Still Sick... but getting better!

Thursday, October 18

Well, after a couple of sick days, we were finally able to return to class today.  We had planned on having culture class today, but since we all got sick, they cancelled it.  We had our presentations prepared and now we can just do them next week instead.

After class we had our cooking class.  We made patacones with Zaidy.  She showed us how to cut the platanotes veredas into slices and cook them a little bit.  We then had to remove them, smash them, and then cook them again.  These are not my favorite, but I know I would like them with some yummy guacamole on them!!!

 

Once we got home, we all needed showers and a nap.  When Jaden woke up, Jimena was studying on her bed with a bag of popcorn.  Before we knew it, he climbed up on the bed and was shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth. 

 

I was worried about him choking so I had to put a stop to it.  Later, he climbed up on the bed and just snuggled up with Jimena.  He also cuddled on the couch with José Pablo.  You can tell our little trooper was just not feeling well yet.

 After Jaden went to bed, I had a chance to watch Samia start making a dress for Jimena.  I was amazed how she took a couple of sheets of paper and a ruler and created a pattern for the dress in about 5 min.  She then cut it out and cut it in half and started pinning it to the fabric.  She just kept going and going all the while she was talking on the phone.  It was totally second nature for her. 

Unfortunately, the sick bug did not skip José Pablo.  Right before bed, he got sick too.  The unique part was hearing him be sick and then sneezing right after… all night long.  Poor José Pablo.

Friday, October 19

We were not able to sleep in once again… our little “alarm clock” had us up at 6:00 on the dot.  I had made plans to meet Jennea for the 10:00 bus.  Since I was up so early, I was wishing we could meet earlier, but I am sure she wanted to sleep in.  

Samia serves us a plate of fruit like this EVERY morning... it is my favorite meal of the day!  Those things on the left are empanadas con queso and on the right, arepas (not sure if I spelled that right).  The Guava Jelly on the bottom right is mine and Jaden's favorite treat.  Why don't they sell jelly like that in the states?  It make so much sense!

I had a chance to watch Samia continue to make the dress.  I watched her sew until I had to leave to catch the bus Turrialba.  I really wanted to make flash cards, so I was in search of index cards.  I also had a few other things on my list, but we made it a quick trip.  We picked up some soup and went to visit Amanda who is still not feeling too well. 

When I tried to catch the 1:30 bus to go back home, I was waiting outside with Macha (Amanda’s host mom).  She was trying to catch the bus going the other way, but we both were waiting at the bus stop.  It started to rain, but thankfully I had an umbrella.  We stood there for a while… waiting waiting waiting.  We made small talk and waited some more.  Finally, we discovered that Macha had missed the 1:00 bus because her watch was running 20 min. behind.  I don’t know what happened to my bus, but a bus finally came at 2:10 and I got to go home.

This evening, Cristy came over with Ebony to play with Jaden.  I was so thankful because I didn’t know what to do with him.  He was just fussy and wouldn’t eat and all he wants to do is go outside.  Playing with Ebony was the perfect distraction.  We turned on music and they danced a bit. I also played “Ring around the Rosie” with them and they loved it.  Cristy asked me the meaning of the words of the song… I tried to translate them and explain them to her as best I could, but it is kind of weird to tell her I’m singing a song about sickness and death to kids…

Eddie had a chance to feel needed by our host family tooday.  Samia needed to get to work, but she doesn’t drive.  She asked Eddie to take her to the store and to work. José Pablo went along and Freddy wasn’t home yet.  Then Eddie was asked to pick Freddy up from the bus stop and he also needed to stop at the store.  When they got home, Eddie was helping to make dinner and learned something new.  The hotdogs here look just like our hotdogs, but they each have a plastic covering on them.  Eddie put them all in the pan to cook before removing the plastic… Well, now we know… 

 We finally got Jaden to eat a little yogurt and he seemed to be feeling so much better.  We were wrong.  We were just sitting down to eat dinner when Jaden vomited once again.  That makes for 5 days in a row, so we decided we needed to take him to the doctor.  Freddy told us that he has an aunt in Tuis that has helped out many sick babies in the past.  He asked if we wanted to go to her first.  We were open to anything and Freddy said he was sure that Jaden would be better after seeing his aunt.  When we got there, she laid Jaden on the bed and started massaging his belly with mineral oil.  She also gently massaged his arms, legs and behind his ears.  He was tolerant of it and lay very still. 

 She then looked at the back of his legs and pointed out that his legs were different lengths.  She pointed at the creases in the back of his knees and showed us that one was higher than the other.  She also pointed to his heels and they were not even.  We were very confused as to what this had to do with anything.  They explained to us that it is called “estroncado.”  It happens when babies fall hard on their bottoms.  She thinks that his part of why he has been so sick and so whinny.  She called her niece to come over and she started massaging the back of his leg and bottom.  It looked like she was pushing his leg back into place.  I really don’t understand it and wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but it made a difference.  She said for us to come back in the morning and she would do it again.  We went home thinking “if this really works, we will be amazed and thankful to God.”

We ended the night with watching “The Amazing Spiderman” and headed to bed.

Saturday, October 20

After breakfast, we headed on over to Freddy’s cousin’s house.  We met her children and discovered that they spoke English very well.  As she massaged Jaden’s legs again, we were able to ask more questions about what they thought was wrong.  I asked if they thought it happened recently or if he was born like that.  They said it happened recently and to be careful not to bounce him on his bottom and to lift both legs when changing his diaper.  It seemed to work, so we are thankful.  He did not get sick at all today!

Hector had prior engagements for this evening, so instead of cancelling youth group today, he planned it for this morning.  We headed over to the school/mission to hang out with the kids.  Hector did a Bible study on Joseph, which I understood partially (mostly because I already knew the story so I could piece together the words I understood here and there).  After the study, Daniel led an exercise class to get the kids moving.  He got us moving and sweating, and Eddie wet with a water balloon.  It was fun and I think most of the kids enjoyed it.

Freddy and Samia had a party to go to in San José, which is were Hector had to go, too.  We did not go with them so we were home alone for the day.  Amanda and Jennea came over and they wanted watch Spiderman, also.  Eddie and Jaden took a nap and I watched Spiderman with the girls while I worked on cutting my index cards in half to use as flash cards.  Later, Eddie and Josue went outside to play “fútbol.”  Eddie wanted to learn, and they ended up playing with Josue’s friends who were out there playing a game.  Jaden ran around chasing soccer balls that belonged to other people.  I think he is starting to get the concept of kicking the ball instead of picking it up and throwing it.  We also chatted with the neighbors… they were asking us if we had snow where we lived.   Samia had prepared dinner for us and left it in the fridge before she left this morning, so we didn’t even have to cook for ourselves when they were out of town… aren’t we so spoiled?

Sunday, October 21

This morning, we finally got to attend church again. With Daniel and Hector gone for 2 weeks, church had been cancelled.  Now they were back and we were excited to gather and hoped we would understand more this time.  I had to leave with Jaden so I didn’t get to hear much, but I know they talked about what a Christian Community looks like.  I love how they do church… Hector doesn’t just preach, he also facilitates a discussion.  He puts questions out there for the people to discuss.  I know I don’t know what they are saying, but it is interesting to see many people in the congregation participate.  We also had the chance to praise God because we saw a glimmer of hope for Samia’s mom and step-father.  She had told us they don’t go to church, but they were there and participating today.  We love seeing God work and we give Him the glory.

After church, we watched Josue play “fotbol” with his team… Eddie kept marveling at the fact that he got to play with those same guys yesterday, and today they were the winning team, with the help of Josue and his goal.  After some study time and a nap, we were invited to go swimming at Gabby’s sister-in-law’s house.  We were so excited to go, but Jaden was sleeping.  We had to wait for him to wake up.   When he did, we walked over to Monica’s house. 

The day had cooled off significantly, so being in the cool water was kind of chilly.  They offered to open up the Jacuzzi for us, and we warmed up in there.  

We are thankful we made friends with this family.  They were so warm and inviting, and they love to have people over.  They even have an outdoor living room with a TV and couches and an outdoor kitchen next to the pool.  We will be back to visit before we leave this town. 

A truck for Jaden to climb on!

A cute kitten for Jaden to chase!

Enjoying a snack in the outdoor kitchen.

After a snack of fresh tortillas and juice, we walked to MonteVerde for dinner.  And look what we were served: 

Tilapia: bones, fins and all!

In case you are wondering, yes… we ate it and it was good!

Once we returned home, we got Jaden ready for bed and put him down for the night.  Eddie had to go pick up Samia and Freddy when the restarant closed, and when they got home they invited us to eat some sweet bread and milk for a bedtime snack.  While we were in the kitchen, Freddy heard Jaden crying.  I went and got him and came back into the kitchen.  There is certain spot that seems like a good place for Jaden to vomit; tonight was his third time in that one spot.  I guess he is still sick.  We decided we needed to make a trip to the doctor in the morning.

This was my view at the doctor's office:
Jaden sleeping and Eddie doing homework.

Monday, October 22

We talked to Hector this morning and he said that Daniel had to go to Turrialba at 10:00 so we could ride with him.  We went to class for the first half of the morning, and then we drove to a private clinic.  The waiting room was FULL of people.  We registered at the desk and sat down to wait.  

We waited for 4 hours before Eddie decided to ask the receptionist how much longer.  She proceded to find our file and show us to a room right then and there…  I don’t know how much longer we would have had to wait if Eddie never asked.  The doctor checked Jaden and said it was a rotavirus.  He gave us two different kinds medicine and something like Pedialite for Jaden.

One happy family ON the bus
and read to go home!

We went to eat a late lunch and picked up a few things at the grocery store before catching the bus… we were not even sitting in our seat when the bus started pulling away from the station… that was a close call.  The buses leave on the hour so if we had missed it, we would have had to call a cab or wait another hour.  Praise God for His timing.

  We plan to rest, finish homework, and prepare for our first fitness class starting at 7am tomorrow…  Please pray for continued health and healing, especially for Jaden and Ebony (who had to be in the hospital today with an IV and hasn’t eaten anything for two days… she got the virus, too.  That make about 13 people we know that got sick over the past week and Jaden was the first.)

PS... Jaden has not been sick at all today, Praise the Lord!  I believe he is on the mend and that this medicine will help.  We are thankful for God's provision and protection.