Beating a Cold, Witnessing a C-Section, & Administering a Test

Scott passed a head cold onto me on Monday. I am on the up and up today after 2 1/2 days of feeling yucky and I believe that my number one ingredient in my cocktail below is the Sinusin product. I was also downing Immune Booster Tea and Yogi's Echinacea Tea since we were out of the vitamins. I believe Sinusin was key because only 12 hours after taking my first dose I was clearing up. A couple of weeks ago I transformed our living room!

BEFORE

AFTERWhat do you think?

Here's our 16 pounder! Adeline snapped this sweet moment when Darton fell asleep while I was reading The Lightlings.We celebrated Labor Day here on Monday and enjoyed a Church family day. Tuesday morning I began administering a standardized test for my son's friend which puts me out of the house for 3 hours every morning this week. It's been a nice break from my everyday routine, but it also reaffirms that I enjoy and desire to be a full-time stay at home mom. Adeline has gone to school each day, willingly, and Darton and Matthias stay at home with Ana.

Now onto the highlight of my week! My friend asked me to be a part of her labor and delivery. I nervously said "yes" and decided this was my chance to know if I really wanted to pursue being a doula. Unfortunately by the time I got to her she had decided to get an epidural at 5cm dialated, which stopped her progression, and two hours later (12 hours after her first contraction) the doctor told her it was time for a c-section. This was her second c-section and she was trying for a vaginal. I was the picture gal for the surgery and so yes, I got to see my friend's abdomen cut open and a baby being pulled-out. I "hid" behind the camera and chose not to watch with eagle eyes just in case I might lose it. No matter how Santiago entered the world, it was still a beautiful moment when he let out his first cry. I will spare all the details of opinions and whatnot, but I do want to pursue doula training. Believe it or not, the first doula training for the DR is being held in June, but it begins the day we leave for the States so this isn't God's timing for me right now. I led 2 birth art classes that Paula participated in this Spring. The first picture below was her depiction of her first delivery and the second of what she hoped her second delivery would be like. I believe she accomplished her goal. She went into this birth much more informed (Thank you Ina May) and her knowledge empowered her to experience a more controlled labor and delivery.

Bienvenidos Santiago!

Although everyone's first language in the surgery room was Spanish, they surprised me by talking in English for me. It was crazy! I don't go anywhere expecting people to speak my first language, but they did. I was very impressed and wonder why they did that??