A Little Broken Down... but optimistic

Well, we gave in and bought the internet. It runs really slow but it's better than 30 minute time slots every other week (when we're lucky). I hope to upload pictures soon. Truth be told, I have pleanty of time to do so right now since I am very sick. (But don't worry mom, I'm feeling better).

I had to go to the hospital yesterday. That was quite an experience. For those of you who have a sensitive stomach, my apologies. Perhaps you should not read further... We'll just say food was exiting from both ends and when that happens for too long, you get kinda dehydrated. So once I had vomitted blue foam 15 minutes after having one ice cube yesterday morning, I figured something wasn't right and we should get it checked out. Derek drove me to the hospital in town, along with our nurse here at Emmanuel since everyone knows her there. The staff was all very kind (I even got some compliments on my spanish, which made me feel good).

They hooked me up to an IV to pump some fluids into me since I couldn't keep anything down, or in for that matter. I also got a shot in the backside that STILL burns. And they gave me a shot into my IV that felt like it was eating and burning my skin from the inside. Supposedly that was for the diarrhea. But my arm even turned red on the outside. The nurse kept asking me if it hurt, and I kept saying yes. He said that was normal... so I don't know why he kept asking. Overall we were there about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. it was a slow day for them, seeing that the one hospital room (with 4 beds) was only occupied by myself. I was pretty thrilled considering that the bed next to me had stirr-ups and I personally did not want to have front row seats to some mother-to-be inviting her child into the world. I'm sure Derek was glad as well because on the door to the room it said that each patient was allowed one family member to sit in with them. How would you like for other patients and their families to be able to wtiness your child being born!? However, had that been the case, I'm sure he would have waited outside for me.

So guess how much it cost for the visitation, IV, shots, and 2 perscriptions of pills, powder to put in my water, and a liquid medication? About $20 total. Can you believe that?! $1 of those dollars was to see the doctor, the rest was for medication and treatment.

I am feeling much better, and able to keep food down (praise God). I plan on staying in our house, in bed over the rest of the week and weekend. I figure if I don't rest fully, I'll only get sick again. I think I caught it on Tuesday...

This Tuesday Derek and I (along with all the other volunteers and 2 staff members) rode on a bus to Tela and back in the same day. We left at 3AM and returned around 9:30PM with 32 new kids from various parts of Honduras. We had to pick them up since the center they came from does not have transportation. the oldest child is 17, the second oldest is 12 and most of the rest are 10 and below. We have 6 new toddlers. One of which cannot stand or speak. The back of his head is flat since he has laid down his entire 2 1/2 years of life.

The hardest part of the day was not all the vomit, poop, and pee that we encountered on our 8 1/2 hour ride home with our new children, but rather picking them up. There were many mothers saying goodbye. I couldn't help but cry along with them. Which I'm sure didn't help all the crying children. I probably made them even more scared. All of them that came have at least one sibling with them and one is a set of 7 siblings. it was hard to watch the young ones cling to their older siblings and cry for their mothers, however, I am glad that they have each other. We tried to occupy their minds by describing Orphanage Emmanuel, coloring, etc. Needless to say, that was the longest 8 1/2 hours of my life. Then I woke up Wednesday, sick.

I'm just glad Derek is still healthy (so far). The new kids seem to be adjusting quickly. I am constantly amazed at how resilient these children are.