deep breathing

movers come 1 week from today. Storage people come wednesday. life is crazy. Every once and while I stop and think " I can't believe we are doing this again". 8 moves in 9 years. Either I am getting old or the novelty is wearing off.  We decided  (a long time ago) that it would be a good idea to go camping memorial day weekend. So everything has to be ready for the movers by this thursday because we leave friday. This move seems so much harder than the rest. I have done this by myself before but for some reason this time is proving to be a big challenge. Everyone keeps telling me how beautiful it will be in Monterey, but heart is just not in it. I will keep an open mind. It's hard to leave home, no matter how old I am.

coming soon...

I have decided to blog my way cross country with the kids. It's going to be fun, scary and overwhelming all at once. Stay tuned for details. We set sail May 30th!

Blessed Birth Day

I was honored to be able to present at an incredible birth this morning. Baby Katarina joined us at 9:46 am after a short and simple birth. Her Mamma stayed home and labored until it was time to come to the hospital. She rocked, walked and swayed her way through. She was so calm and collected, it was inspiring. Her water broke in the bathroom and 2 min later Katarina was born weighing almost 9 lbs. Her mamma was a small, thin woman. She literally did not push even once! It was a true testament to Mother Nature and reinforces my knowledge that there is NOTHING a woman's body can not handle. Trust...... it was the theme of the day. Trust her body to work and it will.......

Grand Opening Sale

People will buy ANYTHING!
Why do we spend SOOO much money buying things that are free? Don't know what I am talking about? Think about it....

• On the radio tonight I heard an add for radio and then I started thinking, why are people paying for HD radio, when radio is free?

• Then there is the billions of dollars we spend on bottled water every year.

• We buy DIRT, of all things, at the Home Depot!

• This last weekend I saw people paying money to sit at and Oxygen bar. Don't get me wrong, I am sure that Oxygen makes them feel refreshed and energized, much like going outside and taking a deep breath would!

I started trying to think how I could turn this new revelation into get rich quick scheme but I realized that all the good free stuff is already being packaged, marketed and sold at a premium. So I have decided to start selling peace of mind.

Grand Opening Sale! $19.99 a bushel for Peace of Mind.

Free Shipping if you order in time for Mother's Day!!

Cherry Blossom

We went to the Tidal Basin on Saturday to see the Kite festival and the Cherry blossoms. It was rainy and chilly. The cherry blossoms were goregeous. I remember them from when I was a little kid but it's been a long time. I want to go back one day this week if the weather is nice.

A Lawyer & Scientist Get Hitched!

So it wasn't untill last weekend in Amelia Island Florida that I realized what really makes a wedding perfect. It's not the ice sculptures, fancy dresses or even the band. It is truly the spirit of the day. And there couldnot have been a more perfect wedding for these two. Every single detail was a reflection of the love they shared. The bride had filled little funnles with flower petals to hang on every seat, her aunts and mother carefully created every boquet of orchids and NO detail was over looked. The photographer was fabulous (and I am pretty picky about photographers). It was such an honor to part of their special day.

Job Loss

We just found out that my position at work is being eliminated and they will no longer be offering Doula services. The financial impact on me is minimal because we were moving anyway. But the effect on my psyche is significant. It certainly leaves me (and the 12 other doulas) feeling undervalued and disposable, especially in light of the fact that there were no other layoffs at the hospital. It has been challenging to find the window God has opened as this door is being closed. Some of my coworkers have found it too painful and have chosen to walk away from this work. No one becomes a Doula to get rich and famous. We do it to help women transition into motherhood with grace, dignity and empowerment. We can blame the slumping economy, the fiasco of American Health care or the hospital administrators but it is truly a shameful day when hospitals tell women that it is no longer important that they get the best possible quality of care. Women have the right to informed, empowered birth options. This was one of the largest hospital based Doula programs on the East Coast and we have served thousands of people since the program began. My heart aches to think of the hard work, sweat and soul that was poured into this program by countless doulas over the years..... all wiped away with single stroke of the red pen. I hope that in my lifetime birth is viewed not as a means to ends but rather as a transformative journey to "motherland", a journey which we learn to support, mind body and soul.