Sweet Adeline

Glory Be, Adeline is here!

 (For more pictures and text, see Adeline's Daddy's blog.)




May all babies be born into loving hands... 

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Stella Sunshine

Miss Stella Sunshine arrived on Friday October 15, 2010. She is beautiful, strong and the delight of her parent's hearts. Shhh.... Sunshine and her mommy are napping. It is hard work getting born.

May all babies be born into loving hands...

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Oct. 15 2010, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day of Remembrance

Guest post by an LCM Mom

Several days ago, for the first time in a long time, I opened the large manila envelope tucked between books and other papers on my bookshelf, always in the back of my mind.  Containing the only pictures I have of my daughter's twin who passed away while still in utero the envelope is always there, quiet but ever present.  Inobtrusive, but always on the edge of my awareness.

Gingerly, I opened the envelope and looked over the images of Baby A and Baby B, and when looking at the Baby B we named Nicholas once we became aware of his passing, I noticed something I hadn't seen before.  For the very first time, I saw feet.  Small and not well formed yet, but feet nonetheless.  My son's feet.  And they made me smile.  After a few smiles mixed with tears, I put the pictures back in their envelope, tucked them back in between the books on my shelf and went on with the rest my day.  But those feet stayed with me.

It's been almost a year since we lost Nicholas, but when my eyes and heart are open, his footprints are ever evident in our hearts and our lives.  Tiny feet with me when I cradle his twin sister.  Tiny feet when I pass that bookself, when I look at my other sons and wonder what Nicholas's smile would have been like.  The weeks we shared when my body contained his entire life were far, far too short, but he remains a part of my heart and our family just the same.  For as long as I remember him, he will always be with me, and in those moments I know that we are not so very far apart and that I'll see my son again someday.  And until that day, I have a tiny set of footprints walking along with me, always by my side and on my heart.


- Nicholas' Mom



Today (October 15th) is the day of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.   Pregnancy loss is a deep but too often private pain.  Today we remember all those babies held in our hearts but never met, those born sleeping, and those whose lives ended in infancy. 

We invite you to contact us by email if you have an addition you would like us to make to our pregnancy loss Page of Remembrance.  Whether actually named or simply carried in your heart as, for example, "our first pregnancy," we would be honored to hold your babies in our hearts and on our memorial page.

Tomorrow, October 16, in Saratoga Springs at the Saratoga Spa State Park the Annual Angel Names Association Memorial Walk will take place from 12-4pm meeting at the Columbia Pavilion.   This event is free, will include children's activities, and is in honor of all children lost through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. 


May all babies be born into loving hands...




K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Rose's Famous Apple Butter

If you made it to the Local Care Midwifery Open House and had some yummy Apple Butter, this is the recipe. If you didn't make it to the Open House, the apple butter is still yummy : )

 
May all babies be born into loving hands... 

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Apple Butter 

(Recipe from Michelle Doyle, originally from her mom, Rosemary Vorih)

8 cups apples -cooked, pureed, apples (think applesauce, I use a Foley Food Mill to make mine)

3 cups sugar (okay, mom's recipe actually called for 6 cups)

2 teaspoons each: cloves, allspice, nutmeg

2 tablespoons cinnamon

Add everything together, stir well, cook on low (!) until thick. (I use a crock pot on low setting for 8 hours and if that is not enough, do it again). If cooking on the stovetop, be careful of the bottom of the apple butter scorching. Pour into clean, scalded jam jars, top with new lids, seal.

Baby Sammy, 10/9/10

Little Sammy is not so little. Weighing in at 9 1/2 pounds, he is both big and sturdy. We pray that he will always be healthy and strong, and never too big for his momma's kisses.


May all babies be born into loving hands... 

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Wonderful book we all should read

Someone Knows My Name, by Lawrence Hill is undoubtedly one of the best books I have ever read. Historical literature is not my usual genre of choice but the book grabbed me at the library (the main character is a midwife after all) and would not let me go. This book is the fictional life story of Aminita Diallo,from her dying days in London in 1802 looking back over her long, stirring and dignified life. From a small village in Africa where she lived as a 'freeborn muslim', learned to read Arabic from her father and learned midwifery from her mother, Aminita is kidnapped and sold into slavery. This is a story that affects us all and does so with honesty, dignity and even moments of humor. It took me weeks to finish (sorry to whomever had it reserved) because I did not want the story to end. However, Mr Hill is an accomplished and kind author; by the end of his novel, I was finally ready to let Aminita Diallo go.

May all babies be born into loving hands... 

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com

Arabelle is here!

Arabelle Elisabeth is as beautiful as her name. She came dancing into the world tonight, welcomed by grandma and grandpa, a big sister and two big brothers, several friends, one sleeping baby and two midwives. After all that excitement, it was time for some quiet snuggling with mommy and daddy. Ahhhh...

May all babies be born into loving hands... 

K. Michelle Doyle, CNM, NYS LM
www.localcaremidwifery.com
www.localcaremidwifery.blogspot.com