Birth Center Sleep-Over

Since I was already in town for the birth of Mama S. (that I missed, by the way) and we currently have 3 more clients perched on the edge of Motherhood right now, I decided to spend the night at the birth center.  One of our mama's has been camped out at 5 - 6 cm and 90% effaced for a few days and last night while we were at the home birth of S., L. called to tell us that her contractions were about 15 min. apart. This is her second baby, so it seemed wise to stick around.  I didn't want to miss another birth.

Thankfully the birth center has comfy beds.  I slept like a log.  In fact, I was quite surprised to wake up at 7am this morning and realize that there was no birth last night!  Go figure!!!

But...this is what separates us from the docs.  This IS the ART of midwifery.  PATIENCE and TRUST (and learning to catch a few zzz's wherever you can).  If L. were seeing a doc for her care, she'd likely have been admitted to the hospital already with a good chance of a pitocin drip (since staying at 5 - 6 cm for any length of time would be considered failure to progress) or she would have her waters broken, or any number of interventions to get things "started" - All because of impatience!!!  As long as there are no problems presenting, there is no reason to rush this.  Mom's fine, baby's fine, so we can confidently wait and trust the birth process.

In my opinion, that is one of the biggest differences between midwifery care and ob/gyn care.  Patience!  It is really no big deal that there was no baby last night.  So, I'm going home to shower, eat breakfast, study and wait for this baby to decide when she's ready to make her debut!!

Patience is the name of the game. Don't muck with nature!  Trust God and His perfect design for birth.

This is exciting!

Being a midwife is a trip!

It's the best gig out there!!

COME!

This is the text message I received from Inga, one of the midwives I work with.  The previous text was telling me that she was going to the home of a client to "check" her and would keep me posted.  I live a good 45 - 50 minutes from the birth center and just a little less than that from this particular client's home.  She had been planning a home birth, baby #4 and was "doing stuff", so Inga went to check it out.

When I received the one worded text, I quickly shushed the dogs into their kennel, dampened the wood stove, grabbed my gear, and flew outta here!!  I had a fabulous time of prayer and communing with God while on the drive, super excited to be a part of this family's welcoming of their newest member, and super jacked about being called to be a midwife.

I arrived at my destination, walked into the front door and there on the couch was mama and baby!!  I'd missed the birth!!!   The first words from Mom's laughing, smiling mouth were, "You're just a day late and a dollar short."  All I could do was giggle helplessly!    Whaddya do?

Whaddya do??  Well, you roll up your sleeves and jump right in, that's what you do!!  There's clean up to be done, a placenta to be inspected, an herbal bath to prepare, and my favorite of all favorites... the newborn exam!!  This little bundle of boy weighed in at 9 lbs, he is 20" tall and his noggin measured 14".

Nice!!!

Adoption

I am a woman of few friends.  I don't have a lot.  I'm a bit choosy about who I let into my life.  My Facebook number isn't up in the 200 - 300 range. I'm perfectly OK with this!!

Those friends that I do have are spectacular and are a part of my life FOREVER.  This drawing, from my dear little friend Isabelle (who I believe is 7 or 8 yrs old - somewhere around there) proves it.   When asked to draw a picture of her family, this is what she created.   I consider this my OFFICIAL adoption paperwork into the Asbridge Family.   Speed & I are truly blessed!!

TSH Continued

Hormones are funny things.  Not funny HaHa, but funny peculiar.  They are so touchy and subjective. They are so totally responsive to each other and can even mimic one another if not careful.  Glands won't secrete hormones properly if other glands aren't doing their job correctly.  Strange stuff, these hormones.

I know enough to know that hormones aren't static. They aren't always the same, day after day after day in terms of release and response.  So, when the new doc suggested changing things up a bit for me regarding the thyroid hormones, I was all ears.  That, coupled with the fact that she spent well over an hour just talking to me, getting to know me and my lifestyle.  I don't know any doc who spends more than maybe 15 minutes with you.  AND she is not opposed to natural remedies.  What???  An MD who is not afraid of nature and the things God placed here to assist in healing the body?   Unbelievable.

I'm hopeful.

TSH

I go to the thyroid doc in the morning.  I'm so hoping that she finds something to fix.  I'm pretty certain my levels are off.  I've gained 30 lbs., have some serious skin issues, brain fog, irrational behavior, etc.  I got my lab results back today and that just makes me laugh!  The range of normal is beyond wide, beyond chasm.  It's insane!!

You can be considered to have normal thyroid function with a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) range of .40 to 4.50!!  What?!?  How is that a "range" of normal?  Geez... OK, $40.00 or $450.00, no big deal, it's all within normal limits!  Really?   "Oh, Mrs. Smith, you need an injection of this new wonder drug.  The dose is .40 ml but I'm going to give you 4 1/2 ml. just to be safe.  Don't worry, it's all normal."   Things like this drive me crazy!!

So... we'll see what this new doc says tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

This...

This is NOT a job.  This is a calling and a blessing and a passion.  This is something I want to do until I'm physically unable to do it.  This feeds my soul.  This gives me purpose.  This IS who I am.

More Holiday Cheer

If you follow this blog for very long, you'll notice that my little family is my life!!  And... I do believe the reason I was born was to be a Grammy!!

I was on call this holiday season (in fact, I assisted at a birth Christmas Day) so we postponed our little family celebration until the 30th.  I'm so happy we did.  Both families came and spent the night with us.  All I wanted for my Christmas was to have my kids with me, my grandbabies crawling around the house and to feed everyone some good ole' down home cooking.  And...someone must have been smiling down on me, because that's exactly what we did.  Just sat around, stuffed our bellies to the point of bursting, played silly games, exchanged gifts and just loved up on one another!!!

May adores her goofy Auntie Kristen.

Coop hanging with his dad.  We were so happy that Ty was home from the Gulf for the Holidays.  We miss him when he's gone.

May wanted to help me cook.

While we were waiting for the last of dinner to cook, we opened gifts.

May is totally into ripping that paper!!







 Cooper's not too shabby at it either.

Quelf is the FUNNEST GAME EVER!!! 

                                  

It makes you laugh until you think you might pee your pants...

It makes you do silly faces...

It makes you be creative with your opponents hair...

And it makes you ponder your next move.

We were up until 2am playing this stupid, silly, ridiculously funny game!!!

Next morning ...

The Wee Ones like Grammy's windows because the sills are low to the floor and they can see out of them easily.  

Missy May is the cheeriest, happiest, smiling-est, morning baby I've ever known.  She does NOT get this from her mother!!  When you see this delightful face in the morning, so happy to be awake and in your presence, you just know your going to have a spectacular day!!!  

Cooper is a loving Morning Snuggler.  When he gets up, he wants a cuddle and to have some snuggles.  How can you beat that?  It's the most delightful, heartwarming way to begin your day!!

 I love when they spend the night with me!!!     These two babies OWN me!!!

These following photos are of the GBabies playing in the tent that Cooper gave to Mahala for her Christmas gift.  It was the best present a girl could get!!!  I'm going to get one for my house so when they come to spend the night, they have one.  It was very fun and super entertaining.  I just wish I could fit in it with them.

The Perfect Land of Make Believe

 Cooper's smile is infectious and contagious!! 

Isn't he a Prince?

If you listen closely, you can hear them giggling.

Ahhh... May, pretending it's Nap Time.

May loves her tent!!!

"Oh, I can't believe I've got my OWN tent!" 

"All this space!!"

How I love Christmas

For the past couple of years my sister Rena has hosted a Christmas event a week or so before the actual date.  It's marvelous in that ALL our family gets together (all in-laws, out-laws, ex's, extended family members, friends and friends of friends) and it is simply wonderful!!

This year was no different except that my daughter and son in-law, Tila and Dwane, could not be there.  They had been involved in a roll-over accident that afternoon and after being released from the ER with nine STAPLES in Tila's head, they went home to recuperate.  My husband and I took their little girl, our darling GBaby, Mahala with us to the party.  No sense wasting the opportunity to wear a holiday dress, and May's was spectacular!!

Cooper was decked out in a suit and tie, complete with a snappy hat.  He's such a total stud!!  Here he is with my dad.  Great hats run in the family, I guess!!

It was a great way to start off the Holiday Season.  I'm so very blessed!