Adios 2008...Bienvenidos 2009!

2008 was a year of travel for the Davis crew. We logged some serious miles which provided awesome experiences and great memories. Various members of the family touched down in Texas, North Carolina, Indiana, Lake Erie, Kansas, Canada, Ireland, Wales, England, and twice in Guatemala! We enjoyed youth conferences, multiple mission trips, visiting family, fishing, hunting, touring with a choir, and loads of fun. At one point this summer I had four different types of currency in my purse...pounds and euros from Europe, quetzales from Guatemala, and US currency. I tried to pay with pounds at Target in Ohio. It didn't work.

2008 also provided some firsts for our family. Gustavo entered kindergarten. Marco began "all day" school in first grade and played baseball for the first time. Ana Lucia said goodbye to diapers and hello to underwear (and Mommy and Daddy celebrated like crazy). Zack got his DRIVER'S LICENSE - wow. Katie entered high school.

There were some challenges as well. A few medical issues brought about a lifestyle change, a serious scare, and some ongoing evaluation. There is always the challenge to raise 5 children, devote our lives to God's calling for our family, and do it well.

We enjoyed Katie's involvement in the Cincinnati Children's Choir, Zack's involvement in baseball, Journey church activities, relaxing around the pool, and time spent with family and friends.

2009 promises to be interesting. There are opportunities for several mission trips. Katie will be eligible to begin driver's training. Zack will be making some college decisions. A family trip to Guatemala in July will be the first return trip for the three youngest since coming home as infants in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and will include foster family and birth family reunions. We are working on several fundraising ideas to fund projects in Guatemala. 2009 will continue to proclaim our family's mantra...never a dull moment. ;)

Goodbye 2008 - you rocked!

Welcome 2009 - who knows what you will bring...

From our family to yours

The Reason for the Season

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Luke 2:1-20

We made it!!!

Wahoo, we made it to Christmas break! Each year on the first day of school I secretly start the countdown to Christmas vacation. Pitiful.

I am so ready to relax, hang out, sleep in, play games, enjoy holiday happenings with family and friends, and whatever the holiday brings.

From our family to yours - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



I hope your holidays will be filled with smiles, laughter, and sweet memories...










...and free of stress, fits, hair-pulling, and general craziness. ;)






Glædelig Jul
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Joyeux Noel
Froehliche Weihnachten
Mele Kalikimaka
Buone Feste Natalizie
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Feliz Navidad

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

5 years...unbelievable!

Five years ago this week we were in Guatemala finalizing Gustavo's adoption. It had been a wild 6 months since receiving his referral. The trip felt surreal. It was the week before Christmas and Mark and I were hanging out in sunny 80 degree weather preparing to bring home our son who we feared would quite possibly never join our family.

Gustavo loves the story of his homecoming. He particularly loves one part of the story. My parents brought Zack, Katie and Marco to the airport to greet the newest family member. After the initial hugs and kisses we headed to baggage claim. Marco was sitting in his stroller and my mother knelt down with Gustavo in her arms. As she was allowing the new brothers to get to know one another Marco reached out and "tweaked" (grabbed) Gustavo's nose. It was as if Marco was saying "welcome to the family Gustavo...just realize I am the older brother!"

On December 18, 2003 Gustavo Adolfo arrived in Ohio and our family has never been the same. According to his foster family Gustavo started giggling at ten days old. We totally believe it! He has a zest for life like no other.

We are so thankful for the past 5 years...and can't imagine what the future holds! Enjoy the video tribute to the boy we honor this week. :)

Keeping it Real

It is relatively easy to sit down and pen a post sharing about the positive aspects of life. However, in the spirit of "keeping it real" I must be honest and say that there are some crappy days in the midst of life. Looking around and observing the hardships experienced by many around the globe can put one's stress into perspective - quickly. However, one shouldn't be ashamed to admit there are days when life can be downright frustrating. The above picture is what I looked like yesterday afternoon. Trust me, just ask my teenagers and husband...

While I love the dynamics of having a big family, it can be tough to raise five children. While I wholeheartedly believe in international adoption, it can be difficult to deal with the long-term effects of malnutrition on a child born in a developing nation. While I am thankful for the passion God has instilled in me for the people of Guatemala, it can be challenging to figure out how God has called me to make a difference. While I love having a wide age range in my children, it can be tiring to live in the world of young children and teenagers at the same time. My desire is to serve God, serve my family, and serve those in need. There are days when doing it all at the same time creates a feeling of not really giving each area enough. Shortchanging - this is the concept that weighs heavily on my shoulders.

My dear, sweet, supportive husband sent me to a hotel last night for the purpose of relaxing, renewing myself, spending time in prayer, and simply being in a quiet environment. I read (my idea of paradise). I prayed. I wrote down ideas and goals. I slept.

Today is a new day. Yes, the reality of our lives is that there are challenges. No one said life was simple...or easy. Yesterday our pastor spoke about unwrapping the potential God created in us. Every single person was created for greatness. I am going to use one of the scriptures he shared as a reminder when I am dragging a bit.

"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."
~2 Thessalonians 3:13

The Promise Land combined with Fantasy Island...

...describes Nana and Papa's house!

Our children are blessed with two sets of grandparents and 2 great-grandmothers. Growing up with grandparents in your life is a great treasure.

I grew up with a grandmother who lived just 4 houses down the street. Mark grew up with a grandmother living in his home. While our children have never lived closer than 90 minutes away from my parents, they have spent their growing up years with Nana and Papa. It is a huge treat to go stay with Nana and Papa! Zack has affectionately nicknamed their home as "The Promise Land". Mark and I have joked over the years that it is Fantasy Island for the kids. Each child has had opportunities to go alone to Nana and Papa's. BIG DEAL. TRUST ME.

Being at Nana and Papa's means special treats like late (or no) bedtime, sleeping in the "big bed" with Nana, eating a million frozen strawberry bars, ordering Pizza King pizza, walking to the candy store, going to Jerry's for ice cream, walking down to Memaw's house, visiting Gigi at the nursing home, and the list goes on and on.

My mother used to worry that when the grandkids became teenagers they would not want to keep returning for visits. Reality is quite the contrary. Yes, all of the teen grandchildren still love to go to Nana & Papa's. Zack loves to begin his Christmas break and summer break at their house with a few days to totally chill out.

As the grandchildren grow up their relationship with my parents is strengthened. Zack loves to golf with my dad. Both Zack and Katie chat with my mom on Facebook. Yes, Nana has a facebook page and the teen grandchildren are teaching her how to use it!

I hope my children realize what a blessing it is to have 6 living grandparents in their lives. I hope they understand what a treasure it is to have such a close relationship with their Nana and Papa. My parents have been involved in my children's lives from the beginning. They were at the hospital on both Zack and Katie's birth days. They were in the hospital room as I progressed through labor. They were waiting in the room as Mark and I returned from surgery with our firstborn. They began cuddling and kissing him when he was less than an hour old. They were at the hospital again when I was in labor with Katie. My mom was even able to be present at Katie's birth. When the nurse asked her if she wanted to come into the operating room she had the scrubs on in record time! My parents were standing at the gate at the airport when we traveled home with Marco. I'll never forget walking off the plane and seeing them standing there waiting to meet their newest grandson. When we brought Gustavo home my parents brought Zack, Katie and Marco to the airport. They were all waiting at the closest point (literally) allowed by airport security. They were out of state when Ana Lucia came home and headed to our house practically as soon as they returned home. I remember they walked in the front door and couldn't wait to get their hands on her.

Nana and Papa have been there for grandparent days at school, sporting events, every birthday, Christmas, and many more important days in the lives of their grandchildren. With 9 grandchildren such involvement is a huge commitment. They love each grandchild as an individual and celebrate each one's uniqueness.

I am thrilled that my teenagers realize the importance of grandparents in their lives and haven't outgrown their love of spending time at The Promise Land/Fantasy Island.



Grandparents are a family's greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, the greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family's strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.
~author unknown

Uno, the symphony, and Christmas ornaments...huh?

Location, location, location is the mantra heard regarding the purchase or sale of a home. I believe this phrase could easily translate to neighbors, neighbors, neighbors. We are blessed to have fabulous neighbors at our current house. We also had awesome neighbors at our Indianapolis home. Some neighbors become friends, and some neighbors become family.

We first met “Mr. Steve and Miss Judy” when Zack was 4 and Katie 2. They built a house in the cul-de-sac. I noticed as the house was being constructed that there were outlets installed on the exterior of the house in places that could only mean one thing – the owners planned on hanging Christmas lights. I knew I liked them before ever meeting them! As it turns out, I was correct. They have the most spectacular Christmas lights each year.

We lived in the Indianapolis house for six years and our relationship with Mr. Steve and Miss Judy grew from acquaintance to family. Zack and Katie grew up feeling like they had an aunt and uncle two houses away. We had two children and they had a dog. Our kids were always welcome in their home and their dog Skeeter considered our house his second home. He cleaned the scraps of food off our kitchen floor quite nicely! Katie would go over and play Uno with Mr. Steve. Miss Judy and I would sit on her porch swing and visit. Mr. Steve was always my “help desk” and general fix-it guy. Miss Judy is a news producer so the kids were able to visit the television studio during a broadcast and see some behind-the-scenes action of the news world.

Mr. Steve and Miss Judy host a lovely Christmas party every December. A portion of the party is devoted to decorating their Christmas tree. They patiently allow the children to hang ornaments, and then lovingly rearranged some to the top of the tree or hold the children up to place them. Moving to Ohio meant leaving our dear neighbors, and felt like leaving family next door.

After becoming residents of the buckeye state, we committed to maintaining certain family traditions, even if it meant across state lines. Since we can no longer sit on the porch swing and visit in the evening, Miss Judy and I have created an annual get-away weekend for the two of us. One tradition we have kept up is attending the Christmas party and going to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Yuletide celebration. We make a weekend out of it by going to Yuletide with Mr. Steve and Miss Judy on Friday night and then attending their Christmas party on Saturday night. The weekend is a staple of the Davis holiday season. Through this tradition the three youngest kids are getting to know Mr. Steve and Miss Judy as well. We also get to visit with another family who lived in the neighborhood during the same time. Their daughters, Tara and Kaitlyn, spent a lot of time playing with Zack and Katie. It is a treasure to know that once each year all three families will spend time together.

This past weekend was our “Indianapolis holiday weekend”. Zack, Katie, and a friend of Katie’s accompanied me on Friday as we drove over to attend Yuletide. Mark and the 3 little ones were scheduled to drive over on Saturday for the party. Sickness hit in Cincinnati and Mark and the little kids had to stay home much to everyone’s disappointment. Otherwise, the weekend was filled with much fun. Two more of Zack and Katie’s childhood friends joined us Friday evening at the symphony. Mr. Steve wondered what happened to the “kids” as 5 teenagers sat in front of us at the symphony. Uno was played well past midnight between the teens and Mr. Steve. It was the first time for us to be with our friends who lost their daughter, Kaitlyn, suddenly and unexpectedly to an illness. She died the day before Zack, Katie, and I left for Guatemala and we missed her funeral. It was difficult for us to see them without Kaitlyn but healing to talk about our memories of all the kids being together. The kids who used to be in diapers together are now teenagers. Where has time gone?

The holidays are such an awesome time to enjoy traditions with friends and family!

Decorating the tree in 2006


Gustavo, Kaitlyn, Katie, Tara, and Marco in 2006
Little did we know this would be our last time with Kaitlyn


The teenagers constructing the tree with Mr. Steve in 2008


Tara, Zack, Katie, and Katie's Cincinnati friend Hannah...teenagers are really just big kids!

An "I DID IT" list!

If you read this blog you know that I am a list maker. I do love a good list!

I copied this from another blog and found it fun to complete. The items in all CAPS are things I have done. What about you?


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
7. Been to Disneyland
8. CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN – IF HIKING UP/DOWN COUNTS THEN YES
9. HELD A PRAYING MANTIS
10. SANG A SOLO – IN 5TH GRADE I PROMISE!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. ADOPTED A CHILD
16. HAD FOOD POISONING
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
24. BUILT A SNOW FORT
25. HELD A LAMB – AND IT POOPED ON ME!
26. GONE SKINNY DIPPING – SHHHH, DON’T TELL OUR KIDS!
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
32. BEEN ON A CRUISE
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. SEEN AN AMISH COMMUNITY
36. TAUGHT YOURSELF A NEW LANGUAGE – STILL TRYING…
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. SUNG KARAOKE – SCARY BUT TRUE (IN MY BASEMENT, NOT PUBLIC)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
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
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. GOT FLOWERS FOR NO REASON
64. DONATED BLOOD, PLATELETS OR PLASMA
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. BOUNCED A CHECK – WOOPS!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. VISITED THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
71. Eaten Caviar
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 – SAW IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, DIDN’T GO IN
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. HAD CHICKEN POX
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
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. OWNED A CELL PHONE
99. BEEN STUNG BY A BEE
100. READ AN ENTIRE BOOK IN ONE DAY

Now, I'll add my own twist. List 5 things you hope to still accomplish in your lifetime. Here is my list:

1. Go on a mission trip somewhere in Africa
2. Have each of my three youngest children meet someone from their birth family
3. Develop a skill in photography
4. Write a book
5. Be blessed with a bunch of grandchildren who love to spend time at their grandparent's home

Your turn...

Oh Happy Day!!!

Have you ever wanted something so bad you physically ached? And when you get it your whole being goes into freak-out mode? Be honest.

Five years ago this morning was one of those moments for me.

Our family was in the midst of Gustavo’s adoption process. Believe me, it had been quite a ride. We were matched with him in June when he was just 9 days old. The adoption process shut down during the summer months. We didn’t know if we would ever bring Gustavo home. Even scarier, we feared he would be placed in an orphanage and never have the security and love of a family. When the adoption process opened in the fall we shouted for joy and began the hope that he would indeed join our family. We prayed he would be home by his first birthday.

In November 2003 I gave myself a stern lecture. Even though my heart was breaking with my baby still in Guatemala, I realized I had 3 children at home who deserved a joyous holiday season. I committed to try to stop worrying about the adoption until January. While this was easier said than done, my intention was sincere.

As we drove to Thanksgiving dinner my thoughts wandered to Guatemala as I stared out the car window. I felt Mark’s hand squeeze mine as he gave me the “it will be ok” look. This mama’s heart had a hole in it that would not be filled until a chubby little brown-eyed, black hair Guatemalan baby boy was home.

Fast forward to Monday morning after the Thanksgiving holiday. Mark worked from home that morning and sent me out Christmas shopping. You know those moments in your life when, no matter how much time has passed, you can remember every second? I was shopping in the electronics department at Target when my cell phone rang. Caller id informed me that it was our adoption agency. A million thoughts ran through my mind in the nanosecond it took me to answer my phone. The director of the agency was on the other end and simply said “You’re out of PGN”. To those involved in Guatemalan adoptions you know exactly what this phrase means and the significance of it. To all others it simply means the adoption has been approved. Our boy was coming home!

As the words sank in I stopped breathing – literally. I then blurted out the first thing that came to mind, “Are you sure it is our case?” Oh, client of little faith! Yes, the agency director assured me that she was absolutely certain. Well, bring on the ugly cry. This is the point that my brain realized what I had been aching for was coming to fruition. The freak-out mode hit high gear. Try to picture me standing in the middle of the electronics department at Target, cell phone in hand, clinging to the shopping cart, trying to remember to breathe, and crying in a very ugly manner. The agency director on the other end of the line gave me time to collect myself. I wonder if the Target employee briefly considered calling security about the woman having a nervous breakdown in his department?

After asking a few important questions I hung up the phone and called Mark. I could barely get the words out from crying and laughing. I’m sure he was a bit frightened on the other end of the call. His wife was losing it and it took a few seconds for him to realize it was all wonderful news! Little did I know that morning when leaving with a heavy heart that we would be in Guatemala in 13 days bringing our boy home. Life changes in an instant.

Due to the adoption being in jeopardy throughout the process I had done very little shopping for a new baby. There was no baby bed for Gustavo; Marco slept in the current crib. There was no car seat. I needed to get busy!

As soon as I ended the celebratory phone call with Mark I headed straight to the baby department and shopped like a maniac. I had my own baby shower right there in Target! With each packet of onsies, baby bottle, and package of diapers I threw in the cart I wanted to shout out to every person “OUR BABY IS COMING HOME!!!”

So today is a special day. In all of those sleepless, worrisome, frightening moments of Gustavo’s adoption I needed to take a deep breath and realize that while I had no idea if that call would come God did. God knew the exact moment of the joyous telephone call and the exact moment Gustavo would sleep in his new baby bed in Ohio.

The Monday after Thanksgiving will forever be a day of celebration in our home. I should have taken the kids to Target this morning to honor the moment! Yeah, I am just that obnoxious…

My Three Sons

Three sons - what an adventure. Add two daughters to the mix and our home is a bustling hub of toddler-to-teen activity!

Boys are interesting. Here is a news flash - they tend to think differently than girls! They wrestle, they run in the house, they can be really loud, they delight in bodily noises and functions, they have legos and action figures everywhere, they have no problem getting disgustingly dirty, and they are a whole lot of fun!

I am so thankful that we have the opportunity to parent both boys and girls.





Do you think Marco and Gustavo "look up" to big brother Zack?

Thankful

My parents



My hubby



Our oldest - he claims to be our "guinea pig" child - we tried it all first on him


Our adventurous one


Handsome sweet boy


Future X-games star


Little Miss


*God's presence in our lives
*Journey Church
*Our entire family
*Friends
*Our health
*Birth families and foster families in Guatemala
*and so much more!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

Favored companions

Friend. Webster's definition includes:

*one attached to another by affection or esteem

*a favored companion

My definition includes:

*people who share life experiences with complete freedom, cry together, hug, and laugh until they pee their pants

This weekend our family is going "home" to Indianapolis to visit with some dear friends. Three girlfriends will be together, along with their families, and simply enjoy being together.

Our friendship began fourteen years ago. We met in a stay-at-home mom group. Zack was 2 and Katie was just a baby. Stephanie's son was a baby and Marcia's kids were the same age as mine. We were three moms with really young kids who had left our careers to be home full time. We were three very different women with one common bond. The three of us clicked and the fun began.

We have experienced laughter, tears, frustration, joy, pride, disappointment, and so many more emotions together. When my friend found her dream home she called me and asked me to come see it. I changed her daughter's first poopy diaper in the hospital. When we lived in Indiana we always made Christmas cookies together with the children making a huge mess but loving every second of it. We have had a million game nights! When I needed to take Mark to the hospital, my friend took Zack and Katie in the middle of the night. You know those kinds of friends - the ones who share the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The three of us have gone to the Oprah show, ventured to New York City, traveled to various conferences together, and spent many a night together in Indianapolis. Because I have not lived near them for 6 years we don't spend as much time together as we would like. However, when we are lucky enough to be together it is like we have not been apart for more than five minutes.

Life has changed dramatically for the three of us in the fourteen years we have known one another. There have been divorces, a second marriage, more children added to the families, return to careers, a doctorate degree earned, a cancer battle fought and defeated, parenting struggles and victories, and life lived.

It is fun to share such a rich history with others. It is also fun to listen to our children talk about their memories together. Some highlights include falling out of a tree, getting lost at the circus, decorating Christmas cookies, playing at the farm, and probably some the parents don't know of!

My friend Stephanie is a wonderful cook, and her home is the most warm and inviting haven you'll ever experience. During our phone conversation yesterday we decided that we would not have time to sleep this weekend. Marcia and her kids are coming over on Saturday night. It will be a grand evening. Stephanie decided that since it is the Thanksgiving season, and the three of us are all so thankful for one another and being together again this weekend, she is going to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night and we are going to celebrate us. I love it.

Friend: a most treasured blessing.

Feel free to wonder about what is happening with our families this weekend. I am predicting lots of hugs, little children and teenagers playing on the farm, game night, walking down memory lane, very little sleep, and definitely lots of laughter. Yeah, there just might be peeing in the pants too. And it won't be Ana Lucia...

Be disturbed...then do something about it

1. How many children under the age of 5 die each year as a result of hunger?

a) 800,000
b) 2 million
c) 6 million

2. Infectious diseases are the most common killer of children under age 5 in the developing world. But the risk of dying from those diseases is far greater for children who are malnourished. How much greater is the risk of death for a child who is seriously malnourished?

a) 8.4 times greater
b) 4.6 times greater
c) 2.5 times greater

3. A citizen of one of 24 developed nations has an average life expectancy of 70 years. In the countries most affected by hunger and malnutrition, what is the average life expectancy?

a) 30 years
b) 38 years
c) 50 years

4. What region of the world has the highest prevalence of under nourishment?

a) Central America
b) Sub-Sahara Africa
c) East Asia

Hunger Facts

*More than 840 million people in the world are malnourished - 799 million of them live in the developing world.

*More than 153 million of the world's malnourished people are children under the age of 5.

*Malnutrition can severely affect a child's intellectual development. Malnourished children often have stunted growth and score significantly lower on math and language achievement tests than do well-nourished children.

*Most of the widespread hunger in a world of plenty results from grinding, deeply rooted poverty. In any given year, however, between 5 and 10 percent of the total can be traced to specific events: droughts or floods, armed conflict, political, social and economic disruptions.

The above quiz and statistics were taken from www.care.org. The answers to the quiz are c,a,b,b.





More sobering statistics

*More than 15,000 people throughout the world will die TODAY from hunger

*More than 72,000 tons of food will be wasted TODAY in America alone

*Yet, only about 15,000 tons of global aid will be provided today throughout the world

The above statistics were taken from www.stopthehunger.com.

The truth is hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, a reality in which people simply cannot afford the most basic need for food.

There is so much to learn about hunger and poverty, and addressing the needs. My eyes and heart have been opened to some of the realities faced by way too many people. All of the pictures shared in this post today were not googled or copied from the internet. Each of these children featured in today's post are precious children I have met - in their community. I have hugged some of them, laughed with some of them, and cried about each and every one of them. I have been in their homes or villages. Each child that peers at you from the computer screen is living a life of poverty and hunger. Each child lives in a village where a feeding center is attempting to provide a nutritious meal anywhere from one to five days a week. Each feeding center is unique in what it provides depending on their resources. The provided meal is likely the ONLY meal the child eats on that particular day.

Hunger is prevalent all over the world, and even in the United States. Will you join me in trying to make a difference? Through research and personal travels I assure you that everyone can do something. Support an organization that feeds the hungry, collect items and donate locally or globally, get creative and do something crazy!

These next two pictures are from one of my favorite days during a trip I took to Guatemala last January. The children were at the feeding center and a bit leery of the three American ladies who visited with them. Notice their faces in the photo.



Now notice their smiles and laughter. Shouldn't this be the way children look?



Allow the photos to disturb you. Get frustrated at the statistics. Then do something about it!

The learning curve

Becoming a multi-racial family has given us the opportunity to learn and grow. We are on a continual learning curve, and still have much to understand. We grow by learning from others and "on our feet" in the midst of daily happenings. I have never, to my knowledge, been judged by the color of my skin. Nor have I ever been denied entrance to a facility or access to opportunity simply because I look a certain way. The only time I am ever a minority, both by my skin color and spoken language, is when I travel to Guatemala.

When I am in Guatemala I look different. I sound different - especially when I attempt to speak my horrible Spanish! Particularly when I am out in the rural areas I stick out like a sore thumb. I have had children peak at me from behind trees and shirk away from me because I am a strange-looking white woman. Each time I fly home from Guatemala it feels strange upon landing in the US and hearing English all around me. However, I realize these experiences really do not offer a true picture of being a minority. I have the ability to step back into being part of the majority.

Our family continues to learn about being multi-racial. Some of us are white with some German and British heritage. Some of us are brown with some Maya and Spanish heritage. While we do not discount any of our ethnicity, we look at skin color simply as that - skin color. As the three youngest get older conversations about skin color become more frequent. Phrases such as "he is brown like me", "I am brown but you are white Mom", and "he has brown skin so did he come home on an airplane?" are part of our daily life. Sometimes the conversations are funny, and sometimes they are a bit more serious.

Gustavo is our kid who is king of random thoughts. One never knows what is going to come out of his mouth. Seriously. Last night, as we were eating dinner, Gustavo began a conversation that went something like this:

Gustavo: Mom, is Santa white?

(Mom and Katie give each other the "oh my goodness" look across the dinner table)

Mom: (Gulp, pause to collect my politically correct thoughts) Well, Gustavo, I'm not sure since I have never seen the real Santa Claus.

Gustavo: Yes, we have! We've seen the real Santa!

Marco: Remember, we saw him at the mall!

Gustavo: Yeah!

Mom: Well, usually the Santas at the mall are really Santa-helpers and not the real Santa Claus.

Gustavo: I think he is white.

Conversation ends, everyone is satisfied, no one is crushed or disappointed. No big deal as we move on to discussing whether it is appropriate or not to eat from someone else's plate. Disclaimer: no, it is not appropriate to reach over to your sibling's plate and help yourself.

Katie and I steal another comical glance. Just another day in the Davis home.

Of course you know what the next question is likely to be don't you?

"Mom, is Jesus white?"

Project Half Bath

As mentioned yesterday I am working on several projects to chase away any "winter is coming" blues.

A few bits of critical info...

*I do all of the painting in our home. While I would love to hire the job out, I refuse to pay money for something I can actually do.

*I am a "do it yourself" type of woman in selected areas of my life. My sister is a "do it yourself" type of woman in just about any type of project. She is amazing, and thinks everyone can do all of the things she does. I am ALWAYS calling her for answers. She is very patient with me. ;)

Our half bath downstairs is an ugly shade of lilac. I do love the color but it just isn't working in this particular room. I have been needing to repaint it for awhile. Yes, I did paint it the ugly color in a fit one weekend. Bad choice of color is all I can say. So, I chose a new color this week. Very neutral. The next hurdle is a very ugly towel bar which was installed when the house was built around 20 years ago. Since I was giving the bathroom a new look I decided to do away with the ugly towel bar. No problem...

Well, I found out yesterday that the darned towel bar was basically built right into the wall. It was one of those "no going back" projects. The towel rack is now gone, and in its place are two HOLES in the bathroom wall. Hmmmmm, didn't count on that.

As I was in the process of removing the second piece of the stupid-idiotic-ridiculous-ugly towel rack my husband called. "Hey, I'm on my way home. Whatcha doing?" Big gulp, deep breath, and then "do you really want to know?" Mark knew there was a story coming. It went something like this: "Well you know I've been wanting to repaint the downstairs bathroom, and I hate that ugly towel bar, and I figured I would remove it, and then I started, and it was like totally built into the drywall, and now there are two big holes in the wall, but don't be MAD because I WILL FIX IT".

"No problem, I hated that towel thingy anyway."

Oh, somedays I just crazy love my husband!

Now, at this point my sister is probably lying on her floor laughing hysterically because when she sees the pictures below she will know that I am thinking "OH CRAP!" and her reaction is "no big deal". Am I right Holly?





Now I am off to the store to get the supplies to make my bathroom pretty. I'll post photos when I am done. If you're in the neighborhood after the fixing and painting are done please ask to use the bathroom so you can admire my work. ;)

Slick Dude and Miss Bling

The weather is grey and dreary. Winter is coming. I'm not happy. I want it to be winter for the month of December - that's it! A white Christmas and I am done. I would prefer one month of winter, a few months of fall, and the rest summer so I can enjoy my pool. So why do I live in Cincinnati?

To ward off my upcoming winter doldrums I am working on several projects. Does this surprise anyone? First is getting new outfits for the kids to wear for a Christmas picture, as well as a portrait. I haven't taken the children to get their pictures made since Gustavo was 18 months old. We don't even have a family picture including Ana Lucia. Have you ever tried to coordinate FIVE outfits and get all five kids healthy and smiling and pleasant at the same time for a portrait setting. It would be easier to balance the federal budget. Alas, not to be told "impossible" I am going for it. As soon as I make the appointment for the picture I am certain there will be bruises, stitches, broken bones, or some type of rare rash on a kid's face. Still, I push forward with the objective of at least 1 picture of my precious angels.

The color scheme is grey, black, and white. Believe it or not, I have now found an outfit for all five children in the chosen color scheme. Katie found an adorable dress at a great price - yeah Katie! Ana Lucia's outfit was on sale at 50% off. I found Marco and Gustavo's entire outfits, including shoes, at a consignment shop. I do love bargains.

Upon returning home from shopping this morning I wanted to try Gustavo's outfit on him to confirm it fit properly. I figured he would fuss about it. Once he got the outfit on he liked it so much he asked if he could wear it to school! He thought he looked like Daddy. I informed him that he was not wearing the outfit to school and offered to take his photo as a compromise. He agreed. Check out Mr. Fancy Dude...



Now, let me just share that Gustavo has no self-esteem issues. Just last night he told me, and I quote, "everyone at school thinks I am so cute". Yeah, that is Mr. No Self Confidence.

Our first excitement of the day was Ana Lucia's very first dentist appointment. She was a champ! She sat and followed all directions. At the end of the appointment she exclaimed "that didn't hurt my teeth!"

Of course she chose a new toothbrush and was allowed to choose a prize. Check out below the honking ring that Miss Bling chose. She hasn't taken it off all day. Her husband is in sooooo much trouble. ;)



Ok, so outfits are bought, brows are waxed, haircuts are done. Now all I need to do is make the appointment for the pictures and all holy he** will break loose. I'm afraid my next post will be titled "Tales from the dark side" - meaning the photography studio.

Wish us luck...

Honor

It is Veterans Day. Please find a veteran today and thank them.

Last week I voted. Last Sunday I attended church. Today my children are attending school. Right now I am posting my ideas on a public forum. The freedom I possess is in large part due to the many men and women who fought for us.

Can you imagine how scary it must be to be engaged in a battle? Some can.

Teach your children to honor and respect veterans - and to thank them.

For anyone who is a veteran - thank you for serving your country. I hope today you will feel the gratitude and respect of everyone surrounding you.

Let the celebration begin...

How do you feel about Christmas music? Does the constant blare of holiday tunes make you feel like the poor chap above? Bah Humbug.

I LOVE Christmas music! Yesterday marked the official beginning of listening to Christmas tunes for me. It has been playing most of the morning. I have a history of listening to holiday music outside of the properly defined time frame. Mark believes I start enjoying it way too early. My personal record is the first weekend in October. Mark and I were driving to Peoria, Illinois for a friend's wedding. As we were driving from Indianapolis to Peoria I opened the glove box to see what cassettes were available. Yes, this was before the time of Cd's. Hey, at least I didn't say we were listening to an 8-track! Back to the story - I looked through the glove box and all of the cassettes were Christmas music. I was in heaven! Initially Mark protested and refused to listen to Christmas tunes the first of October. Well, it was either fuzzy radio stations, Christmas music, silence, or talking. My tunes won out! Ha!

I have made it all the way to ALMOST mid-November this year. My little ones will be singing "Rudolph", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", and "Silent Night" by the end of the week. Ana Lucia already knows "Jingle Bells".

In our family we are serious about celebrating birthdays. Actually, according to a dear friend of mine, we are serious about celebrating just about any special day. I enjoy that reputation. We've been known to stretch out a birthday celebration for weeks. We celebrate with my family in Indiana, we celebrate with Mark's family in Ohio, we celebrate with immediate family in our house, and sometimes we throw in a party with friends and neighbors.

Isn't Christmas about celebrating the most important birth in the history of mankind? Given our family's tradition of serious birthday celebrating I figure stretching out the joyous recognition of Christ's birth fits in perfectly around the Davis home.

I realize the holiday season is filled with parties on the calendar, shopping for gifts, decorating your home, and enjoying all sorts of Christmas-related hoopla. However, I challenge us all to CELEBRATE the birth of Jesus.

Find a live nativity scene and take the family. Read the book "Two from Galilee: The Story of Mary and Joseph" by Marjorie Holmes. If you are parents talk about Jesus with the kids. Rent the movie "The Nativity". Enjoy the true reason for the holiday season.

So, if the holidays make you want to scream or make this face like Gustavo...



Simply remember this...


Oh, and don't forget to listen to Christmas music!

I hope I am the first to wish you a blessed, joyous, and awesome holiday season!

A Community of Risk Takers

November is National Adoption Awareness month. Throughout the month I may share a variety of posts regarding adoption. Between fostering, domestic adoption, and international adoption there are so many opportunities to become involved. While I realize adoption is not for every family, have you ever considered it for your family?

One of my basic fundamental beliefs in life is that every child should have the love of a family. Period. No question. No exception. EVERY SINGLE CHILD.

Anyone who knows our family realizes our passion for adoption. There is a unique bond that exists between parents who have traveled the road of welcoming a child through adoption. We are a community of risk takers.

I recall being at Marco's first preschool Christmas program. He looked so tiny and scared up on stage. He hardly sang a word. I remember being so proud, and at the same time feeling something so unexpected. I remember thinking "what if?" What if Mark and I had come to the conclusion that our family was set? We had two children, and they were already in school. Why would we start over again? Why would we take the chance of having our hearts broken, or an adoption not working out, or becoming a multi-racial family? At that moment, while watching Marco up on stage, I was overcome with gratitude for having the guts to be a risk taker.

I would love to share a bit from a blog I read. I broke down into an ugly cry while reading it. The words so beautifully capture some of what a parent feels and the conviction and desire that all children have loving parents.

Do you know someone who is considering adoption? Share this with them and encourage them to dive into the community of risk takers.

From the blog:

I love her but don’t know her. I can’t tell if her teeth are hurting or if it’s her “tired cry” or “scared cry” or “I didn’t get my way cry.” There is so much to catch up on when you step into the life of a 1 year old child…one who has lived with and loved others for a long time. And we look very different than most everyone she’s known. We sound different. We probably smell different, too. But we love her, and I keep reminding myself that this for real.

This little girl, wearing the clothes we sent and holding our voice recorder…will be with us for a lifetime. I will stand by the sidelines at her soccer games. I will walk her to her first day of school. I will stand outside the dressing room of the Gap and say things like “yeah…that looks good.” (Who is shocked I mentioned shopping for clothes? Anyone? Raise your hand.) I will film her at the Christmas program at church. I will register her for high school one day and wonder how time went by. I will wait up late for her as she’s out with friends. I will one day drive her away to a college and surely wish I could turn back the clock. I will one day walk her down the aisle and then sit in the front row with her mother. And cry. This is my daughter.

But I will always remember how it started. Driving down a gravel road getting jostled around. Pulling up in front of the baby home I had seen in pictures. Hearing the guard opening the gate and hearing the older children excitedly running around the courtyard…talking in Amharic…hearing the occasional “Yanet” amongst the words I don’t understand. Walking up the stairs and seeing her from the hall. Touching her right arm the first time…trying to be gentle to let her know I was safe. Looking around and seeing all the caregivers staring through a window across the hall and smiling…surrounded by the other children who, while watching with great excitement for Yanet, are in desperate need of a family to fly from across the ocean in order to meet them.

Each of them deserves a family to drive up in a van. Each of them deserves to have parents, jet-lagged and nervous, walking through the gates with their names written on their hearts as well as on the gifts they bring. Each of them needs parents who are willing to take the risk, experience God’s goodness in an incredible way that stretches and teaches, strengthens and rewards. Each of them needs their own set of parents who hug, kiss, and hold. Each of them needs dozens of people praying for them and making plans to meet them at the airport when they return.

Each of them deserves and needs what Yanet is getting…and what Minte got…and what Meskarem got…and what a few others here are getting soon. But there are others who are still waiting. Waiting for that meeting when the orphanage director calls them into the office and tells them that someone far, far away has asked to be their parents.

A family of list makers

I am a list maker. I live by my calendar (paper - not electronic) and an assortment of lists. I have daily TO DO lists, sometimes even weekly or monthly to do lists. I have house projects lists, Christmas lists, and shopping lists. You name it and I have probably listed it!

My mother is a list maker as well as my teenage daughter. It is part of who we are. We have a family joke/phrase which is the result of a shopping trip many years ago in Indianapolis. Several of us went to an Asian grocery. My mother really enjoys going to different types of groceries. Me, not so much. However, I accompanied her. She was intrigued with the unique items available and was browsing. The store owner attempted to help my mother. She had some questions for him. He shouted at us, in a very thick accent, "LIST! LIST! YOU NEED A LIST! YOU COME TO MY STORE YOU BRING A LIST!"

Well, given that we are list-type people, we appreciated his obvious passion. Years later we still shout at one another occasionally about needing a list - and always in a ridiculously exaggerated accent. What can I say, we amuse one another easily...

I now have discovered that our family's list obsession is not simply genetic. I believe that Marco is becoming a list person as well. This morning, before school, Marco presented me with a list. Not just any ordinary list. Oh, no, it was quite detailed. He had cut out small pieces of paper, drawn the item on the paper, glued each one onto a sheet of notebook paper, with food items on one side and beverages on the other. He presented the list to me and asked if I could please get these items at the grocery. I nearly fell off the couch in laughter. However, I did not laugh, but simply thanked him for the list and complimented his creative style.

I posted a photo below of the list. For clarification, and total enjoyment, I will describe the list.

*Mom is written on the top (he obviously expects me to go to the grocery)
*The list is titled "List of Foods"
*In the left-hand column he has drawn (and requested) grapes, oranges, bananas, watermelon, and blueberries
*In the right-hand column he has drawn bottled water, orange juice, tomato juice (yes, he drinks it), and grape juice

How funny is he? This is one of those items I will definitely pack away. I know we'll get a kick out of it when he is a teenager - and again when he is an adult.


The list


I woke up a bit on the grumpy side this morning. I'm so glad that I have kids who quickly remind me to get over my big-bad-grumpy self and enjoy life.

Now, I am off to the grocery...

The birthday girl

Sweet girl is 3!


So happy about getting her very own Leapster...and it is pink!


The Fab Five celebrate Ana Lucia


A look back...three years passes so quickly...

6 days old


1st birthday


2nd birthday


Three years old and full of spunk!

Hectic Homecoming

After returning from the visit trip in January of 2006 I just wanted our baby girl home! February brought the happy news that our case had been approved. We were now in the final stage. Lucia Alejandra Vasquez Juarez was now Ana Lucia Alejandra Davis - wahoo!

Throughout the end of February and the beginning of March our attorney was responsible for the final adoption decree, getting the new birth certificate (showing us as the parents and her new last name of Davis), getting her Guatemalan passport, a final medical exam, and submitting an enormous stack of paperwork to the US Embassy in Guatemala City to apply for her visa. Dealing with the US Embassy is generally not an easy task. Let's just say the Americans working at the embassy do not particularly care for Guatemalans in general. It is quite embarrassing to learn how our citizens at the embassy treat the people in Guatemala.

Without reliving all of the intricate details, and US Embassy mistakes, let's just say the last week before Ana Lucia came home was a bit uhm, s-t-r-e-s-s-f-u-l. The embassy issues a document called a pink slip which contains the day/time for the child's visa appointment. After failing to issue our pink slip for several days due to a slew of mistakes by the embassy our attorney was frustrated and at the end of his rope. He was completing each task the embassy requested and still getting nowhere. On this end, I was submitting requested information as well. I was even part of a 3-way call via a local government office with the embassy. They were quite nasty both to myself and the liason who called on our behalf. The last few days of waiting were not pleasant. Even though one understands the child is legally their daughter, and will be home eventually, there is still an empty place in the heart of a mother when any of her chicks are not home.

My bags were packed and the final paperwork ready. We just needed that darned pink slip issued by the US Embassy. Imagine my surprise, and panic, when I checked our email and there was a message from the US Embassy. Yes, our pink slip had been issued and the appointment was the FOLLOWING MORNING. It was 12:15 pm in Cincinnati and I had to get to Guatemala that day for an appointment the next morning. Oh, the embassy staff was testing me big time. They had NO idea who they were dealing with.

I read the email through very carefully a few more times. Yeap, it was true. Our appointment was the next morning. I called Mark at work and asked him to come home...NOW. Adrenaline kicked in as I called Delta and booked the last flight out - which left at 3pm. They said if I could get to the airport by 2 they would put me on the plane. Game on...

Mark zoomed home, I threw some last-minute stuff in my luggage, confirmed I had all of the required paperwork and 45 minutes later we were out the door headed to the airport. As we drove to the airport, I called a friend who arranged a hotel room and driver for my arrival in Guatemala City at 11pm. At the same time, our agency was busy making arrangements for Ana Lucia to arrive at my hotel at 6:30 the next morning and Pedro to accompany us to the embassy.

The drive to the airport was a bit high on the emotion side. Can you imagine? This was the closest I have ever come to completely losing it. As Mark was getting me to the airport (in a rapid manner) I was checking over paperwork, securing last minute details, crying, breathing rapidly then taking deep breaths, cursing the US Embassy personnel, praying, and who knows what else. Marco and Gustavo were sitting in their carseats watching the whole situation unfold. I'm certain they were very frightened. ;)

As Mark pulled up to the curbside drop-off we hugged and kissed and I ran inside to the desk. Mark checked my bags and offered a very generous tip and pleaded for the bags to make it on the flight. I made it to the airplane and was the last person to board. I'm sure I looked a complete mess. We then sat on the tarmac for 1 HOUR while a maintenance crew checked something or other and made the determination whether this plane could take off. I silently pleaded with God. It is true - I admit it. It went something like this "Oh, God, PLEASE. I have gotten this far since that blasted email at noon. Please don't let me miss my connecting flight in Houston. I need to get there tonight!" As if he didn't already know. The plane did take off. Upon landing in Houston I ran to my connecting flight. Ok, if you know me you know I am not a runner. Heck, I can barely walk and talk at the same time. As I arrived at my gate they had just made the last call for boarding. Once again, I was the last person to board the plane.

I arrived in Guatemala City at 11pm. A driver was waiting for me - thanks Sonya! I checked into the hotel, unpacked a few things, reviewed the paperwork for the appointment, and collapsed in the bed. I slept for a few hours and my precious baby girl arrived at 6:30 the next morning. We were off to the embassy.

There is a lot of sitting and waiting during the visa appointment. So I sat and cuddled my daughter and began the process of getting to know her. It had been two months since our last visit. She had grown so much. Things were so rushed before the appointment that I only got to spend about 30 minutes with her foster mother. However, she did write a multiple-page letter with instructions and details. Thankfully the foster mother remembered to tell me to take Ana Lucia outside for 10 minutes everyday at 10am! What a hoot.

The embassy appointment went smoothly. Trust me, it took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to greet the embassy personnel with the phrase "I'll bet you didn't expect to see me here this morning did you?" Hmmm, that may not have gone over very well. I have always had a problem with my smart mouth - just ask my parents and siblings.

The following day my friend Marisol brought Ana Lucia's foster mother and birth mother to the hotel for one last visit. We had the blessing of spending the morning together. Here I was, once again, in the presence of the woman who had given this precious baby life and the woman who had cared for her until I could. Never in my life did I imagine I would watch one of my children's mother say good-bye. Needless to say this trip was turning out to be the most emotion-filled few days of my life.

Ana Lucia's visa was issued on Thursday and we flew home on Friday. Voila! No big deal...yeah right. Upon arrival in Cincinnati, I walked toward baggage claim holding one sweet baby Davis girl. We were both exhausted from a long day of traveling. We had completed our first mother-daughter adventure! Waiting at the end of the walk was one relieved husband and 4 siblings anxious to meet their new sister. The sight was beautiful and one of my favorite memories. There were tears, laughter, hugs, kisses, and a plea from the mama of "let's go home".

On the drive home from the airport Marco had a question. "Where is Ana Lucia going to sit at the dinner table?" Gustavo quickly answered, "I'll give her my high chair!"

And in that instant Ana Lucia was officially part of the Davis crew.

Ana Lucia and her foster mother Francisca


Ana Lucia - our first morning together


Taking the time this past week to write about the journey to adopt Ana Lucia has been emotional at times - just like her adoption process. I have cried, laughed, felt sorrow and frustration, and been reminded just how awesome the miracle of adoption truly is.

My world would not be complete without each of my five incredible children.

The dreaded call

During an adoption process one cherishes any communication received from the agency. Medical updates and pictures arrive each month with periodic email updates in between. Important news warranted a telephone call. When the cell phone rang, and the agency number was on caller id, it was either happy news or concerning news.

In early January 2006 I walked out of a meeting and noticed I had a voice mail message. It was from the agency director. "Aimee, call me back when you get this". Saturday afternoon, hmmmm, her voice didn't sound celebratory and we weren't due for any case updates. I had a sinking feeling in my gut. I returned the call. "Aimee, there is a medical concern with Lucia that I want to talk to you about". Adrenaline kicked in as I desperately tried to listen carefully and write down all the details. There wasn't much to go on. The foster mother noticed that the baby had uneven gluteal folds. What? Apparently our fabulous, on the ball, foster mother had experience with this condition before. She brought it to the pediatrician's attention and now the agency was calling me. Fortunately I was scheduled to leave in a week to visit Ana Lucia in Guatemala. She was going to come and stay with me at my hotel in Guatemala City for four glorious days. I now had a few days to do some research, make some calls to physicians here in the US, and make an action plan for how this baby could best be diagnosed and the situation addressed. I kicked in to high gear. For any of you who know me - are you surprised? ;)

I took the worst possible action on that Saturday evening. I turned to the internet and began researching "uneven gluteal fold". Basically I learned this can be a sign of hip dysplasia. Ok, I was getting somewhere. However, everything I read stated that if a baby had hip dysplasia it should be addressed as early as possible. The possible treatment ranged from possibly wearing a brace to hip surgery. The surgery was most successful if completed before six months of age. The truth is, if my baby needed hip surgery, I did NOT want it completed in Guatemala. I called our pediatrician, he called a pediatric orthopaedist friend of his, and they concluded it would be beneficial for me to get either X-rays or ultrasound of her hips. At this point I didn't know if this involved both of her hips, if she was in pain, or really any details. Thank goodness I was headed to be with my sweet baby in just a few days.

As I arrived in Guatemala for the visit trip I headed to my hotel from the airport. Shortly after my arrival Pedro arrived with Ana Lucia and her foster mother. We went over some instructions regarding her care from the foster mother and headed directly to the pediatrician. I was armed with a list of questions from my pediatrician and the motivation to be this little girl's advocate without being the demanding American. I was walking a tightrope. The developing-nation physician recommended putting two diapers at a time on her and exercises. As a side, this is the exact way the situation was handled in the United States years and years and years ago. I thanked him for his attention to the baby and his obvious attention to detail. I then took the easy way out and communicated that the pediatrician I consulted back in the states asked if it was possible to get X-rays or ultrasound of her hips. I didn't demand it - I just used the American doctor as my excuse. Wanting to prove to the American doctor that he was willing and able to meet American standards the pediatrician quickly agreed to send Ana Lucia to the "best" orthopaedic physician in Guatemala City. Yeah!

I spent the next few days cuddling Ana Lucia and getting to know her. It was heaven on earth. It was also comforting for me to observe that she was not in any pain. As a funny side note, when Ana Lucia's foster mother brought her to me at the hotel, she undressed her to show me some details I should be aware of. First of all, Ana Lucia had an umbilical hernia. It looked horrible. The foster mother wrapped a band around her body to hold the hernia in and I needed to do the same. Now, around the band (which was actually a simple hair scarf folded) was a red bag attached. The foster mother informed me it was to protect the baby and give her good luck! After she left Pedro let me know that the foster mother was very superstitious and possessed some old Mayan beliefs. Truth is, the red bag was probably to protect the baby against the crazy American woman coming to take care of her for 4 days! The bag contained some herbs...I think. ;)

At the end of the visit I returned home and Ana Lucia returned to her foster family. She was taken to the orthopaedist. It was determined only one of her hips was affected and she was placed in a brace which she had to wear 23 hours/day. It wasn't until she was home in the United States that it was determined the Guatemalan doctors had made a wise choice in treating her and she would NOT require surgery. She had to have her hips checked every 3 months for her first two years home and now has been given a clean bill of health. Thank you God! She may always have a bit of a wobbly gait, but otherwise we expect no problems.

It was very difficult to be separated during a period of medical uncertainty. Once again we were reminded that God is in control. No matter the outcome she was still destined to be our daughter. If we had brought her home and she had to go right in to surgery we would have done so. Uneven gluteal folds - I can just about guarantee you I would not have detected this. Our foster mother rocks - red mysterious bag beliefs and all!

Sweet baby girl


Pink hernia band and red mysterious bag!


Sleeping angel