Introduction

OK, I watch all those new family shows: Jon and Kate plus 8, Table for 12, 18 kids and counting, etc. But they leave out some of the gore I feel, OK maybe I want to believe they leave out the gore so I don't feel alone in mine lol. I do wonder how they got so lucky as to have 18 easy kids.

Everyone has an opinion, random musings to share. As a mommy who is a little different than them or the other blogs I read I thought I'd jump on my own soapbox. I already host blogs for groups or bragging so figured this was a good a place as any.

So to make it easy let me introduce myself. I am a SC mother to 5, how I was able to try 5 times and never get that "average" child is beyond me. I am married to a man, enough said. OK maybe not, he does help, from what I have seen/heard/read probably even more than many men. But he is a man. He works full time, he goes to school, he travels, and sometimes he is blind or deaf to whats around him. I stay home, I have been home for 13 years. That is probably the best way to describe me, since 13 years is long enough to lose your identity somewhere. So I am "mom", one day my kids will grow up and maybe when I go back to school, get a job, or just have a midlife crisis I will find my identity again. For now I am happy with my job title (for the most part).

The kids, I guess I might as well start at the beginning. Emily is 12 ( almost 13). She is very gifted academically, enjoys the computer, legos and lego robotics, reading, soccer, and plays the cello. I am quite blessed that she only has a small tween/teen attitude that only appeared in the past year or 2 unlike all the kids I see with one at 7 or 8. She is helpful, independant but just as everyone has strengths and weaknesses I would say grace and common sense are her weaknesses.

Rebecca can take up a whole blog herself. She is 9, very sweet, helpful, and loving. But she also has ADHD and childhood onset Bipolar Disorder. If there was a real life Dr Jekyl and Mr (or Mrs as the case may be) Hyde this would be the closest you get to it. What does she like? Well she is passionate to say the least, so she likes just about everything. Being a monkey, climbing trees (and anything else), tumbling, jumping on the trampoline, and also playing legos, sports, bike riding, scootering. I wish that she liked reading more though. At least she does well in school too.

Sarah is 4, too smart for her own good. Thinks she's a big girl (shhh, let me believe she will always be a baby). Learns what she wants though. Got her letters (upper and lower) and their sounds from watching a video 2, maybe 3 times at age 2, could read her numbers too yet when she "counted" she always skipped 5-8 until recently and saying her ABCs l, m, n, o became "ellamemo". Needless to say she has a minor ariculation delay she goes to speech once a week for. She is not the most athletic of the bunch either, gotta have a weakness somewhere.

Joseph is 2 and who knows where his personality goes. He is sweet and laid back but boy can he ger MAD. He doesn't talk so has early intervention once a week and speech twice, seems to also have some sensory issues going on. He is all boy, liking tools, trucks and balls. He steers great, rides a big scooter already or terrorizes on his toddler one and watch out for him on a power wheels. Yet he is a mommas boy and likes to suck on his finger and cuddle to sleep.

Anna is 8 months old now. A bit lazy, finally started crawling a few weeks ago, my latest. She is usually known as the baby that smiles all the time. But trust me, she is not always that happy.

Parenting, I don't like labels. I might be considered an attachment parent but in some areas we are extreme (we have 2 sidecarred cribs to co sleep with 3 of the kids) and others we aren't (we yend to only breastfeed till 12-18 months). Not natural either but do take advantage of some homeopathy. We are practicing Catholics so at times that may come into play but this won't be a catholic view blog aimed at that but you have to know it effects our life. I wish stay at home mom actually meant that, but it doesn't, thats OK though, I'd get cabin fever.

Well that should get you started with a cheat sheet, gotta go as the therapist will be here soon.