Well friends, yesterday was full of a lot of firsts! But let me begin with a story of irony (if you can call it that). My godson, Jeremiah, told me I'd be having the baby today...we kind of joked about it all day. Well he wasn't so far off, we indeed spent time in a hospital, and I did have a little scare that Rosie was going to come today. How did this all begin? It began with a bunch of 'firsts'.
This afternoon I accompanied Josh to the car to collect receipts so I could itemize our taxes. He was getting ready to go to practice and I wanted fresh air. After I got the receipts, Josh went into grab his coat. Our neighbor dog was sitting by the car, so I joined him and "my cat" on the curb. I was petting him. After about 5-10 mins I decided to go back in and get back to work. Upon getting up from the curb the dog just latched onto my face. He didn't growl or warn me at all, he just lunged and bit. I knew not to pull away. When he let go I began to stand up again, and he jumped and got my throat. At this point I was in a half stance and I turned my body to protect my stomach and threw up my arm....this definitely freaked him out because when my arm came up he growled and latched onto my arm, that I put up to cover my stomach.
Just as I was turning my back toward him to protect Roselyn another dog came running at us (my favorite dog) and at first I thought he was going to attack me too, but he ran straight for the dog who bit me. He didn't attack that dog, but came at him with full attention. When he came, the dog that had my arm in his mouth let go (a matter of seconds that seemed like minutes).
I tried remaining calm, the last thing I wanted to do was go into labor and have the baby at the hospital and have to get my face repaired. I walked into to get Josh. When he opened the door he lost it and wanted to kill the dog. Thankfully, he stayed calm with me. I went to our neighbors to get help and he called management. A doctor was at our house within 3-5 minutes.
The doctor told me I needed to go to the hospital and that he could not fix me. So my first, first was getting my first dog bite. My second first was going to a foreign hospital. I have not been in an ER in over 14 years.
We got to the hospital and I already knew I could not compare it to America. I asked God to just be with us and be the hands of everyone who treated me. Upon walking in I saw bloody towels in the open, dirty sheets on beds and soiled garments on patients. I had to close my eyes to it all and just pray.
I was told there was no plastic surgeon at this hospital. Then I was told by law they cannot close my face because it is a dog bite, prone to infection and rabbis. It was the hospital rules. As you can imagine, I was ready to leave...but we prayed. Eventually a manager joined us. He had already been on the phone contacting the best doctors on his way to the hospital. It looked like we were headed an hour north to Haifa to be treated (from Afula). Josh and I did not want to make that trip...so we prayed for a surgeon to come to us, or that we could find one in the area.
As we were preparing to leave for one of the largest hospitals in Israel, we were stopped and told that one of the best plastic surgeons was just leaving an emergency surgery and would be available to see me. PRAISE GOD!!! He came in, looked at me like it was no big deal (which was such a relief because everyone seemed very horrified and unwilling to work on me). He got me on a table within 5 minutes of meeting me and got to work! I walked in with basically no upper lip (it looked like a cleft lip) and he put it all back together.
My throat had a few puncture wounds but nothing was required by him to fix it. My arm, I am very lucky. I really didn't realize I got bit there until I sat down at my neighbors. My arm was really really sore! I looked down and realized my skin was not broken but there were teeth marks. The scary part was, there were 2 teeth marks right over my larger vessel in my wrist...what stopped the teeth from reaching that vessel was my "Courage" bracelet" I wear for my nephew who is fighting cancer and my watch. The bracelet got the most damage, and is missing some beads now, but it saved me from bleeding a whole lot more!
So what was I thinking as the attack took place? "Lord help me!". I walked back to my house praising God that he let go and did not attack my stomach. I was so thankful. Then I was praising God josh forgot his coat, or he would have been gone when that happened. Then I praised God our neighbors were home and that a doctor lived next door. Then I praised Him because our neighbor took us to the hospital. Then I praised him when a manager showed up and had already contacted a team of doctors to get the best advice and treatment. Then I praised Him that a plastic surgeon (who usually is not at this hospital) just had to do an emergency surgery and was able to help me! Then I praised him when the neighbors (whose dog bit me) said they would pick up all medical costs that insurance didn't cover. Then I praised Him when the neighbors came to visit me and reassure me that the dog would be 'taken care of'...which actually made me have tears in my eyes..but I tried hard not to cry with them around.
And the biggest praise of them all (save the best for last)...Roselyn seems to be doing well, and the contractions stopped (with lots of prayer)!!!
So a crazy day went very smoothly thanks to God! He really just had everything in place so that I would not be filled with anxiety. He is my provider, healer and rock! I am very thankful these are the only firsts I had today...I was trying NOT to have my "first" home birth too!
Let me say, my husband was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! He was by my side and did not turn away during any of the treatment! He even told me how beautiful I still am....He said I look like Julia Roberts now with my lip the way it is :) He finds a way to always make me smile!
In the end, Jay was right...I would be visiting a hospital...just not for R's birth! Well I have officially been awake for 4 hours now (after fall asleep for 1 1/2) I need to try and get some rest! Don't forget to find God in your everyday! He is certainly present!
Hebrews 12:14....struck me today when I could have been mad about a lot of things...He is awesome!
This afternoon I accompanied Josh to the car to collect receipts so I could itemize our taxes. He was getting ready to go to practice and I wanted fresh air. After I got the receipts, Josh went into grab his coat. Our neighbor dog was sitting by the car, so I joined him and "my cat" on the curb. I was petting him. After about 5-10 mins I decided to go back in and get back to work. Upon getting up from the curb the dog just latched onto my face. He didn't growl or warn me at all, he just lunged and bit. I knew not to pull away. When he let go I began to stand up again, and he jumped and got my throat. At this point I was in a half stance and I turned my body to protect my stomach and threw up my arm....this definitely freaked him out because when my arm came up he growled and latched onto my arm, that I put up to cover my stomach.
Just as I was turning my back toward him to protect Roselyn another dog came running at us (my favorite dog) and at first I thought he was going to attack me too, but he ran straight for the dog who bit me. He didn't attack that dog, but came at him with full attention. When he came, the dog that had my arm in his mouth let go (a matter of seconds that seemed like minutes).
I tried remaining calm, the last thing I wanted to do was go into labor and have the baby at the hospital and have to get my face repaired. I walked into to get Josh. When he opened the door he lost it and wanted to kill the dog. Thankfully, he stayed calm with me. I went to our neighbors to get help and he called management. A doctor was at our house within 3-5 minutes.
The doctor told me I needed to go to the hospital and that he could not fix me. So my first, first was getting my first dog bite. My second first was going to a foreign hospital. I have not been in an ER in over 14 years.
We got to the hospital and I already knew I could not compare it to America. I asked God to just be with us and be the hands of everyone who treated me. Upon walking in I saw bloody towels in the open, dirty sheets on beds and soiled garments on patients. I had to close my eyes to it all and just pray.
I was told there was no plastic surgeon at this hospital. Then I was told by law they cannot close my face because it is a dog bite, prone to infection and rabbis. It was the hospital rules. As you can imagine, I was ready to leave...but we prayed. Eventually a manager joined us. He had already been on the phone contacting the best doctors on his way to the hospital. It looked like we were headed an hour north to Haifa to be treated (from Afula). Josh and I did not want to make that trip...so we prayed for a surgeon to come to us, or that we could find one in the area.
As we were preparing to leave for one of the largest hospitals in Israel, we were stopped and told that one of the best plastic surgeons was just leaving an emergency surgery and would be available to see me. PRAISE GOD!!! He came in, looked at me like it was no big deal (which was such a relief because everyone seemed very horrified and unwilling to work on me). He got me on a table within 5 minutes of meeting me and got to work! I walked in with basically no upper lip (it looked like a cleft lip) and he put it all back together.
My throat had a few puncture wounds but nothing was required by him to fix it. My arm, I am very lucky. I really didn't realize I got bit there until I sat down at my neighbors. My arm was really really sore! I looked down and realized my skin was not broken but there were teeth marks. The scary part was, there were 2 teeth marks right over my larger vessel in my wrist...what stopped the teeth from reaching that vessel was my "Courage" bracelet" I wear for my nephew who is fighting cancer and my watch. The bracelet got the most damage, and is missing some beads now, but it saved me from bleeding a whole lot more!
So what was I thinking as the attack took place? "Lord help me!". I walked back to my house praising God that he let go and did not attack my stomach. I was so thankful. Then I was praising God josh forgot his coat, or he would have been gone when that happened. Then I praised God our neighbors were home and that a doctor lived next door. Then I praised Him because our neighbor took us to the hospital. Then I praised him when a manager showed up and had already contacted a team of doctors to get the best advice and treatment. Then I praised Him that a plastic surgeon (who usually is not at this hospital) just had to do an emergency surgery and was able to help me! Then I praised him when the neighbors (whose dog bit me) said they would pick up all medical costs that insurance didn't cover. Then I praised Him when the neighbors came to visit me and reassure me that the dog would be 'taken care of'...which actually made me have tears in my eyes..but I tried hard not to cry with them around.
And the biggest praise of them all (save the best for last)...Roselyn seems to be doing well, and the contractions stopped (with lots of prayer)!!!
So a crazy day went very smoothly thanks to God! He really just had everything in place so that I would not be filled with anxiety. He is my provider, healer and rock! I am very thankful these are the only firsts I had today...I was trying NOT to have my "first" home birth too!
Let me say, my husband was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! He was by my side and did not turn away during any of the treatment! He even told me how beautiful I still am....He said I look like Julia Roberts now with my lip the way it is :) He finds a way to always make me smile!
In the end, Jay was right...I would be visiting a hospital...just not for R's birth! Well I have officially been awake for 4 hours now (after fall asleep for 1 1/2) I need to try and get some rest! Don't forget to find God in your everyday! He is certainly present!
Hebrews 12:14....struck me today when I could have been mad about a lot of things...He is awesome!
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