Jay-ar
Calvin
All the sweet, beautiful boys!
Praying before dinner
Monday, April 19, 2010
Baby Home Pictures
Kuya (big brother) Jay
Jay-ar
Calvin
All the sweet, beautiful boys!
Praying before dinner
Jay-ar
Calvin
All the sweet, beautiful boys!
Praying before dinner
I am a bird
Recently Jeri gave us an exercise to draw something that represents who we are, and I drew a bird. Soon after we did this exercise, I completed an application for UNCW which included a question asking me to show who I am and include an explaination. I won't include the picture, but here is the explanation:
I use a bird to represent myself because I feel that my life and my characteristics have many similarities to those of a bird. I have always been a nurturer; taking care of others is a really important aspect of who I am. Just like in birds' lives, babies will always be a central theme in my life. One of my goals in life is to nurture, care for, and improve the quality of life for babies. In my life working hard and efficiently has always been a priority. This is also a prominent characteristic of birds. Whether they are building a nest, raising a family or flying south, they work tirelessly and with a powerful dedication. Another similarity between myself and birds is that our homes are very important to us. We both put a lot of work and effort into building up our homes. For them it's a nest with with sticks and leaves, for me it is my family and others who I love and are encouraging to me. They build up their nests while I build up people around me and work to build relationships with them. Just like birds I am very dedicated to my home. Yet, at the same time, I will often leave my home in order to experience new things and new places. I am the type of bird who flies south for the winter, but always returns to their original home when spring comes. I love travel, I love to be independent, and I love to be free, but at the same time I never forget the importance of my roots and the importance of my own tree. I am adventurous, just like birds when they fly. However, I still use wisdom and I carefully calculate my choices, in the same way that birds do. I I love having new experiences and learning new things as I venture away from the nest and away from my own tree. Birds seem to be good listeners. This is a characteristic which I believe is really important, and which I want to work towards aquiring. I would like to continue to work towards being joyful, hopeful and encouraging like birds. If there is one thing that humans can do that is similar to flying, it would be dancing. Dancing is exciting, unpredictable, and fun, just like flying. When I dance I feel weightless and free, just like when a bird flies. I am a nurturer, an adventurer, a home builder, a traveler, a dancer, an encourager and a listener. All of these reasons are why I am like a bird.
I use a bird to represent myself because I feel that my life and my characteristics have many similarities to those of a bird. I have always been a nurturer; taking care of others is a really important aspect of who I am. Just like in birds' lives, babies will always be a central theme in my life. One of my goals in life is to nurture, care for, and improve the quality of life for babies. In my life working hard and efficiently has always been a priority. This is also a prominent characteristic of birds. Whether they are building a nest, raising a family or flying south, they work tirelessly and with a powerful dedication. Another similarity between myself and birds is that our homes are very important to us. We both put a lot of work and effort into building up our homes. For them it's a nest with with sticks and leaves, for me it is my family and others who I love and are encouraging to me. They build up their nests while I build up people around me and work to build relationships with them. Just like birds I am very dedicated to my home. Yet, at the same time, I will often leave my home in order to experience new things and new places. I am the type of bird who flies south for the winter, but always returns to their original home when spring comes. I love travel, I love to be independent, and I love to be free, but at the same time I never forget the importance of my roots and the importance of my own tree. I am adventurous, just like birds when they fly. However, I still use wisdom and I carefully calculate my choices, in the same way that birds do. I I love having new experiences and learning new things as I venture away from the nest and away from my own tree. Birds seem to be good listeners. This is a characteristic which I believe is really important, and which I want to work towards aquiring. I would like to continue to work towards being joyful, hopeful and encouraging like birds. If there is one thing that humans can do that is similar to flying, it would be dancing. Dancing is exciting, unpredictable, and fun, just like flying. When I dance I feel weightless and free, just like when a bird flies. I am a nurturer, an adventurer, a home builder, a traveler, a dancer, an encourager and a listener. All of these reasons are why I am like a bird.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A Visit with Omari
I went back to stay with Omari and his mom for a few days this past week! The culture shock between staying in the Paanakan and a modern apartment were a little difficult for me to adjust to this time. But it was great to see them again and to see Omari getting bigger and being much more alert! Every morning I was there I woke up and just couldn't wait to hold him! He is even more fun to interact with now (at six weeks old) because his eyes are open and he's making noises and funny expressions! I stayed with them to help with feeding and to be supportive since Omari's aunt and grandma had just been visiting and then had left. It was great to see them again and to be able to bond with Omari more. I was also excited to see his mom settling in as a confident, sweet, and adoring mommy!!!
Omari and I had a nice nap together
Notice him holding onto my necklace! So cute!
I was blessed to spend time with this family and to help with feeding. It was great to be a part of Omari's journey as he gets his start in life. I hope to be able to see him as he grows big and strong and as his mom continues to love and care for him with such patience and confidence!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Mommies and Babies
I cannot possibly describe how exciting it is to see women go through the journey of pregnancy and birth! Being a part of it and getting to know them is really beautiful! It's so satisfying to recognize women when they come in for their births and to see them recognize you. There's already a connection because you've been doing their prenatals. Then to see them when they come in for their three day check up or for family planning and to hold their babies and see them being so healthy and growing bigger is really awesome!
On 3/9/09 I witnessed my first home birth, exactly one year later I got to witness another precious baby boy entering the world! Here he is with his beautiful family:
My first home birth, a whole year ago:
Home birth baby turning 1!!!
My first home birth was an amazing and beautiful experience. It's wonderful to look back and to see how the Lord has moved in my life. A year later, I am able to be even more involved in another precious birth! It was a beautiful birth and being able to help catch the baby was incredible!
A few weeks ago, I experienced one of the longest labors I've ever attended. Although it was tiring, it was really beautiful because I was able to make a real connection with the mom. It was awesome to see her actually comforted and reassured by my presence! Because it was such a long, hard labor she really began to trust me as I went through it with her. It really blessed me!!!! It's amazing to serve women and to see it making such a difference for them! I didn't even get to catch the baby because I was holding her hands so tightly, but it didn't matter. I was actually needed by her and that was an amazing feeling! After a long, hard labor, she had a beautiful baby girl! I learned a lot about myself and how I can interact with women during their labors.
This is me holding and weighing the baby at her three day check up
Baby home news:
This is Jusin! I haven't had a chance to mention him before
Justin is chubby and extremely happy! He is great at really making eye contact and allowing you to see into him. He is just so cuddly that he makes me want to pick him up all of the time! He is really starting to lift himself up on all fours. He is constantly and consistently full of joy. He lets your love and smile affect him, which is a beautiful characteristic.
Cindy has such kissable cheecks! She also had really great expressions, she just loves to stare at your face and really reacts to you talking with her. She makes these cute little bird noises when she's talking to you, it's adorable! We have been working on rolling with her and she's really trying hard. Today she started making singing noises because she was working so hard! A few times she's even done it on her own! She's a very lovable girl who has come a long way!
I think Vanessa has had over three or four hair cuts in her short lifetime and I just had to include a picture of how adorable she is with her amazing hair:
A few weeks ago we had a visitor at tlc, it was Lemuel Esquivel! He grew up in the little children's home and was coming back to the Philippines in order to adopt a new baby brother from another baby home here. Lemuel is the reason I first found out about this ministry here! His mom told me about it, the only reason she knew was because of Lemuel! So he is the reason I'm even here! It was wonderful to see him loved on by the staff, they had some great stories about him as a kid. Their over whelming joy and love for him were so evident. If you would like to see pictures from his visit go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=149980&id=1438977332 which is his dad's facebook pictures. It is awesome to imagine the kids who are currently in the home going with their own forever families! What a blessing to be able to see these babies one day, grown up, loving the Lord, and flourishing with their beautiful families!
Speaking of forever families, we said goodbye to Mark last week! He was His sweet mom and dad's first baby! They were so sweet with him, it was really wonderful to see, and really sad to say good bye to him. We're also had to say good bye to Andy! He was recently matched with a family here in the Philippines! It's great but so sad to see them go! The twins in the baby home, Jay and Denis will be leaving with their forever families in May, I'm excited to meet thier families, but once again, sad as well. They are really lively and joyful! They're always happy to see me, and they brighten my day! They already have pictures of their family and their new home where they'll be living soon! They show me "this is mommy, and this is daddy and this is our ate and kuya" It makes me cry! It's incredible! It's really cool to see the process of adoption from this point of view.
Here are the twins with Senon
Senon and the twins are practically all like brothers. Senon is really sweet and always loves to be held and cuddled!
It's really fun to go swimming or to play soccer (every saturday night) with these sweet kids! Here's one of our swimming outings:
This is Calvin, he is really sweet and really attached to the care workers. He loves playing with the older boys and sitting and reading with one of us. These pictures are actually from going to the pool for his birthday! He's totally adorable and has a big personality!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Birthing Home News
Johanna turned 7, which is a huge deal here! Her parents threw a beautiful birthday party for her at the Paanakan, with lots of food, games, dancing, and desserts!
We got a new fridge! What a huge blessing! Thank you Ate Becky!!! Here's Jorge with the new fridge and the old one!
Two weeks ago we had graduation on all three mornings! Around 150 women graduated from the nine courses on childcare, birth, family planning, and nutrition. The graduations were really fun! They would start with women doing things like singing, dancing, and talking about their time at the paanakan in order to get prizes. Then we played lots of different games, served a snack and presented their certifications! One really fun game was when the midwives brought the husbands over and had them dress a toy panda while being blindfolded! The men usually sit off to the side watching, but it was awesome to see them really getting into this game! Helen and the midwives worked really hard so that the women could have a great graduation!
Getting ready
A few days before the graduation I assisted this mom during her labor, it was great to see her with her baby at the graduation and for Lauren and I to give her her certificate!
Panda game
Lauren and I got to give out the certifications and gifts!
The Tuesday group
Three of the women who graduated, Ate Helen, Ate Bhel and me holding a baby who was at her three day check up and whose birth I had attended
Last Sunday we had a new student come to the Paanakan! It's so exciting to add someone new to "our" home!!!! Her name is Miranda, I'm really enjoying interacting with her. She is very sweet, easy to talk to, and easy to get along with! Recently we took a trip up to SM Taytay (local mall where we do our grocery shopping) and she treated me to Starbucks! We've also had a few movie nights together! She's great fun to have at births and to hang out with!
We got a new fridge! What a huge blessing! Thank you Ate Becky!!! Here's Jorge with the new fridge and the old one!
Two weeks ago we had graduation on all three mornings! Around 150 women graduated from the nine courses on childcare, birth, family planning, and nutrition. The graduations were really fun! They would start with women doing things like singing, dancing, and talking about their time at the paanakan in order to get prizes. Then we played lots of different games, served a snack and presented their certifications! One really fun game was when the midwives brought the husbands over and had them dress a toy panda while being blindfolded! The men usually sit off to the side watching, but it was awesome to see them really getting into this game! Helen and the midwives worked really hard so that the women could have a great graduation!
Getting ready
A few days before the graduation I assisted this mom during her labor, it was great to see her with her baby at the graduation and for Lauren and I to give her her certificate!
Panda game
Lauren and I got to give out the certifications and gifts!
The Tuesday group
Three of the women who graduated, Ate Helen, Ate Bhel and me holding a baby who was at her three day check up and whose birth I had attended
Last Sunday we had a new student come to the Paanakan! It's so exciting to add someone new to "our" home!!!! Her name is Miranda, I'm really enjoying interacting with her. She is very sweet, easy to talk to, and easy to get along with! Recently we took a trip up to SM Taytay (local mall where we do our grocery shopping) and she treated me to Starbucks! We've also had a few movie nights together! She's great fun to have at births and to hang out with!
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