Birth Announcement and More

   So our 8th blessing who was due the 7th of January made her entrance exactly 2 weeks later! She just had to drive her mom crazy like that!! She had me nervous as ever about having to deliver another 9 lb. baby, about having to be induced with hard and painful labour like my last one, and because of those 2 concerns had me trying everything I knew possible to kick labour off , and had me praying desperately and almost constantly that I would start labour on my own and that if not and the DR. had to induce that inducing would be better experience this time around. (Now the latter thing was a good outcome of it all, because praying desperately is what we all need to do anyway. It is trying circumstances that drive us to the feet of Jesus, and show us we are nothing and can do nothing with out Him. If everything worked out the way we wanted, when we wanted, and how we wanted we would not rely on Him as much, and we would not see Him at work. Though He would be there the whole time doing His thing, but it's much easier to take Him for granted that way, or not even know it was Him at work in the first place.)

So now for birth announcement details!
Rebecca Marie born Jan. 21st, at 9:04 p.m. Weighing 8 lb.s exactly! Rebecca is little sister to five older brothers and 2 sisters.

 

 

     Labour was 5 1/2 hours after they started me on the drip at 3 :30 p.m. to induce labour. At which I was already 4 cm.s, which I am sure was due to the Foley bulb that they had used the night before on me. Out of those 5 1/2 hours though only 2 of them was hard and more painful contractions. Until 6 p.m. I did not feel them at all even though they were showing up good and strong and steady on the monitor. From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. I started to feel them and breath through them, though not bad at all and I even remained reading my book!!. Then after 7 p.m. at which point I was at about 7 cm.s they were painful enough I needed something for pain relieve, and my book that I no longer was able to read was put aside.  So that gives you a picture how great my labour and delivery experience went for me this time. Even though I was induced it went well, and was not crazy and supper painful or anything.( This is not the birth story though, just a few details for now, the birth story will come later.)

Looking back at what may have helped to make this labour and birthing experience different than last one and the all the others really was a few different things. Top thing was God of course. I had been praying so much for this labour and delivery, and many others were too. This was also the very first time I drink red raspberry leave tea which I started drinking in my 39th week. I would have started earlier but only just was recommended to me. I got to drink it for 3 weeks since baby was lovingly over due for me!! Also was using a product called EZ Birth for the first time. You start taking it in 37th week up to delivery, well I ran out of it. So got more and kept taking it up to birth of baby. Also used blue cohosh off and on in the 2 weeks before baby came after I hit 40 weeks which is noted to induce labour naturally, but only works if body is ready and doesn't always work for everyone or every labour. And it id not induce labour for me. Yet just the same it can be good and helpful anyway when labour does start, so thinking that could of played a part too in my wonderful labour. ( It is noted that blue cohosh does not work alone, but use together with black cohosh. )

If you want to learn more about the effects and benefits of the red raspberry leave tea, EZ Birth, and blue and black cohosh tinctures just google them. Lots of info out there on those, though you can't believe everything out there or trust every source of course, but I found the info very helpful just the same. Also if your looking for things for naturally inducing labour you will be surprised at what all is suppose to work for that, from dates to pine-apples!! Literally!!

Here our sweet baby girl is now 3 days old. Healthy as ever, a great nurser, and beautiful to boot!! I can't ask for more! I am so ever thankful and grateful to God!! She did drive me crazy there going so far over due and all, but all is good, and like I mentioned above it made me rely on God just that much more! And what a great an awesome God He is!! No one else I would rather be totally and completely dependent on!!

In Him, Mae

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10


I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all from all my fears. Psalms 34: 4

The righteous cry and, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. Psalms 34:17

Waiting on Baby!

So most of you reading my blog will know we are expecting our 8th baby. And due date is like now!
 So we are anxiously waiting on baby right now.
 Any momma I know gets just a tad impatient when it's about her time. Gets a little hard to wait patiently. But that doesn't help much. I try to comfort my self in the knowledge that the baby is easier to take care of inside the womb than out. No Diapers, no feedings, and every where you go, baby goes too! Much easier isn't it!? So that is a comfort!!

 I never am really excited about labour. But I do know that is what it takes to get baby here. So with that in mind I do always anticipate labour, and am like, "When is it going to start already!!?" And every night I go to bed wondering if this is the night, and every morning I wake wondering if this is the day?
 Last labour was very long. I was at the hospital 23 hours before baby was born. Though that was not all in full labour. I was in very early labour with regular contractions though not painful at all when I went up to the hospital. But being my 7th I thought it would go very fast, and being an hour away too, I thought I should go see if I was progressing at al. Well I wasn't, but they did go ahead and keep me in the hospital in case things started to progress and went fast. But id did not! In fact basically stalled altogether. Eventually the contractions did start more and harder, but before it was all over the had to give me something to speed labour up. That was the first time I ever had to have that in my labours, and was it ever rough on me. I used laughing gas to make it through. That and praying! I was constantly talking to God through it all. He kept me going!!

 Anyways so hoping this time is way different! I for one have been taking a product called EZ Birth which you start taking in the 37th week. Is suppose to be a great product. Also now this last week started drinking LOTS of red raspberry tea! And praying about this labour, that I would go in to it with out fear. And that I would really rest and trust in the Lord.
  Someone just recently told me that she really found comfort in Psalms chapter 34 and 37. So I have been reading those often.
 
  Just now while I have been thinking about waiting on baby. A verse came to mind on that. I remember it is one that I really clung to when I was going over due with baby #7. I was over due 2 whole weeks before his delivery.  So I will share that here. May it encourage you too if you are waiting on a baby, or anything you may be waiting on.

Psalm 27:14
                                     Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.         

 Beautiful isn't it?! And there is many more such verse like that through out Psalms.
 
 Take care, and no matter your situation wait on the Lord, be patient, and trust in Him! He has got you covered!!
 In Him, Mae

P.S.. I will try to post on here as soon as I can after our baby does arrive!! I usually always share the birth story. I know I love reading birth stories, and I trust other mommas do to!!                                                                    

Seven Blessings & Counting, plus chores and more!!

  We had our seventh child in May 1014, and thought maybe that was then end of our crew (though I truly hope it wasn't), and then God blessed us again with this new pregnancy. So now in 3 short months in early January 2017 we will be parents of 8 blessings!! Our children ages then will be Nathan 16, Clayton 14, Samuel 11, Sarah 9, Anna 6, Benjamin 5, and Daniel 2. Our children are quite spaced out due to our 2 miscarriages, as well as our own attempts at family planning in the early years which I regret now. I am so happy and truly blessed with our awesome crew that we do have though! And having older ones to help out is a huge blessing.

    I can tell you what makes these older ones of mine a big help, diligent workers, and a blessing to us, is the early training. Now I can't say I did very well in that area by no means, but they did learn to do their chores and work hard just the same. These younger ones now are a different story, since they haven't needed to start helping out at a younger age they are not near as capable of doing what these older ones were doing at their age. Starting chores at an early age is so important to help develop a routine to work and a love to work. So now I am trying my hardest to get these younger ones started helping out more, and assigning them regular chores.

   I have just recently came across some really good books that are excellent in the area of little ones and chores. They are called Mangers of Their Homes, and Managers of Their Chores, by Steven and Teri Maxwell. I highly recommend these. They are chock full of helpful information on scheduling and getting the children doing chores. You can visit their web-site at www.titus2.com They have many helpful recourses on their web-site, and many other great books too that they have written.


  One of the things they used was a chore pack. It was clip on plastic pouch which was inserted with various chores and responsibilities for the day for each child. ( 4 of these come with the book Mangers of Their Chores) I decided to do that for Sarah, Anna, and Ben to help to get them a daily chore routine started, and so they know exactly what is expected of them and when. So I made each of them a chore pack with the selected chores in them in the order they are to do them when they wake up in the morning.

    Here is an example of Sarah's chore pack for the mornings: the one in the front of her pack numbered 1 says wake up, get dressed, and comb hair, # 2 make bed, # 3 says breakast and breakast clean-up, # 4 Family Bible Time and brush theeth, # 5 start school, and # 6 sweep kitchen ( which she usually does on her first break in school ). That is her morning routine. She does chore # 1, then clips the chore pack on her shirt placing # 1 to the back, then does # 2 and places it to the back, then out to the kitchen she comes. She is happy to appear out in the kitchen neatly dressed with nicely comb hair and proudly wearing her chore pack, and happy that her bed is already made not needing to return to make it later. This is a huge step-up for her!! We have started this just for one week, and this week has gone very successful with her doing her things. Now the younger 2 of mine not so much. Seems the novelty of the chores packs wore off very quickly for them, and I have to really be on them as to what they are to do next.

   Sarah's next chore pack ( same chore pack but separately numbered chore cards) is the evening one and starts after supper. Since her school goes till late in the afternoon, she only has about an hour or so between school and supper time, so that is just free time for her. I may occasionally ask her to do something or to help me, but it is not scheduled or in an after noon chore pack. So her evening chore pack goes like this: # 1 Supper and after meal clean-up, # 2 Free Time and walk Dogs ( which this chore will soon change, it is only while we are on our month here in Texas that the children are walking my brothers dogs every evening), # 3 evening Family Bible Reading, # 4 Evening snack and clean-up after wards, # 5 wash up for bed and brush teeth, # 6 get in bed, prayer time, and lights off. All her chores are put to the back upon completing the task, so then her chore pack is all set and ready for her to wake up in the morning!!

   I am very happy about this new thing I have started and do hope it will help these younger ones to be more responsible and helpful than they have been. The older ones are so efficient in what they do. They know what to do and do it with out complaint. For dishes Clayton does breakfast, Sam does lunch, and Nathan does supper. They also all pitch in to help with the after meal clean-up, which now I am trying to pass that on more just to the younger ones. The older ones now have much more responsibilities out doors. My goal this winter is to get the younger ones doing dishes, giving the older ones a break on that. Infact they will have to take over the lunch dishes completely since Sam who does lunch dishes will begin attending school outside the home at the end of September. Sam's school was consuming a lot of my time every day since he still needs quite a lot of help, which then cut down considerably the time I had to help Sarah and Anna with their school, so with much prayer and consideration we felt he and I both would do better this year with him attending a near by school.

   With new baby arriving smack in the middle of the school year in January this should be a great help to us all. The birth of a new baby always throws things off a bit, but this baby even more so. If it is as the Dr. has told us from him viewing the sonograms ,this baby will have some brain defects. That will mean slower mental development I guess, or what could be called special needs.

   I know our God is more than capable of completely healing and changing what the DR.s have seen on the sonograms so far, yet here before our baby is born,( many prayers are going up on our behalf ) but if not I am not one bit worried either. I know our God who has seen fit for us to have this baby will also equip us for the task of caring for our sweet baby no matter what! I have no qualms at all. I do though want to know all the information that Dr.s can tell us on what to expect concerning what is up with baby. At this next appointment on Oct. 4th, they should be able to tell us more they have said. They have us going to a big hospital in Edmonton. To me if the Doctors are right it is a good idea to know all we can, and if they are wrong then all the better! ~God's Will be done. And to Him be all the Glory, Amen!!

In Him, Mae

It's a boy!! ( baby # 7 )

Our newest blessing arrived on May 16th, 11:18 p.m. He weighs 9 lb.s, 6 oz.s, and 21 in. long.   His 4 older brothers and 2 sisters are completely in love with him.   Praising the Lord for this sweet guy!!!

baby # 7 coming soon!!

Just had to share these couple of pictures of baby belly and I , oh and Benjamin in my arms!! I just love my baby bellies, and my sweet little guys! And thought these two pictures took by 6 year old Sarah showed them both very well!! This baby belly # 7 is due in just 18 more days on May 4th!! So wish me luck in an easy and quick delivery!!

    I am enjoying the last bit of pregnancy with all it's wiggles, and kicks, and so on!!

Bengamin's birth story

Ok, so I said i might share the birth story.
So here it is, but i am not the best writer on making something like this really interesting, though i will try.

On Wednesday of 10th of August ( my due date ), we had been out at my Dad and Mom's place all day. It was about 4:00 and we were going to head home, but i thought we should help pick the raspberries before we go. So we do that and in the mean time i keep having these tightenings like i had been having earlier in the day as well. I wouldn't call them contractions, though i could tell they were leading up to that soon.
That took us about an hour.
Then we head out to our place ( it is 12 miles from my parents), but we decided to check out a blueberry patch first that is just a few miles from their place. Lots of blueberries, so we begin picking berries.
I am squatting down picking berries, and keep having tightenings. I am thinking this must be contractions, but they sure are not hard or hurt at all. So i ignore them and keep on. We are there about 45 min. The kids are complaining they are hungry. I know we need to get on home and make supper and get prepared for what make be coming on yet this evening, but these blueberries sure look good. My desire for blueberry pie win out, and i keep on picking for awhile more.
Then i tell hubby, " i know we hate to stop picking when there is so many berries yet, but i think we should use best wisdom here and get on home." I had been telling him how had been feeling.
So he agrees and get everyone in van and head on home.
Soon as i get home i hurry and warm up left overs for supper and we eat, and then clean up the kitchen. By this time i am calling it contractions and they are more regular now and more intense though not nothing to breath through or painful or anything.

I call mom and tell her, and that to expect a call from me in the night to come be with the kids. Then i talk to a friend and tell her. She tells me, " your an hour from the hospital, you better not leave it to the last minute, because you really don't want to deliver on the road." I tell her, " oh with my record i hardly need to worry of that. Mine have been so drug out!"

Still though what she said made be a bit concerned. I phone mom back and tell her what my friend said, and also asks if she thinks i should call the hospital and tell them what's up and see what they suggest since i am an hour away and this is my 6th. She thinks i should call.

So i phone the hospital, and of course they want me to come right in and be check out.

So i phone mom back and tell her, " i knew i shouldn't of phoned the hospital! They want me to come in and be checked out. I don't want to go all that way for nothing." She says, " yes, i thought they would want you to, and yes, it is a good idea."

So i finish packing my bag, and check to see if everything i need for baby is in the diaper bag, get my camera, slippers , ect. I tell the kids what's going on. And let them know Grandma is coming to be with. It is going on 9:00 so time to tuck the kids in bed. Prayers and songs and good nights are said.
Then i sit and wait for mom to arrive. Contractions are very regular, about 5 min. apart though still nothing hard at all.
She arrives about 9:30, and we head off to the hospital .
Arrive and check in at about 10:40 p.m.
They put me in a room and hook me up to monitors for 20 min. They check that and say all is well with baby, and that i have had some good contractions. I hope that means we are really progressing though, it is still totally unpainful. The Doctor checks me out at this point. He tells me i am not dilated at all, though he said i am progressing to that.
I am not happy at all to hear that.
He said we can either go home, though he does not thinks that is just the best because of our distance from the hospital, or we can get a room in town, but they would not keep me in the hospital since i have not even started dilating. Because it could still be many hours yet or could go quickly.
So we decide on a room. It is only a few minutes away from the hospital. We get settled in the room about 11:30. It is a room with a hot tub. I am like , "wow, this is nice, but it is a little late to enjoy this." I am tired and feel like i need rest bad. But the hot tub is so inviting that i get in for 15 min. It feels so good. The contractions are feeling a bit more intense now. I get out and go t bed.

I am able to rest in between contractions. By 1:00, the contractions become very intense, and i am now having to breath through these. Hubby is sleeping contently and i know he will need his sleep, so i do not bother him. Though i am surprised that he is able to sleep through my tossing and turning and Lamaze breathing.
By 2:00 i am like, " ok, when should i wake up hubby." This is betting bad."
By 2:30 i wake him, and say, "i think we had better get back to the hospital".
We sees me breath through a contraction and he says, " so this is the real thing now, huh?"

He phones the hospital to tell them we are headed back over.
At 2:40 we are checked back in. They give me gown this time, and as soon as i dress and get on the bed, the Doctor is there to check me out. This time he says exactly what i want to hear. "You are fully dilated now , and you can push at any time and have this baby here soon!"
I am thrilled though i try not to get to excited, because i know my record that it could be awhile yet. ( i usually take quite awhile after this point before i feel any push pains.)
At this point like always i begin to loose it. I start to holler instead of my breathing. They encourage me to start to push as soon as the next contraction comes on. So i try that, and do ok for a few, then loose it again.
I find it more comforting to holler, " I can't do this, i can't do this!", instead of the breathing.

They continue to coach me with the pushing, and i am beginning to make progress. The head is descending. Then, i again, complain, " i can't do this!" But it is almost there now. A final good long push, and i hear the them say, " he is here, you did it!!" It was 3:52 a.m.

Time to rjoice!! It is all over and the Good Lord has blessed us with another son!! I had hoped on a girl, but am happy for this healthy sweet little boy anyway!!

You may be thinking, " that nice room with the hot tub didn't even hardly get used, what a shame!" I though that too, and was thinking , " gosh we could have planned ahead on this, and really made an eveing of it!!" But after baby was born, and i was put in my room, Pual went back there to sleep some more, and make phones calls, and use the high speed intenet service!
So it got some use.

Well untill next time,
In Him,
Mae

Our new baby!!

Here is to annouce our newest blessing! A gift from our God above!!!

Bengamin Michael
born: August 11, 2011
3:52 a.m.
weight: 7lb. 7oz.s, 20 in.
happy siblings: Nathan 11, Clayton 9, Samuel 6, Sarah 4, and Anna 18 mon.s

Mommy and baby are doing very good. Brothers and sisters are oh so happy and thrilled with the new brother. We are all so greatful for this newest healthy blessing.
Labour was farily short at about 3 to 4 hours hard labour and a few hours prelabour. I will plan on sharing the birth story at a later time.


In Him, Mae