Introducing .......

Veronica Grace

October 27, 2008

2:55 AM

8 lbs. 8.5 oz

20 inches long

Born via waterbirth

We're home now and resting. And VERY happy!! Thank you for all your prayers! I'll chat more later. Enjoy the pictures.

Labor Update .....

Just saw the midwife tonight. I'm definitely in labor but my contractions come and go. I'm already 4cm dilated but we've come back home and will go back when contractions are sticking and consistant. Craig predicts 2 am. I say 5am because I need the sleep.

Keep praying. My contractions are VERY intense and starting to get uncomfortable. I think she'll be born sometime tomorrow. Now to get through the night.

Its very early and I'm blogging because staying awake seems to make contractions stick around. And I'm determined to have a baby ASAP!!

So, I thought I would update about my Anna and her eyeglasses.

Last weekend Craig took the kids to Sea World. The weather was beautiful and he was giving me a nice break to finish up some of my nesting projects. When they got back Craig told me what he overheard Anna say during the Shamu show:

Anna: WOW!! I can see Shamu! I never knew he was so big and that pretty!!

Poor Anna!! We've been going to Sea World since she was a baby and I feel like last weekend was the first time she actually saw Shamu!! So I'm trying to think of all the places we need to go back and visit since it doesn't seem like she's "seen" any of it.

Also, I was afraid Anna would have lost her glasses by now. She has become so dependant on them that she takes them off at the last possible minute before going to bed and has them on before she's out of bed. Initially, I was having her give them to me every night and giving them back in the morning. But she doesn't feel secure without them, even just walking from her room to mine.

The optometrist had said that kids see leaves for the first time after getting glasses. Instead, my child saw Shamu!!

Process slowly starting ....

.... I think! Last night around 10pm contractions started and were still around hours later. Of course, Craig and I got excited and Craig did what every father should do .... went and soaked in the tub for a LONG time. After all, his back and feet have been hurting and who knows when he'll have time to take long baths after baby is born. LOL!!!

I just kept sitting around, waiting for them to get stronger and fell asleep while waiting for Craig to finish soaking. I eventually went to bed but did not have a good night's rest. Contractions were coming and going and I was thinking ... FINALLY!!!

Well, they've disappeared. :-( This is normal for me and I had hoped this time would be different. I expect tonight's contractions to be even more intense. And so I predict baby will be here Sunday or Monday. We'll see.

Meanwhile, I'm just waiting. I did repack the baby's bag last night. I needed to add some warmer clothes because the temperature has dropped!! Also, I still can't find the canopy to my infant car seat. I think I'm going to try to make one. We just can't seem to find it anywhere.

School was very light this week. Mostly just math, science, history, silent reading and piano practice. Also, Sophia and Kolbe are doing wonderfully with their 100 EZ Lessons (a book I love to hate). Sophia just got to lesson 50 and is having fun reading "easy books." Kolbe is determined to catch up but is only on lesson 18. Its really clicking with him.

What else ......... I promise to try to post or leave a comment when we do leave for the birthing center.

Take care and keep sending those birthing vibes my way!!

Catherine's Good News

I almost forgot to announce Catherine's latest and greatest achievement .... she's completely potty trained!!!!! Not only day time but night time, too. And she's already pooping in her potty!! That last one seems to be the hardest around here.

I finally decided around 1 1/2 weeks ago that I wanted her out of diapers. So, I refused her diapers. She got the picture after 2 days and hasn't had an accident since. We don't even have to ask her. She comes right up and tells us when she needs to go.

Its all a matter of mommy readiness. Catherine was ready a LONG time ago. I finally came around and decided this had to happen and went about the hard work of offering Isabelle $5 if she would shadow Catherine for 2 days and potty train her.

For now on, I think I'm having my older kids potty train the resident 3 year old. It was so easy I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! LOL!!

Also, I got my laundry room under control and completely organized. So, Craig gave me the go ahead and I ordered my cloth diaper supplies 2 weeks ago. I am so psyched!!! Those cloth diapers were also part of my inspiration to have Catherine out of her disposables.

So ...... I'm ready now. Baby can come. We're potty trained, and organized and diapers are laundered. No more things to get ready. Just waiting .........

Baby Update

Well, baby isn't here yet but she seems to be coming around. I've been having contractions on and off for more than a day. I tend to be a putterer when it comes to labor. This could probably go on for another day or two. But, I hope not.

This morning the kids came running into my bedroom. Apparently they thought today was my due date. Kolbe came in first and said, "Where's the baby?" Isabelle ran in seconds later and said, "Did you have the baby?"

What did they think, that I was having a homebirth? LOL!!

Anyways, they are just as anxious and excited as I am.

Although, I will admit that last night as I was up for a few hours with contractions, I had a moment of panic. For a few minutes I wanted to just pray for another week or two of reprieve. What if I'm not ready??

But that's the thing with labor, ready or not, it comes. And thankfully, it never lasts forever. Well, that's what I keep telling myself, anyways!!

So, I'm back to praying for baby to be born tonight or tomorrow (my nightly prayer as of late) but please keep me in your prayers in case I should doubt I can really do this. You would think after 5 babies this would be easy but I always find it to be a new experience all over.

And while labor always comes, I never feel quite ready. But, at the same time I am more than ready to hold a baby and so I eagerly await for labor!!!

Prayer Request for Michael

*UPDATE* Michael's parents have set up this blog/webpage with more updates. He seems to be doing a little better but is still not out of danger. Please continue to pray for him!!

Would you please offer up a prayer for a little boy in our homeschooling group?? He had a swimming pool accident (drowning) and is in critical condition. He's only 2 yo and the family is obviously distraught. I'm afraid his condition is the most severe in cases of drowning. They are praying for a miracle.

Mother Theresa's favorite emergency prayer was to say 9 memorares. Maybe you could take some time RIGHT NOW and do that?

Also, the mother of the little boy said to PLEASE not waste any time be angry at your children. Times is too precious and its useless. I'm sure she has a perspective right now that she wishes she didn't.

Please lift him up in your prayers.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Still here ....

....... and waiting for the missy. She doesn't seem to appreciate all the plans we have for the end of this month. The sooner she makes her appearance, the better. But so far, she doesn't seem to want to listen to my reasoning.

Hanging in There!

I'm still here waiting for baby to announce her entrance. And I'm still calling her baby because her name has NOT been finalized!! LOL!! *sigh*

No sooner do "we" make the decision and "someone" comes up with another suggestion. I'll admit to being the "someone." Poor Craig. He'll come walking into the room and refer to the baby by her newest name only to hear that I'm not sure if its still a keeper.

I've NEVER had this problem before. NEVER!!! By now the whole family would be calling baby by her name. Maybe we'll just name her Baby!! LOL!!

*********************************************
Last weekend Isabelle had her first swim meet of the year. She did great. She was DQ'd for 1 out of her 8 events. Poor sweetie!! The event she was most nervous about, 200m freestyle. Now, how does someone get DQ'd from the freestyle you might be asking?? Afterall, IT'S FREESTYLE!!!!!! That means you can swim however you want!!!!

Well, apparently, it was her flip turn that DQ'd her. She barely touched the wall with one foot since she turned too early.

Lesson learned. I'm still very proud of her. She seemed so tired those last 2 laps that I had to scream even louder to help her along.

She swam at the Texas Swim Center at t.u. and let me just say that it is a VERY nice set up!!! I could get used to attending swim meets there. In fact, Isabelle was SOOOOOOOOO impressed with the natatorium that she's talking about going there for college!!!!!

*G A S P *

I need to find a swim meet in College Station PRONTO!!

Actually, t.u. has a wonderful music program (tons of Suzuki piano teachers with their Ph.D's) and a very strong swim program. Not that I'm making plans for my 5th grader!! LOL!!! Just thinking aloud!! And I really wouldn't mind having her so close to home.

Oh My Goodness!! Did I just become a traitor?!? It must be the hormones!!! ;-)

Beautiful Art About Life in a Large Family (21 Children !!!!)

I realize I've not been blogging too much lately. I won't hide the fact that I'm an emotional mess right now. It doesn't seem to be a Monday thing. Some people get post partum depression. I seem to tend towards pre-partum. But I hate to whine about it. So just know that my blog entries will be few and far between.

But just wanted to share (and I've been wanting to link to this for months and months now) a beautiful website that gives me hope and helps me remember why I should be joyful ...... my faith and my family.

This website was done as a homeschooling project by some girls of a mother on my MODG Yahoo loop. They interviewed and built a website about a lady who painted pictures of her life as part of a VERY large family.

The paintings are beautiful and the descriptions are inspiring. Very Catholic, very pre-modern. Paintings about a simpler way of life (in some aspects) that we just don't see anymore. I frequent this website when ever I feel like I've lost perspective.

Anyways, enjoy. And keep me in your prayers. I'm sure all my crying and screaming and crying is not good for baby or my kiddos.

And pray that I can just let go of my perfectionism. Some women enjoy their nesting while my nesting drives me insane because it doesn't ever feel like I will get it all done. Or like my cherubs will leave my organized spaces alone. They seem to gravitate towards them!!!!

Anyways, no more whining. Go see this website. I'm sure back then women didn't obsess about the minor things I seem to think about.

Feast Day of St. Therese

May you have a blessed day on the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

Today we enjoyed playing with our paper dolls. We also watched this movie and colored from these books. On the way to swimming we will probably listen to the accompanying CD.

May St. Therese shower you with many roses today!!