Holiday Happiness and News from LCM

Hi to all our Friends & Families of LCM, and Happy Holidays!!
Tis the Season!
Now that we have all turned our turkeys into turkey soup, and navigated the traffic of Black Friday, it seems Holiday season is officially upon us.  Before we get too deep into the busy-ness of it all, your midwives and staff of Loudoun Community Midwives want to be in touch with you, and give you all our good wishes.  We are so truly thankful for the joy and connection of serving your families, and so appreciate your support and friendship!   Have a lovely, healthy season...and thank you for being in touch!  This time of many cute baby pictures/Holiday cards arriving is SO great for us!!

Jingle Belle Project is back!....  In honor and memory of Margie's sister, Mary Belle Pettys, LCM annually sponsors a Holiday gift collection at our office,  for the needy families of Loudoun County.
On Feb 12, 2009 Continental flight #3407 crashed outside of Buffalo, NY. All 51 passengers and crew were killed.
Mary Belle Pettys ( Margie Brandquist's sister ) was a passenger on that flight. Belle as she was known by her family was one of ten children. She was a champion of the underserved and a faithful member of her beloved Catholic Church. In her honor, we are collecting holiday gifts for the less fortunate of Loudoun County. New, unwrapped gifts including toys, clothing, hats, gloves, personal care items and gift cards are welcomed. We will be donating the items to the Loudoun Christmas Coalition.  Collections will continue till December 14. Help us honor Mary and all who were lost on that cold, February night.  Remember....".Every time a "belle" rings, an angel gets her wings."

What Else is New at LCM?
Well.... Discovery TV is shooting a documentary about the lives and work of Certified Nurse Midwives, featuring...US!  We are so proud of our profession, but it's still sort of a well-kept secret.  We are very hopeful that this will be enlightening to the public, so many of whom do not know that a CNM is an option for safe, satisfying, birth and women's health care!  In December, the pilot reel will be shot.   If you're willing to have any part of your December office visit filmed, or interested in filming your own birth and possibly sharing some footage with Discovery, let us know!  Contact Terri at tjaecklein@lmgdoctors.com.

Welcome to a New Nurse:  Stacey Bowler, LPN, has joined us from Orlando, Florida, and will be part of the Nursing team that helps coordinate your great care at LCM.  We found Stacey at Panera, where we were eating lunch and bemoaning the loss of Julie, who had been offered a great gig at the Birthing Inn...so the match seems made in heaven, since Stacey is an experienced OB-GYN nurse who just moved to the area.  Yay Panera!

Wendy's Next Trip to Haiti:  So many kind folks have asked this question, and now we've got an answer;  Trip #6 with Midwives for Haiti will be in February 2012.  We are excited that if the TV exposure becomes a regular  series, it can highlight our work in support of Midwives for Haiti as well, and perhaps follow us with cameras on a trip.  Stay tuned!  Wendy will soon re-open her blog, www.haitibabies.blogspot.com, with a post about the needs of the Feb. trip. 

Inspiration....our lovely client Trinity Wilbourn, and her family, lost their home to fire on Nov. 6, then gave birth to their fourth baby on Nov 17.  Of course, there are great needs for support and help-- but the amazing part is the spiritual growth, community solidarity, and the story of their life told in a very moving and powerful way.  For a reality check and profound inspiration, read a bit of Trinity's blog: www.trinitywilbourn.blogspot.com.  In closing; Stay healthy, stay happy, and stay in touch!