update on Ian

So, here goes my first entry on this blog.

Being here for about 6 weeks (with at least 46 weeks still to come) has been an adventure to say the least. Having just graduated from school, I am constantly learning how to be a teacher as opposed to being a student. And that is no easy task for me. In addition to learning how to be a teacher to the kids here, I am also constantly learning how to be a mother (or mother-like figure). Caring for Ian in just these past 6 weeks or so has opened my eyes and taught me so much about children and what it takes to care for them. Below is an update on how he has been doing.

For the past 5 days Ian has been sick. He has gone back and forth from having extremely high fevers, to an achey body, a non-existent appetite, and a lethargic (and nearly pathetic) attitude. After taking him to the doctor, we discovered that he had (has) a virus, which is good news because it could have easily been something worse. He was also tested for HIV and it came back negative. Hooray!

All of us here at the house are learning what it is like to care for a sick child 24/7. From forcing medicine and other fluids down his throat, giving him suppositories (if you don't know what that is, I'd like to keep it that way), getting poop samples to take to the doctor, and trips to the hospital as well as the pharmacy. Like I said, we are all learning a lot.

In addition to caring after his sickness, we are continually trying to strengthen Ian's little body by getting him to sit up on his own on a blanket on the floor and stand up while holding our hands. He does not enjoy either of these. Like Jennie says, "It's so sad what you don't teach a baby from the beginning."

One of the difficult things though about caring for Ian is that none of us are full-time parents. There have been interesting days were we have had to take him with us to the classrooms in the different villages and throughout the town as we run our errands (not that parents don't do these things, but you know what I mean).

As we juggle Ian, his bag, car seat, and (of course) his monkey along with our dry-erase board (complete with easel), school books, and backpacks in the morning, I feel like sometimes he must be thinking, "you guys are crazy." Maybe he is right, but he sure is a cutie. :)

As the days pass, we continually long to find a family for him to call his own. I know that it will be hard for us when that day comes, but he so desperately needs a permanent home. Well, we have good news. A friend of ours over here spread the word about Ian, and we have had several responses of interest! How great is that?! More details to come as that surfaces.

For now, please pray that one of these leads comes through so that Ian can have a good home, and that they will come with haste. Also, please pray that Ian fully recovers from being sick. He has lost weight, and that cannot be good for his little body.

Hasta la proxima