No smoke in the air today, but there has been and I'm told there will be more. There is a major fire burning near Chip and there are usually dozens of fires around here every year. The Slave Lake Disaster really hit home -- our town is literally carved out of the forest, and from what I understand, there is some really old timber around here.
Last year was apparently 'wet' (not compared to Ottawa) and this year is dry and hot. Although I know Ontario has had a really wet spring, we've had only 3mm of rain since March 24. And this is on top of less snow than usual. And what snow there was melted and ran off before the ground thawed, so little was able to infiltrate. And we've had some wicked winds... the Chip fire was able to travel 40 km in one day!
Another thing I have learned about forest fires, is that unlike the lessons from Smokey the Bear to be careful with your campfires, almost all of the fires here are caused by lightening. So, while we're hoping for rain, we hope it doesn't come in with a bang. And its really luck of the draw on where that lightening strikes!
Last week we got a disaster/evacuation preparation brochure in the mail. If we need to be flown out, its one carry-on per person. And no animals. We have a dog and its really hard to even think about that. But most likely we'd be driving out of town.... [apparently we should keep our tank full as gas will sell out in a matter of minutes as soon as there is smoke in the air]. Still, strange to think about grabbing all that is important to you. I guess I have some thinking (and packing) to do. What would you bring?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Spring is sprung, FINALLY
i've been absent for awhile... mostly as the LONG winter was getting me down. but we've turned the corner here... its been warm here all week, and does that ever do wonders for the spirit! and other signs of spring are all around -- pelicans are circling town, the whoopers are reportedly back (they nest in very remote locations), swallows are here, crocuses are popping up and, unfortunately, the first mosquitos have found their way to our backyard (are they EVER big here!). the last bits of snow should be gone by the end of this week and pretty soon we should be seeing the bears coming out of hibernation (and more mosquitos)!
we've had a glorious week of unseasonably warm weather after months of unseasonably cold... so i'm making the most of it and am full aware that i could be wearing a toque and mitts again next week.
like it was last week as you can see in this video that shows the Slave River breaking up... it was pretty cool (and cold)...
a few people have asked for pics of town -- will do as soon as it greens up a bit! i don't know why i didn't do it sooner... i'm also contemplating sneaking my camera into the grocery stores... if you are interested in any other topics, please let me know!
we've had a glorious week of unseasonably warm weather after months of unseasonably cold... so i'm making the most of it and am full aware that i could be wearing a toque and mitts again next week.
like it was last week as you can see in this video that shows the Slave River breaking up... it was pretty cool (and cold)...
a few people have asked for pics of town -- will do as soon as it greens up a bit! i don't know why i didn't do it sooner... i'm also contemplating sneaking my camera into the grocery stores... if you are interested in any other topics, please let me know!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
the minus is a given
Its so funny (and scary) to hear that "it's going up to 20" and know that that means MINUS 20. Its been a long winter for us. I arrived about this time last year, and it was similar weather, but it was a novelty at the time -- not knowing how long it would last. Now I know we're in for at least 2 more months and we've already had 4 (and I was in Ontario for 1 of those!). Last weekend we had a reprieve from the below 20 weather (with windchills hitting the 40s) -- it went up to 8 for 24 hours! It was so great to get out for some longer walks (with good friends and a total of 6 dogs!). I've been a little reluctant to do too much with Bowan, even completely wrapped up. It was so nice to let him experience the fresh air without being cocooned in layer upon layer. But now we're back to the cold... still, funny when the wind dies down and the sun is shining bright -- and you are dressed properly -- it really is beautiful, even though its still 24 (minus). And I have to admit the days are getting longer fast -- a really pick me up! It still seems too cold for my babe... but on the other hand, cabin fever is starting to hit, so I'm vowing suck it up and get out more before me and my baby go crazy!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Northern Birthing
With a little bit of experience under my belt, I decided to do a little piece on giving birth in the North... maybe fits well on my one year anniversary in Smith? How things can change in a year!
It wasn't many months after moving to Fort Smith we became pregnant. I was ecstatic, but at the same time terrified – my first baby, so far from family and friends, no doctors, hours from civilization, and I was pushing 40. That's right -- no doctors. Well, no regular doctors -- we have what are called locums -- they are here for monthly shifts, but no one that is here on any consistent basis. And definitely no hospital, obstetricians or specialists. Instead, and quite possibly better, we do have two permanent midwives who run an amazing birthing centre. Most women choose to use this service.
For the actual birth, there are two options -- at the birthing centre here in town or at the hospital in Yellowknife. If I was still in Ottawa, I'm sure I would have planned to give birth in a hospital like most people. However, with the amazing birthing centre we have here, and after preparing with my midwife, I couldn't imagine giving birth anywhere but Smith. Of course this choice is not without risks -- if anything goes wrong you will be medevaced to Yellowknife, which can take 3 hours from the decision point, and usually without the father. Still, for a low risk pregnancy, which I had, we felt that the benefits of staying in town were much greater. Unfortunately, I was late and was required to go to Yellowknife anyways (this is a requirement as if a baby is beyond 10 days, as there is no induction or much room for interventions in Smith). As many of you know, I was a wreck -- I really didn't want to go, but there was no choice.
We were surprised to learn that a partner is not covered under medical travel. Luckily, Rob was able to come with me, but many other families are not as lucky. All women from isolated communities must go to Yellowknife to birth (having a birthing centre like we do is not the norm, in fact I don't think there are any others) -- usually two weeks before the due date. For many of these, it means over 2 weeks on their own in a strange city. And some of these women are very young and may have never even been to a city before. Even for me, the culture shock of going from a small community with care providers that you know and trust to a hospital setting with rotating doctors and nurses was difficult.
We were back in Fort Smith almost 24 hours after Bowan was born (unfortunately no pictures of us getting on the plane -- it was too cold, and we were too wired). And it was at that point that I realized that a midwife is so much more than prenatal care and delivery. Gisela, our midwife, was indispensable -- at our door any time of day we needed, always available to provide a reassuring word on the phone (she even returned a call from the grocery store phone one time!), got us over a critical nursing hump, helped stave off jaundice, and looked after me as well. I’m not sure we would have gotten through the first week without her (especially with no family here).
As I have learned, it was a long road for our midwives to become recognized and to get funded (for a number of years they worked for whatever people could afford -- usually this meant barter). There is excellent coverage about their story in the local paper, Slave River Journal. You need to enter the guest username and password -- both srj -- to read the article. It's a good article, really.
Someone also put together a great video about the Fort Smith birthing centre - its called Northern Birthing on YouTube. Added bonus in the video -- some footage of our town.
Finally, some pics of Gisela with Bowan.
It wasn't many months after moving to Fort Smith we became pregnant. I was ecstatic, but at the same time terrified – my first baby, so far from family and friends, no doctors, hours from civilization, and I was pushing 40. That's right -- no doctors. Well, no regular doctors -- we have what are called locums -- they are here for monthly shifts, but no one that is here on any consistent basis. And definitely no hospital, obstetricians or specialists. Instead, and quite possibly better, we do have two permanent midwives who run an amazing birthing centre. Most women choose to use this service.
For the actual birth, there are two options -- at the birthing centre here in town or at the hospital in Yellowknife. If I was still in Ottawa, I'm sure I would have planned to give birth in a hospital like most people. However, with the amazing birthing centre we have here, and after preparing with my midwife, I couldn't imagine giving birth anywhere but Smith. Of course this choice is not without risks -- if anything goes wrong you will be medevaced to Yellowknife, which can take 3 hours from the decision point, and usually without the father. Still, for a low risk pregnancy, which I had, we felt that the benefits of staying in town were much greater. Unfortunately, I was late and was required to go to Yellowknife anyways (this is a requirement as if a baby is beyond 10 days, as there is no induction or much room for interventions in Smith). As many of you know, I was a wreck -- I really didn't want to go, but there was no choice.
We were surprised to learn that a partner is not covered under medical travel. Luckily, Rob was able to come with me, but many other families are not as lucky. All women from isolated communities must go to Yellowknife to birth (having a birthing centre like we do is not the norm, in fact I don't think there are any others) -- usually two weeks before the due date. For many of these, it means over 2 weeks on their own in a strange city. And some of these women are very young and may have never even been to a city before. Even for me, the culture shock of going from a small community with care providers that you know and trust to a hospital setting with rotating doctors and nurses was difficult.
We were back in Fort Smith almost 24 hours after Bowan was born (unfortunately no pictures of us getting on the plane -- it was too cold, and we were too wired). And it was at that point that I realized that a midwife is so much more than prenatal care and delivery. Gisela, our midwife, was indispensable -- at our door any time of day we needed, always available to provide a reassuring word on the phone (she even returned a call from the grocery store phone one time!), got us over a critical nursing hump, helped stave off jaundice, and looked after me as well. I’m not sure we would have gotten through the first week without her (especially with no family here).
As I have learned, it was a long road for our midwives to become recognized and to get funded (for a number of years they worked for whatever people could afford -- usually this meant barter). There is excellent coverage about their story in the local paper, Slave River Journal. You need to enter the guest username and password -- both srj -- to read the article. It's a good article, really.
Someone also put together a great video about the Fort Smith birthing centre - its called Northern Birthing on YouTube. Added bonus in the video -- some footage of our town.
Finally, some pics of Gisela with Bowan.
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