Another Day...

It's only 19:51, but my body is aching to nestle into bed, into that peaceful mosquito-net cocoon of mine that so gently envelops my tired frame night after night... Yes, it's been a long day.

It started at 2:00 this morning, when the all-familiar buzz and flutter of my phone pulled me from a deep sleep. It was Hannah, calling me to the clinic to assist her with her patient's labor. I rolled my heavy body off of the top bunk and as my feet plunked onto the concrete floor, blood finally started pumping through my sluggish limbs. As I carefully directed my energy toward finding two separate pantlegs, I blinked my eyes a couple times in hopes of dissolving the comatose expression from my face. I gathered my things and stepped out into the dark night. A couple of dog barks and rooster croaks later, I was at the door of the clinic. Ruby, a mom of 4 (soon to be 5), was laying on her side, holding her belly and wincing through a contraction. My face tightened into an awkward, early-morning-smile and I began charting: fetal heart-tones, mother's position changes, maternal blood pressure, intensity and interval of contractions, etc.
3 hrs and 20 mins later, baby Kirsten Abby took her first, gargly breath.

2 hrs after that, we left the clinic with that "post-birth" spring in our step, ready to start the day!

Hannah and I went for a morning jog in the cemetery - refuge of peace and quiet in the midst of a busy city - of a busy life.

We showered, checked our emails, and were off to Starbucks before 10:00. Yes, after 5 months of intense heat, humidity and sweat, the guilt of making an occasional visit to an air-conditioned oasis has vanished. And for those of you who are offended by the fact that this particular oasis happens to be Starbucks... well, what's in a name?

After spending time with the Lord and sipping a delicious 1/2 decaf cappuccino (that also means 1/2 caffeinated - yes, desperate times call for desperate measures), we dove into our Microbiology study books and plugged through 2 chapters of intense confusion together. By the time we left, it was 15:00 and it was time to go grocery shopping for the upcoming week. We quickly planned a menu and walked over to Cherry Foodarama, our preferred food supplier. An hour later, we were home again, at last. We loaded the fridge, and I was off again to visit one of my own patients who delivered yesterday. The sun was setting, my legs were complaining. But as I stepped through their front door, the Lord infused me with His joy and strength, and it turned out to be a wonderful time.

I came home at dusk, just in time to help make and eat dinner.

It's almost 20:57 and after 2 months of bloglessness, I find myself before my computer screen once again after a long, long day with a simple story.

Thank you, Lord for Another Day... Thank you, Lord for This Day!