Birth Announcement Baby #4

Presenting 

Michael David Hibler

Born: June 4th, 2017

Weight: 7 lbs. 1 oz. 

Height: 20" long

Birth story to come soon! Thanks for all the prayers and love!!!! :) <3

 

Baby #4 Name Reveal

We always have names picked out for our babies so as soon as we find out the gender we can call them by name. In case any one wonders Hibler's are known for making more boys than girls so logically we have more boy names. At the beginning of the pregnancy I felt it was a girl, mainly because of how sick I was and also thought twins. My hcg levels were elevated and I was having trouble with my thyroid. It is not a fun thing to experience at all. We also only have one in there. Thankfully to our Lord's healing I am feeling much better now and we both are healthy!

When we first got married and began praying for a baby to grow our family, I had a dream that we had three boys. So when the ultrasound technician announced instantly that it was a boy, I was really excited! I did want a sister for Karissa, but the Lord knew we needed another handsome boy!!
The name we chose this time is after both our Daddies because we admire and love both of them so much! The meaning of their names are beyond perfect and helped us really decide on them. Michael means who is like God and David means beloved.
It is so exciting when a new child enters our family because it forever changes the dynamic of our family. I am so honored to once again carry one of our children and be their mommy! Please keep us in your prayers!! :) <3

Beautiful baby 2

I had begun this birth story, a year ago. Then something happened with saving it and I had to start over, so it never got done. I found it fitting to finish it since her birthday is today August 12. I would like to share the miracle we witnessed.

My niece was born 4 days past her due date. Zarayah Le'Ann Lucero, August 12th  2015, at 8:30am. She weighed 7 lbs and 19 inches. Has a lot of dark hair and dark eyes.

Isn't she beautiful and sweet?!!!

My sister was past her due date and more than ready to have her little baby. She spent all of the days since her due date walking, resting, and walking some more. Finally on August 11 her contractions picked up and texted us that her mucus plug had come out. She had been checked on her due date to only be about 2 cm. We hoped that would mean something was finally happening. By the evening my sister closer to her headed their way, a two hour drive. Around 10 pm, my pregnant sister, mom, and other sister headed to the birthing center. 

This was her still at home.

Once they arrived she was put to walk around, to help labor progress. By 2 am on August 12, she was in the birthing pool.

Her in the birthing pool breathing through each contraction like a champ!

I was wishing I could be there to coach her through them all, but my other sister was there and helping her amazingly. Also a few of our cousins were there as well. We decided to skype once it was go baby time, so awesome to get to watch, but sad cause she couldn't hear me coaching her, lol. By 7 am she was ready to push, her water had broke a little before that around 6 am. My other sister had to go back home because she had to work, later that morning. I knew and could see how exhausted she was from laboring for so long. She kept switching positions to help bring baby down and out. Since this was at a birthing center there were little interventions and while that can be good, it was also hard to understand some of the methods. I could hear everything but no one could hear me, so it was a little frustrating. Because she was in the birth canal for so long and no one would tell her what to do next, I really wanted them to hear me. Finally as she was on her knees, she was able to push her fully out. I instantly saw how blue she was and knew that something was very wrong. Luckily, one of my cousins there is a nurse and immediately began chest compressions. Right then the skype connection cut off and I was praying hard. I prayed and cried that the Lord would breathe life into her once again. We reconnected and she was beginning to cry! Such a miracle because she was not breathing and already fully blue all over. I know my sister was so exhausted and she said she passed out during the whole ordeal which I feel was good because it was very scary to watch! So grateful that my cousins instincts kicked into high gear and she knew what my sweet niece needed!! I have never felt such relief and joy to hear a baby cry!!! 

This is them together, super momma and miracle baby!!!!! 

Zaryah in her momma's old shirt!!

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!!!!

We pray you are blessed with many, many more years of life!! 

We love you tons and bunches!!!!! :) <3

NFP for our marriage

NFP stands for natural family planning, we use Creighton Model FertilityCare System. Here is a list of different links to read more about it:
www.creightonmodel.com
www.naprotechnology.com
www.popepaulvi.com
www.fertilitycare.org
www.galaxymall.com/gift/loveandlife
www.aafcp.org
www.usccb.org

We have been using this NFP for 6 years, since we first got married. My mother and father in law used this system for about if not more than 28 years. So naturally we were interested in this one too! I never really understood my fertility or cycles before learning how NaPro works. I also never had really thought about contracepting in anyway. Once Lucas shared what he knew and how this system worked for his parents, I thought why not? We knew we wanted children and to follow God's plan for our marriage, so we began going to the classes. It was not offered in our marriage prep so we sought after a FertilityCare Practitioner and found one in El Paso at the time. She was great in helping us learn the system and also in our marriage prep. For us this was a big part of preparing for a sacramental marriage for the rest of our lives. It was not hard to learn for us because we were receptive to how it works and communicating about it. This is one way it has truly blessed our marriage and made our bond more united. We both have the knowledge about our fertility and it is very empowering.

We are able to pray and evaluate whether we are achieving or avoiding a pregnancy each month. Yes, we have to abstinen if we are avoiding a pregnancy but only on fertile days. This is always the first question, how can you hold off, not do it, or reject each other, however you want to look at it. It is not that difficult because it is part of our choice in how to use our fertility. There are other ways to show love and intimate affection for your spouse other than intercourse. We are sexual beings by nature but the beauty is knowing that our fertility is from God and He created it to be a life giving ability. One that is not to be misunderstood or abused. Now don't get me wrong that does not mean we only have intercourse to achieve a pregnancy, that would mean only once every two years! That is a bit crazy, even for us. What I mean is that we need to know and trust that God has made our fertility for procreating, but also for our marriage to be complete. It is never a matter of how much we "sacrifice" our sexual intimacy to avoid a pregnancy but how much we trust God to show us that our marital love transcends that "sacrifice" to ultimately glorify His love for us.

Another concern is how regular your cycles are or struggling with infertility, NaPro Technology is meant to help those things. I personally have a "regular" cycle and have not struggled with infertility. We are all different and that makes this system amazing to tailor it to your needs to find a successful way to help you. Just go check out the links above to read testimonies.

We have only good things to say about NFP and it truly works for our marriage. I am only here to share this because we have been richly blessed in our marriage using it and want to give a little of those blessings! :) <3

Thrift shopping queen

I bear this title with honor, thrift shopping queen! It has not always been a proud title. I mean growing up we didn't often go to thrift stores but didn't always get new things either. Hand me downs were the thing for our family. I was never embarrassed about it or ashamed, so it was always exciting to get bags from our grama's church garage sales! We did get to buy new things for the beginning of the school year.
Now as I have my own children and we are trying to survive on one income (teachers don't make much), I have to be resourceful. I realized how crazy fast kids grow and how expensive clothes is even from Walmart. I discovered shopping at thrift stores to be able to keep up with the demand of three growing kids. You learn how to look and find treasures!
My advice is search for local thrift stores and support them. The next best thing is Savers, find one and check it out. My favorite place to shop! The only thing I do tend to buy new for the kids is underwear, socks, and shoes. I always find nice things, it just takes time and energy. I say time because you have to search high and low. And energy because even if it is missing a button or stained, I get it. I even purchased a huge maxi skirt for myself and resized it, even had enough to make a skirt for Karissa! 

Here is some pictures of how much I can get on a tight budget!

I spent $14 on all this:

for me; a pair of shoes, a dress, and two silk blouses

for hubby; a cardigan and short sleeve button up

for Lukrik; a pair of shorts, two polo shirts, and two short sleeve button ups

for Karissa; two pairs of shorts 

I spent $8 on all this:

for me; a dress

for hubby; a casual t-shirt

for Karissa; four dresses, two pairs of shorts, and four tops

I spent $16 on all this:

for Lukrik; a pair of shorts and short sleeve button up

for Karissa; one dress, two skirts, seven onesies, and a pink curtain

So as you can see thrift shopping works for us and I love it!!! :) <3

  

Together for life

We are celebrating 6 years of marriage today!! It has been amazing, crazy, and exciting! I am so blessed to have such an amazing man by my side. With that said, marriage is a lot of work. We are far from perfect and grateful for the grace of our Lord to help us. We have to constantly work at our relationship to remain faithful, encouraging, in open communication, and filled with love.
We have learned lots about each other and continue to improve our relationship. We also learn so much from other couples example. To be honest the best factor in having a thriving marriage is our individual relationship with Christ. We may not even be together still if it were not for Christ. He gives us everything we need to have the best life together. Our Lord gives us purpose and meaning.
When I think back to where our story began, I instantly smile. I smile because it has grown so much in 6 years. Of course we have our downs, but I wouldn't take them back because we have learned from them. It helps us become stronger in our faith and that makes our marriage stronger as well. So thank the Lord for all His love and faithfulness in our lives. We will continue to seek Him for all our needs, especially our marriage. 

Engagement Pictures 2009

Husband and Wife 2009

Honeymoon 2009

1st Year 2010

2nd Year 2011

3rd Year 2012

4th Year 2013

5th Year 2014

6th Year 2015

Here is to many more years together!!!!!<3 :)

Living a glamorous life as a mom

I love being on instagram and seeing all the pictures of people's everyday life. Of course we only see what people post and it can be edited. I like to see it as sharing the best parts and sometimes not so best parts of life. I am not that photogenic but I take selfies every once in a while. I am no fashion model but do like to get pretty! I love that quote that says, "I wake up like this." I always picture a woman with a shirt with that quote on it, perfect hair, and beautiful makeup. If I wore that shirt this is what I would look like, lol! 

I took this picture at the end of February in the morning after waking up. I showered the night before and didn't blow dry my hair. I wondered why Karissa was looking at me funny, then I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I gasped as I saw my hair and then started laughing!! So I just had to take a picture, lol! 

 It takes time for me to do my hair and makeup. Once I had my first child I still took time to do my makeup and hair. After my second, I cut all my hair off to make life easier. It is important to continue to do things that make you feel good. I don't always look like this, but more like picture above! 

Just remember life as a mom is as glamorous as we make it, even when we look hilarious!!  :)  <3