No Longer "Doula'ing"

I have made one of the hardest choices of my life.  I've chosen not to be a Doula anymore.  Not that it's a problem but that it's an end of the chapter in my life.

2012 was "The Year From Hell" for our family.  Between my grandparents having health issues and all the other "joys" of having a family, we lost 2 babies of our own.  My husband and I had been trying for well over 3 years (pretty much since Quinton was 1).  We lost "Baby Casey" at 7 weeks.  It was a short pregnancy.  A well loved, much celebrated, completely perfect pregnancy.  And then we lost our sweet angel.

After we had waited 2 cycles and were allowed to start trying again we did.  And with no medical help whatsoever we got pregnant.  This time everything was watched and was wonderful.  Our baby grew so wonderfully, and was just perfect.  Somewhere between 16 weeks and 19 weeks something "went wrong".  My blood pressure went sky high (without me knowing) and things got harder and harder.  Our precious baby didn't survive.  Otis Gus Gilbert was born November 28th 2012 at 3:30am.  He was 20 cm long and 200 grams.  We were so upset.  Everyone kept saying "you can try again, it's ok".  Well it wasn't ok.  We now know that if we ever try again to have another baby, I will die. 

My family needs me more than we need a biological baby.

So here we are.  After waiting a few months (as everyone recommended) I've chosen to close down my Doula company.  I've loved every single birth I attended.  Every moment I spent with my clients.  It was such a blessing and such a wonderful experience.

If you do need a doula please feel free to contact me and I will try to set you up with someone in your area.

All the best

Miranda

Still here, but not

I'm still here. I'm still taking clients but I'm not blogging. I have found that things start to pile up in my life and I have to have a clear slate.

To be honest, I'm working on me this year! I need to heal up my arm before I can do anything and I need to focus on me getting healthy and being able to care for myself and eventually, you as a client.

This doesn't mean I won't take on clients but I'm not actively searching currently. If you are in need of a doula PLEASE let me know. I'll be glad to interview for you or pass you on to someone who can help you out.

Best of luck, love and happiness! I hope to be back soon.

Miranda

Hearts to Hands Doula Services

Chickenpox Vaccine: News!

I found this one on the internet this morning. What are your thoughts?

Chickenpox Vaccine: Canadian Kids should get 2 vaccines

More Sunscreen Help

Sunscreen Do's and Don'ts

Check it out!

Sun/Skin Care

You may not think about it but sun care is REALLY important! I'm such a fanatic about it. In fact, my kids are starting to get the hang of it now. We now have a process at our house. The kids get ready for school 5 minutes earlier. We get our teeth brushed, wash faces and hands, go potty (not in that order) and then the kids stand on the blocks. I put sun screen on their arms and the kids are big enough to rub it in themselves. And while they do that I handle the back of the neck, ears, face and anything else. We also make sure everyone has hats on (we even have spares in the house for guests). It's so important to us.

And it should be to you.

For children of different ages require different skin care. Generally here's how it works:

Newborn to 6 months - No sunscreen should be used. Make sure your babies are in protective clothing (ie long sleeve shirts if possible, pants, ect). Long clothing if possible. Also hats! Anything that has a bit of a brim is good to use. Consider keeping baby in the car seat and cover with a blanket if possible.

6 months and up - Now kids are able to use sunscreen safely. Slather that stuff on! If you think it's hard to figure out where it has been put on then use the kinds that "change colour". It goes on blue and changes to nothing once it has a few minutes to get on! Spray on sunscreen is nice. It's fast for those kids who are super quick. It helps alot. But I personally feel that buying sunscreen that is spray on is hit or miss. Sometimes its great, and sometimes it doesn't work. If you get it get the costly stuff. Also don't forget HATS!

If you are able to check out sunscreen try different kinds if needed. I had to get 3 different kinds to find ones that wouldn't make my oldest son's skin react. And it's not cheap either, which sucks. Remember to check the expiration date. Yes there is some on sunscreen (and bug spray, ect). Make sure you are using "current" sunscreen.

For my family we use the name brand from Shoppers Drug Mart and Coppertone for Kids.


Again.. hats, hats and more hats! I LOVE hats. The kids are always wearing them. We have ones with straps, ones without straps and I'm working on getting me a baseball cap! We love these hats:

Tilley Hats

We each have our own. I have a hemp hat; my husband has a Cotton hat; Kyler has a super old one (used to belong to a friend of the family, then my brother, and now Kyler); and Quinton has the kids version of the hats.

Dress Carefully! You and your kids.

Best of luck this summer and Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I want to say a special "Happy Mother's Day" to those of you who are moms right now. It's such a thankless job sometimes. I'm so grateful that you wonderful, incredible, and caring moms are out there raising your babies.

Happy Mother's Day to those of you who are "Mom's-to-be". Your job is so hard right now. As I once heard on an episode of Bones "You are creating new life, right now! I'm eating a muffin and you are creating a pancreas". I am in awe of what God can do inside the human body, and even more so of what Mothers-to-be can handle. Keep up the fabulous work!

For those of you "Moms" out there. You know who you are. Those who aren't pregnant. Those of you who have been trying longer than you ever thought it would take. Those of you who just want to give up sometimes. Seeing all those pregnant woman around you and just longing to do *anything* to be in their shoes. To those of you I wish the biggest "Happy Mother's Day" to you. You are the ones who are the most incredible "Aunties" out there. The most supportive friends and the ones who have it the hardest. As someone who has been there, and, even though I have babies now, are in that situation again, remember what an incredible heart you have. A heart that loves others, rejoices in their joys and is sadden with their hard times. Your heart is treasured the most among women. To those of you in this situation, Happy Mother's Day.

"New Mom Budgeting"

How great it is when you can budget? I mean personally, we do a David Ramsey Budget. It's great but takes alot of work sometimes. How do you budget?

This isn't "all" about budgeting. I actually read in interesting article on "New Mom Budgeting"

It is a great read and I think you should check it out:

New Mom Budgeting It is by one of my new favourite websites called Tight Bod with a Pod.

Enjoy.