Sunday, February 19, 2006
An Emma Update
Life just keeps going, doesn’t it? Since we last posted an update, we have been visited by both sets of Emma’s grandparents. My parents were here for a week in January, and Mark’s parents spent the past week with us. Lots of oooohing and aaaaaahing over Emma. It was wonderful having them all here even though the time was short.
Emma is now a little over 2 months old – we can’t believe it! She has completely changed our lives. Gone are the days of leaving the apartment with just a set of keys. Now we have keys, a diaper bag, blankets, a car seat, and a baby! She is so much fun, and we are loving being parents. Sometimes she smiles so hard it’s like she can hardly stand it – her mouth is open, her hands are above her head, and her back is arched – it’s a full body smile, and it melts our hearts every time. She wakes up only once during the night to be fed and then goes right back to sleep again, and the other night she slept through the night! She loves to be on the move, so if you’re holding her you better be walking or rocking. She and I take morning walks, and she usually sleeps in her “Emma Pack” or else she looks around with her big blue eyes learning about her world. Mark and I have discovered our specific roles. While I am of course “Feeding Friend”, Mark is very good at being “Sleepy Friend”. He has a special way of holding her and comforting her before bed that sends her right off to dream land. . . Most of the time.
On Sunday, January 8th, Emma was dedicated at Crossroads Christian Fellowship – the English speaking church we are ministering to in La Paz. My parents were able to be a part of the service as were Iza Buentello (Emma’s Mexican Aunt and namesake), and also my doula/birthing coach Susan Gardner. Pastors and friends David and Joyce Reed put together a beautiful service as we dedicated our daughter to God.
Also, on February 12th Emma became an official Mexican citizen. Our friends Carolina and Ruben helped us through the process and were our witnesses as the four of us signed Emma’s official paperwork. As the woman stamped the last paper, Emma let out a big yawn, and the woman said, “Yup, she’s a Mexican!”.
Emma is now a little over 2 months old – we can’t believe it! She has completely changed our lives. Gone are the days of leaving the apartment with just a set of keys. Now we have keys, a diaper bag, blankets, a car seat, and a baby! She is so much fun, and we are loving being parents. Sometimes she smiles so hard it’s like she can hardly stand it – her mouth is open, her hands are above her head, and her back is arched – it’s a full body smile, and it melts our hearts every time. She wakes up only once during the night to be fed and then goes right back to sleep again, and the other night she slept through the night! She loves to be on the move, so if you’re holding her you better be walking or rocking. She and I take morning walks, and she usually sleeps in her “Emma Pack” or else she looks around with her big blue eyes learning about her world. Mark and I have discovered our specific roles. While I am of course “Feeding Friend”, Mark is very good at being “Sleepy Friend”. He has a special way of holding her and comforting her before bed that sends her right off to dream land. . . Most of the time.
On Sunday, January 8th, Emma was dedicated at Crossroads Christian Fellowship – the English speaking church we are ministering to in La Paz. My parents were able to be a part of the service as were Iza Buentello (Emma’s Mexican Aunt and namesake), and also my doula/birthing coach Susan Gardner. Pastors and friends David and Joyce Reed put together a beautiful service as we dedicated our daughter to God.
Also, on February 12th Emma became an official Mexican citizen. Our friends Carolina and Ruben helped us through the process and were our witnesses as the four of us signed Emma’s official paperwork. As the woman stamped the last paper, Emma let out a big yawn, and the woman said, “Yup, she’s a Mexican!”.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Worship Harder
From December 28th to January 4th a mission team from our home church, First Baptist Church of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, came to La Paz for a short-term mission adventure. The team was made up of four adult leaders and eleven youth ranging in age from 5 to 50 years old. The goal of their time was to “Worship Harder” as they offered themselves to the construction of a home for our Mexican friends Mary and Raul, and their children Jose Armando, Alejandro, and Areceli.
Mary and Raul’s previous home (a wood and tar paper shack) was demolished as part of the city’s decision to widen their street. No compensation was provided. Since then, the family has been living in an adjacent property owned by one of Raul’s relatives. It has been a long-time dream of theirs to have a home made out of brick and mortar. This dream is becoming a reality!
With the support of the Crossroads Christian Fellowship here in La Paz, FBC of Bethlehem, volunteer labor, and the tenacious spirit of Raul, the house is quickly taking shape. Before the team from Bethlehem arrived the foundation was laid, the walls were in place for 3 nice sized rooms and a small bathroom (inside with plumbing, no longer an outhouse), and the forms to pour the roof were all in place.
Over the course of the week, the team poured the cement roof over the 3 rooms, prepared the foundation and poured a slab for what will be the family’s future kitchen and dining area, dug a 6 foot wide and 7 foot deep ditch through rock and earth which will serve as part of the septic system, and started landscaping the entire property for a garden area and water drainage.
One afternoon the team surprised Mary and Raul’s family by celebrating a late Christmas. During a Christmas morning service back in Pennsylvania, the members of First Baptist Church brought Christmas gifts for the entire family to be taken to La Paz. They were overwhelmed! The kids were inundated with toys and new clothes, and Mary and Raul each received a couple of new outfits.
On our last day together, the group invited their newly adopted family to a day at the beach followed by a dinner back at the Inn where the team was staying. As the evening drew to a close, Raul tried to put into words just how deeply the group had touched him and his family with their willingness to raise the money to come from thousands of miles away to work with a family they only knew through stories passed on by others. Tears began to flow, and Raul simply asked, “Why us?”
The team from Bethlehem came to La Paz ready to work hard, and in the process they became a real and tangible answer to prayer to a family whose faith has been challenged time and time again.
Mary and Raul’s previous home (a wood and tar paper shack) was demolished as part of the city’s decision to widen their street. No compensation was provided. Since then, the family has been living in an adjacent property owned by one of Raul’s relatives. It has been a long-time dream of theirs to have a home made out of brick and mortar. This dream is becoming a reality!
With the support of the Crossroads Christian Fellowship here in La Paz, FBC of Bethlehem, volunteer labor, and the tenacious spirit of Raul, the house is quickly taking shape. Before the team from Bethlehem arrived the foundation was laid, the walls were in place for 3 nice sized rooms and a small bathroom (inside with plumbing, no longer an outhouse), and the forms to pour the roof were all in place.
Over the course of the week, the team poured the cement roof over the 3 rooms, prepared the foundation and poured a slab for what will be the family’s future kitchen and dining area, dug a 6 foot wide and 7 foot deep ditch through rock and earth which will serve as part of the septic system, and started landscaping the entire property for a garden area and water drainage.
One afternoon the team surprised Mary and Raul’s family by celebrating a late Christmas. During a Christmas morning service back in Pennsylvania, the members of First Baptist Church brought Christmas gifts for the entire family to be taken to La Paz. They were overwhelmed! The kids were inundated with toys and new clothes, and Mary and Raul each received a couple of new outfits.
On our last day together, the group invited their newly adopted family to a day at the beach followed by a dinner back at the Inn where the team was staying. As the evening drew to a close, Raul tried to put into words just how deeply the group had touched him and his family with their willingness to raise the money to come from thousands of miles away to work with a family they only knew through stories passed on by others. Tears began to flow, and Raul simply asked, “Why us?”
The team from Bethlehem came to La Paz ready to work hard, and in the process they became a real and tangible answer to prayer to a family whose faith has been challenged time and time again.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Love, Mark, Susan, & Emma
Love, Mark, Susan, & Emma
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Welcome, Emma!
Lying on the bed next to me as I type this entry is the newest edition to the Mission: La Paz Team. Emma Izabella was born in the early morning (3:50AM to be exact) on Saturday, December 10th in Fidepaz Hospital, La Paz, Mexico. Emma weighs in at a healthy 8.2lbs and is 19.5 inches long, with lots of dark hair, blue eyes, and at the moment…a case of the hiccups. She joined us after 25 hours of labor which began at about 3AM on the 9th. At 8AM we had a regularly scheduled appointment with our OBGYN and our friend, and translator (and the inspiration for Emma’s middle name) Iza. After one final ultrasound the doctor indicated that he would be seeing us later in the day!
After running several errands, we arrived at home and thought it might be a good idea to start timing the contractions. A call to Susan’s doula (birthing coach), her arrival, and a re-checking of my math, and we were loading up the truck to meet the doctor at the hospital (that was about 2:30ish). With a quick examination it was determined that Susan was only dilated about 1cm. The doctor sent us home. We were disappointed, but began to prepare for what would become a rather long night.
Susan’s doula (also named Susan) rejoined us at our apartment around 5:30 pm, and we all decided to take a walk around the block. The contractions continued to grow stronger and increase in frequency, so at 7:30 we headed to the doctor’s office this time. His examination revealed that Susan was now dilated 5cm, and it was time to go to the hospital, where things progressed nicely until Susan hit the 8cm mark, where things stalled out for over 3 hours. No more dilation and the contractions were beginning to fall off.
The doctors, knowing our desire to have a natural birth – a rare thing here, became concerned because of the strain on little Emma indicated by spikes and drops in her heart rate. We did not want to go the Cesarean route, so we opted for medication to quicken the frequency and intensity of the contractions. Still nothing. Our now weary doctor and staff gave Emma another 10 minutes to get moving. She did, and with that we moved into the delivery room for the final push (Ok, pushes).
After Emma was born, she spent only enough time in the nursery to get thoroughly checked out by our pediatrician and a bath…she has been with us ever since!! She is absolutely beautiful in our incredibly biased eyes, and we can’t believe she’s actually here!
Susan handled the delivery amazingly, and is recovering well. Emma has been receiving visitors constantly, and we are finding time to rest whenever she allows.
Thank you all once again for all of your love, your prayers, and your unending letters of support and encouragement. We cannot wait for you all to meet our beautiful Mexican daughter Emma!
After running several errands, we arrived at home and thought it might be a good idea to start timing the contractions. A call to Susan’s doula (birthing coach), her arrival, and a re-checking of my math, and we were loading up the truck to meet the doctor at the hospital (that was about 2:30ish). With a quick examination it was determined that Susan was only dilated about 1cm. The doctor sent us home. We were disappointed, but began to prepare for what would become a rather long night.
Susan’s doula (also named Susan) rejoined us at our apartment around 5:30 pm, and we all decided to take a walk around the block. The contractions continued to grow stronger and increase in frequency, so at 7:30 we headed to the doctor’s office this time. His examination revealed that Susan was now dilated 5cm, and it was time to go to the hospital, where things progressed nicely until Susan hit the 8cm mark, where things stalled out for over 3 hours. No more dilation and the contractions were beginning to fall off.
The doctors, knowing our desire to have a natural birth – a rare thing here, became concerned because of the strain on little Emma indicated by spikes and drops in her heart rate. We did not want to go the Cesarean route, so we opted for medication to quicken the frequency and intensity of the contractions. Still nothing. Our now weary doctor and staff gave Emma another 10 minutes to get moving. She did, and with that we moved into the delivery room for the final push (Ok, pushes).
After Emma was born, she spent only enough time in the nursery to get thoroughly checked out by our pediatrician and a bath…she has been with us ever since!! She is absolutely beautiful in our incredibly biased eyes, and we can’t believe she’s actually here!
Susan handled the delivery amazingly, and is recovering well. Emma has been receiving visitors constantly, and we are finding time to rest whenever she allows.
Thank you all once again for all of your love, your prayers, and your unending letters of support and encouragement. We cannot wait for you all to meet our beautiful Mexican daughter Emma!
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