Tag: labor and delivery

A Day to Remember, Parenting 101

Welcome To the World!

Because I delivered five babies, I went through labor five times. My labors weren’t the ones where you went in and played cards for a while, skipped down the hospital corridor with your backside for all to see, had an epidural and then were told to push because you were numb from the middle down.

Now, to be fair, I’ve never had an epidural. These were stories told by other moms that had one. Because of my fear of anyone poking around my spine, I always declined. I would rather be completely sedated. But you understand that with any fear, it can be completely irrational. Facts don’t matter! Each woman is different, every person experiences pain in a different way. Every woman needs to do what she feels is best for her labor and delivery, and she  needs the support of those with her.

My labors were long, and I delivered big babies. With each one, the first cry and the first glimpse of that tiny face…made all those hours very well worth it. Around thirteen years later with each child, I rethought those moments and my conclusion was that I was delusional at the time. Extreme discomfort and pain can do that to you! But with each child, when active labor began, it was that feeling of despair. The memories of what that long contraction felt like…and I wanted to run!

So it was with our second oldest when she was in labor with our sixth grandchild last Wednesday. Believe me, I felt those contractions, I knew by the look on her face that she wanted to run. But labor is one of those items in this life that you have to see through until the end. And women all around the world for ages have done it over and over again. Women are strong, they are formidable, a force to be reckoned with. And yet, when a child is small, and sometimes big, they want their mother to ease the pain…to comfort.

Our sixth grandchild, the fifth girl, arrived last Wednesday, November 22nd at 3:43 pm. Her name is Eleanor Rose Elise…Ellie to us. She weighed 7 pounds and 6 ounces, 19 inches and then some, I think. The statistics dim for me after the first few days. Because of her parents request to not post pictures at this time, I will not. But she is a real cutie! Her big sister Ava thinks so as well.

Family is one of those Divine Institutions that God has given us in this life. Marriage and family is to be honored and cherished. It is a Blessing far beyond my comprehension. It is what makes this world, rather difficult to live in at times, just that much better. I am thankful for mine!

Welcome to this big world, Miss Ellie Rose! I look forward to watching you grow into the delightful woman God created you to be. And may your mother have the honor of watching your little ones arrive in this world one day. It is a Blessing to behold!

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Parenting 101

Mother’s Day IS Important!

Tomorrow we celebrate Mother’s Day. There are so many days set aside now to remember. You name something, and there is a day for it. A very quick internet search told me that Monday, May 15th is Nylon Stockings Day. I don’t think anyone calls them that anymore, and wearing them is a trial, but there is a day set aside for that. Tomorrow is also Chicken Dance Day. Another fun day to celebrate. Our children and I actually learned this dance to share at our local nursing home a few years ago. Our youngest daughter loved it, but I don’t think her siblings thought it was such a great idea. Saturday, May 20th is, Be a Millionaire Day. That might be fun to try on for a while. But as I said before, if you name it, there is a day for it.

All of that is rather fun, but I fear that days such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day will get lost in the shuffle. And yes, there is a Children’s Day, but as I always told our children, every day is your day. You don’t have to go to work, your housing and food is provided, and you have terrific parents…so every day is your day! Enjoy! They didn’t think much of that either.

I think Mother’s Day is a special day, and all of us mother’s have a list of what we think would be great for Mother’s Day. Here is a little video giving just a short version of some lists mothers may have. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVuqj0BZIGo I think any mother can probably relate to several points made here.

When I was expecting our first baby, I was about two months along for my first Mother’s Day. I was really excited about it. A day just for me…maybe some chocolate, flowers, etc. My husband was in the Air Force Reserves back then and of course he had his weekend away that first Mother’s Day for me. After feeling a bit sorry for myself, I had a great ending to that day with the return of my husband, and I know he probably brought me flowers, because he always did for special occasions.

Thinking back on that day, I smile, because I didn’t have a clue of what I was celebrating, and I hadn’t even really earned the right to wear the Mother Badge at that point in time. Being sick every, single, day for four months didn’t really count. After I delivered our 9 lb. 6 oz. daughter, three weeks late after several days of labor, I was beginning to have a clue. Along came our second, then our third, fourth and fifth. Every one with the four months of misery. Thankfully the hours of labor lessened with each one!

But delivering a baby isn’t the only aspect of being a mother, and it’s not the most important one. Because you can be a mother without delivering a baby. And that is why I believe we should celebrate Mother’s Day.

My first Mother’s Day back in May of 1987 was very special to me, but with each succeeding one, they became even more precious. The flowers and cards are always appreciated. The chocolate is anticipated. Breakfast in bed or on the way to church would be lovely, or lunch afterwards just as delicious. Jewelry, new clothes, a manicure…all great gifts. But I think any mother would say that the day is made special by the children that made her a mother.

I look back on all those years. The years that seemed as though they would take forever to end when the children were sick and up all night. The years of preparing meals, all day long, the loads, and loads, and loads of laundry. The little squabbles that irritated me, and all the questions asked. I can look back, but all of that fades into a blurry haze, and what emerges is the memory of rocking each child to sleep at night. The stories read, the times of singing when we all did the dishes, and the little squabbles that ended with hugs.

Those years are what make a mother. Those years that flew by more swiftly than I ever thought they would.

Happy Mother’s Day to our three daughters that are now mothers. I wish each of you the same fulfillment and love that I have experienced being your mother. It’s because of our five children that I can wear the Mother’s Badge.

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Parenting 101

“Natural” Childbirth: Anniversary Edition 

Granddaughter number four was due on the 23rd of December…and she has not arrived! I know I should be patient. I know I shouldn’t be anxious. But when your children go through something difficult, it’s a lot different than when you go through it. 

I have shared a couple other times from this blog. She is fun to read, she is married, she is a mother of multiple children, she’s a Believer and most importantly…she’s funny. So, in light of our daughter being a bit overdue with our granddaughter, I just wanted to share this. Having babies today is very different than when I had mine almost thirty years ago for the first time. And yes, I attended ‘prepared childbirth’ classes. I didn’t have a clue when I went into labor for the first time and it took me three days to deliver our firstborn, just a couple days before Christmas. So this gave me a chuckle and I had to share. Now, back to being patient! 😉

I am old. This is what the new batch of our babies have to look forward to. They have an old mom. And she’s way behind the times. They will to go school with kids that were birthed into swimming po…

Source: “Natural” Childbirth: Anniversary Edition