A forever home

November 20, 2015

Two nights ago, we adults were sitting around the table after the kids were in bed, sipping on coffee, and relaxing after another long day.  Our two little babies, Olimpia and Alison, tend to stay up longer in the evenings with us because of their napping schedule.  We are often entertained by the antics of Olimpia in the evenings, but that night I was spellbound by Alison.  We lay her back on the table for a few minutes, and she met my eyes and just stared.  Alison and Olympia both do this sometimes, and it is a little disconcerting because sometimes they have little to no expression, and seem to be looking deep into your soul.  So Alison just stared at me for several minutes.  

I am not a mother, but I have learned a lot that first time moms learn.  One of my most favorite times is feeding Alison her bottle because she just stares up at me with complete trust. 
Alison has Downs Syndrome.  And although laws are changing in the U.S., it is still legal in many areas to abort an unborn baby if they have down's syndrome.  This is disgusting.  Alison’s mom abandoned her when she learned that she had down's syndrome.  I remember thinking when I firs, how could somebody abandon this precious baby.  But I want to stop and thank every mom who has had the bravery to give birth to her child that she did not know what to do with, and give them up for adoption.  Alison’s mom could be called a coward for abandoning a child, but she did not take Alison’s life.  She allowed her that chance of a life.  Because her mom left her, but did not kill her, my precious Alison can lay on our dining room table and stare into my heart.  She can give me the best goodmorning smiles in the world, and splatter my face with wet love from her raspberries.  I cherish this baby.  This baby that is flawed and could legally have been killed before she drew her first breath in the U.S.  Thank God she was not born in the United States.  All children are precious whether or not those into whose households they are born realize their worth.  

Praise God for broken children.  

I have been taking classes online to continue my nursing education, and this semester has been interesting to say the least.  I am only taking minimal classes because I don’t want to be taken too far out of the ministry.  The first half of this semester, I took a class called Ohio policies and practices.  This was a very frustrating class because it was entirely about how to affect laws dealing with health care in the state of Ohio.  This was hard for me.  I believe it is necessary to be involved politically to aid the causes of health care that health care professionals have a better insight on than politicians.  But it was hard to read over and over about laws that apply to the health crisis in a nation whose children do not die of preventable illnesses.  It was challenging to not grow bitter to the class which had me studying case studies about the health crisis in a community whose average income is massive while my neighbors may or may not have running water.  This does have its place, and God has been teaching me to evaluate a crisis based on it’s surroundings. 
The second half of this semester, I have been taking a public health nursing class which has several large projects to evaluate a community and assess its health status from a public health standpoint.  this has been fascinating.  I obtained permission to evaluate the village where I live, San Antonio.  This means I am actively studying my community, and the culture I now practice in for school credit.  I have been evaluating San Antonio through a systematic evaluation of the community, and this is growing me in my knowledge of public health nursing as well as my specific work here in San Antonio, and similar villages where we travel. 

This research has refocused me on the health and spiritual needs in my community.  I truly love this town and this country.  Woking here is such a blessing.  God has shown me things I thought my eyes would never know.  Thank you God for pushing me farther than I would have dared go.  

November 25, 2015
Today we visited the families in Guastatoya again, and a number of our families are affected again by chikingunya.  Again, chikingunya is a mosquito born illness resulting in body achas, joint pain, and a fever.  Three of our families have chikingunya traveling through their family including Jorge, his mother, Dora and her mother, and Jan, his sister, and his mother.  This illness is not fatal if the fever is properly treated, however many do not know how to properly care for a fever, and most do not have any medications to fight a fever,   and many people do die. 

December 7, 2015
Ok, So here’s what’s been eating at my heart for a while.  I wrote tis back in September, but did not make it public at that time.  --

"September 29, 2015
So, I won't be sharing this until I know for sure one way or another.  We learned last week that there is a family interested in adopting the twins, Esther and Raquel.  Remember, these two are playful and giggly 4 year olds with significant developmental delays.  For example, only one is just recently potty trained, and neither speak clear words, or full sentences.  In fact, Esther still gets very confused and thinks her sister is actually Esther.  This potential adoption has caught us all off guard.  We prayed for this, yet I don't feel very happy about it.  You see, in Guatemala, very few people adopt.  Fewer still adopt children with special needs.  Since adoptions to the US are still closed, I had started to feel that our kids would likely be with us for the long hall.  The thought of them not being ours anymore is staggering.  I love their running and giggling, and the way they get so excited to see us returning after being gone all day.  They always want to help with chores, even though it's a lot longer with their help.  I know things are still up in the air with his adoption, but if all goes well, the may be leaving us as soon as three weeks.  Tomorrow they will be observing the twins at McDonalds, but are not allowed to interact with them.  After that, they will visit the home a few times, and then they will take our girls.  We prayed for this, so why do I feel so sad. "

Today the couple that is adopting them came to meet them for the first time.  They are a loving Christian couple who are very excited to welcome their new daughters into their home.  Their entire extended family is eager to meet them because most of their children are older now.  When I walked past the Esther and Raquel, and their new parents, my heart broke.  They had bonded instantly, and were sharing hugs and giggles.  The rest of the afternoon, they played together, and spent time getting to know each other.  The joy was incredible to witness.  We fought tears as we watched with perfect joy, and heartbreak as our girls fell in love with their new family. 

I have hugged and kissed these girls.  I have washed their hair, and painted their fingernails. I have read to them, cut up their food, and tucked them in at night.  I have loved these girls with a true and complete love.  

So I can’t Not celebrate with them as they are about to have a forever family who will devote 100% of their love and attention to them.  But neither can I not feel desperately sad that they are leaving us.  As their parents learn to turn on the night-light so they don’t get scared at night, or figure out how their baby curls escape around their faces after their hair is up, I will pray for them to grow together as a strong family. 

God has blessed us so very much with the gift of these twins.  And he sees fit to bless another family with their joy. 

Therefore I praise God through the tears.  

Thank you for your prayers for us, and for the people of Guatemala.  Please continue to pray for those affected by chikingunya, and for the twins and their new parents.  Please also pray for us as we are broken despite our joy. 

October village visits

October 14, 2015

Monday we drove out to San Pablo to visit a few families in crisis. 

Lucia was discharge from the hospital because here was nothing more that could be done.  She is dying, and looks to be struggling.  She is her mother's only child, and her mother lives for her.
Please remember Lucia and her mother Maria in your prayers because they are hurting.  Pray that Lucia would soon dance with Jesus and her mother would know the comfort of a personal savior. 

Next we visited a new family whose little girl Rut had a number of seizures a few weeks ago that left her nearly unresponsive.  They say that now she does not walk or talk.  After assessing her, it seems likely that she may have permanent brain damage.  Rut's brother Juan is an I can't who has trouble with vomiting and diarrhea since birth, and likely has a lactose allergy.  

Please pray for Rut and Juan as we learn if the interventions we have taken have been  effective. 

Finally we visited Oscar, he is paralyzed from the west down from an injury a few years ago.  The problem are his bedsores.  They are severe, stage 4 and unstable in some places reaching to his bone, and tunneling an estimated three inches deep. These are infected, and life threatening.  Most significantly, it is unclear if the urgency of our education fully grasped.  Please pray for Oscar his wife, and his son.  Pray that thy would understand the significance and in portable of the training we have given them.  Pray that God would show them the hope that can be found in Him because I wonder if Oscar has lost hope.  

I love what God has let me see and do, but it is so hard to shake off one situation to walk into the next one without being overwhelmed, or apathetic.  Yes, it is a balance between being caring and loving fully, but being able to continue on to the next situation.  Please pray for our team that we are neither overwhelmed or apathetic to the multitude of needs in every direction.

October 27, 2015

I have a lot to share, but I may fall asleep before writing all of it!  Today we returned from an all day trip out to Nueva Concepcion for an emergency medical intervention.  Last week we visited Sipacate, La Gomera, and Guastatoya.  This last weekend, we celebrated with Andi Brubaker and Krishauna Fulp as they committed their lives to each other before God and their friends and family.  Finally, a number of our kids have been sick in the home. 

Hearding cows in Sipacate

Selvin's sister waving goodbye

Adriana's grandaughter

In Sipacate and La Gomera, the team started out a rough day with several difficult visits, including the mother on one of our visits who had a blood sugar higher than my meter would read.  She had already been to see a doctor and was taking insulin and medications for a week.  Obviously this was an issue, and I was grateful for Gerardo and Manuel, and Kara who traveled with us that day, for their input as we determined a plan to get her the help she needed with the resources available.  Katerin is having more spasms, and these combined with her cerebral palsy leave her doubled backward with her head near her feet.  She cannot sit, and spends a lot of time in her hammock.  Her family is very loving and supportive of her, and are frustrated that she is struggling.  Selvin has a condition called Pectus Excavatum, or concave rib cage.  This has left him susceptible to respiratory illness since birth.  He has had a congested cough for as long as I have known him.  When we arrived at the house of Adriana, we learned that she had died earlier this month.  She was an older woman with many health problems.  Luis Fernando is doing well, but a grandmother who lives in their compound is talking to nobody and increasingly confused.  By this point, I was beginning to feel so worn down.  It so often feels like there is no hope for these families.  What can they do?  The hospital in Escuintla is a death trap, and there are no resources for them.  I feel so overwhelmed sometimes at the extent of the utter poverty and inability to meet basic health needs.  After a few more difficult visits, the day began to turn around, and we were again blessed by the incredible families God has allowed us to serve.  What a mighty God we serve.  He is so good to allow us to see part of His plan before it has unfolded. 

Manuela

Manuela's house

In Guastatoya, I was again blessed by the team God has me working with.  I may not understand the language very well, but I surely understand the camaraderie and love we share with each other, and the families we serve.  This is the best ‘job’ in the world.  We were encouraged to see Dora’s mother has had a second surgery to fix what the national hospital did to her arm in February, rather than fixing is properly.  Now, she is able to move her fingers, and says the pain is much less.  Angel’s mother’s circulation ulcer on her leg is

now healed over, although the skin is still not receiving proper circulation, and since she works constantly on her feet, the ulcer is likely to return.  Miguel, an older gentleman who suffered a stroke, could use prayer as he has been greatly depressed for the years since his stroke.  I am aware that many of these names may be unfamiliar, but I have mentioned most in either blog or facebook posts.  If you would like to know more about their stories, please ask me!

Today, Daryl, Gerardo and I traveled to Nueva Concepcion because we had been asked to see Jorge, a young man with Spina Bifida who has a very seriously infected bedsore on his foot.  Based on the pictures, we anticipated that his foot would need to be amputated.  This assumption is correct.  We evaluated his foot, and his foot is gangrenous.  There is dead tissue through his foot, and simply by touching his foot to check for a pulse over the intact tissue, pus squirted out around the dead tissue.  We loaded up Jorge and his mother, and took them to the national hospital in Guatemala city.  Although they do not have any supplies, many of the doctors are good, and we will provide the supplies needed for him.  After a long wait, and a run around from some nurses who wanted to send him home, we were told the doctor saw him, and determined to keep him overnight, likely to remove part of his leg.  Since we have heard that they will remove his leg up to above his knee tonight.  Please be praying for this young man,he is only 18.  Further, pray that the seriousness of this will sink in both for him and his mother.  They had received care before for this same problem, and we believe they have not been caring for the wound properly how they were taught a few times.  This is very frustrating. 

I think God is using all of these things to teach us, and to grow us.  I am excited about the things He is teaching me, and I am praying about where he is leading me, and this ministry.  

Again, than you all for your prayer!

Update on Angelita

September 13, 2015

So, I am reading this book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  I read books like this after I have spent time in the word because it is so important to read God's word before reading one man's perspective about God's word.  Anyway, while I was reading, the ever repeating question of 'If God is so loving, why is the world such a mess?' came to mind  In the first chapter, Chan asks "Why are there so many people dying of starvation?"  And I was struck by the answer that came to mind.  Francis Chan writes "because He's God.  He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving."  He goes of to make further perhaps more significant points, and I recommend this read to hear those as well, but as for me, the example that came to mind was like small children.  

Say a father gives his son some toys to play with.  He gives his son these because he loves him, and he asks him to take care of his toys because they are his responsibility and delight now.  The boy loves these toys and plays with them everywhere; in the car, on the lawn ect.  Well, little boys are little boys and the son likes to play rough and dirty.  He often gets distracted and runs off to chase after the dog, or his friends.  He soon returns to his home to e supper and get ready for bed.  Days later, his toys are still outside scattered wherever they were left.  Some muddy, some broken, and others lost.  A week goes by and the boy finally returns to play with his toys.  But they are not very nice anymore.  The boy runs to his father and asks him why the toys are so dirty, broken, or lost.  Why didn't his father bring them in when it started to rain?  Why are they so messed up if his father wanted them so nice?  His father might then reply that it was the boy's responsibility to care for them.  To clean them, and bring them in from the rain, and find the lost pieces.  It was intrusted to the boy when he asked for more independence to play as he would.  And now he must try to clean, repair, and find the dirty, broken and lost toys.  

Ok, so obviously there are a lot of flaws with this analogy, specifically that, praise God, the dirty, broken, and lost of this world place their hope and trust in God alone, and rely on him not in God's other children for their relief.  My main point is that God has every reason to question us why there is so much pain and suffering in this world when it is our choice to follow sin which has resulted in these things.  We often blame him for the results of our choices.  

Anyway, just a thought.   

As I am writing this, I am holding Angelita.  The whole house is quiet before anyone wakes.  This is such a perfect time.  

Angelita is struggling a lot after surgery.  After the first two days post op, she has not smiled, and cries a lot.  Her cries are terrible to hear.  I know that part of it means that she has increased brain function which allows her to cry when she has not been able to before, but part of it represents pain that she has and it breaks my heart.  Please be praying for her comfort.  We are talking to all the doctors, but we are at a loss as to why she is so miserable, and it truly hurts to see her struggling like this.

Sept 22, 2015

Well, after worrying about Angelita for weeks and being told that everything is fine, even though we knew it was not, we got her in to a neurologist who said that she has blood in her brain around, and possibly clogging her shunt.  This is obviously not good, but we are all relieved that there is finally something we can identify that is causing all of her suffering.  In two weeks we will have the scans repeated to see if the blood is increasing, or diminishing.  At this point, Angelita is struggling.  Today she has been very cold, colder than normal.  She often has cool extremities due to circulation, but this time her overall temperature is low, although we are having trouble getting an accurate reading.  She is wrapped in heating pads, which it seems she likes because she smiled today for the second time in the nearly two weeks since I returned(before surgery, she used to smile 5 or more times every day, and rarely cried).  We are awaiting the doctor now, and hope to have something to do for her.  

I have mentioned how we get calls sometimes from the courts to please take this child, or that.  And most times we have to say no.  There have also been requests for our ministry to expand into other departments farther out.  At one point, the woman representing one of these department said with tears "children are dying".  I just want to refer you to the director's blog to read the post he wrote today.

  ----http://www.hopeforhome.blogspot.com/2015/09/for-this-one.html-----

This is such a striking account of a hospital visit to a national hospital in Xela.  It sounds like it comes out of a nightmare; walking down a crouded old hospital cooradore with arms reaching out from every side and people crying "help me".  After reading this, and hearing all the things I have heard since moving here, the sense of desperation is still stagering.  These families need help.  Much more so, these families need the hope of Jesus Christ.  



September 23, 2015

Today God has shown how yet again he sees our needs and provides.  All the medicine was available for our kids, and all their food was on the table with some to spare.  Our nannies gave physical therapy with love.  Many of our kids went to school, or learned one on one/two with Anny.  Bellies are full, minds grow richer, and little hearts are filled yet again with love and joy.  Children were held, laughed with and loved on.  God is so good.  The needs of yesterday seemed so great.  And they would be if they were ours to fill.  But God holds all these things in His arms and he has a specific plan and purpose for them.  He will provide what must be provided to fulfil His plan in His time to the glory of His name.  Praise God!




Thank you for all your prayers!
~Katie~
--after His heart--

Angelita's through her surgery!

Angelita had surgery Saturday, and after a brief episode of vomiting later that night, she has been content and smiling huge.  Daryl mentions that she is smiling and laughing in the last few days more than she has in a year.  I can't wait to see her for myself, but for now the photos are priceless!

What a precious little Angle!

When Angelita Smiles

August 16, 2015

Hi all! I wanted to post this a little earlier this month because later this month my brother is getting married to a very great friend of mine, so I will be returning to Ohio for a short visit. I will be returning home (to Guatemala), after this visit to continue on with this work that God has blessed me to be a part of. I will not have a lot of time while visiting Ohio, but I will be meeting anyone who wants to come out at McDonald's on Wagner Ave. in Greenville Ohio on Tuesday September 1st. I'll be there from 1-4pm. I will also be visiting my home church at Plesent View Missionary Church on Sunday September 6 for service and lunch after. Further than these, I would like to, but may have trouble visiting anyone who would like to meet up.

Although I had not intended to visit so soon, I am very excited to see my family and friends after 7 months away, although it hardly feels like seven months. I have missed best friend's first pregnancies, babies, and first anniversaries. I haven't been there for their hard times. And that is very hard. Also, my nephew's second birthday, and learning to talk and run and climb and play. I have missed the causal time with my family laughing at ridiculous jokes, and the entire engagement of my best friend/brother to another best friend. I look forward to seeing these precious family and friends again, but I know it only for a little taste.

I don't mention that because I feel sorry for myself, because I have the best job in the world. I miss these huge, but little things, and I get to see the wonders of God's works unfolding before me. He sees to my every need, including my selfish need for my crazy family. He has given me another family that is every bit as strange and crazy. I love my family here very much. They love and laugh at me just like my first family! I guess this is what it is to be adopted. I kinda love it. So, I believe in seven months, I have been homesick three times.

But I have been right at home countless times.

God provides for our every need. He knew how much I cherished my family, and how hard it would be to leave. So he sent me where I would belong.

My God provides.

Ok, this is what I meant to write for today smile emoticon

God is good because Angelita smiles.

Angelita, as I introduced in my last post, is almost 9 years old, and has severe brain damage as a result of hydrocephalus. She has also elicited a lot of prayer lately because of what we suspected might be a decline in her health. We were very worried about her because she stopped eating, was very lethargic, and her extremities were very cold to the touch. When most of her test results came back negative, we began to suspect that this was a result of increased pressure on her brain. The truth of it is this pressure will continue to build, and she likely will not live until adulthood. We now believe that most of this was due to a urine infection, and with the help of a strong antibiotic, she is back to herself today.

I want to share about her because she has so stolen my heart. When teams visit our house, we encourage them love all the kid, but to especially seek out the kids who cannot demand their attention, those that aren't running up to them with huge grins and adorable giggles, those that cannot even smile huge from broken bodies in a wheelchair. We encourage them to seek out the ones who do not get as much attention simply because they can't ask for it, because those are the ones who need it the most.

We are talking mostly about Ruavis and Angelita.

Angelita has cried twice in my seven months here. Does she need more attention than she asks for? Absolutely!

I love spending time with her, but sometimes I am so caught up with those who are crying, poopy, in need of a bottle or hitting someone else and I do not get enough time to snuggle with her. Other times I am away all day or overnight on ministry trips. These things are all good, but I miss my girl.

Many people do not believe that kids like her even know what is happening around them.

I disagree.

One afternoon after being away all morning, I returned home in need of a shower and a few minutes alone. But as I passed the play/therapy room, I caught her out of the corner of my eye during her stretches. So I called out her name to say hello, and suddenly she broke out into one of the biggest grins I have ever seen! Her mouth was wide open, and her arms had raised up like they do when she is excited and tight.

Then she started laughing!

I had to drop my bag and go scoop her up in my arms. Again as I mentioned last month, she is about the size of a toddler, so holding her is about the perfect height to hug her tight. She kept smiling and laughing for several minutes. And then, just like that, she was done. She settled into a blank expression, but we could still identify it as a content expression.

She often gets set out of the way in a room with 12 kids and 5 wheelchairs, so sometimes we bring her in her wheelchair into the kitchen while we work. Her wheelchair gives us the ability to easily move our sweet but heavy precious one wherever we want, and she is at the perfect level for spontaneous kisses. I love turning from the dishes and seeing her beautiful cafe, but more than that, she loves it too. Sometimes she has a tired expression, but when we bring her into our workspace, she suddenly looks content, and sometimes smiles then too.

I love taking her to church. It's hard. But when the loud music starts, I pick her up and hold her as long as I can, switching my arms several times as they get numb. I can tell she loves it by the relaxing of her muscles and the content expression she gets on her face. Finally, I have to set her down because my back is just too tired to hold her while standing. But when I look over at her, she is grinning so huge that I can't help laughing.

You see, she may not be able to smile all the time, sometimes I just have to be satisfied that she is content just by noting how relaxed her face is, but it's enough. When she is tense and I see that she is uncomfortable, my world stops until she can relax. When my Angelita is content, the world is good.

Angelita is exactly that, a little angel.  

She is most precious.

I know a truth.

While all the world suffers injustices uncounted; when good men are persecuted, or worse, siglent; when children hunger, and the meek are trampled God is still good. I am not a theologian, and I don't have great words of books to prove what I have learned to be true. We see a lot of crap here, and it is very close. But God gives us gifts and lets us see His goodness often in Angelita's smile. It is a reminder of why this is so close to the ehart of God.

When Angelita smiles Everyone around smiles too. When she smiles there are excited voices calling for anyone and everyone to come see how happy she is. I have seen so many beautiful things since I came to this country, but none is as fantastic and beautiful as Angelita's smile.

When Angelita smiles, my world smiles with her.

August 18, 2015

Please be praying for both Angelita and Rosalinda.

Angelita has not been herself, and has had more days where she is lethargic and does not eat. We have struggled some days and not been able to give medications because she will not even drink one once. She had a good weekend full of smiles, but yesterday she again was not herself. Last night it took a lot to get her to open her eyes, and her extremities were again cold to the touch.

Rosalinda, who has been in the malnutrition center for a couple weeks, has actually lost weight, and is down to the weight she was when she entered our home in late January. She is a year and a half and now weighs 9.5lbs. Her cough is still present, and since she has been in the center, she has lost much of her progress in development. When she left us, she was beginning to crawl several feet at a time. She would ask for more while eating, and would answer yes when asked if she was ready for her bottle. She would sit and move to another room if she wanted, and babble and self play. She was very active. Now because of the increased demand on her body to meet basic nutritional needs, and the lack of stimulation she gets in a room with so many other kids, she has regressed a lot. I miss our girl. I will get to visit her again today, but these visits are so very short.

Thank you again for your prayer.

Meet the kids

I just wanted to share a little about each of our kids in the home.  For those who have been here, or who follow Daryl or other's blogs, this will be repeat information, but I these kids are my life, and I thought it might be nice for those who don't know them to meet them!  

Appologies, photo time is not always the activity of choice!

Alejandra is the oldest in our grouphome.  She is 13 years old, and has cerebral palsy, and is nonverbal.  But Alejandra is super smart!  She loves doing puzzles, and she loves singing "Let it Go".  She is a bit of a diva and loves anything pink or princess related.  Ale has come a long way, and she can even hold herself in a standing position at our standing bar for to minutes.  Ale loves spending time with teams as they visit, and her smile is simply stunning.  

Yenifer is 13 years old, and has Noonan syndrome and cognitive delays.  She has a strong presence and brings lots of smiles.  She is very silly at times but has a loving heart.  She loves to come and give big hugs and kisses on the cheek.  She adores Ruavis and often stops us to show us that "look at Ruavis, he's sleeping".  She speaks Spanish, though as I like to point out, my Spanish is bad, hers is crazy!  When she is angry she will often say "you'll never eat chicken"!  Yeni is a joy to love each day!

Brayan is 13 years old, but has significant cognitive delays.  He speaks, although if you give him a choice between two things, he always chooses the second thing you say, even if it's pizza or broccoli.  He has a number of social tendencies which resemble autism, though this is just an observation.  He wants to help out so much, and his favorite thing is going to help Mr. Beyer with some carpentry project or cement work.  He loves when he gets to help set the table.  He also likes to help us take out the trash.  

Rafael is 9 years old and has cerebral palsy.  He seems very quiet and innocent, but inside he is very mischievous!  He is nonverbal and only really uses one arm and one leg, but he loves to wreak havoc with that arm and leg!  This is very good because when he first came he did not move, and was very docile.  Now, he kicks that leg like there's no tomorrow and squeals with delight.  If you catch his eye during supper, he gets a silly sideways grin on his face and pretends he doesn't see you while he bounces his head from side to side.  I love playing with him when I carry him to change his diaper, or when I feed him.  

Angelita is 8 years old, and has hydrocephalus.  As a result, she has a significant amount of brain damage.  Although she is 8 years old, she still wears 2T clothes and is the size of a toddler.  Some might think that nobody is home, but we know better.  She is so beautiful, and although it can be hard to get a reaction out of her, her smile could stop the world in it's tracks.  Often people look past her to the cute babies, or attention grabbing twins, Gio, Yeni, or Brayan, but she is the very best cuddle buddy and I love holding her while I study, or frankly any time!

The twins Esther and Raquel are almost 4 years old, but have some physical, cognitive, verbal, and social delays.  They only speak simple words or two word phrases, still walk with the toddle waddle, and we are still working on potty training.  They are full of energy and life, and are so bubbly and cute.  They love snuggling, but also want to run and shout and play loud.  You can often spot them after lunch running around the circle holding hands and giggling.  Where one goes, the other tends to follow.  It's about the best thing ever when I come home after a long trip and hear their voices shouting to me "kati, kati!", followed by a hug to each of my legs.  

Humberto is 3 years old, and has cerebral palsy.  He is a very smart kid trapped in a body that he can't control.  He loves when you dance with him, and he is quick to flash a heart stopping smile.  He has a lot of spasms that frustrate him, but a hug or game of smiles are sure to bring back his smile.  He cannot talk, but makes very happy vocalizations when you play with him.  He enjoys being brought up to the dinner table to be a part of the group even when he is fed before the meal.  I have grown to love his morning bottle before all the kids get up.  He smiles at me so big sometimes that he has stopped eating!  

Giovanni is our two year old terror!  He has microcephalus, and cognitive delays.  He is staggeringly cute, especially with his ridiculous glasses and slightly crossed eyes.  Trouble is his middle name, and he is always getting into something.  He, like the twins, loves to run and play.  Giovanni is a lot of energy and curiosity wrapped in a small package.  He doesn't speak many words, but I love it when he thanks me with a "tata, teti".  I love getting him up from nap before he is fully awake because he will latch his arms around my neck, and his legs around my waist, and just hang on for a while.  

Ruavis is almost 2 years old, and has cerebral palsy.  When he came, he was in a state of almost constant seizures.  He is a chunky little monkey, and he is both perfect for cuddling, and as squirmy as can be.  Ruavis is sometimes overlooked when teams some through, but when someone takes the time, they find quite a treasure in him.  He loves to be held and rocked in the hammock swing.  Ruavis is so precious!  Sometimes when you catch him at just the right moment, you can rock him to sleep while he is relaxed.  I love it when he smiles in his sleep!

Olimpia is now 18 months old.  She has down syndrome, and when she came, she was severely malnourished at 5.5lbs at 5.5 months old.  Now, this is not the case!  She is a chunky little bundle of joy.  After the worst of days, simply pick her up and hold her for 5 minutes and you will immediately feel relaxed and happy from the contagious joy she emanates.  She does not crawl, but rather scoots all over the house with her hand in the air. Olimpia lickes everything and everyone!  We are accumulating a list of all the things we tell her not to lick.  Olimpia, stop lisking your sister's butt; don't like the wheelchair; why are you licking the dog?!?

Rosaliinda came with severe malnutrition and delays as a result.  She is 16 months old, and is gaining weight slowly, but she has grown much in strength.  Much of her hair has grown back in, and she slides across the house on her belly.  She has recently begun to crawl a few paces up on her hands and knees.  Rosa is beginning to speak simple words, but she understands a lot and is very smart.  It boggles the senses to see a baby so tiny doing things like sitting on her own, maneuvering and crawling, and holding her own bottle.  I love it when Rosa winks at me, and whenever anyone tells her that they love her, she blows them a kiss.

Alison came to us just under two weeks ago.  She is 6 weeks old now, and has down syndrome.  She is a precious joy, and I adore holding her.  She has slept through the night all this week, and may just continue doing so.  She is a very content baby, but lets her needs be known with a short cry.  She is not fussy, although when she wants to be awake, she can be quite squirmy.  I love watching her play.  She already has stolen part of my heart, and we race each other to get to feed her her bottle!  I can't wait to discover more about her as she grows!

And there are the kids who are no longer in the home.  

Esperenza came to the home from the hospital where she had been abandoned.  Her needs were severe,  leaving her blind and mostly deaf.  She has clover head syndrome which involves severe pressure and swelling in her head and brain.  The family knew that they were bringing her home to love until Jesus took her home.  She celebrated her 6 month birthday here with her family.  And she was carried home with more love in her short time than others experience in a lifetime.   Esperanza died on January 6, 2014.  I regret that I never got to meet her or hold and love on her, although she was loved across countries.  She was a beautiful life entrusted to a time to a loving family for a short time.  

Thania was 13 years old when she went home to Jesus.  I never got to meet her either.  She was very small weighing only 19 pounds at 13 years old when she came, but through love and a feeding tube she gained some weight.  She died 6 months to the day after Esperanza, and very suddenly and unexpectedly.  Again, Thania was very loved, and had a home with parents, brothers and sisters.  She had a family that loved her deeply, and now she has an eternal home and is not limited by the pain she faced in this lifetime.  

Christian is 5 years old.  He has significant autism, and his parent’s came to Daryl with desperation because they did not know how to care for him.  They wanted the best for him, and surrendered him to the courts to come life in our home.  He lived with us for a year as we learned about how to best care for him since each child with autism is unique.  After a year, we taught the family how to take care of him, and how to handle some of the difficulties with his autism.  In March, he returned to his family.  His mother sent us a photo a while ago and he looks to be content and well loved.  It was a joy to have him in the home.  

Micah too has gone to be with Jesus.  He was 2 months old, and had severe special needs.  He had anencephaly and hydrocephalus.  Basically, the top of his skull never formed, and fluid kept accumulating in his brain.  Without a skull, he developed two enormous fluid filled lobes above his head.  He also had severe cleft lip/cleft palate.  He was the most previous thing I have ever held in my arms.  He was so fragile that we had to hold him on a pillow at all times.  We only had him to love for 8 days, but Micah was loved across the world.  I loved the way his breath would pick up when I touched his face.  He struggled a lot during his short life, and would often stop breathing for an eternity while we too held our breaths until he struggled and sucked in yet another breath.  A few times we thought he was leaving us.  After one such time, we gathered and sang worship songs to him as a family.  About 30 minutes after this, he stopped breathing for the last time.  He was carried and sung home to Jesus.  God blessed us beyond belief by lending us this treasure.  I had never known such a love.  What a most precious child.  

These are my kids!  I love and cherish each of them dearly.  When I am away, I think of them and I miss them.  When I visit the families in the villages, I see my kids in theirs.  Oh, I get tired, I get worn down physically and emotionally, but there is no place I would rather be.  These kids are my life, and this family is very strange and very beautiful.  

God has blessed my so very much that this is the life He has given me.  This is the best job in the world!