It's Fall Y'all!

To say I've neglected this blog is an understatement. I really really miss writing on here, but life is just packed out. I have so many things that I think.. "Man, I really want to write about that" but then I don't. Bad, Kailey! 

*** I will tell you that an update about how we are growing our family will come soon, I promise. 

*** School is still going fabulous. We are settling into a schedule, which is so nice. 

*** Dru and I are leading a marriage small group this semester, which is too fun. We are doing a curriculum called, Love & Respect. HIGHLY recommend it! 

*** My sister, bro-in-law, and sweet baby niece are doing fabulous. Their church launched last month. It is growing and doing great. 

*** Pumpkin spice lattes have made their appearance at Starbucks. I basically can't contain my excitement. 

*** I am reading a new book, You Are Not What You Weigh, pretty sure it's legit, but will definitely write when I finish it. 

*** Dru and I are still moving in the direction of organic, non processed eating. Proving to be difficult now that school is back in, but we are definitely doing our best. 

I think that it for now.... Catch you on the flip side :) 

Much love! 

KB

oh, hey there!

School is here. And I've been a busy little bee getting ready for my new school babies. I wanted to share some pictures of my classroom and a few things that we've been up to. If you follow me on instagram then you have probably seen the pics. {I think I might have a picture taking problem, oh well.} 

my desk at the beginning of the day and then after. ha! 

favorite travel mug. perfect. 

 grabbin' coffee after school, otherwise I wouldn't have made it to dinner. 

got this idea from a blog that I follow. the kids loved doing it! very excited about starting our interactive math notebooks this year! 

new behavior chart for this year! hopefully I like it better than last year's. 

new planner :))) 

meet the teacher day! got to meet my kiddos! 

As far as Birkeland babies go.. We are still in midst of praying about what's next. George actually showed up on Thursday, but this cycle I have done a few things different. As most of you know, my periods normally kick my booty... sometimes it hurts to walk... I know, ridiculous. This time though, I have only taken motrin a couple of times. {We are trying to rid our lives of harmful toxins, plastics, and antibiotics, etc. Check out the healthy changes label for more info!} I have also been using the essential oil, Solace. I'm pretty sure between the oil, chiropractor visits, and taking HOT baths, the pain has backed off. Y'all don't even know how amazing this is for me. It is certainly life changing. 

I also found out yesterday that a sweet sweet friend of mine that I've known for a very long time is pregnant with a miracle baby. She has suffered many losses and this is certainly her miracle. She conceived naturally without help from medicine or procedures. She and many other friends of mine have mentioned a book called "Supernatural Childbirth"... I started reading it last night and I am almost finished with it. I am blown away by the power of scripture and the fear that we think we just have to live in. THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL. We are suppose to be able to conceive a healthy baby, have a ill free pregnancy, and get this... a pain free delivery. These are things that I will be praying over myself until I have peace about moving on to other options. We are called to pray for what we've been told is impossible or that it might just not happen. 

I encourage you to check this book out, even if you aren't ready to become a mom quite yet. It's extremely eyeopening and empowering. 

Happy Saturday & as always, thanks for reading! 

KB

Weekend, 5dpiui, & TMI

What a fabulous, fun, and busy weekend! It all started with spending time with none other than Miss Brooklyn Chase! Boy, do I LOVE that child. Here she is reading. The child LOVES books, I mean, LOVES!

 

 

Here we are taking a sweet little nap... oh sweet cuddles. I could just eat her up!

 

 Random highlight: My Mom drove my car to run some errands and filled my tank up! She bascially rocks.

 

 

Something fun! I helped host a couple shower for two of our closest friends that are getting married May 24th. Dru is singing, I am a bridesmaid, my dad is officiating, and my mom is directing. Needless to say, we are all very involved :) Saturday night was so much fun. I tried to snap some pictures of the decor, food, and the guests! Oh, wedding season, you are officially here.

 

Now, on to the TMI...

that's your warning. Don't continue reading if you don't want to know some

not-so-appealing things about me.

 

I have had sore boobs since the day after my IUI, there I said it. I normally have sore boobs a couple of days before George starts, but that's it. The past two IUI/clomid cycles have not included the whole sore boobs thing. I also have been dizzy too. The other day at school I almost fell over. My poor schools babies were like, "Mrs. B, are YOU okay?!" So concerned. But then they laughed after I was okay :) Oh, I love them so.

 

I am also keeping myself distracted.

*See above*

I had to look and see how many dp I was! This is weird for me. I'm normally disturbingly aware of what CD I am and how many dpo/dpiui I am. I really feel as though the Lord is blessing me by allowing me to focus on other important things. I am very grateful. I have so many blessings in my life that need and deserve my attention. TTC should not consume everything about my life, but I'm ashamed to say, it does. I'm working, people. I'm working.

 

Now, to go finish washing clothes... Happy Sunday everyone! I hope everyone is taking some time to relax, spend time with Jesus, and your families.

 

Much love!

KB

 



promised update

Hey frands!!! 

I hope all is well with everyone and that your Monday was a great start to the work week! I was very pleasantly surprised at how well my day went considering that my school babies haven't used their brains in a week! Ha! They seemed to be happy to be back, but not so happy about TEST PREP! Sorry, guys, that's just part of life :) 

Okay, so back to the most important topic: I want a baby in my belly. Me? Yes! I know you're shocked! 

I am CD 10 which means I started testing using the OPKs today! {I seriously should buy stock in this crap.} I gave my RE's office a call to let them know that I started testing... Homegirl was like... "Did you pick up your OPKs? Make sure you test between 11 and 2..." Honey, I got this! Third time is a charm :) 

Prayer request: Two cycles ago I got a smiley face on CD 17, last cycle it was CD 15, so there's really no way to predict the exact date. That being said, I really need some prayers that I would see a smiley on Friday or Sunday, NOT SATURDAY! I mean, ya know, my husband kinda needs to be at church on Sunday.. he's kinda a big deal :) I know I will be totally fine in the long run if we do not get to do the IUI, but I really don't want the clomid to have been for nothing. 

Speaking of clomid... Can you say... HOT FLASHES!!!! I am having hot flashes like every 15 to 20 minutes. It seriously feels like I am at the beach and it's 100 degrees!!! I didn't experience them the previous cycles, so this is a little unusual for me. Plus, I am already pretty hot natured. Oh well. 

This e-card should make you laugh, I certainly did.

In other news... Dru and I have decided to take a break next month before we start the injectables, which I am very excited about. My body needs a bit of a break. The clomid is really kicking my booty, BUT don't get me wrong, it's definitely worth it for a sweet baby! {Hopefully we will be preg this time & we won't have to worry about it, but ya know, Kailey has gotta have a plan.} 

Well, here's to another cycle. 

Have a happy Tuesday! 

KB

New cycle, New hope

It has been a fabulously relaxing and refreshing Saturday. I absolutely love spending uninterrupted time with my husband. He is truly my best friend. 

Usually George puts me on the bench, so-to-speak, as far as life goes. I was pretty much out of commission today, but have been taking my meds. They have helped me so much, but I still need that darn heating pad. I really wish I didn't have to rely on them to get through it, but I'll do what I've gotta do. My RE did mention surgery again to remove any endometriosis that is lingering around. Hopefully, I will get prego and not have to do that! 

Today is CD 2, which means that I started clomid today. I will take it until CD 6 (same as last cycle). I have my RE appt on Monday at 3:00 in the afternoon. I was not able to get in touch with my RE's office on Friday, so I just went ahead and starting clomid. I hope that was the right decision. I am going to ask him if there's anything else we can try this cycle to up our chances of conceiving this time! I hope he's got something :) 

I will be leaving my school babies around 11:30 on Monday and I won't see them until Wednesday because I have AMSTI training on Tuesday. They will be in good hands though :) 

Looking forward to church tomorrow! It's our last Sunday in this building... next Sunday we will be in our new building!! :)) So exciting! 

Have a great night :) 

KB

Five For Friday!

Happy Friday! 

I probably should be posting more about my classroom, but oh well. 

1. My fam and I went to the AU Women's Bball game last Sunday! Guess what sweet baby sat in my lap? Yep, sweet BCF. Love that baby! 

2. Pretty sure I had food poisoning on Tuesday. I was sick pretty much until yesterday afternoon...had to sit out a day of school too. It was definitely bad news bears. This was my set-up. 

3. Yeah, pretty much. Legit. 

4. My school babies filled their "Marble Jar" this week, soooo Mrs. B had to come through on her promise! A TREAT, of course! I thought donuts was a great choice. They LOVED them :) 

5. Since George interrupted my joy of being pregnant this month, two of my sweet friends sent me flowers at school. I'm oh so blessed. It literally made me cry. I know, I know, surprise.. surprise :)  

Extra picture! Love that baby! She's definitely my favorite. 

Again, happy Friday friends! 

KB

Five for Friday (again, late)

Five for Friday (or Sunday) 

1. Added a new activity in the classroom to help the kids "sight" their vocabulary words in their reading, while talking to family or friends, or anywhere outside the classroom. They are loving it and doing a great job with it. They created a heart with the sticky notes... oh, those kiddos. So funny! 

 2. Valentine Hallway Display: torn tissue paper hearts, and a Valentine graphic from TPT! :) 

3. Oh, my husband... He is the best. We actually celebrated Monday with dinner at our house and Thursday with gifts and dessert. He got me a 1 hour massage and facial. It was divine. I got it done yesterday at a local spa. 

4. Here are some pics from our Valentine party at school. The children were crazy, but rightly so. It was a fun day and I was pooped. Look at that sweet baby that has his napkin in his shirt. Love it :) 

5. This weekend was also our marriage conference that our church does every year called, Ignite. It was a great time. Friday night we had some dance instructors teach us some moves and ended the night with some Soul Train :) Good times. I'm so glad my good friend, Stacey, caught us in action! 

There ya have it! My week at a glance! 

Have a great rest of your Sunday :) 

KB

My First Five for Friday (a day late)

So pumped to join in on the F-U-N! Five for Friday!  

1. We started our Plant Growth and Development Unit this week. Very interesting! Sorry, forgot to snap some pictures. 

2. On Tuesday, I had an amazing time with a dear sweet amazing woman named Susan. I seriously love chatting with her. She is so wise, loving, caring, and LOVES Jesus. What a blast! #hopebloats :) 

3. I finished up my last week of 3 chiro visits... I start with just 2 next week. Feeling great! Highly recommend this place :) 

4. My kid(s) will be on this wall SOON! (believing) 

5. Dream Team Party was last night! Amazing time celebrating the awesome people that serve every week at our church! So many laughs. If I find the video of the songs that they sang, I will definitely post it :) 

Yay for Five for Friday! 

Love, 

KB

random. smandom.

3rd grade is oh so interesting. {I love it, don't get me wrong!} These children crack me up daily. I have a few things that I've been meaning to share and I finally took pictures. Our school began doing Daily 5 this year, so here's my reference board in my classroom for my kiddos. We created the I-Charts at the beginning of the year, so we will know exactly what to do during our centers. Do you still think they follow the chart..?? Umm... no, but that's okay. At least we started off on the right foot. OH well.. oh teaching....

We also created Symmetrical Bugs about a week ago during our Geometry unit. The kids LOVED this activity! I, of course, saw the idea on Pinterest, but traced it back to this blog. A co-worker of mine tried it out.. she had great things to say about it. It was not as time consuming or stressful as I thought it would be :) 

Until next time... 

KB

Mrs. B is MISSING!

Hello all. 
Can I just say that I was so very excited that today was Friday! You teachers know that the day after you are out is the pits. I, of course, got to school with a not-so-awesome note from my sub and a pile of lovely paper crafts (not for me) my children had created while I was out. The sub was not pleased and neither was I. I sure did let me children know it too. Oh, teacher troubles. 

On the brighter side of things, I finally took pictures of our writing activity while I was gone about a week ago. I pinned it on Pinterest a while back, but was keeping it under wraps until later on in the year. I found it here & here. I created the final draft paper myself :) 

Here are some pictures. Can I just say how fabulous it was to read these! Kids say the funniest and silliest things! Apparently, I visited New York, Las Vegas, and the best.... went to JAIL!! 

Enjoy the pictures! 

One side of the hallway. I created bubble names for the kiddos and then they colored them at the beginning of the year. I put cloths pins under them and there ya have it. I love the clips and bubble letters! 

 Here's one of the fabulous stories! 

And.. another :) 

Happy weekend to you! 

love my clipchart.

I adopted the idea of a clipchart in my classroom this year and I'm LOVIN' it! I finally took a picture and here is my version.

Happy Tuesday night! 

KB

Love day 2011

I'll admit it.... I do LOVE Valentine's Day. I love hearing and seeing 'i love yous' all day long... it makes my heart go pitter patter. This V-day was extra special because I had 21 sweet children lovin' on me. I do love those kids, even though they take a lot of love & patience from me. I guess that's how the Lord feels about us sometimes...

Here are the beautiful flowers & goodies that some of my kiddos got me....

After I spent the day with my kids, I got to spend the rest of the night with the LOVE of my LIFE. Man, he is so good to me. I love that, Dru Birkeland. He is always making me laugh and we always have a good time. I look forward to coming home to him or waiting on him to come home every single day. What a blessing to have this love and this husband of mine.

Here's a snapshot of the flowers he got for me. He knows me for sure, because I will straight up kill a plant so he got me the kind of lives pretty much without my help. Way to go, baby!

Happy Love Day....