Empty Bed?

So last week I told you about the little boy that was missing from mercy... So here's an update. The mother came back on tuesday to check and see if we had found anything, and she was talking to the guard and he turned around for a second, and she started laughing... So we didn't really know what to think about that. And she said she would come back again, and she never did... So we do not really know what happened. But the more people who we talked to, the more mixed up the story got. She was number 6, and her boy would have been there the whole time, I got there at 7:30 and saw a little boy there, wearing a white shirt and dark pants black/navy blue. And that was the description of the little boy. So I thought, oh, that was him. I came down later, and saw that same little boy sitting there waiting for his mama. Then prenatals started, and another midwife over half way through prenatals saw the same kid down there, and the little boy had already been reported missing... and he said he was "just here" and his mom was upstairs. There was only one little boy that age down there that morning... and nobody saw him. Not other patients, not midwives, not other companions, not the guard. So, we are not sure what to think. The story she has told goes back and twists around a lot. We aren't sure what the deal is, and we aren't sure why she hasn't come back. And we are praying that she found him, and he is home safely with his family, but the truth is we don't know.

Growing Up

Natalie

So, I deliver babies. And I see these babies (and feel, before they come out) from about 17ish weeks of pregnancy until about 6 weeks after birth. I very rarely see these babes after the 6 week check. Well this last week I did! And it was CRAZY. First I got a text from one of my moms asking if I would come and be a godmother at her son’s (Noah) dedication. So I of course agreed. It is kind of more of a symbolic thing in the Philippines…. So later I find out that Noah’s mom is the sister-in-law of Cindy (Natalie’s mom). So… it was a very mixed up story, but it turns out Noah and Natalie (I am godmother to both) are sort of cousins (through marriage). The point of this very confusing relationship maze is that: I went to the party and Natalie and Cindy were there!! Great! I haven’t seen them since Natalie’s christening, months ago (at the beginning of the year…)! She is SO big, and she still has crazy a lot of hair! Here are some pictures of Natalie with her midwife. Then, and now. :-)

Natalie now!!

Mimi, Pil, Prixie, and her Lola (grandma)

I also got a text last week from another continuity, Mimi. She was concerned about something, but I tried to be reassuring, and “solve” her problem… we’ll see. Anyway, I told her to come in and bring Prixie Mae, because they live very close. So she did! And I got to see 4 month old Prixie. She is beautiful and funny. She has a great personality! So, Mimi and I chatted for a while, and she brought me some fruit!! Yum! And I got to see her and Prixie. Here are some pictures of Prixie then and now!!

Mimi, Prixie, and I, now!!

So I spent a while praying for all the baby boys and girls that I have assisted into the world, and that God would just show these kids HIS Glory, and make them into men and women who will live for Him. And that God will continue to provide for them and for their families, and show His face in a way that is undeniable for them, so they will grow up to know Him!

An Empty Bed...

I can't sleep tonight. I am tired, but my mind is going too fast. I worked monday prenatals today. That is initial prenatal day, all the girls coming to mercy for the first time. It is NOT a coveted shift. I found myself marching over, doppler in hand this morning at 7:30, picking my way through the crowds of pregnant women, their husbands, and little children. It is not unusual for companions to come to monday prenatals. Usually little kids and their dads line the hall waiting for their wives/mothers to come downstairs. It's not unusual for older little kids (4 and above) to be sitting downstairs on the bench by themselves while their mom is upstairs. No kids or husbands allowed upstairs. Today was no exception. There was a little boy downstairs today, his mother was number 6. They got there early, so that she could try to have her baby at mercy. When she finished her business upstairs she came down expecting to find her 5 year old boy waiting for her, where she had left him. But he was not there. And he wasn't outside the gate either, and he wasn't anywhere on the street. She came back and asked the guard if he had seen him... but in the commotion the quiet little boy was missed. They looked up and down the street, asking people, but nobody knew. Where is this guy? What happened to him? It would be crazy easy for him to have wandered off, getting lost in the big city when he lives about 1 hour away. He's never been here before. It would have been easy for him to follow the wrong "mama" home. It would have been easy for someone to have come in and taken him to do who knows what with. It would be easy for him to be overlooked, lost wandering the streets, with all the street kids around. I'm praying for him tonight, he's probably scared. But I am praying he is safe, in a warm bed, somewhere with someone who is looking after him, and who will bring him back to Mercy tomorrow to his worried mama. I'm praying for his mother, who has been back and forth today looking for her son. Who is at home now, an incomplete home, staring at his empty bed...

Suturing class

My finished chicken!

We just had suturing class a few days ago, and it was great!! Much more fun than IV class!! There was no crying, and lots of laughing (but not that nervous laughing!!)! :-) Our subjects: Chicken breasts. The stitches, deep interrupted, blanket, continuous, and continuous mattress! It was great fun!! And our chickens looked beautiful! The teams were me and Janelle, and Holly and Serena. We were stars. Here our some pictures from the day!!

Injecting my chicken... with... water...

Holly and Serena

My finished chicken! and Janelle~

Wheat thins and Goldfish!

Mom!
Thanks for the wheat thins and the Goldfish... we loved them. The ladies of the porch (Holly and I) shared the wheat thins with the ladies of the hallway (MG, Jes, and Janelle). We all loved them! We just want you to know, you brought cheer to our night, it was like a little porch/hallway party!

Love,
Sarah, Holly, Michelle, Jes, Janelle!

Holly and the whole bag!


Michelle (in the front) and Jes with their wheat thins!
(Janelle was... somewhere...)

Pictures!!

Back Row L-R: Naomi, Michelle, Bethany, Medea, Holly, Jes, Jordan
Front Row L-R: Janelle, Jenn, Stephanie, Serena, Me~

So... The all of the girls in my year went for a picture a couple of weeks ago... And, while we are a fine looking bunch, we are not THIS fine... They photoshopped our blemishes, they photoshopped our hair, they photoshopped our teeth, they photoshopped shine onto our lips, they photoshopped the freckles right off Holly! So, we went to get our picture taken, and we were in this little tiny studio... think, hmm, a large handicapped bathroom. And 12 girls, plus 1 photographer, 1 weird guy looking on, and 1 creepy guy hiding behind a curtain and we didn't even know he was there until we wanted to change... Anyway, so at one point, for a pose we were doing some laying on the floor, and we hear this banging noise, and we see this big background screen falling toward us! yikes!! SO we screamed, and there was some rolling out of the way... and it was pretty much hilarious. It didn't end up falling, and we were all ok, but it scared us a bit! Anyway, so we got to pick 7 out of the... lots... that he took, and it was really fun! My favorite is the "supported squat" picture... leave it to us to have a professional supported squat picture, and then to pay money to have it printed! Ha! I hope you enjoy our pictures!! We certainly enjoyed having them taken!

Supported Squat!

And apparently we all didn't get the same... "make a funny face" memo... oh well :-)

IV class... results...

Oh boy! well, it's over! We all did it! It was an emotion-filled afternoon... Apparently we were much more emotional than our predecessors.... HA HA HA... so I started off the crying party... but anyway... Just to give you an idea of my level of apprehension; before class started my pulse was 60, normal for me... when it was time for me to poke my partner, Jenn (who is SO gracious)... my pulse was 120... which is nothing compared to hers, which was 140. We were both a bit nervous, apparently. I was SO nervous to poke her, that I burst into tears, at which point everyone started laughing and taking pictures. BUT, they laughed too soon, because before too long, they were all crying too! There was crying, laughing, fainting, almost fainting... it was quite the adventure! But, in the end, we all got our IVs in, and running! Yay for us! Here are some pictures from the excitement! The picture of Holly pretty much says it all. :-) Have a great day, everyone!

Me trying to make a nervous face while I was sobbing... oh boy...

After I stopped crying, in the 10 minutes I stood there trying to get up the nerve to poke her... meanwhile, her hand turns black....

I got it in, but I was SOOO nervous to let her drop her hand, for fear that the thing might stop running and I would have to do it all again.

A lovely face I was making during my second poke... that one really hurt... :-)