Answers To Tuesdays Thoughts

Well, this was not good. If you checked here earlier there was nothing on the page.....DUH!!!!! That is what happens when you try to pre-post and it doesn't work. Not very smart!!!!!!
Ok, answers to the questions that I posed on Tuesday this week.
1- Did you complete your resolutions that you made this year? The answer to that would be.....NOT!!!!
- I didn't get to sign up for the race I was really hoping to go back and do in Myrtle Beach in 2010.
-I didn't lose the weight that I have fought all year. (Honestly, I didn't try all that hard....all you have to do is read the Not Me Monday's to see that)
-I did not get the job change I was hoping for but I have not given up.
-I did not figure out a way to keep my children little and dependent on me. The old saying "putting a brick on your head to stop you from growing" is not an option.
2- Most exciting part of 2009
-Watching my children grow up
-Celebrating a 1 year marriage anniversary
-Helping all of the women become Mom's
-Jumping into becoming a Childbirth Educator
-Seeing close friends from the Ukraine when they came to the states
-Becoming a Certified Perinatal Fitness Instructor
There is so much more but so not enough room to write.
3-What did you struggle with the most in 2009?
- Learning what tough love is
-Learning to let you child make decisions and watch them fail.
-Struggling to keep my hands off and letting go when it's time.
4-What did God do for me this year?
-There is not a blog big enough for me to write this one out. He has been my Rock, My Healer, My Deliverer, My Strength, My Everything!!!!!
5-What is your greatest accomplishment?
-Maintaining my sanity when life felt like it was total chaos (but that was ONLY because of Him and my awesome Hubby)
-Certification pending in 2 areas and looking forward to what He would have me do with them.

Ok, now it's your turn........What are the answers to your questions????????
Have a great New Year's Eve!!!!!!!!! Be safe!!!!!!
Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Worshipful Wednesday

Worship as you listen to these words!!!!!

Tuesday and Thinking.....OH NO!!!!!

Yes, it is Tuesday before a New Year starts again. Where in the world did this past year go? What happened to 2009 before it was officially over.? It seems like every year gets a little shorter the older I get. At the same time I wish that my children would not grow up so very quick.
My 21 year old spent Christmas Eve and Christmas day at our house. It was simply awesome and I just loved every minute of it. My youngest was into every present he could get his hands on. We have discovered his "sweet tooth" is growing. He was constantly on the look out for more "choc-lat". On of my "cooking friends" sent some goodies that she had made. If it was in site, the little hands were trying to get that cute little snowman box and see what other "choc-lat" was in there. He got a tool bench for Christmas that he loves. He hammers, uses the measuring tape, screwdriver and we are working on the wrench. He is just tooo funny.
Thank you so much for your prayers for Amber and her family. She and Kyle came over last night and Kaleb had not seen her in a long time and he just could not get to her quick enough and just loved on her. It was soooo sweet. He showed out for her and even shared his "choc-lat" with her. It was just precious.
We have a daughter that I have written about before on her with much heartache and many tears shed. She is still doing as she pleases and we have come to the point that we can't do anymore than what we have already done. We are cutting apron strings so to speak and it is hard but it is necessary. I would ask that you would continue to keep us in your prayers. This has been very difficult and a very gut wrenching situation but I hang on to what He can do and He is in ultimate control!!!!!!!! Can you say Amen to that?
I have many things to share about the Doula side of the world and working on a couple of post about that. I'm so excited. I can't wait to share about that.
I hope you all have an awesome day and think about your 2009. Here are some questions to ponder.....
-Did you complete your resolutions that you made?
-What was the most exciting part of 2009?
-What did you struggle with this year in 2009?
-What did God do for you this year in 2009?
-What was your greatest accomplishment?
Now, of course I can't pose those questions and not answer them........You will have to check in later and I will post my answers.......... Leave your answers in the comments. Please feel free to share!!!!!
Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Not Me Monday

It's the Not Me Monday after a holiday??!! I am for sure not sure how much I could or want to share on this Monday.

I did not get "The Runner's Diet" book from my adorable husband and proceed to read it while eating a rather large piece of red velvet cake with cream cheese icing all over it.

I did not sample EVERYTHING that I was preparing for Christmas dinner to the point of not wanting to even think about eating when it was time for dinner.

I did not allow our almost 3 year old get the above mentioned red velvet cake out of the refrigerator and have a slice sitting next to his plate during Christmas Dinner and watch him devour it in the middle of dinner and then proceed to finish the dinner that was on his plate. (I have no idea where he puts it all)

I did not loving put A&D ointment on my husbands new tattoo to have the above mentioned 3 year old turn around and allow me to pretend to put the ointment on his leg and then he pretend to put it on my shoulder. ( I guess I have an invisible tattoo on my shoulder I don't know about.)

It was a great Christmas. Lot's of fun. Lot's of love and lots of pondering The Gift that was given!!!!!!! Hope yours was GREAT!!!!!

Laboring and Not Me Monday with You,

Doula Mama Pam

PS- Please be in prayer today for Kyle's girlfriends, Amber, family. On Christmas Morning her Grandfather got to Meet Face to Face The Gift. As selfish humans, we miss him but Oh,to be where he is. Today is his Celebration. Praying for you today Amber, Love You!!!!

Christmas and John 3:16

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner,the people were in and out of the cold.

The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said,"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boycould find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?

You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "Yougo down the street to that big white house and you knockon the door. When they come out the door you just sayJohn 3:16, and they will let you in."

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split! bottomrocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:John 3:16 . I don't understand it, but it sure makes acold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry ? "He said, "Well, just a little.. I haven't eaten in a couple ofdays, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,"

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eatany more. Then he thought to himself:John 3:16. Boy, I sure don't understand it but it suremakes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for awhile. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boyclean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood infront of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room,tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned outthe lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out thewindow at the snow coming down on that cold night,he thought to himself: John 3:16...I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took himdown again to that same big table full of food. After heate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked upa big old Bible.

She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face."Do you understand John 3:16 ?" she asked gently. Hereplied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"She opened The Bible to John 3:16 and began to explainto him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it, but it suremakes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess, I don't understand it either,how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and howJesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand theagony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intenselove for ME that kept Jesus on the cross tillthe end.I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living!

John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shouldnot perish, but have everlasting life.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Doula Mama Pam

(I got this as an e-mail. I can't take credit for it.)

MY 200th POST!!!!!!

Wow!!!!! I would have never in a million years thought that when I started this blog I would be posting my 200th. That seemed an eternity ago.
Some of you have been with me since I started and some have just found me. I have "Not Me Mondays", "Not My Child Monday's", Wordless Wednesdays, What children will say Wednesdays, Thoughtful Thursdays, Super Supper Saturday and Sundays and numerous other titled post. I have changed my background and my layout countless times. I have even purchased specialized link back buttons and now have numerous friends that have started their own blog and there is no way to keep track of how many other blogs I read and try to follow. I have even made some great friends a long the way.

This has truly been an adventure for me.
My very first entry here
Angel's Story here
My First Deliveries here
My First Announcement of my Website here
My First Adoption Delivery here
One Friend started blogging here
Another Friend started blogging here
Updates on tough love situations and hard decisions made here and here
Of course ANY week that you pull up, there will something posted about Kaleb, also known as Little Man.
I now have two friends that are blogging Cindy and Tara and working on another friend but she has not given in yet....but I am not giving up on her.
It has been a joy and a ride and God is not finished by any means. I'm overwhelmed by what He is doing. Mothering The Mother is still growing and changing and there a lot of challenges but He is ultimately in control and I am so thankful for that. I have a lot of deliveries on the way so please stay tuned. 2010 is going to be a busy year and a packed year for Mothering The Mother. I can't wait to see what He has planned. Keep a watch on the website because I am going to work on changing it and updating it with more pictures and some other ideas.

Thank you again for stopping by if you have just found me or if you have been here since the beginning. How cool it is that this post comes right before the new year.
Laboring and Sharing With You,
Doula Mama Pam

Not Me Monday

It's that time again!!!!!! Not much to share this week but enough I am sure.

I did not go to the store for the 2nd week in a row to discover that not only Wal-Mart but my grocery store was almost out of pretzels........I'm so sorry for all of you that are getting pretzels....LOL

I did not make Oreo Bonbon's and threaten my husband over eating them because they are for work. (They are chocolate covered sin!!!! YUMMY).

I did not place my 2 1/2 year old on the counter with a small hammer in hand and teach him how to crush peppermints for peppermint bark.

I did not go to church on Sunday and realize that I left my Bible at home........That was NOT good.

I did not send my 21 year old home with a bag of "Christmas Treats" and immediately text his step-mom to let her know he had it in his possession so they would not end up in his room.

I did not get to stay home on Saturday ALONE with my 2 1/2 year in my pj's until late that afternoon (like 4pm) when I put on clothes long enough to go to the store and come home and put them back on for the evening.

I did not go to church and listen to our Awesome Christmas Musical/Drama and cry though 1/2 of it because I realized that I had completely lost focus of what Christmas is about.

Have an awesome week.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

Doula Mama Pam

********My 200th post is tomorrow********* What an awesome thing.....Never dreamed*****

It's A Birth Story!!!!!!

A Birth Story For Connor

This is the story of Connor. He is a very sweet and precious little boy that I had the pleasure of meeting in November of this year. I met his Mom, Kim, and his Dad, Sam, earlier. I was able to do their interview at our office. They were so excited and could not wait to meet this sweet little bundle of joy.
Kim, being the faithful one to exercise, was still going to the gym up until about the week or so before her due date. She had a goal in mind and she was going to stick with it. She was absolutely glowing and a very beautiful pregnant Mom. Sam attended all of her prenatal visits. They were always smiling and never seemed to complain. They contacted me to become their Doula at delivery and I was so thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful and special event in their life. We met on numerous occasions. We talked about fears, excitement, making plans and talking about life after Connor arrived. Everything was ready but we were just missing Connor.
Late one evening my cell phone went off. It was Sam. “I think we are in labor”. I was so excited. Of course, all the normal questions followed. How is Kim? How often? How far apart? He was so calm. I was just amazed. He continued to keep me updated through out the evening. Kim was handling them like a real champ. Kim did not want to go to the hospital to find out she would be sent back home. When she and Sam made the decision to go to the hospital, they called to let me know they were headed there to see what kind of progress they had made.

I got up and started to get my things together and be ready when they called. Sam called and guess what? Kim had made it to 6 1/2-7cm at home!!!!!!! I was so proud of her. She had done exactly what she wanted to do. They were admitted. I made my way to the hospital. I walked into the room and the nurse was just finishing with her paper work. Kim and Sam were both smiling and totally relaxed. She would have a contraction, hold Sam’s hand and we would count and breathe through the contraction and then amazingly pick right back up on the conversation we were having. I was just in awe of how well she was doing. This was a woman on a mission. She started feeling pressure and it had been a while since they had checked her. The nurse came in and checked. She had made it to 9cm. Now, there was a question. It appeared that Connor was presenting with hands and not his head. Kim’s water had not broken yet and this was a real cause for concern. Another nurse came in to verify what was going on and it was confirmed. Dr. D was called in and he performed an ultrasound in the room. Sure enough, little Connor was trying to reach his way out. Due to the risk of her water breaking and hands presentation, the decision was made for a C-Section. Everything happened so quickly. Kim kept her composure and Sam was wonderful. I stayed around and waited for Sam to come through the door, not as Sam but as Connor's Dad.
It was a moment that I won’t soon forget. Connor was precious. Sam was beaming and Kim was doing great. I had the privilege to meet with them several times afterwards and everyone is doing great. He has grown so much. This will be a very special Christmas in Sam and Kim’s home. Connor may not remember this one as he gets older but I can promise you that Sam and Kim will always remember this Christmas! To Kim and Sam, I want to tell you thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of the day that you as a couple became a family. It was truly a privilege and an honor.
Laboring With You,
Pam (a.k.a Doula Mama)

Thoughtful Thursdays

This is a post that I have thought about long and hard. I was a military wife at one point in my life. My husband was a Marine (and still is) and we were a proud Marine family. We lived on base for about 1/2 of his service before we were discharged due to an injury.
I can still hear the cadence when I see any sort of military "commercial" on TV. I can still hear the jets flying over head. I can still hear the engines roar as they prepare for take off. I was proud to be a military wife. Scared out of my mind at times. I'll never forget the phone call that came in the middle of the night and he was told to report to his station at once and be prepared to leave. We didn't know where. We didn't know how long. We were scared to death!!!! I was pregnant and being left behind. Several hours later and many tears shed, he returned home. It was only a drill.
While pregnant with Kyle, he was deployed to 29 Palms. It was the longest 2 months. I was a stay at home wife. I was also very pregnant. I had this very small "baby bump" when he left and when he came back 8 weeks before delivery, his first question was "What happened?".
All of this to say, I wanted to tell you about a VERY special program. It's called "Operation Special Delivery". In light of the fact that the President is sending more troops to Afganistan, I have been so burdened for the "Mom's To Be" that are left behind and not knowing if their husbands will be home for the birth of their baby. In Operation Special Delivery (OSD), they get in the request from a Mom-To-Be to have a Doula at her delivery. This is of NO COST to the Mom. The Doula is stricktly a volunteer and donates her time to help and support this Mom. I keep going back to the site and reading and reading and reading it again. I can not imagine what it must be like. I have heard stories from the nurses at the hospital about how they will set up the computers with the camera's so they can Skype the Dad into the delivery room so that he does not miss anything. From what I understand, there is never a dry eye in the room. At the bottom of the post is their website. I would encourage you to go and see it. Read about what they do. It is just amazing. I am really praying about volunteering to do a delivery for a precious Military Mom who is home while Dad is serving our country. What a blessing that no amount of money could ever repay!!!!!! I will keep you posted on my decision and let you know.
In the words of the Marines...... Semper Fi (Oooo Raaa!!)
Laboring With You,
Doula Mama Pam
http://www.operationspecialdelivery.com/index.htm

Wordless Wednesday (Christmas Lights)