Bad Days

A crazy couple days here...

We took Luna to the U.S. Embassy yesterday to register her birth. She is now officially a dual citizen, and all the appropriate paperwork is coming soon. I felt like she should have a little mini flag to wave! It was fun to visit the embassy. While in Brussels we also ate at Pizza Hut, and we found a newsstand selling Real Simple magazine and Oreo cookies! It was an American morning.

Since around Monday, Luna has been vomiting much more than usual. She hasn't seemed ill, and hasn't had a fever or any other symptoms other than restlessness and trouble sleeping. After we returned from Brussels, she threw up a lot all at once, which made us nervous. We called the doctor, and she was concerned as well, enough so that she wanted us to bring her in immediately. It was already nearly 5, so she told us to call the on-call pediatrician and bring Luna in to see him. So long story short, we found ourselves frantically rushing to catch a train to get Luna to the doctor.

Luna and I left first, as G stayed behind to change his clothes and close up the house. I noticed before we left that the sky had gotten dark, so I grabbed the rain cover for the carriage. I began rushing along to the station, and about halfway there, it started to rain. It was very light at first, and I half thought about just tossing a blanket over Luna and trying to make it to the station without the cover. But I decided not to risk it, and stopped to put the cover over the carriage. I had no more than fastened the velcro when the skies opened up and it began to pour. Then out of nowhere, the winds began. Within minutes, it was as though I was in the middle of a hurricane. The winds became so strong that they were trying to wrench the carriage from my grip. The rain cover was barely staying on. I had to lay my body over the carriage to keep it on the ground and to keep the rain cover on, so I was laying over it and running at the same time. I finally realized I was not going to make it to the station without one of us getting hurt, so I found a little glass shelter (like a bus shelter, but on the train platform) and got us inside. Luna was screaming hysterically and I was drenched to the skin. She was mostly dry, just a little damp where some rain had leaked around the seams of the rain cover. But she was understandably terrified, and I could not comfort her without soaking her as well. I wrapped her up tight in the blanket and kept the rain cover over her. I was afraid of the lightning, but decided we were safer where we were than out in the elements. G finally appeared through the storm and joined us in the shelter. He was dripping as well. Once he was there, we decided to try to make it the rest of the way to the station, because we were freezing. We made it inside finally, where we attracted quite a lot of attention - two sopping wet parents and a baby screaming in her carriage. I managed to calm Luna down and she actually fell asleep while we were waiting. Eventually, though, she got upset again because she was cold. I was still drenched to the skin so I wasn't able to warm her against me. Since the storm had faded to just a steady rain by this point, we headed home. We arrived, wet and bedraggled, but safe at last. We got all of us into dry clothes, then we wrapped up in blankets and G and I had tea and cookies while Luna had some milk. Needless to say, we did not get to the doctor last night.

Soooo, first thing this morning we headed to the doctor. She examined Luna and asked a bunch of questions, and then decided to do some tests to see if there was anything wrong. She ordered a urine test to check for a bladder infection (I had noticed some dark urine), and ultrasound scans of the brain and the stomach. First stop was the pediatrics ward, where the urine collection bag was attached. They adhere a little plastic bag over her, well, you get the idea. And then you wait. While we were waiting, it was off to registration and then to radiology. Luna was awesome during the ultrasound - she laughed and smiled at the technician, and at one point laid her hand over his while he was moving the wand around her belly. She only fussed once - his machine suddenly made a loud noise and it scared her. The scans were quick and painless. We then went to the cafeteria for awhile to continue to wait. And wait. We kept checking her diaper, but the little bag was empty. We went back to the pediatrics ward and continued to wait. Twice she filled her diaper and they had to clean her up and attach a new bag. We waited for several hours, but she would not go. She got so tired and fussy, she couldn't sleep for more than a few minutes at a time. Finally, we asked the nurse to call the doctor and tell her we wanted to take the baby home. She came and did a catheterization - it took 2 minutes. No idea why she didn't do that to start with!! Luna cried, but just for a second. The scans were both fine - nothing wrong with her brain, and the little valve that closes off the stomach works properly. We haven't yet heard the results of the urinalysis, the doctor is supposed to call. In the end, after 4 and a half hours at the hospital, she sent us home with a prescription for medicine that is supposed to soothe her stomach, which we are supposed to give her three times a day for a week. After the first dose she puked twice, so its not especially helpful. So long as she doesn't develop any new symptoms, I think we will just deal with the vomiting and hope it improves next week when we start solid food.

Here's hoping the next few days are better! We're planning to stay the hell home tomorrow!

Sleeping Like... Well, a Baby

The big news around here is that Luna has started sleeping in her crib at night! We went to the pediatrician for vaccinations Monday and discussed a few things with her, and she said we should get Luna sleeping in her own bed, even if it meant crying it out. We were not very happy about the crying it out idea, but we came home resolved to suffer through it. Bedtime came and I nursed her and rocked her until she fell asleep, and then laid her in the crib. As usual, she awoke when I moved her, but I walked away anyway. I went downstairs and flipped on the baby monitor to hear.... silence. I went up to check, and sure enough, she had curled up on her side and gone to sleep as though she had been doing so every night of her life. I figured it was a fluke and that the first time she woke to eat she'd balk at the idea of going back in there. But she woke to eat at her usual time, nursed and rocked, and then settled right back into the crib with no fuss at all. She slept all night. She slept more than I did, I was so nervous I checked on her every fifteen minutes I think.

Last night I figured she'd scream when I put her to bed (especially because she had a fever last night), but no, she again settled right in. Maybe she was just ready, I don't know. I am hoping it continues to be this easy.

Naps are another story entirely - she still refused to sleep in the crib at naptime today, but it may be because she isn't feeling well today and has been extra clingy. I figured I'd tackle that challenge once she is feeling better.

Yes, unfortunately, Luna did not escape this round of vaccinations unscathed. She had a low grade fever last night. One dose of Baby Perdolan cleared it right up, but she continues to be whiney and clingy and her eyes look sick. She's thrown up her milk several times, too. Hopefully she will be better by tomorrow.

We also discussed the acid reflux again with the doctor. I told her that the current medicine seems to make the reflux about 50% better, and she said she expects that to continue to improve as she gets older. She suggested we begin solid foods at 4 months, as it minimizes reflux. Interestingly, the norm here is to feed babies pureed potatoes and vegetables right from the start - the doctor had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned baby cereal. So in just a couple more weeks, Luna will get her first taste of potatoes!

The doctor also mentioned that Luna has a larger than average head. I was not surprised to hear that, considering that her head got stuck despite my wide hips. The doctor embarrassed the hell out of us by measuring both of our heads and determining that both parents have large heads (who knew??), and that Luna's large head was probably just genetic and unlikely to be anything to worry about. Nonetheless, she is going to keep an eye on it and make sure the rate of growth runs parallel to the growth chart.

We are enjoying G's vacation. Not doing much, but its nice to have more family time. We're mostly hanging out.

I learned this week that my brother has joined the military. He will be thirty this month, so it was a bit of a shock to us. Supposedly there is no risk of him being shipped overseas in the position he signed up for, but I don't trust that. I love my brother dearly and I worry about his safety. Please keep him in your thoughts, or in your prayers if you are the praying sort.

Little Swimmer

We've been getting Luna used to her splash pool. The first try was a little rough, she didn't care for it much. But we tried again today, this time using the little seat from her bath, and she did much better. She even smiled a few times! We splashed a bit and squirted water on her and each other with the pool toys. She might have stayed in all afternoon if we hadn't heard her fill up her swim diaper and decided it was time to clean up!

More photos and videos of the swimming pool adventures here!

Another Facebook Whore

I finally gave in and signed up for Facebook. I had no choice, very few people can be bothered to read my blog and I do want to keep in touch with everyone from back home. Besides, I wanted to play Farmville. :P I've reconnected with a bunch of old friends already.

I will keep blogging, and I appreciate those of you who read it regularly!

New videos and photos up on Photobucket!

Luna is learning to talk, she makes the greatest noises!! She's growing so fast! Her sleep issues are getting worse and worse - she still will not sleep alone, and now she is starting to have trouble sleeping in the wrap as well. Her eczema seems to be better most days. The reflux medicine works, but not 100%. We love our difficult baby!

By the way, the hat I am wearing in this pic is one of two Red Sox hats I wear all the time! Spreading the Sox love here in Belgium. :)

Family and a Friend

This is Luna with the toy frog Grammy N sent her over with my mother. She loves to eat him. :D

Its been several days since my mother left, and I miss her very much. It was so nice to have her here. G says I was happier than he has seen me since I moved here. But, as she says to Luna, Gramma had to go back into the box (the box being the computer screen where she talks to us on Skype).

One thing that has made it much easier is my new friend A. I spent the day at her house on Tuesday, just hanging out and talking. Both babies slept most of the day, but at one point they were both awake and sitting on our laps and they just stared at each other. It was so funny! A and I get along great, its like we were meant to be friends. We have so much in common!

G had Wednesday and Thursday off, and we enjoyed two lazy days at home. He is working tonight, but he has the weekend off as well. We've been enjoying playing with the baby and watching her smile.

Luna continues to grow and change faster than I can believe. Unfortunately, she continues to refuse to sleep alone. I've spent hours over the past few days trying to convince her to sleep in her cradle, her crib, and her bassinet, but she absolutely refuses. When she's in a good mood, she lays in them kicking and talking and staring at a mobile or whatever, but never ever falling asleep, no matter how tired she was to begin with. When she is in a bad mood (as she was this afternoon), she lays in them and screams until I give up (I lasted 40 minutes this afternoon). She simply will not sleep alone. She sleeps in the Moby wrap and in bed with me, but if she accidentally falls asleep somewhere else, such as in the carriage or in the swing, she wakes up within 15 minutes and will not go back to sleep. So, does anyone have any suggestions??

Ghent

Yesterday we visited Ghent. It was a long day - we were out for 11 hours altogether. Luna travels like a pro, she was so well behaved! Our little world traveller!

Ghent WOULD be beautiful city, in fact, G says its his favorite city in Belgium. But we got there and discovered the entire city is under construction! Its massive in scope - imagine hundreds of tourists crowding through little makeshift bridges and walkways made of loose boards. It was nearly impossible to get a picture without scaffolding or a dump truck in the frame, and it was insanely dusty! We were all filthy when we got home.

We just wandered around the city, picnicking next to the river and meandering through streets. We had dinner at a little pizzeria called Pinnochio's. We first tried another pizzeria down the street, but the asshole waiter was giving us a hard time about parking Luna's carriage and was being extremely unaccommodating, so we got up and left. Some places are really not baby friendly! G said we should have taken a picture of the place so I could post it on my blog and warn others away, but we didn't. :)

Today is Antwerp, another long hot day. Hopefully Luna continues to behave like a little angel!

Shot to the Heart

Luna had her first immunizations today and it was awful! For me, that is. She screamed like crazy when it happened, but five minutes later was smiling again. I nearly cried. I asked the doctor to give them to me instead, but she said it doesn't work that way. :P I haven't noticed any fever so far, so hopefully she will escape reaction free, but we have a fever medicine handy just in case. She's been very restless today and hasn't really settled in for a good nap, but I don't know that its related to the shots.

Though we saw some early improvements in the reflux with the new medicine, the last couple of days haven't been quite so good. She's been very fussy again and we've noticed some of the old symptoms returning. Hopefully things will continue to improve from the medication.

The most exciting thing happened today while we were at the immunization office! I had Luna down on the floor playing, and I heard another mother talking to her baby in English! We started chatting, and it turns out she is the "other American" that was on the maternity ward in the hospital at the same time as me! She's from Arkansas originally, and like me, she married a Belgian. We exchanged information, and will hopefully be getting together soon.



Mom and I took Luna to Leuven the other day, and we were out for about 6 and a half hours altogether. Luna woke twice to eat, but otherwise snoozed happily in the wrap all day. All three of us got new shoes - Luna's are the most adorable tiny pink sandals! Unfortunately, tiny as they are, they are too big still.