...for our documentation.
Living overseas has
afforded our children exposure to things that I certainly was not
thinking about or encountering at their ages. Some of these things are
trivial, like the fact that they love hot and sour fish or spinach soup,
that they are used to dogs walking through open air restaurants
scrounging for food, food/bones that we allow them to drop on the floor
in said restaurant, or that even at six they have a political status
unbeknownst to them, told to them by classmates.
This
year in particular the discussions have gotten deeper as Sophia's world
has opened up to her and her analytical skills have gained her a better
understanding, or at least a desire for understanding the whys and hows
of life's struggles. Here are some examples...
About
two years ago (and this discussion shows her immature mind at the time),
when Sophia was maybe not even four yet, she said: 'mama, what is a wai
guo ren?' I told her that it was a foreigner,(literally 'outside
country person'), she said, 'oh...how do they know that I am a
waiguoren?' David and I still talk about this statement. At that point
in her life she had no idea she was different. Yes, people always called
her this name, 'foreigner' and made a little fuss, but she didn't
really have any idea that she was different. She went to school, she
played, she spoke their language.
"My classmates say I
am an enemy of China that has come here to fight them." I laughed out
loud at this but did not make light of how the political climate does
indeed affect her, in small ways. We then discussed why a classmate
might say that.
We have given lots of clothes and toys
to 'refugees of the war nearby'. Yes, a place less than two hours from
us has seen fighting from time to time. We discuss why there is war and
why there is this particular war, we discuss good and evil, we discuss
how to pray for those on either 'side' of the conflict.
Our
catechism questions discuss the reality of life without Jesus, and
death and hell. Where we live we often hear funeral processions, the
family taking the body to be buried up on the mountain. This always
involves loud fireworks and music, people walking carrying the casket,
and much more. About six months ago or more, a day after we started
discussing life without knowing God, Sophia got really quiet and sad as
we heard yet another funeral procession. Then she burst into tears at
the reality of death without knowing Jesus, and how those around us
'most likely do not know God' and 'would be separated from Him'. This
led to a lengthy theological discussion, And I am not kidding, this made
her more fervent in prayer for her friends.
More
recently Sophia watched and listened as we discussed with our helper
(who is like a daughter to us) about her upcoming marriage. The
situation was horrible, her family was turning against her. One night at
prayer time before bed, while we were still in discussion with
Priscilla, Sophia said: 'but that is their daughter, how can they be
like that???' This discussion was a hard one, and one that none of us
completely understand, but that the WORD attests to...it will happen, if
you love the one who lived and died for you, the people you love the
most may/will turn against you.
And just the other day
Sophia really started talking about her cousins in the Williams family.
She has such nostalgic memories of them at Aunt Beth's together, at
Whitefield, sleeping over, getting up at 7 a.m. to go play soccer, fun
times. For the first time ever she said: 'I want to go live near my
cousins.' This surprised me because not a month ago, as we discussed
traveling and being thankful for our home, she said she always wanted to
live here, 'for forever'. When she mentioned living near the Williams
family I told her why we could not, I talked about why we live here,
and reminded her of things she already knew about our life here. She was
content with the reasons, but she still misses her cousins!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Our Family and the TB vaccine
Each of our kids have received the BCG vaccine that prevents a certain type of TB. This vaccine almost always reacts at the site and leaves a scar....and it did for ours. But for 2 of our kiddos it did so much more than that.
Both Bella and now Gabrielle have had lymph node reactions to this vaccine. Their groin lymph node swells and becomes blister like and huge. For Bella, discovered at 4 months, we were always on visa runs and saw doctors, and they actually put her on INH antibiotic for 6 months, yikes, yes, 6 months. (btw, this happens in about 1% of cases, crazy)
This time around we did more research, we knew what we were getting into and when Gabrielle's lymph node got really gross looking like it was about to burst, we consulted an American doc living here and others via email, and all recommended getting it 'drained' before it ruptured. AND that the INH was not really necessary as the research had not proven that it did much of anything in this situation. Still, this meant a local hospital visit...
As you may or may not know I loathe visiting our local hospital. It is not the medical care so much that is lacking (it is decent in most cases), as it is the system...and the atmosphere of uncleanliness. I could write a book about our experiences and have you laugh, cry, and jaw-drop, but they aren't appropriate for this right now.
When we finally decided that it was time to take her, I remembered that I had met a parent of one of Bella's classmates who was a doctor, a general surgeon, at the best hospital here, and he had been to the States once and was overall a really nice guy. 'Call Wu YiSheng (Dr. Wu)' I told David, see if he will help! 'What a great idea' David replied and called him, and boy did he help. So blessed we were!
We loaded everyone up knowing that only David and Gabrielle would go inside. We took books and toys for the others in the car. I would have stayed home but it would be close to nursing time so I needed to be nearby. Dr. Wu had David go right up to his office, no registration lines and payment and red tape, he did exactly what our doc friend said needed to be done, and even wore gloves. The lymph node was so big it actually needed to be cut. Gross. And boy am I glad I did not go! David, who has watched 4 C-sections mind you, had to sit down for a minute. I would have thrown up and passed out. So thankful for how this went. David took her back two days later to help manage the 'wound'. We are still managing it, it has not healed, and may take a while but we are so thankful for Dr. Wu and how he served our family without a second thought! We may just invite him over for Pizza.
Both Bella and now Gabrielle have had lymph node reactions to this vaccine. Their groin lymph node swells and becomes blister like and huge. For Bella, discovered at 4 months, we were always on visa runs and saw doctors, and they actually put her on INH antibiotic for 6 months, yikes, yes, 6 months. (btw, this happens in about 1% of cases, crazy)
This time around we did more research, we knew what we were getting into and when Gabrielle's lymph node got really gross looking like it was about to burst, we consulted an American doc living here and others via email, and all recommended getting it 'drained' before it ruptured. AND that the INH was not really necessary as the research had not proven that it did much of anything in this situation. Still, this meant a local hospital visit...
As you may or may not know I loathe visiting our local hospital. It is not the medical care so much that is lacking (it is decent in most cases), as it is the system...and the atmosphere of uncleanliness. I could write a book about our experiences and have you laugh, cry, and jaw-drop, but they aren't appropriate for this right now.
When we finally decided that it was time to take her, I remembered that I had met a parent of one of Bella's classmates who was a doctor, a general surgeon, at the best hospital here, and he had been to the States once and was overall a really nice guy. 'Call Wu YiSheng (Dr. Wu)' I told David, see if he will help! 'What a great idea' David replied and called him, and boy did he help. So blessed we were!
We loaded everyone up knowing that only David and Gabrielle would go inside. We took books and toys for the others in the car. I would have stayed home but it would be close to nursing time so I needed to be nearby. Dr. Wu had David go right up to his office, no registration lines and payment and red tape, he did exactly what our doc friend said needed to be done, and even wore gloves. The lymph node was so big it actually needed to be cut. Gross. And boy am I glad I did not go! David, who has watched 4 C-sections mind you, had to sit down for a minute. I would have thrown up and passed out. So thankful for how this went. David took her back two days later to help manage the 'wound'. We are still managing it, it has not healed, and may take a while but we are so thankful for Dr. Wu and how he served our family without a second thought! We may just invite him over for Pizza.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Ringing in the New Year
Yes, Happy New Year.
I love living in China because I can make my plans, goals, etc. and implement them guilt-free after Chinese New Year, which is still a few weeks away.
My plan? Don't quite have one. Goals? I do have some....normal ones, lose twenty pounds, read the word more, yell at my children less, love God more, love others better....
The past few months have been non-stop with Baby, with sickness, guests, visa stuff, ag project stuff, guests, then guests, then more guests, and big discussions about big decisions.
Home School? we do homeschool, it just is not stellar or ideal at the moment, I will quote my friend: it is a 'fly by the seat of my pants' type of homeschool....the type that really stresses me out.
So...I am exhausted and hope to be better at planning so that I can function better. I am getting out of the brain fog, though I still don't have any sleep through nights. If Gabrielle goes long at night, Tobin wakes up 3x, or any other kiddo....
David and I just look at each other and gently remind one another that this life is not supposed to be restful or easy (in fact the curse promises it won't be).
I just read 'Death by Living' by N.D. Wilson. Some people may not like his style of prose. I love it, or normally would love it, if I were not in brain fog. But I did laugh out loud and get greatly challenged by it, and then I got to the chapter worth the price of the book, and these words. These words I read after a day of doubt and fear and harshness, a day where I said to David: "If I speak it all out it just sounds so...ungrateful...ugh"....
these words:
'Glory is sacrifice, glory is exhaustion, glory is having nothing left to give. Almost. It is death by living.'
and then he writes to remind us to...
'see Christ in every pair of eyes. To write a past I won't regret. To reach the dregs of the life I've been given and then lick the bottom of my mug. To live hard and die grateful.
And to enjoy it.'
There is so much more to it than that. But not really. Not this life. Pour it all out, death by living, I am still working out what it all means, but I know for now it means to actually live it, not just capture, to actually enjoy, even the hardest parts of throw up nights, to actually depend on the ONE who gave it all. Give to exhaustion, lay it down...my selfishness, my sleeplessness, my whatever, and let the little ones come to me so I can be like Christ for them right now.
I love living in China because I can make my plans, goals, etc. and implement them guilt-free after Chinese New Year, which is still a few weeks away.
My plan? Don't quite have one. Goals? I do have some....normal ones, lose twenty pounds, read the word more, yell at my children less, love God more, love others better....
The past few months have been non-stop with Baby, with sickness, guests, visa stuff, ag project stuff, guests, then guests, then more guests, and big discussions about big decisions.
Home School? we do homeschool, it just is not stellar or ideal at the moment, I will quote my friend: it is a 'fly by the seat of my pants' type of homeschool....the type that really stresses me out.
So...I am exhausted and hope to be better at planning so that I can function better. I am getting out of the brain fog, though I still don't have any sleep through nights. If Gabrielle goes long at night, Tobin wakes up 3x, or any other kiddo....
David and I just look at each other and gently remind one another that this life is not supposed to be restful or easy (in fact the curse promises it won't be).
I just read 'Death by Living' by N.D. Wilson. Some people may not like his style of prose. I love it, or normally would love it, if I were not in brain fog. But I did laugh out loud and get greatly challenged by it, and then I got to the chapter worth the price of the book, and these words. These words I read after a day of doubt and fear and harshness, a day where I said to David: "If I speak it all out it just sounds so...ungrateful...ugh"....
these words:
'Glory is sacrifice, glory is exhaustion, glory is having nothing left to give. Almost. It is death by living.'
and then he writes to remind us to...
'see Christ in every pair of eyes. To write a past I won't regret. To reach the dregs of the life I've been given and then lick the bottom of my mug. To live hard and die grateful.
And to enjoy it.'
There is so much more to it than that. But not really. Not this life. Pour it all out, death by living, I am still working out what it all means, but I know for now it means to actually live it, not just capture, to actually enjoy, even the hardest parts of throw up nights, to actually depend on the ONE who gave it all. Give to exhaustion, lay it down...my selfishness, my sleeplessness, my whatever, and let the little ones come to me so I can be like Christ for them right now.
Flower Girls
Our friends' helper was getting married, and we were definitely attending. Their daughter, Annabelle, was on schedule to be the flower girl. I lent a nice dress, and a basket. Sophia said, "Mommy, I want to be a flower girl," to which I said, "Sorry, not this time." Then K called and asked if our girls would help be flower girls! Imagine their excitement....
Our older girls plus others there...
With the beautiful bride.
Tobin sneaks in a kiss.
Gabrielle was perfect. No fussing. She had just been fed and sat there just fine. Then fell asleep amid all the noise at the restaurant. Sweetness.
Love this pic...
The kids table. We had a pool going as to how many dishes would get broken...but I think they all made it through okay.
These girls
The two olders LOVE them some baby G! And Gabrielle is getting more and more expressive, to everyone's delight!
She will be four months old this Friday, and has more than double her birth weight! Happy and healthy (though not without some concerns in her little life), she is doing well (though still not sleeping through the night).
Things around here are busy busy but fun.
Fun Package
Aunt Beth found a really nifty hand made gift in her small town,
all the kiddos names in a wooden puzzle! They really like these, and I think they are fabulous!
Awesome! Thanks for all the goodies, Beth, so thoughtful!
Dress up designs
Sophia loving on Baby G! Soph begged me to put this outfit on Gabrielle, the State dress!
Sophia loves to dress up Bella, and Bella loves to be dressed up by Sophia. She has some pretty good designs. This was 'Indian Princess'
I will comment on Tobin in his UNC shirt, David wants me to use it to wash the toilets. Tobin loves it because it is a 'basketball' shirt, which to him, anything sleeveless is...
This was another Sophia design:
Including the peasant boy who came along with the queen:
Sophia said: 'put this on the blog and put 'designed by Sophia'
Tobin really wanted me to take a picture of his baa baa!
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