Doing Well!
Category Archives: baby on the way
Oh the BABIES!
Both Maryan and Valerie are in labor (or maybe holding their babies by now!) Pray for them both today!
Remember Oh most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. Despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. ~Amen
Prayer for a Safe Delivery
O great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted child of Mother of God, enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love.
O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the patron and protector of expectant mothers.
Preserve Ruth from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which she now carries, that it may see the light of day and receive the purifying and life-giving waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Please Pray for dear Ruth today. She is laboring with her seventh blessed child!
A Beautiful Baby Boy
Mark Benedict arrived on Sunday, August 26th, at 1:30 am. He weighs 7 lbs. 3 oz. and is 21 inches long. He was born in the water after a very smooth and peaceful labor. We are both doing very well and enjoying getting to know one another. Each baby brings with him a deeper understanding and awe of exactly what we are participating in when we accept God’s Divine Plan.
I will post pictures whenever I make it downstairs to the pc. My husband brought his laptop up for me to use right now. Thank you all for the prayers!
A Tour of the Birth Suite
Well, actually, I probably will not birth here. It will more likely be the livingroom floor where five of our children have already been born. I plan on using the birth pool and it is to large to set up in the bedroom. But I have been working diligently on preparing our bedroom, or ‘nest’ as I call it, for the baby’s arrival. This is where the two of us will spend our first week together. We will use this time to get to know one another, to read each others cues and to establish that blissful nursing relationship. I am very blessed to have so many around me that will tend to all of our needs during this time. I plan to walk no further than the bathroom down the hall. Here is a tour of our nest!
This is the view from the door. The cradle is a safe place for baby to lay when I do have to make that trip down the hall!
A cozy place to rock with Our Lady of Pepetual Help watching over us.
A place to rest our heads
Our dresser filled with mama’s pajamas and tiny baby clothes! Dh and I made the belly cast over the weekend. The girls and I decorated it with a Mary Cassatt print, a poem titled “Treasure” and hand painted flowers. I have a beautiful St. Benedict medal to apply to it also. A statue and print of Our Lady of La Leche watch over us from this wall.
This area is prepared with freshly washed baby diapers, rosaries on the wall. (But who needs a rosary when there are perfect little baby toes to count Hail Mary’s on!!) We also have some herbal tinctures ready for various post partum issues, and a bottle of “Happy Mama” spray to lift our mood a bit.
That’s the tour of our “Birthing Suite”, awaiting the arrival of our “Guest of Honor”! 
Just for Fun
The first at 18 weeks, the second at nearly 36 weeks, same dress. (different season!)
Pregnancy Ponderings
I am reaching that point in pregnancy where I am begining to turn more and more toward the child within me and preparing him, and myself, for the impending journey. I am nearly 35 weeks. Molly appeared early at 36 weeks. We will never know if her respitory issues at birth resulted from her early arrival or from the circumstances surrounding her delivery. I know for sure is that I do not want to go down that road ever again. I will admit, part of me is concerned about going into labor early again. There is no reason for me to think it will happen, Out of 8 children only one has come before 37 weeks. I am healthy, young, and strong. When I was in early labor with Molly I ignored it. I thought it was just a more intense bought of braxton-hicks contractions that can be hard on us grandmulitparus women. I thought I had just done too much the day before and it would all calm down by morning. By the time I accepted that it was actually ‘game time’, it was too late to try to slow things down.
This time I will not be so foolish. I am doing everything I can to keep this little guy tucked up tight for at least three more weeks. I am resting more than ever, propping up my feet and relaxing. I am drinking lots of fresh water, vitawater, pregnancy blend tea, and Angel Milk. I am working hard to reach that 100 grams of protein each day. (Requiescat in Pace Dr. Brewer) I am eating many fresh fruits and vegetables. I am taking my vitamins faithfully. In other words, I am working very hard to get this little guy everything he needs for a good start. If I begin to feel uneasy, if braxton-hicks become to ‘edgy’ or long, if I sense anything may be impending, I will put my feet up, brew some catnip tea or have a beer. I will drink gallons of fluids, and call my dear midwife. We will do what we can to stop things until a better time.
I do know that even with all of my good intentions and efforts, this baby does not belong to me or my husband. This child is God’s alone. He has a grand plan for this baby, that has been from the begining of time. Part of His plan for him is to be carried and cared for by me. I am humbled that Our Lord would choose me to help carry on His work for one soul, let alone nine. Most days I feel so inadequate for this job. I am tired, cranky, fickle, and moody. I do not do this duty justice.
In the end it all comes down to Trust. My prayer in times of worry, concern, unrest, and uncertainty is “Jesus I trust in You”. If I can do that, nothing else matters!
