Emma's Story - Why

I have wanted to write this earlier, and the time has never been there, and now that I sit here to do it, I am struggling to figure out where to start and my mind feels fuzzy. This was a very blessed and spiritual experience and my hope is to share it in a way that whomever reads this, they will feel the spirit and gain a deeper testimony of Christ.

I have long wanted to do a natural birth, especially one at home. A nurse asked me why I chose to do this one natural when my other 3 I had epidurals. It was kind of an awkward moment, because the truth of the matter is - different husband. I was told previously by Mike, that he would never watch me go through such pain as I was in with Savannah because the epidural had worn off. He said I could do whatever I wanted naturally and holistically but that is where he drew the line. So I didn't have the support I would need to go through the process. I don't hold any negative feelings about this, I respected and still respect the request he made.

I now have a husband that is in full support of the things I choose to do, and it is his choice to do them with me. We are on the same page and it is a wonderful thing. I am so very grateful for the connection we have - before the birth of this sweet angel, and how much stronger it is having that experience together.

I was directed by some friends to a book called Christ Centered Childbirth. It brought a whole new meaning and desire to "natural" childbirth for me. Where as before I wanted to do it naturally because I wanted to avoid medicines filling mine and the baby's body, now I wanted this experience to come closer to my Savior and have Him be an active part of what I now believe to be a first ordinance in this life.

The book was really good, it had a lot of evangelical tone to it, but overall I learned so much and am so grateful for the new outlook on giving birth, and what a spiritual event it really is.

Through this I learned and gained a greater testimony of the Atonement, and just how healing, saving and infinite it really is. It is the Atonement that allows us to release fear and to have faith. Fear is what creates pain - physically to spiritually. In child labor and delivery we can use the atonement to release the fears we have about it and what has been created by society on the subject, and allow ourselves to have faith and relax.

My sister Julia delivered her son just 2 months ago using the same outlook and "technique" of using the Atonement, and she was able to do so as she calls it, painless.

Boy's Day out

Stephen and Dechlin had a "Boy Day" They went to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's to pick up the 4Runner they are going to fix for a commuter vehicle for Stephen, so we don't put more wear and tear on Brutis than needed :)



Little boy fell asleep on the way home..... They left about 8 in the morning haha

 

Back with the 4Runner - Dechlin LOVES working with dad :)

 

Stephen's other project fun truck. This was his Grandpa's truck that he used for a drilling business. When he passed away, Stephen was able to buy it. This is the one we brought home in July from California. He took the tower off and plans on making it into a dump bed - which will be SO cool!!

Dog House

On our list of many things to have done before Winter, building a dog house/shelter was one of them. I was thinking something enough that they could fit in, but it was Stephen's project and he was the designer. I have to say, as simple and basic as it is, it is probably the coolest dog house ever. We made it for the cost of screws - $12.00, because we got all the wood free from his work. SO awesome!!


The beginning of the frame

 

He has really good helpers

 

 

Finishing touches

A place to all home :)

 

Goofy puppies

HomeSchool - 1st Qrtr

We have loved doing home school SO much! I am so grateful to my mentor and sister Elisa, for taking me on her journey of the last 10 years. She has shared with me, taught me and inspired me to do what I feel is invaluable for my kids :) Her trials and learning's shortened my learning curve in doing this so that it has been an awesome experience and one I think will continue to be so as I develop with my kids. Life couldn't be any better! We follow the Thomas Jefferson Method - creating leaders and statesman :)



Painting

Our "school" area. 

Savannah making pizza dough - by herself, kneading and all!

Dechlin chopping the veggies

The final product :)

Dechlin writing his name by himself - only took a few times for him to get!

Dad painting with the kids

Dechlin's soccer was a part of his schooling - PE :)

Building a dog house

Painting pumpkis

Making Halloween Decorations

 

Using imagination! I love how Dechlin's mind works. This is his city he built. He had made "chimney's" for all the houses by placing bits of charcoal on the roofs. SO creative!

 

 

Dechlin

 Dechlin writing all the letters he knows - he has taught them all to himself, by himself! I am so impressed with this kid!

 Dechlin's painting from when they painted with Dad - Next Picaso?

A journal page entry. He draws a picture and then tells me about it. I love this one. This is how he sees himself when he is yelling :)

 Some of Dechlin's copy work. He is not real interested in learning letters and things like that, he just wants to write. So I write something for him and he does his best to copy it. I have to say, this principle is so awesome!

Dechlin has been teaching himself how to tell time, and gets the concept of 20's, 30's and so on really well. He also has taught himself the phonics of letters, and not only recognizes them at the beginning of a word, but he pays attention to what is in the whole word and tells me what letters are in it. He even wrote his cousin Kimmy's name by himself by sounding it out when we were at General Conference. He wrote it, Kimperly - I was SO impressed with him!

Savannah

 Savannah's painting when they painted with Dad

Savannah taught herself cursive in a matter of a week and a half. I have to say she does a pretty darn good job!!

 Some more writing practice.....

A page of Math. We are using Life of Fred math for Savannah. She likes it but is really into her reading and writing right now. Which is why I love doing school this way - THEY are in charge of their education and get to choose. And when they choose, they jump all the way in and soak it up like a dry sponge. 

 A journal page in her writing journal. She writes paragraphs about things she is learning and reading, then I correct them and she writes a final draft. This is from one of the chapters in the Little House in the Big Woods book we read.

We go every other week to a home school group called a Statesmanship club. Savannah is in the Liberty Girls group and I am over that. We are reading the Little House on the Prairie Series and we do activities based on what we are reading. It is a LOT of fun!

Love you Shar Pei

Sweet Shar Pei passed away sometime in the night last night. She stopped eating her food 2 days ago, and I had a feeling it was going to happen soon. We had been preparing all summer for the fact that she wouldn't make it another winter, but never felt right about taking her in to the vet to be put down. This was especially hard for Stephen, and I am so glad she went on her own, because he wouldn't have survived taking her in.





Stephen got Shra Pei a month before he turned 12. He said he was in a very depressed place and that is why his parents let him get her. He wanted her brother in the beginning, but prayed over it and was told to pick her. That was the best thing for him. She was by his side for 15 years. Waiting for him while he was on his mission, and supporting him through the most trying times in his life. Honestly, whoever said that Dog is Man's best friend, was really inspired, because I don't know of a closer relationship.

With her not eating for 2 days, the kids and I were gone somewhere and he was able to spend about 20 minutes with her, loving her and thanking her for everything. He gave her permission to leave, telling her it was ok and that he would be ok. I honestly believe that is the only reason she was able to go, she needed to know he would be ok. And so she went that night. He said he had a feeling she would go around the time his first child was going to be born, which is only a little over a month away.

When he went to leave for work, he called her like to normal to say goodbye and she never came. He saw Kimber sitting next to her, and when he noticed them Kimber ran away. He walked over to her and checked on her and figured she passed as she was laying down to sleep that night. All night I had been dreading the morning because I had a feeling it was going to happen and I did not want to be the one to find her, and need to call him at work. When he walked into the bedroom after he had already told me goodbye for the day, he didn't even have to say anything.

He took a half day off work, and we found a special spot in the back yard, up on a hill so she could watch over our family and property, or as we called it, Her Queendom :)

Pets, to us, are family. They hold a dear place in our hearts and are just as important to us as other family members. These things are extremely difficult to us, losing a loved one. I am SO grateful to know that not only do we get to be with our family forever, through God's plan, but our animals will be there with us also.

Pie Time!!

For part of our homeschooling, we are part of a group based off of Thomas Jeffereson's Method. Savannah is in a group called Liberty Girl's that I am in charge of, we are reading the Little House on the Prairie Series ( which I am SO in love with!) We do activities based on what we read out of the book and so for one of the activites we made homemade pumpkin pie. This was the first time I had ever made a pumpkin pie from scratch, and the first time I have ever made pie crust using my spelt flour - which can take some getting used to :) Well that pie turned out so yummy I went on a pie making spree -


The pumpkin pie I made for us at home - this recipe uses honey instead of sugar and is SO good!

Peach Pie with candied pecan crumble on top - it was divine!

 

Sicky Jessa :(

One thing I love that Heavenly Father has taught me is how to take care of my family without dependency on Dr.'s and medications. I believe there is a place for it, but it is so empowering to know what to do for your child, and know that if anything ever happened to society as we know it, I will have the skills to take care of my family - keeping them healthy and strong. If we really truely understand the Word of Wisdom and apply ALL of it's principles in our lives, not just the Don'ts but more importantly the DO's, then we have everything we need. Heavenly Father teaches us to depend on whole food nutrition and then throughout the scriptures to use herbs and foods when sick.

So after our escapade of refined processed sugar dairy junk during General Conference, Jessa and I came down with some nasty stuff. Mine wasn't too bad, just a minor sinus infection I think, but poor Jessa got an ear infection. The first one my kids have ever had! I am pleased to say that the most sick any of us get during the year is a little runny nose and maybe a low grade fever that only lasts a couple hours. However when we splurge of junk we can pay for it. Honestly though, even then it doesn't last that long! Mine only lasted 3 days and then my sinuses were completely clear, and Jessa's lasted 1 day, then she found some candy and it came back for one more day :)

This is what I did -

Even if it is only one ear that is having an issue, you ALWAYS treat both ears.
Kids Wellness on feet - In the first hour every 15 minutes, then for the 2nd and 3rd hours every half hour, then every hour for the rest of the day. You can put a some drops on cotton balls and wrap feet for over night. Follow this protocol again the next day.
Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus Radiata- on the ear lobes and massaged around the ear - Start from the top of the ear both in front and behind and bring down to the collar bone. Do this at the same time you do the Kids Wellness.
Garlic Oil - Drops in the ear, and on feet. This is the only oil you will ever put inside an ear - never essential oils. You can put a piece of cotton in the ear to keep the oil in the ear.
Cut an onion in half, either warm it in the microwave for 30 sec. wrapped in a paper towel, or in the oven until the juices begin to run. Let cool to the touch, then place over each ear. I use a beanie to keep them secure.
Fever - ENCOURAGE fever - Put in a hot bath, with about 10 drops Kids wellness. When child is done, do not dry them, put them straight into sweats and wrap in blankets. Be hot and sweaty. A wet fever is a good fever, no matter how high, the body will not go over 107 unless there was a head injury.

Diet -  Remove ALL refined and processed foods and especially dairy. Follow the mucusless diet - Your diet will consist of mainly fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds and WHOLE grains ( the grain itself and avoiding flour) Especially when you are sick, stick with warm herbal teas - Raspberry leaf is a good all in one - and fruit and veggie juices. We keep our dairy limited to about once a week, and sometimes not at all on a consistent basis. I know this plays a HUGE role in our health.

Herbs - I used Echinacea, ImuuCalm ( astragulus and marshmallow root), Kid-E-Trac ( emotional clarity) and if I wasn't out, I would have used Kid-E-Well. These are all formula's from Dr. Christopher. www.herballegacy.com
 Then use the Kid's Wellness and herbs daily as maintenance/prevention for the rest of the winter.