Tooth Fairies

Amazingly enough, Master S lost his first tooth while he was in the hospital, the second time around. And we were lucky enough to discover that even in the hospital the tooth fairy visits :) Of course she might be called a tooth fairy nurse or a tooth-childlife fairy, they need special training to work in the hospital, but they exist all the same, and they give very generously - a specimen cup full of quarters. The tooth fairy at home is going to have to do some major work to come up with that kind of cash for the next tooth (which came out today - courtesy of Master S' new found 'brave' & courageous spirit! When you've been through 8 IV sticks in the last two weeks, its a lot easier to be brave while pulling a tooth out!) All in all, our stay at Primary's was a black cloud with a sliver lining, as most difficult things in life are. We learned a lot about our 'brave' and incredibly 'silly' 6 year old - he loves to make people laugh, he loves to joke around, he hates IV pokes, and stomach aches and he loves his mom more than his dad -- well, at least that is what he is saying today. I'm sure it will be different tomorrow, but it is always wonderful to hear "you are the best mom in the whole world" and "I love you more than anything". There were definitely times over the last few weeks when I felt like I was anything but the best mom - it is so difficult to know what is best, when it is best and how it is best when you have a child in the hospital (heck, that's hard just with normal life!) - and you never have enough time for all your children to meet all of their needs. But, it is nice to know that one of your children is noticing that you are at least trying. I think through this whole experience that I've learned once again that we are all here to help each other. None of us can get through this experience of life without the help of others and if we are willing to recognize that and embrace that we will experience a life much more rich, exciting and wonderful than anything we could have accomplished on our own. From the people who helped with our other kids, who came at a moments notice, who fed & rocked an unhappy 4 month old, who brought in meals, mowed lawns and listened to me cry, to the people at the hospital who provide music therapy (an incredible hour of music, forgetting, and healing for children and parents alike), to the child life specialist who helped Master S get out some BIG frustrations (pinching by IV starts, hurting tummy, difficulty walking & going to the playroom) by using syringes as water guns and making a homemade target of fears and frustrations to shoot them at, to the nurse who took the time to talk to me and Master S, to be on top of his pain and make him laugh when he didn't feel like it, and even the other kids in the hospital who shared the nintendo in the playroom when they didn't have to and talked to Master S, or who were willing to play with Master S when he asked them. All of us want to be validated and appreciated as people no matter what we are doing or experiencing and when we help each other and just look for ways to make life a little easier for each other not only do we validate others, but we also in the process validate ourselves. We discover that we are truly important, that we are truly children of God with a purpose and reason for being here and that we can do GREAT things by doing small things, to bless the lives of others. What a blessing to have each other - what a blessing to have tooth fairies in our life no matter where we are!