ANNOUNCEMENT:

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As of 2:30pm yesterday afternoon...we are officially on Spring Break. 

3_dwarfs1

Not a moment too soon!  Spring Break for us always falls the week before Easter, Holy Week. I cannot tell you how excited we are to have 10 whole days of free time! At the beginning of the school year,  I really underestimated the time commitment it would require from me to succsessfully get two girls through First Grade, and Kinder-Prep.

Hannah_confluence1

Before, I used to daydream about what it would be like when they went off to school. Yes, I would miss them, but also I would have all this free time to myself. I would workout, have coffee with friends, read more, sew more, bake more, etc.  I was sure that my house would be a lot cleaner and that I would enjoy grocery shopping (without them) more.  Well it has turned out that this is definitely not the case.

Laurel_at_confluence1

Instead, I am packing lunches, ironing uniforms (after fishing them out of the laundry...the knee socks being the trickiest to find), driving here and there and everywhere, volunteering in their classes, practicing spelling words before dinner, reading after, on and on. It has made me appreciate the down time a whole lot more.  Every now and then, there are tiny little whispers in my head asking, "Would it be different if we home schooled?" 

Emma_at_confluence1

So, our Spring Break starts out with a much anticipated visit from my best friend from school.  She and I have had little visits here and there, but never the opportunity to share as much time as the whole weekend together.  She arrives this afternoon. Next, we are taking a little trip to see my Dad.  The Pacific Science Center is on the "to do" list.  We have birthdays, two very important birthdays! And who could forget Easter? 

Back_to_the_beach1

Friends, field-trips, celebrating, lots of laying around and giggling, naps, long lingering breakfasts, afternoon walks, maybe some crafting?  Spring Break, we love you!

review

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I am sorry for all of you out there who aren't really interested in this topic...but I really have birth on the brain right now! I officially have my own "on call" days at the birth center now.  Before, I would just pop in whenever one of my students invited me to be their Douala in labor.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon in training-- going over the emergency procedures with the other assistants at the birth center.  I learned things like how to prime an IV bag, how to draw up pitocin and methergine in syringes for postpartum bleeding, how to switch the regulators on the 02 tanks and how to set them up.  It reminded me that out of hospital birth is really safe for low risk candidates. I already knew this for myself...but it confirmed to me that we are indeed equipped to handle emergencies.

The conversation amongst my company turned to this movie.

The Business of Being Born

It is the movie that Ricki Lake produced called, "The Business of Being Born".  It is now available for viewing via Netflix.  You can either have them send you the dvd or just stream it on your computer- which is what I did last night (I just signed up for the free trial offer and planned to cancel after the trial period was over.)  It was riveting.  I felt as though it perfectly articulated all of my frustrations with the way we handle obstetrics in this country.  I highly recommend watching it and I highly recommend that you get your friends to watch it.  It is very thought provoking and sweet at the same time.  There are several births shown..c-section and otherwise.  I have a hard time watching the sections.  Gruesome.  All in all, a great documentary about the state of birth in our country and what some women are doing about it.  Watch it and let me know what you think!