to thunder.  With the electricity being so inconsistent, the town's water pump also burned out.  I am so thankful for our well and pump!!  Our neighbors were lined up and waiting this morning to get water from us as apparently the town water will be out till Wednesday!  I keep bottles of water under the kitchen sink though because if the power goes out, then we too don't have water. 

We started our new home school lessons in October and are moving along slowly.  The routine has gotten a bit more complicated as Silas(4) and Judah(2) are proving difficult to keep entertained.  Nap time would be a great time to get a lot done except I take a nap too with Judah.  He is unlike any other two year old we've had.  So adorable and cute but gets into everything!!  He is always getting into the fridge and dumping yogurt or eating my chocolate or helping himself to whatever he can reach!  He's broken off two of my kitchen drawer handles from climbing and when bothered, screams.  Most of the time it is Silas who is behind the screams as he pushes Judah's buttons.  When they go outside, run around, ride their bikes/trikes or swim and make a muddy mess, they are perfectly happy.  And, I am thankful for our little neighbor girl on the other side of the fence.  Sammie loves to play with her as does Silas and Judah.  The other day Mia, the little neighbor girl, had put on a Paraguayan red skirt so Sammie came in and put on one of her dress up red dresses and the two of them were dancing and singing back and forth together, on either side of the fence.  Mia does actually come into our yard periodically but Sammie takes her breaks from her lessons or whatever outside so when she's finished her work then Mia can come over.  Mia is only four and school is over now for the Paraguayans. 

With the end of the year approaching and the holidays, our schedule is picking up!  I am glad that Dan's trainings are going so well as the leaders have more time to meet now that school is out but it also means that a lot is going on.  In a couple of weeks we have a Team Training then we head to the city for doctor's appointments and to get ready for Christmas.  After Christmas and New Year's, we are hosting a group from YWAM who will help with the summer youth camp (among other things), then we happen to have a baby sometime after that and a couple weeks after that host the group again. 

We have much to be thankful for and Thanksgiving was a great time to be reminded of that!!
Now we look forward to the Christmas season as we turn our hearts toward remembering what the season is all about and know that one day Jesus is coming again!!