San Francisco Zoo

Today we went to the San Francisco Zoo. We spent all day walking through it and seeing all the animals. This zoo is so unique because you are so very close to most of the animals. You could actually reach over and touch or grab the animals you are so close! Many of the animals are not even contained. We had peacocks walking on the paths beside us and birds flying over us which are part of the zoo animals, even giraffes that we could almost pet, if they would have just taken a couple more steps closer to where we were standing. Of course the more dangerous animals are at a little further distance but still closer than I have ever been to them. Miata also enjoyed the petting zoo where she was able to pet, feed, and even groom the goats and sheep.

The most fascinating part of our visit to the zoo was seeing Dr. Brent's sculptures and having Miata's picture taken with them. One is titled "The Barnyard Watchdogs" which are actually geese of course. Another is a large lazy hippo which all the children love to climb on and slide off of. If you haven't read the article in the Almanac Paper (pgs. 12-14) you should!! This will enlighten you to how wonderful of a gentleman Dr. Brent truly is!! Again I have to say he is an amazing, very humble, wonderful doctor who loves what he has been doing his entire life which is sculpting & creating, along with that; using these gifts coupled with his profession of being a doctor to also sculpt and create ears for children with ear deformities!! Though you may not be interested in ears and ear deformities trust me you would definitely be interested in reading about one incredible man!!
Anyways, today was another day without pain medication so I think we have now passed that stage. Miata still has a long way to go for her rib area to be completely healed where she can again play and act as normal. I am not quite sure how that area, where Dr. Brent removed that section of rib cartilage, heals! I am only assuming that maybe with time the cartilage grows and fuses back together!? I plan to ask Dr. Brent this question when we visit him tomorrow for Miata's last post-op visit so I will post the answer tomorrow.

A few people have asked when we will be returning home. We were hoping to fly out tomorrow night after the Dr. appointment but unfortunately there were no flights available until Wednesday night so we will be taking the red eye back and will arrive back in NC, Thursday afternoon just in time to spend Thanksgiving with the rest of the family.