Merry Christmas!

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On the other side....

Before Surgery

Bennett got his adenoids removed/shrunk...last week. I hesitated and almost canceled because I could not get a pediatric anesthesiologist for that particular day and particular hospital.

Oh man! I tried to convince myself to wait, I tried to convince Greg to convince me to wait. I even called my dad (general surgeon) to convince me to wait.

All it took was laying with him 2 days prior to the surgery for a bit as he was going to sleep and hearing him struggle to breathe and I thought...okay, this HAS to get done. I prayed about it and I just put him in God's hands. 

I struggled with the idea of general anesthesia and not being there with him. That was good for me. It was good because now I get it. What a revelation, the struggle of any mom to hand their baby to someone (me) to fix their teeth when we do sedation or general anesthesia in office or at the hospital. My turn to be on the other side. 

As I sat down in the waiting area I told Greg, although I am not "happy" to be here, I am glad because it helps me to be more compassionate to other moms and completely understand and not just say it but truly mean it. I totally get it, they are your everything....your life! 

Bennett did great, recovered from anesthesia with a few kicks and some fighting but after a few milligrams of Demerol he was much better.  

After

All in all, it was good for my Bennett to get this procedure done and good for me to be on the other side. God is good.

Sometimes....I hate my job!

I really...really...love what I do.  It is rewarding, surprising, uplifting, inspiring, interesting, challenging, encouraging and I really can't see me doing anything else.

There is one thing I hate about it...a phone call about a baby and an accident. Even worse, a baby that is close to my own baby's age and the icing on the cake...when you don't get to tell mom, it is going to be okay.

This happened again this morning, I was at a meeting and got "the phone call" I get back to the office, look at the tooth and immediately think to myself "Oh, No!  This tooth is done, I know, I don't need an x-ray, I know.

We take the x-ray, we confirm the diagnosis, mom is crying, I am trying hard NOT to cry and remain professional but I just want to hug her and say, I totally get it...I KNOW!!

Mom and dad help and were totally awesome, we remove the tooth...I should say the pieces of tooth and I think we were all ready for a drink or at least I was....although I don't really drink.

My little guy is totally recovered, happy with a balloon a popsicle and lots of love. He was so brave!

Broken Pieces! :(

No Tooth!

N

Happy Camper!

I guess I can't complain and I shouldn't really because I get to help my little guys and their families get through a tough time and that is a goood thing!
XOXO

Life is happening....too fast!

You know how people tell you.. "Long days...short years?"...."Deep breath...sigh....It is soo true!!"

I am just speechless...my babies are growing too fast and I feel that I am missing out! I almost want to go to school with them and just sit and watch them develop into what I dream they will be.

Dream and hope that I am half the parent my parents were to me. Hope that I don't screw up so bad that they blame me for everything later...LOL!

For now, I will continue to try to do my best, to lead by example and to keep my focus on my family.

Because that is all I can do. Hope, Dream and Pray.

Picture Book Mission Trip

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Our Mission Trip

A Beautiful Sunset in Valladolid

 There is so much to say about this trip that I will have to spend quite some time writing what happened, how lives were changed, how friendships were born, how love grew among our group and how we, the ones that were there to serve, where the ones that were served and how we were blessed far more than the patients and children we served.

To say that I am grateful for the opportunity is an understatement, I now have friends that are my brothers and sisters  and my heart is overflowing with joy.

We did a Vacation Bible school for almost 500 children!

We completed 2 construction projects

We did crafts

We loved on them

....and they loved on us!

We built friendships that will last a lifetime

We visited a jail. We provided dental work and our church band played for the inmates and their families!
We shared with them, they shared with us, we cried together and laughed together!

Saw patients that suffer from conditions that are much easier treated in the US that we could not do much for in Mexico! Which....kills me!

We helped upgrade the hospital from the 1970's crash cart they had to a newer model!

 and...this is exactly how I felt at the end of the day...every day! Just like Bennett is......passed out on Greg's lap. Except I had to bathe kids and put them to sleep before I could pass out myself!

 So...long story short...it was wonderful, possibly my favorite mission trip ever, it will be hard to beat but, I am going to try! I will post more on the story of the little girl with cataracts.
Thank you for asking about my trip and encouraging me...you are all awesome!

My Baby is UNO!

Who said long days...short years? sooo true!!!!!!

I feel I just had my baby girl and now she is one!! Happy Birthday sweet baby!