Learning

Can a person get their $10 copay back if they storm out of their doctor's office? Just wondering.

Today I met with a new nurse practitioner at Dr. Laudi's office. The entire visit was spent clarifying my current status which should all be in my chart. I was asked if I am still throwing up blood. That happened one time, months ago. I know we all have to learn. And I know we are all teachers at times- this is our chance to give someone the patience and understanding we all hope for when we are learning. Today, my patience was in short supply even after scraping the bottom and around the edges. Today, I saw a garage sale on my way to the clinic. Today, I just want my money back.

Later at home, I watched as Olivia learns how to crawl. She rolls onto her belly and lifts herself onto her hands and knees. She inches her knees forward, but doesn't seem to know what to do with her hands, so she just starts rocking, back and forth, until she accidently moves her hand or she tips over. It can be a painstaking process to watch, because you just want to help her, to do it for her, but for all the connections and pathways to be created in her brain- she has to learn it herself. An inch at a time.

"What's she doing?" asked Dave, a cab driver over to talk to Mark, after watching Olivia rocking for awhile and going nowhere.

"Just figuring out how to crawl."

"She's too small to crawl."

It is something to see. A few weeks ago, Mark and I were in a Byerly's grocery store walking through the produce section. The produce scales were large and gleaming. Olivia is small and was sleeping in my arms. We couldn't resist. Olivia weighed 13 pounds 6 ounces.