Baby

It’s a…

October 20, 2014 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Baby, Our Lady of La Leche, Prayer, Pregnancy, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Baby G4 is set to arrive in Jan 2015. We opted for a 20 (23.3) week ultrasound (9.30.14) given the past reports. The results were bitter sweet. The baby is doing fine but there was bad news regarding my anatomy. We will know more at 28 weeks (10.31.14). We continue to pray for healing, protection. and peace as we wait for better confirmation.

Prayer to Our Lady of La Leche during Pregnancy

O Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Your tender Mother, Our Lady of La Leche, who bore You close to her heart during those long months before Your birth, I place my baby and myself entirely in Your Hands. Free me, I beseech You, from useless and consuming worry. Accept the sacrifice of my aches and pains, which I unite to Your sufferings on the Cross. Above all, most merciful and loving Jesus, protect this child You have given to me from all harm, bestowing the health and vigor every baby needs. Implant in my heart and on my lips the words and prayers of Your Mother and mine, our Lovely Lady of La Leche. All this I ask that my child and I may live to praise forever Your Holy Name. Amen.

The good news, we were able to find out the baby’s gender.

The Predictions

The Reveal

2 months

April 29, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Baby, GFG 4 Comments

May he grow daily in wisdom and in grace, * may he go through life having you always as his refuge and mother. * May all virtues shine in him * and may he never offend your maternal Heart. ~ ACT OF CONSECRATION OF A CHILD TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

April 2013

I spend my days gazing at this beautiful sight – BLESSED!

Postpartum Health & Fitness

April 23, 2013 by JOYfilledWELLNESS Filed Under: Baby, Clean Eating, Fitness, Health, Postpartum, Wellness Journey 10 Comments

Bouncer at 8 weeks 12.5+lbs

I’m currently 8 weeks postpartum. The homebirth was wonderful. In fact it was my shortest labor yet, only 18 hours. The problems didn’t surface until after the delivery. According to a friend (mom of 7), I have officially joined the “sisterhood of mom’s of large babies.” Trust me, this is one sisterhood that you do not want to join.

I now suffer from pubic symphysis separation (PSS) due to the labor of BabyG3.

Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) is a condition that affects pregnant and/or postpartum women. The symphysis pubis is a joint in the very front part of the pelvic bone structure. There is cartilage that fills the gap in the bones. During pregnancy, hormones such as relaxin soften this cartilage allowing the pelvic bones to be more flexible for delivery. Some women, however, have too much play in the pelvis causing a large gap between the bones. This makes the symphysis pubis area extremely sensitive to touch. The pain is a result of separation of the symphysis pubis.

SPD causes pain in the front of the pelvis when touched. You may also feel pain in the lower abdomen, hips, inner thigh and groin areas. Marked increased pain with activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting your legs, or any other large movements involving the pelvis are key symptoms. You may even experience a clicking type noise with movement as well.

SPD is most often a a temporary situation and one that will resolve itself once the cartilage softening hormones decrease. Although there is no “cure” and it cannot be prevented in subsequent pregnancies, it does not mean that you will automatically experience SPD each pregnancy or birth.

In addition, my back felt as though it was broken in several places for the two weeks after delivery. I was in P-A-I-N. The pain was far greater than I’ve experienced with the previous five pregnancies, labors, and postpartum. It was borderline disabling. I was in so much pain that I actually took heed to the medical advice that was offered – bed rest, no excessive stair climbing, and wait the full 4-6 months before returning to active exercise. NO excessive stair climbing, how is that even possible when I live in a two-story home and have little ones? Active exercise for me at this time includes anything more than a short walk at a pace that puts me in a sweat. The advice was given by a midwife who appreciates that I am open to life and will most likely have more babies. She informed me that the relaxin, a key player to my aliment, will continue to be produced in my body for up to 4-6 months. The ultimate goal is to allow my body to properly recover from a major life event, labor & delivery, so I do not have to live with long-term crippling pain and all it’s ramifications.

Taking things slow postpartum is not easy for me. I “bounce back” rather quickly from labors and almost always have returned to my pre-pregnancy routine within days of delivery. I believed that I was an exception and was eager and willing to forgo the necessary recovery that is recommended for new moms. I strongly believe that many of my current aliments (in addition to those listed in this post) stem from pushing myself too hard too soon postpartum. I was warned but I’ve learned the lesson the hard way.

Praise God that I had improvements at around three weeks postpartum. I’m sure the bed rest and resisting a desire to return to my normal routine as I have done with previous babies helped the healing process.

I began to walk at four weeks postpartum for a min of 15min. once a week. This amount of exercise is not impressive unless you have experienced any related pubic symphysis issue. It has been humbling for me, to say the least. I logged one of my first postpartum “workouts” in my DailyMile and was reminded of where I left off a little over a year ago, a high-intensity workout. It’s been another opportunity for me to ditch my all or nothing tendency.

Recently I took a 1.78 mile walk. I strapped on the baby (all 12.5lbs. of him) in a front carrier and headed to the clubhouse for a swim team meeting. The walk may have set me back. I must admit that I made several mistakes during my walk. My first mistake was leaving 20min too late to make the start of the meeting. My second mistake was trying to speed-up to compensate for my late start. I was not ready for an increase in pace. It compromised my foot strike and caused blisters. The third mistake was to put on shoes, thinking it would ease the blistering and help me speed up. Instead, the shoes caused immediate back & IT pain. As if that weren’t enough, my pain returned from my PSS. I was somewhat of a wreck.

I’ll have to scale back a bit and get some quality recovery before heading out again. Also, I will most likely not be carrying Baby G in the front carrier for long walks.

I’ll continue to dial in my eating and nourish my body with real food.

pictured from left to right: short-ribs with quinoa berry salad and roasted asparagus. sweet grapefruit. eggs with salsa and avocado. mixed eggs, salsa, and avocado. bruschetta chicken. baked cheese tomatoes. apples and chicken. ground turkey with homemade taco seasoning with lime cilantro rice, homemade guacamole and salsa. steak salad with feta, avocado, and homemade dressing.

ALL FOR!

{pretty, happy, funny, real} March Edition

April 4, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, 03 March, Baby, GFG 2 Comments

{pretty}

3.31.13 – Family picture taken on Easter Sunday before Mass.

Picture taken by the talented dad of the Aranas Clan.

{happy}

3.2.13 – Birth of a new baby via physical delivery.

3.16.13 – Birth of a new baby via Baptism.

{funny}

3.31.13 – Boys will be boys. Easter fun with Father B.

{real}

3.2.13 – This picture was taken about 20 min. prior to the delivery of Baby G3. I labored at home, with my husband, in union with Jesus & Mary.

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

“Better Than New”

March 28, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Baby, Baptism 3 Comments

Baby G-3 was baptized in the Traditional Roman Rite on March 16, 2013, at two weeks of age.

We opted to go with Papi’s simple baptismal outfit vs. Dragonfly’s borrowed gown.

~~~

The Rite of Baptism
(English Translation)

Part I:
Outside the Church

The priest (wearing a violet stole), sponsors, and the catechumen stand in the narthex of the church, symbolizing that at this point, the candidate is not a member of the Church.

The Questioning

Priest: N., what do you ask of the Church of God?
Sponsor/Catechumen: Faith.
Priest: What does Faith offer you?
Sponsor/Catechumen: Life everlasting.
Priest: If then you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.’

The Exsufflation

The priest then breathes 3 times on the candidate in the form of a Cross, recalling the Spirit (breath, wind, “ruach”) of God.

Priest: Go forth from him (her), unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

The Sign of the Cross

The priest now makes the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the candidate’s forehead and breast.
Priest: Receive the Sign of the Cross both upon your forehead + and also upon your heart +; take to you the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so order your life as to be, from henceforth, the temple of God.
Priest: Let us pray: Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy perpetual assistance keep this Thine elect, N, signed with the sign of the Lord’s cross, so that, preserving this first experience of the greatness of Thy glory, he (she) may deserve, by keeping Thy commandments, to attain to the glory of regeneration. Through Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

The Imposition of Hands

The priest places his hands on the candidate’s head.

Priest: Let us pray: Almighty, everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look graciously down upon this Thy servant, N., whom Thou hast graciously called unto the beginnings of the faith; drive out from him (her) all blindness of heart; break all the toils of Satan wherewith he (she) was held: open unto him (her), O Lord, the gate of Thy loving kindness, that, being impressed with the sign of Thy wisdom, he (she) may be free from the foulness of all wicked desires, and in the sweet odor of Thy precepts may joyfully serve Thee in Thy Church, and grow in grace from day to day. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

The Imposition of Salt

Now the priest puts a little blessed salt in the candidate’s mouth. Salt is the symbol of that wisdom which gives a relish for the sweetness of divine nourishment; preserves, by the teaching of the Gospel, from the corruption of sin, and prevents evil passions from growing in men’s souls. Adult catechumens might be signed on the brow, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, breast, and between the shoulders before the imposition of salt. If this procedure is followed, afterwards the candidate will kneel, recite the Our Father several times, and a Cross is made on his forehead, first by the sponsor and then by the priest.

Priest: N., Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to thee a token of mercy unto everlasting life. May it make your way easy to eternal life.

Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us pray: O God of our fathers, O God the Author of all truth, vouchsafe, we humbly beseech Thee, to look graciously down upon this Thy servant, N., and as he (she) tastes this first nutriment of salt, suffer him (her) no longer to hunger for want of heavenly food, to the end that he (she) may be always fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, always serving Thy name. Lead him (her), O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the laver of the new regeneration, that, together with Thy faithful, he may deserve to attain the everlasting rewards of Thy promises. Through Christ our Lord.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

—–

Part II:
Admission into the Church Building

The Exorcism

The priest makes the Sign of the Cross over the candidate three times and says:

Priest: I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Spirit, that thou goest out and depart from this servant of God, N. For He commands Thee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, and stretched out His right hand to Peter about to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy sentence, and give honor to the living and true God: give honor to Jesus Christ His Son, and to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this servant of God, N. because God and our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call him (her) to His holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptism.

The Sign of the Cross

The priest again makes the Sign of the Cross on the candidate’s forehead

Priest: And this sign of the holy Cross, which we make upon his (her) forehead, do thou, accursed devil, never dare to violate.
Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

The Imposition of Hands

For the final time, the priest lays his hand on the candidate’s head

Priest: Let us pray: O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, Author of light and truth, I implore Thine everlasting and most just goodness upon this Thy servant N., that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to enlighten him (her) with the light of Thy wisdom: cleanse him (her) and sanctify him (her), give unto him (her) true knowledge; that, being made worthy of the grace of Thy Baptism, he (she) may hold firm hope, right counsel and holy doctrine.
Priest: Through Christ our Lord.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

Admission into the Church Building

The priest lays the end of his stole on the candidate as a symbol of his priestly authority, and admits him into the church building, which is the symbol of the Church of Christ. If the catechumen is an adult and was annointed in Part I above, he may be asked to lie prostrate before the Altar in adoration of Christ before this next step.

Priest: N., enter thou into the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ unto life everlasting.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

The Credo and Pater

Sponsor/Catechumen: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence shall He come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Part III
In the Nave of the Church

The Solemn Exorcism

Priest: I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father + Almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God N, which our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire

The Ephpheta

The priest takes a little spittle and touches the ears and nostrils of the candidate with it. For health reasons, the use of spittle may be omitted. This rite comes from Mark 7:33-35, when Jesus healed the deaf-mute: “And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. And immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right.”.

Priest: Ephpheta, that is to say, Be opened, for an odour of sweetness. Be thou, devil, begone; for the judgement of God shall draw near.

The Renunciation of Satan

Priest: N., do you renounce Satan?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Priest: And all of his works?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.
Priest: And all his pomps?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him.

The Annointing

The priest annoints the candidate with the oil of catechumens on the heart and between the shoulders in the form of a Cross, saying:

Priest: I annoint you + with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

Part IV
At the Font

The priest removes his violet stole and puts on a white one.

The Profession of Faith

Priest: N., do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.
Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was born and Who suffered?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.
Priest: Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe.

Baptism (Matter and Form of the Sacrament)

If the one to be baptized is a baby, the godparents take him to the font (the godmother holds him in her arms, the godfather touches the baby’s shoulder with his right hand); if he is an adult, the sponsor puts his right hand on the shoulder of the one to be baptized.

Priest: N., will you be baptized?
Sponsor/Catechumen: I will.

The priest pours water over the head of the candidate three times, once after each mention of the Divine Persons. The water he uses will have been consecrated during the Easter Vigil or on the Eve of the Pentecost. As he pours the water, the priest says these words (or the words of a conditional Baptism):

Priest: I baptize you in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit.

The Annointing with Chrism

Priest: May the Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath regenerated thee by water and the Holy Spirit, and who hath given thee the remission of all thy sins, may He Himself + anoint thee with the Chrism of Salvation, in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, unto life eternal.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.
Priest: Peace be with you.
Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit.

The White Linen Cloth

This priest takes a white linen cloth — symbolizing the purity of a soul cleansed from all sin, and a relic of the days when the newly baptized wore white albs for 8 days — and places it on the head of the candidate.

Priest: Receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have life everlasting.

The Lighted Candle

The priest gives the candidate or the sponsor a lighted candle.

Priest: Receive this burning light, and keep thy Baptism so as to be without blame: keep the commandments of God, that when the Lord shall come to the nuptials, thou mayest meet Him together with all the Saints in the heavenly court, and mayest have eternal life and live for ever and ever.

Last Words of Good Will

Priest: N., go in peace and the Lord be with you. Amen.
Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

Churching of Women:

Churching is the woman’s way of giving thanksgiving to God for the birth of her child, and predisposes her, through the priestly blessing that is a part of the ritual, to receive the graces necessary to raise her child in a manner pleasing to God.

The Ritual

The woman will make arrangements with her priest (ideally, the priest should know the women of his parish and make the offer to her). At the appointed time, she will kneel in the Narthex, holding a lighted candle. The priest, wearing a white stole, will bless her with holy water, and say:

V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made Heaven and Earth.
ANT. She shall receive.

Psalm 23 ¹

The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and all they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in His holy place? The innocent in hands and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Savior. This is the generation of them that seek Him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? the Lord Who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Glory be to the Father.

ANT. She shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God her Savior: for this is the generation of them that seek the Lord.

The priest places the end of his stole in the woman’s hand and leads her into the church while saying:

Enter into the temple of God, adore the Son of the blessed Virgin Mary, who gave you fruitfullness of offspring.

Outside the sanctuary, the mother kneels before the Altar and prays, thanking God for her child.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. (Now the Our Father is said silently)

V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.
V. Save your handmaid, Lord.
R. Who hopes in Thee, my God.
V. Send her help, Lord, from the sanctuary.
R. And defend her out of Sion.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against her.
R. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt her.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to Thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, through the delivery of the blessed Virgin Mary, Thou hast turned into joy the pains of the faithful in childbirth; look mercifully upon this Thy handmaid, coming in gladness to Thy temple to offer up her thanks: and grant that after this life, by the merits and intercession of the same blessed Mary, she may merit to arrive, together with her offspring, at the joys of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

The priest sprinkles the mother with holy water in the shape of a Cross.

The peace and blessing of God almighty, the Father + and the Son and the Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever.

R. Amen.

Consecration of a Child to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

ACT OF CONSECRATION OF A CHILD TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Blessed Virgin Mary, * Queen of Heaven and Earth, * to your Immaculate Heart,* the channel of all graces, * we consecrate this child * whom we have received from God’s goodness. We offer him [her] to you * that you may present him [her] to Your Divine Son, * that you may take him [her] under your loving, maternal protection,* that you may preserve him [her] from dangers, * that you may keep him [her] from all sin, * that you may make him [her] grow in piety * and in all virtue * so that he [she] may always be worthy * to call himself [herself] your child. May he [she] grow daily in wisdom and in grace, * may he [she] go through life having you always as his [her] refuge and mother. * May all virtues shine in him [her] * and may he [she] never offend your maternal Heart. May the Eternal Father always look upon him [her] with delight * and see in him [her] * a ray and reflection of your Immaculate Beauty. And as today he [she] gladdens our home, * so may he [she] one day gladden the Eternal Home * which we pray will be his [hers]. Amen.

Father S re-created this consecration booklet with colored pictures.

Reception:

We made a simple Italian menu, in keeping with our tradition for the previous two boys and in honor of his namesake. Dad, Rose, and I made the chicken parmesan, homemade focaccia, antipasto skewers, artichoke forno, pasta bar with three homemade sauces, stuffed mushrooms, and homemade lemonade. G-3’s God mother made a delicious salad with homemade dressing. My sis and her family made the baked herb chicken, roasted asparagus, and sweet tea. Papa was excused from cooking duty since he has been caring for my mom, post surgery.

The entire reception was managed by my sister and Dad. It is a great gift to have family that so generously serves one another. In charity, please pray for my family.