32 Week Delivery

Our baby girl arrived 8 weeks early soon after she had stopped moving inside me. My OB immediately ran tests two days in a row and sent me for an emergency c-section. The baby came out breathing and gurgling, but had a stomach mass that took hours of tests to attempt to diagnose and finally exploratory surgery was done. She was diagnosed with a rare condition for [in utero] babies called midgut volvulus without malrotation, and a herniation through the blood vessel wall. There isn't any documentation on her condition because it is unheard of in babies not yet born. At twelve hours old, our daughter had life-saving surgery. She spent a total of five weeks in the NICU, four with an ostomy bag which was in itself a big struggle. At four weeks, one day, she was reattached and spent one more week in the NICU. At five weeks and one day old, at 4 lbs, 15 ounces, Willow came home with us. It was a rough first two months. I never had a day when I felt comfortable with her as silent reflux crept into our lives. She spent six days in hospital in July due to a blockage. Then, just as I thought we'd go a full month without a hospital stay, she ended up going back in the last day of August and days later had surgery to remove a lot of scar tissue that had caused several blockages throughout her intestines, plus a repair of the original reattachment site. This visit lasted ten days and was the stay that caused me to seriously plead with God, "no more, please." It has been a heck of a journey and has taken its toll on my other children. But, we've seen miracles and blessings and a community of support. Willow seems to be healthy, she's chubby and progressing so well. My boys' hearts have seemed to heal as well. I think with every ounce she gains, my own heart heals more and more.
Thanks for reading.

Along Came Our Pretty Princess

Our little girl came eight weeks early in late Spring and spent weeks and weeks in both the NICU and hospital and endured three surgeries. At this stage she is 5 1/2 months old and just about 12 pounds. She is healthy and chubby finally! Our boys have been so sweet with her and coped well with our absence due to numerous friends and family stepping in to care for them. I hope to share some of these experiences soon.
We've had a rough year but we have managed to continue with our studies.
This year we're studying ancient history with MFW CtG. See Sidebar if you want more info on what we use for our studies.

ARTIST'S INTERVIEW @ Sara's Art * House

I have loved sponsoring Sara for two months now.
She interviewed me and just posted it yesterday. You can read it here:

Sara's Art * House Interview

Bees Bees Bees

The bees project our boys (with another family) did this year to co-present at our home school group's Science and History Fair.

Catching Up, Baby News, Haiti

Hi All,
Since my father and mother-in-law died in August, blogging hasn't really been something I've been very interested in. I tried once to write about how my father passed away and the events that had taken place. It was too painful and too personal (for me) to share. It was horribly traumatic for me. In short, my father had collapsed in front of me and I administered CPR. He was trying to breathe on his own when the the paramedics arrived and had an irregular heartbeat. He was taken off machines at the hospital later and officially passed on at 8:16 pm. The date? 8/16/09. It was God's timing to take him to Heaven. It was only seven days after my mother-in-law had passed on from cancer. My husband was still in South Africa the day my father died. It was a horrific time for us.
God has provided much healing to our family. I'm trying to keep this short and not get back into the reminiscing mode because I need to stay out of that "zone." It was truly traumatic for me and I often dream and imagine that day in my head and it is very painful. Focusing on other things and what lies ahead and is present has really helped me to heal.

In November, we learned we are having another baby. I'm in my fourth month now, with our fourth child. My younger brother and his wife are having twins about two months before us.
As a friend wrote, she personally knows the restorative power of new life.
Amen.

We are part of BEM HAITI, an already established ministry to Haiti.
Please visit to support this ministry. As I write it, the US director for BEM Haiti is in Les Cayes, bringing food and aid to refugees from Port-au-Prince.
BEM HAITI
or see us on Facebook
Bethesda Evangelical Mission in Haiti. Just do a search for the group.

All my best,
Katrina

Inuit Soap Carving

What I love about My Father's World is that it is a Unit Study (as well as classical and Charlotte Mason.) The last two weeks, we studied Canada. So, as part of Art, we learned about how young Inuits learn the art of carving by starting with soap carving. My boys absolutely loved it.
It was messy, but worth the clean up, no pun intended. It wasn't easy to clean up! Perhaps next time, I'll plan to just lather up that soap and wash the floor with it. Much easier than sweeping it up.
The book above is The Book of Animals.

The book above, Global Art, is a part of the curriculum. I love it.

MESSY:

Buh Bye October and Our Formal Reading Time

We love painting our pumpkins...we picked these up in early October and they managed to roll all through our dining room, living room and kitchen through the month. Finally, a week ago, we put them out on the porch to share with the neighbors.

In the morning, we gather to read through a wonderful resource: Window on the World. There we read about a particular country in the region we are studying. We learn about the culture, where Christ is and isn't evident and then we have specific prayers for the country. We are ALL learning so much and I love becoming aware of what's outside our borders.

We get VERY comfy sometimes...but who can't listen upside down. Plus, aren't those Spidy socks just the best. And, Batman has left the building...

If you're interested at all in our homeschooling, I posted on Learning By His Good Grace.

Workboxes

Our School Room...it's very small, so we keep all the resources in here and bring the work out to the dining or living room (lounge for reading!) The book rack was an awesome find at Costco for $15. It holds all their notebooks. The cup was a pencil organize that my husband just screwed to the wall. It works perfectly. The baby's desk is in the middle. He likes being involved.
We are using My Father's World, Exploring Countries and Cultures. I am amazed at how this works. I spend a few minutes of prep time each day for the boxes.
I couldn't be happier with the organization of Workboxes.

Since the boys use many of the same resources, often I just put a sticky in the box and they know to just get the book when it's done, or they check if their brother would like to read with them or not.

DAVE MINCY CD IS A GEM!

I never win anything, doesn't everyone say that?
Well, I did win something and it's a treasure.
A Christmas CD from Dave Mincy! It is awesome.
http://mincymedia.com/blog/
I think Dave is VERY talented and the music on the CD is amazing. I have already started playing it while my children do activities at our kitchen table and they love it. It's very soothing and relaxing and it's all about Jesus! I love Dave and Sara's ministries. They are a heartwarming couple and dedicated servants of God.

Thank you FAITH FOLK CAFE!
http://faithfolk.blogspot.com/2009/10/and-winners-are.html

I am so blessed with this gift!

At the Smithsonian

My one son's reaction needs no words to describe how these boys felt about this exhibit!

They were so in love with so much at the Smithsonian (American History). What a magnificent place to visit. I can't wait to go back!