This dance always makes me smile
Topic: Weirdness
I'm not sure if anyone of you 3 people that read my blog have seen this or not, but it cracked me up.  Even funnier?  The "woman" that acted in this.  And I'm sure the auditions must have been pretty cut-throat. <eruption of laughter & applause>  But shoot, I can't think of a better way to spend time in lock-up!

My latest birth - one for all doulas
Topic: Doula Talk
I really want to share with you all the latest birth story.  It was an emotional roller coaster of a birth, and I'm very blessed to have been there in attendance.

I met E at a babywearing class.  We started talking about doulas, what they do and how Karen Prior had talked about them in her yoga class.  We set up an interview and it was a done deal.  I'd worked a lot with the midwives and we all felt connected.  That was October. E's due date was 12/15.  I'd never taken a client so close to Christmas before, but I just really enjoyed the couple and decided that it wasn't THAT great of a risk.  When E hit 38 weeks, she told me that she just didn't "feel" ready.  I admitted that she didn't look ready either LOL.  At 39 weeks, she still felt like baby wasn't ready to be born.  Then 40 weeks came and Pauline mentioned induction, but her cervix was anterior and effaced to 60%.  E called me a bit shaken because she desired an unmedicated birth with no interventions. She completely trusted her body and really felt in tune with her body.  She mentioned that she felt baby drop, but had begun to second guess her choices.  We talked and after the conversation, she felt ready to continue her pregnancy. (this was my reminder that doulas are cheerleaders too!)  The weekend before Christmas, we spoke and she made an appt with Dr. Lei for accupuncture.  She went two days in a row with NO signs of labor.  Dr. Lei told her that she was the first woman to EVER walk away with no contractions.  We spoke again that weekend and I reminded her that Pauline had offered to cancel her induction and that she should still trust her body as she had her whole life.  At 41wk 5dy she had another checkup, but woke up early in the morning with her first contraction ever.  We both celebrated! LOL  When she got to her appointment, Ann said she was 90% effeaced, 1cm dialated and baby was at -1 station.  She requested that Ann strip her membranes, that was done, the NST showed all was well and she was sent on her way.  She went and got an adjustment and we planned on her napping.  At 5p she called me to "report in" and say that her nap was interrupted by contractions.  She was so excited!  The contractions were sporadic, anywhere from 8-15 minutes apart, but they were indeed real contractions.  She called back at 7:15p and they were now consistently 10minutes apart, lasting 35-40 seconds long.  I told them to call me back in another hour.  She called at 8:10 and had just gotten out of her tub.  They were now 1-3 minutes apart lasting 40-45 seconds. She wasn't ready for me yet so I went and took a 20 minute nap ;)  At 9:05p her husband called me and said they were now lasting a minute and were coming at least every 2 minutes. I jumped up and headed their way.  With labor like this, I just knew it would be relatively quick.  NEVER ASSUME :)  That's doula lesson #2!

We hung out at their house changing positions, eat, drinking, getting in and out of the tub, doing pressure points and talking.  We decided to go to the hopspital at 11p because she felt the contractions were becoming more intense.  Upon arriving at the hospital, triage was full.  We waited and they got us a room, but the nurse apparently had a few issues with her or me or both.  She performed a very rough internal and sent Ann in to complete it.  She was admitted to the hospital at 12:20am being 100% effaced, 0station, but only 3cm.  She felt really defeated at that point.  Contractions were still very close together and lasting a minute.  We got moved to a room and got her in the tub again.  She requested to be checked at 2:45am and Ann said the only change was she was now a 4.  E requested some nubain to take the edge off.  She was still getting no break from the contractions and was exhausted from little sleep the night before.  We got her back into the tub an hour later.  She started chanting during the contractions. That was a first for me!  And most didn't make sense LOL  She finally said her code word, but we talked her into being checked before committing to the epi.  Ann checked her again at 5:53a and she was now a 6 with a bulging bag but baby was turned wrong.  We went through squatting and yoga poses and swaying and dancing and side lying and all fours. Pauline checked her at 8:25am and she was now an 8!  Bag was still in tact and she wasn't ready to have it broken yet. *Side note - I firmly believe that her membranes developed a leak at 6:45.  Each contraction would produce a small line of fluid down her leg, but I could get no one to agree with me LOL*  She was checked again at 10:05a and was now at a 9.  We were all super excited.  She agreed to let Pauline rupture the bulging bag in hopes that baby would come on down.  Pauline ruptured clear water, but found baby was STILL turned facing the wrong way.  Again, we did pressure points, squatting, lunging, the "captain morgan" stance, swaying, dancing, all fours.  You name it, we did it again.  11:05am, no change.  Still the same.  12:20p, again, no change.  E was VERY disappointed and defeated.  We couldn't figure out why baby wouldn't move positions and why she couldn't get past 9.  Pauline said with each contraction, she could feel baby move down, but she'd bring the cervix with her.  After another round in the tub and more movement, Pauline mentioned an epi.  E hadn't slept in over 24 hours and was exhausted and thought that the epi might give her what she needed to finish relaxing.  The epi was administered at 1pm.  She was check at 2:40p and still hadn't made any progress.  That's when her body stopped.  Contractions almost went away and it was determined she just needed more rest.  Around 3:45 they started a slow pit drip.  It put contractions back at 3-4 minutes, but only lasting 30-40 seconds.  At 4:30p the only change was baby had dropped more and was at a +1 station.  Again, we tried everything we could think of to get baby to move positions and finish  getting her dialated.  Somewhere in there, we all took a one hour nap.  That was the extent of our rest.  E slept inbetween contractions, but the 1 hour did us a world of good!!  Around 6, we sat and talked.  Pauline mentioned how it wasn't good to be this long at 9 and what her options were at this point. Baby had always looked great and was still tolerating labor very very well.  I left E and her husband to have some alone time.  I returned 15 minutes later to find them with questions about how a section would go.  We all cried together and decided to get checked before a decision was made.  At 6:30 there was still no change.  We talked for 30 minutes and went over every detail possible.  At 7 the decision was made to do a section.  Everyone was called in, but Dr. Miles mentioned that we might get bumped.  There was another baby with questionable decels.  E told her that it was fine, she would wait so that mom and baby that were becoming emergent could get the care first.  This is where God intervened.  Dad and I went to have a bite to eat while E took a short nap before the section.  We went over more details and I talked with him about post partum recovery and care for mom and baby.  As we headed back, we saw the other mom come out of the OR, dad carrying baby behind.  We knew it was our turn.  As we entered the room, tears started to flow again and Pauline assured E that she would suggest this for her own daughter who is due in March.  We asked if Pauline would check her, one last time. Just in case. There's always a chance right?  So, at 8:15p, with me on her right, dad on the left and Pauline checking, Pauline looked at me and gasped.  Then she waited.  Then she looked at E and dad and waited.  No one said a word.  She quietly said, "Piper, would you grab that leg right there and dad, grab that leg.  Let's push this baby out." She was complete.  COMPLETE.  The emergency section that bumped us saved E from having one herself (and come to find out, saved another mother with the EXACT same problem from having one too!!!!).  Have to admit we all cried again!!  After a few pushes and rests, baby started to crown.  With some more intense pushing, baby was born VAGINALLY at 9:09p weighing in at 7lbs 11oz and 20 1/2 inches.  The nurse mentioned she was overcooked, but really, she was great and ready to come out.  Also, we found out WHY she wouldn't cooperate!  Her head emerged beautifully, but as she pushed the shoulders out, Pauline and I watched as her right hand whipped around the front of her body as it had been on her opposite shoulder, most likely up by her head the entire time. We had our answer and it wasn't because mom's body wasn't working! It was baby not cooperating!!! LOL

so there you go.  The most emotional birth I've ever attended.  I am not an emotional person, but I cried 3 times and made it through on 1 hour of sleep, a fruit roll up, water and a piece of pizza.

As I left the hospital that night, I cried some more.  This is why I do what I do.  This is what WE are all called to do.  This is what we are blessed to witness.  My doula high has returned and I'm excited about birth again!!!

Banjo update
Topic: Banjo Pickin'

I wanted to play tonight since I've only played ONCE in 3 weeks (that's what vacation will do to you!) and looked back at my blog.  I don't have many songs posted here, but when I listened to what I *did* have, I cracked up!  It's been awhile since I have updated!

I've been playing now for almost 2 years now and love it so much!  I still take lessons and go play every Friday night at the jams at the store where I take lessons.  It's the highlight of my week. . .a great way to burn off steam and enjoy the music and talking.  They call me "The Hammer" at the jams too. . .they say I "nail every song."  Not really, but it's a running joke now and I'm ok with it.  Since my last update, I've been asked to go and play with Annie and her band on a Saturday.  That was AWESOME!  To have a real life audience that doesn't hear me every week at the jams was fun.  I've also finally broken into singing while playing and am proud of myself for that. I was also asked by Annie one night, to  lead the jam while she was away.  Talk about feeling like big stuff

 One of the songs that I had posted previously was Bile Them Cabbage Down, but that was so long ago, I felt it time to update. Here's what I played tonight. I really use this song to warm up before playing other songs, but there's a DEFINITE change in the way I started and where I am now  Bile Them Cabbage Down

Another one of my favorite songs to play at jams is Lonesome Road Blues.  I don't sing it, just play it fast enough to where the guitar players all act like their arms are going to fall off.  Makes me laugh every time But here's the pace that I like to play it at. Lonesome Road Blues  

On those songs, you'll hear the background tracks that I play with. I found those at a lovely website where they have lots of files that I use to practice my songs with.  It really helps me with timing so I don't look like a doofus at the jam

Enjoy the tunes   And I hope you like bluegrass. . .if you don't. . .why are ya listening???

Is life going back to normal???
Topic: Weirdness

Because today is the day he comes back!!  In about 3 hours. . .we'll get to see Jason again and he'll be back in Oklahoma FOR.EVER.

He got to come home for a few days at the end of May due to the death of his grandmother.  But he'll never go back again. He's out of the army and back to teaching and mural'ing   He's coming home to a needy wife (she's Carly. . .what did you expect?), a son that now actually SPEAKS!!  And a house he's never seen before.  So here's what I did to help with all that.  Ok. . .Bubba made the call, but it was *MY* idea-r.

 

*snicker snicker snort*  Thanks to the lovely lady at Signs Now for donating this, along with 3 other signs for us to welcome him home properly today!

And thank God they're coming home and they're safe!!!  WOOO!!!!!!!!

Cracking myself up. . .over and over and over
Topic: Weirdness

Short story or long story?  I'll TRY for the short story ;)

Chris' grandparents had a dead tree in their front yard of the lake house.  His grandfather told him that if he came down to the lake and cut it down, it was his for firewood.  OUR'S for firewood.  I love myself a good fire. . .not a fake one, but one that requires actual wood that burns.  So he went.  He took the boys and went to the lake.

While there, it was a fiasco of monstrous proportions.  And to top it off, the tree they cut down was rotten.  It was no good for firewood.  I was a bit ticked, but shoot. . .on the flip side he did help his grandfather.

His grandmother felt bad and told him that she'd buy him some wood and to find prices.  So, Chris made calls, did some research and came to me one night with his dilemma.  We have a rack for our wood, however it's for half a rick. Rik.  Rick?  Rick.  Anyway. . . .we needed another rack.  Ready for the punch line that I can't seem to shake from my head and that cracks me up so much my belly jiggles in a Santa-like fashion?  Ok. . .I asked him this:

"So we need a half rick rack?"

PUHLEASE tell me you think that's as funny as I do.  Half rick rack.  Rick rack.  Seriously people, that's fuh-nnnnnny!

Yeah, well, you stink!!

;) 

Baby Jonathan
Mood:  sad
Topic: Me!

Today, I attended the funeral for a dear friend's baby boy, Jonathan.  My heart hurts.  My mind aches.  My body is drained.  C gave birth to her perfect baby on Sunday, August 10.  He passed into God's hands as he emerged from her body.  14lbs.  24 inches long.  He looked just perfect.

The doula organization that I belong to here in Oklahoma City had a meeting last month to go over helping clients through losing their baby.  I attended the meeting, as did she.  It wasn't my favorite topic, but we listened and learned.  I prayed that I'd never have to help a client through the loss of their infant, but I never thought that I'd have to help a fellow doula through the loss of her's.

As I took pictures for them today, I found the strength to remain strong.  When my aunt lost Nicholas, I was but 6-7 years old and didn't truly understand the grief.  As a mother. . .I now understand the unbearable feeling.  I saw C as she craddled the baby in her lap, kissing his cheek, stroking his dark hair.  I watched as she sobbed and also comforted her other boys.  This week, I'd been unable to wrap my mind around this.  I'm still searching for words.  Trying to understand.  Praying for something, anything.  I keep wondering why this baby was taken. . .so loved. . .so longed for.  At the same time, there are babies being born in this very city that have nothing. . .no family. . .no love. I'm not saying trade one for the other, I'm just trying to figure it all out.

I know that I don't know what the big plan is now.  It is something that I may never know.  God has a reason for everything. . .I pray for strength, patience and peace for C and her family.

Along For The Ride Contest
Topic: Babywearing
Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

A message to me
Topic: Me!

A friend gave me a message.  Take as you will.  I'll be praying about this one.

"Prepare your heart.  She is coming." 

My quiz
Topic: Me!

Ya know, there are tons of emails floating around in regards to information about the sender.  However, I like this little quiz due to the fact that I made it up and these are specific things about me :)  So. . .should you read this and not be on MySpace or Facebook, take it and see.

And don't be a weiner and not put your name. . .that's just WRONG! :) 

Jason
We got word yesterday that my brother-in-law Jason is now in Iraq. He arrived on Thursday after spending a couple of weeks in Kuwait. I'm not sure what his job will be there as they keep getting changed and I'm not sure when I'll talk to him next, but I do know that his leaving has had a tremendous impact on my sister and our family.

I received this in an email today and wanted to share it. Found the timing remarkable, but it's a great tribute and gives you something to think about. Regardless of your thoughts on the war, there are men and women over seas right now. One of them is Jason. A man, a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a teacher, an artist, a United States citizen. You can pray for them. Each and every one. And they truly appreciate it.