Since moving here I've been trying to run regularly. The wonderful weather and gorgeous scenery have helped. Rory and I have gotten into a good routine, getting out the door for runs more mornings than not. Rory seems to enjoy it and knows what clothes and shoes I wear to run. Runnin' she says when she sees my gear coming out.
Most mornings we just run about 30 minutes, with a slightly longer run on the weekends. I have gotten into a rut of running the same route, just out the door to a nice street, down the street for 15 minutes and then back. It's a nice pretty run without too many hills. For some reason this morning I thought it would be nice to run to Little Stokka Lake. It's a beautiful lake, but the run there is so much more difficult because of all the hills . There is even a hill around the lake that I have to walk up when pushing Rory in the stroller. What was I thinking? Today was the hottest day we've had so far and we got a later start than usual. I survived, but it made me thankful not to be running in the Houston heat.
Rory has mostly given up her morning naps, but often on our runs she can't help but fall asleep. Maybe that's why she loves runnin' so much.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Waiting...
We'd been told the battery could take up to four days to work its way through Rory's system. Luckily it didn't take that long, reappearing on Monday morning.
Rory was her usual self all weekend long --
these are pictures of her having fun on our back balcony on Sunday evening.
looking at Mom inside
rearranging the furniture
up close, way too close
Friday, June 19, 2009
Watch and wait
Earlier today I was thinking that I'd write about food, grocery shopping and cooking in Norway. But after our afternoon I'll have to save that for another day.
Today while I was cleaning up after lunch, Rory swallowed a watch battery. At least I was almost certain that she'd swallowed a watch battery. There was a battery and then there wasn't one and she had this look like she'd swallowed something. I asked her if she'd swallowed a battery and of course she didn't answer, she just said battery.
After a quick internet search I decided I had to call the doctor. We have the number for a private clinic so that's who I called. Before that I called Stepler and he started walking home from work. The doctor's office suggested that we come in to their office so that we could get a referral to the hospital for an x-ray. So we all went to the private doctor for the referral. Only we went to the wrong location so back in the car to the right one. Traffic was the worst we've encountered in Norway. We finally got there, saw the doctor and he wrote a referral to the hospital.
First the x-ray would confirm if she had swallowed a battery. And if so it would show where it was located in her body. From what I could tell, the big worry with the battery is that it would get lodged in the esophagus and cause burns. The x-ray would show if the battery was still in the esophagus, indicating that removal was necessary. If the battery had moved to the stomach, then we'd likely just have to wait for it to pass.
We didn't know where to go once we arrived at the hospital. So wandered around showing our letter, trying to figure things out. We went in two wrong doors before finding the information desk and he sent us to the children's ward. They read the referral and then sent us down to x-ray. There were several people ahead of us in the waiting area, but we didn't have to wait too long. Luckily the x-ray technician spoke English. Stepler and I were given lead aprons to wear so that we could stay in the room while Rory was x-rayed. She did well, staying still for the x-rays to be taken. The first one confirmed that she had swallowed the battery.
From x-ray we were sent back to the children's ward. After waiting a little while there we were lead to the surgery department. We waited for the longest time there. The receptionist came out and asked if we had our passports...and we started worrying that Rory was going to have to stay at the hospital. While waiting I called the U.S. number from the battery package for if the battery was swallowed. I felt much better after talking with their representative. She said that as long as the x-ray indicated that the battery was in her stomach, she would recommend that we just increase her fiber and wait for it to pass. That was very reassuring.
While I was talking on the phone, a nurse spoke with Stepler. After that we were moved to yet another waiting area. There were learned that we would see a doctor soon. We were also told that we were now in the out-patient area and that previously we were in the in-patient area. Another big relief.
The nurse spent awhile talking to the Norwegian poison control center in Oslo. And then finally we were called back to talk with the surgeon. Turned out he was an orthopedic surgeon, but he'd looked at the x-ray, spoke English and had at least read about swallowing batteries. The battery is small enough that it should pass through. We're to give it four days before we contact the hospital again. Because we do not yet have a GP here, the surgeon gave us his card so that we can call him directly if we have to go back to the hospital.
Now we watch and wait. Watch Rory for any signs that she's not feeling well, watch the diaper, and wait to see the battery again.
WHEW.
This all started right after Rory and I finished our late lunch, so around 2:00. Through it all Rory did not have a nap, she did not have a snack and she missed supper. She held up really well. Smiling at everyone. Each waiting area had a few toys and each time she saw them she said play. In the car we fed her a cereal bar and she fell asleep. She woke up when we got home for a high-fiber supper and a bath. Now she's peacefully sleeping.
Today while I was cleaning up after lunch, Rory swallowed a watch battery. At least I was almost certain that she'd swallowed a watch battery. There was a battery and then there wasn't one and she had this look like she'd swallowed something. I asked her if she'd swallowed a battery and of course she didn't answer, she just said battery.
After a quick internet search I decided I had to call the doctor. We have the number for a private clinic so that's who I called. Before that I called Stepler and he started walking home from work. The doctor's office suggested that we come in to their office so that we could get a referral to the hospital for an x-ray. So we all went to the private doctor for the referral. Only we went to the wrong location so back in the car to the right one. Traffic was the worst we've encountered in Norway. We finally got there, saw the doctor and he wrote a referral to the hospital.
First the x-ray would confirm if she had swallowed a battery. And if so it would show where it was located in her body. From what I could tell, the big worry with the battery is that it would get lodged in the esophagus and cause burns. The x-ray would show if the battery was still in the esophagus, indicating that removal was necessary. If the battery had moved to the stomach, then we'd likely just have to wait for it to pass.
We didn't know where to go once we arrived at the hospital. So wandered around showing our letter, trying to figure things out. We went in two wrong doors before finding the information desk and he sent us to the children's ward. They read the referral and then sent us down to x-ray. There were several people ahead of us in the waiting area, but we didn't have to wait too long. Luckily the x-ray technician spoke English. Stepler and I were given lead aprons to wear so that we could stay in the room while Rory was x-rayed. She did well, staying still for the x-rays to be taken. The first one confirmed that she had swallowed the battery.
From x-ray we were sent back to the children's ward. After waiting a little while there we were lead to the surgery department. We waited for the longest time there. The receptionist came out and asked if we had our passports...and we started worrying that Rory was going to have to stay at the hospital. While waiting I called the U.S. number from the battery package for if the battery was swallowed. I felt much better after talking with their representative. She said that as long as the x-ray indicated that the battery was in her stomach, she would recommend that we just increase her fiber and wait for it to pass. That was very reassuring.
While I was talking on the phone, a nurse spoke with Stepler. After that we were moved to yet another waiting area. There were learned that we would see a doctor soon. We were also told that we were now in the out-patient area and that previously we were in the in-patient area. Another big relief.
The nurse spent awhile talking to the Norwegian poison control center in Oslo. And then finally we were called back to talk with the surgeon. Turned out he was an orthopedic surgeon, but he'd looked at the x-ray, spoke English and had at least read about swallowing batteries. The battery is small enough that it should pass through. We're to give it four days before we contact the hospital again. Because we do not yet have a GP here, the surgeon gave us his card so that we can call him directly if we have to go back to the hospital.
Now we watch and wait. Watch Rory for any signs that she's not feeling well, watch the diaper, and wait to see the battery again.
WHEW.
This all started right after Rory and I finished our late lunch, so around 2:00. Through it all Rory did not have a nap, she did not have a snack and she missed supper. She held up really well. Smiling at everyone. Each waiting area had a few toys and each time she saw them she said play. In the car we fed her a cereal bar and she fell asleep. She woke up when we got home for a high-fiber supper and a bath. Now she's peacefully sleeping.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Queen Mary 2
The Queen Mary 2 came to Stavanger on Tuesday while we were eating breakfast.
After Stepler got home from work we went down to the harbor to see the QM2. The largest ocean liner ever built.
It started raining really hard while we were at the harbor, good thing I had my new rain boots. Rory was the luckiest (driest) because her stroller has a rain cover.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Micky D's
Rory and I had lunch at McDonald's today. I know, I know, I've read Fast Food Nation too. I can't even tell you when I'd last had a meal there before today. But every time I passed the Golden Arches they were calling my name.
Seemed like the perfect day for it. Rory and I went to playgroup at the beach park and after two hours of playing outside we were ready for lunch! McDonald's is on the way home. So I did it - I stopped and took Rory to a McDonald's for the first time.
She wasn't too impressed with the meal (chicken McNuggets Happy Meal with carrot sticks and a few of my fries), but did enjoy their playground and the balloon she got as we were leaving. The Norwegians like mayonnaise a lot and there was a little too much of it on my chicken sandwich. My fries were very good while still hot and the fountain Coke tasted like home.
It won't become a part of our Friday routine, but it sure was nice today.
Seemed like the perfect day for it. Rory and I went to playgroup at the beach park and after two hours of playing outside we were ready for lunch! McDonald's is on the way home. So I did it - I stopped and took Rory to a McDonald's for the first time.
She wasn't too impressed with the meal (chicken McNuggets Happy Meal with carrot sticks and a few of my fries), but did enjoy their playground and the balloon she got as we were leaving. The Norwegians like mayonnaise a lot and there was a little too much of it on my chicken sandwich. My fries were very good while still hot and the fountain Coke tasted like home.
It won't become a part of our Friday routine, but it sure was nice today.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday routine
We are settling into a definite Wednesday routine. Run, coffee with other moms and kids, butcher shop, lunch @ home, weekly cleaning while Rory naps. Wednesdays are nice - we see people, Rory naps well and I get things done in the afternoon. Yesterday I added my 6th and 7th trips to the Apple Store to the Wednesday routine. It's close to the coffee shop. Visits to the Apple Store are not nice. Getting a phone without a Norwegian number requires too many steps, each one different depending on who is working that day. New guy made visits 6 and 7 a little easier and I'm waiting on a call from the store to say that I can get my phone. We shall see. I'm not going back unless they call me.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Ready for the rain
Today while we were out running errands I finally found a rain suit for Rory on sale. Rain suits are required for schools here because they go out to play no matter what the weather. It's one that I'd had my eye on for awhile, hoping it would go on sale. It's still a little big, but she seems to like it!
Yesterday was Friday play group. For the summer we've started meeting at a beach park. Rory fell asleep in the car on the way there so we missed the first 45 minutes or so of it. But once she woke up she enjoyed the playground and the other kids very much.
Rory has officially (finally!) moved to size 18 month clothes.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Biblioteket
Rory and I visited the Stavanger Library for the first time today. You can actually get a library card with just a picture i.d. No person number required. A person number or at least a temporary person number is required for almost everything. And as we learned today, if you only have a temporary number you have to provide proof of income and Norwegian residence to get a cell phone. Geeze. Car dealerships let you drive off with a car on a test drive without even making a copy of your driver's license.
Anyway, about the library, Rory and I took the elevator to the children's section on the third floor. They had a decent selection of children's books. We only picked out five books to take home with us and we've already read four of them. Rory loves to read and it's great (for all of us) to have some new books to read. We also looked at the adult books and they have an even better selection of English books in the adult section. I did not get anything for myself though because I still have several books bought before we left Houston that I haven't read yet.
There is also a children's museum in the same building as the library. We'll have to go back to check it out one day soon!
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