Some recent pictures she's sent from India (click on them to see the uncropped version - important for monkey-viewing!):
(notice the monkeys!)
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Happy Birthday to my little sister!
My sister turns 23 today! Happy Birthday - hope it's a great one!
Some recent pictures she's sent from India (click on them to see the uncropped version - important for monkey-viewing!):
(notice the monkeys!)
Some recent pictures she's sent from India (click on them to see the uncropped version - important for monkey-viewing!):
(notice the monkeys!)
Friday, November 28, 2008
Maybe it's a boy...
I've been thinking Baby4 is a girl all along - until last night. I had the most vivid dream (which of course I now can't remember), and woke up certain that baby is a boy!
Only time will tell of course...
Only time will tell of course...
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
ZooLights!
We went to ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo last night - good thing we went then, as it's now pouring rain with a thunder storm! The school is supposed to have a talent show today on the basketball court - guess that'll be inside now...
Here's a family pic from the zoo (one of those that they take and charge a gazillion dollars if you want to buy):
Yes, we have actually been known to use a stroller LOL It carried all the cold-weather gear for us (which for the first time we didn't have to use!). Previous years it has been SO.COLD. at ZooLights, but last night remained a balmy mid-70s. The kids got to ride the carousel and touch the sting rays...free last night as part of member preview!
Off to school now. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Here's a family pic from the zoo (one of those that they take and charge a gazillion dollars if you want to buy):
Yes, we have actually been known to use a stroller LOL It carried all the cold-weather gear for us (which for the first time we didn't have to use!). Previous years it has been SO.COLD. at ZooLights, but last night remained a balmy mid-70s. The kids got to ride the carousel and touch the sting rays...free last night as part of member preview!
Off to school now. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Win a sling!
My friend Rixa is giving away one of her 2nd Womb ring slings in celebration of her upcoming PhD graduation - go enter! Everybody needs a ring sling...
She also makes and sells doll slings, for the mini baby-wearers in your life...and if you order slings now, she's offering free shipping and extra give-away entries!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Three births...
...in six days!
Thursday, Nov 13 a baby boy was born, after a long, intense labor for mom. We were first called on Wednesday evening, and went to the home to check on mom. After a brief period, we left...and were called back some time later. With still no real change, we went home, expecting a mid-night call. Instead, it was about 6 a.m. when we headed back for the last time. Baby was born around 12:30, four minutes after SROM, on the birth stool. The father, who was not at all involved in the labor, was supposed to catch...but went for In-n-Out burgers, and ended up missing the birth!
On Tuesday, Nov 18 (my midwife's birthday!) I got a call around 6 a.m. that TWO mamas were in labor...fortunately at various stages. After checking on the first, my midwife picked me up and we headed to the birth of a lovely first-time couple. We arrived around 10:45; mom was laboring in the tub with the support of her husband, in candle-light with classical music. It was peaceful and calm; she wanted nothing to do with us :) Around 1:15, we could hear that magical change in vocalizations, and withing 25 minutes, a 7 lb 10 oz baby girl was born in her bathtub. She had a tight nuchal cord, which necessitated a head-tuck, body birthing maneuver, but fortunately not an early cord-clamping. Once mom moved to the bed, she birthed the placenta...and began bleeding something fierce. I administered shepherd's purse first, then two doses of IM pitocin (5 minutes apart), then oral methergine. Fortunately, the issue resolved and no transfer was necessary. Of note with this birth, aside from the yikes of the bleeding, was the very unique placenta. Upon examination, we realized the placenta was HUGE! It was almost heart-shaped or twin-placenta in appearance...except it had a whole extra lobe to it as well...and the cord was inserted in the middle, so definitely not a twin...It must have taken up most of the uterus.
S later researched this particular placenta, and realized it is an extremely rare occurrence, called a placenta membranacea. Not surprisingly, it is associated with post-partum hemorrhage.
After leaving this birth, we went home for a quick bite to eat. Right around 6:15 we were called back to the other birth. We arrived there by 7 or so, and baby was born at 9:15. This was a VBAC, and I was so honored to be part of the journey and healing for this powerful mama. A healthy baby boy, weighing 8-11 (I think?), joined his big sister and parents. Mom did tear, which had some good bleeding. Of note also was a strange, audible POP that shocked everyone in the room...it happened just before baby was born. Something (unknown still) was holding baby back from crowning at about +1 station. After the pop, he came instantly to a full crown and was born on the next push. Mom did not feel anything unusual, there was nothing obvious, but *something* was holding up that baby (and most likely his sister during her labor).
There's the quick version...our next mama is due in early January.
Just want to say an extra thank you to my fantastic friends who make my attendance at these births (and apprenticeship in general) possible by watching Baby L for me. And of course, thank you to my husband and kids who patiently wait at home while mom runs off yet again...
Thursday, Nov 13 a baby boy was born, after a long, intense labor for mom. We were first called on Wednesday evening, and went to the home to check on mom. After a brief period, we left...and were called back some time later. With still no real change, we went home, expecting a mid-night call. Instead, it was about 6 a.m. when we headed back for the last time. Baby was born around 12:30, four minutes after SROM, on the birth stool. The father, who was not at all involved in the labor, was supposed to catch...but went for In-n-Out burgers, and ended up missing the birth!
On Tuesday, Nov 18 (my midwife's birthday!) I got a call around 6 a.m. that TWO mamas were in labor...fortunately at various stages. After checking on the first, my midwife picked me up and we headed to the birth of a lovely first-time couple. We arrived around 10:45; mom was laboring in the tub with the support of her husband, in candle-light with classical music. It was peaceful and calm; she wanted nothing to do with us :) Around 1:15, we could hear that magical change in vocalizations, and withing 25 minutes, a 7 lb 10 oz baby girl was born in her bathtub. She had a tight nuchal cord, which necessitated a head-tuck, body birthing maneuver, but fortunately not an early cord-clamping. Once mom moved to the bed, she birthed the placenta...and began bleeding something fierce. I administered shepherd's purse first, then two doses of IM pitocin (5 minutes apart), then oral methergine. Fortunately, the issue resolved and no transfer was necessary. Of note with this birth, aside from the yikes of the bleeding, was the very unique placenta. Upon examination, we realized the placenta was HUGE! It was almost heart-shaped or twin-placenta in appearance...except it had a whole extra lobe to it as well...and the cord was inserted in the middle, so definitely not a twin...It must have taken up most of the uterus.
S later researched this particular placenta, and realized it is an extremely rare occurrence, called a placenta membranacea. Not surprisingly, it is associated with post-partum hemorrhage.
After leaving this birth, we went home for a quick bite to eat. Right around 6:15 we were called back to the other birth. We arrived there by 7 or so, and baby was born at 9:15. This was a VBAC, and I was so honored to be part of the journey and healing for this powerful mama. A healthy baby boy, weighing 8-11 (I think?), joined his big sister and parents. Mom did tear, which had some good bleeding. Of note also was a strange, audible POP that shocked everyone in the room...it happened just before baby was born. Something (unknown still) was holding baby back from crowning at about +1 station. After the pop, he came instantly to a full crown and was born on the next push. Mom did not feel anything unusual, there was nothing obvious, but *something* was holding up that baby (and most likely his sister during her labor).
There's the quick version...our next mama is due in early January.
Just want to say an extra thank you to my fantastic friends who make my attendance at these births (and apprenticeship in general) possible by watching Baby L for me. And of course, thank you to my husband and kids who patiently wait at home while mom runs off yet again...
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Baby guessing game (again)
I thought it was fun last time, so I figured I'd give Baby4 a game too :)
...please go make a guess! I've also added the link to the left, so as this post moves down, it'll still be easy to find.
My birthing history, just to help a little:
(40 weeks is the "due date" but I refuse to use that terminology LOL)
C: born at 39 weeks 4 days; 7 pounds, 19.5 inches. 10:29 p.m.
E: born at 40 weeks; 6 pounds, 11 ounces, 19.5 inches. 3:30 p.m.
L: born at 41 weeks; 7 pounds, 6 ounces, 20 inches. 7:49 p.m.
...please go make a guess! I've also added the link to the left, so as this post moves down, it'll still be easy to find.
My birthing history, just to help a little:
(40 weeks is the "due date" but I refuse to use that terminology LOL)
C: born at 39 weeks 4 days; 7 pounds, 19.5 inches. 10:29 p.m.
E: born at 40 weeks; 6 pounds, 11 ounces, 19.5 inches. 3:30 p.m.
L: born at 41 weeks; 7 pounds, 6 ounces, 20 inches. 7:49 p.m.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
She got the job!
My brilliant sister has just been offered a job by the International Red Cross as a Hindi/Urdu translator/interpretor in Kashmir!
The offer follows multiple interviews in Delhi (where she's currently working), plus a full-day interview in Geneva a few weeks ago.
Many congratulations to A...
The offer follows multiple interviews in Delhi (where she's currently working), plus a full-day interview in Geneva a few weeks ago.
Many congratulations to A...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I love this quote
I just read this on a board I'm on...it was attributed to a man in Philly at a rally:
And speaking of Obama...his grandmother died yesterday in Hawaii. :(
Finally of couse: go vote today!
"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly."
And speaking of Obama...his grandmother died yesterday in Hawaii. :(
Finally of couse: go vote today!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween fun
I took a ton of pictures this year - both from the pumpkin patch the night before Halloween, and from the day of. I put them in slide shows instead of choosing my favorites :)
If you notice the matchy-matchy outfits in the first set, I made super quick skirts for the girls to go to the pumpkin patch, hoping for a cute family picture...they match the overalls I embellished earlier in the month for Baby L, and the sling I made as well.
The kids and I walked around one block with our next door neighbors, then sat home and passed out treats to those who came to our door. I was sadly disappointed with how rude most of the kids were. We also had some older teen-aged kids, and one group that was adults - not even in costumes! - trick or treating. I found that really odd.
If you notice the matchy-matchy outfits in the first set, I made super quick skirts for the girls to go to the pumpkin patch, hoping for a cute family picture...they match the overalls I embellished earlier in the month for Baby L, and the sling I made as well.
The kids and I walked around one block with our next door neighbors, then sat home and passed out treats to those who came to our door. I was sadly disappointed with how rude most of the kids were. We also had some older teen-aged kids, and one group that was adults - not even in costumes! - trick or treating. I found that really odd.
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