Who knew two babies could be so entirely different? I guess that anyone who has ever had more than one baby knew that, but it is very much something I am learning. Haley hated to be in our arms. I remember trying to get her to sleep by rocking her, and she would scream, but when I laid her down she calmed down and went to sleep on her own. Emma wants to be in someone's arms all the time, and gets mad if she is left in a room by herself.
Haley was fast and furious in her eating from the time she was born. Although we burped her, she spit up almost every time she ate. When Emma eats, she is slow and steady with her food. She rarely spits up, but she poops about 12 times a day. Haley only did that once a day.
In only a few days, Haley learned the difference between day and night. She woke up only to eat and was back asleep. Emma wants to be in my arms playing mostly between midnight and 4 AM.
Haley was so big, and Emma is so little. Because of Haley's size, we didn't even buy newborn clothes for Emma, because they were never used with Haley. Therefore, all of Emma's clothes are big on her.
There are many obvious differences between our two girls, but one thing that will always remain the same with them is our unchanging love for them. They are both our princesses, and we will always love them both. God has blessed us so much.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Dual-citizenship
Emma is a Honduran citizen because she was born here. She is also an American citizen because we are American citizens. Before we can travel anywhere with her we have to obtain all of her paperwork from both countries. Yesterday Matt started that process.
My dad told Matt that the National Registry of people was in one place, but if Matt only had to go to one place, that would have been too easy. The first place he went to did not do birth certificates, so he set out to find the other place across the city. He arrived at 11:40, and by noon, he called me to say that he had Emma's birth certificate. I was shocked that he was able to get it that fast. After he got home though, we found out that he has to have a different form before we apply for Emma's US citizen born abroad certificate and passport.
Unfortunately, the process of getting her US paperwork will take longer than the 20 minutes that it took to get Emma's birth certificate. The funny thing about Emma being Honduran is that she officially has two last names. Her legal Honduran name is Emma Kate Fitzgerald Tindall. In Honduras the first last name is the dad's last name and the second is the mother's. Generally, their legal name at birth is always their legal name. It does not change upon marriage.
My dad told Matt that the National Registry of people was in one place, but if Matt only had to go to one place, that would have been too easy. The first place he went to did not do birth certificates, so he set out to find the other place across the city. He arrived at 11:40, and by noon, he called me to say that he had Emma's birth certificate. I was shocked that he was able to get it that fast. After he got home though, we found out that he has to have a different form before we apply for Emma's US citizen born abroad certificate and passport.
Unfortunately, the process of getting her US paperwork will take longer than the 20 minutes that it took to get Emma's birth certificate. The funny thing about Emma being Honduran is that she officially has two last names. Her legal Honduran name is Emma Kate Fitzgerald Tindall. In Honduras the first last name is the dad's last name and the second is the mother's. Generally, their legal name at birth is always their legal name. It does not change upon marriage.
Monday, July 23, 2012
The BR Group
On July 5, fifteen from Baton Rouge arrived here in Tegucigalpa along with our dear friend Sherry Hubright. Included in the group was our mentors and friends Kin and Donna Ellis. It was a blessing and encouragement to have a group from our supporting church come to share in the work we do on a daily basis.
I was so excited for their arrival. Initially, I planned to go to dinner and devotional every single night no matter how I felt. I had not lightened my load any at the children's home, and was becoming very tired in my pregnancy, but I really wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. I said to Matt before they came the only work with CdE that I was going to do was my Teleton appointments. Between the doctor appointment that I had and Teleton appointments, I was scheduled to have 5 appointments while they were here and on the days they were not doing labor, I hoped to go with them.
The group arrived on Thursday. Friday, I had to spend much of the day at Teleton. Fortunately, Donna went with me for the day and helped watch Haley and the others as I went into the appointments for each kid. At the end of the day, the plan was to have a big bond fire and to roast marshmellows and hot dogs with our kids here at CdE. Due to rain, the bond fire got canceled.
Saturday I worked with the kids most of the day. Sunday, I drove to town after church and enjoyed a nice meal at a Mexican restaurant (yes Mexican food is very different from Honduran food) with the folks from BR. Monday night, I started telling Donna, Kate and Sherry that my mother-in-law Cheryl was going to be very jealous because I thought they would be able to meet Emma that week and Cheryl wouldn't. I was starting to have contractions. For several hours, I was having strong contractions 20 minutes apart. I was certain they were going to become more frequent, but during the night they slowed down.
I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning, and Dr. Darwin was ready to do the c-section right then because he said I could go into labor any minute. He told me the absulute latest we could do it was Wednesday. I was nervous about going into labor from Santa Ana, but I really wanted Matt to be there with me. The doctor told me to go directly home and to do nothing till I arrived at the hospital. I disobeyed the orders, and went to have one last meal with our group before going home. Everyone was in a mode of celebration for the news of Emma's coming.
It was very uplifting that Sherry and Donna came and spent most of the day at the hospital while Emma was born. While they did not get to see Emma except through a window, I felt their moral support and love.
Before I went to the hospital, my girls received a number of gifts from various people in the church. While we are far away from the folks in Baton Rouge, we felt their love from the people that came to work with Honduras Hope in forms such as books, candies, baby things, and a very special doll that came for Haley. It is amazing how God gave us a group of other beilievers that allows us to have a great family in all parts of the world.
To Kin, Donna, Sherry, Blaine, Kate, David, Jimmy, Leigh, Hannah, Kierra, Lydia, Justin, William, Woody, Nathanial, and Jack: Each of you was a bigger encouragement to us than you know. Thank you for giving up ten days of your time to serve the people of Honduras. To the missions committee and elders of SBRCC: we love that we are part of such a mission-minded church that helps to send people to so many parts of the world to share the love of Christ. To Eddie, Kin, Blaine, Robin, David, and Michelle: We love that the ministers at South are so missions-minded and constantly encourage people to get up out of the pews and DO THE GOSPEL. We are blessed to be a part of such an awesome church family.
I was so excited for their arrival. Initially, I planned to go to dinner and devotional every single night no matter how I felt. I had not lightened my load any at the children's home, and was becoming very tired in my pregnancy, but I really wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. I said to Matt before they came the only work with CdE that I was going to do was my Teleton appointments. Between the doctor appointment that I had and Teleton appointments, I was scheduled to have 5 appointments while they were here and on the days they were not doing labor, I hoped to go with them.
The group arrived on Thursday. Friday, I had to spend much of the day at Teleton. Fortunately, Donna went with me for the day and helped watch Haley and the others as I went into the appointments for each kid. At the end of the day, the plan was to have a big bond fire and to roast marshmellows and hot dogs with our kids here at CdE. Due to rain, the bond fire got canceled.
Saturday I worked with the kids most of the day. Sunday, I drove to town after church and enjoyed a nice meal at a Mexican restaurant (yes Mexican food is very different from Honduran food) with the folks from BR. Monday night, I started telling Donna, Kate and Sherry that my mother-in-law Cheryl was going to be very jealous because I thought they would be able to meet Emma that week and Cheryl wouldn't. I was starting to have contractions. For several hours, I was having strong contractions 20 minutes apart. I was certain they were going to become more frequent, but during the night they slowed down.
I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning, and Dr. Darwin was ready to do the c-section right then because he said I could go into labor any minute. He told me the absulute latest we could do it was Wednesday. I was nervous about going into labor from Santa Ana, but I really wanted Matt to be there with me. The doctor told me to go directly home and to do nothing till I arrived at the hospital. I disobeyed the orders, and went to have one last meal with our group before going home. Everyone was in a mode of celebration for the news of Emma's coming.
It was very uplifting that Sherry and Donna came and spent most of the day at the hospital while Emma was born. While they did not get to see Emma except through a window, I felt their moral support and love.
Before I went to the hospital, my girls received a number of gifts from various people in the church. While we are far away from the folks in Baton Rouge, we felt their love from the people that came to work with Honduras Hope in forms such as books, candies, baby things, and a very special doll that came for Haley. It is amazing how God gave us a group of other beilievers that allows us to have a great family in all parts of the world.
To Kin, Donna, Sherry, Blaine, Kate, David, Jimmy, Leigh, Hannah, Kierra, Lydia, Justin, William, Woody, Nathanial, and Jack: Each of you was a bigger encouragement to us than you know. Thank you for giving up ten days of your time to serve the people of Honduras. To the missions committee and elders of SBRCC: we love that we are part of such a mission-minded church that helps to send people to so many parts of the world to share the love of Christ. To Eddie, Kin, Blaine, Robin, David, and Michelle: We love that the ministers at South are so missions-minded and constantly encourage people to get up out of the pews and DO THE GOSPEL. We are blessed to be a part of such an awesome church family.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Blue-eyed Honduran Girl
I've decided that Emma is going to be the one to keep us on our toes. That is what she has been doing since even before she made her appearance. She was just so eager to come meet us, so eager that she felt the need to come to this world almost a month early. With Haley's due date being July 18, 2009, I thought she might come on my cousin Alison's birthday, but instead, I was induced on July 20. With Emma's due date being August 6, we didn't even question the possibility that she would be born on July 11. However, last week at my doctors visit, my doctor said I was so close to going into labor that we couldn't wait. He wanted to do it Tuesday afternoon, but I wanted Matt to be with me at the hospital. I asked if we could do it the next day. He agreed but made me promise that I would go home and do absolutely nothing. I tried hard to oblige, but it was difficult. I was just praying that my contractions would not become too frequent and that my water would not break between the bathroom and the couch.
We got to the hospital about 9:30. My surgery was scheduled for 11:00 but no one thought it would happen before noon. About 10:00, both of my parents, Haley, Donna and Sherry were in my room to be there to support me as I went in to surgery. Haley actually left with my friend Melissa while I was in surgery, but she was there until they rolled me out of the room. Surprisingly, I was taken down to the OR about 10:45. The surgery went well, and Emma took her first breath at 11:50 AM. I saw her for about a half second before they took her to the nursery.
Upon entering the nursery, Dr. Castillo quickly discovered that Emma had fluid in her lungs. He ordered that she be put on oxygen to help clear the fluid from her lungs. He thought she would be on oxygen only for a few hours. Shortly after birth, Emma started breathing heavily. Every breath was a gasp. Her little belly protruded outward with every breath. Even though the fluid in her lungs was clearing, the breathing remained a struggle for the little baby. By the close of Wednesday night she was put into an incubator. I'm sure the doctor told me this on Wednesday, but I am not so sure that I was listening because when I was finally able to see her on Thursday, she was in an incubator.
Thursday morning, Emma was very jaundiced. The bilirubin level was very high. Shortly after I met her, the light was turned on her. By noon on that day, she was in the incubator with an IV and oxygen and the light. Her breathing was very heavy. Her pulse was very high. I was worried.
Friday and Saturday were great days of improvement. Sunday, Emma was finally able to nurse, but she couldn't breathe while trying to nurse. She turned a little purple, so the doctor told me I could nurse, but I have still been giving her mommy milk from a bottle. Sunday night, the doctor told us that Emma had a cardiologist appointment on Monday.
Monday, I spent most of the day in the nursery with Emma. I was there when they moved her out of the incubator into the bassinet. I was so happy that I cried. They still had her in the bassinet with a small amount of oxygen, but it was because they were weaning her off of it slowly. Monday afternoon, after Emma saw the cardiologist, she and the pediatrician came to tell us that there is a very small hole in Emma's heart and another small hole in a ventricle that connects the ateries. This is what has been causing her difficulty in breathing. They assumed that the holes had already closed a bit with all of her treatments and will close more with some medication. Fortunately, Emma will not be facing a surgery in her near future.
Dr. Castillo told us we would be able to take Emma home on Tuesday. I foolishly thought that would be Tuesday morning. By 7:00 I had gotten ready and had all of our stuff packed. Time could not have ticked more slowly yesterday as we were waiting to take Emma home. The doctor came at 2:00 to sign all of Emma's release papers and to explain to me how to make all of her medicines and how to give them to her. We went home with an entire mini farmacy. We finally left the hospital at 4:00.
Emma gave us a bit of a scare. We are praising God for answering our prayers and healing Emma. We are grateful that she is home with us now. And finally, call us biased, but she is the most beautiful blue-eyed Honduran ever. Thank God for such a sweet blessing.
We got to the hospital about 9:30. My surgery was scheduled for 11:00 but no one thought it would happen before noon. About 10:00, both of my parents, Haley, Donna and Sherry were in my room to be there to support me as I went in to surgery. Haley actually left with my friend Melissa while I was in surgery, but she was there until they rolled me out of the room. Surprisingly, I was taken down to the OR about 10:45. The surgery went well, and Emma took her first breath at 11:50 AM. I saw her for about a half second before they took her to the nursery.
Upon entering the nursery, Dr. Castillo quickly discovered that Emma had fluid in her lungs. He ordered that she be put on oxygen to help clear the fluid from her lungs. He thought she would be on oxygen only for a few hours. Shortly after birth, Emma started breathing heavily. Every breath was a gasp. Her little belly protruded outward with every breath. Even though the fluid in her lungs was clearing, the breathing remained a struggle for the little baby. By the close of Wednesday night she was put into an incubator. I'm sure the doctor told me this on Wednesday, but I am not so sure that I was listening because when I was finally able to see her on Thursday, she was in an incubator.
Thursday morning, Emma was very jaundiced. The bilirubin level was very high. Shortly after I met her, the light was turned on her. By noon on that day, she was in the incubator with an IV and oxygen and the light. Her breathing was very heavy. Her pulse was very high. I was worried.
Friday and Saturday were great days of improvement. Sunday, Emma was finally able to nurse, but she couldn't breathe while trying to nurse. She turned a little purple, so the doctor told me I could nurse, but I have still been giving her mommy milk from a bottle. Sunday night, the doctor told us that Emma had a cardiologist appointment on Monday.
Monday, I spent most of the day in the nursery with Emma. I was there when they moved her out of the incubator into the bassinet. I was so happy that I cried. They still had her in the bassinet with a small amount of oxygen, but it was because they were weaning her off of it slowly. Monday afternoon, after Emma saw the cardiologist, she and the pediatrician came to tell us that there is a very small hole in Emma's heart and another small hole in a ventricle that connects the ateries. This is what has been causing her difficulty in breathing. They assumed that the holes had already closed a bit with all of her treatments and will close more with some medication. Fortunately, Emma will not be facing a surgery in her near future.
Dr. Castillo told us we would be able to take Emma home on Tuesday. I foolishly thought that would be Tuesday morning. By 7:00 I had gotten ready and had all of our stuff packed. Time could not have ticked more slowly yesterday as we were waiting to take Emma home. The doctor came at 2:00 to sign all of Emma's release papers and to explain to me how to make all of her medicines and how to give them to her. We went home with an entire mini farmacy. We finally left the hospital at 4:00.
Emma gave us a bit of a scare. We are praising God for answering our prayers and healing Emma. We are grateful that she is home with us now. And finally, call us biased, but she is the most beautiful blue-eyed Honduran ever. Thank God for such a sweet blessing.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Home Made Love - A Special Gift for Haley
As groups have come, many people have arrived with a gift for Emma and a gift for Haley. Two lady's from Childress gave a baby shower in a bag for Emma, but also in that bag was two cups that she did not put down for days. She wanted to be drinking out of both of them at the same time, one with juice, one with water. The books that Kate Tucker brought have been read many times since last Thursday.
Tonight, Haley may have received her absolute favorite gift EVER. A sweet lady from BR sent with her son a hand-sewn rag doll. The doll has brown yarn for hair. She came in a carrying case that was also hand made. On the inside of the case, one side has a bed, and the other has a little closet full of clothes. From the time Haley received it at dinner until we put Haley in bed, she was changing the doll in and out of her clothes. She kissed the doll many times, and the doll kissed her back. She said this doll was her favorite. We told her that Mrs. Tammy made the doll just for her. Tonight the usual party of 5 dolls and stuffed animals to sleep with Haley was replaced with this one very special doll.
We are so grateful to all of the people who have poured out their love to us in so many ways this summer, big and small. Thank you to Tammy for sending such a special little gift for Haley that we know was made with so much love; you made a little girl very happy.
Tonight, Haley may have received her absolute favorite gift EVER. A sweet lady from BR sent with her son a hand-sewn rag doll. The doll has brown yarn for hair. She came in a carrying case that was also hand made. On the inside of the case, one side has a bed, and the other has a little closet full of clothes. From the time Haley received it at dinner until we put Haley in bed, she was changing the doll in and out of her clothes. She kissed the doll many times, and the doll kissed her back. She said this doll was her favorite. We told her that Mrs. Tammy made the doll just for her. Tonight the usual party of 5 dolls and stuffed animals to sleep with Haley was replaced with this one very special doll.
We are so grateful to all of the people who have poured out their love to us in so many ways this summer, big and small. Thank you to Tammy for sending such a special little gift for Haley that we know was made with so much love; you made a little girl very happy.
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