I use NFP and it works

This post may be a bit TMI for some, but I felt it was needed.

Those of you who follow the news, know that the Pope has been under fire for some things he has said about Catholics and reproduction. I feel that he will always be under fire because he is the Pope and the media is not a fan of Catholics. But that is another post, for another time. This post is about NFP( Natural Family Planning)

I am going to start off with why I am writing this, often after you have a baby, people ask when you will have the next one or what you will do for birth control. Both of those questions are very invasive. Furthermore, the reactions to the answers to those questions can be hurtful. My husband and I use Natural Family Planning, in accordance to the church's (Catholic) teaching.  That means no artificial hormones, no barriers, and nothing to get in the way of conceiving a child. In fact, the only way to not have a baby is absence.  Yet, when we inform some medical personal about our reproductive choices, we are often told that it will not work and we will be seeing them within the next six months. My son is now 14 months old. Therefore, I say "Ha" to those doctors who don't believe it works.

There are many different methods of NFP. I am not going to share the type my husband and I use, but I will list the methods. When done correctly, if you are planning to avoid a pregnancy, each of them have been proven to be 99% effective. I am not going to get into a lot of details about the methods, if you want more information please check out the links I list at the end. There are your mucus only methods; Billings and Creighton are the most common. There is your cross-categorical method; Couples to couples league Sympto-Thermal, this one check mucus, basal body temp and cervical position. There are other sympto-thermal methods, but the one I listed is the most common. Then there is the Marquette method which uses a fertility monitor and checks hormone levels. Each method has it's own rules which need to be followed for both avoiding and for conceiving.

Now, I know that many of my readers (or those who happen to find this post) will say that NFP does not work. It will be mistakenly called the Rhythm method. That is false. The rhythm method is based on the perfect 28 day cycle and that she ovulates on day 14. We all know how false this is and each NFP method is able to work with all types of women, those who have short cycles and those who have irregular cycles.

I think I will end this post here by saying that NFP works for me and my husband. It helps bring us closer to God. It also help me know my body. For more information on NFP  and to find where I got my information please check out these websites.

http://www.iusenfp.com/
http://ccli.org/nfp/
http://www.natural-family-planning.info/
http://www.nfpandmore.org/

Ciao,

The NICU

If you have ever been in the NICU, you know it is a scary place. Each baby has their own story to tell, each parent has the look of worry in their eyes and prayers are said all the time.

My little man, my peanut, my JT, was in the NICU. He was in the NICU for only a short amount of time, shorter than what was thought. The NICU we were at gave babies nick-names. He was called the pride and joy, because 1. How cute he is, and 2. How fast he came around. He was considered a miracle baby on my floor. All the nurses in the NICU and on my floor went to see him and fell in love with him.

I can't speak for other, just for myself, but after what I went through, I know that I am not the same person. Before, when I heard about babies being in the NICU, it was sad, but now...it's heart breaking. If you think about it, seeing a baby in the warmer, or incubator, just makes the baby look smaller. Having to check in to your babies room, helping with feeding your baby, changing his diaper, and taking his temp, having to hold your baby a special way, if you are able to hold him at all, just...makes you ache.

My little boy has a story. I don't know if I will be able to share his story or the story of his birth, but I do know I can share his recovery. I can share how much I cried. I can share that praying helped get me through. There is a saying, God doesn't give you more than you can handle. At the time, I thought he did, but then I found this:

I know he has helped me handle everything. I know I am stronger, then I was before. I know I have a soft spot in my heart for babies like mine. 

Just something that helped me not be so scared. 

My little one...

Oh my, oh my. I never knew how hard being a mom is.

My little one was born early. 

My little one was in the NICU. 

My little one had to be transferred to a different hospital. 

My little one came home with medical equipment. 

My little one needed help breathing and eating. 

My little one needed medical equipment until he was 17 days old.

My little one was hoovering too close to being too small for my comfort.

My little one is too small for Newborn clothing and diapers

yet...

My little man is a miracle!

He has surived so much, in his short time outside of me. 

He began breathing with out any help,

his liver began to function like it should,

he opened his eyes. 

He is now being alert,

able to eat with minimal help, 

and...

the best thing of all...

able to hold my finger with his little hands. 

He is strong. 

Really strong. 

He is sweet, 

small,

and 

perfect. 

He made me a mother, and gave me the most horrible emotional roller coaster ride of my life. He was born after a 54 hour labor followed by a C-section. He had complications, I had complications, but for some reason, God was watching after both of us and let me and my  little miracle live. 

To my readers, I would like to introduce you to my little boy:

Ciao,

Rough week?

Happy Hump day!  I am so excited that it's Wednesday. This week has been a rough one. So why not pin and share things that make a rough week better.

This looks so much like Winston

Bahahaha

I feel these can take the roughness of the week away and if not, I know this will

I hope that you all have been having  better week then I have had. 

Ciao,

Linking up with Michelle from the Vintage Apple and Rebecca at All that Glitters

Prayers for Boston

What do I say?

I have never been one to like Boston- mainly because I am an avid New York Yankee Fan. And yet- for today I want to say a prayer for them. I want to know what happened, and let all those affected know that things are going to be okay.  I want their to be peace in their hearts. I want them to know that what happened to them is horrible. I want there to be peace in the world.

I saw this on face
book and though it made a lot of sense. What do you think?

and a prayer to share

Xoxo,Ciao,

Thursday thoughts

Today linking up with Neely from A complete Waste of Make-up and Amber from Brunch with Amber for It's Okay Thursday.  I am also using a grow your blog hop and Thursday Thoughts (With Toby's Tails)

So to start....

It's Okay...

to want to put my feet up right away when I get home.

to pack the day before leaving on a trip.

to be so tired you fall asleep standing up.

to sound like my mom when disicpling the kids I work with.

to be called "the mean teacher''

and

to knit in the dark.

Speaking of knitting in the dark

Source: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net viaDanielle on Pinterest

This reminds me of me the other night. I was watching The Hobbit and knitting. That's just how I am.  I'm also a wondering person. Like I really wonder if this

Source: agirlandherneedle.blogspot.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Works?

Which leads me to this...When working with kids do you ever sound like your mom? I know I do. I did yesterday when talking to a child.  I even said "Wow, I just sounded like my mom" and the kid just looked at me me like "what?!"

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net viaDanielle on Pinterest

Oh how Pinteresting Wednesday- Quotes and more

It's Wednesday which means a linky party day. As I have started doing, I'm linking with The Vintage Apple for

This week I have been pinning the following:

Source: tumblr.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: he-will-wipe-away-our-tears.tumblr.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Danielle on Pinterest

Some quotes about God

Source: proplants.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: pinterest.com via Danielle on Pinterest

How to take care of different plants, and

Source: gratefulprayerthankfulheart.blogspot.com via Danielle on Pinterest

To add fabric to the backside of an afghan. 

Ciao for now,

Printables

Printables are the new things. You print something off of your computer and you can put it in a frame and hang up somewhere in your house. They are pretty cool. some people print them out and transfer them to other things like pillow cases and totes. I don't know how they do that, but I would love to learn.

I, my self have joined the printable  gang and have been looking for things to print out. On pinterest there are a bunch of free printables that range from holiday specific to room specific (like Kitchen and bathroom) to just being plain old fun.

I like them, and some of them are great to print out, but others can be just as fun to make.  I made one for you all to print out, and I made my own using stuff from other blogs.

This one was made using a frame from Shabby blogs and then adding text. I printed it out, and put it in a fabric covered frame. It looks very pretty on the end table in our living room. 

This one, if you click on the image it will take you to my photobucket and you can download it and print it out. YAY! Please share what you did with it. 

Enjoy you printable,

Let's talk ... Facebook likes

TGIF everyone. Today I want to talk about Facebook. Now I know Facebook is a great place to talk to friends across the country and to "play"games, and to talk to those who live in the same town as you and to connect with many different people. I use Facebook to share my blog post.  So I have no problem with Facebook.

And yet... I do have a slight issue. It is the sharing and liking part. Mainly, my issue is those who post a picture of something and say if I get so many likes this will happen. Like that family this week who posted a picture of their kids and said if they get over 1 million like (or something of that nature) then their parents would get them a dog.  Now forgive me if I'm wrong, but buying a pet is a huge life change. Pets are a lot of responsibility, and I feel that f my child wants a pet, it would be a big discussion  I would want my child to show that they could take care of the pet. I would want to talk it out with my child. I wouldn't want some random strangers on the internet to decide. Furthermore, I wouldn't want picture of my child to be floating around the internet. (I'm just saying)

So what are your thoughts on things like the Facebook shares and likes?



Bible quotes-
 One a week I will have a bible quote at the bottom of a blog post. I'm starting this week:


John 6:47  Truly, truly, I say to you, who ever believes has eternal life. 

Christmas tears :(

I know I said I wouldn't do another Christmas post, but with snow and the cold and something I saw the other day, I just had to do a post to get you to think. I want to warn you- this is going on a similar theme of saving animals but may show some heart wrenching photos I found on Pinterest. I really do think it is important to think of those who have less than then us.

Animals. 

The other day as I was driving to work at 5:45 in the morning, I saw a tiny kitten on the side of the road. I pulled over to see if it had any form of ID and the poor little thing ran off into the snow.

  It made me think, how many other animals are out in the cold, and how full are the animal shelters. I wonder if the Shelters even have enough space? The picture below  shows some of our furry friends in Shelters. Some shelters are wonderful and have space- others...don't have the space and are kill shelters.

What about those who are killed because there is no space or because no one wants them.

What if a dog could write a will? What would it say?

What about other countries?

This Christmas many people are probably getting a a cat or dog, or any other cute animals. Please, if you give someone a gift that is an animal, please make sure that that animal is a forever pet.

 Keep the pet until it is time for the pet to die. Do not get rid of the pet because something came up, do not get rid of the pet because you don't like it, or you don't want it anymore.

The below picture makes me smile- I think it would be a great world where bad pet owners get sent to the pound. I would love to see that.

 What I would love more, is for Animal rights to be taken seriously. Please, think of the animals this Winter. Please show them some love and compassion.

I know this is a sad post, and filled with Christmas Tears, but please remember them this holiday.
Ciao,

Let's Talk... :(

about the horrible day. Today, there was a massacre at an Elementary school. An Elementary school. Instead of the usually Friday post, today I want this post be a post for prayer. 

Please pray for the families of all the victims. What has a happened today is horrible. The news is calling this the second worst school shooting in US history (The worst being  the Vagina Tech Massacre  not Columbine like every one thinks although that one was horrible too.)

 Please, please pray for the victims, the little kids (most who are in Kindergarten ) please keep those little ones in your thoughts as the enter into the kingdom of Heaven. 

Please, please pray for the students. Please pray for the community of that town.  and please, please pray for all those who have been involved in a school shooting in the past. 

Please remember the pain it causes, and pray that it never happens again. ( The below prayer is from the Catholic Church)

A Prayer To The Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms.

Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man

 was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love.

Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love.

Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them.

Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope.

Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us that one day we may join you there to bask in God's love forever.

Amen.

Days 19 and 20

Once again I will separate my days and make on big post about everything I'm thankful for.

Day 19,
 I'm thankful for my religion. I'm thankful my parents brought me up with a faith. I'm glad that God is in my life. I know he answers my prayers when I have them and he is always their watching me. I know their are times where it seems that God may not be with us, or listen, but he does. And he answers our prayers when we need him to.

Day 20
 With that, I'm thankful for my Church. I'm so happy the church that we(my husband nad I) go to has an "adopt a student" program. The program is set up so a family of the church can adopt a college student. The family hangs out with the student, has them over for dinner and just, well, treats the student like they are family. I was very lucky to have been adopted by a wonderful women. My adoptive mother is great. I'm so thankful that she is in my life. I  don't know what I would have done the past few years with out having someone to watch over me while I was in school.

Come back for the rest of the week.
Ciao,