Getting Back to "Normal" Life and Routines

Life is getting back to normal around here... at least a new normal.  It's a wonderful feeling and definitely makes me feel much better about things!

Sleep
A week ago I would never have thought that Levi would be sleeping as well as he is now.  I guess moving him into his own room makes all the difference.  Each night he sleeps better and better.  Last night he actually went to bed at 9:45, woke up three times during the night, and didn't get up until about 9:00 this morning (and the other kids didn't get up until about 8:30).  So, we got a GREAT amount of sleep.  I don't even feel the need to take a nap right now :). 
Our goal this week is to get him into bed by 9:30 each night, and have him at least take an afternoon nap when the kids do (which he already does most days).  I think things are going to level out soon.  We'll see how it goes!!

Breastfeeding
I think I've figured out the connection between my supply being low and it being a little higher.  On Saturday, I was super stressed (just trying to get things ready for the party, etc.).  My supply was awful.  He was taking a ton of formula, and I was really worried that I had lost it.  I also didn't take my vitamins or my herbs at all that day.  Over night that night my supply was pretty low as well.  The next day, it started picking back up again.  And last night, I only supplemented maybe a total of two ounces between his feeding before bed and this morning. 
So, the connection is this: the more stressed I am, the less I produce.  If I keep on top of my vitamins and herbs, it also helps with production.  And, I'm not even sure if this helps or not, but I've been trying to keep a bottle of water with me at all times.  The less formula that I have to give Levi the better!!  I'm hoping to be able to cut formula out completely when I start him on cereal/food.  We'll see what happens :).

Routine
So I've talked a lot about how I am itching to get back into a routine... it helps me to feel less stressed about things.  And, it helps the kids.  Well, I think this week it's going to happen.  I'm going to start a few new things, and continue with the routines that we've already established.  Some new things that I'm going to start are taking a weekly planning and evaluation "retreat" (something similar to what Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking does), having one day a week in which I do all of my shopping (and running to the farm if necessary) without the older two kids (my mom will be here), giving the kids a bath every other night (Levi, then Karis & Ethan), getting everything ready for the next morning at night before bed, planning some alone time with each child (at least once a week), focusing on only one or two housekeeping items a day, and going to the library on Thursdays or Fridays (haven't decided yet) for story time.  Now, I'm not going to assume that all of these will go perfectly right away, this week, but I'm going to at least try :). 

Budgeting (yes, random, I know)
Well, I have previously written posts about using the "cash flow" way of budgeting... and we've tried it yet again with no success.  A few days ago I was searching for applications for my iPhone, and I came across a budgeting app from mint.com.  I went to the actual website to check it out, and I am thoroughly impressed.  It is FREE and from the makers of quicken.  It is VERY easy to set up and it is something that I think will really be helpful.  As transactions come up on my bank account, I have to put it in a category (that's in my budget).  It continually shows you how much you have left in each category for the month (continually).  I'm pretty excited about it and think it will really help us keep our budget in check!!

Personal Goals
I've already mentioned that I plan to keep a bottle of water with me at all times.  My goal is to drink at least three of these bottles of water every day, which would be 9 cups.
I have many vitamins, supplements, and herbs that I'm currently taking for different reasons (prenatals, fish oil, and probiotics just to name a few), and I've been having a hard time keeping up with them.  So, my goal is to take them with breakfast and with dinner so that I remember (taking them with meals certainly helps!). 
We have all been eating too much sugar lately... so I plan to cut down on this as well (I already told Karis that after her birthday, I wouldn't be giving her many sweet foods any more).  She's been having a hard time going to sleep and I feel that this may contribute to that.  We'll see what happens when I cut down. 
And last but not least, I want to get back to my routine of getting up early and having time with Jesus before the kids get up.  I think Levi is in a normal enough sleep schedule that this is possible.  I need to at least try every day!!

It officially took me about 3 hours to write this post... between the kids waking up, feeding, etc.  :)  I guess this is the new normal!! :)