Our Sick Little One

Don't you hate it when kids get sick?

I do, especially when they can't tell you what is wrong... exactly where it hurts...

Please pray for our little Mary Michelle. She has a severe cold, that developed into croup, and now has such thick congestion that she is having a hard time clearing it out of her throat and upper respiratory passages, so much so that we had to take her in to the clinic on Friday night due to her difficulty breathing.

We'd already been to the doctor earlier in the week, and had her on some medications for the croup. Last night they added respiratory therapy which consists of massaging and tapping on her chest and backc to loosen secretions, stimulate the respiratory system in general and cause coughing, plus having her on oxygen for a period of time.

This therapy started last night, and after about 2 hours we were able to return home to try and get some sleep. Then we were back at the clinic for another session first thing this morning (in fact, I picked up the therapist - who is blind and went to French School here in Niamey as a child - to ensure that he'd be able to get to the clinic for her treatment), and will return again this evening as well as having two more sessions tomorrow. At that point, her doctor will re-evaluate depending on how she is doing.

Frankly, we don't mind sharing that this is all quite scary and much more than a little exhausting. No matter how many kids you have, it is frightening to see them not doing well... If we were in the States, she would probably have been hospitalized last night... and then we'd be trusting in the medical system to make our baby better, and I know would feel confident that modern technology and science would soon have our baby back to good health.

Under these present circumstances, we are hoping and praying that this combination of a traditional therapy with oxygen and a few medications added in will do the trick and do so as rapidly as possible. But it makes me realize all the more just how dependant on the Lord we really are, especially in those moments when Mary is struggling to breathe, for every single breath we take. Why is that so easy to forget...?

We are encouraged to say that after her second therapy session, her breathing rate has slowed some, she was able to take deeper breaths, and she seems to be struggling a little less. She is still very congested and she continues to have a difficult time coughing that out because of how thick it is and how tired and weak she is. But we are praying for this same sort of improvement after each of the three additional sessions presently scheduled.

Please pray with us.

Quotable Quotes from the Jon-man *GRIN*

When Jonathan woke up the other day, he was fever free for the first time in 5 days, so I asked him how he was feeling.

He looked up at me, grinned, patted himself down, and said...

"I feel just fine, Mama!"

Home Sweet Home

Finally... Thursday, January 22 arrived... the day we were scheduled to fly back home to Niger and the rest of our family... but that day didn't start off too well. In the few days before, Jonathan, Elsie Mae and Mary Michelle all began to get sick. At first, it was just head colds, but Elsie's progressed into a fairly bad case of croup and I had spent most of the night using steam and holding her head up so that she could breathe... wondering if she was too sick to get on a plane for 8 hours and fly half way around the world. So we called her doctor first thing Thursday morning and they felt she needed to be seen. Fortunately, after a thorough check up and two different prescriptions, we were given the OK to go ahead and make the trip instead of postponing until the next week.

While Gampy and Uncle Rich loaded the van with our 9 pieces of luggage, we bundled the kids up in their removable layers (since we were going from a Michigan winter to the Sahara Desert), gave hugs and kisses goodbye to the aunts, uncles and cousins and then departed for the airport.

While I was greatly looking forward to getting home, I was dreading the getting there part. After all, I was traveling with three small ones, our full quota of allowable luggage with no time to waste in Paris to make our connection... So I'd been asking many - family, friends, our churches - to please pray for us on Thursday and Friday as we made our voyage. Surely, we felt God's presence all along the way with us, and sensed the power and grace granted as a result of those prayers.

We had bulkhead seats on both flights (for anyone who has traveled with a lap child, that bassinette in the wall in front of you is a huge blessing... it was so nice to be able to lay the little peanut there... especially at meal time with a 4 year old and a 2 year old on each side, trying to navigate an airplane meal... or when both littles decided at the same time that they needed to use the bathroom). The stewards and stewardesses with Air France were incredibly kind, gracious and helpful - anticipating needs, chatting with the kids to help them feel comfortable and accomodating whenever they could. They even stuffed a large bottle of water and several sweet cakes into my backpack for the kids to eat/drink while we waited for our next flight. Since my wallet "disappeared" somewhere after security in the Detroit airport (I almost panicked when I realized we were traveling with NO money or credit cards), I was thankful... and I didn't even have to ask.

As we exited the plane in Paris, I was surprised to be met by an Air France employee who escorted us from our arrival gate, through security (where we received priority attention) all the way to our departure gate. He pushed one of the strollers and carried one of our bags the whole way, and didn't leave until he'd pointed out the bathrooms and seen that we were settled into our seats to await the next flight. God was certainly taking care of us!

Since I'd been up all night, I laid down to close my eyes for a few minutes... while Rebekah held the baby and Jon and Elsie sat in their strollers and played with the toys in their carry ons. Rebekah woke me up 45 minutes later - they'd called for our flight to board! Just about that time, the mother of one of our missionary friends, who was also on the flight, showed up and helped us navigate everything onto the plane... and kept prompting the flight attendants to make sure all of our needs were being met. :-)

Arriving in Niamey, once again the flight attendants and airport staff were incredibly helpful, helping to carry bags and just woken up children down the steep stairs used to exit the plane. On the bus ride from the plane to the airport, a kind gentleman offered to help get the kids into the immigration department, even reading passport and visa/residence permit numbers while I filled out the immigration paperwork for all 5 of us.

Safana, our houseworker, had persuaded the security folks to allow her to come back into the airport to help us (normally everyone has to wait outside), and the airport staff enjoyed observing the kids' delighted reactions at seeing one of our favorite persons! By the time we had cleared immigration, our porter had already collected all of our luggage (same guy we always use, so he knows us and even recognizes our luggage tags!), waved at the customs officials as they oohed and awww-ed over Mary's full head of silvery blonde hair (I did have to convince one of the ladies that if she really wanted to keep Mary, she'd have to come and talk with Mary's daddy first, since he'd never yet met his baby), and walked out of the airport to see the rest of the family.

So, all of that to say - Thank you to the Lord for providing us with a "so much better than I ever could have dreamed or imagined" trip! And thanks to so many of you who remembered to pray for us. We surely felt the power of those prayers. We are so thankful to be back together - it has been delightful to let everyone meet Mary Michelle, to hear our gang exchanging stories and experiences of the past 3 months... even to hear them fussing at each other again.

And... after having shoveled snow almost every 3-4 days for the past 8 weeks, I'm delighted to announce that I'm happily back to the full time job of keeping the Sahara Desert from moving into my house!

~ School Picture Day ~

Guess which ones are our kids... and is it too obvious that their mother wasn't around to help pick out their clothes or do their hair?

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies ~

One cold wintry morning, Rebekah and Jonathan were wanting something to do, so I sent them to the kitchen to make cookies ~ and then documented their adventure in the kitchen just for fun... and per the request of their "baaba" in Niger.

And here, we see Mary Michelle's contribution to the kitchen activities ~

Wordless (but not soundless) Wednesday - Gimpses of a Christmas Program

Before you try to watch the video, make sure you scroll to the bottom of the sidebar and pause the music in the playlist.

Shocking...

My sister and her family were over visiting last night, when my brother-in-law asked if we'd mind listening to a message given to youth that he'd heard on Sermon Audio. The title definitely catches your attention:

Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers

- So Shocking & Biblical

the Preacher Was Never Invited Back

If you have about an hour, it is worth the listen. Click on the title to follow the link.

Amazing Trivia ~

Well, it definitely doesn't qualify as "amazing..." but... borrowed this from Jenni at One Thing (who "lifted this from Mama Hen over at Long days, Short years"). I, too, thought it looked like fun and, more importantly, required very little effort - and thought maybe I'd be able to convince Tim to participate. We'll see about that! Please feel free to copy it... and let us know... we want to read what you've been up to, too!

Just boldface (I italicized, too) the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal….

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity (Can you outgive God??? - I don't like this question, either...)

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped - and don't ever plan on it.

12. Visited Paris (I guess flying through several times doesn't really count as a visit, eh?)

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning - very unfortunately

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Can moms take sick days even when they are ill?)

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run (if getting around the bases on errors counts...)

32. Been on a cruise (but only on rivers and lakes - not a big ocean liner type cruise)

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught (teaching, to be more precise) yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa, & live there, too.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China (I sooooo want to... some day.)

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60 Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (delivered them once, but have never actually sold them myself)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving - another one of those things I have no desire to even think about doing.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar - YUCK!!!

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (ew!)

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby (lol)

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Sweet "Study" in Siblings (at least SOME of them)...

Aren't they sweet?

~And, just in case you were curious and wanted to know~

Mary Michelle Elysabeth

is 5 weeks and 2 days old.

She weighs 9 pounds, 6 ounces

and is 21 inches long.

She's doing well!

Long Awaited Photos from Jonathan's Birthday~

This is two years in a row that Jonathan has chosen a "cars" theme for his birthday - our little guy loves matchbox cars, trucks, trains... and is teaching Elsie Mae to love them, too! What a BOY!!!

A Night Out for Richelle and Rebekah Joy

A few weeks back, Rebekah and I had the opportunity to have a mother/daughter night out and we went to see a Christmas concert performed by the group Selah. And we had a delightful evening, even getting to meet the group and talk with them for a few minutes afterwards. Rebekah was totally impressed that one of the group's members also grew up as a "missionary kid" in Africa! In fact, her very favorite songs were always the ones sung in a tribal language or with the distinctive sound of African tam tams. This song, "Mystery," however, was a new song for me and has become a favorite around our house this Christmas season.

A child was born on Christmas Day

Born to save the world

But long before the world began

He knew His death was sure

The pain and strife secured

Mystery, how He came

To be a man

But greater still

How His death was in His plan

God predestined that His Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His hands

The Christmas trees

They glow so bright

With presents all around

But Christmas brought

A tree of life

With blood that sacrificed

The greatest gift in life

Mystery, how He came

To be a man

But greater still

How His death was in His plan

God predestined that His Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His hands

I am just a man and

Can't begin to comprehend

When You look into this traitor's eyes

What do You see that justifies the Lamb

God predestined that His

Son would die

And He still created man

Oh, what love is this

That His death was in His plan

Mystery, mystery

Growing and Changing FAST!

You'd think I'd be used to that fact by now...

...but I'm not.

Yesterday was a first - from her first shower, she has loved them, until it is time to turn the shower off and leave the hot water behind. From that point on, until she was dressed and cuddly warm again (and usually with some warm milk in her belly, just for comfort), she'd protest. LOUDLY. VERY. VERY. LOUDLY. Yesterday (and today), however, she enjoyed the whole process: gently being dried off, rubbed and massaged with lotion, tickles and kisses while getting dressed, playing with her toes while inserting those little feet into teensie socks that still swallow those feet, having her hair combed and gelled. She even delighted her mama with some smiles and coos - the genuine thing! Wonder if that means she is going to be a talker...

We would ask you to pray for her - for good health, in particular, but also for the uneventful and rapid delivery of her Niger visa. She has had a cold - and the other two are recovering from colds that turned very croupy at the end. We are praying this doesn't end up one of those illnesses with respiratory repercussions... as we did have one of our newbies hospitalized with RSV several years ago. Thanks, in advance, for those prayers. And... three more Sundays (and counting) until we head back to Niger and are reunited as a family.

A Snow Adventure

Rebekah likes to take the kids out to play in the snow - when it is warm enough! Believe it or not, these pictures were taken during one of our lighter snowfalls so far this year, too.

Each child had their own plan when they were ready to come inside. Jonathan, once he'd had enough of wet, white stuff, wanted to cuddle up in blankets and watch a video. As a total aside, can anyone identify the video he's watching from the scene shown in the picture below?

Elsie Mae (who was the first to come in), on the other hand, hung out in her footie pjs that she had worn out under her snowsuit until she warmed up, then she cuddled under a big sweatshirt on the couch and crashed for a nap. After all, just trying to move all bundled up like that requires significant effort when you are just 2 years old.

Rebekah stayed out in the snow for at least an hour and 1/2 or so longer than the little kids. Once inside, she promptly warmed her hands up under hot running water and wated to hold her littlest sibling.

And even now, after several more snowfalls, they haven't tired of the snow, even though their mother has tired of shoveling the driveway...