The Dark Side

Lily Kate's dollhouse has two sides that fold out.  I noticed today that she had set her toys up on the sides.

Bad Side

Good Side

Spanish Mode

One of the best parts of Toy Story 3 is when Buzz Lightyear gets set on Spanish Mode.  Here's Lily Kate's spanish mode.

Let's Go Cats!

The Bobcats played an early game on Sunday night, so we got the whole family together and went to cheer them on.  They didn't pull off a victory, but we had a lot of fun and made some great memories.

Aubrey's first Bobcats Game- she loved it!

Crazy Eyes

Rachie & Unca in Uptown

I'm so glad to have Stephen back on this side of the ocean!

I love the Bachelor and my favorite part of the game was that Emily Maynard was there.  Her daughter, Ricki was dancing with the Junior Lady Cats.  I spent half the game watching them :)

 

Beautiful in Blue

The girls got matching dresses for Christmas.  This was the first Sunday it was warm enough for them to wear them.  I LOVE THESE DRESSES and THESE GIRLS!

Wordless Wednesday

Wyatt!

Since the moment we arrived in Iowa, Lily Kate has been talking about her cousin, Wyatt. 

When we got to my parents house:

LK: Where is everybody?

Me: Who were you thinking would be here?

LK: Wyatt!

He lives in Missouri and his spring break starts tomorrow.   Thankfully we got to see him this afternoon.

He brought Bubble shooters!  They were a hit!



Wyatt & LK

 Before bed tonight, LK was making the rounds giving goodnight hugs, she started asking my dad about Herman the stuffed salmon that is hanging in the office.  When Dad caught Herman he was bigger than I was.  We had to compare and see if LK was taller than Herman.  What do you think? :)

Sweet Moments

GrandLes rocked Aubrey (and himself) to sleep

Great-grandma Mary and Aubrey (AJ was being very serious)

We're blowing bubbles...whoo...we're blowing bubbles (from SNL)

Cameroon Update #3

Er'body,

I hope you had a good night sleep.  I slept well, but I didn't sleep long enough.  I stayed up until about 2:30 watching the Heels game updates.  No one can say I'm not a true fan.  The good news (I found out this morning) is that the game on Sunday is at 12:15 EST, so it will be 5:15pm Sunday night for me.  I won't have to skip sleep to support my team.

I rounded this morning on the wards.  The doctors and residents all round on Saturday, just like the weekdays.  Another patient on the children's ward died overnight.  It was not unexpected but still sad.  She had HIV and meningitis.  She had developed intractable seizures.  God chose to heal her in a way we don't deal well with in the medical field.  We often see death as a failure.  In this case, it was plain to see God's mercy in removing her suffering. 

I have another patient with tetanus that I admitted yesterday.  This morning we discovered that he has fractures in his back, presumably due to the intense muscle spasms that tetanus causes.  You don't ever want to get tetanus....trust me.  He is doing a little better this morning but still looks incredibly uncomfortable.  Go get a tetanus booster now if you are due for one.

A couple of days ago, we admitted a 16-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of her distal left femur (arrogant doctor-speak for "just above the left knee").  Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that is difficult to treat, even in the States.  She had previously received 6 rounds of chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the tumor, but with little response.  I had to be the one to tell her that she needed an amputation of nearly all of her left leg.  Although I am told other physicians, at some point, discussed this possibility with her, she sure seemed shocked by the news.  She was very upset, as anyone would be at the prospect of losing a limb.  There are more difficulties and consequences to an amputation in rural west Africa than there are in the U.S.  She undoubtedly faces a tough road ahead.  As she cried, I asked her if I could pray with her.  I immediately watched God's peace wash over her as I prayed (well, I didn't actually watch it....my eyes were closed.....but I felt it).  Please pray for her as she undergoes amputation today and then as she works to recover and heal.  The bright spot in this situation is that the hospital here actually has a prosthetic department.  That seems almost unheard of here, but after she heals from her operation, she may be able to be fitted with an artificial leg.

I am still very much enjoying my time here.  I miss Tracie and the girls terribly, but I am happy that God is giving me this time to serve His children in Cameroon.  I am so blessed to have an amazing wife that loves God and wants to serve Him.  She is making the real sacrifice during this time.  I have the easy part.  She is wrangling the girls without me.....and doing a great job doing it.  I have a hard time keeping them both happy and uninjured for the 30-minute trips Tracie takes to Target.  Please continue to pray for her as well.  We are really blessed and thankful to have parents and extended family who have helped tremendously in my absence.  God is good.

Tonight, there is going to be a super moon.  I don't know what that means, but don't miss it.  Email me if you figure it out.

Stephen

Cool Chicks

The Farm & Home store here has baby chicks and baby ducks each spring.







She was cheesing, until she realized there was a flower on her head.



GrandDebbie & GrandLes have been spoiling us rotten while we are in Iowa.  LK in her new tutu!

Blast from the Past

Like Andy in Toy Story 3 I bagged up several of my favorite toys and put them in the attic.  It has been really fun this week to get them out for Lily Kate and Aubrey to play with.

Clover Delilah (my Cabbage Patch's given name) and Lily Kate in matching crocheted outfits

We set up my old dollhouse.  I love remembering all the fun times I had with it and seeing Lily Kate play with it now.

Uncle Chuck & Aunt Dianne (my mom's sister) came over to visit today- they are amazing people!