by: Nicole Sandler

12-3-2000

I've been silent for a few days. That's because my little one hasn't! She's had a cold and cough since I took her from the orphanage, and the cough medicine, vitamins and Tylenol I've been giving her haven't been helping much. The last time I wrote, I was off for a day of shopping and a massage at the Arasan Baths. It's a beautiful old building that has Russian baths downstairs and Turkish baths upstairs. (Don't ask me the difference... we tried the Russian baths. You know, when in Rome... er, Kazakhstan.)

It cost about $3 to enter (480 tenge), and the massage was 1500 tenge ($10.34)... and was one of the best massages I've ever had!

I paid the price when I got home. Alison was cranky all night (this was Friday). I think she slept pretty well that night, but woke up yesterday crying so hard...and nothing I could do would calm her. My normally voracious eater was also pushing food away, and her cough and cold were still bad. So, I decided to have a doctor examine her.

I called Galiya (my goddess of Kaz... the coordinator for our agency here) and she told me she had a pediatrician who would make a house call, and they'd be to my apartment within the hour.

Meanwhile, Alison was getting worse and worse. Screaming, and completely inconsolable. I lost it! I started crying harder than she was. She stopped crying and looked at me with those big eyes and started touching my tears. (I was holding her this whole time, as she wouldn't let me put her down.) I think my sobbing either scared her or felt good against her chest.

Galiya and the doctor arrived, who examined Alison, confirmed my suspicion that she probably had an ear infection, gave me a powerful antibiotic (the doctor said they used cheap, ineffective medicines in the orphanage), ear drops, nose drops, and two things for her stomach. One medicine to help counter any bad effects of the antibiotic, and the other to help her adapt to all the new food she was getting. (Did I mention she was constipated, too?)

I asked Galiya how much the doctor wanted (for a house call on a Saturday). 1000 tenge (under $7 US)! I gave her 2000.

About an hour after giving her the first dose of everything last night, she was much better. My happy, playful baby was back...for a little while, anyway.

I got her to sleep at around 9:00 PM. She woke up at 2:30 AM and stayed awake (crying most of the time) until 4:15 AM! Not fun.

I had asked Galiya yesterday about buying or renting a crib, and she surprised me with one this morning. She wouldn't let me pay for it and said she would keep it for future families traveling to Kaz to adopt through Focus on Children. Alison went down for a nap in it just as I was leaving. I'm hoping this will help her sleep better (and help me sleep better).

I'm heading out again with my friend Amy from Houston (who gets to leave Wednesday Night. Lucky bitch.). We're going shopping again and then, perhaps, back to the Arasan Baths for another massage. I could certainly use one after the last few days I've had.

Nicole

(Who wants to come home already...)