Kindness. What does it cost you?

Before we delve in, I’m curious to know, what does kindness cost you? From my experience it's free. Something my husband always shares is that you don't have to care, to show that you care.

This past weekend I was admitted to the hospital due to high blood pressure. Date 01/15/22 time? Approximately 10:30 pm. My husband came to accompany me and stayed the night.

Everyone from day one was so nice. But come Monday Morning.... There's always that one. I hear the maternity ward is the place to be in a hospital I think babies bring out the joy in most people. As I am writing this, we are 33 weeks pregnant.

My blood pressure has been on the rise for the past week and I've been monitoring it but once I saw it creep past levels that were completely out of range my gut told me it was time to go to the hospital. I had also promised a dear friend of mine that I would go in before the weekend was over if my levels didn't behave. During the week I saw my high-risk doctors and my primary OB and the reading were high but not alarming.

Saturday morning my BP (Blood Pressure reading ) was 188/114 that's dangerously high and could lead to stroke, heart attack, seizure, or stillbirth. My only sign that something was off at the time had been that I had high blood pressure. As the Night went on my brother (long story short I had to switch guests my husband had to leave) my brother and I started making jokes about me delivering early. Then I started to notice cramps - Which were Braxton hicks - and I was familiar with already but the pain was increasing. Eventually, the pain subsided.

The nurses, doctors, and staff in the labor and delivery unit were amazing during my weekend stay. And once my blood pressure leveled out and I completed my magnesium transfusion. The nurses name at the time Taylor. She was s nice. Never made me feel like I was a bother. I actually never asked for much. I have friends who are nurses and I hear their stories.

Once she unplugged my bags she came back with a little goodie for me and I was over the moon excited.

She got me crackers, juice, grapes water and ice. It was more than enough. I even updated my friends to let them know my excitement.

I was transferred to the anti-Partum unit. Spoiler alert- I thought this meant I was going home. I was told I would be admitted for at least 24 hours so again assumption was levels are good = I go home.

Here we are and it's Monday. Turns out I have preeclampsia. There was excessive protein in my urine. The last nurse I dealt with was so upbeat that the turnover to my current nurse, Jen I'm not feeling her. She's here to do her job she doesn't expect any additional kindness. Her demeanor he yet to change despite how nice I am to her and I’m the patient. My cousin works in health care and told me to say something but I'm trying to get the best care while I am here. All of the other nurses I've felt with have been kind and polite and come in and ask if I need anything. So it's making me uncomfortable that her demeanor comes off like in here to do my job and nothing more.

Kindness costs nothing. Be mindful of how you treat people. They will always remember how you make them feel. You also never know who has connections in higher places. I've been on the phone with the lactation support team and they gave me information to contact the head nurse. Remember when I mentioned my support person switch? My husband had to leave because he tested positive for covid on the 12th and due to changes in the CDC guidelines and the quarantine times - though he was asymptomatic they asked him to leave.

Now I'm expected to deliver Monday at 34 weeks. I've got two breastfeeding support groups, my therapist and there's a social worker here in the hospital that's supposed to come and meet with me. I've got additional resources about lactation as I've wanted to breastfeed and a prayer call tonight.

I hope this story I'm sharing with you helps you understand that kindness doesn't cost a thing. Regardless of how your day is going pass on a little kindness as you never know what the person you are encountering is going through.

Now that I'm off the magnesium and in getting news about delivery I have to focus my mental on more positive outlooks. I'm trying but it's honestly been difficult. With the thought that my husband just might not be able to be here.

Our photoshoot session is postponed for post-baby and at this point, I'm uncertain about out baby shower which was supposed to be next weekend on the 29th. There's a Haitian proverb that goes, “ Bondye se duie, lie fe sal vle” God is God he does what he wants. I'll leave you with this one too, man makes plans and God laughs.

What's most important here is mommy, daddy and baby get reunited sooner than later. And everyone leaves happy and healthy. If you are a mom or know a story you'd like to share, please leave it in the comments section. Talk soon and keep y'all posted.

Thank you for making it this far. This post was originally shared on my Patreon. It’s how I am working towards making a living moving forward. Check it out:

Finding the Balance Between the Love of your life and the life you love

Finding the Balance Between the Love of your life and the life you love

As an Artist, you need an audience or a following to sell your products, your services and Art. As an entrepreneur, I work as a fulltime packaging designer and I teach in person paint classes.

Some of the things I've learned about myself while putting this project together:

I am a resilient woman. I love it when people have a personal connection with my artwork. It's not an easy task to come up with a project all your own, then turn it into a product. After listening to Jake Parker's YouTube video, you need a product, not a project, it made me think carefully of what I was putting together. I don't want to simply sell art to other artists, I'd like to instead build a collector base. And as I continue to explore, I find it important to continue to make this practice of drawing daily. It's become a habit I enjoy and look forward to, especially after a hard days work.

I've been using youtube as a way to get my artwork out to the public along with other social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. During this time of creating this series, 31 Ideas to Fill A Sketchbook, I've learned quite a bit about myself. Not only am I working a fulltime job, and every now and then making time for the gym, I am also planning my Fiance's and I wedding, I teach art classes and I volunteer.

Never will I put so much pressure on me again! I love the fact that I've been able to stay the course, and I can have tunnel vision in seeing a project through. So this project is very dear to me, I have yet to complete a sketchbook to its entirety so I am thankful to have been able to do something like this with the limitations that are in place.

We are getting married in September and I can't wait until this planning is over. If our parents were well, we would have surely traveled outside the country.

As I mentioned, you need an audience to sell your work to. Art has a special place for many people. It moves them to take action, feel an emotion or think. Currently, I am creating art as a simple form of expression. It does not have a subliminal meaning, it has nothing to do with politics, socialism or justice. Currently, I create to get into the habit of sitting at my desk and for the pleasure of creating.

I want my art to have an impact on people. I want people who buy my art to experience joy, I want them to experience the pride of having something hand made, and unique. Something especially made for them, or a piece of artwork that takes them to a specific place in time. Perhaps people will buy my art simply because of who I am - but at that point, Donia Studio would have to be a house name or a brand that is well known.

In the mean time I am creating for myself and sharing it with the world. I'm still in the process of finding the balance between the love of my life and this life I get to love. Get your copy of the sketchbook before the prices go up.