Chickens have been laying EGGS and other things.
Right after I had Jillian the chickens started to lay eggs. I’ve lost count but we’ve gotten over 20 so far. The 2 Wyandottes started first because we just got brown eggs for the first 2 weeks but slowly the Ameraucanas are following suit and we have some green eggs too (although the picture doesn’t show the colors well 4 of those are really light green). In other chicken news, they are not enjoying the cold that much I don’t think because they keep trying to come in the house and garage. Lola actually knocks on one of our doors pretty regularly and of course I usually give her some food when she does so I’m sure that she’ll keep it up. This morning Fuzzworth was at the front window and the kids thought it was great, they also liked looking out at all the chicken footprints in the snow. Luckily all the chickens have stopped roosting in the trees at night now that its getting super cold!
Things ARE better (updated)!
I think we have reached the point where I can start to relax and enjoy Jillian (and all of the kids again)! Her doctor was pleased with her weight gain when we were there this morning. Last Tuesday she was 6lbs 14oz and today she was 7lbs 7oz. I take her back next Friday for another weight check but I am really glad our doctor was happy with her weight and how she looks (she looks so much better and is a lot more alert now). I am still using the breastpump after most feedings, giving her bottles if she is still hungry after breast feeding and I have to coax her to eat sometimes when its been more than 3 hours but things are looking up and now I can stop stressing so much. I can sleep some more too and that is huge. I will have to get some pictures up on the computer later today but before I take them off the camera I want to take a few more now that she is looking so much healthier.
*Well I added some pictures! Unfortunately there is always something, Ethan had to come home early from school with pink eye AGAIN! Ben and Jamie’s eyes aren’t looking very good either but our doctor changed their prescriptions and I’m hoping that will clear things up quickly since their eyes had gotten better last week. We got our new wood burning stove insert today and it looks great and tomorrow the wood comes so that will be great! In all things are still sooo much better!
SLOWLY getting better (I think)!
I am starting to get hopeful that breast feeding Jillian will eventually improve and that we might be able to eliminate bottles at some point but its far from a sure thing so I’m still a mess (but much less of a mess than my last post!). She was 7lbs 1oz yesterday and I will bring her back on Monday to see if she has gained over the weekend. The other kids are better, the boys’ pink eye is gone but I have been sick with sinus symptoms and a sore throat since Wed. I am not feeling overwhelmed by 4 kids anymore (just overwhelmed by trying to get Jillian healthy and the breast feeding problems) so once Jillian is growing well I think things will all fall into place.
I look forward to getting back into the blog too, I have lots of great products to review and giveaways but I’m going to be taking my time putting them up! Actually I am scheduled to review some magnetic birth anouncements for the PBN on Monday so I’ll get that up and I also have another GREAT photo birth anouncement to review with a GIVEAWAY too after that (no, its not overdoing it sending out 2 anouncements! she is my last baby so I need to enjoy all this stuff while I can).
Chickens in the Tree
Last Thursday Heather and I both got sick with a stomach bug that left us nauseaus and achy. We barely had the energy to keep up with the kids and left the chickens to fend for themselves. That night I noticed one of our dogs kept barking whenever we let him out, but thought nothing of it. With the leaves off the trees I figured it was a deer or coyote in the woods.
The next morning we all stayed home from school and work. I sent the boys downstairs to play while I grabbed them breakfast. Ethan called up for me to hurry down quick….the chickens are in the trees! Sure enough, all 7 chickens were roosting in the trees above their coop. Turns out their coop door must’ve blown shut Thursday so with no way to get into their house they went into the trees.
Ever since then Henrietta, Chickie-Poo, and Hen have continued to roost in trees at night. The temperatures have been milder so we’re curious if they’ll keep doing this once the cold weather returns. Our only concern is that the 2 big chickens are roosting in a branch about 15 feet above our back door on a branch that hangs into the fenced part of our yard. No wonder the dog was going nuts.
I had it easy when I was just tired!
Things have not been going very smoothly since my “tired” post to say the least! Germs are all around us but the worst thing is that Jillian lost weight when I had her at the Dr on Friday because she isn’t eating enough. She was barely 7 lbs exactly (and on one scale there she was 6 lbs 13oz) and on the 28th she was 7 lbs 4 oz. Between her not wanting to eat and me getting sick and dehydrated, my milk supply quickly diminished by Friday and I had to go get a pump from the hospital. I got extremely upset thinking that I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed her but I am slowly gaining some hope now that I’m pumping every few hours. I won’t go into all the details but I’m basically a huge mess and I really hope I get my milk supply back to normal by next weekend. Things were very tough this weekend and thats with John home basically doing everything around the house and with the other 3 kids while I hid in the bedroom trying to feed Jillian. I am not looking forward to him going to work the next 5 days. Ethan is sick and he seems to have viral pink eye that is at its worst tonight. He wokeup wit hit Friday and been on drops since then so if it was bacterial it should not be getting worse. Jamie is having gross d-word diapers but no more throwing up after Thursday. Luckily Ben seems to be recovered for now. I am sure the pink eye will spread though, John seems to have it and for the last hour my right eye has been itching. I’d like to order an easy and healthy week for next week!
TIRED!
I’m being tired and lazy and emotional since having my cute little Jillian (she isn’t even 2 weeks yet so I’m not being too hard on myself about it but I can’t wait until I get into the swing of things again). This week has been a little extra challenging since John went back to work on Tuesday and then minutes after he left Jamie woke up covered in throw up. Luckily it was a one time event but it certainly got me on edge thinking the worst. A house full of kids with a stomach virus and a newborn might have done me in. Today I kept the boys home from school because of temps and congestion but I think that we’re getting off easy and its just a mild virus. Jillian is really easy and sleeps a lot still but she gets me up at night and I’m always emotional the first few weeks after having a baby so all the election coverage got me crying last night and this morning! I am sooo glad Obama won! I think I will try to get to bed now and catch up on some sleep if someone will let me!
LOTS of Halloween Pictures!
Jillian’s first Halloween, she is exactly one week old!
Jamie got to show off her sister at her “tiny tots” class!
Ben had trick or treating at preschool.
Jamie turned into a princess to go see Ethan’s Halloween parade.
Then we visited Ethan’s class for their party.
We went to some spooky houses with friends Bryan and Tyler.
Happy!
I am so happy today! Jillian is perfect and things are going well (not perfect but so much better than I feared). The other kids all love their sister and are being great with her. The boys are having their cranky out of sorts moments but Jamie has really surprised me by not turning into a terror! She is just so good so far but I’m trying to remember that this little honeymoon won’t last once John goes back to work on Tuesday. Well I am just going to put a few new pictures up and then try to put this baby down so I can shower!
Welcome Home!
Today Jillian and Heather came home from the hospital!
Brothers and Sisters
Today Jillian got to spend a lot of time with Ethan, Ben, and Jamie.
