Breathe

(Awesome moments dancing at sunset point at MacGregor Point Provincial Park)

Well, I made it through June!! I had 3 doula babies born in a 10 day span, it was something else! Thankfully the timing for them all worked out so I didn't miss any, although babysitting wasn't quite as easy to come by as it usually works out to be. Thank the Lord for amazing friends like my dear Colleen who was willing to spend her one day off in a couple of weeks watching Lyric for the afternoon and picking up the other two from school...love you hon!!

The births were so radically diverse (as all 25 that I've attended so far have been :). The first was a beautiful and quick delivery of a gorgeous baby boy. Exactly a week later the second, another relatively quick and wonderfully simple delivery of a sweet baby girl. Then only 3 days after that one of the most interesting (and frustrating) births I've ever attended. The mom was a multip and all previous deliveries had been uncomplicated. This time however, we watched her decrease in dilation from 9 1/2 cm back to 7 cm and her cervix got thicker. Unfortunately the only option was for a cesarean delivery. It was a difficult birth to be at, but one of those births where I knew it was good that I had been there to lend some extra support to the birthing team.

All three births happened in June, so I've been on vacation (other than postpartum visits) since the beginning of July. What a strange feeling to walk around without my pager on...I feel like I've left the house without my pants on or something...crazy! My next client isn't due until November (for now), so I really don't need to be wearing it right now. It feels good to be able to have some time to breathe, and to rest from my doula work. I LOVE my job as a doula, but it is also a very emotionally taxing job and being on call really stresses me out sometimes. It's taken me a while to remember that I don't have consider babysitting in my mind everytime Joel works a shift or plans to go away for the day :)

Last week we spent Wednesday to Sunday at MacGregor point with the Ramer families (3rd annual camping trip with them). We had so much fun. The weather was absolutely perfect! Not too hot, no rain (except a few drops when we arrived at the site, but it never developed into anything). I lived in the moment. I relished the moments of sitting in my lawn chair in the sun reading my Body and Soul magazine, listening to my MP3 player with no other appointments or duties calling me...what a TREAT! I didn't think once about my absolutely filthy house back home, I just enjoyed myself and my freedom and my family :)

One of my other favourite moments that week was our evening at sunset point (picture at the top was taken that night). We went to watch the sun go down. The kids had a blast walking from rock to rock out in the water (and they all got completely soaked). Of course the dads had their fun too...

I sat on the point and snapped pictures of the kids enjoying the water and the hubbies showing off for the girls :) Then to top the evening off a man started to play his bagpipes out at the lake. It was so awesome!! I LOVE the bagpipes and always have, so it was like icing on the cake :) Unfortunately he didn't play for very long, but it was still such a cool evening!~


In the summer I realize how strictly scheduled and full my life really is. I sit back and wonder how I ever managed to squeeze everything in, and yet I know that in September it'll be the same again. So I'm going to savour every beautiful moment of my summer as I look forward to BBQ's with old friends and new friends, family camping trips, church camping trips and probably some day trips here and there with my family. Bring it on!!

Mel