Home Sweet Home!

We are home! Hooray! It feels so good to be home!

Well Miata and I arrived at the airport early, about 6:00pm. Our departure time was scheduled for 7:58pm but upon checking in I learned our flight had been delayed. While the lady was checking to see if I would still make my later connections in San Diego she saw that I could just leave SF on a later flight and totally cut the stop in San Diego. I was most pleased at that option because that would save us from wagging our luggage on and off one additional flight. The only downside was that we had to hang out there at the airport until our departure time which was now 11:11pm. That was ok though since Miata still had school work to complete. Anyways, it was a long flight to DC and I did not get any sleep but Miata slept pretty good. We arrived in DC at 7:00am (which was 4:00am SF time.) After about 1 1/2 hours we were on our next flight to Raleigh. We arrived in Raleigh at 9:40am. Tim and Jadeyn came to pick us up and then we headed to Chick Fila for the girls to eat breakfast. After our two hour drive we finally made it home! By this time I was exhausted from no sleep! After settling in a bit I put a movie on for the girls and took about an hour nap. Not much sleep but it was enough to make me feel a little better and hold me until bedtime.

We are just happy to be home now!

Departure Day!

We spent this morning packing our bags and preparing for this evening. Miata went for a walk with Jack to a local cafe and then when she returned we headed out for the day. Our first stop was at Chuck E. Cheese which of course was a must since she still had tokens from yesterday. Mary was with us so Miata was able to show her many games and how they worked! Remember Mary is from Kenya so she is still learning much about America and still experiencing many new things as a first for her! She has never been to a Chuck E. Cheese or seen all these kind of games that you play. Well the first one I wanted her to experience was a motion game! I explained to her you just sit/lay in it and you don't have to do anything (I didn't share the motion part!) So she got into the seat and Miata chose which roller coaster she wanted! Away they went and Mary jumped as soon as the seats began to move every which way! It was really funny!! Anyways, after getting use to it she enjoyed it and thought it was pretty neat. She watched Miata play many games and even joined in on a few.

Next we made our way to Dr. Brent's office for Miata's post-op appointment. They removed the bandages and took out the stitches (about 50!) Her ear of course is quite swollen but looks really good! After the swelling goes down and it heals more it will look so much better! When the nurse showed Miata she thought is was really cool! Like last time, she doesn't like the look of it being swollen and all the wrinkles from the bandages being on it but she loves the fact that she has an ear and that it is looking more like an ear now! She really thought the front view was cool because it was the first time that at a glance you could see two ears that matched (well the best they can for right now!) Anyways, the nurse re-bandaged her ear then we talked with Dr. Brent a bit and then scheduled for her next surgery which will be on July 27th. Dr. Brent gave her a big hug and told her he would see her very soon for her next surgery! We will be able to remove the bandage for good on Sunday! Miata will be most pleased with this as will I because then I can wash her hair! (Her poor hair looks awful as you can see in the pics!)

Ok the downside is that again she is not able to play for 4 weeks or swim for 6 weeks!! This means she is going to miss her very first field day, her year end party, and now that the weather is great she is also unable to go outside with her class and play with all her friends! She also cannot swim until around the third week in June! If you know Miata well you know that she is a fish! She has always loved water and stays in it as much as she can! Even taking a bath will be hard for her because in the bathtub she stays under the water! So it will probably have to be showers only for a while so not to be temped!

I will post more on Sunday once we remove her bandage for good!

Followup & Fun...

I will begin with the followup from yesterday's mishap of receiving the parking ticket. Well, once I returned to Arlene's last night I asked her to look at the ticket with me and tell me if she saw or knew of anything I did wrong. After reviewing it she too said it ws clearly a mistake! So, this morning I started my day early by driving back to Redwood City to the Police Dept. to make sure I was the first one in as soon as they opened. I wanted to assure I could get in and out so not to spend a long time. Anyways I spoke with an officer and explained my situation then presented him with my ticket, my receipt, and showed him my pictures. He also agreed there had clearly been a mistake! He took my ticket and assured me it would be cleared! I was most pleased with the outcome but a bit frustrated in having to go through all this. The real kicker to this whole ordeal was that when I carefully read the ticket I only had two options. 1. Pay the $35.00 2. If I saw a discrepancy I could talk with the officer who issued the ticket and if he made any changes or adjustments I would still have to pay a $10.00 fee!!! I was not willing to pay anything for I did nothing wrong! So, anyways all ended well I didn't have to pay any money (of course) and the officer I spoke with was very nice and most apologetic for this embarrassing mistake of their dept.

Ok next we made a stop at McDonald's for me to use the computer and help Miata complete more of her school work. After that I surprised Miata with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese to let her play some games. I am so glad I did because she really enjoyed it! They had so many more games than our small little Chuck E. Cheese in Wilmington. I told her if she saved half of her tokens I would take her to another Chuck E. Cheese tomorrow that is close to Dr. Brent's office. Maybe they will also have different games from the one we were at today. That was what she did so tomorrow it will again be Chuck E. Cheese!

Later in the evening we all had dinner together. Arlene, Jack, Miata, myself, Mary, Jennie & her family. We enjoyed this last evening meal together... for now until we return for Miata's last surgery in SF. What great people! We are most blessed by knowing them all!!

Tomorrow is Departure Day! We will have a busy day with appts, returning the rental car, packing, etc. We will leave around 5:00 to go to the airport. Our flight leaves at 7:54pm but we will not arrive in Raleigh until around 10:00am the next morning (Thursday.) Then we will have our two hour drive home. So it will definitely be a long night and a lot of traveling to get home!

Oh!! I almost forgot....
During the day I had to stop by Safeway (grocery store) to grab a couple of things. Well as we were going through the entrance door a lady who worked at Safeway was pushing some carts out the door and as we passed she said, "Oh I remember that bandage, did she have ear surgery?" Of course I was again stunned by someone commenting on this condition. I asked her how she knew of this and she explained that she had problems when she was little and had to undergo ear surgery which wad not the same as Miata but a bit similar! Who would ever think that again this would happen!!

Movie Day...

Today's highlight was Miata going to the movie! A lady told us of a wonderful area in Redwood City which is very nice to walk around for it has many shops, restaurants, a movie theater, etc. Well as I drove there (it was only about a 15 min. drive) I was surprised to find that it was their downtown area which had been restored/rebuilt into a beautiful area. One part is the Sequoia Center which is built right next to the train station. The walkways actually cross over the tracks and it has the flashing red train lights and the gate that lowers to stop pedestrians from crossing the tracks just like it does for cars! Miata was amazed to see the train which was a passenger train that carries people to various other cities and locations everywhere around here. This of course is very common in California but as for us small city people we have never actually seen one so of course Miata thought it was so cool! Anyways, when we first arrived in the downtown area I had a challenge finding a place to park. I eventually found one and then had to figure out how to make payment in the meter machine. I wanted to make sure I did it correctly so I had a gentleman behind me watch me to assure I was doing it right.










After that we were set and we headed to the movie theater for Miata to see "How to Train Your Dragon" in 3-D. We were already a little late so we went in quickly. Well, I had a bit of a challenge trying to get the 3-D glasses to stay on Miata's head with her over sized bandage! I eeventually broke off one side of the glasses and had to tape the other side to her bandage to keep them on. By this point we had missed much of the beginning of the movie. Anyways, it was an incredible movie! I have never seen a 3-D movie like this before!! Afterwords I talked with the manager and explained our challenge with the glasses and missing part of the movie then I asked him if there was any way we could just sit through the beginning of the next one so Miata could see the part she missed. He said definitely and if we wanted we were welcome to watch it all over again. So, that is exactly what we did! Miata loved this movie and thought it was so cool how everything looked so close.


Well when we left the theater and returned to our car I was very upset to find a parking ticket on my front windshield!! (Sorry Hun!) I knew I had done everything correctly and the only thing I could think that I must have done wrong was maybe input my parking spot number wrong. Well I studied the ticket, studied my parking spot number, studied the timing and expiration on my parking receipt and could not see anything that I had done wrong!! I called the number on the ticket but the offices closed at 4:00 and it was after 6:00. So I took pictures of the situation so that tomorrow I can figure out what I needed to do. I am NOT a happy camper!!

Sunday Part 2

In the evening we attended a fundraiser presentation that Arlene and others we holding regarding work they do in El Salvador. In April Arlene, Jack, and about 22 others were in El Salvador for their yearly visit to see the progress that has been made over the last year and to evaluate how they can assist the El Salvadorians in other ways. Arlene has been part of this endeavor for 15+ years and is very devoted and dedicated to this cause. This year was the first year that Stanford University actually engaged by sending a group of students from a theological class who has been studying in this field. It was amazing to see and hear these students speak about their experience in El Salvador and how their time with the El Salvadorians had changed their lives, their views of the world, their views of others outside of the US, and how others who are willing to give of themselves could make such a huge difference in people's lives everywhere! It made such a profound impact on a couple of the students that they have now changed their entire major so that they can obtain a degree and work in a field that will allow them to engage and help others around the world! It was a good presentation and a real eye opener. I hope to be able to post pictures after I return home. I am very limited as to what I can do with my computer while I am here in California.

Anyways, just a few more days and we will be heading home! We are getting excited!

A Vision to Behold...

Today I attended Mary's church which isn't very far from the house (by car.) Mary always walks there which takes her about an hour but by car it takes about 15 minutes. Anyways, it was a very large church and the service was really good. But, what was most amazing is to see the vass mixture of cultures/races all intermixed and united as one body! The view of Caucasian, Mexican, African, Chinese, and many many others is definitely one to behold. I had forgotten this from our last visit where we went to another very large church with Jennie & her family (Jack & Arlene's daughter.) In the Welcome center of Mary's church everyone was talking with one another regardless of the others skin color or culture or language differences. By just being still and listening, you heard folks speaking English but with a heavy array of accents such as Spanish, Chinese, African (which Mary has), British, etc. It was really neat to see and hear!

Anyways, during the welcome/greeting time I had a lady come over to me and say (in a British accent) "I want to apologize because I saw you and your daughter downstairs and I wanted to speak to you but didn't." I told her there was no need to apologize to me! She went on to say she was familiar with Miata's bandage and asked me if she had ear surgery. I said, "yes." She told me that her husband (whom I met a few minutes later) had a brother that was born without an ear! He had undergone surgery many years earlier (early 90's I think she said) to also correct his birth defect. He is now in his 50's and has been most pleased by gaining an ear! She said what we were doing for Miata is giving her a wonderful gift that she will be most pleased with for the rest of her life! We talked for quite awhile and I asked her if her brother in law also had the surgery to open his ear canal for him to hear. She said no, that he said he had lived his entire life up to that point the way that it was and was use to it like that so he opted not to have that surgery done. He was happy in the fact he knew it was an option just in case anything ever happened to his one hearing ear knowing that he could always have that done to restore hearing in the other ear.

Anyways, I left there in amazement that in a city of about 59,000 again someone had approached us regarding knowledge of this condition!! If you recall from our last visit here in November, we were approached by a lady, while at a small local playground, who was familiar with this condition and even knew a couple of the doctors who perform surgeries for it. Go to post: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 to read more.

Well, that was the first half of our day. The last half was equally as interesting but I will have to post about it a little later. Right now it's time to help Miata finish more of her school work.

San Francisco...

Today we headed into San Francisco for the day. WE spent most of the day in Chinatown but also went to Pier 39 where Miata just loves watching the sea lions. Once we left the downtown area of SF we went to the Golden Gate Park where we just enjoyed walking around and taking advantage of the great weather and great scenery. It is a very large park which is beautiful! Well this was pretty much our day!

Days of Rest and Relaxation...

Once we left the El Camino Surgery Center we went back to Arlene & Jack's. For the past two days we haven't done a lot just went to McDonald's for lunch and for me to use their free internet. We visited the local library, a couple times, where we spent hours reading! This is Miata's favorite place to hang out and they also have free internet so it's a win win situation! Today we took Mary to a place so that I could help her learn how to drive. Considering that I have a rental car that probably isn't the wisest thing to do but she desperately needs to learn so off we went! (my husband probably missed a heart beat when he read this!) The area we were directed to is actually where many go to learn how to drive. It is a huge open paved/graveled area with absolutely no cars! Well there was actually one car with a gentleman sitting outside of it in a chair trying to get a little sun. Anyways, they even have cones in various locations that you can use and set up as obstacles to maneuver around and for learning to park. It was a really neat place! Well, Mary did pretty good after she learned not to step on the brake so hard! The first time Mary went to stop we all were thrown forward and poor Miata screamed because it scared her! I laughed and laughed while Miata sat with her big round eyes trying to figure out what had happened!! It really was too funny!! Mary got better and better at easing on the brake. Overall she did really well as a beginner. She has just passed her written driving test on Tuesday and really wants to take the driving part as soon as she can. For her to learn to drive costs $25 an hour which she cannot afford. I told her we would go several more times while I am here but then she will have to pay for at least 1 or 2 hours so that she can actually get on the road and drive with other cars. Now that is scary with the amount of vehicles on the road here! I definitely could not take her in a rental car!

Anyways, I would love to share a little about Mary...

She is from Kenya and has suffered dearly! She has 6 children of her own and had taken in (adopted) 3 additional children who were orphaned due to their parents being killed. She also took care of many other children as well (as a single mom... due to tribal clashes she had seen her husband, 3 brothers, brother's wives, their children, and her mom killed.) She used to be an accountant in Kenya and was also a very outspoken advocate against female genital mutilation which happens to women all the time in that area. Because of her outspokenness many leaders had threatened Mary on several occasions trying to get her to be quiet but she would not! She was determined to make a difference for women and continued to push the government to make changes and help better protect women. Well below there is a little more detail of what happen to Mary. During my first trip here she had shared so much with me but now during this visit she has shared even much more. Her stories are absolutely unbelievable and one cannot even fathom what others in this world endure on a daily basis!!!!! Anyways, this is just one person's story and just one of the many individuals that Arlene and Jack have helped!! On Friday evening Arlene had two individuals stop by whom she and Jack also help. As I sat at the table looking in the living room the thought that ran through my mind was... look at mix of folks from varies countries that are in this room right now! There was Mary from Kenya, Katoko a Japanese lady, & I can't remember the gentleman's name but he was from El Salvador. Well then of course there was us from the US and then little Miata from China. Anyways, it was kinda neat just seeing the mix of races from all over in this one small room. And to think it is all because of this kind couple who reach out to all color and all races to help anyone in need! The help in ways that are mind boggling! You could not even imagine what they do on a daily basis and at 75 and 81 years of age! Just last night Arlene was up til midnight working on presentation things she is doing for El Salvador. I thought this morning she would surely sleep in but nope, she was up by 7:00am! Amazing!!

Well, tomorrow we are going to San Francisco for the day. I will try to post more tomorrow night.

EMAIL ONE:

Dear Ones,

A while ago I asked for prayers for Mary from Kenya (a strong, outspoken woman who had repeatedly said that female genital mutilation must be stopped and that people needed to protect their girls). The outlawed sect, Mungiki, in retaliation, broke into Mary's home during her dinner with her mother, sister, and children, and did FGM against Mary and her sister in front of her mother and children. The Mungiki had also burned the homes of her two brothers while they and their families were asleep inside, plus many other atrocities. Mary managed to come to the US and came to our church one Sunday. She had already started her application process to get asylum. Our daughter, Jennie, and family and Jack and I started giving her some assistance. She got a good immigration attorney with a very difficult judge. The judge and the Homeland Security attorney kept raising questions and wanting more information and voicing reservations about her application. The process dragged out over 10 court appearances and over 1 1/2 years. She finally was granted asylum on April 7 (while Jack and I were away visiting our son Michael and family in Spain and Jack's 2 sisters and my sister and family in NC. Below is a report from our friend, Marjorie!

Thanks for your prayers! We also pray with faith that Mary will get a good job. She has been taking training to be a Nurse's Assistant and used to be an accountant.

Much love,

Arlene

EMAIL TWO:
Dear Arlene,
I know you know because Mary called you from the car going home
but I wanted to just bring you in and connect. It was a thing of so much
joy that we each realized it slowly. First the judge began to give
indications that he would approve. Then there were more discussions.
Miss HomeLand gave no closing arguments. Finally the judge said
he was will to grant asylum but he wanted to make sure there would not
be an appeal. Miss HL didn't speak for a moment and the judge asked
her if she would like 10 minutes. She said yes and dashed out.
Craig and I agreed she was telephoning her boss. 10 minutes later
she returned and said the government waived appeal. Judge granted
and moved directly to give her instructions and pages of information.

All this while we sat like little church mice, 9 of us plus a lawyer in
training who had asked Mary's permission to sit in. Finally the judge
left and we were up and smiles and handshakes and when Mary could come out
of her area, there were hugs all around and a few tears.

Special thanks to you Arlene, for getting the group going and seeing
it through. This truly was mercy and compassion.

Blessings for your final leg home. Looking forward to seeing you and Jack.

Love,
Marjorie

After Surgery...

Once Miata was awake and fully alert the first thing she wanted to do was eat! She hadn't eaten since dinner the night before and she was really hungry before she went into surgery. So, she was very hungry! She is limited to just a few things that is allowed for her to eat after surgery but thank goodness they are yummy things. She started with a popsicle and as soon as that was gone she then asked for a jello. The jello also was gone very quickly then she asked for a pudding. Well after the pudding she again asked for another popsicle which at that time I had to tell her she needed to wait a while to make sure she wasn't going to have a nauseous stomach from the anesthesia. Later she watched movies, read, played a few games, and we talked with Alberto and his family. The day went by rather quickly and then it was time to settle in for the night. Miata & myself, Alberto's family, and two nurses were the only ones in the facility throughout the night. Unlike last time, this time I crawled into bed with Miata to sleep! Last time Miata was in much more pain and had the drainage tubes so I didn't even consider the bed rather tried sleeping in a chair and I got very little sleep but this time I slept pretty well!

Miata has not been in pain at all! Even the area from where they harvested the skin graft was not sore. Later in the evening I asked her if her ear was sore at all and she said, "well maybe a little." So, I had the nurse give her some pain medicine as a precautionary measure so that it would not all of a sudden kick in with pain.



Anyways, when we awoke the next morning, at around 5:00am we got cleaned up and then Miata watched another movie while we waited for Dr. Brent who was due to come in at 7:00am. Well, of course he was right on time and he greeted us with a cheerful good morning. He sat and talked with Miata for a bit then gave us instructions and discharge papers and told us he would see us back in his office next Wednesday for Miata's post-op visit. Here is a clip of Miata with Dr. Brent (you may have to turn your volume up higher to hear them.)

Surgery...

We arrived at the surgery center early and in the waiting area was the couple from Venezuela. Their son, Alberto, was in surgery. We sat with them during our wait for Miata to be taken back to the prep area. They are a friendly couple and the dad (oops forgot his name) had a good time talking and playing with Miata. They were electronically very equipped with all the latest gadgets (Iphones, new Ipad, computer, etc.) While the mom played games with Miata on their Ipad the dad and I talked. He had many questions he wanted to ask me about the surgery, what to expect days following the surgery, how Miata did, and so on.












Soon we were taken back to the prep area where Miata had to change into pjs. She got to wear her pj bottoms but had to wear the hospitals pj top. Once in pjs she waited in the bed and passed time by playing her DS. The nurse eventually came to get her ready. She tagged her, tatooed her, and took her vitals. She also took time to show/teach Miata what the vital numbers were and what they mean. Next she gave her the "happy" medicine which, within about 15 minutes puts her in "lala land." They rolled her to the double doors where I kissed her and reassured her that she would see me as soon as she woke up from surgery.

Next I made my way to the waiting room where I waited for about three hours. Finally Dr. Brent emerged through the double doors and said, "Everything went superb and our "little character" this is what he calls her, did wonderfully! He showed me a picture of her ear after he completed the surgery and it looked great! Of course when we actually get to see it it will look much different because the swelling will have set in but the initial picture looks really good and is before any swelling.

Next I made my way back to the recovery area where Miata was still sleeping due to the anesthesiology. Within minutes she began to open her eyes but it still took a several more minutes before she was fully alert.

Computer battery is low... I will post more later.