First photo: the results of a very muddy trip to the dog park
Second photo: the result of painting the door and new drywall
No picture, but I tried two new recipes for dinner tonight: Crispy Yogurt Chicken and Sauteed Chard with Orange (from Everyday Food magazine). Both came out well, and will be even better next time with some tweaking.
A friend does Five-Sense Friday on her blog, and I really enjoy the perspective. As I am slowly climbing back into the blogging world, I thought I would pick up the tradition. Thanks, Cindy.
tasting: Last night’s homemade pizza shared with good friends. A warm bowl of satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs, cholesterol-lowering oatmeal.
hearing: Water boiling on the stove for tea. Warm air blowing through the floor grate.
seeing: Fat, white flakes drifting lazily to the ground outside my window. A sleepy puppy curled up on the end of the couch. Her eyes and nose are twitching like crazy.
feeling: Cozy softness of a thick, warm sweater. Grateful for friends old and new. Later today: the prick of a needle in my arm. Thankful for life-sustaining platelets I can share with people who need them.
smelling: Not too much. We took down the Christmas tree this week, and the scent of pine went with it. I will have to light candles later: holiday sage, vanilla candy cane, frosted cedar wreath.
To most people, an insignificant event, I realize. But for me, it was an early step to becoming more frugal and resourceful and a better, more creative cook. It was very easy: gather up the bread heels and other leftover bits of bread I’ve been saving, toast them in the oven for 15 minutes, tear them into bits, and run them through the blender. But, never having done it before, it took more mental energy than I had available while working (almost) full-time.
Changes, Part 2 (or, The Denouement)
The short version: I quit my job and am pursuing certification as a birth doula.
The longer version:
I had been struggling with being content with my job for awhile. While my coworkers were great, I wanted something more meaningful than working to increase the bottom line of the big corporation. I have worked in the business world since college (even minored in Business Administration), but ultimately always found it lacking.
When I was preparing to help out my good friend Kyna when she had her baby in October, I started learning more about doulas and the birth process. I’ve always had an interest in kids, babies, and families, and I started paying more attention to what I was hearing around me. After helping Kyna and Ryan during Ivy’s birth, and with encouragement from Jeff, I started seriously thinking about becoming a doula “for real.”
In the meantime, I will still be doing short projects as a contractor/freelancer as work becomes available, but nothing longer than a few weeks.
Now, to answer the common questions I’ve been getting lately…
What exactly is a doula?
A doula provides non-medical support for a woman in labor. That’s different than a midwife (a trained medical professional), and not meant to crowd out or minimize a husband’s role at all. A doula provides physical, emotional, and informational support, including things such as massage, positioning suggestions, encouragement, etc. That’s the basic gist of it.
You Biblical scholars out there will be interested to know that the word doula comes from the ancient Greek word doule meaning a female servant or slave. In Luke 1:38, when Mary says she is “the handmaiden of the Lord” (or “the Lord’s servant” or “the bondservant of the Lord,” depending on your translation), that is the world doule.
What does it take to get certified?
In the U.S., doula certification isn’t required, but I’ve chosen to become certified through DONA International (formerly Doulas of North America). The basic requirements are
• Required reading (5 books)
• Attend a childbirth education series of 12 hours as an observer
• Attend a Birth Doula Workshop (16 hours)
• Attend 3 births that meet certification requirements
• Attend a breastfeeding class
• Complete a resource list
• Write a 500-1,000 word essay on the purpose and value of labor support
• Complete a basic knowledge self-assessment tool
I'm amassing a nice birth library already
I am excited to see where all of this leads! I’ve always been a behind-the-scenes kind of people-person, and see great potential to minister to people through this line of work. It doesn’t pay well monetarily, but I hope to reap other, better rewards.
The wind is rising; change is coming.
I rise up, eager to feel the cool rush against my face.
If you’ve known me long, then you may have picked up on the fact that I don’t really like change. Given time to adjust and process, I do okay, but I wouldn’t say I normally embrace change. I’m more of an I-like-how-things-are-in-this-rut-I’ve-made-for-myself kind of girl. I like traditions. I like knowing what’s coming so I have time to react. I’m a researcher and a planner.
Changes are coming my way. Two major changes in particular. One I’ve been thinking about for awhile. The other I’ve been mulling over for I guess a couple of months now. The desire to act on the later has been growing stronger inside of me (while I’ve been researching and planning), and I took my first major step toward that change on Monday.
When the affected parties have been informed, I will share more.
I am excited. A little nervous about the unknowns and how the details will work out, but excited nonetheless.
Addendum: I am not pregnant. I should have known better than to post this without that caveat, since it seems like half the world is pregnant or has a baby at home, but there you go.
The Miracle of Birth and Life (or, Ivy’s Birthday)
One week ago today, I was extremely privileged to witness the birth of of Ivy-Jane, the beautiful daughter of my dear friends Kyna and Ryan. Ivy waited 11 days past her expected due date to make her entrance, and weighed in at 8 lbs. 11 oz, measuring 20.5 inches long.
Mama Kyna (who is a petite 5’4″, by the way) was utterly amazing. A total rock star. Her labor and delivery were 100% natural–no pain meds, no intervention of any kind, just as she had planned. Her contractions started about 2:30/3:00 am at 2-3 minutes apart. Ryan called me a few minutes before 5:00am and I met them and Gail (Kyna’s mom in from Venezuela just the day before) at the hospital at 6:00. Kyna progressed very quickly for her first baby, and Ivy came screaming into the world at 11:42 am.
Never have I witnessed anything so miraculous, moving, beautiful, and breathtaking. As Ivy took in her first breath, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Words fail me even now, though I so desperately seek the perfect words to express the inexplicable beauty of that moment, to capture the memory forever. It boggles my mind how anyone could witness such a miracle, and not believe in God. Ivy’s birth moved me physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I had the utmost respect for Kyna before this, but my respect for that woman (whom I am blessed to call my friend) has grown tenfold. Ryan was phenomenal in his support for his wife, especially for a guy who was nervous about passing out and watching it all happen. They are going to be great parents for their daughter… they already are. I am immensely thankful and blessed to have played a part in this special part of their lives.
I need to come back and fill in more details of the day, just for myself, but it was important to reflect and get some of this down while it is still fresh in my mind and my heart.
Thank you, Jesus, for blessing Ryan and Kyna with the joy of a daughter. Protect Ivy and her parents as she grows up. Guide this family down this new path you have set before them. Help me and Jeff to be a conduit of Your blessings to them on this exciting journey. Thank you for the miracle of life and birth you have ordained in Your perfect plan.
Celebrating the First of October (or, How I Love Turtleneck Sweaters)
A deep fog covered the neighborhood as we left for work this morning. As we approached downtown, the P&G towers were shrouded in mist and the river was completely blocked from view. Now looking out from the 14th floor, I can barely make out Great American Ball Park across the street.
It feels like fall. (So much so that we turned the heat on last night.)
The calendar now reads October 2009. Where did September go? Wasn’t it just May for that matter? It has been cool and cloudy all week, after being rainy and cloudy the week before. I am still looking for the quintessential crisp, clear fall day to arrive. In order to encourage those most beloved autumn conditions, and to celebrate the first of October, today I pulled on corduroy pants (favorite!) and a blue turtleneck sweater (also favorite!). There’s just something about turtleneck sweaters… like being wrapped in a blanket all day long. And let me tell you: I have a serious love affair with big, soft, cozy blankets.
So here’s to all things fall-ish: cool, crisp days, chilly nights warmed by the fire, apple cider, pumpkin pie, fiery leaves, warm bowls of soup… the list goes on and on…
