This week Toledo has had the opportunity to host the Extreme Home Makeover team as they help a local paramedic/fireman with 11 children, 3 natural and 8 adopted. What an experience! We knew there were five families in the area and one would be announced last Sunday. I was excited to think it would be a family in our home town this time but had no idea the impact. At 10:44am on Monday morning, I got an e-mail that our health system would be manning the first aid tent. Since I already help at the first aid station for our local minor league baseball team I was one of the first to be offered the opportunity. At 10:46 they had their response. They started with the demolition at 9 am on Tuesday morning. I was there at 6:30am to set up the station, then went to work and went back late that evening. I have been there every evening since, except tonight, and will be there tomorrow and Sunday for the reveal. It is totally amazing to see how fast things change. For instance, at 5:30pm yesterday we didn't even know there was going to be a garage. At 8:30pm, the slab had been poured, sides erected, roof on and shingled, siding on and the inside had been drywall finished. Those of you in construction can truly appreciate how unbelievable that is! By the time I got home this morning at 1:20am, I think I truly "passed out" from both mental and physical exhaustion, my feet ache and I have blisters from my brace and orthotics and would NOT trade one second of the experience! If only I kept remembering to restart my ipod! I have no idea how much walking I have done this week. I know I can't physically keep this pace but what a goal to set for the future! Fortunately we have had pretty minor incidents, a lot of concrete dust to be flushed from eyes, blisters, bee stings etc. Had a spectator, 35 weeks pregnant that only got as far as the entrance to the site when her water broke but had EMT to take care of her. We are not allowed to function as RN's, MD's etc while at the first aid, just your basic Boy Scout/Girl Scout first aid but still interesting. If you ever get the chance to participate in this program I highly recommend the experience. You will never forget it. My only regret is I can't find my camera and don't know how to down load pics from my cell phone so haven't even bothered. If I get any from the staff that have worked with me, I will call Jim so I can load them here for all to see.!