Quiverful Tribe: It's 2009! (Part 1)

[SheBear]

Here's a new thread for us! Not limited to a particular season, we can keep going until it become long and cumbersome, then start a Part 2 thread.

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Quiverful Tribe: It's 2009! (Part 1)

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The purpose of this tribe is to offer and receive encouragement and support for a quiverful lifestyle. That is, a lifestyle which embraces children as a blessing from God, and acknowledges that it is God who is the keeper of the womb, both opening and shutting it. We welcome all who strive to trust God's wisdom in directing and shaping our families, as well as those who are learning about and prayerfully considering this lifestyle.

We also welcome respectful questions and comments from anyone who is curious! We willingly admit that yes, we are totally nuts! (and we love every Romans 12:2 minute! )

Psalm 127:3-5
3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed,
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

[triscuitsmom]

A new thread for a new year

I have been inactive on the old one... but I read every post. I thought I should come and check in and reintroduce myself Alison... with my partner in life James. Currently one earthside kiddo, Tobias who is almost 2.5 and we are expecting another one earthside in about 5.5 weeks.

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. It seems like I was *just* finding out... and now I'm just weeks away from delivering this one. I am a mad woman trying to wrap up school and business stuff and get as much of my house in shape as possible before the baby is here.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year. I am wishing you all an awesome 2009

[Kidzaplenty]

I'm here! So busy that I have just not been as active myself. Life is very full, especially with my LO who is now five months old! Where did the time go?

An interesting developement, AF is MIA for over a week. I have POAS and had FOUR BFN, so I do not think I really am PG, but if I am, I will be expecting another LO in September! This would be the closest together I have had two babies, 13 months. However, if I am not PG, well... I guess AF just needed a vacation! Eventually, I will know one way or another.

[triscuitsmom]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

I'm here! So busy that I have just not been as active myself. Life is very full, especially with my LO who is now five months old! Where did the time go?

An interesting developement, AF is MIA for over a week. I have POAS and had FOUR BFN, so I do not think I really am PG, but if I am, I will be expecting another LO in September! This would be the closest together I have had two babies, 13 months. However, if I am not PG, well... I guess AF just needed a vacation! Eventually, I will know one way or another.

Sending good thoughts that all works out in the most perfect way for you as I'm sure it will

I clicked on your blog and I loved reading about your family Christmas. Some awesome traditions there. And might I add that tree for your Mother is amazing. I am totally in love with it!

[thomlynn]

Hurray!!!! :

We're still here!

[momtokimari]

Hello again everyone. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year. We did. As we enter this year, it's really easy for us to count each of our blessings from the Lord. My husband is enjoying his new, better job. I'm enjoying a healthy second pregnancy, which so far seems like it is going to outlast the first one. It's been wonderful, and complication free. I think he's a little on the big side, though, since he's already taking up breathing room. We've decided to name him Mathias David. My father-in-law is named David and seemed very happy with our choice. Mathias is far more active than Kimari was in the womb. And I think he's relieved not to be squished by the contractions nursing Kimari was bringing on. She just spent her first weekend away from home at my dad's house with him, his wife and 3 of the kids. My dad has 9, but only 3 live there full time, and one is there part time. The rest of us are old enough not to do overnights anymore. So I'm no longer toddler nursing, and I think it'll be nice to have the break before beginning a whole new nursing cycle. Especially since now I need to begin house hunting. I will probably stick around long enough to give birth in this house, though. It was my great-grandma's, and now it is my grandma's and will pass to my mom, so it's a good place for birthing.

Speaking of breaks, Jenny.... A break from AF is always nice. Especially if it results in another little love.

Sarah- I saw a response you gave in another thread, and I have to say that you are an amazingly well spoken woman. You're always very inspirational. And I hope your move is going well. Where did you move to and from, if you're comfortable disclosing?

[TzippityDoulah]

I was pretty active on the last thread... but i will reintroduce myself here.

I'm Laura married to my husband for going on 10 years. we have an 8yr old and a 4 yr old and I'm 6 months pregnant with our third. We were not always of QF thinking. infct we decided on it (after much prayer and feeling convicted by the lord) in July. I got pregnant in August! (sometimes God works faster than we think he will!)

Because so many peopel here ask abut QF struggles, infertility and sickness I will share the very quick story of our lives.... (very quick)

I get very ill with my pregnancies. not morning sicknes, but Hyperemsis Gravidarum. (I'm also in the habit of getting GD and pre-e) from a liver problem. My first pregnancy I never knew what hit me. I was slammed with sickness and before I could climb my way back out I had lost 30 lbs! (within 7-8 weeks time). I was hospitalized for a good while, in and out. no med every took it all away, but my body started to get a little better about 5 months .... when I started in with the Pre-E. *sigh* and I not only gained back the 30lbs but gained another 65 lbs on top of that!! I was so very sick.

second pregnancy I was even sicker, but i had better insurance so the hospital was a lot more helpful. I only lost 22 lbs, and I managed to just get close to GD and Pre-E but never got the full diagnosis.I was very sick and gained a lot of weight.

we figured we woudn't hae anymore. it was SO emotionally, physically and financially straining on everyone. I had ot get friends to watch my boy while I was in the hosptal, and my poor husband did EVERYTHING for the first sveral months, and most everything for the last couple. also my body was SO very very ill from beign sick so much. I developed Celiac disease, a host of bowel problems and many other issues that go along with it. I have never been right since my 2nd pregnancy.... so the idea of getting pregnant terrified us! (plus my 2nd child was VERY ill as a baby and toddler and we hadn't slept in the better part of 3.5 years. frankly we were exhausted and overwhelmed and the idea of having another pregnancy and child to raise was just too much.
and then.. the lord spoke. lol. He put it clearly (separately) on our hearts. ack!! we both were like "what!?! are you sure, God!?! do you realize how sick I got? how sick our daughter was!? are you sure this is a good idea!?"

and still the conviction lay deeply on our hearts. *sigh* to my prayed and submitted. not to sound like we didn't want more kids, or that we don't believe children are a blessing etc... ut to be frank, it just wasn't in our plans at all. we were both so very burnt out with sickness! we wanted a break!! maybe even to never return to that again. so this calling from god took us by surprise.

well we prayed and submitted and begged God's mercy to not let me get sick again. ro atleast not that sick. next cycle i was pregnant. and sick. SO sick. more sick than the last times. *sigh* why did God allow it? I do not know. I wish he had said to me "b/c of your obedience I will take away your sickness and guarantee you a healthy child". but He did not.

and so I am learning humility, submission and God is slowly and steadily pulling all the ugliness - fear, anxiety, resentment and anger out my heart and making me deal with it. it's a tough process. but this baby (though I STILL don't feel "ready" for it) has changed our livs so very very much. I am so thankful for that. God is good! and I realize if I want God to be in control, I have to let control... and that just isn't easy when you lived in fear and anger for a long time.

I say all that to say being QF isn't alwyas this big happy story. we're still humans. with physical, emotional and spiritual battles. maybe this isn't talked about enough... but it is true!

[100%mom]

Hi! I've been at least following this thread for the last 19 months. I've been married to my sweatheart for 4 1/2 years and we have 3 beautiful children. For 1 week we had 3 kids under 3. : Our lastest blessing was just born December 21st.

[Mommy2Austin]

Subbing Quickly Internet keeps going on and off!!

[Kidzaplenty]

Don't have much time at the moment, but wanted to update. AF showed up, I MC today. However, since I did not get a BFP, it really feels more like a late AF. I guess it was just not ment to be this time. But that is OK. I think I feel worse from the food poisoning I just got over than the physical MC symptoms. It's all in God's control.

So, I am good.

[cappuccinosmom]

I'm here!

I'm Maggie, married 6+ years to Josiah, with our three little boys (who are 5.5, 3.5, and 20 months). We were both QF before we even met each other.

Over the holidays my af took a vacation and it was 9 days late. I was so sure I was pregnant. But I wasn't. <sigh> Definately puts a different perspective on trusting God for me. I am trying to have a good attitude. I do have a huge amount of weight to lose and I want to look at this as an opportunity to get healthy before God gives us a new baby. We started our year with a "Daniel Fast" along with the rest of our church and I have lost 5 lb just cutting out the caffiene and refined sugar. I hadn't realized how addicted I was.

[kchara]

Hi everyone! I'm Kristi, I'm new 'round here. I'm QF, DH is definately NOT, although he is happy we have a larger than most family. (We're expecting #4.) We talk onand off about having more, but I don't exactly glow when I'm pregnant, so he doesn't like when I get preg. But, it's something I pray about a lot.

[JesiLynne]

:

[Montana Mom]

I'm here. My fiance and I are currently absinant (sp? lol) until we are married. Has anyone had only cesarean deliveries?

[rjruiz_415]

I am here I know I posted in the last thread, but I am about 12 weeks along with baby number 3 Out first "QF baby" Feeling pretty yucky but it is getting a bit better. We are so excited Shebear, are you going to add all the pg /births to the front page again?

[FCMomofaBunch]

What do you do?

Hello, I'm Andrea, mom to DD 3.5 years, DS almost 2 years and DD 8 months. We didn't know we were qf, but God has made it clear that he wants children for us.

Since we have three little ones, I'm curious how other families live day to day. With more children, it seems more difficult for one parent to take three children out of the house to do errands or socialize the children outside the home. How does everyone else do it? We're also considering homeschooling, but DH is very concerned that I won't allow the kids to socialize and have friends. Is it necessary to have the kids socializing with other kids on a daily basis? Don't they just enjoy each other's company the more children you have in the house? How do you get over the panic of a child running into the parking lot while you are busy unloading babies into a stroller or shopping cart? How many times in a week do you get out of the house with the kids?

I'm just curious if I'm the only "homebody" who would rather snuggle up on the floor under a quilt and read some good books with my little babies. Thanks in advance for your responses!

[Rodeo Mama]

I haven't posted to the threads in a long time, so I will reintroduce myself. I'm Amanda, married to my DH for 5 years in February. We have 2 children, ages 3 and 16 months. We've been QF since a few months into our marriage.

[rstump]

It is hard to believe it is 2009 already. December 08 was a crazy month for us.

We had our 5th baby (3rd QF) one. It was a wonderful HBAC birth with our favorite midwife. Unfortunetly my mom was hospitalized with double pneumonia during the time I gave birth. She came home several days later only to infect the baby. At 10 days old our newborn was admitted to the hospital for 4 days with pneumonia also.

Now my mom is in the hospital with an MRSA staph infection that she came down with 3 days after we brought the baby home.

Germs....one of the many reasons I don't give birth in the HOSPITAL....they have invaded my home and I can't seem to get away from them. I spend my days cleaning, nursing and still trying to recover. Due to all the stress after the birth....my recovery is taking much longer than normal....still bleeding red almost 25 days later. AUGH...just need a little down time.

I am starting to feel some PPD setting in and I am fighting that off with everything I have...prayer, supplements and activity. So hard when there is so much abnormal stress over and above....a newborn and the holidays.

I am really focused on making a better 2009.

[cappuccinosmom]

Andrea, we are homebodies. Our kids don't suffer from "lack of socialization". Although, it is funny when we do homeschool gym and when the kids are told to "form a line" they all wander around confused.

Most days our kids play with each other. Once a week we get together with other homeschoolers, and on Sundays there is an hour with peers in Sunday school. IMO, that is more than enough socialization. Even so, none of our kids is shy and retiring, or lacking normal social skills for their ages.

[delicate_sunshine]

Hi! I'm Susannah. I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but I check in every day. We are currently pregnant with number 2, due in March, our first QF baby. Though, DS was definitely God's idea as well! Our journey to becoming QF had to do with fertility issues and accepting the fact that God may only have one baby in mind for us and that we would be okay with that. No doctors or drugs or anything, you know? Only prayer and trusting God.

Anyway, that's about all! Looking forward to reading your posts and praying with you.