Thickin and Thinnin Update........

Wow.  That's all I've got.  This was a baaaad week and I was a baaaad girl.  It amazes me how quickly bad habits can get  their evil tentacles back in you, and how week the good habits are.  That just goes to show that we have to be ever vigilant and on our guard. 

The decision to homeschool The Yougun has been wonderful and she has never been happier and more settled in her life (since becoming school age that is) and I'm enjoying it as well.  It has, however, tossed a bit of a monkey wrench in my WW plan.  I'm usually home all day by myself and can take an hour out of each day to prepare my lunch.  Not so anymore and this has been a bit of a catalyst for me to let my demon out of hiding.  No excuses here, just the facts, but it's true.  The Family and I have also been eating out quite a bit and this is a big trigger for me for some unknown reason.  I gained this week, and I fully expected it.  I'm not proud of it, but I accept it, I acknowledge it, and I'm moving on from it and learning from it.  I also hurt my back (no worries as this has happened before, and it will again).  I hadn't lifted for 2 weeks and instead of going back down to around 45/50 lbs and rebuilding I started off deadlifting at 85 lbs which is only about 10 lbs less than I left off doing.  This wasn't a smart move.  On my second set of deadlifts, I felt the usual, which is sort of a popping, tear and dropped the weights.  I'm better, but still not up to lifting so will take some more time off and rebuild my strength. 

I've been thinking about my mindset and I think I know at least part of the problem.  I'm really happy at this weight.  I feel good, I look good and I'm totally ok with it if I don't lose anymore.  That's ok........it really really is ok, but I can't GAIN anything.  As I've said over and over and over......losing isn't an issue for me, it's maintaining.  I really need to get down to at least 165, but I'll be happy if I stay 180 for the rest of my life, but the staying is the hardest part for me.

Right now my main focus is getting my head back in the game.  I've been pretty slack since our remodel... track a couple days, then not at all, then a couple days, then not all all.  Got to nip that in the bud and get this train movin'! 

Thanks for listening, thanks for being there, thanks for not judging! 

Till next time...............I'm sort of unTHICKINandstilltryingtobeTHINNIN! 

Isis and Osiris..........

How'd you get up there Sis?  Well just hold still and let me climb down and I'll show you!  If you flap your ears, I think you can fly up!

Lookie Lookie What I found!

I had to take The Youngun to meet Granny Bob at noon.  They are all going to a Whitetails Unlimited banquet Saturday evening, so The Youngun is going to spend the night with The Aunt, The Uncle, and The Cousin, along with Granny Bob and Pop Pop.  Anywho, after I got back from dropping her off I went down to the barn to check everybody out and this is what I found!

Caramel Doeling with wattles (this little girl will be for sale)

Isn't she a doll!  This one is a keeper, but I don't have a name in mind yet...

This is the buckling......he will be for sale also and he's the spitting image of his Daddy Luke!

This is the two girls.  The caramel one is a little stout thing and I can already tell she will be the fearless one! 

One more goat to go..........and don't forget.......I'm still dead on right so far although I'm starting to think Naomi is going to mess up my stats by having twins.  We'll see!

Till next time........GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Homeschooling Update......

Week 1 of our homeschooling adventure has been a rousing success!  We are reading Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighhead George, consequently we are studying Alaska in social studies/cultures and wolves and animal adaptations in science.  Today for our art project we made origami wolves.  The Youngun enjoyed this so much that she made an entire wolf pack!

For our Bible study we have read the book of Jonah, and the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den.  The Youngun has expressed an interest in starting at the beginning, so we started in Genesis as of today. 

I can't tell you how happy and relaxed we all are in this new arrangement!  Of course we are in the "honeymoon" stage as my good friend Rhonda puts it, but I'm hopeful that things will continue to go well as the days progress.  Our next big hurdle is conquering her math anxiety which is SEVERE.  We are taking things very slowly in that area, just to get her confidence built up.

Till next time..............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

New Life.......

This is an edited video of the birth of the twins. It is a birthing video so it's kinda gooey, so if that bothers you, don't watch it! The twin that you are seeing born is Isis, the doeling, the second born. Star was tired after having a hard time pushing Osiris into the world, and as you may remember I really had to pull him! Also......please excuse my voice.......but I'm givin' my girl some encouragement to keep on going! Tulip watch 2010 has begun..........stay tuned for more updates!

Something on our Hearts..........

We've been doing some heavy duty praying, soul searching, family discussing and we've come to a decision.  We have pulled The Youngun out of public school and will be schooling her at home.  This isn't a decision that we came to lightly.  We have considered it since she was born, but with her being an only child we wanted her to have other kids to play with.  She has never liked school.  I have been dealing with her not wanting to go to school every single day for 6 years.  She is 11 and still gets sick to her stomach every morning before school.  Pain in her stomach that will double her over that only happens on school days.  It has never once happened on a weekend day, a school holiday, or a day in the summer.  I knew that it was anxiety. 

On Monday morning of this week, she said she was sick, so I went ahead and took her to the doctor.  He (of course) said that he would put her on antibiotics but that she really didn't have anything.  Great.......I then mentioned the stomach thing, letting him know that I was almost positive it was anxiety.  He said......yeah we really don't have any diseases that are only Monday-Friday and not on school holidays.  We kind of laughed and then he proceeded to ask her about her grades (which are wonderful) and her friends (of which she has many) and then frowning he asked her why she didn't want to go to school.  This is a question that we've asked her many times.  Always the same answer, I don't know, I just don't like it.  I sent her to school on Tuesday and the school called me at 9 AM to pick her up because she was sick.  She was still feeling under the weather, but she wasn't at death's door.  Wednesday morning, didn't want to go to school.  Cried and cried.  I told her we had to figure something out.  She burst out with I just don't want to go to school.  I called her Daddy and that was pretty much the last straw.  The Man and I told her if she'd just make it through Thursday and Friday she didn't have to go back.  We've talked with her about it before and she was never ready.  She always adamantly said she didn't want to be homeschooled.  Wednesday she was ready, she didn't even want to finish Thursday and Friday.  Today was the last day for her and she is so happy and relaxed that she hasn't stopped jabbering since she came home (after a few tears about leaving her friends that is)  We've prayed and prayed, asking God to guide us and I'm certain that he has led us to homeschool her.  I don't know what else to do, but I do know that what we are doing now isn't working. 

I think it's going to be good!  We have a plan in place and will start feeling our way next week.  God is good and I'm thrilled to have my girl at home with me where she will be taught by someone who loves and understands her.  With His guidance we will be directing her down the right path, the path to true knowledge and self sustainability, the path of a person who loves to learn and seeks out knowledge on her own.  The Man and I have been homeschooling her in a fashion ever since she was born, she just attended public school as well.  Now we will be able to teach her in every way, and she will not be pulled in two directions........the worldly direction, and our direction. 

Till next time..............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!

Remember Clover?............

Remember this post from awhile back?  Well Little Miss Clover has gotten to be a big ole grown up rabbit!  The Youngun is still in love with her and the feeling is still mutual.  The Youngun takes Clover for walks around the homestead, lays on the sill with Clover on her chest and tells her stories. 

Friday evening The Youngun and I were coming in from the barn after our last check of Star for the night.  It was a beautiful evening, the stars were out, the moon was near full and the sky was crystal clear.  We were walking up to the house talking about the stars.  As we were at the back door taking off our mud boots The Youngun said to me...

....Mama, is it wrong that I like animals better than people?  I said.........No it isn't.  Animals will never hurt you, never lie to you, never cheat, or steal.  You always know where you stand with animals.  She said.........Good cause I do like animals better than most people.

Bless that child's heart.  I love that little girl so very much.  I can't even describe the love I feel for her.  She is so kind, compassionate, sensitive, and savvy among other things.  She "gets it" more so than most adults I know.  She's an old soul and I'm very thankful that God chose The Paintiff and I to be her parents. 

Till next time.............GOD BLESS FROM GOODWIFE FARM!