The Plateau

I told our language teacher this week that I feel like I've reached this plateau in my language skills... I can understand the jist of most conversations, although maybe not interpret in its entirety (which of course leads to misunderstandings)... but what I find most frustrating is my inability at times to form what I want to say into Visaya to respond... Example: Today while walking home from the clinic I rounded the corner to a side street I take and an older guy approached me and asked me if I wanted to come home with him... I pretended to not understand and politely said Good afternoon and walked on... I find that if I walk with 'purpose' people tend to be less "friendly"... As I neared my house the warehouse workers were unloading boxes and starting teasing one of the guys that his wife was walking down the street... they were teasing him (although they said nothing to me)... I wanted to say a few words to both these guys today... but was unable to form a sentence fast enough... course maybe in these situations that's better... but in other situations it would be nice to be able to think on my feet (in the language I want to speak in!) So praying that I have a break through in my language skills SOON!

Fun Photos...

Meggie 'given sum luvin'!

Ready to eat it!

Mama given Sam some luvin!

There's a lot of luvin in this family!

Showin off them big ol luscious lips!

Showin off my smile

Peek a boo!

Handsome goober

A lovely pair!

More cuteness!

Mama said there'd be days like this...

Forgive me if this post makes no sense... it's currently almost 3 am and I have had less than 3 hours sleep in what seems like a long time... I'm too tired to figure out how many hours... I worked a day shift and a night shift yesterday... then this morning I wasn't able to sleep from the pain in my leg (I have these lovely blood clots)... anyway.. figured it was finally time to see a doctor about it... for me this is a big deal because I avoid doctors like the plague... (how ironic that I will be working for one)... anyway... The DR offices here are open like 2 hrs or 4 in a day... so I went and was seen, then went to the lab for more blood work... got home, ate, then was almost asleep when it was time for our herb class... Came home, ate dinner, went out for supplies to make yogurt for the kids for in the morning... was just about to start the yogurt when I got a text from my continuity saying she was in labor and was it ok to come to Mercy.... YES! Every night when I am exhausted I usually pray that my conts don't go at night... but this one I was so excited... Her first baby died after only living 4 days... no real reason given... she was fearful and apprehensive for this baby... So I quickly made yogurt with Joe and set it to 'set' for the 6 hours it needed then grabbed a shower and headed to work...
It was a great labor, great birth... little shoulder dystocia, little trouble 'starting up'... LOTS of prayer and a great big baby boy later... we are celebrating the arrival of Al Gave Real... yep that really is his name! His mom is sooo happy! She told me that she was really going to miss me... sniff sniff... sweetest thing anybody's ever said... I so love what I do..... I love helping women overcome their fears and fall in love with the miracle in front of them! God is so amazing!
So... why am I still up? Only another 10 minutes and I can get the yogurt out of the warmth and put it in the cold... :) And I particularly am enjoying hearing the rats run around in my ceiling... haha.. not! Least they're up there and not down here!

Interesting..

I just liked this shot... pay attention to the detail... in front you have a nice new pick up... you have a dingy cement wall... shacks... in the background you see nice new places... and a coconut tree to show you are in the tropics... Just thought it was interesting... :)

Reality

This may be hard to comprehend.. but this is real... the reality here in the Philippines for those with limited access to health care.... Imagine being 31 and hearing that the lumps growing in your breast for the past several months have grown too big... they are attatched to your bones... they have erupted through the skin... You have several children who depend on you... but what now... you have only a few months to live... This is the case of a patient that visited Dr Sam on Saturday... brought in by a worker from the tribal villages... In the same day he saw three women from the same area with breast issues... one just had fibrocystic tissue... 'keep an eye on'... another had a lump that had grown to the size of a big orange in just a few months... He changed the plans for the day and prepped her for a masectomy... the other is the patient I described first... all were young... to us they still have so much of their life ahead of them! Most know that 'something' isn't right... but they lack access and/or funds to do something about it. Another 'in my face' reminder that yes... what we are working towards is for a reason... not just an 'experience' to have... not a 'mission'.... but to serve people and offer them medical care and resources to further treatment in the name of Christ... "For I was thirsty and you gave me a drink... I was hungry and you fed me... " Matthew 25:35...

MR. Frank Breech...

Title is in honor of Kendra... (Who is so fun to work with.. specially at night when we're sleep deprived!) Anyway...
I sat down to write this blog oh... about 4 hours ago... In the meantime I broke up fights between my 3 darling youngest children who decided that since they don't get to go to the Martial Arts Class with the older 4... they would just practice on eachother! Nice... :/ Then lets see... I sat down with my coffee and no sooner had I turned my computer back on then our helper Heide came in to tell me that there was no more Shellane (gas) for our stove... Since Joe was out with the kids and the guys who can deliver Shellane were out... what to do?? We are Alaskans and missionaries... so no worries... we just built a fire in the driveway and cooked over the fire... Hamburgers AND french fries! Yum!
Anyway.. back to the title.. Last night I had a feeling it was going to be busy... mostly because I brought my computer thinking I would knock out a book report and some homework... And.. because I forgot snacks and only brought ONE packet of coffee... All this combined would logically make me conclude that it would be busy..
So.. we were endorsed a couple labors... My gal was having her 4th baby so no worries right? Then MG got a G1 who was a little freaked out that labor was hurting so much and taking so long... As soon as we finished up endorsements another labor walked in the door... another G4.... The same cm's as my labor... KC took her and we declared a race between the two to see who would deliver sooner... Dips was on my gal as she seemed more active than KC's...
So... ya with me still... 3 labors... Then another labor came in.. This time our supervisor (a midwife visitng from the states that used to work at MMC) took her... Upon IE, it was determined she was breech and an immediate transport was necessary... specially when she had SROM (her water broke) as we walked out the door... which meant we had to do the whole stretcher routine... Since our supervisor couldn't leave the birth room I volunteered to head to the hospital with the breech gal... As we're driving to the hospital I told God that I really wanted to see a breech born... (ok I was whining)... not that I wanted to deliver this particular gals breech since it was her first baby and we were in a moving ambulance... but the funny thing was I felt so clearly that God told me I would see a breech... and soon!
So... gal #4 was transported with no complications and I returned to hear that my labor felt like pushing... AND both other labors were also pushing... Ok.. no worries right... The supervisor asked me if I wanted to assist KC's gal since there was BOW visible (Bag of Waters)... I said that I would rather chart as that was I could sit between the cubicles and keep an eye on my labor who was starting to push (although wasn't 'serious' yet). There was SROM a minute or two later on KC's gal... and a little squirt of poo went flying after... KC turned to look back at the woman and found herself staring at a little scrotal sac and penis! Oops... :) Breech!! And no time for transport. Amazingly all midwives stayed calm, we set up resuscitation equipment in case the need arose... got all things prepared, gathered more towels, ect... then just watched the baby slowly emerge... a litte more.. little more... Amazing how they can stick those feet up over their heads like that! At about umbilicus the baby's feet were helped out, arms were made sure they were down and out... then in a slow, steady motion upwards the baby's head popped out... baby out!! Safe and sound the little guy was! A/S was 5/7 (for those midwives out there)... Only a couple puffs with PPV and he was good to go.
Ok... so... that didn't end the night... My patient had a very long, very interesting delivery as did MG's... And my patient ended up delivering LAST... Almost 3 hours after she had originally started pushing (she rested for the hour while the breech was born)... BUt eventually a nice healthy 9 lb baby made its way into the world! (This is exceptionally large for a filipina... although her last baby was over 9lbs)... The baby's head was slighly cockeyed (not straight) in the birth canal... which is part of what held up the head from coming down at a normal rate.
Anyway... it was an amazing night... so blessed to see a normal breech delivery! Now if I can add twins under my belt.... ;) Someday...
Ok.. that's it for today... I'm kapoy ka'ayo!!! (VERY tired)!

Sweetness

This is a few pics of my continuity that went to 441/2 weeks pregnant... That's over 10 months! :) Actually it was inaccurate dates... I delivered her baby earlier this year in January... then again on the last day of the year... Two babies in one year! She's the sweetest thing ever... works like mad to help provide for her family... in fact she went back to work with the baby only 5 days old... But.. instead of formula feeding, she was convinced to pump this time... so hoping this works out for her as its so much cheaper! Well.. enjoy... totally sweet.