Little S

Last month we got a call to take in 

a newborn who needed a place to stay 

for just 2 days until she could be transported

to Mobay. Almost a month later she finally

moved on.

Little S was not an easy baby, but she was very lovable, 

and so worth the extra time and attention. We were 

thankful for her time with us, and that we could get

her to a healthy place before she left us.

Please be prayerful as she transitions into her

new home. Thanks!

Happy Birthday Miss A!

We welcomed this little lady back in Feb.

 She arrived chill and with the biggest smile.

And over the last 8 months not much has changed with 

her personality....

But my how she has grown!

 Happy 1st Birthday Miss A!

We love getting to spend this time with you,

and celebrating your 1st year of life.

 She had no desire to eat her cupcake.

She just sat there and looked at it until

I broke off a piece and put it in her mouth.

She liked it, but still didn't want to put it in her

mouth. It was much more fun to play with.:)

A busy week.

 The last update I think Miss D got left out so we will 

start with her. She now creeps around pretty quickly when

she is on the ground. She typically wants only to play with 

the things that move on her when she tries to get them,

and spends most of her days frustrated that the toys

don't cooperate:). She loves to sit in her 'high chair'

and bang on it like a drum. She does really well sitting up

on her own, and is already trying to pull herself up on things

at 5 mos old. Thankfully she doesn't get very far with that yet.

She has 5 teeth, and they way she gums on things I 

am assuming more are on the way. She LOVES

playing with her feet, and she slobbers through bibs

in about 10 mins flat.  

 Lady A is (we think) getting her top 2 teeth in. She spends

most of her days with her mouth in the same position as

the picture above as she guards whatever is going on in

there with her lips and bottom to teeth:)

 This past week we were blessed to host the JOC

(Jamaica Operations Committee) her on the island,

and with them this time came some reps. from ACCFS.

ACCFS had us take some personality assessments a few

months ago then came down and went over them with us,

so we could know each of our team members better,

to help us work together better.

 The JOC, & Counslers from ACCFS with team Jamaica

Team Jamaica

 We had a slow Sunday Morning

(Thanks God!)

So we took some pictures of the babies.

Prayers appreciated for Miss S. 

I took her in to CPFSA last week Friday for them to 

see she was healthy and ready to be moved to her new home.

Well, apparently a bed opened up at a local home that they

decided to move her to instead of the 'good' home they

had initially found for her. This local home I know she will

be placed in a bed to cry most of the day, and I don't want that 

for her, but I also want to make sure I am not running ahead

of God and His plans for Miss S. Prayers for wisdom are

appreciated.

Thanks.

Here we go again... Hello Change!

I feel like there has been a lot going on the past week.

As we once more welcomed change, and new experiences

all at the same time.

 We don't have Halloween here in Jamaica,

but the girls still love to dress up so we did:).

We have a princess,

A mermaid.

A Mickey Mouse,

and a Jack O Lantern.

 After a month plus of looking the social worker finally

found a home for Miss J. We took her in on a temporary

basis. She was really to "old" for us, but we didn't want

her just sitting in a hospital all alone, and we are thankful

for our time with her.

 One Friday she was moved to a great home in Mobay.

I was thankful for the place she was going. I knew it,

knew it was run well, and was thankful and peaceful

that she would thrive in her time there with kids her 

own age.

 Wednesday night (Oct 31) we got a call. They had just

removed a newborn and had placement in Mobay, but

needed a place to keep her in MV until Friday when she

would ride with Miss J to Mobay to her new home there.

We (I) gladly welcomed her. Neiah came around quickly.

Miss J and Miss A didn't want anything to do with her.

Big D didn't pay her any mind:) So then we had 4 little girls:)

When she arrived the Social workers asked me to get

her to the Dr. first thing the next morning as she was

born premie, spent a bunch of time after her birth in the 

NICU, then had never been back since her mom took 

her out of the hospital and they wanted to make sure 

everything was okay with her. So first thing the next day I took her

 in for her 6 weeks shots (she hadn't had any vaccination thus far). 

Lady S is 7 weeks and 7 lbs big:). She arrived with a NASTY rash 

all over her body that was diagnosed as scabies

 (its like lice for the skin, very contagious, very irritating). 

NOT GOOD. Because of this new diagnosis no one would take her.

 We collected the needed Rx to treat the scabies and began

 the process to get her healed, while  quarantining her here,

 and scrubbing down everything she used over and over,

We also took preventative measures with the other babies washing 

them with a special soap so they didn't get it.

Other then that she seemed to be healthy.

 We PRAISE JESUS, that after her scabies treatment (x2)

some bathes with special soap, and the use of essential oils,

we are now on day 4 and she looks so much better, and we

are starting to see a not so miserable baby. She does love to be held,

and we can't really blame her. Lady S has had a very rough start to life.

Thankful for teens from church who are willing

to spend their weekends hanging out holding needy

babies so I can still get things done.

Prayers appreciated for Lady S that she can be fully healed,

and also that no other kids get it.

And super thankful for Aunties who are willing to work night

shifts on the weekend while she is here so I can still sleep:).

Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Blessings.

Pretty Girls in Pink.

Very Blessed by these lovely littles.

Finding a new groove.

We  have once more settled into a new normal here at En Gedi.

 A little glimpse of what bags are packed with when kids arrive.

* diapers

*wipes,

*clothes (most in sizes way to big or way to small)

* a rag

*a cheese snack (with no nutritional value and made mostly of air)

*a sugary juice drink.

* and she arrived with one 'toy' a headless chicken.

 The first few days consisted of her constantly

packing and repacking this little blue plastic basket

as she told me "bye", and "taxi soon come", "daddy soon

come", "grandma soon come"

 Miss J has now been with us for a week and a half and 

she seems to have settled in. She still doesn't sleep through the night.

I don't know if she wakes up from night terrors, or just wakes up and 

gets scared when its dark and doesn't see anyone. So we moved the littles

around and the night Auntie now sleeps in a room with Little D and Miss J

so that we are not woken in the middle of the night with her screams. And Lady A now 

sleeps in a room by herself since she is the only little that sleeps all night.

 Neiah is still her favorite and as soon as she gets home from school

until bed time she sticks close by her side.

She loves playing outside and will stay out on the back porch for 

as long as she can.

Lady A is doing great. She is now 10 months and 

constantly moving

 She loves to dance and spins and bounces on her bottom

around the living room whenever music is on.

She has also stood up on her own a few times when she bounces 

really high on her bottom. She doesn't realize what she has

done or how she is doing it, but once she is up she just starts 

running until she falls over.

Little D, is growing way to quickly. She too is constantly

moving, and only pauses to put things in her mouth to gum 

on as she seems to be always teething. Slobber streams and

blowing bubbles are her thing.

Prayers appreciated for Miss J's family that they can meet all

the requirements CPFSA has so Miss J can safely go home in a 

few weeks.

Thanks.

Change...

The only thing we know we can

expect here is change. We get a call

and new littles come, we get another

call and they go. We don't get a say.

We just get to love them and care

for them the best we can while they

are here with us at En Gedi.

 This week we got the call that my 'gut' had been

telling me was coming for a week now. He had

been gone for almost 2 weeks, and the medical

appointments in Kingston continued to get added.

For his consistency, and so he would be closer to 

the children't hospital, Big J was moved to

a home in Kingston. 

 Please be prayerful for him that he

can thrive there. That all the great strides

he made here with us, continue and that

he doesn't just get lost in the mix there.

A few days later we got another call.

There was a 2 year old waiting in a hospital

would we be willing to take her in.

We do our best to stick to babies 0-2,

but in times like these we are willing 

to step up as God calls and take them in

to get them out of the hospital, and love

them until long term placement can be

found for them.

 So Thursday we welcomed another 2 year old (almost 3)

Miss J. She is a big lady, so smart, and the opposite

of our quiet and calm, Big J that just left us.

Prayers for Miss J and her time with us. She comes with 

a lot. A lot of experiences a 2 year old should never have.

And She is our first placement that has come directly 

after being removed from her family. So this is her first 

"children's home" experience.

So thankful for Neiah at these times. She can step in

and love and play with them in a way that already

Miss J looks for. With the other littles my focus can't 

be solely on her, so she sticks close to Neiah her

favorite playmate:)

Lots Going On.

En Gedi officially has a 2 year old!

Big J turned 2 on Monday, and with it

has come the 'terribles' okay not really,

but he has started pushing limits and his

naughtiness has seemed to intensify 

since then :)

 I think Neiah was more excited about

the birthday party then Jacob was.

 He had no idea what was going on.

 But loved getting a cupcake and 

kept such focus while eating it, making

sure not to let any hit the floor.

An update on J. He came back last Sat. from his

clinical appointment, and sadly he came back with

more appointments, and a surgery that needs to be 

scheduled. Instead of appointments calming down (or

even stopping) they just keep coming and multiplying. 

And they all have to happen in Kingston. Next week alone

he has 2 different appointments in Kingston. 1 for an ultrasound

of his abdomin and one for a hearing test with JAD.

His social worker made the comment when she brought him back

Sat. that with all these appointments he may need to be moved

to a home closer (or in Kingston). Prayers for wisdom appreciated 

as we figure this out. We would hate to see him go, BUT we also 

know what a burden it is for a social worker to drive hours each way 

just to pick him up and take him to each appointment.

Now on to this lady. Yesterday Little Miss D had

her 3 month check up and with it Dr. found she had

a heart murmur, and gave us a refer to get an 

Eco-cardiogram done. Praise! They only do 

Eco-cardiograms the first Sat. of each month for littles

like her. and we were able to get an appointment for

her, tomorrow. I am so thankful we just had to 

wait 2 days and not a month before her heart

could be tested and we can figure out next

steps for her.

Prayers appreciated. Thanks!

Back Home!

 The End of July- Aug, God Blessed Neiah and I with an opportunity

to travel to the states. He provided the perfect people (the only person)

who we knew, and trusted to move into our home for a month and who

was willing to take on the responsibility of our 3 En Gedi babies. And

above all the CPFSA had to approve her and they did! So with her

assistance, and the Amazing help of the Aunties who already help us,

Neiah and I were able to step away to refresh with family and friends 

for a month.

 As much time as possible was spent with cousins.

 We got a long weekend in Tenn.

 with extended family...

 And our favorite Aunt Becki.

After a much appreciated and needed month away

for Neiah and I, we were ready to come back home

to our babies.

 It took us a weekend at home to get acclimated

back to reality with littles, but now we are settled

and loving life. 

This guy has made some great strides in our time away.

He has learned some new words, became very protective

of his little sisters, and now mimics EVERYTHING we do

as he continues to learn and develop. 

A little catch up with him. He came back from his last Hospital 

appointment with lots of vitamins and creams and a Rx. 

He also came back with more appointments. One that is tomorrow,

so far they have not been able to get him transportation to and from 

his appointment tomorrow. Prayers appreciated that a ride can be found,

and that his results are all positive.

 Little Miss A grew one massive gangly tooth while we were

away. So now every time she gives us one of her big A smiles

we now see her one gangly tooth :). She now pulls herself up on 

anything and anyone who is around. She LOVES chasing Jacob

and Neiah around the house, and playing with whatever they 

have in their hands. She has a wide range to her voice and loves to 

growl, 'sing' nicely, or scream at us most of the day.

 Little D changed the most while we away. She is now rolling

all over. You put her down and away she rolls at just 3 months.

 She also has become a finger sucker. And loves to have all the 

things in her mouth always.

 mostly, its because while we were away she pushed

2 teeth out from month2-3!. I have never had a baby

teeth so early, and it looks like they will just keep coming.

An update on her situation. Sadly I read her family situation 

completely wrong. Her birth mom was not going above and 

beyond that first time because she was fighting for Miss D. 

Instead, that was her birth moms way of saying goodbye as 

she was putting her baby girl up for adoption. Please be prayerful

that she can be matched with a family quickly so she can bond 

properly with them. 

Thanks!

Prayers Appreciated

 Last week (or the week before), I got a call from 

the children's hospital in Kingston looking for  Big J.

apparently he is in a medical study, or testing group... or something

(they could not tell me over the phone), and became worried

when he continually missed his appointments and went looking 

for him. We had no idea Jacob had a medical condition. I tried

asking his social worker and they were unaware of any medical

condition either. Whatever is going on with Big J requires him

to do testing next week on the 18th at the children's hospital in

Kingston. I asked if it could happen in MV, but apparently 

whatever he needs can only be done in Kingston.

Prayers appreciated as he prepares to go next week. and that 

through this we can get some answers to what is going on with him.

Prayers for little Miss D. She goes back to court on the 16th.

I assumed/ prayed that she would be placed back with her

family on this court visit, but the social worker informed me today,

that she is being placed up for adoption (she thinks) and so will be with 

us for a while longer. Please be prayerful for Miss D's mom. She

cried and cried at the last court appointment. Prayers that Miss D

can get into her forever family quickly so she can bond would be

greatly appreciated. Thanks