Recovering

I have gotten lazy in my recovery and not posted anything this week.  Thanks to many of you for your prayers and well-wishes. I am a week out from my surgery and doing pretty well.  I am still sore and tire a little easily, but moving around well and feeling much better.  My surgery went well last week.  Despite a last minute discussion about whether I might need a wire replaced, I did NOT end up having to do the more involved-wire replacement surgery, which I am thankful for.  I may need to have it done at some point in the future before this pacemaker needs replacing, but there is also a good chance I won't so we opted (at two doctors' suggestion) to wait.  I got to shower for the first time today- yeah!- but I still can't lift the boys, which is hard.  I am trying hard to be patient and not micromanage Chris with each diaper change, nap and whatever else the boys do all day, though it is hard to sit and have to let other people do what I usually do all day (nice at times, hard at times).  Other than that, we are doing fine.  

Today was a rainy day and we went to the public library.  We read books, checked out books, one video and a "music bag" ( a bag with a book and CD that go together along with a small musical instrument- really neat).  If I lived in America, I am pretty sure the library would be a weekly activity and I felt a bit envious today of those who have one nearby.  Austin also has been enjoying the backyard... he goes around every day and helps my dad water his plants and loves being outside, even though his legs are COVERED with mosquito bites.  So, all in all we are doing well and taking it easy.  If all goes as planned we will return home July 8.

Never a dull moment

I have been really looking forward to June...Chris was supposed to be home all month, had a lighter schedule, was going to tackle potty training with Austin, work on some projects at home. Well, life doesn't always quite happen like you think it will.  Around 4 am Friday morning (China time) i woke up because Bennett woke and then felt a strange feeling around my heart.  I probably would have written it off except that I know my pacemaker is in its last year and so I was a little more concerned than normal.  I had it checked last in March, where it had an estimate 12 months of battery power, with a minimum of three.  I was planning to go in and get it checked soon, but went ahead in Friday morning to the Chinese hospital where I go.  To my surprise (and everyone else in the room), I had moved to reserve or emergency power mode in the middle of the night (which i could feel at 4 am).  The doctor there wanted to operate immediately- like that afternoon!  Or she said if I went back I should go immediately and have it done within a week, but she "wouldn't guarantee anything".  So I was pretty freaked out.  But I went home and called my US cardiologist office (this was 11:30 pm America time). Fortunately my actual doctor was on call and called me back in 10 minutes.  He assured me this reserve mode should last one month at least, though I would feel uncomfortable b/c it does the bare minimum.  So he recommended surgery this coming week.

SO, Friday was a blur of buying tickets, packing all 4 of us, tying up loose ends and making phone calls and by 3:45 pm we were driving to the airport.  I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to feel the changes, getting tickets immediately and having people to help us.  We arrived in Richmond Friday night- the boys did pretty well on the plane though poor Austin did have a couple of meltdowns. But he also slept about 8 hours.  Now I am up at 2 am with Bennett, eating ice cream.  My surgery is scheduled for 8 am MOnday morning east coast time- would love prayers!  For my health and for Chris and the boys as we still recover from jet lag and a sudden change of plans.  We plan to be here a month if all goes well.   Hopefully only the pacemaker itself needs to be replaced and not the wires...if so it is only outpatient and a faster recovery.  OK, I am going to try and put Bennett down and see if I can get some sleep!

Goodbye, Mandi Ayi

Today we had a celebration to "song" (to see someone off or send them off in our local language) our good friend Mandi Ayi, who has been here with us this past year. Mandi has been our number one babysitter this year, as well as good friend. She is headed back to the U.S. to hopefully teach art. We have loved her fun spirit and energy she brings, as well as how much she cares for Austin and Bennett. She stopped by to hang out this afternoon one last time.

Well, the boys are both slowly getting better but still have bad colds. No fevers today (Bennett had one last week and Austin Sunday, but both only lasted less than 48 hours) but lots of stuffy noses. And Bennett is still working on his second tooth. I am hoping for a night of straight sleep one of these days soon.

Despite his cold and teething, he can still smile.

Learning to share

Austin had two big opportunities to share with those in need lately and embraced them wholeheartedly. On Saturday there was this event in our neighborhood to collect books for village children who did not have books. They asked kids to bring 3 of their old books to give away and then they were given a pencil. I talked with Austin about how he has so many books and some kids don't have any and asked him if he thought he could share some of his books with those kids. He was very enthusiastic and I told him he could pick 3 of his books and he ran up to his bookshelf to pick them. At first he picked his Curious George's ABC book- one of his favorites. I wanted to encourage generosity but also make sure he understood this was to GIVE away not just lend. Then he decided maybe he would keep that one but picked three others. We carried them down to the collection place and he proudly handed them over.

Later that afternoon we had planned to go to a playtime with some underprivileged kids that some people we know are starting to organize. We I told Austin we were going to play with some kids that didn't have as many toys or things as we did, he immediately (unprompted) said he should pick a toy to give them since they don't have any toys. It was very cute and definitely a sweet reminder of a giving spirit that I often lack but wish i had. So we picked a toy (it ended up being a toy monkey from a McDonald's Happy Meal- not his most treasured item, but ...a sweet gesture) and took it and he gave it to a one year old who was there with his mommy. The lady was embarrassed to take it and tried to give it back but I convinced her he truly wanted to give it and she ended up accepting it. It is definitely humbling and encouraging to see him wanting to give to others.