How to track your ovulation to get pregnant

If you are needing to track your ovulation in order to improve your chances of getting pregnant, a basal body thermometer is a great way to do so. A basal body thermometer is a special thermometer that measures temperature to a very detailed degree. You can buy them online or at your local drug store, and they are a great way to help you track your ovulation dates. It is important to remember that basal body temperature is the temperature of your body at rest, so you will always want to take your temperature with a basal body thermometer first thing in the morning before even getting out of bed.

Each day, take your temperature with the basal body thermometer first thing in the morning, and write your temperature down on a chart. Do this every single day. It might take a few months to get to the point where you will be able to see a pattern, but eventually, you will notice a slight spike in your temperature on a certain day of the month. This is the surge of the LH hormone in your body, and means ovulation will be occurring very soon. To find out great pregnancy tips, make sure to check out www.pregnancytips.org.

He fixed what was broken

Last night I was awake before the sun.  Zech has a little croup, and last night he couldn't sleep.  I propped pillows up against the wall, put him on my chest, and sat up with him.  He sang to me.  "Whoooooo" is what he says.  I sat in the dark holding my sweet baby.  7 months old and not feeling good, but he's singing his hoot owl song to me.  I discovered yesterday that when he starts to get fussy, I put his head on my shoulder and make his sing song noise.  Whoooooo

During my time of loving my baby through the dark, sleepless night, I listened to him sing with his little on my shoulder.  I thought about how much had changed since I found myself pregnant with him. 

I was broken spiritually and mentally after Joy's birth.  I was done.  When the 2 lines appeared on the pregnancy test, I cried.  The pregnancy, no matter how much I pretended it was good, it was a burden.  I wasn't happy.  When I was in labor, I just wanted it to be over.  When he was born, I didn't care to hold him. I just draped myself over the box I was leaning over to birth him.  It was done.  That was all. 

Over the next few days I stared at him.  I nursed him.  I snuggled him.  He reminded me of someone.  An old man.  He also reminded me of someone I knew.  I still don't know who.  Zechariah was a stranger to me in spirit.  My other children were familiar.  Some I saw in dreams before birth.  Even today, 7 months later, he's a stranger. 

As I sat in the dark last night, I knew I loved him more than anything I could imagine.  His singing brought me to a thought I'd never had.  Something that healed my broken spirit.  

When I was in labor, I was vocal.  I made a noise that Hannah said sounded like I was singing opera. 

As I listened to him, I realized that was the noise I made.  It was the same song. The same noise. It was a connection to me from his birth.  He was singing my song to him.  A song of birth.  A song of a new beginning.  A time where he fixed what was broken within me. 

A new house, a new life

The past year has been a lifetime of changes. 

Over the last year we have been fighting a battle with our village board.  We live in a village with about 100 people.  They are enacting new ordinances, and will be enforced by an ordinance officer.  You can be fined up to $500 per offense.  There are other issues we have with this as well. 

There is an issue with the water system.  The water is awful. However, the new system is under contract to where if you sign up, you pay a minimum $10 a month fee for 35 years to pay back the loan.  This is as long as they have 65 households signed up.  If less, you pay more.  You also pay a minimum $20 month fee per month for water service no matter if you use it or not.  So $30 per month without using any water, minimum. We had to decide if we would sign up by Nov 5, or pay $1500 later to get hooked up. 

We didn't sign up.  

Things fell through with the house we were looking at getting in town. 

On Nov 5, we decided to not sign up for water at our house we were currently in.  We also decided it was time to move.  Brent contacted his friend Jeff, who is a realtor.  The next day we were going to look at Jeff's dad's house (possible 7 bedroom). He was asking $49,000, we after talking to him, he said he would take $45,000. Before we left on Wednesday to look at the house, Jeff called and asked if we would come look at another house first.  The lady's husband was a lawyer, and they were fixing it up before he passed.  

We met at the house.  A pretty blue, with a porch that wraps around the front. 

When we walked in the house, I was blown away.  A gorgeous kitchen. Jeff said it was a $15,000 kitchen remodel.  Beautiful.  The formal dining room was huge.  The family room was the same size.  There was a room on the main level that had damage.  The skylights upstairs leaked, which ran down and caused part of the ceiling to fall in on the bedroom.  There's also a cute little room between the bedroom and stairs.  

We went upstairs.  The 2 bedrooms that the kids could share are amazing!  So much room!  Then, the master bedroom.  It's got the space in there as what our whole trailer is.  Plus, an enclosed porch with a jacuzzi tub.  2914 sq ft house.  It also has a full basement!  

She was asking $39,000!  We decided that night to put in an offer. We offered $25,000.  She countered with $35,000.  Then we met at $32,500!  

We handed Jeff the contract today!  We just need 20% down and get the financing.  

Trying not to get excited.  Trying not to get excited.  

I'm so excited!!!!

The house was built in 1906.  It had a feeling of peace and love.  It was a warm house.  I walked in.  I felt like I was at home.  

We went inside and got some good pictures. 

Dining room

Room we call the 'ballroom'.  I can do my Salsa and Ballroom Dancing in here. 

Front Room

Sadie's cute room of her own and closet under the stairs. 

Going upstairs

Girls room

Boys Room

Me and Brent's room

Back downstairs... My favorite piece in the house.  The mirror in the ballroom. 

My first attempt at henna

It took me half the day to get the nerve up to get my henna practice in.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to practice on my foot first.  

I filled my cones this morning, then I set them to the side. I pulled up YouTube and found myself watching henna tutorial videos for a couple hours. 

Finally, I got baby Z in bed, and I decided to go for it. How bad could it look?  Right?

I decided it didn't look finished, so I continued on.  

I finally decided to stop before I reached my knees.  Ha ha!

The finished version of my first henna. 

WHY Did I Say Yes?!

So, I jumped into a fall themed gift swap. 

What am I going to make?!?!

LOL!

I'm thinking of making cinnamon/spice scented hot pads.  They are fun, and they smell super good!

I have another idea in the works.  I'll keep you posted.  

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar

I'm doing a recipe someone I know shared. My batch is smaller than hers, though. She had 3 gallons.  I only have 1. 

I had a gallon of peels and cores. Put them in a clean jar. I had kimchi in my gallon jar, so I had to use 2 half gallon jars. 

Add 1/3 cup sugar to each 1/2 gallon (2/3 cup per gallon). 

Fill with water about 1-2 inches over the top of the peels. 

Cover with a cloth to keep bugs/dust out, but allow to breathe. 

Stir daily for 2 weeks. 

Once the alcohol smell starts to go away, strain it. The apple will be pretty broken up at this point. 

Bottle, but it still needs to breathe to avoid exploding. Leave the jar lid loose with cloth between the lid and ring to allow it to release the gas/alcohol. 

Wait 12 weeks. Then take the cloth out, recap and done. 

We will see how it goes. I'll blog it as it goes. 

Here's Day 1. I'll be updating on my recipe blog linked below. 

For this recipe, as well as many others:

http://spoonsandfires.blogspot.com/2014/10/homemade-apple-cider-vinegar.html

New Diapers

I'm so excited.  I sat down the other day and cut out some diapers from some new fabric.  I love fabric.  I have so many plans for it.  I hate to cut it out, though.  It's final at that point. 

I forced myself to cut it out.  I got the top fabric that I had cut... 3 years ago for when Jacob was a baby.  Yeah.  It's been a while since I made a diaper. 

I did it!  2 diapers in 2 days!

The puzzle diaper (enigma) was a good night diaper.  One more insert and it will be great.  He seemed to like them.  I put him in them and he was happy.  No complaints from the 5 month old.  Ha ha!

Now, it's time to plan another diaper.  Maybe a night diaper for Joy.