Babies, Nursery themes etc

[Henia 11]

K: Don't worry about me(us)! You have enough on your plate right now subhanAllah!

For me, my complications lay in that when I was in the beginning of this pregnancy I started having blackouts (severe anemia) ... one time at 2,5m (before knew I was pregnant) we were in Tipaza at the ruins on family day out ... I had my 3rd blackout, ended up slipping and falling on the rocks there, into the shore. I hit my head and broke my leg in several spots. Head was OK. But the blackouts continued. 2 months, bladder then kidney infection ... then last month, got blood transfusion (scare of my life) ...

At 3m, I had cerclage since they figured out the reason for my previous miscarriages. They advised bedrest ... which was OK for first 2weeks ... now I am literally dying rotting at home! LOL! But elhamdullah only have few more weeks until the stitches come out!

But anyway ... enough of my complaining!

It is OK ... I know mail here is crazy ... I had ordered some prenatal vitamins from the UK (website said they would deliver) but I only now just got them after 4m LOL Almost too late now! And I had to pay hefty customs for them LOL! So prayers are appreciated =)

I am giving birth (enchallah I hope) at a clinic run by nuns in Blida. Husband checked it out ... real clean not like the ones here and in Alger. But either way Blida or Alger is 2 hours away ... so without car I feel screwed! So I have my husband "ON-CALL" now 24/7! LOL! I agreed to having the older women in his family over for the sab'aa ... and a few of the foreign women I know. None of the younger ones to gossip and talk #### to me/about me! LOL but who knows what will happen! But no werid binding or henna or candles rituals. Coffee/tea with cakes, then everyone go home! Sure be funny story to share .... will post it LOL with pix OK!

Edited August 7, 2008 by Henia

[doodlebugg 10]

It is OK ... I know mail here is crazy ... I had ordered some prenatal vitamins from the UK (website said they would deliver) but I only now just got them after 4m LOL Almost too late now! And I had to pay hefty customs for them LOL! So prayers are appreciated =)

Have you been taking any prenatal vitamins this whole time?

[Henia 11]

It is OK ... I know mail here is crazy ... I had ordered some prenatal vitamins from the UK (website said they would deliver) but I only now just got them after 4m LOL Almost too late now! And I had to pay hefty customs for them LOL! So prayers are appreciated =)

Have you been taking any prenatal vitamins this whole time?

Just starting taking them since they recently arrived. You cannot find prenatal vitamins here. They give you low dose iron and you can also buy Vit C in the pharmacy ... but no complete pack! But in my case, juuust not enough. But I am not taking 2 pills daily ... feeling more energy elhamdullah!

[allousa 1]

I've definitely got enough boy clothes to share and could ship some to you. Maybe if I could get them in the mail now, I'll just put some 6-12 mo clothes and you would get them at just the right time. Do you trust the mail there? I know the couple of times that we've sent things through the mail to Morocco, his parents never got there stuff.

If you could let me know what you might need the most (warm weather clothes/cold weather clothes/footed pjs) then I could make sure that I send you that. I would really like to help out.

FYI: I have an overabudance of boy clothes from 0-2 yrs, so if any of our about to be MENA mommies are in need, please PM me and let me know.

[Carolyn 1]

Henia,

I am so sorry that you have had so many complications with your pregnancy! I'm surprised that you didn't book yourself a flight to the US along the way here, sweetie!

May you have a happy and healthy last few weeks of your pregnancy! Try not to worry too much about the labor & delivery--it sounds like you and your husband are making the best arrangements possible.

By the way, my Moroccan husband was delivered by some nuns, too. His mom was supposed to go to the hospital in Marrakech (about 50 km from the village they lived in), but on his birth day there was a military coup, and all the roads were closed. So, she went to the local convent and the nuns delivered him!

Any chance that you can stay closer to Blida as you near your due date?

[Henia 11]

Henia,

I am so sorry that you have had so many complications with your pregnancy! I'm surprised that you didn't book yourself a flight to the US along the way here, sweetie!

May you have a happy and healthy last few weeks of your pregnancy! Try not to worry too much about the labor & delivery--it sounds like you and your husband are making the best arrangements possible.

By the way, my Moroccan husband was delivered by some nuns, too. His mom was supposed to go to the hospital in Marrakech (about 50 km from the village they lived in), but on his birth day there was a military coup, and all the roads were closed. So, she went to the local convent and the nuns delivered him!

Any chance that you can stay closer to Blida as you near your due date?

Thanks so much for kind words Caroly and Allousa!

I actually did book tickets back to the US, but they would not let me on the plane with broken leg plus they made some big deal about some visa issue. By the time we dealt with that... lost my ticket - SO PLZ remember ppl if you buy tickets with multiple stops ALWAYS ALWAYS have all the flights with either paper ticket or E-ticket .... NOT one with e-ticket then the other with paper! Loop for airlines! You suck Air France!

Well have my husband on call ... arranged someone to be ready to take us, but living here I can except only the worst when it comes to people! So o well ... happen then it happens!

I got a package from the US (MI) last winter ... within 10 days but it was insured with USmail. I am not sure about the rest. I am not picky as one should appreciate anything and everything! Never look gift horse in the mouth LOL! Right really hot, and for sure still hot in the next 2months but by October will cool down ... then be cold (no heating here like the US) ... Footed pjs would be lovely since never saw any here (they just use regular pjs then wrap them in thick blankets - something I think is dangerous for babies no?) but anyway thank you for the offer!

[allousa 1]

Henia,

If you will PM me your address, I will try and get in the mail in the next couple of weeks.

Definitely have some footed stuff to send your way. Cold winter stuff would need to be about 6mo-9mo, right?

[jpaula 20]

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

write ramadan karim or mubarek with koran and happy ramadan ffor the baby and no one will touch the box...henia waiting for ur address honey

[Henia 11]

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

Thanks alot JPaula! Do you happen to know the name of the shop or where it is? I know there are several baby shops up there but mostly selling same junk as here. But willing to do the hunting for the baby sling ... real novel here since I walk everywhere or use the bus ... no car ... so anything hands-free is great!

You right mailing is tricky ... but with registered mail I have had success ... they took responsibity for tracking ...

but not sure if legally they are/must.

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

write ramadan karim or mubarek with koran and happy ramadan ffor the baby and no one will touch the box...henia waiting for ur address honey

LOL you are soooooo funny! Something to experiment with LOL ... the morals of Algerians during Ramadan LOLOLOL! You made my day with this funny comment! OMG!

[allousa 1]

Henia - I've got a baby carrier that has these straps where you carry them in the front. It's not a sling, but something akin to a Baby Bjorn. I will be more than happy to throw that in with the rest of the stuff.

I will take K's advice and write something on there for the baby!

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

Thanks alot JPaula! Do you happen to know the name of the shop or where it is? I know there are several baby shops up there but mostly selling same junk as here. But willing to do the hunting for the baby sling ... real novel here since I walk everywhere or use the bus ... no car ... so anything hands-free is great!

You right mailing is tricky ... but with registered mail I have had success ... they took responsibity for tracking ...

but not sure if legally they are/must.

Henia,

My husband has a very good friend who has a store in Charaga that sells only baby stuff. All the knockoff brands from China, but also some better quality imported products. We will call him and see what he has. I wasn't paying attention to details (ie looking for butt cream) when we visited, but it seemed realy well stocked. We also sent my SIL a big package when she has her son a year ago. There was def a sling in there, a Baby Bjorn, alot of onsies and much more. I'll ask her if she still has any of it (could have been dispersed to neighbors). That would be very easy to get to you.

An aside for those thinking of shipping to Algeria, my experience has been hit or miss, but mostly miss. Once had things get there safely in a month, but egnerally had packages arrive a year later with half the contents missing. USPS insurance can't do anything about it as they can only track that it arrived in Algeria and are not responsible after that. We now only ship with DHL which is expensive, but less expensive then losing the package. Their Jumbo Box ships internationally for a flat fee.

write ramadan karim or mubarek with koran and happy ramadan ffor the baby and no one will touch the box...henia waiting for ur address honey

LOL you are soooooo funny! Something to experiment with LOL ... the morals of Algerians during Ramadan LOLOLOL! You made my day with this funny comment! OMG!

Yeah. Everyone turns into some kind of imam during Ramadan. Every year where I live too about one week before Ramadan, all the bars empty and everyone goes to the mosque and drives around with jelabas on. I was like hey.. I saw you in line 2 weeks ago for nickel night and now all the sudden you are dressed like sidi boumedienne

I am not joking about labeling the box with all kinds of Koran and arabic and happy ramadan and maybe pictures of some happy sheep and maybe the thiefs that open the boxes and steal everything will feel real guilty. Plus put like baby pictures on the outside too LOL

[Henia 11]

Ye I see those all too pious people walking around now when I go to the souq ... making reminders of upcoming Ramadan LOL!

[Beauty for Ashes 257]

Ye I see those all too pious people walking around now when I go to the souq ... making reminders of upcoming Ramadan LOL!

Well if people wanna be freaky, hey thats their thing. But dont act like a caliph sometimes and then throw down with the superfreaks and your 5th of whiskey the rest of the year. COME ON PEOPLE lol

[Henia 11]

Ye I see those all too pious people walking around now when I go to the souq ... making reminders of upcoming Ramadan LOL!

Well if people wanna be freaky, hey thats their thing. But dont act like a caliph sometimes and then throw down with the superfreaks and your 5th of whiskey the rest of the year. COME ON PEOPLE lol

LOL! I just love seeing women fast for Ramadan, walking around hold their Qur'ans', and attend the tarawee prayers ... yet at the mosque you see them talking more then praying LOL! I guess is one way out of cleaning up after iftar LOL! And then day after Eid back to their normal chi-chi behaviour!