Gotta love the government. I’m now at 2.5 weeks and I have yet to touch a computer. Yes, I know, my new job is all computer based, and I can’t do my job without it, but it’s a government job. I’ve been told I should have my access soon… maybe next week. Even then, it’s pretty slow right now so I’ll still probably be reading and reading and reading some more. Good news is that I’m already 5 weeks in for my reading for my class in the Fall. So if you ask me, I love my new job. I don’t do anything yet, but I love my new job. I’ll love it even more once I get paid for doing nothing too ; )

I’m sitting here SO tired – it just took me 3 hours, YES… 3 HOURS, to mow my lawn and my neighbors lawn. I had trees growing out back. Oh yes, trust me, it really looked NICE. Between the weather, my new job, aches and pains and other things, I just haven’t had the time or energy or ability to do it. Arthritis stinks sometimes.

So now I’m sitting here typing while watching the Baby Borrowers. If you haven’t heard of the concept, it’s “a social experiment where five teenage couples are on a fast-track to parenthood.” They are placed in 5 houses in Idaho and every 3 days or so are given a new life to be responsible for. From being honeymooners, pregnancy bellies, infant, toddlers, pre-teens, teens and elderly they saw the entire range of life in fast forward. In the end, none of the teens were able to make it through the experiment and stay together as a couple. I mention this because if you didn’t catch it on TV, I highly recommend you try to see it somehow. I’d LOVE to see it implemented in every high school across the country. What a difference it would make in the teen pregnancy rates! Tonight’s was the final episode, but you can go here to watch them online: http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/ I have to say out of all the “reality” TV out there, this is the most realistic and honest and worthwhile I’ve ever seen. Well done NBC. Really, a GREAT concept. If I can buy the set, I’m going to do so for my Doula Library. It should be required watching

Operation Flip The Cupcake!

Speaking of Doula, my next client (aka, SuperSeester!) is 36 weeks ; ) Only 4 or 6 more weeks to go! She found out the baby is breech so if everyone reading this can please say a little “Cupcake flipping prayer”, I’d be ever grateful. Here she is (in coral) at her Idaho baby shower this past Saturday:

 

Yes, 4 pregnant people one shower. All I have to say is that there really mustn’t be all that much to do in Idaho. Except,… well… you know…

I have to say being a doula for your sister is both an honor and a challenge. I’m torn between providing her with the information she needs to make good choices, supporting her emotionally and (fingers crossed that I get there in time) physically and the extreme terror that must be just what it’s like to be a husband or a partner when you love someone who is pregnant. I believe in and trust birth. I know in my head and heart that birth is safe and that women are born knowing what to do. Yet I am almost completely overcome with worry, concern, fear, hope, excitement, love, panic, terror and awe. I can not believe that my little sister, the one with pigtails, the one who should be riding her pony, out with her friends, skiing down a mountain and traveling the world, will soon have a little person to be responsible for, to love and care for, just like I am lucky enough to have. Seriously, it’s enough to freak a person the hell out. Part of me does NOT believe this is all actually happening and I swear to you its all a hoax. I am just so excited to become a real honest to goodness “Aunt Lu”. And yet theres another part of me as her sister, that wants to protect her and prepare her. I remember and know all about the late nights, lack of sleep, endless concern and worry, hard days and never ending diapers that await her and yet there is NOTHING that I can say that she will hear and understand… at least, not just yet. It’s amazing to me what happens in a course of 48 hours. The person you know and love is pregnant and 48 hours later the become a mother. In a matter of 48 hours or less they turn into a different person. COMPLETELY. The person they used to be will never be again and the person they are becoming are better than they’ve ever thought they’ll be. Supporting this, holding someone’s hand through this fragile new begining, being there to understand and comfort someone on BOTH sides of the brick wall… THIS is why I am a doula and practicing or not, always will be one in my heart. I love that transformation, as scary as it is, I say BRING IT ON.

Flip IT, Cupcake.

Anyhow…

Other than all that, Evan has been sick. He was running a temperature of 103.2 last night and the fever broke once last night at 11:00pm but came back again this morning. I have to say one of the scariest things is to have a child shivering on the hottest night of the year under blankets while simultaneously being ON FIRE. He was burning up. I thought the thermometer was broken and so I took my own temperature… normal. He’s not ever been that sick, so I was completely freaked out. God love his StepMommy – the first thing out of her mouth when I called was, “I know you just started your new job. I’m home tomorrow. Please let me watch him.” She is a saint. Seriously, if I’d been married to her AND the Ex, I may still have been married. She’s wonderful. I’m very lucky. Anyhow Dr. says it’s a virus and that it could take up to 3 days to go away. His temp tonight was 103.4, I’m still worried.

So much to do, so little time… This weekend I’ve got a friend playing at The Bistro on Thursday, Dinner with CRA’s friends AltonBrown and his wife, Saturday is The BSO does Zepplin, Sunday StaciesMommy is throwing a Venzuellan Baby Shower so I’m going with CRA’s mom. The beach is 15 days away and I leave for Idaho in 26 days. Crazy busy until then though… Just trying to get geared up for September – 3 weddings, grad school, First grade starts, lots of good stuff.

I’ll check in when I can… Hang tight. The lack of a computer can’t be forever ; )
Lauren