My first netoma

I am happy to present my first netoma ("my name") in Mali! There is now another Sheri! People often name children after someone who means a lot to them or has helped them in some way. There are many Daniels walking around because of the OB here named Dan. Our house guy has a little boy named Brett. Most anyone who has been here for awhile has a child named after them. I never have. I know this sounds silly to even be talking about but such is reality. I've joked with many patients that their baby would be named Sheri and it has never worked. :) My friend Sabi came to deliver here at the hospital. I joked with her as well about naming the baby Sheri since we knew it was a girl. I really didn't think much of it because though they like to name a child after someone, it is usually the grandparents or the father who chose the name so I didn't think it would happen. But it did. And as silly as it is, I'm happy. :)

An up close shot of little Sheri. I feel slightly embarrassed to say this but also can't resist that the headband she is wearing on her head actually was a decorative piece that came on a Christmas present that someone sent us. So it's supposed to be on a box, but I thought it just looked so cute on her! This is the same day I pierced her ears. I've done adults before but piercing a baby's ear was a first for me. She didn't even cry!

She is a precious little baby. She smiles almost every time her eyes actually focus on my face. I know she smiles at others but I think it is special. She's my little girl!

My parents' visit

We thoroughly enjoyed my parents' visit though it came and went too quickly. I posted a long time ago pictures of the Christmas play the boys were in. My parents had just come in so they got to enjoy that. We kept them going while they were here. They got to meet several of the ladies I treat so that was fun. They also got to meet a lot of the cancer kids and diabetics that I talk about so often. Now they can really put a face to a name.

They enjoyed going to Kenan's school. Here they are drinking juice with him. This is his favorite thing about school, I believe. If only he could learn to actually drink it instead of pouring it on himself.

My friend, Sabi, had a baby just days before my parents came. We have pictures of my mom with Wassa, one of Sabi's twins (the other died) a few years ago and now here she is with the new baby.
We went to Baramba where Elizabethi, a diabetic that we treat at the hospital, goes to school. She became a Christian while at the hospital but didn't really like the "big" city of Koutiala so we sent her to an all girls' school where she will learn to read and write as well as study the Bible. The boys draw a crowd wherever they go. All the kids are watching them draw in the dirt and my mom is keeping them back with a stick (JUST KIDDING- but it does look like that).

Kenan being Kenan as he plays with the kids in Baramba.

We pulled out this 10-in-1 game table that we had bought from missionaries several years ago. There is pool, foosball, checkers, backgammon (which I believe they are playing here, or at least D is learning how to play) and various other games.

My mom brought real face paint so of course the boys enjoyed putting it on.

D was the artist for everyone.

He even did himself.

At the end of their trip we enjoyed a day in Bamako. This is at the national park. I got them to smile by telling them we would only get ice cream if they did. :) We enjoyed several visits to the new (wonderful!) ice cream store.

It was sad to see my parents go but glad that it will only be for a few months and we will see them again in March!

Kenan's 5th birthday

In our house we sing, "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy birthday to Kenan!" I personally love that his birthday is January 1. The world celebrates with him. :)

It is hard for me to believe that Kenan is 5-a whole hand! In many ways it feels like just yesterday I was in the hospital in France giving birth.

Kenan is a joy. There's no other way to put it. He is so sweet. He loves everyone. He shares so well- not just with his brothers- but I've learned from his teachers that he shares his snack everyday. The other day he wouldn't leave school as he had some fruit loops and he went around handing them out to parents and kids who were leaving. Totally unprompted he loves giving to others. He is a hugger and kisser. He loves his family. He loves his animals. Whenever we leave he always talks about how he misses Caroline and Purr. He is a special kid. He marches to the beat of his {very slow} drum. He loves to tell jokes. He'll talk to whomever, even if they aren't listening or can't understand English.

His favorite things are macaroni and cheese, empanadas, strawberry smoothies, his brothers, his doggies, legos, and Wii, not necessarily in that order.

We had his Diego party on New Years Eve as his birthday was a Sunday this year. Games were provided by my mom. (Thank you!) Among the games were pin Click on Diego...

Rescuing animals with those sticky hands...

Bean bag toss where you had to land on the animals and not in the hole.

I love watching Kenan open gifts. It is just so him. He looks at each thing and is so happy about it. He opens things slowly and enjoys each item. This was his response to the card Dawson made for him. He loves his brother.

I love how opening gifts is a communal thing at this age. Everyone "helps"out.

Getting ready to blow out his 5 candles.

He blew a lot since they were trick candles. We probably have 10 shots of him blowing and blowing.

His special cupcake with strawberries in it.

He enjoyed it. There was strawberry ice cream to go with the cake.

His brothers liked it too.

This is just a picture of his drawing skills. I was impressed that he did this all on his own. (Obviously he didn't write the Baby Jesus part but he drew the rest alone). He loves artistic things. He loves coloring and painting and singing.
Quotes from Kenan in the recent past:

-See me dancing? That's what I do when I'm excited.

-As he was putting on his shoes to play in the mud, he sees Caroline pick Purr by the neck (a regular occurrence). He jumps up and says, "I don't care about shoes! I care about Purr!"

We love you, Kenan! So thankful that the Lord gave you to us! You are a blessing, truly one of a kind!

Wanna eat?

This is what Brett found at the END of his bowl of cereal this morning. Those six big, dark "grains" aren't grains at all but bugs. When we went to look at the box of cereal there were tons crawling around. So I guess these lost their life in the milk. It's better to eat fresh bugs, right?

There is a saying that the first year you are overseas when you see bugs in your drink or food that you throw out the whole thing. Then eventually you take the bugs out of drink but keep drinking. The last stage is that you see you the bugs but go ahead and eat them. I am definitely at stage two. Does Brett get to say he is at stage 3 since he ate his whole breakfast - for sure bugs included- but he just didn't know about it?