It's hard to believe that I graduated from college and passed my boards 10 years ago! I'm so blessed and privileged to be a part of the dental profession. I have worked for most of those years - varying amounts based on the needs of our family. :)
The past 1 1/4 years have stretched me professionally as I have helped to open a new practice and switched from paper charts and film x-rays to all paperless and digital. It has been an exciting year - supporting an amazing dentist and watching the practice grow.
My top 10 favorite things about being a dental hygienist (in no particular order):
1) Patients - They make my job such a pleasure. I love seeing them every 3-6 months and sharing in their lives and families.
2) Smiles - Cheesy, yes - but definitely true. Knowing that I can help encourage and create positive self image is a joy!
3) Educating - Whether it's in classrooms or with individuals chairside, I appreciate the opportunity to educate about oral health, homecare, and general health.
4) Flexibility - This has been the perfect career for our family - being able to work part time and as little as 1/2 day/week has been great.
5) Benefits - God has called our family to adopt and we have been so thankful for the way He has used my job to help with the cost.
6) Team - I have worked with amazing people over the years.
7) Kids - I LOVE seeing kids. I've always worked in a general practice and would not switch but I love when the kids come (most of them... :)).
8) Relationships - I touched on this with #1 but I have met some wonderful people who have become friends.
9) Health - Knowing the link between oral health and the health of the entire body makes my job all the more serious...not only educating my patients about that link but in actively treating disease.
10) Success - Working towards the success of the practice through creating trust and loyalty. I love seeing my dentist meeting the needs of our patients.
So...there you have it! I mostly love my job and feel incredibly thankful!
And I would like to say a big thank you to the patient who asked me last week how long I have been a hygniest and acted shocked when I said 10 years...she said I didn't look old enough... :) Bless her.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
These Things Must Be Recorded
Two things should be noted:
1) Patrick taught himself to whistle a couple of weeks ago - I am quite impressed. He LOVES it and honestly, I think having something that only he can do has been great for him!
2) The crib is officially down. Titus was happy to make the switch and would have done it sooner but I wasn't quite ready... :) I'm actually okay with it.
And incidentally, Calvin has increased his prayers for a baby for our family. :) I'm definitely not sure how I feel about that, though we are open to God's leading! He has been advocating for quite some time with the support of Patrick and with the opposition of Titus.
1) Patrick taught himself to whistle a couple of weeks ago - I am quite impressed. He LOVES it and honestly, I think having something that only he can do has been great for him!
2) The crib is officially down. Titus was happy to make the switch and would have done it sooner but I wasn't quite ready... :) I'm actually okay with it.
And incidentally, Calvin has increased his prayers for a baby for our family. :) I'm definitely not sure how I feel about that, though we are open to God's leading! He has been advocating for quite some time with the support of Patrick and with the opposition of Titus.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Surgery
What a full week. And somehow nearly three weeks has passed since I posted last. For shame.
Calvin had his surgery this past Wednesday. We decided to drive up Tuesday night so he could have a good night of sleep before arriving at the hospital at 6 a.m. For the first time ever, he was the first surgery. It was quick and went well. The doctor explained that tubes were his best option and that hearing aids would be the other option. That was more direct and blunt than we had ever discussed before. We are praying and trusting that these will work and hopefully they will stay in longer than the last couple of times.
This time, Calvin was more upset coming out of surgery. They waited to bring us back until he was awake but it really scared him and it was hard to calm him - I was nearly in tears myself. He calmed down more when I climbed into the hospital bed and held him. My poor little guy. He also had more pain this time with his left ear especially - thankfully after a few doses of pain medication, it seemed to mostly resolve.
I'm always uptight about surgery but he was a champ. Here's a picture of him after the gave him some medicine to relax him before surgery - yeah, he was relaxed...and funny!
So thankful to have this behind us! We are hopeful that speech will improve and that he won't continue struggling with hearing. I know it frustrates him.
Calvin had his surgery this past Wednesday. We decided to drive up Tuesday night so he could have a good night of sleep before arriving at the hospital at 6 a.m. For the first time ever, he was the first surgery. It was quick and went well. The doctor explained that tubes were his best option and that hearing aids would be the other option. That was more direct and blunt than we had ever discussed before. We are praying and trusting that these will work and hopefully they will stay in longer than the last couple of times.
This time, Calvin was more upset coming out of surgery. They waited to bring us back until he was awake but it really scared him and it was hard to calm him - I was nearly in tears myself. He calmed down more when I climbed into the hospital bed and held him. My poor little guy. He also had more pain this time with his left ear especially - thankfully after a few doses of pain medication, it seemed to mostly resolve.
I'm always uptight about surgery but he was a champ. Here's a picture of him after the gave him some medicine to relax him before surgery - yeah, he was relaxed...and funny!
So thankful to have this behind us! We are hopeful that speech will improve and that he won't continue struggling with hearing. I know it frustrates him.
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