First Haircut

The first haircut!

Life Right Now

Sorry I haven't posted much news recently. A lot has happened since I last posted:

I resigned from my position as a Primary Care Doctor at the community clinic in Oglethorpe County. I still love primary care and love the patients I left there, but that clinic wasn't the right place for me. Over the year I worked there it became obvious that I had very fundamental differences with the clinic's management.

Now I am back to working in the Emergency Room. Although it isn't my dream job like primary care, ER certainly does offer excitement. It also has less hours than the clinic, so the added benefit is that I am able to spend more time with the rapidly growing TMD and his beautiful mother. Probably I will be doing ER for a while.

Baby Boy is One!

Today our baby boy TMD turned one. We are so thankful that he is healthy and growing up so well. He is a little bundle of energy and always walking around the house. We recorded this video before putting him to bed:



I'll try to post some video and pictures from the party as well as him toddling soon.

Birthdays!

Today TMD turned 7 months, and his dad turned 31 years. We both grew up so fast!

William Britt: 1922-2008

Last night William Britt went to bed and he didn't wake up this morning. He was 86 years old. Pop Britt was an amazing man and he will be deeply missed.

He was the grandson of a slave, who was only allowed to cook food for white soldiers when he volunteered to serve his country, but he lived to vote for the first black president. He was always proud that he worked hard his whole life and took good care of his family. I am proud to have known Pop during these later years as he welcomed me to the family with his booming voice and firm hug. I married his beautiful granddaughter and am the father of his newest great grandson.

He is now with his dear savior Jesus and his beloved wife Sarah who went a few years before him. We all wish he could have stayed longer, but are happy for the bold and loving impact he had on this world.

Crossing the Equator!

After a month in Ecuador the Davis family has crossed the equator (the yellow line) and returned home to the US!

We had some silly fun returning to our own hemisphere:

We didn't leave TMD on the line too long. We don't want him the grow up thinking the world revolves around him:

Sometimes baby boy's parents are so different it's like they're coming from two different sides of the world!

Okay enough ridiculous photos from the equatorial line. We are glad to be home. We missed you all.

We Have Arrived

Hello Everyone. After brave little TMD endured 3 plane trips we arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador yesterday afternoon. We landed in Quito Saturday night and spent the night with a wonderful family Ramiro, Vicky, and David Granada. The next morning we had a dramatic flight through the Andes mountains to Cuenca. Here we are staying with the Cabera family in their beautiful home near the middle of Cuenca. Senior Cabera is an opthomologist who often volunteers at the clinic where I will be working starting next week. This afternoon we start Spanish Classes. I am studying frantically but we still have a long way to go to actually be able to speak the language with any efficiency.

Cuenca is a beautiful old city and we can walk to most places from the Cabera´s house. We will update you more soon.

Ecuador

This morning we are going to Ecuador for a month. We will be in the city of Cuenca. We hope to learn a lot of Spanish by immersion as well as volunteer at a hospital for the poor there. For us it will be an excellent chance to learn a language that is increasingly important as we serve in America, as well as an opportunity as a family to take a while and serve in a new environment and have a chance to reflect on what the impact of our lives should be.

Hopefully we will have a lot of interesting stories and thoughts when we return.

For the next month The Gridbook Blog will be silent. I don't know if we will be able to get much internet access but if we do we will try to post updates here. Keep us in your prayers.

PS: Posted Gridbook Blog presidential endorsement yesterday. Click here to read.

Hirschsprung's Disease

An update on our baby boy:

He continues to grow well and seems quite happy. He has recently been diagnosed with Hirschsprung's Disease, which is a genetic birth defect of the nerves of his colon/rectum that was making his belly bloat and causing him increasing discomfort. It is fairly rare (1 in 5000 babies) and it has some risks of serious infection, but the good news is that is can be cured with surgery. Although the X-Rays almost certainly show Hirschsprung's, we will go to MCG Children's Hospital in Augusta tomorrow for a biopsy required to confirm the diagnosis. Then hopefully he will have the surgery in the next month or so.

While we have a healthy level of concern, we are very optimistic. We were very impressed with the kind and competent surgeon who will be caring for him. We are doing washings of his colon several times a day and already he appears to be feeling much better. It is a joy to watch this boy grow and I am already impressed with his little personality. We are certain that everything that happens is in God's gracious will for our son. We will be busy over the next month with many trips to Augusta. I may not be able to be in touch with everyone personally so I aim to use this blog as a way of keeping everyone updated on TMD's care. Keep him in your prayers and stay in touch.