Luka on the couch at the Moyers' house
27 November 2007
26 November 2007
The Haircut
Before we'd even met Luka, we saw a video of him laughing hysterically while getting his hair cut. This was encouraging, since his hair has been getting a tad long. We decided to cut his hair last night.
Bad idea. The poor kid wasn't in a good mood, and having his head held still wasn't his idea of a good time. Nor was having to take TWO baths in one night. We (mostly) succeeded though, with the help of Paul's beard trimmer, and Luka now has a bare head.
I feel like a bad person for saying this, but where has my child gone? Luka looks completely different without hair!
*will post a picture as soon as we take one!
Bad idea. The poor kid wasn't in a good mood, and having his head held still wasn't his idea of a good time. Nor was having to take TWO baths in one night. We (mostly) succeeded though, with the help of Paul's beard trimmer, and Luka now has a bare head.
I feel like a bad person for saying this, but where has my child gone? Luka looks completely different without hair!
*will post a picture as soon as we take one!
The Morning Wake-up Call
Sleeping in is no longer a possibility with a two-year-old in the house. Especially a two-year-old with a poopy diaper. Hungry for his breakfast at 6:00 AM.
I must say, though, that if I have to wake up at dawn every morning, there's no better way of doing so than waking up to an eagerly smiling face. Luka is always in the best mood when Paul and I are barely awake.
Luka and I play this game where I sing a few notes (of the la-la-la variety) and he echoes after me. Using "las" wasn't the best idea, as every command to go to sleep (Ulale! Lala sasa hivi!) is now met with a sweet sing-song response: "la la la."
Yesterday, he charmingly entertained himself while we tried to go back to sleep, poking our eyes with his tiny fingers, pretending to sleep (curled up, fingers in his mouth, bum in the air), and zoom-zooming his Duplo brick across our pillows.
This morning, Luka was so wide awake, he'd pushed the mosquito net over his crib out of the way and was standing. I woke up to the sight of his staring face. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the mood for entertaining himself while we continued to sleep, so it was up and at 'em for Paul and me!
It's a good thing he's so cute.
I must say, though, that if I have to wake up at dawn every morning, there's no better way of doing so than waking up to an eagerly smiling face. Luka is always in the best mood when Paul and I are barely awake.
Luka and I play this game where I sing a few notes (of the la-la-la variety) and he echoes after me. Using "las" wasn't the best idea, as every command to go to sleep (Ulale! Lala sasa hivi!) is now met with a sweet sing-song response: "la la la."
Yesterday, he charmingly entertained himself while we tried to go back to sleep, poking our eyes with his tiny fingers, pretending to sleep (curled up, fingers in his mouth, bum in the air), and zoom-zooming his Duplo brick across our pillows.
This morning, Luka was so wide awake, he'd pushed the mosquito net over his crib out of the way and was standing. I woke up to the sight of his staring face. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the mood for entertaining himself while we continued to sleep, so it was up and at 'em for Paul and me!
It's a good thing he's so cute.
new vocab
new ways luka expresses himself:
"uh-oh..." (after dropping things off the table on purpose)
"DAWN-tay" ("asante"...thank you in kiswahili)
"DEE-tah" ("mpira"...kiswahili for ball)
"doog" ("dog" but also refers to flies, mosquitoes, and music)
"uh-oh..." (after dropping things off the table on purpose)
"DAWN-tay" ("asante"...thank you in kiswahili)
"DEE-tah" ("mpira"...kiswahili for ball)
"doog" ("dog" but also refers to flies, mosquitoes, and music)
23 November 2007
Mbwa
Luka's favorite activity is standing on the couch in front of the window and watch the "mbwa".
Luka: Mbwa. (pointing)
(Dog.)
Paul: Umeona nini? (typing)
(What did you see?)
Luka: Mbwa! (excitedly)
He can do this for an hour at a time! (Which allows me time to get online and tell you all what he's doing next to me on the couch.)
Luka: Mbwa. (pointing)
(Dog.)
Paul: Umeona nini? (typing)
(What did you see?)
Luka: Mbwa! (excitedly)
He can do this for an hour at a time! (Which allows me time to get online and tell you all what he's doing next to me on the couch.)
22 November 2007
The Tube
Luka doesn't watch TV, but he does have a tube of toothpaste that he loves (despite the fact that he hates it when I try to brush his teeth). Sometimes he even goes to sleep holding the toothpaste (it has a childproof lid).
Here he is with his beloved tube, blocking the paparazzi
Here he is with his beloved tube, blocking the paparazzi
The Midnight Pooper
Paul and I have decided that the only way to ward off having to wake up to Luka's poopy diapers every morning (and the only way to ensure a better night's sleep for the poor boy) is to get up in the night to change his diapers as soon as he poops.
Last night, I was falling asleep when I heard grunting from the general direction of Luka's crib. He's pooping! I thought. I waited about fifteen minutes (or fifty, depending on whether or not I drifted off), and changed his diaper. There was only a fist-sized (Luka's fist, not mine) lump of poo in his diaper, which I knew from experience to mean that he was not quite done. I changed him anyway and impulsively set him down between Paul and me, figuring it wouldn't hurt to keep him beside us so as to better hear when he continues his pooping. And so I wouldn't have to get up to change the second diaper. And so I could cuddle the little goober for a little while.
Bad idea. Not only does a watched child never poop, but I almost bit a hole through my bottom lip, trying desperately not to succumb to the temptation to squeeze the little monkey to death, he's just THAT CUTE.
After the weight of his huge head cut off the circulation in my left arm, I gave up and brought him back to his crib. I went back to sleep.
And Paul and I woke up to yet another explosive diaper this morning.
Last night, I was falling asleep when I heard grunting from the general direction of Luka's crib. He's pooping! I thought. I waited about fifteen minutes (or fifty, depending on whether or not I drifted off), and changed his diaper. There was only a fist-sized (Luka's fist, not mine) lump of poo in his diaper, which I knew from experience to mean that he was not quite done. I changed him anyway and impulsively set him down between Paul and me, figuring it wouldn't hurt to keep him beside us so as to better hear when he continues his pooping. And so I wouldn't have to get up to change the second diaper. And so I could cuddle the little goober for a little while.
Bad idea. Not only does a watched child never poop, but I almost bit a hole through my bottom lip, trying desperately not to succumb to the temptation to squeeze the little monkey to death, he's just THAT CUTE.
After the weight of his huge head cut off the circulation in my left arm, I gave up and brought him back to his crib. I went back to sleep.
And Paul and I woke up to yet another explosive diaper this morning.
21 November 2007
The Appointment
We had an appointment with the physical therapist at Neema Crafts today. I was a bit nervous because Luka had been cranky all day, and having to interrupt his almost-nap when we arrived at Neema wasn't QUITE the thing to do to improve his move. However, after whimpering for a few minutes, unsure what to do with all the friendly people's greetings and the many pairs of eyes fixed on him, Luka calmed down.
We met with Peter, a Belgian physical therapist who is here with his wife to start a physical therapy clinic in town. Paulina, one of the Neema workers, accompanied us to the check-up (she seemed to be as taken with Luka as he was with her!) and helped me distract him while Peter poked and prodded and tested Luka's flexibility.
At one point, Peter asked me if Luka could crawl. I'd seen Luka crawl around our massive bed a few times, but never more than a couple of "steps" at a time, so I wasn't sure how good of a crawler he really is. Just as we were discussing what toy to place in the other side of the room to encourage Luka to crawl, Paulina abruptly left the room. Luka looked up, alarmed, and proceeded to crawl the length of the room, right to the door, which he opened so he could peer out after Paulina. A+ for crawling, Luka!
Peter's diagnosis, after seeing Luka stand while holding on to a ladder, is that his feet are fine and he is physically healthy, just developmentally behind. Luka tends to stand with his left foot at a 90 degree angle (toes pointing out to the left), but does not seem to feel any pain or discomfort if I correct his stance. Peter guesses that Luka DID have an injured foot at one point, causing him to favor it, but only stands "incorrectly" out of habit now. So with lots of exercise and practice, there should be no reason why Luka won't be walking soon! Hurray!
We met with Peter, a Belgian physical therapist who is here with his wife to start a physical therapy clinic in town. Paulina, one of the Neema workers, accompanied us to the check-up (she seemed to be as taken with Luka as he was with her!) and helped me distract him while Peter poked and prodded and tested Luka's flexibility.
At one point, Peter asked me if Luka could crawl. I'd seen Luka crawl around our massive bed a few times, but never more than a couple of "steps" at a time, so I wasn't sure how good of a crawler he really is. Just as we were discussing what toy to place in the other side of the room to encourage Luka to crawl, Paulina abruptly left the room. Luka looked up, alarmed, and proceeded to crawl the length of the room, right to the door, which he opened so he could peer out after Paulina. A+ for crawling, Luka!
Peter's diagnosis, after seeing Luka stand while holding on to a ladder, is that his feet are fine and he is physically healthy, just developmentally behind. Luka tends to stand with his left foot at a 90 degree angle (toes pointing out to the left), but does not seem to feel any pain or discomfort if I correct his stance. Peter guesses that Luka DID have an injured foot at one point, causing him to favor it, but only stands "incorrectly" out of habit now. So with lots of exercise and practice, there should be no reason why Luka won't be walking soon! Hurray!
18 November 2007
The Smile
Today was the second day with Luka. We had a 6-hour bus ride (on a bush bus, mostly on bumpy dirt roads) this morning from Sumbawanga. Luka did fine; he sat still in my lap, unmoving. It wasn't until about 2/3 of the way into the ride that he started to move voluntarily. Not too long after, I brushed my fingers under his chin and he smiled! Paul and I were beside ourselves. The rest of the ride flew by, as Luka began to respond more and more. This afternoon, I stayed with him at our friends' home here in Mbeya while Paul went to town to buy a new spare tire. Luka started to PLAY! Within a few hours, he was not only responding to voices and touch, he was instigating interaction.
One of our major concerns was that we'd heard Luka had development problems with one of his feet, which was impeding his ability to walk or stand. When I put him in the pack-and-play, however, he immediately stood up to look at me. He seemed to be able to stand without any pain. We are pretty confident that with lots of attention and exercise, he'll be walking soon.
What a flirt!
One of our major concerns was that we'd heard Luka had development problems with one of his feet, which was impeding his ability to walk or stand. When I put him in the pack-and-play, however, he immediately stood up to look at me. He seemed to be able to stand without any pain. We are pretty confident that with lots of attention and exercise, he'll be walking soon.
What a flirt!
17 November 2007
The Meeting
First day: stunned little guy
When we first saw Luka, he was sitting on a borrowed booster seat, eating rice and beans. For the entire first day, Luka did not move anything voluntarily, except his eyes. When I changed his first diaper (an unfastened cloth nappy held together with a tied-on plastic bag) and lifted his legs up, he literally froze in the position for a good half an hour. The poor little guy was obviously traumatized and we were a bit worried that he'd remain completely unresponsive. The only progress we saw in the first day was his willingness to grasp onto a plastic spoon.
Paul and I joked that we'd have to try not to forget we had a little kid around, since he didn't make a peep the entire first day.
14 November 2007
The Announcement
Luka is coming to live with us for a couple of months. He has been living in an orphanage in Sumbawanga, but needs extra medical attention because of a developmental problem with one of his feet. Here in Iringa, we have great pediatricians and physical therapists, so we hope that we'll be able to get him the help he needs so that he'll be able to walk!
We will be picking him up this Friday. We certainly would appreciate your prayers as we embark on the grand adventure of taking care of a two-year-old!
We will be picking him up this Friday. We certainly would appreciate your prayers as we embark on the grand adventure of taking care of a two-year-old!
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