15 Marbles

Today was another rainy gloomy day.
And Aadya spent yet another day on the couch..head in my lap.We watched a movie,read some books,sang some songs…The only thing that irritated her was,Pedialyte..Its hard work,coaxing a kid to drink something if she doesn’t want to.She has lost so much weight in the last 3-4 days..there is hardly any food in her body.
She was better after her nap..ate a little khichdi..Sanj was feeling sick,all day too..so,khichdi was the only dinner option.Both father-daughter went to bed shortly before 10.00.
Diwali is just round the corner..and I started some spring cleaning.I remember when we were growing up,as soon as the diwali vacation started,mom would pull out the festive show-pieces and it was our job to dust and shine them.We would clean the house,re-arrange furniture..some years,there would be fresh coat of color..But the festive spirit would come over all of us..
The festivals,here are generally,lacking in spirit,but this year,I want the Diwali cheer to fill our house and lives..
Here’s my to-do list-

•  Declutter one room a day.
• Change all the fused lite bulbs.
•  Bring out the christmas lights.
• Look for low-sugar/fat-free diwali recipes.
• Help Aadya make Diwali cards,for family and close friends.
• Organise/alter clothes for Lakshmi Puja.I will add more,as I go.

What is your to-do list before Diwali?

big time!
So we always buy two big cans of milk(3L).I give warm milk to Aadi,before her nap and at bed-time and first thing in the morning.And almost every other time,I check the date on the can.
I don’t know what happenned this time.The expiry date on the can was 1st Oct and I realised on the 5th morning.I was also very tired those few days..and couldn’t understand the reason..Aadi was alright,mostly..just not very keen on drinking milk..I found that weird..because she loves milk.Anyway,thank GOD,I didn’t force her to finish her milk.She wasnt eating much either.And then,on Sunday,after I came back from the market,we were all tired..we gave her milk,again the same milk..and she had some and then,vomitted.
We started assessing her diet that day..and blamed it on the eggs.It was only next morning when I was warming up milk for her,that I saw the date…and I felt so horrible.Sanj was so upset too,with himself.For a change,we were both blaming ourselves,rather than each other.
She was fine,yesterday but not eating and was very lethargic.But she perked up in the evening,when we went to wish our friend K for his birthday.
But today morning,she was tired and cranky,again not eating.I gave her a light lunch of yogurt and rice and she threw up…and by evening,her condition worsened..she couldn’t even keep water in…We rushed her to the doctor..I called my friend S & her husband,K,they came over right away and that was a big help ..Sanj was unreachable..
The doc confirmed that it was mild food poisoning..andwe have to wait it out,unless,there fever or diaorrhea.There has been some diaorrhea,since we got back..and so we are on high alert..hope she feels better soon.
Life is no fun,without Aadya Antics:)

Its been a year to the day we moved Down Under.And we have come to like it.We still don’t love Melbourne or Australia,whole-heartedly..we still miss America..but we have developed a fond aquaintance with her.
In the past,reaching the one year mark,meant dusting the suitcases..because it would be time to move soon..hopefully not this time(anti-jinx!).
We came here with 6 bags,some baby gear,and a suddenly-gone-quiet toddler,a broken heart,an excited spirit,almost no friendsand most importantly a new job.
Now,the 6 bags are half filled with things we don’t need and/o can’t part with..the toddler can’t stop talking,the broken heart has since mended,the spirit is tired but still going strong,the new job is not so new any more. We have met many many new people..and made some friends for life.
All in all,a nice year..I think :)This is by far the quickest one year for us.

P.S.-I have been trying to publish this post for over an hour..