Tiny Trees Can Be Cute Too!

Well Darin finally gave in and let us get a tree! A very small, cheap tree. But it is a tree. So it feels a  little more like Christmas! Darin went to play basketball and Avery was in bed so I just couldn't wait any longer. I got it out and Cooper was so excited. This has been the first year that he has really showed interest. He loved getting to put the tree together and decorate it. I was fine with him helping on putting the tree up, but did not really approve of the decorating skills.

Don't you love how most of the decorations are all on the bottom?

He was so proud of how it decorated though!

What a great present under our tree!

Darin Loves Coffee

So, where to start. Oh I know, Darin thinks he is Mr. Folger now. The man with the basket is Mark and he is over the housing here. We had our barefoot classes at his house and he let the boys pick the coffee beans off the tree. Darin thinks it is the neatest thing.

Here is Mr. Folger, I mean Darin, working very hard to pick the beans that were ready.

He is so proud. Even though that might make two cups!

The barefoot class got to go to the coffee packaging plant. So Darin thought all of  you would love to see the process. First there is the bean that is not ripe. Second is the bean that is ripe and ready to be picked. Third is where you let the red ones soak and then peel it (the tedious process) and that is where you have the white one, which these have already been dried out. Fourth is the roasting. It is the brown seeds. And then you have it packaged. Either with beans or ground.

And then finally your coffee. I know crazy coffee maker huh? Many Ticos think this is the best tasting coffee made in this pouch. When you have Mr. Folger living in your house though it doesn't matter what kind of coffee maker you have.  Darin sure does love his coffee!!!!!!!

Museum in Costa Rica

Part of our barefoot class we all went to a museum. I would have to say that this is the first real art museum I have ever been to. It was very interesting. Especially since some of the things looked like I could have done it and some things look like Cooper did it. But most of it was pretty neat to look at. The building was actually the first airport in Costa Rica that mostly only politicians used. This balcony is where family use to stand and watch the planes come in!

These next few pictures are suppose to show the aging woman. I am sure you will notice what I mean.

Darin and Josh thought they would get on it as well.

I just thought this was very neat. 

Wake up Darin, you're dreaming.

If you had this picture, would you feel like someone was always looking at you?

They said this represents some of the woman of a certain kind back in the old days of Costa Rica. Said they were all very short with big hands and feet. 

This picture is suppose to symbolize conception. On the left is the egg and on the right is......... can you tell?

This is a park now, but it is where the runway thing was for the planes to take off and land. Excuse us though. It was very windy and cold. That is why I have my jacket on, plus Darin's sweat jacket.

The main Catholic Church in Costa Rica

This is the little black doll that they all pray to. The story was that a very long time ago that a little girl found this doll in the woods and kept trying to take it home but then it would disappear and then she would find it back in the same spot in the woods. So after a few times this happening she told the catholic priest and so on and so on he said that the place the doll kept going was where she wanted the church to be built. So that is where the built the church to worship the idol. So it is very obvious how false this religion is. Once a year, there is a pilgrimage where thousands and thousands of people walk to this city from everywhere. They close one side of the main highway so they can get up there. Last year, a team went and shared the gospel and passed out tracks.

This picture is where people would start at the back of the church on there knees and crawl all the way to the front of the church. It was so sad to see. Especially when this elderly lady came in on a walker and seeing her trying to crawl with two people trying to help her. I just wanted to go and pick her up and tell her that she could just sit in the pew or at home and pray to the REAL GOD! But she would have thought I was crazy because she doesn't speak English! Ha!

This is where people came to get healed. Yes, healing water? One guy almost had his pants down rubbing the water on his lower back. Sorry, didn't take pictures of him. But you can't tell but the lady at the water is filling up a bottle of it so she can take it to someone who couldn't make it there.  I only pray that they will get to know who the true Healer and Physician are.

This is a picture of the church. It was beautiful and gorgeous inside.

Cooper's Post-Surgery Pictures

Oh, life in the hospital. Just chilling and relaxing!

These are two gloves people they made for Cooper.

He loved using that tray, by himself of course.

The rings on his chest are from the heart monitor and we are still trying to get it off him while he screams to stop!

Dora the Explorer and numerous cable channels helped the time pass by a little bit easier.

Avery loved playing with her shadow in the hospital room.

Cooper was happy to see his sister the next day.

Cooper's Surgery

Wow, what a week we have had. Saturday Cooper started with a high fever and it lasted for about 40 hours. It was awful. He would just cry of being in pain with his stomach and nothing could console him or calm him down. His fever went away and then came back on Wednesday along with some vomiting. We went ahead and made him an appointment with the doctor that comes to the school on Tuesday and Thursday. Cooper would not even let the doctor touch his stomach. It was horrible. So the doctor took into consideration all what we were telling him and sent Darin and Cooper downtown for some blood and a urine sample. Avery and I just came home because we really thought it wouldn't be anything and that they would be home later. Well around 3pm Darin called me at home and said that Cooper was having surgery in about an hour. I just started balling. I was so scared. Even though I knew God was in control it was just so surprising and just nervous about being in another country. Cooper's white blood count was 16,000 and the highest it was suppose to be is 14,000. So the doctors knew that something was wrong. I was so scared trying to get stuff together and get Avery. I was thinking that I had to go and get a taxi and try to find where they were. I wasn't even sure if I could tell the taxi driver where to go. As I was getting ready a lady named Pam that is kinda over everything here called me and said that she would bring me. She was here in less than five minutes. I could already see the Lord's hand in the storm. So we arrived there and not knowing where to go, the Lord had Darin and Cooper right there in front of the main door doing registration stuff. Being in a country where I have not clue what they are saying it was a real blessing to see them. So after registration we went upstairs and we had to get Cooper into his little hospital attire. Darin ended up going back out with Avery because it was like she knew something was going on because she wouldn't let him out of his site. I had to get the whole attire on, the hairnet, the mask, the shoe covers and of course the outfit. Cooper told me he liked it though and that I looked pretty. He can be so funny at the best times that it is needed. After we were ready the anesthesiologist came and was talking to me and I couldn't understand anything he was saying. So the whole time he was talking I just started praying asking the Lord to please protect Cooper that he is in His hands and to just be with that doctor and give him wisdom. So I got to carry Cooper back to the surgery room and it felt like I was walking back to my prison cell or something. It felt like a long walk even though it was like three rooms down. As we got there I got to hold Cooper in my lap as they got the utensils out and Cooper was just crying. Just seeing that metal, cold table was scary for me. I couldn't imagine how it felt to a 3 year old little boy. They asked me to lay Cooper down and I was a little hesitant. I really just wanted to run out of there with him like that would be protecting him. But then I could just feel a peace and knowing that God is the true physician and his hand was going to be in all of this. So I laid him down and Cooper was screaming. They had a person holding each limb down and I got to hold his hand. One of the doctors spoke english so he told me that the other doctor was saying that he would be find because he was very strong. I couldn't help but just cry. I remember thinking be strong for him, but just seeing him screaming and looking at me while they were holding the mask on him just broke my heart. He wanted me to pick him up and I just had to watch him being held down on that cold table surrounded by people he hasn't seen before and has no clue what they are saying to him. I just held his hand though and then the screaming stopped and his mouth kept moving though like he was still trying to get me to help him. He then just went limp and his hand dropped from mine. I then got escorted out. I still can't get those images out of my head. I was so scared leaving him like that. I went back out to the waiting area to tell Darin the update and there were five people from our school here in Costa Rica. It was so sweet. One of the people I had never even met before. We could just feel the prayers though. The surgery lasted about 45 minutes. Which felt like eternity. The doctors came out and told us the surgery went great but it was more difficult then they thought it would be. The appendix is usually facing down and Cooper's was up and under the colon and adhered to it. So that he should be pretty sore because they had to move stuff around so much. But I got to go back and see him and he was trying to wake up. So the doctor said just talk to him so he can hear your voice. So he was crying and I just kept rubbing his head and telling him that I loved him and he finally opened his eyes for about a second to make sure I was still there and then went to sleep. After that I went back out to let Darin come and see him and me and Avery came back home. I wanted to stay forever but the last people that were visiting were leaving so it was safer for me and Avery to go back with them. Darin had a long night with Cooper. Said that he was itching really bad from the gas that he even rubbed a spot on his nose. Then there were nurses coming in about every hour and every time one would walk in Cooper would just scream. He finally got some rest though and got to come home the next day. The pain medicine is working great for him. You can just tell when it is starting to wear off he just wants to lay down or be held. He also feels so good that he forgets about it and tries to get up really fast and that is when he starts screaming. But today is Monday and we are staying home from school today just to heal a little more and not take the chance of maybe a kid hitting the incision, but maybe tomorrow we will go back. Please do pray for continuing recovery and Thursday Cooper has to get his stitch out so please that Cooper will be cooperative and everything will be healed like it is suppose to be. We thank everyone for their prayers and their love and support. We also just thank the Lord for his love and mercy on Cooper's little body and that we were able to catch it in time. We do just give our Lord Jesus Christ all the glory!

Through Cooper's Eyes

Before we left, Cooper received a gift from his Baga (Katie's Mom), a new Fisher Price digital camera. After a week of letting Cooper take pictures, we thought friends and family would get a kick out of seeing the pictures. He is just as funny when he is taking them. Check it out. We hope to update it at least every two weeks. Check it out: www.cooperonamission.blogspot.com