Sorry I Was MIA...So, How About Some Q And A... And A Contest, Too?!!

Isabella Grace is 3.5 weeks old and I seem to have forgotten just how time consuming it is to have a newborn at home. You would think I would have it figured out, with 5 other similar experiences, but I suppose when they say you forget all the 'hardship' from labor, it trickles down for the first few months for me. Then my darling husband texts me a picture of her stuck to all those tubes in the NICU and the text says, 'We would have given anything to have her home and crying when she was in the NICU'. True, so true. I did hold her pretty much for 10 hours straight today. She took a few 5 minute cat-naps today, but seemed to want to be attached to my breast or be worn all day. Thank God for slings. She sure is pretty, even with all that newborn acne.

Many of you have sent me emails or have asked me questions in the comments about nursing, long term effects, and our day to day goings on. So, I figured I would just do a little Q and A on the blog. And, yes, I will get to the birth story, preferably before Isabella goes to college.

1. How did those first days go? (Thanks for asking, Jen.)Our first days home with Isabella are such a blur now. I think I was just so elated to have her home finally, that I can't seem to recall too much more than being so thankful. Our first night went really well. She slept so great. The kids all were so helpful and there was a line out the door, just our immediate family, wanting to hold her and cuddle her. I was terribly nervous about nursing, but bit the bullet and dove in. She is a really easy to read baby. She wants to eat ASAP, she hates to be dirty or wet, and then she just wants to sleep. She is starting to really want to be held a lot. The poor girl didn't get any cuddle time for her first week of life!

2. How is the breast feeding going? (Thanks for asking, Jessica.) Those first few days were a bit painful. I hadn't really nursed her, but once, while she was in the hospital, so I was so anxious about it all. Yeah, I have sore nipples, but it is going well now. She is a bit of a sleepy nurser, so I have to really work at keeping her awake. I did go see my beloved lactation specialist this past Tuesday and she gave me great pointers. She also watched Isabella latch on and asked if she was a ventilator baby. I told her 'yes', and she said she could tell since she seemed to be reluctant to open up really wide. She says she sees that a lot in ventilator babies. She recommended I keep my thumb on her chin to apply pressure, and that helped us both a lot. She tanked up really well! She hasn't gained back all her weight yet, but we are getting there. Oh, btw, I love Lansinoh's nipple cream. It has been such a blessing! And, I did try cabbage to ease the soreness the first few days (Thanks for the tip, Jessica!), and that helped a lot, too! I think we will have this down in no time.

3. Is she totally healed or will she have to be on any kind of meds? (Thanks for asking, Dani Joy.) We are praising Jesus that there are no long term effects from Isabella having aspirated the meconium. She is healed and we are so thankful to God first and foremost, to everyone that was praying, and for the advances in medicine. The head NICU nurse did advise us to watch her like a hawk the first year... especially, during flu season. She would be more prone to getting RSV or upper respiratory infections. I am already a bit of a germ-a-phob, so you can imagine how much more I will be once RSV season starts. I haven't even taken her to church yet! I have kept her under wraps here at home and will probably show her off this Sunday as long as I am feeling better. I have felt the effects of this pregnancy and my age a bit harder than the others and have paid for it the past few days.

4. Have you ever had problems getting pregnant? It took 7 months to get pregnant with my first. I was not living a godly lifestyle and it was a shock to me, but the minute I found out I was pregnant with Miguel, I got my act together. I became pregnant with Karizma after stopping the mini-pill for 2 months, in my first marriage. When Tim and I got married, we wished to get pregnant our wedding night. We actually did not get pregnant for 11 months, which ended up in miscarriage. I was heartbroken, even when our OB said we could be pregnant again within 6 weeks. We were pregnant again, with Walker, within 2 months. Next, I got pregnant with Christian after one cycle. And we must have conceived Zack days after God truly convicted Tim and I about my taking the pill (Tim and I want to stress the scientific fact that birth control pills are abortifacients... that is, fertilized eggs(A BABY) will be destroyed.), and I threw them away. For our next child, we went through a lot of conviction, and praying, and crying out to God about having another child, although we knew whole heartedly that God wanted us to trust HIM with our family planning. We always have felt strongly about this, but we too are human and fell once again. The Holy Spirit pointed us in the right direction, yet again, God forgave us and we got pregnant with Isabella about 2 weeks after. So, I am fertile and Tim must have the strongest sperm in the world. So, we have never really experienced the longing that I know many of you may feel. Although, we so longed for that baby that is now with the Lord. 11 months felt like a lifetime, especially when we ended up seeing the pregnancy end so quickly. Just remember, it isn't about how long it takes, how little it takes, but how much you are trusting the Lord. Cling to Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 37:4, you lovely daughter of the king, so longing to hold a child. He knows your heart.

5. What is the age difference between Isabella and your next child? Isabella is just over 2.5 years younger than Zack. Most of our children are very close in age: Miguel and Karizma are 20 months apart, then there is a big gap (8 years) since I was remarried. Walker and Christian are 19 months apart, Christian and Zack are 20 months apart. I love having them this close together, because they have a best friend (or two) around all the time. God's timing is perfect. Trust Him with your family planning, your womb, your children, and you will reap the rewards of being fruitful and multiplying. God says that children are a gift from Him... A GIFT! The dictionary says that a gift is 'something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned'. My children are a gift that I totally did not deserve or do anything to earn, but God has blessed me with them. So, I will cherish them as the gifts that they are.

6. How is your little girl doing? (Thanks for asking, Ashley.) She is doing well. She does have a really, really bad case of newborn acne. However, all my kids have had it pretty bad. I do feel so bad, though, because she is a little girl and I so long for her skin to be pretty and clear. I admit that is why I haven't taken a bunch of pictures. She is a joy in every way and seeing her smile and recognize me is sheer and utter joy. Nursing her is a privilege, even though I question it at 4 in the morning. Seeing her in little dresses and bows is a thrill to me and I honestly ask myself how I ever lived without her!

Thanks for checking in on me and praying for us. We love you, guys!
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OK, Dani Joy did a caption contest last week. Jessica is doing one this week (head over to submit your entry) . I totally enjoyed the last give away on my blog, so I am joining in on the fun...


I fell in love with this picture taken of my niece, Sonoma ( My SIL, Natalie's, daughter) holding Isabella on the 4th of July. What caption would you give this picture? (There is a prize, yet to be announced... hey, I don't get out much anymore, so I have to go find something, but I will make it good.) Entries will be accepted until Thursday, July 16th, 9pm, pst.