Yesterday Takako discovered what might be the very first stage of a tooth in Junya’s lower mouth! The tooth is sort of hidden behind the soft part of his jaw, but if I put a finger in his mouth and press down lightly on where his teeth will be one day, I can feel something hard and sharp about the same with of a tooth!

We wanted to take a photo of it, but, needless to say, it is nearly impossible to get Junya to sit still with his mouth open so we can take a photo! From now on we will be feeling his mouth everyday to see when the little new guy is going to poke his head out.

Also, now there is only 9 days till we are heading off for Tokyo. We will stay in Tokyo for three days, then on the 12th we will go to Narita and then fly back to Denmark where we will spend the next 3.5 weeks.

And this is what it looks like. It is the brown version (we thought that was the most distinguished color). It arrived late in the afternoon, but of course we couldn’t wait till the next day with assembling it. So we opened the box, took out all the parts and assembled it in the living room. Junya tried it and it was a perfect fit! Junya wasn’t in the best of moods this evening so he screamed a lot, and after the bath he still wasn’t so happy, so he went to bed early.

Tomorrow we will be trying out the new buggy for real. The big wheels are real tyres with air inside, so the ride is very smooth. It is also possible to use it on almost any surface, from the plan surfaces in the shopping malls till dirty gravel roads, and even the odd stairs will it be able to handle.

It comes with several types of covers: A rain cover, a sun shade and a mosquito net. It has a basket underneath for (daddy’s) shopping bags, a drink bottle holder (but no beer can holder..), it has a special pump for the tyres, the handle is very tall making it easy for (normal sized) men to push it, the front wheel can turn 360 degrees and is pointing backwards a little giving it a very short turn radius.

It weighs about 10 kg so it is in the heavier end… but, it folds together very easily, you can almost do it with just one hand. I think it will fit in most cars, but will take up a good deal of the room.

Just a very short post to say that today Junya — for the first time ever! — did a full turn! From lying on his back, on the floor, he rolled onto his stomach, and then back onto his back! He has only recently started rolling from his back and onto his stomach, and we thought the other way would be alot harder, but today he managed to do it. I must admit though that he was, sort of, coerced into doing it by several extremely interestingly-looking toys strategically placed around him!!

Photo courtesy of Takako. Video to follow soon.

Yesterday we went to the hospital with Junya and found out that he had 38.7 degrees fever. That is quite high and would explain his sulky mood the last few days. So, his cold was definately not over yet, and according to a test made at the hospital, he now had a regular infection, for the number of certains bacterias found in mucus from his nose was significantly higher than normal. A blood sample showed that his CRP index (C-reactive protein) was 13 times higher than normal. This happens during inflammatory processes occurring in the body and is often a sign of an infection. We were taken to a special room and Junya was then given 400 ml of antibiotics intravenously. They inserted the tube into his right hand, something that he didn’t like very much.

He managed to fall asleep and rest for more than an hour, and late in the afternoon we were able to leave the hospital and drive home. They gave us more antibiotics which we are mixing in the other medicine we are giving him (a sweet syrup) and surprisingly he really likes his medicine!

Today his fever is not as high as yesterday and he also seemed a lot happier. Lets hope it will all be over soon. Poor Junya.

Today was my 36th birthday and already from the morning we had plans. Takako’s mom and a friend had an appointment with Noriko (Takako’s friend who is a chiropractor) so we all went to Aizu Wakamatsu, to Noriko’s place where we arrived around 10:00. Bunta (their cute dog) was there, guarding the house. But today, because of the nice weather, he had fallen asleep on a sunny spot in front of the house and didn’t notice when we arrived. What a watchdog!

After saying hello to Noriko and letting off Taiko and Fumiyo-san, Takako and I took Junya out for a nice walk around the castle, Tsurugajo. The weather was perfect! 20 degrees and clear skies! The first plum blossoms had started showing and the area was nice and quiet. Junya enjoyed it too but fell asleep halfway during the walk.

Actually we had hoped to be able to bring the new buggy (barnevogn) that we had ordered for him, but we were told it wouldn’t arrive until Saturday. So instead we brought the old one, but it was a bit hard to push around on the gravel that surrounds the castle. By the way, the new buggy is an AirBuggy a vsery smart, 3-wheeled type of vehicle with large wheels that makes it easy to use on all kinds of surfaces and even makes it easy to walk up small stairs. We bought it from the money we received from prime minister Aso, a fixed amount of money given to all individuals in Japan in an effort to increase consumption in a time where the GDP is the lowest in 35 years.

After a pleasant walk around the castle, we went back to Noriko’s place and picked up the Taiko and Fumiyo-san and drove them to the station. They were going to have lunch at the restaurant Pivot and then do some shopping. Takako and I drove to another place called Milky Way, a family restaurant with a big sign on the top of the roof that reminds me of the once so popular burger and milk shake bars from the 80′es.

I ordered a 200g garlic steak with french fries and it tasted absolutely wonderful. The best steak I have had in a long time! And the fries were crispy and everything was very hot. Mmmm! Takako also had a small cut steak and a gratin. We ordered salad bar and Junya got a little toy airplane.

After picking up Takako’s mom and saying goodbye to her friend who was going somewhere else, we went to the department store Saty to see if there was something interesting for sale. They are closing up so everything was sold at a discount. On the way back we bought a world map for Takako’s dad. He is always very interested in geography, but doesn’t have a proper map, so I bought this as a small preseclnt for him. We also picked up a cake and some melon pan buns for breakfast.

When we came home I took a nap (almost 2 hours!) and when I woke up the house was full of guests! It was Takako’s brother and his family (Keiko, Yuuta, Taichi and Ichika) and as always everyone were running around, talking, screaming, watching tv, cooking, eating, not eating, joking, playing, teasing eachother etc. etc. The usual chaotic hygge.

There were two birthday cards: One from Anita and Gert in the usual refined style with a Japanese motive with cows and the text, in Japanese: “Tomorrow your dreams will grow”! The other card was also a homemade card, but from Takako and Junya! Hilarious, with funny computer manipulated images: One of Junya and me on a billboard somewhere in Japan, and one with Andy Warhol style paintings of me and Junya hanging in a gallery with spectators walking by! There were also several normal photos of me and Junya together and in the end a handwritten “Vi elsker dig - fra Junya and Takako” in perfect Danish!!   THANK YOU!!! *sniff*

On the table was three big plates of sushi and hors d’œuvre (オードブル) which was exactly what I had hoped for! It was so good and I ate a lot! For desert there was a special birthday cake with my name on it. It says “Happy Birthday Tori-chan”, Tori of cause is my Japanese name.

Katsuhiro had bought a present for me: Two nice forms for baking cakes and some small forms for making cookies in the shape of Winnie the Pooh and his friend Piglet. Thank you! I must reciprocate with a homemade cake sometime soon!

Junya was at that time quite tired but after Takako put him in the BabyBjoern he managed to sleep a little. I played with Yuuta and then the party was over and it was time for Junya’s bath. His evening snack today was his favourite strawberry milk, with fresh strawberries that we bought today. After drinking 60ml of milk he was still hungry so I gave him an extra whole strawberry to chew on. That is, I hold the strawberry and mash it with my fingers while he sucks up the strawberry mash.

Thank you everyone for a perfect birthday!!

Vi troede det var gaaet over paa et par dage, men det viste sig ikke at vaere tilfaeldet. Junya (og jeg) har vist begge tilraget os en ganske paen forkoelelse som ikke saadan lige gaar over. Dvs. vi har ikke mere de klassiske forkoelelsessymptomer med loebende naese, det er som om det har sat sig i noget betaendelse et sted. Vi hoster begge lidt, og har det generelse ikke super godt, jeg er dog i bedring.

Vi har besoegt laegen et par gange men har ikke faaet noget egentlig medicin. Kun saadan noget der goer at man faar lettere ved at traekke vejret gennem naesen eller som foeger maengden af snot (ja, det goer det faktisk. Maerkeligt)

Jeg har senere hoert at det er almindeligt ikke at give antibiotika til helt smaa boern, saa selvom det passer at det ikke mere er en forkoelelse men har sat sig i noget infektion et sted, ville de nok alligevel ikke have givet os noget medicin.

Junya vaagner flere gange om natten en normalt. Ikke fordi han er sulten, for han drikker ikke noget. Sikkert bare fordi han har det daarligt, har ondt i hovedet eller halsen. Og saa graeder han og hoster og kan ikke rigtig falde i soevn igen. Det er virkelig synd for ham og det goer ogsaa at Takako ikke faar saa meget soevn.

Der gik kun een dag, saa var Junya frisk igen. Her til morgen havde han ikke feber og han virkede helt normal. Saa det var nok ikke Den Sjette Syge som vi foerst troede, men blot en mild forkoelelse. Jeg foeler mig ogsaa bedre idag selvom jeg stadig er lidt udmattet.

I dag faar vi besoeg af Takakos soester og hendes familie saa Takako og jeg har redt senge og gjort klar til at de kan overnatte. Foraeldrene er ude for at handle ind: Der skal nemlig laves yakiniku stegt koed fest, i aften!

Saa skete det. Junya blev syg. Vi ved ikke helt om det er en almindelig forkoelelse eller hvad, men forhaabetlig finder vi snart ud af det. Hans temperatur var 37 i morgen, men han havde 38.3 i feber her til aften og han har ikke rigtig vaeret sig selv i dag. Han har sovet flere gange endda i laengere tid (noget han normal ikke goer) og har klynket en hel del.

Jeg blev forkoelet for et par dage siden og har proevet saa vidt muligt at undgaa at komme for taet paa Junya. Jeg har endda baaret den traditionelle japanske mund-og-naese-beskyttende maske naar jeg har holdt ham, og har vasket haender hver gang jeg har nyst (saa jeg har faaet paent rene haender!)

Men alligevel blev stakkels Junya altsaa syg. Det er oplagt at tro at det er en forkoelelse og at han er blevet smittet af mig men det kan ogsaa godt vaere han er blevet smittet af en anden dreng vi besoegte i Tokyo. Han havde nemlig paa det tidspuntk den almindelige boernesygdom den sjette syge som Roseola infantum kaldes paa dansk. Den Sjette Syge er foraarsaget af en herpes-virus der kaldes HHV-6 eller HHV-7 og som smitter gennem luftbaarne partikler eller oral kontakt eller kontakt med affoering.

Hvis der er tale om Den Sjette Syge, saa passer det med at inkubationstiden er ca. 5 dage, og saa skulle feberen gaa over i loebet af en 2-3 dage og afloeses af et roedt udslet som skulle forsvinde i loebet af to dage. Man bliver ikke vaccineret mod Den Sjette Syge, og langt de fleste boern faar den paa et tidspunkt i deres liv, typisk mellem 6 maaneder og 2-aars alderen.

Junya er nu efterhaanden blevet rigtig interesseret i hvad der sker omkring ham. Spise i fred kan vi ikke; vi bliver fulgt noeje, hver eneste bid vi tager. Og kommer der noget paa bordet der ser laekkert ud brokker Junya sig over at der ikke er noget til ham. Saadan tolker vi det i hvert fald!

Men en ting er sikkert: Junya vil gerne op at sidde. Og han er ved at blive god til det. Han kan stadig ikke holde balancen selv naar han sidder, men det bliver bedre dag for dag. Hvis han sidder i skraastolen kan han dog med sine mavemuskler rejse sig fra en halvt liggende position og op at sidde normalt. Det er lidt farligt hvis vi ikke holder oeje med ham for han falder meget nemt forover og ud af stolen. Saa fra nu af skal han have “sele” paa naar han sidder i den stol.

Han er ikke begyndt at vende sig om paa maven endnu. Han virker faktisk stort set ikke interesseret i at laere at kravle. Nogle boern springer jo ogsaa kravlestadiet over og starter med at gaa, men det er vist usaedvanligt. Naah, det kommer jo nok. Han er begyndt at vrikke lidt mere rundt naar han sover, saa han godt kan ligge noget laengere vaek naar han vaagner fra hvor han oprindeligt blev lagt!

Han er stadig meget glad for sin Jumeroo som han dagligt sidder og hopper i i en 30-60 minutter. Den er virkelig underholdende, og vi kan se den stimulerer hans nysgerrighed. Han er efterfoelgende blevet meget bedre til at lege med ting der kan dreje, for paa Jumperooen er der flere af den type legetoej. Han er ogsaa begyndt at hoppe ivrigt naar han er i bad. Vandets opdrift maa faa det til at foeles for ham som om han sidder i Jumperooen.

Paa talefronten gaar det ogsaa stoet fremad synes vi. Han er nu blevet meget dygtig til at sige “ba ba”, noget der isaer glaeder Takakos mor eftersom baba paa japansk betyder bedstemor! Jiji som betyder bedstefar kan han dog ikke sige endnu, hvilket dagligt aerger Takakos far!

Han er meget interesseret i ting han kan pille ved, specielt ting der bevaeger sig eller laver lyde. En kasse der kan aabnes eller en fjernbetjening er lige sagen. Ting der haenger og som man kan proeve at gribe er han ogsaa glad for. Et eksempel er den snor der haenger ud af loftlampen som kan bruges til at taende og slukke den med. Den har en lille kugle for enden som han altid proever at gribe ud efter naar man holder ham. En enkelt gang lykkedes det ham endda, efter at have grebet kuglen, at hive saa haardt i den at lyset slukkede!

Han har flere gange vaeret ude i sneen, naturligvis pakket godt ind i utallige lag toej og med paraply over sig for at undgaa at sneen flyver ind i ansigtet paa ham. Men engang imellem goer den det alligevel, hvilket ser ret morsomt ud! Junya laver en underlig lyd og proever vist at ryste sneen af sig, hvilket sjaeldent lykkes. Men kulden som saadan har han ellers ikke noget imod. Han er en rigtig viking!

Affoering gaar ogsaa ret godt, lige bortset fra her de sidste par dage. Men efter han er begyndt at faa andet end modermaelk, er hans tarmsystem ligesom blevet meget bedre til faa svinet bleen til hver dag, og ikke foerst naar vi stikker en olieret vatpind op et vist sted (yikes!) Han spiser hver dag en lille smule risvaelling samt et eller andet nyt som Takako har kogt. Han har saaledes faaet baade kogt kaal, broccoli, graeskar, kartoffel og jordbaer. Sidstnaevnte har vi endda serveret blandet om med pulvermaelk, hvilket har vaeret en enorm success.

I morgen skal han have sin HIB vaccination og saa skal han nok komme til at graede igen. Stakkels ham. Men saa sover han ofte rigtig godt om aftenen, saa noget positivt er der da ved det.

An addendum to today’s post: A video of Junya crying after the vaccination… If anyone can bear seeing it.

http://nafai.org/media/video/junya/dv20090210-dpt-vaccination-crying-junya.avi