I Love...

I love how kids can't fake joy, sadness or anger, their emotions are real and vibrant.

I love how Beli is absolutely delighted to hug and kiss.

And I love that I can't help but smile when I take walks along the beach, it's difficult to foster a bad mood in her presence.

Have a wonderful weekend. We are preparing our home to welcome our friends who are visiting from Denver, Colorado this upcoming week. What are your plans?

How one corn kernel went missing

I'm sure you've heard plenty of stories from parents talking about it. You know, about how their children place objects up their nose. Well this weekend, it happened to us while we were visiting Hubby's grandparents in Bribir. I guess you can say it was the chicken's fault.

The incident occurred when Beli was outside feeding the chickens with Great-grandpa. Afterwards she walked inside with several pieces of corn kernels in her hand. I guess this should have been my first clue that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to let her hold the kernels. She started throwing some on the floor and then she sat to watch the world cup.

After a few minutes she runs to me asking, "donde esta kukurus?" I replied, "where is the corn kernel? you threw it on the floor." She repeated her question then she started whimpering. Hubby came over to see what was the matter, he was questioning her in Croatian, and I followed in Spanish.

Beli: "mami, donde esta kukurus?"

Hubby: "Beli did you put it in your mouth?"

Me: "Esta en la boca as I pointed to my mouth, oido (ear)... nariz (nose)?"

Beli repeated each body part as I continued with my inquisition, then I asked about the nose, her reply was different, she answered, "No, nariz!" BINGO... The kernel was up her nose.

We thought what were the chances we would find a doctor, much less a clinic open in the small town of Skradin. We got ready anyways to drive into town but Great-grandma was in a state of nerves mumbling, " how could this be possible." She then turned to me and pointed to her stomach and said, "It hurts." We remained calm and reassured her that it was fine. These things happen and toddlers do this sort of thing all the time. Then I remembered that I had a pair of tweezers in my purse and hubby had a flashlight in his car glove compartment. Hubby said he could see the kernel with the light, we felt comfortable enough to remove it. After we pulled the kernel out we showed it to Beli and she grabbed it and threw it as far as possible. "Think she learned her lesson?" I hope so.

We decided not to tell Hubby's parents, why worry them over this. I will remind you that she is the only granddaughter so I wasn't sure how my Mother-in-law would react. By the end of the day when we were driving home Beli was asking grandma, "donde esta kukurus?" and she answered herself by pointing and saying " nose!" Since grandma was unaware of the episode she scolded Beli, "the corn is for the chickens and you don't put in your nose, nor in your mouth." Hubby and I only looked at each other but said nothing.



The next day my Mother-in-law called to say she had heard about the episode and asked, "is that why Beli kept telling me about her nose and the corn kernel?" Hubby turned to me and said "how did she find out, did you blog about this?" I replied, "of course not." But I do wonder, "how did she found out," she doesn't even know I have a blog. Maybe it was Great-grandma? Any guesses as to why kids do this sort of thing? Placing objects in their nose. I asked both of my sisters and they both replied, "my boys never did that!"

Potatoes and Fever

For over a week now we have been struggling with Isabela's flu symptoms: cough, little appetite, runny nose, stuffy nose and fever of 101 to 103. But it could also be she is teething. We have been giving her Motrin every 8 hours until we found that Croatia does indeed have Tylenol except it is called Lupocet.And so we are alternating every 4 hours. After a third visit to the pediatrician a blood test was finally done and confirmed no bacteria infection and therefore no need for antibiotics.

We have been doing every trick in the book to have her eat and drink. She had chicken soup with a medicine dropper another time I disguised the motrin with applesauce then yogurt and we have every type of cup available:sippy cup, lid with straw, lid with no straw and a regular bottle.

I won't deny I am feeling quite frustrated with the health care system. Yes it is free and should not complain. But I am starting to see a trend here. Pediatricians are not very fond of "prevention". I asked a second opinion about the seasonal flu shot, the same flu shot that USA advocates giving at age of 6 months and so on. Here in Croatia the doctors see as a waste of time, an unnecessary poke.

Home remedies are quite popular though. At this point I am willing to try anything, including my mother-in-law's advice about using potatoes for the fever. It won't hurt Isabela and why not try it right? Well try explaining to your 18-month old why she has to walk around with potatoes slices drenched in vinegar on the soles of her feet. At first she squirmed and kept saying "socke," her word for socks and then she was stomping around trying to dislodge the potato slices from her feet. It was funny at the time and somehow we managed to distract her from them and you know what? she forgot about them and ended up walking all afternoon with the potatoes on her feet! Did it help with the fever?? Hard to say with all the medications she was taking and that evening she still had a 101 fever. We tried putting a new batch of slices in the evening but this time she cried and refused we opted for a warm bath.

Hope we are on our way to recovery. Over all she remains her active self and that is reassuring. Do you have any home remedies you would like to share? Like I said, we are willing to try anything and everything.

Parenting 101: Not Sleeping

I know no one said parenting would be easy or without its challenges but yet at times like today I cannot help but wonder and ask "Are We the only parents experiencing this?" We have been struggling with Isabela's sleeping habits since day 1 when she came home from the hospital. Tomorrow she will be 18months old and we are still struggling. I know you do what you feel is right for you and your baby. But that is the problem- the feeling part-because you read so many reports contradicting themselves, for example letting your child cry "is an example of a crucial early development stage: self-calming." or this article states "if you let them cry and they actually stop crying, it is because they have abandoned all hope that help will come." So how do you know if what you are doing is the right thing?

For instance today we went shopping early in the morning so we could be home in time for her nap. But we took a little longer than anticipated (Yes I know, a NO, No, for toddlers) Isabela was tired,cranky and refusing to eat anything we offered from the restaurant. She wouldn't sit still on the chair and was screaming. So we had to take turns eating alone so the other parent could walk around to entertain her. Then we come home and we prepare for her afternoon nap routine: change diaper, drink milk, read book, but then when I go to put her in the crib she starts crying. I comfort her by telling her I love her and it is time to go to sleep. I leave the room. Self-calming technique, remember? I look at the clock as it ticks one minute, two minutes, half an hour goes by. I am trying to be strong despite her calling "MAMA, mammy!Mama, come!" AH I almost want to cry myself. I go in and again soothe her "Isabela, go to sleep mama loves you". I leave the room again and she continues crying. Then I hear a pounding noise, alarmed I go into the room and she is pounding her head on the wall! What have I done???? I pick her up and calm her down then put her back in the crib. And the crying continues until finally one of us gives in and my husband goes into the room and picks her up and after 15 minutes or so of rocking her, she falls asleep. I don't have a problem, since I am a stay at home mom, to carry on a two hour napping session with my daughter. But then I think what is going to happen when I have to return to work and then what? I know that she needs a nap. She barely sleeps 12 hours during the night and then she is cranky half way through the day. She needs a break ( Sometimes I need a break!that is permitted right?)

Since there were complications during birth I still have not recovered from the fear of "what if something goes wrong" so when people ask us when will Isabela have a baby brother/sister? I look at them and say "probably a year or two or maybe even three I don't know." I just don't know how do you amazing parents manage? Does it get "easier" after the first one?" Please tell me because I just don't know.

I Love my daughter and I wouldn't have it any other way, but at times I doubt myself as a parent, if I am doing "everything" right. Will she grow up to be a confident, independent adult, or will she grow up to be needy and insecure? Are these valid questions?

Parenting is definitely a "learn as you go" process. What are your thoughts? Any advice for this first time Mom? What methods worked for you?