Whose kith and kin is he?

Our son’s features change day by day. At first sight, most people’s reaction is that he is the spitting image of Krisztián. Generally it’s said that the boys take after their mothers. I don’t know, we’ll see. His earache has diminished by now and since then he is calmer, he looks a different baby. He makes his voice heard only when he’s hungry (often and loudly). In the district nurse’s opinion he eats record quantity (800-900-1000 grammes per day). Fortunately, breast-fed babies can’t be overfeed. He eats heartily, often with a smile in the corner of his mouth. We took part in a routine orthopedic examination on Monday – everything is O.K.
Time passes by quicker than ever and I’m afraid in advance that he will grow into a man earlier than I’d think.

The First Month

Our sweet Dominik is a tiny little angel without wings. My heart bleeds for him because he has pains for a week, he cries a lot bitterly, almost all day long and hardly sleeps by day. The doctor said on Thursday that he has earache and prescribes drops for him. Independent of his awakeness at daytime, he sleeps through almost the whole night. Eg. when he falls asleep at 10 PM, he wakes up at 3:30 AM. He adores to suck, being at the breast, he’s developing very well. His present weight is 4530 grammes, 4380 was a week ago and was 3280 when we departed the hospital on 27th July. He’s a really strong little boy: holds up his head and turns over from the very start.
At long last we have the baby carriage – after more than a month waiting. It’s from Germany. It’s easy to handle and I like the colour of it. I hope Dominik, too.
We had a busy week as regard visitors. On Friday the cousins with children gathered together, only Vanessza (4) was missing whose nose was running so her mother, Erika decided not to bring her.

In Confinement

This is the most difficult post I have ever composed. I have bothered my head much about what to write down from the thousand thoughts and experiences going through my mind. My feelings hardly can be put into words. Not only Dominik was born 3 weeks ago but also a mother. If I worded the first days I’d use the following expressions: complete exhaustion, crying fits, agonizing fear, first experiences, getting used to each other, getting accustomed to the completely new situation.
This period is a vicious circle at first. This is time for recover, it would be important to stay in bed lieing avoiding nervousness because of the involution of the womb and galactopoiesis. You know that you should relax but it’s almost impossible to carry out unless you have a mother like mine whose solicitude is endless. And then I haven’t mentioned the unexpected early visitors. You have just try to assimilate the fact that you have a baby, an own baby who needs you, only you and this time forth you’re responsible for him, you live for him and do your best while your life has been turned upside down for that you can’t prepare yourself during the 9 months. I think I would die of the bare idea of losing him.

Kontra Dominik...

...was born on 24th July, 2007 at 9:27 AM on Tuesday.

Weight: 3400 grammes
Lenght: 57 centimetres

Water left at noon on Monday – no pains.
Hospitalization at 4:00 PM on Monday – still no pains.
First pains from 3:30 AM per 10 minutes on Tuesday – bearable.
Pains from 6:00 AM per 5 and 3 minutes – begins to be painful.
Labour room from 6:45 AM – checking pains and fetal cardiac sound.
Spontaneous vaginal delivery from 8:00 AM.

The 38th Week

It’s terribly hot in Hungary. The mercury in a thermometer shows degrees above 40 for six days running. It’s tropical. I shudder only at the thought of being outside. The scorching sun is unbearable, the air doesn’t move. We are at home, unless we have some things to arrange. Krisz still has the plaster bandage on his leg, poor boy. He had to visit the doctor yesterday. He really hoped that it had been removed. Unfortunately, he suffered internal bleeding again, so one more week with it. He was said that his knee shows the sign of healing, it’s essentially better.
I hope that this terribly hot won’t have an influence on Dominik’s arrival. (The number of birth dubled because of the weather.) I mean, I would’t mind if he was born earlier but not yet. I still have some things to do before going to the hospital and not mentioned his father’s state. In my opinion he has not more than 2 weeks in my belly. He starts to take place in the birth canal, sometimes I have womb reactions. The orifice of the uterus is closed. I have to go to the bathroom more times during a night and it’s not easy to fall asleep again, every sleeping position is quite uncomfortable in spite of the fact that Dominik is very calm at night (only at night!). He hiccups a lot, four or five times a day. According to the last ultrasound (11/07/07) his estimated weight was 3077 grammes. I started to take some homeopathic medicine suggested by the obstetrix which may ease the childbirth.

The 37th Week

The number of medical examinations are increasing. We have to visit the doctor weekly and the obstetrix as well. The doctor examines the orifice of the uterus, the baby movements, appraises the results of the examinations due like ultrasound, blood taking, antibody, water test, NST. The obstetrix examines the baby’s cardiac sounds and movements (he’s still very active), the tightness of the placenta. This called non-stress test and lasts for about 30 minutes. It’s plain to be heard how the baby wriggle inside the womb.
But this is not everything as regard doctors and public health institutions. Krisz sprained one of his knee last Sunday. He missed his footing, he stepped on a block of wood in the forest and his knee-cap left its place. He reduced it (three times) but hardly could stand on it and it swelled up very much. We hurried to the all-night service then to the hospital where a lot of blood was drew off under his knee-cap and he got a plaster bandage. It’s from ankle to less under bottom. He has to wear it for 3 weeks. We’re at home together, he’s not allowed to move with it, he’s confined to bed. This kind of accident / any kind of accident never come in good but it’s the worst possible. I would need his help at this time most but I have to do things somehow without him. He can’t drive, I’m the driver to everywhere. Fortunately, there’s just enough place for my belly behind the steering wheel. I have to give him an injection into his stomach every day against trombosis. At long last he can rest up.

The 36th Week

Working days are over for a while. The farewell was painful. I was whimpering even on the previous day at home. I hate the ends. The last occasion was the graduation ceremony (2004) when I had the same feeling. After I had had my degree in my hand I felt bad because that document made me understand that college years were definitely over, there were no more days within the same frameworks.
The colleagues working on different buildings came into the office to say good bye and gave their best wishes. I hope that I managed to impart my skill and knowledge to the new girl during the last two weeks. At the end of the day, the last day I picked up the rest of my personal things, the kind gifts I got and I gave my closest colleague, the dearest colleague a lift for the last time.
But there’s no time to being grieved, it’s time to celebrate! Krisz’ 29th birthday was on Friday, my father nameday on Saturday, Annamária Day on Sunday (my mother’s and sister’s nameday), what’s more one of our friends from the country visited us at the weekend. He is going to work in the capital from July.
And now I turn over a new leaf, I do know what to do on my free time. In the last few weeks I cooked very seldom, so I want to make up for what I’ve missed. I’m going to prepare something delicious every day or almost every day. And then here is the baby’s bedroom. It’s high time to furnish and buy the things missing. I got a lot of complement from my cousin and one of my colleagues which they won’t need any more. It was very kind of them, it’s a great help at this time. In these days my mother and my sister are my two right hands, they help me to clean the windows and give a helping hand to me in anything/everything.

Let's see the photo of the week (on the right):

The 34th Week

This is my last week at work at the office of RKB. Friday will be the day of goodbye. I countdown the days remaining, I can’t wait the day on which I don’t have to get up to go to work, to lay low in the traffic jams during the rushing hours, as against I have to get up for the reason of other things, for somebody else. In a little while. It’s a mistake to believe that I didn’t like my work, I loved it. But it’s time to leave. On one hand because of me and my baby, on the other hand because changes begin at the company not in the right direction, as I see. Our direct boss (hierarchically right under the 3 owners) broke the news to me and my colleague exactly two weeks ago that he gave in his notice on that day. Following day he said that he leaves in two days time, the owners had disregarded from the period of notice. We were completely shocked. He was a stable point of the company, his work was thorough and conscientious, worked with great accuracy, he was a perfectionist, thought of everything, nothing escaped his attention. Everybody thought that he would had been the last person who would left the ”boat”. It was a great surprise for everyone. A question was raised in most people: is the boat sinking? Maybe yes, it is. If it doesn’t fall till now, it will from this time forth – think many of us. Our boss didn’t let us know what was the real reason of his decision but it’s a fact that he had to deal with such a things (finances) a lot which were not his duty at all. We were so sorry, we got on well with him, we could collaborate very well. When I got the office early in the morning he was already in. When I left the office late in the afternoon he was still there. We miss him very much. The owners are not planning to make the vacancy filled, they rather reorganize. This is what terrifies everyone. Those people are rising who are uncompetent, talentless, are without abilities. And we don’t understand why. I’m selfish and I say that I’m glad that the things happened in this way. I mean I’m happy that our boss didn’t leave earlier, we leave RKB almost at the same time. People say that every beginning is difficult, I say the end is similarly difficult, often tearful. I liked this company, I wouldn’t wish a better one, I had a very good two years here and I feel bad about leaving it irrevocably but I think I won’t work at RKB any more. This idea presents itself for a long while, it’s not correlate with the current events. I have other plans beyond RKB. And I’m very happy that it won’t be so painful in the circumstances. During the last two weeks I’m busy with training the new girl for playing my role in the future.

The 33rd Week

Flower carpet was on view on Sunday. It was a really hot morning, the boys were fussy. The fair-ground wasn’t as large as usual but I didn’t omit to buy my rosary. We managed to persuade my father to drive to Szentendre to the Skanzen in that afternoon. It was my mother’s idea. Traffic jam and searing sun were ordeals. In the evening we ate BBQ by favour of my father and tried to denominate the BabyBoy.

The 31st Week

The baby boy’s figured weight on 30th May: 1883 grammes, which is relevant to its period in the doctor’s opinion
Umbilical cord blood harvesting: nowadays we have some things in our mind like stem cells, auto-transplant preparation, its utilization and opportunity. Childbirth is an unrepeatable opportunity for auto-transplant preparation. As placental blood, which is otherwise destroyed together with placenta, contains stem cells. These could be used for transplant in the case of severe disease of a child. He may never use its transplant but at a critical moment it can save his life. That’s why they say: ”Give the life to your child twice!” I’m busy with selecting the most competent company whose service is based on processing and storage of stem stells to be available whenever needed and whose price is the most reasonable. Up to now, a Slovak company proves to be the most competitive.
Fruits: it’s summer season which means that I can abound among the most relishable fruits like peach, melon, cherry, in a while apricot, etc… At our weekend house we picked cherry again. This is the late type and it’s bigger and scrunchier. The tree is full of cherry – every single sticks – we hardly afford to pick. As you can see on the picture rightward I ate a lot! (To tell you the truth my stomach is much smaller in the mornings. My weight is invariably 68 kilogrammes.)

The 30th Week

A very pleasant long weekend is behind us including the last Sunday of May which is the Day of Children and Whitsun Sunday and Whit Monday. Whitsun is a sign of Corpus Christi / Procession / the flower carpet around the church for me which is in 2 weeks time.
The sun was shining during those days but there were heavy storms throughout the country. My sister installed the air pool on the terrace and we had fun while the boys were picking the early cherries at our weekend house. Ancsa has several exams at this time, she has to learn a lot.
The dame next door stood a treat on Sunday on the occasion of the arrival of her son after 5 weeks Canada, from Victoria Island. All of us were invited, she prepared a whale of food and did this on her own.
I had to buy some new expectant clothes because only a few piece left which suit me yet (my stomach is 105 centimeters round, my weight is 68 kilogrammes) . Me and my sister visited the ”Tiger Market” where we always find gorgeous things on very favourable prices. We spent a long time and a lot of money there. It was worth very much, we made good bargain and good buy.
My belly often becomes deformed on account of the position of the baby. Sometimes as it were not belly shaped at all. We’ll go to ultrasound tomorrow, so I’ll know the baby’s weight exactly who is still very active. Last Friday I had a blood test because of antibody screening, my blood type is not typical, I’m ”A” RH negative and the baby might be positive because Krisz is positive as well.

The 29th Week

The wide open spaces always fascinate me, mainly if it’s combined with such a scenery like in Bakony where I was with the workers for 2 days last week. The accomodation was in a valley in a village called Bakonybél 127 kms far from Budapest (www.bakonyhotel.hu) encircled by pine-wood as far as the eye could see. In the circumstances I always realized how I love nature. I could admire it all day long enjoying every little rush of air, gazing at every shade of green existing, listening the many birds twittering and feeling the sun stroking on my skin. Relaxing habitually is needful in our overworked lives. We must spend time on ourselves. That’s why and on the occasion of our first anniversary we’ll go to Harkány at the weekend (www.xavin.hu).
Insomuch as our company performs in the building industry, the majority of the employees’ gender are male. I’d like to lead up to the fact that each and all of them were very thoughtful, payed regard to me and my state. The one made inquiries whether I am cold, the other asked whether I am thirsty, the one was waiting for me when I dropped behind the group because of taking photos, the other yield the place to me at once… These gestures gratified me, it was very kind of the boys. In the evening of arrival there was a BBQ and baker’s trade. Following day we were divided into two groups: we could choose either sightseeing within the village or hiking in the forest. We went home after lunch.
That day we met the cameraman and got the video theme of our wedding. It was a real joy (it was free because of the lateness). Although Krisz was on nightshift again (last time as a non-parent) we had a look at it on that night when he got home. On the whole we were satisfied. It’s a fine piece of work, we like it. The only problem is that we still have to wait for the uncut version…

The 28th Week

We took part in my cousin’s school leaver ceremony on Saturday in the country and we didn’t get back by the time the wedding began in Budapest. It was probable that’s why we had to choose between the two programs. What’s more, we were invited to a dance contention as well by our teachers in the evening. It was a pity that we didn’t arrive in time and to tell you the truth we were too tired to take part in it. These ”balls” usually last far into the night.
As regard the weather we had deuce of a luck during the ceremony and the whole day while we were in the country. When we woke up early in the morning there were grey clouds on the sky, it was raining all night long and even on our way to the spot was spitting and blowing. We were in dispair because I dare say that it’s necessary raining on the occasion of ceremonies like this in May. It’s an annoying thing in spite of the fact that there’s a phrase which says that raining in May is worth gold. It’s very true as regard the agriculture not open-air ceremonies like Maying, school leaver’s ceremonies, weddings… As we approached the city, the sun pushed through the clouds and get warmer and warmer and we felt hot. It was good to meet long-seen faces, relatives and friends. My growing belly was a newness for all of them although they knew that the baby is under way. We got a lovely bed clothes from my godmother in advance. After the ceremony we had a countrified lunch with desserts what’s more we went to a confectionery to eat ice-cream. Time passed fast, we had to set off and it was raining hard all the way home.
Sensation Nr1: the first tasty watermelon of the year (not Hungarian yet)! I like it! I eat it! At any time.
Sensation Nr2: it seems like we can take possession the movie of our wedding on Friday evening – after one year diagreeable waiting

Sensation Nr3: my mother's amarilisses are blooming
Thursday & Friday: two-days business excursion in Bakony Mountains, in the woods

The 27th Week

Weight: 65 kg
Stomach round size: 98 cm
Baby movements: consistent, all day long (he might be a football player)
Next doctor visit: 16 May
Favourite fruit: melon
Favourite food: Cheerios
Main pastime (beside office & house work): sunbathing
Special happening: Krisz copped 2 moles in the garden with bare hands on the same day - no more annoying molehill (they have been transferred to the airfield)
Probable programs on Saturday: either one of my colleague’s wedding in Budapest or my cousin’s school leavers ceremony in the country
Anniversary: Hungary joined the EU 1 May, 2004

The 25th Week

My stomach grows bigger not day by day but very unevenly. It’s a proven fact that it’s not a linear process. The baby (unfortunately, he’s still nameless) sometimes is really active. He may swim or dance or do gym in my belly, he may push himself off from the abdoman and strange though it may appear he already reacts to the outside world. I picked up on this fact this week. Namely, Krisz is on nightshift this week and we don’t meet in the afternoon, he usually arrives home at dawn, it’s around half past 3 AM. When I wake up, the little one wakes up too and starts to move madly hearing his father voice, taking delight in his arrival so that I hardly can fall asleep again.

Easter Retrospect

Nothing serious happening at Easter weekend. There was no pre-planned program. It was my Mum who was habitually prepared for Easter, I tidied up our pantry (I needed a great effort to do this without nauseate), weeded out our strawberry plantation which is now blooming and I was just relaxing and sunbathing.
In Hungary, people had better to make a careful decision where to go at this time because you can easily find yourself in a traffic jam in the approach of a popular open-air spare time scene and finally you fretfully realise that you spend the main part of the day in your car.
Once we went to the „Skanzen” in Szentendre at Easter and at that moment over there I made a resolution that I never go to a place like this at any high day when thousands of people decide to make an excursion. Actually, it’s a very interesting place, it’s an open air museum. The dwelling houses and outbuildings represent the characteristic house types and their dependencies as they had shaped during the centuries. Gravestones and grave-posts collected in cemeteries, a Calvary, mills and other objects enrich the traditional villagescape. Every house is fitted out with furnishings, objects, utensils and textiles, with the requisites of festivities and daily work, in compliance with the occupation, social position, religion and nationality of the inhabitants. The customs and activities are also demonstrated (bread baking, washing, eating, mourning, etc.), together with the structures housing homecrafts, handicrafts, and communal functions.

And once we were in Hollókő. It’s almost the same place in regard to its spirit. Hollókõ is a part of the World Heritage for 15 years and is the treasure of Palócland, a village representing a uniform style of architecture, and has been preserved in the most intact shape in Central Europe. Its greatest value is the Old Village of 58 protected buildings, still preserving the touches of the 17th century folk architecture.

The 22nd Week - It's a Boy!

We partook in a great experience on Monday, it was a prodigy, we got an inside view of my belly and could see our little child. It turned out that it’s pure boy! He wasn’t in his element this time, he hardly moved, he was sleepy. We saw him to yawn and to grab the umbilical cord. It was fantastic, we could see his full-face and it was a cute baby (his present weight is 492 gram) in spite of the fact that our doctor said that it was not the most suitable period to see the embryo because it’s looked like an ethiopian child and it’s more frightening than nice. I don’t do justice to her, it was a real baby and show himself, every part of his body were very well visible. To tell you the truth we were a little bit disappointed at first, mainly Chris. In former times I couldn’t imagine that I have a boy, I was always teetotal girl-minded. I was who had to tell the words of cheer to Chris. I regret that I have to aside the brownie girlish clothes temporarily that I treasured up for years as an impassioned baby clothes collector.

March Skretch

I’m going to delineate what happened in the near past. We had some days to celebrate: my father’s and my sister’s birthday and Chris’ name-day. It was three days running. My sister’s birthday cake was the most exciting: 2 pieces of coco-ball with candles on top made of biscuit by his boyfriend.
We had a long weekend in exchange for a hard-working Saturday. We’ve visited the Designer’s Outlet in Parndorf, Austria which was expanded very much recently. We were shopping all day long. I had quite good walking legs. I thought that I wouldn’t find any trendy, comfortable piece of clothes that suits my belly and doesn’t stress me. I found some in spite of the fact that there was no spitting store for me - what’s more by now I could develop my cloakroom with several pieces of ”kismama” clothes. My belly grew a lot in the last few days.
Chris has numerous plans in line with our garden, he painted our future garden for me just in thought. Flowery window frames, hanging flower boxes, a nice garden suite of furniture made of wood, upbeat decoration, lianes and huge stones on the brae, sod with grass… He has inspiration, he step into his father’s shoes, he was a great gardener. We already have started to go out on business, first we have bought some thujas, potted them and settled in front of the garage.
Today I have a day off, I went about my lawful occasion in the morning and we’ll attend an obsequies at 3 PM.