A Short Video of the School

Yalcoba

Yalcoba is one of the villages we visited. I have been there before and enjoy it very much. Most of these villages have something special one way or another, good or bad. The Mayan population is very sweet, they are very warm, welcoming and loving people. 

When we got to Yalcoba, we were greeted by many people. One of those people, is a gentleman from the US who has made Yalcoba his home. After he retired, he moved there with his parents because he fell in love with the people there and I am sure his money goes a long way there.

He has worked with us before and he was wanting to show us what he had been working on...a school to teach kids English. Why? so they can get better jobs at resorts or as waiters in restaurants. So, we went to see the school and oh my! we were so impressed by the kids and their eagerness to learn! There are no chalkboards, they write everything on the walls, when they are done learning what is written on the walls, they paint over them and start over! He charges them $1 a month and they have class twice a week for one hour.

Kids are different ages 

Check out the hammock for the teacher!

We were there with the "C" boys and I think they were a bit surprised! I know I was! 

On this trip, I played more with the kids and did less dentistry. I was actually looking forward to that! I love making the kiddos happy and giving them something to look forward to.

 We did not have enough soccer balls to give to all the kids so, we organized a soccer tournament, we had 3 teams of 10 children, boys and girls. The winners took the soccer ball and promised they would each have them one week. This picture below shows the children playing, you can't quite see their feet but some of them were playing without shoes, running on hot rocks!

No gatorade, smart water or even plain water for these kids! No soccer moms with tents, fruit and ice chests full of drinks!

After the game, the kids that did not get the ball got presents anyway, we gave away toys, flip flops, necklaces and lots and lots of Love!

To say that doing dentistry in these circumstances is challenging is an understatement, after you are done you feel like someone used your back as a punching bag! We get better at it every time, soon enough we will be able to do some fillings as well.

We always have an audience, everyone wants to watch!

If you have never done a mission trip, consider it and consider taking your family, it will change the way you see many things and it will make your family bond stronger.
More to come!

Our First Day

Patients waiting....and waiting...and waiting. SO patiently!

Waiting inside and outside!

Challenging, Fun, Tiring, Blessed, Inspiring, Scary, Frustrating. These are a few things I have felt this trip.

These trips are always challenging because you are very limited as far as what you can do. We take things for granted in the US and the reality is that, the rest of the world is definitely different. It is hard to imagine how hard it is to obtain a panoramic x-ray when I do at least 5 of them a day in my office! It is hard to imagine people travel 2-4 hours to come see the Oral Surgeon because they are scared to have their teeth pulled here because last time it took 4 hours!

One of our patients said yesterday "This is pure luxury....Thank You!"after getting 2 wisdom teeth out!! Hard to imagine someone being so grateful after a procedure such as this!

It has been a joy for me to have the 3 "C" boys with us in this trip! I must admit I was a little nervous because I did not know how they would react to different situations but they are just wonderful boys and their mamma....has done and continues to do an amazing job raising them to be good men! 

We did not see many patients today but many of the ones we saw were challenging, please keep our patients in your prayers as they go through procedures as simple as a dental extraction to cataract surgery to gall bladder surgery. 

One of the highlights of my day was seeing Juanita, a baby we met last year for cleft lip repair and she was here for follow up! She is beautiful and soooo smart! I spoke to the plastic surgeon who saw her last year and we are hoping to be able to work on her palate next February. God is good!

Our First Day in Hospital This Year, Gorgeous!!

Pre-op February Last Year

I can't wait to share what we did today, I am so tired though that I HAVE to go to bed if I plan to finish this trip strong. Pics are not loading, will post them tomorrow!

All I can say is God is good and His mercies endure forever... I love you Lord!

Beautiful Sunset

Mission Trip Valladolid 2012

We arrived late last night. After spending 2 hours in customs trying to get all our equipment through. Ten (10) checked suitcases, 3 car seats, 2 strollers, 1 diaper bag, 2 backpacks AND 3 children (4 and younger). That in itself was a challenge!

Does this look fun or what?

We arrived at the hospital to dropped off the equipment at 9 pm, to my surprise there were already about 10 people waiting for consultations for the next day.

Greg unloading equipment..bad picture...too tired!

 They would spend the night sitting on plastic chairs outside the hospital for the chance to be seen first.

Arrived at the hotel, cleaned up a bit or a lot, bathed kids, killed about 15 mosquitoes in the room and attempted to sleep. Needless to say, I could not...

This morning, we woke up... No...Bennett woke up at 6 am, whispering to his dad "daddy, I am soooo hungry" needless to say, soon after that, we were all up!

We assembled the equipment with minor set backs and we are almost ready to go. The other part of the team arrived late and finished initial patient consultations around 10 pm.

The kiddos were out of sorts today but did soo well, they are amazed by the bugs and animals, they are taking it all in and being as good as they can be for their age.  I am always humbled to see how God provides for all our needs and how His hand is in everything.

Today, my children had gummy life savers, m&m's, lots of cookies and Bennett even managed to "steal" a drink or 2 of coke that was on the table. Oh.. well! The worst part of it is that I did not brush their teeth tonight! I feel so awful! I am awful!

This is a special trip for me as a family from our church decided to join us! They are also my patients and I am thrilled to have them here, the boys are so sweet and Amy is wonderful! I can't wait to see how God will touch their hearts as they serve those that have very little.

I will keep posting as much as possible. Please pray for God's hand to be over the doctors and the patients and that we may transmit the love of God and make a difference in their lives!
Until tomorrow!

XO, Dr.L

My Favorite Time

My boys are getting older...the milestones keep coming and going and I try to take it all in, one of my favorite things to do is to put them to sleep. Last night, I laid down with both of them, cuddled with them as much as they would let me and we all fell asleep, I did not mean to fall asleep myself but...I was dead tired, I am sure many of you can relate.

My Brock gave me some "loves" before he fell asleep and I just about cried! There is nothing sweeter.

 

Sweet Dreams My Loves....

FOCUS....I SAY AGAIN...FOCUS

I worry about EVERYTHING...when my kids get a cold, I worry  they will have some crazy complication and end up in the hospital.  I have said it before and I will say it again, I am nuts! Why? Who in the world knows!

I stress about my boys not looking at people in the eye when they speak to them, I worry about them not saying please and thank you...I am such a bad mom, my boys don't do this or that... I am already worrying about who Brecken will marry and if she will be able to get into dental school.. :) waaay crazy.

Tuesday, I get a call from the Children's Hospital, they want me to do a consult on a child who is waiting for a heart transplant. Little "C".... Great! Just what I need, a heart wrenching visit to PCH. I walk in and my stomach is already in a knot...I walk by all these rooms with sick, beautiful children and honestly, I want to start crying right then and there...but, I have to keep it together and look professional, right!

I speak to the attending who tells me this child has to be fed continuously for 10 hours because any stress  (even from eating) can kill her and I am there to do a dental exam on a child that already hates doctors AND she has pain in her mouth. FABULOUS....anything else I need to know before I force myself in her mouth? Yes! (of course) there is not much you can do because she would not tolerate any kind of sedation for me to be even able to help her...WONDERFUL!

SO, I swallow hard before I go in her room, I turn on my charm, introduce myself to mom AND wake her up to do an exam...I need to repeat myself, YES wake her up to do an exam. I was happy that even though she did not feel like cooperating, she actually allowed me to do an exam! Hopefully, my recommendations will make her feel better but, as I was driving home, obviously feeling guilty about not being home to put my kiddos to sleep, I could not help but think about Little "C"'s mom and how much I am sure she wishes to "just" worry about her baby saying please and thank you, let alone who she will marry. My heart ACHES for her, I just wanted to hug her and tell her "something" ANYTHING to help her feel better but, what can you say? Absolutely nothing. Hopefully soon, she will hear "We have a heart for Little "C", let's do it! I pray she does and ask that you pray for it too.

My lesson, DO NOT SWEAT THE LITTLE STUFF, Focus on what IS important...hopefully one day they will say please and thank you and if not....well, you can always hope.

Happy New Year !!!

Today, was a great day at home. Baking a little, cleaning a lot, enjoying time with family.

Ahhh family! Love my family, although today I got in an argument with my baby brother who I adore...I don't think he knows how much I love him... but, I just have a big mouth and say what I feel. Is that so bad?

Throughout the day, I have been thinking about this year that is coming to an end. As every year in my life, there has been good and bad and I am grateful for both. Yes, grateful for the bad because it has "hopefully", taught me lessons that will help me be a better person, better wife, mother, daughter and sister, hopefully I learned my lesson tonight....keep my mouth shut and don't give my opinion unless I am asked. Oh!!! that is just sooo hard for me!.... Maybe next year!! LOL

We celebrated as a family with the kiddos running around in the restaurant, fighting over balloons...my oldest brother was with us and that was special for us for many reasons.

All the kiddos and the balloons 

My hope and prayer for you is that next year will be one full of love, joy and health for everyone! and for Greg and I,  hopefully a full night of sleep soon, functioning on 3-5 hours of sleep a day is getting to me.

New Year resolutions for moi...be better at everything...as a wife, mom, daughter, sister aaand lose the baby muffin top, wish me luck because I WILL need it.

Love, love and more love to all!!!
ps. thanks for stopping by

Happy New Year !!!!