One of Eileen's ideal "feeding stations." Outdoors on my dish washing table.

She has been learning to like avocado and banana. Molly is getting more attached to "papa"

the unique advertising that happens around town when random bumper stickers get shared...

Some random pictures

we survived malaria again and it was definitely more challenging this time around.... having had malaria single, married, pregnant, with one baby and then with two children; this last time around with 2 littles was the most challenging yet, although I think I was actually sick the longest when I got it while single. My husband helps me get better faster. :) Here are some pictures from our messy, unplanned, nowhere-to-be life...

Family Outing

Yesterday evening we packed ourselves, the bug spray, and the little stroller into the car and went on a family outing. We felt super high tech and luxurious. First we drove around town seeing the sights, then we went to the little forest place where we had gone on our last outing before parting in April 2020. That was very special.

After that we went to the hospital (for the second time since coming back). We visited with Odalis, our Cuban friend who is a nurse who worked the pediatric floor with Orcxance.

We stopped by the NICU and Molly got her first look at premie babies; three of them!

It’s not every day that one can just pop into the NICU, swap howdies with the babies and moms and pop out again. A third world privilege perhaps?

Our last stop of the evening was an outdoor restaurant/bar where we strolled Eileen and Molly had a grand time prancing around the garden listening to music on Orcxance’s phone. (My immediate family will know what I mean when I say “prance.”)

Be Messy and Live

I have come to a new realization since returning to my home in Congo. Let me explain. When I left here, I had one child who could neither walk nor crawl. By being diligent with laundry and sweeping the house twice a day, I could manage the cleanliness of the home environment fairly well. Upon my return, I have two children: an active toddler and a baby who will soon be crawling. I knew life here was messy and dirty; we had kids over all the time, and I alone created enough mess to give myself some work. But oh how I underestimated the potential for messiness!

What I mean by this is not the occasional spill into a mud puddle or an upset plate. I mean constant, relentless super-messes. And it’s not so much the mess itself but the exponential amount of work it creates.

A blowout on the couch!? Where is the deodorizing spray or the baking soda? Hmm, I guess some soap and water and perfume will have to do.

I can’t just put spot remover on clothes or spray something on to treat grease stains. No tossing piles of laundry into the washer. Why not? Oh that’s right; I’m the washer. Paper towels aren’t necessarily on hand to wipe up a meal time spill. Explosive diapers can’t just be chucked into the trash can...the list goes on.

The other day after the girls had massive blowouts in cloth diapers (Molly is being potty trained but it’s been a process) I found myself becoming overwhelmed and frustrated by the messes. I can’t make it through the day without being covered in food, or poop, or my clothes ruined my grease stains, or rice squished all over the floor.

These are typical mom problems. I’m not saying it’s any different than what other moms deal with. In fact, I’ve learned something from watching the other moms here. Don’t think ahead to the piles and piles of laundry that need to be hand scrubbed clean. Don’t think ahead to the work cleaning the floors. Don’t waste your time wondering if it will rain tomorrow which might affect whether the laundry will dry in time before you run out...live in the present.

Let your kids be messy. That’s what everyone else does. Crawlers crawl in the dirt. Toddlers toddle on top of rice and sauces and in and out of houses. Walkers walk through mud puddles. Everyone eats ferociously. Messy clothes and messy diapers are the natural result.

I recently listened to some podcast episodes which emphasized being faithful with a cheerful attitude. No excuses for sharp words or grumbles or complaints of being tired.