No School last Monday! :)
Ann took all her boys to the cafe, so instead of watching Tori at her own house, she came to my house for the afternoon. She was in a really playful mood, so we had a great time.
The kids had fun riding in the wagon. Later the Arcoverde girls came over and they got wet on the trampoline with the hose and then in the tubs.
CLINIC
Just as an introduction, Kendra was home in the states, so this was Marce and I's first time being in charge on clinic day. It was rather stressful, but I must admit that I enjoy an adventure :) and I just thank God that everything turned out alright.
Thursday, Marce and I got up at 3:30 AM and loaded Tadeo up in a big, white van. We drove into Magdalena and picked up Mattie and Lupita, a mother and her handicapped daughter. Leaving their home around 4:30 (Score point #1 for being early!), we headed for the states. I was driving. It took us about an hour and a half to get to the border, including missing an exit and driving around in some very confusing construction in downtown Nogales, MX. At one point, the street I was driving on turned into a one-way street with me going the wrong direction! That was just the beginning of our adventures. After dropping of Marce, Tadeo, Mattie, and Lupita to cross the border on foot and get their permits for the day, I headed back through the construction, got turned around, and drove through the border. There was NO ONE in line. Score point #2! After facing the suspicious security guards (maybe it's my age or that I don't own the vehicle...maybe they seem that way to everyone), I went to find the church where the clinic takes place. I hadn't realized Nogales was so long! After ten blocks or so, I felt like I was driving out of town, so I turned around and went back. After exploring several side roads, I decided I should go further on the original route. Finally I saw the landmarks Kendra had listed for me, made it to the church, and got our numbers. The smaller your number, the sooner you get in, so Kendra always goes for the numbers while the others are getting their permits. This time we got 25 and 26. Score point #3! I went back to the McDonald's right by the border to meet up with Marce and Mattie. I thought they would already be there after all my wrong turns, but was happy to find they hadn't arrived yet. We usually sit down and eat breakfast, but Tadeo needed x-rays for the clinic, so we just ordered at the drive through and set out to find the hospital. I missed the exit. Are you beginning to see a pattern? But thankfully there was a u-turn. At the hospital, Marce, Mattie, and Lupita ate in the van while Tadeo and I went in. While we were waiting, he started to dry heave, but since he hadn't eaten, nothing came up. Recently, Tadeo has been vomiting at least 3 times on clinic days, so...we were praying! We got the x-rays and drove back to the church with no wrong turns...for once. :) It was 8:30 AM.
Waiting for clinic to start.
There are approx. 200 handicapped children, babies to around 18, who come up from Mexico once a month for this clinic. Doctors and specialists set up all over in this church - physical therapy in the foyer, occupational therapy in the sanctuary, vision on the pulpit, pediatrics in the hallway...it is organized chaos. Each visit, the patients get appointments for future clinic days one, two, or more months later. This month we had orthodics and ocupational therapy. Next month we have nutrition and physical therapy.
Tadi and one of his clinic friends. A lot of the patients and most of the doctors are the same from month to month.
Around 9 or later they started calling off numbers, and we entered into the "waiting room." We had Tadeo's appointment cards and x-rays. We needed to tell the ladies our appointments and ask to go to orthodics first. They would then put Tadeo's folder in the stack for orthodics and we would wait for the doctor to call our name. I got confused. :) Remember the pattern? After getting our folder, we went straight to orthodics, instead of letting them put it in the stack and waiting for the doctor to call us. So we waited...and waited...and waited.
Patiently waiting by the orthodics room.
Still waiting.
And waiting.
Then Marce said, "They are never going to call us, because they don't have our folder." Why had I never paid attention to these things before? Aggravated with ourselves, we took his folder back and got it in line for orthodics. We waited, got called in, and found ourselves once again, waiting by the orthodics room. They called us in and the doctor looked at his x-rays. His left hip has moved further out of the socket. Even I could see the difference looking at the two x-rays, one from last year and one from this year! They want to send him to Sacramento, CA for surgery. I was worried because Kendra had told me to call her if they mentioned surgery (it had been a possibility last year) and I didn't want to make any decisions without her input. Everything slowed to a halt though when they found out neither Marce nor I was his parent or legal guardian, so they gave us an appointment for September and asked us to have the correct paper work then, so they can get the ball rolling for surgery. I was relieved.
We went to the sanctuary for occupational therapy, but they were leaving for lunch, so we sat down and waited for them to return.
Waiting for occupational therapy.
The therapist and her translator returned and we had our occupational therapy session. Then we went to get our new appointments on the schedule. Mattie and Lupita were still in appointments, so we sat down to wait. No vomiting and exceptional behavior from Tadeo all day!!! Score point #4!
Lilly and Chelly Schick arrived from Tucson while we were waiting because Lilly wanted a ride back with us to Magdalena. We sat and talked until Mattie and Lupita got out. It was 4:00 PM. We drove to Walmart and ate at the McDonald's there. Then we shopped for awhile and went to get gas. We turned the permits in at the border and headed back into the construction of Nogales, MX along with a LOT of other cars. Maybe it was rush hour with many returning from their work in the states. The sun set as we sped back towards Magdalena. We dropped off Mattie, Lupita, and then Lilly and arrived home at 9:00 PM.
What a day. I'm hoping I've learned all my lessons for all future clinic days!
Please pray: That God would bless my family's visit here at CVE as Emily arrived last Tuesday and Mom, Megan, Justin, and Timi arrive this coming Tuesday. That God would bless all the women her at CVE who have taken on the role of mother especially as we celebrate Mother's day. For patience and grace for all the women and men (even those without the title of houseparent) who are important figures in the lives of the children here. And for those who are grieving the loss of their mother or of their child or children.
Gift of the Week: The gift of loving, caring mothers who pick themselves up each day and keep trying. I thank Thee God for my mother and for all the women in my life who have taught me, encouraged me, inspired me, and loved me. Happy Mother's Day!
