Surprise, surprise!

First off, I want to share that this week we received the great news that donations made to the Second Tunic can now me made online! I added the link to the left side of this page, just under their address. In case you can't find it, it's found at http://www.secondtunic.org/donate.html and the page details three ways you can donate: check by mail, automatic transfer (with a printed application) and online through PayPal. For those who have never used PayPal, well we first used it about a month ago. I'm not sure that I really understand the whole process, but ultimately you pay with your credit card, it just get's processed by PayPal.

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Christmas 2010 in the Philippines

Christmas in the Philippines!!

The hot weather, constant 'damp' skin and palm trees cause me to stretch my imagination when trying to 'feel' like it's Christmas.


(For photos and more details about Christmas in the Philippines, click the link below)

Oh the insanity!

About an hour ago I got back from a quick trip to the local market. Insanity! Wow, was it ever filled with people. I thought, "Oh yeah, it's Christmas Eve!" Was at the grocery story yesterday and it reminded me of all those years working at Weaver's. It brought back many memories. I even chuckled knowingly at the guys trying to stock the shelves.

But back to the market today...

Maayong Pasko sa tanan!

That means "Merry Christmas to all" in Cebuano. I have been intentional about saying that this week, and now I share the same message with you.

First off, I have to apologize for not posting in such a long time...

Baby Catch #1 and #2

Second 'catch' as a midwife...12/09/10 @ 7:33 pm

Baby girl (name coming)

Her mom, nickname Liz, was a single woman who labored so great and pushed like a pro!

Did AROM while pushing and noted thick meconium, baby was suctioned, had a 'lil trouble with breathing and lots of secretions but with some TLC was able to get the baby to breast once stable.

Placenta out 5 min after baby, large amount of blood loss so Pitocin IM given to aid in contracting the uterus (keep it firm= control bleeding) and IV fluids to balance out her fluid loss. She also tore some, so had to be sutured later, but tolerated the pain and discomfort so well.

Where I'm at...

You know I don't regret going to nursing school and then working as a nurse, I feel the life experiences I gained have made me a more well-rounded person. But sometimes being here I feel still trapped in the “nursing school” mind-set of learning when I'm on shift. The process of how we learned a technique first during a “lab” and then got the opportunity to show our skills on a day when we had 'clinical' (an 8-hour shift at the hospital where I was attending nursing school). Always feeling slightly excited, excessively nervous and wanting to remember accurately all the steps in a procedure.