Cravings

I've had my fair share of interesting pregnancy cravings....haven't you?

I've had my ice cream pregnancy craving, a greasy pizza one, a cantaloupe preg. craving, and even a specifically Dunkin donut blueberry muffin craving.  Those are not that odd! 

But this pregnancy, I am seriously craving veggies.  Not a bad choice of craving, huh?!?!

I crave just about any veggie but the best fulfillment of my craving goes to this... a whole onion, a whole pepper sauteed with fresh garlic in a ton of olive oil.  After sauteing and placing it on my plate, I add fresh cut up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.  YUMMY!

Just talking about it, makes me want some right now! ha :)

So, tell me....what are some of your odd cravings or any cravings?

God bless,
Mary

Cabin Fever in the Summer?

I always thought that cabin fever happened in the dreary, cold months of Jan-Feb-March. 

And it did. 

But it's also happening now.  Yikes!  In the summer?  How could that be???

You'd think it is summer and you'd think pool...but imagine no pool access (yet, maybe...we're waiting for the 1/2 off deal and possibly join, maybe...still praying on it.) and it being very HHH---Hazy Hot Humid...and no pool.

So, what to do when there is no pool in the summer with 7 young kids and being a pregnant Momma, besides going totally nuts and pulling your hair out????

Let's see....

• Lots of things break in the house.  Let's face it.  We are just that family that breaks things.   It's just who we are!  When a new toy comes in our presence, we wonder how long it will last.  In that essence, that is why we try really hard to buy things that are really well made and will (gasp! hopefully!) last some time around here!!!
• Lots of kids get hurt and have bandaids all over their boo-boo's.  Why?  B/c its too hot to play and run around outside for more than 20mins... so where is the next best place?  Of course---Inside the house!  Sure!  Just the place where there is plenty of opportunity to offer up boo-boo's. haaa haaa!!!
• Lots of creative and imaginative play goes on here.  Lots.  Stuff I could NEVER imagine up!!!  Love children's way of thinking-it's awesome!  I have had to let them just get the house messy to play and I've seen the fruits of letting 'kids be kids'.  Of course, there is always clean up that ALWAYS takes 2x longer!!!
• Lots of swinging on the hose hanging from our deck that is up 20 feet from the ground.  Yeah.  Imagine Tarzan.  That's right.  Tarzan. 
• Lots of time filling and re-filling our tiny little kiddie pool that the children play in daily.  Just think of 7 kids in one tiny pool.  Kinda hilarious but my kids are such good sports. 
• Lots of matchbox cars deep in dug out dirt ditches in front of our house.
• There's a bit more time for movies and even some youtube clips.  Like this one!

Lastly, there's a lot more of Momma laying on the couch feeling yucko and that equals a messier house, which also means lots of little extra hands are needed to help keep this boat afloat!  That is not very pleasant for them or me nagging them to do it.  We are all trying to hold off of the grudingly help and focus more on the generous help we are called to as we imitate our Lord Jesus and seek to serve Him in one another. :)  Not an easy task but anything that is hard is usually most worthwhile, right???

PREGNANCY UPDATE:  I am 11 1/2 weeks pregnant and feeling just like a pregnant Momma should feel!!! We are ever so grateful and so happy for this GIFT OF LIFE!!!  Thank you for praying for us-Thank you so much!!!

God bless,
Mary@Cheerios

I'm positive

As in....positive pregnancy test!!! :)

That's right, we are expecting a baby!!!

It's not enough to just say how thankful we are...our entire family is overjoyed!  We are so humbled by God and His glorious generosity. 

Baby #9!  7 living and 1 in Heaven....

My kids, esp. #2 and #3, who made their First Holy Communion this year, are SO very happy!!! They both asked for a new baby in our family after their received their first Holy Communion and knelt down in prayer.  How my heart melts at the thought of this and the reality of this.  How amazingly generous THEY are!   According to St. Therese, Jesus told her that anyone who makes their first Holy Commuion and after recieving our Lord in the Eucharist, kneels down and prays for anything, that God will answer and grant it.  SO HE DID!!!

My kids have been praying for a new baby since our lil' Lady was about 5 months old...we concieved back in Nov. 2011, then sadly miscarried.  Then here we are again!  How loving my children know of God-how much He grants their prayers and loves them all.  I am so very humbled.  Truly.

I am 8 1/2 weeks along today.  I went and got an ultrasound last week and there is a strong heartbeat.  Oh, how my whole body was shaking as we began  the ultrasound then how is relaxed with such JOY!!!  My hubby was there with me (which has not happened...oh, since maybe baby #2?!) and it was truly a gift that he was there.  Again, he was my strength and my rock.   I held tight to his hand, starring in his eyes until the moment we saw AND HEARD the awesome heartbeat of our sweet little one.  I love that sound!!!

So...the word is out.  I have told my family and friends and now YOU! :) 

Please please add us to your prayers.   We are praying so much for this baby that all turns out okay, but most of all, we are praying to be at ease and at peace with whatever God chooses for our family and sees fit.  B/c His will is ALWAYS the best, no matter what. 

Thank you so much for praying-we appreciate it.

We are so excited, so happy and so very very thankful to God for this gift of LIFE! 

Due date is Feb. 6, 2013.

God bless,
Mary

Dear little one...

Yesterday was a difficult day.

I cried tears for you, my sweet little one who was once inside me.
I would have been about 6 months along right now.
Instead I am empty.
I wonder if God will bless us again with a sweet baby.
I wait and wonder.
You would have been born in mid-June this summer.  Oh, what a beautiful time of the year to have a baby.  All that fresh air that you would get.  But you never got the chance.
Some people say that you were just a "blob" of tissue or cells.
But we know that you are a perfect creation by God.  You became you at the moment of conception.  There will never be another you.

I wonder what you would have looked like.  Would you have brown hair like biggest sister or light brown/blonde like your other big sister? 

Spiritually, I know you are in Heaven, perfect happiness and contentment.  That gives me peace. 
But my human heart aches and my arms want to cradle you and sing you lullabies and tenderly kiss your sweet skin.

Your big sisters and big brothers all love you, and talk about you every day.  Not a day goes by that we do not ask you to pray for us.
I know that you are at peace, you are perfect in Heaven, waiting and praying for us to get there too.
Don't ever stop praying for us, little one. 
You are so dear to our hearts.
When others ask how many kids we have, I always say "Seven... and one in Heaven".  I will never let anyone tell me that you were not a real baby.

My whole life changed when you were conceived.
Your Daddy and I were so happy and willingly accepted you as a gift straight from God.
Those many weeks of morning sickness were very real.
Those many tired days and weeks were for you.  And I'd do it all over again, for you.
My love is so deep, even if we only got to spend 10 weeks together.
My life not only changed, but was enriched and forever different in the best possible way.

You, little one, had a mission that only lasted a short time.  You have given us focus, once again, on Heaven and why we are here.  This place is not our home.  This is not our destination.  We are journeying to a much better place.  A place where we can be forever united once again. 

I yearn to hold you once again.  You are forever my baby and forever I'll be your Momma.
I love you and I miss you.

God bless you little one,
Momma

It's not BAD if things are hard

Over these past few weeks I was convinced in a deeper loving manner of how when life is hard, it does not mean it is bad.  When things in life may be difficult, it does not mean that it is not worth it.

I have been bombarded by others trying to escape the hardships of their life.  For me, instead I am trying deeply to embrace my hardships, as they are very different from theirs... albeit still hardships.  Knowing that it is God's Will for He either is making them happen or is allowing them to happen.  Either way, there is peace.  Believing that in all things, there is a greater good, even if we do not know what it is at that moment or may never know or may never understand the why's of it all.

The most difficult things in life are usually the ones most worth it.

Our world is craving the easy life.  The life that everything goes smoothly and 'their way'.  Of course, if asked if I'd rather have it easy or harder, my human side most definitely says the easy way.

But, in life, in reality, there is not many easy ways around things.  Life is not easy.  There is no easy way out.

Jesus reminds us of that cross that we must pick up to follow Him.  He has the perfect cross for us, no matter what we may think of it. 

And just because I may be upset that life in a big family and being a mother of many young children is difficult....  Well, of course it is.  But that does not mean that it is not worth it.  


Just as someone who trains for a marathon does not enjoy the pain and suffering accustomed to training long and grueling hours.  The outcome is really good.  Passing that finish line in that marathon is certainly worth it.  Worth it so much, that sometimes that runner may even start dreaming of the next marathon.  Much like the mother who just goes through a hard labor and birth may start dreaming of the fruit of their marital love, their next baby. 

Staying married to the love of my life, my husband, is worth it.

Parenting a big family is worth it. 

Homeschooling is worth it.

Our Catholic Faith is worth it.

The end product, our goal, Heaven, is totally worth it.

Period. 

God bless,
Mary

My day full of Blessings

Today was a day full of a mix of feelings and emotions.

It was (is) my husband's birthday.  Happy Birthday to you!  I am so happy to be a part of your life and so thankful that God blessed me with you and the fruit of our love....our 8 beautiful children.  You truly are my helper, my true companion on this journey of life heading for our final destination.  Your life blesses me and I thank God for that.  Happy Birthday!

It is also my oldest sons' Baptism day...11 yrs ago!  Happy Baptism day!!!

Lastly, this morning, we added yet another memorable experience....

We buried Therese's remains.

It was harder than I thought it would be.  You see, I had hoped with all my heart that I could go through this miscarriage naturally, not needing a D&C, unless I absolutely needed one.  God granted me this prayer request and I did naturally.  It was much more than just a 'bad period' as some say.  Way more.  In fact, these past 3 weeks have been very tough on me emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

I was a wreck thinking of how and where I would put my baby's remains and what to do with them.  It really concerned me and upset me.  I thought about going to a Michael's store and buy a sweet little box that we could decorate somehow, to make it very personal to our family.  I had visions of my children all helping out and making it a family affair.   But, I thought time was not on my side.  I hate to say that.  How could I NOT make time for this important ordeal?  I realized afterwards that time was not really the issue, it was more about investing even more of me and more of my kids, more of my heart into this child that was mine for 10 weeks.  I was so sore, physically but my heart was what ached and is aching even more.  I ache to hold my child more.  I asked God "why?" and sure, I was a bit upset at God.  But thankfully, that did not last long.  I have some days when life just unravels and then I think of Therese or see something that would remind me of her and the tears would drop a little here and a little there, sometimes even turning into a flowing river!  This grief is not over, it is better, but not over yet. 

About 2 days before I had the actual miscarriage-the major part of it- in one day and has continued to linger on, it occurred to me that I have had this most beautiful box that was engraved with gold flowers and vines on the top.

It reminds me of Psalm 128:3:

"Your wife should be like a fruitful vine within your house,

your children like olive plants around your table."

It could be considered a sweet keepsake box.  It is red velvet inside and made of the best solid wood.  That would be it!  I was so relieved to know that I already had this tiny little coffin already in my own room, in my drawers, for the past 3 or 4 years.  Could it be that God has this all planned?  That is my belief.  He knew way before I did that that teeny tiny box would be something special.  In fact, it was given to me and I did not know what to use it for so I put in these really tiny saint statues in it so that they would be secure and not break.   Little did I know that our sweet teeny tiny Therese would be our real live Saint in there now.

The wonderful priest said some beautiful prayers as I held out the box near my husband and our children huddled around us.  I did not show or tell the children that this box carried their baby sister's remains until afterward.  I thought it to be too much of a distraction with so many questions and maybe that was not the right thing to do but I thought so at the time.  I was so caught up in holding my child for the last time, that at the time that I had to hand over this tiny wooden coffin to Father, that it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do...to really let go of my baby.  My eyes filled up with tears.  My husband noticed my pain, my sorrow...some of my children did as well.

It was closure.  It was over.  It is finished. 

Our little Saint Therese Avila, pray for your family here on earth to be holy and get to Heaven to finally meet you, God, Mary and all our patron Saints and Guardian Angels.  We love you!

God bless,
Mary

Recovering

I just wanted to let you know that I am feeling a lot better both physically and emotionally.  It was a long tough week and we are so grateful to God for the gift of life He sent our way, even if it was only for 10 weeks.

Thank you for praying.  I cannot find the words to explain how uplifted and supported I felt during all of this through the praying of family & friends.  Thank you, thank you so much.

  Life is short, pray hard!

I entered our little Therese's name into the "Book of Life" at the Church of the Holy Innocents Shrine in NYC.  I vaguely remember going to it in my very early 20's and here is where our sweet Therese's name is where others can know of her short 10 week life and to pray to her.  It is so special.  They even sent me a certificate with her name on it.  (I wish I could figure out how to print it!  It is with some diff. format than what we have.)

Sometimes when it rains, it pours...doesn't it?

Not only was this week 'the week' for releasing our baby, but my oldest also fell on a super sharp rock and ended up with 5/6 stitches on his leg, then he ran a fairly high fever that we thought was associated w/the wound but thanks be to God, it was just a virus, then my husband had a sinus infection...and on and on and on.

And then on the forecast, it is calling for 5 straight days of RAIN-Mon-Fri.  Oh my goodness.  I do not look forward to that with 7 kids inside (4 of them boys!) but I am so happy that it is sunny right now and finally we are all feeling better.

The great news is that ....Tomorrow is our 12th Wedding Anniversary!!!

God bless,
Mary

Therese & her Roses

You do know about St. Therese, right? 

(If not, that is a.o.k....but check out THIS link and you will find out! :)

"I will send from Heaven a shower of Roses."

And you do remember that we named our sweet little precious baby, Therese....right?

Ok, so here is the very COOL thing that happened yesterday...a friend who heard of our loss arrived at our home at 9:30am with...

...A DOZEN PINK ROSES!!!

(DO KNOW that She DID NOT KNOW we named our baby Therese or that we thought the baby to be a girl!)

YES!  Roses for Therese and from St. Therese (the little flower) and PINK for our baby GIRL!

I thought that was the greatest thing.  These things you cannot explain but believe through faith. 

Thank you for all this support and prayers...we are in need of them...thank you so much.

God bless,
Mary

Miscarriage

I haven't been able to blog lately...not been able to focus on anything. 
I don't even know what to say.
I am so sad.
I am crying and in a daze most of the days, while everyone around me keeps moving on.

I told God that I could not let go of this baby.
Then I told God that now I can, that I believe it is His Will.

I went through all those different feelings of doubt, anger, sadness, emptiness...and I am still visiting them frequently.
I have never had a miscarriage before and I wonder how women deal with this?  How dare I not take it as seriously and be more compassionate to these dear families.  I really just never knew.
But now I do.

I feel so pregnant, still.
I have the jelly belly still.
I feel morning sickness, rather, for me, it is after 12noon till I fall asleep at night.
How can I feel so pregnant but not be?

I have shown some signs that the baby will be released soon.  This cramping is like a mini-labor but the end prize is not a happy one.  I told God that I am ready to let go.  But I am still waiting on Him.  This is so sad to wait for this to happen.  To know I am carrying a little one that I can never hold in my arms...but that God is allowing me to 'hold' a little longer till I am apart from her.

Yes, I said 'her'.

My children wanted to name her Therese Avila and so we did.  We have our own little patron saint from our family praying for us.  We have our own real flesh and blood in Heaven with God, Mary and all the Saints. 

She is much happier now than I could ever give her.

St. Therese Avila, pray for us.

God bless,
Mary

Lil' Lady LOVES water!

Have you ever had a baby that absolutely LOVES water?!?!?

I have some children that really enjoy it and we call them little fishes but never have I had a baby that really really loves water!:)

Changing diapers is always a test of my strength, as the changing pad is right next to the sink on the vanity.  She is so strong and turning this way and that way to get to the water faucet.  Just this past week she has learned to use her strength to pick her body up and plop it down.  Not quite the crawl that I am used to, it sort of reminds me of an inch worm in which its' back part of body does not move. Ha!!! It is quite funny as she inches her way over to the faucet where I am washing my hands post diaper change.  If in a rare moon that she is crying (like this morning while I was out having coffee mulling over my schedule plans for school this year-I'll post that later in the week :)), we bring her right over to the kitchen sink and VOILA!  she stops! haa haa :)

She so loved the pool this summer and the baby pool on our back deck.  We were all so sad that our last pool day of the summer was this past Saturday ;(

She loves splashing all about in the water.  Water on face?  No problemo!  She is even happier if its on her face!  SO FUNNY!

My kid #5 was so anti-water, it took him to 1 1/2 yrs old to take a bath without screaming and crying.  It was awful-I felt like it was the worst thing I could do to him, and I think it was.  For that year and a 1/2, he only had maybe one bath a week.  I just could not muster up enough courage and patience to put him through the pain of a bath.  It really was that bad.  Then, one night at bath time, I put him in and he did not scream.  He did not cry.  He was not overly happy, but just content.  And that was that.  Weird to say the least~!

So, to have my Lil' Lady loving water is such a delight!!!

God bless,
Mary
p.s.  Happy labor day!  Now, go rest and have a cup of coffee ! LOL! :)

Freeze!

You know those times that you just want to freeze time, right then and right there?  Those moments when life is just soooooo good, and the moment is so real, so precious?  that you don't want it to end?  

That is what life has been like most of the time with our precious bundle of joy who is now 10 weeks old today!  I have just called her 'baby' on the blog, but I feel like the name from now on should be "Little Lady" since that is just one of many nicknames thrown around here.  It fits her perfectly!!! :)

It's almost like I cannot remember how life was without her!

When she smiles those big smiles at me and looks at me with those big blue eyes,  I cannot help but see that her eyes smile too!  I am not kidding!!! I tell my family that or friends or people that see her smile.  It is so beautiful=she lights up the whole room.  When I give her kisses in the air, she smiles so widely-I don't know anything more adorable than that.

 It is as if God is smiling through her to me, letting me know that everything is going to be okay and to keep plugging away on this path of life set before me.  As I have said before, she loves the pouch sling that I put her in and she is in it for most of the day!  That is not the only reason why she gets to be in it, but mainly it is b/c of a certain 2 yr old that loves her so much, almost a little too much at times...if you get my drift.  I think he just does not know what to with this little girl in the family!!! It's like that flower "He loves me, he loves me not..."!!!  TIme will only tell how it goes with these 2 munchkins.  ANYWAY...

Our family just adores her and all the kids just love on her every moment they can.  If they have not seen her (which is pretty rare since she lives in that pouch sling!) they immediately ask for where she is.  If one of  the big kids are watching her for a few mins and taking care of her, the others ask where she is.   Each of our kids is such an incredible blessing to our family.  The all love on their new sibling so much.  But with this little lady, it is just a tad different.   She brings the joy to their faces like I have never seen.  We call her "Peace Baby" too b/c she brings such calmness and joy and peace in this storm at times. 

Little Lady is needing me now so best go!!!
God bless,
Mary

Funny funny

The answer is YES!!! 

You betcha~! :)

I will go into it another time, not enough time right now!!!

God bless,
M

Baby is 7 weeks!!! & a busy life....

You know you have lots of kids when...

...you buy a baby book at a yard sale 3 yrs ago (just in case! haaa)

...you finally find that baby book when the baby is 6 weeks old

...then you realize you wrote in it already for the last baby

...then you swear you wrote about that baby in another baby book

...then you find that other baby book stored away deep in closet

...and notice that you started 2 baby books for the same baby! (baby #6 when you just had baby #7!)

...so you scratch out HIS name and put HER name in it

...and you can't find the oh-so-popular 'white out' so you just scratch out HIS birth story and think about how you will find time to write about HER birth story instead!!!

Just sayin'!!!

HAAAAAA!  Laughter is healthy for body and soul!!!
God bless,
M

I'm pouch-ing it these days

I'm looking like this most these days:




Baby loves to snuggle in my pouch, THIS one...

I have used these ever with my 2nd baby on and they basically 'live' in these things!  I did not know of them with my first born-and anyway, I did everything everyone told me to do w/my first born! haaa :)  Nieve mom we all were back then!!!! :)  lol

More moms now a days say they can't live without a MOBY wrap...I have never tried those ...not yet at least. 

But for the past 8 1/2 yrs, this one called "Over the shoulder baby holder" is my absolute favorite.  I have also another wrap that I use when the baby gets bigger and chunkier, on occasion. 

But really, I don't go anywhere without my pouch and I use it ever so much throughout my day, unless a big kid can hold the baby, which in my case, this is the FIRST time I have had 2 such big kids to do such things!!! Life with a baby is MUCH Much much different when the 2 oldest are 10 and 8!!!

Woweeee, I am starting to get a clue to what other seasoned moms used to say to me..."things will be different once your oldest turns 10, I promise you!"  and that promise is starting to come true....much different this time around. 

Thank You God for keeping me strong and persevering through these last 10 years, it is started to pay off! 

God bless,
M

Part III Birth Story

I'm trying to type as fast as I can w.one hand! :) 

Hubby took all my kids for a little walk and me and sweet baby are home...alone!  I have been wanting to just finish her birth story b/c I know you all want to know, right?!?? LOL :)

Here we go...

Before I finish it off, for a refresher, go to:

Part I post HERE

Part II post HERE 

Tuesday January 18, 2011
2:15pm

OBGYN breaks my water
No hubby yet...
I was just talking w/my new doula and with my nurse, which we both found out that we have LOTS in common-we kept laughing over all the things we had in common!  In fact, she gave me her name and email b/c we kept agreeing, nodding our heads and laughing at the craziest things we had in common!
I am feeling that everything is peachy at this time. And wondering if and when I will have those strong contractions to have this little baby.

2:30pm

Daddy arrives!!! :)
No traffic, no problems and now I am so ready to have our baby :)  My prayers were answered and I was gleaming w/happiness.  (well, sort of! in a weird sort of way!!!! lol)
Daddy is looking at me, like "Are you in labor yet?" 
Not really, just those tight contractions/braxton hicks type of ones on/off every 7-8 mins.

3:38pm
WOWEE!  This was noted as the time for my first real strong contraction!  Then another, then another.  It felt like they jumped from 7-8 mins to 2-3 minutes in a split second.  I knew this was the real deal.  In all about 15-20 mins I was in transition and shaking.  The doula, my hubby or the nurse would ask me questions and I kept replying "I don't know!" which I was told was indicative of transition and about ready to give birth. I was scared and nervous, excited and happy all at the same time.  But one thing was for sure, I wanted this to be over-REALLY QUICK!
The nurse told me how I talked a lot during those moments I did not have a contraction.  I laughed, joked around and then was quiet through the contraction.  She told me that not all moms talk during labor and that I was really funny to be around! haaa-whatever!!!  :)

4:15pm
Ready to push!  Here we go!

4:22pm
My Baby girl was born!   

So, there ya go!!! 
God bless,
M

Birth Story con't.

Part II...con't birth story.

See this post for Part I birth story.

When my doctor told me to go straight to the L&D at the hospital, it was so bittersweet.  Of course I waited long 9 months for this moment...yet I didn't want it at the same time. 

Who wants pain?  Our human weakness will shy from it...yet I was called. 

It was my time.  Whether I was mentally ready or not, it was time.  That day, that moment.

Let me tell you, I was not in major pain and in labor.  Crazy thought, I know!  Here I am 7 cm yet not in major pain!??!  Probably every mother's dream of a labor.  But don't forget all those weeks leading up to this moment...of all those false alarms of thinking I was in labor but not quite.  It was a tough month for me and in a sense...a long month of  'labor'. 

I called my doula on the way to the hospital but...get this!  She was at another birth!!! AACK!  What was I to do?  She told me she had a backup doula and could send her right over.  She asked me if this was okay which I responded positively to.   She asked me if I wanted to talk w/her first and I told her nope and to just send her right to the hospital.  So, here I am on my way to meet a woman, a doula, I have never met before yet she was to be there at one of my most special moments in my life.  She was going to be a part of a memory.  I told my original doula that this is God's Will and I have to trust Him.  She was saddened at not being there for me,  she apologized with sadness in her voice.  I knew this was genuine and even though it saddened me too, I knew God has a way with His Will.  So I trusted Him and I was off to meet, for the first time, my doula for this labor and delivery.

Since my hubby and all 6 kids went with me to my check up, I had to be dropped off at the hospital...by myself!  I was nervous but my hubby and I agreed this could be a possibility and that he'd come back ASAP once he dropped all our kids off at home with a babysitter.  We both hoped and prayed that he would be there for the birth of our sweet baby.

I was rolled via wheelchair to the nurse's station and the nurse looked at me with one eyebrow up

"So...you're the mom at 7cm?" 

"Yes I sure am! :)" I replied with a grin and a giggle!!! :)

Sure, I felt tightening of my belly and uterus.  This is what I felt for the past month!  But once the nurse hooked me up to the monitor, she said every few minutes "Do you feel that?"

The RN told me I was having contractions every 7-8 minutes!  Ha!  Go figure!

I called a few friends that I had their numbers on my cell phone and asked for them to pray for me and to send out an email to pray, pray, pray!!!

The new doula showed up and we hit it off great.  Thank you God!   She was wonderful and was very similar to my original doula -her whole demeanor and everything so I felt very comfortable.  We chatted it up as much as we could going over what my 'birth plan' would be and what I wanted and what worked for me comfort wise.  It was very easy going -our conversation...and then my OBGYN walked in.

My favorite OBGYN (Yay!!!) came in and checked me and decided to break my water. 

Oh, the moment was here! and I could not believe it!!!  Here we go!  My biggest concern was if my hubby was going to be here at the moment the baby was born.  Would he be?  I sat and waited for those big contractions...but nothing.  Just sitting there with my new doula and talking, laughing...

TO BE CON'T.

Sorry!  Baby is crying!!!
God bless,
Mary

Baby #7 Birth Story

I always find birth stories so interesting and so I thought I'd share mine with you.

Monday Jan. 17th, 2011
40 weeks pregnant
This was my due date.

It was this Monday morning Jan 17th and I was not feeling too hot.  Another personal physical issue was going on that made me sore indeed.  Good thing my hubby had off that day b/c I was so uncomfortable and cried off and on all day-partly b/c of the pain and partly b/c I was a very hormonal pregnant Momma!

Originally I had my 40 week OBGYN appt set up for that Thursday but I caved in and called them to see if I could be seen earlier due to that personal physical issue that was going on.  They fit me in for an 11:30am appt for Tues.

Tuesday Jan. 18th, 2011

Woke up feeling miserable.  Was up the whole night before taking hot baths about every hour to hour and 1/2 b/c of being so uncomfortable.  So glad my hubby decided to work from home this day b/c I could not move off my bed.  All this uncomfortableness I was feeling, or so I thought, was from my physical issue that was causing pain not b/c of being pregnant and laboring!

11:30 am OBGYN appt.
Went in to get checked out and the docs told me that I was 7 cm dilated!!!
He told me that he did not feel comfortable with letting me go home (we are 40ish mins from the docs and hospital) and so he said let's get me to L&D (labor and delivery) to break my water and have this baby!


TO BE CONTINUED....

SORRY!  RAN OUT OF TIME-I AM MUCH NEEDED!!!

God bless,
Mary

Still more to come...

I am smitten by a certain little gal. :)
Sweet as ever.
Her smell consumes me.
We adore her.
We hear many "Oh, Mom, I just love her so much" all day long.
She makes me coo and kiss her rosey cheeks  incessantly.
She brings smiles to all her family members.

As Daddy says "God has a rose garden in Heaven and He picked one and sent us a rose from above."

How cute is that???

She keeps me up many hours throughout the night, but somehow I don't mind.  It's our special time together.

So, this is where I've been...on my baby moon! :)
Lovin' it!

I can't wait to share her birth story with you all.  When time permits and I can actually stop holding and snuggling with my sweet baby girl.

God bless,
M

Baby Girl!!!

Announcing a sweet baby GIRL
was born on Tuesday, January 18th
at 4:22pm

9 lbs 2 oz
21 inches

Mom and baby are doing great!  Thank you all for praying!! I will write more later when I get home (I'm at the hospital still-isn't this cool having access to the internet at the hospital!??!!? :))
  Thank you again!!!!
God bless,
M