Week 6

A lot has happened since Chami came home.  Yet both Mamu and Dadu are too exhausted to record them. Joaquin was very affectionate towards Chami the first week he came home, kissing him and looking at him all the time.  Slowly, he has learned somehow that this being is going to be a threat to the undivided attention he was used to getting from his parents.  Lately he has behaved quite violently towards Chami, often hitting him or throwing things at him when we are watching (and then he watches our reaction).  We initially scolded him each time he did that but it only aggravates his anger towards Chami.  He also pushes us away and says he doesn't want Mama or Papa (after throwing himself on the floor dramatically).  We decided to take a different approach which presents no reaction whenever he hits his little brother.  We even took him out on a date a few nights ago to see if he would feel that he is still deeply loved by us.  Somehow it helped him become a bit happier in the last two days (whereas he was just grumpy and sad everyday when he came home from school previously).  He continues to try to hit Chami whenever he remembers the threat but he also runs over to tell Chami not to cry whenever he hears Chami whimpering.  I guess this love-hate relationship will continue for a while until Joaquin figures out what Chami really means to him in his life.

We were also very happy that Chami switched back to breastmilk from the very nasty tasting Alfare.  The doctor had told us that we needed to make the switch very slowly and only offer him breast milk for two meals each day for four days before we could replace another two meals with breaskmilk.  But Chami went on the hunger strike on the second day and refuse to drink Alfare anymore (how can you go back to that after a taste of breaskmilk?!) so we had to switch him 100% by Day 2.  We are happy to report that he is gaining weight and growing inches very nicely in the last 10 days since he switched back.  He was born some 90th percentile but at one month, he had dropped down to 50th percentile since he really didn't like the formula so we are hoping by next Tuesday's checkup, he can regain some lost ground.  Chami also is very demanding during the day.  He usually would not nap continuously at all during 9am to 5pm.  He doesn't want to be put down at all other than being changed which means we each have to take turns holding him during the day.  He also eats very irregularly during those hours, often eating every two hours and pooping every two hours too.  I have said too many times that I want to slowly put him on schedule but just often find myself too exhausted to do it during the day...

A loving brother trying to hold Chami

When can you play with me?

A loving poke

Is that a smile?

Auntie Emily and Uncle Andy came to visit

Sleeping soundly in Auntie Katherine's arms

Day 28

Joaquin loves spending time with his favorite bear and Chami. Mamu had
her first shower since the delivery, lasting two more days than the last
delivery. Hair was so sticky that she had to apply shampoo three
times to get the grease out. Dadu is taking a day trip to Hong Kong
to reset his Taiwan visa clock.

O Brother, Where Have You Been All My Life?

After Javier came home, next in the agenda was to meet his big brother, who came home from school a little later:



And a few minutes later:





Rought translation of what Joaquin is saying:

- He's drinking milk?
- He's sleeping? he's sleeping!
- [What is his name?] Little baby! Yuelin?
- Give him [the bear]!

Joaquin has actually been beyond-expectations-nice to his little Brother. The unexpected very nice problem that we have is keeping him away, as he wants to spontaneously kiss him all the time, which we somewhat try to avoid, since he's been having a phlegmy throat and snotty nose for a few weeks now.

He's also been trying to be helpful with feeds and diaper changes:

Bienvenido a Casa, Javier!

Goodbye 10th floor of NTUCH!

Wow, the world is bigger than I thought.

What do you mean I can't have any yet?

My cheeks are not really lopsided, it's just gravity!

What about Big Brother?

In all the excitement about Javiercito, we are trying to also make sure our first-born doesn't feel neglected.

As a bribe, Javiercito "brought" Joaquin the tricycle he's always wanted. Unfortunately Dadu screwed up and the bike is too small (well Joaquin is too big for a two year old, which is what the toy is rated for) so from Chami's point of view it's a convenient "gift" since he'll probably end up using it more (eventually). In any case, Joaquin loved it and has been pushing it and riding it around the hospital and nearby park (though he hasn't figured out how to pedal yet).

In return Joaquin gave Javier a little plush duckie (courtesy of his padrino). He hasn't given it to him yet, but Joaquin is (surprisingly to me) savvy enough already to remind his Father that he keeps forgetting to bring "el pato" when them come near the nursery.

Joaquin has actually learned quite a few things in the last weeks: he knows the colors (in Chinese and Spanish); he spontaneously sings songs he learned in school; he can't spell yet, but can recognize what letters are (he calls them "ABCs"); given letter stickers, though, he recognizes them to know to match them to where they should go.

He remembers intent, so he'll unpromptedly say his grandmother went to buy water to the market, even when he just overheard us talking about it. When I say something in English, he'll (helpfully) translate it into Spanish for me.

He knows about buying things: a few weeks ago he found the shelf with toys at the convenience store and one by one brought over the toys he liked (all cars or trains of course) and asked me "buy this?". When I would say no (breaking my heart a little), he would replace it back in the shelf. A couple of times he tried to place it in his "shopping cart" (his new tricycle), but would still replace it back in shelf when denied. We finally walked away, toyless but with nary a tear, a very good boy and proud father.

He can now play the "Memory" matching game in the iPhone pretty well and almost completing the board, if he didn't get bored towards the end. Notice the iPhone stand. iPhones are very expensive devices to entrust to a two year old, especially when he's eating.

Finally, he likes to make fun of his Dad: whenever I tell him "Call the elevator" (in Spanish), he yells with a sly smile "Elevator!!", even though he knows perfectly well I'm asking him to push the button.

Coming home tomorrow!!!

Bye Bye ICU!

Well enough now to go back, after a week, to the Intermediate care
ward!

He's now on special "elemental" formula, which means it's partly
broken down. It also tastes something awful, so despite his hunger, he
doesn't really want to drink. Who said Chams will eat anything if
their hungry? And he might have to do a month of it!

Apparently babies that age are not supposed to discrimate due to taste, so good news and bad news that he's a precocious foodie!

The tape is because at some point he was so hungry that they tied the pacifier to both sides of his face so that he wouldn't spit it out and wake up.