Felicity is 9

I can not believe today my 5th born child is 9 years old. Felicity Agnes was born at home on this day. I woke up at 3 am feeling 'crampy' and knew this must be the time. I did not wake anyone but got up and walked around. I decided to call my midwife, Sharon, at Fruitful Vine . She had been at birth all night and said she would head my way because my labors were fast.

My midwife arrived around 6:30 am. She told me I was "complete" but left me alone because oddly for me I had not urge to push. I hung out in the tub, then walked and walked the neighborhood. 

My other children were all up puking it was so sad to hear them. The sweet birth assistant Tanya was taking care of their needs. 

This went on for almost 4 hrs I recall. Then Sharon had me lay on my left side and pull my right leg up ....well that got her in position. I began to feel the urge to push. She was born quickly "facial presentation to the left"She was born at 10:42 am and  was 9 pounds 8 oz and 22 1/2 inches long. 

Her first year was rough, she was very high needs and colicy. I learned when she was a year she had Sensory Processing Disorder.  Anyone with a SPD child knows what I mean I have two actually.

She has always been homeschooled. She is now very active in academy soccer (her thing)  locally and just started violin lessons . However this week she fractured her wrist so that is all on hold.

 Follow this link for a slide show on my photography page:

http://lisaolschewskephotography.com/blog/2015/3/nine-years-of-felicity

Newborn Weight loss and IV fluids in labor

I just read another blog post this morning that I wanted to share. I have been a Lactation Specialist for over 15 years thru my volunteer work with La Leche League. I get SO many calls and questions at our support meetings about newborn weight loss. This article is basically what I have been trying to explain to moms for a long time! Here is the link
http://www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/2011/10/31/newborn-weight-loss-and-iv-fluids-in-labor.html
I have never had IV fluids in labor , I have had 3 homebirths and 3 hospital. Dehvin wa smy first born in a hospital I had not iv fluids but did have MAJOR latch issues with her so she did lose over 10% of her birth weight. My others never lost weight...except Sebastian, he was my last baby and was a preemie.

Today's Mass Readings mention Breastfeeding

We split masses today. Meaning Dehvin and Tat went to 9 am and I went to 11 with Ansely and Ethan. I dont always do this but since Felicity has a fractured ankle and Sebastian has reached the point where I can not keep him in the sling nursing...I felt he would have more fun at home...

Today's readings left me sad...you will see why. But I feel so guilty NOT bringing everyone together to mass. With Ryan gone again I do not have my helper....well honestly since he has been back he has not been great with the children....

Here are the Mass readings from scripture:
 Psalm 131:
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul."

Notice how the verse from Psalms talks about how breastfeeding quiets a child. Isn't that so true! When babies are hungry, sleepy, need to suckle or just need MOM, nursing often does the trick.  There are three things a baby needs: nourishment, warmth and security. Breastfeeding fulfills all three of these needs. Even older babies and toddlers need these things. How wonderful that a mother can breastfeed her child when he is feeling insecure among strangers or is having a meltdown!


From 1 Thes 2:

"We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children."

During breastfeeding, hormones are released in the mother's body that help her to relax and sometimes even want to fall asleep! I believe that breastfeeding helps mothers be more gentle with their child. How easy it is for parents to get frustrated - What the world needs is a whole lot of Prolactin :)

Here is a family photo from Ethan's First Communion.....

Sebastian midnight singing...

We all have nights like these I am sure.....A two year old that can not seem to give it up and go to sleep...He has had a cold this week and was having a hard time nursing to sleep..So he got on the unlocked computer himself and ....

Dehvin is 18!!!

September 9

It is so hard to believe I am the mother of a 18 year old! A lot has changed since I became a mother the first time 18 years ago.

Dehvin was born on her US due date...Pretty funny if you KNOW me and how I loathe Ultra sounds....With each child you live and learn.
I woke up the morning of Sept 9 having 'cramps'. SO we knew today was the day....We had breakfast....at Burger King of all places...I had french toast sticks! Those that know me KNOW I just do not eat fast food!
I went to my OB and he confirmed I was 'in labor' I was not feeling the contractions he said. I was having them every 3 minutes..but I only felt cramps every 10 minutes.

We were sent to the hospital. I walked around all afternoon. Fast forward....before the shift change...Dr decides lets break your bag of water....being uneducated I allowed that...There was meconium...so they place an internal monitor on her scalp! YES again knowing what I know this ANGERS me.

Shift change occurs....I am feeling different but not sure why being a first time mom. Ryan attempts to get a nurse because I feel like a need to go potty...IT took half and hour to get a nurse in the room because of a shift change.
The nurse comes in, Im like I need to go potty etc... she is like well it has not been that long blah blah... I keep shifting in the bed. I make a grunt. So the nurse is like I guess I can check you but it has not been that long. She lifts my sheet and yells "omgoodness she is crowning"

To say the least that lit a fire. She had me keep my knees together.....trying to get the dr there. This went on for over 45 minutes....

At 7:46 pm, 30 seconds after the Dr walked in Dehvin was born...with REM "man in the moon' playing on the radio.

I was labeled a "fast labor" patient....I found that funny now....

We had a rough start nursing....I went two months with bleeding cracked nipples! But I got thru it. I wanted to cave one night and give her a bottle because that case was on teh dresser taht showed up in the mail...But Ryan said he knew if He let me I would never forgive him! Ryan is also the one that finally said on night, why dont you keep her on you instead of trying to lay her in the bassinet by our bed! That began our family bed!

Dehvin gained very slow and had a hard time nursing but went on to nurse beyond age 5! She was our high need fussy baby (according to Dr Sears) I literally carried her in my arms all the time. I discovered my first sling when she was 9 months old at my FIRST La Leche League Meeting! That first LLL meeting saved my life! IT changed everything! I finally felt normal!

I had been following my instincts all along! Little did I know then that Our Lady of La Leche had a HUGE role in my life then.....

Here is Dehvin as a newborn with her Grammy

Here is Dehvin on her 18th Birthday!

Discoveries

Sebastian started walking a few weeks ago. Being a preemie he has been "delayed" in many ways. He is much smaller than any of my other children. However I have to say even though he is small I really have enjoyed carrying around a lighter toddler in the sling.

He is discovering so many things now out side of his sling...water is one of them, toddlers LOVE water. I just got this cute set from Discovery Toys  http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/esuite/control/product?PURCHASE_STATE=STANDARD&product_id=1674 of course we love all the DT toys (since I have been a distributor for years)

But he only spends a short time playing he is always in my sight and now toddles up to nurse.....

He also this past week walked out side for the first time. He was at the front glass door and began to cry....We opened the door and he walked VERY quickly outside. Yes he was naked....IT is so sweet and innocent when they are little.....

















As you can see he did a great job walking...

World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7

As most of my fellow nursing moms know this week is World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7. I will be sharing several breastfeeding facts this week....But to begin this week (which was Sunday) I am posting a favorite prayer:


Prayer of a Mother to Our Lady of La Leche


The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is the first shrine ever to be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United State, in 1620. It has a statue of the Virgin Mother nursing the Infant Jesus. See the website for Mission of Nombre de Dios for more information about Senora de la Leche y buen parto (Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery. The following prayer is asks Our Lady's intercession to be a good mother.

To You, lovely Lady of La Leche, and to your Divine Son, do I now dedicate this little baby whom our Father in heaven has given me. Grateful for the trust He has placed in me, I beg you to obtain for me the physical and spiritual graces I need to fulfill my duties at every moment. Inspire me with the motherly sentiments you felt during your days with the Child Jesus. Make it possible for me, in imitation of you, O Lady of La Leche, to nurse my child to perfect health. In all things help me to follow the example which you, as the perfect model of all mothers, have given to me. Let my family mirror the virtues of your Holy Family of Nazareth. Finally, I commend to your loving care all the mothers of earth, in whose hands He has entrusted the souls of His little children. Amen.

WWMD? Mothering and the Gospel reading, July 18, 2010

The Gospel for Today is Luke 10:38-42


Jesus entered a village
where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary
who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said,
"Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me."


The Lord said to her in reply,


"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."

WWMD?? (what would mary do)

I know I do not always share the Gospel readings but since I sadly had to miss Mass today due to my baby having a fever all day, and myself not feeling well I needed to take time and read and ponder the readings.

Im not a scholar by any means but God did make me a very intune attached momma. As I read the Gospel at first all could do was chuckle...because my oldest daughter Dehvin is an amazing teen that loves to help me. She is the firstborn, the mother hen so to speak. Not that the other children are any less helpers ...my point well she is the one always scurrying around cleaning....and she will say to her siblings or esp to me so and so is not helping mom are you going to do anything...Of course I do ..

But taking this reading more to heart :

"There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."

Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus...

I chose to follow my God given instincts and nurse my babies, to wear my babies/toddlers...no one can take that away from me. If every mom would follow her heart, her instincts that God gave to us, and stay attached to their babies , would' nt the world be so much better?

To me  the most important thing is nursing and loving our babies, the house can wait, the cleaning can wait the world can wait..Sit, listen, read, love your children...they will be only little once..

The picture above is me holding Sebastian in the sling like I do everyday....what a beautiful thing! So when I attend to the house, dinner or reading to the children, I do so with my baby close to me...

Have a Blessed week ahead.....

Not a napping house

So I laid down the other day to nurse Sebastian and felicity crawled in beside me and fell a sleep. This is a child that does not sleep! It was a short lived nap due to the fact her brother Ethan woke us all up. This really is not a napping house .