Medicine of Immortality "It's a cold, and it's a broken, 'Hallelujah!'"

New natural birth options in Monroe hospitalsPosted by Rick on May 16th, 2007

So I found out something cool today. Rachel’s obstetrician apparently presented research to the hospital administration at St. Francis Hospital recently. The research showed that waterbirth is just as effective as epidurals for pain relief. The hospital is now allowing natural childbirth with laboring in a variety of positions, as well as birthing in showers, and they’ve had about six natural childbirths (in natural positions).

They still aren’t doing full waterbirth; however, the nurse who caught Kyrie (who is an awesome nurse married to the basketball coach at ULM) is going to practice at a new birth center with jetted jacuzzis (still over a year off, I think) near the hospital. After seeing the research that waterbirth is just as effective as epidural for pain relief (without all the adverse side effects and potential risks), the hospital has become a lot more midwife friendly. And, as her OB told the administration, water is a lot cheaper than epidurals!

This is kind of cool because we had heard our doctor was in trouble with the hospital because he worked with midwives. In the end, he influenced them to change their thinking.

Happy Anniversary to us!Posted by Rachel on May 15th, 2007

Rick & I have been married for three years. This is the first anniversary that we haven’t been in Spokane, and we still have no idea what to do in this crummy ol’ town! But we wuv each other, and that’s all that matters.

Depressing U.S. birth statisticsPosted by Rachel on May 14th, 2007

C-sections soaring: The number of cesarean deliveries has jumped another 4 percent to 30.2 percent of births — up by 46 percent since 1996, a continuing record for the United States.

Giving labor a push: The number of women whose labor is induced has more than doubled since 1990, to about 21.2 percent of births.

I think there just might be a correlation between the two.

Happy Mother’s DayPosted by Rachel on May 13th, 2007

Thanks for everything, Mommy! I hope that I can be as good of a mommy as you are.

Etymological dreamsPosted by Rick on May 12th, 2007

Do you ever solve problems or get questions in your dreams? I do. Here’s something spurred on by a dream.

Anamnesis is usually referred to as “bringing the past into the present.” However, the literal translation of that word is “the bringing near of memory.” “Memory” being a recapitulation of past events, not just a recalling of thoughts.

In the Hebrew, the word for “offering” is corban. Or so you see it translated. It is literally “the thing brought near.” Communion is a bringing near of Jesus by anamnesis.

If I had an Oxford English Dictionary sitting by my side, it would be interesting to see if there are any etymological connections between the two words.

Beautiful girlyPosted by Rachel on May 11th, 2007

Here’s a picture using the technique that my brother hates…hehehehe

And a closeup of her messy hair in her face and pretty eyelashes.

My Chatty GirlPosted by Rachel on May 11th, 2007

Kyrie has recently gone through another huge vocabulary explosion, and I’ve officially lost count of the words she can say. These days, she will repeat almost anything I ask her to say, or will repeat words unprompted. She’s also putting together a lot of words and frequently using phrases. Among the cutest are “Oh man!” “Oh well,” and “Let’s see…” She’s getting so smart!

Also, when she sees letters, she’ll say “A!” She also knows “B” and “C” but usually only points to the right letters by coincidence at this point. She is getting pretty good at it, though, and today she correctly identified the “A” in the American Eagle sign that we passed at the mall.

She also tries to count, now. Usually it goes something like, “One, one, one, two!” or “one, two, two, six!” Hehe. It’s cute that she’s trying.

Something coolPosted by Rick on May 11th, 2007

So guess who wants to study at IWS if he can get the funding? The Most. Rev. Emmanuel Kolini, Archbishop or Rwanda. Pretty cool, huh? So, I could be like, “Yeah, Archbishop Kolini is in my program, but I’m a year ahead of him.” Heh.

I’m looking forward to Brian McLaren next month. That should be interesting.

I officially have the cutest kid, like, EVERPosted by Rachel on May 9th, 2007

This is what Kyrie did when I told her to smile for a picture. faints from cuteness overload

Also, it’s a great advertisement for the Sun-Maid fruit bits, don’t you think?

Ignorant Comments Bug mePosted by Rachel on May 9th, 2007

I know that I shouldn’t let it get to me, but one of my biggest pet peeves ever is when someone makes a statement about something without having been educated at all on the topic. Annoying!

Had to get that out.