Is it Wednesday already?

We have had a productive week so far.    I have intentionally slept in every day this week.

I’ve had  almost three weeks off, and I am lovin’ it!  It has been a very busy time, but we have gotten a lot of deeper cleaning done.  The house isn’t technically clean, but it’s in a lot better shape than it has been in months.

I told the Mister that I am really enjoying the domestic life.  And then I thought of the dog poo that I had just cleaned up.  I am really enjoying the domestic life, except when I’m not!!

I made the best dinner we’ve had in some time tonight.  It was nothing special, but it was complete for once.  I roasted a pork loin and threw in some potatoes, carrots and green beans.  Mmmm!  The veggies were SO good!  And the house smelled great!

My favorite cook is on a missions trip this week, which is why I’ve been cooking so often these last few days.  It was actually almost enjoyable to make  all three meals today. I love that he helps out with so much of the cooking, but I don’t love going in there to wash dishes and then having him or his father show up to cook something.  It’s like swimming up stream, I tell ya! I’ve noticed I’ve maintained my progress this week so far.  I miss my boy, though.

My friend who went as a chaperon called this afternoon to let me know that things are fine.   She gave me an update on my boy because she knew I was probably dying to know what he is up to.  Yes, I am curious, but his father has me beat!  He kept saying, “I  wonder how [nickname] is.”  I miss that kid, but I am so glad he has gotten the opportunity to go out and do something for someone else in Jesus’ name.

We had a very positive (humanly speaking) answer to prayer this week.  We were totally blown away but thanked God for the blessing!

You know, lately I’ve noticed that God has been confirming His answers to prayer (the yesses and the nos).   I’m very thankful for His care in our family.  I’m starting to trust that He really is the best one to keep control.

Well, today is about the 36th day on the EPI journey.  I will say that it tires me out.  Heidi has been having accidents nightly.  It’s pretty discouraging.   When I called the vet to set up a follow up appointment, I was really, really disappointed to hear on their answering machine that they are on vacation this week. *sigh*  Oh well.  I’ll just have to trust God with my sanity.

Well, I can’t  keep my eyes open. Sleep well, cyberneighbors!

Some kids get raw deals.

Something bad happened to a family we know and the kids in the family are dealing with the worst of it.  I hate that.  I wish I knew the right words to say to them.

The EPI Journey: Day 28 – Death by Starvation

Well, we’re thinking Heidi may not starve to death any time soon, but we’re not sure when she’ll start gaining weight again.  It has been almost a month since we started supplementing with enzymes, and we have noticed a big difference in how she acts and in the consistency of her stools, but she still looks pretty boney.

Heidi is in heat right now, so our house is in an uproar constantly.  Konrad’s attraction to her is winding down, though it hasn’t wound down nearly enough!  We have wanted to have her fixed, but now we’re not sure when we’ll be able to have it done. Our vet won’t do it within two months of the onset of her cycle, so we have about 6 more weeks to 2.5 months to get her healthy enough for alteration before the next cycle strikes.

Ahhh, summer …

I don’t know about you, but this family is thrilled that summer is now upon us!  We have been keeping very busy this, the first full week of the summer schedule.  It has been so nice to work on projects that have gone unfinished because of the public school’s schedule.

I am rereading Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson.  It is such a refreshing reminder of why we homeschool in the first place.  It is about discipleship for our family, not education, but education is definitely a side benefit of a lifestyle of discipleship.

This school year has been incredibly stressful because of the pressure, mostly self imposed, to conform to society’s standard of how children should proceed educationally.   I want my family to be well thought of by everyone, especially anyone with the power to ruin our family, like constitution-ignorant government workers.

I have worried a lot about what everyone else thinks, maybe even more than I have been concerned about what God thinks.  That kind of worry comes in cycles, I have found, and if I don’t get and keep it under control, it really weighs me down.   A huge part of the reason that I prefer to hang out with other homeschoolers over people who don’t homeschool is not because I’m some kind of homeschooling snob, but because I need almost constant reminders about why I do this.  I tend to get distracted by the little things and  lose sight of the big picture fairly easily and often, and without the reminders, I spend more time weighted down with worry than in joyfully living by the grace that God has given me to fulfill His calling on my life.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has noone to help him up!  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

That is exactly what I’m talking about!

Anyway, support is one reason I’m rereading Educating the Wholehearted Child.  If school-at-home doesn’t work for you and you need some encouragement to keep going, I want to encourage you to check out this book.

The EPI Journey: Day 22 – Husbands know stuff!

The Mister suggested doubling Heidi’s dosage of Enzymes and Probiotics to see if that helps.  He has suggested upping the dose, but I have been reluctant to do it until today.   Until recently most of her stools have still been near-yellow, which is not good.  She has also gotten back into that state of frantic hunger.  I have felt so helpless! She has been so hungry that she was clearly beside herself, but I haven’t known what to do for her.  I have felt like crying often when I think of that poor girl.  This afternoon, I asked the Mister to tell me now how far we’re willing to go for her until we have to talk about putting her down. I was very glad when he said we aren’t anywhere near that point yet, but I have had a hard time not thinking about her mortality during this setback.

I finally bit the bullet and not only doubled her enzyme dose for two of her meals today, but I also chopped up a clove of garlic per meal for the antibacterial properties.

Wonder of wonders, she actually left  a little brown turd for me on the bathroom floor tonight!  It is the first fully brown turd I have seen from her in … well, I can’t remember if she has ever had normal looking poo.

Only another person with an EPI dog will get how significant – and fantastic! – that is!  That means her body digested some food!!!  No wonder she’s so calm tonight!  Thank You, God, for giving me the husband I have and for looking out for Heidi the Dog!  Thank You for helping her even though she’s only a dog.