...in the beauty of all the Earth

Holiday Letter 2009

2009-12-31T15:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

2009 has been a very busy year for the Dynes family. Our biggest news is that we moved to Georgia. It was an emotional move for both the parents and the kids. Saying goodbye is never easy and after seven years of developing close relationships, the goodbyes were particularly tough. Colleagues at Mayo gave the family are really nice send-off party, and even played a super funny joke on Michelle on her last day at work (you know who you are)! We are so grateful for the friends we made in Minnesota and have no doubt the friendships will carry on for years to come. And by the way, still waiting for y'all to visit! ;)

Living so far from family has been an adjustment, though we have had several visitors in the months since we've moved. Trav's sister and brother rode down to Atlanta with Trav and the kids in August - 18 hours in the car with three children under eight is no small feat! Way to go Zach and Hannah! Trav's sister, Dominique, visited in October, traveling all the way from Guadalajara, Mexico. Trav's grandparents stopped by for dinner on their way to Florida (best not to mention the GPS incident), and more recently, Trav's mom and Michelle's mom visited in December.

The kids have made the transition to Atlanta with unbelievable ease. They have made many new friends in the neighborhood and have play dates with schoolmates regularly. We have become frequent visitors to the Georgia Aquarium which is truly an amazing place. We have climbed Stone Mountain a few times, usually involving some sort of a race to the top (and I believe Forest is undefeated!). We also took a road trip to Savannah's historic district when Michelle's mom visited this month.

Shen turned four years old this year! Wow! He started at Frasier Center Pre-K in August - all day, everyday. The school is connected to the High School, so the idea of Shen walking the halls with upper class men is beyond funny. He is delighted to be a bus rider for the first time (though parents not so fond of the 6:55 AM boarding). Shen is excelling in school, as we expected and seems to be making friends. We are fairly sure he has a photographic memory which will serve him well in school. He also loves to build things and figure out how they work (a budding engineer?). He is a funny little guy and makes us laugh on a daily basis. His sense of humor seems beyond his years, something even his teachers have caught onto. Shen played soccer this year for the first time and was a hoot to watch. He rarely managed to kick the ball in games, but chose to run around instead (at least it was in the direction of the ball) and laugh and laugh! The very last game of the season was a highlight. The ball went out of bounds and the coach for the other team noted that Shen was standing in front of the goal alone, so she rolled the ball right to him. He gave it a kick and in it went --GOAL! Shen's coach ran up to him and threw him up in the air several times - it was as if he had just won the World Cup! Oh, and Shen's favorite new word is 'Uffda' (good to know he still has some Norwegian in him).

Amara turned six this year and started Kindergarten. She is doing really well in school and seems to have a lot of friends. She is quite a reader and keeps herself busy by writing and illustrating books, songs, etc. She has become a very good swimmer and mommy is still trying to talk her into swim team for the summer! Amara also played soccer for the first time. She pretty much dominated the games, making goal after goal after goal. She is surprisingly coordinated, though we are not convinced she was made for team sports. She likes to make the goals herself (rather than pass the ball off) and she doesn't always pay attention to what's going on around her - a wee bit of an absent minded professor. Amara is quite a linguist (it only took her a month to learn English) and now flaunts a southern accent when it suits her. We are discouraging this, of course, being the good Minnesotans that we are (ya you betcha).

Forest turned seven years old this year and is in 1st grade. He really loves school and has made some good friends. Forest has been participating in both Science and Math Club as school, both of which he excels. He also played soccer for the first time with team "Thunder". He is fast on the field and surprisingly aggressive. We wouldn't be surprised if soccer becomes Forest's sport of choice (daddy sure would love that!). Forest has become quite a good artist, particularly with drawing animals. He also showed us his creative side with the invention of something he has named "Bobble Bodies" which are little animals and people. The body, arms, legs, head/tail are separate pieces of paper and he connects each piece with safety pins (thus, the bobble). He was so excited when he discovered this little trick that he made one for each of his classmates with individual instructions and all.

Michelle is now officially finished with one semester of her PhD program. She has an amazing advisor and the greatest classmates one could ask for. Michelle will be focusing her research on global maternal child health with an emphasis in maternal and newborn survival in developing countries. Other activities this year have been helping to co-teach HBLSS for the ACNM in March and August and attending the LSS workshop in November (sorry for the acronyms). Michelle also spent two weeks in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) conducting a needs assessment at Panzi Hospital. This hospital provides care to women and young girls suffering from fistulas resulting from rape or prolonged birth. Michelle came away from the trip with an overwhelming sense of admiration for the women of the DRC - for their ability to keep moving forward in the face of unspeakable trauma. She will be returning in April with a group of health care provides from Mayo Clinic.

Travis has had another busy year as a stay-at-home parent (though "stay-at-home" just does not capture the breath of the role!). He finished up his terms on three boards that he served on for the past several years in Rochester. He has been very dedicated to his volunteer work and was even nominated for an award for his work in with the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Trav also received an award from the Rochester Fire Department (along with Forest!) for their assistance in identifying and calling for help when a home in the neighborhood caught fire. Since moving to Atlanta, Travis has continued caring for the kids and has also picked-up some part-time work at Emory and a bit of carpentry work for his great-uncle (not to mention official organizer for Michelle's school 'stuff' - thanks honey!). He continues to look for a full-time position, though the extra help at home has been a blessing over the past few months.

2009 has been a crazy and wonderful year, filled with great change and new beginnings. We are truly blessed to have family and friends who continue to support us through the years. Our door is always open!

Love and peace to you and your loved ones for the coming year!

Travis, Michelle, Forest, Amara, and Shen

Introducing the debut of "It is Nighttime"

2009-12-31T15:37:00.000-08:00

Amara loves to sing and recently wrote a song titled "It is Nighttime". She says it is a lullaby for Shen (awwww). I decided to videotape the song to mark her debut as a singer/song-writer. Shen was happy to sing back-up vocals, and Forest decided he would be the videographer. They took several takes with Forest giving directions after viewing each take such as "the rocking of the chair was distracting..." or "Amara, you were holding the paper over your face". It was a fun afternoon activity, and I have to admit, I am pretty impressed with Amara's song writing debut. Enjoy : )

The Most Patient Santa Ever...

2009-12-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

We took the kids to see Santa today at the mall. Forest and Amara spent some time making their list of "wishes" before leaving home. All three kids went up to see Santa at the same time and squeezed into the sleigh to have their picture taken. Santa patiently allowed each child to read his/her list (at the speed of early elementary readers) - he truly exuded the essence of Santa! Shen did not prepare a list ahead of time. Rather, he told us that his list "is a surprise" and "it is in my mind". Turns out Shen's list was the shortest list (imagine that) and also the most humble. We tried to overhear his conversation with the big guy and we believe he mentioned something about a "Christmas light" and a train.
For the record, Shen told us the other night he thought he definitely was on Santa's "nice list" (this in response to seeing another little boy throwing a tantrum). You just gotta love kids!

Amazing Face Painting at the Aquarium

2009-11-23T17:38:00.000-08:00

Disney Visits the Aquarium

2009-11-23T17:22:00.001-08:00

We spent Saturday morning with my classmates, Angela and Debbie, and Debbie's three children. We started off the day having a scrumptious breakfast at the Flying Biscuit. Then we headed to the Georgia Aquarium where Disney was sponsoring an event in preparation for the opening of the new movie 'the Princess and the Frog'. There were lots of activities including pictures with various Disney princesses, the "frog jump", and face painting. The kids also got to do their usual favorites at the aquarium such as touching the sting rays and watching the whale sharks swim around in the enormous tank. They had a great time and it was really nice for the 'moms' to get together outside of school.

More Soccer Pictures!

2009-11-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

Soccer 2009

2009-11-23T16:38:00.000-08:00

The kids all participated in youth soccer this Fall. They had really great coaches and learned a lot. Amara is a star player and manages to find the goal more often than most. She is coordinated and quite skilled. Forest is a team player, a fast runner, and more aggressive than you would imagine (he even had a foul called on him during one game during a sprint to the ball). Shen just plain has fun out on the field! He runs around and laughs. When he manages to get in position to make contact with the ball, he gives it a kick and says "hi-yah". Then he just stands there and watches where the ball goes...all the while, laughing and giggling. He is a hoot to watch play!

More Halloween Fun

2009-11-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

During Halloween Day, we met my classmate and her kids at "Monkey Joes", a jumping place for kids. The kids really hit it off and had a lot of fun. Later during trick-or-treating, we took some pictures of school friends and all the craziness of Halloween.

Pumpkins 2009

2009-11-11T16:57:00.001-08:00

The kids had a blast carving their pumpkins this year. They did a great job! We also roasted pumkin seeds and made pumpkin muffins which were enjoyed by all!

Halloween, Atlanta Style!

2009-11-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

This year, Forest decided to be one of the "X-Men", Amara was a cow-girl, and little Shen was the cutest little Eyore you have ever seen! During the build-up to the big day, we started getting the sense that Halloween is a pretty big deal in Atlanta. Well, I am happy to say that we were not disappointed! The street behind our apartment complex was bustling with costumed children and adults alike. If you can remember the Halloween seen in the movie "ET", that is pretty much what it was like (minus the extra-terrestrial). It really was fun! The kids ran into many of their classmates while out and about. There were even offerings of adult treats (beer and wine) at a few of the houses! You gotta love it!

Amara's New (and much shorter) 'Do'

2009-09-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

We finally reached a critical turning point in regards to Amara's hair. For those of you who don't know, Amara was blessed with a very LARGE amount of beautiful, tightly coiled, and soft hair. It grows unbelievably fast, and because it is so soft, loves to tangle if not continuously braided. Until this point, I have felt reasonably able to keep up with the needs of her hair. Unfortunately, the combination of being a PhD student and her hair length down to the lower point of her back, I haven't felt able to spend the time needed to really do her hair as I would like. I have been contemplating options that I never thought I would consider (chemically straightening, locks, routine flat ironing, cutting). I have never wanted to consider these options because I don't want Amara to feel that her hair isn't perfect just the way it is. That said, I also realize the importance of sending her to school with hair that is done nicely and not a complete disaster.
After much contemplation, I finally decided to cut her hair (and I mean really cut). I still hate the idea of chemically straightening it, so cutting it this seems like the least of two evils. So the other night, after spending a good 4 hours combing out her hair (no kidding, four hours just to untangle it), I approached Amara about the idea of cutting it. She said she really didn't care and that was just fine with her...ha...who knew?
So we proceeded to the bathroom where I started the big cut. When I was done, she looked into the mirror and exclaimed "Momma, you didn't cut very much! You have to do more!". Well, I begged to differ, looking into the wast basket completely full of freshly cut curly hair!! Last night, I sat down and braided Amara's new short 'do' and it only took 2 hours (oh my goodness!). Compare this to the 8+ hours it was taking before the cut and you can imagine my excitement!

Delirious in Goma

2009-08-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

August 23, 2009
I have been lucky up until yesterday afternoon. After arriving in Goma, I had lunch and later met with Jennifer from UNICEF. The meeting went well, but shortly after, I found myself curled up shivering under my covers. I had planned to have dinner with Celine and her friends, but that was not meant to be. I continued to think I was fine and would be OK to go out for a bit, but reality eventually struck and I had to cancel. I didn’t eat anything for dinner, or breakfast the next day, or lunch. I was up to the bathroom off and on all night. The worst of it was the fever that made me practically delirious, though I can’t even say for sure since I was out of it (just ask my mom what I am like with a high fever!). Now imagine me in the DRC, waking up and needing to find the bathroom FAST, only to find out that the electricity is off and I have to inch my way there. I tripped over the doorway into the bathroom and found myself lying on the tile floor for some time (on the plus side, the tile felt cool and probably helped the fever!). The electricity did come back on shortly, which resolved much of my confusion within a few minutes, thank goodness!

I am happy to report that I was only sick for 2 days, thanks to Cipro and good old time itself. I still run a low-grade fever on and off, but the worse is way over. I did manage to visit HEAL Africa, an organization and hospital in Goma that does fistula care. It was the first morning after the above incident and I hadn’t had anything to eat. I took a moto taxi (motor bike) because I was running late and couldn’t expend the energy it would take to walk the short distance. I met with Lynn Lusi who is a program manager there and married to the director of the hospital. She talked with me and showed me around, and eventually took pity and drove me back to the hotel. It wasn’t my best moment. She said she would be happy to stay in e-mail contact so that I could ask the questions I would have asked had I been feeling well and truly in the moment. She was very kind and I look forward to further correspondence.

C130

2009-08-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

August 21, 2009
I had to be at MONUC Headquarters at 0530AM in order to catch a shuttle to the hanger. I arrived at the airport at 0700 and ended up waiting until 1130AM for the flight to board. During the wait, I sat and talked with two other travelers; one UN volunteered based in Goma, and one pilot from India based in DRC for one year. We had a really good time getting to know each and I hope we will stay in touch. The flight was supposed to be via helicopter, but it got changed to a C130 big cargo plane. They allowed pictures inside the plane, so I took advantage. We all got ear plugs to use during the short flight due to the noise. We flew at 10,000 feet which allowed for some really beautiful views out the window!

Good Pizza and Enlightening Conversation

2009-08-22T09:16:00.001-07:00

August 20, 2009
Since Thursday was my last day with Daisy and Moses, I decided to invite them to have pizza at the restaurant at Coco Lodge. We had a really nice time talking and getting to know each other even more. I shared things about American culture, they shared about Congolese culture. Daisy also gave me a long and detailed account of Rwandan/Congo conflicts since the 1950s. He has lived through much of it, so to hear his account was priceless. I will try to share an abbreviated version sometime soon.

Last Day in Bukavu

2009-08-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

August 20, 2009
On Thursday I made one last trip to Panzi to tour the surgical facilities. The people at Panzi have been very helpful in letting me take pictures of equipment and other facilities. I also met with Aziza, the head of the SGBV program with UNFPA. She gave me a really detailed explanation of the UNFPA’s work in Bukavu. She also described the work that the SGBV Working Group is doing; all of the major players in the area doing SGBV work gather twice monthly to discuss lessons learned, review statistics, etc. She also provided me with the stats for the past 6 months in South Kivu. The numbers are staggering, especially considering they may only represent a small portion of actual cases. Later in the day, I met with a representative from IRC in Bukavu. IRC is supporting SGBV work through financial contributions and trainings. They provide support to local NGOs who help survivors with reintegration. We also drove to the Congo-Rwandan border which is within Bukavu and very beautiful.

Stories that Will Break Your Heart

2009-08-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

August 19, 2009
This afternoon, I went back to Panzi Hospital to interview survivors. I was able to meet with two young women who were gracious and courageous enough to tell me their stories. They were OK with me sharing their stories so that the awareness of this sort of violence against women can be raised further. To protect their privacy, I will not use their real names. I will try to use the words that the young women used (through the use of a Congolese interpreter), so as not to undermine or overdramatize their experiences:

Shamima's Story
Shamima is a 16 year old girl who arrived at Panzi little more than one week ago. In the dark of night, three armed men forced their way into her family’s home. Her mother was at a nearby hospital because she had just given birth. Shamima and her father, along with three siblings were held while the men looted food, clothing and livestock. The men left the three young children in the house, and they forced Shamima and her father to walk to the grandmother’s home where they looted again. Her father and grandmother were left in the house tied up and Shamima was taken into the bush. She was forced to carry all that the men had looted, including pulling along two goats. At one point, the goats got away and they said “We will kill you. You let them go, today you must die”. They also threatened to cut off her foot. After 1-2 hours, she begged the men to stop walking because she was exhausted from carrying the heavy load. They said “we will kill you and then you will rest forever”. She continued walking. Later, the men told Shamima to undress and she refused. They pushed her to the ground, beat her, and ripped her clothing off. One man raped her followed by the second. The third man did not rape her because there was already so much blood. The men left her then and Shamima walked in dark through the forest. She came upon a house where a man answered. He let her in and listened to her story. He immediately prayed for her and then helped her lay down with his children. In the early morning, Shamima decided to walk home. The man prayed again for her and then sent his daughter to walk with her. On the way, Shamima spotted her aunt who was out looking for her with many other people. Her aunt said she thought she was killed – that they were out “looking for a dead body”. The aunt and others prayed to God for her life. Her aunts danced with happiness. They then went to her father’s work where he embraced Shamima and wept with joy, saying “God is really mighty”. A neighbor came and advised Shamima that she should go to Panzi Hospital for evaluation. There, she received an evaluation and medications to reduce the risk of HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy related to the rape.

The Story of Lucy
Lucy is an 18 year old young woman who arrived at Panzi Hospital one week ago. Lucy will be delivering her first baby in September and has come to Panzi for this purpose. She also came to Panzi because, in her words, the baby is a “bush baby”. Lucy was abducted by five men over three years ago at the age of 14. Lucy was at home with her mother and father when the men broke into their home. Her father was murdered and her mother was severely injured. Lucy was taken by the men into the bush to a “forest prison” where many men and women were already tied to trees. Lucy was first raped along the way into the forest. For over the three years, she lived as a sex slave for three men. At some point, Lucy’s menstrual cycle began and she became pregnant shortly thereafter. When the men found out that she was pregnant, they wanted her to leave. She walked and walked until she met a man who took her to her home village. He knew about an organization that helped survivors. The organization brought her, along with other women, to Panzi Hospital where she is receiving care for pregnancy. Lucy says she will not go back to her village. The people there say she is a “wife of the Hutu”, so she does not feel she can return.

Muzungu

2009-08-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

August 19, 2009
Daisy and Moses are teaching me Swahili. They are so kind and patient. When I try to talk with the local people, they just smile at me as if thinking, “look at the funny Muzungu (see list below) trying to speak with us!”. It is all in good fun and I join them in laughing; they seem to at least appreciate the effort. I also had the chance to meet Daisy's wife and children (7 children in total -- the baby was asleep inside); I will attach the photo. Here are a few words and phrases I learned today:
Jambo – Hello
Coco – Thanks in the local language
Asanti Sana – thank you very much
Jina Langu – My name is…
Jina Lako Nani – What is your name?
Nani – Who is that?
Nini – What is that?
Wari – Where
Hapa – Here
Pala – There
Nina toka America – I am from America
Habari Ngani? How are you?
Muzuri – Good
Muzuri kito go – a bit fine
Muzungu – generic word for white person

Kalagane Health Center

2009-08-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

August 19, 2009
During my conversation with Dr Mukwege, we discussed the possibility of visiting a community health center to get a broader picture of the health care structure and resources in the area. He felt this would be worthy of a short trip and suggested Kalagane Health Center near Nyatente village. It was decided that I would visit this center right away and then return to Panzi in the afternoon to tour the surgical suites and interview women and health workers. It was only a few kilometers away, though it took a while to drive due to the mountain roads. The health center was situated in a really beautiful area. When we arrived, I met the head of the center and he gave me a tour. They have a feeding center that feeds 300 children who are malnourished. They come one time per week and receive a cup of porridge to eat; they are given Masoso to take home with them. Masoso is a mixture of maize flour, soybean flour, sugar, and sorghum flour. The health workers also showed me a little shed where they are rearing rabbits and guinea pigs which provide some protein to the children that they would otherwise not have access to. They also have a vegetable garden. There is a maternity ward at the health center which conducts about 15 births per month. They have only basic supplies and much refer patients with any complications.

Interview with Dr Mukwege

2009-08-19T11:19:00.001-07:00

August 19, 2009
We traveled to Panzi Hospital this morning and caught the last few minutes of their morning worship service. Afterward, I met Dr Mukwege and interviewed him about the needs of the hospital. He also introduced me to the medical staff during their morning rounds. This is a time that they gather for one hour each day to discuss cases. It would be the perfect time for the Mayo group to conduct presentations for the purpose of sharing knowledge. Dr Mukwege game me great insight into the needs of the hospital in terms of providing fistula repair. I will bring back this list and help the Mayo group determine what can be done to fill their needs. The list includes such items as particular medications, surgical materials, special catheters, laboratory reagents, etc. It does seem that lack of human resources is a major hindrance to providing surgeries to all of the women that need them; they only have 3 surgeons that can do fistula repair. They usually have 150-250 women waiting for surgery at any given time. The hospital also has a maternity center that conducts around 2,500 births a year; here they have access to life-saving care that is absent in much of the countryside.

Mama Kindja

2009-08-18T12:13:00.001-07:00

August 18, 2009
This evening I went out for dinner at “Mama Kindja”, a popular restaurant that serves Congolese food. Moses, Daisy, and I ate quite a variety of foods: fried banana, grilled (goat), poulet (chicken), sombe (Cassave leaves), and fufu (Cassava bread). The electricity went out about 10 minutes after we arrived, which would have made for an interesting meal had the generators not turned on. It was really good food and great conversation. Daisy gave me a fantastic overview of the Rwandan/Congo problems. He also told me about the loss of some extended family when the Rwandan forces attacked the area. He and his wife and children fled the city and hid out in the bush for 1 month waiting for the town to stabilize. He said he feels blessed that he did not have to suffer the loss of a child during the conflict. I definitely think Daisy has become my cultural broker, providing me so much more than just the interpretation of words.

Afternoon

2009-08-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2009
After lunch, I went back to MONUC headquarters and arranged transportation to Goma, in North Kivu Province. People from the Kinshasa MONUC office feel it is important for me to visit another hospital there providing care to survivors of sexual assault. The final decision was to fly to Goma on Friday via helicopter and to stay in Goma until Monday, when I will fly back to Kinshasa. I think it is a good plan and will provide a lot of interesting information. I also arranged a meeting with a representative from UNFPA that is doing SGBV work in the area. I had the chance to meet and talk with a MONUC person who specializes in child protection. She is providing support on the judicial side of sexual violence against children, making sure men are prosecuted, etc. The office is also working hard to get the military groups to surrender child soldiers and/or sexual slaves that are under 18 years of age. She provided me with some data regarding the number of reported sexual assaults there were against women and children in South Kivu Province in the past 3 months. The stats say there were over 300 reports of sexual violence against adults (with a small portion of these being men) and over 250 reports of sexual violence against children. This is astounding when you consider that these figures are likely only a small proportion of actual cases.

First Day at Panzi

2009-08-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2009
Today I met two very important people, my driver, Moses, who will get me everywhere I need to be, and my interpreter, Daisy, who will make sure communicating is not an issue. They came to Coco lodge and we spent the morning at MONUC headquarters and Panzi Hospital. They will be picking me up again this afternoon, and we may try to go to another health center or visit other organizations doing SGBV (sexual and gender based violence) work. At Panzi, I got a tour of the facilities. It is very impressive! They have a school for the children of women receiving fistula care. There is a whole section of the hospital that is dedicated to fistula patients. They even have a laboratory specifically for them. Most of the women have fistulas as a result of prolonged labor – related to lack of access to skilled obstetric care, poor transportation, low education, young age, etc. A small percentage of the women acquired fistulas as a result of traumatic rape. I encountered two such stories on my visit this morning. I met a little girl who was the victim of sexual assault 2 years ago – she is now 7 years old and has returned for other treatment. I also met a woman who escaped the Rwandan genocide. Sadly, she has since been the victim of sexual assault two times! Worse yet, she contracted HIV in the process. Her young daughter is also HIV positive. She and all of the other women and children are the reason I am here and the reason the Mayo team is interested in coming to help.

From DRC to Uganda and Back

2009-08-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

August 17, 2009
Well today easily made up for a lack of activities yesterday! So, I got up at 5AM and received a ride to the MONUC hanger at 0530AM to catch the flight to Bukavu (via Goma). When I got there, there were too many people for the flight so I got on a different flight that went to Kisangani, DRC, then to Entebbe, Uganda, then on to Bukavu, DRC. I turned out to be a pretty long day since I missed both breakfast and lunch, though I think I made up for it at dinner!). When I arrived in Bukavu, I waited for the MONUC shuttle which was some time coming. Then, there were too many riders and not enough seats; it had to have taken a good 1.5-2 hours before that got taken care of. Luckily, I got a seat and didn’t have to sleep at the airport! Once the shuttle got going, it was another 2 hours of driving to Bukavu central. It was dark by that time, and I could hardly keep my eyes open. I checked into my lodge and finally had some food (grilled Tilapia and potatoes along with a tomato salad). It was scrumptious! I now have a full belly (referring to the American expression of being full, not the European expression of being pregnant!) and am ready for bed -- only 17+ hours after starting this crazy day! I expect great things tomorrow as this will be my first day at Panzi Hospital! Yeah! I will attach a photo of the setting sun over Kinshasa and Brazzaville!

Slow Sunday

2009-08-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

August 16, 2009
Today was a slow day, since there are no MONUC flights on the week-end. I slept in, took a walk along the embassies (you can see Brazzaville across the water in the photo), and did some laundry in the sink and hung it up on my balcony. The highlight of my day was meeting with Eric and Simona from MONUC to get more details about their work in DRC. They also provided quite a list of contacts for me to try to get together with while in Bukavu (UNFPA, UNICEF, IRC, ICRC, USAID, and the list goes on). I doubt I will be able to link up with all of them, but I will try. We also discussed the possibility of visiting Goma where there is another hospital that provides fistula care called Heal Africa. The transportation options are either flying via helicopter or taking a boat. It does sound like it would be a beneficial trip and I can probably meet some of the above folks while in Goma. I am still working on the details of that side trip, but it will likely be Thursday and Friday.

Pictures from Kinshasa

2009-08-16T06:54:00.001-07:00

August 16, 2009
Last evening, I had dinner last night with Danielle, the personal assistant to the DSRSG. She gave me a lot of good information about the area and MONUC. We ate at the poolside restaurant at the Hotel. The food was good, though overpriced. Does a can of Coke really cost $10?
This morning, I took a walk along the road that goes past several embassies and other diplomat's homes. It is an area that people exercise in and is well secured; it was recommended to me by a former security person at MONUC. One section of the road runs along the Congo River and you can see Brazzaville across the water. Brazzaville is the capitol of the Republic of Congo, not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
I will be picked up tomorrow morning at 0530AM to go to MONUC headquarters and then on to the airport where I will be heading to the Bukavu airport. From there I will take a shuttle to the city of Bukavu and get a ride to the Coco Lodge. It will be a long day, but I am really eager to get there and get settled.

Safe and Sound in Kinshasa

2009-08-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

August 15, 2009
I am finally in Kinshasa! I arrived from Johannesburg, ZA around noon (but not before getting a great photo with a really tall Nelson Mandela statue) in the Jo'berg Airport. I had no trouble getting through customs in Kinshasa and immediately saw two people waiting for me with signs – one gentleman was from the hotel, the other person was from MONUC (the UN Mission in the Congo). I went with the MONUC driver, Roger, who took me to the MONUC headquarters. There I met with many of the people that have been assisting me in my travel plans. They are really amazing people and I am so lucky to have their support! I was able to meet Madam Leila Zerrougui, the Deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General. She and all of the MONUC staff have been amazingly receptive to the work Mayo is hoping to do in the DRC. They also have been providing helpful security advice regarding where to stay, what to do, etc. I feel like I am in good hands!
First Impressions of the DRC
1) Beautiful landscape, beautiful people, colorful clothing
2) Large city, sub-par infrastructure, as expected
3) Traffic was not bad, but it WAS the week-end; I’ll give an update on Monday!
4) Always strange to see monkeys along the side of the road…
5) Will never get used to being called “Madam” – I’m not old enough, right?
6) Reminds me that I really need to learn French – my Norwegian and German in HS are just not useful here in the DRC…imagine that
7) Amazed by the ability of people to walk with heavy loads balanced on their heads – seriously, this is astonishing!
8) Love to see all those babies on their mama’s backs!
9) Drivers deserve a special award for their ability to navigate the roads safely
10) Coke and coke advertisements everywhere
11) Internet is working, albeit slowly!
I am excited for the coming week and getting to know this country beyond first impressions. Hope I will have internet in Bukavu so I can share this journey with friends and family : )

South Africa for a Night

2009-08-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

August 14, 2009
After 15 plus hours on the plane, I reached Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a pleasant flight – I think I watched four movies along the way. As is the usual with traveling outside of the US, there were far too many people requesting to help me with my bags in the airport. I prefer to carry my own in order to save the tip money. I met a nice couple on the flight who are heading to Mozambique to do mission work. They had some friends picking them up at the airport and they helped me find out where my shuttle to the hotel was located. I also exchanged some USD for South African Rand. I will save a few bills for the kids. While waiting for the free shuttle, a taxi driver asked me (no fewer than five times) if I wanted a ride, expressing his concern that I would have to wait soooooo long for the shuttle. I assured him that I did not mind waiting and would prefer the free shuttle to the $15 cab ride. The hotel “Don” turned out to be only a short drive away. It is far nicer than I had anticipated (and certainly nicer than I need it to be).

I will leave at 0630 in the morning back to the airport for my flight to Kinshasa. I am really excited and can hardly believe I will finally be there. Right now, I am looking forward to using my 2 hours of internet (for the ridiculous amount of 90 Rand - about $12) to post on the blog and most importantly, to Skype with Travis and the kids! I can't wait : )

Saying Goodbye

2009-08-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

August 13, 2009
I woke up early to get Shen ready for school and walk him to the bus stop. It was nice to have time together, just the two of us. He has been so happy and excited for school; I think he feels pretty “cool” that he gets to ride the bus. By the time I returned home, it was time to get the other two ready for school. They were already awake and watching cartoons. I walked them to school (though it involved a quick jog home and back to school to get Amara’s forgotten glasses). I spent much of the morning packing as Travis slept in (his last chance until I return).
As soon as the kids got home from school I worked on Amara’s hair. I had about two hours to get it done before we needed to leave for the airport. It had to be something that would last until I returned. Daddy doesn’t “do” hair, just ask Amara! She was as patient as ever and we finished up the hair just in time to take a few “going away pictures” before heading out; I fear I am teaching the kids procrastination.
When we arrived at the airport, we said goodbye at the curb. Goodbyes are always hard. The kids and I have a ritual that they get one kiss for every day that I am gone. Each kiss gets progressively faster and sillier, and they are usually laughing by the 4th or 5th kiss. It sure lightens the mood. Forest even gave me a tickle as he gave one last hug. Lastly, I said goodbye to Travis; none of this would be possible without his endearing love and support. How did I get so lucky as to fall in love with him? I will never know.

More Water Life at the Aquarium

2009-08-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Check out the awesome pink fish. Can you believe that is actually alive?!?

World's Biggest Aquarium

2009-08-11T18:20:00.001-07:00

Before Zach and Hannah returned to Minnesota, we decided to spend some time at the Georgia Aquarium. It truly was amazing! There was an aquarium of Beluga Whales that were probably the kid's favorite. The largest aquarium was the home of four Whale Sharks and thousands of other fish. There was a large viewing area that you could sit down and just watch the fish...beautiful! You can even sign up to have a sleep over in that very space; how fun would that be?!?

Shen got Labeled

2009-08-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

So, before putting our four year old on a bus and sending him off on his own, we made a big sign to go around his neck with pertinent information (his name, our contact info, and the name of his school, etc). I am sure he will look back on that with some level of embarrassment. But SERIOUSLY, he's only four and he was going to the high school with a bus change at the middle school...he's my baby!!

First Day of School 2009

2009-08-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

Georgia started school on August 10th! We could hardly believe it was time to send the kids off for a new school year. Forest and Amara are only a few blocks from Clairement Elementary where Amara will be in Kindergarden and Forest in 1st Grade! Shen, on the other hand, is starting Pre-K, which is a bus ride away across town. He was fortunate to get into a really strong (and free) Pre-K program in Decatur. The funny thing is that his Pre-K is at Decatur High -- hard to imagine Shen going through the lunch line with high school students!?! So, Monday morning, I had the pleasure (mixed with terror) of putting my four year old on a school bus at 6:59AM. He didn't return until nearly 4PM that afternoon! Oh my goodness! Luckily, they take naps in Pre-K, which by the way was Shen's favorite part of his day : )
The kids all had a great first and second day. It seems they are making friends and transitioning well. We couldn't be happier for them and hope the whole year runs as smoothly as the first two days!

17 hours of Driving with Three (amazing) Kids

2009-08-11T17:26:00.001-07:00

Travis bravely took on the task of driving the van (with three really cute kids) all of the way to Atlanta. Luckily, he had the help of his brother and sister along the way. They stayed overnight in Paducah, Kentucky and then did some sight-seeing on the border of Kentucky/Tennessee. They went to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area which included a Hummingbird Festival and a field with Bison. The kids made their own hummingbird beaks and participated in a hummingbird obstacle course. It provided a nice a respite from the drive. The kids did really well on the trip - their good behavior undoubtedly fueled by the excitement of seeing their new home. Check out the great sign warning visitors of the wild animals!

More Easter Fun

2009-08-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Easter at Grandma's

2009-08-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Easter with my side of the family at my mom's. The kids refer to this grandma as "the grandma with the golf course" as opposed to "the grandma with the lake", or "the grandma with the ping pong table", etc...we think it's pretty funny! We have a family tradition of doing an Easter egg hunt - eggs, candy, and change graciously supplied by grandma! The kids love it!

Good Hair Day!

2009-08-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Amara continues to amaze both Travis and me with her ability to sit still for hours while getting her hair done. I am grateful for this gift because I can't imagine how long an 8-hour hair extravaganza would take with a squiggly, squirming child.

Adorable Shen Miao

2009-08-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here is Shen this Spring in his China outfit finished off with a peasant hat. We bought the hat in a village just down hill from the Great Wall of China. We found the outfit in an enourmous warehouse mall -- floor after floor of goods. There were entire floors dedicated to pearls alone. Amazing.

Pictures of Beautiful Arizona!

2009-08-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

HBLSS Training March 2009

2009-08-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of co-facilitating the Home Based Life Saving Skills workshop in March of this year. HBLSS is a program that aims to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in developing countries. It is a program I strongly believe in and hope to continue involvement in for many years to come.
The workshop was held in Tucson, AZ over 5 days. During that time, Sandy (one of the co-authors of HBLSS) and I trained 9 very enthusiastic midwives in the HBLSS program. We even had one participant travel from Europe! It was inspiring to see their evolution from the beginning of the week to the end.
During the week, each participant made their own "baby" to use when they are doing their own HBLSS trainings in the future. They got to decorate their baby any way they wanted; we gave out prizes at the end of the week for their efforts. It was a lot of fun!

More Pictures from Christmas in Florida

2009-08-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Christmas in Florida!

2009-04-19T07:32:00.001-07:00

We spent over a week in Bonita Springs Florida for Christmas. It was a long trip getting there -- three planes changes over a 16 hour period. What were we thinking?? (Note to self: saving a couple hundred dollars is NOT worth the hassle). The kids swam in Grandma and Grandpa's pool every single day. They had a blast!! All three kids have become quite the little fish. It was so much fun to watch their swimming skills improve throughout the week. We also filled the week with mini-golf, board games, jogging, walking on the beach, and eating ice-cream. The kids also spent some time with Aunt Dominique and Hannah broadcasting the "pool-side news" each morning - we had some great laughs!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

2009-02-10T16:47:00.000-08:00

Travis and the kids joined in on the MLK march last month. This is the fourth year that the kids have participated, and I think their understanding of the day's significance grows with each passing year. For days following this year's march, you could hear the kids chanting "what do we want...FREEDOM, when do we want it...NOW!". Travis and I are hoping the kids were referring to civil rights as they shouted those words...not their desire for emancipation from their parents!

Holiday Letter 2008

2008-12-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the Dynes family!

2008 has been a pretty amazing year for our family! There have been flurry of "firsts" (and even a few "lasts") that will remain in our memories and hearts for years to come.

Travis has had another busy year staying at home with the kids. And as if that didn't keep him busy enough, he continues to volunteer with the Interfaith Hospitality Network that houses homeless families and sits on the Aldrich Nursery School Board. He also continued building this year, adding (with help) a great (mostly salvaged and recycled) treehouse for the kids at his parents place. A highlight for Travis this year was traveling 12 hours roundtrip with the kids to be with the crowd in Grant Park to watch the election results come in - a historic moment in our nation's history.

Travis and Michelle celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary this year by spending a week in San Diego. Michelle spent the days attending a conference while Travis exercised in the beautiful sunny weather of southern Cal. In the evenings, we tried out several of the fantastic restaurants in the Gas Lamp District and even managed a quick trip to Tijuana for lunch one day.

Michelle continues to work at Mayo as a midwife. 2008 marked her 8th year as a midwife (where has the time gone?) and the birth of her 500th baby early in the year. During less than busy on-call shifts at the hospital, Michelle was able to complete her 2nd master's degree! The degree is in public health with a focus on Maternal and Child Health and with an emphasis in Global Health (boy, that is a mouthful!). She also traveled back to Bangladesh to conduct an evaluation of the Home Based Life Saving Skills program that she helped with in 2007.

Forest started Kindergarten this year (gasp)! We literally cannot believe how quickly he has grown. There is no arguing that he is officially a big boy! As an ultimate sign of his big boy status, he cheerfully lined up with his classmates on the first day of school and didn't look back...wasn't he just a wee (and shy) babe in my arms? 2008 brought a few more huge "firsts" for Forest in the form of READING and SWIMMING! Mommy and daddy couldn't be prouder! Forest also loves, LoVeS, LOVES to ride his bike, draw animals, and play with the neighborhood kids. He has also blossomed into quite the little dancer! (Did I mention he used to be shy?!?)

Amara started her third year of preschool (following mom and dad's failed attempt to get her age changed to 6 -- sorry Amara!). She took the news in stride, as is usual for her laid back personality, and has made the best of it by learning everything that big brother Forest is learning. Amara continues to grow at lightening speed, nearly surpassing Forest (probably should avoid mentioning this to Forest)! She has also become a reader, a SWIMMER, and successful training wheel-less bike rider! Amara is a great big sister to Shen and doesn't hesitate to help him out whenever needed (and even when he does NOT need it!).

Shen (or "Shen-ee-bear" as he prefers) has passed major milestones this year! Mom and dad's personal favorite was potty training. Yes, it's official, the Dynes household is completely and forevermore, diaper-less!!! Woooo hoooo! It seems that Shen has become quite the chatterbox overnight. He is truly "Mister Personality" and is often found singing at whim. He is our funny guy, and we are both convinced that he is destined to be the class clown. That said, Shen is also an amazing learner. He seems to retain everything he hears and sees (do we have a photographic memory here??). Shen's swimming career also started this year with lessons. He now happily throws himself into the water, belly-flop style, and swims a few yards.

We finished off the year with a family trip to Bonita Springs, Florida to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Dynes. We mostly took it easy and hung out playing games and swimming. Not surprisingly, the kids could not get enough of the pool!

What a year 2008 has been! During this holiday season, we feel so blessed to have our family and friends in our lives. 2009 promises to be a year of more "firsts" and big changes for the Dynes family. Stay tuned-in to our family blog to share in the changes to come...

We wish you and your loved ones the very best in 2009!

Peace and Love,

Travis & Michelle
Forest, Amara, and Shen

The kids holiday message for you:

Our Little Patriot

2008-11-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

Shen surprises us on a daily basis. Today was no exception when he spontaneously started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance! We continue to be amazed by his incredible (and potentially photographic) memory. Here is the link to the video (you might have to copy and paste). Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_0XB594xMU

History Made in Chicago!

2008-11-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

While I sat at work all day (and night) watching election results come in, Travis and the kids took in the events smack dab in the middle of it all...in Grant Park in Chicago! I admit I thought he was a bit crazy to want to haul three young kids all the way to Chicago with that gigantic crowd. But now that they are back safe and sound, I am so excited they were able to be there. What an amazing experience for them! In the decades to come, Forest, Amara, and Shen will be able to say that they were there when Barack Obama won the Presidency on November 4th, 2008. I felt overwhelmed with emotion last night as they announced that Barack had won. My eyes filled with tears several times as I have watched the coverage. I will even admit that tears slid down my cheeks on more than one occasion. Seeing the faces of those gathered in Grant Park as they learned of his victory was unforgettable. I think Obama's win is a win for millions of Americans and people around the globe who dared to dream of this day. Whether you are a Barack supporter or not, the historical significance of this election is undeniable. We have just assured our children, and their children, and beyond that anything is possible...

Halloween 2008

2008-11-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. The kids got special constumes from Mexico which Trav's mom picked up while visiting Dominique this summer. Forest dressed up as Batman...Shen as Spiderman...and Amara as Dora. They also carved pumpkins and were so proud to set them outside on the steps and put candles in them. It was my turn to hand out the candy this year, so Travis took the kids trick or treating around the neighborhood. By the time they returned, their pumpkin bags were plum full! The good news is that our dentist had a fantastic deal for kids in the area...a trade of sorts. One dollar for every pound of candy (which then gets sent to our troops overseas). The kids were ever so happy to partake in the trade (thank goodness)...they came home with eleven dollars for their piggy banks!

Hair Day

2008-11-04T11:12:00.001-08:00

Travis and I had the opportunity to visit the sunny city of San Diego last week. In preparation for the trip, I readied Amara's hair for a week without mommy. Combing, washing, combing, conditioning, combing, braiding, braiding, and more braiding. Eight hours or so later, "hair day" came to a close (oh my goodness!).
Each hair day ends with a ritual of sort. I take Amara into the bathroom and lift her up so she can see the fruit of her patience...the BIG reveal!
On this day, similar to other hair days, I lifted her up in front of the mirror and her face lit up with the biggest smile ever. As I set her on the floor, she immediately turned and gave me a hug like no other. In that moment, the hours of "doing hair" seemed like a distant memory.
Though hair day can certainly be time-consuming and often frustrating, I have to remind myself that the hours of doing hair provide a special time for mom and daughter to be together. I know now that when Amara is all grown up and she no longer needs me to do her hair, I will look back on these hair days with sincere fondness.

Bubble Babies

2008-11-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

The kids absolutely love taking their bath the tub downstairs because the jets make the bubbles larger than life! So much so, in fact, I have to keep my eye on them to prevent an overflow of bubbles onto the bathroom tiles...and to make sure the kids aren't swallowed up! Enjoy the pictures!

Bangladesh Birth Film on the BBC

2008-11-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Just as I was leaving Bangladesh in April, a film crew arrived to do a documentary on birth in Matlab. The movie recently played on the BBC and I just finished watching it this evening. I wasn't prepared for the emotional reaction that I had seeing the film. I know each of the health workers by name that were highlighted in the film. It was especially emotional to see them sharing information with pregnant women and their families on safe pregnancy and birth. There were even a few scenes in the film that showed the community health workers conducting HBLSS meetings, the same information that I helped train them in back in 2007. I have included the link to the film below. I hope you will find the time to view it and get a glimpse at what life in Bangladesh is like. I think you will also get a sense of why I so easily fell in love with the Bangladeshi people!

Simply Cute

2008-10-07T18:04:00.000-07:00

We just received Forest's kindergarten school picture. How cute is he???

And I can't believe how old he looks! Where has the time gone? Time is such a funny thing...poking along at a snail's pace when we most wish it would move along more swiftly, and zipping along in a flash when we most wish life would slow down a bit. Right now I would love to freeze time, even for a short period, to cherish these precious moments while our kids are still young. I guess that is what pictures are for...to bring us back to the special moments in time as if time had not passed at all. I hope in the years to come I will look back on these pictures and stories and feel as though I am right back here in 2008, during Forest's kindergarten year, the year he stepped into the big world of grade school...and never looked back!

Our big boy Shen-bear

2008-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Shen has finally reached the all important developmental milestone of potty training - hip hip hurray!!!. It has been a long haul for the Shenster and potty training... From the start, Shen seemed to have an antagonistic relationship with the potty, especially when it was time to poo. He even resorted to holding his poo in for days to avoid the potty.

After much consternation, a light bulb finally went on for our little Shen-bear! One day not so long ago, Shen yelled down to the basement that he had gone "poopers". He was so excited that he wanted to show mommy his accomplishment. So, I went up stairs to share in his joy (and my joy!). As I entered the bathroom, Shen proudly stretched out his arms in the direction of the potty chair and exclaimed "Tah dah"! Needless to say, I jumped and clapped in excitement with Shen over his triumph. He had the very biggest smile on his face : )

Amara Amara, how old art thou?

2008-09-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Amara's age is once again in limbo. Travis and I applied to the state of Minnesota to ammend Amara's birth certificate. We had to include supporting documents from her dentist and developmental experts. We had hoped to get the A-OK from the state of Minnesota in time for Amara to start Kindergarten...

Alas, the state concluded that we still have to go through an entire court process in our county in order to change her birth certificate. That means that we have to spend a great deal more of time and money to accomplish changing Amara's birth date by one year. It is complicated even more by the fact that we just celebrated Amara's "6th" birthday.

That leaves me with but one final question...are we going to have to have an "unbirthday" for her?!?

Tree House

2008-09-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the summer, Travis set out to build a tree house across from his parents house. As most of you know, Travis has never lacked motivation, hard work or attention to detail. Though it was a long, long process, the tree house is finally complete and looks pretty amazing! The kids absolutely love it (and so do the adults!). I am partial to the hammock myself! By the way, Travis had lots of help in the design and construction of the fortress. His dad, brother, uncle, among others, all pitched in.

The tree house is so high up that you have to climb two different ladders to get to the top. The lower ladder raises up and down at the whim of the children (they get to decide who gets in and who doesn't!). Travis also put in a pulley system so that the kids can easily transfer things up and down. There is even a built in table at the top so the kids don't even have to come down for lunch.

After a detailed assessment and evaluation of the tree house, I have now deemed it safe. Travis built a "fence" around the entire platform and put in enough twigs to prevent even the smallest of kids from falling overboard. He even added large branches to the trunk of the tree to brace and support the platform...what engineering! That said, I am still not convinced a "zip line" is such a great idea...

Natural Beauty of Bangladesh

2008-04-24T01:33:00.000-07:00

Reaching the end

2008-04-24T00:57:00.000-07:00

My trip has come to an end, and I will be traveling back to Dhaka today, and catching my flight tomorrow. Over the past two weeks, I have had so many wonderful experiences. Here is the short version of what I have done from an evaluation standpoint:

Observation of HBLSS session Block A and also Block C
Group Discussion of pregnant women and support persons Block A and also Block C
Group Discussion of another group of support persons Block C
Group Discussion of CHRW Block A and Block C
Key Informant interview with medical officer
Key Informant interview with coordinator
Key Informant interview with HRO #1 and #2
Inservice training for Matlab Hospital staff on shoulder dystocia, CPD, and labor/birth positions
Delivery of 4 babies at Matlab Hospital to show birthing positions of knee/chest, side-lying, hands/knees, and the "Matlab" position
1 year post testing of 2 HBLSS topics in each block - 82 tests completed

Some of my favorite things here have been the many home-visits where people have been so very gracious, the high-speed boat ride to Block D, catching up with friends from a year ago, seeing the great progress of the HBLSS program and rising confidence level of CHRWs, and the truly amazing staff of ICDDR,B who have made all of this possible. I would have to say my favorite thing from this trip has been the conversations that Tamanna and I have had during our numerous rickshaw rides together (although I didn't keep track, I would have to guess that Tamanna and I spent close to 15 hours together just in rickshaw transit alone). I will miss her very much.

And Baby Boy Makes Number 4

2008-04-23T23:38:00.000-07:00

After delivering four babies here in Matlab, a pattern has developed...baby boy, baby boy, baby boy, baby boy. Hmm. The staff here are joking that women will start asking for me to deliver their babies in hopes of having a male child (I, of course, think baby girls are just as wonderful!). The last few days have been busy, but really nice, and I am now packing and ready to head back to Dhaka today. Saying good-byes is always the most difficult part, and honestly, I am just no good at it.

Here are some pictures from the past few days (including a couple of the babies I helped out).

Kangaroo Mother Care

2008-04-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Matlab Hospital has added on a small wing to house babies who are too little to go home. The center houses the mothers and babies together to promote baby warmth, breastfeeding, and bonding (otherwise known as 'kangaroo care'). Tamanna and I visited the center today and it was bustling as mothers and babies filling each bed. Here are a few pictures.

HBLSS training and testing

2008-04-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here are more pictures from the HBLSS meetings that I observed last week and from the 1 year post-training testing completed over the past two days. The "actors" in the photos are role-playing the roles of the pregnant mother, the HBLSS trained health worker, a support person, and the husband. The HBLSS program uses a wide variety of teaching methods to pass along information about pregnancy and childbirth. The teaching methods were developed specifically to help people in the communities to learn this information without the need for literacy. Methods we utilize include story-telling (usually about a specific problem such as bleeding too much after baby is born or baby has trouble breathing, etc), role-playing, negotiation, and take-action-cards (TAC). The TACs are especially helpful because each picture displays particular actions that need to take place in order to respond to an emergency effectively. For many reasons I have developed a deep respect for the HBLSS program. I think two of the biggest reasons for this are that the program is based at the community level and the program truly respects the knowledge and culture of the people.

More Pictures from Matlab

2008-04-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Back to Work

2008-04-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

The week-end was generally slow though we ended it with a nice dinner with friends. Dr Jesmin invited Tamanna and me to her home in Matlab, and we had a great time. It has been pretty hot here this past week, and the electricity has been hit or miss. We spent most of the the dinner eating by candlelight and fanning each other. Everyone had fun watching me try to eat with my hands as is the usual way to eat here in Bangladesh. The dark made it that much more comical, I am sure! The food and company were fantastic.

After the week-end, Tamanna and I went back to work in the field. We have spent the past two days travelling to each Block (1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon each day) and conducting testing of 41 CHRWs->2 tests per person->82 tests in two days! Wow, I am tired just thinking about it! We tested the topics of Birth Delay and Baby Has Trouble Breathing. The testing is done through observing a role play scenario in which certain steps need to be completed in order to get credit. The CHRWs did a really good job, and I am fairly certain they have surpassed their scores from 1 year ago. It was really great seeing the CHRWs again and seeing how they have progressed from last year. I feel very fortunate to have the chance to re-connect with everyone again!

We used multiple modes of transportation to the sub-centers including rickshaw, van, and high speed boat. Each day was a bit of an adventure getting to and back from each Sub-Center. I turned away and squeezed my eyes closed only a handful of times as really BIG buses passed our rickshaw on the narrow roads - I am not exaggerating when I say the buses were no more than a foot or two from us as they passed at pretty high speeds! I just can't say enough about the rickshaw drivers and how they manage to swerve out of the way at the very last moment!

I have had such a wonderful trip, and it is soon coming to pass. It is amazing how quickly time goes. Getting back home, I am looking forward to big hugs from the kids more than anything, and giving Travis a really, really well-deserved break from parenthood (honey, have you picked out a few movies to go see yet?).

Precious

2008-04-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

Afternoon at Sub-Center A

2008-04-17T06:13:00.001-07:00

Baby Bonanza

2008-04-17T05:01:00.000-07:00

This was a day that brought great excitement and joy! Before heading out to the field, I went to Matlab Hospital to deliver a baby. Dr Jesmin and the staff were very interested in seeing a baby delivered with the use of various birthing positions. At their request, I helped a woman birth (my very first Bangladeshi baby) with the mother in a side-lying position. This was the mother's 2nd baby, and everything went quite well. It was the first time that Tamanna had ever seen a baby born. She later told me after that she has now changed her mind about having a C/S - she feels a vaginal delivery is the way to go! Yeah for midwives!

After lunch, Tamanna and I set off to Block A for a group discussion with CHRW. Our travel was via rickshaw which has come to be my favorite mode of transportation. I don't get motion sickness on the rickshaw, it is slow-going enough to enjoy the scenery, and it is environmentally friendly! The discussion turned out to be quite beneficial since the CHRW were open in communicating their concerns. After our group discussion, we sat around and had tea while the CHRW had a chance to "interview" me about my life in the USA.

Once back in Matlab town, Tamanna and I stopped back in the hospital to see if any more moms were close to delivery. The staff still wanted to see other birthing positions. Indeed there was another woman having her fifth baby who was close to delivery. I could tell this was a large baby and would take more work for the mother. After a while of encouraging the mother to push in various positions, the baby was finally born with the mother laying down (she decided this was the position she desired). When the baby was born, he needed some extra suctioning and stimulation which Jesmin and I collaborated on. The baby is doing well, but will need a bit of close observation over the next day.

Since returning from the hospital, I have had a chance to give some consideration to the day's events. I feel grateful for having these experiences because birth is so different here than in the USA (though babies still come out the same way!). During the birth, the attendants here wear a very heavy plastic gown to protect their clothing, which I also used. Now consider wearing this gown over your clothing, in addition to gloves, in very, very warm temperatures! There is no air conditioning, and we are all in a room about the size of a small bedroom (the pregnant woman, me, Jesmin, Tamanna, the woman who birthed earlier in the day and her baby, 5 or more midwives/nurses, the mother's support person, a few curious undesignated on-lookers, and one little boy who poked his head in to see what all the fuss was about!). It was packed and the temperature must have easily reached 90 degrees in the room. I don't think I have ever considered this particular issue of heat in the context of labor/birth before today. In the U.S., I deliver babies in rooms where the temperature can be controlled. It is so easy to take these conveniences for granted...

I am so very thankful to the staff at Matlab Hospital for giving me the privilege of delivering these two beautiful baby boys. I feel truly honored and will cherish this day.

People of Bangladesh

2008-04-16T06:50:00.001-07:00

Day #2 in the Field

2008-04-16T06:29:00.001-07:00

Today was a long and productive day. Tamanna and I started off to Block C at 7:30AM and didn't arrive back at the training center until 6:30PM! It was a good day, though, and I feel that we accomplished a lot. We went to a CHRW house and watched a full HBLSS meeting. It is fun to see the CHRW conducting the meeting with such confidence! After the meeting, we completed a group discussion with pregnant women and their support persons to get their reactions to HBLSS. When the discussion was done, one of the pregnant women invited to her home which was just down the road. We happily accepted and spent about a half hour or so visiting her home and eating snacks. Following the home visit, we went to SubCenter C to conduct two more group discussions with CHRWs and then with a different group of support persons. All of the group discussions revealed interesting and helpful information.

With our work done for the day, we still had about 3+ hours to wait for our transportation to pick us up. We took a walk, sat and chatted, sat in silence, paced a bit, and sat some more. It is amazing how slowly time can go when you have nothing to do but wait! I think I have learned my lesson and will now be bringing a book along to the field!

Tomorrow brings another day of meetings and our last group discussion. I look forward to the work, but have to admit, I am also greatly looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Enjoy the pictures from today's activities : )

2008-04-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

2008-04-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

First day in the field

2008-04-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today was our first day in the field. I travelled with Tamanna and Dr Aminur to Block A (the Matlab Service area is divided into four blocks or zones). Once there, we walked to the CHRW's house where she conducts the HBLSS meetings with pregnant women and their support persons. We had the chance to observe HBLSS meeting #1 which reviews "first actions" during and right after birth to prevent problems. The participants included two pregnant women and four support persons, and one super cute and well-behaved five year old boy! He just might be the most patient little boy I have ever seen considering that he sat there on that little stool for a good 3+ hours without making a peep. He must just be Matlab's next HBLSS Master Trainer!?! Several other children stood outside the house and peered in through the window to see what was going on.

The CHRW conducted the meeting with confidence and did a really nice job. The participants were quite attentive and showed enthusiasm for learning. They were more interactive than I expected which was a very nice surprise. Following the session, we conducted a group discussion with the same women to see what their opinion was on HBLSS. Although I could not understand them, I could see through their expressions how excited they were. One major suggestion that they made was to try to include the husbands in the sessions since they are often the decision-makers in the family. This particular issue has been difficult here in Matlab and will be something we will try to problem-solve before I leave.

After returning from the field, we had a late lunch and then I prepared for an inservice. Dr Jesmin requested that I conduct an session for the medical officers and HROs at the hospital on the topics of shoulder dystocia, labor positions, and cephalopelvic disproportion (when the baby doesn't fit through the birth canal). A dozen or so people attended and the session seemed to go well. The should dystocia information seemed new to them, so they all had some practice doing manuevers using the resuscitation dolls. Dr Jesmin is hoping to have me show a few births using various deliver positions during my short stay in Matlab. I am looking forward to this very much!

So tomorrow brings another day in the field. We will be heading to Block C to complete the same activities as today with the addition of one more group discussion. This extra discussion will be with a handful of CHRW to see what their experiences have been with HBLSS over the past year. I have a feeling this discussion will give us really helpful information.

Here are some pictures from today. Enjoy!

Pictures

2008-04-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Matlab Mania

2008-04-13T23:16:00.000-07:00

I finally reached Matlab yesterday. It was about a 3.5 hour drive from Dhaka, and the last hour and a half drive is on a narrow road that twists and turns with bumps that jostle you up and down as you go. Though I don't often get car sick, this one was rough!

The last day and a half has been quite amazing. I have reconnected with many of the people that I met last year. It has been fun and energizing to see their smiles and receive their hugs! I have also had a chance to get to know Tamanna, my research assistant/translator. She is a very sweet young woman and is quite interested in reproductive health; I am certain we will work well together and become good friends. Yesterday I took a tour of Matlab Hospital and got to see the Kangaroo Mother Baby Care Center where babies who were born early or with other problems recover with their mothers. It is a beautiful building and it is obvious that the health workers are committed in their duties.

I was also invited for a home visit by one of the HROs (Health Research Officer) last evening. It was an impromptu get-together that turned out to be very, very special. I did not have my assistant along (translating for me), so conversation was a bit difficult. Their English was much better than my Bangla, though, so we managed to muddle through it with single word sentances and gestures. The husband of the house was quite funny because he would say something to me, and if I did not understand (which I often did not), he would keep repeating it over and over again. As he did so, his voice became louder and louder (a common experience for someone trying to get their point across!). I have to laugh when I think about it because I am sure I have done the same thing before!

It seems that one Bangladeshi custom is to feed, and feed, and feed guests, because I was offered more food than you can imagine. After leaving that house, the neighbor insisted that I also visit her, which I did, and once again I was offered (and of course did not want to turn down so as not to insult her) much more food. Needless to say, I did not have much of an appetite on my return to the training center : ) It was a really nice time and another home visit was set up for the next day before I left their homes!

Today is the Bangladesh New Year, so there are celebrations going on all over. I have already re-visited my new friends at their homes today. This visit brought more food and better conversation (my translator came along - thank goodness). At the end of the visit, the young college student sang for us a very beautiful Bangla song. I have it on video and hope to upload it once home so you can all enjoy it! Once again, they each insisted that I return again, which I promised to try to do before leaving Matlab. Later today, Tamanna and I will go to the market area where more festivities are happening for the New Year.

Tomorrow is the start of our research activities. I am looking forward to seeing how HBLSS is going. I am certain that it will be a busy, but quite enjoyable day. Tamanna, Dr. Amin, and I will be travelling by rickshaw to Block A where we will watch a session of HBLSS, conduct a group discussion with CHRWs (Community Health Research Workers), conduct a group discussion with community members, and conduct an interview with an HRO. I am not convinced we will necessarily accomplish all of this in one day, but I do know that we will get much done and collect some important information about the program! More later!

2008-04-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Did you say Dubai?

2008-04-11T06:11:00.001-07:00

I have to start off by describing my trip here. It all got going in the Rochester Airport at the American Airlines desk. "What do you mean the flight has been cancelled?", I said in minor dibelief as the lady explained that my flight from Chicago to NYC was indeed cancelled. Hmm. Well, the poor woman worked and worked on that computer for a good half hour, typing away at a speed I dare even guess, and finally, she found a flight for me from Chicago to NYC on Delta. Wooo Hooo! I was still on my way.

The flight to Chicago was uneventful (just the way I like them to be!) and my transition onto the Delta flight was seamless. I was outward bound to NYC. At the Emirates desk in NYC, I particiated in a another confusing conversation with the man behind the desk. I had been told in Rochester that I would have to reclaim my checked luggage in Dubai and re-check it. I had questioned this logic, but the poor women just didn't have the time to talk that one through. So, at the Emirates counter I re-approached the subject once again. "It is because you have such a long lay-over", he said. "It is only 6 hours", I replied. No, your flight leaves Dubai on a completely different day, you will be there awhile". What?!?!?

OK, I panicked just a little bit as I pondered my major ticket-buying blunder. How could I have made such an error? After a few moments, I reconciled with myself that Dubai was indeed not such a bad place to be "stuck" for a day and a half...(now that is an understatement Travis!). Well, it didn't take long for me to review my tickets again and to see the desk staff error. Yes, my flight leaves Dubai the "next" day, but is only 6 hours later! Thank goodness. I have to say that Emerites is a really nice airline carrier. Everyone received a little gift bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye coverer for sleeping, and warm socks.

In Dubai, I walked around only long enough to see the great wealth that exists in that area. I now wish just a little that I did have that layover so I could have seen the city itself. Trav, we do have 10 year anniversary coming up, right?!? :) Just kidding...
I have attached a picture of the airport, though it doesn't do it justice.

I am here in Dhaka staying at the Rose Wood guest house until Sunday, at which time I will go to Matlab in the rural area to conduct research. I have 2 days to get on Bangladesh time (which is only going so-so at the moment given that I am writing this at 2AM time here!). I knew I should not have taken that nap yesterday! Here are a few pitures that I took yesterday right outside the guest house. And there will hopefully be many more to come!

Good-bye at the Airport

2008-04-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was the start of another Bangladesh adventure, but the good-byes were rough-going. The kids seemed pretty OK, but mommy took it hard. There were lots of kisses (one for each day gone) and pictures too. Thirty-one plus hours later, via Chicago, New York, Dubai (United Arab Emerites), and finally Dhaka, I arrived safely on the other side of the world.

Fun at the Park

2008-04-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the first semi-warm (Minnesota definition) day of Spring. The kids spent the afternoon at the park and had lots of fun. The boys especially liked the tube slide that seems to start nearly 3 stories up (an exaggeration, perhaps, but I am telling you, the slide borders on dangerous!). I have tried it out in the past and there is no slowing down! Amara's favorite activity was climbing up the spider-like web, which again, gives mommy heart palpitations when the older kids bounce up and down as my little Amara hangs on for dear life. She is a skilled climber, though, and made it near the top with ease. Shen wants to do everything that big sis and brother are doing, so I managed to spend most of my time chasing the little guy around, keeping him safe on equipment designed for the older kids - his ambition is fantastic, but the lack of fear scares me!

I knew it was time to head home when Shen bear sat himself down and in went the thumb, followed by the cutest little voice saying "mommy, I tired" ... sure sign of nap-time! Mommy was lucky enough to get in on nap time too : )

More Pictures

2008-04-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Picture Parade

2008-03-19T16:22:00.001-07:00

Birthday Impromptu

2008-01-24T18:39:00.000-08:00

We have had a really big week and it all started with a little visit to the dentist...
Ever since bringing Amara home 2.5 years ago, we have wondered whether or not her age was accurate. There were those moments here and there that led us to believe she just might be older.

* that look on her face when we first put diapers on her at the care center in Ethiopia
* her coordination in feeding herself right from the start
* the fact that Amara learned to speak in full sentences in English within 1 month of being home...she wasn't even 2 yet and had NOT had any English previously
* no terrible twos for this one (not that we are complaining!)
* how quickly she grew after coming home, catching "big" brother within a year's time (genetically, Amara will NOT be a tall girl, trust us)
* she was the ONLY little girl in dance class that could hop across the floor on one foot...and she did it with such ease
* she has always acted more mature than her age
* she is already beginning to read

And the final straw...

At the tender age of 4, Amara lost her first two teeth and her 6 year molars are peaking through. The pediatric dentist tells us this dental development is possible for a 4 year old, but the odds are not great. In fact, she feels 90% sure that Amara is one year older...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

So after much discussion and trepidation, we have decided to change Amara's date of birth by one year. We have based this decision on expert opinion and our parental intuition, and we hope it is the right decision to make.

You might be wondering how our little princess reacted to this BIG news?!? Well, we sat the kids down and had an official family meeting. We came right out and told Amara that we thought she was actually 5. Her reaction? She did a double fist pump and exclaimed "AWESOME!".
We made a big deal out the fact that Forest remains the big brother since he is still 3 months older! We also told the kids that although they will start Kindergarten together, they will be in different classes; we want both of them to have the chance to shine in school in their own unique ways.

We decided we had better let Amara be "5" for at least part of the year, which brings us to her impromptu birthday party. We baked a cake which the kids helped decorate and sang Happy Birthday. Although it wasn't the most extravagant birthday party ever, I have a feeling it will be the most memorable!

Just one more thought to share...does this mean we have TWINS?!?

Holiday Letter 2007

2007-12-13T14:13:00.001-08:00

Seasons Greetings!

It has been a BIG year for the Dynes family! The greatest change this year was the addition of Shen Miao into the family! Travis and Michelle travelled to China at the end of June to bring the newest little Dynes home. China is a beautiful country in so many ways. The cities were lively and the countryside breath-taking. Our favorite tourist attraction was definitely the Great Wall. Though that particular day was rainy, the fog moved in and out of the mountains creating the most incredible views! From Beijing, we travelled to Fujian Province to meet our Shen which turned out to be quite the event! Shen managed to scream for a good half-hour, letting us and everyone else know that he was NOT happy! Amazingly, it didn't take long before he transformed into the most outgoing, goofy little boy for the remainder of the trip. After nearly three weeks in China, we arrived in Minnesota with a warm welcome. Forest and Amara have both played a big role in teaching him English and all of the ins and outs of Dynes family membership.

Shen has had a year of "TWOs". He has gained 2 parents, 2 names (Shen & Dynes), while retaining 2 names (You Miao), gained 2 siblings, undergone 2 surgeries, started 2 exciting classes (gymnastics and 'Dad's Class'), and has mastered the "terrible-twos"! (not our personal favorite for obvious reasons!) He is a very bright little boy, already singing the ABCs and counting to ten. It has been fun to see his English language skills evolve over the past few months. He now uses his sweet little face and cute little voice to woo mommy into snuggling with him - "mommy, me wanna you nuggle me mommy"...oh so cute the first few times and oh so NOT cute after the 100th time! Did we mention that the kid loves, LoVeS, LOVES to dance! It was quite a sight during one of our Ethiopian culture classes to see our little boy out there cutting a rug amongst all of the Ethiopian kids! We feel so blessed to have Shen in the family and we can't wait to see how his personality continues to develop!

Amara turned four years old this year and oh my goodness has she grown! She is not as tall as big brother (when you subtract the hair height, anyway!), but she is gaining ground fast! Amara is a bright, happy, and slightly oblivious little girl (the absent minded professor comes to mind...). She is in her 2nd year of preschool and doing quite well as usual. She amazes us daily by her ever growing knowledge and love of learning. She is even beginning to read and spell simple words. She will be starting swimming lessons in January, although our little fish can already make it across a small pool...we see a swim-teamer in our future. She lost two teeth this year and has the smile to prove it! The tooth fairy was quite ambitious with the first tooth loss by providing Amara with a treasure hunt (10 clues placed around the house to find the special $1 coin). It turned out that the tooth fairy was less ambitious with the 2nd tooth with only 3 clues to find the treasure! Amara has continued in gymnastics for the second year; coordination skills are mediocre at best, but her flair for the dramatic is priceless!

Forest is a proud five year old and in his last year of preschool! Wow, how time flies! He is a thoughtful, sometimes shy/sometimes goofy, little boy. Forest loves playing with the neighborhood kids and riding his bike. He learned to ride his "two-wheeler" on the first try and has not been shy to reveal this to everyone he comes in contact with! Forest continues to be a perfectionist which can be a blessing and a curse at times. He defers trying new things unless he can master them quickly (curse), but he is also the most focused, detail-oriented color-er we have ever seen (blessing). He will also be starting swimming lessons in January. It takes him a while to feel comfortable in new situations, so we are not so sure how the first round of lessons will go (though we have already bribed him by offering a day of snow skiing if he participates in swimming lessons!). Forest is also doing gymnastics which seems to be a good fit with his personality -- his attention to detail is extraordinary!

Travis and Michelle had another busy year. Michelle is working on a 2nd master's degree (Public Health) at the University of Minnesota, and is now remembering why she was so happy to be finished with the 1st degree! She was able to spend four weeks in Matlab, Bangladesh this year helping to implement a maternal child health program and will be returning in April to evaluate the program. Michelle also attended a landmark global health conference in London with delegates representing over 100 countries around the world! Travis completed a huge home renovation project this year (YEAH!) and continues to be the best stay-at-home dad around. He travelled out of the country on a kayaking trip to beautiful British Columbia with his dad and brother. They had an amazing week together and came home with video and pictures of the many orca whales that they saw! Travis continues to stay busy by serving on various boards and committees here in Rochester (Interfaith Hospitality Network, Parenting Association of Rochester, Aldrich Nursery School).

As the year comes to an end, we look back fondly on all of the big and little changes in our lives this past year. We feel blessed to have the love of family and friends, good health, and hope for another fulfilling year to come. We wish you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful 2008!

Travis & Michelle
Forest (5)
Amara (4)
Shen (2)

Updated contact information:
Travis: travis.dynes@gmail.com
Michelle: dynes.michelle@gmail.com
Family Blog: http://www.inthebeautyofalltheearth.blogspot.com/

School Pictures 2007

2007-12-13T05:50:00.000-08:00

When you send your preschool-aged child off to school on "picture" day, you never really know what to expect! Well, we just got the kids pictures back, and I have to admit my first reaction was one of minor amusement : ) Forest's picture shows a shy, albeit coy smile with eyebrows raised ever so slightly. I am pretty sure he's thinking: "Mommy is going to be so happy that I'm smiling, so take the picture already". Amara gets the 'oh-so-fake (but-I'm-trying-so-hard) smile' award for 2007 -- boy that girl can sure smile!!! Did you happen to notice the gap in her teeth?? Yep, two missing teeth at the tender age of 4 years! Our little Miss Amara just might be the very first preschooler ever to have permanent teeth in!

Can you say TIRED?

2007-12-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

Snow Day!

2007-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how excited children can be when it snows for the first time each Winter! Forest and Amara screamed with glee as the first flakes fell from the sky, and Shen looked on with what I would consider ironic indifference. As it turned out, Shen found his curiosity and enthusiasm in the new mittens and stocking cap that he "snuck" into the grociery cart while shopping with Daddy...ah well, he did need them after all!

This morning the kids woke up especially early requesting a play date with the snow. Travis and I decided it was OK for Forest and Amara to go out back and play without us, but Shen would need to wait. It wasn't but ten minutes later that Shen came downstairs in his jammies accented by his new cap and mittens (how cute is he?). If he could have put it into words, I am pretty sure he would have said "I'm trying to make a point here people!". So, I got the message and decided to get the little man bundled up for his first snow experience!

Outside, the kids were "sledding" down the deck stairs in the back yard (no worries, there are only 3 steps on our deck!). They were playing with the neighbor kids and having a lot of fun. I finally brought Shen inside after he took a tumble on the sled with several scratches on his face to show for it. He cried and cried while I took off his coat, boots, and snow pants putting an end to his first snow day. But he complained the loudest when I finally took off his new hat and mittens!

Have a Happy Halloween!

2007-11-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

The kids were so excited this year for Halloween. Forest and Amara talked about it non-stop in the weeks before. With such expectations, I was afraid they would eventually be disappointed in the day. But alas, they had a great time! It was a chilly night, so I bundled the kids up with two layers underneath their costumes making them look as if the seams of the costumes would burst at any moment.

This year we decided to trick-or-treat as a group with the neighborhood kids. There was such a fun assortment of personalities, I am already looking forward to next year! Forest dressed up as a Power Ranger. The costume has big muscles built in which really impressed our petite 5 year old! Shen had no opinion about his costume, so Travis and I picked it our for him...Dash from the Incredibles...so CUTE! Amara decided to be a witch this year, or I should say, a 'GOOD witch', of which she frequently remindes me : ) At each house, Forest and Amara sweetly announced "Have a happy Halloween!" after receiving candy.

It was Shen's first Halloween, so that was extra fun to see him catch on to the ritual. He exclaimed "trick or treat" in his cute little voice at every door, and seemed quite pleased that the people offered him candy in return. He definitely got into the whole deal, although he required mommy to push him in his stroller between each house...lazy, yet efficient method nonetheless. Shen was sure thrilled with the experience, until his tiredness gave way to 2 a year old tantrum. On the way home, he accidentally dumped his pumpkin of candy on the gound and could not find any other coping mechanism but to cry as a result. Since we were travelling in a group, I quickly grabbed a sucker, unwrapped it, and stuck it in his screaming mouth. Bribery...hmm...where did I misplace my GOOD parenting skills?

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

We took the kids in search of pumpkins yesterday. We had intended on going to an actual patch, but as it turns out, nothing was open mid-week. So, we settled on a little place right in town with pumkins spread across their lawn. Forest immiately picked out the BIGGEST pumpkin he could find weighing in at a hefty 34 lbs. Thank goodness they have a maximum price of $5! Shen, on the other hand, found just about the smallest pumkin that he could find and proceeded to carry it around with such delight. Amara was our little indecision maker and just couldn't decide. She is such a Dynes : )

Picture Perfect

2007-10-25T07:26:00.001-07:00

Do you know how hard it is to get 3 young children in the same picture with smiles on their faces? I had never contemplated this prior to bringing Shen home. If they are willing to sit still, then at least one child isn't smiling. If they are ALL smiling, then at least one or more is moving around. If they are all still and smiling, then well, um, that hasn't happened yet so I have no idea! This particular picture was taken as all three kids were in motion coming at me. I don't think it could be better : )

Who Knew?

2007-09-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

We finally found a moment to take Shen to get his first professional pictures taken! Yeah! Sounds like a blast, right?

Well, we have never had such a hard time getting one of our kids to smile. Oh my goodness! Shen is the pro at know just the right time to NOT smile - and that is when a camera is pointed his way. It is quite amazing, actually! He is the near opposite of Amara in that respect. But as it turned out, his 'serious' pictures were as cute as the smiley ones!

SO, we used every prop, every noise maker, every conceivable approach to try to get our little Shen to smile...tickling Amara and Forest, juggling (that was all Travis!), peak-a-boo, the "I'm gonna gitcha" routine, silly faces, and more. We must have looked like a bunch of baboons (not trying to insult the baboons)!

Finally, Forest started to growl at Shen like a crazy Bear or Lion (not sure which one), and for whatever reason, that was the ticket! Evidently, it was the funniest thing Shen had ever witnessed because we finally got a smile! Hip-Hip-Hurray! So, that was that, after a half an hour of trying to make Shen smile, it came down to the semi-obnoxious behavior of a five year old.

Who knew???

Miss Photogenic

2007-09-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Amara is always happy to give us a smile! These picture were taken at Grandma's house, right after Amara got her hair done (sitting to get her hair done is not her favorite activity...but boy does she LOVE the result!). Amara doesn't just adore getting her picture taken, she loves posing for pictures! "Another picture mommy?"..."Like this mommy?" (as she turn her head this way and that way, for just the right angle). The only trouble I have is getting an "unposed" spontaneous picture of Amara; not easy when you have a child who loves the camera! My best bet is to say - "Amara, say Daddy has stinky feet!", and that usually gets a great natural smile...but then I risk getting the Julia Roberts throw-the-head-back-and-laugh look...ah, you just have to smile and love it!

The Shen-ster

2007-09-09T08:15:00.001-07:00

It didn't take long for us to realize that Shen has some obsessive compulsive tendancies. Shen's absolute favorite activity (as evidence by the picture!) is to line up his cars...over and over and over again! Not only does he line them up, but he makes certain they are all facing the same direction! Every so often, his eyes look up from the floor searching for our approval, and then he continues on with determination. We just smile back at our little 2 year old and praise him for his cleverness and attention to detail. To say the little Shen-ster "fits in" to our family would be an understatement...

Cuteness

2007-09-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

I couldn't think of a title for this post, so I decided to just describe the pictures instead...'cuteness' was all that came to mind! Enjoy the pics!

1st Day of School 2007!

2007-09-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was Forest and Amara's 1st day of school for 2007! It is Forest's 3rd year at Aldrich and Amara's 2nd year. We can't believe how quickly time flies. Shen gets to go to the Dad's Class with Travis this year. He will join Amara at preschool next year! Forest will be off to kindergarten next year and...before we know it, they will all be off to college! Oh my goodness!

The Three Amigos!

2007-08-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Forest and Amara arrived home today from Grandma's house, and Shen could not be happier! He immediately threw his head back and laughed the greatest laugh when Forest came down the stairs and into sight. It feels so good to have our kids together...albeit it took only an hour or so before the first argument ensued between the three of them! Gotta love it!

Orca videos

2007-08-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

Long Overdue Update

2007-08-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Well, much has happened since we arrived home from China. Shen had double hernia surgery a few weeks ago from which he recovered quickly! Recently, Travis spent a week kyaking in British Columbia with his dad and brother, Zach (beautiful area with lots of Orca).

Yesterday, Shen had hip surgery and we are currently in the hospital -- hoping to go home tomorrow.

The sad news is that Shen's hip surgery was not successful. It turns out that he does not have a femoral head on that side, so there is no fix for his hip dysplasia. There is speculation that an infection during infancy could have prevented the femoral head from forming. This means that he will have a permanant limp which will likely get worse as he grows taller. If pain becomes an issue later in childhood, there is the option to fuse the femur with the pelvis, which would limit his range of motion. As an adult, total hip replacement is an option.

So that is the update. We are feeling disappointed for Shen, but still very very happy to have our little guy home and safe in our arms. And for any of you that have met the little guy, you know that he has plenty of spunk and personality to get him through the difficulties that lie ahead.

Check out some pictures of the little man in the hospital!!

Homeward Bound

2007-07-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

Well, our trip has come to an end. We will be leaving China in the early morning and getting home July 12th in the afternoon. We can't wait to see Forest and Amara! Here are a few more pictures from the trip. Doesn't Shen look cute in his traditional outfit? Our little emperor...

Proud Owner of Squeaky Shoes

2007-07-09T20:42:00.000-07:00

Last evening, we purchased for Shen a pair of very popular children's shoes called squeaky shoes. As you have already guessed, they squeak with every step, and are pretty, cute, albeit slightly annoying. We kept the new shoes on him while we went on shopping.
We have known that Shen speaks a little Chinese, although we have had no idea to what extent his language skills have developed. Well, we got a bit of a clue during the shopping because he had a short conversation with a store clerk. He told her that he liked his new shoes, but he thought they were a little big! The store clerk told us what he said, and we just about fell over! How funny is this little guy?!?

Update

2007-07-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

New Words:
all done
go go
Buddha

New adventures:
* using the crib for a playground (Shen climbes on it and then lets his hands go for an even bigger thrill!)
* jumping into the pool into daddy's arms
* escalator rides...over and over and over and over again
* turning on the camera and taking pictures
* french fries
* falling asleep at lunch time at the drop of a hat!

We have both been really pleased with how things are going with Shen. Each day he seems more and more comfortable with us. He sleeps with us at night and is quite the snuggle-bug as of late. His high-pitched screams are getting fewer and fewer and lasting a shorter time...thank goodness! He still has mini-tantrums when he doesn't get his way, but they are on par with his age and what we have experienced with Forest and Amara. All of the little ones here seem to like to pinch when they are upset or angry. We are wondering if that is a tactic of adults when they are disciplining children here in China? Shen has done it a couple of times to us and we have scolded him, of course. He also will throw things on the ground when he is angry. We don't give him attention when he behaves this way, and that seems to be working for us.
It has been really fun getting to know the other families that we have been travelling with. Three of the other four families have special needs kids as well, and there are two other 2 year olds, although Shen is the only boy in the group. It is amazing how different each child is in terms of personality and temperment. Shen seems to have a pretty easy personality to deal with, as long as there is something for him to do. He is such a go-getter.

The Need for Speed

2007-07-06T23:41:00.000-07:00

Shen had his first ever airplane ride today. We travelled from Fujian Province to Guangzhou, our last destination before coming home. We weren't sure how he would react to the flight...
Well, he not only was a good little boy, he actually loved the take off and the landing. He played with his books, blocks, and animals during the flight. As we were landing, he looked up at us with a huge smile on his face, as if to say "wooohoooooo". I think we have an extreme sports player in our future! Now if we can just get himn to be that good for the trip home : )

We have also been making progress on the please and thank-you front. In fact, he is quick to say it any time he wants something...now he has to learn that it doesn't necessarily get him everything. He is amazing us with how quickly he is learning new words. Most recently 'gargoyle', 'OK', 'banana', etc. He learned gargoyle from the Dora Movie!

More on Shen

2007-07-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

* Shen has an outgoing personality
* he loves being on the go
* he is very curious and observant with his surroundings
* he is a thumb-sucker when tired
* he loves playing with other kids, especially the older ones...he is going to LOVE Forest and Amara!
* he is gentle and sweet with babies
* he can stack blocks like a pro
* he is overjoyed with anything electronic...and learns quite easily how to run them!
* he likes to line up his toys in a row...an obsessive compulsive tendancy, we think : )
* he loves, LOVES his stroller, and any other form of transportation (such a little boy!)
* he is a risk-taker...just hopped right in the kiddie rides at the park without hesitation
* he likes watching movies
* he laughs when mommy sings to him (at least he doesn't cry!)
* he is a great talker...repeating words like banana, no, mommy, daddy, uh-oh, please, and so many more!
* and he has a smile that melts our hearts

Shen the shrieker

2007-07-05T23:36:00.000-07:00

OK, so Shen is a cute little boy with a great personality...
But the kid can scream like there is no tomorrow! He tends to do so only when not getting his way, so we don't have to endure 'the shriek' all that often. It is also quite amazing how long he can maintain the shriek with one breath of air. Maybe some sort of world record?
We attribute the scream to his two year old age, for it seems to be his way of throwing a fit. Hopefully, he will out-grow it : )
But in the mean time, if you hear some screaming coming over the ocean by way of China, it is probably our little Shen!

More Pictures!

2007-07-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

2007-07-04T01:42:00.001-07:00