Adventures in Chickens part #1

So we have talked about getting chickens for a really long time. Mostly for Self-sufficiency but also because of the amount of poop the rabbits produce that we are running out of room for. lol We researched all of the types, trying to decide which ones would be friendly and good layers. We were not interested in "Meat birds". Finally around Easter 2015 we decided to take the plunge. We went to the local Farmers feed and seed and they had a new shipment in. They told us that all of the birds had been pre-sexed to be hens so we just needed to take our pick. The lady had no idea which chicks were which breeds (so much for research lol) so we just tried to pick chicks that looked a little different and distinct. We picked out 6 chicks. The kids were so excited. We used a large Rubbermade tub as a brooder until they got too big for it and then switched them into our daughters old Little Tykes Toy Box. One of the chicks was already pretty aggressive. It was always pecking the other chicks and trying to show its authority over the rest. It was apparent that we would need to hurry up and make the coop before they started hurting eachother. So I searched Pinterest for some ideas and came up with this really nifty repurposed Little Tykes style playhouse turned chicken coop. We also decided to make a pallet fence around the coop/bunny hutch area so that the chickens could roam around during the day. See part #2

PGP/SPD and me!

So I am in my 22 week and already my PGP/SPD is flaring up. I have a hard time sitting or standing for long periods of time. If I ever lean on something, like on one foot, I find myself stuck without being able to move without excruciating pain. Sleeping is a problem anyways for me in pregnancy but now if I wake up to use the bathroom, walking to the toilet is extremely difficult after being asleep for a while. For some reason if I can just make it to the toilet, sitting there for a few minutes almost realigns my hips and the walk back to bed is not nearly as painful. I go in to see my midwife tomorrow and she has suggested that when the pain becomes too bad I should see a physical therapist as to not have a repeat disc rupture like my last pregnancy. The constant pain is still bearable but I need to find out the proper way to sleep so that I don't injure myself further. There is another weird symptom of SPD/PGP that no one talks about and it is this painful feeling that my rectum is falling out. Like my lady parts are turning inside out both my vagina and my anus. It's very painful. Last time I ended up with the H word it was so bad. Anyways, this post was random and very personal. Lol oh well, that's late night insomnia for ya. ;)

Summary of our year 2014

So 2014 was full of crazy fun and some trauma and due to the unforeseen hard times, I stopped blogging. My last post was July 4th 2014 which now is over a year ago. Weeks after my July post, My oldest daughter and my oldest son and I headed to Columbus Ohio for the National AG Fine Arts Competition and Convention. (My daughter Shana had placed in the NC State AG Competition and won her "ticket" to the National competition for Female Solo Song Jr.  I was literally 3 weeks from my due date with Baby Boy Phoenix (#9) but I was determined that this bun was going to stay in the oven til I got back.  Luckily he did, but I had developed PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain) and the 4 block walk back and forth sometimes 4 times a day to the convention center was taking it's toll on my alignment. My daughter did great but she didn't win her category and I can honestly say that the disorganization and mismanagement of funds by the leaders on this trip really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Upon our return, with 2 weeks left of my pregnancy, my hips and back were becoming increasingly out of line. My hips literally jutted out on my right side and I couldn't completely stand straight without excruciating pain. 2 weeks and 1 day later, my water broke at 8am in the morning. We rushed to the hospital 35 minutes away and I barely made it to the bed before the babies head was already pushing his way out. Total labor and delivery was 50 minutes and Baby Phoenix was a whopping 11lbs 4oz! HOLY MOLY!

Immediately after delivery I knew something was wrong with my right hip and back. I couldn't sit on my right butt cheek without excruciating pain and I also couldn't sit criss-cross style without my leg feeling like it was coming out of the socket. I spent the next 5 weeks hobbling around until I ruptured a disk in my back and had to have emergency surgery due to my right leg becoming paralyzed from an impinged nerve. After my discectomy, I spent a lot of time in bed and the rest of the time using a walker until feeling returned to my right leg and I could walk unassisted. During this trial in my life, I made a few good friends and reconnected with some old friends. I also wasn't able to continue breastfeeding Phoenix which was disappointing at first but I came to realize that although it would not have been my first choice, it was an alternative with an equal number of pros and cons. Phoenix although formula fed is now 14 months and has been just as healthy as my breastfed babies. The biggest difference I have seen is the bond between my husband and Phoenix. Most of my kids preferred me up until they were weened but Phoenix literally prefers Shane for everything. It's a huge contrast. Although that part was a little sad for me, I have experienced a different kind of freedom that having an infant attached to my boob at all time never allowed ;) So that was our year in a nutshell. Most of it, was not a joyride but we survived.

New Blogger app means quicker easier posts

So I haven't posted in over a year and a LOT has happened in our not so small family. I am hoping to use this new app to post more updates. I use this blog as sort of a running diary for myself but if you can find something useful please feel free to browse :)