Violet Valora's Birth Story

 We took a trip to triage Saturday night September 10, I had been contracting for 5 hours, with contractions 1 minute apart for 1 to 2 minutes long and stronger than they have been this pregnancy. I have not progressed any and they slowed down. I was actually not dehydrated so no need for IVs. We were told it was a false alarm and that I should know when it is "time". The thing is every labor has been different and I get the dreaded prodromal labor. I feel like I am doing good with breathing and just allowing my body to do what it needs. Then we head to the hospital and my body just freezes up. I feel like my body can't go into labor on its own and it does not know how to labor. Went in again Monday, September 12 at 10 pm because thought my water might have broke. Started contracting as well. Went in and checked and still the same. Not amniotic fluid was sent home again. 

Had a 38-week appointment and ultrasound to check her growth. Everything looked good but decided it was time to induce and all doctors agreed. We were feeling like they might not be able to get it in that soon. I surrendered and just asked our Lord to let his will be done. At 9:30 am on September 16th, they called to say we could come on September 18 at 8 pm. I was cleaning everything really well and doing last-minute laundry. I planned to rest on Saturday and be ready for our induction Sunday night, we watched a movie as a family and began getting strong contractions. On September 17, started contracting stronger and cramping a lot. We had walked that morning to our town's Pinto Bean fiesta parade. And had started contracting since then. By 12 pm had some bloody show. Took a nap, and put on a warm rice sock to help with cramping. I gave all the little kids baths and had them ready for Religious Education the next morning. By 6 pm had more bloody show and still contracting. They were not too close or consistent so I thought it was early labor and was excited some progress was happening since I had a bloody show. I never saw my mucus plug come out, but I had a lot of trips to the bathroom so probably didn't notice it. Took a nap after dinner and at 7 pm woke up to stronger contractions. I was getting so irritated with everyone but still didn't think I was in active labor. They were still not very close together, just so much cramping and strong. By 9 pm decided to try Tylenol for the cramping and go to bed. My mother-in-law had insisted on coming over but told her it had just started. Well, the Tylenol didn't work much, by 11 pm they got stronger, I rested in between, prayed for all the intentions, and listened to some birth meditations. I still didn't think I was in labor until 1 pm when I started getting nauseous and had such intense contractions, I was beginning to moan through them. When I told my hubby I needed to puke, he knew I was laboring and asked if he should call his mom. I said you probably better. He did and I waddled to the bathroom again. Sat there for a few contractions and thought maybe I am in active labor. But still didn't think I was that close, it tends to get a little hazy when I hit 7 cm through transition. 

I finally got dressed and waddled to the kitchen. As he loaded our bags and got everything we needed. I began to think of just getting a darn epidural. Which is where my mind goes when I am transitioning. It still didn't occur to me that this could be labor and I was so close to meeting our baby girl. I just had the idea that I couldn't labor on my own or that I would go get checked and be sent home just to wait for my induction time. We all have probably heard something discouraging or disappointing in pregnancy, so that makes you doubt so much is hard and needs healing. 

 As we waited for my momma-in-law, I declared to my hubby that I might not be able to do it without an epidural. He just rubbed my back and said whatever I wanted, but that maybe it was close. I cried and said it probably isn't and I am tired. He started praying his mom would hurry. She finally arrived at 2 pm. I got up and had to pause at the door before getting to the car. I got in and settled in a laid-back position. Closed my eyes and just asked for strength, driving for 40 minutes to the hospital seemed torturous at this point. But I asked to just be calm and just be strong. I wanted to be calm because my hubby had to focus on driving and getting us there safely. We both had an unspoken realization, that we could possibly have her on the way to the hospital. I know we both prayed to make it safely and whatever our Lord's will.

I didn't speak the whole way and just breathed, moaned, and got through each surge that hit me. I felt on the last one like my water might break, but I prayed it wouldn't yet. He got us there in 30 minutes and parked close by. He asked if I could get out and all I said was if I want an epidural just let me. He said yes whatever you want, let us just get in the hospital. Can you walk? I thought maybe at least to the emergency room. But as another hit me while walking in I felt so much pressure and had to hold my front belly and butt. I sat there moaning and breathing. Finally, a nice man came with a wheelchair and took us up. As a big surge of pain hit my leg began trembling and that is when I realized that I was in labor and she was coming soon! 

We got to triage at 2:30 am and the nurse asked if I could pee in a cup and I shook my head no. She asked if I felt pressure and I said yes lots. She yelled for the head nurse who ran in and asked if she could check me. I said in a minute as I stood and moaned. I finally got on the bed and she said when you are ready lift your knees up. I did and she said oh yeah, bulging bag of water, you are going to have your baby! 

I was so relieved and also shocked. They quickly moved me to labor and delivery and started setting up everything. The midwife was in there fast and asked to take a look as I quickly undressed. She said oh yeah baby is there and the fluid is meconium stained, we are calling in the neonatologists. I was laying on my side and she asked if I wanted her to break my bag of water. I said yes please, I am ready. So on my back, I got and a painful pop with gushing fluid going everywhere. That was at 2:37 am and said I could push on the next contraction. So at 2:40 am, I started pushing and then stopped a bit to catch my breath. Tried again but then stopped right before the burn. The midwife instructed me to push longer, encouraging me I was doing so good. I knew what it meant and took a big breath and at 2:44 am after three pushes, Violet Valora arrived into the world. All slimy with vernix and beautiful!! She was placed on my tummy and didn't cry right away, which when meconium is present is a good thing because they can clear it out before they inhale it. She was suctioned a bit and rubbed, then gave a little cry! I was so happy and relieved to hear that cry. To be holding her and seeing her sweet face was so amazing! My placenta came faster than other births and I felt it more this time. I actually got to see it and we even took pictures. They clamped her cord and Daddy cut it. I put her up on my chest and we were given clean, warm blankets. They examined everything with no tears, just a scrape. She looked good and I was filled with such joy! We had such a beautiful birth, one I did think I needed. I had prayed for a natural birth and our Lord gave me my heart's desire. 

Violet Valora Hibler 

7 lbs 3oz 

20 1/2" 

13" head circumference

We are so grateful for all the prayers, gifts, help, and love throughout this pregnancy and for Violet!!! Thanks be to God!!!!!

Birth Announcment Baby #6

 Birth announcement of baby #6

Violet Valora Hibler

Born: September 18, 2022

Time: 2:44 am

Weighed: 7lbs. 3oz.

Length: 20 1/2" inches

We appreciate the prayers! 

Anuncio de nacimiento de bebe #6

Violeta Valora Hibler

Nacida: Septiembre 18, 2022

Hora: 2:44 am

Peso: 7 libras 3 onzas

Larga: 20 1/2" pulgadas

Nosotros apreciamos todas las oraciones!

The Blessing of Children

 "How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers." --St. Teresa of Calcutta

I have been reflecting on the blessing of children. Yes, it is hard and arduous work to mother so many, but it is good. Sure, I get tired, annoyed, frustrated. I am human after all. They are a blessing, especially because I am undeserving of them and their love. 

I honestly pray that everyone would just love children. That they could see the value of children. That they would treat them with dignity and love. That they could truly treasure them as gifts. That they could see what joy and wonder they bring. That they could honestly see God in their hearts and pray for them. 

I have always found children fascinating. I honestly didn't want any children. Until I met Lucas and wanted tons, lol. Now, I see each of our children and am so humbled. Humbled by the precious gift of life. Humbled to have the ability to bear and nourish our babies. Humbled to be given so many children to teach, care for, and love them. Humbled to see them grow and become loving little humans despite our failings. Humbled to be entrusted a person, made in the image of God, to care for. 

So thanks be to God, for all our children! Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to give of ourselves daily and for calling us to love unconditionally!!       

This song is beautiful!! 

Our children...ages 11, 9, 8, 4, 2, and in the womb!!!

Bella's Gingerbread

 This is a story about a simple, fun, and tasty tradition I started 12 years ago. It has become a very meaningful and special tradition for our family. It all started when I first became an Auntie, 13 years ago. 

My sister who is four years younger than I, became pregnant as a teenager. She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Yzabella, we call her Bella for short. She was born in December. She is married to Bella's Daddy and they have two more precious children, along with their dogs. I had to give a little back story to my infamous gingerbread. My Bella is turning 13 years old this week and I can't believe it!!

These gingerbread came about wanting to make a fun tradition when Bella was a 1 year old. I wanted to have something fun for my niece and make Christmas time special. One that is always filled with hope, peace, joy, and love. Because even in an unexpected pregnancy none of the difficulties and sacrifice can make it any less beautiful and precious. 

I want to tell my sister thank you for choosing to give life to your precious daughter. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of witnessing her birth all those years ago. It is a moment imprinted on my heart forever! To see you give of yourself so selflessly was something so beautiful to witness and it makes me so proud to be your sister! Also, thank you to my brother in law for staying with my sister and choosing to be a father. I believe a father is not made when a baby is born, like a mother. They are made when they sacrifice for, care for, and love that child. He has demonstrated all these actions throughout the years and I am so proud to have him as a brother in law! 

Bella's gingerbread means so much to me and what they represent. Thanks be to God for the gift of children, family, and love!!! <3:) 

Bella home and about a week old!

Bella's first gingerbread making party!

The first gingerbread I ever made!

Advent Traditions

Thought I would make a post about our Advent traditions. We try to have a time of preparation starting with the first Sunday of Advent. On that first Sunday of Advent we also celebrate with a cake/treat and a special dinner since it is our church's New Liturgical Year. We usually decorate for Christmas the day before the first Sunday of Advent. We also read this beautiful "The Night before Advent" by Ann Voskamp poem. We have grateful hearts for all we have been blessed with this year! 

We have our Advent wreath and every week focus on the meaning of each color. We pray an Advent prayer every Sunday at dinner time and light the candle for that week. The prayers we use can be found here and they also give a brief history of the Advent wreath. When we first were married, we always reflected on our childhood and traditions we had. We agreed on ways we would celebrate Christmas and what traditions we wanted to observe with our family. The Advent wreath was one of our first traditions we did and still do.

Did you know that each candle has a certain color and meaning. First week: purple candle for HOPE, second week: purple candle for PEACE, third week: pink candle for JOY, fourth week: purple candle for LOVE. Once it is Christmas Eve you change the candles to all white. In order to help young children better incorporate with meaning of the Advent season, I saw an Advent promise worksheet on Pinterest that I recreated.

So the kids have to think of a way to serve and express an act for each one. You change it according to their age and what they know they can accomplish. It helps them think about others and how they can demonstrate love by serving others. 

We also have a Brother Francis video which I won last year in a giveaway. It is a video with clips you watch everyday during Advent. It is beautifully made for children and there is a challenge you work on every day as a family during the Advent season. The kids really enjoyed it last year and are looking forward to it again this year.

We also don't do Santa on Christmas. We celebrate St. Nick on his feast day December 6th. The kids put out their boots the night before by our front door. We usually get them something that will enrich their faith or books, chocolate coins, an orange and something they need. We love the CCC St. Nick video because it shows how much he loved our Lord and how he served others. We also have this book about St. Nicholas.

We also put our baby Jesus from our Nativity in a green velvet box under the tree. On Christmas morning we say a prayer together and the youngest kid opens up the baby Jesus. They get to place Him in the Manger, which makes it special for them. We want our focus on Christmas to be on Jesus as our most important gift. Last year we went to Mass on Christmas morning and came home to open gifts after our prayer. We do give gifts on Christmas and it is something they want, need, and read/watch. This year we got them a book called "Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas" by Antonie Schneider, illustrated by Maja Dusikovaa.


Another little thing we do is get rid of toys that still work and donate them. We also have an Advent Calendar of the Nativity Scene, I made it out of felt and print outs with velcro. The kids take turns putting up the person/animal/object of the day.

Christmas time brings a lot of busy schedules and rushing around. Although this year will look different with this pandemic, I think it can be a great time for little acts of charity towards others.
We also incorporate crafts on feast days such as St. Nicholas, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the Holy Family.

This year we are going to be doing a couples thing. Lucas was gifted from his Godfather the "Consecration to St. Joseph" by Donald H. Calloway, MIC. We will have a 33- day journey to the feast day of the Holy Family for our consecration day. We are excited for this journey as now is the time for St. Joseph!
Hope this gives you some ideas for traditions to incorporate for your family! Feel free to share your traditions!


May this Advent season bring you all hope, peace, joy, and love!!! :)<3

A Healing Heart

We are about to have another Sacred Heart of Jesus feast day celebration. Our family has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus now, more than ever. In this post I go into detail why and here is what happened. When I was about to have Gregory the unknowns about his heart were so scary. I am so grateful for his health and he is 1 year old now!

It is always so hard to deal with trials. I am sharing how I have had to heal over this year from the weight of all the fears. It was hard to be brave, when we had to see a pediatric cardiologist. It was hard to hear they were not sure what would happen. It was hard to not be sad that we could have a baby with a heart defect. It was hard to have faith.

We didn't have a lack of faith in God's healing power. We truly believe He can heal and work miraculously. I was simply afraid to ask for a healing, because in my heart I really wanted Gregory to be healthy. I didn't want him to have a heart defect. I didn't want to be brave enough to face it all, if he did. But what if it was God's plan to give us baby with a heart defect? God has plan for us we often don't understand. We sometimes want things that may not be necessary or even good for us.

I wanted whatever God willed. Saying that requires a kind of faith that knows God is still in the midst of us even when it is darkest. See I believe that we are sometimes called to suffer. Does it seem weird to believe it? Maybe.

Romans 5:1-5 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access [by faith] to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that been given to us." 

So maybe not weird to believe this. None of us are exempt from suffering. I have been through enough to know, that if something is happening in my life that is causing me suffering I need to be brave enough to face it with faith. I always ask for the strength and courage to face whatever happens with love. I know there is a process my heart needs to go through to gain understanding, as hard as it can be sometimes. Part of my hearts process at that time, was not to ask for a healing. Afterall how many parents have not asked for healings for their children with tons more faith and it just was not the plan. God has a plan, even when it is painful. There is beauty in that suffering when we are united to Christ. It also doesn't mean He loves others more.

I began a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As I gazed at our huge image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus...

I thought why not do a novena to the Sacred Heart, for a heart defect. I started it March 18, 2019 and did it for nine days, I wasn't asking for a healing for Gregory's heart. I asked for strength to be able to deal with whatever God willed for him. Once I finished the first nine days, something changed in my prayers and heart. I continued praying the novena until Gregory was born. The change was I finally felt I needed to fully surrender, Gregory. Through prayers from all our family and friends God spoke to me. I heard, God say, "He is my beloved child, just let go, let him come to me and I will take care of him." When I say surrender him to God, all parents know that we are given children to raise. Ultimately they do not belong to us, they are God's. So in my heart, I knew, in order to not be so stressed and anxious, I needed to surrender. I told Lucas, we needed to pray to surrender Gregory. We did, we told our Lord, that His will be done, we trust Him with Gregory, no matter what the outcome. How often do we praise God in our trials, how often do we believe He is good even when we are suffering? Our surrender was a vital part of our journey in that precise moment. As difficult as it was, it was freeing. I began thereafter to ask for his heart to be healed. I had a peace with everything, finally.

Once he was born, we took it hour by hour. Every intervention and care he needed was necessary. He was so well cared for and we were informed of everything going on. Every echocardiogram that he had would reveal that his heart was truly healed. It was the longest week of my life. After all we went through for Gregory's birth, being in the NICU for a week, and not being able to rest properly after giving birth, I am still so grateful. Grateful because with our Lord's loving kindness and strength, Gregory Ellis is healthy. His heart is absolutely perfect, no narrowing, no coarctation, no murmur, just a strong beating heart. My heart needed a healing in faithful surrender and that is just what happened. Thanks be to God for He is good!! Sacred Heart of Jesus, grant us peace and protection. <3

This is Gregory Ellis with his Jesus he received on Easter.

Little cutie, enjoying ice cream at 14 months old. 

Marriage: A Sanctifying Grace

 As our anniversary approaches this year, I wanted to share about the graces that we have received through the Sacrament of Marriage. We always reflect on what truly keeps our marriage surviving and thriving. The conclusion for us is simply the Sacraments. It can be difficult, at times, to see that they really make a difference. The truth is they do and it can be a healing. Marriage takes sacrifice and a lot of love. That love stems, foremost from a love for God first, in order to love any other person. Especially, to love your spouse with an unconditional love that God calls us to experience in a marriage. The world can easily distort that love God is calling us to. I want share about the sacrifices we have made and graces we have received these past 11 years. 

 Often we are afraid to sacrifice. Let us look at the definition of sacrifice. An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy. Sacrifice is seen throughout the Bible. From the Old Testament examples are of offerings sacrificed to the Lord. In the New Testament the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross for us. These are sacrifices of blood for the renewal of a promise. The sacrifice definition I gave is one that sometimes can have a negative perspective. I believe we are called to sacrifice from time to time. Although it needs to come from a place of humility and love which can be so beautiful. 

 In marriage we constantly sacrifice. We give of ourselves at our marriage vows. Matthew 19:5-6, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two but one flesh..." We are joined as one in our Lord. This can be seen as a sacrifice because we must learn to put one another first and compromise. 

  
 In Romans 12:1-2 it says, "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." If we see this in the context of marriage, it is a call to be set apart for Christ as living sacrifices for each other. There are times when we sacrifice something of ourselves for the good of another. 

We have been married since 2009 and have five children. We met in college through a mutual friend. We married while still going to school, so sacrifice was a big part of our marriage from the beginning. Early in our marriage when we became parents for the first time we had to make sacrifices. We were both still in school full time and working part time. We had to take turns with our school schedule, so one of us was always with our son. During our marriage prep we both knew we wanted to have me staying home as the primary caretaker of our children. Since we were still in school we had to compromise by sharing the load of caretaker with each other and even have extra support from my parents. The semester I was due with our first son my school load was light. I had to also postpone my practicum semester in order to have a baby.

It was hard to not do as much because of our child, but it was a necessary sacrifice we both made. We both had to compromise and work so hard to be able to receive our Bachelor degrees. We may have taken longer to finish, but we did it! Our marriage and family didn't suffer from it because of our willingness to sacrifice and to work hard. So sacrifice is good for us. It calls us to humility and love. It calls us to deny ourselves so Christ can be King of our hearts and lives. 

Now sacrifice can also bring a grace into your life. In marriage we can experience a sanctifying grace. Sanctify: to be set apart as holy. 
We are called to be set apart from the world.Here are a few verses throughout the Bible that calls us to be set apart for Christ:

  Deuteronomy 14:2 says, "For you are a people holy to the Lord, your God; the Lord, your God, has chosen you from all the peoples on the face of the earth to be a people specially his own." 

  Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you." 

  2 Timothy 1:9-10 says, "He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..." 

  1 John 1:1-3 says, "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure." 

Marriage can be a light that shines with holiness and love to a dark world. We need grace in marriage because, let's face it, we are all sinners and fall short. Recently I had what I call little "conversions". Even as we mature spiritually there are always things to be learned. Sometimes it is the same lesson, but shed in a different light. One of those "conversions" is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I always believed in the grace that is offered with a contrite heart, but lacked the wisdom that it can truly bring. The beauty offered in reconciling your heart to God and knowing you are forgiven is indescribable. We often reflect on our relationship as husband and wife and parents. Going to confession has always been a little hard for us. To be honest it, was mostly laziness and shame that kept us from going regularly. In the past 2 years I have experienced a little conversion in a big way. As Matthew Kelley says, "The Sacraments are a close encounter of Jesus Christ to transform us spiritually." 

Witnessing how full of grace Lucas was after going to confession regularly was heart changing. I was getting so bitter with him and our children. My own sin and shame was distancing me from the joy that can come by knowing Christ has forgiven me and loves me! This caused a huge transformation for me spiritually. I finally humbled myself and admitted how good it felt to go to confession regularly. I am free in Christ and it has made my relationship with God stronger. It also is making me a better wife and momma. 

 So this is where marriage can bring a sanctifying grace. We love each other through our dark days and our bright ones. We prayerfully decide things together. We sacrifice for each other to help one another get to Heaven, someday. This is  our ultimate goal in marriage, after all. It is not always easy, but it is a journey that has been beautiful so far, even in our trials. 

 So I pray that you see your journey as beautiful too! Keep persevering and loving!! :)<3 

Lucas and I 

June 13, 2009

I love this picture of our hands! This was taken for our 

engagement pictures by a friend. It is a reminder that we are with one another to carry each through life.