Happy Birthday, Kenny-Man!

Kenny's birthday was on the 20th of June. We celebrated on the 19th with a small family party. For now, it would seem that we are Kenny's favorite people. He's more of the shy type and doesn't enjoy being the center of attention...






10 reasons why I love me some Kenny:

1. he's super cuddly
2. his favorite transformer is Bumblebee
   
3. he comes to find me during the day just to tell me he loves me
4. his brother is his best friend
5. he wants to be just like his daddy
6. he loves pancakes, just like mommy
7. he's caring and sweet
8. he loves to show off his muscles
9. he's super excited about becoming a big brother
10. he's a handsome little man who is going to grow up to do great things!
    

Happy Birthday. Sweet Kenneth Urnuun!

What's been making me smile

• after almost 3 weeks of sickness (mumps and a mystery virus), the children are feeling better and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Please keep praying; we're not completely out of the woods yet. Abi's mumps have moved to the other side and Kenny (the last one to catch the mumps) still has both sides swollen.
• A couple days ago Nate and I started our summer reading program. We picked 5 books in both English and Mongolian for him to read a little every day. Our program will end in 3 weeks and he'll receive an erector set that he's been wanting. It does my heart good to see him reading so well in 2 languages.
  
• Our crops are doing good and almost everything is growing. It's still early but I think we're going to have a great harvest!
• This morning, after a fitful night's sleep with Kenny, Hetee took the kids and gave them their breakfast. I went back to bed for another 3 hours! I love that man.
• Dinner with our friends last night. What was meant to be a date for Hetee and I turned into a dinner for 4. We had a great time and talked till almost midnight.
• Molly is doing fine after eating what we think was a poisoned mouse. For about 24 hours we thought we might lose her but she pulled through! One life down, 8 to go...
  
• Abi and her cute quips. The other day Nate was complaining about the clothes I picked out for him. Abi passed him in the hall and under her breath said, "don't bite the hand, Nate" (a line from Madagascar). Nate persisted to disagree with me and I told him that he would wear what i picked or stay home. Abi said in a louder voice, "You bit the hand, Nate, you bit the hand!" Laughter all around!
  
• When Kenny slaps his hand to his forehead and exclaims "O boje moi" ("oh my god" in Russian).
  
• My ultimate, all-time favorite highlight for this post is feeling the baby move! I have been enjoying our little one's movement for about 2 weeks now and it's such an incredible feeling that I never get used to. It's just cool. =)
  

What's been making you smile? I REALLY do want to know.

I'm Growing!

I just passed week 17 feel like my tummy popped out overnight. I can still squeeze into one pair of jeans that were too big and long before. Now they're longer and drag on the ground cause the waist band fits under my tummy. It makes me feel like I'm going to lose my pants which is not a very good feeling when you're walking home from the grocery store with a heavyish tote in each hand. But it's all good. My friend Lydia has so kindly offered to send me some maternity clothes. They should be here in a couple weeks. In the meantime, I'll find something to wear, I'm sure.

Today I went shopping for maternity undies. I found some at a small stall in the shopping center. They were one-size-fits-hippo and looked entirely too big for me at this point but I got them anyway, you know, to save for later when I would eventually need them. I got home and tried them on, just to get an idea of how they fit and, oh my, the big things FIT. Talk about a reality check!

Now I have to be really careful. I tend to do dumb things until I really realize just how big I am. I remember when I was pregnant for Kenny, right after my tummy "popped out", I slammed in in the door of the refrigerator. Granted I was trying to hide something from one of the kids so I was really close to the door. But still, I felt really stupid.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has been praying for our family. Kenny has fully recovered other than a small spot right under his bottom lip. It stays moist (cause boys drool and girls rule) so it's taking longer to heal.

Abi and Nate had a good 3 days in Ulaan Baatar with their Mongolian grandparents but both returned home with a fever. Abi, it seems caught Nate's mumps. Sigh. And Nate apparently has what Kenny had and now has a tongue full of sores. Yesterday they both had fevers again. Nate was 102 and Abi was 103 but today they seem much better.

Little Update

Thanks for the prayers! Kenny is slowly recovering. His appetite is picking up but he still can't eat well because of the mouth sores. He asked for his favorite thing to eat, bread and peanut butter, many times during the day today and yesterday but each attempt to eat it was met with wails of frustration and pain. He's still very clingy and fussy so prayers for my sanity during this time are much appreciated!

Abi and Nate have been in Ulaan Baatar visiting their Mongolian grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. They left yesterday and will be back on Sunday or Monday. Hetee will be preaching at our church in UB and will bring them back with him. I miss them already but it is nice to have this time with Kenny as he recovers. Since the house is a bit more quiet with them gone he's been able to sleep more during the day. And I've been squeezing in some naps myself, too. =)

Today Hetee and I saw our precious new one through ultrasound. All is fine; there's one baby, not two. =) I would have loved to have twins but, oh well, not this time anyway. The baby did not move very much for us. Only his/her arms moved in a boxing/punching motion. So cute! One leg came up then down again once. I can't wait to chew (gently, haha) on those toes!

I have been having a stretching/pulling sort of pain on the right side of my abdomen. We found out today that it is exactly where the placenta lies. It could have something to do with that. As long as I take it easy (yeah right!) the pain is nothing more than a nuisance.

In other news, I am ABSOLUTELY in love with the song "Won't Stop" by OneRepublic. Check it out! It's catchy!

Prayers Needed

Three days ago Kenny started having a fever of about 99-101. The fever came and went throughout the last few days and nights. About the second night I gave him tylenol. Since Nate had mumps the week before we assumed Kenny was coming down with the mumps, too. But it became clear that Kenny was in a lot more discomfort than Nate was.

Then yesterday I noticed a little sore right below his bottom lip. After checking his mouth we discovered several more little canker-like sores on his lips and tongue. At this point his symptoms pointed to hand,foot and mouth disease (coxsackievirus; enterovirus 71). I called the American doctor in town and set an appointment for this morning.

After checking Kenny, Dr. Pham discovered that Kenny's throat is also infected. He doesn't think it's anything extremely serious. Since we can't get a lab test here we have no way of knowing exactly if it is hand,foot and mouth disease or not. It may be strep throat and the canker sores (so far I've counted 10!)could be from the high fever he was having, since he doesn't have any sores on his hands and feet.

Whatever it is, Kenny is one miserable little guy. Please believe with us for a quick recovery and health for the rest of our family.

We appreciate your prayers!