Carmen update: Carmen had a fever this morning and congestion all day. She is comfortably sleeping now so hopefully tomorrow will be better.
I went in for my 12 week ultrasound today. Everything looks good! Baby sat perfectly still while they measured and then started jumping around when they tried to look at his/her hands and feet. Every time I see the doctor, they decide I am further along than I thought. If I keep going to the doctor, I may be due next month! Ha, ha! As of today I am 12 weeks and 6 days. I am going to keep my February 7, 2009 due date (the second due date I was given) because I can remember it!
I am still nauseous and throwing up but I am beginning to feel a wee bit better. I am HAPPY about that!
Here’s baby’s first portrait! (Lauren said, “It looks like a BOY. It doesn’t have any hair.”)
Several of you have asked how to donate to Mi Refugio, the school in Guatemala for the children who live in the Guatemala City dump. The best way I know is to contact Harry Engen (dad of Kari, who runs the school). Harry’s contact information is here and at the top of that page is a pdf file of Mi Refugio’s Needs List. If you call Harry, he can mail you a more updated list.
The easiest and most reliable way for supplies to reach Mi Refugio is either for Harry to carry them himself to Guatemala or for a team going down to the school to take them. Either way, Harry can coordinate delivery. You just have to get the supplies to him in Maryland.
When I called Harry he said that the children are in need of backpacks for the school year so we got backpacks in honor of Carmen’s 3rd birthday (thanks Jean for your contribution!). Harry did mention that many of the Guatemalan children are so tiny (Carmen is NOT typical!) that adult-sized backpacks swim on them. So, we bought kid-sized and also some mini-sized backpacks. Harry also said that used backpacks are just fine too.
Other needs include children’s vitamins, medicines, underwear, socks, sewing materials, children’s sewing patterns, etc.
We think this school is doing something amazing- giving 200 children each year the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and giving them HOPE. Mi Refugio is truly caring for the least of these.
A few days ago, my mom mentioned to look for a birthday package for Carmen from her. Yesterday she called to let me know that we had gotten it. I had no idea what she was talking about until she told me that she ordered the tote bags! The package came directly from Angel Baby Gifts. In our excitement, we didn’t read the card included in the package that said, “Happy 3rd Birthday, Carmen, our precious Guatemalan Princess….Love, Texas Grandma” So, thanks Mom for the adorable tote bags!
We got a letter in the mail from Make-A-Wish saying that Carmen’s Wish is approved to go to Hilton Head, Massachusetts. I was perplexed by this as I have never heard of Hilton Head, MA. Dave googled it and there is no Hilton Head, MA. We assumed that somehow Carmen got a Wish to Hilton Head, South Carolina or somewhere in Massachusetts. I called Make-A-Wish yesterday and the Wish coordinator apologized and we laughed and laughed. Another Wish kid got a Wish to Hilton Head, South Carolina and Carmen got her Cape Cod, Massachusetts Wish. I wonder if the other child got a letter saying Cape Cod, South Carolina!
Here is Lauren with the tote bags from Texas Grandma! (And yes, Lauren wears winter snow flake pajamas in July!)
Thank you for all of your birthday wishes and cards for Carmen!
We tried to make Carmen’s day extra special. Carmen’s favorite thing in the whole world is a warm bath, so I gave her an extra long one! She sighs and gives teeny-tiny smiles in the bath. My friend Karen and her boys came over to sing Happy Birthday to Carmen (”Darmen” according to her son!).
Carmen and Lauren got another delightful package in the mail from Mary. Tote bags for both Lauren and Carmen with the designs from the T-shirts. Carmen’s night nurse gave her a swan Webkinz. Thank you Mary and Selam!
We went out to dinner at Oro Pomodoro, a pizza place. We shared bruschetta, Caesar salad, chicken parmigiana, and cheese pizza. Afterward, we took some pictures in front of the water fountains (see below). We ended Carmen’s birthday celebration by going to Carmen’s Italian Ice and Cafe.
Oh and most exciting, Carmen’s Make-A-Wish trip was approved and we got the call on Carmen’s birthday! Hopefully next month we will be going to Cape Cod for a week to Ocean Edge resort. We wanted a wish for Carmen that would give her the chance to be outside, hear the waves, and feel the water. We decided to go with something relaxing and calm. I hope Carmen enjoys her Make-A-Wish trip!
(I think this post has a record number of links in it!)
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