Chickenpox

As of this morning, we're pretty sure Adelia has chickenpox. The chickenpox? I'm not even sure how to refer to it/them.

What began as two blister-looking things yesterday morning (one on her forehead, one behind her ear) has become um, several by this afternoon. Each time I look at her she seems to have three more spots on her cute little self.

When I made the call to the doctor's office this morning I thought she may have had an allergic reaction to something. But when I spoke with the nurse, she immediately said they sounded like chickenpox.

I was shocked. [Really, because how is that possible that she would get them but not my other three children?] Then the nurse explained that they don't see children for chickenpox (news to me), so while I was relieved that we didn't have to fit in a doctor's visit to our day, I was still unconvinced that she had them.

But we're getting more certain as she gets more spots.

What I'm thankful for:

*That it's October and not... December! [Especially if the other three do end up getting them! I'll be glad to get them done with before December hits.]
*Thankfully, Mark has had them (twice), and I've also had them.
*Adelia is so young that she can't itch them.
*So far she's been happy, not fussy.

Here's a picture from earlier today, when she was trying out her bear crawl.


[And speaking of crawling, twice today she has officially crawled forward on her hands and knees.]

School and tigers

A few mornings ago, I walked into the living room to this scene:

Ella was busy playing schoolteacher, [being Laura, from Little House on the Prairie]. She was in the middle of handing Isaias a book, a piece of paper, and a pencil.

Isaac was already all set up, given the name Clarence, and instructed to write his name ten times. [It was explained to me that he'd been naughty and this was his punishment.]

Isaias' new name? Almanzo.

Ella (I mean, Laura) was writing A's and B's on a piece of paper and asking Isaias to circle all the A's. He was patiently obliging.

When I walked through a couple of minutes later she had begun to read aloud a chapter from a nearby book. The boys, apparently, had been instructed to sit still and listen quietly.

And then I overheard "Almanzo" ask,

"Excuse me. Ella? Is it okay if I be a tiger first?"

Afterall, for a three-year old? Playing tiger rates much, much higher than playing school.


***


Oh, and here's a picture of our not-so-fierce tiger earlier this summer:

A little Sabbath sewing. And a request.

It's been awhile since I sat down long enough to sew something, but today Mark was playing with our three oldest in the yard and I had Adelia with me. She was content to sit on the floor in my sewing area and play happily, so I was able to get some sewing done.

Finished:
*a little red skirt that I'll be giving away as a gift, and
*some yellow flannel pajama bottoms for Ella for Christmas. [Woo hoo! One handmade Christmas gift completed, and it's still October.]


I'm going to make a matching pair for Adelia, too, out of the same yellow fabric. And the boys will get some matching pajama bottoms, too. In their stockings. It's going to be a new tradition around here. [Imagine with me, if you will, the cute photos that will result!]

I'm a little nervous about the pj bottoms for Ella, because I was using a size 4T pattern and she's a size 6x. Unfortunately, because it's a gift for her, I couldn't let her try them on for size. I simply lengthened the pattern a few inches, and I'm hoping that's all I needed to do. Guess we'll see come December. If they're too small, we'll give them away, and if they're not long enough, I can either add a ruffle or make them into capris. :) So at least I have a few options.

And now I would really love it if all of you could please help a girl out. I am aching for a good book to read. It's been months since I've read a good book, and I really do love to crawl into bed each night and read for a few minutes before I go to sleep. And- in the bathtub. I need a book in there with me, too. It has gotten so bad that last night when I took my bubble bath I brought a Reader's Digest in with me. And that was after I'd already perused Mark's side-of-the-bed-stack (and passed up some sports books.) As you can see, I'm desperate.

So, leave a comment and tell me the best book you've read in the past 6 months.

This morning

Adelia with our pumpkin/gourd harvest.


Off to get my window box and pots all ready for fall! :)

Oh. And I must mention that I had my first eggnog latte of the season this morning. Mmm!

Okay, so I was a little attached. For a little too long.

To my White Goose Down pillow, that is. [That's it there, on the bottom.] I'm sure it was a little puffier when I bought it, years ago, and I know I paid a pretty penny for it.

But it's sort of lost it's oomph. I think it's down to about 14 goose feathers.

So I splurged and bought a new pillow tonight. A down alternative pillow.

I laughed when I saw them side by side. Although this new one is so poofy I'm afraid I might wake up with a kink in my neck.

But it was definitely time, dontcha' think?

Followers

I've added a new little section in my sidebar. I'm actually not really sure how it all works, just that I have noticed that a few people were "following" my blog (which I think, in plain language, just means that they read it!), and so I added them to my blog page.

If you want to officially "follow" my blog, feel free to click on the little "Follow this blog" link in the sidebar and your name/profile photo will appear. Note: by doing so, your photo can be clicked on and will link straight to your profile page.

I think this would eventually replace a Blogroll type of list. And I do like the idea of seeing all your faces right there on my sidebar! :)

Something new

Yesterday we had a great visit with Rebeca and her three children~ they were in the area and joined us for most of the day. It was so nice to sit down and talk face-to-face, and our children played so well together.

This morning we're making a paper chain for Isaac to assist him in counting down the days until his fifth birthday. Only 26 more days... I might cry if I dwell on that much longer so I won't say any more about that.

Then we'll do some school, have lunch, quiet times/naps, and then we get to play with our best buddies this afternoon, and we're all looking forward to that, as it's been several weeks since we've seen them.

Okay, on to the topic of this post. I wanted to share about one of the new things we're beginning this year as a part of our daily routine. More than anything in life, we want our children to love God with their whole hearts. I can see that Ella is figuring out how this faith of ours is more personally a faith of hers. We have had some wonderful conversations lately where I've been able to guide her to "pray about that sin" or "spend some time talking to God about that; ask Him to help you", etc., and she has told me that she's spent time doing that. I've seen the fruit, too, and have been able to commend her for those things.

One of the things we wanted to start with Ella this year is to begin her on a life-long road (Lord willing) of spending individual time with God. I love the idea of starting this early with our children; of making it a habit in their lives from a young age.

I so appreciated Lindafay's recent posts on this subject at her blog Higher Up and Further In. You can read her thoughts on Practical Ways to Cultivate Spirituality in a Child by clicking on the links below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

I know how desperately I need that time (which I do before any of the kids wake up) before the day begins to right my heart before the Lord, to surrender my authority to Him for the day, to pray specifically about the current areas of struggle I'm having, and to read the Word. Surely we can guide her, even at her six years of age, to begin this practice, too.

I wasn't sure how to begin this with just Ella; what would the boys do while she went off for her morning quiet time? So I decided to gather them together and make it a habit for all of us.

I reminded the kids that in the Bible, it often tells of Jesus going out, in the morning, to a quiet place, to meet with his Father. I shared that mommy needs that time, too; and I thought we should all begin learning to spend that time with God.

So I laid out the ground rules:
*I would set the timer for 20 minutes (not ideal for me but I didn't want to push it with the little ones. The idea is to help them form a habit.)
*I wanted each of them to go find a quiet place, away from each other.
*I encouraged them to do one or more of the following things during their time away:
-Sing a song to God
-Read (or, for the boys, look at) their Bible
-Color a picture of something from the Bible or make a picture for God
-Pray. I specifically encouraged them to ask God to help them with one of the sins they struggle with. And I gave them an example of something I might say to God during that time.

They were thrilled with the idea, and happily set out to have their time with God.

I set the timer and sat with my own Bible and journal, and Adelia beside me.

What I heard the first day:
Ella, reading a Bible story aloud from her Bible. Then singing loudly these songs: Jesus Loves Me, Blessed Be The Name, O, Happy Day. She told me later that she also prayed. And that she made up her own song about "I adore You."

Isaac, singing at the top of his lungs from downstairs in the tent. I couldn't make out what song he was singing but found out later it was "Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum" (aka: The Little Drummer Boy). I also heard him take a potty break and then he appeared at my door, after about 9 minutes, saying he was done. I gently reminded him that the timer would go off when he could be done, and that he should choose something else to do until the timer beeped. He went to find some coloring stuff. He later told me he had also prayed.

Isaias, who colored a picture of God and Satan, and a sword. He had done that and then moved on to playing quietly with some toys beside him. I asked him if he had prayed, and he said no, so I asked him to do so before he began his day.

We have done it several days since then, and if I've forgotten, one of the kids has eagerly reminded me. They look forward to that time. Yesterday morning I sent them each off with an encouragement to pray about one area of sin (that I've witnessed of late) in their lives.

So far, so good. I do think the 20 minutes is a bit long for the boys at this age, so we may tinker with the time (or activities during that time), but it seems perfect for Ella. Plus, it gives me an additional 20 minutes of quiet time at the start of my day! :)