There's a sink in my Office

As we accumulate items for the new clinic, we must store them within the limited space of our existing faciliy. Everywhere I look I am reminded of a project to complete or solve: A sampling:

Cage parts

8' metal post

Sprayer hose

No Parking sign

Oxygen Manifold

Millwork Catalogs

Equipment catalogs

Site Plan Waiver Plat

48 inch walk in bathing tub

Wall mount fold down exam table

Recessed male DISS ceiling outlets

Scavenge Unit and 6 scavenger interfaces

Male DISS x 1/4 inch NPT Oxygen fitting

Quick Disconnect Dental Water Supply fitting

Although Dr Bollenbeck and I are enthused by and dedicated to this project, I think we both are spending more time with clients in the exam room lately to get recharged by what we really love-veterinary medicine!

Thanksgiving

I have a lot to be thankful for, but the relationships I have at work are some of the great treasures:

First, our patients. I don't really need to explain the "human-animal bond" if you are reading this blog. But it is evidenced by the frequent focus of holiday gathering conversations on our pets. Just mention your cat or dog and see how many stories this prompts!

Second, our clients. The nature of our business tends to bring us compassionate individuals. The relationships we have with them are one of the most satisfying aspects of our profession. We realize we are not just treating pets--we are keeping the human-animal bond healthy too.

Third, our employees, our second family. One of the rewarding parts of owning a small business is being able to provide a livelihood for our employees. Their dedication to our business has given us the opportunity to focus on their needs as well as those of our patients. They laugh, cry, study, learn and trouble shoot with us. We enjoy the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

Finally, Jason Bollenbeck. Jason is one of the closest and most trusted individuals in my life. He is a man of integrity and dedication to his profession and the community. He has selflessly supported my role as a husband and father and has helped make me a better person. I couldn't have been given a better friend to live the dream of owning and now building our own veterinary hospital.

Details

Other than the delivery of countless sheets of drywall, this is the stage of the buildout where nothing seems to be happpening at first glance, but on closer inspection many infrastructure items are going into place:

Wall insulation

Wiring for the wall outlets

HVAC duct work

and lots of Plumbing!

My Little Princess

This isn't a veterinary or building post, but a dad story. Sunday our youngest turned six and had a princess-tea party-castle pinata-castle cake party with a few of her friends. The highlight was a doll house present that she opened earlier in the day and matching accessories that her friends gave her as gifts at the party. Of course, she played with the house all day long, well into the evening and all the next day. Rebecca has quite a vocabulary so we are used to her "grown-up" phrases, but her comment to my wife last night ranks in the top ten. Reflecting on her new present she said:

"Mom, that dollhouse has completely changed my life!"

(I guess I could say the same of the new clinic buildout)

Looking Up

Here is another view from the entrance of the new clinic. This structure will support the lights and ceiling over the reception area. As you turn to the right you can see the waiting area. Since the ceililng grid is in, the ceiling height walls are also going up. The exam rooms are on the left and seating will be on the right. One client bathroom door is visible on the far wall to the left. Insulation partially hides the door to the store room. It is becoming more difficult to keep up with the pace of building, but we are happy to have that challenge!

Purrposeful Living

Yesterday I was examining a cat who was very much at peace with the world. This kitty was purring the entire visit! As I checked his ears and eyes, joints, lymph nodes, teeth and abdomen, he just kept on purring. I had to listen to his heart for twice as long as usual just to make out the heart sounds under the vibration. The more I examined, the more he purred.

Amused by how happy this cat was, I remarked to the client, "Don't you wish we could be that content all the time?"

Later on I was thinking about that visit and how the responsibilities of our lives do sometimes distract us from the simple pleasures that add beauty to our lives--fall leaves, a brisk fall morning, the great sunsets of this past week, and the relationships with people around us. I realize that in today's world we need to be on our guard, but hopefully our pets remind us that it is wise to purr once in a while. Enjoy relationships with our fellow human beings. Look for the good in others. Get excited just to go on a W-A-L-K.

Perspective

Construction is moving at an amazing pace. All the pre-planning is paying off as we see our dream become reality with relatively few "change orders" and surprises. Recently the floors were laid out. Although the marks on the concrete are the same as the ones on the drawings, some of the rooms looked alot smaller to us once they were laid out.


Once the walls started to go up things sure looked different. The rooms regained their dimensions and looked "normal " again. These are the full height walls that separate the sections of the clinic for sound and ventilation control. Later the dropped ceiling height walls will go in.

The walls now have one side with drywall until the electric and plumbing is in place. These views are all from the front entrance.