Lightbulb

I had a lightbulb moment this morning.

I was reading one of my favourite blogs - a humourous single mom of now two who is currently in China picking up her second baby. Her baby now has a terrible cold, and I thought it seems common that babies end up sick with colds and other respiratory illnesses within days of being picked up. Strange coincidence I thought.

Steve and I have discussed how we hope Anna is healthy. I mean every parent hopes their child is healthy, but beyond the big parenting reasons we hope she's healthy is a selfish minor reason we wish her to be well: it's a travelling trip! We'll be in CHINA for two weeks!!! I want to see and experience sooo much more than the four walls of a hotel room. Don't get me wrong, she'll come first, but I'm hoping she's healthy so we can get out and see it all, among other reasons.

Sooo, why do so many babies get sick once they are picked up from their Chinese caregivers? It has nothing to do with unlucky coincidence as I casually thought... of course it has everything to do with the immunology I studied at Acadia. These babies have lived somewhat reclusive existances, exposed to only those around them in the orphanage or foster home, with the exception of a few visitors now and then. Then they are thrown into a new environment in a hotel (not the cleanest of places) with people who are not only new, but who bring with them a whole army of viruses and bugs from the other side of the world. Although we'll likely be immune to these ickies, Anna won't be.

D'oh.

N