Back to school.

I'm normally pretty excited about school, but this morning sickness nightmare has made getting through the day almost unbearable. And adding school back on top of everything isn't something I was prepared for. We tried to plan it so that I was in the second trimester as this semester started...but we all know that didn't work out.

Classes officially started on Monday and I am taking quite the intense load this spring. I am working to finish my Psychology minor and will be done doing so just in time for baby. I was fortunate enough to get each of my 4 courses online...but that sure doesn't mean they are any easier. I am currently taking a Philosophy course and three Psychology classes (Abnormal, Personality, and Human Relations). Two of my psych classes are upper division courses so this load would have been intense even if I weren't sick and busy being a mommy and caregiver.

On a quick education note, I decided against doing the Direct-Entry Midwife courses. Instead, I've decided to pursue the Certified Nurse Midwife option! As soon as I graduate from nursing school, I will embark on a two-year path to getting my Masters in Midwifery! There are a few schools that allow you to get your Master's online, but Levi is being overly supportive and is giving me free range to decide our living situation. We may just move out of state for me to work on this journey when the time comes.

And onto my little man!

I found some wonderful preschool books for Lucas at Target. Although they are rated for ages 3-5, he is doing wonderful!!


I think I've created a monster because all my child wants to do anymore is school work. He's come in to our room before the sun has risen on a few occasions yelling, "I want to do homework, please!"

He caught on so fast to these books and we completed one in just three days! The second one we are working on is a lot of fun and he loves finding the images to circle.

This was one of my favorite pages that we did recently. I just love the sloppy color work!


At least Lucas' homework is exciting! Mine is full of lots of reading and discussion board posts (which are quite annoying when everyone in my class writes as if they are still in high school). I'm happy to escape my busy load every day to help him. Wish us both luck!

Personalized Birth

When I mentioned to Levi a few weeks ago of my desire to birth outside of the hospital this time around, he was surprisingly supportive! I thought that he would have a difficult time with this concept, but instead has attended multiple consultations with me to meet some of the local midwifery companies.

We have narrowed it down to two different places, One Family Birth Center and Birthways Midwifery (which consists of three midwives who have recently branched off from One Family to begin their own practice) Unfortunately, I am having a far more difficult time deciding than I imagined I would. I have a list of pro's and con's with each place and I feel that where one company lacks, the other prevails....and vice versa. I hope to make a final decision by this week or next so that we can begin their wonderful and personalized prenatal care.

With both places Levi and I will be in complete control of our care from day one. Anything that we choose to have done we can have, and anything that we feel is unnecessary will be left out. It is OUR care, and we personalize it to fit our needs.

Although I have not narrowed down which set of midwives I am going to work with, I have decided on a number of aspects that I wish to be different this time around. I had an amazing birthing experience with Lucas and feel that I want the second to be even more personalized and precious.

Here are my top priorities for birth #2:

* I am really leaning on a home birth. When I was younger I always though that women who birthed at home were crazy, but this is now something that I want to experience for myself. If for some reason we decide against being at home, we have decided on a birthing center (which is just a cozy room with a bed, tub and fire place!) I have no intentions of going back to the hospital until my baby is born.

* I would like to attempt a water birth. This was something I was very interested in doing last time around, but I was so far along when I made it to the hospital that nature just took its course. Both companies offer tub rentals to set up in the home.

* I am going to delay the cutting of the cord until the placenta is expelled. Studies have showed wonderful benefits to allowing the newborn to reincorporate the blood from the placenta back into his or her own blood supply. Not only does it help to regulate breath rate, heart rate and body temperature, but it also reduces the risk of jaundice.

* I want Lucas present. By birthing at home Lucas will be in a familiar environment where he can come and go as he pleases. The midwives all spoke positively of having older siblings involved and said that they are always wonderful during births. I can already envision Lucas hoping into the pool with me to admire the baby once it's out!

* And finally, and most importantly, I want for either myself or Levi to catch the baby. I don't feel there is any reason that our hands can't be the first to touch and welcome our baby into this world. Both companies are entirely supportive of this notion and in fact, they highly recommend it!

I'm not sure if having an existing child already has made me feel the need to take more control, but I have complete faith in my body and its natural process of bringing a life into this world. I had a great labor and delivery experience at the Alaska Native Medical Center, but I feel strongly in my desire to do things a bit differently this time around. If natural midwifery care is what I am striving to achieve in my personal/professional life, I suppose I had better practice what I preach!

Certified Nurse Midwife

I've figured it all out. My career that is!

I have always had a love of pregnancy and birth stories and a few months ago I expressed my interest in becoming a certified lactation consultant. Levi's uncle refereed me to his wife's midwife, and I have spent some time researching into midwifery since then.

There are two types of midwifes, Direct-Entry Midwifes and Certified Nurse Midwifes. The Direct Entry pathway does not require any nursing education and primarily works in out-of-the-hospital settings. A Certified Nurse Midwife are those educated in both nursing and midwifery and who can practice in hospitals, birth centers, and at home.

I cannot think of a better career for myself than working with women through pregnancy, labor, birth and during the postpartum period...all while promoting natural and healthy births!

I have found a midwifery program here in Alaska that works similar to a distance course, with an added apprenticeship program in the community. I have been in contact with the founder of the program and have been talking it over with Levi for a few days now. This program certifies in the non-nursing midwifery aspect, which is the only thing making me hesitant. But, I am absolutely in love with the curriculum! The entire course is broken down into 54 modules- all of which fascinate me. The first unit begins with the history and study of midwifery, ethics, law, etc. and then we would jump into antepartum: all about pregnancy, nutrition, herbology and then some! We would also have lessons on labor, birth complications, pharmacology, and all things postpartum. There would then be numerous units on newborn care, breastfeeding, skills, complications, neonatal resuscitation, etc. I know that I definitely want to go the advanced route since my nursing degree is finally within reach, but I think this could be a great start to my ultimate goals!

The school is reasonably priced and because you work at your own pace, I think that I could really incorporate this into my current studies. I would love to complete such a program by the time I graduate from nursing school...how ideal would that be?! But I guess the real question is "can I do this?" Can I really attend two colleges while doing daycare and raising my own two children?? Since I was a teenager I feel like I've always been testing my limits with work and school, but I truly feel that this is what I was meant to do! There is nothing else that better incorporates my love for science, babies, and pregnancy.

I really think I can do this! And just as importantly, so does Levi. He thinks this would be a wonderful career for me. Not only would I passionately enjoy what I do, but I would be contributing significantly to our household income. I think it's important to stay home and complete school while the children are young, but I definitely see myself jump starting this fantastic career once they are in school.

I can do this, I know I can.