I haven't been posting lately because I have been running around barely taking time to refuel. So here's the latest.
- I now have a 6th grader, 5th grader, 2nd grader, a preschooler, and a toddler. Byron was promoted to the 5th grade this past Monday. So far, so good. We pray this will be a better fit for him.
-We are talking with a Realtor here in town to try and figure out what we would need to do to sell the house should Odin get a new job soon.
- I am speaking at the Missouri La Leche League conference this weekend.
-And the big news.... Odin, Valen and I are flying out to Utah on Monday.
I can't just drop that on you without an explanation. Odin has an interview at Southern Utah University and I am tagging along to check out the area, housing, and schools. I have two friends coming with their kids to keep my older four in line and Odin and I will only have the baby with us.
The stressful part of this situation is the not knowing. We don't know if he will get this job or not, but we do know the job starts in January. Lets see, housing market is not thriving and if he gets this job, we would have to relocate about 6 weeks later. We are definitely in a situation where I need to keep telling myself that God will put us where we need to be. As long as I do everything within my power, I have to trust that God will take care of the rest (the sleepy kind of rest, too!!).
Time to get back to Halloween preparations! The kids are going trick-or-treating downtown, and I get to help get balloons ready to pass out at the church. Check out Odin's blog in a few days for pictures.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Free the Midwives
I am so far behind in everything related to midwifery and politics as of late. I have been following the progress of the midwifery legislation in the court system. Following is an excerpt from an email from my friend Mary Ueland about where things stand and how we can all pitch in and help! It is amazing how so many have stepped up and helped with funding. We were able to pay down the legal bill she is referring to, but the bills won't stop until the case is over and done with. We still have a long way to go.
You only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
Clarence Darrow
Dear Friends, Supporters, & Miscellaneous "Bad Guys" that end up on the Lists,
We are still waiting to hear exactly when the Missouri Supreme Court will take up the midwifery law case, but it looks like it will definitely be after the first of the year. Our side has until Thanksgiving to get all of their legal briefs filed with the Supreme Court, then the other side has 30 days to file respondents briefs... and then, and then... as you know, court cases move very slowly.
I know that some of you pregnant women are anxiously waiting to know if your midwives will be legal by your due date. And I know others of you find the court case to be taking an excruciatingly long time....
During this waiting time, there is much to be done and much has been occurring around the state and across the nation. In our state, many positive things have been occurring. We continue to receive positive coverage of the midwifery issue - most recently the front page of the Kansas City Star -
http://www.kansascity.com/105/v-print/story/307680.html
Thanks to the time and effort that many, many people have put in, fund raisers and public awareness events have been occurring around the state.
~Several weeks ago, the Stockton area homebirth families sold baked goods at the local "Walnut Days" festival and raised over $500!
~Two weeks ago, the Springfield area homebirth families held a fund raising garage/bake sale, raising over $500 and, at the same time, educating everyone who stopped by about midwives.
~This weekend (Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 am), the Kansas City area homebirth families are hosting a fund raiser in Kansas City. They will be showing the Business of Being Born (Rikki Lake's new documentary on birth and midwives) and holding a silent auction, bake sale and round table discussion. If you would like to attend (Tickets in advance - $20), or have friends or family who might, please contact Cheryl - cheryl@kchomebirth.com or call 913-722-1721.
The St. Louis area homebirth families are planning a "Trivia Night" and silent auction Saturday, December 8, at the Ethical Society in St Louis and have hopes of raising several thousand dollars. If you would like to attend or donate to the silent auction, contact Samanda Rossi at: fommsrossi@sbcglobal.net.
Across the nation, though, there has been an unfortunate increase in midwifery arrests, prosecutions, and investigations. We are all wondering if the American Medical Association's SOPP (Scope of Practice Partnership, recently created to specifically target practitioners like midwives who they feel are making headway into their turf) is at least partially responsible for this sudden increase in midwifery prosecutions.
As a result, a group of birth and midwifery activists from around the country will be meeting in mid-November to talk about what we can do to stem the tide and increasingly hostile climate for midwives in certain states. Missouri will be well represented at the meetings and we'll keep you posted as we make plans to combat this and work together on the national front. We believe this truth:
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin
Meanwhile, in spite of all the other stuff going on, our attorneys must keep plugging along at our case. They very generously agreed be flexible and waive the interest on our bills for now. However, we need to pay down our current bill before they are willing to proceed with the case.
We issued a challenge several weeks ago, needing $17,000. To date, we have paid that bill down to $11,000. But this bill MUST BE PAID by the first of next week in order to stay in the case heading to the Missouri Supreme Court!
A very generous family has stepped forward and agreed to match your donations THIS WEEK ONLY for up to $5,500! If we can raise $5,500 this week, they will match it, and we will have our bill paid up to date.
If you have not donated recently, please consider donating at this crucial time. If you don't have $500 to give, perhaps you can donate what is in your change jar. Perhaps you are willing to forgo buying another pair of shoes, and instead send in the money you would have spent on them. Or perhaps your mother-in-law could donate some money or sell her famous pumpkin pies...
Everyone can donate something.
Think about it - what can you give this week?
Donate online at: www.freethemidwives.org
OR by check or money order:
Free the Midwives
PO Box 2319
Rolla, MO 65402
Thank you all so much!
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Mary Ueland
History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats. - Bertie C. Forbes
You only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.
Clarence Darrow
Dear Friends, Supporters, & Miscellaneous "Bad Guys" that end up on the Lists,
We are still waiting to hear exactly when the Missouri Supreme Court will take up the midwifery law case, but it looks like it will definitely be after the first of the year. Our side has until Thanksgiving to get all of their legal briefs filed with the Supreme Court, then the other side has 30 days to file respondents briefs... and then, and then... as you know, court cases move very slowly.
I know that some of you pregnant women are anxiously waiting to know if your midwives will be legal by your due date. And I know others of you find the court case to be taking an excruciatingly long time....
During this waiting time, there is much to be done and much has been occurring around the state and across the nation. In our state, many positive things have been occurring. We continue to receive positive coverage of the midwifery issue - most recently the front page of the Kansas City Star -
http://www.kansascity.com/105
Thanks to the time and effort that many, many people have put in, fund raisers and public awareness events have been occurring around the state.
~Several weeks ago, the Stockton area homebirth families sold baked goods at the local "Walnut Days" festival and raised over $500!
~Two weeks ago, the Springfield area homebirth families held a fund raising garage/bake sale, raising over $500 and, at the same time, educating everyone who stopped by about midwives.
~This weekend (Saturday, Oct. 27, 9 am), the Kansas City area homebirth families are hosting a fund raiser in Kansas City. They will be showing the Business of Being Born (Rikki Lake's new documentary on birth and midwives) and holding a silent auction, bake sale and round table discussion. If you would like to attend (Tickets in advance - $20), or have friends or family who might, please contact Cheryl - cheryl@kchomebirth.com or call 913-722-1721.
The St. Louis area homebirth families are planning a "Trivia Night" and silent auction Saturday, December 8, at the Ethical Society in St Louis and have hopes of raising several thousand dollars. If you would like to attend or donate to the silent auction, contact Samanda Rossi at: fommsrossi@sbcglobal.net.
Across the nation, though, there has been an unfortunate increase in midwifery arrests, prosecutions, and investigations. We are all wondering if the American Medical Association's SOPP (Scope of Practice Partnership, recently created to specifically target practitioners like midwives who they feel are making headway into their turf) is at least partially responsible for this sudden increase in midwifery prosecutions.
As a result, a group of birth and midwifery activists from around the country will be meeting in mid-November to talk about what we can do to stem the tide and increasingly hostile climate for midwives in certain states. Missouri will be well represented at the meetings and we'll keep you posted as we make plans to combat this and work together on the national front. We believe this truth:
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin
Meanwhile, in spite of all the other stuff going on, our attorneys must keep plugging along at our case. They very generously agreed be flexible and waive the interest on our bills for now. However, we need to pay down our current bill before they are willing to proceed with the case.
We issued a challenge several weeks ago, needing $17,000. To date, we have paid that bill down to $11,000. But this bill MUST BE PAID by the first of next week in order to stay in the case heading to the Missouri Supreme Court!
A very generous family has stepped forward and agreed to match your donations THIS WEEK ONLY for up to $5,500! If we can raise $5,500 this week, they will match it, and we will have our bill paid up to date.
If you have not donated recently, please consider donating at this crucial time. If you don't have $500 to give, perhaps you can donate what is in your change jar. Perhaps you are willing to forgo buying another pair of shoes, and instead send in the money you would have spent on them. Or perhaps your mother-in-law could donate some money or sell her famous pumpkin pies...
Everyone can donate something.
Think about it - what can you give this week?
Donate online at: www.freethemidwives.org
OR by check or money order:
Free the Midwives
PO Box 2319
Rolla, MO 65402
Thank you all so much!
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Mary Ueland
History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats. - Bertie C. Forbes
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