We are celebrating a huge milestone today:

18 years ago to the day, I opened Reuland & Barnhart Orthodontics AND delivered by daughter, Claire across town. How did this happen? It’s one of my favorite stories…

There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into launching a new business, especially when it’s a dental practice. Every detail of our patient experience had been agonized over, from the landscaping, to the waiting room, to the treatment bay. It was so important to me that the physical space would be fun, warm, and inviting. All of the supplies, lighting, and chairs had to be in place and working great before we saw our first patient.

The two young women working alongside me had been working for months to help get everything set up, recruit patients, and get all the inner workings of the practice in place. They were ready. It’s Day 1 for Reuland & Barnhart Orthodontics, and they were putting the final touches in the office. There was only one missing piece.

The orthodontist.

I was across town delivering my baby girl, Claire. Can you believe that?

Right after I hired Kim, I found out I was pregnant. So we went to work and had everything planned out. I was going to deliver a couple of weeks before the opening. Everything was going to go as planned. Except it didn’t. Claire decided to take her time before making her big debut into the world.

So it happened to be that on the day that I opened the doors to my new practice, I was actually in the hospital, delivering my baby girl.

Claire has grown up to be an amazing young woman, and she’s turning 18 today! And so is Reuland & Barnhart Orthodontics! That’s why today is truly monumental. It is the anniversary of one of the best and most eventful days of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.