Monday

We operated till 7 last night. My table did 3 palates. Today they are letting me staff a palate w/ the resident from Arkansas. They went very well. We've got a peds anesthesiologist and peds nurse anesthetist in our room running the two tables. IV's are difficult in the really little bambinos. It's damp all the time. We're up in the mountains in the cloud forest. They are beautiful, but misty clouds are there all the time. It's the end of the rainy season so sprinkles off and on much of the day and rains at times. I guess it rained alot last night, but didn't hear it. I got up for boot camp exercise class @ 5:15 (6:15 our time). It's run by a very physically fit young woman so put me to shame. I might just get up ant walk tomorrow. It's hard to sleep in with the army marching and pounding drums @ 5 am and again @ 6 am. They seem to practice marching a lot. They were mowing the grass today with machettes. Amazing how much lawn there is and how good it looks considering how labor intense it is. Our own people are our cooks, so we're eating gringo food. It's quite good, burgers, spaghetti, french toast, cereal, etc. When they said we'd have hot water 5-7am, 5-7pm and 11-1 they should have clarified that it's water, not always hot and don't expect it any other time. In other words, if you use the bathroom, don't expect to flush or wash your hands unless it's those hours. I've got my clorox wet wipes and water bottle w/ me all the time. The hospital has water all day, it seems so I may try to figure a way to shower here. Well, gotta go start surgery. The picture is mme w/ the other cleft surgeons. They are very good to work with. John is kept busy all the time, fixing stuff.

NN