Things Are Lookin' Up!

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions! It's great to have the advice of those that have BTDT and just to have the moral support.

Today is a new day and things are much better. Gulnara helped me push the bed against the wall yesterday, so freed up a 3rd of the bed previously occupied by pillows. Gave him plenty of room to roll around during the night without disturbing me. I'm happy to report a solid 7 hours for myself! Could easily sleep another uninterrupted 12; maybe when he's in third grade? I had thought of the suitcase, a drawer, or just a pallet on the floor, but the first two were too small, and the floor is cold and drafty. One point on which I will agree with the babyhouse nannies! And I was not able to sleep when he was napping, just too much going through my head. Seems we are adjusting now.




The sleepsack helps too. He can't crawl very well with it on, so by the time he tries to climb the pillows he's frustrated and crying and Mommy knows he's up and about. He will babble and play by himself in his "crib" now and I can leave the room at naptime. It bothers me in some ways, as I know this was a large part of his orphanage life, but if I stay in the room he thinks it's playtime. I started to drift off yesterday while lying on the bed with him and every time I would open my eyes he would giggle and squirm. New form of peek-a-boo. It is really hard to not play with him cuz he's just too cute! I've broken the rule several times now already!
Still no heat, but the hot water returned last night! Hot shower is on the agenda for me and a bath for the little stinky one. It's rainy today and seems a little warmer. Our schedule is messed up, but we are doing fine. Keeping the order, but probably not the frequency. We're at two daytime naps and a bit longer playtimes. Seems to be working for both of us. He is adapting like a champ. I strongly suspect that the "naptimes" they have on the schedule found him playing in the crib, not sleeping. Challenge now is to get bedtime to be a little earlier.

Gulnara stopped by yesterday to drop off all of his official paperwork. I glanced through the translations and saw in the medicals that he is considered a "cheerful and playful" baby. :) Couldn't agree more. Also saw a diagnosis of rickets, which is the first time that one was mentioned. Certainly common in these kids and he is getting vitamins now, so hopefully won't progress.

I was also scolded for several things. Felt like the unfit mother for about 15 minutes then got over it.

1 -- I didn't have a footed onesie under his pants so his legs were cold. Um, I had to wash 3 of them (all I brought) the day before because of diaper explosions and they were still not dry. See no heat comment above. Even though when he did have more on he would break into a sweat.

2 -- He was reaching back to his neck while they were here. I'm supposed to be massaging his neck to help resolve his "neurological problems" from birth. I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with the scratchy tag on his shirt. ;)

3 -- He was hot and sweaty and if I let him have a high fever he would have heart problems. Yep, he was running a little warm, but he had been wearing multiple layers including a fleece jacket and he has a cold and is teething. I did give him a tiny bit of Tylenol and it seemed to help, but he certainly didn't have a high fever.

4 -- Wrong hat. Score one for the Kaz team. I have a little baseball cap, a fisherman's hat (all from the hot days of August) and brought a little winter cap, but it is fleece and too warm. I pulled the hood of his fleece jacket up over his head, but it doesn't cover the ears very well. So we are going hat shopping this afternoon.

Then they asked about his eating and food. Told him he is a great eater (which he is) and left it at that. I am still struggling a bit finding the right "porridge" stuff, but we are eating plenty, including good formula, juice, kefir, bananas, baby yogurt, and jars of baby food (fruit/cereal combos). I hope to get some seasoned help at the grocery store from the Almaty team in this area. I was then ordered to call Ainura who would call Gulnara if he got sick(er). I'm thankful for the offer of help, but felt the grumblings of Mama Bear for the first time. :)

Turns out we're headed to Almaty tomorrow as my passport will be released today. That is all we've been waiting for in Aqtobe. They have to register your passport upon arrival and apparently that process takes several days. Anyway, I'm looking forward to settling in Almaty for a few days and meeting up with Susan, Joe and the beautiful Leeze Grace.

Despite my whining over the past couple of days, we've been having a really good time. He truly is a joy and I'm loving him more every minute. He laughs non-stop at the baby in the mirrow and he laughs at my singing! Guess that is better than covering his ears! He has also learned that if I walk the 6 feet to the kitchen, that rather than cry, he can crawl after me and then sit and smile at me! Progress! And he is cruising back and forth on the sofa and quite proud of it.

Also has a fascination with every cord or string-like thing in the place, be it on my laptop or the phone wires that are all exposed running along the baseboards. That and the fringe on the dining room tablecloth. He and Callie have a lot in common already! Already have my first Mommy wounds too. Bite marks on my shoulder and bruises on my chest from him crawling, standing, and rolling on me!


I know the pacifier is working overtime, but it does seem to help comfort his teething. If not the pacifier then then the thumb or something else is in the mouth. He doesn't like the taste of the teething rings or of any of the other teething toys. Figures. I tried a little Baby Orajel and immediately after the pacifier was popped back in. He grabbed it out, looked at it really funny, turning it over a couple of times, then put it back in. It was too funny!