Update

As morning sickness and fatigue set in, I'm not keeping this blog updated as much as I used to. So, here's a rundown...

The chickens (down to 13 now) are doing well. We've completed a 2nd layer of fencing around our buck pen, and since then, they've stayed safe. They are making the floor in the buck barn look ever so much better! We ordered 25 more that are due to arrive the middle of October. My "pregnant nose" probably will not allow them to be kept in our bathtub upon their arrival, so we'll be fixing up the "under the deck coop" once again as their initial abode.

The goats are doing well. We're on week 2 of the vet's cocci perscription for our boys. One week to go for meds, and then about the time the chicks arrive, we'll do another round of fecals on the whole goat herd. I hope to be able to do all their blood testing then, too, but we will have to see... Could be a little too pricey.

The children are great. :) Solomon still refuses to talk, but will sing up a storm. If only he wanted to say things like, "Milk, please?" rather than, "Hoooooleeeeey Ghost!" Okay, I suppose that would be self-serving. I'm glad he prefers worshiping God over communicating his needs to me, but it is a little odd. He continues to be enthralled by music of all sorts and has an uncanny attachment and ability to communicate with our animals. With things like music and animals in his life, I wonder if he ever will want to talk! He can sure bark, bleat, and sing though!

Shiphrah is quite in to her appearances. The other day, after using the potty and flushing, she went up to the sink. David was impressed and asked, "Sweetie, are you going to wash your hands?" To which she replied, "No, I'm looking in the mirror to see how beautiful I am!" Not the response he was expecting, but not a surprise, either. We need to work a little more on cultivating her humility! And her piano practice. I'm not sure she will ever want to play her Twinkles, but keep reminding myself that the beginning is always hard and can last a loooooong time.

Samuel is learning to play a couple new songs on the violin. He is learning a fiddle tune called "Bile 'Em Cabbage Down," "Jingle Bells," and continuing to perfect "O Come Little Children" and "May Song." Swimming lessons are going well and his confidence in the water is growing. School is going well for him, when his mommy has the energy to get it up and going! (It's lunchtime, and I'm still staring at the stack of work we have yet to do today....)

School (work) is going well for David. Smooth and relatively uneventful, which is always good. He's been able to do more "farm work" lately, and that is nice. He has the tractor up and running and ready to mow the property when it has sufficiently stopped growing. Diesel prices and all...

Speaking of lunchtime, it's time to feed these kiddos and do a little school. Hope y'all are well!