is natural family planning an option for you?

participating in the Mommy Brain Mixer today. 

This girl is co-hosting this week! you should go check her out!

So much has happened since my last post and I'm sorry, buuuuut life happens.  Since October I've become an aunt for the first time and let me tell you... Being an aunt is just as special and amazing as being a mommy but it's a completely different love all at the same time. Is he not the most precious thing in the world?!!!?!!?

Ok, so now for the purpose of today's post. I've had some issues with my OBGYN lately and am looking for another one. One of these issues is the issue of birth control. I haven't tried EVERY birth control out there but I've tried plenty. None of which have worked for my lifestyle.

With my mother being a nurse, the minute I hit puberty it was off to the doctor to get on the pill to "regulate my cycle"! (I only wish you could hear the happiness disdain in my voice). Needless to say I've been off and on BC since I was 14. I've been on several brands of the pill, I've been on the patch, I've been on Mirena, and the DepoPreva shot. Each form of BC had different side effects on me. All have made me nauseous, all have made me moody and have affected my eating habits. Each time I would go back to my doc telling him that it wasn't working for me and I wanted to try something else. The only options given to me were hormonal contraceptives or barrier contraceptives.

About two years ago I heard from a friend that an acquaintance of ours was using natural family planning but at the time I thought this acquaintance was absolutely crazy and was playing with fire for not being on hormonal BC. Today is a different story because of all the health problems I've experienced because of unnecessary hormonal contraception.

I don't know how my husband has put up with me for as long as he has. I pray for that man everyday for his patience and unwavering love for me.

I was just curious one day and googled "Christian birth control" because ultimately I want to do the Lord's will and follow the path He has set out for me. I was astounded at the actual science behind my Christian Birth Control/natural family planning search.

One article mentioned that if a woman starts hormonal birth control before her first full term pregnancy that her risk of getting breast cancer raises to 40%.

As soon as I read that I threw my pill packet in the garbage, called my husband and told him I was done and decided that I was going to look for an OBGYN or midwife that would support MY wants as far as MY healthcare goes. I was also shocked to also read that the side effects I was experiencing was not "normal"... that it was actually my body fighting the chemicals in my body. My body was at war with itself and that scared me.

You might know a lot about NFP and not even know it. Using a fertility monitor or charting your temperature while trying to get pregnant is a form of NFP. But  it's not just for conceiving, it's for control as well. The days you would participate in your "marriage act" to conceive are the days you abstain from your "marriage act" in order not to conceive. It's not that simple but that's the math of it. You use your abstain days to court or be with the family.

I know this is a lot of information to absorb, but I want to empower you. I want to empower you because I want to give you options. Options that I wasn't given. I felt lied to, I still feel lied to. I know I will have a lot more posts about this topic because it's an ongoing issue in my life that I think is so VERY important.

It wouldn't surprise me to know that not a lot of people know about NFP because I didn't hear about it until a few days ago. I encourage you to do a lot of research in order to inform youself because you are your first and best advocate for health.

Ultimately it comes down to this for me. If a medicine is going to alter me in a negative way... I'm done. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Whitney

What's for Dinner? Hot Chicken Casserole

So once again, I'm cooking one of my mommy's recipes... She and my Nana are the best! 

This is what you need

Almost 1 whole rotisserie chicken

1/2 cup sauteed onion

4 TBS butter

1 can cream of chicken

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 oz jar pimento

4 oz jar mushrooms

3 oz jar Asian/Chinese noodles

1/2 to 1 whole sleeve ritz crackers

Preheat oven to 350 F

Pull chicken apart and add to large bowl.

Sautee onion in 2 TBS butter

Add next 5 ingredients (I like to make sure my pimento and mushrooms are diced finely bc my house is full of babies that don't like their veg)

Stir ingredients together and pour into 13x9 casserole dish (make sure its sprayed)

Crumble ritz on top of and add remaining butter (in 8 pieces) onto topping

Place into oven and cook for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with salad for complete meal.

Sorry, no pictures but trust me it's delish :)

What's for Dinner? Crock Pot Edition

I've always loved cooking in the crock pot - especially pot roast (as my mouth waters), but I've come to actually rely on my crock pot in the last 6 months because the following scenario doesn't work well. Take my advice.

Hungry baby + breastfeeding mama + hungry five year old + tired daddy = late dinner + cranky family.

TOTALLY.NOT.FUN.

For my first recipe, I'm not sharing my prize winning pot roast ... I'm going to share a soup recipe with healing powers. I love this soup because it's so colorful. Not only do I love to cook in the crock because it's low maintenance, but I love it because it fills your home with an aroma unlike any other. 

I feel really bad because I was in a hurry and didn't take any prep pictures but I snagged one before dinner while it was still in the crock.

"Everything but the Kitchen Sink" Vegetable Soup

White peas (any amount is fine)

1 large potato, skinned and diced

1-15 oz can of green beans, kitchen cut

1-15 oz can diced tomatoes, unflavored

1-15 oz canned limas, drained

 1-15 oz can whole kernel corn

1-8oz can carrots

1-16 oz bag frozen okra

3 slices bacon, cooked and drained

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

salt, pepper and onion powder to taste

Throw all ingredients, except potato, into the crock pot and cook on low all day. Add potato 3 hours before serving. Otherwise they will become mushy and fall apart. If time doesn't permit you to do that you may boil potatoes for 30 minutes and add right before serving, but it will not taste as yummy. You may even prep the day before and keep in the refrigerator overnight to allow further blending of flavors.

Serve with cheese grilled. (grilled cheese)

Happy Crockin' y'all :)

back to our daily grind.

As you can tell from my lack of blogging, we've been very busy. Very busy would be an understatement, actually. 

Maddie will be 6 months old next Wednesday. Can You Believe It?! and we've had a ton of appointments to attend for that dear soul.

Hannah started Kindergarten! 

I got rid of my Facebook.

I wish I could say that I had found a job, or we bought a new(er) car, or a house or something but nothing of the sort has happened. 

I've just been living my life as a taxi driver, cook and maid. Nowt that baby has finally settled into a routine this is our weekly schedule:

5 am: wake up at  to nurse baby and get Wes off to work

7 am: wake Hannah up and get ready for school

7:30 am: leave house for school

 8 am: drop Hannah off at school

8:30 am: feed baby breakfast at

 first nap by 9. 

10-10:30 am wake up and nurse baby again

12 pm lunchtime for mom and baby

12:30 pm nap time

2:15-2:30 pm nurse baby and leave house to pick up Hannah

3:30 pm school dismisses

4 pm return home/baby takes nap

6 pm dinner time and baby as well

7 pm tubby time for both girls

7:30pm nurse baby

8 pm bedtime for both girls

2 am baby wakes up to nurse 

 and we do it all over again.

On Mondays and Thursdays we stay in town and wait until Wes gets off work. Every other day he drives himself home. Such a big boy! 

I don't remember when my mother started me in the kitchen, I think I was like 9-10, but I definitely want to get Hannah started sooner than that so I'm thinking about starting a dinner blog or even a YouTube dinner vlog. I've been thinking about it for a while now, weighing my options, the pros and cons of having my children plastered all over the internet, but I seriously think I'm going to do it. so look out for it

and as always a little scripture to help you through your day:

Luke 11:2-3 " Jesus said, 'This is how you should pray:

Father, may your name be kept holy. 

May your Kingdom come soon.  

Give us each day the food we need.'"

the things my mother never told me.

hey ladies!! I'm participating in the Mommy Moments Blog Hop!!

 

To breastfeed or bottlefeed? that is the question...


that is definitely not a question to be taken lightly, but it does make your decision a lot easier if your child will actually switch back and forth from bottle to breast. Mine refuses. I'm gonna get right into the pros and cons because I'm not one for small talk. 


Pros of breastfeeding
a lot of down time with your baby. (up to 7 hours a day)
protects against infection/illness in mother baby
cost effective (there is also a con for this point as well).
you burn at least 500 calories a day, more if you have multiples.
helps the uterus contract faster after delivery.
their diapers don't stink as bad but you can definitely hear them when they happen.
no bottles to wash/formula to lug around
there is a delay in your period returning
protection against female cancers.
it tastes better than formula
Here's the best one yet -- FREE BOOB JOB!!!!!!


Cons of Breastfeeding
in the middle of the night, you're the only one that can feed your baby.
even though its cost effective you still have to buy clothing in which you can discreetly breastfeed, buy a nursing cover, buy breast pads, and a pump if you plan to go back to work.
you can rarely have a minute alone without your baby, unless they are willing to take a bottle filled with expressed breastmilk, once again, mine won't
people gawk at you in public
even though your spouse agrees with your decision, its a different ballgame in public, mine disowns me (or makes me go to the car)
you will constantly feel like you don't make enough milk - especially when they are going through their growth spurts at  7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less).
breastfed babies eat more frequently than formula fed babies. Mine is 4 months old and still nurses every 2.5 hours at best.
Whatever you eat gets into the babies system too, like caffeine which hinders baby's sleeping patterns. Certain vegetables, like lettuce will give your baby terrible gas pains. Some babies even have sensitivity to dairy so you have to limit the foods you eat.


If you choose to breastfeed (even with all those horrible cons - I hope you do) be patient with your baby because it will definitely take time. even though its the most natural thing in the world it is still very stressful and demanding on the mother. 


I would really appreciate it if those "prudes" out there would keep their "how undignified to talk about this in public" comments to themselves. if you want me to stop talking about breastfeeding or not breastfeed my child in public I will gladly accept donations of formula on your dime.




Also, breastfeed because it's in scritpture -
 “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” (Luke 11:27)


“I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you” (2 Macabees 7:27).


and many more
Don't forget ladies - World Breastfeeding Week is Aug 1-7 so let's do this thing! 

No Longer Preggie in Pink

you guessed it, Miss Madeleine Grace is here! 

Her due date was 4/6/11 but she arrived 3/28/11 via induction. 

She has flaxen hair and blue eyes

10 fingers, 10 toes

4 lbs 15 oz

18 1/2 inches long

induction started at 5:00 and she was born at 9:25

I asked for an epidural, but it didn't work

She is 8 days old today and is such a blessing

I finally got a picture of my angel with her eyes wide open ♥

Day 1 Challenge

Day 1. I have a four year old and already I'm thinking, I'm going to miss her at this age. Have you felt that way, and what age do you miss the most?

Of Course, I am most definitely going to miss Hannah at this age. She's so curious about (literally) the outside world and asks soo many questions, which lead to answers and more questions. She's so excited about the impending birth of her little sister. She still loves to give hugs and kisses (which is something our family never thought she was going to do) and is very adamant about people using their manners ;) . She's so innocent and naive and godly. Her version of the Bible stories they share in her K4 class crack me up. The only thing I'm worried about at this age is that she's used to being center of attention... Is she going to throw tantrums and act out with the new baby around or is she going to take on her big sissy role?

The age I miss the most was her 3-6 month stage. At this stage, Hannah was still very much an infant that needed to be rocked and cradled and snuggled and cuddled but she was becoming more dependent by sitting up and holding her own bottle (sometimes). I miss having a child who completely depended on me for every need. I miss the diaper changes, and the outfit changes when she spit up, sponge baths and the occasional midnight feeding. Day in and day out time goes by so slowly, but it doesn't seem like I gave birth to her 4 years ago. Well, almost 5 now. They have truly been the best 5 years of my life. 

Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. A photo that makes you happy
Day 4. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. A YouTube video
Day 6. Your most embarrassing moment
Day 7. Do you believe in the "cry until she sleeps" method?
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What are some of your favorite MAC products, and what foundation/powder do you wear?
Day 11. Post a recipe.
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write a blog thanking someone who's made your heart come alive.
Day 14. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. What do you wish for?
Day 16. How old was Hannah when he started sleeping through the night and how did you do this? 
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you had your baby?
Day 19. Write about your significant other
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write about your most vivid childhood memory. Post a picture of you taken over ten years ago.
Day 22. What did you do today?
Day 23. Who's your celebrity look alike?
Day 24. What is God teaching you presently?
Day 25. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Who are your favorite bloggers?
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Your day, in great detail
Day 30. What do you think is going to happen to you after you die?
Day 31. Your favorite quote