We have visited an ER in every country that we have lived in. While this has never been my goal, it does seem to be Tyler’s. Tonight was our visit to the ER in Gracias. Tyler cut his finger while playing with a machete at the radio. We tried to find a doctor that would help outside of the hospital. Our first stop was a pharmacy where they called a doctor to come in but he wasn’t able to. Our next stop was a doctor’s house who we didn’t know but were told he would see us. He did an initial exam but because of how deep the cut was, the doctor wanted an x-ray to make sure his bone was ok. This meant going to the only place that has an x-ray machine— the public hospital. I have spent a good bit of time there and to say it is my least favorite place in Honduras would be an understatement. I won’t go into detail about the dried blood on the wall next to my kids head or the bloody towel thrown on the floor beside his bed or even the stench that made me want to gag. Instead I will focus on the amazing doctor that God placed in our lives tonight. The first time that I met this man, he sat beside my desk at school for a parent/ teacher conference. I had no idea then that he was a doctor or that while I spend everyday helping his son, that my son would soon need him too. It was technically his day off but he met us at the hospital to put the stitches in. He was so patient and calm with Tyler and since Tyler was not calm this was nice! He did a great job stitching Tyler up and taking care of him. I am continually amazed and thankful for the heart of the doctors here. This is a country where doctors often do not get payed for up to 6 months at a time and yet they still go to work because they care… or they skip their family time to stitch up my child’s finger. I am very thankful for doctors like the one we had tonight and the great God we serve who has always placed my child in the hand’s of great physicians.
Crocs vs Dress Shoes
As most of you read on our newsletter, I had surgery a couple weeks ago. I had a neuroma in my foot (for the second time). This is a little bundle of nerves that became very painful when I walked. This is sometimes caused by the type shoes that people wear, although this is not always the case. Added to this was the scar tissue from my previous surgery. However, a medical brigade here from the US operated last Wednesday. Everything went well and as expected. My husband has been great to pick up my slack as well as my assistant at school. I am recovering well although I still have to walk very slowly. The best part, the part that made all this pain worth it, is that I now have permission to wear ugly, comfortable crocs as opposed to dress shoes to school. Yes, the surgery was definitely a success! Thanks to all of you who have been praying for me, please continue to do so as I heal completely.
Elsi’s second surgery
For a year Shannon has carried big awkward bottles of whey soy formula up and down the mountain to get them to this precious child. This January Elsi gained enough weight to have the surgery for her cleft palate. She returned to Gracias receive the second surgery with the same doctor who did the first surgery. The doctors told us that it was successful. Elsi’s parents were given instructions to keep Elsi on a strict liquid diet for two weeks. Unfortunately, the parents did not follow doctor’s orders and the stitches inside her mouth ripped open. The doctor was able to do a second surgery the same week with the same result. As a result, Elsi is going to have to have the surgery again next year, in 2016. Please pray that the surgeon returns and is able to help her.
Guard Duty
Sometimes employees are just that- employees. Other times they become a part of the family. Teodulo, our guard, says that we are like his parents although he is much older than I but he knows that we care for him. He in turn would do anything for me. When Shannon is in the US, Teodulo sleeps on the hammock at night so that I feel safe. He gives our dog medicine when she is sick, plants my garden along side me, waters my flowers and gets mad at the cat when he digs up my flowers. For years now he has cared for our house and family just as he would his own. I have watched him teach my niece and daughter to ride their bikes, play dolls with my daughters and throw knives with my son… and then spend hours looking for the knives they threw. I am ever so grateful that God has given us such a guard to laugh with and yet trust completely.
My Littlest Child
Tomorrow will be Isabella’s 4th birthday. This marks 1 year and 7 weeks since she became my daughter. This year has been nothing like I thought it would be. She is a mess, that littlest child of mine. She has taught me so much in the last year that I wasn’t expecting to learn. I thought when we began this process that adoption was a beautiful thing and it is. It is a picture of us and our relationship with God. We were adopted into His family at a steep price. And so it is with every adoption. Without tragedy, there is no need for adoption. Adoption is an not easy thing. People say it is. You have probably seen the quotes about it on your Facebook page or Pintrest but I can assure you after living it, it is not easy. The paperwork alone is overwhelming at times but that is the easy part. If it weren’t for pain then adoption would not be needed to begin with. We have no knowledge of Isabella’s birth mom but I can imagine why she gave her up. I can also imagine how hard that was for her. I am so very thankful for Mama Daisy who took my daughter in and was her mom for almost three years. But once again, I can imagine how hard it was for her to give her to us that day. And then comes our part of the story. Nothing could have prepared me for holding my screaming, kicking child that wants her other “Mama” or the pain of watching her mourn that mom. I watched all over again tonight. Isabella noticed a picture we have of her and Mama Daisy, her foster mom. She sat and stroked the picture while sitting on her bed. Her little voice full of sweetness “I want to see my mom, I want to hug my mom.” This is just one part of adoption that is hard.
Before this year I thought I was patient. I was wrong. God apparently thought I needed the opportunity to become more patient. And so he put this bundle of joy in our lives. This little ball of smiles, laughter, and energy that can light up a room and then suddenly becomes a kicking screaming fit. I read other peoples blogs on adoption so I know this is normal and will pass one day… I am still waiting for that day. I asked Isabella one day if I loved her when she was screaming. She thought for a minute and shook her head no. Can you imagine? Can you imagine being unsure of your mom’s love? My daughter can. She has now lost two mothers in her short life. Why would she not question my love? Adoption comes with baggage that neither you or I will ever understand. There is a broken past with every adopted child and it leaves a mark on them. I pray this scar will heal over time but until then I will continue to assure my littlest child that she loved.
I am not saying that regret any of the last year. All these tears and fits have brought us close. Something about going through a struggle together makes you cling to one another. And so each time one of these fits occur, they end in tights hugs of assurance and whispers of how much I love her and she loves me. Nothing melts my heart like when she pushes her sweaty nose against mine and says “I love you, Mama.” For weeks after she came into our family I didn’t have a name. And now I am her Mama. I wouldn’t trade any of this year for that.
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