A Precious Reminder

Yesterday, baby Caitie had to have "a procedure". That's what I called it, because it made it less scary than "operation" or "surgery". And in reality, procedure is probably also more accurate, because having a myringotomy (drain fluid and insert ear tubes) and an adenoidectomy (removal of adenoids), is not really that big of a deal. It's actually one of the most routine surgeries performed on thousands of toddlers in one-day surgery centers all over the country. In fact, Jacob had it done three years ago, and Caitlin had the ear tubes part last year.

Still. When it came time to go to the hospital (at 5:45 a.m.), I was more than a little nervous. As I held my little girl in my arms, wrapped in a blanket fresh from the warmer, and watched her slowly grow calm and quiet thanks to her "happy juice," and whispered one more prayer for her protection, I was reminded of just how precious she is to me.

Caitlin is a beautiful little girl. She has the bluest eyes, the blondest hair, the happiest gap-toothed smile. She loves to sing, to talk, to hold her bunny and suck her left thumb. She loves Jakie, and Daddy, and most of all, Mommy. And I can't believe how much I love her back.

So when the gentle nurse came to take Caitie to the OR, I was definitely blinking back tears and reminding myself that everything was going to be just fine and that God was watching over her. One last kiss, one last "I love you!" and thankfully she was already too dopey to be anxious.

I'm grateful that there was a kind older man in the family waiting room whose wife was having cataract surgery, who kept me company until Jason arrived from dropping Jacob off at school. Within minutes it seemed, Dr. Sawyer was there to say that everything had gone perfectly. And then we were able to go to the recovery room and hold a very grumpy girl who definitely did not want an IV in her wrist or a heart monitor on her toe.

While I'm hopeful that this will be the last ENT procedure either of my kids will need, I'm grateful for the reminder that they are a precious gift. Sometimes it takes a little drama to open our eyes to all the blessings that are present in our lives each day.

Adenoidectomy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenoidectomy