I am a wife, stay-at-home and homeschooling mother of seven very busy children, small farming novice, affiliated Bradley Method® Childbirth Instructor and Professional Labor Assistant, and a retired La Leche League Leader.  I aspire to be a midwife.  I enjoy singing, playing viola, reading, and homeschooling.  I am married to Lonny.

Lonny is a Sergeant First Class in the Idaho Army National Guard and an affiliated Bradley Method© childbirth instructor. He has his B.A. in History, and is currently working on his Master's Degree in Military History. He likes to write, and spend time with me and our seven children.

I have given birth eight times.  Three of those births were at the hospital (#1, #2, #6), four were at home (#3, #5, #7, #8), and one was at a birthing center (#4).  Each birth place has its advantages and disadvantages.  I personally prefer to give birth at home, whenever possible.  We teach our students to do what is best for them, and give birth wherever they feel the safest and most comfortable.

  As for our birth attendants at each of our births... #1 was a CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife), #2 was a doctor, #3 was a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife), #4 was supposed to be a doctor, but the nurse caught the baby because the doctor didn't make it in time, #5... my husband and I planned an unassisted home birth and it was lovely, #6... baby was breech, so we delivered at the hospital with a doctor, #7... another lovely planned unassisted home birth, #8 was another planned unassisted home birth where the baby required transport to the hospital and a 10-day stay at the NICU (story is too long to tell here, but I'd be happy to share it if you ask).  As with deciding on a birth place, we teach our students to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and to choose wisely.

I had my first experience giving birth when I was 15.  I gave my baby girl up for adoption... yes, we keep in touch and it's okay to ask me about it if you want to know more.  I got married to Lonny when I was 18, and we had our first-born son a year later.  Since then, I've given birth about every other year, and all the birth stories are good ones, and I'd be happy to share them all with you... just ask me.  I've breastfed all seven of my children.  I have a lot of personal experience with birthing and babies, and a fair amount of professional training as well.  Mostly, though, I love pregnant women, and I love helping couples become parents.  It is rewarding work.

Here is a picture of me and my children a few hours after Benjamin's birth in 2005.