He Walks!

Health: An Update

Not surprisingly, considering my last entry, we've been getting lots of questions about our health.  I thought it would be easiest to do a quick post on the subject. I wish I could say that we are all healthy. Unfortunately we're not there yet. In fact, we had planned a big Thanksgiving dinner at our place today with some US/Czech families that we had to cancel.  Luckily, we were also able to cancel our turkey order!  

Here's the latest:

Jeff - Much better but still coughing.

Maylia - Better but still coughing. Considering going back to doctor this week.

Ella - Diagnosed with bronchitis. On antibiotics and instructed to stay home until we go back to doctor on Tuesday.

Mattias - Chicken pox healing. Congested and coughing. Doctor says it's probably a virus. Taking an expectorant.

It's gotta end soon, right?

All is not doom and gloom, though.  Jeff has been knocking off some house projects.  We've had lots and lots of family play time.  Mattias is really close to mastering walking with all his inside practice time.  Ella is actually looking forward to when she can go back to skolka.  And we still zipped one floor down to our neighbor's 1-year birthday party for bit yesterday. Here's a photo. the birthday boy, Adam, is the one on the left, rubbing his eyes...not the best picture of the birthday boy! 

By the end of the party, the two big girls, Ella and Alice (pictured here blowing out the candle) were best of friends. In fact, Ella was all the way downstairs and ready to go home with them when I caught up with her! And Mattias definitely got a kick out of seeing so many other kids his age - there were 5 in the one-year range.

Hope everyone in the USA is enjoying their long weekend.

Maylia

Happy Thanksgiving to our US Family & Friends

It's Snowing!

Over the weekend we got snow!

It was only an inch or two, which isn't a lot by the standards of most who read this, but it was a lot for the downtown city.  And when Ella and daddy went outside, it snowed even harder for the 15-20 minutes they were out.  They stayed outside just long enough to make tracks to the park, build a small snowman, makes snowballs to bring back to mom and make tracks back.

With Ella still coughing a bit, their decision was to build any more snowmen from the snow outside the window.

Dekujeme Vam na Nemocnice Parker / Welcome to Hospital Parker

Ella is coughing. Jeff is coughing. Maylia has bronchitis. And Mattias has chicken pox. Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

This is Maylia writing. I'll write in the first person now. Can I admit the ugly truth that I am feeling sorry for myself? Yes, I know I have so much in the world to be grateful for...please don't post some comment listing these things. I know what they are. And I certainly know that none of these illnesses is serious. But they certainly are aggravating. And we've basically been housebound since Erin visited us in mid-October. That was when Ella started being sick. There have been some short reprieves, but overall, it's been a crappy month! I mean, CRAPPY! Last year, I also had a CRAPPY November. In fact, it was one of the lowest times I can remember. I also had bronchitis. Poor Eric was visiting then and I think nearly witnessed a nervous breakdown as I tried to cope with being hugely pregnant, very ill, and a stressful move all at the same time. So, I've decided that while I love Prague and this adventure we are on. I do NOT love November in Prague. In fact, I despise it. And....I want my mommy.

So, Jeff and I both visited the same doctor today at different times. We are able to go to this very nice clinic not far from his work (well...only a few metro stops). It is through a plan with DHL. There are English-speaking doctors and it is all very modern and "western".  Doctor Skoda (funny name for a doctor...or a car..."Pity") diagnosed me with bronchitis and prescribed an antibiotic. 

We could have the viral vs bacterial debate but the doctor felt confident I needed the antibiotic. I did see another doctor in Prague last year who actually did a blood test on the spot to confirm this. I was very impressed with him. But, I also had to pay quite a bit to see him.  Today, along with the antibiotic, I was also told to pick up a herbal remedy to help keep my bronchial tubes lubricated and some mineral water.  Not just any mineral water but a specific mineral water that is believed to be good for this type of illness - you drink it and you also heat it up and inhale it.  

And this is where I want to make my cross-cultural point.  I believe, in general, that Czechs are more homeopathic/naturopathic than North Americans.  It seems very common here to be sent to the lekarna (pharmacy) for concentrated cranberry powder, bee pollen, or a special mineral water that bubbles up from underground somewhere in the countryside.  At home, I don't think doctors combine pharmaceutical medicine with herbal/natural medicines nearly so much.  Am I right?  I like it.  It's neat.  We see this the most with our pediatrician who is both a naturopath as well as a medical doctor.  But today, in this modern clinic, it really hit me.  And I wonder why it is? Perhaps they had to rely on "home remedies" until more recently?  Something to ponder.  One of those little differences that makes me remember why we are here having this adventure, even in the miserable month of November.

Visa Fee Free (But Not Guaranteed)

Rather news to locals here is that Czech Republic got (finally) included into the US's Visa Waiver program. The Visa Waiver program means the visitor no longer needs to apply for permission to visit the US (officially a "visa") at the local US embassy. Nope, now the visitor can apply for permission to visit the US on the official DHS website. (If you click on the Apply link, try not to get itimidated by the scary Dept of HomeLand Security warning pop-up)

I'll post here, so you don't have to click "OK", okay?

What may be bigger news is the fee waiver. Before, it would cost 2000 koruna (~$100). Now, applying is free. Again, it doesn't guarantee entry, but at least now there's no loss in trying.

And kudos to Jeff K for following US-Czech news so closely as to notice I hadn't mentioned this earlier! ;)

Super Breaking News: "What were we thinking?!?"

It's a 3-day weekend here in Czech Republic and we planned to visit Olomouc in Moravia, the eastern third of Czech Republic.

We planned our Moravia visit for the past couple weeks, packed up a few days of kids' clothes and our meager load in one backpack. We even splurged on Pendelino tickets, the bullet train to take us there in just 2 hours.

Then, early this morning we looked at Mattias, who now has more spots on his face, belly and back. We thought of our train leaving in about 2 hours. Wait...we're bringing a kid with full-blown chicken pox on a train packed with others going on holiday...what are we thinking?

Looks like we'll instead spend a lovely 3-day weekend at home, maybe catch up on some blog writing...

More BREAKING NEWS: Mattias is Walking

Mattias may have the pox, but that's no reason to sit still, right?

Last night, we were all in the kids' room, going through "milk & stories" to ready Ella for bed.

And Mattias decided he was ready to walk on his own.

Sure, it was only four steps, but we were cheering him on every step of the way.

Below is a short video of us trying to get him on his feet again this afternoon.

And yes, Ella is climbing on the table "trying to get daddy's tie chain" (read: any attention is better than no attention). 

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BREAKING NEWS: MATTIAS HAS POX

We saw the first signs last night during bathtime...two suspicious spots on his head and one blister on his back. This morning there are 7 total.  Since it's fairly obvious he's caught the pox from his sister and there is nothing that can really be done for him, we probably won't make the trip to the doctor. We'll just weather the storm. So far, the storm is pretty tame. Mattias has been sleeping more than usual, has a mild fever, and is slightly less patient with his family. Otherwise he seems fine.  

Being Sick Is No Reason To Stay Indoors


Ella returned to school this morning. Between the chicken pox and a decent cough, she was away from nursery school for more than 2 weeks. We smiled when we learned many kids (and their parents) had been asking about her. Guess being 1 of 2 foreigners in a class of 26 makes her stand out. Now, if only Ella really understood what they're so excited about... :)

Being sick didn't keep Ella indoors though. Over the past couple weeks, she's spent plenty of time outside. We've had a mild fall, early winter so far with most days in the high teens (C), 50's-60's (F). A few pictures of the kids doing their favorite thing - swinging.




Did anyone catch Ella's footwear? She's on a "I have to be different" kick, hence the two different shoes.

New friends of ours, Jennifer and Michael, came to visit Prague last week. Jeff got to meet them early in their stay and again later when they stopped over to also meet Maylia and, well the next picture says it all.


Hearing from them since, it sounds like they really enjoyed Prague. Coming from a couple that travels as much as they do, that says a lot. We enjoyed our time together - thanks Jennifer & Michael!

Today's a Good Day for Americans

Today's the day everyone here woke up and found out the election outcome in America.

Jeff here. In my first half hour at work, I had no fewer than five people "congratulate" me for my country's choice of Obama for President. For that, I was surprised.

My first thought was Obama's win was unexpected - it shouldn't have been (local media guessed Obama as the winner for weeks). But as each person continued past their congrats, they said how impressed they were Americans could work past their racism. This came from Canadian, British and Czech coworkers. For that, I was really surprised.

I honestly wasn't sure if this was a "backhanded compliment" or some genuine approval of progress. Coming from one person, I would have thought it a snub, unintended or not. But no, it came from many, so I guess I've learned yet more about foreigners' perception of Americans (unintended or not).

Whatever the case, Americans deserve congratulations. They made history and it's an outstanding time for hope.

p.s. Also congrats to now Senator Shaheen who upset Sununu in New Hampshire. :)

Birthday coming up...

How to celebrate?

1. Read more.

"Brain slows at 40, starts body decline"
http://www.physorg.com/news144948216.html

...damn.

(Your &) Our Votes Will Count

First, quick update on Ella's pox - she's fast on the mend. Ella still her spots, but half of them are all but faded away. The other half or so have already blistered over and drying up. [Sorry if that grosses you out a bit.]

This election is exciting for many and it's no different for us, because it's Maylia's first since getting her US citizenship in 2006.

And not without a little hair-raising drama mixed in.
Late in the summer, Jeff found an online website (mistake by hindsight) to verify both he and Maylia are still registered NH voters. Jeff got anxious to preempt any issues after the then budding stories of voter deregistration, purging, suppression, disenfranchising, caging, whatever they call it today. Indeed, still registered. Confidence restored.

One last issue - how to know when/if the vote gets there? Unlike some states, New Hampshire doesn't allow faxing or e-mailing a ballot, only by post. We have so little confidence in mail, it's not funny. Then Jeff found out about "Express Your Vote," a partnership between FedEx and the Overseas Vote Foundation for expats to vote reliably. Reliable delivery for a super cheap cost (~$23 per ballot). Confidence restored further.

Jeff read and read the ballot instructions, following them to the letter. Once in FedEx's hands, we tracked online our two ballots to Manchester's Office of the City Clerk. Delivered well before end of October (though it took about 10 days longer then the expected 1-day delivery, but that's okay). Confidence restored even further.

October 21st, we hear from the Manchester Office of the City Clerk: "We have received you and your wife's absentee ballots. Unfortunately, we cannot accept them because you are not registered voters here in Manchester. However, you can register and vote by following these procedures..." Remember that "mistake by hindsight" earlier? Confidence shattered, 'wicked badly.'

Still, with fast action by a lady named Sally, we got our vote in with plenty of time to spare. Kudos goes to Sally F. at One City Hall Plaza, whose e-mail signature labels her an "Archivist/Records Management Officer" but we feel she wears a cape and a big "S" on her chest. Sally understood the time pressure and permitted a couple faxes to re-register ourselves with Manchester.

Lastly, the most assuring words came from Manchester's election supervisor: "we will send you absentee ballots as soon as we receive your fax. If these ballots are not received by November 4th, then we will use the ballots you have sent already." Faxes signed, sealed, sent; votes delivered. Confidence restored.

Whew. Just a bit of drama; no added expense or hassle, only an uneasy feeling for a day or two. At least we didn't find ourselves having to fly back as this couple did. (And can't say we would.)