Notice in this last picture with the tractors that the driver has both a young child on his lap, of course unrestrained, AND is talking on a cell phone while plowing!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Indiana Snow
Notice in this last picture with the tractors that the driver has both a young child on his lap, of course unrestrained, AND is talking on a cell phone while plowing!
Noah and Math
Noah really isn't thrilled to do school work most days. Typically, he avoids it like the plague. However, occasionally he has great motivation. His last Christmas present was suppose to arrive yesterday and I made clear to him that he couldn't open it until his school work was done. He stayed home to get the last of his math done, which included an entire page of story problems. When I got home and checked his work, he had missed four problems, mostly because he failed to label them. He saw four X's and was devastated. He was nearly crying because, "I spent an hour working on those and I can't do it then and I'll never get it done!" I tried to explain to him that he really just needed to label them and they'll be correct. One of them, he just needed to review. "Maybe you just made a dumb mistake you can quickly fix."
"I can't do it!!!" He took his paper, defeated, and walked away. Then he came back and said, "Mom, I know why I wrote that answer. These kids were selling apples in a fair. I did the math and then I added their tips."
Immediately I was hysterically laughing because he was absolutely, completely, whole-heartedly serious! He was irritated because I was laughing and said in defense because he didn't think he should get the problem wrong, "Mom! They're kids. They would get tips!!!"
Rolling on the floor..."Noah you have to work with the numbers given to you in the problem." He fixed it in two seconds, but really felt like his original math was more accurate. Unfortunately his gift was delivered to 118 East Main rather than West Main, and he had to wait another day to open it.
Noah is pretending to have passed out on the stairs after seeing his long awaited gift! Nut.
"I can't do it!!!" He took his paper, defeated, and walked away. Then he came back and said, "Mom, I know why I wrote that answer. These kids were selling apples in a fair. I did the math and then I added their tips."
Immediately I was hysterically laughing because he was absolutely, completely, whole-heartedly serious! He was irritated because I was laughing and said in defense because he didn't think he should get the problem wrong, "Mom! They're kids. They would get tips!!!"
Rolling on the floor..."Noah you have to work with the numbers given to you in the problem." He fixed it in two seconds, but really felt like his original math was more accurate. Unfortunately his gift was delivered to 118 East Main rather than West Main, and he had to wait another day to open it.
Noah is pretending to have passed out on the stairs after seeing his long awaited gift! Nut.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Breastfeeding and the Bible
I wrote a lengthy article, "Breastfeeding in Faith" many years ago. There is so much to be learned about breastfeeding in the Bible.
And she (Sarah) said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? Genesis 21:7
But Hannah did not go up; for she said unto her husband, so soon as the child shall be weaned, then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and abide there forever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth good in thy eyes; tarry until though has weaned him; only may the Lord fulfill his word. 1 Samuel 1:22-23
From the God of thy father, who will help thee; and from the Almighty, who will bless thee, with blessings of heaven above, with blessings of the breasts, and of the womb; Genesis 49:25-26
Shakespeare and Breastfeeding
Dost though not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? -Shakespeare. Anthony and Cleopatra. Act V, Scene 2
An honour! were not I thine only nurse, I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat.-Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. Act 1, Scene 3
Interesting...I have found lines referring to breastfeeding in many of Shakespeare's plays...Anthony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night, Henry, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and The Winter's Tale.
Noah's Bedroom
Noah pulled the best card for choosing his room when we bought this house. He has the entire third floor, but of course this is also where we veg in front of the TV, all our visitors play and where his little brothers will join him. Here are a few shots of his room, with one little Elmo and Little People section for Samuel.
In one of these pictures you will see a small section of a long table Noah has set up his collection of winter scenes. He has always been a collector of various things, but I think this is his most impressive collection.
Our Bedroom
I couldn't bear to take a before picture of our bedroom because the room was almost entirely neon orange with one neon green wall. It was awful. Mike could have lived in it forever, but for my birthday, he painted it this beautiful blue color. I absolutely LOVE it! Of course, this room needs curtains too, but I haven't figured that out yet.
Don't miss the monkey in the chair, which I've had since I was a tiny baby and the belly casts on the wall of my pregnancies with Lyric and Samuel. In a few weeks we'll have the third belly cast on the wall! Ultrasound on Friday, and no we aren't finding out the sex. The ultrasound is really just to rule out a placenta issue because of my having had two cesarean sections.
Don't miss the monkey in the chair, which I've had since I was a tiny baby and the belly casts on the wall of my pregnancies with Lyric and Samuel. In a few weeks we'll have the third belly cast on the wall! Ultrasound on Friday, and no we aren't finding out the sex. The ultrasound is really just to rule out a placenta issue because of my having had two cesarean sections.
Homeschool Room
I have shared that we have completed redone one of our rooms to create a homeschool room for the kids. When we looked at the house initially, this room really didn't even seem like a room, but more a passageway to the third floor with some additional storage. The previous owners had temporary closets screwed to the wall and really had no other use for the room.
We stripped five layers of wallpaper and a thick layer of lead-base paint off the wall and although the previous owners shared that they paid $1,000 per room that they had replastered, the "do-it-yourselfer" in me just went for it. It really wasn't in the best of shape, as the corners of the room and around the doors were completely falling apart. There had been some water damage under the window too that needed lots of plaster repair, but if I do say so myself, I did a fabulous job.
The kids really wanted a coffee shop feeling for their homeschool room, which we are in still in the process of creating. We have the bare bones though. I chose a green color because it is suppose to be the easiest color on the eyes, since most of nature is green, we are use to seeing it. Green is also suppose to raise self-esteem which I thought was appropriate for the school room.
Mike and I found an unfinished desk, that he stained and we put some fun knobs on. We also found three unstained shelves that he also stained, and I've filled to capacity. We would love to put a sleeper sofa where the card table is, but haven't found one on Craig's List yet we want to bring home with us. We also need curtains, but haven't found those just yet either, and clearly these two items need to have enough character to give the kids their coffee shop feeling. I didn't get a picture of this, but around the top of the ceiling we have started framing pictures the kids have created - their portfolio of art.
New Camera!!!
Although we clearly didn't have the money in our budget, I broke down and bought a new camera. I am still hoping to find our other one, but can't imagine where it might be. I realize it doesn't seem wise to let Samuel use the camera again, but he has an enormous love for it and just squeals with delight when he uses it, so I have let him use it but with a close eye. All evening we heard him saying, "Cheese" and at one point, Keely found him standing a few feet from the table with a big grin on his face, staring at the camera which was facing the wall. Here are a few pictures from his perspective!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Nutrition in Pregnancy & Lactation
I gave Amy, my apprentice, an assignment to create a nutritional sheet for her future pregnant mamas. She did a fabulous job, discussed the increased needs of pregnancy and broke down specifically the food groups, discussing how moms should structure their daily meals. She has plans for including specific menus and recipes, which I think will be much appreciated by busy moms. However, the concern I have is that in reality, most women don't really need to increase their diets by 300kcals when pregnant and our nutritional advice, as health providers, often encourages obesity. This clearly won't be the reality Amy faces in her future missions, but today in America, this advice is to the great extent, detrimental to women's health.
The World Health Organization, among most all other professional groups, does recognize the need for an additional 300kcal of energy and another 10-15 grams of protein daily. However, epidemiologic data from developed and developing countries has shown that, in women who have no economic constraints and who eat to appetite, are in reality not increasing their dietary intake either during pregnancy or lactation yet sustain no ill effects (Ramachandran, 2002).
Studies as far back as 1980 have addressed this paradox (a fad word in healthcare). The other side of the story reveals that during pregnancy, basal metabolic rate is reduced during the second and third trimester; there is a reduction in physical activity; and there might be some increase in the as yet unmeasured "efficiency of energy utilization." Our bodies are saving nutrients due to all these changes in pregnancy, which appears to be perfectly sufficient to meet the increased requirements of the growing fetus and physiologic changes during pregnancy. Ha! And to think the Lord hadn't already thought of how to compensate for the increased demands of pregnancy.
Clearly there are women that suffer from undernutrition and aren't blessed with the opportunity to decrease their work load as their body might guide them. It is therefore not surprising to find that these women weigh less than urban mothers. These mothers also suffer from anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Very few receive adequate prenatal care as well. Clearly there are women at risk for nutritional deprivation during pregnancy, and as providers we do need to be mindful of counseling these women appropriately concerning effective food supplementation in effort to reduce low birth weight and mortality rates. Yet, for the vast majority of mothers, our counseling needs to take a sharp turn and while respecting the increased demand of pregnancy, we need to consider the long-term impact of obesity on both the mother and her unborn baby.
Most women are well aware of the advice to decrease their work load and increase their food supply during pregnancy. Not only are pregnant women consuming modern food with limited nutritional value, but they are eating additionally energy-rich foods encouraged by their family and provider. They do not, however, really require this additional intake. As a result, these women may carry an additional 15 to 30 pounds after each pregnancy. After two pregnancies, these women may face the problem of obesity, with all its health problems, into their thirties and later years.
It is essential then, that we modify our advice to well-nourished, middle-income pregnant and lactating women. We need to discuss portion control, planning ahead, wise snacks, and creative methods of obtaining healthier foods. We also need to turn attention to maintaining physical activity during pregnancy. Particularly through lactation, practitioners should be mindful of monitoring weight gain and help women take appropriate steps towards avoiding obesity and its sequela.
Another interesting point... often women who are breastfeeding when they become pregnant wean early as they don't want the added stress of tandem nursing or even nursing throughout pregnancy. Even more breastfeeding women wean in the first few weeks or months. These women miss the blessing in the Lord's design for conception to be an avenue of weight maintenance. Women who continue to nurse through another pregnancy weigh less in all the trimesters of pregnancy than those that conceive after lactation has ceased. The difference in body weight is especially marked in the third trimester. Birth weights of babies born to women who conceive during lactation is also lower. Women who conceive in the first six months of lactation fare the worst as they do not have the time to recover from the stress of the previous pregnancy (Ramachandran, 2002).
Ramachandran, P. (2002). Maternal nutrition-effect of fetal growth and outcome of pregnancy. Nutrition Reviews, VOl. 60, No. 5. (Apologies. Blogspot doesn't allow for underlining, so this is not in proper format.)
Over-supplmentation of iron to prevent anemia is another soap box of mine..."A conservative approach to iron supplementation during pregnancy." Graves, B.W. (2001). Fabulous article!
The World Health Organization, among most all other professional groups, does recognize the need for an additional 300kcal of energy and another 10-15 grams of protein daily. However, epidemiologic data from developed and developing countries has shown that, in women who have no economic constraints and who eat to appetite, are in reality not increasing their dietary intake either during pregnancy or lactation yet sustain no ill effects (Ramachandran, 2002).
Studies as far back as 1980 have addressed this paradox (a fad word in healthcare). The other side of the story reveals that during pregnancy, basal metabolic rate is reduced during the second and third trimester; there is a reduction in physical activity; and there might be some increase in the as yet unmeasured "efficiency of energy utilization." Our bodies are saving nutrients due to all these changes in pregnancy, which appears to be perfectly sufficient to meet the increased requirements of the growing fetus and physiologic changes during pregnancy. Ha! And to think the Lord hadn't already thought of how to compensate for the increased demands of pregnancy.
Clearly there are women that suffer from undernutrition and aren't blessed with the opportunity to decrease their work load as their body might guide them. It is therefore not surprising to find that these women weigh less than urban mothers. These mothers also suffer from anemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Very few receive adequate prenatal care as well. Clearly there are women at risk for nutritional deprivation during pregnancy, and as providers we do need to be mindful of counseling these women appropriately concerning effective food supplementation in effort to reduce low birth weight and mortality rates. Yet, for the vast majority of mothers, our counseling needs to take a sharp turn and while respecting the increased demand of pregnancy, we need to consider the long-term impact of obesity on both the mother and her unborn baby.
Most women are well aware of the advice to decrease their work load and increase their food supply during pregnancy. Not only are pregnant women consuming modern food with limited nutritional value, but they are eating additionally energy-rich foods encouraged by their family and provider. They do not, however, really require this additional intake. As a result, these women may carry an additional 15 to 30 pounds after each pregnancy. After two pregnancies, these women may face the problem of obesity, with all its health problems, into their thirties and later years.
It is essential then, that we modify our advice to well-nourished, middle-income pregnant and lactating women. We need to discuss portion control, planning ahead, wise snacks, and creative methods of obtaining healthier foods. We also need to turn attention to maintaining physical activity during pregnancy. Particularly through lactation, practitioners should be mindful of monitoring weight gain and help women take appropriate steps towards avoiding obesity and its sequela.
Another interesting point... often women who are breastfeeding when they become pregnant wean early as they don't want the added stress of tandem nursing or even nursing throughout pregnancy. Even more breastfeeding women wean in the first few weeks or months. These women miss the blessing in the Lord's design for conception to be an avenue of weight maintenance. Women who continue to nurse through another pregnancy weigh less in all the trimesters of pregnancy than those that conceive after lactation has ceased. The difference in body weight is especially marked in the third trimester. Birth weights of babies born to women who conceive during lactation is also lower. Women who conceive in the first six months of lactation fare the worst as they do not have the time to recover from the stress of the previous pregnancy (Ramachandran, 2002).
Ramachandran, P. (2002). Maternal nutrition-effect of fetal growth and outcome of pregnancy. Nutrition Reviews, VOl. 60, No. 5. (Apologies. Blogspot doesn't allow for underlining, so this is not in proper format.)
Over-supplmentation of iron to prevent anemia is another soap box of mine..."A conservative approach to iron supplementation during pregnancy." Graves, B.W. (2001). Fabulous article!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is also about making mothers - strong, competent, capable mothers, who trust themselves and know their inner strength.
But birth in America is not organized around mothering, around teaching, around midwifery or women's strengths. Birth in America is about the efficient removal of a fetus; it is about getting a rather unwieldy object through a small space. Obstetrics, one must always remember, is a surgical speciality, and birth in an American hospital is, more than anything else, a kind of surgical experience.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Pastor's Business Card
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones?
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.
Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."
Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Rough few days...
Well, we've had a rough few days in our midwifery practice. Tough births, lots of responsibities, not enough soldiers and lots of persecution. However, that comes right off the heals of having been blessed with the most amazing birth assistant, Paula, and as well, an amazing apprentice, Amy. Clearly, when I doubt my calling as a homebirth midwife in the midst of the midwest, I must remember He has provided all that I need for the time. In that I must find contentment and peace.
The battle against faith is really a battle against fear.
The battle against faith is really a battle against fear.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Not Respecting My Children
I realized today that I have greatly disrespected my children. I share this with hesitation because my attention is on the point that I plan to honor my children in the future by not making this same mistake, but I don't want anyone to think I am calling them out as I share.
Here is my revelation for the day...my son was blessed with the third floor of our home, all to himself. His room is huge. All the boys toys are up there and of course, since most of my friends have many kids and because I have a private practice in my home serving clients who also have many kids, Noah gets the pleasure of hosting a plethora of kiddos that visit our house. Overall he is quite grateful because he very much enjoys the company. I also enjoy this because I want my clients to feel their kids are welcome here. This is a family business. I also enjoy when my friends feel comfortable enough here that they can just walk in the back door and grab something to drink at their leisure, as well as their kids. However, rarely do any of the kids stay to help Noah clean his room.
It is interesting to me that I have heard parents say, "Well, Noah's room is always a mess," as if this gives them excuse not to help clean up the portion their child contributed. Most often it is the combination of many children playing in his room day after day that has created such an enormous mess, and Noah simply hasn't the motivation to clean it up. He has no control.
I often promise Noah when he has made himself a boundary that he his not sharing his room anymore with visitors after having just cleaned it, "I will clean it up myself. You won't have to help at all." After all, they are my friend's children or my clients. Rarely, do I find time to follow through on this.
Today we all gathered together to conquer the room once again and although I was fully aware that there had been many days that Noah wasn't even home and kids played in his room, I couldn't help but be very aggravated and take that out on the kids. Apparently, during one of the last few times kids have entertained themselves in Noah's room, one or two of them found great enjoyment in his closet. Noah is not allowed to play in there because we store all of our important family items in there. I was over-whelmed with how it had been completely ransacked and Noah was muttering, "It isn't my fault." I knew it, but I couldn't help being mad about it. We continued cleaning in silence...for two hours.
As I calmed myself I realized that this is so disrespectful of me. I force my son to let anyone and everyone play in his room, while I don't offer any respect for the care of his toys. Noah collects winter scenes and two of his people had their heads broken off. He was heart-broken. Then not only do I fail to clean his room in a timely manner myself, or better request my guests assist their children in returning the room to its original state, I bark at my kids in irritation as we all clean it together.
I have failed miserably to set boundaries in my life, which has really come to a head this last year within my practice. A friend told me I had a boundary disorder and I don't think anyone has ever pegged me so perfectly. Here is my new boundary, Noah can invite friends into his room and Noah only. The truth is, I don't have time to monitor the playtime of kids who visit when he isn't here. Further, I will encourage parents to assist their kids in helping to clean the room prior to their departure. Finally, I will never leave a friend's home without having helped clean up my child's mess.
It seems to be expected for each of us to say, "Oh no, don't worry about it. We can get it." In reality, this is just a kind gesture that means I should have started ten minutes ago because I have now over-stayed my welcome and they would rather get their kids to bed and deal with it later than for me to continue and stay and clean it. If you can identify, lets make a pack...when we realize, "I probably ought to leave in the next ten or fifteen minutes," don't just yell at the kids to clean up, but lets actually supervise the effort. At least in our home, this will mean less mean mommy the kids will have to face a few days later.
Here is my revelation for the day...my son was blessed with the third floor of our home, all to himself. His room is huge. All the boys toys are up there and of course, since most of my friends have many kids and because I have a private practice in my home serving clients who also have many kids, Noah gets the pleasure of hosting a plethora of kiddos that visit our house. Overall he is quite grateful because he very much enjoys the company. I also enjoy this because I want my clients to feel their kids are welcome here. This is a family business. I also enjoy when my friends feel comfortable enough here that they can just walk in the back door and grab something to drink at their leisure, as well as their kids. However, rarely do any of the kids stay to help Noah clean his room.
It is interesting to me that I have heard parents say, "Well, Noah's room is always a mess," as if this gives them excuse not to help clean up the portion their child contributed. Most often it is the combination of many children playing in his room day after day that has created such an enormous mess, and Noah simply hasn't the motivation to clean it up. He has no control.
I often promise Noah when he has made himself a boundary that he his not sharing his room anymore with visitors after having just cleaned it, "I will clean it up myself. You won't have to help at all." After all, they are my friend's children or my clients. Rarely, do I find time to follow through on this.
Today we all gathered together to conquer the room once again and although I was fully aware that there had been many days that Noah wasn't even home and kids played in his room, I couldn't help but be very aggravated and take that out on the kids. Apparently, during one of the last few times kids have entertained themselves in Noah's room, one or two of them found great enjoyment in his closet. Noah is not allowed to play in there because we store all of our important family items in there. I was over-whelmed with how it had been completely ransacked and Noah was muttering, "It isn't my fault." I knew it, but I couldn't help being mad about it. We continued cleaning in silence...for two hours.
As I calmed myself I realized that this is so disrespectful of me. I force my son to let anyone and everyone play in his room, while I don't offer any respect for the care of his toys. Noah collects winter scenes and two of his people had their heads broken off. He was heart-broken. Then not only do I fail to clean his room in a timely manner myself, or better request my guests assist their children in returning the room to its original state, I bark at my kids in irritation as we all clean it together.
I have failed miserably to set boundaries in my life, which has really come to a head this last year within my practice. A friend told me I had a boundary disorder and I don't think anyone has ever pegged me so perfectly. Here is my new boundary, Noah can invite friends into his room and Noah only. The truth is, I don't have time to monitor the playtime of kids who visit when he isn't here. Further, I will encourage parents to assist their kids in helping to clean the room prior to their departure. Finally, I will never leave a friend's home without having helped clean up my child's mess.
It seems to be expected for each of us to say, "Oh no, don't worry about it. We can get it." In reality, this is just a kind gesture that means I should have started ten minutes ago because I have now over-stayed my welcome and they would rather get their kids to bed and deal with it later than for me to continue and stay and clean it. If you can identify, lets make a pack...when we realize, "I probably ought to leave in the next ten or fifteen minutes," don't just yell at the kids to clean up, but lets actually supervise the effort. At least in our home, this will mean less mean mommy the kids will have to face a few days later.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
New Blog!!
For those of you in Boone, Clinton or Montgomery County...please pass on this blog address...http://bcmbreastfeedingcoalition.blogspot.com/
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Business of Being Born
Typically when a mother becomes pregnant she chooses her provider from the list of physicians provided by her insurance company. Those with more flexible insurance plans might choose a provider whose office is closest to their home and other times, she might even have the freedom to follow the suggestion of a friend. Rarely however, does she schedule an interview with this provider and ask them questions about their training, their experience, their philosophy, their statistics, nor does the woman request a tour of the office, the hospital and request to meet with the nurse that will attend her birth.
Thus far in my experience, the vast majority of homebirth families are not typical mainstream families. They question Western medicine, seeking holistic healthcare providers. They question the government's model of public education, instead training their child up in the way they feel most appropriate for their own child. They question the government and its priority for capitalism over individual human rights. They even question potential midwives through intensive interviews prior to choosing who will catch their newborn. They are families that enjoy learning, think outside the box, are comfortable finding thier own path and have great confidence under persecution.
This past year however, and increasingly just in this last month, I have been interviewed by numerous families that had no idea midwives practiced in today's day and age. They had no idea anyone would purposily plan to birth at home. And, most importantly, they had no idea that they might ever imagine themselves birthing any other way then in a hopsital bed, comforted by their epidural and graciously induced with their pitocin drip. Just this week, I have had two mothers call only hours after having watched "The Business of Being Born," stating they can't imagine birthing any other way and need to meet with me right away!
I am thrilled! Ricki Lake has overcome decades of strong mindset and cultural norm, and caused the mainstream to ask more questions and expect more. People are beginning to recognize ignorance in accepting rationales that support the need for rescuing 40% of all newborns from the bellies of their mothers. They are appauled at the thought that their victorious country has failed to provide the world's top maternity and neonatal healthcare. Sadly, the United States only made it within the top fifty countires by the breath of only a few lucky babies... yet Cuba continues to provide safer care than the good 'ol United States.
Women are questioning if potentially, birth might be more than just bearable, but actually enjoyable. I have yet to meet a woman that prioritized their birth experience above the safety of their newborn. In fact, a recent research project (to be published in the Journal of Nurse Midwifery & Family Nursing in March, 2009) has shown that safety is in fact, the number one reason families choose to birth at home.
The success of my practice, I believe, offers great optimism that homebirth is on the rise and Nurse Midwifery will continue to create a greater presence within the profession of maternal/child healthcare in our nation. My practice was opened in the midst of a recession and not only did it flourish by only the efforts of a single, over-zealous midwife but it ended its first fiscal year in the black, which most businesses can't pull off even in a healthy economy. And...that happened in spite of my billing company failing to appropriately bill or even bill at all a fourth of my clientele! This year, 2009, brings much excitement (as well as a new biller) as I joyfully look forward to all that the Lord has in store for Believe.
I would encourage each of you to call your local library and request they order the documentary, "The Business of Being Born" by Ricki Lake. It can currently be rented through Netflix as well. Orgasmic Birth is said to be another movie with great potential for cultural change. Better yet, purchase your own and invite over all your friends and family that you think would never, ever consider birthing at home!
Thus far in my experience, the vast majority of homebirth families are not typical mainstream families. They question Western medicine, seeking holistic healthcare providers. They question the government's model of public education, instead training their child up in the way they feel most appropriate for their own child. They question the government and its priority for capitalism over individual human rights. They even question potential midwives through intensive interviews prior to choosing who will catch their newborn. They are families that enjoy learning, think outside the box, are comfortable finding thier own path and have great confidence under persecution.
This past year however, and increasingly just in this last month, I have been interviewed by numerous families that had no idea midwives practiced in today's day and age. They had no idea anyone would purposily plan to birth at home. And, most importantly, they had no idea that they might ever imagine themselves birthing any other way then in a hopsital bed, comforted by their epidural and graciously induced with their pitocin drip. Just this week, I have had two mothers call only hours after having watched "The Business of Being Born," stating they can't imagine birthing any other way and need to meet with me right away!
I am thrilled! Ricki Lake has overcome decades of strong mindset and cultural norm, and caused the mainstream to ask more questions and expect more. People are beginning to recognize ignorance in accepting rationales that support the need for rescuing 40% of all newborns from the bellies of their mothers. They are appauled at the thought that their victorious country has failed to provide the world's top maternity and neonatal healthcare. Sadly, the United States only made it within the top fifty countires by the breath of only a few lucky babies... yet Cuba continues to provide safer care than the good 'ol United States.
Women are questioning if potentially, birth might be more than just bearable, but actually enjoyable. I have yet to meet a woman that prioritized their birth experience above the safety of their newborn. In fact, a recent research project (to be published in the Journal of Nurse Midwifery & Family Nursing in March, 2009) has shown that safety is in fact, the number one reason families choose to birth at home.
The success of my practice, I believe, offers great optimism that homebirth is on the rise and Nurse Midwifery will continue to create a greater presence within the profession of maternal/child healthcare in our nation. My practice was opened in the midst of a recession and not only did it flourish by only the efforts of a single, over-zealous midwife but it ended its first fiscal year in the black, which most businesses can't pull off even in a healthy economy. And...that happened in spite of my billing company failing to appropriately bill or even bill at all a fourth of my clientele! This year, 2009, brings much excitement (as well as a new biller) as I joyfully look forward to all that the Lord has in store for Believe.
I would encourage each of you to call your local library and request they order the documentary, "The Business of Being Born" by Ricki Lake. It can currently be rented through Netflix as well. Orgasmic Birth is said to be another movie with great potential for cultural change. Better yet, purchase your own and invite over all your friends and family that you think would never, ever consider birthing at home!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Photo Scavenger Hunt
This is something my kids and I love to do for fun. I found this idea on an Indianapolis web site and got so excited! I thought it would be fun to challenge each of you to do the same thing in your own communities and then we could share pictures. Then I realized... I still don't have a camera!
1. Funny T-Shirt
2. I can't believe we all fit in here!
3. Public Art Display
4. A pair of shoes with personality
5. Where you do your best thinking
6. A spelling mistake on a public sign
7. Your favorite coffee shop
8. Your favorite pizza place
9. The best place to go in Indy
10. Inside your refrigerator
11. Produce section of your favorite grocery store
12. Morning hair
13. What's in the bag?
14. Written in stone
15. Colts Team Spirit
Bonus: 25 pts.
Upload the complete list of photos in a slide show video set to music. Include the title of each picture
1. Funny T-Shirt
2. I can't believe we all fit in here!
3. Public Art Display
4. A pair of shoes with personality
5. Where you do your best thinking
6. A spelling mistake on a public sign
7. Your favorite coffee shop
8. Your favorite pizza place
9. The best place to go in Indy
10. Inside your refrigerator
11. Produce section of your favorite grocery store
12. Morning hair
13. What's in the bag?
14. Written in stone
15. Colts Team Spirit
Bonus: 25 pts.
Upload the complete list of photos in a slide show video set to music. Include the title of each picture
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year's Celebration
New Year's Eve was Mike and my ELEVENTH anniversary. He brought me breakfast in bed again...orange rolls. During breakfast together I shared that I was so disgusted with how much weight I have allowed myself to gain. He said, "You're holding up well."
"Well, what does that mean?" I asked.
"You're 33 years old, have had five kids and all those orange rolls you eat...okay, maybe I shouldn't have said that last one," he admitted, realizing a little too late.
He mentioned Sears was going out of business in Indianapolis, so we ran down there to find a deal. We found a single Dyson sweeper in a box and grabbed it. I came home and swept the entire house. It really is wonderful and worth every penny. I am absolutely disgusted when I sweep and you can smell the dust flying through the air. Not only does the Dyson give off a really clean, refreshing smell but it is so easy to use. It is light-weight and the attachments are quite simple to use. Great find.
The rest of the afternoon Mike and Noah worked in the basement. They are visioning another man-cave. As long as it straightens up the basement, I am happy about it. I have one room down there with all my medical supplies though, so will be overjoyed when that is more accessible. If we ever come out of this recession, I'd love to have the basement walls and ceiling done.
That evening we invited over Amy, her husband, Derek, and their three boys. They have lived in Indiana for almost three years and haven't learned to play euchre which is an absolute crime. We had to correct that. It was a lot of fun, as there are so many tricks to euchre that you can't help but poke fun at each other. After a few games and lots of snacking, we pulled out sequence - Amy and Derek's speciality. We ended the night tied - two for them and two for us. It was a fun night with lots of laughter.
The next morning the family worked together cleaning the house. Everyone was in a pleasant mood and we were extremely productive. Mike went through Samuel's clothes and pulled out all those he had out-grown. He even matched outfits and neatly packed them in his drawers. I helped Noah clean his room, sweep his stairway, clean the homeschool room, sweep the second floor, sweep the back-stairway, eliminate some junk piles and then prepared for our dinner guests...a nice shower.
Maria DaSilva is a wonderful gal I had the pleasure of supporting during her birth several years ago. She became a fierce advocate for birthing families and women's health after her rather triumphant birth experience. It has been a pleasure and enormous blessing to transition beyond the professional role, and become friends. She moved a few years ago to Terre Haute, so we don't see each other often, but as genuine friends do...time catches up quickly once you do finally connect again. Her daughter, Gabriela, joined us...beautiful child.
Franny and her family came as well. We ate lots of food, mostly provided by Franny because my own famiy had ate way more of the food we had prepared the day before than I realized. After dinner we discussed our passions and then transitioned again, into euchre. It is so funny to see the competitive side of people and the light-hearted joker side. Again, lots of laughs. The funny difference is both Franny and my kids were still going strong at mid-night. It was quite clear that they are the kids of late-night moms. The other funny for the night, was Mike telling Amy she probably shouldn't eat the dog treats because they may not be good for her. She asked him, "Don't they have any protein in them?" Ha! The daughter of a midwife, of course.
Still no pictures...the house has been searched numerous times, as well as the van. I am distraught.
"Well, what does that mean?" I asked.
"You're 33 years old, have had five kids and all those orange rolls you eat...okay, maybe I shouldn't have said that last one," he admitted, realizing a little too late.
He mentioned Sears was going out of business in Indianapolis, so we ran down there to find a deal. We found a single Dyson sweeper in a box and grabbed it. I came home and swept the entire house. It really is wonderful and worth every penny. I am absolutely disgusted when I sweep and you can smell the dust flying through the air. Not only does the Dyson give off a really clean, refreshing smell but it is so easy to use. It is light-weight and the attachments are quite simple to use. Great find.
The rest of the afternoon Mike and Noah worked in the basement. They are visioning another man-cave. As long as it straightens up the basement, I am happy about it. I have one room down there with all my medical supplies though, so will be overjoyed when that is more accessible. If we ever come out of this recession, I'd love to have the basement walls and ceiling done.
That evening we invited over Amy, her husband, Derek, and their three boys. They have lived in Indiana for almost three years and haven't learned to play euchre which is an absolute crime. We had to correct that. It was a lot of fun, as there are so many tricks to euchre that you can't help but poke fun at each other. After a few games and lots of snacking, we pulled out sequence - Amy and Derek's speciality. We ended the night tied - two for them and two for us. It was a fun night with lots of laughter.
The next morning the family worked together cleaning the house. Everyone was in a pleasant mood and we were extremely productive. Mike went through Samuel's clothes and pulled out all those he had out-grown. He even matched outfits and neatly packed them in his drawers. I helped Noah clean his room, sweep his stairway, clean the homeschool room, sweep the second floor, sweep the back-stairway, eliminate some junk piles and then prepared for our dinner guests...a nice shower.
Maria DaSilva is a wonderful gal I had the pleasure of supporting during her birth several years ago. She became a fierce advocate for birthing families and women's health after her rather triumphant birth experience. It has been a pleasure and enormous blessing to transition beyond the professional role, and become friends. She moved a few years ago to Terre Haute, so we don't see each other often, but as genuine friends do...time catches up quickly once you do finally connect again. Her daughter, Gabriela, joined us...beautiful child.
Franny and her family came as well. We ate lots of food, mostly provided by Franny because my own famiy had ate way more of the food we had prepared the day before than I realized. After dinner we discussed our passions and then transitioned again, into euchre. It is so funny to see the competitive side of people and the light-hearted joker side. Again, lots of laughs. The funny difference is both Franny and my kids were still going strong at mid-night. It was quite clear that they are the kids of late-night moms. The other funny for the night, was Mike telling Amy she probably shouldn't eat the dog treats because they may not be good for her. She asked him, "Don't they have any protein in them?" Ha! The daughter of a midwife, of course.
Still no pictures...the house has been searched numerous times, as well as the van. I am distraught.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
New Year's Resolution
Mike's resolution for this year is to "create more time" and "make the kids a greater priority of that time."
My resolution is to not eat out more than once a week (although secretly I would love for that to be not more than twice a month). I am hoping this will accomplish several goals at once - healthier living, an attempt to organize my day, budget our spending and spending more time with the kids in the kitchen. Noah says my resoultion hurts everyone in the family.
Keely's resolution, which she really has no invested interest in, is to get her homework done this year. (I should hope!)
Noah's resolution is to "be a better kid."
Samuel's resolution is to help Boah loose the rest of his baby teeth.
My resolution is to not eat out more than once a week (although secretly I would love for that to be not more than twice a month). I am hoping this will accomplish several goals at once - healthier living, an attempt to organize my day, budget our spending and spending more time with the kids in the kitchen. Noah says my resoultion hurts everyone in the family.
Keely's resolution, which she really has no invested interest in, is to get her homework done this year. (I should hope!)
Noah's resolution is to "be a better kid."
Samuel's resolution is to help Boah loose the rest of his baby teeth.
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