14.11.08

Why do all kids, everywhere, get up at 6 am on Saturdays?

And furthermore, why do they find it necessary to make sure that everyone else on the planet is also up at 6 am on Saturdays?
Things that make good days….
· Going to the clinic with a 5 month old baby the doctor was almost sure was HIV positive and getting the negative test back
· Taking 6 kids to the clinic for HIV tests last week and getting 6 negatives
· Getting an amazing package from my beautiful school friends!
· Going to a middle/high school youth group for kids in the area and having lots of fun, but realizing that I am very much not in high school anymore
· The fact that I learned how to make tortillas in Africa
· Making tortillas from scratch for 40 of my favorite people on the planet, even though it took 3 hours. (also if you eat a lot of tortillas and you buy them at the store, you shouldn’t. they are so easy to make and fun and full of love)
· Finally getting to watch Enchanted (LOVE!)
· Tally and I made these things called Russian Bars that were awesome and a recipe from our South African Oma, Rina, who we have tea with almost every week.
Things that make interesting days:
· Trying to figure out what locals think of foreigners coming into their country and taking care of their orphans
· Having all of the school kids sent home early because of some mysterious rash at school. Of course 8 of our 10 kids came home with it.
· The clinic is out of meds and calamine because of the outbreak. Luckily we kind of horde those things, so we have a stash.
· The 8 kids are quarantined because the only thing worse than 8 kids with a rash? 30 kids with a rash.
· I feel qualified to have children now, because I already feel like I have 30 of them
Sad things:
· All of the kids standing at the door of their quarantined house with their goofy looking, white, calamine covered bodies, asking if they could come out and if they were going to be able to watch a movie (for the record they are being fed and tended to, they are just not allowed to touch anyone who goes into their house and they are eating all of their meals there and they didn’t get to watch a movie but they did get to play outside while all of the little kids were napping)
· Siphamandla is being treated for TB (the not contagious kind) because the doctor is pretty sure he has it. This is not actually that sad of a thing because the meds will make him stronger and the TB has probably been stunting his growth, but I just remembered it right now when I was writing sad things.
· Realizing that the world doesn’t look much like a lot of people think it does and trying to figure out what to do about that.

The Barbees take on South Africa in T-minus 5 days : )

kb

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Barbee's are about to reunite in South Africa for a great tour. The question is can I handle being around my adult childres for 10 days. This time last year I had hip surgery, let me think hip surgery or being around the kids for 10 days....hip surger / kids..??? or rash

Anonymous said...

why can't i be a barbee!?!?! i want to reunite in south africa! also, the rash situation sounds awful, poor little loves. i am so glad you got to watch enchanted :). loves you.

also, i really enjoy your dad's comment :)

Anonymous said...

there is a good chance that i like you a lot. we should have a tortilla party when you're here! it will be awesome : )
keep doin what you do girrlll!
lovelovelove you,
Liz