So Long 2014

Apparently, it's been a busy year-- I have only 4 posts total from 2014. I'm not keeping up with ScotkaLife like I had hoped! As always, the end of the year is a time of reflection and recap, remembering our adventures, memories, and feeling lucky and thankful for everything in my life.

Nathan headed to UTSA in August (Mechanical Engineering is the plan) and Kelsey returned to St Edwards for her 3rd year (she finally has a major- Kinesiology!) Tones and I officially became "empty nesters"... I thought it was going to be sad, but we adjusted well, I started cleaning the house like crazy (apparently that is what empty nesting really is...) Enjoying the quiet, the clean house, and the time together. (Although with my schedule, teaching 15-20 classes a month, there are a lot of evenings/weekends Tones has time to himself!)

Kelsey turned 21 in October-- a major milestone for all of us! She chose to celebrate by welcoming family, friends, and neighbors to our house for a non-traditional 21st birthday party, complete with food, crafts and a bonfire. (She did eventually head out with a friend to go dancing, a more traditional celebration). I couldn't be more proud of the young woman she has become. She "nannied" full time this past summer and has matured so much... she's into health, nutrition, fitness, yoga, meditation. She loves her "hippie" clothes and style, heavily influenced by her India trip this summer with school. She lives with her roomie Tiffany in an off campus apartment (still funded by mom and dad) but has proven herself to be competent to run a home and manage school and a job! (Her dream job is walking distance from her apartment-- Thundercloud)

Our summer adventure this year included a road trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We rented a "cabin" nearby-- really a house with over 2,000 sq ft, plenty of space for all of us to spread out, a full kitchen, game room, etc. We spent our week hiking in the mountains, exploring the area, bike riding, and enjoying the local cuisine (mountain trout!)

We "adopted" a friends dog who could no longer keep her. Honey is a white lab, now almost 9 years old, has been quite an addition to our family. She and Shadow are now great friends, playing and snuggling together. She's such a sweet, loving dog... we've had her almost a year now, and I couldn't imagine our household without her! We still have Milo the cat too-- Kelsey's kitty. I'm in charge of all the "leftovers" now.

As I look back on my life professionally, I feel thankful to all the families who invited me into their lives to attend their births, or to assist in their postpartum. Working with moms, dads, and babies gives me constant joy, and no matter how "bad" the hours sometimes get, the rewards are soooo much bigger. And I have such great doula friends, women who love the same work I do, and have such passion for keeping birth beautiful in our culture. I'm truly blessed to have this circle around me.

So goodbye 2014, hello 2015, I look forward to all you have to bring! 

UTSA Orientation Days

After 2 full days at UTSA's parent orientation (student orientation was 3 days) I feel fully indoctrinated into the RoadRunner family. I attended orientation too at St Ed's 2 years ago but not knowing at all what to expect, went through like a sheep-- we were a little more prepared this time, not feeling like "newbie" college parents (I've dropped a kid off at a dorm before, been there, done that...) but of course this will be a very different experience for many reasons.

Nathan's incoming freshman class is over 5,000 students. St Edwards entire student population is over 5,000 students. Need I say anything more. However we were pleasantly surprised, it didn't feel too big or impersonal, in fact, we made friends with orientation leaders, staff and other parents. I think I know my way around campus (pretty well) I have a general idea of what's ahead for Nate and the many resources he has for help, academic support, entertainment/social life, food (hello 7 days a week meal plan!) and hopefully-- housing. (He's going to be about 2 hours away, while Kelsey was only 30 minutes from home.)

We didn't see much of Nate (or when we did, he pretended we did not exist) so I have yet to hear what he's thinking and feeling. I hope he's a little less nervous and a lot more excited about his transition to college life.

In only a couple weeks we'll be packing up and heading to San Antonio for a dorm drop off. And yes-- I've dropped a kid off at a dorm before. It wasn't tear free then, and it won't be tear free now. Take a leap my little Roadrunner, spread those wings and fly...

"Mee Beep".....

 Home from orientation. I think he had a good time.

From Baby to Man

Such a Happy Baby!

A Budding Musician

Cruise pictures- Our 25th Anniversary!!

Nate turns 18

18 years ago, my second child was born. His birth was so different from his sister's. As is he.

I had already started my journey as a childbirth educator and doula. I had read Ina May's "Spiritual Midwifery" and "The Birth Book" by William Sears. Although I had inadvertently given birth naturally with Kelsey, I was "armed" with much more knowledge and power this time. I "knew" what I wanted. I discussed my birth "plan" with my midwife team and prepared for a non-medicated, natural birth in our local hospital.

My water broke around 11pm with a gush. I remember shaking and trembling violently-- hormones, anxiety, adrenaline? It was a short time from when my water broke to birth with Kelsey so we called the hospital and rushed in. And then... waited....

By morning still no labor. The day shift checked my cervix-- 2-3 cm which was exactly what it had been previously at the office. Regretfully, I agreed that it didn't look like I was headed into labor and agreed to start a pitocin induction at 8:30am. I don't remember what rate they started it, but I started having frequent, long (2 minute) contractions immediately. The nurse commented "Whoa, we better pull that back!" Within 30 minutes, I was in labor.

I remember doing ok, getting a check at some point and being told I was 6cm and I was thinking "This isn't awful"... with Kelsey I had awful back labor, so this seemed manageable. But Nathan didn't love the pitocin and they needed to do an internal monitor. (Another intervention I wasn't super excited about, but agreed was needed.) It seemed like soon after that, things got really intense. It was overwhelming, I was rocking while sitting up in bed, chanting "Ow, Ow, Ow" while my sweet husband, who was fluent in Lamaze tried to correct me. "Hee Hee Hee Hoo". I then said they hurt like a Mother...F..... and I believe he turned to my mom and said "She's in transition". Whatever.

Then... I needed to push. I was on my side and yelled "He's coming, somebody catch him!" I was worried he'd come out so fast he'd shoot right off the bed. Luckily, the same midwife who caught Kelsey raced in, and calmly coached me thru the last few moments, with my foot on her shoulder. He shot out at 1pm.

He was a great nurser from moment one (unlike his sister) he was an easy baby (unlike his sister) and slept 5-6 hrs during the night within the first week or so (unlike his sister). Our sweet boy filled out quickly, from 6.5 lbs at birth to 10 lbs at a month. (My mom called him Tub O Lard). Our Michelan Man Baby. He laughed easily, loved his sister to pieces. He was a mommy's boy, no one try to give that kid a bottle!

As he grew, we've loved watching him become a sweet, tender, giving boy, he had an aptitude for Legos at an early age, building and creating. He has always loved school and done well-- kind to both teachers and fellow students. Even as he reached his teen years, his toughest moments have been when he's waited too long to eat and he gets grumpy from low blood sugar. Once we feed him, he's generally a pretty amiable guy. He has always been a lover of animals, and got "his" dog Shadow at 10 years old. They are the best of friends.

He got big-- muscles came from weight training, towering over Mom (which he thinks is hilarious) and grew hair-- he's got a beard! I've seen my baby boy grow into a man. But he's still one of the most kind, thoughtful, giving people I've met in my life, and I'm really proud to be his mom.

Happy 18th Birthday my sweet baby boy.

(Nathan on his 18th birthday at Clear Springs Cafe in New Braunfels for their famous onion rings)

Happy New Year- Reflections of 2013

It's become tradition that I post a reflection of 2013, which is great for posterity and myself in seeing how we've grown and changed over time.
Shelley
I turned 46 this year (I thought I was only turning 45 so thanks Mom for reminding me) celebrating with friends downtown (see earlier post), attended a record number of births (33) plus 3 more thanks for my partner doula Allison who takes call for me 3 days a month now! I have a thriving doula business -- doing the work that I love. I also supported families all year during their postpartum period, and taught plenty of childbirth classes, all of which give me great joy. I've committed myself to self care, a lesson which took many years to learn. So eating well, doing yoga, regular massages (thanks Sally) and chiropractor adjustments are keeping me healthy and happy and feeling good! I spend a lot of time cleaning up messes, grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning up meals, but in between I try to take time to enjoy my wonderful family and friends with both quiet time and loud parties!

AJ (Tones)
Still works for the Texas Education Agency, doing some kind of software engineering stuff, which I don't really understand but he seems to love it and from what everyone tells me, he's good at it. He's also on the board for ASQ, a quality engineer association, so gets to hang out with those who actually understand what he does. He loves mountain biking and taking care of this house (never ends). He spends way too much time in front of a computer for my taste but I still love the guy. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary this year (holy guacamole) with a tropical cruise! We sold the boat this year, so I am looking forward to whatever adventures are ahead of us especially as the house gets quieter (Fall 2014, see below)

Kelsey
Turned 20 and is in her second successful year at St Edwards. She chose a major! Kinesiology! She also has committed herself to self care, eating well, exercising, doing yoga, and meditation. She has blossomed into a beautiful (inside and out) young woman who is really finding herself. She worked as a lifeguard over the summer at Volente Beach, babysits for many of my friends and clients, and is hoping to do a trip through school to India next year!

Nathan:
Turns 18 in a little over a month! Finally got his drivers license and his first car this year, to my great relief. (Tired of taxi mom), took his first college class and got his first job. He's grown physically into a big guy-- loves weight training at school, and eats us out of house and home (thank you Costco and Sams) but also loves his video games. He and his band "Something Like That" use our game room for practice most Friday nights. He's planning to graduate this May and attend UTSA in the fall!