Well, I'm officially "out there" as a doula. I ordered a shirt and everything. I've had an average of a birth a month, (2 in may!) and I've been going on more interviews. The awesome thing, right now, is that I can pretty much work with most of the people who want to hire me. I haven't had to turn someone down due to over scheduling, yet. (although, I did turn someone down for a home birth. Which, just killed me. I just can't do it while midwife assisted births are still illegal in Alabama. Once that's legal, I'm all over it!)
I'm super excited because my next client who is due is attempting a VBAC! VBACs are especially dear to me because of my own VBAC experiences with my 3 youngest. Its not that every vaginal birth isn't special, its just that there's this amazing realization for a VBAC mom when she has her first (and second and third) baby vaginally that she's not "broken".
So, speaking of doula stuff, I have to already start thinking about how close to our Thailand trip I'll take clients. (Did you know E and I are going to Thailand?? For our 10th anniversary trip, even though it'll be close to 11 years.) We've started looking at hotels and are likely going in February. One of my dear friends is pregnant and due in the beginning. She hasn't asked me to be her doula, nor do I expect her to, but I want to make sure we're around if she needs anything from us.
There's this super long list of things I'd like to do before we go to Thailand. Thankfully, "lose weight" isn't on my list this year, (I hit 1 year as a life time member of Weight Watchers this week.) But, odder things made the list. Things that likely won't happen, but its a dream list. Here it is:
1.
Get Lasik. I was going to get it done last year, but was hesitant to do it while I was still nursing Eliza. I'm still nursing her now, but will likely stop some time around age 2. Or will be down enough to go ahead with the surgery. I keep thinking about how nice it would be to not have to deal with contacts, cases, solution on a 40 hr trip over there and back. Plus, you know, not having to worry about salt water in my contact in the ocean.
2.
Buy a super hot, non-momish, bathing suit that covers my stretch marked stomach. (Unless we some how hit the lotto and I get a tummy tuck and breast lift.)
3.
Get a bikini wax. I've heard the more times you go, the longer it stays away and it hurts less. Not sure if I buy that, but I'm thinking about giving it a go.
4.
Have bunion surgery. See. I told you it was a weird list. My bunion on my right foot has been hurting. It goes through spurts of hurting/not hurting. Its on a hurting spurt now. It hurts most after I run or walk long distances. Obviously, we'll likely be doing some walking on our trip. I'd love to be pain free.
Running. Yeah. I just put it out to the world via instagram that I'm planning on running a half marathon in the fall. I started training yesterday. I know. Its crazy.
I am not a runner. Or, that's what I always thought. If my life was a newspaper, this story would read "girl who passed out at track meet and quit attempts to run a half marathon at age 31."
After training for my 10k, and not dying, or even feeling the need to die, I started to believe in myself a little. Maybe I am a runner. If I can run 6.2 miles with out much struggle, maybe I can run 8. Or 10. Maybe I
can run 13.1. If I can't, at least I can say I tried, right?
