Birth

Wednesday night I attended my first birth as a doula in a really really long time. It's been a year at least. It was beautiful! I'm still smiling about how well Mom did. Baby was 10 days "overdue" and Mom had already tried many things to get labor going. The last resort (and the one that really worked) was Castor oil. (I now know a nifty recipe to camouflage the taste and texture of it.) Her labor actually started earlier in the day after the midwife swept the membranes for the second time. (First time being 9 days earlier.) It picked up some while she was taking the "Castor Cocktail" at noon and 2pm and continued to strengthen a bit with time. She took a walk around 7pm or so: a good long walk with a purpose! I had visited her earlier in the day and told her to call me when things change. (I had church choir practice that evening and a baseball game that night.) I got a call from her mother at about 10 til 9pm that Mom's water broke and she was having strong contractions. Only God knows how I made it out of the ballpark, across town, and to their apartment in 10 minutes. She took every contraction as it came, she breathed, moaned, and walked about for each one. It wasn't until transition that she needed any coaching whatsoever. I have also learned, again, that you should always trust a laboring mama when she says she needs to push and that the baby is coming out-chances are, it's true!

Ailey and Greta

I'm so happy to have my little God-daughter, Ailey, here today! She and Greta are only 2 1/2 weeks apart and are the best of friends. I love to watch them play together and share things. Of course, like any best friends, they have their fights too. It's usually that Greta doesn't want to share a toy-she did share her cup and her sandwich at lunch. Good thing I'm not worried about the germs.

Of course I love them both so much right now because they are both napping.

Getting Back On Track

Oh, things have not been going so well with our "great lifestyle change". We just haven't been very motivated...and it's hot outside so our exercise is pretty much limited to indoors unless we wake up at 6am, which I am not going to do (but probably should and would feel a lot better if I did!). We are still working on it, just not as hard as we were.

On the brighter side, we are finally getting the attic organized and getting the boxes out of the carport! I am pretty much emptying most boxes, throwing the garbage away, making a pile of stuff that will go into the church yard sale, and then what we are keeping goes back in the box for now. After we're done with that we will organize and label all the remaining boxes. By the way, anyone need any picture frames? Also, I found all my old clothes, mostly size 14 or so. I would love to get back in them. Maybe I should hang them in my closet so every time I look in there...wait that might backfire.

Body For LIfe

A few of you already know that Matthew and I have been working really hard at changing our lifestyle and eating habits. We have been doing work-outs six days a week alternating aerobic exercise with weight training. For aerobics, I've been walking with a little jogging and every since I bought Matthew roller blades for his birthday, he's been rollerblading up and down our street. Our goals with eating include both controlling our portion size and cutting sugar and fats. We eat six smaller meals a day with each meal consisting of a good protein and a whole grain carb or fruit. Vegetables must be included with at least two meals, and we've been trying to do more. One day a week (usually Sunday or Monday) is our "free day". On this day we forget all the rules. We eat whatever we want and don't work-out. Of course, by the end of the day we are exhausted and stuffed.

I think it's pretty obvious that we did not think up all this on our own. We are, for the most part, following Bill Phillips books Body For Life and Eating For Life. I say "for the most part" because we have been incorporating some yoga stretches and pilates into our routine and we don't buy his supplements or use artificial sweeteners.

We started on February 9 and to date Matthew has lost 21 pounds and I have lost 15 pounds. We are so excited at how well it's been going and how dedicated we've really been at making this for life and not just a few weeks.

Life is good. Should I be scared?

If everything seems to be well, it's probably not. Just when you think hard times are over, something horrible is bound to happen.

Some people would call me pessimistic, but I really feel that I'm just trying to prepare myself. (Which, of course, never works.) With the Christmas season half over and things getting back to normal, it just feels like there is something looming ahead. Things are fine right now. We are almost recovered from horrible colds, we didn't overdo our budget, and everyone in our life seems to be getting along just great! The congregation is faithful and strong. Our kids are doing well with potty training. The house is nearly clean. Something I don't like is bound to happen!

Of course, I try not to dwell on it being anything disastrous or completely heart-breaking. I just wonder what appliance is going to break. What part of the house is going to need repairs? What will be the next debate in the Church?

I'd like to think that everything will continue to be well and get ever better, but I feel that I'd just be setting myself up for disappointment. I know I'm not alone in this. I know everyone tends to feel this way, probably a lot. I just wish I could shake the feeling and enjoy the good times more.

It is the bad times that my faith is strongest. It's always when I need God that I feel his presence the most. He always answers my prayers and it always works out to His good. (Which I later see is my good as well.)

"The King of Love My Shepherd Is"
by Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877

1. The King of Love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

2. Where streams of living water flow,
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

4. In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

5. Thou spreadst a table in my sight,
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh! the transport of delight
With which my cup o'erfloweth.

6. And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever!

Hymn #431 from The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 23
Author: Henry W. Baker, 1868
Composer: Michael Praetorius, 1610
Tune: "Ich dank' dir schon"

Greta Smiles

Greta has been almost smiling for quite awhile now. I'm not sure if any of them I could call real smiles, until yesterday! She definitely smiled at me and later that day smiled at Matthew. I even got a picture of her smiling at him!

We also had our 6 weeks midwife appointment yesterday. I'm 1 pound less than my pre-pregnancy weight and Greta is now 11lbs. 10oz. and 23 1/2 in. long! The miracle of Mommy's milk!

Greta Nicole

After 8 1/2 hours of really hard labor, Greta Nicole Jeffords arrived at home on April 30! She tipped the scales at 10lbs. 5oz. and 21 in. long! Despite being a big baby, I only pushed for 12 minutes. More to come later after I write her birth story!