The Powers that Be . . .: "Value today because they are not going to be this small tomorrow"

Those are the words I would say to myself when I was feeling overwhelmed with my children. Especially in the beginning of my journey as a mother of two! It's been almost eleven months since that journey started and my has it gone fast. I'm just now taking the time to update this blog. It took awhile for the new normal to set in after Jeremiah arrived but we've had alot going on this past year. I think I'm going to have to do this like a bullet point presentation. There has been so much that has happened in the last eleven months that I can't possibly explain all of it in a nice story. So here goes . . .

May 25, 2012: Jeremiah Andrew Powers was born in Statesville, NC (see previous blog entry for exciting birth story)
May 26, 2012: My journey has a mother of two begins. My parents were able to be at home with me when Brent and I returned from the birth center. My mom had been there for almost a week and my dad, Andree, and Avery stayed for another few days.
I had my placenta encapsulated (by a professional this time) and that was super cool. A licensed placenta person came to my house and prepared the placenta, dehydrated it overnight and then encapsulated it the next day. I used up a majority of the pills within the first couple months and saved the placenta "essence" for later (liquid form). Super glad I did this and will be doing it again, if need be!

six weeks old

Jeremiah was a great baby from the beginning. Very content and super lovable. He was a definite "lover" and a mommy's boy from the start. As a mom it's so amazing to watch your children grow and develop but with the birth of Jeremiah it's been even more enlightening because there is such a distinct difference between Samantha and him. Samantha is the stereotypical first born, very independent and strong willed. Jeremiah is super sweet and loving, always having his arms around your neck and a tender look on his face.
Now, he is a good baby but his sleeping habits took me for a spin. I applied the same principles that I did with Samantha, eat-play-sleep routine, expecting the same result. News flash . . .not all babies respond to these principles the same! He did great with his naps but not so great with nighttime sleep. He woke up multiple times at night for feedings and didn't want to go back to sleep sometimes. He truly just loved the company of another human being. I quickly learned how spoiled I had been with Samantha, "Miss sleeping 8 hours uninterrupted by 8 weeks". But it was okay, once I relaxed and accepted that he was not going to be sleeping through the night at eight weeks (or eight months) everything fell into place and we found our routine.
The challenges of having two young children, lack of sleep, and stress of keeping it all together took its toll on me. My milk supply was hard to keep up and I became concerned that I wouldn't be able to nurse him as long as I wanted to. Thankfully, with a nutrient dense diet and a few supplements I was able to exclusively breastfeed until 8 months. He started taking some solid foods at that time so I'm currently down to nursing him only four short times per day. He's a great eater and took to eating solids much quicker than Samantha. He currently eats a consistent diet of egg yolks, cod liver oil, avocados, bananas, sweet potatoes, yogurt, kefir, and some ground up chicken, beef and liver.

2.5 months old

I work really hard to give my children a safe, predictable, healthy routine. For this I sacrifice a social life, especially with a newborn. So I didn't really do a whole lot outside of the home for the first few months. Therefore I was super stoked when my mom came to visit in August. It was beyond wonderful to have her around! Thats when I really started to miss my family! I managed fine with one child but when the second came along and the older child starts having different needs I found myself longing for support. More support for me and for my children.
Brent's job was becoming super stressful and things hit a new low with the sudden layoff of his beloved boss and the company changing ownership in June. Just when I started putting pressure on him to come home earlier (like 6pm instead of 7:30) and help me with the kids he started getting more pressure from new bosses. It was very stressful.
At that point I didn't know what God had in store for us but I knew we wouldn't be in North Carolina much longer. I wanted to be closer to my family but I wasn't sure Brent did! Brent would talk to me about looking for a new job but there's something funny about NC labor laws that says his bosses can fire him without reason or warning so he couldn't be open about his job search plans. I got really frustrated over this because it made me feel like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was constantly networking and trying to find jobs under the table, so does speak. He would get excited about certain jobs and I just cringed because they were nowhere near my family. I wanted to be supportive of his desires but deep down I knew that I couldn't move thousands of miles away from my family with two young children. Plus we had to make a decision about our house in Tennessee, I wanted to sell it but Brent wasn't sure. Later that year, in September, we finally put it on the market! We are still waiting for it to sell.

Four months old

His job, however, was getting more stressful by the minute. And my "job" as a new mom of two was having it's highs and lows as well. I got involved with a woman's bible study at church that absolutely kept me sane. It was such a blessing to go to church and worship/fellowship/learn with other moms. The children got interaction with other children and everybody benefited. Samantha really started blossoming socially. She got so excited to go and "play with kids" that once we got to church she ran through the doors and didn't even worry about where mom was! And she's even more social now. For as much as I keep them home you'd never know it, she has yet to meet a stranger!

Samantha, mommy's little helper

November 3, 2012

Jeremiah continued to grow and develop well too. I think I took him to the pediatrician one week after his birth and then again at four months when Samantha had her two year check up. Neither of my children are vaccinated so I really don't have a need for a pediatrician. They both see a chiropractor who assesses their growth and physical development and for the most part my children are in great health. Now, they did both come down with a little cold the first week of bible study and that wasn't fun. But, like I mentioned earlier, I work hard to give my children a healthy environment and part of that is feeding them nutrient dense food that supports their fragile immune systems. When the kids are napping or in bed for the night I'm reading a book about food, homeopathic remedies, or how-to's on DIY projects that include anything from homemade laundry detergent to curing bacon. I just want to do what I believe is best for my children and family and that is to raise them as "naturally" as I can in this severely toxic and unnatural world that we live in now. So, that takes up alot of my time but I believe I'm reaping the benefits now and will continue to do so for many years to come.

2012 garden in North Carolina

So, summer came and went and before I knew it was cold outside and all the leaves from the beautiful North Carolina trees were on the ground. We had worked hard in our summer garden and all that was really left was more peas!!! Brent had put up a bunch of veggies in the freezer, little did I know that we would be giving them away in a few months.

shellin peas!

My sister, Tammy, came to visit in September. It was great to have some family around but it only made me hungry for more. I started thinking about Thanksgiving because my parents were planning a trip to South Dakota and I really wanted to go. I initially dismissed the idea of going because I couldn't imagine doing all that traveling with two young children, especially one that still didn't have a predictable sleep schedule. But as time went on and my longing for family got deeper all logic went out the window! Things were still very stressful for Brent and I just needed to get away so I convinced him (and myself) that I could take two kids by myself all the way to Tulsa and then travel with my parents from there to SD. I think its about 1800 miles one-way!
Shortly after I started this long journey I questioned my sanity. It was a HUGE deal for me just to take two kids to the grocery store let alone across the country. Round one of the journey was to drive from NC to Brent's Aunt Amanda's house in Atlanta. That's only a three hour journey, which went very well. The second leg was from Atlanta to Nashville. From there I picked up Andree at the airport and we drove to Tulsa. I was second guessing myself the whole way but once I was in Tulsa I could relax and was so thankful to be "home".

November 19, 2012

After a couples day rest in Tulsa the journey continued onward to South Dakota. My parents, two kids, and myself all in one car!! Samantha and Jeremiah were becoming really good travelers but there were a few tense moments. Overall it went very well.
Our time in South Dakota was enjoyable and very special for me. My children were meeting their great-grandparents for the first time. My dads mom, Grandma Sprik, is 95 and lives in the Platte Nursing home. She has so many grand and great-grandchildren that I'm not sure she even knows who belongs to who! (FYI, she has 30 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild, and counting). But she has a special sense of humor that always makes her enjoyable to be around. I hope my children get to see her again soon.

Grandma Sprik ( my dads mother)

Thanksgiving at the VanZee's 2012

Gr. and Gr. VanZee (my moms parents)

My moms parents, Grandpa and Grandma VanZee, are a little younger (80, I think) and still live at home. Thanksgiving was held at their house this year, for the first time in a very long time. The whole family was present except for three people. It was very nice to see my aunts and uncles, some of whom I hadn't seen since childhood. Samantha had a blast playing with her cousins and at times was a little overwhelmed with all the excitement. At this point she had never really been around older kids so she didn't know what to think about all the running, jumping, and yelling. Lets just say she was worn out and slept very well at night!

Swimming with Nani

We stayed in Platte for a couple more days and then traveled back to Tulsa. Again, I felt a huge sense of relief once we returned to Tulsa because I was anxious to get the kids back on a routine and thus get more sleep for myself! The kids and I stayed in Tulsa for another two weeks. We didn't plan on staying that long but Samantha came down with something and wasn't feeling well. I decided to delay our 1200 mile trip for one week. Brent was not to excited about this but he was understanding.

Avery, Aunt Tammy, and Jeremiah

Enjoying the Christmas Lights at Rhema Bible College in /Tulsa

My father was feeling sympathetic for me and couldn't imagine me driving any part of my journey back to NC alone. So he offered to drive me ALL THE WAY home to NC and then fly back to Tulsa. I was so surprised by this but then I wasn't, my father would drive across heaven and earth in one day if he felt like any of kids needed help. The truck driver in him took over and there was no stopping him!
We returned home to NC a couple days later and it was really good to have my family all together again. After three weeks, and our first Thanksgiving apart, it was great to be home. But there were still a few bumps ahead.
December 17, 2012: 1:30 in the morning; Brent wakes me complaining of not feeling well. He's not afraid to tell me if he doesn't feel well but this was something different, he had a fear in his voice that I'd never heard before. I followed him to the bathroom b/c he said he was feeling nausea and like he wanted to faint, along with complaints of chest pain. As a previous cardiac nurse I was hearing all the big words . . . chest pain, nausea, lightheadness, and pale face. I went to feel his radial pulse and couldn't find it. I quickly found my stethoscope in the other room and tried to listen for his heart rate, it was faint and thready (bradycardia). At that point I looked up and he was starting to lose consciousness and all I wanted to do was get him on the floor. He could still understand me and started to lay on the floor. I grabbed my phone and called 911. Shortly after I called he started to feel better, color returned to his face along with a strong pulse. The kids were sound asleep so we went outside to wait on the emergency personal. When they arrived Brent was feeling fine and looked like nothing had happened. He was sitting on the riding lawnmower for his assessment and I couldn't help but laugh. What just happened? Brent had c/o chest pain in the past but it always seemed to be stressed related. He'd been worked up for heart problems years before we got married but nothing had ever been found. And nothing was found this time. He took a ride to the hospital and stayed the night, getting all the major tests done (except a cath). I'm very thankful that this incident was unremarkable but it was a wake up call for Brent, he knew he had to change jobs if he wanted his health to improve. Until that happened I encouraged some dietary changes and relaxation techniques. He continued to feel "chest tightness" at times but it never really went away until we moved.
Our next trip was scheduled for Christmas. We rotate the holidays between our families and it was time to spend Christmas with Brent's family in Mississippi. This trip was much shorter and thus easier. Jeremiah was meeting his Great-Grandparents for the first time on Brent's side as well. It's a little simpler with Brent's family, Samantha and Jeremiah are the only grandchildren of Brent's parents and the only great-grandchildren of the Jordan's.

Jeremiah meeting his Great-Grandparents Beth and BC Jordan

Four Generations: Great Grandpa Jordan, Grandma Pam Powers (Grammie), Brent Powers, Samantha and Jeremiah Powers

It was a great Christmas despite that fact that we stayed clued to the TV due to a severe tornado threat. Luckily no tornadoes were seen and Christmas went off as planned! Samantha and Jeremiah got so many gifts that I wasn't sure we would be able to pack them all in the car! When you're the only grand and great-grandchildren you get a little spoiled :)

Samantha's Christmas stocking

Aunt Celia helping Jeremiah open his gifts

When we returned home from Mississippi I was thrilled to be done traveling. . It had been a busy holiday season and I was looking forward to some "quiet time". Little did I know that we would be moving in less than 6 weeks.
Brent had continued to search for jobs and came across a good opportunity in Joplin, Missouri. I was ecstatic and believed this was the opportunity we'd been praying for. Our happiness continued when Brent returned home from interviewing and felt certain that Joplin would be the best move for him, professionally, and for me, personally. It took awhile for the reality of it all to set in, I almost thought it was a dream and to good to be true. We were going to be less than two hours from my family! That's the beauty of faithfulness and prayer. God always brings you through and gives you the desires of your heart.
February 4, 2013: We pulled out of the driveway in North Carolina, cars and children loaded down, to start our new life in Joplin. We stayed overnight in Asheville, NC on the first night. The second night we spent at our house in Tennessee and the last night we stayed at a hotel in Little Rock, AR. Needless to say, after three long nights, driving for days with two kids, and one flat tire I was very thankful to be closer to family!

some hotel room fun

Febuary 7, 2013: Arrived in Tulsa at my parents. Stayed with them for over a week while Brent got housing secured in Joplin. Super grateful that my parents opened up their home to us, again! It felt wonderful to know that I was once again close to my family and friends. That my children could play with their cousins more often, and that I could spend precious time with my sisters and mom.
February 18, 2013: Brents first day of work at the Joplin Globe as Advertising Director.
February 19, 2013: The moving company delivers our furniture and belongings from NC. So wonderful to have somebody else do the heavy lifting when you've got two children running around!
We decided to rent another house since our TN house hasn't sold yet. When that house sells we plan on purchasing a house with some acreage. Our dreams of having a few chickens, cows, and (of course) horses is almost realized. Compared to all the other places we've lived land is much cheaper in Missouri so I'm hoping to get at least 20 acres.