12 Days With David

During the first part of September, we were blessed and honored to keep our Grandson, David, here in Guatemala.  It began and ended with an 18 to 20 hour bus ride.

We invited 2 year old Stephen over to play with David.  They had a little Happy Meal picnic.

 We took David to the Xocomil Water Park!

David even took a train ride at the Paseo Cayalá.

 

David enjoyed playing with new friends, Stephen and Emma!

We went to the local mall for David to play at the PlayLand.

We had an extra 3.5 hour layover in the San Salvador bus terminal, so Glenn creatively entertained David with YouTube videos of Thomas the Train and other such things such as walking, talking, discovering, eating, etc.

Did I mention that we were helping to potty train David?
 David had fun times playing Basketball in the neighborhood and of course we could not get enough of the hugs and laughs we receive from him.

  David was a good little traveler as he rode all over with us during our missionary ministry and adventures here in Guatemala.

Fortunately, David fell asleep on the long 20 hour bus ride.

Unfortunately, Glenn had to hand-carry him across the Honduras/Nicaragua border at 10pm in the rain as we entered into Nicaragua.  After the passports were stamped, and we immediately boarded the bus, the driver was in a hurry and started to speed off.  Glenn still was carrying David strapped in his car-seat and was only 1/2 way down the bus isle. It was all Glenn could do to keep from being thrown with David to the back of the bus. 

Fortunately, Glenn was able to steady himself.

Unfortunately, the next day, Glenn had a heart attack.

I'm so very thankful that we got to keep David for a while to give Ellen and Luke a break in their busy schedule.  

I am going through David withdrawal these past few days:(

Follow-Up-Date - Glenn's Progress/Plans

Glenn spent 4 days in ICU after experiencing a heart attack on Monday night/Tuesday morning during the Nicaragua Independence Day Holiday weekend, September 16/17.

I was impressed with the excellent health care Glenn received at Metropolitiano Vivian Pellas Hospital here. Dr. Socorro (pictured above) took great care of Glenn.  She explained the charts, the numbers, the graphs and answered all of our questions.

Baby Emily hospital visit

David with GrandDad

We'll be staying in a local hotel for a few days until Glenn is more rested and able to take a 1 hour flight back home to Guatemala.  Glenn has contacted a cardiologist in Guatemala City for follow-up treatments and checks, first thing Friday afternoon.  The Doctor ordered Glenn to not do any lifting or strenuous stuff - hmmmmm-yeah, right?!,

I've been claiming promises  from Psalms 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

We have been blessed beyond measure.  We have received emails from all over the world from folks who are praying for us.  At times, I feel overwhelmed when I realize that the Lord could have called Glenn home. The gravity of Glenn's heart attack is very sobering and I can only Praise the Lord. 

 Will you continue to pray with us during these stressful and emotional days?  Will you pray for God's leading as we make the best possible plans for follow up?  Will you pray for complete healing for Glenn's heart?

~J

. 

Heartful of Thanks

Update on Glenn - Friday, Sept 20th

I had another blog posting ready to send out, but thought it best that I send out an update on Glenn.  


Some may or may not know, on Tuesday morning, Glenn suffered a heart attack here in Nicaragua.  Glenn and I have been keeping David for 12 days, and had just returned to Managua via bus on Sunday night to drop off David and return back to Guatemala a few days later.  Monday and Tuesday we were with our family celebrating Independence Day week at Campo Alegria near the Costa Rica border.  Glenn didn't feel well during the night on Monday.  Tuesday morning we packed up quickly and drove 2.5 hours back to Managua to the hospital, Metropolitano Vivian Pellas.  (this is the same place where David and Emily were born).

Glenn was admitted in the ER and it was determined that he needed a heart cath.  Short story - Glenn had a "Stent" procedure done.  Right side was ok.  Left side, one of the arteries was fine, the other was 100% blocked.  The doctor put in 2 stents.

Glenn has been in ICU since Tuesday.  Tuesday night he didn't sleep well.  Most of Wednesday he was sleeping in and out.  He had a low grade fever (100.2) when I kissed him goodnight on Wednesday night.  The fever and low blood pressure have since been controlled.

I am thankful for

• The peace I have with the modern hospital and doctor care. 
• Ellen's careful and quick driving skills back into Managua
• Glenn's love for me and others

It looks like Glenn will remain in ICU through the weekend.  (The hospital is understaffed on weekends, so Dr. Socorro wants him to remain in ICU).  I am staying with Ellen and Luke in their home.  I do have internet.


Pray for healing and that he doesn't get infection while in the hospital. Thank you in advance for praying for my dear husband, Glenn.

~J 

Change of plans - Glenn has been moved to a private room for the weekend.  He is continuing to improve daily.  Praise the Lord.

Rio Hondo

Over the weekend, we caravanned with our team down to Rio Hondo to visit with other team mates, John and Sarah.   It is a 2 hr drive once you get out of Guatemala City.

They are missionaries working with Julio and Lucky in various ministries such as teaching ESL classes, disciplining the youth and having feeding programs for the local community.

We visited them in their home and got to show the rest of the team where they live.  They have an adorable little house that is just perfect for them and their 3 dogs.

After breakfast, we had a time of sharing.  We all got caught up on each others' activities.  We even broke out our calendars to schedule our next meetings.  Our families consisted of a total of 11 children and 10 adults.

Then there was time for the pool....

Big David playing with Little David

And of course, David loved being in the water!

David with his new friends, Stephen and Emma.

Xocomil With Grandson

 One of the things on my Bucket List was to take David to the local waterpark.  This Xocomil (pronounced Show-Ko-Meal) Water Park is perfect for toddlers and older kids.  It has numerous slides, wave pool, lazy river and toddler spray park.  It is a 3 hour drive (without stops) from our house down to the coast road and along towards Mexico.  But well worth to drive to check this off my Bucket List.

David was a real trooper when we got him out of bed at 5am and strapped him in his car seat to make the 3 hour drive.  We had to stop at the Fruit/Vegetable Patrol stop and eat the three fresh tangerines we had in our cooler.  We made another stop at Burger King for David to run off some more energy.

My favorite thing was:

when David laid on my stomach as we floated in the Lazy River for 3 times around.  He was chill-axed!

David was one tired little boy after spending just 4 hours at the Water Park.  David loves water. He has ever since he was born.  Would I drive 3 hours each way and take him again?  You betcha!  One happy Grammie!

Volcanoes in Sight

We have traveled many times in the past 7 years via the coastal road.  The Guatemala coastal road is not exactly along the coast.  It is about 50 kilometers from the coast, but off to the north you can see the chain of volcanoes.

Our first trip along the coastal hi-way, we were told, "Hey, there are volcanoes out there."  You wouldn't have known it.  It was an overcast, cloudy day and it was hard to believe that volcanoes were off in the distance.

Then last week, the early morning sunrise was coming up on the east and the volcanoes were crystal clear.  We could see Pacaya near the Guatemala City airport, then the volcanoes near Antigua, Agua, Acatenango and Fuego.  Acatenango was spewing a little bit.  Then as we kept driving towards Mexico we could see the Volcanoes at lake Atitlán.  Then off in the distance we could see the active volcano near Quetzaltenango, Santiaguito.  It was a beautiful site.  Suddenly we saw a column of smoke spewing up. 

Our final destination - Xocomil Water Park - more on that tomorrow.

Psalms 19:1 -  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Isaiah 55:12

You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

M&M Time

I'm not experienced in this.  

I must say that I had the honor and privilege to have Grand-Mommy (my mom) potty train each of our kids.  She was potty training Ellen when Karen was born.  Then just before we moved to Bolivia, she potty trained Karen at 2 years of age. Then along comes Gary.  We are living in Bolivia, but that didn't stop me.  We sent Gary home to Dallas with some poor soul, and Grand-mommy potty trained him.  Gary flew back with Grandpa Stewart.

So my 31 year old daughter, Ellen, thinks I'm experienced at this potty training thing.  Not at all.  She started the process.  Now, Glenn and I have been continuing the process with David.  Remember, I'm not experienced in this whole thing.  Ellen is using the approach of giving David an M & M every time he "pees".

Cuteness.  

David says "M" and not "M & M".  

Because he is only getting just 1 M & M 

David has done a great job.  Now I give credit to all those people who have potty trained their kids.  Thanks to my mom especially for potty training our 3 kids.  You are the greatest.

Grandparent Duty

Ellen asked us to go and babysit the Grandkids last weekend, so she could help with the NCA youth leader's retreat along with Luke.  Well, who is going to turn down that offer?

So what did we do?

•  Play in the kids play area at the mall
•  Get David's hair cut
•  Go swimming
•  Bath times
•  Swing Emily in her new swing we took with us from Guatemala
•  Go with Ellen for Emily's 6 month check up
•  Smile when Emily learned how to sit up without toppling over
•  Love on them 
•  Potty-training David (sorry no picture!)
•  Do stuff that only Grandparents can do, loving every minute of it.

Can't get better than this!

Gullible's Travels Complete - For Now :)

We made it!  Safe and Sound!
18 hours by bus from Managua to Guatemala City.

So what do you do with a 2 year old, as you travel on a nice bus for 18 hours through 4 different countries (3 border crossings), to finally arrive in Guatemala at 10pm?

Let him R-U-N at the border crossings - to work off the energy!

Set up the computer so he can watch Veggie-Tales using Grand Dad's ear phones.  The Spanish movies that King Quality Bus showed were too violent, so Glenn turned David's car seat around so he wouldn't be distracted.

Crossing into Honduras.  We told David to look out the window.  

That lasted 30 seconds. 

The Security Guard at the King Quality terminal in San Salvador, El Salvador held David as we switched buses.

And David falls asleep in Granddad's lap.  It seems that Granddad fell asleep too.