A Day At The Spa, and Civilian Health Care: Thankful Thursday

Welcome back to Thankful Thursday! A day when we can gather and share in each others gratitude and lift our burdens with viewing all the blessings we have been given. Even when things are at their darkest; when we focus on our blessings it helps lift our hearts and makes our burdens a little lighter.

Before the trip to the Beauty College

Today I'm grateful for my 2 little boys and their new found love of going to the "spa" to get their hair cut! Ok, so it's not a real spa. It's the beauty college on the other side of town. But this place has been a heavensend! In the past, when it was time for a hair cut, the boys would fall apart and do nothing but squirm, cry, fuss, refuse, and sometimes even scream through the entire process. They just hated getting hair cuts. It would make the entire process last about 1 hr per kid. I was so tired at the end of cutting their hair that I was ready to say, "That's IT! No more hair cuts!" It's probably why I always let their hair get so long between hair cuts, because I hated the battle.

But then one day I remembered that the Beauty College in town has discounted prices for hair cuts, and it would be worth it for me not to have to fight with my boys any longer.

So I took them there, and they got the "royal treatment." They got their hair washed, got to sit on cool booster chairs, and got their hair styled. They loved it. From that first day, my boys declared that they now liked getting their hair cut at that place and asked if all their hair cuts could be done there. I heartily agreed! So now, it's not me pestering my boys that it's time to get a hair cut; now it is my boys asking me as soon as their hair gets a little shaggy if it is time that they can get their hair cut.

So today, I'm immensely grateful for this Beauty College that allows my boys to love hair cuts, saves me time and a headache and makes us all happy! And all for only $5 per hair cut!!!

This week is one of those weeks. My boys started asking for hair cuts. So I took them on Tuesday. This is the result.

The 8 year old

Side View

The 6 1/2 year old

Side view

They were quite happy! So I'm thankful for a great place to take my kids to get hair cuts, and that the tantrums have stopped.

Now to dramatically switch topics without any "leading in"...I'm also greatly thankful for children's Motrin, Tylenol and no longer being part of a Government ran health care system! For the last 3 days the 6 year old boy has had a really bad headache. And this morning he had a fever of 102.2 to go along with it.
Now back when the husband was in the army, if I wanted to get my son seen by a doctor, I had to call the appointment line at the crack of dawn; and hold for 30 minutes just to get on the line to have the receptionist tell me that all "same day" appointments were filled, and that we'd have to either take him to the ER; or go into the office and join the "walkin" line. This would usually consist of going to the office, taking a number and waiting for about 2 hrs before you were taken back to a room, and then another 30-45 minutes before the Doctor came in to see you. That's the military Government ran health care for you! Yes, it's free (mostly), but when you have a sick child with a fever, it's not very comforting and it's very difficult to be seen by a Doctor.

But now that we are civilian again, and using civilian doctors; I called at 8:05am to ask if they had any appointments for today because my son was sick. The Receptionist said, "well yes. We have a lot of options for you..." and names off many different time slots that I get to choose from that best fits my schedule! How wonderful is that? We were able to get the 6 year old into the doctors office by 9:10am and we were seen and out of there by 9:35am! Again, what a blessing!

My children have such wonderful Pediatricians, and we see the same 2 every time we go; so I never have to wonder what stranger will I have to try to explain all my children's health history to? Plus they are friendly and really good with the kids.

Thankfully the Dr thinks the 6 year old only has a very nasty virus, but to keep close tabs on him for the next few days, due to his headache being so persistent. (Thus, I may not be around too much for the next few days until the boy gets feeling better).  But I'm also thankful for having Children's Motrin and children's Tylenol. It is the only thing giving my boy comfort at present.  His fever is very stubborn and we can only get it to drop down to 100 by keeping a strict schedule of the Motrin and Tylenol. And his fever has been returning full force 2 hours before I'm able to give him his next dose of medicine, but I tell you, even then; it is such a relief to know that we have this medicine that helps my boy feel better. That helps to calm his fever, and lessens his pain. I don't know where I would be without it!

So today, I'm feeling very grateful for blessings that have been given to my children. I wonder what next week's blessing will be? Will you join me to find out? 

And before you leave, I would love to know what you are thankful for this week!