Martin Luther King Day 2009

Today is Martin Luther King day. Growing up, we always had this day off of school. I don't recall this day being "big" deal. It was just a day off of school.

But today January 19th 2008, Martin Luther King day seems a little more special considering what tomorrow means in American life and culture. Tomorrow Barack Obama, a half white - half African (Kenyan to be exact), will be come the 44th president of the United States. This is something that would have seemed impossible 45 years ago.

Today another thought came to me as I was watching various programs about civil rights movement. The summer I went to Senegal we spent a day at Goree Island. (This is an island off the coast where many of the West African slaves where sold and sent out to various places around the world.) While there one of the missionaries that we were with made a comment that will stick with me for a life time. They said that God used this evil for good, meaning that through this atrocity many African Americans came to know Jesus Christ as their savior in their new home- America. I had never made this connection before and I think this is something that can be pondered for a long long time.

"Sick" Baby Visit

This morning we went to Women's Bible Study at church. Since I was a little late, I decided to keep Birdie with me during our small group time. Before Christmas, she would normally sleep through the entire time, but today she seemed a little "off." Her eyes were a bit watery and her nose was a bit stuffy. And she was fussy.

When we got home she seemed a bit warm, so I took her temperature for the first time. It was reading around 99 which seemed high to me. Since I haven't taken her temperature when she was well, I wasn't sure if it was. So I decided to put her down for a nap and then check it when she got up. So this is what I did. One thermometer was reading 100.4 and another one went all the way up to 101.7. I know that over 100, was not good and she just didn't look like herself, so I decided to call the doctor's office.

Since they had an appointment available, I took Birdie went to the doctor for her first "sick" baby visit. The doctor asked me a bunch of questions, but the one thing that stood out to me was a comment that he made. When I said to him that Birdie just didn't look like herself and that I could tell something was wrong, he said that studies that have been done have shown that mothers really do know when something is wrong. Isn't this amazing? I think it is wonderful that God has designed us a special way to take care and nurture our children.

The doctor decided that she had a little cold that was moving into her ear. So she got some amoxicilin and needs to take it for 10 days. Hopefully this will take care of the problem. There is nothing like the feeling of helplessness when you have a sick baby. All you can do is hold them and love them which doesn't always feel like enough.

Next Monday is Birdie's 4 month "well" baby visit. This is where they will check her length, weight, and other things normal 4 month olds do. They also give her another round of vaccines. At her two month visit, watching them administer the vaccines and then her reaction to them was heartbreaking. It made me sad that I was "doing" that to her, so Monday won't be any fun either. I also don't look forward to her being cranky all day either. But I am grateful that we have them and how they protect us from serious illnesses. And another good thing is that she won't remember them either!

Discovering the Dog

This week Birdie noticed Madi, our black labrador retriever. Before she was oblivious to her presence, but now she looks at her and follows her with her eyes. I don't think I will ever stop being amazed at how she changes and grows every day.

Even today Madi licked her little hands. I laughed and cringed at the same time. It was really cute; however I was not too happy about this, since, well you know what dogs like to do. But I'm sure this will not be the last time that Madi licks her. I think they will be pretty good friends once Birdie starts to move around. Hopefully Madi doesn't turn into a grouchy old dog--but I dobut it!

We really did luck out with Madi. We adopted her about three years ago from the Midwest Lab Rescue. They think she was a puppy mill dog and was abused. She is the sweetest dog that I know. She has been missing our long walks that we use to go on. Part of the blame can rest on the little one, but also on the cold weather. In the spring, we will have to start them up again. It will be good for all of us to get out of the house and stretch our legs.