Chapter 8

I have a type. If you want to get my blood rushing, show me a tall, blonde very fit (but not too muscly) man. Are they well educated? Better start fanning me. Kind? Stop. Just stop it. Did he just wink at me? Ahhhhhhhh.

My top celebrity crushes are Patrick Wilson and Alexander Skarsgård. My top two, have actually met/worked with past crushes, met the criteria.

My husband of 16 years does not exactly meet the above criteria, but that’s probably why we are still married. You can’t have a relationship if you are too busy fan girling. I love my husband. He is cute, sweet, funny, hard working, and brilliant. He gets me and all my quirks. Dave lets me be me, which includes letting me generally be in charge and never getting to eat seafood. He is the best person to go on vacation with and have fun. Dave is an excellent snuggler.

Enter Dr. McHH. I chose him to be my doctor when I was 25. I had moved to Ballard and knew we would want to start a family eventually. I wanted a family doctor, one who would treat our whole family. Dr. McHH at the time also practiced obstetrics, double win. Several years away from being pregnant, I still knew I didn’t want to be managed by a practice.

My sister recommended a practice nearby. I went on the website and looked at the list of doctors. When choosing my health care providers, I can be very shallow in terms of looks, and by that I mean can’t look scary, sketchy or annoying. I need to feel like I can stand being in a room with them without questioning my care or wishing they would just stop talking. I narrowed my doctor choice down to Dr. McHH and my sister’s doctor. Dr. McHH won because he had better hours that worked with my teaching schedule.

When you are pregnant, you read all the books, or at least I did. I hated being pregnant and yet I did it three times. Many of the books talked about the close relationship you develop with your OB. They are the ones who are looking out closely for you and your baby. They smile with you when they pick up the baby’s heart rate on their little doppler. Put that smile away Dr. McHH! You know my pregnancy hormones can’t handle it!

I have spent countless hours with Dr. McHH. Three not easy pregnancies, 3 births, 3 different kids with well child visits, 1 child who constantly seems to be in medical crisis, plus my own occasional health needs. I know the nurses in his office well.

I’ve almost forgiven him for nearly missing Robin’s birth because he was in France with his not yet fiancee. I told the nurse at the time that he had better come back engaged or there would be words! He came back engaged. When his first daughter was born, I sent him a collection of my favorite Mo Willem books.

I like to think we have a close, but professional doctor/patient relationship. That is mildly sprinkled with a patient/doctor crush. Can I help it if he happens to fit my crush criteria to a T? Although his blonde locks have gone salt and pepper over the years, not that I have been paying attention or anything.

One time when baby Robin was in crisis, I called the doctor office. They told me to come in immediately, but it would be with a different doctor. Fine. Not a problem. Baby. Crisis.

We used to live only 10 minutes away from the doctor office. I drove as quickly/safely as possible and rushed up to the 3rd floor. We were whisked into an exam room. I was shocked when the door opened and there was Dr. McHH.

I was surprised and said, “I thought we were seeing Dr. So and So.”

Dr. McHH simply responded, “I saw it was you.” I thanked him for making time for us. And again, in his calm and assured way said, “There will always be a spot for your family here.”

Ahhh. Don’t know whether to cry or explode. Dr. McHH took care of Robin. I’m pretty sure this was one of many times when we were then told to go to the ER and Dr. McHH called ahead.

As my saga unfolds, I think it is important to understand that Dr. McHH isn’t just a random doctor I see once a year, who reminds me to lower my cholesterol. He does remind me, but he has played a large role in my family’s life.