Sunday, January 25, 2009

When Nate woke up this morning I immediately checked to see if he was running a fever and he was not. I was relieved. Rodrigo took all the kids to run some errands while Sabine and I stayed behind doing housework. I had a bit of separation anxiety, since this was the first time Nate was not with me since I arrived. But I also knew Nate would have a good time. I also noticed I was a bit homesick. In all my travels I have done I have never felt homesick but this time I did. Maybe I was just missing Mike or maybe I was missing Mike for Nate. Not quite sure. Luckily Mike had called and we chatted for a while. After I hung up, I felt so much better. Nicole came by and while I was on the phone, both Sabine and Nicole were making “pastel de choclo”. A traditional Chilean dish that is the filling of empanadas and a sweet corn topping.
When Rodrigo and all the kids came back we all went to the pool. Nate was extremely clingy to me. I was not sure what was going on with him. He just would not let me go. We went in the pool together but something was up. He finally went with Rodrigo and Clemente get some wood and charcoal to start the BBQ. We all went to where the BBQ was at and Sabine and Nicole came out with empanadas from the day before and a bottle of wine.

While we were eating, Nate asked to go to the bathroom. I took him but noticed he felt a little too warm. I took his temp and it was 100.4. Not extremely high but enough for me to worry. I went and got Sabine and she found some medicine. Luckily we were able to bring the fever down but decided that on Monday we would take him to see a doctor. I spent the rest of the day worried about him.




After he went down, I joined Sabine and Rodrigo for dinner. They barbequed some pork and served it with “papas mayo” or potatoes with homemade mayonnaise. Yum. After dinner, I was still worried about Nate, so I went to bed early.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

When I opened my eyes this morning, I looked out the window and noticed that is was overcast and cool. What a relief from the heat. The plan was to go to ‘La Moneda” in Santiago. La Moneda, is the seat of the President of the Rupublic of Chile. It also houses the offices of three cabinet ministers: Interior, General Secretariat of the Presidency and General Secretariat of the Government. It occupies an entire block in downtown Santiago, in the area known as Civic District. We also planned on going to Cerro San Cristóbal, a hill in northern Santiago which houses Santiago's largest public park. And we were to meet up with Nicole.

Sabine and Colomba went in one car, while I rode with Rodrigo and all the boys. Apparently, their children had never been to the city. Rodrigo was excited about not only taking Nate and I but also taking his kids. We parked in an underground parking structure. I got out and took Nate out. Then as I walked around I did not see the puddle of motor oil on the ground. I stepped on it and slowly I slid. I slid all the way down and landed right on the oil. Oh my god! I was wearing white shorts and was just stunned. Rodrigo was polite and told me it was not bad but I knew. I grabbed my jacket and wrapped it around my waist but was uncomfortable. I did not want to ruin the day for everyone so I just dealt with it.

We walked over to “La Moneda” and found Nicole. Then Sabine and Colomba arrived. We walked around La Moneda and took some pictures then we went to the center or Plaza. Lots of activity going on. I could tell Nate was a little spooked. There was a group of people playing the drums and dancing. It almost looked like Mardi Gras with all the costumes and people with large puppets on stilts. Nate said “Too loud!” Sabine had asked me if I was too uncomfortable we could go home and I told her no, that I’m fine but I also saw that she was not feeling well and all the walking was exhausting for all the kids. So no Cerro San Cristobol and back home we all went. Sure enough all the boys fell asleep on the ride home.

The weather was so nice. Sabine had picked up empanadas for us to have for lunch. We ate outside. She also made this salsa that was a perfect spice to add to the empanadas. And of course what would lunch be without another wonderful bottle of wine.

After lunch Rodrigo started playing with the kids. It was so much fun to watch. All afternoon they were all outside playing some sort of game. To see Nate laughing and playing like that was pure joy for me. This was first time Rodrigo was able to spend time with Nate. Since he works late, usually the kids are in bed already so the weekends are when he spends time with them. And you can tell he just loves it. I think Nate fell in love with Rodrigo. At one point Rodrigo came inside and Nate went looking for him. I could hear Nate calling for him “Rodrigo, Rodigo?” It was so cute. Later Rodrigo said he gets a kick out of Nate calling him by name.

When I put Nate down for the night, I noticed he was running a fever. I gave him Motrin and he fell asleep but I was worried. I know that fevers come because your body is fighting an infection. I told Sabine that I was actually tired and was going to bed early. Early by their standards was 11 pm. I ate dinner and off to bed I went.

Friday, January 23, 2009

As soon as Nate woke up, I checked to see if he had a fever and all was good. He seemed to be in good spirit and did not appear to be sick except for his runny nose. After breakfast we decided to go to the pharmacy. It is hot here and the mosquito’s are eating me up alive. I needed to get some anti itch cream, insect repellant, sunscreen and some throat lozenges for Nate. Then off to the farmers market to get some fresh fruit and vegetables.



Then we went to get some bottled water and ice. Ahhhh ice!!! Everything seems be room temperature here and I am used to having ice. I also drink a lot of water which here is not common. They prefer juice or anything else with flavor and at room temperature. I don’t get it. Must be cultural. They also like to eat dinner really late. I don’t think I have had dinner, since I have been here, no earlier than 10 pm. Actually eating late is something, I must admit, I am enjoying. I love how much wine is drunk here and have yet to try a bad bottle. I normally do not drink everyday but it seems as though now I am and love it, not to get lit but just to really enjoy having a glass of wine and the great conversation that seems to go with it.
After we had lunch it was off to the pool again. Because Nate was not feeling well, he seemed to be extremely clingy to me. He did not want to go the pool without me and when I suggested he play in the playhouse, he just wanted me to go with him. I tried to encourage him to play with Clemente or Colomba and Salvador but not such luck. He only wanted me. When I went to the pool, Salvador wanted to give me a hug or sit on my lap. Nate was not pleased. He kept pushing him out of the way. I had never seen Nate so territorial with me.
Finally around 5:30 Nate wanted to go back to the house. I gave him a bath and he went to play with all the other kids while I helped Sabine clean up. Dinner for Nate then off to bed he went. I noticed that it cooled off and it felt good. I made dinner and around 10 pm Sabine, Rodrigo and I sat down to eat. We finished the first bottle of wine outside. It was actually chilly outside but after the past few days with the incredible heat, it felt really good. Sabine had to get a jacket. I was loving life. It was cool, I had insect replant on and the cream to stop the itching on and a glass of wine.
Sabine got tired and went to bed and Rodrigo and I stayed up chatting with another bottle of wine. While we were chatting, I heard Nate. I ran upstairs to check on him and stayed with him until he fell asleep again. I started to go down the stairs when I stepped on my foot wrong. It hurt and I thought I had sprained it but luckily I did not but decided that was my queue to go to bed.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

I woke to Nate crying and turns out that he too is now sick with a cold. He has no fever so unfortunately there is nothing I can do. The virus just needs to run its course. I barely slept after wards. In the morning I was not sure what to do. It’s so hot here and with no air conditioning, the house is almost unbearable. Do I let Nate deal with the heat or do I let him go swimming?
After lunch I decided swimming was a better option. He has a runny nose and complaining about a sore throat but other than that he seems fine. Still has energy, so I figured as long as he seems fine, I thought why not.

I noticed he seems to be letting go a bit. He constantly wants to play with the others but wants me to go too. Today he didn’t. He played in the pool for a while then he wanted to play in the playhouse with Clemente. The two of them seem to play really well. No fighting!. They ran over by the pool and were playing some sort of racing game when all of a sudden we heard a splash and screaming. Clemente fell in the deep end of the pool. He was hanging on to the edge. Sabine and I immediately ran towards them. Before I could make it to Clemente, Sabine jumped in and got him. Scary moment. Turns out he was more scared than anything but all was fine.

We all came inside and now becoming routine for Nate, bath time, dinner then off to bed. He went down fairly easy and I went downstairs and poured me a cup of ice and honeydew melon colada. I liked the Chirimoya colada better. Just as I was pouring, Rodrigo walked in the door. All the kids went down and now some grownup time.

We drank and ate and chatted and was having a great time until Nate woke up. I ran to see what was going on and I knew that this was going to be awhile. Nate was so tired and sick and could not tell me what he wanted. It took about 45 minutes of trying to get him to calm down. Sabine and Rodrigo offered to take him to a clinic but he had no fever and just felt that he needed to fall asleep. He was complaining that his teeth hurt so I gave him so Motrin. It was then that he fell asleep. Then I too was able to sleep.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Today we decided to do something a little different. Sabine suggested we all go to the grocery store. Because she actually lives about 20 minutes north of Santiago, her home feels as if it is out in the country. So driving anywhere seems far, including going to the grocery store. We all piled in her truck and headed out. We drove past beautiful vineyards and the Andes Mountains just staring at us. The grocery store was situated right next to a man made lagoon. We walked around and enjoyed some of the shops and the kids just enjoyed looking at the one duck on the lagoon. Kids are so easily entertained at times.
We bought some groceries and then it was off to have lunch to place called “El Establo” or in English called “The Stable”. The place was designed for kids. Outside in the back was an entire western town for the kids to play in, including covered wagons. The kids finished eating and out to play while Sabine and I finished our lunch and watched them through the window.
The best part about it, at least for me was that there was WIFI! Internet connection!!! Being disconnected has taken some getting used to. When I was at Carlos and Sylvia’s place In Vina del Mar, they had internet, but his computer was so buried in the cabinet that pulling out the LAN cable for me to use was too difficult and everything is on my computer. Then at Sabine’s, she does not care to have any kind of connection. She really just likes being disconnected. I started to use my ipnone but Sabine pointed out how I disconnected I got from everything else. So I put it away and no connectivity for me. I did not want to be rude.
We came back and you guessed it, poolside again. But this time, while we were at the grocery store, I noticed these premixed drinks. Coladas! I looked for flavors I had never had before. I found Cherimoya and Honeydew Melon Colada. So poolside this time with a Cherimoya Colada in hand. Sabine’s friend and Godmother to Colomba, Coti and her three year old daughter, Celeste, came for a while. It always nice meeting people here since I found everyone so gracious and welcoming.
Around 6 pm they left and it was time for Nate to take a bath and eat dinner. Sabine is sick and I knew she wanted to get to bed early. So after Nate ate dinner I decided to go to bed with Nate so that she did not have to worry about us at all.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Another rough night sleeping. It’s hot here and no air conditioning. Nate only wants to sleep with me and both us in a twin bed is rough. Not sure how I am going to resolve this problem. He wakes up frequently and suspect he still may not be adjusted. He is surrounded by Spanish and I am hearing him speak a bit more now. This morning he asked for chocolate milk in Spanish or maybe more in Spanglish. Either way I was still excited to hear it. He is getting along with all the kids and they seem to play and fight like normal kids.

Sabine had an errand to run and I stayed with all the kids by myself. I feel so grown up! It was only a couple hours and was not as bad as I thought it would be. I found the easiest way to handle this was to put them all in front of the television to watch cartoons, while I sat there and typed on my computer. Lazy but effective. Sabine came home and cooked lunch and then it was poolside. How relaxing is that. It would be the same at my house only now in a different country. By 6 we packed it up and back inside. Nate and I showered although he slipped and hit his chin. He’s fine but always hard to see him get hurt. Then it was dinner time and Mike had called to see how we were doing. I think Nate misses his daddy. I fed him while talking to Mike. Then it was time for Nate to go to bed.

Nate woke up in the middle of the night and I was not sure if he was confused where he was or what. I was sleeping in the other bed and he asked me to come sleep with him. I did but within a few minutes he tapped me and pointed to his mouth, then the vomiting came. Ugh! I caught most of it in my hand while dragging to the bathroom. He finished throwing up and then cleaned up everything. Luckily the damage was not that bad. His dinner must have not agreed with him because he seemed fine afterwards and he slept the rest of the night.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Even though we went to bed around 1 am, Nate was up by 8. I really wanted to sleep more. We have a room with two twin beds but Nate insists on sleeping with me. I barely slept. Sabine did not sleep at all. The night before Clemente and Salvador went to bed early. We were sitting outside for a few minutes when all of a sudden I see this big grey rat. I screamed and we all ran inside. Rodrigo just jumped up on a chair and checked out the situation as we watched from inside. Apparently this is not common and freak Sabine out to the point that she could not sleep all night. Today, the exterminators arrived.
We had a pretty late start. Breakfast was around 11 am and with lack of sleep and trying to entertain four children, it was a chore. Finally we went to the pool and that was by far more relaxing. They have a trellis by the pool with hammocks. At one point Nate was really cold from swimming so he hopped in the hammock with me to warm up. I was chatting with Sabine when I noticed Colomba had a long face as was hanging out really close to the hammock I was in. I finally asked her if she wanted to climb in with Nate and I and she just lit up as she climbed in. And that’s how we spent the afternoon either in the pool or in the hammock.
Around 5, Nicole arrived with torta mil hoja. (thousand layer cake). This is a pastry of what looks like lots of layers filled with manjar (dulce de leche) and either dusted with powdered sugar or an icing of chocolate. Sweet and delicious. At first Nate was apprehensive but then he decided to take a bite. Then he wanted another. I guess he liked it. And as he lay there in the hammock taking bites of the pastry I noticed he was falling asleep. I grabbed him and took him inside, gave him a bath, fed him and by 7 he was in bed, He fought me to go to sleep but he lost and was out as was I.
I forced myself to get up since I did not want to end the night without saying goodbye to Nicole. I went downstairs and we chatted for a while. Then it was time for Nicole to go. I don’t know how Sabine does it. This is Rodrigo’s busy season and works long hours. He leaves by 7 am and at times he does not get home until 10:30 pm. Sabine is pregnant, her children are ages 2, 3 and 5 and she does this by herself. I have one child and sometimes feel like that’s too much. Maybe this is just another reminder on how good I have it. Rodrigo came home and saw him with only enough time to say goodnight and off to bed.

Sunday, January 19, 2009

We woke up this morning, had breakfast and packed it up. Carlos and Sylvia in their car and Nicole, Nate and I in her car. We headed to Carlos and Sylvia’s home in Lo Orozco in Casablanca, about 30 minutes outside of Vina Del Mar on our way to Santiago. On the way, right on beach there is a crane holding up a restaurant some 40 meters up. I thought this was just internet legend but apparently it exists and it’s the only one in all of South America. If I have a chance, maybe I will do it.

We arrived at their home and immediately Nate just wanted to go swimming and so we did. Carlos started the barbeque and then whipped up a pitcher of Pisco Sours while Nicole and Sylvia made an appetizer plate of olives and hearts of palm. This was delicious. Once the Pisco Sours were gone it was on to wine. Then it was time to eat. The steak at home is corn fed and what I am used to. Steak in South America is pampas fed meaning cows eat what they would naturally eat. I noticed a huge difference in flavor. The beef was definitely richer and had a more gamey taste to it. I really enjoyed it especially washing it down with the amazing wine that was served.

We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out by the pool and just relaxing. Nate had been asking for Colomba and we kept telling him soon. Before it was Chloe he was hung up on and now it’s Colomba. Then it

was time to pack it up. We said our goodbyes to Carlos and Sylvia and then it was off to Sabine’s house in Santiago.

We took a beautiful drive and as we got closer to Santiago, there it was. You just can’t miss it – the Andes Mountains. They are huge and in your face tall! It is spectacular to see and love every minute of it. It took us about an hour and half to get to Sabine’s house and Nate slept the entire way. When we arrived they were not home. Apparently they were all at the neighbor’s house celebrating their friend Jamie’s birthday and they requested for us to just go over there and so we did. Nicole dropped us off and she said hello to everyone then left. Everyone came out to see and meet us. They all wanted Nate to come swim in the pool. Off with his clothes and into his swimsuit, there he went. I’m a little surprised he was ok with this. Jaime’s wife, Marisol (apparently my name is more common here), took me and invited to have a glass of wine and assured me Nate will be just fine. They have three children and Sabine and Rodrigo have three children all around Nate’s age. Nate definitely stands out next to the other kids with his fair skin and blond hair and blue eyes. I saw him come out of the pool wrapped in a towel and placed on a lounge chair. They gave him candy and all the kids just surrounded him and from where I was sitting looked like they were interrogating him. Poor little guy, I thought he would be terrified but apparently he was just fine. We hung out for about an hour and then it was time to go to Sabine’s house. We chit chatted and with four kids to deal with and Nate being so off schedule we did not go to bed until almost 1 am. A long and beautiful day.