A Life SAVED!!!

Praise be Jesus Christ, a mother & child have been spared the pains of abortion. We have received word from a young mother who had an appointment scheduled at the abortion clinic. The night before she, drove by the clinic and saw a man praying in the rain.

She said I can't believe that I wanted to get rid of my baby and then there's people out there praying everyday that their 1 pound babies live through the night, and some guy freezing all night in the rain praying for a baby he doesn't even know.

Thank you for your prayers, they are having a profound impact.

Thanks Be To God! Let all us continue in our prayers during 40 Days For Life and year round to save more lives...

This young mother's precious gift from God will be approximately the age of Linebacker (pictured above) this time next year... Amazing isn't it? The gift of life is such an honor... We should all accept this tremendous joy with grace be it biologically or through adoption...

Too Much Monday

Today has been a roller coaster... It poured rain most of the day and into the night... It is still raining... So, the children didn't go outside so they are like little tops all wound up! We tried 'Easy Mac' tonight... What a night mare! Never buying that again... It might be good for those single child who come home after school making it themselves... However to feed 3 children dinner... Nope! My husband's bright idea instead of buying the meal box kind... My oldest if he had the choice would have eaten THREE of them in one sitting in addition to everything else I made for him... On a positive note my friend who was expecting twins today had them early this morning... Babies A and S are doing well... We don't know yet which name will go to which baby... Baby A was born vaginally but Baby B was born via c-section due to the stupidity of the hospital staff... From what I hear they are doing well despite the screw ups... I guess that is about all... I walked down to my oldest school in between rain showers to pick up the meds form that the psych fills out for the school nurse to give him meds... I didn't drive any where... Woo hoo!!! I need to go check mileage and report here... Gas is low... I did a ton of crazy driving yesterday... I'm tired... I'm going to pop in my DVD and veg in front of the TV...

Sleepless Saturday?

I'm truly exhausted and after you read what all happened today YOU will be exhausted... Here I go... I made it into bed at 2 AM (will explain in Friday's Post)... I mixed up the coffee cake (double recipe, will share later) and put it in the fridge then headed to bed... I set my alarm for 6 AM... The county had a school supply drive that I went to pick up supplies for my oldest... I was done and able to attend 8 AM Mass at the Cathedral... Happy First Saturday! I arrived home at 9 AM and tried to cat nap... The children were too active so I rolled off the couch at 10:30 AM... I decided to take a hot soak in the tub to soothe my tired body... I then relaxed in front of the computer... My husband said wake him at 11:25 AM so I could leave to run errands and then attend the La Leche League World Breastfeeding Week Potluck... Next thing I know I look at the computer clock and it's 11:30 AM... I was supposed to put the coffee cake in at 11! So, I rush in the kitchen and start the oven heating... I then rush around readying myself so I can leave the house... I call and chat with a friend to see if she is going... She can't decide... She asked if I could pick up some nursing tops to give away while I'm out running errands... I said sure! So, I'm ready and Linebacker is ready and we head out the door... I stop for a quick visit with my friend and she decides she will go and hopefully we will catch each other there... I head across town to the mall... I was in a rush at the eye doctors on Tuesday and my chain I wear with my confirmation crucifix caught in the stroller when I was packing it in the back of the van and 'broke' it... They are going to put a different type of clasp on and soder the 'loop' shut so it can't open like the old clasp... Hence the 'broke'... I'm glad the actual chain didn't break like the last one that caught on the chain link fence while I was helping one of the children last summer... I paid my husband's Sears bill and headed home... I rush around and out the door I head with the 3 little ones to the LLL Potluck... We arrive just before 1 PM... I hang out a bit and up walks my friend... I say good bye and head home so my husband can shower and go to work... I decide since I only spent a brief moment at the Potluck to head back over and see if they are still there and hang out more after the Respite staff for my oldest arrives... The gal arrives and back out we go... We arrived just after 2 PM... We chatted and had a great time until 4 PM... I head home for a much needed NAP! I call and check on my friend who is expecting twins #7 & #8... If you could say a quick prayer for her and her little blessing that would be great... She is going to deliver soon... I told her to have her sister call me day or night to let me know they arrived... I think about her and her little fellas (US said twin boys) often through out my day... My nap plans were foiled by being so tired it was difficult to fall asleep and a raging thunderstorm... I finally gave up and do some things around the house... It looked like a tornado ran through our home... After everything was all picked up I fed the children and myself... I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher and started it running... I now need to start the 'laundry train' going again as I call it... So, I'm off to fold whites and toss the colors into the dryer to dry... Then I have to put nursing and Linebacker's stuff in the washer... I'm almost out of washable 'mommy milk circles' as my children call them (nursing pads)... They call my bra a 'mommy milk circle holder'... LOL!! They crack me up... Linebacker loves his mommy milk... Out of the mouth of babes! Are you tired now? ::smirk::

He's HERE!!!

I will update later... ::on baby cloud nine::

Thirty-Eight Weeks Thursday

Here I am today:

I've had so many you look great pregnant compliments lately... Everyone says I'm 'glowing'... I do feel great! I'm savoring every last moment of this wonderful blessed experience God has given to me and my family... I had an OB check up today... My GBS Test came back NEGATIVE!!!! TBTG!!! Woooo hooo... I am now a good solid 3 cm and 50%... He is has fully dropped and is well engaged into the pelvic area... So, he will definitely be coming out head first... I went to the full serve gas station after my appointment... I ran to the PO to mail an eBay book... I stopped at the $1 store to pick up some sweet snacks since we are out of cookies at the moment... I'm just not up to that right now... The more I do the more contractions I have... We want to keep this guy in here just a little bit longer before he makes his appearance... I need to run to the bank to deposit a check but keep leaving the house without it... Duh! The fence company came and finished the fence today... Cool huh? I will share a PIC later... So, now I can turned my sad, abandon SFG into something beautiful again! I received an email saying my tomatoes and hot peppers are on their way... I can't wait to start working in there... When I was expecting Peanut I teased DH my water would break while I was working out in my garden... I actually went into labor while organizing baby clothes trying to figure what we could use... My water didn't break till minutes before she was born... Maybe that joke will be true with this one... ::smirk:: I really want to catch up with my planting schedule... My husband on his next day off is going to help me add compost to my garden now that the fence is finished... I had my last 'doula' meeting before the birth... We went over my wants and things I don't want... We made sure everyone had the each other's numbers... I found out one of my doulas is expecting #4... How exciting... What a blessing for her and her family... She is about 8 weeks along and in the middle of the lovely 'morning' sickness phase... Look at our new resident who moved into our garage:

Isn't that neat?

Lenten Friday and CCM Induction Ceremony

I had a long and tiring day... I woke and dropped my oldest off... I then put my coffee cake in the oven in hopes it would finish in the time for me to leave in 40 minutes... Well, it finished in time... Just BARELY! Then I realized I hadn't cubed the cheese for the children's snack... So, I'm chopping cheese, helping the 2 littles ones with dressing, packing all the things I needed for CCM... Well, needless to say I didn't leave till 15 minutes after when I needed to leave... I stopped at my appointment which luckily they were having a slow day so I didn't have to reschedule... I finished that up... Peanut had her monthly weight in... She is almost into the 50% for both height and weight... She still hasn't reached 30 lbs yet at 32 months old... She is however almost 36" tall!!! Woo hoo!!! Next we went to CCM... After I brought my zillion of things in I was able to settle down and relax a minute... The children loved the snack... I didn't bring home but a tiny bit... Up stairs the ladies love the still warm coffee cake... They also loved the Lenten/Easter Activities I printed off to share with everyone one which included Stations of the Cross in a Box, Resurrection Rolls, Easter Cookies, Jelly Bean Prayer/What the colors of Jelly Beans mean for Easter... I had planned on going to noon mass with everyone else but it took us (me and the 2 littles ones) quite a bit of time... By the time I had everyone dressed well we had missed 15 minutes of mass... We drove to the Hardee's to pick up a snack and snacked while circling the block to find a door closer to the Cathedral (SE Corner)... Our CCM meeting are in the Parish Center (NW Corner)... It was another bitterly cold day so walking around the block was NOT an option... I did finally find a spot and dropped the little ones off in the social hall and went up stairs for the Induction Ceremony... I made it upstairs just as they were finishing communion... I found a seat near my friend Jen... Mass ended and we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet... We all moved up front and waited for the Fr. W to return... I brought my camera so I could share PICS of our induction...

Fr. W laying out the medal we would receive for the induction:

Fr. W leading the ceremony:Fr. W blessing the medal:Fr. W blessing us with Holy Water: Fr. W giving me my medal (I had to repeat after receiving the medal "Mary, help me to be a better wife and mother"):

All 4 of us after the induction with Fr. W: (left to right, Jen S., Me, Fr. W, Lisa G., and Bernadette L.)

I am now a lifetime member even after my death... I and all my children will be remember at all CCM Masses around the world and every time a group of CCM women come together and pray our special prayers that we start every official meeting with I and all my children will be remembered then too... You may ask what is CCM... Here is a brief description:
Confraternity of Christian Mothers (CCM)
CCM was founded in France in 1850. The group was started because there was a need to unite and pray with other mothers, to discuss their problems, and to advise one another regarding the Christian rearing of their children. They knew that their new found group would not gain success without the blessings of spiritual direction. So, they petitioned their priest to oversee the group. Once the priests showed interest, the groups spread rapidly. Now there are 6 Archconfraternities in the world. It was in 1881 that the Capuchin Fathers and Brothers started an Archconfraternaty in Pittsburgh, PA. The CCM's spread from there since then. You may ask, Why is there still a need today for such an old organization? The answer is returned with a question. Is there not a need to bond with other mothers and discuss needs and ideas to raise a Christian family in this day and age? Of course there is. Now maybe more than ever. There are several organizations that young mothers can belong to, however, there are no other ones that have as their primary goal the "training and sanctifying" of their children. The CCM members pray for each other and their children. They discuss issues relevant to current times. Rather than being an organization that focuses on self-fulfillment, CCM reaffirms women in their roles as wives and mothers.

I had to cancel Peanut's ST because the induction ran later then we had planned... So, we stayed for the pot luck that followed... We all packed up and headed back south to pick up my oldest... We ran quick to Blockbuster and dropped off a movie my husband had rented... When I arrived home my surprise was here that I've been telling you all that would come today...

What do you think:

The children really love it... For right now we will use it this way... When our blessing arrives it has a special attachment for his car seat that will go on the front instead of the child cup holder/snack tray... Peanut will be in the back where Monkey is right now which has separate safety restraints for both sitting and standing.... I'm so excited and blessed to have this wonderful item for my children... I guess that is about all that happened today that I can remember to write about...

Another Quiet Day

Nothing too exciting happen today... I purchased a much needed item for our upcoming blessing at a huge discount... It is coming VIA UPS... So, I will share what it is when it arrives... Didn't go any where except to pick and drop off my oldest... I made a delicious Crockpot Beef Roast with Tomatoes (recipe Feb 12th)... I almost double the recipe because my husband bought this MONSTER size roast... So, I had to add some extras to accommodate for the extra meat... My oldest had ST and was not as good as he could have been but much improved over Thursdays session... I finished my oldest son's basket on Sunday... I haven't shared a PIC of it yet... So here it is:

He requested an all yellow basket... I made his the largest of the three... When I finished his I'm glad I have no more baskets to make... We are gearing up for Monkey's birthday... He is going to be 5! in a matter of days... Just amazing... They grow so fast... All that is left is buy his card and ready his cake... Of course wrap his presents... I updated our calendars through out our house including our school/schedule calendar which has cling letters and you can write on it with a dry erase... I also updated my Catholic Planner (if you are looking for a great CATHOLIC one definitely check out the site) for the next two weeks... So, that is all set too... Tomorrow is an errand day followed buy a very busy end of the week... Have a great Monday!

Shopping and Other Events

Today I made a list of 5 things and one bonus item of what to buy my husband... I figured out what stores I wanted to visit and found coupons... I headed out and made it to one store then headed to my oldest program where they had craft stations... We made a winter hat with yarn and a piece of TP tube, Snowman with foam and a white paper covered hanger, Reindeer Ornament with Popsicle Sticks and a Puzzle Piece Wreath Picture Frame Ornament... We also did 'Office' where he fills a rubber bin with craft supplies and Milk 'job' where he collects the empty milk cartons from classrooms after snack and cleans up the milk storage area... In the morning he fills everyone's buckets with the types of milk and OJ that each class needs... He then places them in the cooler for someone to come from their classroom to pick up... He really enjoys it... One of his favorite parts of the day... For snack today it was Oyster Crackers tossed with Dill Weed, Lemon Pepper and Garlic... He ate several helpings... I dropped him off at home with Daddy and the little ones for ST and I went shopping again... I stopped at the PO and mailed my last eBay item of the year... I then headed to the stores and picked up everything... My husband needed to head out himself before some places closed and asked I be back by 4:30 PM... I was back at 4:15 PM... LOL!!! That's me miss punctual... If it was my husband I'd be lucky to see him by 5 PM... He's the one who's always late... We drive each other crazy because he says I arrive too early and I hate being late any where... The children and I took a much deserved nap... We woke up and I headed out again to shop with the blessing my friend from NY sent to me... I was able to pick up some much needed things for our home and clothes for the children... She is truly a gift from God and I pray that she is richly blessed for all her generocity... Thank you! I'm off to eat my cheese steak now...

Happy Birthday Hubby! and Out Of Time Monday!

Sunday:
Yesterday was an exciting and wonderful day... It was my husband's 39th birthday...

I made him a triple layer cake... One layer Vanilla, One layer Chocolate, and One layer in the middle that was Marble... It had white icing and I wrote on it with blue letters...He really liked his gift... We ate a birthday lunch at the Northtown Grill... He had a cheese burger... I had a grilled chicken sandwich and the children at free on the Breakfast Buffet... We went and picked out our tree... It's a BIG one this year... Isn't it beautiful? We had to bring it home ourselves this year and cut it for the stand... That was interesting experience... Our tree was free since we wait so late in the season to pick one up... They just had a whole bunch and it said Free... So, we picked one we liked... Tied it to the top of the van on the luggage rack (a first since they usually deliver, not sure why they 'closed' early this year and had a free sign)... We buy our tree from the Knights Of Columbus... We had Lasagna and homemade garlic bread for dinner... My husband went and ran some errands while I baked and decorated his cake... We watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that I recorded on VHS and went to bed...
Monday:
Seems like all weekend long and into today I've been out of time... It is just slipping away... I slept in because we went to bed way to late last time... We then headed out to visit my friend Jen (mom to 6) and, Stephen, her newest son who was born last Monday... We took a gift and visited for about 45 minutes... He is such a sweet baby... I then headed to Walmart... The two little ones picked out new sneakers... Peanut has a pair of light up Disney Princess ones and Monkey picked out a pair with 'Cars' on them from the movie... We also picked up more lights... I picked up some light winders so we aren't trying to SHOVE them into their original boxes when we take the tree down... I also picked up my first gift for my husband... For Cmas I picked up the children some under clothes... I couldn't believe the time when I checked my receipt... I hurried home... My husband went off to work and the rest of the day was same ole Monday stuff... I picked up my oldest... He had ST... We napped and ate, etc... Nothing too exciting...

Newborn and Shopping

My friend finally had her baby... She would have been 42 weeks today... She had a 10+ pound boy early Monday morning... Due to GBS Positive and not breathing right away he was in the NICU... I went up to visit her just after noon... At 1 he was released from the NICU and able to room in with mom... He is very handsome and I was able to hold him... I posed for his first picture of someone holding him... I took a PIC of mom holding him and then had to head home to my family... I spent just about an hour there... I was parked in the 15 minute zone but saw no ticket when I came out... I ran out tonight with peanut and picked up milk, cheese and all that good stuff... We now have a surplus of milk but some will be good until Dec 28th according to the stamp on the container... I stopped at many places struggling to find my husband an anniversary gift in the theme this year of bronze... I had absolutely no luck... I went and picked up his birthday present he requested... I also picked up his birthday card, anniversary card, and Christmas card... They were out of Snoopy's... I should have went as soon as I saw the ad... I'm going to try one more place then I'm going to have to apologize to DH that he will have to receive his gift late because I had to order it online... I found several items I know he would like online... If only our anniversary wasn't less then a week away...