She like to move it, move it!

For over a week now I have been feeling her move, kick, punch, turn everyday! I didn't say anything at first because I wanted to be certain it was our baby and not my tummy dreaming of an organic dark chocolate fountain :) Alas, it is Aolani! And have we been waiting to feel her move. What a joy! Everytime I feel her, I want to giggle over this special secret that no one else knows... We are so thankful for her life and the love our Maker has for her!!

I love this picture! No, it is NOT me! But my belly button is practically flat now and no longer an innie.

Natural Family Planning

We just have to talk about Natural Family Planning (NFP), which is the form of birth control we use. We LOVE it!

NFP is actually the method of birth control that the Catholic Church endorses, and we think they certainly got this right. Simply put, it is based on reading the woman's fertility cycle and knowing when she is fertile. Therefore, it can definitely help you either postpone pregnancy or achieve pregnancy. If you use NFP correctly, then it is just as, if not more, effective than the pill or any other contraceptive. With NFP, we got pregnant the first time we tried!

There are so many reasons why we stand by NFP. Here are a few:

1. Oral contraceptives can act as abortifacients, killing the week-old life that has been created by the Creator. So if you are using an oral contraceptive (OC) for birth control, there is a chance that you have had several chemical abortions. We are firm pro-life advocates and against ALL abortions, whether surgical or chemical. Which is why when we found out that hormonal birth control may act as an abortifacient, we stopped using it immediately! We actually learned about all this from a book, which we give away for free. We would be more than happy to mail anyone a copy! This was the first step on our path to discovering NFP.
2. It is cheap! Cheapest method of birth control there is. Mother Teresa and her nuns taught it to the poorest of the poor in India, and it worked, of course! Teaching people to use NFP is astronomically cheaper than throwing condoms at them.
3. We absolutely love the fact that we are no longer shoving artificial hormones into my body. It is so much healthier. It is funny how I use to be so concerned about what I ate and put into my body via diet, yet contradicting myself by using an OC (hormonal birth control). I wanted to be "natural," but how unnatural is taking artificial hormones! Let's avoid chemicals and use "green" cleaners, while dumping chemicals straight into my body with birth control! Just as some people don't eat meat because they don't want to kill an animal's life, but they flippantly take OCs and risk killing a human life.
4. We really wanted to get this posted before this month is over, since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Surely enough, there is a definite link between OCs and breast cancer. Ricky worked really hard gathering information and creating a flyer to hand out this month about wearing pink socks. Check it out, and pass it out!
5. Last, but certainly not least, are the spiritual benefits of NFP. I could drag this one out for a while, but quickly: our love is better, our sex is better, and our relationship with God is better.

NFP rocks :)

[There are many organizations that teach NFP. We used the Couple-to-Couple League (CCL) and were very pleased. We are still connected with CCL.]

(A little over) 5 Months!

And, oh girl, do I look and feel it! I think I look bigger than I should, but my weight gain is right on target so far.

News: I went back to work starting on Monday. It's stressful for me, but I got to keep on truckin'!

I'm still recouping from my infections, but I do feel vast improvement. Since I was sick for a month, I did not really go anywhere except to doctors. Our niece was forbidden to come over (which I think was for the best for sure). However, last weekend we got to attend a fall festival together as a family. Ricky rode the bull. Maybe it'd be more accurate to say that Ricky watched the bull, as he spent more time off of it than on it!

I think he averaged 2 seconds on each time. He says his thighs are still hurting!

Volunteers

I just wanted to let you know that Ricky and I are volunteers for Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), which means that we can sign anyone up for their FREE monthly newsletter and a FREE copy of one of our favorite books, Tortured for Christ (a short read). Click here to read what some missionary friends in Haiti wrote about it. You can do it yourself by going to the previous links. You can even request a VOM representative to come speak to your church (or any group) about the plight of the Persecuted Church -- for FREE!

I know we sent out a mass e-mail a while ago mentioning the same thing, but we just wanted to reiterate the fact. We get nothing from doing this; we just want people to remember, be encouraged by, and pray for the worldwide Persecuted Church!

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is coming up on November 8, 2009. Please alert others (especially your local church) to pray, pray, pray! Watch this short 4-minute video. It's free, and you can have your church show it before holding a special prayer for the Persecuted Church...

Our church in Wilmington, North Carolina (MGEPC) is hosting a VOM speaker (Darcie Gill) on March 7, 2010. All are more than welcome to come join us!

The (Hidden) Fruit

Ricky told me that I have to put this on the blog (it's really good!), and he even said that it made his week. We pray that it gives you as much inspiration and encouragement as it did for us!

Additional Baby Ideas

I can't believe I forgot these when I posted the other ones! Anyway, here's two more:

Ever since I knew I was pregnant, I came up with a sort of "slogan." I repeat this to her almost daily while I hold her (which is my belly right now!):

Receive God's love,
Receive the love of your mother,
Receive the love of your father,
And be filled with love for others!

A few months ago, we decided to select a chapter from the Bible to read over Aolani every single day. This would be a way to proclaim those living and powerful words over her life. Then, for each child we have, we will select a different chapter. For Aolani, we chose Philippians 4 (and we personalize it for her when one of us reads it to her):

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.
Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings.
All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Shout-out

There is someone whom I want you to meet. I owe a lot to her, and I consider her to be like my mentor.

Her name is Shannon Klann. She is 36, married, has 3 kids, lives in Michigan, and has Friedreich's Ataxia! Imagine my further surprise when I found out that she loves Jesus, too!!

She is the first person I ever talked to that also has FA. God truly ordained our meeting (via Internet) back in April. The right person at the right time. I was pretty giddy the first few times I contacted her. I felt excited, nervous and a little scared that I was dreaming.

Shannon stays at home by herself during the day while her husband works. Also, she took care of all three of her children by herself during the day, until they reached school-age. I knew she could teach me A LOT, and I was and am eager to learn her secrets.

Every time I have a question or concern, I e-mail her for help and guidance and quickly receive it! She is a gem. This happens very frequently as I am new to independence and have much to learn.

I am so grateful to the LORD for providing Shannon! And Shannon, YOU ARE A GOD-SEND, a much-needed help in a time of need.

Shannon maintains her own website (and blog) to help people like me, mothers in wheelchairs. If you know of someone who is in the same boat, tell them to check it out!

The Current Events of 21 Weeks

It's been three weeks, and I'm still sick. Basically, I had a cold (that my hubby brought home to me) that was treated too late and turned into a sinus infection, which I've never had as I do not have allergies. Anyway, I had to go to another doctor about it and start an antibiotic, which led to some side effects. Treating the side effects in turn leads to more side effects. I know -- it seems never-ending.

Doctors' appointments and updates:

• Cardiologist: I've had two visits to check the status of my heart. It looks good, so I can attempt a vaginal birth.
• High-risk OB/GYN: Aolani is doing perfectly; you can see some pictures of her face below. She is 21 weeks, 13 ounces, and about the size of a small cantaloupe (although I look like I swallowed a basketball).
• Pulmonologist: I visit him next week to get a baseline on the function of my lungs and breathing capacity (for labor).
• General doc: I'll see him to check the status of my sickness next week and possibly get approval to return to work. This will be the third doctor I'll see about this sickness!

Good news: Aolani is wonderfully healthy and pain-free. I think I'm getting better slowly (that might change depending on the day and what time it is).
Great news: We have a loving God, a compassionate Savior, a Comforter, and an eternal HOPE!
What you're really waiting for:
(tilt head 90 degrees to the left)
It's just her head (not body) complete with eyebrows, eye sockets and lids, nose, lips...

Ricky thinks she has my chin -- ha!

Loud Mouth

This little girl is just too funny not to watch (30 secs)...

Catch-22

Sorry there has not been any posts this week. I (Aidan) have been sick for two weeks now, and it's still going! I did go to the doctor last Friday, and she said that pregnant women have a much weaker immune system and told me what medicine I could take. I hate medicine but have been so miserable that I caved.

My first two weeks at home alone have not gone as I thought, you know, all the balloons and music associated with parties :) Instead, it's been a compilation of snotty tissues, droopy eyelids, pounding headaches, hearing impairment, the sweats (from a persistent low-grade fever)... not fun.

I feel like I am in a Catch-22. My body is having a hard time shaking this because I am not getting the sleep I need for a strong immune system. I cannot get adequate sleep at night from the insomnia. Basically, we're just waiting and praying. The doctor did take a mini-ultrasound last week to make sure Aolani was doing well. She was great -- active in the womb and doing her baby thing. Completely oblivious to Mommy's suffering, which is good. Please pray that she would be unaffected by the medicine I'm taking.

I'll update as soon as I recoup.