Archive for the ‘Babies’ Category
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The Question That Keeps Being Asked
Now that we are expecting another baby, I’ve had a several people ask why we keep having children. I’ve heard the shock that many of expressed when they first heard the news as well. I’m sure some of these reactions come as a result of the way our society now views larger families or having children in general. People are waiting longer to have children and even when they do, they are choosing to have fewer children than their parents or grandparents did.
Another reason for these questions certainly has to do with how difficult my pregnancies have been. I’ve had “morning sickness” for more than halfway through my pregnancies. With Bunky, I threw up straight until the end. With Punky, I had pre-eclampsia, and with Spunky, I had pregnancy-induced hypertension. I can see how it would make sense for others to think that difficult pregnancies would mean we would eventually stop having children. But from my perspective, it is always incredibly worth it. I’ll suffer if that means I will have a beautiful baby in the end. Nothing makes more sense than making sacrifices for your children. And my suffering is nothing compared to the suffering of those who are unable to have children. I am thankful, so very thankful, that I am able to bear children.
When people ask me why we keep having children, it is simple for me to formulate an answer:
we love children and we love God.
The two go together. We believe that we are created to love one another and, as a result of that romantic love, to bring forth and raise up children who love God and love others. There is no better way to teach children this than to give them siblings. My children have learned how to share, how to care, how to protect, and how to make their own small sacrifices. They live lives full of love and, together, learn to bear the burdens of life.
Saint John Chrysostom says, “Giving birth to children is a matter of nature. Far more important is the parents’ task of educating their children’s hearts in virtue and piety.” As Christians, we know that our children are never fully ours. They are given to us for this brief period of time, but, truly, they are God’s. He created them, and it is our responsibility to raise them up so that they may learn to love Him and follow His teachings. It is a difficult job, but the rewards are greater than anything we here on Earth.
Every time we’ve had a child, people have made comments implying that it was a good time to stop having children. They tend to assume that, since my hands are so full, we are done having children. But that is not the case. We do not know how many children God will bless us with, but we are incredibly thankful for these precious gifts He has given us. We cannot know what our future holds, but as long as we strive to put God first, I know we will make it through. It might not be easy, but it is worth it!
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More To Learn About Nursing
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Please skip this post if you aren’t interested in this topic.
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This video, obviously, isn’t for everyone who reads my blog, but I wanted to share it for those of you who might be interested. This video would be wonderful to send to someone who is about to have their first child or even a mom of many children who has had trouble breastfeeding in the past.
FYI: This video contains women nursing.
Be aware of those with you when you watch it. Thanks!And since we’re on the topic, the video below is incredible!
It is of a study of 72 mother-infant pairs who who divided into two different groups, both of which had mothers who were medicated and unmedicated during labor. The babies in the first group were left naked on their mother’s abdomens for at least an hour, and there babies began crawling up to the breast in 20 minutes, self-latched and began sucking in 50 minutes. Amazing! Then the second group was comprised of children who were taken away after birth for 20 minutes to be cleaned, etc. These children were unable to latch on their own and did not seem to have the same instincts that the infants in the first group did.
I didn’t think the opening image was appropriate for all audiences, so I decided just to link to the video. Be warned that this video shows multiple women without any clothing covering their chests
(for obvious reasons).~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I took this photo the other day while nursing Bunky.
It is so sweet to watch my boys bond during quiet times like this.
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Three Babies in One Weekend!
Two wonderful ladies whom I’ve met through blogging and one friend (in-real-life) all had their babies this weekend.
- Mat.Emma‘s baby boy was born at just under 32 weeks after several weeks of bedrest and medications to keep him gestating as long as possible. Please keep him in your prayers as he will be sure to spend some time in the NICU, and pray for Mat. Emma, Fr John and their two other kiddos.
- Patty also had a baby boy this weekend. She was just past her due date, and the baby was 9 pounds 13 ounces! Way to go, Mama!
- Carie had her baby girl this weekend at 35 weeks along. Baby Elise is in the NICU, but shouldn’t be there for too long (hopefully). Please pray for this family as well.
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Visiting a Friend
the boy played with guns
while the girls talked
they rode tricycles and bicycles
pulled a wagon and walked
they posed on a swing
for a picture or two
good times were had by all
especially me and you!
Mel, it was so nice to see you again.
We are incredibly saddened by your loss and pray for you daily.
I hope our next visits won’t be so far apart. -
So Many Reasons to Nurse Your Baby
It is no secret that I am very pro-breastfeeding.
Whenever I find out a friend is pregnant with their first child, I try to take the time to talk to her about nursing her baby. When someone resists and says that it isn’t for them, I ask them to just try, even just a few weeks.
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but breast really is best.
There are more reasons that I can begin to share, so I thought I would just send you over to an article: 50 Reasons for Breastfeeding Anytime, Anywhere.
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Too Funny: Dads Changing Diapers
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I Am Just Bummed…
In the past several of months, there has been so much sadness in my life and the lives of those around me. I am having a very hard time this evening with it all.
In a short period of time, our family has been constantly sick, my mom is dealing with her cancer and constant testing, my friend, who had been trying to conceive for nearly two years, miscarried her baby, my Nonna struggles in a nursing home, my other friends found out that their future plans are being delayed indefinitely, another friend delivered a stillborn full-term baby girl, my husband’s Aunt Joy passed away after a short battle with brain cancer, several people that we love have been trying for years and cannot conceive, my in-laws are going through a hard time at their church, a friend’s step-mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the wedding of our friends that was supposed to be this weekend had to be cancelled due to immigration issues and the groom is now detained, separated from his fiance AND his young daughter, on the weekend that was to be his wedding.
On top of this, now that our family has been exposed to a “highly contagious” virus, we have to cancel our trip back home. My mom’s side of the family, all four of her brothers and their families, were getting together. One of my aunts has brain cancer and I have an uncle who is very ill. I so wanted to be there because this may be the last time that everyone is together as a family, and now we can’t go. We can’t expose these two family members, who are in compromised physical states, to this stupid virus.
I am angry. I am sad. I am disappointed. I am confused. I am frustrated.
I just wish things weren’t like this.
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Urgent Prayer Request for My Friend Mel and Her Family
My friend Melissa was 38 weeks pregnant when she gave birth to her
stillborn daughter, Francesca Rose, yesterday evening.
Please pray for my friend and her dear family!
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Parents, movie fans are cooing over ‘Babies’ documentary.
If you were enraptured by just-hatched creatures of March of the Penguins, wait until you see Babies.
The collective cooing began last fall when the film’s trailer first appeared in theaters. Two African children play with rocks inside a hut when the younger one decides to reach for a nearby plastic bottle — only to have the older toddler suddenly push her and grab it away. One bites, the other shrieks, tears are shed and the laughter of shared recognition fills the air.
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BABIES: The Movie
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Prayer for Children
O God, our heavenly Father, who loves mankind and are a most merciful and compassionate God, have mercy upon Your servants for whom I humbly pray to You to care for and protect. O God, be their guide and guardian in all their endeavors, lead them in the path of Your truth, and draw them nearer to You, so that they may lead a godly and righteous life in Your love as they do Your will in all things. Give them Your grace, and mercy so that they may be patient, hard working, tireless, devout and charitable. Defend them against the assaults of the enemy, and grant them wisdom and strength to resist all temptation and corruption, and direct them in the way of Salvation, through the goodness of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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