Last Sunday when I came home from having lunch out with a friend , ( thanks to my man who held down the fort and fed the gang!), I was informed that Odesco had seriously cut his leg on a sharp corner of the trailer at church where much of the 'stuff' is stored from week to week. The kids went on to describe in detail the bleeding and the fact that they thought they could see Odesco's 'bone'. Yikes--not a comforting commentary! So after checking out the wound (which Daddy had cleaned and covered) , we decided we needed the opinion of our trusted friend, Dr. Di. Odesco and I headed over to the Di's house and the good doctor did think a visit to the ER would be the prudent thing to do. In the car before heading into the ER I prayed with our little man --that God would make him strong and courageous and grant him self control during our visit. Upon our arrival, the nurse in the pediatric area asked where Odesco was from and when I told her Liberia, she loudly shouted and enthusiastically told him how excited she was to learn this. She lived in Liberia as a missionary child, her brother was born there, and she hoped to go back there for a few weeks next year to assist at a medical clinic. She even showed us scars on her hand from a dog bite and described trudging through the Liberian bush to get some medical attention. Odesco did not share her enthusiasm and was unimpressed with this 'coincidence'. I shared her joy however and received a giant bear hug from her as we were escorted to the children's playroom to wait and wait and wait. The wait was an education in itself because the TV was on and tuned into "kid friendly" Nickelodeon. I was disgusted at the commercials and sit com geared for children--very disturbing themes on that show!...so I climbed up on the chair and turned it off. When we were finally escorted to our curtained area in the pediatric exam area, Odesco played shy. The nurse asked if he spoke English and he shook his head...little stinker :) I encouraged him to tell her his name and he mumbled it...then she asked if he would like to learn how to use the tv remote and he answered with a clear and resounding, "Yes!!"... Thankfully, as we clicked through the channels to pass the time and distract him , he quickly settled on watching a golf tournament. He was a riot and became so excited when the golfer hit a hole in one. He was incredibly self controlled but understandably apprehensive during the initial exam and later when the nurse put a gauze of lidocaine (I think!) to numb the area in preparations for the suturing to come. After his leg was numb, he tolerated the syringes of water forcefully shot into the area to clean it out. Then the stitches began...poor little fellow was hollering in pure terror as the doctor stitched him up.. Amazingly, he was able to keep his leg perfectly still but was crying out ,"Doctor, please stop...I want to go home!!" I made sure my face was in his so that he couldn't look at was was happening...I kept reassuring him that it was almost over and that he was going to be okay. Eventually he began to scream out an unfamiliar phrase over and over...I didn't understand him and wonder if perhaps he was reverting back to his tribal language...this undid me and soon I was crying along with my little man. Finally they were all done. After 4.5 hours, we were on our way home... but first we stopped at the vending machine so that I could make good on my promise of a treat if he obeyed during the stitching. Overall, Odesco did amazingly well. Even in the midst of his hollering, the nurse commented about how still he held his leg...no kicking or resisting--- this is a major evidence of God at work in his little heart granting him self control! In the car on the way home he commented ," I wish C was with me...he always helps me when I go to the doctor!" C was actually at a friend's house...had he been home, I know he would have wanted to accompany his little brother.
When we arrived home, L ran out the door visibly upset...he thought Odesco would have to spend the nite' in the hospital...he told us he prayed for his 'little' brother and was so obviously relieved to see us home. Mercy and G made Odesco a gift bag with homemade cards, stickers and other items. It was sweet to see everyone showing such concern and compassion. As you can imagine, this is not the everyday interaction we experience... but they are all growing in showing love and dying to their own selfishness. God was gracious to give me another window to view the work He is indeed doing in our midst!!
On Monday, 8 days after his initial injury, we went to our pediatrician to have the stitches removed. Of course, Odesco requested big brother, C to join us, which he did. Again, Odesco was a model patient. I wondered if the apprehension of someone else messing with his leg would send him into a tailspin but once again, he was totally self controlled and just turned his head and made funny grimacing faces as she tugged a bit at the very secure stitch job the ER doc has performed. I made sure to gush over our little man regarding his obedience...we stopped for a Frosty on the way home :)
Odesco also lost one of his front teeth this week in a wrestling match with C. He bled quite a bit but is just fine. He looks adorable with a wide gap now! What is it with our children 'helping' each other to loosen those pesky baby teeth??
So, that's the news about our little man.
I'll end with a few "Odescoisms"
** A few weeks ago at church we stopped one of our friends to get a glimpse of their beautiful newborn girl. She shared with us her baby's name which is lovely but not common at all...as we walked away, Odesco emphatically commented," Mommy, that is a strange name!!" Yes, this from a little boy whose name is just a wee bit unusual :)
** Today, C was lamenting about the many mosquito bites all over his legs (he counted something like 50!) . Odesco said," Mommy I hate mosquitoes...why did God create them? For His own glory?!? That is a great question and I was thrilled to see that he is picking up a bit of sound doctrine too!
Thanks for stopping by!
MamaB
Happy siblings welcome Odesco home with a gift bag of homemade goodies!
It's hard to believe all that fuss over a wound small enough to hide under a Bandaid!! Odesco is clutching his prized football given to him as we left the ER :)
An adorable toothless smile
Odesco was understandably a little apprehensive waiting for the doctor to come in and remove his stitches. Our pediatric practice just expanded their space and this was our first time in this room...what a great mural!
What a trouper!! Our doctor admitted that the ER physician did a great job tightly stitching up the wound...good for the wound-NOT good for her as she attempted to gently remove those stubborn stitches! 
Part of the gang with Mama K.
Are we having fun yet??? Mommy with a very reluctant L as we were waiting for the ferris wheel to take off...This was our first ride of the day and I did not give him the option of sitting this one out... I think by the end he was glad I forced the issue!
Jenkins and Odesco
G, J, and Mercy
Odesco's first Merry Go Round ride with MamaK looking on :)
Taking a break waiting for the big kiddos to join us for lunch!
Miss Mercy enjoying her first Merry-Go -Round ride :)
G looking so grown up!!
Keeping out of trouble while waiting in line for the next ride
The boys on the other hand were not so easily contained...they chose instead to chase their hats around as we walked from ride to ride. 
Mercy and Mama K...
Mercy did not hold back when she spotted one of the showers available to refresh hot and weary visitors at the park...
Our gang plus a stranger sitting between Jenkins and Mercy!
Fun in the Nerf Zone...Mama K and I had fun ambushing our children with a barrage of harmless nerf balls when they least expected it...the kids did a pretty good job of catching us off guard as well. In between ball battles we rested our weary feet!
