Weeks 28 & 29 - Photos

See the feet and eyes.

 Tom and I at Luamvundu School.

 Fishing for fish that are no longer there.

Laura and her finger.

The 5 stitches.

Healing really well. Yes, that is another sore finger! Thankfully, only a minor cut.

 My weekend escape.

Michelle and I.

Laura holding a baby Gecko on her finger.

Tom being brave too. You can just see it on his hand. We find these all the time in our bathroom.

One of the many beautiful butterflies we now see at the dam.

Weeks 28 & 29 - 14.10.12

Week 28

What a week! How many times have I said that now? Just when I think that things might be quiet for a while, something happens to keep me on my toes.

On Monday, I went with Big Laura (a girl on site) to see Lumwana East Markets and Luamvundu School. LTG is sponsoring the building of toilets at the markets, as they would have had to close if no facility was built. Now the markets can stay and people can buy and sell goods as before. The toilets are still in the early stages. They have dug the ‘hole’ (drop toilet) and are bricking up the inside walls of it. I had not been to Lumwana East before, let alone walked around behind the buildings. To get to the toilet you have to walk over all sorts of rubbish, ranging from plastic bottles to broken glass and razor blades. There is no rubbish collection facilities, and so things get left on the ground or blown there. The kids were with me and I hope they took in what the other kids have, which is not a lot. From there we went to Luamvundu School. Tom and Little Laura certainly were the main attraction. It is not very often that the kids get to see little Mzungu’s (white person). We dropped off some supplies and I taught some of the kids to do high five’s. Next year when Laura goes to Kindy, I will be able to go out to the school with the Literacy Program that LTG runs. This is something I am really looking forward to doing. The local kids really were great, so happy to see us. It was a lovely day.

Then on Tuesday, after a hard 9 km walk. I came home to blood all over the back bricks and Laura crying and with a Band-Aid on her finger. Carol told me she had cut it quite badly on the outside sink (the underneath is really quite sharp) and probably needed stitches. So off we went to the clinic. The doctor took the Band-Aid off and oh my gosh! She had nearly sliced the whole pad of her left index finger off. She was given some pethidine and diazepam in the backside and left to calm down before they could begin to stitch. Thankfully Phil came to hold Laura and I helped the doctor while he gave her 5 stitches. Unfortunately, he had to remove some skin as it had gone blue from lack of blood supply and then had to pull it all together with the stitches. To make it worse, they did not have any paediatric sutures and needles and so it was very awkward.  But OMG!!!! It was nasty. Thank goodness I don’t faint in those types of situations. Poor Laura came home and slept off the drugs. That afternoon we went for a short while to Tristan’s 6^th Birthday party. Her finger was so sore poor love.

Wednesday was quiet as Laura could not do too much with her sore finger. I had an LTG meeting in the morning and then we crashed around the house.

On Thursday, I drove to Solwezi to do some shopping. The kids at the shops have learnt now to leave me alone. So I am able to go in and shop without being hassled. It was really busy and took about an hour to go through the check-out. I was lucky that the customer behind me helped to unload my trolley as I packed it up at the other end. Most days there is no-one to help pack, which is why we generally go shopping in two's.

Friday was the best day I have had here so far. Unfortunately, my walking partner Kat is leaving and it was her farewell. But what a great night! Dinner was lovely and then the tables were moved out of the way and the dance music put on. I had not been dancing since my hen’s night and boy did I dance. I started dancing at about 930 pm and finished at 1 am. I was one of the last 6 girls to leave. The 5 tequila shots and wine kept me going! I was exhausted by the time I got home, but it was worth it. So were the sore calf muscles for the next 3 days. LOL! Thankfully I did not have a hangover, just an incredibly tired feeling.

We had to take Laura to the clinic on Saturday to get her stitches out. Unfortunately the skin was too soft and a slight infection had developed. So we had to give it some air and go back again on Sunday. Even then the skin had not sealed together, but the stitches were removed. My poor little girl's finger was a mess! If she does not have a huge scar from this I will be amazed.

On Sunday I took the kids to the dam to see if the fish had come back. Again there was none to be seen. However, we did spot masses of tadpoles and so collected a couple. I loved watching them change into frogs as a kid and so I want mine to have the same experience. Let's hope they survive.

Week 29

Thank goodness school started back again today. After dropping Tom off, Laura and I had to go to the clinic again to have her finger cleaned. The Doctor was still a bit unhappy with its progress, but it was a nasty cut, so I was not expecting miracles in a week. When we went back again on Tuesday he was impressed and so it was left up to me to keep cleaning morning and night. Now it looks good, or as good as it can. The cut is healing really well and Laura can feel the tip, so the nerve damage was only minor. I am so glad she did not take the whole tip of her finger off. 

On Wednesday, we came across 2 Chameleon’s and 3 Snake tracks. The Chameleons were gorgeous. The first was a small bright green one and when we picked it up, it started to change colour. They have the most amazing feet and eyes. See photo. I would absolutely love one. The next was obviously older as it was quite a bit bigger and a more brown in colour. I picked it up again off the road and put it down safely out of trucks path. They move so slowly, the trucks run them over, so it is always best to move them off the road. I did not enjoy seeing the Snake tracks though, quite scary really. I am not enjoying the thought of coming across one. I have picked out a decent size piece of bamboo to take with me on my walks, just in case.

That afternoon, Laura and I went to the dam to get some more water and food for the tadpoles. It was so muddy and sticky that Laura fell over on her bottom. As she was trying to get up, she stumbled and slipped and went face first into the mud. It was so funny. There were a few locals there and we all laughed together. Thankfully, Laura saw the funny side of it too.

Thursday, saw me make cakes, cakes and more cakes for the LTG cake sale. Then on Friday, I headed to the mine with Big Laura to sell them. We made 1 million!!!!!!  Kwatcha that is.

On Saturday I headed to Solwezi with my friend Michelle. We were escaping for the weekend. We left our husbands and kids at home and went to Solwezi for the night. It was great. We had a lovely lunch at the Royal Solwezi Hotel and then wandered through the local markets. I found some beautiful fabrics and I am going to get a local Zambian dressed made from one.  We then stocked up on alcohol and chocolate and headed back to the hotel to sit and relax. It wasn't long before the hotel was full of local men. Zambia was playing Uganda in a qualifying round of the Africa Cup and the hotel was showing it on big screen. It was such a great atmosphere and thankfully Zambia won, 1-0. That night the power must have gone off about 20 times. It would come on for a minute or two and then go off again. Thankfully, the kitchen was run on a generator and so dinner was still available. Then it was back to the room for a peaceful night’s sleep. It was so lovely to wake up when you are ready, instead of being pulled out of a sleep by kids screaming ‘MUM’! We have already booked our next night and this time there will be about 6 of us!

I have to admit that the last 6 ½ months have been interesting. As far as Laura is concerned she has never been sicker and I worry about long term damage to her small body. She has been on antibiotics almost constantly since being here. Most days I feel as though I am living the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ every day. We still have not received our belongings (upset about this, as we were told we would get them within a couple of months) and I have considered going home. But then I realise just what I and the kids would miss. First of all we would miss Phil, and then the whole experience. I am looking at all options at this point. How many kids can say they lived in the middle of Africa? We really want them to learn from this experience and I want to be able to say that I did help a little bit. Every little thing I do for LTG, helps a child get an education. The LTG may not be able to put a lot of kids through school now, but the 4 that we are sponsoring is 4 more than before.  Who knows how many more we will be able to do next year. So I will keep going day by day and we will see how Laura goes. The rain should be here soon and so that will make a difference.

Weeks 26 & 27 - Photos

Laura with her cannula in. Not a happy girl.

 Kat gave us some Giraffe to put in garden.

The kids love them!

 Shilenda Falls.

We all swam to these rocks from just below the logs in the front.

The kids and I.

 A rare fern in the background.

 One of the local women and her child on the back.

Hold on tight Tom, nearly there!
This is how the kids had a swim.

Made it!

Weeks 26 & 27 - 30.9.12

Week 26

OMG!  What a week! How many times have I said that now?  I thought that after Laura had her tonsils out, things would settle down for a while. Yeah right. How delusional was I?

I was up at the clinic first thing Monday morning, as Tom was having trouble breathing. I had to wait 2 hours whilst the Doctor did an interview, even though I informed the staff he was struggling to breathe. Finally the Doctor came in and put him straight in the Emergency room and on oxygen. He then had a nebuliser and intravenous antibiotics. It is so horrible watching your child struggle to breathe and cough like he was. Phil came to help out as Tom was fighting me and I needed a hand to hold him down, the poor kid. After 3 ½ hours we were finally able to go home.

On Tuesday, Laura woke up with a slight temperature but went alright during the day apart from crying a lot, so I knew something was coming. Tom of course was still bad, but the antibiotics were starting to kick in and his breathing was a lot better and his voice was coming back.

Wednesday saw me up at the clinic with Laura. She again woke up with a high fever and so I assumed she was getting what Tom had. Yeah!!! We did not have to wait 2 hours this time and yes, she was diagnosed with pharyngitis. My week was looking up. Lol. So it was back on antibiotics for her.

So, on Thursday the kids and I basically quarantined ourselves inside the house. I was also not feeling well by this point. I was extremely tired as I had Tom sleep in with me whilst his breathing was bad and then I was still up with him whilst he was coughing really nasty. Then when he settled, it was Laura’s turn to sleep with me as she was having trouble. We went to the dam to get a breath of fresh air and a sanity break as the kids were driving me crazy. Tom was starting to feel better and so was teasing Laura and she was feeling sick and so crying all the time. I just needed a drink! Lol….

Friday saw me back up at the clinic and I had Laura checked for a chest infection. Yep, gotta love my kids, at least they do share! So again, I came home with stronger antibiotics for her.

It was meant to be Tom’s last day of school for the term, but of course he had been home all week already. So I had 2 more weeks to look forward to of them teasing each other. Could it get any worse?

Oh yes it could! On Saturday I was up at the clinic again with Laura. This time she needed a nebuliser and intravenous antibiotics. The poor love did really well considering, she too had lost her voice by this stage. Why they both could not have lost their voice together is beyond me. It would have been so quiet. The rest of the day was a write off. I was still feeling sick. Tom was better but still had a residual cough. Laura was tired and Phil had slept funny and had a sore neck. No rest for the wicked. Laura had her cannula left in so as to get another dose of intravenous antibiotics, so she slept with me, so that I could make sure it did not come out and bleed everywhere. Another night of no sleep! I was up to night 9 by this point.

Sunday had Laura and I back up at the clinic for her next dose. Thankfully, it was really starting to kick in and she seemed so much better. I removed the cannula as we did not think she needed anymore and the doctors were happy. She had basically been on antibiotics since we’ve been here. We all went to the dam again for some fresh air and lunch. Phil was still sore and I was still sick, but fighting it. Tom was well and truly back to normal. I had my first full night’s sleep in a long time and boy did I sleep. Unfortunately, it was back up at 6am with the kids though!

Week 27

After last week, this one was quiet. We did not do too much at all. I was still slightly sick and I did not want the kids spreading their germs if they still had some. So we pretty much spent it alone. I however, was really going crazy by this point. Having 2 sick kids and feeling awful yourself, is not fun. Phil had also been working long hours and so I have had to deal with them all day, every day myself.

On Tuesday, Yolandi across the road had a get together for her birthday. It was great to get out. We then had our first storm and rain. It was heavy, but not as heavy as it is going to get apparently. Laura does not like thunder and we have now been given a “Booma Booma” (Laura’s term for lightening) light for her room, courtesy of Kat who is leaving and donated it to Laura.

Ruth has just left as she is pregnant and is heading home to have her baby in Australia and now Kat is leaving for Asia. I am the only person left from our walking group. It is certainly going to be quiet when Kat finally leaves in a few weeks. Not that I have been able to go walking these last couple of weeks.

The weather has been turning. It is still really warm, but now every couple of days we get some cloud and maybe a bit of thunder and a few drops. I am looking forward to the wet season as I have not experienced one before, but I am not sure how fun it will be for Laura. The thunder is incredibly loud apparently and the lightning amazing.

On Sunday we all went to some local falls. It was a reasonable drive, 30 km’s down a dirt and pot hole filled road or track is more like it. But once we got there it was lovely. I have not been able to find the name of the falls anywhere, but they are past a village called Shilenda on a branch of the Mwonbezhi River. We were even able to hop in and have a swim. Thankfully, there were no crocodiles or hippo’s. The current was very strong and having Laura on my back made it very difficult at times. The locals looked on with amusement as we swam. It really was a great day. On the way back we stopped to give a lady and her baby a ride to Manyama. I would hate to think how long it would have taken her to walk 35 km. She did not speak English and so were not able to communicate very much.

I can only hope that the last week of school holidays will pass uneventfully.