I decided that our blog was a bit heavy, so I wanted to count our blessing on it. We are loving our cute kids (who are staying well for the most part) . . . we had a blast at our thanksgiving feast (where 35 friends from our community came to hang out with us). . . we are progressing at our language learning (though slow at times) . . . we are growing closer and closer to our father with each passing day and with every new trial and frustration. Please remain steadfast in keeping us in your thoughts, we had a meeting with a surgeon today and he recommended removing my gall bladder. We have another meeting with a different surgeon on Saturday for a second opinion, please hope with us that it goes well and that we become confident in the path to take with this gall bladder thing. Thank you all, we miss and love you dearly!
Our cute kids . . . so in love with them!!
The olive queen . . . olives are hard to get here, we got them special from the American store for our Thanksgiving feast and Gabby was stoked to have her olives!!
Here is our language helper Azhar piling up the food on thanksgiving, he is a really cool guy!!
Gabby really likes helping out with Eli, she loves to try and feed him his bottles now, they are so cute.
Cute, cute kiddos!!

Well, Andy is doing a little better every day and we are so grateful for you lifting him up. We now have a new situation at hand though that we would appreciate you keeping in your thoughts. I (Bethany) had another attack of pain under my ribcage on the right side, I have had this pain before and went to the doctor in the U.S. for it before we came over here but that Dr. said that it was just acid reflux and gave me a prescription for Prilosec OTC. Well I went to the doctor yesterday for this pain and he did an ultrasound on my abdomen and found about 100 stones in my Gall Bladder. We are not sure yet if it will have to be removed or not, but the possibility is high. We would truly appreciate your thoughts during this time. Any words of encouragement would also be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your love and concern, we miss all of you . . . you are family.

Just to keep you all posted about Andy, the blood tests came back and he does not have malaria, so that is great! One of the counts were low though, and it is the count that detects dengue fever. The Doctor said that it was not low enough to be Dengue Fever yet, but it is definitely borderline and he is fighting some sort of virus that is for sure she said. She said that if in a few days he is still feeling awful, to come back in for another blood screen and some more tests. We are just hoping that he starts to feel better so that we can put all of this behind us.

PLEASE BE THINKING OF ANDY!!

I just really wanted to remind you all to keep Andy in your thoughts. He is getting worse, he is dizzy, a fever off and on, achy, his leg muscles are weak, he is nauseated, and very tired. He went to the Dr. this afternoon, the doctor drew some blood and as we speak I am waiting for them to call us back to hear the results of what it may be. Andy is in bed sleeping right now, taking a long nap. Please ask for his healing! Also please keep me in your thoughts . . . those of you who know me well, know that I jump to conclusions and worry easily, he is in His hands and I know he is safe there! Please ask for my ability to rest in Him!
Thank you all, we love each of you so much!

Please be thinking of our family, we have all been taking turns being sick. I (Bethany) was sick the night before last (fever of 102, chills, achy all over) and now Andy has it and I am afraid that the kids may catch it. We appreciate all of you and the friendships that we share with you. You are all dear to our hearts!
We have found a "nanny" for the kids while Andy and I have our language sessions Monday through Friday 10am to noon. She is a really sweet lady named Ima (pronounced ee-ma) and the kids love her. Ima is so comfortable with them too, makes Andy and I really feel at ease leaving the kids with her.
We hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving, we are celebrating on Saturday with some friends here. There is so much to be thankful for. One of things that we are thankful for is that our apartment did not burn down when too much power was put into one outlet in our wash room, the plug literally melted to the outlet . . . scary stuff. We know who is in control.
Thanks for remembering us even though we are not near! For those of you who did not know this, you can leave comments on this blog that we read. I check for new comments every day. All you have to do is click on the little thing at the bottom of each entry that says "comments" then write a comment and post it . . . truly simple and such an encouragement to us to know that you are thinking of us! Thanks for the joy that you bring to our lives . . . we miss you all dearly!

Everyone meet Daisy . . . the newest addition to our family. She is an Angora Rabbit. We made a deal with Gabby . . . because of the potty training setbacks when we got here, we told her that if she could go a week without putting pee pee or poo poo in her panties that she could get a bunny . . . can you guess if she was successful or not? She has now gone two weeks to the day without any accidents . . . we are all sooo pleased!

Malaka family picture zoomed in a bit, so that you can see our faces better . . . we know that is what you want.

A WEEKEND IN MALAKA!These lizards were across the river from the restaurant where we had lunch on Sunday. We thought that they were pretty cool.
Gabby, Eli, and I on one of the pieces of antique Chinese furniture that was rampant in the hotel where we stayed, The Baba House. . . it was all so cool.
Eli and I posing in the doorway of the hotel.
The kids and I posing in and by one of the antique boats at the museum there in Malaka.
Everyone was so amazed at how brave Gabby was with this monitor lizard, it even scratched her pretty badly a few times (not even one tear from her) and she still thought it was super cool that she got to be near and touch this animal. It was someones pet, they had in on the street for people to get pictures with.
Our brave girl!!

We bought both of the kids hats, the sun was brutal as we walked the streets!
This Christian church was founded in the mid 1600's , by the Dutch while they occupied Malaysia. It is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Dutch architecture in the east.
Aren't those flowers just gorgeous!! We really enjoyed the beauty and uniqueness of this small Malaysian town . . . one of a kind!


What's a historical town without a cannon displayed?? Unfortunately, this one must have been mistaken for a trash can, it was filled with garbage . . . such a bummer!


Our only family picture that we have from our weekend . . . a tourist couple offered to take it for us when they saw us taking turns taking pictures of each other.

We went to little coastal town south of Kuala Lumpur this past weekend. Above are some pics of our weekend, it is a really old historical town that has some really cool museums and old Chinese buildings . . . some really awesome architecture. There is a lot of really fun shopping too . . . a really neat night market, and some really really good food too. A really great cultural experience, that was what Malaka was!

Andy entertaining Eli with his new guitar.
Sibling bonding . . . they are really starting to enjoy each other.

Big smiles from the "speed Demon" as his shirt depicts.
Daddy and Eli having some fun . . . Eli has become a face grabber, as he starts to learn how to use his hands.

Ladies and gentlemen, . . . we have a thumb sucker, we knew we'd get one . . . he takes after his mom and dad.
Up close and personal with the Gabster.
This is Kuey Teow, a really yummy Malaysian dish that our friends Rie and Farah brought us to eat.
These are our friends Rie and Farah, such a fun couple to hang out with!
Andy is totally enjoying the food as you can tell by the look on his face. Actually he really is, he had two helpings.
Mr. smiler again . . . he loves tummy time, he gives himself tummy time now. He is constantly rolling onto his belly, we can't keep him on his back anymore. Please keep him in your thoughts as he has a yucky cold!

Here we are in front of the largest Mosque in Malaysia, Eli slept through the whole thing . . . I don't think that he thought that it was very exciting.

Here is the smiley boy . . . not always this happy, but when he is, it is really nice . . . what a cutey huh! We went to the cpvered bird park here in KL and it was really cool . . . as you can see Andy got to hold some of the birds, we all had fun. Gabby was a little nervous of the big birds at first, but she decided that they were pretty cool.
Gabby has really started to love helping out with her brother, she really likes helping me feed him.

Well . . . this is Gabby's room. She has this super cute bunk bed, a nify little table and chair set where she can do all her little crafts, and she has a litle dresser. She really loves having her own room, I like it too, it keeps the house cleaner when there is a place for all her toys.

Langkawi was so beautiful, we'll have to go back when the kids are older so that it is less stressful. It would be a lot more relaxing without a screaming three month old that was waking up twice a night to eat. We still had fun though, we are thankful for the time we had.

VACATION!!!
Gabby and Morbo . . . my bro's kitty. Eli chillin'
Gabby and her dinner =+)!

Here is our beloved washing machine, this room is right off of the kitchen. Anotherview of our couch and living room area.
This is Andy and my bathroom. Cool shower curtain huh . . . ya jealous??
This is andy and my wardrobes . . . we are still trying to get into Narnia through them . . . it hasn't worked yet.

This is our bed . . . I will post pics of Gabby's and Eli's room later, I forgot the memory stick at home that has those pictures on it. Hope you liked the little tour of our new home . . . come visit and you can have a better tour.