Each effort, whether you can see it or not, moves you forward. Even the seeming failures make you stronger and push you in the direction of your goal.

Flag Counter started April 3, 2008

Jennifer and I enjoyed our ritual “last weekend at Bennett Spring while Richard’s at the first weekend of Iowa pheasant hunting.” I caught my limit of 4 fish, and Jennifer enjoyed the lovely scenery!

Richard and I spent Thursday-Saturday in Branson at the Beefmaster Breeders United convention. Richard gave a short talk and demonstration on Friday morning, and we had an exhibit with photos and movies on the laptop the rest of the time. The demonstration was in the parking lot of the Grand Palace, so I guess that means we’ve played the Grand Palace?

Click here for photos!

Although they have a ways to go to make it into any state or national record book on consecutive games won (Jefferson City, MO won 71 consecutive games from 1958-1965 and Concord de la Salle, CA won 151 consecutive games between 1992 and 2003), we are very proud of Garland and his team!

We are looking forward to attending the big game November 1 against Clinton (7-1). That will be the last game of the season, then we will see who goes into the playoffs!

Kaiser Daily Women’s Health Policy, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Aug 27, 2007

The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is the highest it has been in decades, according to statistics released this week by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the AP/Washington Post reports. According to the figures, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004. The rate was 12 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2003 — the first year the maternal death rate was more than 10 since 1977 (Stobbe, AP/Washington Post, 8/24). A total of 540 women were reported to have died of maternal causes in 2004, 45 more than were reported in 2003, according to the report (NCHS report, 8/21).

Reasons for Increase
A rise in the number of caesarean sections — which now account for 29% of all births — could be a factor in the increased maternal mortality rate, some experts said. According to a review of maternal deaths in New York, excessive bleeding is one of the primary causes of pregnancy-related death, and women who have undergone several previous c-sections are at particularly high risk of death.

Some studies have found that race and quality of care also factor into the maternal mortality rate. The maternal mortality rate among black women is at least three times higher than among white women. Black women also are more susceptible to hypertension and other complications, and they tend to receive inadequate prenatal care. Three studies have shown that at least 40% of maternal deaths could have been prevented with improved quality of care.

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Jennifer Block, October 15, 2007

I have little Anglo-envy: the rain is dreadful, the beer is flat, and the pound is whooping my dollar’s ass. But in the case of maternity care, I can understand my American friend Jo’s sentiment, “Thank God I’m not trying to do this in the States!” She’s married to a Brit and they’re expecting their first baby at any moment. I’ve crossed the pond for the event, and in the two weeks I’ve been on call, I’ve had a taste of the English way of birth. Of course, the prenatal care, the birth care, and the postpartum care — including daily home visits to help with breastfeeding if needed — are all covered by the taxpayer-funded National Health Service. Another stark difference: midwives run the prenatal clinics and labor wards here. Most women never even see an obstetrician; if they do it’s because there’s a complication or health concern. So when Jo first became pregnant and confirmed it with her general practitioner, he said, “Brilliant! Congrats! Call the midwives!” When Jo went for her first visit to the midwives, and they assessed her as a healthy woman having a normal pregnancy, one of the first questions they asked was, “So, where would you prefer to have your baby — at home or in hospital?”

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Sunset view from our hotel room!

Susie Lee done fell in love,
She planned to marry Joe.
She ws so happy ’bout it all,
She told her pappy so.

Pappy told her, Susie gal,
You’ll have to find another.
I’d just as soon yo’ ma don’t know,
But Joe is yo’ half brother.

So Susie put aside her Joe
And planned to marry Will.
But after telling Pappy this,
He said, “there’s trouble still.”

You can’t marry Wil, my gal,
And please don’t tell yo’ mother.
But Will and Joe, and several mo’
I know is yo’ half brother.

But Mama knew and said, my child,
Just do what makes yo’ happy.
Marry Will or marry Joe;
You ain’t no kin to Pappy.