The AMG - Beginnings

Andrew and mom are in the hospital because Andrew appears to have a minor virus which has been going around. We came Sunday because he had a fever of 38.8° C (sorry, but I don’t know the equivalent in F but I can tell you that normal is 36.5°) and some bumps on his arm. Since he is less than 6 months old, they checked us in for monitoring. They also checked mom in because Andrew is exclusively breastfeeding and mom need to be nearby (and she eats free - I wonder how they handle that in the US healthcare system. I imagine that they wouldn’t even check Andrew in).

During the course of the afternoon, the fever went up to 39.9 and he received 3 doses of fever reducing medicine. During the night the fever started going down and Andrew got his smile back. The blood test results were good and we are awaiting the urine test results. In the meantime, we just sit in our room with nothing particular to do (hence the almost unbelievable free time to write this).

A strange way to get a start on a blog, but as anyone who has had a newborn (or has been close to one) will know, free time is limited (so once we’re out of here don’t expect frequent updates).

Today, Andrew Maria Gargiulo is 64 days old (2 months and 3 days). In these last 64 days (or first depending on your point of view) he has:

1. flown twice, though proof was not available in the form of an air baptism certificate (next flight);
2. been on a ferry twice and saw Capri, Ischia, Procida and a number of other islands off the coast of Italy;
3. put his feet in the Mediterranean Sea (the waves ensured that his bottom got a little taste as well... until papa turned around to face them);
4. swam for two minutes in a swimming pool (then mom and papa found out that the water was thermal – or “radioactive” according to some English translations – and therefore stopped taking him);
5. met 5 americans and 20 Neapolitans – and that is just family! Friends from all over Italy would bring the total up by at least 40;
6. met numerous potential girlfriends;
7. emptied himself of unwelcome air in a variety of ways (and is getting more creative and scary on a decible level as the days go by);
8. made a new friend that brings him tons of satisfaction – Sir K.D. (a hip knot doll with Nelson/Warner origins – thanks Aunt Sarah and Uncle Dave);
9. never gone a day without the life saving cuccio (pacifier) that Aunt Jo was so kind to get for him, saving mom in a moment of desperation;
10. learned how to protest, especially against nose cleanings, and has a natural “power to the people” fist from birth;
11. starred in two short films – “AMG’s Greatest Hits – A collection by podigal feet” and “Turning Heads”;

And his latest... been checked into the hospital with a fever (see above for details)

Of course, his first and most astonishing achievment was to take over complete control of the household and take his place as King of All in his world.

Andrew was so enchanted by the computer that wanted to write something himself. Here it is:

Yfdfhyyyyhjupoedzv
T

I wonder if he thinks that “T” is his signature...

That’s it for this addition of “The AMG”. Until the next bit of free time...