Pretty peanut is on my lap so we decided to share pictures we took in our yard. This is our latest edition thanks to my wonderful sister who gave this rose to my for my birthday this summer, a Peace Rose, my absolute favourite rose of them all!
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Pretty Flowers
Pretty peanut is on my lap so we decided to share pictures we took in our yard. This is our latest edition thanks to my wonderful sister who gave this rose to my for my birthday this summer, a Peace Rose, my absolute favourite rose of them all!
Summer Kids
Meet my precious peanut! I am playing with uploading images and it is much easier than I had imagined so I will be doing it far more often!Peanut Butter, aka my youngest daughter Breanna, loves the outdoors. Here she is picking mountain ash berries from my sister's tree. She just came in the house from playing outside with her siblings so more tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Schools Back!
Our first day of homeschool has, as always, been an informal organization of said school rather than a structured class... that will come. It is tough to jump right in and be totally focused with summer days just a yesterday away... especially when that included spending the whole day with most of their cousins at West Edmonton Mall's World Waterpark.
I haven't yet added pics to my blog but I am going to learn given the amazing pictures we have of this summer's fun. As you can tell, I am reluctantly turning to school and schedules and the work I need to do in preparation for upcoming workshops this fall.
Now that our new homeschool room is ready for us, we spent today "moving in," getting organized, and finding how our new facility will work for us. This is our smallest formal homeschool room yet (although last year we schooled around our kitchen table with a hall closet as our "organization") and yet it isn't without it's benefits. Eric's room is adjacent so he can do his work in his room away from the distractions of younger siblings. Ryan will need to go up two floors to do his room, which he may prefer when he is needing to focus on specific projects. But for the most part, his desk is adjacent to mine but with plenty of space for him to work.
Brendan and Breanna can be close by with all of their toys and games in the family room which is a part of the same room as our school space. This worked perfectly today as we moved and sorted things, so we will see how things proceed during the year. One thing we did learn though is that the computer monitor is in direct sunlight during the morning, NOT good given that we school in the mornings only. So I am off right now to move that to the other corner of the desk (which is actually a better location overall), see you tomorrow!
I haven't yet added pics to my blog but I am going to learn given the amazing pictures we have of this summer's fun. As you can tell, I am reluctantly turning to school and schedules and the work I need to do in preparation for upcoming workshops this fall.
Now that our new homeschool room is ready for us, we spent today "moving in," getting organized, and finding how our new facility will work for us. This is our smallest formal homeschool room yet (although last year we schooled around our kitchen table with a hall closet as our "organization") and yet it isn't without it's benefits. Eric's room is adjacent so he can do his work in his room away from the distractions of younger siblings. Ryan will need to go up two floors to do his room, which he may prefer when he is needing to focus on specific projects. But for the most part, his desk is adjacent to mine but with plenty of space for him to work.
Brendan and Breanna can be close by with all of their toys and games in the family room which is a part of the same room as our school space. This worked perfectly today as we moved and sorted things, so we will see how things proceed during the year. One thing we did learn though is that the computer monitor is in direct sunlight during the morning, NOT good given that we school in the mornings only. So I am off right now to move that to the other corner of the desk (which is actually a better location overall), see you tomorrow!
Dreams
I alluded to dreams in my previous post and indeed dreams are what life is truly made of!
In high school, many of my school mates wrote their list of 100 things they wanted to accomplish in their life, their dream list. I regret not doing that, thinking it was an inane exercise in futility and frustration when looked upon and seeing the un-realized dreams remaining. So very short-sighted I was and how much I had to learn! I only had to look at simple "to do" lists to realize that something written down has a far greater chance of being realized than if is left to be forgotten.
The last two weeks have been a wonderful time of exploration and rediscovery as Allan and I have been exploring not only our career futures but also our dreams, but close to our hearts and forgotten. It is amazing when the stressors of daily life are lifted our dreams are remembered, like our long-shared dream of obtaining our private pilot licenses, and Allan to go further and become a helecopter pilot. Of course that would entail ownership of said vehicles too! What are your dreams?
In high school, many of my school mates wrote their list of 100 things they wanted to accomplish in their life, their dream list. I regret not doing that, thinking it was an inane exercise in futility and frustration when looked upon and seeing the un-realized dreams remaining. So very short-sighted I was and how much I had to learn! I only had to look at simple "to do" lists to realize that something written down has a far greater chance of being realized than if is left to be forgotten.
The last two weeks have been a wonderful time of exploration and rediscovery as Allan and I have been exploring not only our career futures but also our dreams, but close to our hearts and forgotten. It is amazing when the stressors of daily life are lifted our dreams are remembered, like our long-shared dream of obtaining our private pilot licenses, and Allan to go further and become a helecopter pilot. Of course that would entail ownership of said vehicles too! What are your dreams?
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Life Options
I have for eight years talked about birth options as a birth professional. I love what I do, all of it, yet in the last couple of weeks I have had to explore my options a bit, and somewhat reluctantly I must admit. Let me share my thought process with you...
We, as in my husband Allan and I, have been weighing his occupational options in light of a few considerations - both personal and professional - that have weighed on his mind and caused him stress in the last few months. We had waited until his two weeks vacation to sit down and really talk about this and explore our options. He has really been feeling like he has no options and through dialogue and our reassessing our short and long-term goals he has become much more optomistic.
In knowing his passions, and our sharing our dreams continually with each other, I have been putting out feelers in our new community in the avenue's he has always been interested in. One of those is in becoming a residential home builder, another is in computer repair, and a third in returning to his previous occupation of auto body mechanics which is loved many aspects of.
That is in addition to three distinct career avenues where he is currently employed... along his current path (towards store manager), photo lab management and loss prevention. Suddenly, in sitting down and exploring his options he truly saw having six distinct avenues he can move into. Not only that, three of those he has solid job offers in... three of them matching or exceeding his current salary.
In knowing Allan I also knew that he would lean towards the road less travelled, the most challenging road, because he has always needed to be challenged... both in career and in life. In following that road, he has also explored his options with bringing trusted and knowledgeable friends and not only have they been supportive, they want to help in various ways. No decisions yet, but he will return to work on Tuesday and two interviews in the next week will cement the decisions we have been exploring.
Which brings me to my options. I have two distinct roads... that along the same path I have been working unceasingly these last eight years, towards financial security through first supporting women, then through training those who support women. I know that this is certainly a road less travelled and I have enjoyed the journey immensely, but it has been a financial stuggle since I switched from support to training. That coupled with a few road blocks I have encountered in the last three years has left me questioning my future here.
The other road is also not a well travelled one, but one that has been my hobby since I was a teen... landscaping. From design right through to every aspect of structure, grunt work, planting and finishing... I have done it. Three residential properties which have been the envy of professionals and neighbours alike are in my portfolio. I have also recently moved on to volunteer my time in designing a 10 acre church property and the results have not only been exciting, they have been overwhelmingly approved at every step. I was just recently asked to landscape an acreage... most beautiful in its potential with a few great bones and, with effort, it would be splendid indeed.
Once in a while, in the last couple of years, I have thought about how I could combine both. That dream looked something like teaching on weekends and landscaping during the week. But as a homeschooler, that is bordering on insanity so I have left landscaping as an occasional hobby and focused on my passion, teaching birth professionals. However great the potential there is in filled workshops, the reality has not been as optomistic and though an income is had... it isn't the income I would like to see to make me feel the stress is worthwhile.
I have worked hard to let God's will be done, allowing Him to lead me in the direction I should go. That means letting go, even reluctantly, those things that I have been adhering to. That includes the possibility of relocating... again. And if that happens, landscaping is a much more viable option because starting promotion in a new location all over again is feeling overwhelming right now given the lack of workshop participants I currently have... two moves in three years has caused a huge negative impact.
My ideal is still a combination of both. If Allan does move in the direction he is leaning, he will need my support, though more in terms of business management, than ever before. The impact of that is uncertain, but the benefit of having two quickly growing young men as sons will buffer that too as they are incredibly helpful and even moreso each day. What the future holds is still wide open and I am very excited about it!
We, as in my husband Allan and I, have been weighing his occupational options in light of a few considerations - both personal and professional - that have weighed on his mind and caused him stress in the last few months. We had waited until his two weeks vacation to sit down and really talk about this and explore our options. He has really been feeling like he has no options and through dialogue and our reassessing our short and long-term goals he has become much more optomistic.
In knowing his passions, and our sharing our dreams continually with each other, I have been putting out feelers in our new community in the avenue's he has always been interested in. One of those is in becoming a residential home builder, another is in computer repair, and a third in returning to his previous occupation of auto body mechanics which is loved many aspects of.
That is in addition to three distinct career avenues where he is currently employed... along his current path (towards store manager), photo lab management and loss prevention. Suddenly, in sitting down and exploring his options he truly saw having six distinct avenues he can move into. Not only that, three of those he has solid job offers in... three of them matching or exceeding his current salary.
In knowing Allan I also knew that he would lean towards the road less travelled, the most challenging road, because he has always needed to be challenged... both in career and in life. In following that road, he has also explored his options with bringing trusted and knowledgeable friends and not only have they been supportive, they want to help in various ways. No decisions yet, but he will return to work on Tuesday and two interviews in the next week will cement the decisions we have been exploring.
Which brings me to my options. I have two distinct roads... that along the same path I have been working unceasingly these last eight years, towards financial security through first supporting women, then through training those who support women. I know that this is certainly a road less travelled and I have enjoyed the journey immensely, but it has been a financial stuggle since I switched from support to training. That coupled with a few road blocks I have encountered in the last three years has left me questioning my future here.
The other road is also not a well travelled one, but one that has been my hobby since I was a teen... landscaping. From design right through to every aspect of structure, grunt work, planting and finishing... I have done it. Three residential properties which have been the envy of professionals and neighbours alike are in my portfolio. I have also recently moved on to volunteer my time in designing a 10 acre church property and the results have not only been exciting, they have been overwhelmingly approved at every step. I was just recently asked to landscape an acreage... most beautiful in its potential with a few great bones and, with effort, it would be splendid indeed.
Once in a while, in the last couple of years, I have thought about how I could combine both. That dream looked something like teaching on weekends and landscaping during the week. But as a homeschooler, that is bordering on insanity so I have left landscaping as an occasional hobby and focused on my passion, teaching birth professionals. However great the potential there is in filled workshops, the reality has not been as optomistic and though an income is had... it isn't the income I would like to see to make me feel the stress is worthwhile.
I have worked hard to let God's will be done, allowing Him to lead me in the direction I should go. That means letting go, even reluctantly, those things that I have been adhering to. That includes the possibility of relocating... again. And if that happens, landscaping is a much more viable option because starting promotion in a new location all over again is feeling overwhelming right now given the lack of workshop participants I currently have... two moves in three years has caused a huge negative impact.
My ideal is still a combination of both. If Allan does move in the direction he is leaning, he will need my support, though more in terms of business management, than ever before. The impact of that is uncertain, but the benefit of having two quickly growing young men as sons will buffer that too as they are incredibly helpful and even moreso each day. What the future holds is still wide open and I am very excited about it!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Forensic Science
Yesterday my sister-in-law came to visit. She is a long-time teacher who sometimes questions but mostly supports our homeschool decision. This year she is teaching various grade nine subjects and one she and I were very surprised at, Forensic Science. It is a new option in her Catholic school for junior high students, grades 7-9 and there is no curriculum at all. She is considering different options including leaning on taped footage of CSI.
Having never watched, or cared to watch, CSI I can't comment on the series per se. However it was truly ironic that a commercial came on sortly after she left of an upcoming CSI Miami episode featured a pregnant woman who was raped and her baby killed (I assumed shot given the footage, but it didn't specify). Wow. Like I would want my son or daughter watching footage like this! I trust my sil who is the consumate professional with high integrity to teach this subject well, but the thought of forensics being taught to my children at that age leaves me shaking my head.
I acknowledge this occupation as a very important one as most of the work is learning why a person died to better support the grieving family, and almost always it is not under the auspicious circumstances of the aformentioned CSI Miami episode. We as a culture are afraid of death and very often shy away from the subject and learning about forensics is good. However, I question teaching this material to 11 year olds where it is much better material for high school students who are more focused on future occupations.
To close this blog post, I have a question for you. What is the number one reason for maternal mortality in North America?
Tragically it is echoed in the CSI Miami episode: the number one killer of pregnant women is murder by the baby's father and/or the mother's significant other. Case in point - in July of this year, very close to home, a pregnant mother of a two-year-old daughter went missing. Her body was found when her husband and his family/friends searched the outskirts of their fair city on their own. Shortly thereafter her husband and the father of her children was charged with her murder. Forensic scientists could not determine a cause of death because her body was so badly decomposed... not the forensics I am wanting my children to learn, not yet anyway.
Having never watched, or cared to watch, CSI I can't comment on the series per se. However it was truly ironic that a commercial came on sortly after she left of an upcoming CSI Miami episode featured a pregnant woman who was raped and her baby killed (I assumed shot given the footage, but it didn't specify). Wow. Like I would want my son or daughter watching footage like this! I trust my sil who is the consumate professional with high integrity to teach this subject well, but the thought of forensics being taught to my children at that age leaves me shaking my head.
I acknowledge this occupation as a very important one as most of the work is learning why a person died to better support the grieving family, and almost always it is not under the auspicious circumstances of the aformentioned CSI Miami episode. We as a culture are afraid of death and very often shy away from the subject and learning about forensics is good. However, I question teaching this material to 11 year olds where it is much better material for high school students who are more focused on future occupations.
To close this blog post, I have a question for you. What is the number one reason for maternal mortality in North America?
Tragically it is echoed in the CSI Miami episode: the number one killer of pregnant women is murder by the baby's father and/or the mother's significant other. Case in point - in July of this year, very close to home, a pregnant mother of a two-year-old daughter went missing. Her body was found when her husband and his family/friends searched the outskirts of their fair city on their own. Shortly thereafter her husband and the father of her children was charged with her murder. Forensic scientists could not determine a cause of death because her body was so badly decomposed... not the forensics I am wanting my children to learn, not yet anyway.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Tenting en famille
Well the good news is we survived, including my sanity and we had an awesome time. A few good lessons learned about camping in Alberta in late August, the top three being: 1. You can never bring enough blankets, 2. Bring toque's to wear while sleeping as 40% of your body heat escapes from your head, and 3. You get a REALLY close shave when your legs have goosebumps. I don't think I was ever warm the entire week, especially so at night. My mother-in-law, bless her, brought three wonderful quilts which kept us much more comfortable the last night we were there.
We camped with Allan's older brother Lyle, his girlfriend and his two children. I am just getting to know Leiha and we have so much in common. I have been really missing his ex-wife who left him for another guy and it is nice to see the healing Lyle and his kids have done... and get to know the new 'Mom' in their life.
We were also blessed with the descending of most of Allan's entire clan (four of his five siblings, their entire families and his parents) upon our campsite the last night we were at the lake. Allan and Lyle had started that ball rolling with Allan asking his parents and Lyle asking their two sisters to come out. This was no easy feat as we needed a cell phone booster and the caller to hold the phone in just the right direction to get the right cell tower, but before we knew it everyone knew and all coordinated their schedules to come out. It was wonderful to see the few who didn't make it to our home in early August for Papa's (Allan's Dad) birthday celebration, he turned 77 this year.
But it was a great time despite the weather, it didn't rain but it wasn't overly warm either. The kids had a blast with their cousins and were rarely grumpy which is no mean feat with lack of sleep and being so busy.
We almost have all of our "camp stuff" now, with few gaps. This year we added a new camp stove, new sleeping bags for three of us six, and a new air mattress that doesn't work against us in trying to stay on-board... the last one we slid off constantly. Next year we only need to invest in a new tent to accomodate the two oldest who are growing SO much and we will be set. Mental note: tent in June or July only unless we are going to BC or south and don't forget good scrubby pads to clean the cast iron fry pan.
We camped with Allan's older brother Lyle, his girlfriend and his two children. I am just getting to know Leiha and we have so much in common. I have been really missing his ex-wife who left him for another guy and it is nice to see the healing Lyle and his kids have done... and get to know the new 'Mom' in their life.
We were also blessed with the descending of most of Allan's entire clan (four of his five siblings, their entire families and his parents) upon our campsite the last night we were at the lake. Allan and Lyle had started that ball rolling with Allan asking his parents and Lyle asking their two sisters to come out. This was no easy feat as we needed a cell phone booster and the caller to hold the phone in just the right direction to get the right cell tower, but before we knew it everyone knew and all coordinated their schedules to come out. It was wonderful to see the few who didn't make it to our home in early August for Papa's (Allan's Dad) birthday celebration, he turned 77 this year.
But it was a great time despite the weather, it didn't rain but it wasn't overly warm either. The kids had a blast with their cousins and were rarely grumpy which is no mean feat with lack of sleep and being so busy.
We almost have all of our "camp stuff" now, with few gaps. This year we added a new camp stove, new sleeping bags for three of us six, and a new air mattress that doesn't work against us in trying to stay on-board... the last one we slid off constantly. Next year we only need to invest in a new tent to accomodate the two oldest who are growing SO much and we will be set. Mental note: tent in June or July only unless we are going to BC or south and don't forget good scrubby pads to clean the cast iron fry pan.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Homeschool Decisions
It is coming to that time of year where I am geared up and focused on the new homeschool year. I have been doing a fair amount of research into High School options with Eric entering grade nine this year and the search is far from over. I am glad to be homeschooling in Alberta right now because we are light years ahead of many other provinces, and even countries, regarding governmental support and our options. However, at times it seems even more difficult because with more options sometimes comes more confusion.
The same cannot be said about support for the developmentally delayed. Brendan, our five-year-old has been assessed as having severe receptive and expressive language delay which technically allows him full funding for supportive resources. Ironically, most of those support programs are full with lengthy waiting lists or he has to be in daycare/preschool full time to qualify. Well that is not happening so we have two options, a specialized preschool two days a week specifically for children with delays and one-on-one support with a speech pathologist.
We declined the former last year because upon visiting the program I seen it as a good program indeed, but with far too few staff and I am not sure if a child with his type of delay (needing strong one-on-one language support) would benefit more in a classroom setting where others with delays also need constant attention. Thus we chose the latter and though I had great expectations of his progressing well, I am not sure his speech pathologist is providing the skills he needs. She has more than once thrown up her hands in frustration at not knowing how best to support and teach him... leaning on my knowledge to continue his support. I understand the need for input from me, but given that input she should be able to provide a stronger program than she did last year. We have decided to continue with this one-on-one support, but I will be requesting a different pathologist this year. This is his last year of full funding and next fall we will turn to our school board for support.
Which means we will be leaning on our school board more than ever next year. We have decided to stay with our current homeschool board, Wisdom Home Schooling, this year and will discuss at length with our facilitator our need for strong high school support AND program support for Brendan's delays... and reassess from there.
The same cannot be said about support for the developmentally delayed. Brendan, our five-year-old has been assessed as having severe receptive and expressive language delay which technically allows him full funding for supportive resources. Ironically, most of those support programs are full with lengthy waiting lists or he has to be in daycare/preschool full time to qualify. Well that is not happening so we have two options, a specialized preschool two days a week specifically for children with delays and one-on-one support with a speech pathologist.
We declined the former last year because upon visiting the program I seen it as a good program indeed, but with far too few staff and I am not sure if a child with his type of delay (needing strong one-on-one language support) would benefit more in a classroom setting where others with delays also need constant attention. Thus we chose the latter and though I had great expectations of his progressing well, I am not sure his speech pathologist is providing the skills he needs. She has more than once thrown up her hands in frustration at not knowing how best to support and teach him... leaning on my knowledge to continue his support. I understand the need for input from me, but given that input she should be able to provide a stronger program than she did last year. We have decided to continue with this one-on-one support, but I will be requesting a different pathologist this year. This is his last year of full funding and next fall we will turn to our school board for support.
Which means we will be leaning on our school board more than ever next year. We have decided to stay with our current homeschool board, Wisdom Home Schooling, this year and will discuss at length with our facilitator our need for strong high school support AND program support for Brendan's delays... and reassess from there.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Addendum...
Met the new family that is just moving in... or should I say waved to the Mom as she unpacked her car and her kids spent the afternoon at our house. Two boys, aged 12 and 7ish... my boys didn't ask how old he was. Very excited bunch though, a total of 11 boys (and one girl, that being Breanna) in my yard all afternoon!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Neighbours
Did I mention I love my new "community" in the tiny, yet rapidly growing, subdivision? As the first family to move into this new area last May, it is exciting to see the growth thus far. Yes, the construction noise is annoying, but as it retreats further and further from our home, it is now easy to ignore most days. I feel sometimes like an ambassador here being that we were "the first" to arrive and everyone points that out it seems to the new arrivals, "Oh, you were the first," is a common introductory comment it seems. There are many young families here though we have several newly married (sans kids) and retired couples too. At least two Moms are pregnant and one just had her son before moving in six weeks ago, and he is adorable! I would say there is at least 10 kids under 5 in our cul de sac, so it is a busy place. Let me introduce some of our newest neighbours...
A month ago our next door neighbours moved in, a great couple from Fort McMurray with three boys, aged 13, 6 and 4. Our collective kids are already spending tons of time together, mostly in our spacious sand box or runnng around our house (we have lawn, they don't yet) playing games.
The same weekend a couple, newly retired, moved into our builder's showhome and promptly hired Eric, our eldest, to mow and care for his front lawn. They just laid sod last week in the back yard so Eric will be working harder once it is established.
Two weeks ago a couple moved in directly across from us and they have two girls aged 7 and 4. Our 5 year-old son loves to hang out with the 7 year-old. We helped them lay their sod a few days after their arrival and their yard is looking amazing already. They are flipping the house as they are already building their next house in Stony Plain and already we know we will miss them. They are a great family!
At the same time a Muslim family moved in down the street. They have been gone a lot and have had tons of family come and go. I regret to say I haven't stopped by to welcome them yet, but plan to try tomorrow. I hope they are home this time.
A week ago a couple from Winnipeg moved into a gorgeous bi-level three houses away. He is a flooring installer and she is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters aged 11 and 13, the same ages as our two oldest. The Dad has already been by our home twice, once to say hi and the second time to fix the grout on our fireplace. I dropped by this morning to introduce myself to Mom and the girls, they are loving it here.
And this weekend we are anticipating the arrival of a new family as another company's showhome was sold and readied for the new owners. We look forward to meeting the new arrivals soon!
A month ago our next door neighbours moved in, a great couple from Fort McMurray with three boys, aged 13, 6 and 4. Our collective kids are already spending tons of time together, mostly in our spacious sand box or runnng around our house (we have lawn, they don't yet) playing games.
The same weekend a couple, newly retired, moved into our builder's showhome and promptly hired Eric, our eldest, to mow and care for his front lawn. They just laid sod last week in the back yard so Eric will be working harder once it is established.
Two weeks ago a couple moved in directly across from us and they have two girls aged 7 and 4. Our 5 year-old son loves to hang out with the 7 year-old. We helped them lay their sod a few days after their arrival and their yard is looking amazing already. They are flipping the house as they are already building their next house in Stony Plain and already we know we will miss them. They are a great family!
At the same time a Muslim family moved in down the street. They have been gone a lot and have had tons of family come and go. I regret to say I haven't stopped by to welcome them yet, but plan to try tomorrow. I hope they are home this time.
A week ago a couple from Winnipeg moved into a gorgeous bi-level three houses away. He is a flooring installer and she is a stay-at-home mom with two daughters aged 11 and 13, the same ages as our two oldest. The Dad has already been by our home twice, once to say hi and the second time to fix the grout on our fireplace. I dropped by this morning to introduce myself to Mom and the girls, they are loving it here.
And this weekend we are anticipating the arrival of a new family as another company's showhome was sold and readied for the new owners. We look forward to meeting the new arrivals soon!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
ICAN do it
I have been busy with ICAN stuff a lot since our board meeting last week. Maybe I should say proficiently busy because some of the projects I have been working on... and off... for a while are coming together nicely. I have been working on the International aspect of ICAN since or Strategic Planning Retreat last fall and hitting a lot of road blocks along the way. This week, however, a lot of those roadblocks dissolved suddenly with a phone call from an ICAN member who is also an intelectual property and non-profit lawyer and a long promised fax from Hedy Nuriel, Executive Director of LLLI. Now we are getting somewhere on this project and hope to soon have that support in place for our non-US chapters.
Also this week a women expecting her fifth child and wanting a VBA4C called ICAN. Being in Ontario, she couldn't find a caregiver to "allow" her a trial of labour, so she was wondering if we could help. In case you don't know, midwifery is funded in Ontario and unfortunately one of the factors that midwives conseded on in order to obtain funding was to give up automomy. This means that if a midwife is unable to find a physican who will back her on "high risk" clients like they percieve VBAC to be, then they are not legally able to attend the birth. This then rules out the two neighbouring provinces as well, so she needed to (and was willing) to travel to a caregiver who was willing to attend her.
I called around and found her four midwives who were willing to help, one in Halifax, one in Regina, one in Edmonton, and one in the US. She was so happy to hear she had options like this and has tons of family in Halifax so chose to go there for this baby's birth. She is due in September and I can't wait to hear how everything goes.
On the educational side of things, given that my official title is Education Director, we are working on four major projects at the moment. Our accreditation program, a new main brochure, a cesarean recovery brochure and a VBAC fact sheet are all in various stages of completion. My new assistant Claudia Villeneuve has taken the accreditation program to run with and Laura Maples, the most amazing graphic designer I have had the pleasure of knowing, has said yes to helping with the design of the two brochures! That allows me to focus on the VBAC fact sheet which we have needed updating for too long. Lots of work but when it is something you love to do it certainly doesn't feel like work!
Also this week a women expecting her fifth child and wanting a VBA4C called ICAN. Being in Ontario, she couldn't find a caregiver to "allow" her a trial of labour, so she was wondering if we could help. In case you don't know, midwifery is funded in Ontario and unfortunately one of the factors that midwives conseded on in order to obtain funding was to give up automomy. This means that if a midwife is unable to find a physican who will back her on "high risk" clients like they percieve VBAC to be, then they are not legally able to attend the birth. This then rules out the two neighbouring provinces as well, so she needed to (and was willing) to travel to a caregiver who was willing to attend her.
I called around and found her four midwives who were willing to help, one in Halifax, one in Regina, one in Edmonton, and one in the US. She was so happy to hear she had options like this and has tons of family in Halifax so chose to go there for this baby's birth. She is due in September and I can't wait to hear how everything goes.
On the educational side of things, given that my official title is Education Director, we are working on four major projects at the moment. Our accreditation program, a new main brochure, a cesarean recovery brochure and a VBAC fact sheet are all in various stages of completion. My new assistant Claudia Villeneuve has taken the accreditation program to run with and Laura Maples, the most amazing graphic designer I have had the pleasure of knowing, has said yes to helping with the design of the two brochures! That allows me to focus on the VBAC fact sheet which we have needed updating for too long. Lots of work but when it is something you love to do it certainly doesn't feel like work!
Friday, July 29, 2005
To Do Lists
I don't know if it is just me, but I find it eternally gratifying to cross things off of my "to do" list. Heck, when I make up a long list of things I need to accomplish and I miss something important that I did, I have even been known to write it down so that I could cross that off!
It also really helps me to keep focused. I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the projects I have on the go and a list a great way to get organized. By writing down what is on your mind, you can let go of the "I can't forget to do that's" because you now have it on paper. That gives you room to remember things you might have forgotten with your big concerns on the top of your mind and it helps to prioritize what needs to be done.
I like to write my list close to my calendar so that I can look up what upcoming events I need to prepare for and to write down those things I haven't had a chance to get on it. A phone nearby helps me to touch base on some of the urgent matters that will only take a quick phone call to resolve and there goes several of my "to do's" quickly. Finally, it is good to remember that delegation is important for everyone. Ask others to help when you are feeling overwhelmed. Children can certainly help. They NEED to do chores and feel the sense of accomplishment having learned and done something well.
I have several more things to cross off today before I hit the hay, happy "to doing"!!
It also really helps me to keep focused. I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with the projects I have on the go and a list a great way to get organized. By writing down what is on your mind, you can let go of the "I can't forget to do that's" because you now have it on paper. That gives you room to remember things you might have forgotten with your big concerns on the top of your mind and it helps to prioritize what needs to be done.
I like to write my list close to my calendar so that I can look up what upcoming events I need to prepare for and to write down those things I haven't had a chance to get on it. A phone nearby helps me to touch base on some of the urgent matters that will only take a quick phone call to resolve and there goes several of my "to do's" quickly. Finally, it is good to remember that delegation is important for everyone. Ask others to help when you are feeling overwhelmed. Children can certainly help. They NEED to do chores and feel the sense of accomplishment having learned and done something well.
I have several more things to cross off today before I hit the hay, happy "to doing"!!
Monday, July 18, 2005
Teaching about Birth
One of the things that I have long pondered as a childbirth educator, and many other educators do as well, is how to reach pregnant women and their partners in class.. I mean really reach them. Not just laying our perceptions of birth on their conscience, whether that be "how to be a good patient" or "natural birth is the only way." What I have found in teaching both pregnant couples and birth professionals is that we need to teach skills not just provide information.
Information can be found in any number of books, but birth skills are not common knowledge in today's medicalized birth atmosphere. Where once these skills were handed down from mother to daughter as daughters grew up seeing, understanding and knowing birth from a young age, now you would be hard pressed to find a women who has attended a birth prior to giving birth to her first born. I am not talking about the popular birth shows sensationalized to the point where every birth is deemed a life or death emergency... "Will mother and baby survive? Find out after this commercial... "
This leaves chidlbirth educators with the struggle of teaching women how to give birth despite the miriad of distractions, interruptions and interventions common in obstetrics today. The answer? By women having the skills to birth no matter what the situation... something that is NOT taught in most prenatal class and which is essential if women are to survive institutionalized birth emotionally and physically unharmed.
Information can be found in any number of books, but birth skills are not common knowledge in today's medicalized birth atmosphere. Where once these skills were handed down from mother to daughter as daughters grew up seeing, understanding and knowing birth from a young age, now you would be hard pressed to find a women who has attended a birth prior to giving birth to her first born. I am not talking about the popular birth shows sensationalized to the point where every birth is deemed a life or death emergency... "Will mother and baby survive? Find out after this commercial... "
This leaves chidlbirth educators with the struggle of teaching women how to give birth despite the miriad of distractions, interruptions and interventions common in obstetrics today. The answer? By women having the skills to birth no matter what the situation... something that is NOT taught in most prenatal class and which is essential if women are to survive institutionalized birth emotionally and physically unharmed.
Birth Interference
I find it extremely ironic that where physicians have long touted their belief that birth is safest in hospitals, the new homebirth study proves the opposite, home is indeed the safest for mother and baby. Why? I am glad you asked because at first glance that doesn't make sense. When a life-threatening problem does arise, it makes logical sense that having the equipment, medicine, surgical facilities and expert staff available to handle the problem. However, very few births are ever life-threatening and most life-threatening circumstances can be predicted prior to birth based on mother's health.
Which leaves us with almost all women giving birth normally and without complication... As proven by the homebirth study. So why do women who birth in a hospital have higher complication, cesarean section and worse outcomes? Another great question! Because medical professionals view birth as a catastrophe waiting to happen and instead of allowing women to birth, they feel the need to control the process which greatly impacts the birth process.
Birth is a physiological, emotional and even spiritual process. As a child growing up I observed many births of farm animals, mostly cattle, on the farm my parents own. I learned quickly that if a mother is disturbed during labour either her labour would stop to await a quiet time where she could birth without disruption, become complicated because of the cows fear. If the birth was imminent, the calf would be expelled quickly with often the bonding process impeded where the cow may reject the calf, a life-threatening situation because a calf who does not consume colostrum rarely survives.
Humans, as mammals, are not different. Sure we have a conscious which sets us apart from all other mammals, but birth is an instinctual process designed perfectly to ensure the survival of our offspring. Only rarely does the birth process not work as it should, though variations of normal are far outside of the medical parameters doctors prefer. Look at postdates pregnancy. My sister gave birth to her daughter at a full 43 weeks gestation with a "term" baby (meaning she did not show "overdue" symptoms like dry skin, etc.). She had the support of a midwife or she would never have reached her true due date, having faced induction weeks prior. That is only one example... There are hundreds where doctors opinion outweighs mother's knowledge and instinct... fetal monitoring, movement during labour, birth position, privacy, vaginal exams (like any dilation assessment will in any way tell caregivers when a mother will give birth... unless there are notes in utero they are reaching for that tell when baby will be born that I didn't know about), and so on.
Which brings me back to my point... why are women safer birthing at home? Can I ask you a question in return? How can women birth naturally, as their bodies are designed, when there is constant interference from well-meaning caregivers? My answer is easy, avoid them. How? Birth at home of course... the homebirth study proved that by avoiding the interference and fears of hospital-based caregivers, birth happens with much less problem and with better outcomes because it is viewed as a normal process.
However, I don't see birth leaving the hospital any time soon despite the risks. Obstetrics have long sold their "benefits" to birthing families and the fallacy of that advertising will not be questioned any time soon.
Which leaves us with almost all women giving birth normally and without complication... As proven by the homebirth study. So why do women who birth in a hospital have higher complication, cesarean section and worse outcomes? Another great question! Because medical professionals view birth as a catastrophe waiting to happen and instead of allowing women to birth, they feel the need to control the process which greatly impacts the birth process.
Birth is a physiological, emotional and even spiritual process. As a child growing up I observed many births of farm animals, mostly cattle, on the farm my parents own. I learned quickly that if a mother is disturbed during labour either her labour would stop to await a quiet time where she could birth without disruption, become complicated because of the cows fear. If the birth was imminent, the calf would be expelled quickly with often the bonding process impeded where the cow may reject the calf, a life-threatening situation because a calf who does not consume colostrum rarely survives.
Humans, as mammals, are not different. Sure we have a conscious which sets us apart from all other mammals, but birth is an instinctual process designed perfectly to ensure the survival of our offspring. Only rarely does the birth process not work as it should, though variations of normal are far outside of the medical parameters doctors prefer. Look at postdates pregnancy. My sister gave birth to her daughter at a full 43 weeks gestation with a "term" baby (meaning she did not show "overdue" symptoms like dry skin, etc.). She had the support of a midwife or she would never have reached her true due date, having faced induction weeks prior. That is only one example... There are hundreds where doctors opinion outweighs mother's knowledge and instinct... fetal monitoring, movement during labour, birth position, privacy, vaginal exams (like any dilation assessment will in any way tell caregivers when a mother will give birth... unless there are notes in utero they are reaching for that tell when baby will be born that I didn't know about), and so on.
Which brings me back to my point... why are women safer birthing at home? Can I ask you a question in return? How can women birth naturally, as their bodies are designed, when there is constant interference from well-meaning caregivers? My answer is easy, avoid them. How? Birth at home of course... the homebirth study proved that by avoiding the interference and fears of hospital-based caregivers, birth happens with much less problem and with better outcomes because it is viewed as a normal process.
However, I don't see birth leaving the hospital any time soon despite the risks. Obstetrics have long sold their "benefits" to birthing families and the fallacy of that advertising will not be questioned any time soon.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Project Central
I am working on several projects right now, some I have blogged about and some I haven't. Each of these projects are very meaningful for me despite their diversity. Let me show you what I mean.
1. Canadian Birth Professional series: I am writing a four book series on the business aspect of being an independent birth professional; Business Fundamentals, Birth Plan Basics, Marketing and Record Keeping. The second and third are finished, the first is almost done and I have a fair amount done on the fourth. They have taken longer than I promised my editor because I keep adding to them!
2. Landscape Design for the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosenthal: I am working on a three phase plan for their landscape development. I spent a couple of hours this week pouring over site plans and addition blueprints (there has been four additions to the church over the years and each has their own measurements not contained on subsequent plans, so I had to dig through them all! I have preliminary drawings of everything, I just need to formalize it onto scale drawings and put some costs in (yikes, this will be the big job) to bring to the committee in August.
3. ICAN's Accreditation Program: Having finished all the groundwork, and launched the program in May, we (as in myself as Education Director and the Education Committee) are now completing the modules not yet written. We are also using the feedback from those currently working through the program to refine it.
4. Immanuel's Healthy Family Ministry: Coordinating a multi-faceted program to support perinatal and mature parents; Christian Prenatal Classes, Birth Doula Support, Postpartum Doula Support, New Moms Group, Helping Hands and Parenting Programs. Our launch date is "Labour Day" on September 5th with a Healthy Family Fair which will promote all the programs, including our Healing Ministry and offer sign up for Sunday School, Alpha and other fall programs.
5. Being the main person on ICAN International's board of directors with affiliation knowledge and a vested interest in having these agreements in place as a Canadian, I will be working on ICAN affiliate agreements for Canada, Ireland and Singapore this fall.
6. Becoming a Lactation Educator Trainer. This is something I have been wanting to do for years and have just not put as a priority. It is now and I am working through the preliminary work towards becoming approved.
Busy you say? Insane maybe? Well I cannot tell you how much each of these projects excites me and gets me up in the morning ready to build each program in a different way. I find that if I don't have at least two projects on the go at once I am bored and if they are diverse I can switch around and not bog down with one. I can go back to one that I felt frustrated with and have a new perspective, having worked on something else for a while!
1. Canadian Birth Professional series: I am writing a four book series on the business aspect of being an independent birth professional; Business Fundamentals, Birth Plan Basics, Marketing and Record Keeping. The second and third are finished, the first is almost done and I have a fair amount done on the fourth. They have taken longer than I promised my editor because I keep adding to them!
2. Landscape Design for the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosenthal: I am working on a three phase plan for their landscape development. I spent a couple of hours this week pouring over site plans and addition blueprints (there has been four additions to the church over the years and each has their own measurements not contained on subsequent plans, so I had to dig through them all! I have preliminary drawings of everything, I just need to formalize it onto scale drawings and put some costs in (yikes, this will be the big job) to bring to the committee in August.
3. ICAN's Accreditation Program: Having finished all the groundwork, and launched the program in May, we (as in myself as Education Director and the Education Committee) are now completing the modules not yet written. We are also using the feedback from those currently working through the program to refine it.
4. Immanuel's Healthy Family Ministry: Coordinating a multi-faceted program to support perinatal and mature parents; Christian Prenatal Classes, Birth Doula Support, Postpartum Doula Support, New Moms Group, Helping Hands and Parenting Programs. Our launch date is "Labour Day" on September 5th with a Healthy Family Fair which will promote all the programs, including our Healing Ministry and offer sign up for Sunday School, Alpha and other fall programs.
5. Being the main person on ICAN International's board of directors with affiliation knowledge and a vested interest in having these agreements in place as a Canadian, I will be working on ICAN affiliate agreements for Canada, Ireland and Singapore this fall.
6. Becoming a Lactation Educator Trainer. This is something I have been wanting to do for years and have just not put as a priority. It is now and I am working through the preliminary work towards becoming approved.
Busy you say? Insane maybe? Well I cannot tell you how much each of these projects excites me and gets me up in the morning ready to build each program in a different way. I find that if I don't have at least two projects on the go at once I am bored and if they are diverse I can switch around and not bog down with one. I can go back to one that I felt frustrated with and have a new perspective, having worked on something else for a while!
Monday, July 11, 2005
Sisterhood
I spent a few hours yesterday with myparents, my sisters and our families, in the guise of celebrating two birthdays. It is hard to believe that our close-knit family of five has grown to 14, soon to be 15!
Tracy and I have almost always shared birthday celebrations being only a year and sixteen days apart and this year was no different. Though Tracy and I see each other fairly frequently, Terri I see so seldom because of her very busy horse training business and it taking her out to the mountains most of each summer. It was her having to bring horses to the vet that brought her to our party which we had planned to celebrate without her. It is amazing how God answers prayers some times, Tracy and I have both been missing her greatly of late, only to have her come out of the mountains when we least expected, and on our birthday to boot!
Tracy is planning to stay home as a full time mom after the birth of her second baby next spring and I cannot wait to spend more than the occasional meal with her... all we need is Terri to find a way to train her horses closer to home.
Tracy and I have almost always shared birthday celebrations being only a year and sixteen days apart and this year was no different. Though Tracy and I see each other fairly frequently, Terri I see so seldom because of her very busy horse training business and it taking her out to the mountains most of each summer. It was her having to bring horses to the vet that brought her to our party which we had planned to celebrate without her. It is amazing how God answers prayers some times, Tracy and I have both been missing her greatly of late, only to have her come out of the mountains when we least expected, and on our birthday to boot!
Tracy is planning to stay home as a full time mom after the birth of her second baby next spring and I cannot wait to spend more than the occasional meal with her... all we need is Terri to find a way to train her horses closer to home.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Playground Hunting
We have decided today that we are going to go to a new playground each day or every other day to checkout what we like and don't like in playground design. This is in preparation for designing Immanuel's landscape proposal that we are working on.
Today we went to a newer, small playground that, despite it's size, was a wonderful combination for all ages (2-10 are who primarily use playground equipment). It's drawbacks were no shade (there is a perfect location for a tree adjacent to the equipment which would easly shade the picnic table there) and metal slides - NOT fun for little ones in shorts... though they admittedly last longer than plastic slides. The kids had a ball and are looking forward to future outings next week.
Today we went to a newer, small playground that, despite it's size, was a wonderful combination for all ages (2-10 are who primarily use playground equipment). It's drawbacks were no shade (there is a perfect location for a tree adjacent to the equipment which would easly shade the picnic table there) and metal slides - NOT fun for little ones in shorts... though they admittedly last longer than plastic slides. The kids had a ball and are looking forward to future outings next week.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
C/SEC Inc. - Cesareans/Support, Education and Concern
A package arrived yesterday from ICAN Int'l Bookstore guru Debby Crail. It contained several C/SEC newsletters from days past and I have been pouring over them... as I always do when it is something to read and about birth. These newsletters are from the late 80's and it is truly amazing how relevant their information is today as it was then. I am treasuring the wisdom of these women who were doing the same work we are doing today in lowering unnecessary cesarean rates, equipping women for the reality of hospital birth experiences and reducing the rampant trampling of women's rights and emotions by physicians. I would like to share some of that wisdom with you now...
VBAC pioneer Justine Clegg wrote, "The birthing women of the '80s seem to be committed primarily to succeeding in the business world, largely on men's terms. They seem quite willing to allow professional men to define for them the optimum way to birth. Perhaps it is because they buy into high technology in business, or their primary goal is to have a perfect product. These women seem to put their trust in high-tech birthing with medical experts. "
Hmm, I would extend that to the 90's and beyond because I too see the fixation on technology as the optimum choice, even in childbirth.
Valerie Franklin pointed out the obvious, "With a cesarean, if it's scheduled there's no pain beforehand. However, the pain after surgery can be excruciating. With a vaginal birth the pain is excruciating beforehand but the instant the baby is born the pain is totally gone. All in all, any kind of birth is difficult, painful, and at times traumatic."
The new "trend" of elective cesareans the doctors are blaming the increasing cesarean rates on are all about avoiding the pain of childbirth. Well avoid the pain by adoption! But back to the point, the reality is very few women are choosing elective cesareans and those who want one are fearful of the loss of empowerment and pain that is widely portrayed on current television series showing highly medically managed birth as the norm. Once they are counseled about the reality of normal birth, their options and the truth of cesarean risk, very few do ultimately choose surgery.
"Although at times before our daughter's birth I teased my wife about being obsessed with the idea of a VBAC. I am glad we were able to experience our daughter's birth the way we did, instead of living through a repeat cesarean. It gave me an opportunity not just to see my daughter born, but also the chance to share this incredible event with a partner able to be alert and elated as I." These were the wise words shared by Michael Moran, father of both a cesarean and VBAC borne.
Another father, Roland Janbergs writes after his wife's second cesarean, "I still think modern medicine could be improved in one very important aspect. For some reason, physicians keep people in their care in the dark as long as possible. Then they ask for a decision in no time, usually with incomplete information. This is not really fair." Fair, interesting wording. How about ethical? Primary caregivers are chosen because of their knowledge and expertise, theoretically to provide us with our options where needed during the time we have retained them, and paid them well for that expertise I might add. Would we appreciate our accountant or landscape designer to withhold important information that may impact our lives? Indeed not, so why do we allow physicians to do so during the most vulnerable time of our lives?
There are many, many experiences and knowledge shared but I will leave you with Valerie Franklin's voice of pain, "Barely a day has gone by that I have not cried for the precious first hours of our baby's life that were stolen from my husband and myself, for the pain and scars, both physical and psychological, inflicted upon me, and for the lack of compassion and understanding we received." These emotions are a common echo among women who have experienced a surgical delivery of their precious baby, whether life-saving or not.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Still Landscaping...
This is becoming a trend in my blogs it seems! Though this time I am focused here at home on my own yard. I spent the day moving shrubs, sod, edging and rock as I re-defined our front yard a bit. It seems that the surveyors were a bit off when they marked our front corner last May and I was indeed landscaping on my neighbours lot last summer! I pulled it all in to our side today and though it was HARD work, it was fun.
The Flowers, our new neighbours whose property adjoins my newly-landscaped front yard, are a wonderful family with three boys aged 13, 5 and 3. "The boys" (theirs and ours) can't wait for them to move in, which we anticipate to be in a couple of weeks at the latest.
I have to move one shrub and a teeny bit of the very front bed tomorrow. I can't wait to visit my chiropractor after it is done!
The Flowers, our new neighbours whose property adjoins my newly-landscaped front yard, are a wonderful family with three boys aged 13, 5 and 3. "The boys" (theirs and ours) can't wait for them to move in, which we anticipate to be in a couple of weeks at the latest.
I have to move one shrub and a teeny bit of the very front bed tomorrow. I can't wait to visit my chiropractor after it is done!
Sunday, July 03, 2005
O Canada
I love Canada Day, but then I am biased because we also share a birthday! Beyond that though, I love this country I share with so many wonderful, diverse and amazing people who call it home. However strong and beautiful Canada is though, it was marred by the decision to allow same-sex marriage which is a direct mockery of the basis on which our country stands, that of strong families and the sanctity of marriage. That decision was not based on a free vote by our government, but rather by coersion on the part of the leading governing bodies. Something as important as this decision should not only be based on a free vote, but should be based on a public vote by all who live here.
Beyond the fallicies of our government however, I wanted to end on this note. Our national anthem, which I have learned and sang in front of assemblies in both official languages, is a wonderful song. It took our leaders far longer to decide on it's wording than for them to allow the sorrowful same-sex marriage bill.
More importantly, did you know it is a prayer to God? Indeed! Let us continue to pray that same song/anthem/prayer that our country may move towards a stronger, more enlightened, future.
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Goin' Boatin'
One of the aspects of my new landscape design for our new church, Immanuel, was to somehow build the playground around a theme. I dislike theme's because most are cheesy or lame so I played with how to do this and not be either of those. Another problem was the dramatic slope where I have envisioned the playground to go... a drop of 5 feet in about a 100 foot area. As with so many of my ideas, they came to me while I was pondering at night, unable to sleep.
My first thought was a boat or other feature to give the kids a dynamic place to play that would anchor the playground, be the focal point. I kept going back to a boat and I saw it as similar to the boat in the spray park at Bud Miller in Lloydminster. But I didn't want the galley at the back and I wanted it more accessible... and without the water dynamic... that would be a separate feature. My vision was to "sink" this boat into the slope with a retaining wall that would define two areas... the upper area for preschool play, the lower area for grade school. The hull of the ship would be emerging from the retaining wall with the back half "sunk in" to the hillside. The lower area would give entrance to the "hold" of the ship through an opening at the front with a short, immovable ramp. The upper area would look very much like the main deck of the boat at Bud Miller, though the entrance to the deck would be at ground level with the galley being a covered "house" with the design much closer to the Ark... and it came to me... how about a Noah's Ark theme? With a real ark!!
I latched onto that idea and started calling around. Guy at the Lloyd city office was very helpful and gave me the information on the parks designer (who should be congratulated, Bud Miller is an INCREDIBLE park that everyone should see). I then called Ted of EDC Collaborative, the landscape designers for the project, and not only does he know a great deal about it, he is willing to provide us with the boat plans if the city of Lloyd does not object. Our boat will be quite a bit different, but of the same size and dimension as the Lloyd boat. But any plans would be wonderful... especially for this completely boat illiterate person. A local contractor had built it from the plans so we don't need a boat builder to erect our Ark... though in hindsight Noah was certainly not a boat builder before his 100 year project of Ark building with his sons.
Speaking of which, in church on Sunday we had guest pastor, Russ Lee. He is a reknowned Christian singer, and former drug dealer, from Tennessee whose concert at our church was the night before. The boys attended and said he was phenomenal. Anyway, he closed his sermon with this thought... a team of professionals build the Titanic and a complete amateur build the Ark. Think about that.
My first thought was a boat or other feature to give the kids a dynamic place to play that would anchor the playground, be the focal point. I kept going back to a boat and I saw it as similar to the boat in the spray park at Bud Miller in Lloydminster. But I didn't want the galley at the back and I wanted it more accessible... and without the water dynamic... that would be a separate feature. My vision was to "sink" this boat into the slope with a retaining wall that would define two areas... the upper area for preschool play, the lower area for grade school. The hull of the ship would be emerging from the retaining wall with the back half "sunk in" to the hillside. The lower area would give entrance to the "hold" of the ship through an opening at the front with a short, immovable ramp. The upper area would look very much like the main deck of the boat at Bud Miller, though the entrance to the deck would be at ground level with the galley being a covered "house" with the design much closer to the Ark... and it came to me... how about a Noah's Ark theme? With a real ark!!
I latched onto that idea and started calling around. Guy at the Lloyd city office was very helpful and gave me the information on the parks designer (who should be congratulated, Bud Miller is an INCREDIBLE park that everyone should see). I then called Ted of EDC Collaborative, the landscape designers for the project, and not only does he know a great deal about it, he is willing to provide us with the boat plans if the city of Lloyd does not object. Our boat will be quite a bit different, but of the same size and dimension as the Lloyd boat. But any plans would be wonderful... especially for this completely boat illiterate person. A local contractor had built it from the plans so we don't need a boat builder to erect our Ark... though in hindsight Noah was certainly not a boat builder before his 100 year project of Ark building with his sons.
Speaking of which, in church on Sunday we had guest pastor, Russ Lee. He is a reknowned Christian singer, and former drug dealer, from Tennessee whose concert at our church was the night before. The boys attended and said he was phenomenal. Anyway, he closed his sermon with this thought... a team of professionals build the Titanic and a complete amateur build the Ark. Think about that.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
ICAN Needs Volunteers
Fresh out of an ICAN board meeting, we are so excited about how much ICAN is doing for women through their many chapters, our successful conference in May and our many avenues of support through ICAN International. However, with our growth comes the need for people to step forward and join our team both on our board and in supporting positions.
The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).
With today's escalating cesarean rates more and more women are being subjected to unnecessary and unwanted surgical delivery of their babies. In the US many hospitals are telling mothers they are not allowing them to labour in their hospitals if they have had a prior cesarean, but that all of these mothers must submit to a repeated surgical delivery, totally unethical and violates the rights of these women.
Would you like to make a difference in our work to provide women with healthier outcomes and better birth experiences? Join our team today and support womens' and babys' rights by making a difference through ICAN. Click on the blog title for a list of volunteer positions... I look forward to your joining us!
The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).
With today's escalating cesarean rates more and more women are being subjected to unnecessary and unwanted surgical delivery of their babies. In the US many hospitals are telling mothers they are not allowing them to labour in their hospitals if they have had a prior cesarean, but that all of these mothers must submit to a repeated surgical delivery, totally unethical and violates the rights of these women.
Would you like to make a difference in our work to provide women with healthier outcomes and better birth experiences? Join our team today and support womens' and babys' rights by making a difference through ICAN. Click on the blog title for a list of volunteer positions... I look forward to your joining us!
Monday, June 27, 2005
Landscaping - A Refound Passion
One of my passions outside of birth and parenting is landscaping. Having designed and lanscaped three residential yards I have offered to put a proposal together for a landscape design of our church's 10 acres. I have thought a lot about this because they have this absolutely incredible new building which stands proudly above... well not too much but gravel parking, grass and backdropped with naturalized trees left to overgrow the old cemetary.
I am excited about the rich history of our church, its longetivity in the community of over 120 years and its amazing recovery from when it was slated for closure nearly 30 years ago. A new pastor, fresh out of the seminary, was sent here to "put the affairs in order" and instead grew that tiny church to where it is today... a solid cornerstone in the faith community here. I want to build on that rich history and see it grow to even greater heights!
In seeing that vision and growing from within with our Healthy Family Ministry, I am working towards an improved outward appearance, including family support structures like a family centered patio/picnic area adjacent to a new playground and sand volleyball court (I will be seeking further input from the congregation), all overlooking a nature area complete with pond (already existing, just needing some work to make it wonderous).
The playground idea itself is soo exciting, based on Noah's Ark, it will feature a large ark half buried in the hillside and surrounded with three play areas, one for preschoolers (including water, sand and gardening play), one for grade school (ensuring enough gross motor simulus while allowing interaction with others on a smaller scale through a tiered "fort") and one for older youth (climbing wall, grind rails and having part of the nature path wide enough to be dirtbike-friendly with hills and ramps while allowing others to walk unimpeded). Can you tell I have been studying what kids want in a "playscape"? I want to address their needs beyond a steel or plastic wood structure that dominates today's playgrounds and are not well used because of their limitations. I will continue to learn about this, especially what our member youth want, in the near future.
I also am focused on all areas being handicap accessible with an ample parking lot and beautiful signage (something that I found lacking when I was in search of Immanuel last October) surrounded by trees and shrubs... all low maintenance for ease of upkeep... I cannot wait to put it all together! My preliminary drawings are on paper, now I have to flesh out the details, the costs and a proposal that will have everyone as excited as I am about our church facility!
I am excited about the rich history of our church, its longetivity in the community of over 120 years and its amazing recovery from when it was slated for closure nearly 30 years ago. A new pastor, fresh out of the seminary, was sent here to "put the affairs in order" and instead grew that tiny church to where it is today... a solid cornerstone in the faith community here. I want to build on that rich history and see it grow to even greater heights!
In seeing that vision and growing from within with our Healthy Family Ministry, I am working towards an improved outward appearance, including family support structures like a family centered patio/picnic area adjacent to a new playground and sand volleyball court (I will be seeking further input from the congregation), all overlooking a nature area complete with pond (already existing, just needing some work to make it wonderous).
The playground idea itself is soo exciting, based on Noah's Ark, it will feature a large ark half buried in the hillside and surrounded with three play areas, one for preschoolers (including water, sand and gardening play), one for grade school (ensuring enough gross motor simulus while allowing interaction with others on a smaller scale through a tiered "fort") and one for older youth (climbing wall, grind rails and having part of the nature path wide enough to be dirtbike-friendly with hills and ramps while allowing others to walk unimpeded). Can you tell I have been studying what kids want in a "playscape"? I want to address their needs beyond a steel or plastic wood structure that dominates today's playgrounds and are not well used because of their limitations. I will continue to learn about this, especially what our member youth want, in the near future.
I also am focused on all areas being handicap accessible with an ample parking lot and beautiful signage (something that I found lacking when I was in search of Immanuel last October) surrounded by trees and shrubs... all low maintenance for ease of upkeep... I cannot wait to put it all together! My preliminary drawings are on paper, now I have to flesh out the details, the costs and a proposal that will have everyone as excited as I am about our church facility!
Friday, June 17, 2005
Homebirth Study Outcomes
Woohoo!! The largest homebirth study with certified professional midwives has finally been published in the British Medical Journal (full text version, also available in abstract and abridged versions):
Kenneth C Johnson and Betty-Anne Davis. Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. BMJ, Jun 2005; 330: 1416.
I am so excited to see this paper in print and the solid evidence provided:
Results 655 (12.1%) women who intended to deliver at home when labour began were transferred to hospital. Medical intervention rates included epidural (4.7%), episiotomy (2.1%), forceps (1.0%), vacuum extraction (0.6%), and caesarean section (3.7%); these rates were substantially lower than for low risk US women having hospital births. The intrapartum and neonatal mortality among women considered at low risk at start of labour, excluding deaths concerning life threatening congenital anomalies, was 1.7 deaths per 1000 planned home births, similar to risks in other studies of low risk home and hospital births in North America. No mothers died. No discrepancies were found for perinatal outcomes independently validated.
Conclusions Planned home birth for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States.
Now before any Canadian's get their tail in a knot, the women in this study were from both Canada and the US, though the control group were all US based. The paper's discussion concludes with:
An economic analysis found that an uncomplicated vaginal birth in hospital in the United States cost on average three times as much as a similar birth at home with a midwife in an environment where management of birth has become an economic, medical, and industrial enterprise. Our study of certified professional midwives suggests that they achieve good outcomes among low risk women without routine use of expensive hospital interventions. Our results are consistent with the weight of previous research on safety of home birth with midwives internationally. This evidence supports the American Public Health Association's recommendation to increase access to out of hospital maternity care services with direct entry midwives in the United States. We recommend that these findings be taken into account when insurers and governing bodies make decisions about home birth and hospital privileges with respect to certified professional midwives.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Parental Decisions - A Rant
I am very, very angry right now. Allan in all of his infinite wisdom decided today, while angry with Eric, that Eric should go to school this fall in an institution. I am crying inside for selfish reasons, I want my son home with his family, not stuck in a school for 8 hours a day only to face 2 hours of "homework" each evening. I am also really enjoying homeschooling right now because we are past the tedious hours of basic skills like reading and writing. We are now in the meat of indepth research and exporation of life skills which is fascinating and so rewarding. I see all stages of learning as important, but the critical indepth research tools during Jr. and Sr. high that mainstream schools do not teach are critical for long-term learning.
It is also the circumstances that make me angry. I am struggling to find the meaning in this and why Allan chose to do this without discussing it. I realize that Allan is not around a lot to see the changes Eric is going through as an adolescent or understand the emotions and frustrations inherent with being a 13 year old. Does he not remember the frustrations, the heightened emotions, the feeling out of control that being 13 brings? I know he had a difficult adolescence as the youngest of six and carrying an emotional burden larger than he should have carried because of the circumstances of his older brother. But is that a reason to heap this on his own child? What will he do when his second and third son "come of age" and are struggling with their new bodies and hormones? Or his daughter, who will be the toughest of all, as girls will be during this time?
I know Eric will do well and excel in school because he is a wise young man who is confident and outgoing. However, what makes me even more angry is Eric's resignation on this. We, as a family, have talked about moving to an institution before, allowing the boys to decide which route they would prefer, knowing that I was open and willing to homeschool if they so chose... and indeed they have each time. However, Allan sees everything the boys do wrong as the fault of homeschooling. If they don't do their chores willingly and perfectly, if they are having a bad day, if they are which annoys Allan, he threatens sending them to school. Because they hear this threat so often they have become sullen and despondent to its news... and prepared to "face the music" if ever he followed through. In a way I am glad that they have thought about the option of attending school in an institution, but it is how it was done that in my opinion is wrong.
I am trying so hard to see the good in this situation, to pull benefits to our family from this decision... but I can't. I cry and hurt and feel that it is somehow my fault, as I often do when Allan is upset. Indeed I do see his frustrations when he doesn't see the boys working while he is home. I have told him why, because we work hard to do our work around his schedule so that we will have time to spend with him, but he seems to not fully realize that. I also wonder if this has more to do with his having to work today and the frustrations that entails than Eric not wanting to vacuum the carpet.
It is also the circumstances that make me angry. I am struggling to find the meaning in this and why Allan chose to do this without discussing it. I realize that Allan is not around a lot to see the changes Eric is going through as an adolescent or understand the emotions and frustrations inherent with being a 13 year old. Does he not remember the frustrations, the heightened emotions, the feeling out of control that being 13 brings? I know he had a difficult adolescence as the youngest of six and carrying an emotional burden larger than he should have carried because of the circumstances of his older brother. But is that a reason to heap this on his own child? What will he do when his second and third son "come of age" and are struggling with their new bodies and hormones? Or his daughter, who will be the toughest of all, as girls will be during this time?
I know Eric will do well and excel in school because he is a wise young man who is confident and outgoing. However, what makes me even more angry is Eric's resignation on this. We, as a family, have talked about moving to an institution before, allowing the boys to decide which route they would prefer, knowing that I was open and willing to homeschool if they so chose... and indeed they have each time. However, Allan sees everything the boys do wrong as the fault of homeschooling. If they don't do their chores willingly and perfectly, if they are having a bad day, if they are
I am trying so hard to see the good in this situation, to pull benefits to our family from this decision... but I can't. I cry and hurt and feel that it is somehow my fault, as I often do when Allan is upset. Indeed I do see his frustrations when he doesn't see the boys working while he is home. I have told him why, because we work hard to do our work around his schedule so that we will have time to spend with him, but he seems to not fully realize that. I also wonder if this has more to do with his having to work today and the frustrations that entails than Eric not wanting to vacuum the carpet.
All the Time in the World...
I got this idea from Anne.
13 things you'd like to learn, given enough time and resources. In no particular order:
1. Midwifery
2. Landscape design
3. Theology
4. How to fly a plane
5. Play music - keyboard, clarinet, drums or violin (fiddle)
6. Interior design
7. Languages - french, swedish, german, greek, cree
8. Ballet
9. Homeopathy
10. Naturopathic medicine
11. Medieval costumery
12. Watercolour painting
13. Asian history
13 things you'd like to learn, given enough time and resources. In no particular order:
1. Midwifery
2. Landscape design
3. Theology
4. How to fly a plane
5. Play music - keyboard, clarinet, drums or violin (fiddle)
6. Interior design
7. Languages - french, swedish, german, greek, cree
8. Ballet
9. Homeopathy
10. Naturopathic medicine
11. Medieval costumery
12. Watercolour painting
13. Asian history
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Immanuel's Healthy Family Ministry
It's official. The proposed Christian prenatal and parenting programs I am working on are coming together beautifully! WE have officially named it Immanuel's Healthy Family Ministry.
My proposal to the church in April, designed to strengthen Immanuels' healing and family ministries, met with much excitement. Now that we have equipped our leaders through doula training, we are readying everyone for our launch in September. I have been so busy with this for the last few weeks, and though there are a few decisions to be made as a group, we have the bulk of our program developed and ready to go. Our office is coming together well too. The promotion and paperwork are nearing completion and all we need to finish are cataloguing my books for the lending library, getting the printing costs approved, order the parenting program we will decide on in early July, and have made or make the signage. The programs will not be on the website until later this summer, but our launch date is planned to coincide with the start of the school (and Sunday school) year.
Our Immanuel Healthy Family Ministry will include:
Christian Prenatal Education
Our childbirth classes are designed specifically for you with their in-depth approach and small class sizes. Immanuel’s educators are dedicated to spending plenty of time reviewing the material, as well as spending time in prayer, worship, and fellowship.
Birth Doula Services
Proven benefits provided by trained professionals await you as you prepare for the birth of your baby. A birth doula is a woman trained and experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a woman before, during and after childbirth.
Postpartum Doula Services
Get the best start possible for your new family with the comforting guidance of a postpartum doula. Postpartum doulas care for new families in the first weeks after birth by providing breastfeeding assistance, general family and household support, newborn care and instruction, mother care, emotional support and offer information on available resources.
New Moms Ministry
New Moms is supportive and nurturing group where new mothers come to find camaraderie and information. Mondays from 1 to 3 pm, come join the fun!
Helping Hands
A wonderful program for Immanuel members, Helping Hands provides support for new parents as they begin their parenting journey after the birth of a new baby. This support includes one hot meal each evening for a week after Mom and baby arrive home, limited postpartum support to ease the adjustment of a new family member and more.
Parenting Programs
Our parenting programs are designed to encourage, educate, and equip parents for the most important yet toughest job in the world, parenting.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Business Finances
I am in the completion stages of writing Business Plan Basics for Canadian Birth Professionals and am heading into the heart of Record Keeping for Canadian Birth Professionals today. This leaves me working on the financial aspects of running a successful business. So why do my eyes glaze over as soon as I start outlining the how to's of income and expense forms or budget summaries?
I can't imagine actually wanting to do accounting for a living, how incredibly dreary can that be?! I guess I could ask my brother-in-law who is a very successful self-employed chartered accountant. We will be celebrating Father's Day at his home with my husband's family this weekend. Or maybe not, the glazed look in my eyes when he tells of the excitement of his work may give away my apathy on the subject. I think I will steer clear of the subject and enjoy the celebration. Or maybe I could ask if he is interested in co-authoring... to reduce the sheer boredom of putting it on paper. Hmm.
I can't imagine actually wanting to do accounting for a living, how incredibly dreary can that be?! I guess I could ask my brother-in-law who is a very successful self-employed chartered accountant. We will be celebrating Father's Day at his home with my husband's family this weekend. Or maybe not, the glazed look in my eyes when he tells of the excitement of his work may give away my apathy on the subject. I think I will steer clear of the subject and enjoy the celebration. Or maybe I could ask if he is interested in co-authoring... to reduce the sheer boredom of putting it on paper. Hmm.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Cowboy Randy
Last night our family, with my parents in tow, attended a benefit Dessert Theatre and Silent Auction for our Mission to Mexico (M2M). The reason I went was to "officially" finally hear Randall McLeod (aka Cowboy Randy) sing on stage the many amazing songs I had heard him sing during rehearsals before church.
Eric has been working with him and his band In the Beginning as their hmm... I don't know his official role, but he does all of their video presentations which play in the background behind Randy and the band. He loves working with them and we have so much fun singing and fooling around with images and ideas for his presentations. They always rehearse for Sunday school (yes there is a separate band for the services and for Sunday school) so we are at church 1 1/2 hours before church on the days Eric helps (usually two Sundays a month) because of the other programs going on.
But back to last night. A folk singer, a hip hop dance and a drama of a modern day Good Samaritan were also presented which rounded out the evening perfectly. We also came away with much more than that, literally. We brought home several of the great things up for auction. Eric has an 18-hole golf pass at a local golf course for Father's Day and I "won" tickets for the Russ Lee concert in two weeks for Eric and Ryan. I knew I was holding off in purchasing them for a reason, now I know what that reason was. My parents purchased several things and MC thanked them personally for coming which brought a huge laugh from the crowd. The evening exceeded my expectations and I encourage everyone to listen to the voice talents of Cowboy Randy!
Oh, did I mention he is also the chiropractor who I will be working alongside with our new Immanuel Prenatal & Parenting Ministry I blogged about earlier? We will all be working together as a part of Immanuel's Healing Centre. More on that in an upcoming blog.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Canada's Caesarean Rate Highest Ever
How ironic that on the heels of my blog on caesarean issues yesterday, CIHI released their Health Care in Canada 2005 report which includes our country's caesarean rates, among other things. Given that our caesarean rate has hovered at 20% for most of the 1990's, a dramatic increase from 7% in the early 1970s, we have an all new record of "achievement," a shocking 23.7%. Not only that, BC, NB, NS and PEI are all soaring at close to or over 27%!
The World Health Organization publicly states that a caesarean rate of over 10-15% puts women and infants unnecessarily at risk. Incredulously, in their formulative meeting on this topic, all worldwide studies showed difinitively that any caesarean over 8% was deemed too high of a risk. The reason it was increased to the 10-15% recommendation was because those who worked in the American health care system knew that no one in North America would take that figure seriously, given their already high caesarean surgery rates. How frustrating is that?
Increasing numbers of women are put at risk every day on operating tables across this country because of the immediate risks of surgery and anesthesia. More importantly, their longterm reproductive health is endangered, along with that of their future offspring, because of the risk of uterine rupture, placenta accreta and percreta, hemorrhage, placental abruption, placenta previa and stillbirth.
The World Health Organization publicly states that a caesarean rate of over 10-15% puts women and infants unnecessarily at risk. Incredulously, in their formulative meeting on this topic, all worldwide studies showed difinitively that any caesarean over 8% was deemed too high of a risk. The reason it was increased to the 10-15% recommendation was because those who worked in the American health care system knew that no one in North America would take that figure seriously, given their already high caesarean surgery rates. How frustrating is that?
Increasing numbers of women are put at risk every day on operating tables across this country because of the immediate risks of surgery and anesthesia. More importantly, their longterm reproductive health is endangered, along with that of their future offspring, because of the risk of uterine rupture, placenta accreta and percreta, hemorrhage, placental abruption, placenta previa and stillbirth.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Obstetrican Refuses to Increase Her Cesarean Rate
Many articles cross my desk in any given week, most bring frustration from lack of research on the part of the reporter, and some even brilliant. One such article, which also covered a very exciting surprise that I had hoped would happen, is about an obstetrician in North Carolina. She is moving to Mississippi because the hospital she works in told her to perform more cesareans and she will not. I am surprised it took so long for a physician to stand up and take a stand like this, though I know how terribly difficult it is to work in the political minefield of modern medicine. I have worked with some incredible obstetricians and family physicians who have asked us attending to not mention their avoiding "routine" procedures that are highly unnecessary though expected standard of care. Where hospitals would not stand up against ACOG's decision to take choices away from birthing women to reduce their malpractice risk, women and physicians are. Bravo!
ICAN is also working on an important paper on women's rights and legal options regarding cesarean section. Where women are told they have no options regarding VBAC, women indeed have every right to labour and birth as their body was designed, not through a surgical incision in their abdomen, if they so choose. The coercion rampant across the US by physicians and hospitals will not stop tomorrow, but women making informed decisions about their care will turn the tide and show the true face of ACOG. As Dr. Marsden Wagner stated in Critique of ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 5, 1999, “ACOG is not a college in the sense of an institution of higher learning, nor is it a scientific body. It is a “professional organization” that in reality is one kind of trade union. Like every trade union, ACOG has two goals: promote the interests of its members, and promote a better product (in this case, well-being of women). But if there is conflict between these two goals, the interests of obstetricians come first.”
Monday, June 06, 2005
Outrage and Sadness
I am preparing for moving my "office" or rather all of my books/posters/teaching stuff to my new office at our church. In sorting through what to bring, I cut out an article from the Western Catholic Reporter, May 16, 2005 edition, entitled Christ's power saved aborted baby. The same article is online at Kairos Catholic Journal.
How incredibly sad to hear her story and how outraged I am once again that abortion, at any fetal age, is legal. I talk about preborn life at every training I do. I show and pass around a tiny model of a 12 week preborn while I explain his (the model is very much a boy) "milestones" at 12 weeks:
How incredibly sad to hear her story and how outraged I am once again that abortion, at any fetal age, is legal. I talk about preborn life at every training I do. I show and pass around a tiny model of a 12 week preborn while I explain his (the model is very much a boy) "milestones" at 12 weeks:
- The neck is present and the face well formed.
- The eyelids close and will reopen at about 24 weeks.
- Tooth buds appear.
- The arms and legs move.
- All body parts and organs are present.
- The fibers that carry pain to the brain are developed.
- Definitive signs of male and female gender are present.
- A heartbeat can be heard with electronic devices.
- The length is about 2 to 3 inches.
Communication
Communication is so vital in a marriage and all relationships. We all know this yet it is a struggle to find the time to communicate with our spouses when so many other demands take our precious time. With four children it is even more difficult as we juggle their communication needs with our own, especially when they are so young and need that extra time.
It came to a head today as we are coming out of a very busy weekend with both Allan and I working. He has to protect his sleep time carefully because of having sleep apnea, something that didn't happen with Breanna waking several times each night and construction crews starting early both Saturday and Sunday morning. Needless to say we were both cranky this morning and the lack of communication over the past several days was evident this morning with our focus in two different directions - mine on the kids and his on work.
I am very glad that he has the next two days off so we can refocus and do some planning for our future... vital communication goals for any marriage.
It came to a head today as we are coming out of a very busy weekend with both Allan and I working. He has to protect his sleep time carefully because of having sleep apnea, something that didn't happen with Breanna waking several times each night and construction crews starting early both Saturday and Sunday morning. Needless to say we were both cranky this morning and the lack of communication over the past several days was evident this morning with our focus in two different directions - mine on the kids and his on work.
I am very glad that he has the next two days off so we can refocus and do some planning for our future... vital communication goals for any marriage.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Postpartum Doulas
What an amazing weekend! I returned home from the most wonderful experience of training new postpartum doulas, spending 2 1/2 days learning, growing and sharing with a group of experienced mothers who felt the calling to support new mothers. To gather with like-minded women twice in one month to teach them how to support mothers through doula care has been such an enriching and rewarding experience for me.
Though I love and miss the one-on-one support of providing doula support to pregnant and new mothers, I absolutely love the experience of training new doulas and providing continuing education for experienced doulas. Having successfully fine-tuned my postpartum doula workshop this weekend (after several improvements I had added since my last workshop), it was so exciting to see how smoothly it all went, time wise and education wise. With each improvement I can see the increased retention of the students and the increased excitement about the career they are to embark on.
Now my focus switches to the continuing education programs I am developing, especially the body awareness workshop that I am doing some great changes too. I am also very excited about a possible sponsorship of a five-day training workshop that I hope to sponsor next May. I can barely contain myself with the excitement of this prospect for new and practicing birth professionals as the information that will be presented at this workshop are dear to my heart... but I won't divulge more until we have worked out the details.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Peace
Wednesday I alluded to the spiritual desert I experienced while living in Lloydminster, struggling with a trust betrayed and the lack of security of a church family. I have been through several spiritual deserts in my life and from each of them I have grown as a woman, stronger and better equipped. Though life is a perpetual season of growth, it is through the lean times that I have either clung to my Christian faith or turned my back on the Lord, feeling betrayed.
There are also the wonderful seasons of peace and fulfillment when accomplishments are fulfilled, stress is low and life is going well. It is in this season that I am enjoying life right now. The stress of our move is past, our homeschool year was incredible and Mother Care is flowing smoothly. I am also enjoying this season of emersion in my faith, absorbing the wisdom of those whom I am getting to know in our new church and community. There is a huge Christian population here, real Christians who you can trust and whose biblical wisdom is inspiring.
In this season I am also focusing on reading great books, easily found though a wonderful used bookstore in Stony Plain called Heaven Bound Books, owned by one of our AWANA leaders. The first one I am reading, Finding Inner Security by Janet Congo, has been a very healing and affirming book for me. I am finding myself given permission through the Lord, allowing me to lay the insecurities I have harboured for far too long and move on. That sound so blaze, but when you don't even recognize some aspects of your life as insecurities, by recognizing them and allowing yourself the forgiveness of harbouring them, the freedom is a relief and blessing. Beloved Unbeliever: Loving Your Husband Into the Faith by Jo Berry is one I will be working through in support of my beloved husband who himself is struggling spiritually in a world where providing for your family as a single wage earner and being family focused (while trying to balance career) is looked upon as irrational. And finally, Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women by Susan Hunt is my newest acquisition in preparation for our church’s Titus 2 program. I have only just begun and am very excited about the wisdom this book contains and the potential of our new program.
Have a wonderful weekend and I pray that each of you reading my blog are enjoying a season of security as well.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Christian Programs
It has long been on my heart to use the wisdom I have gained as a birth professonal to start a Christian program. I had started teaching Christian prenatal classes in Camrose before we moved, though the move happened before they were well known. Our two and a half years in Lloyd were very difficult for me as shortly after our move there I had entrusted someone and was betrayed severely for that. I found myself not wanting to reach out during that time and despite our seeking a church, we were unable to find one that met our needs.
Since our move to Spruce Grove a year ago, we have been met with open arms by everyone we have met and joined an amazing, Spirit-filled church that has met each of our needs. That church is Immanuel Lutheran Church of Rosenthal which also has a healing ministry of counselling and chiropractic care. In April I approached the clergy about starting a new Prenatal & Parenting ministry. My ideas were met with open arms by both pastors and the church members as it has been a long-term vision to expand the healing ministry. My vision is to expand the current ministries (which includes a New Mom's ministry) to encompass support programs including:
- Christian Childbirth Education
- Childbirth Doula Support Services
- Postpartum Doula Support Services
- Titus II Ministry (experienced mothers mentoring younger mothers)
- Toddler Time (for "graduates" of our New Mom's group)
- Parenting Workshops
- and more
There are a core group of four of us now and through my recent childbirth doula training in May I have another woman whom I hope to attract to our church as well to join our team. The postpartum doula training I will be teaching this weekend will complete the first phase of our program from which we will plan how the proposed programs will work next week.
I will continue blogging on this as it is very near my heart as I grow as a Christian and continue to minister to mothers and their families through these programs.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Ouch!
A large lump on my foot, a result of having a 150 lb rock roll on it while landscaping today, pales in comparison to a friend who's leg was fractured in a horse riding accident on Sunday. She will be in the hospital for about a week as they pin her leg and make sure it is setting properly. I pray it heals quickly and as painlessly as possible, though she did indeed need a rest. She is an incredibly busy mother who rarely takes time for herself.
However, I think I will take this lazy afternoon to focus on the future as I nurse my foot. Hmmm, I think I will plan for a possible training workshop in Chicago (unless I can persuade Common Knowledge Trust to allow me to host a workshop in Canada), writing my homeschool "syllabus" for the upcoming year and prepare for my postpartum doula training this weekend.
We have been finished our homeschool year for almost a month now. I am so glad because I enjoy summers too much to want to be stuck inside teaching... but this afternoon I will focus on just that. Besides, it is too windy to really enjoy the outdoors today.
However, I think I will take this lazy afternoon to focus on the future as I nurse my foot. Hmmm, I think I will plan for a possible training workshop in Chicago (unless I can persuade Common Knowledge Trust to allow me to host a workshop in Canada), writing my homeschool "syllabus" for the upcoming year and prepare for my postpartum doula training this weekend.
We have been finished our homeschool year for almost a month now. I am so glad because I enjoy summers too much to want to be stuck inside teaching... but this afternoon I will focus on just that. Besides, it is too windy to really enjoy the outdoors today.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Generousity
I am amazed at the generousity of the new friends I have made here in Spruce Grove. If you read my blog you will know of my vehicle troubles. Well it is because of these that I have needed to reach out and ask for help. The first time was when we were stranded yet again with a dead vehicle on the side of the road. A friend and fellow homeschool mother stopped in the middle of a major project she was working on (grouting the beautiful new tile in her bathroom they renovated) and came out to pick us up in her car, car seats and all. Not only that, she waited with my kids while I dealt with the tow truck driver and the mechanic at the dealership and then dropped us off at home with a, "anytime you need help, don't hesitate to call OK?"
With our vehicle still in the shop until tomorrow, my plan was to print the Parkland Home Educators (our homeschool group here) newsletter (yes I am the newsletter editor) and bring it down to the printers to be copied. This was to happen between when Allan came home from work (5:30 pm) and when the printer closes (6:00 pm). Well I had to nix that when my printer refused to print so I called another homeschool friend to ask if she could help out. She wasn't home but her husband offered to do it all, including delivering it to my door! I emailed it to him and at 5:30 he delivered it with a, "no problem, I was glad to help."
I love my new community!
With our vehicle still in the shop until tomorrow, my plan was to print the Parkland Home Educators (our homeschool group here) newsletter (yes I am the newsletter editor) and bring it down to the printers to be copied. This was to happen between when Allan came home from work (5:30 pm) and when the printer closes (6:00 pm). Well I had to nix that when my printer refused to print so I called another homeschool friend to ask if she could help out. She wasn't home but her husband offered to do it all, including delivering it to my door! I emailed it to him and at 5:30 he delivered it with a, "no problem, I was glad to help."
I love my new community!
Mondays
I usually look forward to Mondays because they are the day I am able to regain routine, for the most part. It is my sanity day where we clean up and organize after a busy weekend, a good thing for a type A personality like myself. Today, however, I was not looking forward to because sans vehicle means that normal errands turn into long bike rides.
This morning we had a language therapy session for Brendan which was important because it included a hearing screen, one of the factors we (his language therapist and myself) are ruling out in trying to understand his perplexing receptive and expressive language delays. That means a bike ride from Spruce Grove to Stony Plain, not a huge distance, but I was concerned about wind and whiny kids.
Praise God, the wind was a crosswind - horrible for flying planes but great for riding bikes because it doesn't cause drag one way... which is huge when you factor in a bike trailer with two heavy children inside. The boys were excited about this journey too, having never ridden their bikes outside of the city yet.
It was a great ride! We arrived in half the time I had anticipated (I always over estimate when it comes to how long it takes for a bike to get anywhere) though the hearing screen didn't go well as Brendan didn't cooperate. We have booked him for a formal hearing assessment in a couple of months to ensure a proper screen. Pray his next assessment goes well and we will know difinitively if hearing is a concern or not.
Now I am off to deal with paperwork and cleaning our BBQ.
This morning we had a language therapy session for Brendan which was important because it included a hearing screen, one of the factors we (his language therapist and myself) are ruling out in trying to understand his perplexing receptive and expressive language delays. That means a bike ride from Spruce Grove to Stony Plain, not a huge distance, but I was concerned about wind and whiny kids.
Praise God, the wind was a crosswind - horrible for flying planes but great for riding bikes because it doesn't cause drag one way... which is huge when you factor in a bike trailer with two heavy children inside. The boys were excited about this journey too, having never ridden their bikes outside of the city yet.
It was a great ride! We arrived in half the time I had anticipated (I always over estimate when it comes to how long it takes for a bike to get anywhere) though the hearing screen didn't go well as Brendan didn't cooperate. We have booked him for a formal hearing assessment in a couple of months to ensure a proper screen. Pray his next assessment goes well and we will know difinitively if hearing is a concern or not.
Now I am off to deal with paperwork and cleaning our BBQ.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
| Your Birthdate: July 1 |
| Your birthday suggests that are executive ability and leadership qualities in your makeup. A birthday on day 1 of any month gives a measure of will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You may be sensitive, but your feelings stay rather repressed. |
What Does Your Birth Date Mean?
Becoming an Accredited Lactation Counsellor Trainer
As part of my ongoing training work, I have decided to expand my services to include being an accredited lactation counsellor trainer. The Global Birth Institute (GBI) is very excited about my being able to offer trainings for all four certification programs they offer. I will be the first to offer all four beyond Charlotte Millington, GBI's Director.
There is a LOT of work to do in becoming an accredited trainer though, including certification in that modality. I have been supporting women informally with breastfeeding basics and worked alongside several IBCLC's... not to mention long-term breastfeeding four children myself. However the final exam is daunting to say the least, I have a lot of studying to do!
After that, my work is reduced having already been approved for the other programs as a trainer, but I still need to create my objectives and instructional plan for the LC program syllabus. Though that is something that should be done for all workshops, it does take a fair amount of time, which anyone who teaches can attest to.
Putting together a syllabus is a piece of cake. It is the synopsis with each topic outlined to include learner objectives, timeline, teaching strategies, media used and handouts that take a huge amount of time and energy to prepare. Despite that, it is an excellent way to focus on the workshop and prepare fully for it! Anyone who does any teaching (trainers, childbirth educators, even short presentations) should follow the same guideline to ensure your audience learns what you are teaching.
I have given myself until January to have everything completed and approved, far longer than I need. The reason is because my workshop schedule is full so I had to move my workshop until January which gives me some breathing room, if I need it, to have it all together. I am so excited to embark on this new learning journey!
There is a LOT of work to do in becoming an accredited trainer though, including certification in that modality. I have been supporting women informally with breastfeeding basics and worked alongside several IBCLC's... not to mention long-term breastfeeding four children myself. However the final exam is daunting to say the least, I have a lot of studying to do!
After that, my work is reduced having already been approved for the other programs as a trainer, but I still need to create my objectives and instructional plan for the LC program syllabus. Though that is something that should be done for all workshops, it does take a fair amount of time, which anyone who teaches can attest to.
Putting together a syllabus is a piece of cake. It is the synopsis with each topic outlined to include learner objectives, timeline, teaching strategies, media used and handouts that take a huge amount of time and energy to prepare. Despite that, it is an excellent way to focus on the workshop and prepare fully for it! Anyone who does any teaching (trainers, childbirth educators, even short presentations) should follow the same guideline to ensure your audience learns what you are teaching.
I have given myself until January to have everything completed and approved, far longer than I need. The reason is because my workshop schedule is full so I had to move my workshop until January which gives me some breathing room, if I need it, to have it all together. I am so excited to embark on this new learning journey!
Happy Birthday Ryan!
My precious son Ryan was born May 28, 1994 shortly after 9 am. It was with bittersweet tears running down my face that I saw his tiny, round chested body being extracted from an incision in my abdomen by a dear friend of mine who was a surgeon (until his retirment a few years ago) in Camrose for many years.
My surgeon friend told me after his birth that he was brow presenting, a very difficult presentation to correct, especially with ruptured membranes, and almost impossible to birth vaginally unless corrected. He also told me that I had a wonderful birthing pelvis and that there should be no reason for me to not consider a subsequent vaginal birth. Far different words than that my family practitioner had told me previously, that I had it easy now, I could simply schedule my next cesarean.
That was eleven years ago and that 9 lb 3 oz baby boy is now a tall, strong young man with a heart of gold and an artistic talent beyond his years. As a homeschool mother I watch him daily struggle with reading yet excel at problem solving (his determination and focus are incredible). We share other attributes too, he has my temper and he is left-handed, hence the reason for his mathmatical and artistic abilities (though somehow the math gene missed me).
My heart swells with pride and humbleness that God chose me to be his mother, may I continue to train him up in the way he should go.
My surgeon friend told me after his birth that he was brow presenting, a very difficult presentation to correct, especially with ruptured membranes, and almost impossible to birth vaginally unless corrected. He also told me that I had a wonderful birthing pelvis and that there should be no reason for me to not consider a subsequent vaginal birth. Far different words than that my family practitioner had told me previously, that I had it easy now, I could simply schedule my next cesarean.
That was eleven years ago and that 9 lb 3 oz baby boy is now a tall, strong young man with a heart of gold and an artistic talent beyond his years. As a homeschool mother I watch him daily struggle with reading yet excel at problem solving (his determination and focus are incredible). We share other attributes too, he has my temper and he is left-handed, hence the reason for his mathmatical and artistic abilities (though somehow the math gene missed me).
My heart swells with pride and humbleness that God chose me to be his mother, may I continue to train him up in the way he should go.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Mentorship
I am fresh from teaching two wonderful and amazing workshops in the past few weeks and will be embarking on another 2 1/2 day training for postpartum doulas next weekend. My class sizes have been small, understandable for my being a recent transplant and working out the kinks of both venue and learning the best advertising avenue's here.
Regardless, each and every workshop and every student has been a delight. Beyond the actual workshop, I continue to mentor and work with students as they begin their businesses and supporting families. Equally as exciting, this week I had a potential student come and interview me. She is currently on maternity leave and is wanting a more flexible occupation to better care for and be with her new son. Accompanying her was her younger sister who is very exciting about the possibility of them embarking in a new business together in their community, one truly needing the education and support they are wanting to provide. They went away very excited and with several goals they need to complete regarding feasibility and business implementation that they will work on together in preparation for their training and subsequent business startup.
Mentorship is a vital link for successful doulas, something I have done since I saw the need. I have also offered to mentor the new doulas who have just joined DAE as well. I personally had two amazing mentors, though both long distance, who made my frustrations and fears managable when I was ready to quit as a new doula. I wish every doula had that same support, if they so wish, on starting out too.
Regardless, each and every workshop and every student has been a delight. Beyond the actual workshop, I continue to mentor and work with students as they begin their businesses and supporting families. Equally as exciting, this week I had a potential student come and interview me. She is currently on maternity leave and is wanting a more flexible occupation to better care for and be with her new son. Accompanying her was her younger sister who is very exciting about the possibility of them embarking in a new business together in their community, one truly needing the education and support they are wanting to provide. They went away very excited and with several goals they need to complete regarding feasibility and business implementation that they will work on together in preparation for their training and subsequent business startup.
Mentorship is a vital link for successful doulas, something I have done since I saw the need. I have also offered to mentor the new doulas who have just joined DAE as well. I personally had two amazing mentors, though both long distance, who made my frustrations and fears managable when I was ready to quit as a new doula. I wish every doula had that same support, if they so wish, on starting out too.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Vehicles - Part II
Sadly this saga continues as despite my suburban being deemed fit after another successful fuel pump transplant (the first one during the bitter cold in January). It was shepherded home with Allan at the helm and my following closely behind in our grand prix this morning. It rested only briefly before we trekked out to Stony Plain for Brendan's language therapy session. On the way home it died again, the only evidence being another blown fuse - which again blew the second the key turned in the ignition... deja vu. Another long wait on the side of the road with little ones and another tow to a dealership we "enjoyed." Though this time it was accompanied by a wonderful visit with a homeschool friend who graciously rescued us from our roadside stopping place and brought us safely home.
They won't even be able to look at it until Monday. I am thankful though that there are no pressing appointments between then and now. Another blessing, the forever-in-construction road they are widening that runs by our subdivision was just paved. As we mostly bike everywhere we go, we now have a huge two-lane bike path to use until they are finished the rest of the road. Much better than winding our way along mud paths, between construction equipment or worse, biking along the thin edge of the road as cars whiz by. Catch you on our bikes everyone!
They won't even be able to look at it until Monday. I am thankful though that there are no pressing appointments between then and now. Another blessing, the forever-in-construction road they are widening that runs by our subdivision was just paved. As we mostly bike everywhere we go, we now have a huge two-lane bike path to use until they are finished the rest of the road. Much better than winding our way along mud paths, between construction equipment or worse, biking along the thin edge of the road as cars whiz by. Catch you on our bikes everyone!
Doula Association of Edmonton
Whizzing along in our Grand Prix last night on my way to the Doula Association of Edmonton (DAE) meeting I was anticipating seeing the many doulas I have lost contact with since our move to Lloydminster and my inability to attend DAE meetings since we moved here. How long had it been since I was at a meeting? Almost four years, though I had taught several workshops including the DAE sponsored Body Awareness advanced workshop two years ago, so it hadn't been too long.
I was not only blessed by the number of old friends who I saw again, there were so many more that have joined in the last few years, including eight from the last McEwan workshop in April! The newly trained doulas from my workshop could not attend last night, but it was so wonderful to see the enthusiasm each of those in attendance had.
The focus of the meeting was a visioning for the upcoming year and wow the ideas that came from that meeting were amazing! I also learned of the many wonderful things that DAE has been doing since I last attended, very inspiring. Ironically, despite my vow to not volunteer for anything, I found myself energized by this exciting group and offering to consider their webmaster position. Having produced and maintained several websites (www.mother-care.ca, www.canadiandoulas.com, www.lloyddoulas.com and others outside of birth work) I can do it, but my time constraints are really the issue here, not my abilities. I am still pondering this quandry and likely will right up until the next meeting two months from now.
I was not only blessed by the number of old friends who I saw again, there were so many more that have joined in the last few years, including eight from the last McEwan workshop in April! The newly trained doulas from my workshop could not attend last night, but it was so wonderful to see the enthusiasm each of those in attendance had.
The focus of the meeting was a visioning for the upcoming year and wow the ideas that came from that meeting were amazing! I also learned of the many wonderful things that DAE has been doing since I last attended, very inspiring. Ironically, despite my vow to not volunteer for anything, I found myself energized by this exciting group and offering to consider their webmaster position. Having produced and maintained several websites (www.mother-care.ca, www.canadiandoulas.com, www.lloyddoulas.com and others outside of birth work) I can do it, but my time constraints are really the issue here, not my abilities. I am still pondering this quandry and likely will right up until the next meeting two months from now.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Vehicles
I have been years without a vehicle while growing up and for a few years after Eric and Ryan were born because of the expense of two vehicles, gas, insurance... you know. Well my faithful suburban is now sitting comfortably in Leduc at a repair shop having died, not once but twice, on the way home from Camrose this weekend. I miss it... though I wonder if it is the anticipation of the expenses we are forseeing or the actual lack of wheels.
It all started after a wonderful day-long visit with Allan's parents and we decided to return home late so that the little ones could sleep, and once home, be carried to their beds undisturbed. Well that all ground to a halt just west of Miquelon Lake when the truck suddenly died for no apparent reason as we were passing another vehicle. We called Allan's Dad (Papa) to ask if he could come with his car to help shepherd our children to his house given that six people (our family sans Ryan who was staying over in Camrose + tow truck driver) and a tow truck bench seat don't work well together, especially if the tow truck driver wants to drive at all. Two hours later the tow truck finally showed up. As it was now 11 pm we took Papa's car and drove straight home and Papa went with the tow truck back home.
Sunday after church we drove back to Camrose to return Papa's car. I drove his car while Allan drove our car so we had our own wheels to return to Spruce Grove. We spent the time visiting again (don't want to miss another opportunity to spend time with family). Allan's friend, who lives close to us, just happened to be down visiting his parents too. They decided to drive over to where the truck was to check out a few ideas they had as to why it died... and lo and behold it was a blown fuse. Once replaced it worked perfectly. This time we drove up a bit earlier, just in case, with two vehicles as escourts, our car (me driving) and our friends car.
Sure enough, just out of New Norway it died again as we were accelerating on Highway 21. No fuse worked this time. After several fuses blew the second you turned the key we again called for a tow. This time I herded all the kids into our car and left Allan and his friend to wait for the tow truck, which only took a half hour this time. They towed it to Leduc and there it sits being looked at by experts in the field who charge more per hour than physicians for their diagnostic work. I hope it is a quick diagnosis!
I have been years without a vehicle while growing up and for a few years after Eric and Ryan were born because of the expense of two vehicles, gas, insurance... you know. Well my faithful suburban is now sitting comfortably in Leduc at a repair shop having died, not once but twice, on the way home from Camrose this weekend. I miss it... though I wonder if it is the anticipation of the expenses we are forseeing or the actual lack of wheels.
It all started after a wonderful day-long visit with Allan's parents and we decided to return home late so that the little ones could sleep, and once home, be carried to their beds undisturbed. Well that all ground to a halt just west of Miquelon Lake when the truck suddenly died for no apparent reason as we were passing another vehicle. We called Allan's Dad (Papa) to ask if he could come with his car to help shepherd our children to his house given that six people (our family sans Ryan who was staying over in Camrose + tow truck driver) and a tow truck bench seat don't work well together, especially if the tow truck driver wants to drive at all. Two hours later the tow truck finally showed up. As it was now 11 pm we took Papa's car and drove straight home and Papa went with the tow truck back home.
Sunday after church we drove back to Camrose to return Papa's car. I drove his car while Allan drove our car so we had our own wheels to return to Spruce Grove. We spent the time visiting again (don't want to miss another opportunity to spend time with family). Allan's friend, who lives close to us, just happened to be down visiting his parents too. They decided to drive over to where the truck was to check out a few ideas they had as to why it died... and lo and behold it was a blown fuse. Once replaced it worked perfectly. This time we drove up a bit earlier, just in case, with two vehicles as escourts, our car (me driving) and our friends car.
Sure enough, just out of New Norway it died again as we were accelerating on Highway 21. No fuse worked this time. After several fuses blew the second you turned the key we again called for a tow. This time I herded all the kids into our car and left Allan and his friend to wait for the tow truck, which only took a half hour this time. They towed it to Leduc and there it sits being looked at by experts in the field who charge more per hour than physicians for their diagnostic work. I hope it is a quick diagnosis!
Friday, May 20, 2005
Computer Viruses
I hate computer viruses, but not specifically for the reason most do - the maiming and crashing of computers. No, I wish it was that simple. Instead my frustrating stems from dealing with a popular anti-virus software that refuses to launch from the several icons I have (in my taskbar tray, startup menu and on my desktop) and the company that manufactures it. I will keep them anonymous for now, but after talking to FOUR online techs who could not help me, I moved onto their forums. Two weeks later of many gyrations through online scans, DOS fixes and uninstalling/reinstalling I have developed a facial tick that doesn't look like it is going away anytime soon. Not even one change in how the software is working and it is only by virtue of it keeping my computer clean despite my inability to actually access it that I have not moved on to X or Y anti-virus software. Well that and the extra $$ purchasing it would be.
Don't even get me started on my financial software which I have loved and used for my business since it's inception in 1997... which suddenly has decided it hates the new hard drive Allan installed for me. My love-hate relationship with my computer and all it holds continues.
I hate computer viruses, but not specifically for the reason most do - the maiming and crashing of computers. No, I wish it was that simple. Instead my frustrating stems from dealing with a popular anti-virus software that refuses to launch from the several icons I have (in my taskbar tray, startup menu and on my desktop) and the company that manufactures it. I will keep them anonymous for now, but after talking to FOUR online techs who could not help me, I moved onto their forums. Two weeks later of many gyrations through online scans, DOS fixes and uninstalling/reinstalling I have developed a facial tick that doesn't look like it is going away anytime soon. Not even one change in how the software is working and it is only by virtue of it keeping my computer clean despite my inability to actually access it that I have not moved on to X or Y anti-virus software. Well that and the extra $$ purchasing it would be.
Don't even get me started on my financial software which I have loved and used for my business since it's inception in 1997... which suddenly has decided it hates the new hard drive Allan installed for me. My love-hate relationship with my computer and all it holds continues.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
You Just Gotta Laugh
I have been so very busy the last few weeks. This is nothing new of course, but it can be stressing. I was reading an article yesterday in our local paper written by a wonderful woman who finds humour in every situation. God does indeed have a sense of humour, let me tell you how my morning has gone thus far and it isn't even 8:30 am.
I woke up early, my mind filling with the things I wanted to accomplish today which pushed away the ability to return to sleep. I decided to get up and proceeded to make a to do list, breakfast for my family and Allan's lunch (a very rare occurrence as he usually gets ready, eats, makes his lunch and is gone to work before I am finished getting ready and puttering around upstairs).
Breanna and Brendan woke as Allan walked out the door so I set them down to eat and thought I would grab a quick shower before they were finished, Ryan was there to help them if they needed something. As I was getting ready, I spotted the waxing strips I had set out yesterday to do my legs with. I usually shave my legs over winter (easy and MUCH less painful) but like to wax during the summer and I had some left over from last fall. They are soo easy to use, just warm them up between your hands, apply and rip them off. Slap on some waxing oil and you are set...
Right. On went the strip, off went the strip WITHOUT the wax. I had a thick layer of wax covering the back of my leg (of course I do the most sensitive part first, right behind the ankle). I started to freak because I can suddenly hear the clock ticking before Breanna comes up to "collect" me after she is done eating, and here I am not even in the shower yet.
I tried to scrape it off with first the edge of the plastic waxing strip (yeah, that so didn't work) and then my fingernails, which worked much better. But now my leg had streaks of wax and my fingers were all gummy. I grabbed the tiny bottle of waxing oil - which until this point I had always thought of as huge and wasteful because I hardly used any of it and they sent one with each package. I slathered it on my leg and it started to detach, though it was becoming more of a mud than simply sloughing off as I had hoped.
I thought it would be best to jump in the shower and work on it there, the warm water might help, right? I carefully cleaned my hands off so that I could wash my hair before I worked on the wax and jumped in. Shampoo in and I am getting my facial wash and realized I still had a large sticky part on my thumb... I freaked and touched my hair. Yup, right behind my right ear I found a sticky part. Waxing oil in my hair and my face washed, I started to tackle the wax.
Did you know that wax + waxing oil + water = sticky white wax? Yup, and it took a lot of scrubbing, judicious use of waxing oil and avoiding water to reduce the bulk of it, but now I am eyeing my waxing oil and knowing I am going to conserve it even more or I will run out completely. I carefully oiled my hands again, double-checking to ensure no sticky parts. I then washed the waxing oil out of my hair, shaved my legs (doing the waxed part last). I had hoped that shaving would take the rest of the wax off... and I really needed to change the blade anyway right? A gummy blade later, it did shave off some more of the wax... we are getting there.
Breanna is at the door so I let her in and try one more time with the waxing oil. We are down to a slightly sticky sheen and the full bottle of waxing oil is almost empty so I decide to cut my losses and get out of the shower. I dried off, the wax is in only two small spots and almost gone... and I could get a comb through my hair (though it did slow down in two spots, one I didn't notice before on the top of my head).
I chose to make the best of it and decided on shorts today (my legs are freshly shaved anyway!), avoiding the potential of my pants stuck to the back of my leg. My hair is fine and lacks body so maybe the sticky parts will give it some body too. I hope your day goes better and know that humour does indeed make things go much smoother... er, less sticky anyway.
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