A “typical” week!

Well, as you might imagine, there is no such thing as a typical week.  Forget our jobs and living in Ecuador – life with four boys keeps things ever-changing.  We are finishing up a holiday week here in Ecuador.  The kids had Mon and Tues off for Carnaval – the two days before the beginning of Lent, which is celebrated with water games, squirters and water balloons here.  It’s mostly fun, but whether walking through town or going to work, you are in danger of getting wet!  The weather was sunnier than usual which made for fun water games here on the compound as well.  I spent Tues morning at the hospital clinic where there were not many people to see due to the holiday.  Wednesday I checked in at the orphanage where it seems like everybody was sick and there seem to be a new outbreak of parasites.  I am also trying to compile developmental screening exams on the younger children, so I was able to do a few of these with a member of a short-term team visiting Shell.  Paul has had an atypically light week at the hospital, possibly due to the holiday.  He is making up for that today (Saturday) with and all day meeting regarding the future of the hospital followed by a surgery.  We’re hoping to see him for dinner.  It is a privilege to be involved in long-range planning, which in this case is about five years down the road.  Five years ago (and even two years ago) none of the current missionary doctors were here at the hospital, so things change quickly.  Many of the Ecuadorian staff have been here that long and much longer, however providing important continuity for the hospital.

On the home front, Sammy and Nathan had only three days of school this week.  Homework has been lighter so we’ve been busy with things depending on the weather.  Yesterday was a rainy, chilly day, meaning inside play and family movie night.  We started “The Prince of Egypt,” which believe it or not, none of us have seen.  Today has been sunny, so we pulled out sunscreen and bathing suits and it’s almost like Carnaval all over again!  In one of my dumber moves, I thought tackling potty-training (Josiah) and sleep-training (Isaac) in the same week was a good idea.  We’ve had more luck with the sleep than the potty but “poco a poco” is our motto.  Isaac is a content, sometimes serious little guy, but tickling and zerbers and funny faces bring out his giggles.  He’s about twenty pounds now, which makes him more resilient to Josiah’s attempts to play with him.  He sits up and plays with anything he can reach, but shows no interest in rolling over and only slight interest in table food.  I’ve made several attempts at homemade baby food since it’s not readily available here, but most of it ends up on his bib.  He did seem excited about a taste of Mommy’s brownie last night – definitely takes after me.  Sammy lost his second tooth this morning when Nathan “accidentally” kicked him in the mouth.  It was already loose, so not a complete surprise.   Both older boys have been doing lots of bike riding and practicing without training wheels, which gives Paul his exercise!  Paul has been able to get a few things done in the “paperwork” category, most involving expenses of some kind.  He and I are making plans for Maw-Maw and Pop’s upcoming visit to Shell, Paul’s upcoming trip to San Lorenzo to  work for a week with a missionary surgeon there, our church’s mission trip here this summer and a possible stateside vacation for us this summer!  We are also “deworming” as a family – something most people here (natives and foreigners) do on a regular basis.  Last night everyone took their medicine fine, but tonight is the nasty stuff, so we’ll see!  That’s the thumbnail sketch, and Daddy did make it home for dinner, so we’re off for hotdogs and games until the sun goes down and bedtime rolls around.  Maybe then I’ll get a chance to post some pictures.