Day 16: Jaime Duque Park

This morning our apartment was abuzz as we worked to get the big kids ready for their adventure at Jaime Duque Park. The boys were up early as per usual, but us girls (minus Nana Bev) were still in bed until 8:45 am. We probably would have slept much longer if it wasn't for the noise coming from the living room.

Shane treated me to coffee in bed (again!) and lemon bread from Oma for my birthday. There's lots of celebrations this past week with our Anniversary, Mother's Day, my birthday and now Kate's Family Day!

Shane, Nana Bev, Owen, Cole and Rose were picked up by Patricia this morning and traveled to Jaime Duque Park. Jaime Duque is a large amusement park and zoo located about 20 miles north of Bogota. Last time we were in Bogota, the kids requested to visit the park twice in one week!

Since Kate isn't supposed to go outside our apartment, I stayed back with her for a quite day with my little warrior princess. She is a very easy going girl - which is a blessing with our wild crew! She was up around 8:45 am for a bottle and then fell back to sleep in her crib while we were trying to figure out how to hook up her new portable oxygen tank.

Kate and I had a very low key day at home - playing, eating, napping and snuggling. Kate really enjoys her bottles, but eating her baby food hasn't gone as well.  I'm not sure what flavors she is used to, but banana is NOT a favorite. She firmly closed those little lips of hers and refused to take a bite.

For her afternoon snack, I added rice cereal to dilute the flavor of her spinach, peas and pear baby food and she ate most of it! She must be used to less flavorful foods. She sure loves her rice rusk snacks that I brought along!

We had lots of quiet play time. It's much easier to get your fill of "Little Sister" cuddles when Owen and Rose are gone. They both smother her in love.

As for the park goers, everyone had a fabulous time! Cole's favorite was the tea cups, Rose's favorite was the "ducks", and Owen's favorite was the motorcycles.

When they got home, Rose couldn't wait to open up the bubbles that they had brought back. She LOVES blowing bubbles!

Cole is slowly warming up to his baby sister. Today he even sat next to her with a big smile on his face (it only took a few minutes of coaxing).

This evening, we celebrated my birthday with take-out from Oma (including a delicious mocha!) and a yummy chocolate cake.

There was lots of arguing over cake and who touched which piece - a definite sign that it was time for bed! We leave for La Mesa at 6:00 am tomorrow morning while Kate stays here in the apartment with one of the nurses who cared for her in the hospital. Wish us luck as we make the 2+ hour journey to the jungle where the weather is warm and the bugs plentiful. After our meeting with the Judge, I will be leaving my crew in La Mesa and journeying back to Bogota to take care of Kate.  Prayers are welcome for a speedy court process so our family can be quickly united and on our way back home.