It's been a while...

Yeah, it's been a while since I blogged.  I think I blog in my head sometimes, does that count?

Anyway, it's been an amazing summer so far.  Full of high points and of course a few of those moments that slap you back to reality.  Reality checks are good, not enjoyable, but purposeful.

Highlights for the summer.  A getaway to Bimini.

My son asked if I was trapped in a Cornona commercial...well, duh!

And yes, it did wash it all away....

Of course, I returned as most of us do, and hit the ground running.

Lots of AMAZING stuff going on  right now!  The business is growing and growing and ugh, the business side of business is not nearly as much fun as attending a birth.  I know, I know.   I am grateful. I am blessed. I am tired.

Speaking of AMAZING....we co-sponsored the "Big Latch On" event for breastfeeding awareness yesterday.  Wow. Just wow, the number of families that came out and participated.  It was like an Amazing Births & Beyond reunion.  My heart was full.

Stacy & I at the ABB table!

BIG crowd for the latching. So awesome!

It has recently come to my attention that the Bali trip begins in 9 weeks! Holy smoke, when the trip was planned back in January, it felt like a lifetime away.  Not anymore.  Excitement for the workshop is building and final plans are being made. Whoo hoo, this is really happening! Total immersion birthing workshop in what I'm envisioning as one of the most beautiful places on earth...yeah, maybe a tad bit giddy ;)

Miriam and I have decided to do a little fundraiser for Bumi Sehat, Robin Lim's birth center in Bali.  Of course it will be ridiculously silly and hopefully do the trick and raise some funds.  Thank you to Tricia at Click.Capture.Create. Photography for capturing the images and to writer David Stebbins for lending his creative genius to the campaign.  ALL will be revealed this week.  Silly, yes. Ridiculous, but of course. Effective, please help us make it so for SUCH a worthwhile cause.

Here's your clue....curious now?  I REALLY HOPE SO ;)

Well, I'm off to go pull myself together to teach a HypnoBirthing Class this morning.  Stacy, the usual instructor is at a birth.  This has been the flavor of the last couple of months, so many births and lots of impromptu filling in.  It's honestly a wonderful feeling to sense so much energy coursing through the little birth house.

Life is good.  It really is.

Peace.
Lorie

Ahhhh

What a terrific week, culminating in a MUCH needed chill weekend!

First of all...

My men!

My son, Bryan, made the SWAT team for the agency he works for.  I'm so terribly proud of him....and of course a little worried too ;)

When I posted this announcement on my Facebook page, I was a little surprised to see some of the responses.  They ranged from a celebratory tone to one of concern that my son will use his position to harm people.  Uh...no!  Yikes :(

Secondly...

I had the honor of attending another AMAZING birth.  I love this couple, their passion for each other and their commitment to creating the birth they desired for their son.  They prepared for their birth with HypnoBirthing (Dad asked for HypnoBirthing classes for his birthday! I love this guy!) and chose a midwife and doula for a homebirth. 

The sisterhood of birth. 

The magical moment!

Midwife Colleen & I have a moment with baby Jynsen :)

 As I drove home, exhausted, but so happy, the smell of birth lingered on me.  I don't mean this in a "gross" way, but rather, in a very sweet way.  The intermingled scents of everyone present at the birth was clinging to my clothes and my hair.  That distinctive co-mingled scent that clings to every damp body holding the space for a mother...the smell of sweat, tears, blood, amniotic fluid...and at least for me, it reminds me of why I follow my path.  Of why this IS important.

Lastly....

I was OFF CALL for the weekend! I had an entire holiday weekend to do absolutely nothing.  And I did....do absolutely nothing.  

Except...

spend Saturday on the beach....

Float in my pool on Sunday....

and celebrate Memorial Day with friends on Monday.

Perfect, and much needed down time!

It's Tuesday and time to get back to work.  Time to get ready for the FIRST birth at the Palms Birth House.  It's so exciting!!

Peace.

Happy Mother's Day

I want to thank my mother for setting such a good example for me and wish her a special day today.  Mom, I'm sorry I can't take you to lunch and give you a hug today but I'm sure you can feel my love from afar.

Mom & I in NYC...ironically, that is exactly where I am today

I would like to thank my son, Bryan, for choosing me as his mother.  Being a mother is and will always be my greatest joy.  I love you Bryan.

Me & my boy messing around at my mother's house

I would also like to thank all of the women who made the transformation into motherhood before my very eyes, including my dear step-daughter Kim and daughter-in-law Jenny.  It has been my true honor to hold the space during that transformation.  I am touched and in awe of the power and beauty that each and every one of you bring to motherhood.  Your children are blessed and the world is a bit sweeter.

Happy First Mother's Day Jenny! (our beloved Liam)

I am spending Mother's Day this year teaching the last day of the HypnoBirthing Practitioner training to 22 amazing women.  Although I would love to be with my family today, this feels right somehow.

Last day of class!

In honor of all mothers, I love the quote below...

The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world!

Peace and Love.

Work and Play in NYC

Once again Vivian and I are teaching the HypnoBirthing Practitioner training in New York.  Once I get here, I am reminded why I really love this particular training location.

First of all NYC is awesome, exhausting, delicious and kooky.  On our first full day here we tried, unsuccessfully I might add, to hail a cab during rush hour.  My feminine ego took a hit when the cab finally stopped for us and then darted around us to grab a business man instead of Vivian and I.  Ouch, that hurt lol.  My ego was salved last night on the sidewalk when Vivian and I were trying to figure out how to get to a particular restaurant and a sharp dressed man stopped and assisted us.  Thank you...that was nice and needed ;)

Secondly, we always seem to manifest a large group of amazing women for these particular trainings.  Our venue this time is the Open Center NYC.  I cannot say enough about this wonderful place and the staff members here.  What a mecca of holistic trainings and lectures.  Our current group consist of 22 enthusiastic women who are going to be incredible agents of change in the birthing world.  I am so inspired to see the sincere concern that these women have for current birthing practices and their burning desire to change those practices in their communities.  Wow. Simply wow.

Back at the birth house it was nice to see that it was business as usual.

Does this really need a caption??

After our training, we stumbled upon a Rebecca Minkoff sample sale and went a little crazy...or at least Vivian did lol!  I somehow contained myself to only one purchase that I LOVE!

Insane...REALLY insane mob!

After our shopping adventure, we ventured out in search of Moroccan food.  We took a shot in the dark and hit the mark! We dined at Cafe Mogador in the East Village.  The Tagines were AMAZING...spicy, sweet and very savory and the Ginger Martini was beyond explanation and had a very unexpected flavor in a yummy way. 

Of course we had to have dessert!

Moroccan Mint Tea finished the meal

It was a very full day and after dinner we took our very satisfied and weary selves back to our apartment on the Upper West Side (thank you OPEN Center for the accommodations) and called it a day. 

Tomorrow, another adventure!

Peace.

Facades

I've been spending some time recently thinking about how some people behave in public and how they behave behind their created facade.  How some people have created such a facade that they actually believe it to be their reality.   Sort of like Disney World....it's surreal and even beautiful but it's only a facade...underneath is the ugly reality of the rough, unpolished supporting structure.  (That analogy makes me think of something I read recently...."beautiful people aren't always good, but good people are always beautiful.")

The following quote hit home for me for me too...

"Close the gap between what you believe and how you act in the world! That's your assignment. Truly following the Buddha's teachings is how we behave OFF of our meditation cushions, not while we're on them, just like being a Christian is reflected in people's behavior outside of church, not while they're in it. May we ALL close the gap between what we believe and how we act in the world!"

Gosh, the world would be a much better place if we all followed that simple behavior.  I really do try to live my life authentically and I'm a work in progress for certain.  I stumble, I fall, I've already admitted that I'm clumsy.  But I try.  I really try.

I'm wondering what my lesson is when at times I feel so incredibly frustrated and actually angry at those who do not choose to live this way.  Am I supposed to be cultivating patience?  Should I ignore the behavior of those, even when innocents fall victim to their "perceived" expertise and persona and fall at my doorstep angry and confused?  When discussion of bad behavior is criticized by so many good people, but so many good people remain silent?

What IS the lesson for me?

I'm sure the universe will sort it all out for me and perhaps I'll just follow the sage advice below...

 Peace.

Lessons

Interesting week. 
Lessons seemed to be the theme and I was on the receiving and giving end. 

This just totally cracked me up and seemed appropriate :)

Fun week.
We had a photo shoot at the birth house. Fun and chaotic all rolled into an hour.  It was so awesome seeing so many of our happy babes, kiddos and parents.  Such confirmation that all is well in my world and no matter the obstacles and frustrations, I'm doing something right.  Life is good and I am blessed. A shout out to Tricia at Click.Capture.Create. for her ability to stay focused and capture what I'm sure will be ADORABLE images under silly circumstances.  You are the best Tricia.  The best!

I'm holding Teddy & Harper

Productive week.
New things on the horizon...details to follow.  Good stuff.  Very good! Babies were born, classes were taught and the birth house is buzzing with lovely energy.  Miriam and I added some charming touches to the house this week and even more are in the works.   I just LOVE this house.

Weekend. Finally.
Taught a private childbirth class yesterday with a lovely couple, had a little chill time at the Lotus and then came home to a clean house, stocked with food and my amazing husband.  Sweet. Very sweet.  Picked up a placenta at Broward General last night...

Thanks for the curb side delivery Vivian!

Day off today...well kind of.  Another baby is trying to make a break for it...I will be delivering placenta pills later... so we shall see how things play out.  So far, easing into this Earth Day, Sunday, feels pretty sweet.

Peace.

What an insane week with lots of lessons and universal reminders.

1.  I had three incredible births in 48 hours and miraculously made it to all of them.  My lesson:  You are where you need to be, always.  Even when you aren't where you want to be or even logistically should be. Period. (reminder to self, stop questioning, stressing or over-thinking this!)

2.  It was a stressful week with staffing issues.  Those situations always cause me to reflect on why I'm doing what I'm doing.  Would I be happier moving on to the next phase of my life.  (Those goats and my farm are really calling me!) Is the current chaos a sign?  My lesson:  Look at ALL the signs! Not just the signs that are demanding the most attention at the moment.  Amidst the chaos of this week were a slew of births, classes, etc. AND an opportunity on the horizon for additional growth.   (reminder to self, see lesson #1)

3.  A date night and beach day with my incredible husband can change everything!  My lesson:  Keep calm and carry on! Life awaits....grant me the grace and patience to get there, cause I'm feeling pretty darn clumsy at the moment ;)

Peace.

I'm feeling very emotional today.  Perhaps it's the extreme fatigue or maybe it's just a sense of deep gratitude coursing through me.  I feel so blessed to love what I do enough to expend every ounce of energy I have and then look forward to doing it again...just maybe not tonight ;)


It's been a pretty amazing week. 

Today I registered for the workshop in Bali with Robin Lim, founder of Bumi Sehat.  It's official!  I'm going to Bali!  Thank you again to my MOST amazing husband for the gift of a lifetime! Baby, you are the BEST!

I was blessed to doula for a former HypnoFertility client, HypnoBirthing student, amazing woman and friend.  The talented Tricia from www.clickcapturecreate.com was present for the ENTIRE birthing process to capture this emotional, exhausting and amazing birth.  My heart is incredibly full.  Laboring at home with this strong mother-to-be and seeing the fertility nest that I made her almost 3 years ago in the bedroom where we labored quietly was so touching.  Bearing witness to an amazing couple realizing their dream of becoming parents is something that I honestly cannot put into words.

                                                                      Meet beautiful Serena!
    


I finished teaching my current group of HypnoBirthing students last night.  (To my students,  I should apologize again for my sleep deprived ramblings in the hopes that you felt my passion and allowed it to inspire you.  Two days without sleep and a long emotion filled birth makes for a bit of a kooky Lorie.) Two mothers came to share their birth stories with the class.  I think that I was inspired as much as my class by hearing the heartfelt testimonials for gentle birth.  Thank you Cindy Marler for sharing both of your birth stories and the embarrassing plugs for my services. 

                                                           The Class! (minus two couples)

And now, I'm looking forward to the weekend.  I've got 90 coconuts shells waiting to be transformed into candles and a bit of a baby pileup.  This will not be a quiet weekend and that's just fine with me!