House Arrest

...Or being home for 4 days fighting a chest cold and taking care of a sick kid... not sleeping, leaving the house only intermittently and getting all-too familiar with the apartment. Makes for an ugly combination of fatigue and a serious case of cabin-fever. :) Good thing we have a pint-sized little form of entertainment to keep us busy!

Thankfully, today Solomon is finally on the mend after a week of bad congestion, fevers, vomitting, diarrhea, and then new-onset wheezing. The pollution and dust in the air are taking their toll on his little lungs, I'm afraid, but he is tuffing it out like the trooper he is.

Patrick and I found a pediatrician yesterday by a careful close-your-eyes-and-point kind of searching and we lucked out; she was patient, kind, and clearly loves children. I think we'll keep her. After a week of being doctor-mom, I wanted someone without emotional ties to Solomon to offer perspective. And she did, reassuring us and offering medication for his wheezing. We also celebrated that in the month he has been with us, Solomon has packed on 8 lbs of love!!! He almost doubled his weight in a month!

Much to Solomon's surprise, he received his first set of immunizations after meeting his doctor. Poor honey. He went from laying on the exam table, completely happy and trusting... playing with his toes, blowing zerberts, and charming the pants off the nurse... to wailing with rivers of tears streaming down his face after the attack of the needles. Of course I cried too.

Last night fully medicated, Solomon slept for 5 hour stretches which is the FIRST EVER... and ohymygosh it felt good. Today, Patrick and I feel like we have a fresh lease on life. Amazing how sleep can restore humor and perspective. After a good night sleep and a big bottle, Solomon has been entertaining us this morning by finding his toes, trying to sit up (and timbering over), laughing, cooing and doing all the things we really needed to see to reassure us that he's going to be ok.

Despite everyone feeling happy and healthy this morning, we will stay close to home on this sunny Sunday because CONASPEH asked us to. Today is the election day for the senate. These elections were originally scheduled for September, but delayed with the hurricanes last fall. Like many of Haiti's political events, they have been draped with controversy. From what we have read, the candidate for the Lavalas party (Aristide's Party) was banned from running after some sketchy manuevers by the government. The lavalas party represents a large segment of the poor population, and so demonstrations and unrest were predicted for today. Thus the warnings not to go to church and to stay low for fear of running into trouble. Yesterday, I noticed the UN preparing for the worst... big white tanks were parked along some of the main roads, razor wire strung around them like a crude fence. The UN jeeps seem to have hit the streets with more fervor as well.

At CONASPEH Friday I asked several people about the elections. Most weren't planning on voting. One voiced concern over unrest. Another said he just didn't have confidence in any of the candidates. Similar views were solicited from my mini poll among the teachers and pastors I talked to.

But it hasn't been just our partners who have issued warnings of concern. Yesterday one of the street kids told us to stay home. Seriously, the conversation went like this:

Kid: "Mama, mwen grangou (hungry), ba m bonbon" (I'm hungry Mama, give me a cookie.)
Me: I don't have any today, they are gone! Maybe tomorrow.
Kid: Not tomorrow. Monday or Tuesday. Tomorrow you stay at home. If you come in the street the mobs will break your car.

Seemed sort of dramatic to me, but regardless I felt very loved having one of our street friends, who at the time was pouring sweat in the afternoon sun and looking generally miserable, take care of me and my relatively cush lifestyle here. All because we occasionally give him a cookie if we have a stock in our glove box. Or maybe because he just looks out for people in general.

I haven't heard any angry mobs today. Rather, outside my window the birds are chirping while perched on a palm frond. I can hear the church up the street leading songs. Maybe there are demonstrations downtown, but our little neighborhood street seems to be doing what it always does. Patrick did buy a TV so we can pick up the local news (or at least watch their mouths move and hope they show us pictures of what is going on!). Likely we'll have to wait until we return to work tomorrow to get the scoop.

We've decided to enjoy the family day by reading books, listening to some CD's we haven't listened to in a while, and perhaps watch a movie. Right now Patrick is shooting his Nerf basketball, giving Solomon a play-by-play of his left hand verses right hand shooting competition. Solomon is leaning against the couch, more interested in the rattle he is taste-testing, but reguarding his father with an intent stare and an ocasional gummy smile.

House arrest feels more comfortable with happy, healthy members inside its walls. And tomorrow we'll break free commencing on another week of work, happy for the change in routine but grateful for the healing rest the weekend has offered. And hopefully the events of the today will go peacefully for all voters, for the people represented and those hoping to make their voices heard.