A few of my favourite things.

When Sara squishes into me for a big hug.

When Luz laughs and smiles as I give her big kisses on her cheeks.

When Marcy follows me around like a little shadow.

When Lupita reaches for my hand automatically whenever we go anywhere.

When Leydi smiles and starts to close her eyes as I say her name, in preparation for the barrage of kisses she knows is coming to her face.

When Shirley comes running up to me to give me the biggest hug.

When Sara starts to laugh so hard she can hardly breathe.

When Luz wants to cuddle, and sits on my lap in the swing.

When Marcy's face lights up when I get home, and she squirms and kicks and smiles and laughs with happiness as I pick her up.

When Lupita just wants to come lie beside me on the bed.

When Leydi is being pushed around in her wheelchair by Lupita, and she can't stop smiling.

When Shirley dances and wiggles her bum every time music comes on.

These are just a few of my favourite things.

Lupita.

When I pictured this Home, I pictured a bunch of girls with severe CP. That was about it. That is what I knew, and that is what I thought I would have.

I am so glad God had other plans. 

I was told Lupita had a syndrome, and that she could dress herself. That was about it. Her syndrome has the ability to cause severe developmental and mental delays. When I first met her, she grabbed me, and didn't want to let go. But she wouldn't respond to any of my questions.

She didn't speak to us for days. She would follow directions, but no speaking, and some of the faces she made, made me think she wasn't as smart as she turned out to be. It seems to be a theme with me, expecting so little of my girls initially. Thankfully, they have all proved me wrong!!! :)

Not a happy camper.

From the beginning she would wake crying multiple times in the night. Once, we were coming back from the City and she had been with us for just over two months. She had fallen asleep in the back, and though it was dark out, we had the inside light on. She woke from one of her nightmares, and the sight of her through my rear view mirror has me tear up just thinking about it. She woke screaming, grabbed the car seat next to her and started violently shaking. She was so scared from whatever she had dreamed, it took her a bit of me talking her down before she could wake up and become oriented. 

I don't remember exactly when they stopped, but praise God, they have. She still needs someone to sit in the room with her until she sleeps, but she doesn't have nightmares anymore. 

Randomly out of the blue, she will tell me stories of her past. I think it is only a small glimpse into what she has experienced, and it is not pretty. 

She used to get upset very easily, and could cry for an hour or more before falling asleep exhausted. She would cry for hours at school, and throw herself on the floor. They couldn't do anything to make her stop. It got to the point where I was afraid they would kick her out! She would never tell me why she cried so much, but thankfully that has stopped too. 

There were some definite learned behaviours that were ugly, but I guess when you are treated a certain way, and spoken to in a certain way, you think that is normal, and that is how others are to be treated. 

She used to live at home where she was neglected, then she was sent to another children's home where they did everything for her (including wiping her nose for her. At 5 years old!!!), to our house where there were rules, and kids with special needs, and a new school, new house, new town, new people who she didn't know, etc. Once we knew how smart she was there were expectations and boundaries placed on her. It was all so new, and I can't imagine what she was thinking. 

Decorating the Christmas Tree was fun.

Her behaviour started to improve, but then I started to notice she would do things, then ask me, "Are you happy that I did ...?" It was about making the people around her happy. When she was at school, sometimes she would tell her teacher that she wanted to stay with her. And when I would see her at school, she would say she wanted to go home with me. I started to realize that the attachment I thought we were forming was the same as with others. I tried to tell her she is permanently with me, and that I am like her second mother, but I think she still fears having to leave. I don't blame her. 

So I started taking her with me more, and speaking more words of affirmation and reassurance to her. I think it will be an overall long process, but it is one that I am fully committed to. I don't want her to go through life trying to make myself and others around her happy, just so she won't have to move on!

Lately I have seen something beautiful emerging in her heart. 

She is funny, and she is fun. She loves to laugh, and loves to make those around her laugh.

 

She has become very good friends with Shirley. She wants to bring her with us if we go somewhere, she always wants to help her with the stairs, or with her clothes, or getting up into her chair at the table, climbing up the play equipment, or whatever she needs. 

Swinging at the park.

Right before the two of them were going to have surgery, Lupita was helping to calm a crying Sara.

If I am doing something, she wants to help me (bringing in groceries, cleaning things up, baking, etc). 

She likes to hold her baby the same way I hold my babies. :)

She also likes to hold the real babies too. 

Leydi was a bit heavy for her, but she managed for a few minutes. :)

She likes to help Luz (who is blind and deaf) get where she needs to be.

For an hour each day the nannies go on break, and I hang out with the six girls. (I love it!) Sometimes we play in the playroom, sometimes we watch tv (when I'm tired and want a cop out!), but lately we've all gone outside. I would walk Leydi and Sara around in their wheelchairs, and read stories to everyone. 

Lupita now asks to take the girls for a spin. Leydi, especially, loves it!!! She gets the biggest smile on her face while she's being wheeled around, and when Lupita parks her against the wall (which Lupita does expertly, backing them into their spots), she starts to cry! So Lupita happily takes her out again. 

Sometimes the girls heads fall forward from their headrest on their wheelchairs, so I go place their head back in place. Lupita has now started to notice, and do it herself!!! I was so proud the first time I saw it. She often notices before I do, and this is something that I had to remind the staff of several times! 

Going for a stroll. 

When I put it all together, I wanted to express to her how much all her actions meant to me. At five years old, and having only spent less than 8 months with us, I believe some of it she has learned from us, but mostly this is who she is. A helper. A lover. A giver. A friend.

I pulled her onto my lap, and started telling her what a beautiful heart she had. And (of course) I started to cry. She couldn't see me, but she said, "I hear you are crying." So I explained that some tears are good, and I was so happy and proud of who she is, and how she treats others around her and has compassion. She immediately jumped up and went to play, but I notice she pretends to ignore when I compliment her. At night when I tell her she is beautiful, and that I love her, she usually deflects it and does something to try to distract me. 

I wasn't happy initially when she came to me. I had a vision of what type of children I wanted to have and she didn't match that. And when the behaviours started coming out, I knew I was out of my league. I'm a first time mom, with little experience. You can imagine I stressed!

But God.....

He knew I needed her. He knew I needed her to make me laugh. He knew I needed to see her heart healing. He knew I needed a little girl to play with. He knew I needed to learn what unconditional love was. 

I hate to make it all about me, and I know it isn't. I know she is gaining from this relationship as well. I just see so clearly what she has given to me. And I hope I don't mess it up for her. 

So please pray for us. Pray for her heart to emotionally heal from her past. Pray that the real little girl that she is can come fully out, and feel secure and real with us. Pray that she will be a confident girl, who knows she is loved no matter what. 

Pray that I can guide her through her fears and insecurities. Pray that I will form a close and trustworthy bond with her. Pray that I can show her the one true Father who loves us all, and made us all perfect, and with purpose. 

My little love.

Sara.

When Sara came to us at the end of January, she was 21 months old, 14 pounds, couldn't hold her head up, couldn't make eye contact, was a little, limp lump in our arms.... and she was gorgeous.

First day meeting precious Sara.

She had been abandoned at 3 months, and lived in another children's home until coming to us. I, in all my infinite wisdom, told the staff that she wouldn't walk, or talk, or feed herself, etc. As if that was what she was to be defined by.

Because she was used to being left alone, she wouldn't cry, or call out to us, or do any kind of attention seeking behaviours. She was easy to put in the corner and forget about until it was time to feed her again. As much as it pains me to say this, that is what we did for a time.

It dawned on me that more needed to be done with her. I started getting in her face and talking to her throughout the day. I would say hi to her whenever I walked by. The next week the physical therapist, Vivian, called me to the therapy area to show me something. Vivian had already been working with her for about a month by this point. She told me that all of a sudden for some reason Sara was much more relaxed, and was opening up her fingers and splaying them, whereas before she would hold them clenched up in a fist.

I told Vivian I had been talking and interacting more with her, and she was so surprised at the change. She encouraged me to do more. At this point, I asked the staff to get in on it. I asked them to talk to her as much as they could.

Soon I could make her laugh, and it was one of the most beautiful things I had heard.

Then she started to make eye contact. And track us as we walked by. And lifting up her head while she was lying down, so that she could see what was going on. I told her pediatrician what she was doing, I don't think he believed me. When she made eye contact with him, he was so excited too!

I was blown away. Literally. Hadn't I already decreed she wouldn't do any of those things?!?

I am so happy she is surpassing and overcoming so much. It is like Vivian says, her little brain is waking up! With a lot of stimulation, good food, therapy, and a whole lot of love, this little girl is going to do great things!

Sadly I can't load the video on this blog, but the most amazing thing happened last week. I was in the play room with some music on, and I had Sara beside me. I was singing and clapping along, when I noticed that Sara was making movements similar to clapping. I wasn't sure that it wasn't just a reflex movement, so I stopped and got my video ready. When I stopped, she stopped. When I started again to clap, she did too! If you want to see the video, please visit our Facebook page, here.

I didn't ever think she would reach such a level of function. But now I am planning the day she starts speaking, maybe walking, etc. If she doesn't do anything new from this day on, no big deal, but you had better believe I am going to push her to do the absolute most she can. Because when I look into those gorgeous eyes, I see a little girl that wants to do so much more!

New chairs!

Sara is one of my little ones, and I was going to wait to get her a wheelchair until she was a bit bigger. But almost EVERY time we lie her down, she lifts up her head to look around. She has zero interest staring up at the wall. Guess I don't blame her. :)

So when Leydi came, we went to some friends who have a ministry near Antigua. They also have a home for kids with special needs, a village ministry to assist families with special needs, and they provide wheelchairs. I asked my friend Daryl where I could take the girl to get them fitted for chairs. He offered to pick them up for me, and seat the girls himself at his house. Yay! That meant I got to visit his family while he worked. ;) Plus, he paid for them for me with a grant he had. I am so thankful for their generosity and love!

 Getting Sara fitted in her chair.

Leydi took a little longer because of her scrunched up, lack of core muscle-y self. But we got it worked out! And when I say we, I mean Daryl and his friend Joe. I was still inside visiting his family. :)

Joe and I with my cute girlies in their new chairs!

Thanks Wanda and Daryl for being such great friends, though Daryl is fully aware I am his friend only because I love his wife Wanda so much. ;) And maybe because he gives my babies free wheelchairs. 

Meet Leydi!

We have now welcomed our sixth treasure into our family. Leydi's mom loves her, but once again, because of a complete lack of resources and old beliefs, her mom is unable to care for her.

Leydi is four years old, has cerebral palsy, and is malnourished. Her physical therapist tells me she is at about a 4 month level of physical capabilities. Good thing we like four month olds!

She is very sweet, smiles a lot, and only cries occasionally. She is a beautiful little girl!

 On her way to her new home!

 Having a little "get to know you" cuddle. Those are my favourite. She is an amazing cuddle bug!

I realized I didn't have many pictures of her yet, so I ran to get more quickly. This one is sort of terrible, but she would smile only when the camera wasn't ready! 

She will start physical therapy this week, and tomorrow we visit the dentist! She has little rotten stumps for teeth like Luz did. 

So far, we have only found one dentist in all of Guatemala that is willing to work with kids with special needs. She will need to have anaesthetic in order to work on her teeth. I'm just thankful we have found someone who will work on her. 

Please pray for Leydi! Though the transition has seemed smooth so far, I'm sure she is wondering where her mom is. 

Thursday Praise and Prayer!

Hi all!

Today's praise:

• My mom came, and is visiting the girls for the first time!

Mom is practicing her spanish accent while reading to the girls!

• Marcy has now been 7 weeks WITHOUT antibiotics!!! This is huge. She had 11 rounds of antibiotics in the 7 months prior. 

Here Marcy is feeding a baby doll. :)

• Sara seems to just keep improving and improving! She is moving her arms and legs more and more each day, she is tracking people more, her physical therapist says her back is straightening out, and she continues to gain weight like a champ!

I didn't quite get it, but she kept puckering her lips at me!

Today's prayer:

• Thought Marcy has been off antibiotics, she hasn't been home free in the health department. She is still struggling with reflux (that causes vomiting and damage to her esophagus), her blood pressure went up again (that gives her headaches), and right now she seems to be fighting a bug of some sort. Please pray for comfort and health for her. 
• Please pray for the two new girls that will be coming sometime in July. Pray for a smooth(ish) transition for them, as well as the staff and our current girls. 
• Please pray for the new staff. We are interviewing new candidates right now. Please pray we pick the right ladies to work with the girls, pray their training goes well, and pray for a good bond with the girls. 

Have a great weekend all!

The widow's mite.

The widow's mite is always a good touchy feely story. When I lived in Canada, I loved the story. I've always loved underdog stories. Way to go little widow! I had in mind a picture of a little old lady, bent over, putting her coins in the plate. And Jesus loved her donation more than the rich man who gave so much more! 

But I didn't really get it. Not really. I just thought of Jesus praising her, and shooting down the arrogant man. I didn't think of what it was like for her. I didn't think about what she felt when she got home and had nothing left. She didn't know Jesus was praising her. She just was doing what God led her to do. 

I did well for myself in Canada. I had low living expenses, and I worked full time (with overtime!) as a nurse. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted. I could buy what I wanted, when I wanted. I could go on trips, and buy the extra creamy Kraft Dinner, and buy fun gifts for my friends kids. I could surprise my mom with a cruise for her birthday, and surprise my sister with a trip to Disneyland for her birthday. And I loved it. Who wouldn't?!? 

I gave money to a missionary in Guatemala. I had two sponsor children. TWO! I must have been so generous! 

But it didn't hurt to give. It was easy. This is embarrassing, but I had to work about 5 hours a month to cover what I was donating. And I worked a lot more than that each month. What was I thinking?!?  I didn't think much about it, but I was content with what I donated. 

Poor Jesus. How He puts up with my arrogance, I have no idea. I was that arrogant rich man, and though I didn't advertise that I gave donations, I thought I was doing a good thing, and furthering the kingdom. With my tiny pittance. 

Now I don't make a salary. I used to set aside some extra money for myself every month for "fun" stuff, but for the past 9 months, there hasn't really been any extra. And now I understand the widow a little bit more. She did this because she loved God. I do this job because I love God. I gave up steady money, but I always know that if I truly needed something, my mom would step in in a heartbeat. So though I am closer to making it hurt, I'm still not there. But I understand her so much better now. And it makes me even more thankful for her.

I receive donations every month to cover our expenses. Some people give bigger amounts, and some give smaller. I am thankful for all of it! It is money that the giver could have been spent on something else. Candy, trips, new car, friends, education, or anything else that makes life easier and more fun. But my favourite donations? 

I received this e-mail from a childhood friend a couple of days ago. 

"Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I just made a donation on behalf of my Rebekah (her 10 year old daughter). She had taken part in a garage sale at the beginning of the month and asked me to donate the proceeds. She donated 50.00. She wants the money to go to Marcy's formula or whatever you need to pay for for her."

That's my favourite. Do you remember being 10? With a long summer ahead of you? All the things you could do? This particular girl faces challenges of her own, and instead of thinking of books to buy, or movies to see, or toys to buy, or candy to eat, she gives her money to a little baby she has never met. I'm tearing up again just thinking about it. I was never that 10 year old. That type of sacrificial giving, with no reward is astounding. No one is doing a newspaper story on her. It isn't on my friends Facebook wall. Nothing. Just one little private e-mail telling me of her selflessness. It is astounding to me. 

One of my supporters, who has faithfully given to me every month since I arrived in Guatemala over six years ago, is a single mother, has a teenage son (and we all know how much mess and noise and expense and problems come from teenage boys!) and has faced many trials in her life. She has even had to go on assistance for a while. She still gives EVERY SINGLE MONTH! I am astounded. 

Another of my supporters are friends of mine, and missionaries here in Guatemala. They, like most missionaries, are not rolling in money. But when they read my newsletter in November asking for more help, they were the only ones to respond and start donating monthly. I'll tell you right now, I don't give to other ministries! I "need" it all for my girls and I! 

I just want to highlight some good people in this world. People who I aspire to be like. People who inspire me without knowing it. People who love Jesus, and act on it, without any kind of recognition, except from the most important person: God. 

Thank you people!!! 

P.S. I don't tell these stories to guilt anyone into giving, though it may sound like it. :)

Friday Praise and Prayer.

Time for another praise and prayer!

Praise:

• Rebekah, our new long term volunteer has been accepted with CTEN, and is working towards getting here as soon as possible!
• Marcy is doing somewhat better. She has still not had great poo's (very loose) since we put her on a slightly less expensive formula. After a month, I put her back on the more expensive formula on Sunday, and today she finally had a normal poo! And she hasn't really been sick since we left the hospital the beginning of May. Praise God!
• We have had some good sun lately, and Lupita has LOVED going in the pool for a bit in the afternoons. 

Prayer:

• Luz has a sprained ankle, and a bad case of pneumonia. It has been a rough week for her. Please pray for comfort, and quick healing. 
• Finances. 
• My leadership skills and training of nannies. We have had some struggles with staff members, and I need wisdom in dealing with some things.

We were blessed to have a photographer come spend a couple of days with us, and this is our group picture with the girls, the nannies, the housekeeper, social worker, and I in the traditional dress of the area. Enjoy!

Help is on the way! :)

This is a post that I am so excited to write about!

For some time now I've felt quite overwhelmed, and highly under qualified with some of my duties. I'm not sure I can adequately explain how difficult this whole process of starting the children's home has been for me. Let's just say, it's been really difficult to do this alone.

Though I haven't advertised it, except to a few people close to me, I (and others) have been praying for someone to come and share the ministry with me. A nurse wasn't necessary, but I wanted someone  who would especially be willing to help out with the office work so I could spend more time with the girls, and do a lot more hands on training with the nannies. Though I thought it would be so nice to have another nurse around when I can't be here.

Well, in a way that I feel like only God could have arranged, a nurse administrator from Canada has agreed to come work with us for two years!!!! She has a lot of administration experience, as well as she is a nurse! I couldn't ask for more! Her name is Rebekah, and we hope that she will be here by the end of August. She has started to raise funds, and it will depend somewhat on how that goes.

When I have to go to the City for appointments, hospitalizations, or when I go up to Canada (in June it will have been TWO years since I've been home!), she will come and stay at the Home. This is really important to me, as often these girlies have only subtle signs that they are becoming sick, and a non-trained eye may not pick up on it right away.

She will be able to drive, and can help take girls to appointments and help run errands. The possibilities are endless!!!! ;)

We have chatted several times, both prayed and sought counsel, and we both really feel like this is what God has for us.  Please pray with us, that her transition will be smooth(ish). That her fund-raising and sharing with churches will go well. Please pray for her family left behind, as I know it was hard on my mom when I left! Please pray that Spanish language learning would go well.

Thanks for all the prayers!

Surgical Updates!

I was going to update you on Sara and Lupita's surgeries, but now I've waited so long that I can update you on Marcy as well!

In the middle of April, Sara and Lupita had their tonsils and adenoids removed. Both of the girls have smaller than average heads, so their tonsils and adenoids were growing at a normal rate, and were blocking off their airways. This caused them both to have sleep apnea, and Sara got to the point where she couldn't be alone, and position changes were needed while sleeping so she could breathe effectively!

 These girls looked so cute in their little gowns!

 Sara was hungry, and crying a lot, so Lupita started trying to make her feel better. So sweet!!!

Post-op ice cream!!! 

I was pretty nervous, but things went very well for both girls. We stayed one night, just to make sure everything was okay, and went home happy the next morning! By then end of the first day, I was noticing that Sara was breathing SO much easier, and both the girls slept so peacefully and soundly that night. Sara's breathing was so quiet, I felt like I had to double check she was breathing!!! 

I am so thankful we could get these done. They have greatly increased their quality of life, and I no longer fear they will stop breathing at night and not start again! Thank you to all the donors that gave to us, to cover their care in a private hospital. I am so grateful!!!! 

The end of April Marcy got sick (again!), and wasn't getting better with our treatment here. We went to Guatemala City to receive treatment in a hospital there. We were there for five nights. She was improving so much, and we had already planned to put in a g-tube (permanent tube going directly in her stomach to feed her, as opposed to me having to insert one in her nose) so they went ahead and planned to do it while we were there. I am sure thankful for that! 

 Feeling pretty rough in the ER. It is hard to be sick, and have to drive 5 hours just to get to the hospital.

 First smile in almost a week! I was so thankful she was getting better!

 I wanted one last picture with her and her NG tube. But you can't even see the tube! :)

 No tube in my nose!!!!!

 The first night after surgery, they left the g-tube open so it could drain any fluid from her stomach. There was a plastic bag attached to the end of it. She kept wanting to play with the bag, instead of sleeping. She had her own bed, and my couch was next to it. I kept getting up to tell her not to touch the tube. After about 3 times of that, I got up and she had pulled the sheet over her head, and was hiding while she played!!! You can see the top of her hair sticking out. Little stinker! 

She was pretty interested in this new thing in her belly. Now she is just used to it. It was only yesterday that I was getting the bag of food ready to attach to her tube, and she grabbed the tube, and held it up for me!!! Smart or what?!?

After 5 nights, we happily headed home. She has done really well with it. They did biopsies while they put it in, and she has some very bad reflux that is causing damage. Please be praying for her for that. She has a hernia that is making her reflux worse. I feel like every time we see a new doctor, or get a new exam done, we find something else wrong with her. Some fixable, some not, but all problem causers. The anesthesiologist had a very hard time intubating her, so future surgeries need to be well thought out. I had really hoped she would be easier to intubate, as she is bigger than last year. But, no. 

I am seeing such improvements in her as well. She is putting more toys and food in her mouth. She won't eat the food, but even putting it in her mouth without gagging, crying, choking or vomiting, is a very big step! She is breathing better, and hardly ever has boogers! It is so nice to be rid of the nose feeding tube. This surgery really should have happened months ago. I held on to the hope for SO long that she would eat with her mouth, and then when I finally decided we needed it, she was sick for so long!

So now we have finished the three most important surgeries. I'm so glad they are done. And I have seen such an improvement in all of their quality of lives. Thank you to everyone for their prayers and financial donations! I appreciate it all so much!

Sara and Lupita.

I need help again.

As some of you know, Sara has had a much more difficult time breathing. She had sleep apnea (she stops breathing and/or has ineffective breathing while she sleeps) when she came to us at the end of January. About 3 weeks ago she started all of a sudden not tolerating laying on her back to sleep. She would gasp, and gasp, and not be able to breathe well. That day, she woke up and for about 20-30 minutes continued to gasp, and not breathe well, prompting me to take her to the pediatrician. Unfortunately, there isn't much medically we can do for her.  I contacted her ENT (ear nose and throat specialist), and he agreed we need to do the surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids quickly. Bad part is, at that time he was in Spain and wouldn't be back until this past Monday. She has microcephaly, which means her brain and head are much smaller than normal for some reason. We suspect a lack of oxygen at birth caused it, but we aren't sure. Because of her small head, her tonsils and adenoids are blocking her airway and we need to take them out.

Tuesday we met with the Dr who will do the surgery. He saw her, and agreed we need to do the surgery soon. She also has weak neck muscles, and she is having a hard time swallowing food and managing her own saliva. She has trouble eating, and hasn't gained much weight. She will be 2 years old on May 1st, and she weighs 16 pounds. 16 pounds is a lot better than the 14 1/2 pounds she weighed when she came in January! But obviously still not enough. This surgery will also  help with her feeding issues.

I can't really stress enough how difficult it is watching her not be able to rest well. I'm afraid she will just quit breathing. Tuesday she had so many secretions, it was like watching her drown, and I couldn't find a single position to make her comfortable (usually facedown works). She sleeps on her stomach, which has it's own risks, because within 30 seconds of falling asleep on her back, she is gasping for her. I can't wait to get this done!!!!

We meet with a cardiologist who saw her struggling to breathe (she was sleeping in my arms while we were at the appointment). He wanted to do an echocardiogram because usually kids with apena this bad will have heart damage. Praise God her heart is good to go!

"I just want to breathe well!"

Lupita also has a small head due to her syndrome. Though her apnea is bad, it is not the level of Sara's. I have also watched her sleep, and struggle to take in air, and it is so hard to watch. She is often tired, and I'm sure it is affecting her at school. She also struggles to breathe while eating with her mouth closed. I've had to leave that little life lesson alone for a while. :)

Lupita and Sara should have had this suregery done ages ago, but because they were in homes that didn't specialize in children with special needs, their caretakers didn't recognize the need for intervention. I'm so thankful God brought these girls to me, so we can help them to live their life abundantly!

First of all, I'd like to ask for your prayer. Though the surgery is simple, and kids usually go home the same day, our girls are special (in more ways than one!) and the surgeon wants us to stay overnight with the girls. Please pray for them through the weekend, and during their survey and recovery.

We have scheduled them for Tuesday at 8 and 9 a.m. I am thankful we can do them both at the same time. We will have a double room, and a nanny and I can be with them the whole time. Because of their special needs we are doing the surgeries in a private hospital. There, our risks for post-op infection and complications will be decreased, and if they need any type of resuscitation, there are resources available there. Not so in the public hospitals.

Secondly, unfortunately private hospitals cost money. Praise God, the surgeon and anesthesiologist have donated their time, and won't be charging us a fee! We still need to cover the cost of the OR and the hospital stay. Their best guess as to the approximate cost is about $2,000. each girl. It all depends on what each girl needs during their stay.

If you can help with the cost of their surgeries, or know someone who would like to help out, please click here for a tax deductible receipt in Canada, and click here for a tax deductible receipt in the U.S.

I'll hopefully be posting updates on Facebook about how they are doing the day of the surgery. Thank you for caring for my girls, and loving on them with your prayers and donations!!! I am once again thankful for those who can help me care for these girls in the best way possible!

Today I'm feeling...

Today is the one year anniversary of Treasures of God Children's Home!!! YAY! I wanted to write a fun celebratory post of all that has happened to get us this far. But something happened last night, and I want to share about that instead.

This week all the girls have been off from school, and we have been doing fun activities all week. Seeing movies,

playing hide and seek,
going in the pool,

 inviting friends over to play,

(Sam is 8 months older than Sara. Just for a size comparison. :) )

making popcorn and watching movies at home,

picking up new glasses for Lupita,

(She is so cute in them!)

and yesterday I needed formula for Marcy, and some meds, so I took the girls along to wander around the mall, and wanting to treat them to something while we were out. We decided to take the girls to Pizza Hut so they could play in the play place. 

I LOVE Watching Lupita and Shirley together. They are such good friends, and Lupita loves to help her with whatever she needs. In this case, I could go sit down, as Lupita had figured out how to lift Shirley up on the the big steps, and get her down the slide. Good job Lupita!

Luz loved the chicken wings!

I was trying to get a picture of all of us. And when I looked at it, that is when I was mad.

I had to leave half of my family at home. We just don't have room to safely take more than 3 girls in my personal vehicle. And it bothers me. Not just because we can't go anywhere all together as a family, but also it means extra trips to the City, because I can't schedule the appointments all at once.

I've been trying to raise funds for a van for a while now. I started a gofundme page, and I have written in my newsletter. Our total donations to date to the car fund: $951. How much we need in Canadian dollars: $45,000. ($34,000. USD) Sadly our Canadian dollar has been dropping and that is really affecting all ministries negatively. 

Used vans in any kind of half decent shape are almost impossible to find here, and sell very quickly. Vehicles are heavily used, and lightly maintained. We do a lot of driving between the City and here (about a four hour drive one way) for medical appointments and since we are a bunch of women and children with special needs, we need a van in very good shape!!! So I feel like my only option is a new van. 

As part of the gofundme page, they send out updates every once in a while. About a week and a half ago there was a story of a man who had lost a lot of weight, and needed money for skin removal surgery. He had $55,000. USD donated in 5 days. Now I know that that surgery will have a huge impact on him and his life, and I'm glad he can get it. But I couldn't help but be frustrated and jealous at the ease with which he came up with his money. I try not to be, but I am.

I know you don't have $45,000. in your back pocket. At least nobody I know does! But I would really like to ask for your help. I'll be honest, I hate asking for money. So I don't do it often enough. The problem of not enough money coming in is partly my fault, as I'm not letting the need be known.

I'd like to ask you to go to your Bible study group, friends, family, co-workers, etc. Anyone who has a heart for children with special needs. Ask them to put together a fundraiser. Ask them to make a personal donation. Hit up Uncle Fred, Cousin Lucy, co-worker Ned, husband Bob, friend Christina, etc. You get the idea. Please share this blog. Please share it on Facebook. People can donate throughout the gofundme page here. If you'd like to make a tax deductible donation, please visit the Canadian CTEN page or the U.S. CTEN page. If you donate through CTEN, please send me an e-mail at hogartesorosdedios@gmail.com  stating your donation is for the van, otherwise it will go into our general fund (which we also need, but that is for another day! ;) )

I will update every once in a while, so that you guys know when we have hit our goal. Thank you so much for all your support. Thank you for spreading the word. Thank you for working to better the lives of my girls. I can't express my appreciation very well in written form, but know that I really do appreciate it. 

I want to add one side note. Maybe it isn't even necessary, but I'll mention it anyway. I like to treat my girls. I want them to feel loved, and taking them out is one way I can show them I care about them. But every time we go for ice cream, or pizza, or a movie, I pay out of my personal funds. I'm blessed to have enough to share with them. So please know that all donations made to the home go towards their food, shelter, schooling, medicine, dr appts, etc. 

Hope you all have a great week! We are having our one year anniversary party on Sunday, so I'll share some pictures and stories next week.