Honduras, The Lask Week--The Resort!

Near the end of our time in Honduras, we attended a worship service with nurse Peggy. The fellowship was mostly part of the international community and the service was held at a beautiful resort. As we were leaving Eric checked on the price of a Saturday night stay thinking that we might go there our last night in Honduras. It was WAY too pricy for us. I asked Peggy if there was another place that might be less expensive and still beautiful. That afternoon she sent a message that she would help us move to our new lodging the next day! Clinica Esperanca, the free clinic Eric was working in, has an arrangement with the Henry Morgan Hotel. A doctor serving at the Clinic can 'moonlight' at the hotel in exchange for room & board! Usually the doctor needs to be there at least a month but we were able to go for a week. We did have to pay something for me to stay but it was worth the $. The meals were buffet and soo nice. Every dinner was a different theme. The resort is owned by an Italian and most of the guests are Italian and they all gushed over Aedyn. The hotel is next door to the one where we attended worship service so we had the same lovely beach we hoped for. The baby loved the pool and the parrots and made great friends with our waiters and the hospitality team.  Eric did have to man the doctor's office form 5:30-7:00 each evening and carry a pager but he only saw 3 or so patients. One of them was a consult for a cat with mastitis! 

Our week at the Henry Morgan was special (though I did get a tummy bug and missed several of those lovely meals) but we were really ready to come home. 

Eric's grandma and great aunt came for a visit (fun and relaxing;) Eric painted our bedroom, bathroom, and guestroom; he planted our ground cover plants in the front yard-hill, and I've been holding a baby with a bad cold. And, of course, Eric is working lots so the week-and-a-half home have been busy.

Enjoy the pics of the Henry Morgan.

Honduras, The First Three Weeks

Our super neighbors drove us an hour to the airport at 5am for the first of 4 flights. We were tired and giddy all day and Aedyn slept a total of 2 hours in those 16 hours. We spent the night on Taca Airlines dime at a cute little hotel in San Pedro Sula and flew to the island of Roatan the next morning. A beautiful sunny day in the western Caribbean greeted us.

Aedyn loved the hammock and seemed to enjoy the crunch of sand in this mouth. He loved the water! He's not a fan of baths so we were surprised he was so happy in the very calm bay and in the pool at the Henry Morgan resort (more on that later.)

Eric worked 8-2 at Clinica Esperanza, a free clinic, on weekdays. The workers at the island's hospital were on strike the whole time we were in Roatan so the clinic saw some cases that would have normally been sent to the hospital. Eric liked his experience there and learning from the other doctors.  Here's the clinic and the view from it's front door. (Ooops. I can't seem to move them down here. They are at the top, the first 3 pictures. The clinic will soon have birthing rooms and hospital capabilities.)

Home again, Home again

We got home about midnight after 3 flights and a little drive. We've got fun moments and little insights and cute pictures to share. Later. we are tired.

As we walked out the door a month ago we set off bug bombs in the basement and on the main floor. So I spent a lot of my day sweeping, mopping, etc to keep bug killer out of Aedyn's mouth. Eric did lots of painting today. Finally seafoam green and bright blue are covered!

We have much to do before Eric's grandma and great aunt visit us in a few days. We're so glad to have them here for a few days, Aedyn-star will be thrilled with the cuddles.

we miss you.

Still no photos to share

I tried uploading directly from the camera but with no success. The connection is really slow.

We didn't snokle yet but it will happen! Oranges and Aedyn's tummy do not agree. We had dinner with some of the other volunteers last night (a carry-in) and someone has found a good bakery with yummy chocolate chip cookies. We're going to that bakery tomorrow. (The big grocery store on the island has about everything we would need but I'm not willing to pay those prices. We did buy a jar of Vodka Sauce and pasta for a total of $6. The noodles were aweful. We also found full-fat plain yogurt for Aedyn-$4.00, but worth it as it's his main source of protein and fat.)

I'm tutoring an island boy in English. Peggy has set him up with English tutors for the last couple of years and his vocabulary of nouns is impressive. Moses is really sweet and cheerful and thinks Aedyn is great. Moses and I have a lesson 3 days a week for about 1/2 hour after school. He's been coming early as his school teacher hasn't been coming to class so they send the kids home. EEK.

Eric is at the apartment putting Aedyn down for a nap, I'm going veggie shopping at the local market (three little stalls) and then hole-ing up for the evening with a borrowed book. Eric is going out for drinks with some new friends who are meeting too late for me to go along (Aedyn's bedtime is 6.)

Happy sunny day.

A Still Morning

The sea is very still today. This would be a great day to snorkel. Maybe I'll try that this afternoon. There's a dock in front of Peggy's house that we can take the stroller out on and rig up some shade for Aedyn.

Last night was rough. We stayed here at Peggy's to house-sit but got no sleep. The 2 dogs and the street dogs were really loud and there was other commotion that made me nervous. The noise woke the baby several times and Eric was up checking on things around the house. The mosquitoes are much worse here and we're covered in bites even though we started the night covered with bug spray. We're asking one of the med students to stay here tonight so we can take the baby back to our almost moz-free apartment.

Aedyn's napping now and I'm folding laundry on the porch and watching the water. beautiful.

Roatan!

We've been here for 9days and finally I'm able to post. The electricity isn't always here when I need it or other volunteers are using this computer here in nurse Peggy's house. Eric and I are house-sitting while Peggy in on the mainland for 4 days. We feed the pets and have access to Internet and laundry! Even better, the house is on the waterfront. Swinging in a hammock gazing at the Caribbean is a great way to pass the time.

Eric works at the clinic from 8-2 (or so) and then he's home to play. Our apartment is about a block from Peggy's and just down the hill from the clinic. Several other volunteers stay in the other apartments in our building (undergrad, med students, a nurse, 2 other docs) coming and going. Many of them are becoming certified in SCUBA as that's the big thing here. We don't SCUBA but have swam and taken out the kayak. I (heidi) kayaked with Coleen, a med student from TN, the other day. There is a dolphin research center next door and we visited the dolphins in there ocean pen.

The waves break about 200 yards from the shore, that's the lip of the coral reef this island is made from. So the water sounds a lot like Lake Michigan, soft lapping rather than big waves. Right now the parrots caged on Peggy's deck are so noisy I can hardly hear the water. School just let out and I can hear the kids outside on the road.

Roatan has one long paved road which basically runs seventyfive percent the length of the island. Some of the other roads are paved a short distance but most are dirt. Peggy has a double cab pickup but the cabs here are mostly compact cars. We grocery shopped at the islands big supermarket today and at out at a chicken-n-biscuit fast food place. Aedyn likes both! He also grins wildly at the dogs here, and there are many roaming around. The little blond baby draws lots of attention and a few women have taken him right out of our arms for a snuggle.

Hmmm, what else are you wondering. We're eating lots of beans and rice and oatmeal. Disappointingly, there isn't much good fresh food. We missed mango season but have had some good bananas and pineapple. The lettuce and cabbage have been pretty grim. We heard there's a gringo growing hydroponic greens which will surly cost us but will probably be worth it.

I've got to share the computer now. more later!

missing you

We have arrived and are well. Will try to get some time to update you later.