babies, babies and more babies

I honestly feel as though this is the only topic I can write about.

Today is Tuesday. And I am back at the birth center. A lovely baby girl was born four hours ago to some first-time parents.

Last Wednesday, a baby girl was born to a second time mother.

On Thursday, three baby boys were born to three first-time mothers.

On Saturday, a first-time mother tried for a very long time to have her baby here but was brought to the hospital for a bit of medication (I missed that one - Saturday is my official "day off").

On Sunday, a baby boy was born to another first-time mother.

If you are counting, that is 6 babies and 1 long labor in 7 days. I "managed" 5 of them, and assisted for the 6th (the third baby born on Thursday).

So we have been BUSY!

The young mom that is here now had her baby just four hours ago - has already showered, eaten, and is being discharged by the birth assistant as we speak. I'm okay with that, since I have been here since 4:45a.m.

I'm exhausted...but thankful for a bunch of healthy moms and healthy babies...and being that much closer to being done with school!

Oh Canada

The True North Strong and Free has done it again!

The GOLD MEDAL for Hockey is OURS! Hip Hip Hooray! Way to go, men!

I had a hockey party planned for today. I invited a whole bunch of American friends (I have no Canadian friends here). They didn't know it, but they were going to be eating cake decorated like a Canadian flag, listening only to Canadian artists, and forced to sing (or listen to) the Canadian National Anthem before the game.

I was pumped.

And then I got a call....
OF COURSE...some little American baby boy decided to be born WHILE the hockey game was going on. I saw about thirty seconds of the game. After the birth, I ran out and turned the tv on (muted, of course) and saw that it was 2-2. Then I had to return to the room. I came out again about 3 minutes later and they players were shaking hands. What the heck? What happened? The other midwife and I stayed glued to the silent tv...looking at faces to try to determine the outcome. Then it came - the replay. Canada had scored.

Super-dee-duper.

Good day. Canada wins gold. Baby Griffin born. Everybody happy.

....well...besides you Americans who care about hockey....

Oh Dear

It has been quite a while since I posted last. And I don't even have any fun pictures to upload. How dull. Although there is not so much "news"...life has been pretty busy for the past few weeks as I am not on call for every birth at the birth center. That, on top of my clinic days and teaching, sometimes adds up to very busy weeks. All depends on when babies feel like being born. Two weeks ago, I had both a 16 hour shift at the birth center, and then a 36 hour shift. Yes...thirty six hours....poor mom had broken her water but wasn't having contractions. Plus clinic, plus tutoring, plus teaching. But then this past week it was quiet...had one labor last night and now I'm at home resting.

In other news, we FINALLY got curtains for the living room! I have wanted them since the day I moved into this place over three years ago. Jon was always against it, saying we shouldn't buy things like curtains for a rental. But with the last few cold snaps we've had, we have been putting blankets up over the window to prevent drafting. So I guess that finally convinced him curtains could be a good idea. We just got cheap ones from Ikea, but they look lovely. I feel so much warmer and cosier. There was also another addition to our living room this past week - a new TV. Yup, finally got ourselves a flat screen like everyone else and their mothers (and OUR mothers!). Honestly, it's a little bigger than we had originally planned, but man, the Olympics look great!

We are thrilled to be going to B.C. again in March for my brother's wedding. I think it'll be a lot of fun to see him and Jess get married - I can imagine it will be a good party. Also,, we will get to meet little Trey Amos for the first time. We will also go into Vancouver to see the Olympic sites. All things to look forward to.

As a church, we have been reading through the book of Acts. A member of the church writes a different devotional every day that gets sent to your email. Jon and I have each written one. It's fun to read what people think about/reflect on while they read Scripture. Something that is really striking me lately is the whole Saul-Paul thing. I mean, Saul was horrible! Horrible! Like, I think we could compare him to some of our big-bad-wolves of today: Kim Jung Il, Saddam Hussein. And then, he saw the light. Literally. And people like Barnabas actually decided to work with him! And then he went on to write a bunch of letters that we still read today. I can't help but think that this is an excellent argument against capital punishment. And an excellent example of just how transformative grace can be. Pretty amazing.

Alright...now I'm just starting to blab. It is time for homework.

A Big Week

Looking back, I would have to say that the week of January 24 - January 30 has been one of the biggest weeks of my life in terms of important events. Not that I feel that elated or overjoyed....for some reason events just run into days and obligations and tiredness and routine...But now I sit here and I think - hmmm, that was a pretty good week.

I'll tell you about it in chronological order.

1. Sunday - I managed my first birth that counts towards certification.

2. Monday - Jennie Joseph and our staff were recognized by City Council and the Mayor for providing prenatal care with the goal of improving infant mortality in Central Florida. Januaray 25, 2010 was named "Heads Up on Infant Mortality Day".

3. Wednesday - Trey Amos landed on Canadian soil and flew that same day to Edmonton, Alberta with his mom and dad. Possibly the hugest answer to prayer ever for our family. I am officially an Auntie.

4. Wednesday night - I submitted my thesis: "Mobile Maternity Care: Providing Health Care to Women Who Lack Access to Prenatal and Postpartum Services." That was almost two years in the making - so a huge weight off my shoulders.

So this week, it really felt like things were "falling into place"...

...I am well on my way to finishing up school...

...we are being recognized at the Birth Place for all the work we do...

...Trey is finally home where he belongs...

...my thesis has become what I was hoping it would be...

Now if only I could sit back, kick my feet up and feel great about life! I WILL feel great about life...but instead of kicking my feet up, I will finish a 10-page paper (feels like nothing compared to Mr. Thesis), I will do the laundry and dishes, I will head over to the clinic this evening for skills verification, I will prepare my lesson for my ESL class tomorrow morning... and that's as long of a list as I care to think about right now.

No Woman No Cry

I spent the day hanging out with Christy Turlington on the set of her new documentary entitled "No Woman No Cry." That's because the "set" was our birth center clinic!

She and her crew have travelled around the world learning about and filming about maternal mortality. Here is the link to a website about the film: http://www.nowomannocrythemovie.com/

Pretty cool, huh? I brought my camera but never took any photos because it just seemed awkward. She was just so normal and friendly, and most of our clients had no idea who she was, so I just acted nonchalant and cool even though I was super stoked about the whole thing.

The film crew will be back tomorrow. I keep trying to get into background shots! :) What a dork. I'll post about it again when the documentary is eventually released!

Haiti

I've had floods of phone calls and emails this week. A lot of folks called on Sunday and Monday asking about the marathon. Thanks for the support! Yes, I finished. No, not an amazing time. Yes, it was the coldest day Central Florida has seen in 20 years. No, I didn't win first place.

But then on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I had even more phone calls, emails, questions - "Is your nephew okay?"

My nephew is in an orphanage in Haiti - an orphanage lucky enough to have all walls still standing and no children injured or killed. So yes, he is okay. But time will only tell how things play out in that country. Food and water and medicines are scarce. The number of orphans is said to have doubled. Riots, looting, sex trafficking and slavery are all imminent on the horizon.

This country needs our prayers, people.
Please pray for my nephew, the other orphans and for all those living in Haiti.

I have read the words "people who are affected by the earthquake..." But I keep thinking - shouldn't we all be affected by this earthquake? There is so much in life that should affect us - but sometimes we don't let it. I pray that I will start to be affected by more.

Please join me in praying. And giving.

42 Hours Till the Shot Gun!

And we are having record low temperatures!!!!! YIKES!

A Cat's Christmas

Those of you who know me well know that I used to be a cat-hater. Until, of course, my own little furry friends found their way into my life. Now, I cannot imagine life without these beasts. Even now as I type this, they are chasing each other around the house. One will hide in a very predictable hiding spot and pounce on the other when he gets near. Then the race around the house on the wood floors. No, they are not de-clawed, so yes - it is really loud.

Anyhow, my little guys got stockings again this year. Heidi was saying how her dog, Sam, could go and get her own stocking and get the treats out of it when told to. I admitted that my cats were not the clever. BUT....Christmas Eve, I put their presents in their stockings. They each got a creature with cat nip in it and another fuzzy mouse. Later in the evening, I walked into the living room and the cats were playing on the floor with their new toys - both stockings laying on the floor as well.

"Who gave the cat's their stockings?" I cried, disappointed that I missed it. No one did! Those guys sniffed out that cat nip and got those stockings down themselves. AND, on top of it all, they each got their OWN stocking! I'd like to think they are just super smart.

And here is Fallujah enjoying the Christmas decorations:

Christmas

My sister and brother-in-law (Heidi and Brady) came for a week over Christmas. This was their first time here in Florida, so they had lots to do and see. They did a lot of stuff on their own while Jon and I were working, but we had plenty of fun all together, too.

The first day they were here, we went to NASA.

We also showed them our favorite activity - canoeing on the Wekiva River.

Christmas Ever - we opened stockings, went to the candel-light service, and played games. Enjoy the picture of the men in their new favorite underwear.

Christmas day dinner: I don't think we have ever had that much food on that little table! (I think Atticus really did think he was reserving his spot. He saw four two-legged creatures and four chairs, did the math, and said "this seat's mine, fellas!"

Sun Rail; Leg Room; Disney

SUNRAIL: I just witnessed a historic event here in Central Florida - Governor Crist just signed a bill to get commuter rail started -- apparently it's been a big fight here for several years. Of course Jon was stoked. I decided to go so I could see our oh-so-very-tanned governor in person.

LEG ROOM: I wanted to share with you all a little tip. If you ever have to fly Allegiant Air, make sure you get a seat on the side of the aisle where there are only 2 (not the other side, with 3). The 3-seat side has the seats much closer together. The 2-seat side has more leg room than I have ever experienced outside of first class. Jon thought he had died and gone to heaven! He was even fine in the window seat! Here is a picture for proof.

DISNEY: Jon and I went to Magic Kingdom for our first time on Sunday. It was fabulous. The Christmas decorations were wonderful, and our longest wait was 20 minutes. Peter Pan was a 35 minute wait so we skipped it even though I remember loving it in Disney Land. We played in Magic Kingdom till about 2pm, then hopped on over to Animal Kingdom (where I've been before) so we could go on Everest and the animal safari. Then we tried Hollywood Studios but weren't overly impressed. We decided to go to Disney because we have had two free park-hopper tickets sitting in a drawer for over a year but kept forgetting about them. They expire December 17 - so suddenly we had to hurry up and use them. A great (and cheap!) date!!!! I can't say I understand why people would want season's passes though -- that's a whole lot of money and Disney is TIRING! Next date: foot massages for two! :)

Our first!

This is our first Christmas tree! The last couple of years we settled for rosemary trees, but those always died before the 25th. So this year I talked Jon into getting us a real one. We only have a few ornaments, but we think it looks pretty. The cats think that all the Christmas decorations are new toys for them, so every morning I have to re-hang ornaments and stockings.

P.S. Erika - notice the Angel on the top of the tree - its the same one I made from paper the first year we were in Korea! Haha - remember all of our origami ornaments! Good times.

Who says our cats aren't cuddly!

Alright, so often people mention that our cats are not cuddly and they don't "curl up on your lap like cats should". Whatever people. Our cats are wild, and that's all there is to it. But they know who their mom and dad are and that's what's important.

When we leave on vacation, the cats are ridiculously loving when we get back. Snuggly and a little clingy.

Here is a picture for proof - Jon and Fallujah.

Thanksgiving in the Midwest

We spent a week in the midwest with Jon's family over Thanksgiving. We started out in Chicago and spent time with all three sisters over amazing food. Jon felt "free" again in the big city, and all of his "big city accents" started coming out. As you can see - it was pretty grey and cloudy and I was COLD!

The next stop was Muskegon, Michigan to visit Jon's grandma (his mom's mom). We swung by Lake Michigan for a few photos:

On Tuesday morning we were headed to Grand Rapids. As we drove into the grey, foggy abyss, I thought: why on earth would we ever want to move here????? (yes, we are still considering GR as a possible "home")

But there are some nice things in Grand Rapids. We actually had a great time. We were on our own for the first couple of days, and then Jon's family came in for Thanksgiving and the weekend.

For Thanksgiving meal, Jon, his mom, his sister Allison and I went to an amazing buffet at Charley's Crab. Look at that dessert spread! His other sisters and Dad had not come from Illinois yet - we ate great food with them the next two days!

The main reason we went up to Michigan was for Jon's grandpa's 90th birthday celebration. He is an amazing man with an amazing legacy! 6 kids, 24 grandkids, 20 great-grandkids - so many of them doing remarkable things. The Ippels have changed the world for the better, folks!

Hanging out with some cousins after the birthday shin-dig. The one picture is of me and two of the other ladies married into the Ippel family. We are proud to bring the freckles into the mix!

No trip to GR is complete without a snack at Yesterdog! Ah - brings back memories of hot dogs at two o'clock in the morning after night of studying at the library! (or NOT studying at the library!

Fancy Feast

Some friends of ours have a tradition they call "Fancy Feast". Once a month, they slave away in the kitchen all day and serve a fabulous meal for dinner. Two months ago we had the honor of being invited to Fancy Feast. Remember, two months ago were were temporary vegetarians - so Fancy Feast was vegetarian too. We started with beet soup (oh so pretty pink soup) with a Thai flare. This was followed by greens and goat cheese-stuffed phyllo. The main dish was mac and cheese orzo with fried tomatoes. Dessert was creme brulee (although we must have gobbled that up real quick, because we didn't get pictures).

After dinner, Jon declared that we would host Fancy Feast the next month! Gulp! Well, this time our friend was on a vegetarian kick due to a bet he made with a student of his. So again, a fully meat-free meal was prepared. Their's was better. We started with apple and sweet potato soup (which was tremendous). Next, a pear and croustini salad. The main dish was risotto-stuffed peppers. And dessert was homemade caramel apples (picture taken before the meal).

Well, we just had Fancy Feast number 3 - they invited us back. No one was playing around with vegetarianism this time, so we had some chicken. It was all fabulous. No picture though - the novelty is wearing off already. But it's great to have an absolutely amazing meal once a month - in the comfort of a home. Try it!

P.S. If you read this and haven't yet commented on the Million Miles Post (below) -- DO IT!