I'm lovin it(The McDonald's Theme Song)

Wednesday, April 29th, still no internet I am using AM and Rob’s computer to send these off. Ok so my last note I left off as frustrated then over the weekend I read this book called Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. If you are a Christian you have to read it, it totally kicked my butt! I realized that my attitude was not joyful, not loving. I think I was being selfish and lazy, and felt like I should just get credit for being here and not have to go above and beyond, I was not having a servant‘s heart. Then I realized I want to serve, I want to do whatever it takes, and I want to be a joyful presence! Sunday, I went and got all the kids from the hospital and AM’s and Rob’s three girls. We all went on a walk to the river, where all the kids stripped down and went swimming. I ended up falling in the river and swimming as well! I cannot walk in Haiti, I am such a clutz! It was so much fun and all the kids were laughing. Then on Monday I went to the hospital and gave some babies, and some toddlers baths which was also pretty fun. Except I had about 15 people watching me the whole time. I like to put on a show for everyone, the added bonus is that I have no idea what they are saying about me. The babies are still in limbo but I got Eli and Robcheley to smile which was awesome! Also, on Monday I got to put stitches in a man’s ear which was something I didn’t think I would do. Yesterday, and today I helped with two deliveries. While helping delivery a baby a woman brought in twins, John Brown and James Brown(yes those are their names) who are 11 days old, they each weigh 3 pounds. So we admitted them to the hospital. I am optimistic, the fact that they are still alive in a miracle. But we are officially on baby overload. But I love all the babies and the kids. I started giving all of them kisses and hugs and they get so excited. There is not much affection for the kids here, so I am trying to give everyone their daily hugs! It always makes me feel good too! Except now everywhere I go I have about 6 kids following me which makes it difficult to be productive, but in the best way! I apologize for not responding to emails, as soon as we get the internet again, I will be emailing more frequently!

What's up c babies?

Saturday April 25th still no internet. This week has been a difficult week. I started off the week sick, and then finished off the week frustrated. I am frustrated that I don’t know the language, it is a constant struggle and brain exercise which I would like a break from. Most of all though I am frustrated b/c Eli is still sick c fevers, and vomiting. I don’t know what is going on with him. We have another baby Robcheley who has been here for over three weeks and is not gaining wgt, and I don’t know why. Finally we have a third baby, Adline, who I call zombie baby because she has no life in her, she never smiles or has expressions. Her mom died, and her aunt is taking care of her. Sometimes the aunt leaves her with her daughters for the day who does not give her milk; even though she is malnourished and has Kwash. Yesterday, I told the daughter she had to drink the milk or she would die and the daughter just laughed and walked off. I don’t know if it is a survival of the fittest mentality, if people shutdown or if people just don’t care but it is super frustrating. I just want these babies to be healthy, I want to know what is wrong with them, I want blood work, I want tests to be done. We need some healing for these babies!

Muto, and some bodily fluids

Today, April 22nd, I am in love. His name is Muto(Me Toe), and he is 9yo. He is the cutest kid ever. He is a malnourished boy in the hospital who would not talk to me but today he asked me to come play and talk c him. He is the only kid who has thrown up at my feet and not repulsed me. Don’t judge me people, no one likes someone puking on their shoes. And even though I am a nurse I do not DO vomit! It was a happy day, I finally cracked him! It made up for the day at the clinic. Which was an 11mo on her deathbed who we could do nothing for, and was basically sent home to die, and she did die that night. It was cleaning the wound of a man who ripped a tendon on his hand, which gave me flashbacks to a man who hit his hand on a rock Friday and we had to squeeze a lot of pus out. I had to cut an abscess on a 3yo’s abdomen, and try to drain it. As well as the daily cleaning of an old man who lives at the clinic. He has a pressure ulcer on his butt the size of a cantaloupe. He has HIV and was suddenly paralyzed, apparently no one moved him and he literally has a wide open wound. We clean it daily, and I touch the bone every time I clean it. Did I mention that I have had the stomach flu since Thursday, so the wounds today just about sent me puking multiple times. But I had to do them today because Ryna is now sick with a fever, and stomach flu, and since I am healing and am only dealing c nausea and diarrhea I volunteered to do the wounds. Please pray for our health! Sorry for the nurse talk, I will keep the pus, blood and vomit talk to a minimum on the blog!

A Day in Passe Catabois

Ok I am writing on April 20st pretending I have internet. I realized everyone is probably wondering what the heck I do here. The day starts c hospital rounds at 8am. Of course I wake up at about 6 b/c I usually have about 5 kids doing laps around the house as well as sheep baaing directly outside my door along c roosters crowing. It is very difficult to sleep c all those sounds, and if you know me you know I am not a morning person so you can imagine how pleasant I am with that awakening! Poor Ryna. Anyway, at the hospital we give all 17 TB patients their daily medicine about 8 pills each. We have 5 malnourished kids c Kwash that we give fortified milk to, including Eli who has the beginning stages of Kwash. Then we have two mystery babies that are not gaining wgt. And one woman c heart failure. After seeing all these patients and their families who stay with them, we go to the clinic. The hospital usually takes about 2hrs. The clinic is open from 9:00-12:00 but really until one. We see the children in the Cinderella program who were once malnourished or at high risk, and all the TB patients who are coming in for their monthly medicine. TB paitents stay in the hospital for two months and then come in for monthly check ins and medicine for 6mo. We also do wound care, which is my least favorite. Then I run to the house, or Ryna does and get more milk to give to the malnourished babies. Then we are at the clinic all afternoon until about 2 or 4 while AM the MD does surgery. Then we come home make more milk and do the evening rounds. Finishing at about 6:30. All of this in 90 degrees, oppressive heat. When I come home I will not socialize c anyone b/c I will be sleeping! Just joking! It is actually fun to visit at the hospital, and the clinic is interesting to say the least! I’m glad I’m here.

I gave my baby up

I am writing this on April 18th, pretending I have internet. Ok everyone sorry for being non-responsive we have not had internet since the day after Easter. Something about a mix up about paying for the internet! First of all thanks to everyone for their encouragement c Eli! No I will not be bringing him home c me, and yes I am aware that this is payback for the difficult baby I was! I feel like a bad mom but I had to give my baby up. He is now staying c a lady in the hospital. His last two nights here he woke up every half hour, it was insanity. Not only was I losing my mind but everyone staying at the house was about to go homicidal on me. I decided that I could either help the baby or try and help everyone at the hospital and clinic. I voted for everyone. I always liked Kantean ethics, for the good of everyone! The best part of the story is that at the hospital he sleeps all night! We decided he is terrified of white people b/c he probably had not seen any until we took him home. Or he doesn’t like our smell or something. He definitely doesn’t like our food, he eats much better at the hospital, of course they give him cookies all the time. Flashback to my clients at public health! Why is everyone so enthusiastic about babies liking cookies, of course they do who doesn’t?

So Friday afternoon I went for a walk with some of the local kids, I had to go over some hills and cross a river. After that I was put on a donkey for a ride up the next hill where I was taken into a house to visit c a woman who just had a baby. I was asked to name the baby, I named him Joshua. After that I was taken into the field to pick beans. All this with me barely speaking the language. Just a random Haiti moment. Saturday four of us went to the beautiful beach which was about a 2hr motorcycle cab ride, b/c we had two flat tires. It was so much fun, and I only feared for my life a few times. Then to get home we had to hike for about 3hrs, then we were able to catch a tap tap. We were able to have one of the patients at the hospital babysit for us which was so nice! Eli was up every hour Sat. night, and Sun. every half hour. Fortunately, Sun. night I had one of the guys staying at the house watch the baby. I picked the perfect night for that. Eli has to be held constantly, and I have been praying for some super maternal instincts, patience, and energy. I have new respect for moms, if you are a mom and you did not lose your mind after taking care of your baby I give you props!!

I have been in Haiti for almost one week, I arrived in Passe Catabois in north eastern Haiti after four plane rides, a motorcycle taxi and a tap tap ride. The tap tap is like a taxi but everyone rides in a the back of an old Toyota Tacoma. In my tap tap there were sixteen of us in the back, five inside the cab and four on top! I went from snow at the airport in Seattle to 90 degrees plus humidity here in Haiti. So far I have not seen any tarantulas b/c it is not the rainy season but I did have a decent size banana spider jump out of the shower at me which was not cool! People in Washington may have heard it! On my fourth day here I picked up a baby, I named him Elijah. His mom died in a house fire, and the child was given to his aunt who has twelve kids herself, so for now Eli is my baby! He has been my constant companion and I love the little guy, but he is not gonna go home with me!! Today is Good Friday and I woke up to hear a ra ra which is all the people who worship Satan celebrating the fact that Jesus died. They are dancing c machetes and chanting. It has been very disturbing, there is a lot of spiritual warfare going on here. Please keep us in your prayers!

I leave for Haiti in about 20hrs. I am officially in chaos mode, but am excited for this new adventure. I know this is what I have been called to do, and that I am going to be a part of something really important, and life changing. I hope I will be helpful, and that I can be a source of joy and hope! Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as my journey begins! :) Peace