Well, our home has “extended” as they say here in Uganda.
Count the feet.
1, 2, 3, 4. Yes, we brought home the preemie twins from the orphanage down the road. The peds residents from Norfolk who were here a few weeks ago will not be surprised that these sweet babies have found their way into our home. We met them a few days after we arrived when their mom brought them in to see the PMI team pediatricians. They are both underweight. The girl (Nyakato) has some muscle weakness in her arms and legs that might be neurological. The boy (Isingoma) is tongue-tied and is having trouble gaining weight. Their mom was way too sick and weak to take care of herself, let alone two babies. At the orphanage, they were being given cow’s milk and not responding very well. One of the PMI team members donated enough money to get them both on formula, but the money is running low and the babies spend most of the day in the orphanage lying on a little bed on the ground. They are both improving, but their nurse at the orphanage is leaving tomorrow and when we went to check on them today, both had high fevers. We decided to bring the home “for now” to see if we can do some physical therapy with them, get their eating/sleeping under control, and just love on them one-on-one. They are such sweet and happy babies. We are working on names for them that suit them. So…we are settling in to life with twins…and trying to get them on the same schedule. After we got them home, fed them, and gave them baths, they have both been sweetly smiling and cooing and just generally making our lives so much more exciting.
Many of you who have known me since Honduras know that this is not the first time I have come home unexpectedly with a baby. Having Cindy in Honduras, watching her health and spirit improve, and then letting her go was one of the hardest experiences of my life. However, I have always said that no amount of pain would keep me from loving another child who needed care, so I’m diving in to loving these babies as much as they need me and then letting Jesus step in and take care of me when it’s time to let them go.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support of me in Uganda. I have several more blog posts in the making and will be updating you soon on daily life.
love you all so much!!
Mandie Joy
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Well, I don’t know about the peds residents but I’m sure not surprised that you and Rachel couldn’t resist those tiny feet and those darling faces. How blessed they are to be on the receiving end of all your love and expertise and how good of Jesus to multiply it to meet even deeper needs than the ones you can see.
I’m glad you’e enjoying the “Joy” part of your name. Daddy and I chose it on purpose to bless you. May doing what brings God joy always be your strength…and may it bring you joy, too. ily
I don’t know about the peds residents, but I’m sure not surprised that you and Rachel couldn’t resist those tiny feet and those darling faces. How blessed they are to be on the receiving end of all your love and expertise, and how good of Jesus to multiply it to meet even deeper needs than the ones you can see.
I’m glad you are enjoying the “Joy” part of your name. Daddy and I chose it on purpose to bless you. May doing what brings God joy always be your strength…and may it bring you joy, too. ily!
I am so jealous and happy for y’all! Do you think you could bring one back for me in December? Or maybe the PICU wouldn’t mind if I stole a baby from there?! But seriously, they will be healthy and I’m sure are already happy. I CANNOT wait to see more pictures. I feel like I love them from afar!
I vote yes and yes on the names… Of course
ttym. Lysm.