Worship Before the Throne of God

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC
If you come into A Nurturing Moment, you're likely to hear K-Love Christian radio playing because I love the atmosphere it provides. I listen to K-Love in my car, too. Since I spend a lot of time on the road between the store, Athens-Limestone Hospital and my home, I get to listen to a LOT of amazing songs; in fact, my little Honda transforms into a rolling worship service sometimes! Just this week I heard this version of How Great Is Our God for the first time.

It literally brought tears to my eyes because it took me back to our time in Costa Rica when we were in language school preparing to go to Peru. We had found a church that was pastured by a Peruvian pastor in a suburb of San Jose. Together with some Swiss friends from our language school we had gotten involved in this amazing congregation.

Our Costa Rican brothers and sisters take prayer very seriously. One night we had a vigilia -an all night prayer meeting where we spent time praying, worshiping and sharing sweet fellowship. As we stood in a circle holding hands and singing, I found myself between my Swiss friend and a dear Costa Rican sister worshiping with all my heart as we sang a Spanish song.

Suddenly it struck me that I was experiencing a tiny foretaste of Heaven - I imagine that we will spend all eternity praising God in all the languages of the world with all the songs that have ever been written. And the best part of all is that we will understand all the words. I don't know about you, but it sure makes me just a little bit homesick for that day when our eternity of worship before the throne of God begins!

My C-Section Truths

by an anonymous  Guest Blogger

For a long time I didn't think that I could get pregnant. We adopted a son a few years ago and were more than content with him. But I miraculously became pregnant in 2013 and quickly decided that I wanted a natural birth. I chose a doula who was also a midwife, so I knew that I was in good hands.

Having a C-section was not on my radar. I never read that chapter in What to Expect, and I ignored any information about it because (in my mind), I thought those were either elective or emergency—and to my prideful mind, those weren’t options for me!

But after 48 hours of natural labor, my baby became stuck, and I ultimately had a C-section. It was harder than I imagined. The entire experience and the few months that followed were the hardest of my entire life. My son’s birthday is next month, and I can’t help but think (almost daily) about that time. Recently, I read this article, and it took a hold of me and hasn’t let go:

My thoughts after reading that sweet blog post:

Yes, that OR is a scary place, especially when my heart monitor chirped in my ear and scared me each time there was a missed beat. And even though I know my next home is heaven, I didn't want to leave my boys and family. 
Yes, the preppers talked about other things (the beach). My doctor asked 2-3 times where my family was, which is exactly what my inner voice was screaming. I can remember when he quietly said that he was moving my bladder, and I was so grossed out and so thankful I couldn't feel it.  My husband and doula came in very late-he had already begun.  It seemed like just a couple of minutes (and maybe it was) that my son was out, my husband was gone with him, and so began the sewing up.

I still regret, am disappointed, and am frustrated that I didn't get to see my son when he first entered this world. I still feel that I was robbed of seeing that precious boy exit my body, his home, to enter the cold, bright OR room, so foreign to what he was used to.  I still fight bitterness that I didn't get to hold him immediately and that he was robbed of the peace and warmth that should have come from being next to his mama, and hearing her now-faint heartbeat.

I still can't/don't want to look at photos of other women and their newborns resting on their chests just after birth. I still feel fight bitterness when I see happy couples with their wrapped up newborn while in the hospital. I don't have any pictures of those.  I still fight the disappointment that I only heard my son’s cry from far away to know that he was alive, rather than seeing him and holding him. I just remember just gazing into my doula’s eyes, finding/fighting for peace and strength to get through the next heartbeat.

I somehow feel that the author's use of "brave" when describing a C-section mom is somehow too strong. We mothers did what we had to do to—it’s as simple as that. When I look back on those first few weeks being home, I am still in awe that I made it...especially those first few nights. Getting up (which is incredibly hard to do when you're semi-afraid that your insides might pop out) to feed a crying baby/change his diaper every hour and a half to two hours was just plain hard. Not to mention constantly wondering/doubting if I was doing the right thing. And to think about how now I don't feel rested unless I have 7 hours of sleep!

I will say that I totally agree that a C-section leaves physical AND emotional scars. Though I believe I had an excellent surgeon and had little/no complications and don't have problems with my physical scar like many other women (and feel VERY blessed), it's so true that it's emotional, too. Don't get me wrong—yes, the end result is what really matters: healthy baby, healthy mama. But there's much more that most people—especially those who haven't been in the same situation—can't imagine.

BUT....and here's a BIG but:

Though I sometimes struggle with my disappointment and grief, I DO realize how blessed I am that I experienced the greatest miracle of humanity (other than Jesus)--being pregnant and giving birth. I can remember the pangs of loneliness when seeing pregnant women bask in that special beauty that only comes from having another life growing inside of you. I remember watching mothers breastfeeding their babies and being saddened, thinking I’d never get to have that awesome experience. I remembering being on the adoption waiting list: full of hope and excitement, all the while being anxious about the unknown. I'm fully aware of those thousands of infertile women and/or those waiting who are waiting on an adoption waiting list who would LOVE to have a baby in ANY manner and who would switch places with me in a heartbeat. I don’t believe that they would spend much—if any—time regretting what might or should have been. In the end, they would be incredibly grateful for that baby that they could call their own.
Having a C-section was not on my radar. I never read that chapter in What to Expect

Yes, things didn't go "my" way regarding the birth, but God allowed it to happen that way. And it's ok—really. I'm thankful for the opportunity, the privilege…no, the high HONOR that it is to be a mother.  (And I realize how blessed to be a mom in two different, special ways!) So, it's perhaps much easier for me to let go of those times of disappointment than others. But, like an old injury, it aches sometimes.

Coming Soon: More Fluff and More Breastfeeding Stuff

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC
We are so excited to announce that we are making some BIG changes which will result in us having a HUGE selection of cloth diapers as well as an expanded selection of breastfeeding supplies and apparel.

Moo Moo Caboose is taking over all the cloth diaper merchandising within A Nurturing Moment. Owner Beth Shortt has long dreamed of having a cloth diapering business, but didn't see how it would be possible since she is homeschooling her houseful of boys. As we talked, we realized that this is a perfect solution for both of us because Beth can fulfill her fluffy desires, and I can free up money to put into breastfeeding supplies and clothing!

We will have a grand opening for Moo Moo Caboose on Saturday, April 11 from 10:30 - 2:00. She will feature all the lines we currently carry, Cotton Babies (Bum Genius and Flip), Rumparooz, Thirsties, Babee Greens, GroVia, BottomBumpers, SuperUndies and Bummis, as well as SmartBottoms,  and other brands to be announced in the near future! Beth will have an entire wall of cloth with a large selection of newborn diapers and will be making weekly orders so that you can get your entire stash right here! She will also have some pretty cool incentives to keep you shopping here like a frequent buyer card!

A Nurturing Moment will be adding another bra line in the near future, bringing in more breastfeeding supplies and adding more nursing apparel over the next couple of months. The only baby carriers we will feature will be ring slings and Baby K'tan because they are so practical for breastfeeding mothers. We encourage you to visit Acorn Treasures for all your other babywearing needs.

Our goal is to better serve the local mama community by providing the best selection possible for all your breastfeeding and cloth diapering needs. We can't wait to show you the changes, so please be sure to stop by frequently over the next few weeks! Go like Moo Moo Caboose on Facebook today to be entered into a drawing that Beth will do on Saturday.