Returning

Wow!!!  I knew I had been away from this blog for a while, but I did not realize it has been just over 2 years since I have posted anything.  My life has been crazy as I have been raising my family.  We are still homeschooling our 6 amazing children and they are keeping us busier than ever.  On a health/family note, I experienced a miscarriage in October 2015 and another one this past November.  They were both difficult experiences in their own ways and equally differed from the one I had back in March of 2000.  Just like every pregnancy and every child is different, I have learned the same is true with every miscarriage.  One thing that did happen as a result of the October 2015 miscarriage, is that it propelled me to pursue my certification to become a doula and drove me to Stillbirthday and their doula program.  I am excited to share that I finished the program shortly after learning I was pregnant again this fall and received my certification just after experiencing the miscarriage.   The program means I am trained as a Birth and Bereavement Doula, which means I am certified to assist the family in uncomplicated/"regular" births, as well as births where there is a known complication and/or expected loss or NICU stay.  I am also certified to provide support during miscarriages and still births, no matter at what point in the pregnancy they occur.  I am looking forward to being able to work with moms and families as they face the blessings a baby brings and the trials that will be unique to each situation.

As for my living children, my oldest celebrated her quinceañera this past February and is getting ready to take her written test to get her driver's permit this February.  Her sister will celebrate her quinceañera this July and my third daughter just turned 10.  My boys will be turning 3, 5 and 9 in a few months.The past 2 years have introduced music lessons to our lives as well, as my oldest two started with piano lessons, but had to stop when their teacher moved back to Canada :(  The three girls, and my oldest son, are now participating in a fabulous program called ROC Music.  They are learning to play the cello (Chloe), violin (Cameron and Yasmin) and the viola (Janelle).  Cameron is currently debating if he will continue with the violin next year or if he will move up to the bass, if he is able to.  

I am so excited to be returning to blogging and have lots of ideas that I am still working on getting together.  You have always been so supportive and I ask that you hang in here with me as I redesign and refocus on my blog.