Life has never been crazier in this Fetterly household! I can't even explain how busy things are around here.
Thankfully, homeschooling is still going well. Since Jewel finished her entire math book for the year before Thanksgiving, I am not formally doing any math with her until after Christmas. I am so thankful for the initiative both Jewel and Jane put forth to learn. Granted they are distracted often with the chaos that the little ones bring to the house, but they are still learning a lot and are staying on track.
We are sooooo looking forward to moving to Little Rock in less than two weeks! It will be so convenient for Jimmy to be less than 10 minutes from work and for us all to be 15 minutes or less from church. Not to mention, the ability to unpack boxes that, in some cases, have been packed up for about 9 months and be able to spread out in a larger home will be such a blessing.
We minimally decorated from Christmas this year. We took a family trip to the Christmas tree farm and picked out a 5 foot potted tree that we will be able to transport to our new home and then plant somewhere in our new yard. The girls had fun decorating the tree. The only other decorations we have out are ONE nativity set, a Christmas tablecloth, a doormat, and a poinsettia. There was just no way I was going to unpack Christmas stuff only to be re-packing it back up BEFORE Christmas to move!
I am pretty much just running on fumes these days. I am up A LOT with Jeorgia. Jeneva also gets up occasionally, and usually Jimmy gets up to take care of her. It is a little bit of a zoo around here at night, however the older girls seem to sleep right through it all!
Well, that is all for now! I must get to other things during these precious few minutes where I am alone at home with my two youngest asleep! :)
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Friday, December 02, 2011
Our Little Jeorgia
These past (almost) 5 months we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our sweet Jeorgia. Tonight while giving Jeorgia her bath I was struck at how different she is from our other girls, so while it was fresh on my mind I thought I would jot some things down.
1. blue eyes..Jeorgia is our first girl to have blue eyes
2. reddish hair...she is our first girl to have any reddish tint to her hair
3. loves to be swaddled...she has been our only child who loves to be tightly swaddled to be able to fall asleep..at the doctor's request, I am trying to wean her from that.
4. loves baths...Jewel and Jane may have "liked" baths, Jeneva hated them, but Jeorgia LOVES them!
5. loves to be massaged...none of our other girls tolerated, much less liked, being massaged
6. sleeps on her tummy...this past week I broke down and laid her down on her tummy to go to sleep (after noticing how comfy she was when I was massaging her back one night). I have NEVER put a baby on their tummy to sleep. She LOVES it! She sleeps so soundly. I am taking all the precautions (pacifier, tight sheet on bed, limited bedding, fan on, checking on her often, etc.)!
7. has lots of tummy trouble...thankfully she is growing out of it, but for the first few months her tummy bothered her a lot...it showed up in her spitting up a lot and stiffening her body while crying with pain with her tummy hurting. None of the other girls had tummy problems like that.
8. lets others hold her...at least so far she is really good at letting other people hold her...in fact, I think she enjoys being social...she is definitely our first baby to "like" other people.
9. likes a dry diaper...not that our other girls didn't appreciate being clean, but she really can be cheered up quickly with a clean and dry diaper.
10. is in the 5th percentile in weight...she is definitely our smallest baby from birth.
So, I wonder how different her personality is going to be from the others! It is really fun to see her personality so far even at 5 months. Other things she is doing right now are rollling from her tummy to her back, grabbing things (including her feet) with both hands and sticking them into her mouth, beginning to go a little longer than 2 hours between nursing sessions, and being super smiley if she can get someone to give her eye contact and a smile.
We are blessed to have her in our little family. We all love her so much! With the busy-ness of this season, I just didn't want to forget these few things that define her first few months of life.
1. blue eyes..Jeorgia is our first girl to have blue eyes
2. reddish hair...she is our first girl to have any reddish tint to her hair
3. loves to be swaddled...she has been our only child who loves to be tightly swaddled to be able to fall asleep..at the doctor's request, I am trying to wean her from that.
4. loves baths...Jewel and Jane may have "liked" baths, Jeneva hated them, but Jeorgia LOVES them!
5. loves to be massaged...none of our other girls tolerated, much less liked, being massaged
6. sleeps on her tummy...this past week I broke down and laid her down on her tummy to go to sleep (after noticing how comfy she was when I was massaging her back one night). I have NEVER put a baby on their tummy to sleep. She LOVES it! She sleeps so soundly. I am taking all the precautions (pacifier, tight sheet on bed, limited bedding, fan on, checking on her often, etc.)!
7. has lots of tummy trouble...thankfully she is growing out of it, but for the first few months her tummy bothered her a lot...it showed up in her spitting up a lot and stiffening her body while crying with pain with her tummy hurting. None of the other girls had tummy problems like that.
8. lets others hold her...at least so far she is really good at letting other people hold her...in fact, I think she enjoys being social...she is definitely our first baby to "like" other people.
9. likes a dry diaper...not that our other girls didn't appreciate being clean, but she really can be cheered up quickly with a clean and dry diaper.
10. is in the 5th percentile in weight...she is definitely our smallest baby from birth.
So, I wonder how different her personality is going to be from the others! It is really fun to see her personality so far even at 5 months. Other things she is doing right now are rollling from her tummy to her back, grabbing things (including her feet) with both hands and sticking them into her mouth, beginning to go a little longer than 2 hours between nursing sessions, and being super smiley if she can get someone to give her eye contact and a smile.
We are blessed to have her in our little family. We all love her so much! With the busy-ness of this season, I just didn't want to forget these few things that define her first few months of life.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Where have we been!?!?
OK, this will need to be the post of many updates....
July 6: Jeorgia Rose Fetterly was born. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long (I think). She lost 14 oz. really quickly in the hospital and did not begin gaining over the next 2 days and was below the 10% loss parameters that doctors like to keep the baby within, so the third day, they asked me to give small amounts of formula. She gained an ounce or two and they let us go home. A couple days later (after small formula supplements) she had gained to 7 lb. 6 oz. So they let me drop the formula...however Jeorgia stayed at 7 lb 6 oz. for about 10 days (I had her weight checked just about every other day). I was nursing her ALL the time. With careful use of formula, pumping, and nursing, she finally began to gain weight. I dropped the formula, and continued to pump. Then she was able to gain an ounce a day over the next few days without me pumping or supplementing. This brought us right up to our MOVE! She was weighed a couple days ago and was at 10 lb. 4 oz. which averaged her gaining about an ounce a day since our move. Praise the Lord!
July 29: Our ABF packing trailers arrived. Thanks to MANY friends, we were able to finish packing up the house, and then the following day, we were able to load the truck (again, with the help of many friends). We borrowed some blow up mattresses and stayed in the empty house until the following Tuesday. Somehow, with a big thanks to Mimi Hobbs, we were able to get the house cleaned by Wednesday afternoon.
August 2: We moved our packed vehicles and family over to a guest house that our friends the Prathers graciously allowed us to stay in the last couple of nights.
August 3: We finished cleaning out our house, packed our vehicles for the road trip, enjoyed a lovely evening at church where we were able to say goodbye to many dear friends, and picked up my mom from the airport.
August 4: We set out early on a one way trip to Arkansas. We made it in a long 15 hour day. Jimmy drove the cat in his car. My mom and I took the 4 girls in the van. It was a long day, but we made it by the grace of God. God knows what we can bear, and he knew we couldn't have done it without my dear mother. She was so helpful that day and over the next week as we attempted to get settled and unpacked. That evening we stayed with our dear friends the Hamlines. We were so exhausted and it was so good to sleep that night. I had cried so much the day before, I had a huge headache the entire day. So I can definitely attest to God sustaining me as I drove for 15 straight hours!
August 5: We moved into our rent house (which we had not seen until we arrived). It is smaller than what we were used to, but it definitely meets our needs for now. Several friends came over to help us unpack our truck that evening.
August 7: This was our first Sunday back at BCLR. As thankful as we were to be there, it was a hard day as well. I knew that I wouldn't feel quite settled until my girls were settled. Jane cried when I tried to take her to her SS class, so I let her go in with Jewel that day. Jeneva wouldn't stray 6 inches from me....she was overwhelmed with it all. Thankfully, after a few weeks, the girls seem to be settling into their new life here, but we still have tears sometimes about them missing those they love in Tallahassee.
August 13: After a full week of unpacking, caring for little ones, enjoying my momma, getting new licenses, etc., we brought my mom to Nashville, AR to spend some time with her parents. It was a sad day to leave her. We all loved having her with us. We also celebrated Jeneva's 2nd birthday at my grandparent's house.
August 14: Jeneva turns TWO! Our sweet little Jeneva celebrated her 2nd birthday. We kept things pretty simple. I bought her cake and brought it down to Nashville to celebrate with family. On her actual birthday, we went to church and then that evening had our long-time friends the Johnsons over for dinner (to help us finish up Jeneva's cake).
August 15: Jimmy started his job at UALR. This was a crazy week for me, with him being gone every day all day, but we managed just fine.
August 22 (I think): We started homeschooling. It took us a little time to get into the swing of things with a newborn, toddler, Kindergartener, and 2nd grader. Jewel had to buckle down and understand more and more is expected from her as she grows up. Now, she is doing really well, but it still takes her about 5 hours each day to complete her lessons.
Over the next few weeks, we spent a lot of time going to parks, showing girls places around Conway, hunting down our engraved bricks both at UCA and CBC, going to well baby visits, and more.
September 7: Awana began for the girls. They had been greatly anticipating this. Jimmy is the teacher of Jewel's group. With two weeks under their belt, their Awana books and vests awarded, they are ready to go! They are loving it! I started a ladies Bible study in I Peter that I think will really enjoy (once I can get my two little ones to go to nursery)!
That brings us pretty much up to date. There is definitely more that I could write, but that is all for now!
July 6: Jeorgia Rose Fetterly was born. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 inches long (I think). She lost 14 oz. really quickly in the hospital and did not begin gaining over the next 2 days and was below the 10% loss parameters that doctors like to keep the baby within, so the third day, they asked me to give small amounts of formula. She gained an ounce or two and they let us go home. A couple days later (after small formula supplements) she had gained to 7 lb. 6 oz. So they let me drop the formula...however Jeorgia stayed at 7 lb 6 oz. for about 10 days (I had her weight checked just about every other day). I was nursing her ALL the time. With careful use of formula, pumping, and nursing, she finally began to gain weight. I dropped the formula, and continued to pump. Then she was able to gain an ounce a day over the next few days without me pumping or supplementing. This brought us right up to our MOVE! She was weighed a couple days ago and was at 10 lb. 4 oz. which averaged her gaining about an ounce a day since our move. Praise the Lord!
July 29: Our ABF packing trailers arrived. Thanks to MANY friends, we were able to finish packing up the house, and then the following day, we were able to load the truck (again, with the help of many friends). We borrowed some blow up mattresses and stayed in the empty house until the following Tuesday. Somehow, with a big thanks to Mimi Hobbs, we were able to get the house cleaned by Wednesday afternoon.
August 2: We moved our packed vehicles and family over to a guest house that our friends the Prathers graciously allowed us to stay in the last couple of nights.
August 3: We finished cleaning out our house, packed our vehicles for the road trip, enjoyed a lovely evening at church where we were able to say goodbye to many dear friends, and picked up my mom from the airport.
August 4: We set out early on a one way trip to Arkansas. We made it in a long 15 hour day. Jimmy drove the cat in his car. My mom and I took the 4 girls in the van. It was a long day, but we made it by the grace of God. God knows what we can bear, and he knew we couldn't have done it without my dear mother. She was so helpful that day and over the next week as we attempted to get settled and unpacked. That evening we stayed with our dear friends the Hamlines. We were so exhausted and it was so good to sleep that night. I had cried so much the day before, I had a huge headache the entire day. So I can definitely attest to God sustaining me as I drove for 15 straight hours!
August 5: We moved into our rent house (which we had not seen until we arrived). It is smaller than what we were used to, but it definitely meets our needs for now. Several friends came over to help us unpack our truck that evening.
August 7: This was our first Sunday back at BCLR. As thankful as we were to be there, it was a hard day as well. I knew that I wouldn't feel quite settled until my girls were settled. Jane cried when I tried to take her to her SS class, so I let her go in with Jewel that day. Jeneva wouldn't stray 6 inches from me....she was overwhelmed with it all. Thankfully, after a few weeks, the girls seem to be settling into their new life here, but we still have tears sometimes about them missing those they love in Tallahassee.
August 13: After a full week of unpacking, caring for little ones, enjoying my momma, getting new licenses, etc., we brought my mom to Nashville, AR to spend some time with her parents. It was a sad day to leave her. We all loved having her with us. We also celebrated Jeneva's 2nd birthday at my grandparent's house.
August 14: Jeneva turns TWO! Our sweet little Jeneva celebrated her 2nd birthday. We kept things pretty simple. I bought her cake and brought it down to Nashville to celebrate with family. On her actual birthday, we went to church and then that evening had our long-time friends the Johnsons over for dinner (to help us finish up Jeneva's cake).
August 15: Jimmy started his job at UALR. This was a crazy week for me, with him being gone every day all day, but we managed just fine.
August 22 (I think): We started homeschooling. It took us a little time to get into the swing of things with a newborn, toddler, Kindergartener, and 2nd grader. Jewel had to buckle down and understand more and more is expected from her as she grows up. Now, she is doing really well, but it still takes her about 5 hours each day to complete her lessons.
Over the next few weeks, we spent a lot of time going to parks, showing girls places around Conway, hunting down our engraved bricks both at UCA and CBC, going to well baby visits, and more.
September 7: Awana began for the girls. They had been greatly anticipating this. Jimmy is the teacher of Jewel's group. With two weeks under their belt, their Awana books and vests awarded, they are ready to go! They are loving it! I started a ladies Bible study in I Peter that I think will really enjoy (once I can get my two little ones to go to nursery)!
That brings us pretty much up to date. There is definitely more that I could write, but that is all for now!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Jewel's Birthday Storm
On Sunday afternoon, we had a pretty big storm. We lost a bunch of branches and there were several trees that were struck with lightning or blown over in our neighborhood. Apparently, our neighborhood took the brunt of the storm. We were without power for about 17 hours! Thankfully, our damage was very minimal...just a full day's worth of cleanup for Jimmy.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Happy Father's Day
The girls and I made Daddy breakfast in bed. We also made a "secret" trip to the Dollar Tree to get him a balloon, 2 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup candy bars, and cards. He also picked out some Eternity cologne when he and I ran errands together one day.
The day before Father's Day we had a few friends over to help us eat up some of our steaks, ribs, and chicken that we had in our deep freezer. It was a fun day of fellowship AND a great way to use up meat before our move! :)
The day before Father's Day we had a few friends over to help us eat up some of our steaks, ribs, and chicken that we had in our deep freezer. It was a fun day of fellowship AND a great way to use up meat before our move! :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Birthday Preparations and Celebrations!
Jewel opened a package from Papa and Nana. She was excited to receiving a talking raccoon (similar to Jane's talking teddy bear that she received on her birthday). The raccoon responds to words read in a book that comes along with it. She really loves it a lot!
After our Tallahassee Memories Treasure Hunt, we came home. Jimmy quickly encouraged me to make meal preparations and begin making Jewel's cake...I was wondering why he didn't let me take a nap first!!! :)
He had planned a surprise birthday celebration over at our friends' house the McCords! Jewel's batteries had died on her camera and I didn't know that I needed to bring our camera along because we were just "going to get out to pick up something to eat so we wouldn't mess up the kitchen again."
Michael had TWO beautiful and delicious cakes for us along with a dinner of Bradley's sausage (our traditional bonfire meal). I have no pictures, but Jewel and I each received beautiful gifts from the McCords....Jewel a pretty dress with accessories and I received a lovely oval locket with a cross on it. Both gifts will definitely be treasured! Jimmy also packed along some cards from he and the girls for me and also some kitchen utensils....he is good about stocking our kitchen with nice utensils on birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. :)
Sunday after church we had our friends the Prathers and the McCords. Jewel planned her menu: ham, homemade macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, watermelon, and a vegetable salad (chopped up green peppers, avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers with salt and pepper....her choices!)
This was my year NOT to make any of the girls birthday cakes. Jane had no problem picking a cake out at Publix, however, Jewel did not find one she liked! :) So I told her she could pick out a cake mix (she chose Devil's food cake) and I would make some white buttercream frosting and she could have ONE color to decorate with along with blueberries and raspberries. She wanted an American flag theme! She helped me bake her cake. I frosted it with white, mixed up her red color, wrote her name (by her request), and she did EVERYTHING else. She did a wonderful job!
Happy 7th Birthday, SWEET Little Jewel! :)
After our Tallahassee Memories Treasure Hunt, we came home. Jimmy quickly encouraged me to make meal preparations and begin making Jewel's cake...I was wondering why he didn't let me take a nap first!!! :)He had planned a surprise birthday celebration over at our friends' house the McCords! Jewel's batteries had died on her camera and I didn't know that I needed to bring our camera along because we were just "going to get out to pick up something to eat so we wouldn't mess up the kitchen again."
Michael had TWO beautiful and delicious cakes for us along with a dinner of Bradley's sausage (our traditional bonfire meal). I have no pictures, but Jewel and I each received beautiful gifts from the McCords....Jewel a pretty dress with accessories and I received a lovely oval locket with a cross on it. Both gifts will definitely be treasured! Jimmy also packed along some cards from he and the girls for me and also some kitchen utensils....he is good about stocking our kitchen with nice utensils on birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas, etc. :)
Sunday after church we had our friends the Prathers and the McCords. Jewel planned her menu: ham, homemade macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, watermelon, and a vegetable salad (chopped up green peppers, avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers with salt and pepper....her choices!)
This was my year NOT to make any of the girls birthday cakes. Jane had no problem picking a cake out at Publix, however, Jewel did not find one she liked! :) So I told her she could pick out a cake mix (she chose Devil's food cake) and I would make some white buttercream frosting and she could have ONE color to decorate with along with blueberries and raspberries. She wanted an American flag theme! She helped me bake her cake. I frosted it with white, mixed up her red color, wrote her name (by her request), and she did EVERYTHING else. She did a wonderful job!
Happy 7th Birthday, SWEET Little Jewel! :)
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Treasure Hunt continued...
Clues 5 -11
**Answer** L U I S
We used to come to this mission all the time when we first moved to Tallahassee. It has actually been a couple years since we had been.
After we watched the little video, Jewel opened her gift from Jane...a nightgown and some panties.
**Answer** K I T CH E N
The little kitchen behind to church was closed due to some necessary roof repair. We could only look through the window, but the room was empty since they didn't want things to be ruined through the leaky roof.
Clue #7
**Answer** P O T T Y
The Spanish House
**Answer** C O O L
The Indian Meeting House
**Answer** V A N
Clue # 10
We now go where your first home in Tallahassee was spent.
**Answer** P I C K (When Jewel was younger she used to refer to Chinese buffets as "Pick-out" restaurants!)
Clue #5
With our drinks in hand, we are ready to find
A park that is definitely one of a kind.
With buildings and costumes to explore and to see
Our next stop is special, it’s Mission San __ __ __ __!**Answer** L U I S
We used to come to this mission all the time when we first moved to Tallahassee. It has actually been a couple years since we had been.
After we watched the little video, Jewel opened her gift from Jane...a nightgown and some panties.
Clue # 6:
The preacher and monks lived in this nice little place.But because of the fire and the limited space.
Right next to the garden, which one must mention,
Their meals were prepared in this nice little __ __ __ __ __ __ __.**Answer** K I T CH E N
The little kitchen behind to church was closed due to some necessary roof repair. We could only look through the window, but the room was empty since they didn't want things to be ruined through the leaky roof.
Clue #7The Spanish lived quite differently from their Indian brothers.
Their houses were built by the men but kept up by the mothers.
There were chores to be done by the young and the old.
The young emptied the __ __ __ __ __ bowl; quite stinky, we’re told!**Answer** P O T T Y
The Spanish House
Clue # 8
The Indians gathered in this large open place.
Around the walls were “hotels,” for each his own space.
The roof and walls are open for the air to be pulled
By the fire to keep the space heated and __ __ __ __-ed.**Answer** C O O L
The Indian Meeting House
Clue # 9
Enjoy the rest of the great sites to see;
It may be the very last time here to be. L
When it’s time to go on to our next destination;
A note in the v __ __ will reveal the location.**Answer** V A N
Clue # 10
We now go where your first home in Tallahassee was spent.
One month we lived here in an upstairs __ __ __ __ __ -ment!
**Answer** A P A R T
Clue #11
At this point, we’re sure you must be quite famished.
So the next spot is a place you will fill your own dish.
Hope you’ve had fun! Now, ready or not!
We are now headed to a “ __ __ __ __ - out” restaurant!**Answer** P I C K (When Jewel was younger she used to refer to Chinese buffets as "Pick-out" restaurants!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
