Sara is 2!

Yesterday was Sara's 2nd birthday. We don't do parties for the kids very often and we didn't yesterday, just cake with the family. :D But here's some pics from the last two years!

Some more pics of Edward! :D

Edward and Mama

Sara and Edward

Edward 1 week old

Such cute, chubby cheeks! :D

Edward Clarence (Birth Story)

Let's see... I had been having prodromal labor, as usual, for at least a week. On Wed. (June 16) evening the intensity really started to ramp up but the contractions were still irregular. Slept pretty good that night and woke at about 4:30 am unable to sleep through the contractions anymore. Below is me that morning, my last belly pic at exactly 40 weeks. :) Emma, Sara, and I went for a walk that morning. Then I laid down and tried to rest a bit. The midwife, Leah, came over and we listened to the baby's heart. He was doing good and I still felt it was going to be awhile so Leah left and I tried to rest some more.

Chelsea and Hannah came over about 5:30 and took the kids out for a few hours. Matt and I rested some and the contractions got stronger but not really any closer together. When Chels and Hannah came back with the kids we all went for a walk. It was about 9, the sun was setting and there was a nice breeze. :) I was proud of Chelsea, despite her fear of pregnant ladies, she went along and didn't seem too creeped out during contractions. ;)

After our walk, Chelsea and Hannah and Cora went to get snacks. Matt went to get me something to eat. I called the midwife while Matt was gone. By the time Matt got back I knew it was getting really close. Contractions were closer and most definitely stronger, not much talking during them anymore. Matt and the boys filled up the pool.

The midwife arrived. We listened to the baby again and he was doing good. I put off getting in the pool for as long as I could. It was about 11:30 pm when I finally got in.

I was pushing a little through a few contractions. Then everything got a lot more intense and pushing wasn't an option, it was a compulsion! It only took about three contractions

for Edward to make his entrance. He was born at 12:30 am June 18. :D eta: He was born in the caul, the bag not breaking until he was completely born. :) All of the other kids were there, Except Kyla, she was on a plane. Sara was asleep in Chelsea's arms. Cora cut the umbilical cord.

The most beautiful sound in the world-baby's first cry! :D

Cuddling my new boy and delivering the placenta. Edward's color was just beautiful! Aren't those cheeks just the most wonderful rosy red?!

My beautiful little man!

A special thanks to my helpful photographers Hannah, Emma, and Cora! :D

P.S. Edward, like all our boys, is named after grandfathers. Edward was my father's dad's name and Clarence is my father-in-law's middle name.

Frustration.

Contractions all day and night that seem to be getting slowly more intense and even a little longer and sometimes closer together but that stop every once in awhile. I know this happens every time, but I still find myself getting frustrated with it. It is discouraging! And everyone asking all the time doesn't help. My husband being the worst! LOL

On a happy note. My girl will be home on Friday! Yeah!! I've not heard much the last several days, no internet access where they are I guess. It will be so nice to have her back home! I look forward to hearing about everything she did and saw!

Not much else. Just trying to keep busy and get enough rest and keep the house in some sort of order!

How soon we forget.

Not long ago Joe Lieberman introduced the Terrorist Expatriation Act (S 3327)in Congress. The idea that a citizen of the United States could be stripped of their rights is very disturbing. Of course most of the things that would cause the loss of citizenship are understandable (i.e. swearing allegiance to or getting citizenship in an enemy state). There was one point that was still very disturbing. I did already blog about that bill here.


What seems to have gone unnoticed is John McCain's bill. The Enemy Belligerent Interrogation Detention and Prosecution Act (S 3081).


What really disturbs me is that many people seem to think this is a good idea! That taking away the rights of American citizens because they are suspected of terrorism could ever be thought a good idea is just appalling!!


After all it was only last year when the whole hullaballoo happened about the DHS report that targeted "right-wing extremists" and some other groups as potential terrorists.


So, I ask, Christians who want to deny rights to citizens and to keep even noncitizens from having legal counsel and the right to a trial, what will you do when it is YOU that is taken to a military prison to be held indefinitely without the right to know why you are being held or to have legal counsel or even the chance to defend yourself? How will you feel then? Will you still think that the terrorists are our greatest enemy? Will you still believe that non-citizens should not have Miranda rights when your citizenship is stripped from you because you are merely suspected of terrorist activity?

Christians who lament about how they are 'persecuted' here in America are embracing legislation that will make real persecution so very easy!! I know very few Christians who oppose the PATRIOT Act, and most Christians I know are all for not giving Miranda rights to those who are not citizens and/or are suspected of terrorism. (And, yep, I'm making a big deal about the term 'suspected'. A person is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around). In their zeal for a 'righteous government' and safety from terrorism Christians have lost sight of what America was really all about, freedom from tyranny.

When we crave 'safety' more than our liberty the terrorists win. And so I suppose they have won...

At War With Myself.

I've been doing some reading. I read "Pushed" by Jennifer Block and am currently reading "Born in the USA" by Marsden Wagner MD.

Both of these books and the stories I hear from other women, what I've seen other women go through in birth and what I have experienced myself have convinced me that the maternity care in America is a travesty!

Women have been convinced by doctors that the traditional midwife and homebirth is dangerous, when in actuality obstetricians have ever been the enemy of the healthy woman and her baby. The book "Birth" by Tina Cassidy gives a good history of obstetrics. In the book, "Born in the USA" Wagner tells how obstetricians have been experimenting on women without their knowledge, much less informed consent, since there was such a thing as an obstetrician.

Now I know there are good OBs out there and that most of them do not really set out to harm women and babies, but the sad fact is that their practices and lack of scientific method do in fact kill women and babies and have permanently harmed many many more.

The experimental use of forceps, x-rays, scolopamine, thalidomide, cytotec, unnecessary cesarean sections, constant fetal monitoring, and excessive use of ultrasound, and scare tactics to get women to have babies on the OB's schedule. It is really disgusting. And what saddens me the most is how completely most women have swallowed the lies and continue to believe them even when confronted with the truth.

So, now you're wondering where the title of the post fits. Well here it is:

1. I hate abortion. I think the way it is performed is atrocious. I believe that babies ought to be safe from such brutality.
2. I believe a woman ought to be able to choose where and how to give birth and be trusted to make the best decision for herself and her unborn child.

These two things are in conflict, at least according to some courts. There have been numerous cases where women have been court ordered to undergo a cesarean to 'save the baby'. Just Google "court ordered cesarean" (link to another blog post) and you will see many articles and blogs about the subject.
I believe it is dangerous to confer rights on the unborn for that reason. The issue of abortion and birth choice are inextricably intertwined, at least from a legal standpoint.

I find myself in an uncomfortable place. I want elective abortions to be done away with. The idea that a woman would willingly subject her baby to the torture of an abortion is just awful. But, I also want every woman to be able to choose where and how she births her child. The latter is in danger if pro-life advocates get their way and rights are conferred on the unborn.

I can see the difference, but that is because I believe certain things. I have a moral code that tells me that an unborn baby is indeed a life. Others do not believe the same. They have a different moral code than me. I suppose that answers my dilemma. I have no right to use the government to force others to believe, or even act as though the believe, the same way I do.

It was the last chapter of "Pushed" that really got me thinking about this. Reading about women who were forced in to major surgery for dubious reasons just sickened me. One woman was actually at the point of giving birth vaginally and the OB still cut her open!! It angers me to think that because some doctor thinks he knows better than the mother what is best for her and her baby the woman, and the baby, were subjected to the risks of major surgery. Of course I suppose that many people don't see cesarean as it really is, major abdominal surgery that carries great risk to mother and baby and even more risk in the event of a repeat cesarean.

Well, that's all for now.

I will be blogging later about the maternity system in America, it really is awful, but I just had to get this little bit out.