So ready to come home...

I've been hesitant to post this because I don't want my family to be afraid for us here. But the reality of it is, Satan is alive and real and God does ordain suffering for his glory.

As I've said before, I have an amazing prayer group that meets on Friday mornings at Sandra's house. CT has started a mens gathering here at our house earlier on Friday mornings. At my group, were all sitting around catching up while waiting on Su to arrive. We planned to get started as soon as she came. Su walked in and sat in her normal seat, then burst into tears. She had just received a call from our paster that a friend and member of our worship band had been shot and killed during the night. Chris received the news within minutes of me. ALL of us were in utter disbelief. Even more so when we learned the whole story. You can read it here on YWAM's website.

Eble was the first guy to come introduce himself and make Chris feel welcomed at his first mens meeting. He played the piano in our worship band and in fact, that was the last time we saw him; last Sunday. His wife Lora and their 2 children- two and four, sit near us every Sunday. I would just sit and star at them half the time because they were just the most beautiful blonde-headed family!

Yesterday after church was the memorial service for Eble. They had many family members who had come in from Holland. His Father and his wife spoke. What a family. Lora, his wife, shared that their four year old had encouraged her heart because when she was crying he said "Mommy, why are you crying? Aren't you happy that Daddy is with Jesus now?"

Eble died defending his family and died in the country he loved serving his beloved Savior.

We are proud to have known this family and have enjoyed watching them serve their God here in Kenya.

After the memorial service we went to see some Kenyan friends who just had a baby 2 weeks ago and now their little fella is in the hospital with some type of infection. He's going to be okay though. He just needs to stay in the hospital several days on IV antibiotics. On the way home we ran into terrible traffic. We didn't understand why traffic would be so bad on a Sunday. The day before, we had run into traffic near the same area coming back from taking Rusty to the airport. We just assumed it was just because of people merging. We only sat for about 10 minutes when we saw cars were going around something on the side of the road. As we approached, I glanced to see what it was we were avoiding. To my utter disbelief and horror, it was a 3 year old child that had been hit... just laying there on the side of the road like an animal. WHAT THE HECK???? PICK THAT BABY UP AND DO SOMETHING!!! Where were the medics? Where was 911? Oh... right... 3rd world. There was a man just standing over the child staring at it. I was so nauseous. I was so glad that Chris was driving. I couldn't believe people would just leave it there. It was just like seeing a dog hit - laying next to the curb. I just didn't get it.

We're beyond ready to get back to our homeland. Where we don't have to wonder why someone leaves a dead child on the side of road. We've certainly learned so much about this culture, but it's times like this, when we realize how much we still have to learn. Not to mention I AM SPOILED ROTTEN because of how I KNOW medicine is in the US; how I EXPECT more because of what I am "used to".

Count your blessings, my friends. This here is the REAL WORLD.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles...

I honestly just named the post this to make my sister in law laugh. I like to quote Bruce Almighty for her. ;)

But seriously people- I think I gots me a big ol' baby. I went to the doctor yesterday to get all my blood work, files, papers, meds and "what-nots" I'll need to travel next week. I am 25 weeks and measuring 29!!! YIKES! She said that doesn't nessarily mean I have a big baby, it could mean I have a lot of fluid. So if that is the case then- Yes, Brittany, you can have some of mine for your little girl! teheh! I've gained some weight too... like I wasn't gaining much at all for the first 17 weeks, and now... well, lets just say I caught up a little too much. The reason we are thinking maybe the weight is more fluid is b/c I've only gained in my belly so far. But I guess we'll find out come June, huh?

I don't have issues with chips and sodas or anything. In fact, I'm awesome at drinking water. I rarely every drink soda. (It's those confounded milkshakes!) So no more sweets for Lindy! I'll gladly accept any fruits though. Maybe you all know me better than that. I think I'll just go down to 1 dessert a week. I mean Sam Swaim is making me a Cherry Pie. I'm positive he will be disappointed if I don't at least have half a slice. Seriously though people- don't try tempting me with sweets when I get home. It's fruits and veggies for this girl! I've really tried to be healthy this pregnancy and apparently it's still not working out so well.

This pic is for those who prefer me to be a bit more modest:

now...don't look down!

Would ya look at that!!! told ya... and i'm ONLY 25 weeks! Somehow I don't think I'll see 40 weeks...

If you think about it and the Lord lays it on your heart, say a little prayer for the Thompson's travel. I'm getting fairly uncomfortable when I sit for a while (I'm not complaining, just stating that facts) in my back and left side. So just pray I can get comfortable and/or that I can sleep a little bit on the plane so I don't lose it.

See you guys in a week!! ;)

A humbling day...

Saturday was:

A-Rusty's first full day with us

B-One of the most humbling days since I've been in Kenya

C-A very scary day as well...

Saturday we got a text from Thomas saying he was taking Zippy to Ngong Hospital b/c she had been throwing up all night. We told him to let us know what they diagnose her with. At 9:45 we were leaving to go to a meeting and to see the boys when Thomas called back saying they wanted to take her by AMBULANCE to Kenyatta hospital (40 minutes or so away). Chris and I just felt like we should go and check on them and give them $$ for the ambulance ride. When we got there, Thomas informed us that Zipporah had a positive pregnancy test except she had SEVER pain in her right lower quadrant. She was vomiting and had been since she got home from work the day before. She had all the classic signs of an ectopic pregnancy. They had given her an IM injection that had given her no relief as of yet. There was 1 MD and 1 Nurse at this hospital that we could tell and a BOAT LOAD of patients. Zippy was wrenching in pain. I rubbed her back and prayed in her ear, not knowing what else to do. I felt so horrible and helpless for her. We waited and waited only to find out that the Ambulance driver wouldn't answer his phone. No one could find him and who knew when they would. Fed up, we told them to put her in our car and we would take her. I asked if they would call ahead to Kenyatta hospital and tell them we were coming via our own ambulance. They said- "we don't do that". Well... of course you don't. However, the nurse ASSURED me Zippy would practically be taken straight into the theatre (aka- O.R.). We got zippy into the car and I told CT to put his hazards on (which means nothing here) and drive fast. He was driving like a Matatu driver, but he got us there with only a minor fender bender! (just a tiny tap)

We got to the hospital and it felt like ages before we ever found the ER or "casualty". I walked in with Thomas and they told us to put her on a stretcher and wait in line. So much for taking her straight to the O.R. Good thing I knew better. While Zippy was waiting in the stretcher line to be seen in triage I looked around. People were everywhere! There was a man vomiting off the side of his stretcher onto the floor. I saw AT LEASE 4-5 children come in with very SERIOUS burns- none of which were even crying. Another man came in handcuffed to the bed but bleeding all over the floor. Rusty, Chris and I went and sat outside until Zippy was to been seen. I wasn't handling to bile smelling vomit very well nor did I know what any of these people had. My doctor has already told me to limit time with the st. boys and in the slums. Finally, Zippy was seen and had to wait in another line to see the MD. We gave Thomas some money and went on with Rus to our meeting. Later we find out that she had her ultrasound and thankfully her tube had not burst! Praise the Lord!!

Zippy had been asking for water in the ER and Rusty was going to give her some of his, but I told her she couldn't have anything b/c they would likely take her straight into surgery and if she eats/drinks they would have to delay the surgery. What did they do later that afternoon? Someone fed her b/c she was "weak". HELLO!! GIVE HER SOME IV FLUIDS!! Did NO ONE think to give her IV fluids???? It really really frustrated me (on top of everything else that I felt they did extremely inadequately. [Says the girl that came from 1st world medicine] ) Rus and I were talking about how in the world they can have such pristine, beautiful malls here and such a disgusting hospital. What an oxymoron! CT pointed out that it's not the Kenyans building those malls. It was a real wake up call that I really DO live in a 3rd world. Sometimes I think I forget that until I see things like this. I've been going to my doctors appointments at a nice Indian hospital where there aren't giant holes in the ceiling with cob webs hanging down- maybe I just forget some times. You wouldn't think I would going in to the slums a few times every week. But medical care is just one of those things, I suppose, I take for granted. At any rate, Zippy had her surgery at midnight Saturday night and is doing well now. CT, Rus and I picked her up Tuesday and brought her home.

Communication isn't the best between doctors and patients here so I felt like I should explain to Thomas that there was no way to save the baby. That the surgery would be to remove the baby from the tube. I only told Thomas since Zippy's head was buried in the seat. Thomas looked so disappointed. I hated being the bearer of bad news but I don't believe in sugar coating or lying- as is very common in this culture. They tell you what they think you want to hear rather than the truth.

Both Zipporah and Thomas are home now and doing well. She is out of work for 3-4 weeks probably. But she is very upbeat and positive about the whole thing (per Thomas). I asked how her heart was and he told me (in so many words) that she's just thankful to be alive and out of pain. She's hopeful that she can now get pregnant. Chris and I have been praying every single night for them to get pregnant; now we just need to pray that the baby will move on to the uterus rather than stay in that tube!

I'm sure they would covet your prayers! This infertility issue has been made even harder since they recently sent their 13 year old off to boarding school (this is customary here). So now they are empty nesters and must come to work seeing us happy and pregnant. I just ache for them.

This is my favorite picture of my Zippy...

oh Wally...

So here is Wallace at 6 months. He's so big!! Especially compared to the last pic I posted of him.

(Pay no attention to the mocha milkshake at my side... uh... that's his... not mine. )

He's showing off his Masai collar.

This is how big he was when we got him at 3 months.

He's such a sweetie. Best puppy ever- he doesn't chew up stuff like most pups.

Tiny Thompson... in 3D!!

FINALLY i got our US pics!! I'm only going to put the 3D ones up b/c the others aren't great any way. They lost my 20 week pics and did another US to appease me. So they were a bit sloppy. Here's the really fun ones any way:

(No need to put on your 3D glasses to view these)

22 weeks... or is it 23 weeks?

So which is it? Do I go by the ultrasound or LMP? If I go by U/S I'm 23 by the measurements of the head, femur, and humorous? Seriously- which is it?

I'm getting more excited about meeting this baby. I mean I am getting PUMPED! Today I got a surprise ultrasound! I went to MP Shah hospital (not where we are having the baby) to pick up my ultrasound pics from last Wednesday only to find out that they were gone. The doctor looked all through every U/S done on the 26th and ours wasn't there. I was so sad until he said "Do you have time for me to do another one, no charge?" Uh, let me think... see my baby... uh... yea. So i went in with my friend Sandra at my side and got to see baby again. I could stare at that screen all day! Tiny Thompson's head was "so far down in [my] pelvis" (Doc's words) that he couldn't see the face. Which would explain my pain.. ah hem.. down there. All my ligaments and tendons feel like they are STRETCHING! He asked if I had time to walk around a bit then come back... I really didn't b/c my friends had already taken the time and gas to drive me there. So he had me flip left and right and finally Tiny T showed its face! It was a pretty good shot, I have to say, and it was in 3D! Sandra just kept saying "SO CUTE! SO CUTE!" I could tell at first she started saying it in Afrikaans which is her first language then she remembered I don't know Afrikaans. So after the U/S the doc tries all 3 of my flash disks to save the pics to. It didn't work. None of them were compatible with the machine. So, we're back to square one! ha! Doc said to just go buy a new flash drive from here (the others were bought in The States) and bring it back and he would put them on it. I couldn't do it today b/c it was getting late and we would have been stuck in bad traffic. So... sorry guys. Still no pics of Tiny T!

This will have to do!

Do you see that? You have to look close. Yep, the button is on it's way out. As a matter of fact, tonight Dottie made fried okra, collard greens, corn, corn bread, and butter beans for dinner. I think my button has popped out-out now. It's hilarious, every time I laugh, cough or sneeze it pops out. I don't know WHY it makes me laugh so hard... it just does. It's the little things I get a kick out of I guess.