Glad to be home

I just took a two hour nap. I hardly ever sleep for more than 20 minutes except at night. I was really tired. I'm thankful to be at home today. I got home this morning at 9:00 and immediately changed clothes and went to church. I teach Sunday school and the kids were in a program I didn't want to miss. I need some time off, at least a day. I'm not complaining, but I've got to regroup before I can go any further, so I'm very thankful to be at home today.

I've helped with 4 babies in the last 10 days- all really good births. I consider a good birth one that ends up in a healthy mother and a healthy baby and we don't have to go to the hospital. Not that births we have to go to the hospital for are not good- it's just very hard on us all, but sometimes it's all we can do.

Of the 4 babies born recently, two were to first time moms. It's always a big relief to help guide them safely through that first birth. The one last night took all day yesterday- from 1:30 a.m. to 11:26 pm last night. She started out very quiet, but got loud by the end of the day. It was an especially sweet birth for me because I had delivered 2 babies for this family before- the grandmother of the baby two youngest children. It's wonderful to see a new generation that appreciates midwives. The grandfather of the baby was there all day. It reminded me of when I delivered his two youngest sons. That was 8 and 10 years ago. Time flies. He and I talked politics for awhile this morning. He's a republican, I'm a democrat. It was good to talk to him and know that there are good people on both sides of the aisle.

The other first baby I helped with last week was such a good birth for a first time mom. It's so unfair how some women have it so easy and some have it so hard. I am happy to help women become mothers and families being formed. I am more convinced than ever that the best way to do that is with a home or birth center birth.

I went to Killeen to deliver a baby this week. The mother is a friend and a client and it was the 4th baby I have delivered for this family. Her due date was Sept. 29th and I was hoping all the other babies for September would all be delivered by the time she went into labor. It didn't happen that way. Her water broke at the grocery store, 10 days early. She called me as soon as she got home and told me what had happened. I told her to lie down and stay there. I had also just gotten home from the grocery store. Within 5 minutes, I had put up ,my groceries, gathered some clothes and got into the car and started driving. It took me 4 hours to get there, and she only got up once to use the restroom. When I got there, she got up and started moving around. She immediately started having strong regular contractions and had the baby an hour and a half later. We had made arrangements for another midwife who lives close and is not so busy, to go to her if I could not come or didn't get there in time. It turned out she had another birth that night. When I was driving up there, I never felt worried or stressed. I knew if I was supposed to be there, I would make it. It turned out perfectly. I believe the Lord guides and directs and protects me.

The main thing on my mind today is my baby I had 17 years ago. His birthday is tomorrow. My water broke at 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and he was born at home at 12:45 am the next day. I am getting ready to go and make him a pumpkin birthday pie (that's what he wants). He is a good son, never have had any problems with him. On his birthday, it was very hot in the day and a cool front came through during the night. I always look forward to his birthday because I want the cool weather. I went outside for a few minutes before I came up here to write. All my plants are practically burnt up from neglect. I watered them all. It's nice to be home.

Being a Writer

I don't have my midwife hat on tonight. I think some people think I am always at the Birth Center waiting for the next woman in labor, but I also have a life outside of that. I am out of town now, and I have my daughter hat on right now. I am in Amarillo, Texas at my mom's house as I write this. I am here for my stepdad's funeral. He died of bone cancer. He suffered a lot at the end and it was a blessing for him to pass on. I'm glad to be here with my family for this funeral, this ritual. It is good to be with my family. I love to be here, but my husband doesn't and we got into an argument about that today. I don't like to be away from my clients when they have their babies, but when someone close to you dies, it can't be helped. No one has had a baby since I've been gone as far as I know. Hope they will wait until I get back, but babies don't care about my trips. They come when they are ready.

My sons (age 14 and 17) were talking today about a story we heard on NPR about why women read more than men, and why old people like to read more than young ones. It started an interesting discussion. We talked about what kind of books we like to read. I told them I want to be a writer. They both said, "Why???" Why would anyone write if they don't have to? I told them because you are the only one who can write your story. I want to write, but I don't make much time to write. This blog will have to do for now. I just finished reading a really good book called, Without a Map, by Meredith Hall. It is a story about a woman who got pregnant in 1967 when she was 16 and gave her baby up for adoption. He eventually found her when he was 21. That book really touched a cord within me. I was 16 when I had my first baby, but I didn't give him up for adoption. Anyway, reading that book made me feel like I want to write a book about my life.