Little ears are always listening......JEFF!!!!!

Selah has started insisting that her name is "Thu." Thu is her Vietnamese name which we kept as her middle name. We love it and would be happy to call her Thu if that is what she wants to be called when she is older.

Selah also insists that my name is something she apparently overheard her daddy calling me.......

Our attempt at Christmas PJ's pictures.........

......did not go so well.

It started out as just Sam and Selah while Silas was throwing a fit. (Over what I can not remember.)

Silas attempting to smile.........

Sam trying to make Silas smile........

Selah looking at Silas like he's an idiot........

And this was the best we could do.

Merry Christmas, friends!

Sam Update

Sorry about the recent lack of pictures. I left my camera in the states and a sweet friend mailed it to Canada but it has yet to get here. (Thank you, Jill!)

Just an update to let you know that I met a pediatrician by chance who put us in contact with a pediatric surgeon who saw us immediately. He scheduled Sam for surgery in January here in Calgary. I'm so thankful, but am sure that if I wasn't in the right place at the right time (from the Lord I am convinced) we would still be flying to Houston. Why is it that we are so blessed while I know others still wait...and wait....and wait?

Thanks for all your prayers and thank you to those who commented on my previous post- much food for thought!

Contemplating health care

This last week has been a nightmare in dealing with Sam's surgery. It has made me think so much about health care and the pros and cons to public vs. private. In Alberta, each family pays a small annual premium and everyone receives the same kind of care.

Here's the deal: It makes no difference how much money you have or don't have- everyone jumps through the same hoops. Everyone waits. Everyone deals with doctors who can afford to be jerks because they are in such high demand. But, the bottom line is, everyone gets health care.

In the US, if you have great insurance (or are just incredibly wealthy), you have great health care. You can see whatever kind of doctor almost whenever you want to. There's hardly a wait. Most doctors (in my experience) have great bedside manner because they want your business- and money (or lack there of) makes a difference.

So, our family is not "wealthy." We're regular middle class folk. However, because my husband works for an awesome company, we have always had amazing insurance. When we've needed a specialist, we've seen one without needing a referral. The wait times are minimal.

As terrible as it sounds and as much as I hate to say it, being in a country where everyone is treated the same, no matter how much money you have, has been hard for me. I'm used to being able to see what doctor I want when I want to see them.

But, it's not all about me, is it? What about the millions of people in the states who simply can not afford health insurance but don't quite qualify for medicaid? I've never been one of those. Truth is, if I were one of them, I'd probably want to live here forever!

So, what's the solution? Is there a happy medium? Is there a plan that can please every family? I seriously doubt it. Maybe it's people like me and families like ours who need to suck it up and realize how blessed we are to have medical care at all. Maybe we should be thankful for this time of wait as it helps us appreciate what a luxury medicine is in the first place as there are many who don't have any of it.

That being said, it's my kid who may suffer long term effects from an problem that could have been taken care of in a week in the states. Here it would take a year. I'd be willing to jump through whatever hoops I had to for Sam.

I'd even be willing to pay. A lot. And that could bring up a whole other issue......American credit card debt.

Sam's Surgery

Before we moved to Calgary, I shared that Sam would need some unexpected surgery. After speaking with his pediatrician, we decided we could wait until we got here to do the surgery. We did not know that the Alberta health care system is incredibly slow and that even finding a family practitioner would be difficult. Our pediatrician in Houston recommended doing the surgery before the year was up and if we stay in Canada for the surgery, there is a strong likelihood that Sam could not have it for another year. After speaking with several medical personnel from the states, we have decided that for the sake of Sam's long term health, we can not wait that long. Jeff's company is currently exploring options for us to come back to the states for the procedure. We're not sure where it will be done- maybe in Houston if we fly.....maybe in Montana if we drive.......we're just not sure.

If you think of it, would you please pray that God would give us patience and wisdom? I feel like we totally screwed up in MANY ways.....first not recognizing that Sam had a problem....then not taking care of it in the states. Argh.

Sometime, I'll post my opinions on the benefits and down falls of a social health care system where citizens receive free health care.