Sunday, Day 10

I woke up during the night with a very bad sore throat. It really hurt to swallow. Unsure if I am catching what Karen and Dorian had or maybe it was a result of a new illness called beanitis. Too many beans within too few days can cause the gas to make throat swell. I know I read about it somewhere. Got up around 8:30 and had a cup of hot cocoa which helped some. Then I started on Hall's Fruit Breezers....the girls have mucho of them and they help the throat. We then went to church and believe it or not Antonio came and sat on MY lap even though Karen and Dorian were present. He and I did get in trouble though with Karen by giggling. After church we began the journey within the journey; To teguc to have dinner with fifteen children and then find a pair of shoes for them each. So we have two vehicles; a land cruiser and a pickup truck. Into the land cruiser go Marc, Joyce and fourteen children. yep that is right, and oh I forgot Olivia a volunteer from Athens Ohio who is here to help for two months. In the truck was Karen and myself and Antonio. Now for the back of the truck; Terri (Marc's wife), Dorian, Noel and his wife and the student from Baxter, his wife and little girl. The trip in was ok (but I was up front) and I loved to hear Antonio keep saying:Mommy, pass that bus, or Mommy, go faster except in Spanish. He kept begging her to use the horn and Karen complied. It is really hard to tell Antonio no. We got to Church's Chicken and Lori Connel was there so she joined us. I went next door to Burger King to get something without gluten....When I returned to Church's, I sat with Cindy, Fernando, and Antonio. It went fine for about 15 seconds..Fernando spilled his drink all over the table. We were snatching food and running from our chairs. The lady who worked there told us she would clean it up but we needed to change tables. Then I ended up at a table with Dorian, Antonio and Maryuri. For two little ones, they suck every piece of meat possible from those chicken bones. Then the children wanted to play on inside playground. Eventually it was time to go and we went to the mall and a store there for shoes. We walked into mall and the first store on left was the one we wanted. So I stood guard over twelve ninos at a time while they would take in three at a time to buy them shoes. The children were lined up in front of store display window. There was a Dunkin Donuts there so I bought each of them a donut to keep them busy while they waited. What was I thinking to add sugar to this already dangerous mix? One by one they exited the store with big grins on their faces. Finally we were done and they all had to go to bathroom. Dorian got to change Antonio's stinky diaper. I am convinced that the only way Antonio stays so little is that he poops everything out continuously. Well there was no toilet paper in the girls bathroom so we had the boys to bring some out of theirs to share...Finally, we were ready to go home. Marc suggested that Karen and I take the trooper with the children so we could get them home. He was to stop at Price Mart for cake and ice cream to celebrate Fitto's birthday. Sounded good in theory, right? Well it began by Karen driving and me in passenger's front seat with Maryuri and Antonio on my lap. In the back seat was Olivia, Pamela, Daniela, Katty and Monica and the boys were in the back. I remember when my kids were little to try to keep them awake in the car so that they would sleep when they got home, try that times 15? Then Mario got sick and had to exit the vehicle quickly. Once everyone was back in (you should know that one child does not get sick without others suddenly feeling just as sick) we could not go...I mean the vehicle would barely move. On closer inspection; it appeared that during the quick exodus of vehicle some buttons got pushed on console, such as winter traction, etc. Once the buttons were all back to normal we were off again. Cindy would not sit down Katty would not stay awake, Mario and Rudy were bouncing up and down like rubber balls and Maryuri and Antonio were not very pleased with each other in such close proximity. Now by now the sun is shining in the window onto me, Antonio and Maryjuri and I am burning up even with airconditioning. Maryuri tells Cindy that she is cold and she is passed a sweatshirt to put on. I refused to put it on her and she was not happy. Karen said that if Maryuri was cold then I should give it to her, but I was raised that a child was only cold if the mother was cold and when the mother was cold then the child put on a jacket whether they were cold or not. We passed two police stops and we were not pulled over either time. Mario was sick again and we were almost home. Pamela insisted that she was also sick while Karen was taking Mario out again and she had the back door open. I was sure right then and there that all of the children would flee and we would never see them again. I was wrong. They all were safely back in vehicle just in time for Karen to brake to miss a dog and Mario to hit his head on dash. By then he was also in front so he would not throw up more and to allow for easy access. At my left elbow now was Rudy who had made his way from the back to near front. Part way down the lane, one more stop for sick kids. Then we pulled in the gate and I sang out loud; Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty, free at last. The children lay down for a short while and then Joyce and I opted to start supper. Actually some rotini was already cooked but we had to warm it up, make garlic bread, and cut up some cucumber, tomatoe and onion and mixed them with mayonaise....It was kinda good. Well even though I tried to hide behind the kithen counter, Dorian found me and said that Karen needed me to start the showers for the girls and he would keep an eye on supper. I found Karen and bartered with her to take the boys instead. There are more of them but I know the game plan with them. Well, be careful what you ask for.. ...They were all in rare form tonight and I was about to lose my cool. But then when I carried Antonio out of the shower and lay him on his bed while I turned to get his pampers, I turned around and he was completely covered by his towel. I asked, Donde Antonio? and he jerked the towel off and shouted Aqui! and giggled for all he was worth. He made me smile when I needed a smile. Of course we played this game a while longer with he covering himself up and me not being able to find him. The biggest issue with bath time was the daily fight for certain underwear. They will hide a pair somewhere where no one else will find them so that they get that certain pair. Supper was mass pandemonium to say the least. Everyone was hitting everyone and no one was happy. They put their new shoes on for pictures and then it was time for Fitto's birthday cake and ice cream. By then at least 3 was sent to their room and it was quite a joyous affair. After that when they went to watch a movie, Cindy decided that we had not had enough adventure for one day and went berserk. Once again to save Karen's energy for after I am gone, I sat with Cindy until she agreed to go lie in her bed. Then it was off for me to the apartment to swallow throat lozenzes and pour out my heart to you all. I am ready to come home but I am getting sad at the though of leaving Karen and Dorian. I have came to know Dorian better and my heart aches for both of them. I want Karen happy more than anything and Dorian adores her but it is so hard leaving them and not know where their future lies. I cannot imagine doing what they and others do, day after day. It is truly a God thing because it is humanly impossible. Now that i have traversed the road from insanity to sadness at getting ready to leave my baby; I will leave you with these words of wisdom; God is in control whether it is readily apparent or not...buenas noches.