Here is the view from our balcony.
Street view...
Outside of Birth Center...the top floor houses the Filippina midwives, the middle floor is the prenatal room and the bottom floor is the kitchen and birth center.
This is the ambulance that the center uses for transports.
I just got off of swing shift after doing prenatal clinic today. Man has this been an awesome day. I really feel like I am getting in the swing of things and am not so awkward.
I observed a birth early on in my shift and then went back to my laboring mom. She was a first time mom whose labor had already been going on for 18+ hours. Her labor was different...at times it seemed to stop completely and at other times it was very hard. The mom was a trooper and did awesome. At 6:46 this evening, Axcel Troy was born. He had apgars of 8/9 and is just perfect. Mom has an intact perineum, which doesn't usually happen here - especially for first time moms.
I really felt like I was able to minister to this mom today, regardless of the language barrier. We prayed together when it got really hard and she did amazing.
I am so blessed to be a midwife.
I can't tell you how many times in the past couple days I have sat down at the computer to send an update and pictures, but I always seem to run out of time. I am working 56-64 hours a week and it is a doozy.
I hit my breaking point the other night. I had assisted in a birth that ended in the transport of the baby for respiratory distress. It was so hard for me to see the mom left behind at the birth center alone with her mother and bana going with the baby. Katie was hospitalized in the NICU when she was first born, so I could really relate to what the mother must have been feeling.
Soon after that assist, I was asked if I was ready to handle my first birth here. I said yes, but honestly, I was just exhausted and emotionally drained. Working here is so much harder than at home. The main issue is the language barrier. I feel so clumsy trying to communicate with them. I wonder if we are really understanding one another and I know that we are both missing some points.
So, after I got the mom checked in, I went into the kitchen and called Ivy, my preceptor and good friend. I poured out my heart and she just listened, validated and helped me work through the feelings. After we hung up, I had to go do my hourly check and mom looked great and labor was progressing nicely. I then went to call Ben and did the same with him as I did with Ivy. I am completely in awe of how wonderful and supportive my husband has been through this whole process. He is so selfless and encouraged me as well.
I had been hoping (and praying) that I would be able to endorse this mom before she had her baby to the next shift at 6 am, but at 5 am, she started vocalizing and I knew baby would be here before my shift was over.
A peace came over me and I knew that it was going to be ok and I would be given the stregnth I needed. At 5:46 a perfectly healthy baby girl was born into my hands. Her apgars were 9/9 and I couldn't have asked for a more uncomplicated, easy birth. God was so graceous and merciful in the whole process.
Since then, I have had a couple more shifts and a day of prenatals. I feel like I am getting into the swing of things here now. I am still missing my kids and Ben so much. I had never anticipated it being as hard as it has been. I definitely feel God's molding on my life. I feel broken and am learning to completely rely on Him.
Thank you all for your prayers, love and encouragement. It means more to me than you know.
I have gotten quite a few emails wondering if we had fallen off the face of the earth...sorry I haven't updated sooner! Things have been busy, to say the least :)
I am much too tired to give an indepth update, but I have worked 5 birth room shifts since getting here and have observed in 2 births and assisted in another 2. All healthy babies around 7 lbs each. That is big around here!
Carlie is doing better. Still not her completely normal self, but I doubt she will get to be "normal" again until we get home. Living in a house with many other people mean that I give in to her more than if we were at home just to keep her quiet and to keep the peace.
I am pretty sure when we get home, she is never going to want to ride in a carseat. Our main form of transportation is either a taxi (non of which have seatbelts) or a Trici-cab, which is nothing more than a cart attached to a scooter. I am still amazed that you can get 4 people plus the driver on that one scooter! Traffic here is a doozy. I was warned, but until you are in it, you can't really understand it. There are no traffic rules or if there are, they aren't followed. It is every man for himself. I do a lot of praying when we are on the streets :)
The people here are so wonderful. They absolutely adore Carlie and she is soaking it all in. She has the pageant wave down pat.
I promise I will get pictures soon. I work a double shift tomorrow afternoon and night, so maybe I might have a couple minutes to get it done.
Thanks everyone for your love, support and prayers!
I worked the swing shift (2pm-10pm) tonight and it was pretty uneventful. We had two first time moms who labored, but when I left, the babies were still a long time from coming. A little anti-climatic, but it was nice to just be able to sit, get to know the other midwives and the clinic. Hopefully when I work on Tuesday, we will have some action.
Carlie is still having a tough time. She hasn't eaten much at all since we have been here. In the last 24 hours, she has had about 10 crackers, some popcorn and a pb&j sandwich. For anyone that knows her, you know that is not much for her. Please continue your prayers that she adjusts quickly and the least painfully for all involved.
We had an amazing down pour tonight when I was in the clinic. In Utah, the rain isn't usually a good thing because of the business, but here, it is just so beautiful. I felt so refreshed just hearing and smelling it.
I am heading off to bed where I hopefully can get a good night's rest...if Carlie cooperates...
how a little bit of sleep helps you deal with life better. Yesterday was pretty hard on me. I had wondered what I had gotten myself into being in a foreign land so far from my family, but this morning, I am feeling much better about life and excited for my shift this afternoon.
Carlie slept pretty well considering the time difference is 14 hours ahead from being at home. She woke up around 11 pm and was hungry, so she had a sandwich and back to bed we went. She woke on and off all night, but I think she is getting used to the time change. We had a power outtage for about 2-3 hours last night, so with no fans going it got a little hot and sticky, but not nearly as bad as I had anticipating it to be.
I think we are going to brave going to the "mall" this afternoon by ourselves. We went yesterday to do a little grocery shopping and to get some flip flops to wear in the house, but I do need to get some more food as Carlie is not accustomed to the food options here. Wish us luck!
I don't have a lot of time to update, but wanted to let you all know we made it safe and sound.
The flight was long and Carlie was not a good traveler at all. I am not looking forward to our trip home with her.
It is beautiful here, but I am already missing the kids.
I start working at the clinic tomorrow, I think.
I will update more later.
So, we spent last night in the E.R. To make a long and painful story (Katie's wording) short, Katie got kicked in the head by a horse last night.
She was a trooper! She needed 3 stitches to the protective tissue around the skull, 2 internal skin stitches and 6 external stitches.
The doctor at the E.R. expected a skull fracture and concussion, but thank God, she just has a nasty gash. It could have been so much worse.
It is mostly on her scalp, so scaring shouldn't be a huge issue. I tried to take a picture, but it didn't come out great because the stitches match her hair.
I was nervous about leaving prior to this and now I am feeling it even more so. I can't imagine something else like this happening when I am on the other side of the world.
So, prayers would be appreciated for my nerves and for Katie's speedy recovery.
If the flight weren't so long, I wouldn't be concerned at all about taking Carlie on it. She is a really easy going kid and is easily entertained. The thought of it taking approximately 24 hours from the time we get on the first plane to the time we get off the second plane has me a bit worried though.
So, are there any special travel tips you can share with me? I have lots of little quiet toys and I am going to bring lots of special food treats to bribe her, if needed, but beyond that, I have no idea!
Thanks!
As promised, here is the picture. Ben was joking that it looks more like a mugshot than a passport picture. :)
The planning for this trip seems to be very much like a pregnancy...the beginning planning stages seemed to go so fast, but the final month before I leave is just dragging on. Days seem to last forever. I just want the 26th to be here already.
I am starting to feel a bit anxious about the trip. Mostly about being gone from my family for so long. 5 weeks is a really long time. I feel so blessed that my dad, gramma and mother-in-law and father-in-law are giving so freely of their time, so that they can be with the kids while Ben works. Childcare has been all figured out and Ben will only have to take 2 days off total while I am gone. It does give me loads of relief to know that the kids will be taken care of from the best people possible, if I can't be there. I am sure they are going to get spoiled! God is so good!
Ben and I were up talking late one night this week and I realized something...I will be arriving in Davao City exactly 4 years to the date from my surgery. I guess this experience is all very surreal and it makes me realize all that I have to be grateful for. Sure, the past three years here in Utah were not what we bargained for, but God has been with us every step of the way. Going through the hard times, it is always so hard to feel and see that, but it is times like this, that it is so obvious.
We leave 12 days from today, but hey, who's counting? :)
Carlie's passport is still not here...The website says it is still being processed.
Please pray that it comes soon and I don't have to deal with calling the Passport Department. When I did that a couple weeks ago, it was practically impossible to talk to a live person.
We leave 2 weeks from today!!! I am so excited.
This time of year always brings back many memories and reminds me of all the blessings in my life.
For those of you that don't know, my Maddie is going to be 4 tomorrow. Four years ago, I was dying from a then unknown softball size mass in my neck. Shortly after she was born, the mass was found. At first the diagnosis was cancer. I was terrified. I was 23 years old and had 3 kids ranging in ages from newborn to not even 4 years old. I was so afraid of leaving them behind and really felt like my life's work had not been done yet. Thankfully, it was not cancer and the Lord used the hands of surgeons to heal me.
So, four years later, the little girl I didn't know if I was going to get to see grow up is turning another year older and I am preparing to fulfill part of my life's work. I can't say that I would want to go through it again, but I am so thankful to be where I am today. We serve such an awesome God!
Well, my passport came while I was gone. Yay! Still waiting on Carlie's though. It *should* be here any day now. I am praying that I won't have to call again and go through all the mumbo jumbo that involves.
We leave in 3 weeks! I can't believe how fast it is coming.
My passport just had to be renewed for the trip since I had my maiden name on it. Yes, I have been married for over 8 years, but since it wasn't something I needed, I just let it be. Carlie had to get her first passport. She didn't cooperate for the picture at all!
I checked the status online on Thursday and was happy to see that mine was being processed and should be here this week sometime. Carlie's though said it was being processed, but I had only requested routine service and to expect it in 10-12 weeks!
After waiting on hold for over 40 minutes with Passport Services, I finally got through to a live person. Thankfully, it was just a website error and hers should be arriving around the same time as mine.
As soon as they come, I will take a picture of Carlie's to share. I am sure she is really going to love it when she gets older. She wouldn't look directly at the camera and had her tongue sticking out. You can tell she is almost 2!
For those of you that live locally (or are willing to ship to me) and want to help contribute, I just received a list of things that Mercy Maternity Center is always in need of. I can pick up if you live in Southern Utah up until I leave for my trip in the end of July. I am also going to be in Southern California the week of 6/25 - 6/30 and could arrange pickup there during that time.
Here is what is needed:
receiving blankets
summery baby clothes (year round it is about 85 degrees)
KY Jelly
sterile and non sterile gloves
new, unopened vitamins
white twin fitted sheets
new, unopened analgesics (generic Tylenol and IB Profen are great)
blue surgical towels
digital thermometers
Chux pads
alcohol prep pads
sterile gauze pads
Let me know if you need to arrange a pickup.
Thanks!
Since we have started planning this trip, I have been concerned about what to do with the diaper situation and Carlie. Carlie has never worn a disposable and I really didn't want to start now.
Well, I just got word from the clinic that there is a washing machine that will be available to us and we will just hang everything to dry.
I am so relieved not to have to worry about finding another diaper alternatives.
Doesn't take much to make me happy :)
The airline tickets are booked, the passports are being processed and our room and board check has been sent out. I am going to do this for real! I am in shock.
For those of you that don't know, I (along with my mom and Carlie), will be spending 5 weeks in the Philippines this August. I am going to be interning at Mercy Maternity Center in Davao. It is the largest charity based maternity clinic in the Philippines. We will be leaving on July 26th from Las Vegas and returning on August 31st. I am so excited to be able to be able to learn while serving others. I am sure this trip is going to be life changing.
I have been so humbled to see God's working in this whole process. Things that shouldn't have worked out have worked out without a problem. Ben has been so supportive. Not that I would expect him not to be, but I definitely didn't expect him to immediately give his 100% support. I can't say that I would do the same if he asked to go away for 5 weeks with one of the kids to a developing nation.
My mind seems to be running a million different directions the past week or so. I have got a constant list going in my mind of things that need to be packed, bought or gotten together before we leave. It is a bit overwhelming!
I covet your prayers during the next couple of months. We are still trying to figure out how we are going to pay for this trip. It is going to cost over $4,000. Donations have been coming in and for that I am so grateful. I have faith that it is going to be taken care of one way or another. Please pray for safety while we are there and in our travels. Ten years ago, going on a mission trip wouldn't have phased me, but now, taking my 2 year old to the other end of the world and leaving my other three at home, I am apprehensive. I guess that is what happens when you are a mom and wife. Last but not least, pray that God's love would be shown to these women and that I would be able to minister to them - not only physically, but also spiritually.
You can read about Mercy Maternity Center here... http://www.midwifeschool.org/mercy.htm
This woman did the same thing last year. Her blog just amazes me. For those that are interested, you can read about it here... http://www.geocities.com/shiphranita/
Stay tuned for pictures and updates!
