Second Attempt

I went back to work yesterday. It was my second attempt after trying two weeks ago and having the doctor put me back on bed rest.

I walked from my house to the taxi, which is less than two blocks. (Still not driving because I'm afraid to work the clutch.) Then I walked from one building to another at work, and through the office. I was back at home by 11:30 a.m. Last night my leg swelled and hurt so much I barely slept all night. It's still swollen and hurting today. But I barely did anything! I'm so frustrated.

The good news is, Ana said she is feeling much better physically. She has no pain at all in her knees now. She laughed and said she will not be needing diapers because she can sit down and stand up from using the toilet. She was not using diapers, but I won't go into detail about how she was managing her bathroom habits when she couldn't bend her knees. Poor lady!

She said emotionally she is doing really well too. The medicine is a miracle drug, she said. She wishes she had started it early because she thinks she wouldn't have gotten so sick.

I told her I had seen the boxes of stuff for the kids of Impacto Juvenil. I'm not sure what David will get, but we will make sure all of the kids have everything they need. She is hoping the church might give scholarships this year. That would help with David's uniform and school books. For this week they are all set.

She said she is really worried about costs that Jired will have throughout the year. Apparently the senior year of high school is extra expensive. I hate how schools in Honduras have so many costs each week for projects and stupid things that none of the parents can afford. Ana said it last night, and I wrote about it last November - those weekly costs are the reason many parents can't afford to keep their kids in school. I told Ana to please let me know if she can't afford things. I know she will do her best to find a way to get things on her own, and will call me as a last resort. I just don't want Jired to be held back his senior year because they can't afford all of the costs.

Erika's sister Kenya got a full scholarship and returned to school! I was so worried about her last year at this time. She didn't enroll and got kicked out of her house for hanging out on the streets. She was only 14, just like Erika when Erika got pregnant the first time.

Now, a year later, she is in the beauty school program through Impacto Juvenil. She's also attending a feeding program in Los Pinos called "El Comedor" which means "The Diner". They offered her a full scholarship through college if she stays on the right track! She said she's not going to be given this chance twice, so she's determined not to mess it up. I'm so proud of her!

Laura started "preparatorio" yesterday. It's opposite of the US. Here they have kindergarten first, then preschool, then first grade. (And public schools only go to 11th grade.) Last year at this time Fany was having a nervous breakdown. This year she is calm as can be. The school cancelled Laura's bus and Laura was without transportation, but Fany stayed completely calm.

She has, however, taken up her annoying ritual of watering the yard full force at 5 a.m. Apparently she believes that if she has to get up early, I should too. It's shocking how hard she can spray the palm leaves on the trees outside my bedroom window. Then later she laughs and asks if she woke me up, knowing full well that she did. Today I was already awake from my ankle. I'm not looking forward to it if she continues the habit this year.

Carlos only had three half days last week, but he is already struggling at school. His previous school only met once per week on Saturdays. At the end of the year got he credit for two years of work. It was great because he's 18 years old and started his education so late in life. However, he is not prepared for a real high school. He's not used to being around so many people, or studying so many subjects, or having so much work. He's feeling very overwhelmed.

The good thing he has a lot of support. My friend says he is adjusting well to his new home. He fits in well and gets along with everyone there. He is making friends in the neighborhood by working out at his "family's" gym. He was invited to go on a Sunday family outing, but chose not to go last weekend in hopes of seeing Molly. The family was disappointed. But they can't make him join them. I'm glad they are doing everything possible to make him feel included.

Molly is doing everything she can too. Personally, I think that Carlos needs to grow some wings and she's not giving him a chance to do so, but I know she is doing what she believes is best. I'd like to see her doing more things with him instead of for him. Or even let him do some things on his own. I have to keep reminding myself that Molly is only 23 years old. She is trying to make up for all of the abandonment and general neglect that Carlos has suffered over his life. Nobody is a perfect parent. She is doing what feels right to her.

Tomorrow and Thursday I will work half days. I hope my ankle can handle it. It's mostly seated work. Today I have Spanish class. Yesterday I was told that I'll be teaching swimming again! Twenty kids from Impacto Juvenil will get scholarships from the Olympic training center! The classes will be every Saturday for eight months starting in March or April, which will give my ankle more time to heal.