"Dont Let The Bed Bugs Bite...."

We had our first Thai Hospital encounter this morning.  So glad for our introduction to be under non-emergent circumstances.  

Gigi woke up with welts all over her arms, legs and face and was itching like mad.  Although I was quite certain it was just an allergic reaction to insect bites, we found it odd that no one else in the family had been bitten.  Still hoping it was just a cannibal mosquito and not (god-forbid) bed bugs or something worse!!

Since you have to go to the actual hospital to see a pediatrician (and since I don't know the local name for Benadryl), Abi and I set out for the hospital with a very itchy little tyke.  I packed hours of snacks and entertainment, anticipating a wasted day in a waiting room.  Our experience was far from what I expected.....

What we encountered was more like a hotel than a hospital.

In addition to sprawling marble staircases, live piano music and an Au Bon Pain and Starbucks within the facility, I was immensely impressed by the pediatric wing.

Seriously?  A balloon artist clown passing out treasures to the kids!!.....

(think we might have some other kids volunteering to be "sick" next weekend:)

Playground equipment that rivals your local McDonalds....

And a nurse that circled the halls offering cold bottles of water.

Ah...........why, yes.........dont mind if I do!

Oh, and the best part.....we waited all of eight-and-a-half minutes to see a doctor.  Our entire registration, appointment and pharmacy prescription fill took no more than 45 minutes. 

DONE!

Sent home with an antibiotic cream, steroid ointment and an oral antihistamine.  

And now on a hunt for a mozzie net for her bed:)

Our afternoon was equally as enchanting and culturally enriching...  We were invited to a 60th birthday party that our landlady was hosting for her brother-in-law.  Got to taste some new Thai food and participate in a very elaborate family affair.  Live band.  Wining and dining.  Noodle soup catered by notoriously the best China Town cook.  Cakes.  Exotic fruits.  Curries and noodles.  

Our little Thai friend "Honey"(pictured) who lives at the bottom of our building exhibited her talent and entertained guests in traditional Thai costume on the Xylophone.  All the relatives took turns offering toasts or dedicating a song.  Our host asked the girls to sing too.  The older girls cowered behind the mic.  Evie, however, was in her element and hasnt stopped talking about "being on stage" since.  She keeps telling us she wants to be "a singer" when she grows up.....and at first blush, it just might be her thing!