Another Eventful Trip to "Rubbertown"

It seems that every time we travel to "Rubbertown", where we used to live, something inevitably happens. I guess that's to be expected when you travel three or more hours on a bumpy dirt road.

We've broken down or had car trouble at least five times. This wouldn't be so bad except that this road is in the middle of NOWHERE! Many people think that "Soytown" is the end of the world, well imagine traveling hours beyond that. Now when you have car trouble, there's no phones (forget about cell phones working) and you'll be lucky to have more than 30 vehicles pass you the rest of the day. I can't tell you how glad I am that Mike used to work as a mechanic! Fortunately, this time, we didn't have trouble with the truck.

The girls ready for yet another trip

You may remember from an email update that our dog, Mali had ten puppies. On this trip we were transporting two puppies. One to sell and one to give to the village chief.

Mike put the puppies in boxes so that they wouldn't have an accident in the truck and put them behind his seat.

About an hour into our trip, Emily said, "Mommy!" in a concerned voice. We turned and saw that one of the puppies had thrown up all over our stuff. As we started cleaning that up, the other puppy threw up. We cleaned that up with the few baby wipes we had taken along and we were on our way again. About 30 minutes later, Emily said, "Mommy!" We turned and saw that the puppy next to her had thrown up onto her legs and car seat. At that moment, the other puppy threw up down the front of Mike's chair and over the back of his shirt.

That was it! Mike put the puppies into the very back of the truck. Five minutes later we checked on the puppies and they seemed to be doing okay, so we traveled about 30 minutes down the road. At our turnoff Mike checked the back and saw that instead of two puppies, there was only one!

Now what?! We turned around and prayed. We found out that the puppy that was missing was the one we intended to sell for $200 reais ($120 U.S.). We didn't know if the puppy had survived the fall, and if so, whether someone had grabbed it, and if not, where in the world it could be.

We had covered about twenty miles of road since we last checked on the puppies. We started the trip back, intently searching the thick brush on the side of the road.

We stopped every car we passed and asked if they had seen a puppy. Nobody had.

Finally about twenty miles back we found a truck that was stopped on the side of the road. He said that he had seen the puppy walking along the left side of the road -- about 15 miles back the way we had come. So we started back. About 13 miles from where we had seen the truck, we slowed way down and started calling out for the puppy. Nothing.

After we had traveled about three miles we stopped again. This was our last chance. Probably someone had picked up the puppy or it had gone too far off the road.

Suddenly something caught my eye. Could it be? Yes -- there was the puppy! We could not believe it. About two yards off the road sitting in the brush was the puppy.

About the area where we found the puppy

How in the world did we spot a black puppy sitting in the shade who was barely moving? What a miracle. The puppy had a slight limp and a couple tiny scratches but otherwise it was fine!

The puppy with her new owner

I feel as though God wanted to show me that if He cares even about this small puppy, then why should I think that He doesn't care about me and the Indigenous people here in Brazil? Even when things seem like they aren't working out the way I would like them to, God still cares.

~Kelli

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -- Matthew 10:29-31

Living in a Sauna

I feel like I'm drowning! Why do I feel like I can't get anything done?! Why am I so tired?! Many days I find that I am more than ready to go to bed by 8:00 at night. This was a great mystery until I started to take into account the heat here. Most mornings it's already over 90 degrees and by mid-afternoon it's approaching 100. Unfortunately, since electricity is quite expensive, most Brazilian houses only have one window air conditioner in their whole house. Actually, I don't know of a single house in Brazil that has central air. We try to run our air conditioner as little as possible since every hour really adds up on our electric bill at the end of the month. Some days it really does feel like we're living in a sauna.

I found online that NASA did a study on the effects of heat on productivity. This is what they found:

Effective Temp.	75	80	85	90	95	100	105
Loss in Output	3%	8%	18%	29%	45%	62%	79%

http://truefog.com/Heat%20Stress/Heat%20Stress.htm

No wonder I feel like I'm not getting as much done as I would expect. Add to this that cooking takes longer here because we have to make things from scratch. Then since we don't have a dishwasher or could afford the electricity to run it, we wash all the dishes by hand. A good hour or two of my day is sucked up by washing dishes! Then since it's so hot, we go through more clothes, and since we don't use a clothes dryer, each piece is hung on the line to dry.

Then there's the cleaning. My house gets so much dirtier than in the States. Seriously, where does all this dirt come from! It's a fine dust, so we end up needing to mop just about everyday. I feel like I clean all the time and my house looks dirtier after one day than if I hadn't cleaned for a month in the States. Although I must say, there is something rewarding about seeing a definite change when you dust or mop something.

Here is my mop rag after mopping just the dining room. This is after I mopped it the day before and already swept it right before moping it.

Now you can imagine how nice it was to have Anna, a friend from Michigan, come down to Brazil for three weeks in October to help us. I met Anna "by chance" at a store in Michigan in June. She happened to hear that we live in Brazil and since she was interested in missions, she asked if we ever had internships. I said that we sometimes do, but our biggest need was to have someone help with watching the kids, and I added that I was sure she probably wasn't too interested in that. Turns out, she loves kids and is the oldest of nine children! About a week later she was buying her ticket to come down to Brazil!

Anna in Brazil

Anna was such a huge help to us. She watched the kids, helped keep the house clean, helped with meals, and washed dishes. This allowed me to finally spend a good amount of focused time working on the language. Mike and I were able to write a rough draft of a linguistic paper that really helped us understand the "Curto" language better.

It was hard to see her go, but she's planning to come back in February to help us for nearly four months! What a blessing!

If anyone else would like to come down for an extended period to watch kids and help with household tasks -- let me know!

~Kelli

Lydia is 1!

Where did this last year go? I am amazed that Lydia is already one year old! A lot has happened this last year -- Lydia's surgery, living in the States for almost six months, moving back to Brazil. However, now that her birthday is here, it seems as though the last year flew by.

I'm trying to keep up my mom's tradition of making a special cake for the girls' birthdays. As soon as I found a package of ladybug stickers for Lydia's helmet, I knew what I wanted to make for her cake. My mom found a dress with ladybugs for Lydia, so I knew there was no backing out!

I stayed up until 3:00 in the morning, baking the yellow and chocolate cake from scratch, making the icing, and decorating it, but I think it turned out pretty good.

Lydia's ladybug cake

We invited a few friends over to enjoy some cake and ice cream, but most of the pictures are ones we took before we cut apart the masterpiece.

Lydia and Emily

I had to add a couple pictures of Mike and me since usually our blog is limited to showing pictures of the girls.

Lydia and "Mommy"

Lydia and "Daddy"

I caught this one right before she scooped a finger full of icing from the cake

I had to add one picture of Lydia with her helmet that inspired that cake design. Although I think she was pictured-out by the time we put the helmet on.

Ladybug stickers on helmet, ladybug dress, and ladybug cake

Oooh, it's squishy.

Yay! I made a mess!

Lydia's mouth was sooooo red by the time she was done!

Happy birthday Lydia! It's been a crazy year, but you are such a trooper! You always bring a smile to our faces and we look forward to see what the next year holds!

~Kelli

Top 10 Helmet Comments

When we first did research for Lydia's surgery, we discovered that she would need to wear a molding helmet for a year to 18 months. I have to say, I wasn't looking forward to this, but I've found it hasn't been so bad. I actually think she looks adorable in it and I've found that I am able to spread awareness about craniosynostosis.

It is amazing how often we are approached with questions about the helmet. It really is a great conversation starter! Over the last 9 months, we've collected quite an interesting set of comments and questions. Here are our favorites. I've added some of the comments I would like to say sometimes in parenthesis.

10.

What's with the helmet?

(Sky diving accident -- said with a straight face)

9.

Does she wear that because she falls a lot?

(Yes, I am the worst parent in the world. Or just the most overprotective)

8.

She looks like a football player. or She looks like an astronaut.

(The competition is really tough these days -- you got to get an edge somewhere. or What? It's not Halloween today?)

7.

Where can I get one of those?

(Just go to your local orthotist -- they're on sale for a bargain price of $3,700!)

6.

Is that a motorcycle helmet?

(Who needs car seats? Now all you need is a helmet and your baby can ride a motorcycle!)

5.

Does she have to wear that?

(No, we're trying to start a fashion statement)

4.

Is that the new child safety requirements for riding on airplanes?

(Can you believe the child safety laws these days?!)

3.

My kid had a flat head too.

(As my one friend likes to kindly mention, well, this was a little more than a flat head, she had brain surgery!)

2.

Does she sleep with it?

(This is one of my favorites as it always comes after I say that she wears it 23 hours a day, as though sleeping would not be included in the 23 hours a day.)

and finally...

#1.

Oh, she's so cute. She looks like... like... an alien.

(This was said by the flight attendant on Delta. Now, I think she meant to say astronaut, but alien came out instead. I think English wasn't her first language).

It's been interesting having a baby who wears a helmet, but 99% of the time we forget she even has it on. It's so much a part of her that once in a while I'm surprised that people ask about it. Although we've been on the receiving end of some interesting comments, I feel that the helmet is such a gift that enables my baby to have a beautiful looking head.

However, as I'm asked about the helmet for the 100th time this week, some of these times I'll give my favorite quick answer -- she dropped from heaven but the landing wasn't very soft!

~Kelli

Lydia's Appointment with the Neurosurgeon

A year ago, we learned that Lydia had a condition called “craniosynostosis.” As a little background, this is condition in which one or more of the sutures (space between the cranial plates) fuses prematurely. These spaces allow the brain room to grow.

Fortunately, with craniosynostosis, the brain is normal and still wants to grow. However, it will grow in the path of least resistance. Thus, in Lydia’s case, since the brain couldn't grow forward like it wanted to, it instead grew wider.

Thus her treatment was two-fold. Part 1 was the surgery to reopen the closed sutures.

Part 2 is helmet therapy for 12-15 months to help mold the head to a more normal shape.

Many people think that the helmet is for protection, but rather it is to hold the areas that overgrew before surgery and allow her forehead to overgrow in order to catch up. It is so important to catch the condition early since almost 2/3 of physical brain growth occurs in the first 12 months of life! This is why the helmet is able to work so well.

We are really amazed at the results. The surgery that Lydia had has only been available for the last 6 years. There is another more traditional surgery that is available, but it is much more invasive and I believe the results aren’t as good. We were blessed to be able to have Lydia’s surgery performed by the surgeon that pioneered the new procedure!

Lydia with Dr. Jimenez

Our 9-month post-op appointment went great. There is a ratio that the doctors take that measures the width of the head vs. the length. Normal is around 80% (meaning that a normal person’s head is somewhat longer than it is wide). With Lydia, she started out at a 91% meaning that her head was more like a circle. At Lydia’s 9-month post-op appointment she measured at an 80%! The doctors also give us a scanned image of her head showing the before and after images side by side.

Bird's eye scan, pre-op and 9 months post-op (the 'holes' are just part of the scanning and not her soft spot)

Side view scan, pre-op and 9 months post-op

At this appointment, the surgeon showed me pictures that he had taken the day before Lydia’s surgery. I was shocked. I hadn’t remembered how bad her head shape was! Here are her pre-op pictures and underneath how she looks to day. I think the difference is quite dramatic!

Day before surgery, side view -- notice the area around her eyes and how the top of her head had grown higher and how the back of the head was becoming flat

Today, side view

Day before surgery, bird's eye view -- notice how wide it had grown and how round

Today, bird's eye view

Day before surgery, front view -- notice how her eyes slanted downward and her uneven forehead

Today, front view

The doctor said that since Lydia’s head is looking so good, she will be able to end helmet therapy 3 months early! Thank you for your prayers! We praise the Lord for such wonderful doctors and medical care and how great Lydia looks. I know I will never take a round head for granted again!

~Kelli

Lydia's Trip to the States

It was almost three months since we returned home to Brazil, but it was already time to travel to the States to get Lydia's third and final helmet.

Our trip started with a 14.5 hour bus ride from "Soytown" to the capitol. Lydia did great, falling asleep after the first hour and opening her eyes every time we stopped, which was every hour or so, and only cried for maybe 20 minutes of the whole trip.

We were picked up at the bus station by some friends and stayed with them during the day. That night we took a 8.5 hour plane ride to Atlanta, GA. Fortunately, I had an empty seat next to me, so the flight was much more pleasant than I expected. However, Lydia did not sleep as much on this overnight flight as I had hoped.

Lydia on the plane

We had a four hour layover in Atlanta and Lydia and I had a great time touring all the terminals. Lydia was quite the hit with fellow passengers!

At last it was time to board our second flight. Lydia was not very happy on this flight. I had the privileged of sitting by someone who was NOT a baby person and every time Lydia's toe touched him, he let out a huff. Lydia screeched and wiggled for the first hour and I was ready to scream myself, but at last, she finally fell asleep. Two hours later we arrived in San Antonio, TX and were picked up by our friend there.

Now I have to tell you about our friends. The day Lydia had surgery, there was another young couple with a little boy who was also having the same surgery.

The day after surgery with our little babies

We immediately connected with this couple. He was a pastor and they had two little boys the same age as our little girls. They happened to live in San Antonio, and his mother graciously invited Lydia and me to stay with her whenever we were in town for Lydia's appointments! I remember the day after the surgery, she said to me, "when you come, don't worry about a place to stay, food, or a car!" Talk about an answer to prayer!

Every time, we're in San Antonio, we get together with Bre'anna and David (the little boy who had surgery and his mom).

Bre'anna and David, Lydia and me

As Bre'anna once said, David and Lydia will always be linked together in our minds.

Lydia and David -- 3 months post-op

Lydia and David -- 9 months post-op

It's been such a joy to be able to share this journey with them.

We had a great appointment with the helmet guy (or should I say orthotist?) and the neurosurgeon. More about her appointment in another post.

After a couple days in San Antonio, Lydia and I flew to Michigan. I got a great deal on Delta where I only had to pay $20 more to fly from Texas to Michigan! So I was able to spend a few days with my family. Even my sister flew in from California.

Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Lesli soaked in their precious time with Lydia.

Lydia with Grandpa

Lydia with Grandma

Lydia with Aunt Lesli

I enjoyed time with my family, watching American football, drinking apple cider, wearing long sleeves, and going to Ikea for the first time. Mike, on the other hand, got to stay home and take care of Emily and our dog, Mali's 10 puppies.

Mali and her puppies

The day after I left, Emily got sick and was throwing up. It was so hard to be away from my little girl when she was sick, but I didn't envy Mike who was stuck with cleaning up the mess. All the while Mike continued work on our indigenous dictionary (thrilling, huh?). I think I got the better end of the deal despite having to do so much traveling.

My time in the States came to an end too quickly, but I was very ready to see Emily and Mike again. The flight back went pretty well. This time I brought a friend down with me, so I had some help with Lydia going through security, on the flight, claiming bags, etc.

Lydia and I had a great trip. Despite traveling for four days, Lydia did great. How did I get so blessed to have two girls who are great travelers?! I miss my family, but I'm looking forward to seeing my parents and my sister when they come to Soytown in February!

~Kelli