.
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Ramadan
It's amazing how quickly time passes when you have a baby in your life! Leaving the apartment to go and do some errands is no longer a five minute exercise. Today we were very organised, already to go out, when Nikau decided it was a good time to be sick on himself and Nana, which resulted in both of us having to change and our departure time was delayed, yet again! I wouldn't miss such episodes for the world, and I proudly wear the badge of nana hood staining my shoulder!
Today is the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy time when, for a whole month Muslims around the world are not allowed to eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. Consequently all cafés and restaurants are closed during these hours and many businesses change their working hours during Ramadan. Joel is working reduced hours during Ramadan and will be finishing work at 3pm. It must be really difficult not drinking during the day as the temperature now is consistently in the low to mid 40's.
Tonight we went to a mall to celebrate Iftar, which is the breaking of the fast each evening. We dined at an Arabian restaurant where a large buffet of traditional Arab food was on offer. There was a plate of dates on the table as it is tradition to break the fast with a date. All the restaurants open when the sun goes down and families come out to eat and celebrate Iftar. Many shops which have been closed during the afternoon reopen about 8pm and stay open until the early hours of the morning. It is not unusual to see very young children up and about in the middle of the night during Ramadan.
Friday, 27 June 2014
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Yesterday Nikau and Tanya had to go to the hospital for check ups. One appointment was at 9am and the other at 10.15am. I learnt very quickly that appointment times mean nothing in this part of the world. We arrived at the hospital at 9.00am, went to the reception desk, where we were given a number and were directed to a waiting area. After waiting for a while our number was called and Tanya and Nikau were entered into the system. We then went and waited in another waiting area for Nikau to have his test for jaundice. After that we went to yet another waiting area to await Tanya's appointment. When that was finished we had to wait again for the doctor to give us the results of Nikau's blood test. The silly thing was the nurse who Tanya had been seeing told us they were ok because the results were already logged into the system. After waiting for ages the doctor took less than a minute to give us the results and tell Tanya to make an appointment for Nikau for next Wednesday. Just when I thought all the waiting was over the doctor gave us a number and directed us to yet another waiting area until one of the receptionists called our number to make an appointment. The whole procedure took nearly 3 hours. I will never moan again if the doctor is running half an hour late!
Today Nikau went for a photo shoot. There is a lady here in Abu Dhabi who is setting up a baby photography business and she asked for volunteers she could photograph free of charge to put in her portfolio. She was absolutely amazing, a real baby whisperer. Nikau is usually a very active wee chap but she was able to soothe him and manipulate him gently into the poses she wanted. I've attached a photo that Tanya took on her phone during the session. It took two and a quarter hours, the photographer was incredibly patient.
As I write both Tanya and Nikau are sleeping. The temperature outside is 41 degrees so I might take this opportunity to go down to the pool. Only problem is that because the air temperature is getting higher so is the water temperature in the pool, so it's a bit like trying to cool off in a warm bath!
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Today Tanya, Nikau and Nana have enjoyed a day at home. The temperature reached 39 degrees by midday today and we were able to dry three loads of washing on the clothes horse on the balcony before lunchtime! Tanya had a little rest this afternoon and I went down to the pool for about 50 minutes to cool off and get some fresh air. I am still getting used to the indoor lifestyle which is so necessary during the summer over here. I do love having a pool within 30 seconds walking distance!
We have to go into the city tomorrow, Nikau has a checkup appointment at the hospital at 9.00am and we want to get his birth certificate attested so we can get his passport underway. Its's going to be an early start. It is, however, a good idea to get things done as early as possible over here before it gets too hot.
Joel was telling me today that there is now a heat ban on and nobody is allowed to work outside in the sunlight between midday and 3pm. Bosses can be fined 10,000 dirhams per worker (about $3000) if they break this rule. Work places supply a cool resting place with water for the workers during this time. Last time we came to the UAE the heat ban didn't exist and workers worked throughout the day.
We have to go into the city tomorrow, Nikau has a checkup appointment at the hospital at 9.00am and we want to get his birth certificate attested so we can get his passport underway. Its's going to be an early start. It is, however, a good idea to get things done as early as possible over here before it gets too hot.
Joel was telling me today that there is now a heat ban on and nobody is allowed to work outside in the sunlight between midday and 3pm. Bosses can be fined 10,000 dirhams per worker (about $3000) if they break this rule. Work places supply a cool resting place with water for the workers during this time. Last time we came to the UAE the heat ban didn't exist and workers worked throughout the day.
Monday, 23 June 2014
Nikau's first day out.
Today we had to go back to the Corniche Hospital to sort out some paperwork, including registering Nikau's birth. In this country a whole forest of paperwork is used to complete one task, and countless minutes/hours are spent waiting in queues. It took a little over two hours today to do Nikau's birth notification which Tanya and Joel said is nothing. They once had to wait for nine hours to get a visa for Joel!
After we left the hospital we went to one of the many malls in Abu Dhabi for lunch, where Joel enjoyed taking Nikau for a spin in his first set of wheels.
It's been a very long day for Nikau and Tanya and they are both very tired. We are looking forward to having a day at home tomorrow.
Nikau in his new car seat.
Daddy and Nikau testing out the new wheels
Sunday, 22 June 2014
We are home at last!! Nana is suffering a little from separation anxiety tonight having spent the last four nights in hospital with Tanya and Nikau. Men are not allowed to stay with their wives in the hospital but one female relative is allowed to stay. Consequently Joel has had to leave at 10 pm each night, returning at 6am in the morning, and I have stayed in hospital with Tanya and Nikau. Despite my separation anxiety, tonight I have willingly handed night duties over to Nikau's daddy.
Nikau has spent 24 hours under special lights because he is jaundiced. His blood tests were good this morning and he has to have another blood test tonight at 6pm, to make sure he's still ok now that he's not under the special lights. If these tests are good we can go home tonight. We have all got our fingers crossed. Last night Tanya had to feed Nikau every two hours and I topped him up with her milk using a syringe. We had to give him as much milk as possible to flush the jaundice out if his system. Then we had to put him in his little bed under the special lights. He drank so much milk that he looked like he was drunk! Here are some photos of Nikau under the special light and sleeping under his special Allblacks blanket.
Friday, 20 June 2014
It's been a pretty amazing last few days. I arrived in the UAE at 4.30am on the 15th June and by
12.22 am on the 18th of June I was a grandmother! Nikau is just gorgeous and I'm enjoying every bit if nana hood. Tanya is still in hospital and I have been staying with her and Nikau at night because all men have to leave the ward at 10pm and are allowed back at 6am. Joel and I booked a hotel room directly opposite the hospital, about one minutes walk away. Joel has gone there at 10pm and we have tag teamed at 6am and I have then used the room to catch up on sleep and freshen up. I have been pretty lucky because Tanya is in a double room by herself and I have been able to use the other bed. Nikau prefers to sleep during the day and be up at night so the night shift has been pretty busy for Tanya and me.
Nikau had his first bath today. I was over at the hotel, still in bed, when Joel messaged me to say the nurses were going to bath him. I threw on some clothes and ran (in 35 degree heat) to the hospital, arriving less than five minutes after receiving Joel's message! ( that chug a lugs training came in very useful!)
We are hoping that we will be able to go home tomorrow, which will be very exciting.
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Welcome Nikau Geoffrey Colson Pikari
Nikau was born at 12.22am on Wednesday June 18th weighing 7lbs 15oz. We are still staying at the hospital so blogging is difficult. I am a very, very proud nana and look forward to adding heaps more photos of our lovely little grandson when we get back to Al Reef where Tanya, Joel and Nikau live.
Monday, 16 June 2014
This morning Tanya and I went for a walk around Al Reef before
it got too hot. It was beginning to warm up to the mid thirties by the time we
got back just before 10.00am. We spent the rest of the morning sorting the baby’s
clothes. This baby is going to be the best dressed baby in the UAE, he has so
many outfits to choose from!
After lunch we drove into the main part of Abu Dhabi . (Tanya and Joel live about 35km
out of the city) Tanya had some business to do and we wandered around one of
the many malls in Abu Dhabi .
This morning Rebecca told Tanya that eating raw pineapple is
supposed to bring on labour so we purchased two pineapples and Tanya is going
to put that theory to the test tonight.
While the temperature has reached the late thirties, there
has been a bit of a breeze which has kept the humidity level down, so I haven’t
really felt overwhelmed by the heat…yet!
Sunday, 15 June 2014
It has been quite windy here today, and because the sand is so fine the dust blows around all over the roads. The temperature got to 39 today but the wind kept the humidity down so it hasn't been too uncomfortable. Tanya and I (and Mr Happy Chappy) went for a swim this afternoon in one of the pools in their apartment complex, only a minutes walk from their apartment.
Tanya is looking radiant (and rather large) and I have told bump that he can come out now that Nana is here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)