Well my youngest just keeps getting ear infections. Poor little thing. And the antibiotics never work in the first week. We generally have to chop and change until we find the right one and that can take about three weeks! So he is not a happy chappy during the day. But luckily at night (with the help of a little panadol) he only wakes about once and is easy to settle again. If only the same could be said about me. Just can't sleep. Bub moves constantly all night and when the bub does stop for a rest I just can't get to sleep. It is getting very tiring. But with our new healthy eating and exercise I seem to be coping with it a lot better than I did with my other pregnancys. And maybe it's because I am so busy with the other three. Ambers schooling is going along great. The visit from the Home Education Moderator was very positive. He says I have some great ideas and that Amber is doing really well. Just have to use the digital camera more to record what she has been doing. He says they really like to see the children involved with technological stuff. Which baffles me a little. I mean I grew up without a computer or digital camera and I turned out ok. It's not like I wouldn't teach her all the relevant stuff, it just seems that we flood our children with unneccessary skills at such a young age. She has a camera (with film) that she can use and she has time on the computer every day... But I guess the world is getting more technical every day. Finally have the approval from my parents to homeschool Amber (not that I needed it but it does help to have some family support) so it looks as though it will be homeschooling next year as well. Daniel will be turning 4 soon and he is such a boy! And so much like my brother. Although a friend recently said more like a 'darker' version of my brother. My brother was one of those disgustingly sweet, cuddly and kissy sort of boys (not that I don't mind a kiss or a cuddle every now and then) he was the youngest and used it to his advantage. Still does now. While Daniel would rather kiss a snail than his Granny! Jacob is roaring along. Full steam ahead even with the constant battle with the ear infections and mystery illnesses that have the docs baffled. But thats doctors for you today. Finally found a half decent one though... he actually listens to what I have to say and will listen to the children as well. Which is just great. Wish the weather could decide what time of year it is and actually throw some sunshine our way! As long as we get the odd sunny day here and there I don't mind. Better go and get breakfast on the go!

Been really busy getting marmalades made and everything else sorted so that I was ready for Sunday markets. Got up early Sunday morning and got some last minute things ready and then realised Amber was still in bed. After bugging me for an entire week about wanting to go with me, she couldn't be bothered getting out of bed. So I'm like well I 'm sorry hubby it looks like I'm leaving you with four and then Daniel pipes up and asks if he can come along. He had got up the same time as me and had helped pack the van, I was just a little worried he would get bored. But he was so insistent that I just couldn't say no. So off we went. The markets were great. Took Daniel a little while to stop growling at people who touched stuff on our stall, I don't think he had totally worked out why we were there. But once he figured out we were trying to sell stuff his behaviour was a lot better. We were there for just over six hours and he was fantastic. He didn't get bored, didn't ask to buy anything (although he did want to bring home a pet rat!) and when his grandparents asked if he wanted to go home with them for a little while he said no I want to stay with mummy. It was great. Saw a heap of people that I hadn't seen in ages and got to show off my pregnant bump. Everyone was trying to guess if I was having another boy or maybe this time a girl. Most people said a boy. But I don't really listen to all that. Last time I knew I was having a boy and heaps of people told me it would be a girl. This time I have no clue and it's great. I love the surprise! Talking about surprises... my most popular marmalade on the day was the Rhubarb! Which is a little strange as it is a bit out there, although it does taste delish! So a bit more spending money for our holidays, which I needed as things like accommodation and fuel aren't cheap these days. And now a busy week ahead. Which is great, coz when I get bored I tend to think up some great ideas but they are generally impossible to go through with. Like a couple of weeks ago it was move to Tasmania. I had found the perfect block and house, worked out the finance side of it all, how and when we would move, got hubby all excited about the idea (he loves the idea of moving to Tasmania)...but of course then we had to factor in the children. My daughter and his daughter. Just wouldn't work. Amber wouldn't get to see her dad much (not that that is a bad thing) but hubby wouldn't be able to see his daughter. And that would be bad. So it is on the back burner for a retirement plan. And now I have to keep busy, coz dreaming impossible dreams just isn't what I need right now. Planning for bub and the next year is all I need to focus on.

Well it's a day full of gardening and marmalade making today. I have to chop up a heap of lemon and put it in water to soak before I head out the back to weed and plant vegies. I weed nearly every day (pick out the odd one here and there) but every now and then you have to have a full on attack and clear them all away. I am planting some borlotti beans that I grew from seed. Just growing a couple of plants as a test run. We don't really have the room for anymore beans but we are seeing what we can and can't grow in our district. I know you can grow almost anything, it's just seeing how much yield you actually get per bush/plant. And whether it is worth taking up the space in the back yard. Now that we are growing all our brassicas (cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower) out in the front garden bed we have a heap more room for the root vegies (potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beetroot). The broad beans are going crazy so we will all be picking and shelling beans today. The children think it is fun to 'pop' the beans out of their pods, so that will keep them entertained for a while. I have cucumber seedlings to plant, the seeds were from last years cucumbers. Apple cucumbers I think they are called. They don't grow all that big but are nice and juicy and sweet. The children loved them. And there is a heap of other stuff that needs doing, but I really need to get the Apple Marmalade cooked and packed away, ready for the upcoming market day. There never seems to be enough time in the day. But everything should get done before the weekend.

Had to go and pick a whole heap of lemons from my mums tree on Friday evening so that I can make a start on some marmalade today. Anyway my parents asked hubby and I to stay for a drink. We only had the boys as Amber had already gone to her dads for the weekend. Of course I get a cup of tea while everyone else has a beer (although not missing alcohol at all that much as I haven't been too keen on it for a few years now) and the boys want cuddles the minute I get the cuppa in my hands! My mum asks if I am sending Amber back to school next year. I'm like well I might as well tell her now and say that I probably won't be. I thought she would hit the roof. But instead she listened to what I had to say and actually agreed that she thought Amber was a lot happier and not as stressed. And that she thought I was doing a really good job. I think she was worried at the start that I wouldn't be able to cope being pregnant, homeschooling and looking after the two boys (also doing a course by correspondence), but it's been quite enjoyable having all three of them at home together. Anyway of course she still has doubts about Ambers social activities, but I am getting that all sorted. And I don't really see the problem with Amber just socialising with family, family friends, people we see when we go out.... I know she doesn't have any close friends her own age but she seems to be doing well. And I don't want to push her into making friends if she is happy the way things are at the moment. So now I am getting busy, trying to finish off my course and get organised for bubs arrival. I know it isn't till Feb next year, but what with Amber being homeschooled, our holiday in December, swimming lessons in January, Daniel starting Kindy in Feb... it is going to be a busy time right up till bub is born. And the marmalade still needs making so I had better be going.

Couldn't find any suitable books to help explain pregnancy and birth to a seven year old in the local library, so I am going to search the local book stores. I have found heaps of pregnancy books for adults and have written out a heap of information for my daughter so that she can actually understand what they are saying. But even the pictures are confusing or just not age appropriate or appropriate for a child who is just starting to learn about it all. Hopefully I can find something today or I will have to resort by ordering some books online. And that takes time for the books to arrive, and she is getting very keen on learning all the ins and outs of it all. And it's amazing how much more you have to teach or explain. Body parts, menstruation, reproductive organs, nutrition, exercise, doctors, medical equipment.... The list is growing. So at least we will be busy for a while. She was starting to get a little bored. I looked into Scouts and Girl Guides, but I just don't think they are suitable for my daughter. So I am going to try a local 'arts' group. They do things like acting, circus acts etc... And if it doesn't work out then I might try girl guides next year. My mum keeps insisting that I send my daughter back to school next year. But I just don't think I will be able to. She is such a happier person. Her stress level has dramatically dropped. She is a different person. I love having her around (not saying that I never did!) and she seems to be coping with her (and our) family arrangements. I just can't seem to explain to my mum how much home schooling is benefitting her. All my mum sees is that Amber isn't surrounded by 20-30 children of her own age every week day. I can't see how that can be my mums only argument (not enough socialising with own age group) and that she believes she is totally right and I am making the biggest mistake ever! Hopefully once I have got my daughter involved with the local arts group she will find herself a friend or two or three and my mum will calm down. It's not like Amber doesn't have friends. It's just hard for her to see them, coz they go to school, they live 20-30kms away, Amber is at her dads every second fortnight, and the weekend we do have Amber she doesn't want to see her friends coz her step-sister is visiting. She has only asked once to go back to school and that was the beginning of this week when she realised her old school had started swimming lessons. So it wasn't a serious request (although I do take the time to sit and talk with her and make sure) and she cheered up when I reminded her that she is doing swimming lessons again in the next school holidays. Well it is our shopping day today, finally have to go to the supermarket (I think it has been three weeks) and time again to visit the library. Wish the weather would make up it's mind, it keeps changing every 5 minutes. 

Well I am definately over half way. Finally figured out that I am so tired and crampy as I am low in magnesium and zinc. So will have to eat more foods with those nutrients. And I am cutting out all sugars, flours etc to see if that helps as well. Although cutting out the sugar is going to be a tough one. I am a bit of a sweet tooth. So I am drinking my dandelion tea (it suppresses sugar cravings) before I have anything to eat today. And will take a tea bag of it when I go visiting today. My friend loves to make me very sweet tea! Also drinking raspberry leaf tea as it is really good for the uterus, helps prepare it for labour. And now that the weather finally has more good days than bad I can start walking more regular, and maybe even get back on the bike and take the children for bike rides. Hopefully with the new diet and staying fit will help me in the last month. I tend to get fluid retention in the last month or so and then coz I can't move around comfortably I just sit and eat. Really bad! But it is not going to happen this time.

This morning I have to pick up two new laying hens. Only 5 dollars each. And if they both lay one a day, then we will be getting four eggs a day. And if I have done my calculations properly I don't think I will have to buy any more eggs. Eventually when we extend the pen around the citrus trees we will be able to get a couple more, but until then I will just have to manage. The childrens two silky chicks that they got about two weeks ago are growing fast. But we think they may both be roosters. Fingers crossed though that at least one is a female. They are so cute and fluffy. We keep them separate from the other chickens so that the children understand that the silkies are pets (a hobby) and the layers are there for their eggs. We don't want the layers to be chased around. Get them too upset and they won't lay!

Anyway now that the children are all fed and dressed we had better be off. Got a busy day ahead of us. And with this lovely weather we just might stay out all day!

I bought myself a sewing machine last week. I've needed one for a while now, but had just been borrowing my mums. But hers weighs half a ton and lugging it between her place and mine was just not going to work forever. So I finally found one that I liked. Have already made some cushion covers for my 'breastfeeding chair' (which is the only thing I have done so far to get ready for bubs arrival) and have now started on a patchwork cover for one of our couches. It is going to take a while as I can only really do it in the evenings when the children are all ready for bed. But at least all the squares have already been cut out. I did that about 2 years ago. But it will be good when it is finished coz it will be fitted and won't slip off or be pulled off by the children. Then I will have to make a whole heap of flannels out of some old cloth nappies, coz the ones I use for Jacob are all holey.

So now we are just waiting for our washing machine to be fixed... That will be the day. They are actually talking about taking it in to their workshop and testing it there. Do they think it is going to fix itself just by them moving it!? It would be cheaper if they would just give us a new machine. They have already replaced the computer board and heating element, and sent someone around about five times. What a waste of money and energy. They obviously have no idea what they are doing.

Now our new tv/dvd player has broken. So that is in for repairs as well (luckily under warranty) which will take two weeks! Not that we miss the tv that much. The children barely watch it anymore and hubby and I would rather play a game of scrabble or monopoly in the evening. Or I am sewing and hubby is reading. Or I am reading and hubby is on the computer.

Got to buy some wick this week so that I can make up some more beeswax candles. I have a hundred sheets, so with a hundred candles and what with it being lighter in the evening we should be able to save a bit more on our electricity bill. I am going to market day to sell my marmalades and have decided that instead of putting the money towards our holiday (we already have enough spending money saved) I am going to buy a water tank for the garden. Talking about the garden I should go and water it, we had quite a dry weekend and my seedlings are suffering!