Sunday Moments

A little water,

A little rock,

A watchful moment

A big smile.

It was so nice to get outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm(er) day:-) What were your moments this weekend? I'd love to hear! Leave a comment below!

Self-portrait

Well, not quite a self-portrait. This picture was taken by Kyla! She told me to make a funny face :-) Just as I was getting ready to start, she snapped it before it could be a really funny face. The picure is in focus and everything! Way to go, Kyla! ...she's definitely her daddy's girl.

On that note, I don't think I appear on my own blog very much. But, there I am! That's me...I'm 30 years old now. I turned 30 back in November and didn't think to blog about it then. I saw on another blog about writing 30 things about yourself when you turn 30. Sounds like a great plan for another evening, so stay tuned. Right now, it's 10:30 and tomorrow is Monday. Enough said. Good night!

I <3 Weekends

I love weekends. I really cannot say or write that enough. I love spending time with Pete, having more adult conversations throughout the day, and being together, the 4 of us, all day long. The girls are always seem to have happier attitudes when Pete is at home...they just love their daddy. I love how the weekends narrow the parent/child ratio down to something more managable!! (Am I allowed to say that even if I only have 2 children?)


So, on Friday night I decided that I wanted to learn how to knit. Well, actually, I've been wanting to learn for quite some time...years. But, finally the desire to knit drove me to figuring it out for myself by watching a few tutorials on www.youtube.com. After pausing/playing, pausing again, and playing, I think I might have figured the basics out! yeaaaa! As much as I want to knit a warm hat, Pete encouraged me to start off with a scarf. He's a smart guy and knows if what I make turns out bad, I just might think about quitting. So, a scarf it is :-) If you don't see me wearing it, you'll know why. Depending on the outcome, you may see it on one of Kyla's dolls instead. Nevertheless, I love knitting. It's becoming relaxing, almost meditative in a sense. Kyla told me today, "Sit down, mommy, and knit." So I did. I thought she wanted to see how I did it. So I started saying this little nursery rhyme that's supposed to explain the steps in knitting. She said, "Don't talk, mommy. Just knit."

??

Maybe I'm more peaceful when I knit or something.
Hey, a peaceful mommy is a pretty good thing. :-)

Contrasting Births

Natural

Fast waves are crashing,
carrying her,
demanding surrender
as she gives in to each surge--
she opens.

Water soothes,
bubbles all around and massages
her back as she tries to let go
and surrender to the unrelenting surges.

The breaks are fewer and last only a minute
and I know her time is almost here.
"Hang in there...you're doing it."
"Yes, this is normal", I answer as she questions
her state of being.

Out of the water,
onto the bed...squatting, pushing,
piano sounds fill the room and calm her mind,
her heart.
But they do not make the intensity disappear.

Her husband reassures,
comforts and holds her.

Roaring now,
baby descends lower.
Rushes and surges overtake her and there
is no holding back.

First the head and then his precious
little being slides out as she
reaches down and lifts him to her chest;
her eyes gazing into his for the first time.
They meet.

Uniting- skin to skin.
Ecstasy. Joy and happiness envelope the new
family. They rejoice!

Pain ends.
A new journey begins now.

Medicated

Not what she had planned,
but what she became a part of;
a system, the way things are done.

Overdue.
Lost sleep.
Induction.
Consistent monitoring.
"Stay in the bed, you're on the monitor".

Uncomfortable, wanting to move with the
rushes and surges, but stuck in place.

Artificial contractions...
more intense than the normal.
Ways to cope decreased from restricted movement.

Slow progression,
discouragement.
Pain relief with medication.
Numbing.
Sleeping and rest have come to her, but so have...
pictocin.
More medicine.
More pictocin.

The interventions cascade like a waterfall.
One after the other.

Drug-induced fever.
Fetal distress ensues.

Pushing, long...hard.
Restricted once again of position changes.
Discouragement is higher than ever.
She doesn't believe she can do this still.
"You can do it."
"You ARE doing it."
"You are not allowed to give up. You must believe you can do this."
I have to almost yell at her.
3 and half hours of pushing...

"I can see your baby. You must push him out."
She decides to finally "do" it.
Two more pushes, he crowns...
and then he comes.

Limp and not well.
"Come on, baby"
Swarming all around in the room.
Emergency...intensity like no other.
I say, "talk to your baby"..."let him hear your voice".
He breathes.
They must help him breathe.
He breathes.

Baby is finally well.
He nurses his mommy.
It was long, it wasn't the way she wanted things.
But she did it and now they will do it together as the

Pain ends.
The journey begins.

Note: These were my last two doula experiences.

"Let the Show Begin!"

Getting my feet wet with a little kindergarten homeschooling has become quite a joy of mine lately. Kyla and Avery seem to love their mama playing with them a little more, even though I'm secretly teaching them a little more. Hmmm...playing and learning going hand in hand (imagine that). I hope this part of time will stand still for awhile as I watch them enjoy learning.

Today we had a story-telling time of the fairy-tale "Star Money" and we talked about why it is good to give and be kind to other people. The girls enjoyed learning the verse from Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." It amazed me (as always) how quickly Kyla soaked up those words and told them back to me a couple times throughout the day. Now, only if I can soak up those words as well and put them into action!

Then the girls put on a puppet show and re-inacted "Star Money" with their little fairy puppets they got as a Christmas gift from Papa and Gaga Phillips. (Thanks, mom! They love them!)

As I watch Kyla enjoy learning; learning to read, learning to write and add numbers-she is showing me that it's not just about getting "school" time in. I see that they are learning all the time; all day long:-)

Avery's eczema is soooo much better!

Well, you haven't seen much up lately about Avery and her eczema mostly because we have seen a world of improvement since the beginning of July. She still has eczema, but it is very mild compared to the severity of it last year. Last year, it covered all of her arms and legs and back. Often it was weepy, crusted, red and inflamed. It was infected several times. Now, her eczema is a light pink, it has not been infected in probably one year, and it bothers her a lot less.

We probably owe much of this improvement to the NAET allergy treatments she is receiving to rid her body of allergies. Her dairy allergy is nearly gone, and so are other environmental allergies. Another thing that has definitely helped is just having Avery older. She tells us when her skin "hurts" and says, "I need my butter" (when she is asking us to put Shea Butter on her skin). Another thing that has been extremely helpful is finding the right probiotic for Avery. With the help from her naturopath physician that she saw last year combined with my research, I have found that Lactobacillus GG has been linked to improving eczema and, overtime, actually HEALING allergies. She started taking the probiotic Culturelle about 2 months ago and since then her digestive upsets are completely gone and her eczema is looking very mild. Occasionally to keep it under control we use just over-the-counter 1% hydrocortizone, but we are so happy that a little bit of hydrocortizone is all it takes to keep her comfortable.

Ahhh...sunshine

The sun decided to come out today to play
and brought with it some warmth
to brighten up our day...


...doll babies...

jump rope...

and sidewalk chalk!

Kyla and Avery loved their few minutes in the sun,
until it was time for naps :-)

SouleMama

I don't even know her personally, but I love this mama's blog. I found it after reading one of her books, The Creative Family (in hopes for our family to do more "creative" things together :-) )

Her writing is so sweet and personable. Sometimes I even feel my heart slowing down a bit as I read. All the art projects she does with her little ones is very inspiring, yet it doesn't make me look at it and feel like "less" of a mother. I gather that she is rather down-to-earth.

SNOW DAY!

It doesn't snow very often here in Charlotte, but we are enjoying Pete being off of work today and Kyla woke us up at 7am because she wanted to go play in the snow! Avery doesn't quite know what to think. It's really cold outside and she just kept covering her face with her hands.

Enjoy the weather wherever you are! It's a cozy winter day here!

I couldn't resist...

she looks hilarious! :-)

Megan's baby shower

I felt so honored to be able to host a baby shower with my friend Stacey in honor of Megan and Patrick's 3rd little blessing due in February. Megan and Patrick are expecting their 3rd boy, Samuel Patrick Creehan! Megan and I were pregnant "together" while we lived on opposite coasts for our first 2 babies, and it has been a blessing to live near our dear friends while they await the arrival of Samuel. I am also excited that I get to be a doula for them at Samuel's birth!

Feeling a little like Abraham...

I think I have a taste of what Abraham might have felt like when God told him that his descendants would out-number the stars in the sky. He was probably wondering how that would be possible since he was old, his wife was old, and they didn't have any children to begin that sort of family tree.

Pete and I were talking last night. It's easy to get a little discouraged and wonder, "How, Lord?" How are we going to be able to save money for the Philippines with our money so tight and an economy so bad off? How will the Lord provide? We feel like God is telling us to go to the Philippines, but we have not a dime in savings and an income that just pays the bills and meets our needs. How in the world will this work out and be possible?

We've seen Him provide, and we always have exactly what we NEED. But this ride of faith seems to be requiring so much more faith than I have. Please do keep us in your prayers. Please pray God will show us what next step to take.

He tends His flock

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Is. 40:11

This verse brings great comfort to me! Knowing that God gently leads those that have young makes me picture in my mind God putting his arm around moms and dads and gently leading them while they raise little ones. :-)

Christmas Bears

In downtown Charlotte last year we took the girls to see this life-size orchestra of bears, playing Christmas songs and singing. We took them again this year and the girls absolutely loved it. They both wanted to wear their tutus and they put their tutus to good use as they danced and did ballet to the music while the bears sang. It was adorable!

Visit to Virginia

We visited our families in Virginia BEFORE Christmas this year, since I am on call right now for a birth with a mama due on Jan. 7th. The girls had a great time going to look at the lights in downtown Richmond and getting some time with their aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Pete and I enjoyed a nice afternoon to ourselves on day and we both went to get our haircut at a nice salon in Carytown that my sister (and fashion consultant) recommended to us :-) Our new "dos" and afternoon out was a nice Christmas present from mom and dad, thanks!

There We Go

We are planning on hosting a couple spaghetti dinners and evenings teas here in the next few months so we can share with our friends about the Philippines and ask for prayer support along the journey. If you live near Charlotte, NC and want to come to one, just leave a comment below!

We have a website called Our Journey that is now up and running! It tells you all about what we will be doing in the Philippines and ways you can pray for us and ways you might be able to help. (Hint: anyone expecting a baby anytime soon? I'm putting all money aside that I earn as a doula toward the Philippines!)

Big News!

As many of you know if you've been reading this blog, I was accepted a year ago into a midwife-training program that trains midwives on the mission field. Mercy Maternity Center is the school's charity-based birthing center that serves thousands of impoverished women each year.

We have gone back and forth trying to listen to God's voice and see if this is where He wants our family to go for 2 1/2 years for mission work. After a year of praying, the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit continues to whisper "go." Because our God is all-loving, always faithful and because He holds our future in His hands, we want to follow Him where He is leading and we are beginning this journey of moving to the Philippines to serve the poor in Davao City.

This is so exciting and so scary at the same time! So many thoughts and emotions run through my mind. It is very hard to think about leaving our family and close friends behind for 2.5 years. I am finding many words of comfort from His precious Word and also while reading a biography of Amy Carmichael's life. She was a missionary to India in the late 1800's/early 1900's and her life work was rescuing and caring for children who had been trapped in temple prostitution. When God called her to be a missionary she wrote a long letter to her mother. This is one of my favorite quotes from the letter:

"Many difficulties have risen in my mind; they seem very great, the "crooked places" seem very crooked. But it seems to me that all He asks is that we should take the one step He shows us, and in simplest, most practical trust leave all results to Him."

So, that's what we're trying to do. Just simply take the next step that He shows us and leave all the results to Him. If He is the one calling us to go, then He will make a way for it to happen. :-) We'll keep you updated :-)

Happy New Year!

Making Gingerbread Men

The girls wanted to help me make gingerbread men the other day. Kyla did a great job stirring and then Avery decided to give it a try...

Avery had so much fun and then the spatula went way up in the air along with a ton of flour which landed on Kyla of course, as you can see!


We all had a great laugh... it was so hillarious!

A spring december day

Our girls are just not getting outside enough for free play and time to explore nature. It's really hard to want to bundle two kiddos up when it's very cold outside only have them tell you after 5 minutes that they want to go back inside! I'm such a wimp when it comes to the cold and lately the mornings have been in the lower 30's and the afternoons haven't been much more than 40 degrees....if that.

Yesterday and today we were blessed with some very warm weather for December. Today was kind of rainy and overcast, but it got up to 70 degrees. After the girls woke up from their naps we went down to a little creek in our neighborhood which is behind the playground. There were lots of rocks, sticks, leaves, dirt and mud. The girls had a blast!

The sticks became fishing poles, the leaves became fish swimming in the water, and the big rocks became their house. Avery giggled with delight as she sunk her foot in the mud and then watched it come out all sticky. Kyla spent most of her time gathering different sticks and using them to catch "fish".

I think it's their new favorite place to go...they had so much fun!

Creating an Advent Tradition

Last night Pete and I were talking about what we want our children to remember about Christmas. So, beginning one week late we are going to start celebrating the season of Advent by lighting candles representing hope, peace, joy, love and then finally the Christ candle on Christmas.
On another blog I even read how there are even Advent spirals that you walk around which represents the journey Mary took as she carried baby Jesus inside her womb. Children walk around holding candles and when they get to the center of the spiral, they place their candles on a piece of wood. I thought that sounded so meaningful and something that would definitely leave lasting impression in a child's mind.
The last thing we want is our children to think Christmas is about getting toys. I will be the first to admit it is fun to buy the girls toys. A few good quality toys that spark the imagination can become heirlooms handed down the generations. Handmade toys are great or toys that are made from workers who get paid a fair wage. What saddens my heart about the season is the commercialism. I will never understand how people wait in long lines to save money on gifts on black friday. It is so sad to read the story of the Walmart employee that was trampled to death in Manhattan. And, then another story of someone who was killed at Toys R us on black friday. Someone's life was taken away and all because of a bunch of people wanting to be first and hurrying to buy the latest plasma-screen TV or iPod.
Could you even imagine if everyone just slowed down and spent more time with their family baking Christmas cookies as their gifts for friends and neighbors? What if everyone turned off the television so all of the ads for toys and various gadgets were not being thrown in their faces?

In the mornings we get our little nativity set down and I tell the girls the Christmas story as best as I can so they will understand. I asked Kyla why do we give a gift at Christmas time? And she said "because the wise men brought gifts to Jesus when He was a born baby."

So, that's what it's about.

May you enjoy your family traditions this Christmas, and enjoy creating new ones!