Love Your Neighbor

Lindsey and I transformed our roof top into a home theater and had our neighbor kids come over for a movie last night! These kids have been such a blessing to have around. Whenever I came home from work they come running. I love to just sit and talk with them. Sometimes they walk with me to pick up my laundry and of course we stop for a candy on the way home. They call me Ate Kayla or Ate Kay Kay, which means older sister. On Valentines Day they hand made me cards in the shape of hearts with little drawings of us together. It is always so comforting to see their smiling faces.

Rica, Rina, Roda, Roy and Kim- Their mom is butas(pegnant) now and should be having her baby any day. They are hoping for a boy so that the family will be even. They each have a name they want the baby to have, but they are keeping it a secret!

I Lyka Lyka You!

On March 20th I was the primary midwife for the birth of a beautiful baby girl. It was a beautiful birth and I was able to pray for her as I laid my hands upon her crowning head and brought her into the world. Her parents named her Lyka, that is Filipino for Kayla and asked me to be her Godmother! The Pictures below are from her newborn exam when she was three days old. Children are a blessing from the Lord.

Desprate Midwives!

The Filipino midwives left us to look after the birth center for five days while they went on vacation. So we managed births and home decorating all at the same time. While they were away we cleaned, painted and restored the whole down stairs. This is the living quarters for the Philippians midwives. We also sleep and shower here when we are on call. Here are the before and after pictures from our home make over!

From an island half way around the world, inside a exciting birth center set in the hills of Antipolo Tickling Junction five midwives rise up ready for a change. They will stop at nothing. No labors , deliveries, soap scum or dead bugs will get in their way.

LINDSEY tackling the soap scum!
Painting (I want to make my Grandma Proud!)
SHARON Where do we begin???
BECKA AND MELINDA weapons of war!

BEFORE & AFTER PICS

Our Before and After Picture, not as cute as the room!

Confidence Restored

I did not blog about my first attempt at suturing because it was such a humbling experience. It was a first hand education in "things are harder then they look" and I failed. I was not upset that I could not do it, there were many contributing factors like; only having one hemostat, having to use my fingers to grasp the needle, the apex of the tear was very deep, the mother was in pain and many other things. There was a lot going against a first time student that has only practised on pig's feet. I feel it is totally understandable that I did not complete the suturing. What upset me the most is that I gave up, kind of. I got scared and asked the experienced midwife to take over. I usually push though and complete what I start, I try to overcome my fears. For that split moment in time I lost confidence in myself and that is what worries me. I still do not understand why. Normally I can take a deep breath, but I did not even think to do that. I walked away a little surprised by myself and actions, thinking this is totally not like me. At the same time I knew everything was justified and I could not let it bring down my confidence or prevent me from trying again. On Monday, three days later I attempted again with great success and that is the time I wanted to blog about, but know you know the rest of the story!

Shiphrah Birth Center

Some Pictures of me at work. Life is beautiful!

More Than A Savior

They asked me to accept Jesus as my Savior and I did, but that is not enough for me. How can I accept only part of this awesome God who loves all of me? My Savior, is so much more to me. He is my friend, counselor, master, father, helper, teacher; my everything, name above all names. I need Jesus to be with me as I live not just to save me when I die. If all I needed was a Savior, a payment for my sins I would not need Him to be with me always. And that is His promise, He is Immanuel. I believe the bread of life is not to be just consumed for eternal life, so lets eat!

Baby Steps

Can you believe that I have already worried about what my next step will be??? I can, only because I think it is kind of human nature or at least my nature to worry and wonder. Where will it be, what will it look like, how will it work??? I want to know it all in detail and prepare myself for what is coming up. God being faithful as he is as reminded me that I already know my next step. My next step is the same as it has and will always be. My next step is to LISTEN AND OBEY.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this command I gave them: "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in the way that I command you, that it may be well with you."

Can I Be Your Superman?

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 80% Wonder Woman 80% The Flash 70% Spider-Man 60% Supergirl 60% Robin 60% Iron Man 60% Green Lantern 55% Hulk 30% Catwoman 30% Batman 20%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

What Kayla Wakes Up At 4am

Yep it is true I am enjoying the early hours of dawn much like my grandfather has done for years and years. He sets a good example, but it is not purely by choice. I am working in a birth center called Shiprah in Antipolo city. To get there we walk from our house to the main road then take a one hour jeepney ride to Tickling Junction then walk another 10 minutes or so to the clinic. My shift starts at 6am so we have to leave the house before 5am so I have to get up at 4am! Shiphrah is a ministry ran by a couple who are also originally from Montana, but have been in the Philippines over 20 years. They also run a children's home for orphans waiting for adoption next door to the clinic. Shiphrah is the name of one of the two midwives who feared the Lord and did his will in Exodus 1:1-22.

Lindsey and I work on the same team and work 48 hour shifts from 6am Thursday to 6am Saturday and 24 hour shift from 6am Monday to 6am Tuesday and a 24hour shift every other Sunday. The clinic offers prenatal check ups every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and usually have over 100 woman under their care at a time.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ME READING A 422 PAGE BOOK ON BREASTFEEDING. I ACTUALLY FINISHED IT!

THE LIVING ROOM THAT CONVERTS INTO A BED ROOM WHEN THE LABOR BEDS ARE FULL AND WE ARE TIERED THE KITCHEN WHICH I TRY TO SPEND AS LITTLE TIME IS AS POSSIBLE. IT IS ANT INFESTED AND LAST TIME I OPENED A CUPBOARD AT 2AM A CAT JUMPED OUT AT ME. I ALMOST DIED.
ONE OF THE THEE BIRTH ROOMS. THEY EACH HAVE TWO BEDS IN THEM. THEY ARE SIMPLE BUT WORK PERFECT AND ARE MUCH NICER AND BIGGER THEN IF A WOMAN WHERE TO GIVE BIRTH AT HOME.

First on the First

On the first of March I had my first catch! A baby boy named JM. His mother had been laboring very well all day long and then late in the evening we heard she was crowning all of a sudden and JM was out only minutes later. We barely had time to set up the room. I also delivered the placenta and did 3rd stage management. Lindsey was on the baby and gave him his shots and got him all cleaned up. He is very precious. The next day I did his newborn exam and bath. Then they came back on Monday and I did a postpartum check up on him and the mother. The pictures of Me and JM and JM with his older brother where taken on Monday so he is 4 days old. We had five births on out last shift and three with only two hours of sleep. Our first birth we had to use a vacuum extractor because the baby was presenting cephalic posterior and the mother had an anterior abdominal enterocele. All babies where born healthy, mothers and families are doing well.

Something Profound

Maybe all I need is a good pen so I can get these words out of my head and on to a page. I want to say something profound and sometimes I write the words down. But mostly it just sounds better in my head. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<3

Lindsey and I are pretty much obsessed with our banana pancakes. If there is a day off there is going to be banana pancakes!

Born At Night

Woken by a door bell
In the middle of the night
So I can tippy-toe barefoot
Across the hardwood floors
I am growing up in this moment
At night when most are resting their sleepy heads
It would not be the same if people where awake to see
Watchful eyes can create boundaries
Life is intimately woven and perfectly created
She looks deep into my eyes
For strength and courage
Holds tightly to my hands
For reassurance and peace
I am scared and so is she
But she is brave and so am I
We draw strength from one who is greater
I give freely of all that I have
As love is made flesh before me
I feel like an infant
Although I know I'm somewhere in between
And as I mother this mother
I wish my own where here to comfort me
She always knows how to do it so perfectly
Like a new born babe not ready to be weaned
I need you still to nurture me
I am spreading my wings over this world
And I know my life is being written
In moments like this
As a watch the bond of mother and child before me
A family made complete
Love meeting face to face
I only begin to understand
The unconditional love you have given to me
And still at 21 a young lady growing older all I can say is
I Love You Mommy

A Song For Cami

Cami-- Your faithfulness to God is a testimony to everyone around you.

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever

Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God

The everlasting God

You do not faint

You won’t grow weary

You’re the defender of the weak

You comfort those in need

You lift us up on wings like eagles