Lilli has been eating solid food since she turned six months. And for the most part it has worked really well. But our stuff is not here yet, so I have to squish everything with a fork. Which works in most cases, but not always...
So far she is eating potato, carrots, squash, zucchini, and avocado (she loves avocado). In the evenings she has started eating rice cereal.
Recently she has started eating very well one day and then the next day she barely touches her plate. I cooked zucchini yesterday and she loved them. Today I mixed in some carrots and she barely ate anything. I don't know whether this is because she has a cold (again) or whether this is a pattern. I also have started to give her water to drink, but she doesn't really like it out of her bottle or her cup. If I drink water out of a cup on the other hand, she wants to try some out of my cup. Which usually ends up being a big mess, but I still let her...
The other thing I am wondering is when to introduce oil, butter, spices, meat, etc. Any recommendations from you? Do you know any great websites for introducing solid food? I am just concerned that she is not getting enough...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Dear Californian Department of Social Services
Dear Californian Department of Social Services,
You have to protect these children from their mother. She has now started a homepage to try and support her family. And she is probably making a lot of money with TV interviews. In the meantime she is neglecting her children. Shouldn't she be in the hospital instead, sitting in the NICU with her eight babies? Or taking care of her other six children?
I just saw the interview with the grandmother of the octuplets. This is a plea for help in my eyes. They are already living with 8 people in a three bedroom house. The interior of the house is filthy with food on the walls. There won't be enough room for another 8 babies. Having 6 embryos transfered if she got pregnant easily with all of her other children is irresponsible. She can't even care for her other six children, how is she going to provide for her octuplets? She is all by herself and relying on the grandmother of the children to pick up the pieces.
The mother doesn't contribute any money to the support of her children. The grandmother is paying the bill. She has even lost a house because of her daughters irresponsibility. I just wonder where the mother received all the money for IVF.
Please help those 14 (!) children and send someone there to find out whether this mother is capable of caring for her children. And whether it is in the best interest of these children to stay with their mother. Maybe the State (who will have to pay for these children - sooner or later) could also prevent doctors to perform additional fertility treatments for this mother. Like have the doctor who transfered 6 embryos pay for child support for 5 of the children.
Thank you.
You have to protect these children from their mother. She has now started a homepage to try and support her family. And she is probably making a lot of money with TV interviews. In the meantime she is neglecting her children. Shouldn't she be in the hospital instead, sitting in the NICU with her eight babies? Or taking care of her other six children?
I just saw the interview with the grandmother of the octuplets. This is a plea for help in my eyes. They are already living with 8 people in a three bedroom house. The interior of the house is filthy with food on the walls. There won't be enough room for another 8 babies. Having 6 embryos transfered if she got pregnant easily with all of her other children is irresponsible. She can't even care for her other six children, how is she going to provide for her octuplets? She is all by herself and relying on the grandmother of the children to pick up the pieces.
The mother doesn't contribute any money to the support of her children. The grandmother is paying the bill. She has even lost a house because of her daughters irresponsibility. I just wonder where the mother received all the money for IVF.
Please help those 14 (!) children and send someone there to find out whether this mother is capable of caring for her children. And whether it is in the best interest of these children to stay with their mother. Maybe the State (who will have to pay for these children - sooner or later) could also prevent doctors to perform additional fertility treatments for this mother. Like have the doctor who transfered 6 embryos pay for child support for 5 of the children.
Thank you.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wonderful day!!!
I am so excited for Rebekah and Ben. If you haven't seen her blog, go check it out. Rebekah is an amazing writer and truly beautiful woman - inside and out. I have been following their story for quite a while and the circumstances of them being picked are just amazing. Blessed be the Lord!
Yesterday was a great day for our family. Our adoption was finalized. We are thrilled to be a forever family!!! I feel so blessed.
But in addition, yesterday we not only received our Cedulas (government ID) that you need to get anything done here. For example: go to the store to buy food or request Direct TV or internet (still surfing on the neighbors net). But we also heard that our car is in the port (of course we need the Cedula to request it), so things are moving pretty well here. Our stuff will hopefully arrive soon. But we also received mail yesterday (from our US mailbox) and several packages of stuff I had ordered online. Lilli's playmat
arrived finally. We have marble floors here, so I am already concerned once she starts walking... I also had ordered a book about cooking baby food which arrived as well. It was a little bit like Xmas.
The day before we had received another letter from Lilli's birthmom. It was so good to hear from her and she loved the pictures that I had done for Xmas. It turns out that a blanket and a bunny that I thought was a Xmas gift from the agency, was from her. I had no idea!!! I was very emotional after reading her letter. It is wonderful that she loves our little girl as much as we do. I am very grateful that we have a semi open adoption. Not knowing who she is and how she is doing, I would be always wondering about her.
If you are in the beginning of the adoption process and are wondering whether you want a semi open adoption, I can only recommend it from personal experience. I understand that every situation is different and it might not be the best choice for everyone and not always be in the best interest of the child to have one. But I feel that for us it was the right choice. When we started the process I was a little hesitant. I had fears she would regret her decision and want the child back. Instead our letters and pictures are helping her with the grieving process and are reassuring her that she has done the right choice. I feel so grateful to have her in our lives. It is reassuring to know that Lilli has all her letters to read one day when she is asking about her. I also hope that Lilli will be able to meet her one day.
If you are wondering how the sleep training is going. It is going great. She went to bad without any trouble. And the last two nights Lilli has slept through. She went to bad without any trouble. She woke up yesterday morning at 5:50 a.m. and today at 7:15 a.m. We are very happy. It was very tough at first, but I am glad that we did it. A baby that sleeps through the night was well worth the two more or less sleepless nights.
Yesterday was a great day for our family. Our adoption was finalized. We are thrilled to be a forever family!!! I feel so blessed.
But in addition, yesterday we not only received our Cedulas (government ID) that you need to get anything done here. For example: go to the store to buy food or request Direct TV or internet (still surfing on the neighbors net). But we also heard that our car is in the port (of course we need the Cedula to request it), so things are moving pretty well here. Our stuff will hopefully arrive soon. But we also received mail yesterday (from our US mailbox) and several packages of stuff I had ordered online. Lilli's playmat
arrived finally. We have marble floors here, so I am already concerned once she starts walking... I also had ordered a book about cooking baby food which arrived as well. It was a little bit like Xmas.
The day before we had received another letter from Lilli's birthmom. It was so good to hear from her and she loved the pictures that I had done for Xmas. It turns out that a blanket and a bunny that I thought was a Xmas gift from the agency, was from her. I had no idea!!! I was very emotional after reading her letter. It is wonderful that she loves our little girl as much as we do. I am very grateful that we have a semi open adoption. Not knowing who she is and how she is doing, I would be always wondering about her.
If you are in the beginning of the adoption process and are wondering whether you want a semi open adoption, I can only recommend it from personal experience. I understand that every situation is different and it might not be the best choice for everyone and not always be in the best interest of the child to have one. But I feel that for us it was the right choice. When we started the process I was a little hesitant. I had fears she would regret her decision and want the child back. Instead our letters and pictures are helping her with the grieving process and are reassuring her that she has done the right choice. I feel so grateful to have her in our lives. It is reassuring to know that Lilli has all her letters to read one day when she is asking about her. I also hope that Lilli will be able to meet her one day.
If you are wondering how the sleep training is going. It is going great. She went to bad without any trouble. And the last two nights Lilli has slept through. She went to bad without any trouble. She woke up yesterday morning at 5:50 a.m. and today at 7:15 a.m. We are very happy. It was very tough at first, but I am glad that we did it. A baby that sleeps through the night was well worth the two more or less sleepless nights.
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Gerberizing" and weekend
Last Saturday when I went shopping at the supermarket I met a friend and he told me that him and his wife were starting to "Gerberize" their baby that weekend. I was wondering whether he meant that their baby is eating "Gerber" baby food for the first time, but realized he was probably talking about "Ferberizing" their baby as he seems to be a bad sleeper, waking up every three hours.
We had said that once we were settled here we would do some sleep training with Lilli as well because while we were in Germany she had developed some weird sleep patterns (waking up three and more times a night). When we arrived here we wanted to give her some time to adjust. We have been here a month. She adjusted really nicely first and we were very happy. She slept from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., took a bottle, and went back to sleep until about 7:00 a.m. But the problem is that she always needs the bottle to calm herself down. I think I had mentioned before that she is not using a pacifier. She needs the bottle to fall asleep. We still were happy with that sleep pattern.
But as usual just when you think you have finally figured out your baby they are doing something completely different, because they are at a different developmental stage.
The last couple of nights she had been starting to wake up again at weird times. For example she woke up at midnight one day and at 1 a.m. the next. We decided to finally start some sleep training with her.
I hope you don't think we are cruel. But we actually let her cry it out the last two nights.
The first night was rough. I so wanted to get up and give her a bottle. But I knew she would never learn it if I would just give in. She screamed for what felt like a long amount of time. I finally got up and checked on her thinking she might have rolled over. She hadn't, but of course once she realized that her screaming had made me get up to look after her, she screamed even louder. Well, eventually she fell back asleep, but it took her a while. I think she woke up about three or four times that night. Yesterday during the day she was in a surprisingly good mood and also took two naps. Last night was much better. She fell asleep and only woke up at 5:35 a.m. this morning, but went back to sleep until 7 a.m. We will see how tonight goes. I hope it will go even better...
Yesterday we went to church. We are so happy that we have already found a church here. It is very different from our church in the States and much more conventional, but is international and has an English service. The pastor and his wife are super nice and they also have two children. Everybody in that church was so welcoming and we felt like we have found a new family here. Yesterday after the service there was a potluck at the pastor's house. It was awesome. Good food and good company made it worthwhile... It was one of the best days we had here so far. The problem is that security is a big issue around here. You always have to be aware of your surroundings.
I haven't really told you anything about our new place yet. We actually have three floors and a rooftop terrace with a great view over the city. Each of the four bedrooms has its own bathroom. We have 7 bathrooms in this place...
The building has a heated pool, sauna, steam bath, gym, and its own squash court... I really love this place especially because it has tons of storage rooms. I finally found a maid and she has started today. So far I am very happy. It is so good to have some help cleaning. We could never afford it back in the US, but labor is cheap here.
Because our apartment is so big, tomorrow night we are having Salsa lessons here. I am very excited as I have been wanting to dance salsa for quite a while. Some of dh's colleagues are coming over and we have a teacher come as well. It was a Xmas gift from his boss to the office. What a great idea!!! I am wondering what I can make. Dh thinks a cake would be wonderful. I only have the problem that everything is still new. Our stuff hasn't arrived. I am still getting familiar with the produce here. And we only have a pie pan. I haven't found yeast here. Do you have any ideas for a pie without yeast? Or any other ideas? You guys have given me all that great advice in the past and I hope that you will be able to give me some ideas.
We had said that once we were settled here we would do some sleep training with Lilli as well because while we were in Germany she had developed some weird sleep patterns (waking up three and more times a night). When we arrived here we wanted to give her some time to adjust. We have been here a month. She adjusted really nicely first and we were very happy. She slept from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., took a bottle, and went back to sleep until about 7:00 a.m. But the problem is that she always needs the bottle to calm herself down. I think I had mentioned before that she is not using a pacifier. She needs the bottle to fall asleep. We still were happy with that sleep pattern.
But as usual just when you think you have finally figured out your baby they are doing something completely different, because they are at a different developmental stage.
The last couple of nights she had been starting to wake up again at weird times. For example she woke up at midnight one day and at 1 a.m. the next. We decided to finally start some sleep training with her.
I hope you don't think we are cruel. But we actually let her cry it out the last two nights.
The first night was rough. I so wanted to get up and give her a bottle. But I knew she would never learn it if I would just give in. She screamed for what felt like a long amount of time. I finally got up and checked on her thinking she might have rolled over. She hadn't, but of course once she realized that her screaming had made me get up to look after her, she screamed even louder. Well, eventually she fell back asleep, but it took her a while. I think she woke up about three or four times that night. Yesterday during the day she was in a surprisingly good mood and also took two naps. Last night was much better. She fell asleep and only woke up at 5:35 a.m. this morning, but went back to sleep until 7 a.m. We will see how tonight goes. I hope it will go even better...
Yesterday we went to church. We are so happy that we have already found a church here. It is very different from our church in the States and much more conventional, but is international and has an English service. The pastor and his wife are super nice and they also have two children. Everybody in that church was so welcoming and we felt like we have found a new family here. Yesterday after the service there was a potluck at the pastor's house. It was awesome. Good food and good company made it worthwhile... It was one of the best days we had here so far. The problem is that security is a big issue around here. You always have to be aware of your surroundings.
I haven't really told you anything about our new place yet. We actually have three floors and a rooftop terrace with a great view over the city. Each of the four bedrooms has its own bathroom. We have 7 bathrooms in this place...
The building has a heated pool, sauna, steam bath, gym, and its own squash court... I really love this place especially because it has tons of storage rooms. I finally found a maid and she has started today. So far I am very happy. It is so good to have some help cleaning. We could never afford it back in the US, but labor is cheap here.
Because our apartment is so big, tomorrow night we are having Salsa lessons here. I am very excited as I have been wanting to dance salsa for quite a while. Some of dh's colleagues are coming over and we have a teacher come as well. It was a Xmas gift from his boss to the office. What a great idea!!! I am wondering what I can make. Dh thinks a cake would be wonderful. I only have the problem that everything is still new. Our stuff hasn't arrived. I am still getting familiar with the produce here. And we only have a pie pan. I haven't found yeast here. Do you have any ideas for a pie without yeast? Or any other ideas? You guys have given me all that great advice in the past and I hope that you will be able to give me some ideas.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Adoptive Parent Questionnaire
Debbie at Family Reunion tagged adoptive moms with this ...! I tag all adoptive moms and dads on my blogroll. You just copy the questions and fill in your own answers...
1. How many months (days, weeks, YEARS...) from 1st paper signed to referral? 9month and one day.
2. WAS YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER EXCITED? Absolutely. He was as excited as I.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS WHEN YOU GOT "THE" PHONE CALL? It was a telephone conference with the agency founder, dh, and I. We were full of mixed emotions: joy and fear.
4. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FOUND OUT? In the bus on my way home from work.
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 34
6. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH-COUNTRY (and province or city)? Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Our parents and siblings.
8. DID YOU REQUEST A BOY, GIRL, OR EITHER? Either!
9. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD AT REFERRAL? Not born yet.
10. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR CHILD'S FACE/PICTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME? In the hospital, the day after she was born.
11. WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR CHILD? A travel bed.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? That people always ask "Where is she from?" when they see her. What does it matter?
13. WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO TRAVEL? After one week.
14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes. After we were back.
15. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU SAW THEM IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME? 18 hours
16. DID YOU PACK ANYTHING SPECIAL JUST FOR YOUR BABY? The car seat, bottles, and clothes.
17. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THE MOST? That nobody at the airport wanted to see anything for her.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH YOUR PAPERWORK/PROCESS? We had been matched before and the mother had lost contact to the agency. We lost $3.000 to that birthmother.
19. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR PLACE YOU VISITED IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY?THE BEST? n/a
20. HOW MANY DAYS/WEEKS WERE YOU IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY? n/a
21. FAVORITE PLACE/THING TO EAT WHILE THERE? There was a salad and soup place close to our hotel that we really liked.
22. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP WHILE THERE? BabiesRUs
23. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU ON THE PLANE GOING/LEAVING? 5 with a stop in Houston
24. WHO MET YOU AT THE AIRPORT? Nobody. We had left our car there and arrived late at night.
25. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DID AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT? Feeding Lilli and changing her diaper (for the third time).
26. WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR ADOPTION DAY? Gotcha day is July 26th, but I don't know yet whether we will use the finalization day.
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Lillian Alexis Audry
28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 6 months and two weeks.
29. ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO BACK TO THEIR BIRTH COUNTRY SOMEDAY? N/A
30. HAVE YOU STARTED OR ALREADY MADE YOUR CHILD A LIFEBOOK? I haven't started yet, but I bought the equipment. Once our stuff arrives hopefully I will be able to start.
1. How many months (days, weeks, YEARS...) from 1st paper signed to referral? 9month and one day.
2. WAS YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER EXCITED? Absolutely. He was as excited as I.
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS WHEN YOU GOT "THE" PHONE CALL? It was a telephone conference with the agency founder, dh, and I. We were full of mixed emotions: joy and fear.
4. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FOUND OUT? In the bus on my way home from work.
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 34
6. WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH-COUNTRY (and province or city)? Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Our parents and siblings.
8. DID YOU REQUEST A BOY, GIRL, OR EITHER? Either!
9. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD AT REFERRAL? Not born yet.
10. WHEN AND HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR CHILD'S FACE/PICTURE FOR THE FIRST TIME? In the hospital, the day after she was born.
11. WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR CHILD? A travel bed.
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? That people always ask "Where is she from?" when they see her. What does it matter?
13. WHEN WERE YOU ABLE TO TRAVEL? After one week.
14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes. After we were back.
15. HOW OLD WAS YOUR CHILD WHEN YOU SAW THEM IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME? 18 hours
16. DID YOU PACK ANYTHING SPECIAL JUST FOR YOUR BABY? The car seat, bottles, and clothes.
17. WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THE MOST? That nobody at the airport wanted to see anything for her.
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH YOUR PAPERWORK/PROCESS? We had been matched before and the mother had lost contact to the agency. We lost $3.000 to that birthmother.
19. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR PLACE YOU VISITED IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY?THE BEST? n/a
20. HOW MANY DAYS/WEEKS WERE YOU IN YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH COUNTRY? n/a
21. FAVORITE PLACE/THING TO EAT WHILE THERE? There was a salad and soup place close to our hotel that we really liked.
22. FAVORITE PLACE TO SHOP WHILE THERE? BabiesRUs
23. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU ON THE PLANE GOING/LEAVING? 5 with a stop in Houston
24. WHO MET YOU AT THE AIRPORT? Nobody. We had left our car there and arrived late at night.
25. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DID AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT? Feeding Lilli and changing her diaper (for the third time).
26. WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR ADOPTION DAY? Gotcha day is July 26th, but I don't know yet whether we will use the finalization day.
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Lillian Alexis Audry
28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 6 months and two weeks.
29. ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO BACK TO THEIR BIRTH COUNTRY SOMEDAY? N/A
30. HAVE YOU STARTED OR ALREADY MADE YOUR CHILD A LIFEBOOK? I haven't started yet, but I bought the equipment. Once our stuff arrives hopefully I will be able to start.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Finalization in sight!!!
On February 10th the finalization hearing will take place in the US. The judge has granted our motion to waive personal appearance. We are so excited that this will mean that the adoption is finalized and we are a forever family.
Lilli is such a joy in our lives. Her smiles make my heart melt. She must really be teething now. Yesterday at church she drooled all over the bench... Her bib was soaking wet. There was a little boy at church that was only one day younger and he already had two teeth. I wonder how long we will have to keep the bibs on...
Lilli is such a joy in our lives. Her smiles make my heart melt. She must really be teething now. Yesterday at church she drooled all over the bench... Her bib was soaking wet. There was a little boy at church that was only one day younger and he already had two teeth. I wonder how long we will have to keep the bibs on...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Back to blogging!!!
You probably already wondered what happened to me after I went off to see my family. We stayed there for 5 weeks and had a fantastic time. I haven't seen my parents as happy in the last couple of years as they were when they were holding Lilli. They have embraced her with all of their hearts. Just as my brother and the rest of the family.
We even managed to go out for some dates as we had so reliable babysitters over there. We had an awesome time spending Christmas over there. For Christmas I had some pictures taken. Enjoy.
For New Year's we went to Berlin and celebrated with friends there and introduced Lilli to them. Shortly before dh joined us in Europe we had received our visas for Venezuela.
Now we already have been in Caracas more than two weeks. Lilli has grown so much. At her six months doctor appointment she weight in at 16 pounds 5 ounces (70th percentile) and was 28 inches long (90th percentile) She is now able to sit by herself. Yesterday night she rolled for the first time from her stomach to her back. Three times in a row. She has stopped rolling from her back to her stomach since we started using a sleep sack my mom bought for her. But I am not too concerned about this. Last Saturday we started rice cereal and yesterday she enjoyed her first carrots.
Sleeping had been a little tough for Lilli while in Germany and we didn't want to do any sleep training because we were throwing her constantly in new environments and new time zones. But since we are here it was improved a lot. She is now waking up once or twice a night. Last night she slept from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. this morning straight! YEAH! I woke up this morning wondering why I hadn't heard a peep. She is still sleeping in our bedroom as we don't have the monitor yet.
Yesterday I took her for her six months vaccinations with a friend and her baby. Dh had to work and couldn't join us for the Dtap vaccination. The nurse that administered the shots was awfully rude. First she told me that the Rotavirus shots couldn't be administered with the Dtap vaccination because it wouldn't absorb. Afterwards I did some research and it is no problem at all.
Then she told me that Lilli should have had her second Hepatitis B vaccination by one month. We had discussed this with our doctor in the US and he had told us that it was no problem to administer that vaccination later. The first shot at birth is the important one (she had that one of course).
After that she asked me whether I have given her Tylenol. I hadn't. I read about a study recently that links it to Asthma. We hadn't given her any Tylenol before any of her vaccinations. It was never a problem. When she was fussy afterwards we gave her some. But I don't want to overmedicate my child if it is not necessary. She asked me whether I wanted them to give her some Tylenol. I said: No! When the injection went in, Lilli made a peep and was quiet after that. She didn't really scream at all. Which confirmed that she is fine without Tylenol before. When it was my friends baby's turn, the nurse asked whether she had had Tylenol and my friend said "Yes!". Which is absolutely fine. I don't condemn anyone for giving their children Tylenol. I just feel this is a parents decision. My child. My decision. But you guys should have seen the look on the nurse's face to me. It was this judgemental look of telling me "You are not a good mother because you didn't give your child the necessary vaccinations and no Tylenol before the vaccination!"
Afterwards I started crying. I as an adoptive mother might be more sensitive to these kind of looks or this kind of behaviour. What was this nurse thinking? I had the impression that she thought she was smarter than every doctor we talked to before. I had heard that she doesn't have a good bedside manner, but I didn't expect something like that. Unfortunately I don't have a choice as to go to her again in two weeks. But boy, this time dh has to come. This time I will be telling her what I think of her.
We even managed to go out for some dates as we had so reliable babysitters over there. We had an awesome time spending Christmas over there. For Christmas I had some pictures taken. Enjoy.
For New Year's we went to Berlin and celebrated with friends there and introduced Lilli to them. Shortly before dh joined us in Europe we had received our visas for Venezuela.
Now we already have been in Caracas more than two weeks. Lilli has grown so much. At her six months doctor appointment she weight in at 16 pounds 5 ounces (70th percentile) and was 28 inches long (90th percentile) She is now able to sit by herself. Yesterday night she rolled for the first time from her stomach to her back. Three times in a row. She has stopped rolling from her back to her stomach since we started using a sleep sack my mom bought for her. But I am not too concerned about this. Last Saturday we started rice cereal and yesterday she enjoyed her first carrots.
Sleeping had been a little tough for Lilli while in Germany and we didn't want to do any sleep training because we were throwing her constantly in new environments and new time zones. But since we are here it was improved a lot. She is now waking up once or twice a night. Last night she slept from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. this morning straight! YEAH! I woke up this morning wondering why I hadn't heard a peep. She is still sleeping in our bedroom as we don't have the monitor yet.
Yesterday I took her for her six months vaccinations with a friend and her baby. Dh had to work and couldn't join us for the Dtap vaccination. The nurse that administered the shots was awfully rude. First she told me that the Rotavirus shots couldn't be administered with the Dtap vaccination because it wouldn't absorb. Afterwards I did some research and it is no problem at all.
Then she told me that Lilli should have had her second Hepatitis B vaccination by one month. We had discussed this with our doctor in the US and he had told us that it was no problem to administer that vaccination later. The first shot at birth is the important one (she had that one of course).
After that she asked me whether I have given her Tylenol. I hadn't. I read about a study recently that links it to Asthma. We hadn't given her any Tylenol before any of her vaccinations. It was never a problem. When she was fussy afterwards we gave her some. But I don't want to overmedicate my child if it is not necessary. She asked me whether I wanted them to give her some Tylenol. I said: No! When the injection went in, Lilli made a peep and was quiet after that. She didn't really scream at all. Which confirmed that she is fine without Tylenol before. When it was my friends baby's turn, the nurse asked whether she had had Tylenol and my friend said "Yes!". Which is absolutely fine. I don't condemn anyone for giving their children Tylenol. I just feel this is a parents decision. My child. My decision. But you guys should have seen the look on the nurse's face to me. It was this judgemental look of telling me "You are not a good mother because you didn't give your child the necessary vaccinations and no Tylenol before the vaccination!"
Afterwards I started crying. I as an adoptive mother might be more sensitive to these kind of looks or this kind of behaviour. What was this nurse thinking? I had the impression that she thought she was smarter than every doctor we talked to before. I had heard that she doesn't have a good bedside manner, but I didn't expect something like that. Unfortunately I don't have a choice as to go to her again in two weeks. But boy, this time dh has to come. This time I will be telling her what I think of her.
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