Birthing area for Baby Bovee #5

It was our desire when I was pregnant with Benaiah to have a home birth.  Due to major compications, that plan did not work, so apparently was not the plan of the Almighty's.  This time, however, we are trying again.  I've taken all precations to make sure what happened last time doesn't happen again, and so far, with just 3 more days until due date, I am feeling good and everything seems to be going great!  We bless the Lord for this daily!

My dream birthing area would be to have this baby outside and try to do a water birth which I've never done before.  So, even though we've been busy at the farm remodeling and getting that space ready to move into, we have also been busy getting a birthing area set up for when things start to happen with labor.  Thankfully, we had most everything on hand, so the structure and decor in the area didn't cost us much at all and what we did build for the area can be moved over to the farm to be used there as well. 

This is just a peak in case I don't actually get to use the area for birth.  The evenings are getting so chilly, if everything happens then, we might have to be inside.  But we'll see how God orchestrates it all, and we'll be happy with however it turns out.



The lanterns I made.



My children decorated these flower pots with my mom.  They were made quite awhile back special for the occassion.



The doorway out of the area into the back yard in case I want to walk around the flowers in the flower bed.  And the bench my dad and Jonathon built.  This will be moved over to the farm to use in our house, I think.




The area with the lights down lower is where the birthing tub is going to sit.  These walls were used by Jonathon's mom for craft shows and we used them as a backdrop for our wedding.  They have survived many moves and we were glad to have them to use for this area as well. 

 We did have to add some supports as two of the walls fell over when we had some winds last week.  It was a bummer as it dented up one of my lanterns (so glad the globes weren't on them) and broke my big flower pot right in half.  Oh well, at least it is braced now and hopefully won't hve any more problems.  I also bought the chiffon curtains at a garage sale for $1.00.  Yay, for good deals and just what I was looking for!  When things start happening we will add some hanging mason jars with candles in them from the shed, so that will finish off the area, not to mention get the tub blown up and ready with warm water.  And I have a few more plants to bring out to add to the area along with a table for the birthing supplies and maybe I can get some floewrs picked to put in a vase or two to sit on the table to add some color.  Certainly can't pick flowers while birthing in a hospital.  That's what I call smelling the flowers while getting through a little pain.   : )

A Big Work Weekend for our Little Family

We spent the day on Friday at the farm working on odds and ends that needed finished up.  Well, not the whole day as there was a little garage saleing to do on the way, and Jonathon had a job in the morning.The main projects were to get the flooring finished on the main level and get the trim sanded and stained so it could be finished on Sunday.  We were busy bees with the girls staining and the boys finishing the floor.  So blessed to have our children learn how to help.   

And we had to leave in the afternoon because Josiah and I were going on a date.  He wanted to take me out, so I was sure to let him.  We went to Emma's Cafe in Emma town and then to Topeka library to watch their free showing of the Lorax.  Neither one of us had been to the Emma Cafe and we really enjoyed ourselves, although we didn't have time to have peach pie and ice cream.  He was quite disappointed by that, but we picked cookies to eat on the way to the movie.  

He is growing up and though he can be quite a challenge, we are learning how to direct his behaviour to being more favorable.  He is learning to work with his dad and how to treat his sisters.  That sure seems to be a hard thing for a brother to learn.  : )

Saturday evening, after our church gathering, we were back at the farm to work and spend the night to get up early to work more on Sunday.  I made a list of all the little things that needed done Saturday so we would be ready for certain jobs on Sunday.  Wow, did we get a lot done.  Touch up paint, some trim in the boy's room painted, trim stained, work on appliances to get them plugged in, carpet padding up, etc, etc.  Lots of little things that need done too, but don't always make the job look like progress is made. 

Sunday we woke up and started right in.  The finishing touches to painting trim on the main level and more touch up spots.  A cupboard was taken out since we bought a refrigerator that was too tall for the space.  Yes, laugh at us, even us young folk don't think of such things.  : )  So, the cupboard was taken out and the walls painted where the cupboard was.  Thanks to my dad for a short little visit and helping with that project.  Jonathon also got all the trim cut and nailed in place on the main level.  What an accomplishment for him!  I'm so proud of his abilities and what he can get done.  So, here are the pictures with floors done, trim done, and painting all finished on the main level.  Whew, huge jobs done.  The children and I also worked very hard at cleaning up the barn, but you don't get to see pics of that.  We were too busy moving and cleaning to take pictures.  Some things certainly get put to the side while others are being done.  It feels like we are running out of time before baby comes.  Good thing we don't plan on moving in before baby arrives.  I am looking forward to the break from work when I get to sit and hold a baby.  I've been blessing the Lord for the health He has given me this time around, but I'll tell ya, today my back was complaining after the barn cleaning.  Thankful I am able to work though!  

I am so thankful for how it is all turning out.  Much work, but the open concept fits our family so much more than smaller rooms.  I like to see my children from one room to the next.  : )  A few more little things to do on the main level and some bedrooms upstairs to get painted.  And then a back room to also get finished and we'll be ready for the carpeted areas to get done.  It's all coming together, and we are so blessed by it!

Baby Prep Day

We are gearing up for baby Bovee #5.  How did these two high school sweet hearts end up with 5 children?  Well, we know how it happened, but really we can't believe that we have this many children!  And how exciting life will be to see what the Father's plan is for each of these blessings!

Today was the day to get baby clothes and blankets washed and ready for the big arrival day.  I also worked on cleaning up some areas of the house so things aren't so cluttered when the space is needed to move around after baby comes.  With this being our first home birth (praying that happens anyway), I am feeling like I won't have everything that's needed to deliver a baby at home.  I am preparing an area outside to labor and hopefully deliver in.  Jonathon made a real nice bench for me or for some of the birthing team I have put together to sit on.  It needs a little more work before it's ready for sitting.  But I was sitting on it in the area where it will reside during the delivery and a hummingbird came to the zinnias that I have planted right beside it.  It fluttered it's wings quickly, looking at me and not bothering to drink from the flowers as it wasn't too sure about me sitting there.  That is just the atmosphere I was hoping to create with my area.  Not that a hummingbird will come along during the commotion of a baby coming, but apparently I've set up some things that nature feels welcome to come to. 



Blues, pinks, whites, yellows.  Which clothes will stay and which ones will be packed away?

One full load of baby clothes all washed and on the line for the sun to bleach out.

A fun project for the birthing area.  These were tuna cans from our lunch today.  Any guesses as to what they will become?



The amazing pallet bench that Jonathon and my dad worked on special for the birthing area and then to use at the farmhouse too.

 Today I primed the bench and will be going out to put a coat or two of white paint on it as well.  The plan was to build something basic that the ladies could sit on while I labor and that could also be used in the coat cubby at the farmhouse for the children to sit on when putting their shoes on.  I need to check around to some salvage places to see about a cushion of some kind.  I'm thinking maybe a cushion for a table from an RV might fit it perfectly.  We'll see what I can find for a little bit of money.  : ) 

The trellis walls are laying in the background behind the bench in the picture.  They will be used to make a nice little area for the birthing tub to sit and for all the happenings right outside the back door of the house in case I need to go in for any reason.  I'm excited to see it all put together and ready and then to actually use it for the main event.  : )

Continueing on in prayer that all will go well and that I will continue to feel so good.   Our God is so faithful to have heard our prayers so far and give us the desire of our hearts.  We wait to see how favorable He will be to us during the labor and delivery.  I'm praying He's real favorable (maybe there won't be any pain this time- Haha!).