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...)
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 1
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 2
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 3
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 4
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 5
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 6
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 7
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 8
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 9
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 10
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 11
Alison's
Journey Home: An Adoption Story - Part 12
About
The Author
Nicole
Sandler is the owner/producer of Legacy Video Productions,
specializing in producing adoption stories. You can see Alison's
Journey Home, the video at www.legacyvideoproductions.com.
