Dixon Update

To start, there was an error in communication with the mother. We originally thought the baby's name was Nixon, but as we learned later, it was actually Dixon.

Now to give you the much needed update. Baby Dixon has been doing about the same for the last week. He's still alive & feeding, but not improving like he should be. Jason has taken him to the hospital in Ramon Santana twice now, and the doctors say he's fine. Fortunately, a team of doctors, from La Romana, visited Lima yesterday. They were able to see Dixon & recognize his need for a feeding tube. Even though he can feed, he's using too much energy to do it & not gaining the necessary weight. So, Dixon & his mom went to La Romana with the doctors. I haven't heard anything more, but I'll give another update when I do. (Hopefully I can get a new picture too.)

Thanks everyone for your prayers on behalf of this precious little one!!

This pictures reminds me how much I love the kids here in the DR. Three of these four kids are in our preschool on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. They are Abigael (far left), Marcia, & Abel (far right). Since I've had the opportunity to get to know them better, I want to claim them as my own. After the first month, it felt like I added 21 kids to our family. I have such a great love for them, and I'd say it's unexplainable, but I know it comes from God. He put a desire in my heart to love others, just as He loves me. I know my face lights up each time I think about those kids! I picture each one of them doing something funny or showing affection through BIG hugs, and I can't stop smiling. Don't get me wrong, they are little stinkers, but adorable at the same time. I am blessed to be here & be able to build relationships with these kids.

4 Years of Life Together!

Kurt & I celebrated 4 years of marriage on March 8th. I know it's not a long time to be married, but I feel like we've aged :) I've learned a lot about being a wife, especially these last couple of months. (There's a lot more to it than I remember in the beginning!) God has stretched me & my understanding of how to be a godly wife. And, no matter how many times I fail, I wouldn't trade married life for anything.

Seat Buckle

We had been in the country a month & already made several trips to the capital. This trip was no different until… We reached the tollbooth, & Kurt unbuckled his seat belt to reach for change to pay the toll. As we pulled up to the drop, I noticed a police officer standing on the other side watching. I wasn’t concerned until I saw him wave his hand. He called us over & started talking rapidly in Spanish (which we barely knew). He was saying something about Kurt’s seat belt, & then he wanted our licenses, registration, & insurance. Obviously, we didn’t understand half those words & were fumbling around for what we thought he wanted. He said a few more things & then motioned us to move to the side of the road. I started to get worried because he was talking about giving us a ticket. Of course, a ticket here is not like a ticket in the states. Anything is possible. He finally came back, still acting like we’d get a ticket, but calmed down after he saw I was about to break down! We ended up leaving without a ticket, but it was our first of several experiences with the police. Not a dull moment on the road here in the DR.

Stories

 Over the next few weeks, I'm going to post some random stories of things that we've experience since we've moved to the Dominican Republic. I wanted to write these stories down, so that I could remember them years from now :)

Baby Nixon

Last Friday, after preschool in Lima, Pam was asked to remove stitches from a mother who recently had a C-section. It seemed like it would be a routine medical situation, but what she found was disturbing. The baby was premature & dehydrated. It could barely feed & needed medical attention. However, the mother couldn’t afford to go to the hospital. As a team, we were worried for the safety of the child. We decided to return to San Pedro & seek wisdom from a local doctor. The baby was 3 weeks old & although it looked terrible, we realized it would survive another day.

On Saturday, Jason & Kurt returned to Lima to take the mother & her child to the hospital here in San Pedro. (Side note: The mother recently moved to Lima from Haiti & only spoke Creole. She has no family here.) Pam, the mother, & her baby spend several hours at the hospital getting nothing accomplished. They were told that the doctor was out eating supper with his family & there was nothing the nurses could do besides take the baby’s blood & have them stay overnight for the doctor’s return in the morning. The mother absolutely would not stay in the hospital. She said she had to return to Lima that night. (Reason being: She had spent 18 days in the hospital after the baby’s birth. During that time, she was not given any food or water. The baby was being medically taken care of, but the mother was left to fend for herself. At public hospitals here in the Dominican Republic, family is required to bring you food & water. This mother has no family to help her.)

On the way back to Lima that evening, Kurt & Jason continued to ask the mother what they could do because the baby was in the same shape as when they left Lima that afternoon. She finally agreed to stop at the hospital in Ramon Santana (half way between San Pedro & Lima). At the hospital in Ramon Santana, the nurses were able to give the baby sugar water. They even gave the mother extra packets for the following day, with the knowledge that the mother would return on Monday with the sick child to see a Pediatrician. Also, before returning to Lima, Jason purchased rice, beans, and fresh juice for the mother so she could have the nutrition to feed the baby.

As of today, the mother & baby returned to hospital to meet with the Pediatrician. Once I have more details, I’ll be sure to share them. Thanks to everyone who is praying for this little one!

Around Freedom in 60 Seconds

Approximately every 3 weeks, Kurt & I create a video for freedom called Around Freedom in 60 Seconds. This past week, Jason actually took over & did a video on Kurt & I :) If you're interested, you can watch it by clicking the following link... Kurt & Katie Cline

Beach Day

Last Saturday, we were able to take a hand full of our friends from the bateyes to the beach. We had a great time & enjoyed the water!! The day was beautiful, as always, & very sunny. Most of us Americans got a little burnt :)