We've Got an Eater!

I took my mom, dad and Belle to the Dr. appt via cab down the street to Belle's one week check-up. I thought about walking but didn't want to over do it. Belle's one week visit with the Pedi went great.  A side from waiting forever to get in and forever to wait for an official receipt of payment the whole check-up left me feeling very happy. The Pedi, who attended the delivery of Belle, spent about 40 minutes with us discussing all of our family history and future plans for Belle's health and then her exam.

She weighed in at 3.59 and 53cm which happens to be amazing! She is up in weight from 3.4 something and up in height from 52cm. Most babies lose 10% of their birth weight the first week and then continue to gain but she gained a half a pound. The Pedi wants to sell my breast milk :) Possible income to pay for his services... This might work out great- Nate could stop working and I could be the bread winner for once! Just kidding I already feel like a slave where my life revolves around my boobs. No need to enhance that!

Belle also received her first vaccination, Hep B, and we talked about giving the Tuberculosis vaccination (TB). The TB vaccine is not given in the US, where they just check using a skin test for exposure. Here in the state of Rio, TB is the second most populous state in Brazil for cases of TB leaving the Amazon region with the highest rate. My Pedi also works in a public hospital and he says everyday he treats children with TB.... crazy because we rarely see this in the US.

If you ever come to Brazil and stay in Rio you can notice the people native to Rio, called Cariocas, have a scar on the their arm similar to the small pox vaccine scar. A round scar in their upper arm about the size of a quarter which resembles a burn. Other than being a sign that someone was born in Rio and a true Carioca this tells everyone that they have been vaccinated against TB.

Our Pedi wants to hold off on getting this vaccine for a month or so just to make sure that we are going to be here for another two years. If Belle receives this vaccine then the injection site boils up leaving a pustule that take a few months to heal which causes the nasty scar. She will be receiving this vaccine next month for sure just to be cautious. Can you imagine if your child got TB this day in age?? Crazy to think that this is even a possibility.

After the appointment we decided to walk the two miles home since it was such a nice evening. Belle's first adventure walking the streets of Rio! I was wearing the Moby wrap shown in the pictures below and Belle slept the entire time.

So comfortable!

I won't be able to wear this for vey long because it gets so hot.... around the house it will be
great when I have to start cooking for myself!

The walking felt great but I was a little sore that night. I guess after not leaving the house for seven days and having major surgery will do that to you. Still crazy to think I had surgery in a foreign country....

Off to eat.... never ending cycle!

Tchau,

Sara