Noise Alert

In a household with children one can expect a certain amount of noise.  Playing, fighting, laughing, crying, banging, crashing, clomping, squealing...  In a household with children with Asperger's there are more noises at times, the constant noises or repeated words and phrases.  A new babies bring their own kinds of noises- crying, cooing, the swing rocking, musical toys.  All of these noises combined together create the symphony of our home, the beat we live by.  And usually that is a great thing.  Usually.

For some reason our summer is fizzling out, dying a slow painful death.  The kids are bickering, dropping trash everywhere, fighting, not wanting to play outside, and screaming.  One, or both, of our toliets overflow everyday.  And the screetching by the one, or at times two, preschoolers has reached a new level of loud. This wakes up the baby, who cries.  And then is over tired and cannot fall back asleep.  Who keeps Mommy awake.  All night long.  And the preschooler is up bright and early.  So Mommy gets no sleep.  And has a headache.  And is very irritated by the noise, good or bad, but mostly bad in the past two days. 

The fun level is crashing quickly, the frustration levels are rising just as fast.  And school is supposed to start on Monday for them, Tuesday for me.  Usually at this point I am excited, energized, and so are the kids.  We have crates full of new supplies, new materials, fun activities, and field trips planned.  I am not organized, but that is nothing new.  The house is cleanish, and the laundry is caught up.  I even have food in the crock pot for supper.

The problem is the noise.  Not the household noise, but the life noise that is blocking out my peace of heart and mind.  My quiet time spent in reflection, digging into the Bible, and covering our home in prayer.  It is the noise that fills my head, not the noise filling my house.  The noise that is blocking my attitude of praise and thanksgiving, keeping me off balance and unfocused.  My heart attitude sets the tone for my whole family.  If I am frustrated, they are fighting.  If I am joyful, we have laughter.  I know this is a fact.  I can see it in our lives. 

As we begin a new school year, a new journey, with so many joys, I have to set aside the past school year with its problems and trials, all the frustration.  I have to set aside myself, my lack of motivation, and my tiredness.  I need instead to create a new attitude in my home, one of peace and joy, love and laughter. 

Having so many things going on, that is difficult.  New baby, new school year, new classes for me, those are all overwhelming when tacked alone, let alone all at once.  So as we begin this new part of our journey, we will have a new commitment.  A commitment of loving each other, of loving God, and of service to Him.  And that new journey does not have to wait until we crack open our math book for the first time, it starts now.  With a family prayer, a new Scripture to memorize, and planning our day to include quiet time and time to play and grow together.  Please join me in praying for our family, our school year, and that I get some extra rest this weekend.

The Evolution of Bed Rest

I have been on bed rest since sometime in the middle of July.  This is pretty much how it has been going...

Week One:
I am so glad to not be in the hospital anymore!  That was horrible.  I am much more comfortable here.  I am so glad to know that our little one is not going to have to come too early, even if that means I am to be on bed rest for now.  Let's pray we make it to our due date so he is big enough and developed enough. Angel is doing a great job cooking and cleaning.

Week Two:
I am happy that Micah is still growing, we got to have an ultrasound and he is head down and super cute!  I am not liking this medicine, it is making me shake so much that I can not even walk to the bathroom.  The trips to the doctor are getting to be a bit much, but it is all for the best.  Angel has been making the best pancakes. 

Week Three: 
Off that medicine, no longer feel like death!  Maybe I can attend VBS even if I can't direct it.  I am getting so much school work done, and stuff with the kids for school.  The house is a wreck and we have no clean clothes.  We have been eating sandwiches and cereal until Andy gets home.  But at least Micah is doing fine and still growing.

Week Four:
I am getting pretty tired of this new medicine.  I am now not shaking, it is a constant headache that never lets up.  We have been to the hospital for tests so much that I am recognized by most of the staff.  the kids have been watching a lot of TV, so at least they are entertained.  I am pretty sure the boys have not had a bath in about a week, and there is now no clean clothing.  And at least one day this week they ate popcorn for lunch, but Angel did make pancakes for breakfast. We are out of ice cream.  Again.  At least they like fruit.  Will this little one ever get here??

Week Five:
(This has not happened yet, but we are starting week five soon.  I am pretty sure this is how it is going to go down...)
I can not take one more episode of a Disney show for the fifteenth time. Even Doctor Who has become irritating.  I know, right?  We have been existing on pop tarts and popcorn.  The boys still have not had a bath.  We have no clean clothing, as you can see by the multitude of pictures of David in his undies.  The same undies.  I can not find the living room floor.  There are no clean towels for any of us to shower.  Not eating real food cuts down on the amount of dirty dishes, and letting them go naked cuts down on the dirty laundry.  Does anyone have any ice cream?  Or chocolate?  Or both?   If they don't do something so I have this baby soon, I am going to die.