My little Piggy

Norah loves me playing "This little piggy" with her toes.

Norah, being Norah, lol. She is exploring everything, crawling or standing. She is walking while holding on to everything. She has been doing laps around the coffee table. For the last two weeks she has been letting go, and standing on her own. Of course she is not standing long, she gets so excited and proud of herself that she starts clapping and then falls, lol. She is way cute, at least I think so. :)

It appears that Norah has Blue eyes. I have been in denial for a while I suppose, believing they would be green like Patrick's, but hers are so light, with a dark ring around the outside. Some days they seem kinda green, so I guess they may he labeled as a hazel. In any event, they are stunning, and everywhere we go, her eyes are the first thing people comment about.

Norah is going on 11 months old. I can not believe how fast the time goes by. It is almost supernatural.

Norah waves and says Hi. She is also doing Hi5's which I think are supper cute. She is saying mama and dada, she shakes her head yes and no when you ask her a question as well. I have begun teaching her baby sign language and she seems to get a kick out of me making all of the signs to her when I am talking.

Norah loves music, and she claps and dances.

Norah loves the pool, and she got a kick out of the fireworks show.

Tae-kwon-do

Patrick has been to two classes so far. He loves it.

Patrick is in Little Dragons, for ages 5-7.

They start out class by doing some warm up exercises like jumping jacks, sit ups, toe touches and jump roping. Then they move on to learning their stances, arm movements and kicks. He is

really loving it. Here are a few pictures of his first class.

Aa-The very beginning of our Home-school adventure

We are starting our homeschooling. Patrick turned 5 in June, and as soon as we hit the end of August he is required to go to school.

Some may think, especially with all of the other things I do with the kids, that I am just as crazy as they thought, lol, but I have my reasons.

We have decided to home-school for the following reasons.

a)Patrick is not vaccinated, he had reactions to the first two sets, therefore, we did not finish his vaccinations and we would be indefinitely harassed for this decision when having Patrick in the public school system. We can get a waver, however, the school system treats parents like criminals and the children as if they were diseased in situations like this.

b)The school system here sucks.

The last years review of the public school system, and the academic rating was some of the lowest in the country. Out of 13 schools in Clovis, I believe that

10 failed to meet all of the requirements. The schools here are underfunded, under staffed, and frankly I know I can teach my child more, and more efficiently than the school system can.

c) Kindergarten is now all day. ALL DAY! From 8-3. That is 7 hours away from your child. I have known three sets of parents who have pulled their children from kindergarten for multiple reasons. Their complaints were that it was too long, the children were irritable and exhausted at the end of the day, the teachers were isolating, and humiliating their children, and one parent

compared the kindergarten to a prison camp for children. No talking, expectations beyond 5 year old capabilities, and only one recess for the entire 7 hours.

d)And lastly, the Attachment Parenting mother in me just won't allow it. Patrick is a sweet, sensitive, highly gifted child, and I know, without a doubt he would be crushed, and humiliated, and guided into the same little box with all of the other children. There is no "unique", there is no

"individuality". Patrick is highly imaginative, and I know that this would be stomped out of him, his desire to create, to learn, to ask questions and get answers. As an ap parent my job has been to protect my child from things that may hurt him, and his spirit and curiosity would most

defiantly be in jeopardy in the school system. I am a stay at home mother, and my dedication is to my children, my job does not stop at age 5, where I can ship him off for 7 hours. At the cost of

what? No thank you.

So we are homeschooling. He can learn more from me, how he needs to, how he learns, at his pace. We will be joining a home-school co-op so that we can be involved with other children, activities, field trips and sports should he choose to be involved. We just started him in Tae-kwon-do, and he is loving the socializing and activity. The homeschooling laws here seem pretty easy. I have to register our home-school each year, and I have to file a vaccination exemption form once a year. Then just keep all of his work, calendar, and info in a file should the state choose to come in and check our progress.

Patrick is excited to start, and we have been, "unofficially" doing some home-school already. He is excited to be learning his letters and his name among other things. Here are a few example of some of the things we have been doing.

Every day we are learning the days of the week, and the order they go in. We also check the weather and change it for each day.

For our first week, we are focusing on the letter Aa. Each day we do something different. We talk about A through the day, we rhyme A, we find A wherever we are, we sound out A,

and do activities that start with the letter A, or eat food that starts with the letter A.

Patrick has been learning to write the letter A, and his own name. It will take practice and time, but he will get it. I am so proud of his efforts.

And we read a story about the letter we are working on. He loves the little stories about each letter so far.

Lost.......or Found?

Well, it seems like I make it on here about every 2 weeks, lol. It is so hard for me to find the time. Norah is mobile now, and needs a lot of watching, and Patrick needs constant attention. The only time I really have a chance to be on here is when the baby is down for a nap, and thats if I don't have 70 other things to do while she sleeps.

I am organizing my life, day by day, and feel like I am making improvements. Hopefully I will have made a lot of progress by the next time I write. I have lot's to say, and I think it would be really great for me to use this blog to express myself as well as updates for family. I am so behind.......Cheers to catching up!

Rockin' Green Give Away

Contest going on, on Facebook for a free bag of Rockin' Green laundry detergent.

Contest rules here. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=124&post=1072&uid=124474000903257#!/topic.php?uid=124474000903257&topic=124

Check out the website as well for Happy Baby Company

http://www.happybabycompany.com

Super Mom

I felt like Super mom today. I got a ton done today.

Patrick woke up with a fever of 103.9 so I called the doctors office. They informed me they could squeeze me in today, but it had to be in the next 30 minutes. So, we diaper changed, got dressed, shoes, diaper bag, drinks, and out the door by 10:20 with 10 minutes to spare to get to the Dr's. office.

Patrick is so cute, even with a high temp he sat patiently in his chair in the waiting room, swinging his feet and singing to himself. He loves people and the attention he gets from them. He knows he is adorable. We get into the patient room and Patrick explains to the nurse all of his symptoms, leaving little for me to explain. Cool! Our doctor comes in, (she's fantastic) and humors him, and empathizes with how rotten he feels and tells me he seems to have the symptoms of STREP. Really? How? We have not been anywhere, or around anyone, but regardless he is ill.

We got his prescription, got a copy of Norah's medical records (for her birth certificate) and off to the Medicine Shoppe to fill the script. Then we rush to McDonald's, yes McDonald's. Patrick was convinced it was the only thing that would make him feel better, and I was hungry so I gave in, lol. We went home and ate.

Norah fell asleep long enough for me to do some research on the computer for the AP meeting tomorrow, Patrick laid snuggled on the couch watching the Disney channel.

Once Norah woke up it was back to the Medicine Shoppe to get the script, then to the theatre to get a list of the free movies for the summer.

Loaded Patrick up on Amox. and Motrin, finished my research, made dinner, ate, played put Norah down for a late nap, had some wine........and now I am heading towards bed shortly, once Norah decides she is ready to go. All in all, it was a busy day and a lot got done.

Blog

I suck at blogging.

I don't think anyone even reads besides my mother.

Who cares.

In the words of my almost five year old, "I am having a bad day."

No real reason, I just am.

It's not one thing in particular........it's everything, lol.

I have everything and I want everything.

I have nothing...and I want everything.

I feel blessed most days, but some I don't.

Wish I was witty, or a poet.

I am a mother.

My Story of Spousal Abuse part2

I don't remember exactly when or why I was hit for the first time, but I know we were at my ex husbands parents house. I do remember the look on his face. I do remember how I felt inside and it was like he was holding my heart in his hand and stabbed it right in front of me. I cried.

I didn't leave.

He apologized and begged for forgiveness and once again professed his undying love for me. I forgave him. We were together for a very long four years. Over the course of this four years things continued to get worse. Of course it was years a go so I don't remember every day or detail, but I will list the ones that I do.

After we moved in with my ex's parents, he began becoming more controlling, about everything. Everyday was a challenge for me, to please him, to not do anything to upset him, and then start it all over again the next day. I was not allowed to go anywhere. I was 17, school was starting, naturally I would have started my Junior year, but he was afraid that I would leave him. He did not want me to go to school and be around other boys all day. He begged, I still wanted to go, he threatened, I told him I still wanted to go, and this is when he beat me for the first time. Again, I will never forget the look of his face. I was as if he had checked out, and someone else had checked in. His face, eyes, everything would change. I remember the fist blow, to my right arm. I leaned over and tried not to cry, as I looked up, almost in slow motion I saw him raise his leg to kick me, and BAM, I was down. He then walked up to me, leaned over and punched me two more times in the side. He then kicked me, and then said "Do something!" He said this as a threat, as a taunt, do something I dare you. I just sat there and cried. His parents were there, they heard the whole things and did nothing.

After he would hurt me, of course I would be mad, and horribly depressed and distraught, but he would say things to me like; I'm sorry girl, I love you so much, why do you make me have to get like that". So in my head, even though I knew it was not my fault, I heard his words, and I guess on some level I believed that I was somehow provoking him. I tried so hard not to do anything, because if I did something the wrong way, to loud, not fast enough, I was gonna get it.

If we were in public and he could not hit me, he would pinch and squeeze me. This action causes lovely bruises in places no one can see.

You ever hear the saying, "I love you so much I would die for you"? Well he had his own twist he would tell me all the time. "I love you so much, I would kill you." His motto literally was, if I can't have you, no one can.

My Story of Spousal Abuse

In the past several weeks I have been in several conversations about different kinds of abuse. Child abuse and and drug abuse. My aunt just finished a class where she became aware that there are in fact 21 different kinds of abuse. I have experienced many different kinds, but recently I have been reflecting on the abuse I encountered with my first husband. Yes, I was married before.

When I was 16 I met a man at the local restaurant we both worked at. I was a waitress and he was a cook. My job starting out at this restaurant was called the FC or Food Coordinator. It was my job to stand at the window, look at the tickets and food, and arrange the orders on trey according to seating. My other obligation was to make sure the food was pretty and presentable. I don't think it took to long before I was getting crap from the kitchen staff for sending food back because the mac and cheese looked old, or there was something wrong with the corn. One fellow in particular loved to give me a hard time and give my looks from behind the counter.

As time went by, this so called fellow and I became friends of sorts. He was dating a friend of mine, and I secretly crushed on him for some time. He seemed nice, friendly, and funny, and I liked to be around him. We soon started dating and all seemed well for a while. He helped build up my self esteem, always telling me how attractive and beautiful I was. He bought me my first pair of thong underwear, lol. He bought me pretty clothes, and took me places to meet his friends. He loved to show me off to anyone who would look, and he made me feel special. At 16, what girl wouldn't? he moved into my mothers home with us, and became a live in boyfriend.

Right before my 17th birthday, I found out that this dream man of mine was cheating on me, and it was with the friend that he had dated before me. The signs were there, but I ignored them until it was undeniable it was going on. I had noticed him staying out later, claiming to be at his friends, but I would find out he had not been there. This girl that was my friend came to me and told me she was sleeping with him. One morning I got up to run some errands with him and got into the car where there were two McDonalds cups in the cup holders. She worked at McDonalds. I then knew his late nights were being spent with her. I confronted him, and he denied it. The next sign was that this girlfriend of mine wanted to go to the mall and do some shopping. It was just going to be the two, because she needed him to take her. I let them know that I needed something as well and that I would be coming. She was pissed that I took the front seat, next to my boyfriend. I ended up not going, for what reason I don't know, I think at that point I gave up. Things slowed down a bit after that for about a week or two, and then I had a visitor. My girlfriend was living with a family, and one of them members of the family came by to show me an envelope of portraits from JcPenny's that the two, my boyfriend and my girlfriend had taken together. This was the first sign of a lier, and a cheater among other things. This was the first time I had really ever been betrayed, and I said I was done with him. Then he pulled something out of his bag of tricks that I would not know until years later, was like every other abuser there is out there and that he would use on me for the rest of our relationship.

Because of the proof of the cheat I had in my hand there was no way he could deny it, all he could now do was to plead and beg for forgiveness, and proclaim his never ending love for me. Tell me how he needed me, and could not live without me, that he would die without me. I took him back and forgave him. Knowing what I know now, this was the first thing that told him, "It is okay to abuse me." There was a big blow up at my home, and my mother gave us an ultimatum, either he moves out and we break up, or we get married. So we got married. Good reason to get married right, lol.

After this betrayal, we went back into I guess what they call the honeymoon faze. Everything was fin for a while, and then we had to move in with his parents. When we moved into his parents home that is when things changed drastically.....to be continued.........

A list of my abuse by my husband.

Things That You did to me:

You lied

You Cheated

You told me it was my fault

You said no one else would ever love me

You called me damaged goods

You called me fat

You called me Ugly

You yelled and scrame at me

You told me you would leave me if I got fat

You accused me of dishonesty

You accused me of cheating

You Isolated me

You kept me without a car or phone

You hated my family and wouldn't let me visit

You;

Hit me

Punched me

Kicked me in the floor

Pulled me by my hair

Body slammed me

Pushed me

Choked me

Threw things at me

Pinched me

Twisted my skin

Ripped my clothing off of my body

Slapped me

You Raped me

You mocked me

You hurt me in front of your Children

You called me Names

You Spit at me

You said you would kill me

You threatened my Family

You called me Crazy

You told me what to wear

You told me who I could and couldn't talk to

You told me who I could and couldn't look at

You made fun of me

You cut me down in front of others

You tried to Suffocate me

You tried to Stab me

You shot your gun at me

You held me hostage

You put me in the hospital

I could have died

To busy to type

I have come to the very real conclusion that I don't have a lot of time for things like blogging. I want to blog, I would love to, but the truth is......I am busy. Incredibly busy. Because of how busy I am, it keeps me from actually spending the time in front of the keyboard and writing about the things I really want to write about. I would love to write about my family for one, that is one of the main reasons I am here. I still owe my sister a Christmas video and have not even made the time to upload Thanksgiving photos. I am going to have to take it one day at a time. Perhaps I can set aside a small period of time for the computer to blog...of course there is no guarantee that this will happen.

I live my life on a moments notice. I really do try to plan and be organized, and this works some of the time, but we are also AP parents. This means we are child led, and it means that at any given time of the day I am at the beckon call of my children. I give them what they need, when they need it. Sometimes it is a pain in the butt, but it is the sacrifice I am willing to give to have my children he happy and secure. How nice would it be if all of us as children has the security of knowing mom and dad are there, to know in your mind without a doubt that your parents love you, and will not leave you or hurt you? I think it would have been amazing and this is what occupies my time with my kids right now. Answering every question I can, fixing every scrape, kissing every tear, and answering every cry. I love loving my babies and I love more than anything that thy know they are loved. They know! Patrick is going on five, and I can't seem to wrap my head around that. 5 is a big number for such a little boy. And I know that before I know it, Norah will be the same age. It goes by so fast, and so I am determined to give them all that I can in these few short years when it means the most. I would love to travel or continue my photography, or a million other things including blogging, but for now, the kids get my full attention.

Hello?

Have not posted much, like none, lol. We have been so busy you know. New baby, holidays, work, hobbies, activities, and so on. Just letting someone know I am still here and promise to post more.

Catching up

I suppose it's about time to play catch up. things have been busy here. Norah turned 2 months old on the 29th of October, which is now over. I can hardly believe it is November already. We have been busy with our Attachment Parenting Meetings, Bible Study, decorating for the holidays, planning a trip for Thanksgiving, working, cleaning, Trick or Treating, a wedding, a trip to the zoo, shopping, having one car instead of two, and so much more. Updates:

Jerry: Working hard like always. I am convinced he is due for another raise. He has been working for SWC for a year now almost, busting his hide, learning all that he can, and is a dependable guy. He is the bomb you know?!? Jerry loves his job and can talk about what he does for hours if you let him. He has put in for his vacation, and we will be going to MO for Thanksgiving.

Patrick: Has been coloring like a crazy person. he has decided he is good at it, and really enjoys coloring. Patrick was Luke Skywalker for Halloween, and he was a cutie. Patrick loves his new baby sister and tells everyone he meets. Right now he is learning how to write his name and we are working on our numbers.

Norah: Is a nursing champ, and a chuncker, lol. She finally fits into her cloth diapers, and we love them. I think they make her happy as well. Norah has a little bit of a stuffed up nose, but is doing fine. She also has another case of thrush right now, but is handling it like a champ. I love her tons! her hair is growing back in up top, so that's exciting news around here as well.

As for me, well, I have my second cold since Norah was born. I am convinced that this is due to me not eating so well since she got here. I hate being sick. I photographed a wedding on October 31st, and that was a challenge. I pumped milk and had it frozen for Norah, but had never given her a bottle. I didn't know if she would take it, but she did, gladly, lol, so Jerry was able to feed her while I was away and there was no drama or a stressed out baby. Thank god! That wedding will help pay our trip to Missouri for Thanksgiving. have been working on my website, and attempting to get things together for the AP group I am running. Christmas is coming up, and I can't but help to begin thinking about it. I decided I need to start shopping now, and it won't break our bank... hopefully, lol.

That's it for now, I have lots of pics and stories to share and will soon.

Long time no see.....

So okay, don't chew me out, I have done enough of that for all of us. When are you going to post on your blog again? Okay, I am here, lol, I want to be here, I love to be here, it's just......2 kids now instead of one. Wow, I have been busy. manages to get in the paper twice in a weeks time. I have complete strangers recognizing me, weird. Okay, so catch up.

Patrick is traumatized from one of those scary videos online, where it seems harmless and then something scary and loud pops up and scars the bajezus out of you. Ya, thanks

Chris for that. He refuses to be in any room alone weather it is day or night. He will not pee alone, or do anything for himself because he is terrified. I can not blame him, I was watching the video too, and it scared the crap out of me. The thing is, it's really the first time he has ever been really scared. We are AP, we have tended to, and protected him for things that could harm him in any way. This is the first time I was really unable to do so, and he is now suffering from like post dramatic stress syndrome. Nightmares, and it's all he can talk about. I have been trying my absolute best to reassure and comfort him that there is no scary guy in our house. Ugh..I feel like a bad mother. Time for parental blocks on the computer.

Jerry has been working on a big project at work of some kind, don't ask me what it is

I have no clue, but he is working late tonight. Things have been looking better around here thanks to Jerry helping me tidy up.

Uh, we are planning a trip to Albuquerque soon, this month for a day of fun we promised Patrick. he really wanted to go to the zoo and aquarium, and we promised that after the baby got here, so we are going the 17th.

Norah is doing great. She can totally hold her head up, and look around. She smiles all the time and makes little baby noises at you. She is still sleeping through the night, thank goodness for my sanity. She seems to be fattening up pretty good, so I am thrilled with that.

There are a million other things, but in a nut shell, we are doing fine. So glad fall is here, probably my favorite season. Time for the baking, crafts, and good smells to begin. Talk to you soon and oh.........pics of Norah from today.

Slide Show of Norah's Home Birth

Here is a slide show I put together of Norah's home birth. I would like to add more to it so that it does not seem to last so long, but in any event this is the first draft and will do just fine. I have to admit, that watching this makes me want to do it all over again already. Crazy right? Lol, I will never forget it, and even with all of the literal blood, sweat and tears, every time I look at Norah I think how much worth it, it was, and I would so do it again.

It's a girl!!!

So here we are, trying to find our new groove. Writing about the new baby has been delayed due too, well.......everything, lol.

On August 28th I finally went into labor. And when I say finally this is because I had almost gone into labor several times. It would start, and then stop, start and then stop for days. On the night of the 28th, I finally went into labor. I was in labor for 20 hours! On the afternoon of the 29th the big moment came.

I will write of my birth story soon......when I do not have a baby laying in my lap, lol.

Norah was born at 1:56 p.m. She was born in our family bed, at home, drug free, with our midwife, my mother, son, and husband here. She is beautiful. I can not believe she is a she, we wanted a girl so badly and never did any ultrasounds to check. The sex was entirely a surprise. Her name is Norah Layney Druba. She was 8 pounds and 12 ounces, and was 20 and a half inches long. She has the cutest little fat thighs ever. Everything went well, and baby and I are doing just great. Will post a birth story and photos soon.