House Call

“Wush, wush, wush…” I heard it with my own ears! Hard to believe it’s already been more than two years now since I first heard that sound coming from what has since become the little chatterbox bouncing around on the bed next to me. “Bobby?” Micah said pointing at Andrea’s belly. “That’s right, Micah,” I smiled as I listened to the newest Williamson’s strong and regular heartbeat.

Who would have thought, that out here in the boonies of Ethiopia, 2-3 hours off the nearest paved road, we could be blessed with a professional obstetrician’s house call? Not that we had gone looking for such a visit. Rather one of our friends nearby has recently opened a clinic and wanted his new nurse to receive some further training in the area of obstetrics (since it is a very common and serious medical need among young and poorly nourished expectant mothers). And well, these days, news of little Bobby is hard to hide from anyone who might causally catch a side profile of my little lady. So when the doctor from  Addis Ababa came to our area, we were graciously added in his schedule of visits. We hadn’t expected to see a doctor until our next visit to Addis (in mid-May) during which time, I will be stuck in all-day workshops. But now, here we were, the three of us together, in the comfort of our own home, listening to the first indisputable evidence of new life (60 cent pregnancy tests can’t be infallible and Andrea’s belly expansion, well, I thought maybe she’d found a backwoods Dairy Queen I don’t know about!). In all honesty, the idea of two kids running around home hasn’t fully hit us yet, but we are definitely excited!

Two notes to include before I close. I have been calling the baby “Bobby” because I believe it will be a little brother for Micah (although, yes Grandma Sue, I would be very happy with a Bobbi as well). I have no real reason for believing the gender to be a boy, just a hunch. Why the name Bobby? Because Andrea has ruled out the name “Bob” despite all the respectable Bob’s we know (if only she had known my inspirational algebra teacher -Bob Leet! He’s one of a kind!) Second, with the complication of an emergency C-section in Micah’s delivery, we have decided to plan our first furlough in conjunction with Bobby’s arrival (due date Oct 1). Therefore, plans are underway to fly home late this summer, spend time with family and friends, visit our partnering churches, maybe take a course in Dallas, and enjoy Christmas and New Years with our families. There is much to be excited for! Anticipation of seeing many of you is high on that list, right after Bobby and, well, Dairy Queen!