Sick Chick -- China Version

WARNING – GROSS DESCRIPTIONS OF MUCOUS AHEAD.

It is a truth, universally acknowledged that a Chinese Baby in possession of a new Mama must be in want of a head cold. (With apologies to Ms. Austen).

Libby Doodle Doo is sick --Congested. Sneezing (here she is from last night mid-sneeze),

Intermittent Fever, Disgusting mucous exploding from her nose at regular intervals.

It’s amazing how many disgusting secretions mommies have to deal with – gross substances coming out of ever orifice a child has. I was just wrapping my head around facing 2+ years of changing poopy diapers again and now I’m already being bombarded with an Old Faithful geyser of snot coming from Libby Doodle Doo’s cute little button nose.

I knew something was wrong last night. Libby Doodle Doo has been such a good sleeper for our first 2 nights with her. We would put her down and she would fall asleep quickly and sleep straight through for 11 + hours without a peep. Last night was her first night as my official daughter – so of course, she decides to have a fussy bedtime. She cried off and on for 45 minutes when we put her down a little before 8.

Finally I picked her up and my sister made another bottle (she inhaled the one we gave her right before bedtime, so maybe she was still hungry). She wouldn’t have anything to do with this second offering. Then my sister correctly diagnosed that she may be congested and was having trouble breathing once she put her thumb in her mouth to suck. So we gave Libby Doodle Doo some saline drops and laid her back down again. Once again more crying and fussing. She continued to wake up throughout the night – sometimes 15 minutes; sometimes for an hour or more.

At morning time, her face, forearms and pajamas were covered in dried crusty mucous – so gross. She also was running a touch of fever, so I gave her some Tylenol.

We didn’t have any official paperwork to do today and the guide planned to take everyone on some sightseeing. I stayed behind to care for Miss Doodle Doo.

In a previous post I’ve written about how people can be divided into 2 camps – those that are stoic, brave angels when they are sick and those that are whiny big babies. Little Zo Peep belongs to the former camp – courageous, quiet, introspective. I am a big baby when I’m sick. Our newest family member acts a lot like I do.

Libby Doodle Doo moaned, whined, and was as cranky as can be all day.

She particularly HATES having her nose wiped with Kleenex. In fact, when the cleaning crew came in this morning and replaced the Kleenex box she pitched a fit at the sign of Kleenex reinforcements. She DESPISES the sight of them. When I approach her with a Kleenex to wipe off the latest slimy offering that has emerged from her nose, she employs several diversion tactics – she buries her head where I can’t reach it, she turn her head so far that it looks like it may start spinning, she wipes the offensive stuff on me (her favorite maneuver).

She hasn’t napped very much today either. I’d be surprised if she got more than 20 minutes in total. We put her to bed early tonight (a little before 7:30). So far (it’s midnight now) she has stayed asleep. She has made yelping cries intermittently, but falls right back to sleep after an outburst. I have my fingers crossed that she sleeps at least until 6AM.

Here’s hoping to a better day tomorrow.