out of the hospital

thanks you friends for all your prayers and support during the 9 days of confinement. samuel is doing well. continue to pray for him, i think there's still a little bacteria left.

this is samuel's "feed me" face

john and jeremiah...my kid has more hair than both of yours...combined! i think he's due for another haircut this week. ho ho ho

samuel smiles

even with an IV still in his hand...what a trooper.

this is his "luke skywalker" shirt...

hospital food...on a good day.

small cup of rice, pig fat, cabbage and overripe banana...the sure path to wellness.

eye of the storm

here we are. 8 days in the hospital and two more to go. it's been a rough week as we've just had our firstborn last week and two days later, we find ourselves confined in the hospital. samuel had a UTI. first they told us it would be five days of antibiotics, then seven, and now 10. i'm not real happy about it. this week has been one of my "stay outta my way" weeks. as i'm running errands around town, i find myself saying some pretty nasty things at stupid drivers and just being pretty rotten. in the midst of preparing for a large team of students, preparing to move, running medicines to the children in the village and taking care of my family in the hospital, i have been pretty overwhelmed. this picture was one of those moments i had to slow down and get things in right perspective. right at this moment, nothing else mattered except my son feeling secure enough to sleep on my chest. i was at peace.
thanks for praying for us during this difficult time. we appreciate your prayers and communications...
much love,
the mapes clan...camping in the hospital

our new place...

some remember us sending pictures of the house we were going to move into...well, the owner changed her mind. so we found this house we're going to relocate to in bulano. it's off the main street and very close to the davidson hotel (for those of you who have been here). we'll have some work to do to have it ready by may, but we're really looking forward to moving here (maybe not the moving process). we'll be renting the first and second floor.

click here for more pics...http://picasaweb.google.com/chris.mapes/SamuelMapes

angel's first song...

yes, at the end cathee lovingly says..."how'd that came out of me?"

joy

one more mapes...the legacy continues...

big baby, little lady

Samuel Christopher Mapes
born: 4/4/08 at 1:11pm
8lbs!!!
only a few hours old here.

thanks to all for praying for us. this was a tough delivery, but God showed so much mercy to us thorough it. Samuel didn't want to relocate from his 39 week house, so he wedged his shoulder against the pubic bone. after wrestling with his midwife for a while, samuel made his appearance, and for a few seconds, made a wrinked face of defiance at the midwife. after that, as if a chorus of angels began to sing, samuel cried...bringing a mixture of tears and unexpected laughter to my voice also. we are so blessed...

any day now...

any day now, we'll be granted with the titles of "dad" and "mom". We'll be endowed with the responsibility of shaping a life; tested for the ability to live selflessly.

Dear God, grant us the wisdom, strength and integrity to teach, train and guide this child to live a life set apart for You. Just as the prophet Samuel was dedicated to You as a child, we also dedicate our Samuel and entrust him to Your care.