The Toilet Paper Queen is Killing Us!

IE: It’s another girl in the house BESIDES me I add. I won’t mention any names. And it’s not Lil O. ~smirk~

We have had Roto-Rooter here twice since we have lived here. ~Not even 4 years.~ This time is cost us 180.00. UGH! This makes up for yesterday I am sure in some sick twisted way.

Yesterday I found that B2 had broken his BRAND NEW retainer. Took him to the ortho and Dr. Black is replacing it at NO charge!!! So, I wasn’t charged the 150.00 THIS TIME. lol I still had B2 work in the yard today though to hopefully teach him a valuable lesson.

We all were outside raking and getting up all these annoying sticks from the trees. The yard is looking better though and will be almost perfect tomorrow when we finish. Anyway…

Back to the TPQ. Why does she feel the need to use a WHOLE roll in a day? Okay 2 days. If I am lucky. I have even bought the cheap TP for their bathroom. DOESN’T WORK. lol I hope that none of you have a TPQ at your house. It can be expensive. Maybe we should keep RR on a reserve or something.

My minutes of fame are growing. They keep airing the Doula story on the telly. People are calling and stopping my husband to tell him they saw me. I’ll be signing autographs next week at the coffee shop. ~wink~ Come by and we can chat and enjoy caffeine!

If you are looking for a Doula, I am not taking clients at the moment though. But the website has lots of great women that are taking them.

Okay, I am going to jet and reheat leftovers for dinner. I can barely move from working outside this afternoon. I hope my husband doesn’t try to talk me into watching Lost tonight. He is a Lost addict. He needs to join a group or something for it. JOKING HONEY!!! LOL

Have a great night!

My 10 seconds of fame–maybe 15 at most!

Doula Story On WLOS

I am the pregnant woman, of course. ~The camera added about 15 extra pounds to my face, wink wink.~

I am not hiring a birth Doula to set the record straight. I am training for my DONA certification and a member of DAMA. Judy is an awesome woman and Doula and I was playing her “client”. I did hire a postpartum Doula for after the birth though. She will come to my home days or weeks after my cesarean to keep check on things and help me. Having major surgery and 3 other kids at home, I welcome her being here.

Doulas Rock!

As you know I am working on my DONA certification and a member of DAMA. I think Doula’s are great to have for any birth. In fact I have hired a postpartum doula for after my birth.
In the news lately I have been hearing mixed reviews on Doulas. Please know that you cannot just hire anyone who says they are a Doula. Check them out and make sure they are certified. There are different groups as well. I am training to be DONA certified and I think they are a great group IMPO. A Doula doesn’t “take over” your birth or tell you what to do. We are constant companions to you. You want your back rubbed–we rub your back. You want us to hold you hand–we hold your hand. We offer suggestions to help your labor. IE: Walking, taking a bath or position change.
A Doula is a kind being there for you and only you. ~And your partner~

I love...

The smell of rain.

I went back up the hospital and rocked a baby for awhile. It was really cool. I want another baby!!!!

I have been cleaning house.

Working outside.

Leftovers for dinner.

Tomorrow I will be with my sister most of the day. Have a good day!

Mydoula What?

When my client would take to her mom she referred to me as “My Doula”. So the mother was wondering who “Mydoula” was and why her daughter wanted her there. I thought it a cute story that the mother thought that was my name. So, I will always be her “Mydoula”.

I will always be her Mydoula

Details coming later

Now it is later and I can write.

I can just say it was a wonderful birth. The baby was born last night and very healthy! I can only hope the rest will be as wonderful as this.

I came home TIRED and this morning I an very sore. I used muscles I forgot I had. LOL Maybe some that have never been used!

I went up to see them this morning and will make a home visit 2-3 weeks from now.

I hope that everyone has a lovely Tuesday. I keep thinking today is Monday since it seems like I lost a day.

Bye Bye

After coming home for some sleep…

I am on my way back to the hospital! Not coming home until a baby is born……

Today will be a wonderful day!

The Call Has Come

I meet my clients at 7pm at the hospital tonight.

Going to take a nap and shower.

Just got home from buying a swing set and taking a walk with HB & O.

411 missed calls ?

Today my birthing mom is due! How cool is that??? I guess the anxiety is sinking in because I dreamed last night that I looked at my phone and I had missed 411 calls!

So I have been double checking my cell all morning. I am going to enjoy another cup of coffee and shower just in case I get the call today!

TGIF!

I finished a sleeve last night and half-way finished the second one. I will post a picture in a little bit. BBL.

Preparing for my first birth as a Doula.

My birthing mom is due on St Pat Day. I have been preparing for her day. Re-reading and reading some more. I have a bag almost packed of goodies. I am emotionally ready I believe. I am a tad bit nervous but I am sure that will go away.

Why use a doula?

DONA International doulas mother the mother.
Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.

DONA International doulas are educated and experienced in childbirth and the postpartum period. We are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

There it is, I just heard it.

The other shoe dropping.

I just want to say that I HATE CANCER!! I have lost so many people to cancer and heart disease. The recent being my Great Uncle a few short weeks ago. I just finished writing the ‘Thank You’ notes for my Aunt K. (shaking head)

To the point. My grandfather (my moms daddy) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while I was prego with O (So maybe 2 years ago). I know we are blessed that he has lived this long. He is no longer doing treatment. Today he went to the doctor. It breaks my heart. So now while my family is gathering around the only papaw I have left I am sitting here at home. SICK with a FEVER! I want to be there. I need to be there. But I will not get anyone else sick. Or him. I just spoke to him on the phone. I will go over tomorrow if no fever. Here goes all my death phobias all over again. I am so afraid of death. Like I wrote earlier that when I reach 103 maybe I will welcome death and not fear it. I told someone the other day maybe that is why being a Doula is such a good thing for me. Being around birth the start of things.

Speaking of Doula–I HAVE A CLIENT! AN OFFICIAL CLIENT!! They contacted me through email today and then we spoke on the phone a bit ago. We are setting up our first meeting over the weekend—if I am not contagious that is. This means I have a trip to Kinkos in my near future and then I’ll panic reading more BOOKS to help this couple in their wonderful birth experience. I have never seen a ‘real’ birth. Not even mine. And watching it on TV doesn’t count. Or does it? Hmmm, if it does then I have seen a couple hundred. (joking)

All I have felt like doing today is cry. With the frustration of being sick, no sleep and now about my papaw. But I do have a new life to look forward too. I guess I’ll focus on getting ready for that. After I am well that is.

I spoke to H a minute ago. She is with her dad this week. She is talking to some young boy in her class. Why does she have to grow up? She is just a baby, my baby. With a teen body; which I would stop if I could. She is a wonderful young lady. I am proud to call her my daughter. Sometimes I think, “Does she really belong to me?”. She does.

Well, I think I’ll go make a few phone calls and get my Kinkos stuff together. Thanks for listening to a sick woman vent.

I guess her taste in music isn’t that bad..

I am playing my daughters Ipod music. It isn’t that bad actually. One catchy song I like is by Pink–Stupid Girls. I don’t wanna be a stupid girl.

H & B2 are with their dad for a few nights so it will be a quiet house. I just gave O her bath and I have been cleaning house. That is what I do every Monday. Clean house. I just started a load of laundry. A stay at home moms life is so glamorous. Maybe I should put on some stockings and heels? I could turn this into a naughty housewife blog. I guess you can tell I am in a mood today.

I fell asleep right before Iron Chef America went off–bummer. I didn’t feel well last night. My back was killing me so I took something for pain. I am hoping for things to get pretty normal around here. I am in need of a chiropractic appointment. I haven’t been in weeks. I haven’t made time. This week is the week.

The Doula Retreat is in March. I am going to be in charge of snacks. Getting all the beautiful Doula women together to bring snacks to the wonderful women learning what a Doula is all about. I was in their shoes last year. It was a wonderful retreat! Great instructor. Hell, I’d take the class if I hadn’t already taken it. lol

Here’s a glimpse of my To Do List for the week.

Michelle’s List:
JCP-Curtains for living room window (need to take measurements)
B2 shoes–size 2
H-underwear
O-socks
(Look at their towels)
Steinmart-use the giftcard your grandmother gave you for Christmas.
Target-Dish towels
Bathroom towels
Paper towels-VIVA <~~I love those! Lotion Michael’s-Yarn

Lets not forget the every day things I do. Plus the grocery shopping. So, there you have it. A glimpse into my world. I guess I better go find my stockings and heels. See ya…