Six to One...Half Dozen for This Mother

I have been a mother of six for an entire week now...let's just take a moment to let that sink in.

... sinking...

...still sinking...

When you're a mother, your life is pretty much nothing but questions. I ask a lot of questions. "Is this normal?" "Is he/she okay?" "Did he eat enough?" "Did he eat too much?" You would think I'd have this baby thing on lock down by now but hand me a newborn and it's like the first time all over again. That excitement and panic and overall "Can I DO this?!?" feeling.

I also get asked a lot of questions. In fact, when I'm not asking myself questions, someone else is asking me questions. I am not sure I'd know what to do with myself if I wasn't answering someones questions... What was that?

I get asked questions by everyone. My kids. My husband. People at Church. Random people on the street. Even in the hospital, when I'm breathing through a contraction someone asked me to rate my pain on a scale of 1 to 10. I hate that question. I told him/her that. I don't freaking know. It hurts. This was not an acceptable answer...so they asked me AGAIN. MORE questions!

One big question I get (rather frequently actually) is "how do you do it?"

I kind of hate this question too, only because I really don't know how to answer it. I don't know what people are looking for when they ask it. Do they want an answer? Are they really meaning to make a statement, like, "I don't know how you do it." or "You are absolutely certifiably insane." ?? Or do they want a list of what I do all day and how I do it? Do they want specific examples? A diagram? A youtube tutorial? Do they even understand that I am terribly under qualified to give any type of parenting how-to's?

Because of this, I've always given really vague answers, ie."We get up in the morning and go to bed at night...everything else just sort of happens."

But I've decided there are a few things that make what I do possible. Here they are:

1. Television---we watch way too much of it. My oldest has probably logged more cumulative tv time in his 9 years than Oprah. Ps. He is in an accelerated reading program and above grade level for writing. He spent his first few years watching Blues Clues and came out unscathed. It's a miracle.

2. Fruit Snacks---not the homemade-pinterest-really-dried-fruit nonsense. I'm talking gelatin, animal feet, preservatives...the real deal. I do not know how parents live without them. Truth.

3. Prayers---I say a million a day. I mean, obviously I need help. My kids are watching mindless brain sucking tube and eating animal hooves all day. I'm clueless and I need help...lots and lots and lots of help.

4. Husband---The man is an angel, sent to Earth so that I don't completely go off the deep end. He is the reason that we don't eat waffles for dinner every single night.

5. Mindless Fiction Novels---These keep me from losing my mind completely...except for secretly wondering if that girl who sold me the earrings at Claire's is an undercover shadowhunter and checking the abnormally tall guy at Target for molnija marks on his neck.

That's pretty much my list. That's how I get through. We love the heck out of our kids, take lots of short cuts and hope it all works out okay in the end. Now do you see why no one should ask me for parenting advice? Maybe number six will set me straight.

Moving...

Moving is hard. Everyone says that and everyone is right. It is hard. Really hard. Do you know what else is hard? Moving when you're pregnant. I don't recommend doing it if you can help it. Pregnancy makes you grumpy and emotional and tired and sore. On the other hand, it does lend a fabulous excuse for being all those things, which you probably would be anyway BECAUSE...moving is HARD!

We have been here in Florida for about a month now. I wish I could say that it feels like home now. I will have to settle for saying that most of our boxes are unpacked and I can find Target, the grocery store, the zoo and the church building without using my GPS.

It's different here. For one thing, it's been 80 degrees outside...in January. It's actually kind of a time-warping thing. I totally forget that it's winter. Some of that might also be that my kids are still not in school. That's another story entirely, one we will just leave alone for now.

Another thing that's different is the wildlife. There are creatures everywhere. EVERYWHERE. This part is actually kinda cool. We have lizards on our back patio all the time. No, I'm serious...all the time. Not like we see lots of lizards, but like, I can go out on my patio and spot three lizards at any time. Lots of cranes too. We see them when we walk to get the mail, they stop traffic to cross the street (no joke ya'll). There are also gators swimming around. Interestingly enough, it's not as scary as I thought it would be. They aren't walking around my front yard or swinging from the trees like I pictured before we moved. You just see them swimming around sometimes in one of the fifty five thousand bodies of water in a three mile radius. Seriously, lots of water here. The scariest part of the gators is being married to Mike Ramsey who has an unquenchable compulsion to catch and play with dangerous animals.

The people here are wonderful. Everyone is friendly and welcoming...although they do have this thing with ignoring anything red. I can't tell you how many people I have seen blow through a stop sign or stop light as if it's not even there. Seriously. I might be nervous except that I drive the largest, most monstrous vehicle on the roads so their measly sports cars don't intimidate me. They'd bounce off like a flea. Florida drivers, you've been warned.

I'm still horribly homesick. I miss my familiar places. I REALLY miss my wonderful friends and my doctors. Oh my goodness, if you have great doctors, please don't take them for granted. In fact, after you read this blog, get off the computer and go write them a note and make them a plate of cookies and take it to them. They are worth their weight in gold and diamonds and chocolate. If you don't have good doctors, move to Richmond, VA because I have some great recommendations. Same with your teachers. Teachers and doctors...for real.

But challenges aside, we have had some really fun experiences in Florida. Actually being away from our social network has forced us to get out and really look for things to do as a family. It has brought us closer together and we have enjoyed this special time.

Some of the neat things we've done in Florida:
* We got an annual pass to the local zoo and have enjoyed a couple of trips there already.
* We went on a "river walk" along Lake Monroe. The highlight was the ducks. I love ducks.
* We went to the Blue Springs State Park and got to see the manatees and the gators. It was breathtaking.
* We went to the DeLand Reptile Center and got to watch them milk venomous snakes. It was actually super cool to watch.
* Gavin went "bungee jumping" at the mall. 6 out of the 7 of us thought this was fun to watch...I'll let you guess who the 1 freaked out one was.
* We went to Target. Target is cool no matter where you go. Period.

So that's been our adventure so far. We miss home but have felt such a remarkable peace from our Heavenly Father. We know this is where we are supposed to be and are thankful for the opportunities He has given us. We are looking forward to welcoming baby Ramsey here shortly and enjoying whatever Florida adventures might await us.

Merry Christmas

I can't believe it's Christmas eve already. Honestly, it hasn't felt like Christmas at all. We have been so crazy busy with moving that celebrations have been minimal. Next year we will make up for it, that's what I keep telling myself.
One thing that has been on my mind a lot is the Christmas story. The most widely told version is the one found in Luke. I love that one. There is another account, which has always been a favorite, but has had special meaning to me this year. It is found in the Book of Mormon.
In this account, there has been a day set apart by the unbelievers where, if the sign of Christ's coming (as foretold by Samuel the Lamanite) has not been given, all the believers will be put to death.
I imagine there must have been a great deal of anxiety amongst those who had believed the words of Samuel. I can imagine, to a point, being a mother in those times. I can imagine the fear I would feel for my children and my family. What if the sign did not come? What if my faith was blind? How hard would it have been, in those circumstances, to truly believe that the Savior would come?
Likewise, this Christmas season has been filled with great anxiety in my own life, as well as in the world at large. Calamity, shootings, innocent lives taken, disasters, fear, panic, confusion.
On a smaller scale, fear for my own family's well being. Will they do well at their new school? Will I be able to have this baby safely? Will we be safe and happy in our new neighborhood?
Like in the times of Samuel, we can easily look around and wonder, "is my faith founded? Is God there? I believe, but where is the sign that we have been promised?"
And then comes the glorious account of Nephi, as he prayed to his Father in Heaven, likely feeling great anxiety for his people and his loved ones.:
"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets."
I can only imagine the overwhelming joy and peace that Nephi felt, followed by the rejoicing of the people as the sign of their Savior's birth came.
While we may feel much of that anxiety and fear and sorrow throughout the year, I hope that this Christmas we can focus on the joy and the hope brought by our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him, a world redeemed. Through Him, all things made right. Through Him, hope and peace and joy and love.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Can't Wait...

to meet this guy!

A New Idea of Perfection

We had an ultrasound this morning. We are having a boy. Another boy. Five BOYS. Yep.

So here's the truth. A few weeks ago we had an ultrasound. I was about 13 weeks. We totally saw boy stuff. The ultrasound tech told us not to go painting anything blue BUT...

At first, I was shocked...and a little sad. It wasn't that I didn't want a boy. It's just that I REALLY wanted a girl. I have bins upon bins of adorable girly clothes. I have bows and tights and skirts and pink things. I wanted to use them. I wanted Suzy to have a sister. I thought that having another girl would create balance. Every family needs balance right? Everyone insisted this baby was a girl. Even my friend who is NEVER wrong about my babies thought it was a girl. We were all convinced. So when the ultrasound tech said boy, I got a lump in my throat.

Even though we pretty much knew, we held off on telling people and decided to wait until our next ultrasound. During that time, I tried to keep my feelings neutral. The truth is it was SO not neutral. I would swing like a pendulum. One minute I'd be totally excited for another boy. Suzy and I would remain the queens. Boys are so fun and wonderful, etc.  The next minute I would be holding back tears thinking about the little girl things that I would never use again. The sweet name that I would never get to call out. The total imbalance in the family (balanced families are weird ya'll...just sayin'). And back and forth it went.

When we went in today I was prepared. So when we saw "it" I knew exactly what I was looking at...it's not like I haven't seen a few in my time. Mike and I chuckled. I've been chuckling ever since. Mother's intuition? It doesn't exist you guys. People who say "I just KNEW I was having ..." and they were right? Guess what? It's a 50/50 shot. Maybe I just missed the intuition boat. Who knows? But this is what I will say. I thought that I really wanted a girl. I thought that was exactly what our family needed to be whole and perfect. I was wrong.

Because here is what I know. I know that God knows who I need and who needs me. I know that my family is perfect because He designed it, not me. I know that when I hold my son it will not be possible for me to love him more. I know because I've been blessed to experience that five times now. And I am so incredibly blessed to be able to experience it one more time.

I watched his little legs kicking on the ultrasound. Yeah, I made those legs. They are perfect and beautiful...just like him. I can't wait to hold him. I can't wait to kiss him. I can't wait to learn from him and maybe I'll get really lucky and I'll get to teach him something too.

I feel blessed far beyond what I deserve. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for giving me another chance with motherhood. I am thankful that He trusts me. I am thankful that He knows who I need and who needs me. I am proud to announce that I am expecting ANOTHER baby and that baby is a BOY!

Thank You Heavenly Father...

      For this moment.

No sense in Nonsense

We protect this:

And them:

Oh, and their next geneartion:

But not him. He isn't protected:                                                                                                                

We oppose the killing of adults convicted of crimes, including murderers, rapists, thieves:                 

She, however...well, she may be innocent but her death is acceptable:

We convinct him of double homicide in the death of his wife and UNBORN child:

We call him an advocate for women's rights by allowing women to abort their unborn babies:        

When someone's heart stops, we declare them dead:                                                                        

But if their heart is beating, it doesn't make them alive:                                                                   

Does this make sense? No, I didn't think so.
Either human life matters, or it doesn't.