6th/16th Catch!

10/18 Night Shift. I learned a lot with this birth....

My patient 31yo, G3P2 came in at 9:20pm reporting Bow Rup. and medium strong contractions..however her IE at 9:50pm, showed only 2cm and 30% effacement. We encouraged her to do labor stim, and everything seemed pretty normal. At 12:55am, she was wanting to push, but I encouraged her to rest, because of her dilation.

With my assistant-Larissa

I checked her again at 1:15am, because she sounded active...and found 5cm head visible!!! Baby GIRL was out at 1:20am, after low heart tones (fixed by doing head stim) and had APGAR Scores of 7 of 8.

Interesting....her EBL was 1050cc, 500cc of which were trapped inside the placental membranes! She was the first patient of mine that need suturing...only a small 1st degree... We inserted a Normal Saline IV in her cephalic vein, to counteract the blood loss, and incorporated a 2nd Pitocin in it, after she kept  bleeding bits through the postpartum checks.
I got to help Foley-catheterize her, which was a new experience...another first, and though I didn't suture, I could have...but...I guess I am still shy about suturing anything other than animals and normal skin.

They named her Dennielle Chloe, and she weighed 6lbs 6 oz. and was 21" long.

Quick Update

I caught my 10th baby last night (this morning), in the caul (bag of waters still intact)...that was a new one for me! 6 of my catches have happened in the last 1.5 weeks, and 3 have happened in the last 3 shifts over the past 3 days.

I'm cooked...going to sleep (as ya'll should be doing right now too, seeing that it's midnight at home), and I'll try to catch up with stories and pictures soon!!

I am learning SO much!!!! Praise God!!!

Week's Random Memories

So, I have had a few random memories and fun, and I want to share:
Coming onto shift one day, I found Lyric--on of our guards holding a baby...that was precious!

Another time, I got off shift, and found everyone gone and our front door locked (which I had been told I didn't have a key for, and couldn't get my keys to work)...so, I texted Karissa to come over from her house and let me in...and she got her, only to realize she didn't have a key either!! So, I texted our director and we walked to her house and got an extra spare from her....

Only to come back, and find that that wasn't letting us inside....so, we ended up doing what we should have done in the first place: Break In. ;)

Karissa Breaking In :)

Then, we fiddled with the keys, and found out the lock is funky, and you have to get it just right to open it....which meant that I actually had the key in the first place!!! Um...I like the Break In job better....more fun. ;p

..Witnessing..

I worked Clinic again today, and since I worked Swing shift last night, protocol allows for us to arrive at the 9am start time instead of the 7:45am devotional/prep time. Since my week has been crazy busy, I decided to arrive at 9am.

However, prenatal beds are slim for the picking by then, and this morning, they just happened to either have scheduled one too many people or overlooked the fact that the 1st years might be doing their own prenatals by this time... Anyway, whichever way it was, I was told to use the Gramstain room for my checkups.

At first it was a bother, because the Gramstain Room is across the hall in the Prenatal Waiting Room, which means that to get a patient, I had to wade through the roomful of patients, go across the hall to the Prenatal room, grab a chart and a patient, and bring them both back through the waiting room to my little area.

Shortly though, I realized how much of a blessing it was, because after they got over the initial nervousness of being in "The Gramstain Room", the patients seemed to open up more....which makes sense, because normal prenatals are conducted in the same curtained off area, and often all we have time for is checking vitals, answering questions, instructing patients, referring life threats, and praying for them..then it's on to the next patient. Much different than general midwifery in the US.

Anyway, 3 patients really opened up to me, but with one specifically, we seemed to really connect: Her name was Salvacion. I noticed she had quite a few tattoos, and curiously asked what they were, and what they meant to her. On her calf, she had "Skulls of Fire" with a "Fetus (baby)" right next to it, and on her arm, was the word "Emancipation".

I found she likes research, and she gave me a great recipe for kabote leaf tea (iron-rich). While doing vitals and writing notes, the (God-prompted) thought suddenly came to mind that this might be an opportunity to help lead her to Christ. So, I asked her what her religion was, and she promptly answered "Atheist". Now, I have worked with a lot of Filipinas, but none have so specifically answered as an Atheist--most are Catholic, Christian, Muslim or with a cult, so this really shocked me!!

Okay, this might surprise you, but--I have never shared the Gospel with anyone before. Now before you judge, let me explain: I have always been the encourager--I naturally tend to come alongside others and encourage them in the path of Godliness, which often includes sharing parts or all of my testimony too, but actually laying out why Jesus came to die for us, and seeing people come to Christ?? Well, the need has never arisen. My little sister is the one naturally gifted in Evangelism--she was always there to lead my siblings and others to Christ, and so I have never had the need or opportunity to.... (Maybe that is part of the reason I so want to be like her.....)

Anyway, this was a bit of a new ground for me...sure, it's simple (maybe??), but it's a weighty and sacred thing to share the Gospel, and it's sacred: you can mess up badly, if you're not witnessing in the Spirit. So, with fear and trembling, and much prayer, I continued to seek her out.

Prayerfully, I asked her to expound on what that means to her, and her beliefs, and found that she believes in a 'higher power' who created the world and we can talk with, but is Spirit only (and didn't come to earth). However, when I dug deeper, I found that her biggest struggles were:
1) All the main religions (Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Mormons, etc) have similar Gods.
2) There were many men who came before Jesus Christ who said they were 'the Christ', so what makes Him so special??

Interestingly, she was raised by extremely devout Catholic grandparents, thus her name. Really truly, she is searching for answers---similar to me, those years ago. She is in that stage that I think all people have to go through--the transition stage, where you have to take what you were taught (or not taught), sift through it (come before God prayerfully), and eventually own it (or disown it) as your own.
Her situation so reminded me of myself...

Praise God, He was able to use me to lay out the Gospel, expound and encourage her in the Truth, and give her resources to help her seek out the Truth herself. I believe for her, the Key is the middle passages of Isaiah, where it clearly shows how Christ fulfilled all the prophecies of His arrival, and how no other man can do that.

She knows her Bible/history some, and was very open and interested, and is very much seeking the Truth. Please pray for her, that God will grip her heart, and reveal Himself to her!!! I gave her my contact information, and I pray that she will contact me if it would help her in her search.

I have to add that afterwards, I was at a Spiritual high--there is nothing like witnessing!! Much more than delivering babies....or working in the Emergency Field...and to combine the two?? Incredible!!!
I praise God for who He is. I just pray that it was an encouragement.

Thank you all for your prayers!!!!

If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of Me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of Me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me that the Father hath sent me.

And the Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His abiding in you: for Whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

~ John 5:31-39 ~

5th/15th Catch!

Talk about a busy shift!!! My 5th handle happened on my scheduled 16+ hour double shift day--Day/Swing. 17 yo Rowelyn was endorsed to my Day Shift, and I happened to be the lucky winner. She had come in the night before (reporting a false BOW rup), at 40 6/7 weeks GA, only 2-3cm dilated, and had been given Castor Oil to help stimulate labor. When she was endorsed to me, she was 7cm+, and was laboring well on the birth ball, and SROM happened shortly.

All throughout labor, she had this distinct personality. At times I couldn't figure out if she was just being a grumpy, teenage know-it-all queen or what, but she had this way of very often with or without contractions holding her hand out in a "stop" symbol (telling me to wait). At times it could be a little frustrating, but I sooner-to-later realized that it was just the only way she could express herself with the amount of energy she had and not be snappy. She actually coped with labor with a surprising grace, though it took a while for her to get the whole 'pushing effectively' thing.

Upon IE at 7:30am, she was almost Fully, but with no progress after multiple position changes, and breathing through ctx, and her finally becoming exhausted from a long labor, I inserted a D5LR IV via the cephalic vein, and which helped take the edge off almost immediately.

At 9:20am, there was still no progress, and the 12 hours had elapsed, and I had resigned that transport was probably imminent. However, her long labor and castor oil had taken it's toil, so we instructed her to take a shower, change into a new duster, and we would do another IE before transport.

She had just come back and prepped for another IE, when I walked in, and low and behold there was 1cm head visible!! Talk about a shocker!! I called for assistance (unlike in America, shouting in the Birth Room by the midwives is non-negotiable...though I prefer to talk quietly when possibly ;p), which came...and at 10:19am, a beautiful baby GIRL--Jenwel Mae--was born!!! Half-way through pushing, fetal heart tones went down, so we administered O2 via NC, which brought them back up to normal.

APGAR Scores of 6 & 8 and she weighed 6.0 lbs and was 21.5" long. Rowelyn immediately proved to be an excellent and natural mother, and I am quite proud of her, and her bana, who was a crackup at times.

Interestingly, she went to a hilot quite a few times (against advice), and when her placenta was born, the entire amnion (membrane) tore completely off, and it took 6 full minutes with hemostats to get the extremely friable (tearing) membrane out... That was an experience!! Hopefully she learned her lesson...

(At 3 day checkup)

Another interesting experience: Her birthing supplies bill equated around $20 (which is a lot of money for them), and they didn't even half a half of that. We encouraged them to call family and see if they could get a loan, and their phone was dead! I offered to let them use mine, but the bana couldn't remember the number... Thankfully, we were able to round up a charger, and he was able to contact family members, to no avail...so we allowed them to make payments.

Then, discharge vitals showed the baby had tachypnea (fixed by nursing) and the mom had tachycardia (fixed by eating)...which meant they needed to stay until those vitals normalized. Now, unfortunately, food = Money: all of which, they had just paid us, which meant they couldn't go home... do you see a problem here??

At the time, all I could do was laugh, because it was a slew of singular financial difficulties one after another... So, we gave her some bread and advised her to drink milo, and she was discharged shortly thereafter at 6pm (the one nice thing with working 2 shifts! I got to endorse her to myself!)

Praise God for another great delivery!!

Agdao Outreach

10/11/12: I had Agdao Outreach with Ate´May and Ate´Ana this morning....

Suprisingly, in the 3+ months I've spent at Mercy in the last year, this is the first time I have helped with one of their outreaches!! It went really well. Agdao is right next to us, and only a 10 minute drive. We conducted the prenatals at a church there...to anyone who came--8 did this time.

Prenatal Bed

History Taking Table

4th Catch!

10/10/12: I worked a Clinic/Shift today..and it is fast becoming a tradition for at least a few of us to go to Boodels afterwards (which is only a few minutes' walk away) to get lunch (for a measly $1.95--delicious chicken, rice, and chicken ginger broth)... Delicious!!!

Eileen, Me, Violet, Rebecca, and Eva (clockwise L to R)

Swing Shift went well. My patient-Olinia was a Badjao patient (G5P4)..early 20's, I'd say. Badjaos are completely different than the average Filipinos we work with here. They are pretty much ignored by the government, and have a different language than Visayan.  Badjaos are the people you usually see begging on the streets as well, and are the most impoverished here. They also disregard time, so no one knows how old they are. (Though it is funny, because once in the birth room, they always want to know how soon the baby will be born ;))

My namesake and I...maybe she doesn't like her name??

Anyway, my patient came in with previous SROM around 7:30pm, and upon examination, I found she was already fully dilated, but the head was very ballotable (meaning that I could move it back in forth in the uterus with now problem--even at +2/+3 station!) so she became 8cm when the baby moved back. Badjao patients tend to deliver very fast and their labors are treated completely different than other labors here. Also, we are much more lax with them..in almost every way.

Awwww!!!!

The hard part now was waiting...because the head was so ballotable, who knew when the baby would be born...it depended upon her body and the baby, I guess. ;) At 8:51, she pushed, and head was visible...but no progress..... Then at 9:03pm, she had a 2nd gush of BOW. At 9:29pm, she was now 1cm head visible with pushing, and I was starting to worry that the baby wasn't going to be born on my shift, since endorsements start at 9:45pm...

Now, that's better...happy at last. ;p (I must have been tired?)

However, praise God, I had just voiced this to my assistant-Larissa, when progress was made, and a beautiful BABY GIRL! was born at 9:33pm with no tear. APGAR Scores were 9 and 9. EBL was only 250cc (with 2 Pits. given). The Cord was so interesting...it was almost rope-like. Olinia asked my supervisor to name the baby, and since the rest of her kids' names started with "S", she decided to name her "Sarah"!! :) That was a nice surprise!!

Sarah weighed 6lbs 3oz and was 20.75" long.

A Day with Josephine

While on Swing shift last night (10/8), Josephine (my Filipina midwife friend who used to work here before God called her to go back and work in her village) texted me saying that she was going to be in Davao working on passport stuff, and was wondering if I'd want to spend the day with her. It just so happened that that was my day off!!!

So, we met up and spent the day together at SM Mall, mostly just sitting in line outside of the Philippines DFA. We had a truly God-given time of fellowship though, sharing hearts, purposes, and visions.

God has been revealing a vision to Josephine of caring for the orphans in her village in multiple ways, and helping to keep them off the streets. Because of the size of the village, it is hard for kids to find ways to earn money, because there is no need---similar to small towns in Montana, the work is in the cities..

Anyway, I'm sure you'll be hearing more on this subject, but for now, just keep your ears open!

IV's Iv's IV's!!

Wow!! It's been a while!! Quite a bit has happened.....
First of all: I have worked. Really? Yeah. Obviously, that is why I'm here!
This last week, I've worked about 12-13 hours most days, and this next week I'll be working a couple 16+ hour days.

Anyway, 10/6 Swing was slow, and so Karen and I decided to practice IV's on each other (it's been 2 years since my training). Unfortunately for her, I guess I was extremely dehydrated...because, though my metacarpal vein (hand) received the cannula just fine, when she tried my cephalic vein (radial/wrist), both times, my skin buckled impenetrably... So....after more than one lecture (meaning no more needed ;p), I started making it a practice to remember to drink water. ;)
Thankfully, she was hydrated, and I was able to stick her just fine.

Karen about to stick me.

Only God knows that I would need that extra practice, because 10/7 Swing, I was first up to handle, and my G1P0 patient (poor dear!) ended up needing transported after 8 hours of labor care and emotional support, due to fetal tachycardia, as well as her labor had continued too long for protocol here. We did everything we could for her, to give her a fighting chance--gave O2 and a D5W IV.

My Super wanted me to do it, and I was pretty hesitant...unfortunately (fortunately? ;p) she was my super the night before, and knew I could do IV's...that was the best decision ever!! I got it in without any problems using the metacarpal vein.
Here was the frustrating thing--she had consistently been dilating, and right before transport, she was 8-9 cm dilated. She was full of fear, and had had hypertension earlier in labor due to that, but when we got her calmed down completely, she was fine.

Anyway, I transported her to the hospital, and upon hearing from a nurse that we had transported due to fetal tachy, instead of listening to our endorsement, the doctor had her climb onto the exam bed and into the stirrups--without explaining anything to my patient, she proceeded to strip her from the waist down, do an IE, and pour a quart of liquid over that area afterwards. Meanwhile, my patient was scared, asking questions, and getting no answers. Thankfully, I was right there, and tried to walk her through it all...
No surprise, she was hypertensive again, and 'wonder of wonders', she was only 6cm instead of the 8-9cm 20 minutes before!! She begged for me to stay with her, since her bana (they were actually married!) and mom weren't allowed in, and I stayed as long as I could (about 10+minutes), until she was settled in, and I had explained everything in detail of what had happened and what they were doing, and tried to comfort her and allay all fears...but with this type of record and, I'm pretty sure she was on track for a C-Section...
That was SO frustrating!!!! Anyway, in a way I can understand it from the Dra.'s perspective, and it proved to be a good reminder to me about how important communication is.

Swing 10/8, Karissa came early to practice IV's on me--so within 48 hours, I got 5 sticks on the same arm in the same 4" diameter. ;p Praise God, I was much more  hydrated, and she got it in!!

Karissa sticking me (while I'm helping instruct how to do it! ;p)

Gotta go to shift....I'm on Night...I'll try to post more tomorrow. :)

Labors Kaayo/Mama's Birthday!

I worked Night Shift last night...talk about busy!! I had 2 early labors, simultaneously, for most of the night, and then had an almost Fully patient walk in a little more than an hour before Endorsements were due... I also charted one of Claire's births....smooth and fast!!

Echo with baby, me and Claire

It was great, there were 3 Filipinas, Echo (a 1st year) and I...and between all the labor monitoring, we had some precious Fellowship and encouragement times....talked a whole lot on child training and, well...just about everything. :)

I love working with the Filipinos....especially one of the new midwives--Rodelyn.. She's so sweet and always has a smile on her face.

I almost caught my 4th baby, with my last labor, but after consideration and prayer, I felt it was best to endorse her to the next shift, instead of continuing her care..(which, depending on how fast she birthed, meant I might not get home until almost lunch time....) She gave birth 8 minutes after Shift ended... God knows...

Today is Mama's birthday.....I was so blessed to be able to spend a good portion of the day spending time vicariously celebrating with her, and all my siblings (including Rachel and Daniel!) and friends over Skype..good memories!!

Happy Birthday Mommy!! You are my hero and role model...You are patient, you are kind, you are nurturing, you are wise. I love you SO much and want to be just like you when I grow up!!!!

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the day of her life.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

~ Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-31 ~

3rd/13th Catch

Swing Shift = First Up = Dead Shift  .... until 5:38pm, when my labor walked in... a sweet little 18 year old girl, supposedly due with her first baby, at only 36 6/7 weeks GA. She labored well, and at 6:05pm, she delivered a beautiful 5lb. 5oz. 19.6" baby GIRL!! Jessy (after her mama--Jessa).

It was only after the easy birth, that we started putting 2 + 2 together -- my patient knew too much about IEs for never having had one done, she was way to 'spacious' for a Primi, and then we found out she was actually a G2P2L1--her last baby died after 30 minutes from heart problems, and it was too hard for her to confess it at her History taking... Poor dear!!

Also, unfortunately, she had a massive UTI, which she had struggled with during later pregnancy, but didn't do anything about it, as well as baby had Moderate Mec. Staining, with less than par APGAR Scores/FHT's--so we ended up transporting little Jessy after an hour and a half to err on the safe side. Thankfully Jessa's bana was extremely supportive, caring, and attentive, and it was a good situation.

We left Jessy at the ER (with her dad and bantays), and it was pretty heart wrenching....the ER is an open combination of every type of emergency imaginable--just the perfect place to leave a 2 hour old baby... (NOT!!) I pray she doesn't catch something nasty... I guess I'll know when they come in for the baby checks.

Overall, it was a great delivery, and a good postpartum....with only a slight skin split. Praise God!
Every time, it never ceases to amaze me how incredible, unique, and precious each birth is, and what an honor it is to both assist God in the delivery of such a miracle, but also to encourage the family and especially the mother of that baby in her time of need.

Reminds me of the song: "Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung; 'Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue; 'Tis the grandest theme that the world e'er sung, "Our God is able to deliver thee." He is able to deliver thee, He is able to deliver thee. Tho' by sin opprest go to Him for rest, "Our God is able to deliver thee".

Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you:

'Fear not, O Jacob My servant;... For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring..."

~ Isaiah 44:2-3 ~

Rachel ate Balut!!!

One thing I (purposely) neglected to mention in my last post, is that during our Saturday Swing Shift, Rachel and Karissa tried Balut!! It all started when the balut bike came honking by. I was engrossed reading, and failed to notify them that he as passing, so by the time they were alerted by a fellow shifter, he was almost to the end of the street. Then, by the time they made sure it was really him, he was already going down the main road....so, guess what happened???

Miss "Speedy-Gonzales" ran after him--in her scrubs and birth room flipflops!! She finally caught up with him about a 1/4 mile down the road, and told him she and her friend wanted to try balut, but needed him to come back to the clinic since she didn't have any money with her...

His reaction was to throw back his head and laugh. :P Which was the same reaction the guards gave as well... :)

Here is a short video, showing the rest:

A Weekend with Rachel

Sylvette-my Filipina sister and I picked up Rachel from the Davao airport Thursday morning.  After dropping her luggage at the house, and introducing her to my housemates, she took a nap while I had a baby check.

2nd Handle -- Baby Aian Jake with Karissa (my Charter)

Once she woke up, I gave her a quick mini-rundown of the clinic and Victoria Plaza, before I took her and Karissa to Al Davinco (downtown), one of the Bazaar Strip Malls I guess you could say, hosted by the locals here, filled with Filipino made items, as well as some other Asian imports..

Since we went during closing time at the Markets, one of the stops was to pick up 2 gals and their leftover Durian..boy, those things aren't too light, and aren't to smooth either!! :)

Al Davinco Shops

In one of my favorite shops which has more of the older Filipino war/antique accessories. :)

Al Davinco Shops

Afterwards, we met Sylvette at G-Mall, and took a taxi to Jack's Ridge, which at the end of World War II was part of the retreating Japanese Headquarters. We Americans landed in Davao on May 1, 1945, forcing the Japanese to beat a path to Matina Hills where they had a commanding view of the Davao Gulf where our ships were anchored. Fierce fighting soon erupted between the 2 forces and as history shows us, the Japanese lost.

Classy Dinner for 4 = $19.71 Pretty good, eh??

A closer look: Fish Fillets, Chicken Wings, Buttered Veggies
(Not Pictured) Steamed Rice, Leche Flan, and a Filipino Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri (nothing like the US ones. ;p)

They had live music, and we sure enjoyed their serenading us!! Best music I've heard in a long time! They make any song sound good.

-- City of Davao --

Anyway, kind of neat history... Last time I was here, it was in the daylight, so it was kinda neat to see it in the dusk.. 

Jack Ridge's unique 'fresh-air' bathrooms--overlooking Davao City

D = Durian, A = Sampaguita Flower, V = Philippine Eagle, A = Bamboo O  = Coconut 

Friday morning, I had Clinic Shift, and so Rachel was able to watch how we do Prenatals here, which was fun.. Then, I took her to Boodels for lunch, which is my most favorite restaurant here in Davao City (and happens to be 2 blocks from the clinic!) We got the famous "B" meal, which includes BBQ Chicken (either breast or leg), endless Rice, and endless Ginger Chicken-based Broth....all for less than $2.00!! Fit for a king...

... My Favorite Meal ...

Rosalina, the Pearl couple came by the clinic to sell pearls (of which I had to get a few...), and boy has their little girl gotten big in the last year!!

Rosalina's little girl

One of my housemates-Lindsy is going back to the States after serving here at Mercy for a year, and so the Filipinos threw a Merienda - an afternoon snack party for her... We all shared encouragement and blessings, and then gathered together, laid hands on her, and prayed for her before eating the little Filipino snack.

Our Snack....with Ube, Coconut, and jellies inside--so good!

Lindsy, Karissa, and I

Afterwards, we girls went home, packed our junk up, and took a taxi to the Samal ferry. They have soldiers posted there, since it is an opening to the Ocean, which was neat... Don't ask me why, but I have a fascination with those who serve their Country in all capacities...

Squishy-Guishy!

Boarding the Ferry with our Junk

Isla Verde

Samal Island at Dusk

We took Habal-Habals (motorcycles) --as passengers (Rachel's first time)-- to Paradise Resort, where we ate dinner and spent the night.

Walk to Remember ;) To our Room

Dinner for 3 = Cost: $18.88  (Pasta w/ white sauce, Toast, Garlic Rice, 4 Seasons Juice, Peach Melba Split) 

Our Gorgeous Table arrangement--A rose in Green-dyed water

Our Room

Our Yard

Our incredible accomodations (including unneeded A/C and TV) cost $81.33 

Our awesome blue bathroom... (I could totally live here)

The next morning, we ate breakfast, looked for seashells, and played in the water... After Rachel decided to go take a shower, Karissa and I decided to look for shells on the bottom of the ocean, 4.5' down... Now, you have to understand, the water is very clear, and the sand is white, but it moves, so it is tedious, fun work. Of course, to pick the (hopefully) shells up, we used our feet/toes and sometimes a piece of 'sea stick', to make sure it wasn't something alive... Talk about memories!!!

Breakfast for 3 = $18.71 (Pancakes x2, Buko x2, Strawberry Crepes, Omelet, Fruit Salad)

Paradise Resort

Cargo Ship in the Canal...

D'ya see the fish??? There are whole bunch of transparent fish with brown spots.

White sand and clear water... :)

They have a zoo too--Don't cha just love the way they feed the birds?? 

What a neat sea creature...

We then went to the Monfort Bat Caves (on habal-habals again), which is the biggest colony of Geoffrey's Rousette Fruit bats in the world. Talk about noisy, smelly, and memorable!! Definitely worth it, even though it made us late for shift (which thankfully was dead!)

I was second up, and finally, about halfway through shift, a labor came in, and Rachel was able to watch the baby born!!! About an hour and a half, I had a labor come in, but unfortunately, she didn't birth before shift ended, and if we didn't have an appointment to skype family back home (which didn't work out), I would have stayed to deliver her baby, which happend at 10:43pm!! Only 1/2 an hour later...

My First Catch--Khiara (and her 15 y/o mother)

Kinda sad, since we really connected and she really, really trusted me...but the midwife I endorsed her to, did an amazing job--better than I would have done. God has His reasons though.

Sunday morning, I was originally going to take her to the church I attend (when I'm not working)--the Chinese Baptist Church, but we ended up skyping our families back home, and then packed up, and Karissa and I showed her G-Mall, and Abreeza (the new uptown US/European Mall), before saying goodbye at the clinic, and driving her to the airport.

Exotic Gelato ;)

Filipino Coke (much better than US junk) and Pastries

It's funny how you can get so protective sometimes...even for your grown siblings... I'm not a mom, and definitely not my sister's, but sometimes that protectiveness comes over me so strongly...I feel like a Lioness... Thankfully, Rachel got into the airport just fine, and landed in Singapore just fine too.

On A  City Jeepney

What a wonderful time to spend with her, even though it felt WAAAAYYYY too short!!!

My sister is this for me:

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

~ Proverbs 7:4, 3:15 ~