FINALLY A MIDWIFE

Today just under a year after I commenced my Post Graduate Diploma in Midwifery I met with my Mentor at the Hospital. We completed my last assessment, signed off the last of the boxes needed to hand in my Blue Book to the Uni and she gave me a glowing report. This Blue Book has recorded every clinical skill performed during placements for the entire year as well as my clinical competencies. I have had nightmares about loosing this book as without it- the work was not done.
In nervous anticipation, I drove straight to the uni to meet with the Educator and watched as she painstakingly went through every page of my precious Blue Book. If it wasn't signed for- it didn't happen- Penny had prepared me, she was tough!  Thankfully, I had the all the required hours signed for, all the numbers of the women cared for in the antenatal, labour and post-natal period done, all the newborns and abdominal examinations completed as well as the births, receptions and resuscitations completed. So with my final mark released I am free to hand in my registration as a Midwife. My grade also confirmed that I have worked hard enough to be eligible to enroll in a Masters of Maternal and Child Health Nursing when I am ready.

So exciting and such a relief that I don't have to carry around this Blue Book anymore.

Gluten Free Me

So, it seems that life has thrown me another little curve ball. I had Gastro a couple of weeks ago and headed off the the Doc to see if I could head back to work after two days of getting to know my toilet bowl on a whole new level. I explained that I had had enough. I knew I had a bug, but for years my tummy has been giving me grief. I explained my symptoms- having never been the same since returning from India. Anyway the Doctor actually listened to me- took me seriously and did some tests. Yes I did have a bug, but I also had a positive Coeliac Disease - Diagnosed with a simple blood test. So there goes all those yummy croissants and pastries that I love so much. Turns out I am also have a Fructose Malabsorption which just adds the icing to the cake (the Gluten Free cake). The last two weeks have been spent having Fructose and Lactose intolerance testing, and now today a Gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

It's ok though- I figure you have to the look at the positives- no more being bloated, running to the bathroom and reflux. I keep telling myself that there are so many more products on the market now compared with 10 years ago. There's many gluten free alternatives to bake with.

So now comes the challenging part- changing my entire eating habits. Gone are Croissants, and pastries, cakes, crepes, breakfast cereals, porridge, tim tams, mint slice biscuits, chips, and anything containing Wheat, barley, Gluten and Oats. Gone are my favourite lollies Allens Retro Party Mix. So I have been enjoying these things for the last two weeks in preparation for never having them again.

Ava, one of my best friends also has Coeliac Disease so it's a blessing that my friendship group already cater for gluten free parties. Who said however that you can't eat well being Gluten Free. Check out these Cupcake Pavalovas filled with passionfruit cream curd and raspberries- all Gluten and Fructose Free.
Recipe was slightly adjusted version from the latest Donna Hay Magazine.

The birth of Tom Dominico Gallagher

I was very privileged to be at the birth of baby Tom last week. For my uni course, I am required to have a 'follow through' which is basically a woman who I see all throughout her entire pregnancy and birth. The idea is to follow through the whole experience with the woman. Melanie she got wind that I needed one and wanted it to be her. So, 7 months after she first asked me, I was very lucky to witness Melanie give birth to a beautiful baby boy Tom. Melanie did such a fabulous job during labour and birth...I was very impressed. Here are the pictures of baby Tom, Melanie and Dean, and then Tom and I....and yes I was still in the boot!

Still in the Boot!

Ok, so it's been four and a half weeks of being in the boot. I haven't been able to work, drive or walk without the boot on and I am spending my days studying for exams which are next week. There is an incredible amount to study and my brain is feeling very full right now trying to memorise it all.

On the positive side, the weather is getting warmer and the days a lovely and sunny, so I am taking advantage and sitting outside in the sun to study- at least I have enough time to prepare for the exams.

Last night I dreamed about delivering two babies - I can't wait to get back to work.....I am so behind now with all my clinical work. I have to deliver 20 by the end of the year and so far I am only up to 2. All my uni friends are already at 19-20 and are nearly finished. It doesn't help that I am missing my time in birth suite now sitting at home. When I get back there will be a mad rush to deliver as many as possible before the end of the year when I can then hand in all my work to apply for registration as a Midwife. I have two exams next week, one more assignment and then the Uni part of the course is all over. Then it's just a matter of focusing on clinical work - delivering babies, no more study, extra shifts to make up not earning any money whilst I am not working and having fun.

I can't run as well for three months after the break - which means that I won't be back pounding the pavement like I normally do to relieve stress and make me fee fabulous until Christmas time. It's very disheartening. I will have to just walk walk walk to try and not gain weight before summer. Vitamin D and Calcium supplements will hopefully help it heal quicker.

The best present ever!

So, having broken my foot, I am now mastering the art of using crutches and hopping around.  I know I probably shouldn't admit this but I always thought crutches were cool and that they might be a bit fun to use however somehow, they don't seem so cool anymore, maybe it's got something to do with being 31, being able to drive, earn money, and have freedom. I have now discovered that I really enjoyed the ability to use both legs and also my arms and hands when walking at the same time. Last year I thought breaking my wrist was bad enough, not being able to use two hands was challenging however I could still make a cup of tea and then take it somewhere else as well as walk to the tram stop, use public transport easily and work at my desk job. This time I am supposed to be on my feet at work delivering babies, but I am now off for 7 weeks, with only 2 weeks paid, can't drive, and am going to be in my immobilising black boot for 6 weeks. It's also going to be 3 months before I am back on my feet running, something I took for granted being able to do. I just keep telling myself this isn't permanent..think how lucky I am that it's only 6 weeks! It could be so much worse. My work is being so supportive. I have only delivered 2 out of my 20 babies to qualify as a registered Midwife so I am going to have to make up shifts into January instead of finishing my course in December. The positive thing is now I have the next 5 weeks to get my assignments and exam study done. There should be no reason why I can't ace the exams with all this spare time. The other thing is that things like this make you really appreciate how good and easy life is when your physically able. I certainly hope that I don't take the ability to walk easily for granted again like I used to.

Dave came over for dinner on Saturday to find me perched on a stool at the end of the kitchen strategically placed next to the stove, bench and oven. All I needed to do was swivel on my good foot and hey presto, I can still cook! Dave was also carrying a bright red plastic stool for the shower- the type that you find in Vietnam in some roadside cafe where the interior design wasn't the nicest but the best food is found. Is it wrong to think that this red stool might be the best present Dave has ever bought me?

No more team sports for me.

Ok, so I broke my right foot last night filling in for a friends soccer team. Indoor soccer I would have thought was less dangerous but it seems as though I am a clutz! So I have a spiral fracture of my right fifth Metatarsal which hopefully doesn't need plaster. It's going to be a long few weeks in my room, on crutches studying instead of working.

I will find out how long I will be off my feet for this afternoon. Such a pain in the foot!

It's baby season!

I am writing assignments....and it's procrastination time again. Thought I would share with you a picture of my quilt I made last year. It was my first and I originally had planned to do it all by hand, however three squares through I gave up and did it with the machine. I figure, I don't have all the spare time in the world to sit there doing things by hand. I think it's time for another one soon. Another friend announced a pregnancy the other night so I am going to make a quilt for her firstborn! So far, 5 close friends are pregnant. Its baby season!