Baby Benjamin's Birth Story

 

10 children was such a full and even number I was completely contented to have been blessed with throughout our 20 years of marriage! After turning 40 last year I was almost certain 10 was it for us! However in February  I stood agasp staring at those all too familiar blue lines on a Dollar Tree pregnancy test.  Given my age and past high risk birth I right away booked into both my regular ob and high risk maternal fetal medicine office. Around 12 weeks I went in for the first ultrasound and was for some reason incredibly shocked to see a tiny baby wiggling around on the screen. Even after 2 decades of being pregnant 😆 it's still surreal! A few days later blood work came back that we were having another boy! Most of the pregnancy went by without incident; normal lab work, good blood pressures, normal weight gain, and just overall normal pregnancy symptoms. 

 Towards the last few weeks my blood pressure readings were slowly going up. Nothing too crazy, but steadily rising after having completely normal levels the first 2 trimesters.  Fast forward to 36 weeks and 4 days: I wake up around 3 am to a warm gush of fluid. I walk to the bathroom and am relieved to see the fluid is clear. I wake up hubby and tell him my water is broken and want to go to the hospital ASAP!  I was not experiencing any contractions other than the same braxton hicks I'd had the last month so I knew I had alittle time to pack the hospital bag! I went to my closet and packed just the bare minimum essentials into a diaper bag: blanket, hat, outfit to go home in, wooden name circle, and a few things for myself. The hospital was a peaceful 25 minute drive. Once there we were checked in after waiting about 15 minutes in the lobby. The triage nurse hooked me up to the monitors and checked my cervix. I was discouraged to hear I was only 1 cm dilated and my blood pressure was the highest its been since my last birth (165/93). With ruptured membranes and elevated blood pressure I was admitted to labor and delivery, but feeling like a natural birth might not happen given the circumstances. I was given meds to help bring my blood pressure down and kept on the monitors 24/7. I was not able to move around much with all the wires and didn't have much progress with dilation despite trying a breast pump to stimulate oxytocin. 

Labor was almost at a standstill for most of the day as I sat by watching the monitors and Chris went back and forth between resting and checking on the kids at home.

 By the evening I reluctantly agreed to start pitocin, but thought in the back of my mind there was now a very good chance of getting another c-section. Although not pressured I was given the option by my ob to get wheeled back for surgery or keep trying to labor. I was strongly considering just opting for c-section at this point,  but remembered how exponentially harder recovery is and decided to keep moving forward with the pitocin.  A few hours went by and I progressed to 7 cm, now there was no turning back. Around 5 am the contractions became undeniably painful.   Chris climbed into bed with me to put pressure on my back to help get through them.  After about an hour of intense pain it was time to meet baby Benjamin. My placenta did detach just a bit early as it was time to push.  Thankfully this abruption didn't cause any harm as Benjamin was out after 4 or so pushes.  The relief and happiness to finally have our 7th baby boy placed on my chest 27 hours after my water broke is impossible to describe! 

He came in weighing 6lb 3oz and is absolute perfection.  I could quite literally spend all day just admiring each tiny part of him.

Glory to God for allowing us to be a part of a new soul being birthed into this world for the 11th time! Despite getting older ourselves the overwhelming awe and joy of beholding new life will never get old! Welcome to the world, Benjamin Joseph Logan ❤️. 

ECCLESIASTES 11:5 thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

A Girl's Dream Job

The world asks a young girl what she'd like for a career.

She says she wants to be a wife and mother, to spend all her days with those she holds most dear.

"Oh no, child that's not a real job", says the world with huff and a sneer.

"Besides there's so much more to life than just being a wife and mom!

You ought to go out to work like Harry, Dick, and Tom.

Someone else can watch your kids without a worry or a qualm

You don't want to waste your mind, body, and talents. 

What a shame to count on a man to bring in all the dollars and cents!

Especially now with the increasing costs of food and rents!

Depending on a husband is risky, you need two to provide.

Get to work, make your own money, put your kids to the side.

Surley they won't mind as long as you give them money for things to buy," the deceiver lied.

The young girl sank down beginning to feel her life's plan was absurd.

The thought of having more money to buy things surely allured.

But then she remembered a verse in God's word.

Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom God and all these things shall be added unto you."

"Being discreet, chaste keepers at home is what God calls us to do.

So long as we trust Him, he'll guide us through.

So sorry, Old World, I'll choose the Word of God over your wisdom.

I'll take the endless time spent with my loves that fills with  joy and great freedom. 

A life that will bring praise and Glory to His Kingdom!"

 

Hannah Pollyanna VBAC Birth Story

  

     Welcome to this sweet girl and baby number 10!: Hannah Pollyanna, born at 5:24pm January 9, 2023! She was born at 37 weeks weighing 6lbs 4oz and 18.5 inches long! She is just as sweet and perfect as can be! What a blessing to have this pregnancy come to a beautiful ending today! 

     After having a traumatic birth with placental abruption at 32 weeks, emergency c-section, and 17 day NICU stay with our almost 2 year old, finding out we were expecting again came with alot of anxiety!  I went to the OB just as soon as I possibly could in the first trimester to check things out. Before my c-section I  kind of took pregnancy and birth for granted having had 8 perfect natural births in a row. That confidence in pregnancy and birth all changed after having an emergency birth situation. Every OB appointment I feared for the worst and always left relieved to hear baby's heartbeat and growth were perfectly normal.  At about 11 weeks we found out through bloodwork it was a girl!  Who even knew they determined gender through bloodwork these days...lol?  The excitement grew each week that passed and when I made it beyond 33 weeks the age when Luke was born, I felt pretty relieved and just wanted to make it full term and get the baby out!

      I was very careful not to do too much and push myself into preterm labor. I would lay down many times throughout the day anytime I had braxton hicks contractions  fearing it would bring on real labor. I would also obsess with kick counts and make sure I felt some good movement from baby before getting back up. I'd drink ice water and wiggle my belly to wake the baby up all the time just to be sure she was still alive.  The kids would often ransack the house while I rested, but I knew I needed to keep baby in atleast until 37 weeks!

       Once I hit 36 weeks and 5 days I felt a sudden urge to clean everything and was close enough to term to feel confident with going into labor. The kids and I deep cleaned the Nissan NV, washed all the carseats, and scrubbed the kitchen grout on Friday and Saturday! The next day was Sunday which is a long day at church with all the kiddos and no place to lay down. I had lots of contractions on Sunday, but figured it was just from being up all day and not resting. However, going to bed Sunday night I was woken up all throughout the night with strong contractions.  When 7 am rolled around and no slow down of contractions I decided to go into labor and delivery! I normally would have labored at home longer until the contractions were more intense and closer together, but I needed to hear the baby's heartbeat for my peace of mind. 

     Chris got up with me and we got to the triage room around 8:30am to find I was at 5-6cm dilated. Because of my most recent birth being a placental abruption with fetal distress the hospital of course wanted continuous monitoring on the baby.  The fetal monitor was really finicky and only liked to pick up good heart tones while I was on my back in the hospital bed. I labored like this for 6 hours fearing the heart rate would be lost with each movement I made! I had so many contractions coming just minutes apart one on top of the other and hours later had only progressed to 7cm. Laying on your back is the most painful and unproductive way to labor naturally and  unmedicated, which I knew, but was willing to suffer through it just to hear the heartbeat continuously. Finally around 3pm the midwife seeing the pain I'm in on my back and lack of progress had the nurses put a wireless fetal monitor on me and brought a birthing ball to sit upright and move around to get things moving! 

     Since labor wasn't progressing very fast Chris left to go check on the kids and take our oldest son to work at Walgreens. Chris called me at around 5:15pm. to tell me he is on his way back to the hospital.  The contractions were becoming unbearable at this point and I asked for pain medication...lol.  The midwife suggested not doing pain meds since it could stall the labor even more and make the baby drowsy thus lowering the heart rate. She assures me baby will just shoot right out soon, and she was right! About 10 minutes later baby Hannah made her grand appearance! Chris didn't get there until about 30 minutes after she was born! I didn't even really care at that point he missed the birth because I was just relieved to have her out safe and healthy! He's missed 2 other births on overseas deployments so having him there shortly after the birth was good enough for me.

 

     This pregnancy and birth was a true test of faith and caused much prayer from the moment we found out we were expecting. Hannah was the perfect name for a child greatly prayed for. The middle name Pollyanna is after my mom, Polly Anne❤ because I couldn't think of a more kind hearted person to be named after.

      Thank God for answered prayers of a full term birth and successful vbac!

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Rooming in with Baby

As a large family mom when you announce you are expecting a new baby some will ask, "Where are you going to put another one?" No matter how small a space we have had to work with we always find space for just one more! Little is much when God is in it! We like to keep our babies close by us for atleast the first year. Our last baby stayed until she was 2!  A pack n play bassinet works great until they are ready to move in with the big kids.

Here is little Luke napping in his bassinet at 4 weeks old, but just 38 weeks gestation since he is a preemie.

Molly kept her spot by the window and just loves baby Luke, she gets up each time he cries to check on him.

I created a little space for Luke in my closet. There was actually an unused little nook in the corner of my closet that ended up being the perfect spot for his things! We were very blessed with gifts for our little guy so I had to pull out my organizing skills that are mostly on the back burner these days of my crazy life.....lol. I ordered the shelf and all bins from Target to create a functional storage space. 

 

Baby Luke's Birth Story

     

  * This birth story is a little traumatic and so different than my usual peaceful natural births from our previous 8 children.* Read on with caution*

   Last Tuesday I went in for an ob appointment and everything looked great into my 3rd trimester. I had passed the glucose test, blood pressures were fine, baby was growing on track and head down already! Over the weekend I was feeling pretty crummy with back, hip, pelvic pain, and Braxton hicks contractions.  It was getting painful and uncomfortable to walk up and down the stairs, go grocery shopping, or just going to bed. I hate to complain about pregnancy because I know it is a gift and priviledge so many never get to experience. I didn't think anything of it, and chalked it up to being 8 months pregnant and 36 years old. 

     On Tuesday evening I got ready for bed about 11:45pm. I fell asleep a little after 12am, but was woken suddenly around 1:30am with a gush of fluid. I went to the bathroom upset knowing I was not at full term expecting to see clear fluid, but when I turned the light on I saw bright red blood and lots of it! It lead to a bloody footprint trail back to the bed like a murder scene. I  immediately told Chris my water broke with blood and we needed the hospital asap. My placenta had detached from the uterine wall and myself and baby were in great danger. I put on a skirt over my nightgown, grabbed my phone and  charger and headed downstairs for the van.  I brought a towel to sit on in the van and Chris started driving.  Our security camera has us driving off about 1:45 am.

    The 20 minute drive seemed to take forever. I sat perfectly still as I could trying not to release anymore fluids. I called or texted no one and prayed silently in a state of shock and worry. Chris asked if I could feel the baby moving and I honestly couldn't tell and feared we had lost our little guy.  Once at the hospital we checked in and told them it was an emergency so we got to skip the covid questions and test. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor and baby's heart rate was very low and dropping. I was just 2 cm dilated and no time to waste to try a vaginal birth. They ran my bed over to the OR, got me put under quickly and got our baby out in time to save his life. Luke was born at 2:43am, weighing in at 4 pounds 5 oz. His first Apgar score was just a 1!  Chris got to see him shortly after delivery and made some fb posts to let everyone know to pray for us. I had to wait until that night to finally meet baby Luke. 

He is perfect and precious. I am hoping he will not have to stay in the Nicu too long. Chris went back home with the kids and will take off work until I get discharged. Our church is giving us lots of meals and I will spend the next several weeks recovering and pumping milk for baby Luke until he can come home with us. 

Oh, and baby Luke was also born on Gideon's birthday! So funny because Gideon was my favorite birth with the very caring midwife we had in Missouri at our first homebirth and this birth with Luke was the scarriest! Chris made Gideon a cake and called me on video chat so I could sing happy bday with them!

The Answer to Racism

Can you find me? I was one of 3 white girls on the T.C. William's varsity cheerleading team in 2002 in Alexandria, Virginia right outside of Washington D.C.

     Truth be told I am not even "full" white. My maiden name is Flores, my dad is an immigrant from Honduras with brown skin who came to this country with nothing besides the clothes on his back and hope to live in a free country where if you work hard, you can make something of yourself despite any privileges you may not have been born with, like growing up in a home where you are taught to speak the english language. I thank God for the diverse upbringing I had. I learned very quickly that racism, respect of persons, prejudice, or whatever you want to call it does NOT exclude any nationality or skin color.
     I don't care if you are a Planned Parenthood supporter who wants to eradicate non whites, a Hispanic who hates all "gringos", or a black person like my neighbor who told my family white people are devils who are only good to be murdered or enslaved when "Yah" comes back; racism is ugly and sinful no matter who is perpetrating it.
     I am so thankful for God's word that tells us racism is foolishness, because He hath made all the nations of the earth of one blood, that there is neither Jew nor Greek nor bond nor free, but we are all one in Christ Jesus. His word tells us that God is no respecter of persons, and that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
     I thank God that my husband as a black man in America has no doors shut to him, that he can go out everyday and work to provide for our family of 10 on 1 income and that God gives the increase. 🥰
      God's word is all my family needs to fight racism and it will be a cold day in Hell before I ever support an antichrist group whose mission statement is to dismantle the God ordained family where the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church and seeks to replace it with a "village" where sodomites are exalted, like Black Lives Matter group seeks to do.

Family photos 2019

Since we have moved, I don't know a good local photographer. We decided to go the traditional route of the JCPENNY photo studio this year! Enjoy these precious memories.

Going almost 15 years strong with this handsome guy!

            Look at all my babies together!!

               Christian at 13 is looking way too tall and handsome these days!

Noah at 12 is having  a hard time deciding which smile he is confident with...lol

Joshua at 10 is still just adorable to me.

Rachel at 8 is growing so tall and I am not ready for our oldest girl to be so big!

These 2 guys, Gideon at 6 and Moses at 5 are two peas in a pod.

Naomi at 3 is so girly and dainty but very saucy.

The baby, Mary Elizabeth is now 14 months! 

Daddy's girls

Daddy's boys

Mama's boys