Friday December
5, 2014
When Jackie awoke this morning to feed Brooklyn at 4:20am
she wasn’t feeling too good. She felt nauseous. She hoped it would pass with
more sleep. She awoke again at 8:20 to feed Brooklyn. She fed her one side and
then handed her off to daddy to try to give her a pumped bottle. She had
diarrhea and then puked which is very rare even during all her morning sickness
during pregnancy. Most of the time she’d just feel like throwing up but hardly
ever did, especially before being pregnant. Brooklyn once again would only chew
on the bottle nipple so Jackie gave her the other side and then tried to get
some more rest. Since Jackie wasn’t feeling well we didn’t go to Cologne,
Germany’s Christmas market like we had previously planned.
Stupid stomach bug on Joe's day off, but Jackie is grateful
for him being home with an extra set of hands to care for Brooklyn. This was
not the way we wanted to spend our first Sinterklaas in the Netherlands.
Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of St Nicolas, precursor
to Santa Claus. He dresses like a skinny bishop & has Piets (black faced elf-like characters) deliver
presents on the night of his birthday/feast day Dec 5.
Our neighborhood has a big celebration as Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Pieten deliver the kids their presents. We were napping in the late afternoon when we heard the trumpet music outside. We bundled up and head out to see the festivities despite being under the weather. Zwarte Piet (sorry if you take offense to the traditional Dutch helper), Jackie and Brooklyn.
(IMG_6570)
It turns out Jackie had flu-like symptoms in addition to a clogged milk duct. After lots of massaging the lumps and several painful nursing sessions, she started feeling back to her old self (tired but happy to breastfeed momma).
Mmm pepernoten 
Zwarte Pieten playing music on the streets as Sinterklaas
comes to deliver sacks of presents to each house. 
Here comes Sinterklaas
A terrified Brooklyn with Zwarte Piet and Sinterklaas
The quintessential photo every parent takes of their
child afraid of the great Saint Nicolas character
A sack of presents didn’t cheer her up either
Oh wait there are presents in there! Okay I’m fine
Ooo these balls look fun
Learning to tear off the wrapping paper (Christmas
morning is going to take forever!) 
Ooo a new English book, Lenny Long-Legs, Thanks
Sinterklaas
