I still haven't finished my thoughts from this post, but here's another brief segment...
Savvy has a cough. Again! I thought at the end of this past winter (we never really had a spring. It kind of went winter--> summer) my children had contracted every illness under the sun and they would be home free for the year. But alas, she has the tired eyes, runny nose, and cough that is keeping her up. She wails and cries every few minutes, and it breaks my heart. As I was holding her in the laundry room this evening(she still shares sleeping quarters with our washer and dryer) swaying side to side, my mind carried me away to the orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. ...
I can't remember exactly how many babies there were. When I arrived, it was in the middle of their "winter." Sort of. There isn't snow or ice down there. They don't have heat, so when it gets chilly, it feels chilly. Weather in the 50s actually feels nippy there. And, when the weather changes all the kids come down with a cold or flu bug. I was working the night shift (you stay all night to change diapers and feed the babies-- like being a mom, except to about 30 children and you get to use your hand as a baby wipe.) There were a number of sick babies that night. Their noses were running like faucets, and they were hacking coughs like smokers. There is an employee at the orphanage who stays overnight, too. Amazingly enough, the worker was an employee when I volunteered at the orphanage 5 years ago, so it was fun to be reunited with this amazingly selfless woman.
The ironic part about coming back to volunteer in an orphanage run by nuns who speak a language I am not native to, was how helpless and stupid (I know, Cade. We don't say "stupid" --- but I can't really describe it any other way) I felt when taking care of the babies. As a mother, you have your own maternal instincts, know what medications and supplies you have or need to get, and just "know" your babies and how to care for them. However, the nuns run a tight ship and have reasons for why they do everything. I was so paranoid I was going to tie the cloth diaper wrong, use the wrong plastic, pick the wrong pajamas, and put the baby in the wrong crib..... much more, how I was going to take care of these sick babies. I know what I would do, but those nuns are a little supersticious and sometimes don't agree with Western medicine, most likely because they are on a tight budget and must stick to it. So, there was this fear in me that if I did what I would do, I would irritate the nuns and ruin something.
Fabi, the night worker is a patient soul. She would tell me to do something and I would repeat it back to her 3 or 4 times before I was obedient. I could tell by the amusement in her eyes that she really wondered how on earth I was surviving motherhood and taking care of my own 2 children if I was so slow to respond to such simple, innate (for a caregiver anyway) tasks.
One of the little orphan babies had a terrible cough and he needed to keep on his medication routine. Meanwhile, the infants were screaming. Fabi kept asking me to do something, and I wasn't following. Finally she showed me the room and the machine.
Of course! A nebulizer. I am well-acquainted with those machines. As soon as I saw what she wanted I nodded and proceeded to hold the little guy down and put the mask on him. Fortunately, he was not near as defiant about breathing the medication through the mask as my own daughter, so it was actually a sweet, tender moment to share with him.
He wailed and cried as I held the mask over his face, My heart sank as I thought about his life. Here was this darling little black-eyed boy with no parents to get him better. Just a slow little gringa who was there for a few days on vacation to love him. And while my soul ached for this motherless child, my heart swelled wtih gratitude thinking about my own children. How blessed am I that I get to be the one to hold them when they are sick, administer medicine, kisses, and snuggles to help the dull the discomfort.
Savvy has a cough. Again! I thought at the end of this past winter (we never really had a spring. It kind of went winter--> summer) my children had contracted every illness under the sun and they would be home free for the year. But alas, she has the tired eyes, runny nose, and cough that is keeping her up. She wails and cries every few minutes, and it breaks my heart. As I was holding her in the laundry room this evening(she still shares sleeping quarters with our washer and dryer) swaying side to side, my mind carried me away to the orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. ...
I can't remember exactly how many babies there were. When I arrived, it was in the middle of their "winter." Sort of. There isn't snow or ice down there. They don't have heat, so when it gets chilly, it feels chilly. Weather in the 50s actually feels nippy there. And, when the weather changes all the kids come down with a cold or flu bug. I was working the night shift (you stay all night to change diapers and feed the babies-- like being a mom, except to about 30 children and you get to use your hand as a baby wipe.) There were a number of sick babies that night. Their noses were running like faucets, and they were hacking coughs like smokers. There is an employee at the orphanage who stays overnight, too. Amazingly enough, the worker was an employee when I volunteered at the orphanage 5 years ago, so it was fun to be reunited with this amazingly selfless woman.
The ironic part about coming back to volunteer in an orphanage run by nuns who speak a language I am not native to, was how helpless and stupid (I know, Cade. We don't say "stupid" --- but I can't really describe it any other way) I felt when taking care of the babies. As a mother, you have your own maternal instincts, know what medications and supplies you have or need to get, and just "know" your babies and how to care for them. However, the nuns run a tight ship and have reasons for why they do everything. I was so paranoid I was going to tie the cloth diaper wrong, use the wrong plastic, pick the wrong pajamas, and put the baby in the wrong crib..... much more, how I was going to take care of these sick babies. I know what I would do, but those nuns are a little supersticious and sometimes don't agree with Western medicine, most likely because they are on a tight budget and must stick to it. So, there was this fear in me that if I did what I would do, I would irritate the nuns and ruin something.
Fabi, the night worker is a patient soul. She would tell me to do something and I would repeat it back to her 3 or 4 times before I was obedient. I could tell by the amusement in her eyes that she really wondered how on earth I was surviving motherhood and taking care of my own 2 children if I was so slow to respond to such simple, innate (for a caregiver anyway) tasks.
One of the little orphan babies had a terrible cough and he needed to keep on his medication routine. Meanwhile, the infants were screaming. Fabi kept asking me to do something, and I wasn't following. Finally she showed me the room and the machine.
Of course! A nebulizer. I am well-acquainted with those machines. As soon as I saw what she wanted I nodded and proceeded to hold the little guy down and put the mask on him. Fortunately, he was not near as defiant about breathing the medication through the mask as my own daughter, so it was actually a sweet, tender moment to share with him.
He wailed and cried as I held the mask over his face, My heart sank as I thought about his life. Here was this darling little black-eyed boy with no parents to get him better. Just a slow little gringa who was there for a few days on vacation to love him. And while my soul ached for this motherless child, my heart swelled wtih gratitude thinking about my own children. How blessed am I that I get to be the one to hold them when they are sick, administer medicine, kisses, and snuggles to help the dull the discomfort.
6 comments:
You're an amazing woman, Michelle!!! I'm so glad I can call you my friend.
Michelle, that really touched my heart, thank you for sharing something so meaningful! I think you are such a beautiful person inside and out.
What a touching story, Michelle! Thanks for sharing. :) And by the way, I think you give yourself far too little credit in your posts. In keeping with the theme here, you truly are amazing. :)
Loved this post Michelle, you are the sweetest person ever, and I miss you! The last sentence especially made me cry... I can't wait for the day!!!
p.s. Just wanted to let you know you're tagged! check out my blog for details;)
I stumbled upon your blog (Don't you love blog stalkers? Sorry, I am one!) Loved your experience--you made me miss my kids so much and helped me remember a little bit about who I became down there. Amazing that Fabiola still works there--she was my favorite. I'd love to hear more about your trip--it's been too long, Michelita! Your kids are beautiful--so are you! I might become a permanent reader of your blog, hope you don't mind! :)
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