kids update

I cannot believe I am in my last week! Ah! It seems so crazy that I am leaving here in only a few days. I def have mixed emotions but am so thankful for all I have experienced here. But I am not writing to say good-bye yet- I'll post as least once more before I leave.

The past week has been good. I have actually been given the job of making the babies bottles in the mornings at the end of last week and over the weekend which I feel is a big privilege because normally its just the moms that do that. I think I did a pretty good job and didnt mess up anyones amounts which is good! A lot of the children have been getting mouth rashes though so we have switched from bottles to small cups which can be a bit challenging but they are getting the hang of it! With all the babies we have it can sometimes take 2 hours to do the feeding, bathing, and changing especially when there are no other volunteers.

The older babies that were all here in the summer are doing so well. They are at the stage where they are developing personalities and smiling and laughing and ah its so fun! Chris is sick again though and it breaks my heart! He tested positive for malaria yesterday but I am afraid that is not all that is wrong with him. Just when I thought he was turning around for the better he is back to sick again. Please keep him in your prayers. Lemmy also tested positive for malaria yesterday. Linus has improved well from his sickness last week but baby Wisdom is in the hospital and has been for a week now. One day I hear he is doing better and the next day I hear he is doing worse. I pray he makes a full recovery- he is so little! Rhema is also sick and went to see a specialist today because they arent sure what is wrong with her. Neema is fully over her chicken pox and has moved into the room with all the other older babies so that is exciting!

The older kids are doing well and the new boys are still adjusting. Some have picked up on the routine here better than others but the other older kids help them along. The little boy Andrew who also says 'how are you?' can never seem to find his shoes and no matter if I ask him in English or Swahili to find them he just looks at me blankly. Today he found different left shoes and just wore those- I guess thats better than nothing!

Some mornings when there is only a little time in between breakfast and lunch feedings and I cannot get all the babies out by myself I have been spending time with the two toddlers, Johnathan and Patience. Johnathan and I are still working diligently on walking and he is doing so well! He can do pretty well when I hold just one hand but today he did two steps without anyone holding on!! He is pulling himself up a lot and walking while holding onto things which is a huge improvement from a few months ago. Patience has this obsession with shoes in their room (a lot of random shoes are in the closet in there) and puts on ones clearly too big for her and tries to walk around. She will also carry as many as she can from one side to the other and then line them up. Its adorable!

We did get two new volunteers at the hostel this past weekend and they are working at Happy Life. I am so glad to have more people to come and love on my babies!! I wasn't really looking forward to new people in my last week but it has actually been nice. I took them around Nairboi yesterday afternoon and it made me appreciate the city and get to enjoy it once more before leaving and its kinda fun to show people around the place you've called home for the past few months.

The rest of the week will be busy with seeing friends, doing final things here in Nairobi, and giving the kiddies many more hugs. I am looking forward to these final memories to be made!