Jam Packed three days

Well, I put out that press release on Tuesday night and tucked in for the evening feeling like perhaps we could get an interview with someone on Saturday when we were at a store front selling candy or something.

Wednesday Morning 7:00 am - Doula client calls and says she believes she's in labor and she's doing fine and nothing is intense or something she has to work through.  So I tell her that I'm going to take a shower and eat breakfast and call her back.

8:00 am - Call her back and she has called her OB's office and decided to go in at 10:00 to verify her suspicions that she is infact in labor.

8:02 am - KNDU TV calls to say they like the story and that they want to set up an interview at 

10:00 am.  I have to call Cierra's mom and get everyone to meet at her school.

10:00 am - Client arrives at OB's office and waits for him to get out of scheduled surgeries to see her.  KNDU meets me and Cierra's mom at school, we get Cierra out of class and do the interview.

11:00 am - I go home and get Ainsley to school.

12:00 pm - OB gets to client and verifies that she is in labor.  He recommends that she takes to slow path to the hospital and she decides to go to lunch with her husband.  My mom takes me out to lunch.

1:00 pm- client goes to park to walk with husband, I get Kenny home and meet her at the park.

It's windy and cold at the park, I recommend that we go to the hospital. 

1:09 am - baby is born

4:30 am - after family is settled in bed I go home

5:00 am - get home and drink some sleepy time tea and relax in front of the computer for a few minutes then head to bed.

5:10 am - just getting warm and cozy, I hear Nic calling for me, I got up to help and he is blessed with watery runny poo, I help him clean up and tuck him back in bed.

9:00 am - get up to help Ainsley get ready for school

11:45 am - Ainsley goes to school.

12:00 pm - I went to lunch with Kenny.

1:00 pm - talk with Tri-City Herald about Cierra's picture in the paper.

1:15 pm - check out candy with Cierra's mom and grandpa, find out that her story has been on the radio and that she has been on another TV news story and that she will be on an early morning show next week.

3:00 pm - go get kids, get sitter, visit client and family, help with maternal care and breast feeding.

9:30pm - pass out

3:00am - wake up, restless

5:00am - go to sleep again

9:00am - wake up get Ainsley ready.

11:45am - get her to school

12 - 3:00 - Clean the house like a crazy woman.

3:00 - pick up kids

4:00 - have the loudest, craziest camp fire meeting ever.  Checked out a ton of candy and verified some candy sale specifics before the big day tomorrow.

Tomorrow-----

9:30 - leave for candy sale

12:00 - come home

12:30 - caucus

4-6:00 - candy sale

7:00 dinner at friends!

Ya- It's all pretty boring... but I am exhausted.

I tell you what though, I really had a great time at the birth.  The mom has an excellent birth memory even though things were a little different than she set out for.  I loved working with the family and hospital staff.  Dr. Schraff is an excellent OB - The nurses all thanked me before I left and I heard that the labor nurse really enjoyed working with me. (that always makes me happy to hear that.)

I'm so happy that Cierra is getting a lot of attention about the candy boxes it makes her feel special and helps to promote the candy sale so that the kids do well over the next few weeks.

I was told by two reporters that the press release was excellent and that I should consider a career in PR.  Maybe thats what I could do for the march of dimes :)

 

My First Press Release

This years a biggie for our camp fire candy sale... I took the time and wrote my first press release today and sent it out to all the local media.

ANNUAL CAMP FIRE USA CANDY SALE VERY SPECIAL FOR ONE KENNEWICK GIRL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Erin Schmidt
Local Camp Fire USA Leader

ANNUAL CAMP FIRE USA CANDY SALE VERY SPECIAL FOR ONE KENNEWICK GIRL

-Each year thousands of boys and girls participate in the annual Camp Fire USA Candy Sale but this year the sale is very special for one Kennewick girl. Cierra Schmidt, age 6, of Kennewick has been in Camp Fire USA for a year and a half. "Camp Fire is lots of fun, I like playing with my friends and helping people and animals." says Cierra. Last year a photo of Cierra, helping her club plant a tree in Liberty Park in Pasco, was entered in a national contest. Her picture was among hundreds of entries of Camp Fire USA kids in action so it was a huge surprise to find out that her picture was chosen to be on this years boxes of Camp Fire USA candy.

-This was the first year such a contest has existed for Camp Fire USA members and hopefully it will continue for years to come. "We're all so excited," Says Kathy Schmidt, Cierra's mother, "We got a national star in the family!"

-Boys and girls who participate in the annual Camp Fire USA Candy Sale are taking part in a unique learning opportunity for youth on presentation, math skills, teamwork, responsibility, confidence and goal-setting. Proceeds are applied toward local Camp Fire USA youth development programs such as self-reliance, small group-mentoring and camping and environmental education.

-"I think it's just great"says Erin Schmidt, Camp Fire USA leader, "some of the kids are so little, yet it's incredible how much they want to help their community when given the chance." Last year Schmidt's mostly Kindergarten age group took on service projects such as collecting clothes for The Cathedral of Joy's Clothing Ministry and planting a tree in a local community park. This year the kids shared a desire to help feed people who are hungry and they hope to collect $20.00 gift cards to donate to the local women's shelter. Lori Tenney, Camp Fire USA leader said, "Camp Fire USA is a child led service organization, we give the kids the information and work to help them choose service projects that are meaningful to them."

-This years candy sale starts this Saturday, February 9^th and runs through March 2nd. Varieties of candy available are Creamy Smooth Mint Patties, Almond Roca Buttercrunch, Almond Caramel Clusters and Peanuttles. "Purchasing Camp Fire USA candy is a simple way for consumers to support the youth of our community by encouraging such an outstanding educational benefit. It takes little time and money and the advantage – if everyone buys even one box – is tremendous," said Schmidt

Camp Fire USA candy can be purchased for one's self, as a unique gift or incentive item. Companies have chosen to use Camp Fire candy, in its playful and brightly-colored packaging, to promote to their employees and constituents the value of community involvement. This year you'll find Camp Fire USA members selling candy outside many local retailers such as Fred Meyer and WalMart and banks like HAPO and GESA. Keep your eye out, you might just see a star!

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Camp Fire USA is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit youth development organizations, serving over 650,000 participants annually. Camp Fire USA, with national headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., provides all-inclusive, coeducational programs in hundreds of communities across the United States. Founded in 1910, Camp Fire USA's outcome-based programs include youth leadership, self-reliance, camping and environmental education and child care. Camp Fire USA's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. For more information, visit http://www.campfireusa.org/.