Trim Healthy Mama and My Health

Sorry, holding a baby right now so this will be short and sweet. I have been following the THM lifestyle Since then I have lost 33 pounds and do have more energy! My thyroid is still off and still having some health issues BUT I do feel somewhat better. At least I do have SOME energy. Praying as I continue on this journey it will help. Just wanted to share this so others might not give up .

Wives Love your Husbands

    I have not wanted to really write this post but I feel like the Lord has been wanting me to for a while. I have thought about this and thought about this topic. I have talked to a couple wives lately about issues they have with their husbands. Not the normal culture talk where the wife bashes her husband and talks about all the things he does wrong but just the more spiritual issues which is the most important. I am thankful to have a husband who is saved. I know he is saved and I am thankful he is strong in his beliefs and knows what he believes. I am thankful he is the leader of this home! Not all wives have this I know. I didn't always have it. My husband would agree with this also. I was saved when I was younger but totally was a backslider ( I am sad to say). The Lord started working on me again and I was following him sooner that my husband was. I just wanted to give my whole life to Him. I so wanted my husband to follow me but I could not change him ONLY the LORD could. But there was something I could do. PRAY! I really felt the Lord calling me to turn over my whole life to him , most importantly children and finances. The two hardest things to let go of. I talked and talked to Billy about this. He had a hard time with it, especially just turning our fertility over to the Lord. At first I kind of kept nagging him about it all. Something a wife should never do. Then I realized I was so wrong and just started praying. Praying for the Lord's will to be done, praying Billy would be a leader of our home, a godly man, and praying that I would love him the way the Lord intended. He went to a men's retreat with my brother in law and came back a totally different person. The transformation the Lord did in him that weekend was amazing. From then on our lives changed. We now have 10 children and the Lord has provided for our needs. God is sooo good. The point I am trying to make is no matter if your husband is not the Prince Charming you had hoped for just love him, pray for him, be there for him. If you are joyful in all things and praise the Lord and serve him then your husband will see and hopefully want what you have. 1 Peter 3:1
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives. God is so good and so BIG. Do not underestimate what God can do. ********I feel like I need to stop right here though and touch on something very briefly. This post is not intended to say a women that is being battered and beat up by her husband should stay. A husband is also suppose to love his wife as Christ loves the church. But you husband may be grouchy or not affectionate,etc... Pray about this! Give it to God. This is your man who God gave you. He CAN change his heart and if he doesn't then you just keep on serving the Lord with gladness. I can never sit and write all the Lord has done for me in my life. Yes, there are trials and hardships but so much more JOY! I hope this has helped someone or encourage someone going through a similar situation. I am saddened at all the divorce, as much divorce in the church as in the world. It is truly so sad and not what God intended. Wives just love your husbands! Care for them, put them first , respect them and the Lord will bless you.

What I have learned so far from Trim Healthy Mama

         First I am sure many people have already heard about this but if you have not this not some diet fad , it is a lifestyle change. I have always been self conscience of my weight. It has always been a issue for me. And after having 10 kids it is a little worn out (plus I haven't been very good to it). If you have not read the book it is worth the money it cost plus more and although it is a BIG book it has much more info than just learning how to eat but actually being healthy. I have learned that God does not intend for us to avoid most foods and the foods I do avoid have been processed and turned into something God did not design it to be. A part of the book discusses how God gave us food for fuel. I am looking at food so much more different than I used to. I actually do not fear it but actually enjoy it., Yeah, sometimes my other family members might be eating something I am trying to stay away from and I might really want it but there is always something else yummy I can eat in its place.
       Since having my 10th child 7 weeks ago I have lost 21 pounds. I have never been able to lose that much. I have not been hungry and have not felt like I am being punished like other "diets" I have been on. I have much more I want to lose but the most important thing FOR ME for even starting Trim Healthy Mama is I want to be healthy. Something I have not been in a long time. I was having thyroid issues, progesterone issues, and probably adrenal issues without even knowing it. I am not sure how long it had been going on but I only know when it got really bad. Before getting pregnant with Jase this time I went through a really rough time and one of the saddest in my life. I started feeling really bad and having chest pains. I experienced 3 miscarriages. It was all due to all the issues I listed above. This whole process has also taught me sometimes you have to take your own health in your hands. You cannot rely on doctors or anyone else. After having our last child I felt bad again and had my thyroid checked my levels were low and my thyroid seemed to be swollen. I was just telling my husband today my thyroid actually feels normal and I am feeling better. I do get tired but I am a wife and a mother to 10 kids(one being 7 weeks old). I am actually walking and trying to exercise . On that note let me talk about that for a minute.
          Being on Trim Healthy Mama has also giving me energy I have not had in awhile. I can actually be a wife, a mother, and still get in some exercise. One thing I have learned it you do not have to go to a gym, have a person trainer, do exercises in front of your t.v. While all those things might be well and good for some people , for a mother to 10 kids I do not have that time. But I can take my kids and go for a nice walk. I can spend time with my kids while actually doing my health good.
        I am so thankful to God for giving the two ladies who wrote this book the knowledge he has and that they have shared it with other women. I am writing this post to hopefully be of some encouragement to some other mother, young lady, or anyone who might be going through health issues or weight issues. While eating this way I have lost weight but I feel so much better as well. Yes, I am still healing from having a baby but I feel so much better than I have with my past ones health wise. I am still having a few issues of lower back pain, pelvic pain, etc.. but that is from my birth. I am hoping when I get my thyroid checked in a month or so it will be good. I am on meds for that but hope to get them lowered and changed to non synthetic ones soon.
     I hope to continue to post more about Trim Healthy Mama soon . Right now duty calls. :)

Been busy!!!

As you can see my little man is growing so very fast!! I wished I could slow him down but I also want him healthy. Just thought I would check in and let you know I am super busy but will be back to blogging shortly.

Birth Story

 Well I think this is a labor and deliver I WILL NOT forget. Jase is here, he was born Sunday morning and I am so grateful to God that I am on this side of it all . Although it comes with it's own challenges too like no sleep and a tired, sore, worn out body. But I get to hold and love on my new precious blessing.
    Well, where shall I begin. Last Monday I started to feel more contractions. I had to take my daughter to the dentist which of course the apt did not go as planned but I made it through. By Tuesday I was hurting, had been up all night and was having steady contractions. I called one of the midwives and she came over. I was dilated 3 cm and she said she thought it was the day. Well, so did I because my contractions were not letting up. We had planned on her coming back later on since I usually always labor all day anyway and checking me later in the day. So she did and there was no progress!!!! I will spare you the agony of my week but by Friday I had not made much change either , only a cm more dilated with all the contractions I was having. I actually thought something might be wrong and keeping him from coming down. Some of the younger kids spent the night with my mom Friday night just to give me a break because they were surely feeling the stress I guess because they were being pretty bad. I picked them up Saturday. I just kept thinking my body was failing me and could not understand with all the pain and contractions I had why he had not been born. Music, prayer, and baths are what kept me going during this time!!!!!! Along this journey also God has placed certain people in my life for encouragement and to help me keep going on, for that I am so very grateful. Saturday night the older boys, Paige, Billy, and myself watched a movie. Contractions were pretty bad during the movie but I just kept telling myself I am not calling the midwives over anymore until my water breaks(which for me is a crazy thing to say, because usually that is when baby is coming) Anyway, Saturday night I was up ALL NIGHT with the most horrible contractions I have ever had. This was my 10th child so I have been through my share of contractions but these were pretty rough. Baths didn't help and I just could not get comfortable and it just felt like his head was right there. After one really bad contraction I told Billy to call the midwives. So, he called. I was checked at 9 am and was 6 cm but fully effaced. But I was just focusing on the 6 cm, I could not believe after all that pain I was not any further. The contractions were INTENSE. Then while everyone was out of the room , I was laying on my side and I felt my body pushing by itself. I called for Billy and told them I needed to push. I asked for my water to be broken but when I turned over to be checked there was no need to break my water. HE was COMING! Jase Malachi was born at 9:56. The midwives were not even here a hour. And btw my water must of broke while I was pushing him out so the whole waiting for my water to break would not have been a good thing!! So after a week of laboring it was over so fast. So fast that it was kind of traumatic for me AND Jase.  So there you have it, while he was my 10th he was definitely my hardest to get here but the trade off was a fast delivery. Hoping now for a fast recovery!! :)

How this baby is being used by the Lord

       As most of you know I am 39 weeks and have been "laboring" since Tuesday. Some may call it false labor but those are the ones that have never went through this and surely do not know how I am feeling. God IS teaching me so much in all of this though so I am so happy that all this is not in vain. In all of this I have felt defeated at times and like I just could not go on and God used someone or something to show He is still by my side. We have had sweet friends, which now seem more like family, that have made sure we have had all we needed and have been here whenever needed. He has used other people to bring meals, help with the kids, and just give words of encouragement. I think in all of this the Lord is showing me I HAVE to swallow my pride sometime and accept help. That is what being a part of a Christian family is all about. If you know me any at all I like things in order, things in their place, and everything neat and tidy and when things like this happen it is almost impossible for things to be that way without help.

                I am also being reminded how blessed I am. I think sometimes moms of many take for granted the blessings God has given them, especially when times get hard. Being able to labor(however long) and then go on to deliver a blessing that will hopefully one day go out and spread the gospel is such a blessing. In all of this I keep going back to what sorrow I felt in experiencing the 3 miscarriages before the Lord decided to bless us with keeping this baby in the womb. I will gladly take this pain to see my little one's face!!!! As I am typing this I am having a contraction, which reminds me I am just that much closer. I am blessed and it is crazy how often we forget it.

               I know I am loved. The Lord is showing me time and time again in so many ways. I a lot of times no matter what hardships I go through time and time forget to not try to rely on myself. I cannot do it alone, only with the help of the Lord. I think he uses things like this to remind us only trusting in the Lord, keeping our faith on Him, and leaning on Him can we ultimately make it in this world. He has used music lately to quite my soul and I am so appreciative of that. I had put some songs together for when I was in labor and God knew I would need them at this time!!!!

 
              I know this will not last forever and Lord willing I will soon be holding a healthy baby boy and baby #10 will be welcomed into this family. And I also know I will be grateful for the lessons I have learned in all of this.

Who are we trying to please? Man or God?

Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.


    I read this verse in my bible study this morning and it really stood out to me. I think that is a lot of the problems our country has now. We try to please each other , do not want to step on any toes, hurt any ones feelings, be different, etc.... Don't get me wrong, we should be loving and kind to one another but we also have got to start standing up for what is just and right. Deciding to give our lives over fully to the Lord was not easy for Billy and I . It meant we had to let go of some friendships and ultimately just pray for those people to find the Lord. It meant not always living in comfort, it meant getting comments made to us about the number of children we had, it meant giving EVERYTHING over to the Lord. While this was not easy the Lord has always provided what we have needed and many of the things we have wanted. WE realize many look at our family with displeasure and that is where this verse really comes in, we are not here to win the approval of man. I want to please my Father in heaven. Just like a young girl dances and sways and calls out to her earthly daddy for his approval on how pretty, how well she is doing something, or how much he loves her we too should also be seeking that approval from our heavenly Father. We were not placed on this earth to make men happy but for the pleasure of the Lord. I really think if we as a society of Christians stood up and started making the Lord the focus of our lives things would change. I am not saying that pleasing the Lord will always make life easy , if that is what I was saying I would not be telling you the truth. People die daily for being a servant of Christ. But I will tell you is that your life will be transformed , you will be changed , and you will see things you have never noticed before. I am so thankful I am saved, a daughter of the Most High, and that while sometimes hard giving of my whole life to the Lord I have experienced such blessings!!! Just meditate on that verse for today and see how it changes your perspective on things going on in the world and how you view things. And maybe also how you are living your life.

 
   ****** Just a quick baby update. I am almost 37 weeks so could be anytime now our sweet baby boy makes his entrance into the world. Please pray for safety and health for both him and I. God bless you and have a Christ filled day.