brood

i feel as though a milestone has been reached. we have travelled with our wee levi, and he did a remarkable job. last week we attened a kind of yearly family (in-laws to me…) reuinion at an old resort up in virginia’s blue ridge mountains. although 36 people were present, levi was a kind of star, being the youngest and well possibly the most irresistible? he did well with all the stimulation, and what’s more, people were very respectful and loving of his nascent boundaries. we all worked to keep the basics of his nap schedule, and night sleep. he did beautifully in a borrowed “pack and play” – slept better than here home, even. (He was having a couple issues with the co-sleeper, which he has more than outgrown. In fact, when we got him back, and put him in there it seemed like he was 10% larger and didn’t fit in the thing at all, so he graduated to his crib.)

Of course, this glowing report begins to fade as the return travel begins. Firstly, we got off onto a very bad start. The night before our travel day was long because there was a bit of dancing to be done my ladyjoanna and pappyman – actually, quite more than a bit… pappyman was making up for lost time or something. let’s just say that we got the most out of our babysitter (one of the two times we’ve both been out at night since his arrival!) . I think Levi knew we were out late and didn’t sleep well when we returned. So, we start our travel day with a good sleep debt for all; not only that, ladyjoanna already had a cold started the day before. for some reason we planned our travel to happen all in one day. (we kind of split it up on the way in.) so, it was a long long haul and by the time we got home it was 11pm austin time, and everyone was feeling pretty bad. Levi slept poorly and the next night I confirmed that he and i also had the cold.

Now, a baby with a cold is a kind of challenge i didn’t expect. at 6months… this is his first one! i didn’t realize that they can’t clear their own airways. i mean, of course they can’t! as a result sleep was a broken affair last night. very broken. tonight we have propped up the bed… cranked the humidifier… discovered the role of the hot shower-based steam bath… equipped ourselves with saline nasal spray and a syringe — both of which he hates! just hates! (of course, who likes things stuffed up their nose. did i ever think i’d be muttering to a child – “this is for your own good!” … well, i didn’t.)

so, we’ll see how it goes. i’d like to think that the travel was worth it and that the colds will help build character for all of us, but i am too busy concentrating on how good it is to be home!