My little guy turns six months next week. I remember when Monkey Lou turned six months. and I was so anxious to start her on rice cereal. This time around, I am a bit sad to get him going on solids because it marks the point at which he is no longer solely dependent on me for his nourishment. I'll still keep nursing him for several months yet, but he is slowly but surely, growing up.
So, just a few short days and my Mr. Bean will join the ranks of veggie lovers everywhere. I bought a boatload of pureed baby veggies at a grocery store across the border in France. They oddly don't sell strained veggies here in Barcelona - most mothers either cook their veggies and puree them with a wand blender, or they have a BabyCook machine. I got my BabyCook for a Christmas present this year, and I have to say, it is a nifty little invention. Steams and purees in one go, but a bit of a pain to clean. I've already put it to use quite a bit, since Monkey Lou refuses veggies unless they are pureed into absolute velvet and even then it is a bit of a chore. The only way to get her to eat broccoli is to hide it in a breakfast bread (as in substituting the pureed pumpkin in the recipe with pureed broccoli). It tastes a bit like a falafel.
Even though I have my fancy baby food machine, I like the little glass baby jars for storing things, and honestly, convenience. Once I run out of Mr. Bean's fancy French baby food (not fancy, actually, just Nestle brand) he'll be getting his veg from the BabyCook as well. I've got about a month's supply though, so he'll be ready for a wee bit of texture by then.
Before you know it, he'll have moved past strained carrots to Cheerios, hot dog bits to animal crackers, then on to french fries and pizza. I suppose he'll come full circle again and be back to strained carrots in about 80 years, but that point really is a long way off. Though I have a feeling that way time is passing lately, that the days of french fries and pizza will be here in a blink of an eye.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
One week later...
So my sister-in-law was a bit off in her estimate of a 24-hour bug. It's been a week since we got hit, and we're all still dealing with the after-effects of a rather dreadful bout with the flu. Was it the actual flu? Well, I think so, as I can't recall the last time I had a 39 (103) degree fever, that came out of nowhere, with a cold. However, our rather odd physician, assigned by the town clinic (where everyone has to go for treatment, if they are a carrier of the public insurance) disagreed.
The doctors at the CAP (clinic) all have their own private practices as well, and do hours at the CAP on a regular schedule each week. I'd never met our doctor before, but have been pretty happy with the medical treatment our children have received at the hands of the pediatricians and nurses there. My husband said that he's known this doctor since he was little, and that he was great, 'really knows his stuff,' etc.
Upon meeting our doc, I was a bit taken aback by his general appearance...he had those wacky bifocals that make one's eyes look like dinner plates, and can be altogether disconcerting when making eye contact. He also had a rather gruff way about him which made it clear he was not open to questions. Since my husband and I had the same bug, we just went in together. He looked at both of our throats, listened to both of us breathe, and pronounced that we did not in fact have the flu, but a cold. I, still convinced it was the flu, bit my tongue to ask how he could possibly know this for sure, and waited for his treatment plan. Regardless of whether it is the flu or a cold, there really isn't much you can do but ride it out... He prescribed lots of ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen), and Jordi got a cough syrup (me no, as am still making food for Mr. Bean) and that was it. No biggie that I disagreed with his diagnosis...what he said to Jordi during the appointment was much, much worse. When examining our throats he said:
'Yours is worse than your wife's.'
This, of course, opened a giant door for my husband to lay claim that he was, in fact, feeling more poorly than me. A door which most definitely did not need to be opened. I never get to be sick by myself, because he always gets the virus of the week as well. Then I feel the need to take care of him as well as the kids, as he just seems much sicker than me. Men are not the best patients, and sometimes I honestly think that they just have a far lower tolerance for pain than we do. We do give birth after all.
Luckily, by the time the mass quantities of painkillers had kicked in, he was more up and able to help out with the children's needs as well as general house stuff that needed doing. He went back to work yesterday, stating that he was able to get more rest working as a PE teacher with small children than he was able to get at home. An accurate assessment, I suppose.
We're all pretty much better now, Monkey Lou is still spewing incredibly gross amounts of goop from her nose and Mr. Bean has an altogether adorable cough, but we're all on the mend.
Thank goodness, because now that we're all over this illness, I can finally sit down and take a rest.
The doctors at the CAP (clinic) all have their own private practices as well, and do hours at the CAP on a regular schedule each week. I'd never met our doctor before, but have been pretty happy with the medical treatment our children have received at the hands of the pediatricians and nurses there. My husband said that he's known this doctor since he was little, and that he was great, 'really knows his stuff,' etc.
Upon meeting our doc, I was a bit taken aback by his general appearance...he had those wacky bifocals that make one's eyes look like dinner plates, and can be altogether disconcerting when making eye contact. He also had a rather gruff way about him which made it clear he was not open to questions. Since my husband and I had the same bug, we just went in together. He looked at both of our throats, listened to both of us breathe, and pronounced that we did not in fact have the flu, but a cold. I, still convinced it was the flu, bit my tongue to ask how he could possibly know this for sure, and waited for his treatment plan. Regardless of whether it is the flu or a cold, there really isn't much you can do but ride it out... He prescribed lots of ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen), and Jordi got a cough syrup (me no, as am still making food for Mr. Bean) and that was it. No biggie that I disagreed with his diagnosis...what he said to Jordi during the appointment was much, much worse. When examining our throats he said:
'Yours is worse than your wife's.'
This, of course, opened a giant door for my husband to lay claim that he was, in fact, feeling more poorly than me. A door which most definitely did not need to be opened. I never get to be sick by myself, because he always gets the virus of the week as well. Then I feel the need to take care of him as well as the kids, as he just seems much sicker than me. Men are not the best patients, and sometimes I honestly think that they just have a far lower tolerance for pain than we do. We do give birth after all.
Luckily, by the time the mass quantities of painkillers had kicked in, he was more up and able to help out with the children's needs as well as general house stuff that needed doing. He went back to work yesterday, stating that he was able to get more rest working as a PE teacher with small children than he was able to get at home. An accurate assessment, I suppose.
We're all pretty much better now, Monkey Lou is still spewing incredibly gross amounts of goop from her nose and Mr. Bean has an altogether adorable cough, but we're all on the mend.
Thank goodness, because now that we're all over this illness, I can finally sit down and take a rest.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Sicky sicky sicky not sicky
Well, the whole family caught the bug, with the exception of Mr. Bean. Hope those antibodies in my milk are kicking the ass of whatever virus is going around. Apparently it is a quick bug, with most symptoms hitting the pavement within 24-hours. Monkey Lou has been much better today, chipper with loads of boogers coming out of her nose. Last night her fever was up to 39.4 (103) and would not go down despite ibuprofen, paracetamol, and wet towels. And two more seizures to boot. The second one was more of an absence seizure, not a jerky tonic-clonic, and she started to get a bit blue in the face, so we called an ambulance, thinking they would arrive with oxygen supply quickly. It took 25 minutes, by when the seizure had stopped and Monkey Lou was quite lumpy and not really responding except for looking all around. Papa had to take her to the hospital while I stayed back with Mr. Bean, marking the first time that I'd not traveled in the ambulance with my little girl. I teared up a bit as the medic carried her down the stairs, but the frequent text messages and updates helped me relax. Oddly, they didn't take her blood to check for infection, per usual our visits there. Instead, they did a blood prick to check her blood sugar (having a diabetic sister and father, this is a good idea), and then wanted to check her pee for some reason. But she wouldn't go, so they finally released her at 1am. I was so happy when her Papa carried her in and she started saying 'Mama, Mama, where are you?' Monkey Lou was more her normal self. Unfortunately, our battle with this virus was not quite over yet.
I started having a bit of a tight chest last night, woke up a bit achy this morning, had the shakes around 11am, 38.9 (102) degree fever by 1pm, and am now slightly lower but feeling loads better. Hubby on the other hand is about three hours behind me in the evolution of the disease, starting to shiver around 2pm and now huddled in Monkey Lou's bed with the covers and a 38.3 (101) temp. He was reluctant to call in reinforcements, but I finally made him call his mama about an hour ago. She arrived with his sister in tow, and now Mr. Bean and Monkey Lou are being taken care of in the other room while the husband sleeps it off and I write this post. Technically I am supposed to be sleeping, but I find it difficult to sleep when I have a fever. Everything hurts and I just can't get to the point where I pass out.
Sitting in a room on my own (for the first time in months, I think) is rest enough. And I hear the distinct clatter of my dishes being washed. Plus, the MIL and SIL brought over soup and get-better food which makes me want to hurl right now, but perhaps later.
Right now all I want is my big jug of water and to watch the new episode of Project Runway All-Stars.
By the way, this week was a vacation week, and here is the breakdown of what we were supposed to do, and what we ended up doing....
Monday: Trip to Lleida - car breaks down on the way - sat around at home
Tuesday: Trip to La Roca Outlets - car has another issue, goes back to the mechanic - sat around at home
Wednesday: Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, trip to La Roca Outlets - waited for almost two hours for appointment, car was still not ready, Monkey Lou ended up having a seizure
Thursday: Trip to La Roca Outlets - cancelled due to Monkey's illness, two more seizures, trip to ER
Friday: Monkey all better - Mama and Papa down for the count
Saturday: Hubby is supposed to meet up with is friends, go out to dinner, 'party, party'...we'll see if he rallies. Probably not the best play, but it is up to him, I'm not saying anything...
Unless he is completely useless on Sunday morning...then I might really have to work on holding my tongue.
I started having a bit of a tight chest last night, woke up a bit achy this morning, had the shakes around 11am, 38.9 (102) degree fever by 1pm, and am now slightly lower but feeling loads better. Hubby on the other hand is about three hours behind me in the evolution of the disease, starting to shiver around 2pm and now huddled in Monkey Lou's bed with the covers and a 38.3 (101) temp. He was reluctant to call in reinforcements, but I finally made him call his mama about an hour ago. She arrived with his sister in tow, and now Mr. Bean and Monkey Lou are being taken care of in the other room while the husband sleeps it off and I write this post. Technically I am supposed to be sleeping, but I find it difficult to sleep when I have a fever. Everything hurts and I just can't get to the point where I pass out.
Sitting in a room on my own (for the first time in months, I think) is rest enough. And I hear the distinct clatter of my dishes being washed. Plus, the MIL and SIL brought over soup and get-better food which makes me want to hurl right now, but perhaps later.
Right now all I want is my big jug of water and to watch the new episode of Project Runway All-Stars.
By the way, this week was a vacation week, and here is the breakdown of what we were supposed to do, and what we ended up doing....
Monday: Trip to Lleida - car breaks down on the way - sat around at home
Tuesday: Trip to La Roca Outlets - car has another issue, goes back to the mechanic - sat around at home
Wednesday: Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, trip to La Roca Outlets - waited for almost two hours for appointment, car was still not ready, Monkey Lou ended up having a seizure
Thursday: Trip to La Roca Outlets - cancelled due to Monkey's illness, two more seizures, trip to ER
Friday: Monkey all better - Mama and Papa down for the count
Saturday: Hubby is supposed to meet up with is friends, go out to dinner, 'party, party'...we'll see if he rallies. Probably not the best play, but it is up to him, I'm not saying anything...
Unless he is completely useless on Sunday morning...then I might really have to work on holding my tongue.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Apple Hat
I found the cutest knitting pattern today and I think I'm going to give it a go. This, despite only having knitted scarves and an ill-fitting sock (read: not plural as in socks, but simply sock, as I grew discouraged and gave up...something that happens all too often when I become enthused by a craft project). But, Mr. Bean needs a hat, and I do know how to knit and purl, and with the help of Youtube and Google, I am sure I can pull this nifty little hat off. I will post results when finished.
It will probably get done sometime around July.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
0 days and counting...
You know how they have those counters at worksites, '28 days since our last accident' etc.? Well, we sort of feel that way about Monkey's seizures. She only has them with fevers, and as she's gotten older, the fevers haven't been as frequent, therefore giving us a larger space of time between fever seizures. The last one was on November 24th, American Thanksgiving.
Until this evening.
She was cranky all day, and threw a massive temper tantrum at the Children's hospital where we had an appointment with the ear, nose, and throat doctor. In addition to epilepsy, she has big adenoids which caused her to be sick constantly last year. The one kid that really doesn't need extra chances at illness lucks out with her mother's gargantuan adenoids (I had them out when I was seven - and no, the ice cream didn't make up for the discomfort. If I recall, the idea of ice cream was completely unappetizing, and I stuck with Flintstones popsicles. Barney was lemon. As he should be.). She didn't want to eat much at lunch, and woke up from her nap (again, sans xumet) a right grump. So, I took her temperature. Since it was only 37.3 (99.2 for the Americans out there), ibuprofen was not in order, so I plunked her down with a 'Wonder Pets' and she cheered up.
We headed over to the grandparents' house for an afternoon visit, as Iaia (grandma) has been feeling a bit poorly (stomach bug, and some sort of cyst on her head which is supposedly not serious, but irritating just the same). Monkey ate some cookies and milk, and was playing with her toys in the living room, when BAM, she toppled over, luckily hit the floor backside first before seizing for 45 seconds. We have been through this many a time at this point, and while it is not a walk in the park, we get through it. Remembering that when this all started when she was just a week shy of six months old (and on an airplane halfway between Australia and Japan, no less - another story for another day), and that her seizures used to last upwards of 35 minutes and require a trip via ambulance to the hospital, IV drugs, and a team of doctors surrounding her in the emergency room, I'd say we've come quite far. Even last year, she was having seizures about every three to four weeks, always coinciding with a fever, and her last one was back in November, and prior to that, June. Our life is slowly, but surely gaining normalcy.
She takes three medications each morning and night to help prevent these seizures, and the doctors say that they are having an effect as seen by the duration of the seizures having dramatically lessened. I have my doubts, as I have also read it is very difficult to control fever seizures, and that as children mature and start to grow out of them, they shorten up and are fewer and far between.
I do hope the day comes when our girl is both seizure and medication free, but until then it is what it is, and this is just part of our life
That being said...again, our trip to the outlet mall to bargain hunt has been put on the back burner. Car is healed (to a tune of about 400 smackers), but our little girl needs her rest now. Poor hubby gets to camp out in her room for the next few nights, as we want to keep the kids separate while she is ill, and someone needs to stay close in case she has another crisis during the night.
Fingers crossed she heals quickly. Off to beg for antibiotics tomorrow!
Until this evening.
She was cranky all day, and threw a massive temper tantrum at the Children's hospital where we had an appointment with the ear, nose, and throat doctor. In addition to epilepsy, she has big adenoids which caused her to be sick constantly last year. The one kid that really doesn't need extra chances at illness lucks out with her mother's gargantuan adenoids (I had them out when I was seven - and no, the ice cream didn't make up for the discomfort. If I recall, the idea of ice cream was completely unappetizing, and I stuck with Flintstones popsicles. Barney was lemon. As he should be.). She didn't want to eat much at lunch, and woke up from her nap (again, sans xumet) a right grump. So, I took her temperature. Since it was only 37.3 (99.2 for the Americans out there), ibuprofen was not in order, so I plunked her down with a 'Wonder Pets' and she cheered up.
We headed over to the grandparents' house for an afternoon visit, as Iaia (grandma) has been feeling a bit poorly (stomach bug, and some sort of cyst on her head which is supposedly not serious, but irritating just the same). Monkey ate some cookies and milk, and was playing with her toys in the living room, when BAM, she toppled over, luckily hit the floor backside first before seizing for 45 seconds. We have been through this many a time at this point, and while it is not a walk in the park, we get through it. Remembering that when this all started when she was just a week shy of six months old (and on an airplane halfway between Australia and Japan, no less - another story for another day), and that her seizures used to last upwards of 35 minutes and require a trip via ambulance to the hospital, IV drugs, and a team of doctors surrounding her in the emergency room, I'd say we've come quite far. Even last year, she was having seizures about every three to four weeks, always coinciding with a fever, and her last one was back in November, and prior to that, June. Our life is slowly, but surely gaining normalcy.
She takes three medications each morning and night to help prevent these seizures, and the doctors say that they are having an effect as seen by the duration of the seizures having dramatically lessened. I have my doubts, as I have also read it is very difficult to control fever seizures, and that as children mature and start to grow out of them, they shorten up and are fewer and far between.
I do hope the day comes when our girl is both seizure and medication free, but until then it is what it is, and this is just part of our life
That being said...again, our trip to the outlet mall to bargain hunt has been put on the back burner. Car is healed (to a tune of about 400 smackers), but our little girl needs her rest now. Poor hubby gets to camp out in her room for the next few nights, as we want to keep the kids separate while she is ill, and someone needs to stay close in case she has another crisis during the night.
Fingers crossed she heals quickly. Off to beg for antibiotics tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Success!
Well, she made it through the entire night, only appearing in our bed around 5:30am. Which is pretty typical, actually. No mention of 'Pa,' no asking for it, nothing. Let's see how naptime goes.
As for the car, still waiting on the finishing time and the estimate. Sent Papa off to the psychologist with the Monkey today, which leaves me an exciting morning free for laundry and dishes. Wheeeeee!
Of course, first, a cup of coffee and last night's episode of "The Daily Show" which featured a segment on new Republican frontrunner Rick Santorum. This man frightens me, not only because of his ideological beliefs, but because he just looks smarmy and like he has a personality of an asshat. And I fundamentally disagree with everything that comes out of his mouth for the most part.
Sometimes I think that moving back to the US would be a good idea, more space, cheaper housing, we could have a yard and two cars, etc...but seeing the dysfunction of the government and the mainstream support for people with such non-secular views on how to run a country and by extension, the lives of the people living in that country, makes me want to build an igloo in Finland and learn how to make snowshoes. Okay, maybe not to that extreme, but...
We live in Spain right now, and though the economy is in the dumpster, and we are also being run by a ship of fools, at least they're progressive enough to support gay marriage, public health insurance, and recognize that Socialism is not a four-letter-word. Though it is becoming increasingly so, as the employment rate inches (how do you say that in metric...centimeters?) its way towards 30%.
All this from a super-Catholic (less so than before, but still pretty Catholic) country that only legalized divorce in 1981. 1981!!!
As for the car, still waiting on the finishing time and the estimate. Sent Papa off to the psychologist with the Monkey today, which leaves me an exciting morning free for laundry and dishes. Wheeeeee!
Of course, first, a cup of coffee and last night's episode of "The Daily Show" which featured a segment on new Republican frontrunner Rick Santorum. This man frightens me, not only because of his ideological beliefs, but because he just looks smarmy and like he has a personality of an asshat. And I fundamentally disagree with everything that comes out of his mouth for the most part.
Sometimes I think that moving back to the US would be a good idea, more space, cheaper housing, we could have a yard and two cars, etc...but seeing the dysfunction of the government and the mainstream support for people with such non-secular views on how to run a country and by extension, the lives of the people living in that country, makes me want to build an igloo in Finland and learn how to make snowshoes. Okay, maybe not to that extreme, but...
We live in Spain right now, and though the economy is in the dumpster, and we are also being run by a ship of fools, at least they're progressive enough to support gay marriage, public health insurance, and recognize that Socialism is not a four-letter-word. Though it is becoming increasingly so, as the employment rate inches (how do you say that in metric...centimeters?) its way towards 30%.
All this from a super-Catholic (less so than before, but still pretty Catholic) country that only legalized divorce in 1981. 1981!!!
Monday, February 13, 2012
First night down...
Okay, we cut the end of the pacifier. But in the end didn't give it to her...have to give props to my husband, who put her down and didn't cave. She finally passed out after some tears. Her exhaustion probably added to her short tantrum, today our trip to the town of Lleida in the western part of Catalunya was stymied by an electrical short in the engine, causing a new warning light to appear in the dashboard. Since the symbol was unfamiliar (sort of a curlique...curli-que...curly-q?), we had to look it up in the owner's manual. This, however, is unfortunately in German as we bought the car (a VW, natch) while living there. So...we had to call a friend whose girlfriend is German, hoping that they were together. They were, and luckily for us, she was able to translate for us...unluckily the translation was: stop driving immediately and get a tow truck.
This we did, and our VW is now sitting at the Werkstatt (workshop) getting fixed. Not too pricey, hopefully, because if we get the car back by tomorrow, we will be going to the La Roca Outlets. I got two killer pairs of Camper boots there last year and am hoping for a repeat of luck.
But if the bill from the mechanic is too high, I imagine my spending spree will also be stymied.
Fingers crossed that Monkey stays in her bed tonight, fast asleep...
This we did, and our VW is now sitting at the Werkstatt (workshop) getting fixed. Not too pricey, hopefully, because if we get the car back by tomorrow, we will be going to the La Roca Outlets. I got two killer pairs of Camper boots there last year and am hoping for a repeat of luck.
But if the bill from the mechanic is too high, I imagine my spending spree will also be stymied.
Fingers crossed that Monkey stays in her bed tonight, fast asleep...
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