Pregnancy updates

Just a little update to say all continues well. I'm so happy to have 4 days now without nausea and am hoping that more of those days are to come!

We've had a lot of questions about our plans, so a little briefing of our mini-plan is that we are hoping to deliver the baby in Oregon, alongside my family. Ariel's visa is in-process and we are hopeful that it will be through in time. We decided a U.S. delivery will be safest and most sure and, well, I was a Labor & Delivery nurse for 3 years and have seen too many births to stay here for it!

I'll be heading to Oregon on the 18th of May for 3 weeks and looking forward to having an appointment with the midwife. I've been seeing a doctor here who is excellent and have all the documents to take with me to the Oregon appt.

I'm excited for the days when I get to feel the baby moving! I have had to say good-bye to some of my clothes as they're a bit too tight now in the waist, but still don't really have a belly to show...but I know it's on its way!

This is such a fun time, most of it anyhow! There have definitely been the emotional times when I have those cries that leave you hiccuping for hours afterwards, but thankfully those are occasional and seem to be passing as well as I move into the second trimester. It's funny because when I don't have nausea or other things going on, I don't feel so pregnant. But then again, I'm so happy to feel good and with more energy!

I've got another appt in a week and will hopefully have another beautiful baby pic to share!

Thrilled to announce...Baby Veras!!!!

Ariel and I have been waiting for the days to pass to be able to announce that we are officially pregnant!!! Wow, it's still hard to believe, I feel like I'm just playing still, but it's so very true, there's just a little lime-sized baby growing in there!


We are so thankful that my body is healthy enough and that things are going well. I'm 12 weeks now and looking forward to the morning sickness (ironically which happens about 10pm for me), the tiredness (I've become a slug), and the pubescent acne to go away! I'm due Oct 31 (by ultrasound) or Nov 6 (by dates) and I know the time will pass quickly! My dear little friend Julie had sent me some pregnancy tests that are so awesome. They make it real clear-"Pregnant" or "Not pregnant", which at 5am makes a lot more sense than lines and dots and plusses! I then had to explain the "stick" to Ariel because they're not commonly used here. We did the blood test the next week, which thankfully also came back positive!!


Ariel has been amazingly good and patient with me. It has been an emotional rollercoaster with hormones up and down and taking me with them!! Sometimes he gets a little extra at work and will always come home with "American" treats like applesauce, turkey bacon, things that he knows will go down easily. Rice and beans and meat (the Dominican meal) hasn't been first on my list of things to eat, but I've been doing well with apples and tea and bread!



We went a few weeks ago for a regular ultrasound (they do more than in the US here) and got to hear the heartbeat and see the baby moving. I don't have words to tell how it made my heart want to explode with joy to actually see this little tiny thing with all his/her parts perfectly formed and actually moving like crazy in there! And the heartbeat...what a perfect sound that brings peace! We recorded it and I've watched it at least a million times a day since then!


So please be praying with us as we continue to trust fully in God for the growth and development of this baby, for a healthy pregnancy and delivery, for all the little details that are in His hands. We know that this baby is pefectly made, just how He wants it to be and even when my worry button gets pressed, I'm learning each day that this pregnancy, this baby, is in His control and that brings calm and peace.


Oh, what a blessing and joy and excitement to share with you all!

Still amazed

After 3.5 years living in the Dominican Republic, I feel like I'm pretty used to most things now. It doesn't turn my head to see 4-5 people on one motorcycle taxi, to see the pig hanging up after slaughter (although I don't like that!), or to see the horse-drawn cart pulling in vegetables from the countryside. But today, oh today, there were a few head-turners!

As you know, voo-doo is the official "religion" of the Haitian people. From all accounts, a woman went to a witch-doctor on Monday because she was sick, and he placed some mysterious white powder on her (or she ingested it, not sure). Anyhow, Monday later on, she is dead. Tuesday comes around and she is buried, I saw her coffin and the procession pass by in front of the apartment. Within a few hours after her burial, rumors start about her still being alive, that she has communicated with the outside world somehow and they need to dig her out. So, of course, hundreds of people head to the cemetery to...undig the dead. They pulled out her coffin and sent her to the hospital and by all reports today, the dead is alive again! Amazing. Can you imagine? This just doesn't happen in real life.

Last night and this morning it rained quite a bit which makes our ride to work muddy and bumpy. There are huge puddles and many places along the dirt road where it is covered fully by the water. This morning heading in, we saw two men on a horse...carrying a baby calf!!! Mama cow followed behind, probably fully confused about why her baby was mounted on a horse! Oh how I wish I had my camera, it was priceless!

Celebrating Easter

This year we celebrated Easter with all the North Americans in Montellano. We had a brunch after church which included pancakes and eggs and potatoes and fruit and lots of excellent American foods! I had to explain the idea of "brunch" to Ariel, and came up with the word "Dalmuerzo", the Spanish combination of breakfast and lunch, to help him understand! It was a fun afternoon together to talk and hang out and eat!!

Amazing Frayme

If it's actually possible, Frayme is getting cuter and cuter by the day! She smiles like crazy, it's one of the cutest things! Milka and Francis are doing really well and loving their little baby girl.

Growing Yuriel

The babies are growing up quickly around here and Ruben and Yubi's baby, Yuriel, is no exception! He's already 3 months old and doing so well. He's got some great chubby cheeks and a very proud mom and dad!!

Double wedding

On Saturday, two of our teachers got married in a double ceremony. Chichi and Dudu are sisters and decided that they couldn't leave the other first, so got married at the same time, pastored by their father, in the church in Villa Asencion. The reception was at the school, and the cafeteria was converted into a beautiful hall.

Most of the teachers from school were bridesmaids or groomsmen, all dressed up and looking so different than the everday uniforms
Rachel is one of Dudu's best friends, and got to be the madrina for the wedding, which meant she had a big role in preparing and being by Dudu's side, as well as walking in with the groom. She did a very good job and smiled the whole time!The wedding lasted almost three hours, with endless songs and preaching, but in the end, the couples were happily married amongst tons of cheers and support. They then all headed to the school for the party and dinner.

It was a fun day, albeit long! We didn't leave the village until almost 10:00, the lastest I have ever left the village before! Both couples are now living in Montellano and we are excited to have been able to celebrate with them and be with them on this important day!

Welcome to the world, Frayme

Francis and Milka became proud parents to little Frayme on Friday the 12th. She was born by c/s safe and sound and is pretty much amazing. It has been so fun cuddling her and helping Milka, I love it so much. They are such happy and glowing parents, it's been neat watching them in these days.

An email from Haiti

I got this email today from the pastor of the church where our church delivered the food bags bought with YOUR donations. Thank you again, amazing stuff!


Thank you so much for writing. I was going to send you a report about the food bags yesterday, but I had internet problems. We were able to hand out all the food bags. We gave bags to 210 needy persons. We still have some of the stuffs your team brought for our people, and we will give them out by next week. Unfortunately, we did not take any pictures. Sorry for that. On behalf of all the recipients, Hope Baptist Church and I are very grateful for you. May God richly bless you as you continue to serve Him and His people

Saint-Ange Monstesime
Senior Pastor of Hope Baptist Church

Television.

So our friends Jennie and Miguel just moved to the US and gave us their television. I've been with out a TV here for 3.5 years and, well, things have gone along fine. I know, some think it impossible, but I have my computer and watch movies and check news, so I still feel pretty in touch.

Well, we got cable last week as there were no channels at all, and it's only $9/month, and let me tell you, life is good. I stayed up until 1:30 last night watching the girls ice skate, and I'm currently watching Oprah and drinking tea. All of the sudden, I'm that much closer to the States. As the news is set up to be local to NY, I'm hearing about the winter storm, and even enjoying a cloudy cold day here.

My favorite part of the day was when the Cadbury egg commercial just came on. I smiled, I fully smiled. All alone in the apartment and here I am smiling. It's the one where the lion and other animals are dressed like a bunny, you know. It's just that I've seen that commercial so much growing up and here it is again, little unexpected pieces of America. I haven't had an Easter at home in ages so I forget the little things.

So I'm enjoying my TV. Even the commercial. No, especially the commercials.

Time to vaccinate

Another round of vaccines and I am proud to say we nearly have all our kids fully vaccinated!!! It has been a long time coming, but worth it all. This time we vaccinated against Tetanus, Polio, Diptheria, Measles, Rubella, and Hepatitis B. We still have a few to catch up on, and the new kids who just started will continue to catch up as well, but the majority of our kids are now at CDC standard for vaccines!

Vaccine days are strangely kind of funny. The kids get so worked up about their shots, some go running to hide, others arrive to me drenched in sweat from fear, and we even had one little guy escape from the school to his house! Don't worry, I'll get him eventually. I try and tell them it's because I love them so much I don't want them to get sick, but then again, they're young and that kind of reasoning doesn't work. So we hold them and give them stickers and Tylenol and continue vaccinating!

Easter project

One thing about helping Emily with sponsorship projects is that we begin to celebrate a bit soon for the holidays. So we are in full swing of Easter, and in the last week, nearly finished all the cards to send to the home office where they'll then be sent to the sponsors. It was funny to see how each kids understands instructions and how they find their own special way to do each project. Happy Easter...a bit early!!

Mud. And a walk to school

It's been raining off and on in these days, which I love. The downside of all the lovely rain though, is the mud. To get to school, we go through the cane fields where the road is mostly dirt and rock. Of course, when the rain comes, we get mud and puddles and...a mess. The other day on the way to school, Junior-a teacher and the driver, was trying to miss a mud/water hole and went too far to the right, throwing us into the ditch where we got stuck. Alberto was still doing the food buy about 30 mins away, so we decided to walk. It was quite a distance, but we made it after crossing little rivers along the way and mud everywhere. The van did eventually get pulled out and all was well.

Back from Haiti again

The team made it home from Haiti Saturday night and had endless stories to tell. The group headed to Haiti at 3 am Sat morning, getting to the border town of Dajabon about 9 am. They ran into problems because immigration said they couldn't take the rental truck loaded with all the donations, into the country. That didn't stop them though. One of the guys hopped on a motorcycle taxi into Haiti and rented another truck. They quickly transferred the donation bags and headed out! It was incredible how it all came together so fast and they were soon on their way.

They made it to the church in Cap Haitien, where earthquake refugees are staying with families, but the families were already poor and hungry before accepting more family into their homes. The pastor was ecstatic to receive so much support and help and Ariel said he was forever smiling. They were shown the church, the construction to expand it, and the children who were in Bible classes at the time. The pastor was meant to hand out the bags to the earthquake victims yesterday after the church service, and we hope to hear about that soon.

Thank you for all your donations and support in this time. It has been such a great blessing to be able to be this link between you and the Haitian people. We don't have another trip planned at the moment, but if you are interested in continuing to donate, you can be in touch with me and we'll see if we can do another trip.

I'd just like to say that the whole trip was run off of donations. 225 food bags, 50 baby bags, items for women, and extra items to hand out along the way, along with van rental and gas...all because of YOU! Thank you. Thank you for caring about the Haitians, for donating from your hearts, and for trusting us to make it happen.

Packing it up for Haiti

Last night we packed the bags for the Haiti trip on Saturday. It was amazing to see how much was actually in the bag by the end of it all. It was a fantastic group that came together to help pack each bag and we couldn't have done it without them. Each of the 225 food bag contains: 5 lbs rice, 2 lbs sugar, 1 carton milk, 1 salt, 2 powder seasonings, 2 liquid seasonings, 5 juices, 2 corn meals, 2 packs spaghetti, 1 can beans, 3 bouillons, 1 bottle oil, 2 packs of matches, 2 packs crackers, 2 packs cookies, 1 toilet paper, 1 tomato paste, 5 bottles of water, 1 salami, 1 can of tuna, and 2 packs of powdered milk.


We were also able to prepare 50 baby bags which contain 1 can of formula, 1 pack of diapers, and 1 bottle. We have sanitary pads that will be given separately to the women, which they're really asking for.

So we are officially ready for this trip now and they should be leaving about 3 am on Sat morning. Can't wait!!

Food buy for Haiti

With your continued donations, we are in the final preparations to send supplies over on Saturday!

A group will be leaving at 3am Saturday morning to head to Haiti to take 225 food bags and 50 baby bags to the people.

When I was in Haiti, I was able to connect with the pastor of their church, a very large and excellent church, in the northern town of Cap Haitien. We found out that the church members from the community are now receiving family members who have fled from Port au Prince to look for help. The problem is that the families were already poor, hungry, and needy...and now there are more people in their small house and more mouths to feed.

What we decided is that it would be best to support these newly arrived refugees by being able to help 225 families with these food bags! It was an amazing connection to make and we are excited to be able to help those who were hurt and touched physically by the earthquake.

We continue to finish the buy today and then start packing tonight! It is exciting and we are looking forward to this!

Tents are ready

All the tents are ready to receive kids! After the video, the bunkbeds were made and put in place.

Kids Alive, Haiti

This is the Kids Alive site where we were for the week

Streets of Cap Haitien

Driving through the city to get to the Kids Alive site

Markets, Cap Haitien