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...
Saturday, November 8, 2008
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.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday night, diy sling, and kids today
I forgot to mention the excitement of our Friday night! D got the kids to bed around 7, per usual, and settled in to read the paper. He promptly discovered it was Mesa's 2nd Friday and they were doing a whole "Haunted Downtown" theme. We decided the novelty and fun were worth a late night, so we got the girls up (not asleep yet) and dressed for an early Halloween:
They had a blast with D! There was trick-or-treating, face painting (by a princess!), music and miscellaneous other fun.
Next up...my very first DIY ring sling! I got this awesome woven fabric on clearance at JoAnn last year, hoping to make something for this year with it...well what better for a carrier addict than a ring sling? I used the pleated shoulder tutorial from Sleeping Baby (she also sells slings), and SlingRings, which are actually locally made but widely distributed. It's a little bigger in the shoulder than I prefer, but it works perfectly for D! It is comfy, as it's such a nice woven fabric...just don't look at my hemming job up close!
And finally, here are the cuties from just minutes ago (of course I couldn't get all three together in one picture):
(oh, the girls just got home from dance class if you're wondering about the leotards)
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They had a blast with D! There was trick-or-treating, face painting (by a princess!), music and miscellaneous other fun.
Next up...my very first DIY ring sling! I got this awesome woven fabric on clearance at JoAnn last year, hoping to make something for this year with it...well what better for a carrier addict than a ring sling? I used the pleated shoulder tutorial from Sleeping Baby (she also sells slings), and SlingRings, which are actually locally made but widely distributed. It's a little bigger in the shoulder than I prefer, but it works perfectly for D! It is comfy, as it's such a nice woven fabric...just don't look at my hemming job up close!
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And finally, here are the cuties from just minutes ago (of course I couldn't get all three together in one picture):
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(oh, the girls just got home from dance class if you're wondering about the leotards)
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The best laid plans...
Last night, 96-year old Nanny rode a horse to dinner. No, really - she went on a mini trail ride, about a 25 minute one, over to a local restaurant! The family met there, and started chatting. Mr. L had been acting slightly "off" since we went to the ranch an hour before. Well, suddenly he vomited all over the restaurant...and then was fine. So we decided to stick it out - he ate some potatoes, was his normal silly self, and we headed back to the ranch.
The girls were spending the night and were very excited to get rid of their parents. We dropped off Grandma S (lives next door to the ranch), and were getting ready to leave, when...up came the potatoes. All over me.
We got Mr. L cleaned up, he donned a small tee of grandma's, said bye to the girls and we drove home (30 minutes). He fell straight asleep, and transfered fine to bed. D and I watched a goofy movie (Saving Grace), but halfway through it the phone rang. Turns out Ms. C had vomited too! Poor Aunt B drove her home, but E chose to stay for the overnight.
There was no more puking from either, but they're both sluggish this morning. In fact, C is in bed reading, and L is napping at 9:00 already.
D left a bit ago to join the gang for a nice brunch at a fancy resort - he and E should have some nice QT together :) I'm sorry I have to miss it though - D's cousin, his wife, and their two kids (7 and 4) are also here.
Wish I had a picture to share from Nanny's horse ride - but of course, I forgot my camera! If I get one forwarded to me, I'll be sure to share.
The girls were spending the night and were very excited to get rid of their parents. We dropped off Grandma S (lives next door to the ranch), and were getting ready to leave, when...up came the potatoes. All over me.
We got Mr. L cleaned up, he donned a small tee of grandma's, said bye to the girls and we drove home (30 minutes). He fell straight asleep, and transfered fine to bed. D and I watched a goofy movie (Saving Grace), but halfway through it the phone rang. Turns out Ms. C had vomited too! Poor Aunt B drove her home, but E chose to stay for the overnight.
There was no more puking from either, but they're both sluggish this morning. In fact, C is in bed reading, and L is napping at 9:00 already.
D left a bit ago to join the gang for a nice brunch at a fancy resort - he and E should have some nice QT together :) I'm sorry I have to miss it though - D's cousin, his wife, and their two kids (7 and 4) are also here.
Wish I had a picture to share from Nanny's horse ride - but of course, I forgot my camera! If I get one forwarded to me, I'll be sure to share.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Vocabulary lesson
From the New York Times - see original article here
Who You Callin’ a Maverick?
Who You Callin’ a Maverick?
There’s that word again: maverick. In Thursday’s vice-presidential debate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the Republican candidate, used it to describe herself and her running mate, Senator John McCain, no fewer than six times, at one point calling him “the consummate maverick.”
But to those who know the history of the word, applying it to Mr. McCain is a bit of a stretch — and to one Texas family in particular it is even a bit offensive.
“I’m just enraged that McCain calls himself a maverick,” said Terrellita Maverick, 82, a San Antonio native who proudly carries the name of a family that has been known for its progressive politics since the 1600s, when an early ancestor in Boston got into trouble with the law over his agitation for the rights of indentured servants.
In the 1800s, Samuel Augustus Maverick went to Texas and became known for not branding his cattle. He was more interested in keeping track of the land he owned than the livestock on it, Ms. Maverick said; unbranded cattle, then, were called “Maverick’s.” The name came to mean anyone who didn’t bear another’s brand.
Sam Maverick’s grandson, Fontaine Maury Maverick, was a two-term congressman and a mayor of San Antonio who lost his mayoral re-election bid when conservatives labeled him a Communist. He served in the Roosevelt administration on the Smaller War Plants Corporation and is best known for another coinage. He came up with the term “gobbledygook” in frustration at the convoluted language of bureaucrats.
This Maverick’s son, Maury Jr., was a firebrand civil libertarian and lawyer who defended draft resisters, atheists and others scorned by society. He served in the Texas Legislature during the McCarthy era and wrote fiery columns for The San Antonio Express-News. His final column, published on Feb. 2, 2003, just after he died at 82, was an attack on the coming war in Iraq.
Terrellita Maverick, sister of Maury Jr., is a member emeritus of the board of the San Antonio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
Considering the family’s long history of association with liberalism and progressive ideals, it should come as no surprise that Ms. Maverick insists that John McCain, who has voted so often with his party, “is in no way a maverick, in uppercase or lowercase.”
“It’s just incredible — the nerve! — to suggest that he’s not part of that Republican herd. Every time we hear it, all my children and I and all my family shrink a little and say, ‘Oh, my God, he said it again.’ ”
“He’s a Republican,” she said. “He’s branded.”
Monday, October 6, 2008
18 weeks, 4 days
OK, thought I'd start the old belly shot posts once again. Here I am this morning, at 18+4. Please excuse the fresh-from-shower, self-timer bad picture!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Cold weather!!
Our high yesterday (and forcasted for today again) was only 85ish! It is lovely...the doors are open, we never turned on the A/C yesterday - for the first time since Spring, and we can do things outside in the afternoon - woohoo! :)
Girls are on break this coming week, so we'll be hitting the zoo, playing with friends, and getting together with others to make candles.
That's the news from AZ. Baby4 is active as ever, and my belly is getting big already! Belly shots to come soon...
Girls are on break this coming week, so we'll be hitting the zoo, playing with friends, and getting together with others to make candles.
That's the news from AZ. Baby4 is active as ever, and my belly is getting big already! Belly shots to come soon...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Heartbeat!
Last night I decided to give my fetoscope another shot (haven't had luck before now hearing baby). One can typically hear the baby by 18-20 weeks with the fetoscope. Despite most Western docs depending on dopplers, the use of a fetoscope is still alive and well among midwives...and it's completely safe as of course there's no ultrasound exposure, like there is with a doppler!
To my utter delight, I got the heartbeat loud and clear! This morning I let the girls hear too...
I will be 18 weeks tomorrow...
To my utter delight, I got the heartbeat loud and clear! This morning I let the girls hear too...
I will be 18 weeks tomorrow...
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The enchanted broccoli baby...
...and his sisters:
The outfit E is wearing is hot off my new-to-me machine! D's grandma gave me her old Singer 500 (Slant-O-Matic), a fantastic machine that I'm LOVING!
It does so many stitches, has all these accessory feet (I used a ruffler, rolled hem, applique, and normal presser foot all in this project - just for fun), and is plain beefy. My old Target cheap-o Singer is going out the door - never to be used in this house again...you know what they say, "they just don't make 'em like they used to!"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Quickening!
So today I can say with certainty: I feel the baby! I've been thinking I felt him/her for about the last week, but never with enough consistency to be sure. Today he/she is so active, I've had for-sure little belly tickles all day! Baby's gestational age (by LMP) is 17 weeks tomorrow :)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
This Alaskan woman...
...is obviously in great company! Yes, this is a political post. I am so tired of people assuming because Ms. Palin is the Alaskan governor, that I (we) support her current political aspirations (gag).
I love that the "Alaska Women Reject Palin" rally was so successful - now for that, I'm proud to be an Alaskan!
I know not all my readers are on my side of the ballot, and that's OK. I respect differences in opinion! What I don't like is the current fad of supporting a candidate for her gender, not her politics. Off my soapbox now.
Go Alaskan women! *grin*
I love that the "Alaska Women Reject Palin" rally was so successful - now for that, I'm proud to be an Alaskan!
I know not all my readers are on my side of the ballot, and that's OK. I respect differences in opinion! What I don't like is the current fad of supporting a candidate for her gender, not her politics. Off my soapbox now.
Go Alaskan women! *grin*
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday morning
Another hot day in AZ...cleaning out the garage, doing little chores. The kiddos decided to ride bikes. We are fortunate to live on a side street with a HUGE bike lane, so the girls can ride in it relatively safely. E insisted on riding the trike, which she's obviously long ago outgrown...and C is working on riding the big bike. As soon as the temps fall (we're still at 100), we plan on some intensive bike-riding lessons :)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Baby L and his stroller
Maternity bargains
If anybody local is looking for some cheap maternity clothes, check out Every Mother and Child at Guadeloupe and Ellsworth! Jenny, the owner, has gently used clothes at great prices - plus they're all 50% off through the end of the month! I got everything below for less than $19 this last weekend...including a velour Gap dress for the holidays, two pairs of jeans, a bunch of shirts, shorts and a Glamourmom nursing tank! Support a local business and score some deals while you're at it :) There was a ton of stuff in medium and large...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Second Birth
10:30 last night, S called to let me know M was in labor and ready for us. Within 10 minutes, we arrived to find her laboring on the toilet, obviously working hard through frequent contractions. She asked to be checked and was found to be at 5 cm. Her husband was setting up the birth pool (La Bassine) and took their toddler to Grandma's. While he was gone, M's contractions picked up to basically one on top of another, and she began vocalizing shortly before dad arrived back home.
S and I assisted filling the tub by pitcher from the bathroom sink, as M was desperate for the relief, and obviously getting very close to birth. Once in the tub, her water broke (heavily meconium stained) and then she quickly began pushing. Five minutes later, at 11:48 p.m., a 7 lb 4 oz baby girl joined the world after 41 weeks, one day gestation. There was very heavy meconium staining on the baby as well - green amniotic sac, umbilical cord, nail staining, etc.
Mom rapidly birthed the placenta as well, and moved to bed. Baby did receive some blow-by oxygen, and remained tachypnic for a couple hours. Her coloring improved, her lungs sounded great...but she was working pretty hard and fast to breathe. After two hours, we recommended careful observation with transport to the hospital if it did not improve in another hour. The mom's father came over and with the dad gave the baby a blessing (LDS family). By the time we left at 3:00, she appeared to have settled and was nursing calmly. We will see them again this evening for follow-up.
Mom was amazing - no tearing, no soreness - such a beautiful, strong woman! The parents were so thrilled with the labor and birth - their first had been born at a hospital, in what the dad described as a "fine, normal" hospital birth. But then he said in comparison, "...it was awful! This is how birth should be!"
S and I assisted filling the tub by pitcher from the bathroom sink, as M was desperate for the relief, and obviously getting very close to birth. Once in the tub, her water broke (heavily meconium stained) and then she quickly began pushing. Five minutes later, at 11:48 p.m., a 7 lb 4 oz baby girl joined the world after 41 weeks, one day gestation. There was very heavy meconium staining on the baby as well - green amniotic sac, umbilical cord, nail staining, etc.
Mom rapidly birthed the placenta as well, and moved to bed. Baby did receive some blow-by oxygen, and remained tachypnic for a couple hours. Her coloring improved, her lungs sounded great...but she was working pretty hard and fast to breathe. After two hours, we recommended careful observation with transport to the hospital if it did not improve in another hour. The mom's father came over and with the dad gave the baby a blessing (LDS family). By the time we left at 3:00, she appeared to have settled and was nursing calmly. We will see them again this evening for follow-up.
Mom was amazing - no tearing, no soreness - such a beautiful, strong woman! The parents were so thrilled with the labor and birth - their first had been born at a hospital, in what the dad described as a "fine, normal" hospital birth. But then he said in comparison, "...it was awful! This is how birth should be!"
Saturday, September 13, 2008
First Birth
Got a call Wednesday night around 11 that our primip at 38 + 4 had called to say her water broke. Got another call around 1:30 a.m. that contractions had picked up, were 4 min apart, and they were ready for us to come. When we arrived, she was already at 5 cm; she and her husband labored peacefully for the next couple hours while we read, occasionally checked in on them, and got everything ready for the birth.
At 5 a.m. she was completely dilated and started pushing...and kept pushing for the next 3.5 hours! This primip birthed her 6 lb 14 oz baby boy in a posterior, acynclitic presentation! She did hemorrhage pretty badly following the birth of the placenta; I administered a dose of pitocin, and the bleeding stopped.
My lessons learned? Some moms really do find flat-on-back, legs pushed up to ears the single most comfortable position for pushing. Mom's intuition on pushing position is keen - this happens to be a great position for getting a posterior baby past the pubic bone! A simple labor does not mean a simple birth. Some births really do need a little extra assistance (hands-on) from a provider...I am sure in a hospital setting, this young mama would have been taken for a C-section after about an hour of pushing, without any progress. Despite my personal preference for hands-off, do-it-yourself-style birth, some well-timed help made a huge difference in this pushing phase. What else...oh, administering IM pit isn't nearly as bad when you've seen the blood gushing...I thought jamming that long needle in a thigh would freak me out a little. First, I should have known better - I have no problem with poking people with needles (EMT leftover); second, knowing what you are doing will literally save a transfer, some major problems, and maybe a life makes that quick jab very very easy!
So one down, two to go...soon! Our mamas are currently at 40 + 6 and 40 + 4, so I'm expecting a call any time now...
At 5 a.m. she was completely dilated and started pushing...and kept pushing for the next 3.5 hours! This primip birthed her 6 lb 14 oz baby boy in a posterior, acynclitic presentation! She did hemorrhage pretty badly following the birth of the placenta; I administered a dose of pitocin, and the bleeding stopped.
My lessons learned? Some moms really do find flat-on-back, legs pushed up to ears the single most comfortable position for pushing. Mom's intuition on pushing position is keen - this happens to be a great position for getting a posterior baby past the pubic bone! A simple labor does not mean a simple birth. Some births really do need a little extra assistance (hands-on) from a provider...I am sure in a hospital setting, this young mama would have been taken for a C-section after about an hour of pushing, without any progress. Despite my personal preference for hands-off, do-it-yourself-style birth, some well-timed help made a huge difference in this pushing phase. What else...oh, administering IM pit isn't nearly as bad when you've seen the blood gushing...I thought jamming that long needle in a thigh would freak me out a little. First, I should have known better - I have no problem with poking people with needles (EMT leftover); second, knowing what you are doing will literally save a transfer, some major problems, and maybe a life makes that quick jab very very easy!
So one down, two to go...soon! Our mamas are currently at 40 + 6 and 40 + 4, so I'm expecting a call any time now...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Long time no posts...
Where does the time go?
The girls are doing great in school; they do dance on Mondays and C has keyboard on Thursdays. Both activities are at school, so I just pick up later in the day. This is also handy so D can grab them on his way home!
My apprenticeship is getting busy! We have two mamas at 40 weeks right now, and another at 38 weeks. Two are primips, one is a G2 P1. I actually just got a "heads-up" call that the one may be starting labor now...we'll see how the night goes! We're expecting thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, which seems to also bring labor...
What else? I'm at 14 weeks, 5 days with Baby4, feeling absolutely great, if not a touch tired. My belly is growing more obvious by the day.
Just got news from my mom that one of my best childhood friends is expecting her first - and second! - around the same time as Baby4 is joining us. I'm thrilled for S and D, and can't wait to hear more.
Baby L is as active and non-sleepy as ever. He loves activity and being carried around. He actually shows excitement when I pull out my carriers these days :)
There's the news; I'm off to bed in case this does turn into a late-night labor call. Zzzzzzzzzz.
I'll leave you with pics of L from yesterday. He's goofy - kept telling me, "more, more" whenever I tried to stop taking pictures!
The girls are doing great in school; they do dance on Mondays and C has keyboard on Thursdays. Both activities are at school, so I just pick up later in the day. This is also handy so D can grab them on his way home!
My apprenticeship is getting busy! We have two mamas at 40 weeks right now, and another at 38 weeks. Two are primips, one is a G2 P1. I actually just got a "heads-up" call that the one may be starting labor now...we'll see how the night goes! We're expecting thunderstorms tonight and tomorrow, which seems to also bring labor...
What else? I'm at 14 weeks, 5 days with Baby4, feeling absolutely great, if not a touch tired. My belly is growing more obvious by the day.
Just got news from my mom that one of my best childhood friends is expecting her first - and second! - around the same time as Baby4 is joining us. I'm thrilled for S and D, and can't wait to hear more.
Baby L is as active and non-sleepy as ever. He loves activity and being carried around. He actually shows excitement when I pull out my carriers these days :)
There's the news; I'm off to bed in case this does turn into a late-night labor call. Zzzzzzzzzz.
I'll leave you with pics of L from yesterday. He's goofy - kept telling me, "more, more" whenever I tried to stop taking pictures!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
School girls
OK, I win the lame mom award this school year. I never got first-day pics! So...in an effort to make up for my error, here are the girls on their way to the fourth day of school :D
They are both really enjoying their respective classes this year - E in the Primary (3-6 year olds or preschool and K) as a kindergartener and C in the same Lower Elementary (6-9 year olds or 1-3 grade) she was in last year.
They both want to take dance this year, so I'm looking into the options for that...there is a program one day right after school (at the school). Will update as we make decisions.
Wednesday is pizza day again this year. It's a fundraiser for the school; the Upper Elementary (1-6th grade mix) runs it. It's a nice mid-week break from lunch packing for all of us, and fun for the girls. They serve some veggie (usually carrots) and a small cookie along with the pizza...there is no other lunch program at the school. Side note: I'm very pleased with the efforts the staff take to ensure the children have healthy lunches. Lunchables and the like are forbidden, and kids will not be allowed to eat certain foods if sent in with lunch (i.e. sugar foods, junk food, etc.). Also, no drinks are permitted, as water is served at lunch. I love it!
If you are not familiar with Montessori, the other nice thing the kids do for lunch is set the tables, eat on real dishes (glassware!), and serve the water from pitchers. After eating, they clear the tables, load the dishwasher, and clean up.
OK. There's the school news!
They are both really enjoying their respective classes this year - E in the Primary (3-6 year olds or preschool and K) as a kindergartener and C in the same Lower Elementary (6-9 year olds or 1-3 grade) she was in last year.They both want to take dance this year, so I'm looking into the options for that...there is a program one day right after school (at the school). Will update as we make decisions.
Wednesday is pizza day again this year. It's a fundraiser for the school; the Upper Elementary (1-6th grade mix) runs it. It's a nice mid-week break from lunch packing for all of us, and fun for the girls. They serve some veggie (usually carrots) and a small cookie along with the pizza...there is no other lunch program at the school. Side note: I'm very pleased with the efforts the staff take to ensure the children have healthy lunches. Lunchables and the like are forbidden, and kids will not be allowed to eat certain foods if sent in with lunch (i.e. sugar foods, junk food, etc.). Also, no drinks are permitted, as water is served at lunch. I love it!
If you are not familiar with Montessori, the other nice thing the kids do for lunch is set the tables, eat on real dishes (glassware!), and serve the water from pitchers. After eating, they clear the tables, load the dishwasher, and clean up.
OK. There's the school news!
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