Hydromedusae

What, you may ask, is a hydromedusae?

Yeah, so in a nutshell–it is a jellyfish–but not the stinging kind.  In the evening, this part of the beach is invaded by them.  Norah calls them “lily-pads” and was terrified by them until Scott coaxed her into poking them and then began a discus throwing contest.  The water is clogged with them.   

Since I was looking down into the ocean to avoid the rather unpleasant bumps against my legs and squishes beneath my toes of these drifting jellies, I found treasures! 

Ah, I don’t want our family time and vacation living to end.   

Oregano’s First Cousin

On vacation.  My child is trying to return all the sand to the sea.  My husband is playing.  I’m thoroughly salted, languorous, and sun-dazzled.  And thankful I finagled a friend to chop my hair before the ocean tangled with me.     

 

May whatever breaks be reconstructed by the sea with the long labors of its tides.  –Pablo Neruda

It is here.

We’ve heard whispers about it.  We’ve cringed at the very thought of it.  And it is now on the market.  The super-dooper do-it-all gadget that will revolutionize birth (and malpractice) has arrived.  Duh-duh-duh-dummmmmmb:  BirthTrack–a monitor that clips to the mom’s cervix providing constant monitoring of every move and every inch of progress.   

Check out this post that sums up all of BirthTrack’s fancy features and glaring problems.  As my friend, Carey, so cleverly noted–too bad they didn’t think to design it with an MP3 player for mom’s and baby’s listening pleasure.   

Charlotte Church and Ricki Lake?

What do they have in common?  They have both been singled out by the medical community as influencing women to have homebirths.  The difference?  While Ricki Lake was raked across the coals by the AMA and ACOG, Charlotte Church is being upheld as a role model.  In fact, the Welsh Assembly Government had a goal to INCREASE home births by 10%.  Welsh homebirths have, in fact, increased 25%! 

Isn’t it interesting that while American medical groups are making resolutions to outlaw homebirths, their peer group across the Atlantic are trying to increase homebirths?  And isn’t it interesting which countries have the best outcomes?  Did you know a mom or baby is more likely to die in childbirth in the US than in Europe (or even Havana!)?  

Doesn’t the AMA have bigger issues than the 1% of US babies born at home?

I’ve always fancied the word “doppelganger”

My husband seems to have several look-a-likes. 

For the longest time, we picked on him because he looks like David Phelps.  Scott HATES southern gospel music.  Passionate dislike.  He cut his curls off once, I’m certain, because I posted a Phelps picture on facebook and tagged him.  Some of our friends really thought it was Scott.   

Now, he has a more appropriate twin.  Check this comparison: 

 

This one is Sam Beam.  We’re lately loving Iron and Wine so I felt safe to post this one.  Hopefully, he won’t cut his hair in response.  On the other hand, hopefully he won’t grow a beard that long either!  On an interesting note, they were, in fact, born the same year in the same state.  Spooky, huh?  Yeah, not really.  But they could have been classmates.     

What does a postpartum doula do?

Anything my client asks me to do.

Yesterday, at a lovely postpartum visit, I blew up balloons. Lots of balloons for the big sister’s birthday party. My lungs got a work-out!

At one postpartum visit the mom wanted me to hold her baby so she could shower. She put me in a chair in front of the TV, handed me a precious little bitty one, and even offered me sweet tea!

The most difficult task I’ve been asked to do? Iron a former military man’s white dress shirts. I don’t even own an ironing board and I have no idea what to do with starch. I could only tell the client that I ironed with love.

I’ve dusted furniture, walked dogs, played with toddlers, worn babies, processed birth stories, checked latches, shared a pot of coffee, washed diapers, and even given a homeschool lesson. Whatever a family needs. I love entering into the family rituals for this short precious time like no other.

Shot, smuggling zucchini into mailboxes

In honor of picked-this-morning tomatoes and zucchini from my garden, I treated myself to my favorite lunch. 

This blending of flavors developed out of a mad throw-together of foods one day when Noelle was coming over for lunch.  The collards and cabbage are boiled for 4 minutes then rinsed with cold water and chopped.  I use the leftover water to cook the grains (I cheat–it is a 7-grain blend from Kashi).  I stir fry the greens in sesame oil and season with rice vinegar, sesame seeds, and pepper.  The zucchini is stir fried in water.  By happenstance, we discovered that fresh pineapple makes the perfect pairing for the greens.  Ah, the goodness from suave reptilian glitter.

A Little Gem I Found

While scrounging around my parent’s house, I found the 1966 edition of De Lee’s Obstetrics for Nurses.  Interesting reading and frightening pictures.  Here are a few tidbits:

• The introduction praises the fact that “99% of whites and 85% nonwhites now give birth in hospitals” while the next paragraph expresses fear at the scarcity of OBs and the “coming avalanche of babies.”
• There is pointedly no mention of midwives and those mostly “nonwhites” who give birth outside of hospitals do so “unattended.”
• Aside from the rising birth rate, the other great problem is infant mortality.  It is a “stinging realization that 15 countries have lower infant mortality than the United States.”  (ahem, we have slipped still lower on the list) 
• “Most mothers complete their families by age 30.”
• “It is the nurse who is the constant attendant of the woman in labor.”
• I found it interesting that gentian violet was the only treatment mentioned for yeast infection during pregnancy.  How could the poor pharmaceutical company make any money if that was still prescribed? 
• The ideal weight gain is 15-20 lbs and each pregnant mom must closely monitor her water and salt intake. 

I’m sure I’ll add more morsels of De Lee as I skim along.  The best part is reading my mom’s notes in the margins. 

 

Reviving a Forgotten Favorite

Someone recently reminded me about an old trick I used to use.  Add some sugar to the shower routine!  More sugar that is.  Maybe I should just move my spice cabinet to the shower!  I now have apple cider vinegar, baking soda, brown sugar, oregano, and white sugar in the tub.  What next? 

I digress.  It goes like this:  I put the white sugar in an old spice jar that has a sift top.  I pour some Dr. B in my hand (peppermint is my current flavor-of-the-day) and shake on some sugar.  It makes a great exfoliate for my skin.  And unlike salt, which I’ve also tried, it dissolves quickly and doesn’t feel as abrasive.  It is soft enough for my face.  And maybe, just maybe, it will make me sweeter.     

Negative Heel Technology

I am not posting this picture because I want anyone to be jealous.  No, no, no. 

On a fast tip from a friend, I drove some miles to find Earth shoes for a RIDICULOUSLY low price.  But don’t be jealous or anything.