Doing Well!
Category Archives: pregnancy
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!
32 Weeks and 4 Days
The time is drawing nearer –
Soon we will be blessed –
With another one of these –
Thank Heaven for Little Boys! 🙂
30 Weeks!
If I follow my typical pattern, only about 8 weeks to go until we all get to meet Mark face to face! We are all getting very excited!
Refreshing Herbal Sun Tea
This is not your typical sun tea! I recently learned that Lemon Balm was named Herb of the Year for 2007. I have a lovely Lemon Balm plant in a planter in my back yard. I love how it smells and how it adds a nice lemon essence to my Pregnancy Blend tea. I came across this recipe and it just looked too interesting not to try. I have all of the herbs growing in my back yard, so yesterday I gave it a go. I thought I did something wrong because it stayed perfectly clear even after 5 hours in direct sunlight. I brought it in and figured I’d taste it anyway. I was surprised with a very refreshing drink! I added just a tad of honey and lots of ice. Very Good!
Herb Sun Tea
2C Lemon Balm
1C Spearmint
Few Sprigs Rosemary Tops
1 Sprig Sage
Place herbs into a 1-gallon glass jar, fill with spring water and steep in the sun for several hours. Remove herbs, strain and filter tea. Sweeten with honey if desired.
*This recipe and other 2005 Tea-off recipes can be found here.
My Pregnancy Blend Tea
2 parts dried Nettle leaf
2 parts dried Red Raspberry leaf
1 part Alfalfa
1 part Red Clovers
Place herbs in tea ball (I have a really big one specifically for large amounts of herbs) or loose in a gallon container. Pour boiling water over the herbs and allow to steep for several hours. (Less time = lower strength and milder flavor) Add honey, brown sugar, or pinch of stevia to taste. This tea is delicious hot or cold. Drink it freely. This is my own recipe tailored specifically for my own tastes and nutritional needs during pregnancy and lactation. I have been drinking this blend for over 10 years now. Please read up on these herbs and others specifically used during pregnancy and come up with a blend that best suits you!
**I sometimes add a bit of Lemon Balm, some kind of Mint, or lavender for a flavor variation.
***Another note here. I wanted to leave a little link in response to a comment I recieved and deleted. (The last thing I’m interested in is a governmental agency telling me how and what to eat more than they already do! ) Evidently there is some ‘discussion’ on the safety of sun tea. To this I personally say “Ptttthhhhhtttt!” Common sense and personal responsibility is assumed by me to those who read this blog! 🙂 Anyway, here is the link: The Safety of Sun Tea
Joyful Chaos 
