Mom's Holiday

We were in Pondy during the Pongal weekend.
Hubby is moving to the new office this Sunday and we will be back in Pondy this tonight / tomorrow.
The maid is on a week long leave.
Logistically and logically it is better to leave the kids in Pondy, is it not?
So that is exactly what I did and I am home alone since Wednesday morning.
Day 1 was spent in stores and Cascade chinese restaurant with sis.
Day 2 was delayed at office.
Day 3 Hubby would be back to do some artifact shopping for the new office and we will get back together to Pondy.
The break has been good.
The kids have been missed terribly but not so bad. Did not have the time to dwell over the fact that I am missing them. Dreamt about them a lot both nights.
Finished watching Om Shanti Om in 2 sittings.
Stayed at sis' place.
Did not cook at all.

Ojas had developed an itchy rash in Pondy- 2 doses of Atarax syrup did the trick.
Tejas' recuring diarreah problem has been investigated via urine/ stool report- Ecoli colonies in large numbers, seemingly resistant to around 15 drugs have been found.
The doc has put him on a course of Phexin for 20 days to finish them.
Learnt today that Metrogyl sysrup is given to cure anaerobic dysentry caused by amoebic infection and The phexins/ cephaloxins/ ampicillins are for diarrhea caused by bacterial infection. Diagnosed by clinical conditions so my self medication may not always work!

I am Sick of the Loosies

Tejas is again down with diarrhea. The 4th round in a span of a month. He doesn't seem to b getting rid of this cycle of vomiting and loose motions. His regular doctor is out of town. We went to a new one who has prescribed only g-norm and ascezin. This doc believes in as less antibiotic as possible. So no metrogyl or phexin or monocef this time. I don't want to subject him to antibiotics anyway. A series of homeopathic is being administered- Aloe s, Apis, Chamomile, Carbo veg, nux, Podophyllum...hoping atleast one of them will hit home....Doc says no sugar no honey ...no milk offcourse
He is bored of the bland stuff he is getting to eat and is crying for roti/ veggies/ chips..anything. Poor boy...
Ojas is also deprived of them all so that Tejas doesn't ask for it seeing him eating it.
I took 2 days off to tend him as I have no baby maid since last month. He is still passing loose stools and I am trying to reach the doctor who is sure to brush aside my concern saying that unless he does it every 5 minutes, there is nothing to worry. Yes, tell that to a mother or someone who has to clean up everytime it happens- Sofa, bed, cycle, chair, floor...

Despite this off-schedule holiday, I am waiting ofr the Pongal 4-day break...the only black spot being that the maid will take a long 5-day off and there are no substitutes in sight. I have also indicated to the boss that I may have to take a few days leave apart from the 4 day break since the maid has to go on her holiday! Or may be I will go off to Pondy where atleast the office cleanign ladies can come and help us.

Ojas wakes up in the morning scratching the palm of his hands and soles of his feet. Sometimes it happens while sleeping also. Wonder whether he has suddenly developed some allergic reaction to something?

The Pulse Polio volunteers came to administer in our building. I had to remind them off course that I had registered our building a year back. Somehow the drive here is not so intense maybe because Chennai is a low incidence zone?? In Patna I was asked at the railway station, exhibition, market and home by volunteers whether I had participated. I am guilty of lying as I was not sure whether the drops were authentic or not. I ought to have done it as I was there in the city but I did not. So does it make me a UK-Born-Bihari-Brought-Up Confused Chennaite?

Patna Tales

4th wedding anniversary spen away from hubby - for the 1st time today.
Both kids pucking away to glory- some infection I guess- electrobion given
Ojas fell into a bucket of water- mildly shocked!
seen- donkey on the road- delighted
talking hindi relatively fluently- connecting words, repeating after us when we talk
shitting on the adult potty seat as no other option available- singing in the loo also
making parody- good boy good boy good boy, where have you been (to the tune of pussy cat pussy cat where have you been)
loving the plastic tea set- serving us coffee in them
love the plastic animal model toys
can recognize colours- black is mummy car, red is mausi car, and so on - can recite the colour names too.
can say numbers in tamil- upto 10 by rote
can recite few notes from the sargam- sa re ga
Shopping worth Rs 15k- blown up in 5 designer saris and 2 suits - still raring to go for more

Duggi in Trouble

Duggi has done the unpardonable... he has put his teeth on Tejas' penis. He loves eating shit and runs behind them the moment he smells it. In the confusion, he dug his teeth in the wrong place. It is full of scratches, has bled a little and completely swollen. The poor boy was highly uncomfortable and unable to willingly pass urine. Though this has not lessened his love for Duggi. This is the 2nd time he has done it. The 1st time he scratched his groin playfully and we escaped without any medication.
This time, we immediately washed with soap and water, applied dettol (as it is done in any wound) and took him to the doctor. The doctor said that while the dog is vaccinated and the kid has taken the TT vaccines on schedule, nothing to worry. But there may be a 1% chance of danger so it is up to the parents to put him on a Rabipur course.
Even if it is 0.1% chance, I am not taking the risk. There is no 2nd thoughts to it unless there is a chance of scary side effects of the injections- which there is not.
The course will take 1 month. Comprises of 5 injections- Day 0, Day 3, Day 7, Day 14 and Day 30, each costing Rs 300. He has to take medication for 2 days and there is an ointment to be applied.
Hubby says he will take Duggi to Pondicherry until he is a little older. I am reserving my comments for the moment. I have said enough about the wisdom of having a pup at home when the kids are not old enough to undertsand the responsibility and we do not have time to spare for the new member of the family. He needs his share of exercise, love, games - it is not just about feeding him on time and taking care of his toilet and bed. You have to give him the entire package and moreover you get attached to him in a very few days. If he is out of sight for even a few minutes the kids come running to us with a questionmark on their face and tears welling in their eyes- Duggi? They will miss him terribly but I am still quiet. If I say anything, the onus of everything is on me and I am saving my backside by keeping quiet.
A peek into Duggi's personal space will show you his few wordly possessions- 3 rubber rabbits, 1 Minny Mouse soft toy, Minny Mouse's red frock, a plastic toy- I seriously felt I am intruding by peeping there. It all looked so cute with Duggi sleeping on his back peacefully among his things, I felt sorry that he has to leave temporarily.
I don't want to get angry at BIL for gifting Duggi without taking my consent and debating the pros and cons with me. I want to get even. I want to gift him a cow or a buffalo on his birthday.

On a more happier note, Tejas has correctly spotted all the plus signs in various colours in malar Hospital- he ought to, after the number of visits he has made. He even picked the cross on Mother Teresa painting at the foot of the staircase.
He pointed correctly at the doctor, first aid kit, etc as read in his books.
He has also been correctly pointing out at all red cars as Mausi car, all black cars as Mummy car and any light to dark colour car that resembles a Honda City as Dadda Car and any blue car as Nana car.
They have picked up the maid language of saying "edo" instead of "this" or "ye" in Hindi. I have been trying to make them unlearn it all this while and finally yesterday Tejas pointed at things saying- 'Ye'.
I picked up another selection of board books - with colours, wild animals, foods, birds, fruits (the previous book has been missing so I got a new one)- all Alkas, Navneets, Vikas and Dreamland publications costing anything between Rs 20- 35. The Dreamland ones are really best of the lot in quality and sophisticated looking in colour combinations and print.

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Homeopathic Medicines I Swear By

My Grandma & Mom have spend years on reading up and experimenting with homeopathic medications. A few medicines they recommend to be always stored in my medicine cabinet-
Arnica Mont- Physical injury - visible or not visible & Mental stress- Much as we would like to avoid, there will be occassion when our growing baby would fall and hurt itself. A dose - meaning few globules or 2-3 drops mixed in water would help in reducing the swelling or the other harmful effects of a fall

Aconite Nap- given at the onset of a cold - it actually drives away the cold in many cases. give right away when you hear a few sneezes or observe the eyes watering. My friend & I swear by it. can give if the nose is running and the mucous is watery

Bryonia- in case the child has caught the cold and is suffering from running nose and the mucous is thick and heavy

Belladonna- cough

Cammomila- loose stools especially green/ blackish or during teething. also effective if the baby is generally cranky or crying a lot.

Ipecac- vomiting

Nux Vom- loose motion/ indigestion/ stomach pain/ vomiting

Apis Mel- if you suspect there is some stomach infection

Symphytom mother tincture- if you suspect there has been a hair line crack or there is a need to use a crepe bandage if one has hurt itself in twisted a hand/ leg/finger etc

For infants below 6 months you can use the potency of "6" and give it 2-3 times a day

Potency of 30 pr mother tincture can be given for older children / adults- 2 times a day

Other medicines-

Natrum Mur 3x- for insect bites. eat a few globules neat or mixed with warm water and even make a paste and apply on teh affected part

Silicea 12x- a little strong medicine- to be administered with caution on infants- for any foreign object lodged in the body- anything in the eye/ thorn or glass piece in the skin

Ferrum Phos 12x - cough

The good thing about homeopathic medicines is that it has no adverse/ side effects. Just ensure that the medicines are taken 20 minutes- half an hour before brushing/ eating and atleast upto 20 minutes- 1/2 an hour later do not brush or eat anything. Buy only good quality medicine - I have more faith on the german one - i think its called B&T

Disclaimer- the above is compiled based on personal experience only. incase it does not work within a few hours or a day please visit the doctor. I do not claim it to be an authority guide and neither am I a doctor. Its your wish to follow or not follow the above