Mommy Goes Away....Part 2

I had been looking forward to this Home School Conference for months. I knew it would be awesome. Great city, great friends, (no kids, no offense ;), great speaker. 

But still the Father chose to humble me greatly and have me have to depend on him and others to help me. My travel day I did okay, day 10 of sickness. The next day I was okay but symptoms came back, I was weak, tired, and not eating much still. I was finally ready to say that my virus went bacterial and take some meds. My spectacular friend, M, tried many pharmacies. But we weren't in Kansas anymore...in our small towns you can buy almost anything otc, but stricter in the cities, they weren't budging. She was finally able to get me an antibiotic and parasite meds (for good measure). 

I started this but was still unwell and missed the second morning of the conference. But by the afternoon evening, like normal, I was feeling better...so I went out with the girls. 

We even shopped! And while I wanted the big hamburger, I chose a sandwich and only ate a little.

The next day the stomach was worse (but I knew the meds had to be starting to work). I was just quite weak, so my girls convinced me to go to the global clinic and get IV fluids, so I could get home in one piece.

The Local Doctor on call met us there (it was Sunday). I explained everything, he agreed with my medicine regimen, explained some other weird symptoms in regards to the trauma to my intestines, and agreed to start the IV.
The problem was my blood pressure. It was so low when I arrived. They put the needle in (which I hate anyway), the fluids start going in, and I start getting woozy.

Again, M was with me, a true BFF.  I haven't passed out yet, but I am getting there...the nurse is looking scared, my lips are blue (according to M). I ask for a wash cloth. The nurse starts to call an ambulance. I am clearly alive but they can't find a pulse. I am squirming and seeing black. But finally settle a bit. They take out the iv. Other things go on, I won't do more details. The doc was calm as he should be and knew I was going to be fine and I told them so too. But they were still very concerned about my BP/HR.

They next start the Oral Re-hydration and I drink a ton of this. I just want to be strong enough to walk out of there. He also gives me some Chinese Medicine, he knows westerners don't like it, don't agree, whatever, but I tell him I've lived here long enough I know there is something to it. 

It is vials of stinky stuff with a teeny straw. It really is various tree barks I think. And don't laugh, just look up where your aspirin comes from...
The doc says this would help, I took it, two of them. The nurse told me I was fantastic for doing this! I finally laughed out loud at all this. 

Melissa was texting David the whole time, he couldn't believe my blood pressure either.
So we waited it out. Melissa and the nurse taking care of me, giving me ORS, checking my vitals. I apologized to the nurse for scaring her.

And then the reinforcements came. Such. Good. Friends. They took care of me so well this whole weekend. They had me laughing hard. Just their presence encouraged me so much. And indeed, I walked out of there and did not end up in the hospital! Praise the father.
As an inside joke, SK gave M the 'Friendship Badge' and it was so well deserved, she was so selfless and gave up time at this conference to help me. The Father just showed me that community and love is what this life is all about. Glory to him, he provides all of our needs.

Love these peeps.

Mommy Goes Away...Part 1

I told myself that if I was still feeling so bad the morning of my trip I wouldn't go. But by morning I was feeling better, still not eating much, but managing. And I couldn't wait to see some of my BFFs, and get to hear one of my fave speakers (homeschool famous), Andrew Pudewa (go listen to any of his talks right now, you won't be disappointed). 

I had everything planned so well (hee hee)...where the kids needed to be, how they would get there...it took some algorithmic thinking, but I did it. I talked it through with our helper at least twice, typed it up in Chinese and English. Tobin had lots of rehearsals, yada, yada. 

It was planned that the kids would walk home from school, which they love to do. Apparently I did not foresee every possible scenario. As soon as I landed in Kunming I got the text, which meant that as soon as I took off from our town, an 'emergency' happened. Sophia, using our helper's phone did an audio text, voice shaking, saying something like this: "I got hurt pretty bad at school, it bled worse than anytime ever, it was gushing blood all down my leg. I couldn't get in touch with you or anyone (this because supermom here didn't give her our helper's number to memorize or uncle J's, who would have gladly come to her aid). My teacher sprayed the stuff on it, and because I had to get all three of us home, she hired a van and brought us home, but I am fine, really."

As K and I disembark the plane I call to get the scoop and make sure Uncle J comes over to make sure she doesn't need stitches. She sent me a picture. It was a horribly gross skinned knee (skinned is putting it mildly). But J and I agreed it was too wide to stitch. I apologize profusely to Sophia for being the idiot mom who didn't give her emergency phone numbers to use for the one hour she might have needed them, and agree to give her teacher the Teacher of the Century award. We agree the injury needed to air out until night time (though it was still bleeding), when Uncle J would come back and bandage it for bedtime. 

I could tell she was trying to be strong, and she was. She did great. This time she wasn't even running and falling to skin her knees, someone plowed right over her as she turned around from a long line of sinks outside where she was washing her hands. (Other school injuries for her include: accidentally stabbed in eye with pen (not her fault), accidentally stabbed in arm with pencil (she was running through the halls). She has all kinds of scars and tattoos to remind her of her Chinese school days. 

When I texted David this scenario I think he really thought I was joking, because it wasn't like we had enough junk going on. You can't make this stuff up, I tell him (all the big and little things that had gone on the past month for us...and it doesn't stop here...read the next post). 

Sophia's wound started to heal and she, along with the S fam kids and ours, got to walk to school and buy breakfast on the way (even though it rained), something they had been looking forward too all week. 

The best thing about Daddy's ten days away was that God's grace abounded in my relationship to our kids and the way we related to each other the whole time. Certainly the sickness helped this, so I praise him for the sickness...it chilled me out, the kids took pity on me some I am sure, and we all got along great. Discipline issues were handled swiftly and calmly (all answers to prayer). I told David he needed to really praise the kids when he saw them. And he brought them these cute little nerf guns and had them strike a pose. I LOVE these pictures.

 And while Mommy was away Tobin lost his first tooth! 

An Arts Festival at School

The month of May was spent with the kids' elementary school gearing up for the Arts Festival competition. Each class in a grade competes with other classes in their grade in showing off talents like piano, drums, the gourd flute, singing, dancing, etc. While they had been practicing for weeks, the schedule of events didn't come out until the last minute. Both Sophia and Tobin were chosen to participate and somehow Isabella wasn't there on the day to sign-up (she was also sick on and off), so she didn't do it this year. 

Sophia's performance was the day before I left on my trip and two days before David was returning. I was feeling really ill this day and almost didn't make it to see her. Thankfully the symptoms subsided for a little while. 

This country knows how to put on a show and use lots of show make-up. Sophia was really hesitant, she has always hates how they do it, but since she was part of a group I encouraged her to try to look like them, and it actually wasn't that bad. 

They did great in their dance and she actually did a cart wheel in the middle of it too.
Their class came in 2nd place. Good job gals. 

 Tobin's class came in 3rd and he did great too, I was surprised he remembered all the moves!
His performance was on the day that I returned from my trip. K and I literally hopped in a taxi and went straight to the school to try to catch our kid's performances.

 They put lots of show make-up on boys too, but Tobin wiped most of his off. He also had a fiasco with losing his hat an hour before hand...all documented by the many texts back and forth as I taxied on my airplane and  tried to recruit class moms to help David since I wasn't there. I finally had to power-off and pray for the best.

Sophia and our helper finally found it (on Gabrielle's trundle bed??!!!)

Tobin receives the award for his class.

These were super fun to watch (some classes did break dancing, head spins with a helmet, etc.).
We were so thankful they got to participate and perform, always a good experience.

While Daddy was Still Away

I continued with stomach woes but was functional (and had to be) to get the kids where they needed to be and at least fed!

Magformers our favorite.

Sophia helping me by helping Tobin with Chinese homework, we finally did get a tutor!

Sophia had an all day birthday party to attend, Tobin and Gabrielle went to our helper's village, and Isabella and I taught English for three hours. Afterwards, I took her to her favorite restaurant as a mommy date. I was still barely eating (day 5-6 by this time). But I enjoyed watching her eat what she loves.

We also, as promised, had our 'daddy away' tea party. I serve tea or decaf coffee, or soda, and lots of yummy junk food that we don't usually eat: Oreos, chips, etc. This time we did hot chocolate because the Kimbrells brought us some along with chocolate peppermint sticks to dip in it! YUM.

Everyone dressed up. Tobin was Iron Man and went to invite the others to tea...
what a gentleman :). 

 And this HUGE event happened while Daddy was away: Gabrielle finished the book 'Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons'. Nothing too easy about it. But she did great and is reading quite well for her age. Since I was about to travel to a big city, I promised her her big 'treat' when I returned (from IKEA). We are so proud of her!

While Daddy's Been Away

Per the usual, it has been eventful while David has been gone. 

This actually happened the Monday before he left, and it was planned.

Termites had eaten the door frames of three of our rooms. We have been waiting 6 months on the door guy and our landlords to solidify things. Finally they came.
Renovations or brand new things in this country have about a 5-7 year shelf life before needing serious repair. That's about where we are.

I was absolutely not pleased with the results of the new doors, but since David is away I decided not to deal with it. During his time away I also had to call the plumber to deal with our kitchen drain (again!). He left our outside pipe a mess and I didn't realize it until the next day. I am leaving that for David too. :).

The most pleasant worker I dealt with was the locksmith. A week ago we were locked out of our house, we thought a kid had dead bolted and we went out the back. But now we realize there was actually a real problem with the lock. Saturday morning and locked out! He came right away and fixed it all within half an hour.

Sophia hadn't been feeling great all weekend and finally spiked a fever with aches and all for almost 2 days, Isabella followed, and one night Tobin woke up, threw up and had stomach issues all night, and I followed him from 3-6 a.m. This was actually a virus from Gabrielle who bore it better and faster than anyone else: fever, diarrhea for 4 days. Obviously this did not make for a good start to anything. Tobin and I were so weak. My helper was the hero. She took the other kids where they needed to be, I stayed in bed a lot. Slowly we started getting better. Tobin was so weak he asked me to carry him back to bed that night. This virus took its toll and we are still recovering. Daily I think I am improving but still weak, not able to eat much and nothing settling quite yet.

God has been so incredibly gracious through this all. We mustered strength for our English class. Sophia got to participate in an all day birthday party, and our helper took Tobin and Gabrielle to her village while Isabella and I taught English on Saturday. Sunday started rough with attitudes but we regrouped with lots of praise music, time in the word, and the ever-promised 'daddy away' tea party. Tobin dressed as Iron Man, the ladies, nice dresses. He called on them to come to tea and we had a great time drinking coffee/tea/hot chocolate, eating junk food and playing some dominoes.

This is the week for the Arts festival at local school which is keeping us busy. Also, I leave for a conference the day BEFORE David gets back, so once again our helper will step up and watch the kids overnight. They will walk to and from school and even catch up on some home school while I am gone.

There you have it. Crazy and yet not.
And.....Gabrielle will do her 100th lesson of Reading tomorrow!

The Best Part of These Guests and Mother's Day Too

The best part of having our recent guests was just getting real about life with them，having them speak into us, and it be completely refreshing. "Mr. Tony" or actually "Poppy Tony" (known to his grandkids this way), and "Honey Karen"  or Ms. Karen meshed with our fam for three days and we got their ear and they got ours.

They have the unique perspective of living alongside people like us for four months and yet having loads of life experience (they have great stories!).  I taught with Ms. Karen in Btown the year before we came overseas. I picked her brain about curricula, they asked us many questions, good questions, and we shared our India travels too!

And they loved on our kids...

wearing Poppy Tony's shoes!

 Maybe he will carry me since mommy won't. 

Always ready for adventure, off to pick up a kid.

G spent time with Honey Karen getting ready for the day. And she got a little make-up herself. 

David tried to take them to see the trigger-point lady, but she always has a long line. But this was a chance to visit another village and meet some new people.

Though we've had a jam-packed semester full of ups and downs and no real rhythm it seems, we were so glad Tony and Karen came to see us. And I told them so. "You guys were like a breath of fresh air!" I was able to step back, relax, host, and share, and it be just what I needed, though I didn't know I needed it! So thankful for them.

And we celebrated Mother's Day. David got me three potted plants to plant in our new yard, two beautiful fragrant blooms, and a lime tree! The kids made us French Toast and we had the S fam over while Tony encouraged us in the word. It was a great day!

 

David left two days later for a ten day trip.
Update on 'while Daddy's been away' coming soon.
Love this man and miss him terribly.

We Had to go Back

We had so much fun in the village transplanting rice that we took the kids back that evening for dinner, after many invites. We let the girls skip their evening ballet, because this was more important, and we had had an exhausting week.

Typical house:

Typical dog on chain barking next to a water buffalo.

Dusk settles in and Gabrielle and our helper's daughter play in dry mud (and wet mud for that matter).

This man was getting his plot ready for the next day's transplanting.

We walked the village and took Tony and Karen to see the newly dedicated temple

We had run into this lady when we arrived and saw her again on our walk. Without David I ventured into my own minority language conversation...and I did it! Of course it was the basic: Where are you going? Going back home now? Have you eaten? come with me...No, we are going back....go slowly...

Time to wash up...

Grandma (really great-grandma actually) helping set the table.

 We also took Tony and Karen to the pagoda in our city that has a temple inside.

We ran into the lady that usually does our health inspection every year. I reminded her of how I used to faint on her, and she laughed and of course remembered, she used to say it was because I had too many kids. Really it was because I was a big wimp. But I've gotten over it now and am used to the blood draws.

We got GREAT fresh fruit smoothies (mango pineapple, in season now folks!) and the promised Ramen noodles at the top.

The Marlboro on these hats are misspelled, of course. We have an ongoing game to find the worst English on clothing. Daily new and shocking words adorn the most innocent of Grandmas.

 A boy monk. Coming up here always makes me sad,
Sophia confessed she doesn't like it either, though we love the stair hike.


We show every guest this place, it overlooks the city and is telling of the hearts of the people here. Their longings, heartaches, fears, and hopes are brought here.

We are just alike...but by the grace of God...