We are so blessed to have a surgical team serving with WBM this week. They are such a fun group. I think it is always fun to be around medical people because they talk their own language and they live on the edge.
They have jumped right in and have been performing surgery all day long while dealing with our normal patient load as well. We had 100s of people come through the hospital doors today. Here are some of the surgeries they will be performing throughout the week: gallbladder, colostomy, hernias, lumps/bumps, and tons of other things that I don’t know the medical terminology for.
More than having a heart to help meet people’s physical needs, they are here because they care for their patients spiritual needs. This is also why WBM exists and why we have Hospital Bautista. One of the doctors said it best in devotional tonight … “Physical problems always occur. We can do surgery on someone tomorrow and the problem could return again in the future. But the reality is that eternal life is much longer than the life we live on this earth. So while we look to meet physical needs, we follow Jesus’ example to meet some physical needs as we look for opportunities to share about people’s spiritual needs and a need to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.” (This is in summary, not really a quote.)
Jason and I have loved every minute with this team and we are excited to see how the Lord is going to use them as the week continues. Please pray for these surgeons, nurses, translators, and helpers as they seek to use their skills to bless others and tell others about Jesus. This is such an exciting week!
So this is how my morning begins, Jason waking me wearing a blue surgical hat and mask around his neck as we are talking about my health. I had been up all night with diarrhea and my stomach had been cramping. Being pregnant, this was really emotional for me and of course concerned us both. So we are discussing my options and Jason is advising me to walk down to the hospital to be seen. The ice breaker of this emotional conversation for me was Jason giving me a goofy look with all his doctor gear on and saying, “Trust me, I’m a doctor.” It just made me laugh and cry all at once.I got some great care today at the Hospital. Dr. Estrada saw me first, took my vitals, and asked me about all my symptoms. (There seems to be a stomach virus going around because I wasn’t the only one sick.) He wanted me to have an IV because I was dehydrated. Shortly after, the pediatrician on the American surgical team came in and talked with us as well. He explained to me why I would have experienced the cramping and asked me some further questions. Everyone felt confident that I was just dehydrated and that the baby was fine.
I’m probably one of the only people who have ever just walked in a hospital and gone straight to the head doctor’s office and seen immediately. Dr. Estrada then told me to go back to our house and get in my own bed and he would send someone down to put my IV in. What service! A little while later, an American nurse, Honduran nurse, and the hospital admin show up. They were all so sweet to me. Several other nurses then proceeded to come and check on me throughout the day. (Please excuse the fat head, clearly not feeling well here)
Dr. Jason watched over me all day. He changed all 3 of my IV bags, carried my IV when I had to go to the bathroom, and cleaned my pants. Cleaned my pants? You’re probably wondering why my pants? Dr. Jason removed my IV for me and gave me the task of placing the Band-Aid after he pulled it out. I accidently placed the Band-Aid a little low, so when he took out the IV, blood proceeded to squirt all over. (Dad, you would have never made it.) I was trying to catch it, but it ended up all over my pajama pants. It was one of those moments where we just had to laugh and be thankful that neither of us passed out.But all in all, I’m feeling so much better. We just ask that you all continue praying for our little one’s development and safety and just for my health. I’m so blessed by my husband’s willingness to constantly serve and watch over me and we are surrounded by wonderful family and friends here that offer us so much support and care.
So Jason and I could never complain about our living conditions. We are living in a 2 bedroom, 1 and ½ bathroom, all brick and tile apartment. Clearly we are not roughing it. However, over the past week and ½ I have pondered killing our neighbor on several occasions.
Who is our neighbor? A crazy Honduran rooster. I add the adjective Honduran because the roosters here are of a different breed. Many of you have been following our adventures in Honduras and will remember my complaints about the roosters in the past. But this guy just takes it to a whole new level.
Right outside our bedroom window he causes mayhem ALL NIGHT LONG. Not only does he crow, but then he wakes up all the neighboring roosters as well. Take his crowing, add some warm nights and you get a non-sleeping, angry, pregnant lady. Yes, you should be praying for my husband.
But let me describe his crows. I jump up out of bed one night because there is a woman screaming. Jason wakes up as well and we think that our head doctor’s wife is screaming bloody murder next door. Oh wait, we hear it again and it is that dirty rooster who sounds like a screaming woman. It was good that there were bars on our windows separating me from him because I really wanted to ring its neck! (Well, that would never happen, but I feel justified saying it)
So to our solution. We have relocated to the front room of the apartment and we’r
e sleeping in two twin beds. Let me tell you, I have had 3 of the best night’s sleep. It’s cooler and rooster free! Jason and I keep saying that we should move the full bed into that room, so we could actually sleep in the same bed, but when we get back to the place at 11 or 12 at night and have devotional at 7am, its just not happening. So we pitifully say goodnight from across the room, say we should fix this, and then proceed to sweet dreams.
So just call us the Cleavers!
Well we made it to Honduras! The days leading up to us leaving were a little rough for me. I have been battling with all day morning sickness. So I will try anything. My mom bought me some "Seabands" for morning sickness/motion sickness and they actually seem to be working for me sometimes(good work Mom). However, when I wear them I think I look like I jumped out of a Richard Simmon's workout video. Hint the picture. I'm creating a new Honduran style while working on a pretty cool suntan.
The Honduran air has been good for me though. Tonight was the first night I lost the battle to dinner and had to miss out on enchildas for toast. Sad times. But despite feeling sick it is still pretty amazing that we are having a baby. We have enjoyed telling our Honduran friends and they are all very excited for us. I'm so thankful that we were able to have a sono before we left the States. I just love looking at the pictures of our little one and just praying for her/his health. Isn't it just the cutest baby you've ever seen?! 
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