Day 14 and 15 / So Many Cute Babies!

Good Evening/Good Morning. I can never start these posts with just one of those greetings because for myself and my friends here, it's one, and for my friends and family back home it is the other. Hence, I usually start with something like Hey Y'all! I just do not feel that peppy right now. Nothing wrong, just a little tired.

Speaking of tired last night I was trying to work up the energy and excitement to write a blog post last night when the power went out. I think that was the third time it has happened at the hotel. I was stupidly happy when it happened last night though, because it knocks out the wifi which meant I could  go straight to sleep instead of updating you all. You must forgive me though, and "you" are a whole lot more than I thought. I just looked at the numbers of how many people are looking at this and it has almost doubled since I started, that number is probably going to go back down after this excessive rambling though! Onto what actually has happened the last two days :)

Day 14
We started the day painting at the vocational school again. I love being around all the kids! (Young adults really) They are such happy and loving people. So intense in their work too! Some of them helped us with painting in the morning. Actually taking rollers and brushes and getting it done, supporting the ladder for Kelbin and Michelle to climb up and trim the ceiling with, and cleaning up the drips.

In the afternoon Cori and I went to the hospital to provide support to an AMAZING mom (that's how impressed I am with her, bold, italic, and caps necessary) and her baby that has Turner's Syndrome. Turner's is caused when the second sex chromosome does not fully form, which leaves all Turner's babies female because they only have one X. Only five percent of babies with this problem survive long enough to be born, and many mother's have bled to death due to complications it causes. God had and still has big plans for this baby though. When she was still in uterus, she had fluid in her lungs, heart, and stomach, which stayed for a long time, but by the time she born it was all gone! She has retained too much fluid in her hands and feet, which create painless bulges on the top, she has a webbed neck that her doctors in the states will fix the next time she is there to give her more mobility, and she is missing some hair due to a head surgery, but her beautiful smile and happy personality quickly overshadow any physical abnormalities. Also, something that was awesome to see (as in the literal awe inspiring use of the word) is that this little baby girl has a heart of worship! When her mama sings praise songs or when she hears them played she lifts her arms in worship. She was never taught this and may have never seen it before she made a habit of it because that is something the Vietnamese do not do in church. Shortly after she was born, when there was still a chance she was not going to survive God gave her mom a vision of her as a young lady playing the piano. Because of that her mom has made sure that music plays a part of her life. It was almost overwhelming to see this little baby who is fighting pneumonia for more than the tenth time praising God, and wanting more! If you are singing and you stop, she puts her arm down, but if she puts it back up that means you better keep going! Her mom never gives up and never loses heart. I cannot wait to see both of them again!

 

This young man is my favorite! He is in the tailor class learning how to sew some really lovely pieces. He is always so cheerful, and crazy handsome! However, I think what I might love the most is that whenever he sees me with my camera, he grabs a friend and poses with the biggest smile!!

Love this guy so much!

We have an expert ladder holder!

This woman showed the definitions of stamina, joy, and love

She's SO cute and tired. I'll try to get some photos of her smiling the next time.

Day 15

This is just the week of amazing kids with special needs. I started out this morning at the therapy center again. (If any of my financial supporters read this, you bought paint to make some drab and dirty cream colored walls a cheerful blue with accents of yellow or purple)

After we were finished up there we went next door and helped at the baby orphanage! I only really wanted to take home about three or four. You all think that is feasible right? In all seriousness, I really enjoyed myself, babies are my favorite. However, it was really hard. There are so many precious little kids running around banging into things and needing diaper changes, and wait a second is that one licking a shoe?! Where did Kelbin's watch go? My arms are getting tired carrying you around can I put you down? NO, okay how about we sit down together :) Don't hit her, do not hit me either, I understand you want attention, but I'm already holding another kid how about you go see Mama K!

I think you all get the point if you even made it this far. Then there were the special needs kids that just stayed in their cribs. One of the little boys was making moaning noises and it broke my heart that he wasn't getting the stimulation he needed, and that all the kids didn't have enough of the loving touch they craved. If you are ever in the position to adopt I pray you will. You have the power to change lives for the better! Enough preaching, I'll give you more photos now. I did not get many at the baby orphanage because I was too busy holding the kids

 Love that kid! Could he be any cuter!?

 The embroidery instructor who knows just enough English to baffle and confuse me!

We are extremely serious about painting!

The guy giving the thumbs up is Kimberly's favorite because he has an endearing habit of happy yelling everything he says. It's not too loud and it is not an angry yell, it is just the only way he talks.

They taught us old school print making! It was really fun. It is great to see how much they love to teach others their skills and how encouraging they are. 

Photo creds to Mama K! Thanks pretty lady :)

How much more inviting and fun are walls with polka dots and hearts than dirty old off white?!

Why yes I do think this shoe tastes quite fine.

This little girl cannot hear and has some other mental issues, but is she ever clever! She is fascinated by figuring out new things and exploring. She would have explored the contents of everyone's bags if Kimberly had not watched over them. Even so she came close to tricking Kimberly by examining her earrings while reaching for stuff with her toes! Kimberly named her Geogina after Curious George.

Within ten minutes of me taking this photo the one in the blue shirt claimed Kelbin as his. After Kelbin's arms got tired he passed the boy to Brook, but the baby just jumped down, ran after Kelbin, flung his arms around Kelbin's legs, and when Kelbin turned to see who it was, he raised his arms asking to be picked back up. So Kelbin got some great dad experience and learned if your arms are tired you can rest them by sitting with the child in your lap instead of putting them down.

This week has been great at showing me what caring for a special needs child would take if I ever were to adopt or give birth to one. I still really want to, and it has been great to get to view it more up close and interactively. Until next time (I make no promise of tomorrow!)