tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29924385988308375102024-03-15T18:12:16.940-07:00Magical MotheringI created this blog to allow anyone who wishes to follow the life and times of Susan Betke-Campbell and her family.
Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.comBlogger2861125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-1148111204259455582023-10-04T12:40:00.001-07:002023-10-04T12:40:18.451-07:00Happy 25th Birthday Lyn<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgOY_CBWVaQMVmiXSCnCe5r8GmYFmqkvl0wLTAhZwhZRQidK_reUyZNGbHEwT2cBI9SZBCjg2LsmfgHGZ-SSnd8p7IGBatvuv3z9NWrtbEdr1Oq4cp4jdAMezZ5aA2fXzjUVCBsdHRXZR3tX0H1z3XX_Z931v5D8ogB9FWbq-0Al1vFibQzwwWftHjoLsQ"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgOY_CBWVaQMVmiXSCnCe5r8GmYFmqkvl0wLTAhZwhZRQidK_reUyZNGbHEwT2cBI9SZBCjg2LsmfgHGZ-SSnd8p7IGBatvuv3z9NWrtbEdr1Oq4cp4jdAMezZ5aA2fXzjUVCBsdHRXZR3tX0H1z3XX_Z931v5D8ogB9FWbq-0Al1vFibQzwwWftHjoLsQ=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7286190494915749730" /></a></p><div dir="auto">My oldest daughter is 25 today. She has accomplished so much in her life. I am so proud of her. She was such a delightful surprise when I was expecting her. She was such a good baby. (You aren't supposed to say that.) She has made me a grandmother and a mother-in-law. I only wish she lived closer. I miss her and the kids desperately. I fear I may never get to know them as they age. Lyn, you are my heart.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-42802712063245914422023-09-26T05:51:00.001-07:002023-09-26T05:51:17.671-07:00Happy 16th Birthday Eliot!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3GmAjv82wYpvr4jpTKc3WtdKYaKoS-ZLP1_JFHZc9N77NaCuxtur8RiFJfZtyX0-ZH-LbdEBqGYoGPjTmdpoAXcAKiUyBCnjLtTuZPgRQicykdG6QvkoQNNTiuvRqqztu1tXtRNJOuk4pRwNVIBENVayszUdkkLTF4-mG3UgYFBd3JkjS2SkrUl-x3uYu"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi3GmAjv82wYpvr4jpTKc3WtdKYaKoS-ZLP1_JFHZc9N77NaCuxtur8RiFJfZtyX0-ZH-LbdEBqGYoGPjTmdpoAXcAKiUyBCnjLtTuZPgRQicykdG6QvkoQNNTiuvRqqztu1tXtRNJOuk4pRwNVIBENVayszUdkkLTF4-mG3UgYFBd3JkjS2SkrUl-x3uYu=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7283116410805133698" /></a></p><div dir="auto"></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-86210797862275133412023-09-21T12:28:00.001-07:002023-09-21T12:28:37.008-07:00A year apart...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQt9NSu-_CjCgSfhZyQ7U91MbDJo6NOjSeBFeIhXBUkVBHOE9zLSZYcy0UblM39xpiI0Eg6HQJv15H6J8gwOUO1_U6G9_kU_g5h-JUGWN3zNPLaXthrD0HuRR_UsKxTYUphJqJBJc2QX0Jdx48gqr8d_xsr8bmi1qABcqu5dF8JlKcx9D4OH8PZlUAYs9m"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQt9NSu-_CjCgSfhZyQ7U91MbDJo6NOjSeBFeIhXBUkVBHOE9zLSZYcy0UblM39xpiI0Eg6HQJv15H6J8gwOUO1_U6G9_kU_g5h-JUGWN3zNPLaXthrD0HuRR_UsKxTYUphJqJBJc2QX0Jdx48gqr8d_xsr8bmi1qABcqu5dF8JlKcx9D4OH8PZlUAYs9m=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7281363372413605138" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpDKNGASNv7Yb8bxiL8YdAW9lbIgmrHMBLCBIZrvMycdHy7phcbaJPwVXY1eRLYN21e-X2AbFnKW7DSbFzOYVenwukl0sbiJ9-2soV4-r0PjZPxb6dyqWVUUfFcmmnQnZTZY5WnRP3sM8GEX0eNfv5TknJq2DJelZbNM5HRl4478d5ZnYenrCuffojJyqh"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpDKNGASNv7Yb8bxiL8YdAW9lbIgmrHMBLCBIZrvMycdHy7phcbaJPwVXY1eRLYN21e-X2AbFnKW7DSbFzOYVenwukl0sbiJ9-2soV4-r0PjZPxb6dyqWVUUfFcmmnQnZTZY5WnRP3sM8GEX0eNfv5TknJq2DJelZbNM5HRl4478d5ZnYenrCuffojJyqh=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7281363386817799138" /></a></p><div dir="auto">I just had surgery for lung cancer 8 days ago. They had to remove my entire upper right lobe. This picture was taken exactly a year ago. About 6 weeks after my mastectomy. I was standing outside at the gas pump. Today I am in bed. Last year was probably the worst year of my left. The pain I am in is so bad. The worst of my situation is that I am having difficulty breathing. I was a few weeks before starting chemo in the first picture. I lost my hair, I had to work a lot to keep bills paid, my hormone treatments have been horrible. They caused me to gain close to 40 pounds by now. Let's not forget my broken wrist which cost me tons of overtime. My heart was broken by my situation. I wasn't spending enough time with my kids. I wasn't able to attend any of the he seasonal events for this time of year. I have been in limbo. I feel I am hanging off a cliff by two fingernails. I feel my mortality. I want to have conversations with each of my children every day. This morning after a very bad night I felt a kiss on my cheek and someone saying "good morning Mama". I couldn't open my eyes. One child acknowledged me. I am so grateful to be qualified for FMLA at my job. I feel like I am making a difference there. Now I can't even do that. Yes, it is a pity party. But I feel I deserve a small one. When will all this cancer, pain, and disappointment be behind me? Ever? Never? My lung cancer wasn't due to smoking or anything environmental. It just was. It wasn't even metastasized breast cancer. It was a separate diagnosis. I want a life back. I want to be able to play my bills. I am the main breadwinner of my family. I was unable to give the kids book fair money this week. One teenager needed gas for work. I had only $5 as I was going to surgery. Another is turning 16 and planning her own 16th themed birthday party. She never had one before. She knows her oldest sister had a few. She missed out. I never knew she noticed. If I made a list to do before my time is up it would never get done. I need a separate list of needs and wants of my children. Strength, health, money, and time keep me from completing those needs and wants. If curses were true I would believe myself cursed. I may not be able to attend any seasonal things this year either. I am not really sure what my kids understand. I need to start blogging again. I want to share so much more.</div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-42497554304463755302023-07-18T08:25:00.001-07:002023-07-18T08:25:58.777-07:00Etta earning her chore tokens.,.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJmxmCeF6PkT1qKimpvQZpq0eMD7cBRjsK1tpJp5FtMYdInqrYIYssNOeZXAeziCnVy5x1cB8A084pgJbwK9UtbCA-3Y7iZZG6QA9tVjv79lIOVzAGVAILdJ3Mv43rsTD6TPpQfQX4Eq7YGuyeO82KXLLbAmM068wb72GLTrWYRzuvHtn_pvEDg_aVDXEZ"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJmxmCeF6PkT1qKimpvQZpq0eMD7cBRjsK1tpJp5FtMYdInqrYIYssNOeZXAeziCnVy5x1cB8A084pgJbwK9UtbCA-3Y7iZZG6QA9tVjv79lIOVzAGVAILdJ3Mv43rsTD6TPpQfQX4Eq7YGuyeO82KXLLbAmM068wb72GLTrWYRzuvHtn_pvEDg_aVDXEZ=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7257180303875270642" /></a></p><div dir="auto">Etta has a list of chores each week. She did so well this past week she earned a small doll she adores. This week she has added to her list some reading. I know reading shouldn't be a chore but a parent has to do what one has to do....<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Who knows what next week will bring. </div></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-80646078056237893202023-07-18T08:17:00.001-07:002023-07-18T08:17:39.884-07:00Happy Late Birthday to My Sweet Evan!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxPpLPHrVggOwVi5zJxrp3r2HwoAA-UQXEZFRukUAYj2x-jPZ1LH0FHB0b4yi09aVC91M3nhFWsM0E6jRZT8k6LZ8mt4hYW5DurFemNEuvkjUdAcYflPQl0Pp8pm0tGDsDUnjh-A-j_BXpjEIcfGzm-w7IXD7tUrrg0KZQghAxUlWviikV9sj5oG-VBQ8o"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxPpLPHrVggOwVi5zJxrp3r2HwoAA-UQXEZFRukUAYj2x-jPZ1LH0FHB0b4yi09aVC91M3nhFWsM0E6jRZT8k6LZ8mt4hYW5DurFemNEuvkjUdAcYflPQl0Pp8pm0tGDsDUnjh-A-j_BXpjEIcfGzm-w7IXD7tUrrg0KZQghAxUlWviikV9sj5oG-VBQ8o=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7257178163771468482" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7FFlWVaPtohvl7vYZvklklA0UO0s6FVZf6xGaIiR51m2gXPIn6ANl-G4daRDh6hfxZVLBffZAwE-sfEDYRftL_97vegePbragJti3DUe7K6LK9GOwchp7y36Kl0ou1CROqhY_adWpWSV1cmFu2iODuF3IT6KtXfW0cLzFcV0DkEq8An0msvCy4W9f4Oaa"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7FFlWVaPtohvl7vYZvklklA0UO0s6FVZf6xGaIiR51m2gXPIn6ANl-G4daRDh6hfxZVLBffZAwE-sfEDYRftL_97vegePbragJti3DUe7K6LK9GOwchp7y36Kl0ou1CROqhY_adWpWSV1cmFu2iODuF3IT6KtXfW0cLzFcV0DkEq8An0msvCy4W9f4Oaa=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7257178187720729666" /></a></p><div dir="auto">On July 7th Evan turned 17 years old. I can hardly believe that. He is working hard. He is a young adult. He has come so far and has far to go yet. He is going to voice lessons, learning the piano more, and working on learning to play the guitar. I love you Evan. Sorry I didn't post on your actual birthday.<div dir="auto"><br></div></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-77295764788860302502023-07-18T07:58:00.001-07:002023-07-18T07:58:40.162-07:00My days....<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivr9nbBsTk6e9s_EFVXg-USm-vbjQ2lD90_oWKryZynDNXq9AIiaYw12FDmepdACuMjsqu9P4KJylXq4p-qxaPjJEGc2Kvo3KfBhh_krsCqMmC6zTiouwRUvaixoj6nPWBV-bwGlIK26kTdNCGhWFgcTjy9TrBfQWLI_zgZW3t_2uCeogTJ6OuJpsseVyN"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivr9nbBsTk6e9s_EFVXg-USm-vbjQ2lD90_oWKryZynDNXq9AIiaYw12FDmepdACuMjsqu9P4KJylXq4p-qxaPjJEGc2Kvo3KfBhh_krsCqMmC6zTiouwRUvaixoj6nPWBV-bwGlIK26kTdNCGhWFgcTjy9TrBfQWLI_zgZW3t_2uCeogTJ6OuJpsseVyN=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7257173273367279074" /></a></p><div dir="auto">I feel I am stuck. Cancer, working overtime even though I love me my job, trying to balance life and work and disease, feeling guilty all the time. I am exhausted. But am I really?<div dir="auto"><br></div></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-24243606934563101302023-06-06T18:03:00.001-07:002023-06-06T18:03:39.740-07:00Happy 11th Birthday Elaina!<div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr">Happy 11th Birthday <span style="background-color:#1877f2">Elaina Betke-Blevins</span> ! You were always Little Baby. Now you are headed to middle school. </p></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-42522075974326777532023-04-30T15:30:00.001-07:002023-04-30T15:30:36.662-07:00Happy 27th Birthday Dan!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLN6siYsShuVu4IXY6SLh_7sU_JIboMy17h09en_tFscIyWbF2M2HcvMekxNn-m0SxYyqMAjNdr0Jlf5ooml2ydnSAojIrCVaIFgm7i9Pcd2qZxWHqYmrcv-aCnfNuMkL96wH4D5mPqshkVUQ8e6mCJL2N7TglvShxqHage4eSVhzrnYeug4RwCSXEmg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhLN6siYsShuVu4IXY6SLh_7sU_JIboMy17h09en_tFscIyWbF2M2HcvMekxNn-m0SxYyqMAjNdr0Jlf5ooml2ydnSAojIrCVaIFgm7i9Pcd2qZxWHqYmrcv-aCnfNuMkL96wH4D5mPqshkVUQ8e6mCJL2N7TglvShxqHage4eSVhzrnYeug4RwCSXEmg=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7227974013668453298" /></a></p><div dir="auto"></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-63522921589023934112023-04-04T19:57:00.001-07:002023-04-04T19:57:56.896-07:00Happy 6th Birthday Eli<div dir="auto">Hard to believe that my baby is 6 years old....<div dir="auto"><br></div></div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-15456443238102979392023-01-20T09:20:00.001-08:002023-01-20T09:51:50.060-08:00First chemo session after a break...<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh13MOF3oebjx7nvNVPL3sn_WLwCf-R2RLSSJNGI52eX15ycLD0ZRehUzppU9hGTRkZbD3ycz5iPjDQdJ_j_8Eg7vQl1kE6pBw47WNQftYkwxTHcGRKVCsA0W4nvcFY-9qhfOwL9qnw1XE6u6iCzUgllX096u4EHaAlPOkdBOHKMt5lB0XVCPGjHgX6gw"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7190785566062608578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh13MOF3oebjx7nvNVPL3sn_WLwCf-R2RLSSJNGI52eX15ycLD0ZRehUzppU9hGTRkZbD3ycz5iPjDQdJ_j_8Eg7vQl1kE6pBw47WNQftYkwxTHcGRKVCsA0W4nvcFY-9qhfOwL9qnw1XE6u6iCzUgllX096u4EHaAlPOkdBOHKMt5lB0XVCPGjHgX6gw=s320" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8CYUcoXjIOivV5FpoCQGJ-QbQuxpuP6PHU1jOAm4X45o_u0eE-PLb4hP-zrk-M9xndUzxi77D-IVyltGXphRUTbmMC0pLknBRJrmW-NfVCZTe-6QD1rJqGtKXJUGzPm1sQenSe580DtsWo3q18z2nK9fiLuJLm6iKAgkM4F3dZgbx-5OisUFneL172Q"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7190785596710772626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8CYUcoXjIOivV5FpoCQGJ-QbQuxpuP6PHU1jOAm4X45o_u0eE-PLb4hP-zrk-M9xndUzxi77D-IVyltGXphRUTbmMC0pLknBRJrmW-NfVCZTe-6QD1rJqGtKXJUGzPm1sQenSe580DtsWo3q18z2nK9fiLuJLm6iKAgkM4F3dZgbx-5OisUFneL172Q=s320" /></a></p><div dir="auto">Well, here I am again. I have very mixed feelings about this. George is very supportive. So have a few friends that have reached out to me on Facebook. My mom and other family members seem sort of ambivalent. Sort of "whatever". I don't want to put words in their mouths or anything but they just say my decisions are my own. I really want more input from them though. I want their honest opinions even if they disagree with me. Ted asked if I was sure. He was concerned about side effects. It is hard for him to communicate sometimes but he wanted to know why. I told him that I was getting a lot of pressure from all medical professionals to continue if I want certain choices in the future. I can't have lifestyle choices in the future if I don't do treatment. He understands and accepts that. Almost 19 years of knowing each other helps with that acceptance. George and I are working on that. We are wanting it but it isn't reflexive yet. We'll get there. I am getting better at seeing and accepting how others see me. I know I am not understood. I know I make impulsive decisions. I am working on it. I am trying to think things through more. This post is about chemo so I'll try and focus on that decision. I know on the surface I can be seen as selfish and petty. I am prone to see myself as a failure. Even with my achievements of family and children that a lot of people never have I feel alone sometimes. I am loved but can't accept that I am worthy of love. I graduated college and university with several degrees with honors and hold a graduate degree. Yet I feel so stupid and ignorant at times even in my field. Even as my supervisor says she can't live without me I feel worthless. It is irrational. When I talk about it with those that care to listen I guess it all goes back to my youth. Being told I was a mistake. My sister constantly told me I was adopted and never wanted. Grandmothers told me my mother shouldn't have had three children. I was of course the third child. That same sister constantly told me I was fat, ugly, and had stringy nasty hair. I believed her of course. I starved myself between 11th and 12th grade and lost 20 pounds. Everyone said how much better I looked. I had a cute boyfriend who was actually emotionally abusive. He actually was upset that I lost weight. I got away from him. I eventually started dating my soon to be first husband. I will never forget what one of his brothers said to me the first time he met me after we had been married a year or so. That brother had been away on a mission, they were Mormon, when we were married. He said, "I never thought Louis would have married someone so homely looking". Yep, to my face he said that. And people wonder why my self esteem in my 20s was horrible. My confidence rose as I found something I was actually decent at. I was a pretty good mom. Some of my adult kids may argue that fact. That is OK. I was also good at school. I could handle college and university easily. I would love to go back for my PhD one day. I jumped around jobs a good bit but I always put forth 100% at each one whether I was making pizzas or a case manager with Early Intervention at the state level. My biggest challenge now is dealing with the feeling that I am going backwards. Selling my house that I lived in for 13 years last year and now living in a mobile home seems like I have failed. I can't make myself look at the facts that the burden of carrying the bills of my my growing family caught up to me so much that I had to do something. Accepting help was hard. Accepting that no one is expected to support their family after they get diagnosed with cancer, have major surgery, are out of work, go back to work, break their wrist, lose their position temporarily for months till released from light duty is hard. I am angry. It may take me a decade or more to get back to where I was. But does that really matter? I have a roof over my head. I have a good job. I am loved. I have so much more than others have. I am such a pessimistic personality. I used to say all the time at least I am healthy or at least I have my strength. Cancer took my health and breaking my wrist took my physical strength. I guess I can owe my prior health to my vitality during my chemotherapy. My heart has been strong. I haven't had any blood levels be low enough to miss chemotherapy. I haven't been sick. I haven't lost weight. I haven't had any infection. I had a few mouth sores in the beginning like cold sores. I lost most of my hair. It started to grow back but will probably fall out again. No neuropathy in my hands or feet. It is common with Taxol, which is what I am on today and for 5 more weeks. Just to make it through today.... That is my goal...</div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-89477527713216584072023-01-18T09:51:00.001-08:002023-01-18T09:51:39.381-08:00Why haven't I been posting?<p> There are a lot of reasons why I haven't been posting lately. The main reason has bluntly been the ugly word cancer. Breast cancer is no joke. It isn't something to be taken lightly. It isn't something that goes away overnight or in a year. It will affect the rest of my life and every decision I make from here on out. I could not have done any of this without the support of George and my family. I even know my adult children, I don't talk to very often, must be thinking of what in the world is going on?</p><p>Last November at work I broke my arm at work. It was so silly really. I was taking the trash out and the can was overloaded and on a very steep hill. I sidestepped but not fast enough. I twisted my ankle and landed hard on my wrist. That caused a radial fracture that ended me up in the emergency room. I was put on worker's comp and light duty. I was in a tight splint and then a cast that I got off in January. I have been in PT for a few weeks now. The soft tissue damage from the immobility is pretty extensive. I can't make a fist yet with my left hand. I am still on light duty and haven't returned to my regular position. No overtime either. That has hurt my income stream. </p><p>Chemotherapy has gone better than I expected side effect wise. I started in October. The steroids made me feel worse than anything and kept me awake a lot. I did lose almost all of my hair. I had just a little bit of pieces left. My eyebrows are sparse and my eyelashes thinned a bit. Under my arms and "other areas" I lost hair. I didn't lose any on my arms and legs though but it was very thin and blond there anyway. I finally did notice that my facial hair which wasn't a lot but every one knows even women have a little peace fuzz was gone. I assume all of it will grow back. I am actually pretty sure it will. I took three weeks off from chemo. I had a bratty moment and felt my whole life was a bit out of control. I needed to control something. I cancelled chemo and then met with my doctor and basically "fired" him. With no chemo for 3 almost 4 weeks now my hair has started to grow back. Not enough for me to be comfortable not wearing my wig except at home though. It does look brown though not grey like a lot of people. i start back on chemo this week. I have six more rounds left. If I didn't stop i would be done in three weeks. Oh well. I didn't want to do it all in the first place but everything is just pretty scary. I guess if I want to live and want any of my goals I have to do this. I do not look forward to hormone therapy. I know I am 48 but I had no signs of menopause. I am dreading being forced into menopause. The side effects can be pretty painful. I may be lucky with that as I was with chemo. Some women don't have many side effects. It has been almost 6 months now that I have not really had use of two hand at once. I had to recover from surgery and then boom I broke my wrist. This recovery is worse and longer than recovery from loosing a body part. The pain in my hand wakes me up. I am thankful it was not my dominant hand. </p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-60655401308986621702023-01-18T07:19:00.001-08:002023-01-18T07:19:47.776-08:00Happy Birthday Ben!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPukqzZJUAD5cTrXR_V1m8PFxG-SGaRrJyv3hHDaoakM4vE5i8lN5EKDlsJeerPDzf7Lu698O9lt9G52gm5FNbYMTHUIYsM92Vviyg6HycNY_JbNR0Zxc7MR3tfzeomlsurumDnRaSywqv_Hi3uWLSrpcAmNbf9jEP1k8nHoEATnbCtSMvHkA02l20rw"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPukqzZJUAD5cTrXR_V1m8PFxG-SGaRrJyv3hHDaoakM4vE5i8lN5EKDlsJeerPDzf7Lu698O9lt9G52gm5FNbYMTHUIYsM92Vviyg6HycNY_JbNR0Zxc7MR3tfzeomlsurumDnRaSywqv_Hi3uWLSrpcAmNbf9jEP1k8nHoEATnbCtSMvHkA02l20rw=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7190012300132328050" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHeNmWhpVKlFdPWczX3FAfVmqNdoVH0yL929SAU8Gvt7DgFuU3ZkNnYMyaptWzxjHhmPw1nJB8US7wivHKpVq8oU_RQ7j3qDhw3fsHqoS3Ti8NRHxe7jtYpoTehdgplGK7__J_EipH6U-Vt4tYlBhMlDGv-AZdhSvZX6zv7_0wRhC0HY0oPuiWvjSuMQ"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhHeNmWhpVKlFdPWczX3FAfVmqNdoVH0yL929SAU8Gvt7DgFuU3ZkNnYMyaptWzxjHhmPw1nJB8US7wivHKpVq8oU_RQ7j3qDhw3fsHqoS3Ti8NRHxe7jtYpoTehdgplGK7__J_EipH6U-Vt4tYlBhMlDGv-AZdhSvZX6zv7_0wRhC0HY0oPuiWvjSuMQ=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7190012326650634962" /></a></p><div dir="auto">13 years old today!! Ben Betke-Blevins I cannot believe you are in 7th grade and so big. You were my little boy sitting in my lap here at a La Leche League meeting over a decade ago and now you are a teenager!</div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-11600588107158945772022-12-21T09:04:00.001-08:002022-12-21T09:04:42.141-08:00Happy 22nd Birthday Connor!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAT83z7SgEwHYgqQg65mrexI7l1w6rlxU-20EkpOdJ4Sl4ThUak1kvidPaGXVNALmVbffsFgfl9knmLvrOFAFSDhTzGh0PkSpPdjqLUEMXjnmHJ6RA7Ubt0X7n_cYk56iy4uzAVp3LEuHk9kVW-7AsJieT1uwlY7hpnmaTz8u4A-BzvEHpYJNRnTvqwA"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjAT83z7SgEwHYgqQg65mrexI7l1w6rlxU-20EkpOdJ4Sl4ThUak1kvidPaGXVNALmVbffsFgfl9knmLvrOFAFSDhTzGh0PkSpPdjqLUEMXjnmHJ6RA7Ubt0X7n_cYk56iy4uzAVp3LEuHk9kVW-7AsJieT1uwlY7hpnmaTz8u4A-BzvEHpYJNRnTvqwA=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7179648949450619106" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPTp65c1DgQ2Yv_dmvMjvbW9JzkgkwiyKMASZQJfKkl8KUtplgqmSfQBWpcScEgXcegZxWALap627Gvp-UuLGFj0whn5misRmzgMpDSKiRtajnKnEbOV1W8vw4px3BRIlm62K9lGz2T04EI81slTYajlEchNLiKng3j0bOaIdNzqiSxXeTkWzyOmRe-w"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPTp65c1DgQ2Yv_dmvMjvbW9JzkgkwiyKMASZQJfKkl8KUtplgqmSfQBWpcScEgXcegZxWALap627Gvp-UuLGFj0whn5misRmzgMpDSKiRtajnKnEbOV1W8vw4px3BRIlm62K9lGz2T04EI81slTYajlEchNLiKng3j0bOaIdNzqiSxXeTkWzyOmRe-w=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7179648977410198434" /></a></p><div dir="auto">Can you believe it? I can't. </div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-87654610109023021842022-11-28T10:30:00.000-08:002022-11-28T10:31:17.199-08:00Happy Late Birthday Etta<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghP0yN__AJ1_zuNWuL9rUbeQeAfmW5EBZDIcVJqjw0kAOan1LAHQVOidPZnFmGLAeuZqcE0x_vH69dFgV9szPyMo6g4UMzTnpxSmOb7aDsh1H11LcLrKlqW9WYPcbfKrEpA8by5hqTfgbGP7bryPJ2SwsSU9sXlBrESWec58WqF2DUAPAKoFEt7ehRUg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghP0yN__AJ1_zuNWuL9rUbeQeAfmW5EBZDIcVJqjw0kAOan1LAHQVOidPZnFmGLAeuZqcE0x_vH69dFgV9szPyMo6g4UMzTnpxSmOb7aDsh1H11LcLrKlqW9WYPcbfKrEpA8by5hqTfgbGP7bryPJ2SwsSU9sXlBrESWec58WqF2DUAPAKoFEt7ehRUg=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7171136305941901074" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuh8Hw35GDvD6k87I4MDPstFhaTCSoNkpDKIfIFznK_bd5VipPDBX-MicZgyF7n_oVXnlFerroGbwjLZ_tl-ozdG0k2KOrdixiXDxsF7fd4fs0Erxdb-rtOUgYLN_sVg4ewRq06yNMPhUYELfuAVTAYun60eN3qhotmuMgtx1NHVqcGMcoJEBW5g-4-A"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuh8Hw35GDvD6k87I4MDPstFhaTCSoNkpDKIfIFznK_bd5VipPDBX-MicZgyF7n_oVXnlFerroGbwjLZ_tl-ozdG0k2KOrdixiXDxsF7fd4fs0Erxdb-rtOUgYLN_sVg4ewRq06yNMPhUYELfuAVTAYun60eN3qhotmuMgtx1NHVqcGMcoJEBW5g-4-A=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7171136341606786962" /></a></p><div dir="auto">On November 23rd 9 years ago Etta Sophia came into this world.... Such a tiny thing . She threw us for a loop but she is still here and healthy as we never thought she would be. </div> Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-74644847874687827392022-09-18T08:56:00.002-07:002022-09-18T08:56:37.748-07:00September where did you go?<p> This month has been a bit all over the place. I haven't posted a lot but a lot has happened. I will play catch up with some posts....</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ac2Nn1vWMQTVlhDtjZ67wSbgTtPvi2stflXQ90PDpdkgk1xAE-VGkXwxGl7cq5pXFP-ioFJyvrU97R40gd8NqV1oUNExVh0QW8pSAhsYQudJ8alha26TUtENMIw4_d4xD_rfyjYI6i9C7QOrKeJ60vJ2d74U1HzVr6ZCSpL-cr90oaDw_luwCJVtw/s3904/IMG_20220908_161445006_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="3904" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_ac2Nn1vWMQTVlhDtjZ67wSbgTtPvi2stflXQ90PDpdkgk1xAE-VGkXwxGl7cq5pXFP-ioFJyvrU97R40gd8NqV1oUNExVh0QW8pSAhsYQudJ8alha26TUtENMIw4_d4xD_rfyjYI6i9C7QOrKeJ60vJ2d74U1HzVr6ZCSpL-cr90oaDw_luwCJVtw/s320/IMG_20220908_161445006_HDR~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPsbA0Xf_XViSqognUJKKB9CDuQiFzrHpBpfRSHIKSVoSKycDDn55kU9o6EoJrWr30UsMEBXRcDqQXGvPIJbL9Gc4VggQoeFkgrQofy17HlQxASEjiBJOBjKWEhyxcgCYGmKqqshuifThSe9yPITrydO6uTOkh-_0hmiR1Ec5aHtEHdOjyV6Pfit18g/s4000/IMG_20220908_161415367_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1490" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPsbA0Xf_XViSqognUJKKB9CDuQiFzrHpBpfRSHIKSVoSKycDDn55kU9o6EoJrWr30UsMEBXRcDqQXGvPIJbL9Gc4VggQoeFkgrQofy17HlQxASEjiBJOBjKWEhyxcgCYGmKqqshuifThSe9yPITrydO6uTOkh-_0hmiR1Ec5aHtEHdOjyV6Pfit18g/s320/IMG_20220908_161415367_HDR~2.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-34704919522439068162022-08-27T20:04:00.001-07:002022-08-27T20:09:11.660-07:00Egg of Creation<p>Having my kids around me has really helped my spirit. I asked Elaina to pick me out an egg for me to just hold and meditate on. She picked out a lavender colored one. As soon as I held it I felt better. The coolness of it in hand and it's firmness helped with my pain. I rolled it around my tortured joints for a lot of relief. I cupped it and words formed in mind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEGcq7Woh8rgc2k_YlF7MHuk74YQ0vAcIHHf9sObew-qWgt74fshR4ptpIPjY3f0eaW9EOmordaTYXVRYnoEFyOs_HG9obEvTTi_XCAKt9VRsDi9N3U9jt8fkbuOZPcUMXwHCZ1pr-CyQIDcI_uw7smuCV7vXnp6BxqfrxfsFyV7kx-0rOJ9ED9YrwA/s2701/IMG_20220827_201323619_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEGcq7Woh8rgc2k_YlF7MHuk74YQ0vAcIHHf9sObew-qWgt74fshR4ptpIPjY3f0eaW9EOmordaTYXVRYnoEFyOs_HG9obEvTTi_XCAKt9VRsDi9N3U9jt8fkbuOZPcUMXwHCZ1pr-CyQIDcI_uw7smuCV7vXnp6BxqfrxfsFyV7kx-0rOJ9ED9YrwA/s320/IMG_20220827_201323619_HDR~2.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10nU2JTAXtwOz295Gwsb2TY3riPiiDMDOR5PmkJasiipUUACtY1xSOltfRMNdG3UY0V5RoYUc4tSiUgz3CrxqJh_Die7kfY908EqrsXtTvPkIGk69VsvYkV0kK4oUo9mJ2hXAL2OUpQnJG8pC6eFgJjzszBBL-KLYBibMK1L_l0Ei53kV7rjJ14Swzw/s2348/IMG_20220827_201141968_HDR~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2106" data-original-width="2348" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10nU2JTAXtwOz295Gwsb2TY3riPiiDMDOR5PmkJasiipUUACtY1xSOltfRMNdG3UY0V5RoYUc4tSiUgz3CrxqJh_Die7kfY908EqrsXtTvPkIGk69VsvYkV0kK4oUo9mJ2hXAL2OUpQnJG8pC6eFgJjzszBBL-KLYBibMK1L_l0Ei53kV7rjJ14Swzw/s320/IMG_20220827_201141968_HDR~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">Egg of Creation</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">I hold in my hand a symbol of life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">As a girl, as a womyn, as a mother, as a wife, I have held you in my body and in my heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">You are my beginning, his beginning, their beginning, her beginning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">You hold all the knowledge of the universe within </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">In my pre-beginning and my end I was an egg within my grandmother and my granddaughters were within me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">I will go on I was am and will be a force for creation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"> Susan Campbell</span></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-50281430574211612392022-08-27T09:21:00.001-07:002022-08-27T09:21:35.066-07:00My babies..<p> Being so sick and in pain I haven't been able to be a full time mom since surgery. Having the 4 littles actually in my arms is such an oxytocin rush . </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-mHIDUsyje0KJ5kYQOlJT9e24vhDG-CCFMEfKHf3tMi7T4RCj9JjwLrsx6OV6XmShtXHmd3EYMcwn_lyfxdnAIaDoubf-UOhXw5_hWwngrmjMq5V-ybEo2yOsp0thZFxCWBeOPiQFhf1CVUHwKRa0tkEdZ1wIS48ZEtzyIuLEUKv3_-5MDicxP0PZg/s3264/IMG_20220827_100247099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-mHIDUsyje0KJ5kYQOlJT9e24vhDG-CCFMEfKHf3tMi7T4RCj9JjwLrsx6OV6XmShtXHmd3EYMcwn_lyfxdnAIaDoubf-UOhXw5_hWwngrmjMq5V-ybEo2yOsp0thZFxCWBeOPiQFhf1CVUHwKRa0tkEdZ1wIS48ZEtzyIuLEUKv3_-5MDicxP0PZg/s320/IMG_20220827_100247099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4GTJCG-2KfBfz_ofP-g9zLd8dp6iw1rmRT3FvIZ2ewH7HFQzzZohw6p5UfPT_gMzyV2ui6IC0FSlE96yMrL7a1WgD1eIC3yTDxWdAHXgO2gDYm2CLPDlY5-8vLm4e4reOwyqBKxuU-CgLN1pak0Lwh2H3tQe4YGg2BdqwNvvyUKRJrSPxWDH0fLYQ/s3264/IMG_20220827_100256913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU4GTJCG-2KfBfz_ofP-g9zLd8dp6iw1rmRT3FvIZ2ewH7HFQzzZohw6p5UfPT_gMzyV2ui6IC0FSlE96yMrL7a1WgD1eIC3yTDxWdAHXgO2gDYm2CLPDlY5-8vLm4e4reOwyqBKxuU-CgLN1pak0Lwh2H3tQe4YGg2BdqwNvvyUKRJrSPxWDH0fLYQ/s320/IMG_20220827_100256913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLAmGoJlzyBiHXauQX5OIM9uKqiukbkpBHwPt1BUEKGbNR6OCmi74FE-p3H26EXY3hrZtmLVPZU1UUc6IPa8a4TotkCOUlL9XvUe8u2TZ_iJECB6A0UrmFqrPjfkx6VdbEBRxCuiw0eWocIHs_vs04_cuRjW_7jWbkVH-mw8RUm6aYVPEboeSUm1CRw/s3264/IMG_20220827_100258442_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLAmGoJlzyBiHXauQX5OIM9uKqiukbkpBHwPt1BUEKGbNR6OCmi74FE-p3H26EXY3hrZtmLVPZU1UUc6IPa8a4TotkCOUlL9XvUe8u2TZ_iJECB6A0UrmFqrPjfkx6VdbEBRxCuiw0eWocIHs_vs04_cuRjW_7jWbkVH-mw8RUm6aYVPEboeSUm1CRw/s320/IMG_20220827_100258442_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGgYJQQqKdTHK0H1mpFNWWuQ9eGSlCxMDsXGbPVpWGu6T8jl0tWrlqf5dIY9ADd0C3E_HNLJ6P71cltiMNTncJhDyQLpBxk8WkQIThje_cNxVvRqNuO5Ykqq0-P9aB0EzFChLvqNdtrkUSRJcsQ7W1OH4fbr8Ik-7ow0jkQ8Qk5yRb0fr2xsGSwKfsQ/s3264/IMG_20220827_100306774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGgYJQQqKdTHK0H1mpFNWWuQ9eGSlCxMDsXGbPVpWGu6T8jl0tWrlqf5dIY9ADd0C3E_HNLJ6P71cltiMNTncJhDyQLpBxk8WkQIThje_cNxVvRqNuO5Ykqq0-P9aB0EzFChLvqNdtrkUSRJcsQ7W1OH4fbr8Ik-7ow0jkQ8Qk5yRb0fr2xsGSwKfsQ/s320/IMG_20220827_100306774.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Wfo0F4q2Bn4IBOlovLuzK9chsZrnBb2-MLfzQckB-lyQZ-YNlMJHewVzvUnkYX1cV-Mx7lIBPIaz3R-RssciherMLc1IR4IgMwMrE0P97tcmDYbUitdjN0sckhuqYSgY1KOi_N-Byrw8xjtdcbGO4LC3f8vm8E69D6pxU8RSOCwba7cEVRFs57ZBQ/s3264/IMG_20220827_100544443_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Wfo0F4q2Bn4IBOlovLuzK9chsZrnBb2-MLfzQckB-lyQZ-YNlMJHewVzvUnkYX1cV-Mx7lIBPIaz3R-RssciherMLc1IR4IgMwMrE0P97tcmDYbUitdjN0sckhuqYSgY1KOi_N-Byrw8xjtdcbGO4LC3f8vm8E69D6pxU8RSOCwba7cEVRFs57ZBQ/s320/IMG_20220827_100544443_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-75322380366255599422022-08-22T16:59:00.000-07:002022-08-22T16:59:07.157-07:00One breasted wonder!!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrC8oL6raK0" width="320" youtube-src-id="LrC8oL6raK0"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-25031029467566741082022-08-22T16:50:00.000-07:002022-08-22T16:50:02.103-07:00Purposeless Pain?<p> Are we really supposed to have that? </p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-13181926769565077312022-08-22T16:48:00.003-07:002022-08-22T16:48:39.335-07:00Pain with a purpose...<p> That is what I remember childbirth being like. Pain with a purpose... It took a few natural births to get it down. With great joy and a lot of pain quickly I caught my last birth.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, my next post is about purposeless pain or is it?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s_M9GthLBtVsL0FPtg7Mm0FdHA1uVMPtMqbeFT8U4J0QW6sWOJBh__STeTIw0C18pA9COhTFlbODp0rlr283-uLUhYpG8PBTrSGqi5P0kjlJ1Nd-8o3abQkut4mD547KHgpGVU6rwJzbaId9W0Bre8h4tC8LycnIPYxz8YaldkUUhSTNOJ1IccInLg/s842/FB_IMG_1661211017794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1s_M9GthLBtVsL0FPtg7Mm0FdHA1uVMPtMqbeFT8U4J0QW6sWOJBh__STeTIw0C18pA9COhTFlbODp0rlr283-uLUhYpG8PBTrSGqi5P0kjlJ1Nd-8o3abQkut4mD547KHgpGVU6rwJzbaId9W0Bre8h4tC8LycnIPYxz8YaldkUUhSTNOJ1IccInLg/s320/FB_IMG_1661211017794.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>“They told you about the contractions but did they tell you about the expansion?</p><p>Did they tell you how your body would open to make way for the whole universe to pass through?</p><p>Did they tell you how your heart would explode with a love bigger than anything you’ve ever known as you pulled your baby to your chest </p><p><br /></p><p>They told you about the ring of fire but did they tell you about the crown of stars? </p><p>Did they mention that there is a moment when your baby enters the world and you leave your body and touch the heavens and become the light of a million galaxies?</p><p>Did they tell you how the pain of stretching to receive your child would be more exquisite than any sensation you’ve felt? </p><p><br /></p><p>They told you you would scream but did they tell you about how you would roar? </p><p>Did they tell you about the power that would rise up from your belly as you called your baby forth with your mighty voice? </p><p>Did they tell you how you would embody the wild woman within you and breathe fire with your song? </p><p><br /></p><p>They told you you would bleed but did they tell you how that sacred blood wouldn’t scare you? </p><p>How you would feel grateful for that magical liquid of life as it trickled down your leg? </p><p>How you would honor its flow and how it would help you heal a lifetime of hating your body’s bleeding cycles? </p><p><br /></p><p>They told you these stories and taught you to fear birth, to fear your power, to fear yourself. </p><p>But you’re stronger and wiser than that mama. </p><p>You know that birth is your divine dance, your soul’s song, your moment with God, and you walk fearlessly into her open arms.”</p><p><br /></p><p>~ Catie Atkinson </p><p>https://m.facebook.com/spiritysol/</p><p>@spiritysoul on Instagram </p><p><br /></p><p>Art: Medha Srivastava, “Motherlove”</p><p>https://www.facebook.com/medhasrivastavaa/</p><p><br /></p><p>NOTE: Not all pregnancies and births are the same. Some are fraught with complications and heartache. Our hearts go out to these with compassion, support, and much love. </p><p><br /></p><p>#SacredSistersFullMoonCircle #Spirituality. #WomensWisdom #WomensEmpowerment #RedTent #SacredFeminine #Goddess #GoddessCircle #WheeloftheYear #Mythology #Magick #FolkTradition #GivingBirth #Birth #Childbirth #SeasonoftheMother #GodtheMother</p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-57727485611300738162022-08-17T14:27:00.001-07:002022-08-17T14:27:55.473-07:00First post op visit turned wrong...<p> So, how does one's first post operation doctor's appointment go wrong? Well, you have a fever, are in excruciating pain so much it rivels natural child birth. Then you end up in the ER and after tons of blood work and other tests you find out you have Covid. Yep, I have been on bed rest at home for over a week and I feel nally get Covid now. After working Home Health at the he beginning of the pandemic and being a teacher I never got it. My best guess is that I got it at the hospital or the kids brought it home from school. Ugh.... </p><p>They had to check my surgical site for infection so I got to see my lack of a breast. My surgeon actually did a decent job. I am small breasted so opted to go flat, no reconstruction. I don't really think I will be that unbalanced. </p><p>So, not so bad after the pain got under control. I was actually able to sleep once we got home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi7nG2uoL5SmoXIDwNqhbRM4URBHkUkeaXBzAz6_qSYn_PvBXWgiJWyqTrMrBnqBk0Dg_0Nmd4gPeI79svC9ltc4vv_viTlgesnZghTCj0EqXmF6cx7VgjIYcuMuJqlCr7dw3rXy-n2D9TZ-T1fcp-61qXOoukLXa094Hug0H_lEyfWdoM8YeZ37MkQ/s4000/IMG_20220814_113816694_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYi7nG2uoL5SmoXIDwNqhbRM4URBHkUkeaXBzAz6_qSYn_PvBXWgiJWyqTrMrBnqBk0Dg_0Nmd4gPeI79svC9ltc4vv_viTlgesnZghTCj0EqXmF6cx7VgjIYcuMuJqlCr7dw3rXy-n2D9TZ-T1fcp-61qXOoukLXa094Hug0H_lEyfWdoM8YeZ37MkQ/s320/IMG_20220814_113816694_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqj5hOVfyGPzg4eRiEX_1ca6Q6LADSbsuA1nsmfjNGlz_sP-1F-PvqN4Mv325MyOqKwS_LD5yMBaSrD4PImFSqeKROYm05QH2RIj58vyZ3n1rYCCEqfGZnvOI5nS7UKAiu78uFqQPAIRetAu0eiXCR5d8EY6-GWiU8lxCoLi0EJFLsdcdWxid3pJ9yEA/s4000/IMG_20220814_113728579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqj5hOVfyGPzg4eRiEX_1ca6Q6LADSbsuA1nsmfjNGlz_sP-1F-PvqN4Mv325MyOqKwS_LD5yMBaSrD4PImFSqeKROYm05QH2RIj58vyZ3n1rYCCEqfGZnvOI5nS7UKAiu78uFqQPAIRetAu0eiXCR5d8EY6-GWiU8lxCoLi0EJFLsdcdWxid3pJ9yEA/s320/IMG_20220814_113728579.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qv49MwbBSa70zJFfU84RutMW-fUAKTvNqTkEMSJ6JUextjF7bKPbEryEwFC-5YupU916tIew2LChQ-UHF2jDIGc5OPH3aWqEnIrBs3yQV3zqS2zWAnSaz0PRkUxa83bAxKCoKluDi-j1cQ2azDpE-q5R2pfb3Aps3Yli-j02YYWyj5ye6IR3OeQBNQ/s4000/IMG_20220814_113700460_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qv49MwbBSa70zJFfU84RutMW-fUAKTvNqTkEMSJ6JUextjF7bKPbEryEwFC-5YupU916tIew2LChQ-UHF2jDIGc5OPH3aWqEnIrBs3yQV3zqS2zWAnSaz0PRkUxa83bAxKCoKluDi-j1cQ2azDpE-q5R2pfb3Aps3Yli-j02YYWyj5ye6IR3OeQBNQ/s320/IMG_20220814_113700460_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-67345086410897266772022-08-12T20:51:00.001-07:002022-08-12T20:51:31.995-07:00Supermoon<p> It was the last large full moon of the year. Elaina had a tea party outside and I had a nice simple ritual just to celebrate life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEb9WTN3Z7dcQQ5tnLBMIL6w_SZ9lfNOLdgD2pRBTdkPgFYOq_Chb-YGte3cE_TrM-yWayedkz1IHTu79Ay8xKnHl9E8AqaWdC9g4DOhQPMtfBj8_wtD3e8ca-rWtqMoDfAneg6CjLozPOcjiREXJ4_l00lgqYNxJVjicckiUJNycx5ewVMlZZ-ycNg/s4000/IMG_20220812_203650107_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEb9WTN3Z7dcQQ5tnLBMIL6w_SZ9lfNOLdgD2pRBTdkPgFYOq_Chb-YGte3cE_TrM-yWayedkz1IHTu79Ay8xKnHl9E8AqaWdC9g4DOhQPMtfBj8_wtD3e8ca-rWtqMoDfAneg6CjLozPOcjiREXJ4_l00lgqYNxJVjicckiUJNycx5ewVMlZZ-ycNg/s320/IMG_20220812_203650107_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VmJz0UrwmrqSBNw1mfs6verMnmHpTLz3eGCJXuk2yjt-d0Ho_BPkhqFgtflz1xMl1t-X4aNVMzlMq2b6pxtD1xyPfVUr2KrpQt3_8zcPzt6QITgK-EGaYvlQsu_EOWEMx0YtKYiuSozuCP2J0_UfhptgrJjo8hZAGhzWOWVB90aaXyxdvt5m1HHcow/s3264/IMG_20220812_205903481~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2308" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VmJz0UrwmrqSBNw1mfs6verMnmHpTLz3eGCJXuk2yjt-d0Ho_BPkhqFgtflz1xMl1t-X4aNVMzlMq2b6pxtD1xyPfVUr2KrpQt3_8zcPzt6QITgK-EGaYvlQsu_EOWEMx0YtKYiuSozuCP2J0_UfhptgrJjo8hZAGhzWOWVB90aaXyxdvt5m1HHcow/s320/IMG_20220812_205903481~2.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmyQEKq4hhag-Wfbq2ZlUpMBDhHUuIYhi9JIRxP7TipBme3d2jLicL4yB37r1b_0fUzu8RimxLMTe9tSpPRjtKDyfYMMpKQM9saVZZLg046KJHuendeOeMjhktr33X1riXh1THidgz1eFiKVnaoglE5OEabkgJTDPMQdro4NkXWcsQcRMQgVViBN1kw/s3264/IMG_20220812_210751461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmyQEKq4hhag-Wfbq2ZlUpMBDhHUuIYhi9JIRxP7TipBme3d2jLicL4yB37r1b_0fUzu8RimxLMTe9tSpPRjtKDyfYMMpKQM9saVZZLg046KJHuendeOeMjhktr33X1riXh1THidgz1eFiKVnaoglE5OEabkgJTDPMQdro4NkXWcsQcRMQgVViBN1kw/s320/IMG_20220812_210751461.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-4541567174383775842022-08-11T09:40:00.000-07:002022-08-11T09:40:09.100-07:00First Day of School<p> And I missed it.....</p><p>Eliot 9th grade</p><p>Ben 7th</p><p>Elaina 5th</p><p>Etta 3rd</p><p>Eli kindergarten</p><p>Only 5 kids out of 10 still in school. And my baby is in kindergarten!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiro2fYp7Ia7EVmNLiiESZFPzNwhufTO1ZX-v5uCBKKQTTJTjaXBy-GJTEEwEoOC3vzgxyYqHJ6HYzXwvf5rs4G4OGCYDLTLRbh4QZ44d7mAzq_y8vEsKkI0BY_xbGgDOE_xhFXEUe81O2Rlvg_bhgHJjnBReAbqnYmubcreg8WpyGBJy8V26zyERlg/s2048/received_752295676078184.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiro2fYp7Ia7EVmNLiiESZFPzNwhufTO1ZX-v5uCBKKQTTJTjaXBy-GJTEEwEoOC3vzgxyYqHJ6HYzXwvf5rs4G4OGCYDLTLRbh4QZ44d7mAzq_y8vEsKkI0BY_xbGgDOE_xhFXEUe81O2Rlvg_bhgHJjnBReAbqnYmubcreg8WpyGBJy8V26zyERlg/s320/received_752295676078184.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAufijmh-Z49GkDjGDCJpQoiEqcrvAEFfbjIjGc4LxDABM8EofYLcDpOsGndZX6yBCNM0yuY-gF5yo2LH4eeMgxyzFJDbLHQZiRq_xq1g0r3WDUM5k8yIGi5EaQh2yxBIP2k5OR3YIVu8u98gRuSwJLDq3Ht7J6zQTAeh6LG4quV0edeQtz95xtVy2cw/s2048/received_1434361763707793.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAufijmh-Z49GkDjGDCJpQoiEqcrvAEFfbjIjGc4LxDABM8EofYLcDpOsGndZX6yBCNM0yuY-gF5yo2LH4eeMgxyzFJDbLHQZiRq_xq1g0r3WDUM5k8yIGi5EaQh2yxBIP2k5OR3YIVu8u98gRuSwJLDq3Ht7J6zQTAeh6LG4quV0edeQtz95xtVy2cw/s320/received_1434361763707793.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGG4WLJatrEZ6BtiV6WlZpP5VS7-J63a8LkgXi2mGiBOhptRyn4q1gkDZ6XRdM3autM__c2tgjBbXVERqX7ud-OLfJzZkMiuD-kGHsPMIhX0RZ6zi5wcToBLOFeIvbYMJkeIo3Lj9uG9YmHAPFfbACnPf4BqVblEc57Ffmd7rIwEAxizIUFZIq14APw/s2048/received_5310623595681236.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGG4WLJatrEZ6BtiV6WlZpP5VS7-J63a8LkgXi2mGiBOhptRyn4q1gkDZ6XRdM3autM__c2tgjBbXVERqX7ud-OLfJzZkMiuD-kGHsPMIhX0RZ6zi5wcToBLOFeIvbYMJkeIo3Lj9uG9YmHAPFfbACnPf4BqVblEc57Ffmd7rIwEAxizIUFZIq14APw/s320/received_5310623595681236.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjj1iZwPaG0G8S2uMEdUaoNy4ADxWl2NVbyhgHIO6q3TVkZTDOJ5hjsE8DPt8-5YZE1CxWKJ8Op7ag4rQ7WEEdvcZNS8mjaAHpZsFFzSAUDK5XClpaIjDeJRoHPLfZ9DB-YVXFKVMskKlEPyrE8dS7Zm63tTq9JT95rhiUQz8GPMYdDDiFtNnmeNNY5g/s2048/received_5485605271482947.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjj1iZwPaG0G8S2uMEdUaoNy4ADxWl2NVbyhgHIO6q3TVkZTDOJ5hjsE8DPt8-5YZE1CxWKJ8Op7ag4rQ7WEEdvcZNS8mjaAHpZsFFzSAUDK5XClpaIjDeJRoHPLfZ9DB-YVXFKVMskKlEPyrE8dS7Zm63tTq9JT95rhiUQz8GPMYdDDiFtNnmeNNY5g/s320/received_5485605271482947.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-49021471498561810732022-08-11T09:35:00.000-07:002022-08-11T09:35:14.106-07:00Mastectomy <p>On Monday, today is Thursday, I had my right breast cut off. My surgeon was experienced and skilled other than that the hospital was horrible. There was a blanket shortage, I wasn't fed, and apparently pain meds after a major surgery is a myth for TV. I was sent home with nothing. No one wanted to get a wheelchair so I am at walked the 3 floors down to my ride. My nurse, not transportation, was going to walk with me. She found two wheelchairs just sitting in a room. I would have preferred to walk out of principle. I just want these drains out so I can go back to work. I can't afford to miss so much work. I thought one reason I couldn't work was because pain meds would keep me not alert. Well, pain and discomfort are keeping me plenty alert. Not like I can sleep. I should be working. These restrictions are keeping me for getting my kids from school. Ridiculous. Now, they say I could have waited. I had plans. I missed out on my kids and my new relationship goals and work for pain? Seriously?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qmQ54Kmvlc-kQ5CD28FRv6Y5CvFdfbPP0u32hgeXBf1p_rH1260gbk91vOpttYKH9rZMJVshdq41A3ydnnpIWiosEPn_R0aigN38fVfmY0UYXxN67AF9lI-GPcVv-I7LU2Jgx50JIt6WuhhA5YqF8eJXAHYwq2BygqZ_7JHHCTdOPaSjpr1u44xZ8g/s3264/IMG_20220808_124855201_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qmQ54Kmvlc-kQ5CD28FRv6Y5CvFdfbPP0u32hgeXBf1p_rH1260gbk91vOpttYKH9rZMJVshdq41A3ydnnpIWiosEPn_R0aigN38fVfmY0UYXxN67AF9lI-GPcVv-I7LU2Jgx50JIt6WuhhA5YqF8eJXAHYwq2BygqZ_7JHHCTdOPaSjpr1u44xZ8g/s320/IMG_20220808_124855201_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEIfY2o25x_eNFkO5zL3RpRk0Z67ppfmWsEawIpKCnHKQpLzfmbzuTYmB11wjkw9GX1UUgQqjtjZTKO8ZaNoMkM7Ch9cVGak79ytrZ92PJtMEiHyy94m9lzayfODsvHc53o91ps1iwcvhwelVUlZQrY1f8t0W1olZTXN6jdEYtHV5v624erXfTbXO1A/s3264/IMG_20220809_112117145_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEIfY2o25x_eNFkO5zL3RpRk0Z67ppfmWsEawIpKCnHKQpLzfmbzuTYmB11wjkw9GX1UUgQqjtjZTKO8ZaNoMkM7Ch9cVGak79ytrZ92PJtMEiHyy94m9lzayfODsvHc53o91ps1iwcvhwelVUlZQrY1f8t0W1olZTXN6jdEYtHV5v624erXfTbXO1A/s320/IMG_20220809_112117145_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-5xLSR9ZmzHVVBpuJZC9UGdCEBRauoAgOnJqV5WfNyy65xFPrfz92IlCMY9U81hylvGZ8ZLi18mOPwizas2ADV6NGlX_XfpliOe7TyEbW4oK6pOm7UjKf6s4cWVW_nHSXtIdqoTzwAOpDjPSrP5kYLigNbUAQYgQTx4ZaPYc2YBr3Xf9fZktyq8Qzg/s3264/IMG_20220809_194409146_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-5xLSR9ZmzHVVBpuJZC9UGdCEBRauoAgOnJqV5WfNyy65xFPrfz92IlCMY9U81hylvGZ8ZLi18mOPwizas2ADV6NGlX_XfpliOe7TyEbW4oK6pOm7UjKf6s4cWVW_nHSXtIdqoTzwAOpDjPSrP5kYLigNbUAQYgQTx4ZaPYc2YBr3Xf9fZktyq8Qzg/s320/IMG_20220809_194409146_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2992438598830837510.post-91424569717339973912022-08-07T21:32:00.001-07:002022-08-07T21:32:36.719-07:00Visit to the Cahaba River Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-7umUMdyU3_3E2hhQBlCPAB0mJG_y9csvItGMbD42eYU859YSdZkbxcJZmn0aZ6wAXSvmoBmY8_8b04P2swYyD8vrim-jKOIi7rLjcl9iWm2T7kA3vrNTTp79grkvGRIos4KGUNw3Cpai79q2OjUhr3GLgXt5bbjyaGx1QfN0u1D2PKK4TvQ41Yptg/s3264/IMG_20220807_184110219_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-7umUMdyU3_3E2hhQBlCPAB0mJG_y9csvItGMbD42eYU859YSdZkbxcJZmn0aZ6wAXSvmoBmY8_8b04P2swYyD8vrim-jKOIi7rLjcl9iWm2T7kA3vrNTTp79grkvGRIos4KGUNw3Cpai79q2OjUhr3GLgXt5bbjyaGx1QfN0u1D2PKK4TvQ41Yptg/s320/IMG_20220807_184110219_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yQsPCsT9pRKMu_8YsBm1BwuhFSTjMLOjZF93QcZiPUmlyecUxCaD5zuel3t9BfTqaLoOlGam_CPyuvvZ82pfRsrAIG0ueiuM0AestRrOuAgeb4vlTYPMuqEATk3I3aBdX3Gu_mxiCCtwzDYtlRnqxZCyxq7CIofLvjwAOAzX8jkAq9phi8qOeAWEoQ/s3264/IMG_20220807_185040026_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yQsPCsT9pRKMu_8YsBm1BwuhFSTjMLOjZF93QcZiPUmlyecUxCaD5zuel3t9BfTqaLoOlGam_CPyuvvZ82pfRsrAIG0ueiuM0AestRrOuAgeb4vlTYPMuqEATk3I3aBdX3Gu_mxiCCtwzDYtlRnqxZCyxq7CIofLvjwAOAzX8jkAq9phi8qOeAWEoQ/s320/IMG_20220807_185040026_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTb_CiCVU75ckI0Onj4YR77YsOtT2pu34LtCn-nWTJP0h8ydgE9CaA3gRwcUg-glJ1PuOhsz-EsQqhv_r8zy5OhCWMuei_oIrR3JvFskHC2QQultNiRXN7BYJue9a8DqQ2aJVvwzohmsVdnv_h0PakdB8y-xwStSozOS4-Y1HFuOaKkGcuy01OQC1Pw/s3264/IMG_20220807_185042215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTb_CiCVU75ckI0Onj4YR77YsOtT2pu34LtCn-nWTJP0h8ydgE9CaA3gRwcUg-glJ1PuOhsz-EsQqhv_r8zy5OhCWMuei_oIrR3JvFskHC2QQultNiRXN7BYJue9a8DqQ2aJVvwzohmsVdnv_h0PakdB8y-xwStSozOS4-Y1HFuOaKkGcuy01OQC1Pw/s320/IMG_20220807_185042215.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFpqMrxElgR5vs9zoujZc8L0LXULLPHIWqmCwR-h5lMRmqxFy6J2MAymBJDSIhGrDaEMXqmmNUdCFrwSGW6kERsIlrhXw_QeGxklx8Yj7tGuXiocg_DW4EO4V8xi8jPs-ghVvZMVm2M94NMFIMZMvW-stN8FX8SkERM0q-w1ar_Cd6sk5tgGYiFc6_A/s3264/IMG_20220807_185046917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFpqMrxElgR5vs9zoujZc8L0LXULLPHIWqmCwR-h5lMRmqxFy6J2MAymBJDSIhGrDaEMXqmmNUdCFrwSGW6kERsIlrhXw_QeGxklx8Yj7tGuXiocg_DW4EO4V8xi8jPs-ghVvZMVm2M94NMFIMZMvW-stN8FX8SkERM0q-w1ar_Cd6sk5tgGYiFc6_A/s320/IMG_20220807_185046917.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>With 5 children in tow and my beloved I visited the river. The rain and my fatigue threatened to keep us from going but we made it. Evan had a headache but he pushed through also. I had good talks with each child there on their level. I missed the ones that weren't there but I cherish them all. I am very nervous and scared. I couldn't be doing this without George, my mom, and my kids. George has basically put his life on hold to care for me and the kids. Today I got to forget for a while what my future holds as I watched him teach the kids to skip rocks, watch the girls bury Ben as a zombie, and Evan try to get Eli to stick his hand good naturedly into a "snake hole". And of course Elaina found at least 4 frogs or toads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsCOXI4FJ_Vj7wnXC1qBNXqdkl-gojTDzjUZl-qREnPTTIvKb1AFPCnihuFQ6W07h_DgAnGxlbQ77Q5EexeclWbENU8yWlkTznr4u4YuQ7zYAW1LH7zEY0iFJpzH7z0XmVtfXHtIErOcCbTQv44_S2SWKeyVIrmYTlvEsehNpLtKSespW2vHRjsWxrA/s4000/IMG_20220807_183947561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsCOXI4FJ_Vj7wnXC1qBNXqdkl-gojTDzjUZl-qREnPTTIvKb1AFPCnihuFQ6W07h_DgAnGxlbQ77Q5EexeclWbENU8yWlkTznr4u4YuQ7zYAW1LH7zEY0iFJpzH7z0XmVtfXHtIErOcCbTQv44_S2SWKeyVIrmYTlvEsehNpLtKSespW2vHRjsWxrA/s320/IMG_20220807_183947561.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VhLFg1R3FZ6h9rLhN-TAWGaySyFjTWTLucALRD2aZ5YeCtJm_vBvF4U03aolAey-oCosKm0_A4qbs77PpWU2efd3KU2Cykn9nnahtL_OdUi8QHuF46Oc9uWpcEHfLgam4M2hOdO-S74Yt54tzS2KEfsAzdzMQEYnP-mPFPepVA4pSShGkfUS21harA/s4000/IMG_20220807_183949504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VhLFg1R3FZ6h9rLhN-TAWGaySyFjTWTLucALRD2aZ5YeCtJm_vBvF4U03aolAey-oCosKm0_A4qbs77PpWU2efd3KU2Cykn9nnahtL_OdUi8QHuF46Oc9uWpcEHfLgam4M2hOdO-S74Yt54tzS2KEfsAzdzMQEYnP-mPFPepVA4pSShGkfUS21harA/s320/IMG_20220807_183949504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOvH1OGKf4QcJem67zmx1ZUOcpY9pqLPjTzL52ykVxa1CGP61W2tv-qEfX5oapuRBkd_9pfkDnHthJ4lNTWv6r7S0mjFkU8TRVf67iNxLnvXumD7dFR-m4keZP6iNNsoJ8-R_3KS4edreNPCL1M9YJIeHIGEU0SgERnuEGY-loXsBIp81DrBafQojdQ/s4000/IMG_20220807_184459527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOvH1OGKf4QcJem67zmx1ZUOcpY9pqLPjTzL52ykVxa1CGP61W2tv-qEfX5oapuRBkd_9pfkDnHthJ4lNTWv6r7S0mjFkU8TRVf67iNxLnvXumD7dFR-m4keZP6iNNsoJ8-R_3KS4edreNPCL1M9YJIeHIGEU0SgERnuEGY-loXsBIp81DrBafQojdQ/s320/IMG_20220807_184459527.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKR83c_GCiX4cawsqgb_yUizUEWCuG38ddO77jobKvekT3RetNOKwMwVUwpvUn5agZYID3mvO2RYluFnPiMAaUYoVVYlizzYoepfdaRc9g61WlGVc2f1Ia0MrSRrJceTnmpT5VVahzpUmhPFTOhZD8hvz_lXVCG6xwcZDRaSxh09MLkRkJEaEy0abj2A/s4000/IMG_20220807_184501591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKR83c_GCiX4cawsqgb_yUizUEWCuG38ddO77jobKvekT3RetNOKwMwVUwpvUn5agZYID3mvO2RYluFnPiMAaUYoVVYlizzYoepfdaRc9g61WlGVc2f1Ia0MrSRrJceTnmpT5VVahzpUmhPFTOhZD8hvz_lXVCG6xwcZDRaSxh09MLkRkJEaEy0abj2A/s320/IMG_20220807_184501591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KSopyL1Z5yV5Cp8ruxQmm8AHezOK75IdiVyhHTmXCxHW2_C3h5EkdZ9DUq5zA88Y-xrydw2EAGOV_XxIt3PDaI0Jr-uG15JHujDvt3Y9vSS9OTTCt1cKiFh1e-SJkBIWtzn1JOBPMReDYWcqyKpVzxSmDiBalq35gWjnYQ4l5nQMVNI5eSYL5wLHOA/s4000/IMG_20220807_185009362_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KSopyL1Z5yV5Cp8ruxQmm8AHezOK75IdiVyhHTmXCxHW2_C3h5EkdZ9DUq5zA88Y-xrydw2EAGOV_XxIt3PDaI0Jr-uG15JHujDvt3Y9vSS9OTTCt1cKiFh1e-SJkBIWtzn1JOBPMReDYWcqyKpVzxSmDiBalq35gWjnYQ4l5nQMVNI5eSYL5wLHOA/s320/IMG_20220807_185009362_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoXdJTrklZ4tWls6nhy_7ZoEJJcMzEdiO1_49pR80aZVxNfG06cU9wPtYiaLiSqx1MSkegl4O4xFf868nMzT0w-Hvp3QiybHqfrrXkwbcl2ZITzK0-2F2ckqds9ENuIJc2rIRmlPtkdmCU3GfFjDBGyREC-hdfdhYNzysJ_ogUVMFKycbG-IYT-WOxQ/s4000/IMG_20220807_185732357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoXdJTrklZ4tWls6nhy_7ZoEJJcMzEdiO1_49pR80aZVxNfG06cU9wPtYiaLiSqx1MSkegl4O4xFf868nMzT0w-Hvp3QiybHqfrrXkwbcl2ZITzK0-2F2ckqds9ENuIJc2rIRmlPtkdmCU3GfFjDBGyREC-hdfdhYNzysJ_ogUVMFKycbG-IYT-WOxQ/s320/IMG_20220807_185732357.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ncJ24q-9_6au_ovOTuSXHD19nm1nMRNzHeAIXtjx0Cv1kX-G9MIn9-YSD28sKB2ViYr-ST5uGvAX9o5gQOAnb7eEVwEwBiM9k96pQFSAYitoyk8yVr7JXPqJHVQy7prLTxmlkd6fwFtlsJInlZjUQZ0INY7QFpJunO8WrctbsxOaJuiVgzPwFzlMmQ/s4000/IMG_20220807_185749130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ncJ24q-9_6au_ovOTuSXHD19nm1nMRNzHeAIXtjx0Cv1kX-G9MIn9-YSD28sKB2ViYr-ST5uGvAX9o5gQOAnb7eEVwEwBiM9k96pQFSAYitoyk8yVr7JXPqJHVQy7prLTxmlkd6fwFtlsJInlZjUQZ0INY7QFpJunO8WrctbsxOaJuiVgzPwFzlMmQ/s320/IMG_20220807_185749130.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSisCYr6wu50-8QaG4ZYThA9AIOUJnXbCLxS3Cbq-tUzD2FAvl9HBQFoD6H2sPhvUpv--bxxWPhpmVy3pDw8gc5OJuG61AAim17wEQpRUMwYGaBUig7rq823XkfBZSzvfabibUtGbZ0S3o3bEWe273PYqpSh-eLTLg8ghcCGPboLkkUaiWRDImsE1vtQ/s4000/IMG_20220807_185807533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSisCYr6wu50-8QaG4ZYThA9AIOUJnXbCLxS3Cbq-tUzD2FAvl9HBQFoD6H2sPhvUpv--bxxWPhpmVy3pDw8gc5OJuG61AAim17wEQpRUMwYGaBUig7rq823XkfBZSzvfabibUtGbZ0S3o3bEWe273PYqpSh-eLTLg8ghcCGPboLkkUaiWRDImsE1vtQ/s320/IMG_20220807_185807533.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5cLjd_EBUf3Dr0l4Vnk6NyhRb5qEi-ITt9GPDjLIRVPGvmJUy6CvoAtMEovpkQbJQsxWfIVUZo8ISsoter-LuH1-wb6iXtJg7PuTo4u3cfGhiP8g2KRPiIWqBw-0nYfnBwrBtiYfyeaR_6b9Hvvlb9b4Y1VgPBYJ_L35JXSMvxh8n2hw7N3b-YF39Q/s4000/IMG_20220807_185808215_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5cLjd_EBUf3Dr0l4Vnk6NyhRb5qEi-ITt9GPDjLIRVPGvmJUy6CvoAtMEovpkQbJQsxWfIVUZo8ISsoter-LuH1-wb6iXtJg7PuTo4u3cfGhiP8g2KRPiIWqBw-0nYfnBwrBtiYfyeaR_6b9Hvvlb9b4Y1VgPBYJ_L35JXSMvxh8n2hw7N3b-YF39Q/s320/IMG_20220807_185808215_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv4xilloKANumYxvLRrsuS0Ge3mSVUzXG495XFX1kIR6ZBcPOCkCTcmR7ZG6rx5FaeLCKrP4-PeANTAMFWw36cWvzrGJO3ouYTp5ke751QuQMIGTqPWAZNFtumTyy_J4_19SI43gWl4WXiVfs0W-itIg5KQYbpOXPU0z3-iU3_o8UGnmZH56XQQG4WA/s4000/IMG_20220807_185809928_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv4xilloKANumYxvLRrsuS0Ge3mSVUzXG495XFX1kIR6ZBcPOCkCTcmR7ZG6rx5FaeLCKrP4-PeANTAMFWw36cWvzrGJO3ouYTp5ke751QuQMIGTqPWAZNFtumTyy_J4_19SI43gWl4WXiVfs0W-itIg5KQYbpOXPU0z3-iU3_o8UGnmZH56XQQG4WA/s320/IMG_20220807_185809928_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Susan, Wife, Mother, Teacher, Early Interventionist, CLC, Doula, Family Herbalist, Student Midwife, and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00228930951600842409noreply@blogger.com0