Lost Art

As I posted on Cari's blog this morning, I planned to write about one of my favorite things today and talk about the lost art of food preparation. After catching up on my friends' blogs over coffee this morning, I left the house for my post partum OBGYN visit.

Dr. D and I discussed what was going on with my body and all the normal post baby check up stuff. As we began to wrap things up I mentioned how wonderful Archer's birth was and I was grateful that I was able to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). For those of you who don't know, VBACs are a touchy subject with most MDs because they don't want to deal with them. I am fortunate enough to have a doctor that practices medicine by what is best for the patient instead of out of fear of being sued.

However, my doc was out of town when I went into labor and his associate was delivering 3 babies at another hospital and could not come. The MD on duty was apart of a group of Dr.'s who have a policy of "no VBACs." That's right, the Dr.s in that group are not allowed to make the decision for their patients on a case by case basis. They have to adopt the "no-VBAC" policy to join the group. Period.

Without going into detail (man I need to write out my birth story!), I had a VBAC anyway. The Dr. from this other group could not have been nicer about it to us. But we got wind after it was all said and done that we REALLY freaked the hospital out. Someone sound the alarms! There is a lady in here that wants to give birth via the vagina! YIKES! What do we do??? (I also wrote on Cari's blog this morning that I was going to keep my blog G rated. Better change that to PG.)

By the way I did not actively force them into performing the VBAC for me. I know y'all find that hard to believe because I am a determined person who can sometimes act like a bull dozer when I am trying to reach a goal. But that was not the case this time. I just labored peacefully while the cuircumstanses surrounding the VBAC developed organically.

Back to the MD's office today, Dr. D replied, "Yeah, I kind of got in trouble over that." I felt horrible for him. After all, he was out of town and it's not as if he even called and said, "you must let my patient have a VBAC." He was out of reach and we did not get a hold of him until it was all over. He said it was all a political mess and now there are new policies in place and extra paperwork to sign.

Now I felt really bad. New policies in place because of me? I had a wonderful natural birth. God created labor and birth with the end result of a baby coming out of the vagina. Why is this scary? It's how God created us. People have done this for thousands of years. It's not an illness that requires aggressive medical intervention. Sometimes things go wrong and I am thankful we have medical tools available for those times but they are not necessary in every case. Even after a c-section.

So I asked with the new policy, what would happen to a women in the same situation I was in. Would she be forced to have a c-section against her will? Horrifyingly, the answer was yes. Forced unnecessary surgery... that's like rape, robbing her of one of God's blessings.

Giving birth is a lost art. A beautiful lost God-given art.

Dr. D did say that he would continue to deliver VBACs. He came from one of the best labor and delivery hospitals in the nation and has the knowledge to back up his decision. I wish other Dr.s would practice medicine from evidence based knowledge instead of fear. My heart breaks for the women who do not have such a Dr.

(Wow, 2 rant blogs in 1 week. I apologize. I am normally not so fired up. Maybe I'm still hormonal.)

I love...

...baby breath. No, not the flower. I'm talking about the warm sweet milky breath flowing out of my 8 week old. I could just sniff him all day long! Please tell me someone else knows what I am talking about so that I will know if it's real or if I am on a post pregnancy hormonal high.

Anybody?

Coming to a newstand near you...

A story is coming outthis May in In Magazine about the doula that assisted Mark and I in Archer's birth. I was interviewed today for the story since our birth with Jennifer (our doula) went so well. It inspired me to blog our birth story. I started it once but never finished. We had such a beautiful experience I want to document it for myself but also so that others can read it. Maybe it will prompt others to use a doula for thier birth. Personally, I now have a don't-leave-home-for-the-hospital-without-one policy!

Check out the magazine this May! And please stay on me to write my story.

War has officialy been declared!

Some of you already know that I was attacked while walking with Archer in our neiborhood last Thursday. For those of you who don't know, here is the story.

The sun was shining, it was not raining, it was not snowing, there were no clouds in the sky, AND it was not snowing. Finally, it felt like a Texas winter. To stave off pending cabin fever I tucked Archer into the stroller and took advaantage of this rare occasion. We turned a corner in our neighborhood and were caought off guard by any angry aggressive dog charging towards us. In disbelief of what I was seeing at first I thought this dog must be coming to play with us. Most people don't let dangerous dogs run loose (not in the city at least!). It must be friendly. But it was not.

This rabid dog was growling and circling Archer and I. He began to "nip" (or so I thought) at my ankles all the while growling and barking. Then he went for the stroller growling, snarling, and and trying to get what was inside. I felt a sharp pain in my calf and screamed for help.

Praise the Lord a neighbor heard my plea and scared the dog away. I was paralized by fear. When I am out running and walking I always run through my plan of what I would do if I were attacked...by a human! I had no plan for a dog attack. I felt helpless to protect my 7 week old baby who was down low in the stroller near the dog. The neighbor began to ask if I was ok and I finally realized my I had been bitten.

We called the police so they could have the dog picked up (this was right by an elementary school and school would let out in 1 hour!). I had 4 puncture wounds from the canine teeth and a large circular bruise from the power of his jaws. Luckily he didn't sink his teeth into the muscle. I hate to admit it but I was pretty shook up!

So 2 days later I went walking. To be safe I stayed away from the area were the attack happened even though I knew the dog was gone. And at the end of my walk another dog came charging at me from 50 yards away. I wasn't even on his street. He was growling and barking and heading for my ankles. His oh so friendly owner said, "Don't worry. He won't bite." I shared my story of 2 days ago and told him to come get his freakin' dog!

Again today, I tried to go for a walk (before it snows again tomorrow. Seriously, I live in Texas for a reason.). This time a HUGE dog charged my from 100yards away growling and barking. I screamed! There was no owner in sight. Heck, I wasn't even on his street. He finally ran off without taking a chunk of my flesh with him.

Needless to say, I am scared to death of dogs right now! Do I have dog bate smeared all over me? I am always out in our neighborhood and there are certain dog who are always out that bark and follow me. But, they never growl or get close. They just annoy me. What is going on? I live in town!

War has officially been declared on all loose dogs. The police officer who came last week told me that bear spray works best to ward off aggressive dogs. Cabela's already has our order for bear spray and it will be delivered soon! So listen up pups. If I'm intruding on your property, you have the right to protect it. Go ahead bite me if I break into your house. But if you come on public property such as the street (I'm the public therefore I own it) and so much as look at me wrong, I am taking you down! And don't even think about looking at one of my children!

Just a thought...

You know you haven't had enough sleep when you get up in the morning, look in the mirror and you hair isn't even messed up.

Ahhh, life with a newborn.

GIVE IT A TRY

Do you have bad memories of smelly brussels sprouts? This irresistible recipe will erase those traumatizing childhood memories. We ate these Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Pecans and Prosciutto tonight with our dinner and I had to share this little gem. So even if you think you don't like brussels sprouts, give these a try. After all, what doesn't taste good topped with toasted pecans, Parmesan cheese, and prosciutto!


http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1654618

Six Inches at Our House

It's a rare thing to have two days in a row to play in the Texas snow.

Our street.

Snowball fights with the neighbors.

Savannah asked for a carrot, scarf, and buttons. But all we could come up with is a few camellia blooms, new potatoes, and fresh ginger. Like the flower in her hair?

I love the way snow looks on the bright camellia blooms.




Now it's time to curl up by the fire with a cup of hot tea!

If you read my previous post you know that Archer's umbilical cord fell off this morning. And for the rest of the day he wanted me to hold him. That's not his normal temperment at all. Looks like he was sad too that he lost the crusty piece of flesh that once connected him to his momma!

No worries though. I found some super glue and that should fix it!

He's all grown up!

This morning I was giving Archer a sponge bath and as I removed his onsie tears filled my eyes over what I saw. He lost his unbilical cord. He is no longer a newborn. The last piece of flesh that attached us is gone.

He is all grown up.

Time to have another baby I guess. (just kidding :)

Actually the "piece of flesh that attached us" will not be lost forever. That dried up, black, crusty, piece of flesh is going in his baby book!