briefly, we are better

Last week's storm was rapidly over and since then it has been sunny. My state of panic seems to have been sorted out with the appropriate homeopathic remedy (thanks to Leila's doctor who agreed to take me for a consultation straight after I cried during hers), and Leila also responded very well to her remedy. On top of that someone is now working in our house helping with the girls and the chores and that has changed my life (and my whole perspective on the world as it is these days in Ouro Preto). Cristiano left for one week in the field and my mum and Leila jumped on the opportunity to become best friends.

We had a little more trouble with the authorities here, or let us say some admin to sort out because of course there is NO procedure to declare a child who was born at home in Ouro Preto with a South African midwife. A million phone calls (most of wh

ich were given by Munyke whom we definitely cannot live without!), a trip to the hospital (where Coline was not allowed in) and a couple of "illegal" steps later (taken by some rare understanding officials) we were allowed to declare our child (in spite of everybody on the way saying that she is too tall to be only two weeks old...). And so I officially gave birth to

Coline Juliet Lana

on March 22nd, at our home, in the presence of 3 witnesses: Natasha, my mum and Cristiano. Two of them (witnesses) had to be there to sign the declaration, and so

not only were we lucky that my mum extended her stay, but Cristiano had to come back from the field so that there could be there together before she leaves.

Smooth birth does not seem to combine well with smooth admin...

Finger and footprinted: hard to see but my thumb and her foot are blue