I am six months today!

I can hardly believe it myself ... six short months ago, I was born! Even though Mami seemed to like the idea to celebrate with candles and cake again, it did not turn out. Papi was really busy (and somewhat stressed) because he has been trying to get everything ready to work on the raised beds for the garden. Please do not ask him how many times he went to Jerry's ... In the end, he was not able to do anything because it started to rain pretty heavy! But I had a good day and played for a long time. I really enjoy the hanging toys lately and I have been able to grab them and move them around. I also spent quite some time on my tummy and looked all over the place. My home is really a funny place and I sometimes just have to laugh.


In the evening, something really interesting happened. I was getting ready for bed and then Mami and Papi put me in the high chair and gave me something to eat with a spoon. It tasted a little bit like Mami's milk, but then there was also something else in it. They told me that it is rice cereal. After an really (!) short dislike in the beginning, I really liked it and finished the entire bowl. After this new adventure, I was ready to go to bed. I hope that I will get some more of this funny stuff tomorrow again.

6-month checkup

We were today at the pediatrician's office (again ...). Andrin is healthy and they were pleased to see how he is developing. Here are his stats:
height: 24.3 inches, 66.8 cm (50th percentile)
weight: 17 lb 7 ounces, 7910 g (50th percentile)

There are some other exciting news:
Andrin is teething. His first tooth came through yesterday (Mami finally figured it out after he cried, would not calm down, was not hungry ....). His cheeks are flushed, but he seems to be doing fine. The times of the toothless smile are gone! And it looks like there is another tooth right next to the one pooping up ready to come through as well (they are both on the bottom).
Andrin has been sleeping so much better. Since we transitioned him to his crib in his own room, he only has been waking up once to twice a night. It is quite the change from his hourly waking up!

First night in my own bedroom

It is time for changes! I heard that I will start with solid foods next weekend, and this weekend, I slept for the first time in my own bedroom. Mami had tried putting me down for naps in my crib in my room, but you know me, I am not a good napper! But last night, my parents decided that it was time to move me out of their room and my crowded bassinet. I fell right asleep after Mami nursed me and slept for 90 minutes. Then I was awake for 2 1/2 hours. My Papi was really patient, tried singing me back to sleep, patting me down, put on the lullaby CD that he does not like, and listened to me cry for a long time ... Then I slept for 2 1/2 hours and woke up. Mami nursed me this time and I went right back to sleep before I woke up at 4.30 am again and stayed awake for 90 minutes. No wonder that I was tired in the morning and slept until 9.30 am and then only woke up because my parents woke me up. They told me that they hope that I will sleep even longer tonight. But Papi seemed to be happy because he actually slept better without me right there. I heard Mami come in a couple of times to check on me ...

What a lazy day

Today, the stress and exhaustion of the last couple of weeks have caught up with me (too many worrysome and sad news and then a week where I had to go in to work every single day)! In the morning, I did a family therapy with one of the families that I am working with and then returned back home. Clemens reported that Andrin had been extremal fussy. He seemed tired, but did not want to sleep at all. Last night was rough on all of us. Andrin was awake between 11.00 pm and 2.00 am. Whenever I tried putting him down, he woke up again. It felt like we were back to square one .... Do not ask me what was going on because I have no idea. And yes, I checked for any teeth breaking through and did not feel anything ...
Today was a rainy and gloomy day and it was perfect for relaxing and being lazy (even though I still have to write a report for work). Andrin finally caught up on his sleep and took two long naps this afternoon (long for his standards) and I joined him for part of the naps.
You might ask yourself why there are suddenly pictures of me ... My father-in-law complained and told his son to please take some pictures ...:)

Having fun with Papi

Andrin is such a big boy. My coworkers commented that he looks like a fisherman!

Andrin playing with his turtle. He is actually petting the turtle's head.

Luckily, Andrin is doing better. His "old" sleeping habits are even back (even though we were happy with getting up only once to twice a night ... but it clearly is not about Mami and Papi's wishes and needs ...). At times, he still is coughing, but he sounds so much better. As you can see, he was having fun with Papi while he was tying flies. Papi is getting himself ready for the fishing season, even though he told me that he is not as drawn to fishing this year when he looks at our beautiful son and then wants to spend as much time as possible with him.

Update on Andrin

Andrin had a good day at home yesterday. After reading my last blog post, Clemens mentioned that it sounded like Andrin was at the hospital by himself and I want to clarify that this was not the case (before anyone makes any calls to report us to DHS about abandoning or neglecting our baby boy ... I know that I have too many mandatory reporters as friends ...:) Clemens joined Andrin and me at the hospital as much as possible (he had to take care of some business in the lab) and I was there the entire time and did not leave Andrin alone for a second (which sometimes was a challenge because I had to wait until Clemens was back to get something to eat ...:)

Andrin had a good night and we suctioned his noose around 4.00 am after he woke up and had trouble breathing. After that, he was able to get back to sleep until 6.30 am. For his standards, this was a great night!

Safe back home!

Andrin was discharged today shortly after noon. We are glad to have him back home. It was scary to see him at the hospital and we hope that we will not have to go back there anytime soon! He did well last night, even though they put him back on oxygen in the evening because his rate dropped again. But after another nebulizer treatment at 4.00 am, we decided to take him off oxygen again and he was doing fine thereafter.

This was the view from our room on the eight floor.
Clemens was planning to go fishing this weekend for a couple hours (it is the McKenzie),
but fortunately, we did not have to stay the entire weekend ...

The doctor sent us back home with antibiotics for his ear infection (which seems to almost be resolved) and a nebulizer with asthma medication for his bronchiolitis. As you can see, he loves his nebulizer ...

Our baby is in the hospital

Andrin has been dealing with a cold and stuffy nose since last Saturday. I called the pediatrician's office last Monday and they reassured me that it probably "just" was a cold. When he started not eating well (and that means something for our little Buddha-belly boy) and ran a fever on Wednesday, I called them again and we got an appointment that evening. The pediatrician made the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and also an ear infection. She wanted to see Andrin on Thursday again. So we went back on Thursday for his follow-up appointment and the doctor did not like Andrin's pale coloring, his wheezing, and the fact that his oxygen was low. She sent us to the hospital to monitor his breathing and to make sure that he would get enough oxygen. This is where we have been ever since. It is Friday today and they are talking about a possible discharge tomorrow. Andrin is a trooper and is doing a lot better today. We were able to get him off oxygen around noon and he continues to do well breathing on his own. He also has been getting nebulizer treatment and his mucus is removed regularly. He still has this wheezing sound, but he is in good spirits. He has been taking long naps and finally resumed his healthy appetite today. Because of his ear infection, he is getting antibiotics and now also has to deal with diarrhea. Well, we are all in good spirits and hope that we will be able to go back home tomorrow. But even if we have to stay longer, we are in good hands and know that Andrin is getting everything that he needs.

Another Milestone ... for Mami

Mami hit another milestone today ... she went for the first time in a very long time (a little bit more than a year) to her Bhangra dance workout. When Mami and Papi first found out that I was on the way, they were told that she was not allowed to do anything strenuous because of complications ... Mami then started to take walks (which she still does, but now with me in the stroller). In the beginning, she thought that she could take me to her workout, but I did not really like the loud music and to be honest, I did not really like her to dance and not pay attention to me. You might wonder what I am doing when she is away ... I am spending time with Papi who goes to work a little bit later. This morning, we had bath time and some playtime. And Mami came back with a smile on her face and in good shape (we will see what will hurt her tomorrow).

I discovered my feet

Today, I discovered my feet. I have been looking interested at my hands the last couple of days, but today I actually found out that I can hold on to my feet and tug at me socks (I do not like to wear socks and my parents found out about and thus are buying these socks that really stay put ...). We were supposed to go to the pool for the first time today, but since I have been coughing, my parents decided not to go. We went for a bicycle ride/jog as a family and it was fun. My Papi took me for the first time in the stroller while we was jogging. He also invited Mami along and she rode her bicycle (which seemed to make her happy since she has not been able to ride it for a long time). Papi complained that it was much harder work to jog with the stroller, but I liked it and enjoyed watching everything "fly" by.

In loving Memory

Oma, we will always love you!

5-month Birthday

Relaxing with Mami.

I am really a monkey and if I could already get up and walk, I would love to do that.

Wiggling around on my Papi's arms and eating his nice sweater.

Since I got up so early to celebrate my birthday, I was quickly tired (also after my bath) and fell asleep again.

I turned 5-months today! And what an exciting day it was ... I was so excited that I got up quite early in the morning and was ready to start my day. My Papi gave me a nice bath which I truly enjoyed. After talking for a while with my grandfather Edi, we went to get some meat at the local butchery shop, got some tools at the hardware store, and then went to our favorite cafe in town, Peruggino's. There, we ran into our neighbor, Dave, and had a nice lunch with him. After that, we dropped off Papi at the fly shop and Mami and I went to get some passport pictures for my Swiss passport. I do not know if it was such a good idea to leave Papi at the fly shop because he spent a lot of money ... At home, I took a short nap and then played with Mami. We met Papi after dropping off the DVD at our neighborhood DVD shop (we had a nice walk) at McMennamins and ate dinner there. Well, we really celebrated my birthday and I am already sound asleep since 7.00 pm.