OMG!!! HOT!!!! What is up with this weather?? I guess I forgot how humid it can get here. There’s no relief. So far the baby isn’t cranky about it, but enough is enough. I’m sure he’ll start soon.
We’re busy doing nothing. It’s too hot to go out for a walk or spend much time outdoors, so we’ve been staying inside quite a bit. I’m kind of going stir crazy. We got out yesterday and visited a good friend of mine from high school in Sterling for a few hours and then went to Buttonwood’s in the evening for ice cream, but that was it. I helped my friend Trish tag stuff for a yard sale this weekend today. Very big happenings lately.
We’re adjusting quite well, I guess. A few observations come to mind, one is the amount of traffic that there is now. My friend lives in Voluntown and I just can’t get over the amount of traffic on Rt 138 and 165. It can’t all be casino traffic. I guess there’s been so much building going on while we’ve been gone. I still can’t get over all the pick up trucks on the road tooal. I might have already mentioned that, but it’s worth mentioning again. I think every other vehicle is a 4-door truck. It’s kind of funny to me because the only pickups in Germany were owned by Americans and were quite the novelty.
There’s a pool here at my in-laws, but I’ve yet to use it. I’m too vain and self-conscious. I am a few pounds heavier than I would like to be to be wearing a bathing suit in public. It took nine months to gain weight, hopefully less than that to lose. Maybe I’ll sneak out at midnight or make a mad dash with a towel wrapped around me and make everyone swear that they won’t look. Honestly, the heat is getting to me and I think I don’t care anymore.
Did I mention I was going stir crazy? (It also bears mentioning again). I have to keep thinking, this too shall pass. One more week here, then off to my mother’s house for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait to get settled somewhere. I’ll feel much better. I almost feel guilty that my baby has to go through this bouncing around, but there’s nothing we can do. It’s not like we have it so bad or don’t have a place to stay. I just like having a plan and some routine. Not strict routine as my husband would like it (18 years in the Army will do that to you). Once we get to our next duty station, Colorado, I can dedicate more time and effort to this blog and get on the band wagon and take advantage of the attention that new show "Army Wives" is getting. I haven’t seen it yet but will let you know how realistic it is :) I’m sure I’ll have better tales of my own...haha.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Back in the States!
We made it home to the good ‘ole USA without a hitch. The guy in customs in Logan Airport in Boston welcomed us back, which was nice. The baby slept most of the eight hour flight from Frankfurt to Boston and our luggage wasn’t lost. It took a van and two people to get us to the airport in Stuttgart. My poor husband had to gather six suitcases on two luggage carts by himself when we arrived in Boston. Our bags were among the first few to appear on the belt, which is amazing. That’s never happened to me.
My brother- in- law and step- daughter were waiting for us when we walked out the gate. We drove home in the brother- in- law’s quad cab/ flat bed. Of course it poured on the way home so I thought my luck ran out and the luggage was soaked. It wasn’t thank God. It was stacked behind this big toolbox which prevented the rain from falling directly on it. I wouldn’t have thought of that.
Since we’ve been back, the baby has been enjoying meeting everyone and spending plenty of time outdoors. We lived on the 3rd floor in Germany with no balcony and we were crazy-busy trying to pack out and leave Germany, so baby boy didn’t get much opportunity to be outside during his second month of life. We arrived Wednesday, July 18th. The following Saturday a "Welcome Home-Baby shower" was thrown and a good time was had by all. It was so nice to see all of our family and friends, old and new. We really appreciate all the time and effort spent putting this "shin-dig" together. We all guessed around one hundred people showed, give or take a few. Poor Baby boy was passed around like a hot potato but was so good natured about it. He slept a lot that day too. I think he likes chaos. That’s good.
My God, is it hot or what???!!! I feel bad for Baby boy who can’t jump in the pool to cool off. I do my best with fans to cool him off. He’s such a good baby and hasn’t seemed miserable yet because of the weather. I sat him in a kiddy pool in Germany. There was no reaction either way. He didn’t cry or laugh. I think he was stunned. He just sort of sat there.
I hate living out of a suitcase. Even when I go somewhere for just a few days, I unpack some stuff and put it away if that option is available. I hung up a few things, but the rest are in my suitcases; yes that’s plural . The baby has his own suitcase, which is the only suitcase located in the room that we’re staying in because there’s no room. Four of us are in one room, which is challenging to say the least. Especially considering middle of the night nursing. Fun. Well, it is better than staying in a hotel and it is nice to be staying with family and spending time together, so I shouldn’t complain. Not complaining or at least not sharing my views is not easy for me. I think I have improved a bit, I actually think sometimes before opening my mouth. I think, "What good would it do if I said this ?" and then sometimes the mouth shuts. Sometimes....
My brother- in- law and step- daughter were waiting for us when we walked out the gate. We drove home in the brother- in- law’s quad cab/ flat bed. Of course it poured on the way home so I thought my luck ran out and the luggage was soaked. It wasn’t thank God. It was stacked behind this big toolbox which prevented the rain from falling directly on it. I wouldn’t have thought of that.
Since we’ve been back, the baby has been enjoying meeting everyone and spending plenty of time outdoors. We lived on the 3rd floor in Germany with no balcony and we were crazy-busy trying to pack out and leave Germany, so baby boy didn’t get much opportunity to be outside during his second month of life. We arrived Wednesday, July 18th. The following Saturday a "Welcome Home-Baby shower" was thrown and a good time was had by all. It was so nice to see all of our family and friends, old and new. We really appreciate all the time and effort spent putting this "shin-dig" together. We all guessed around one hundred people showed, give or take a few. Poor Baby boy was passed around like a hot potato but was so good natured about it. He slept a lot that day too. I think he likes chaos. That’s good.
My God, is it hot or what???!!! I feel bad for Baby boy who can’t jump in the pool to cool off. I do my best with fans to cool him off. He’s such a good baby and hasn’t seemed miserable yet because of the weather. I sat him in a kiddy pool in Germany. There was no reaction either way. He didn’t cry or laugh. I think he was stunned. He just sort of sat there.
I hate living out of a suitcase. Even when I go somewhere for just a few days, I unpack some stuff and put it away if that option is available. I hung up a few things, but the rest are in my suitcases; yes that’s plural . The baby has his own suitcase, which is the only suitcase located in the room that we’re staying in because there’s no room. Four of us are in one room, which is challenging to say the least. Especially considering middle of the night nursing. Fun. Well, it is better than staying in a hotel and it is nice to be staying with family and spending time together, so I shouldn’t complain. Not complaining or at least not sharing my views is not easy for me. I think I have improved a bit, I actually think sometimes before opening my mouth. I think, "What good would it do if I said this ?" and then sometimes the mouth shuts. Sometimes....
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland!!
This is officially my last entry in Germany. We fly back to the States tomorrow morning. What an adventure it has been. The flight home should be an adventure of another kind, flying with a two month old. Yes, sweet baby James is two months old today. Amazing.
I’ve been kind of emotional the past couple of days, due to stress among other things, but today, in addition to that, I am sad to leave. I’m ready to go, emotionally, but it’s still painful. I have never met nor had better friends in my life. Friends that go out of their way to be there for you. If you need anything, they offer even before you ask. I will be sobbing on the plane I’m sure.
I will miss the friends that we’ve made and the country itself. The landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen such green rolling hills and mountains and probably never will. The old buildings and castles are humbling. And the beer....Ahhhh...I’ve mentioned that several times before. Enough said about that.
My last hurrah here was the annual Dorf fest here in my little town last month. They block the streets on Friday afternoon and start partying then. It lasts all weekend. I met my good friend Meggie there (it was right across the street and the stage was set up practically in front of our building). My husband was nice enough to babysit and the baby slept the whole time anyway. I forgot that I haven’t drank more than one beer at a time in about a year. Phew. Wasn’t feeling too good the next day and decided that it’s just not worth it. My priorities have changed, finally.
What craziness it is to leave here. We were waiting for the baby’s passport which did arrive last week thank God. It’s so funny because, like all others, they have to take his picture for it. He looks like any other newborn in the picture, a little old man, although the picture was taken a month ago and he looks so much different now. My husband has been going crazy getting about fifty signatures from this department and that one. The government has to make sure that you’re squared up with everyone and don’t owe any money or have any equipment, etc. We had to write a letter to the satellite TV company to get it cancelled, as well as the phone and internet. German’s like all their i’s dotted and T’s crossed or else. I was amazed. Yes, they are very efficient, but anal could also be a descriptive word in some ways, as far as I’m concerned! Sorry!
We’ve been lucky enough to be staying in our friend Martin’s house for about ten days. He’s been wonderful and let us take over his house with our suitcases and baby bottles and dirty laundry. I’m sure the chaos has been driving him crazy although I think he likes the company. He’s been practically family since we first arrived here anyway. His eighteen year old daughter lives here as well. She left for Tuscany on a class trip today. How cool is that?
Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland and all of our friends in it! We plan on coming back for vacations, but not until the baby is a bit older. We will miss Germany, but are glad to be coming home to our own country and family. It will be an adjustment I’m sure. God Bless America! Good to be coming home!
I’ve been kind of emotional the past couple of days, due to stress among other things, but today, in addition to that, I am sad to leave. I’m ready to go, emotionally, but it’s still painful. I have never met nor had better friends in my life. Friends that go out of their way to be there for you. If you need anything, they offer even before you ask. I will be sobbing on the plane I’m sure.
I will miss the friends that we’ve made and the country itself. The landscape is beautiful. I’ve never seen such green rolling hills and mountains and probably never will. The old buildings and castles are humbling. And the beer....Ahhhh...I’ve mentioned that several times before. Enough said about that.
My last hurrah here was the annual Dorf fest here in my little town last month. They block the streets on Friday afternoon and start partying then. It lasts all weekend. I met my good friend Meggie there (it was right across the street and the stage was set up practically in front of our building). My husband was nice enough to babysit and the baby slept the whole time anyway. I forgot that I haven’t drank more than one beer at a time in about a year. Phew. Wasn’t feeling too good the next day and decided that it’s just not worth it. My priorities have changed, finally.
What craziness it is to leave here. We were waiting for the baby’s passport which did arrive last week thank God. It’s so funny because, like all others, they have to take his picture for it. He looks like any other newborn in the picture, a little old man, although the picture was taken a month ago and he looks so much different now. My husband has been going crazy getting about fifty signatures from this department and that one. The government has to make sure that you’re squared up with everyone and don’t owe any money or have any equipment, etc. We had to write a letter to the satellite TV company to get it cancelled, as well as the phone and internet. German’s like all their i’s dotted and T’s crossed or else. I was amazed. Yes, they are very efficient, but anal could also be a descriptive word in some ways, as far as I’m concerned! Sorry!
We’ve been lucky enough to be staying in our friend Martin’s house for about ten days. He’s been wonderful and let us take over his house with our suitcases and baby bottles and dirty laundry. I’m sure the chaos has been driving him crazy although I think he likes the company. He’s been practically family since we first arrived here anyway. His eighteen year old daughter lives here as well. She left for Tuscany on a class trip today. How cool is that?
Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland and all of our friends in it! We plan on coming back for vacations, but not until the baby is a bit older. We will miss Germany, but are glad to be coming home to our own country and family. It will be an adjustment I’m sure. God Bless America! Good to be coming home!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland! Time for a new adventure !
Yes, the ALL NEW adventures…
After a short absence, I’m getting back in the swing. I was a bit busy having a baby. He’s wonderful and I can’t believe how quickly they grow and fast time goes by. He’s six weeks old already. The other new adventure is that we’re in the process of leaving Germany. The movers came on Thursday to pack us and Friday to move everything out. We were shocked at how much stuff we actually have. You really don’t know how much you have until you have to move it.
It’s bittersweet. I am trying to not think about actually leaving because I will get upset. Reality has finally hit since we’ll be living out of suitcases for the next few weeks. Luckily, we have furniture that is loaned to use when you’re stationed overseas and you’re waiting for your household goods to arrive. We also kept aside a few dishes, pots and pans, sheets and towels and extra clothes which will be sent as another shipment, a quicker one, so we’ll have something until our big shipment arrives. Then there’s the suitcases…all six of them. Bottom line, you have to be fairly organized and think ahead prior to the mover’s arrival. If they’re not told otherwise or instructed, they will pack it. Originally, my husband wasn’t going to be here when the big “pack out” happened, but thank God that changed. It would have been very difficult to keep an eye on the movers so they didn’t pack my toothbrush and take care of a newborn at the same time.
So now we wait. We’re going to Garmisch, GE, Fourth of July weekend so my husband can climb the Zugspitze before we leave Germany. The Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany. He and a buddy will take a day (they hope) and climb it. I will hang out in town with the baby and the buddy’s wife. This is our first trip with the baby and I’m a little anxious, but it will be good practice for the trip home to CT. Luckily, we only have one connection. Our cats will not be with us. We were going to carry them on the flight too, but came to our senses and made other arrangements. We spent a small fortune to have a company pick up the cats at our house (at 3:00 am, no less) on June 20th and drive them to Frankfurt and put them on a plane to Boston. My brother drove to Boston to pick them up and they are now hanging out at my mother-in-laws house, waiting for our arrival. I do miss them and wonder what kind of memories cats have. I wonder if they’ve forgotten us already.
I will diligently try to keep up with this blog. I think it will continue to be interesting for some of you, even though I will no longer go on about schnitzel and beer. I will shed a glimpse of the craziness that we who are associated with the military, have to endure. You would not believe the paperwork and appointments involved with moving from an overseas duty station to another. We are still waiting for the baby’s passport. If it doesn’t arrive in time for our flight, we won’t be going anywhere, which, I guess, wouldn’t be so bad. We’d have more time to say goodbye to the great friends we’ve made here. I almost can’t believe that we have to do that. This will be my first time dealing with that. Living somewhere for three or four years, making good friends, maybe even friends for life, then leaving. I hate goodbyes and I hate losing touch, so I hope that efforts are made to keep in touch. We’ll see. Stay tuned….
After a short absence, I’m getting back in the swing. I was a bit busy having a baby. He’s wonderful and I can’t believe how quickly they grow and fast time goes by. He’s six weeks old already. The other new adventure is that we’re in the process of leaving Germany. The movers came on Thursday to pack us and Friday to move everything out. We were shocked at how much stuff we actually have. You really don’t know how much you have until you have to move it.
It’s bittersweet. I am trying to not think about actually leaving because I will get upset. Reality has finally hit since we’ll be living out of suitcases for the next few weeks. Luckily, we have furniture that is loaned to use when you’re stationed overseas and you’re waiting for your household goods to arrive. We also kept aside a few dishes, pots and pans, sheets and towels and extra clothes which will be sent as another shipment, a quicker one, so we’ll have something until our big shipment arrives. Then there’s the suitcases…all six of them. Bottom line, you have to be fairly organized and think ahead prior to the mover’s arrival. If they’re not told otherwise or instructed, they will pack it. Originally, my husband wasn’t going to be here when the big “pack out” happened, but thank God that changed. It would have been very difficult to keep an eye on the movers so they didn’t pack my toothbrush and take care of a newborn at the same time.
So now we wait. We’re going to Garmisch, GE, Fourth of July weekend so my husband can climb the Zugspitze before we leave Germany. The Zugspitze is the highest peak in Germany. He and a buddy will take a day (they hope) and climb it. I will hang out in town with the baby and the buddy’s wife. This is our first trip with the baby and I’m a little anxious, but it will be good practice for the trip home to CT. Luckily, we only have one connection. Our cats will not be with us. We were going to carry them on the flight too, but came to our senses and made other arrangements. We spent a small fortune to have a company pick up the cats at our house (at 3:00 am, no less) on June 20th and drive them to Frankfurt and put them on a plane to Boston. My brother drove to Boston to pick them up and they are now hanging out at my mother-in-laws house, waiting for our arrival. I do miss them and wonder what kind of memories cats have. I wonder if they’ve forgotten us already.
I will diligently try to keep up with this blog. I think it will continue to be interesting for some of you, even though I will no longer go on about schnitzel and beer. I will shed a glimpse of the craziness that we who are associated with the military, have to endure. You would not believe the paperwork and appointments involved with moving from an overseas duty station to another. We are still waiting for the baby’s passport. If it doesn’t arrive in time for our flight, we won’t be going anywhere, which, I guess, wouldn’t be so bad. We’d have more time to say goodbye to the great friends we’ve made here. I almost can’t believe that we have to do that. This will be my first time dealing with that. Living somewhere for three or four years, making good friends, maybe even friends for life, then leaving. I hate goodbyes and I hate losing touch, so I hope that efforts are made to keep in touch. We’ll see. Stay tuned….
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Pedicure
Women are so funny. I can see all you guys nodding in unison to that comment. I’m in the final stretch of my pregnancy and I decided that since I can no longer reach my toes, I would treat myself to a pedicure. I might be screaming in pain in a few days, but maybe if I focus on how nice my toes look, perhaps I’ll feel better. That’s the fantasy anyway.
A new nail salon is now open in the new mall at the base, so I made an appointment yesterday. It was wonderful. I sat in this massage chair while my feet soaked in this tub with jets and nice smelling salts. Dear God, if you do anything in this life, get a pedicure just once. You’ll wonder why you didn’t do it every week. Well, after my feet were massaged, sloughed, poked and painted and then were drying, a couple of ladies walked in together for their appointments. I sat across from them waiting for my newly painted red toenails to dry. Their ritual in the massage chairs was just starting.
For those of you who don’t know, a big baby belly is such a conversation magnet for complete strangers. You now have something in common with most of the female population and they hold no bones in telling you about it. The conversation that proceeded was one of great detail and advice. You see, women have no hang ups about sharing the most intimate details about the most personal and traumatizing experience of their lives with other women, whether they know them or not, when it comes to the birthing process. Details about labor and birth were shared…what happens to your body, what comes out of your body, what goes in, what’s massaged, etc., etc. As I sat there and listened and shared, I was chuckling and feeling the love inside. Here was two women I’ve never met before in my life sharing details of their lives with me, for the purpose of perhaps easing my pain and fear. Just when, again, I wasn’t feeling so loved and was feeling disappointed in mankind for forgetting about me, these women were brought into my life, even just for a little while, but for a specific reason. Thank you God!
As it turned out, I didn’t wear sandals, so I had to wear the shoes I wore there. I had a bit more shopping to do, but checked the polish before I left, and although it seemed dry enough, my big toes were smudged. I bought a cheap pair of flip flops and went back to the shop and had them touched up. I feel much better now.
My husband comes home tomorrow, Saturday. Due date is Monday. Hang in there baby, literally!
A new nail salon is now open in the new mall at the base, so I made an appointment yesterday. It was wonderful. I sat in this massage chair while my feet soaked in this tub with jets and nice smelling salts. Dear God, if you do anything in this life, get a pedicure just once. You’ll wonder why you didn’t do it every week. Well, after my feet were massaged, sloughed, poked and painted and then were drying, a couple of ladies walked in together for their appointments. I sat across from them waiting for my newly painted red toenails to dry. Their ritual in the massage chairs was just starting.
For those of you who don’t know, a big baby belly is such a conversation magnet for complete strangers. You now have something in common with most of the female population and they hold no bones in telling you about it. The conversation that proceeded was one of great detail and advice. You see, women have no hang ups about sharing the most intimate details about the most personal and traumatizing experience of their lives with other women, whether they know them or not, when it comes to the birthing process. Details about labor and birth were shared…what happens to your body, what comes out of your body, what goes in, what’s massaged, etc., etc. As I sat there and listened and shared, I was chuckling and feeling the love inside. Here was two women I’ve never met before in my life sharing details of their lives with me, for the purpose of perhaps easing my pain and fear. Just when, again, I wasn’t feeling so loved and was feeling disappointed in mankind for forgetting about me, these women were brought into my life, even just for a little while, but for a specific reason. Thank you God!
As it turned out, I didn’t wear sandals, so I had to wear the shoes I wore there. I had a bit more shopping to do, but checked the polish before I left, and although it seemed dry enough, my big toes were smudged. I bought a cheap pair of flip flops and went back to the shop and had them touched up. I feel much better now.
My husband comes home tomorrow, Saturday. Due date is Monday. Hang in there baby, literally!
Saturday, May 5, 2007
May Day
There was yet another national holiday here in Germany, I’m not sure of the actual name, but May 1st is a big deal. I kind of forgot about it until a friend of mine told me about a big party/fest in the next town over complete with tents, music, food, drink, the normal makings of a great German party. Most of the towns have something going on. Again, our German friends were aghast to find out I had to work on May 1st, and I once again explained it’s not a big American holiday. Here they party all night the night before, then each town or village has a large gathering and ceremony to put up the May pole. It’s several stories tall and has a fir tree just at the top. It’s decorated with flags and ribbons. I don’t know the real significance and why it’s a big deal, but I believe it has something to do with the start of spring, although it’s been like summer over the past two months here. There’s been a drought actually; it hasn’t rained for two months either, except for a sprinkle today. I was actually looking forward to the rain, but cursed it over the past two years because it was always raining and dreary. Today was dark and grey it and seemed like a storm was coming, but nothing. I layed around anyway. :)
Time is drawing near for the baby’s grand appearance. My last day at work was on Friday. It was kind of surreal. I guess reality hasn’t hit me yet. It will on Monday when I can sleep in. I will miss everyone so much. It’s more like family, a real community when you live overseas. You have so much more in common and people really band together. I will miss that. I will also miss the feeling of making a contribution to my country. In my way, I felt I did my part and it felt good. I felt like I was helping my husband in some way. I guess I will continue to do my part as a supportive military wife and soon to be mother.
Our time in Germany will be ending soon as well. This is my life pattern; everything usually changes and happens at once. The changes seemed so far off, the baby and leaving, and now it’s suddenly here, in force. I have such mixed feelings about leaving. Perhaps if I wasn’t pregnant, I might be more inclined to stay here longer. Maybe not. After being away for so long, I just feel like it’s time to be back home amongst family and friends. Not that we will be living back in CT, but at least we’ll be in the same country! We are planning to visit CT for a month to introduce the new addition and to just relax and adjust before we head out to our next duty station. Moving back to the States will be a huge adjustment. Just the pace of living is different, the culture, everything. As I sit here typing, my window is open and I can hear music, it sounds like an accordion.. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but I can hear applause too. I think there’s some sort of concert going on at the town hall. You don’t hear that everyday in Norwich, that’s for sure. They’re playing the “Lone Ranger” song. Too funny.
I am looking forward to coming home. First, I need to have this baby! I am nervous, I guess it’s the anticipation, not knowing what to expect. I’m not afraid of the pain, I just want to know what will happen; how much pain there will be! I know it’s different for everyone. I am more nervous about things happening before my husband is due to come home. I really don’t want to experience any of this without him. And ladies, I have a new, profound respect for anyone who has gone through being pregnant. Gentlemen, if you only knew.
Time is drawing near for the baby’s grand appearance. My last day at work was on Friday. It was kind of surreal. I guess reality hasn’t hit me yet. It will on Monday when I can sleep in. I will miss everyone so much. It’s more like family, a real community when you live overseas. You have so much more in common and people really band together. I will miss that. I will also miss the feeling of making a contribution to my country. In my way, I felt I did my part and it felt good. I felt like I was helping my husband in some way. I guess I will continue to do my part as a supportive military wife and soon to be mother.
Our time in Germany will be ending soon as well. This is my life pattern; everything usually changes and happens at once. The changes seemed so far off, the baby and leaving, and now it’s suddenly here, in force. I have such mixed feelings about leaving. Perhaps if I wasn’t pregnant, I might be more inclined to stay here longer. Maybe not. After being away for so long, I just feel like it’s time to be back home amongst family and friends. Not that we will be living back in CT, but at least we’ll be in the same country! We are planning to visit CT for a month to introduce the new addition and to just relax and adjust before we head out to our next duty station. Moving back to the States will be a huge adjustment. Just the pace of living is different, the culture, everything. As I sit here typing, my window is open and I can hear music, it sounds like an accordion.. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but I can hear applause too. I think there’s some sort of concert going on at the town hall. You don’t hear that everyday in Norwich, that’s for sure. They’re playing the “Lone Ranger” song. Too funny.
I am looking forward to coming home. First, I need to have this baby! I am nervous, I guess it’s the anticipation, not knowing what to expect. I’m not afraid of the pain, I just want to know what will happen; how much pain there will be! I know it’s different for everyone. I am more nervous about things happening before my husband is due to come home. I really don’t want to experience any of this without him. And ladies, I have a new, profound respect for anyone who has gone through being pregnant. Gentlemen, if you only knew.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Das Krankenhaus - The hospital
As promised, although a few days later than I wanted, I wanted to share our experiences with the German hospital tours. These days, we have two hospitals to choose from, one is 10 minutes away, the other is about a half hour. Unfortunately, the better of the two is the farthest away. I’m pretty sure we’ll be safe and not have to deliver the baby en route.
First, we made an appointment with the military insurance liaison. She’s German and calls the hospital the day of the appointment to make sure they’re not full and so we can at least look at a couple of rooms in the birthing centers. There were about 7 of us on the first tour. She met us in the lobby and then takes on the route we would go if we were having the baby, from check in to check out; where to go, who to contact, etc. We have to call the MP’s en route to the hospital so they can contact the liaison on call so they are aware we are there in case there are any problems. Things can come up because of the language barrier, although there are plenty of people who speak English.
Upon entry of the hospital is a lobby as well as a restaurant. She showed us the birthing ward, which has 2 labor rooms, 2 private rooms and 4 other wards. I didn’t feel real comfortable there, I felt like there wasn’t enough privacy. The halls are narrow and if the hospital was busy, there was a good chance I could share a room with 3 other people. Not for m, considering there are no curtains in between the beds. I’m not exceptionally modest, but I really don’t want Uncle Dieter watching me breastfeed or have to deal with 3 other people’s visitors. It’s scary and traumatic enough without feeling even more uncomfortable. Plus, we’d all share the bathroom in the room. For privacy, there is a shower room, a feeding room and a room for meals, buffet style. I’m sorry, but I will be going through the most dramatic thing I will ever experience in my life and I’ll be damned if I’m going to get up between the hours of 7:30 and 9:00 and get my own breakfast! Call me pampered, but that’s just crazy. So, that right there turned me off.
Another issue is that there is a time delay with this particular hospital with getting the baby’s German birth certificate. Something about a new computer system or database causing a delay and it would take a few weeks. Needless to say, I left with a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve heard good things from people who’ve had babies there, but I just didn’t feel comfortable. The one good thing about that hospital is that it’s the neonatal hospital in the area. If a problem is discovered with a baby delivered at another hospital, it’s sent there. I’m being optimistic and hope that doesn’t happen. I just don’t want to take the risk of not being able to have my own private room, so we chose another hospital. Maybe I wouldn’t be so picky if I was younger, but I’m not. I figure being pregnant at my age, I’m entitled to be a bit choosier. I don’t think I’m really being unreasonable.
The second hospital tour was much more reassuring. Of course there was a restaurant (which my husband commented that he would be hanging around in- Sure, OK, ha-ha). The hospital is much newer, more modern and bigger. The birthing ward was like a wellness spa. Thank God my husband was able to go on these tours so he can remember where we have to go because I have mentioned before that I have no sense of direction and will be busy dealing with contractions and therefore would definitely get lost.
Anyway, the actual labor rooms were huge and both had hot tubs in them as well as a patio that I could escape to during the early stages of labor. There were more private rooms in this hospital and the worst case scenario would be sharing a room with one other person. I guess I could live with that in this place. They provide towels and a robe and each room had a shower, not a locker room type shower room like the other hospital. There’s a nice lounge with leather couches and a large screen TV for the families to hang out in. I could even reserve a suite if I wanted to, but I decided not to because then I’d be expected to cook (Just kidding). There was a beautiful feeding room if a person wants to get out their room, complete with soothing twinkling lights in the ceiling, soothing wood tones and warm colors, as well as soft music. I was really impressed and felt much better about the whole thing. The only bummer is that I guess I can’t get away from having to get my own food. I guess they want you up and moving around ASAP. I guess we Americans are spoiled in that way, more pampered.
If you have a natural childbirth in Germany, you normally stay in the hospital for 3 days, 5 days for a C section. I think they kick you out sooner than that in the States. Our insurance will pay for a semi-private room. If I want a private room, we have to kick in more out of our pocket. Not that much more. It’s totally worth it to me.
The liaison makes an appointment for you with the hospital that you choose so you can discuss any concerns or questions prior to the birth, which is a good thing, so there aren’t any misunderstandings when the time comes. My Dr. will also call the hospital on my last visit with him in two weeks and let them know when I plan on coming (given that I don’t go into labor before then). They will induce me because I am a bit higher risk given my age and potentially having gestational diabetes. Don’t want the baby too big!
First, we made an appointment with the military insurance liaison. She’s German and calls the hospital the day of the appointment to make sure they’re not full and so we can at least look at a couple of rooms in the birthing centers. There were about 7 of us on the first tour. She met us in the lobby and then takes on the route we would go if we were having the baby, from check in to check out; where to go, who to contact, etc. We have to call the MP’s en route to the hospital so they can contact the liaison on call so they are aware we are there in case there are any problems. Things can come up because of the language barrier, although there are plenty of people who speak English.
Upon entry of the hospital is a lobby as well as a restaurant. She showed us the birthing ward, which has 2 labor rooms, 2 private rooms and 4 other wards. I didn’t feel real comfortable there, I felt like there wasn’t enough privacy. The halls are narrow and if the hospital was busy, there was a good chance I could share a room with 3 other people. Not for m, considering there are no curtains in between the beds. I’m not exceptionally modest, but I really don’t want Uncle Dieter watching me breastfeed or have to deal with 3 other people’s visitors. It’s scary and traumatic enough without feeling even more uncomfortable. Plus, we’d all share the bathroom in the room. For privacy, there is a shower room, a feeding room and a room for meals, buffet style. I’m sorry, but I will be going through the most dramatic thing I will ever experience in my life and I’ll be damned if I’m going to get up between the hours of 7:30 and 9:00 and get my own breakfast! Call me pampered, but that’s just crazy. So, that right there turned me off.
Another issue is that there is a time delay with this particular hospital with getting the baby’s German birth certificate. Something about a new computer system or database causing a delay and it would take a few weeks. Needless to say, I left with a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve heard good things from people who’ve had babies there, but I just didn’t feel comfortable. The one good thing about that hospital is that it’s the neonatal hospital in the area. If a problem is discovered with a baby delivered at another hospital, it’s sent there. I’m being optimistic and hope that doesn’t happen. I just don’t want to take the risk of not being able to have my own private room, so we chose another hospital. Maybe I wouldn’t be so picky if I was younger, but I’m not. I figure being pregnant at my age, I’m entitled to be a bit choosier. I don’t think I’m really being unreasonable.
The second hospital tour was much more reassuring. Of course there was a restaurant (which my husband commented that he would be hanging around in- Sure, OK, ha-ha). The hospital is much newer, more modern and bigger. The birthing ward was like a wellness spa. Thank God my husband was able to go on these tours so he can remember where we have to go because I have mentioned before that I have no sense of direction and will be busy dealing with contractions and therefore would definitely get lost.
Anyway, the actual labor rooms were huge and both had hot tubs in them as well as a patio that I could escape to during the early stages of labor. There were more private rooms in this hospital and the worst case scenario would be sharing a room with one other person. I guess I could live with that in this place. They provide towels and a robe and each room had a shower, not a locker room type shower room like the other hospital. There’s a nice lounge with leather couches and a large screen TV for the families to hang out in. I could even reserve a suite if I wanted to, but I decided not to because then I’d be expected to cook (Just kidding). There was a beautiful feeding room if a person wants to get out their room, complete with soothing twinkling lights in the ceiling, soothing wood tones and warm colors, as well as soft music. I was really impressed and felt much better about the whole thing. The only bummer is that I guess I can’t get away from having to get my own food. I guess they want you up and moving around ASAP. I guess we Americans are spoiled in that way, more pampered.
If you have a natural childbirth in Germany, you normally stay in the hospital for 3 days, 5 days for a C section. I think they kick you out sooner than that in the States. Our insurance will pay for a semi-private room. If I want a private room, we have to kick in more out of our pocket. Not that much more. It’s totally worth it to me.
The liaison makes an appointment for you with the hospital that you choose so you can discuss any concerns or questions prior to the birth, which is a good thing, so there aren’t any misunderstandings when the time comes. My Dr. will also call the hospital on my last visit with him in two weeks and let them know when I plan on coming (given that I don’t go into labor before then). They will induce me because I am a bit higher risk given my age and potentially having gestational diabetes. Don’t want the baby too big!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Oh Baby!
Yes, that’s right…a new baby! I’ve been completely slacking in updating my blog lately because frankly, I’m pretty darn tired at the end of the day. I’m due in two and a half weeks and still working full time. I didn’t mention being pregnant at all for a few reasons. I didn’t want the blog to be about that because honestly, it’s not something new and interesting to many people and I’m sure there are many people out there looking to hear about something different. However, after much consideration and new experiences, this is something new. Having a baby overseas in Europe is DEFINITELY different.
First of all, you have to be your own advocate even more so here. You’re dealing with two different healthcare systems here, the military’s and the German’s, and the two don’t always mix or see eye to eye. Germany is much more holistic. Unless it’s genuinely medically necessary, they don’t really encourage it. You also have the language barrier.
When I first thought I was pregnant, I made an appointment and confirmed it with a blood test at the health clinic on base. There are no gynecologists at the base in this area. Unless you want to drive to Landstuhl, GE, where the large medical facility is and is about an hour and a half away, you are referred to a German doctor. Just like preferred providers are in the States, there is a list of preferred gynecologists that take American patients and their insurance. It would be in their best interest to do so, this is socialized medicine here. They know they will get paid because the American Military insurance is paying, and that’s a good thing. As a result, do we Americans get better treatment? Definitely, if you’re inpatient at a hospital. We have private insurance, so we can afford better treatment. Are we getting better treatment in the examining room? I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know what the norm is for a German woman.
What I do know is that they are incredibly efficient, as always, and much more personable than I expected. My doctor speaks very good English and lived in the States for several years, which is a plus. His practice is very busy, just like in the US. I bet my total time with him per visit is 10 minutes, tops. The medical assistants (I think they’re the equivalent of LPN’s, several of them are quite young) take care of everything else, quite effectively. They are courteous and friendly and speak decent enough English. Again, you have to be your own advocate. Germans get down to business. If you have questions, ask them. When my name is called, I enter the doctor’s office. He looks at my “Mutter Pass”, says what he needs to say and then tells me to enter another room attached to his office to undress. I then enter the examining room. Incidentally, the “Mutter Pass” is a wonderful thing; it’s like a little passport with my complete pregnancy medical history. This is carried with you wherever you go, so if I need medical attention, everyone knows what my status is.
I won’t go into the gory details of the examination, but I will say that you can forget about any modesty that you might have. No nice little hospital gowns here. Hello…this is Europe. I will also say that unlike back home, they give you an ultrasound and printed photo at every visit. This is normal in Germany; I thought it might me a little favoritism or extra billing opportunity, but it’s not. This is pretty cool. I have a photo of my little bundle of joy starting from about 4 months, taken monthly, to about a month ago, which was taken every two weeks.
Another interesting difference is that this doctor will not deliver my baby. He is not an OBGYN. This is also normal in Germany and kind of a bummer. I build this rapport and trust with this doctor over the last six to seven months, but a stranger will be delivering the baby. It’s scary enough not having my family and friends from home around during this time. Actually, midwives will deliver the baby, I will be lucky to see a doctor for a few minutes, unless there’s a problem. This is pretty much the same in the States too, I think. This is my first baby, so I’m new at this.
Again, my sincerest apologies for not staying with the program and blogging on a regular basis, but will do so as much as my energy allows. Next week is my last week at work, so I will be a bit rested before the grand appearance.
Stay tuned. Tomorrow’s blog will be about the hospitals. We can choose what hospital we want to deliver in and once again, we discovered two different cultures.
First of all, you have to be your own advocate even more so here. You’re dealing with two different healthcare systems here, the military’s and the German’s, and the two don’t always mix or see eye to eye. Germany is much more holistic. Unless it’s genuinely medically necessary, they don’t really encourage it. You also have the language barrier.
When I first thought I was pregnant, I made an appointment and confirmed it with a blood test at the health clinic on base. There are no gynecologists at the base in this area. Unless you want to drive to Landstuhl, GE, where the large medical facility is and is about an hour and a half away, you are referred to a German doctor. Just like preferred providers are in the States, there is a list of preferred gynecologists that take American patients and their insurance. It would be in their best interest to do so, this is socialized medicine here. They know they will get paid because the American Military insurance is paying, and that’s a good thing. As a result, do we Americans get better treatment? Definitely, if you’re inpatient at a hospital. We have private insurance, so we can afford better treatment. Are we getting better treatment in the examining room? I couldn’t tell you. I don’t know what the norm is for a German woman.
What I do know is that they are incredibly efficient, as always, and much more personable than I expected. My doctor speaks very good English and lived in the States for several years, which is a plus. His practice is very busy, just like in the US. I bet my total time with him per visit is 10 minutes, tops. The medical assistants (I think they’re the equivalent of LPN’s, several of them are quite young) take care of everything else, quite effectively. They are courteous and friendly and speak decent enough English. Again, you have to be your own advocate. Germans get down to business. If you have questions, ask them. When my name is called, I enter the doctor’s office. He looks at my “Mutter Pass”, says what he needs to say and then tells me to enter another room attached to his office to undress. I then enter the examining room. Incidentally, the “Mutter Pass” is a wonderful thing; it’s like a little passport with my complete pregnancy medical history. This is carried with you wherever you go, so if I need medical attention, everyone knows what my status is.
I won’t go into the gory details of the examination, but I will say that you can forget about any modesty that you might have. No nice little hospital gowns here. Hello…this is Europe. I will also say that unlike back home, they give you an ultrasound and printed photo at every visit. This is normal in Germany; I thought it might me a little favoritism or extra billing opportunity, but it’s not. This is pretty cool. I have a photo of my little bundle of joy starting from about 4 months, taken monthly, to about a month ago, which was taken every two weeks.
Another interesting difference is that this doctor will not deliver my baby. He is not an OBGYN. This is also normal in Germany and kind of a bummer. I build this rapport and trust with this doctor over the last six to seven months, but a stranger will be delivering the baby. It’s scary enough not having my family and friends from home around during this time. Actually, midwives will deliver the baby, I will be lucky to see a doctor for a few minutes, unless there’s a problem. This is pretty much the same in the States too, I think. This is my first baby, so I’m new at this.
Again, my sincerest apologies for not staying with the program and blogging on a regular basis, but will do so as much as my energy allows. Next week is my last week at work, so I will be a bit rested before the grand appearance.
Stay tuned. Tomorrow’s blog will be about the hospitals. We can choose what hospital we want to deliver in and once again, we discovered two different cultures.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Frohe Ostern- Happy Easter!
We just returned from a non-typical Easter dinner, American, German or otherwise. We went to my friend Meggie’s house and grilled T-bone steaks, burgers and pork cutlets. Meggie is from Kenya and her daughter in law and granddaughter are visiting Germany from England this week. Meggie lives with her boyfriend Charly who is Czech. They’ve lived together for about 8 years now. We totally have international exposure, I tell you. It was a nice, low key, relaxing time. The weather was absolutely beautiful; I would guess 70 degrees Fahrenheit and not a cloud in the sky.
They live in a large apartment complex in our little town and have a decent size balcony, big enough to sit several people comfortably and grill. No big Weber gas grill though, we used a small electric grill. It did the trick. My husband, the grill meister, had the honors. We cooked the meat and the rest was provided. I’m ready for my own grill. We don’t have a balcony with this apartment and it makes me crazy. I’ve complained about this before, sorry.
Both Friday and Monday are holidays here. I’m not sure if they’re state holidays or national, but everyone here has Friday and Monday off. It was wonderful driving to work on Friday with no traffic. When I worked for the public school system and the City way back when, I’m pretty sure we didn’t work on Good Friday, but as a government employee here, its business as usual. Most of the military are free, but not all. It varies. I was able to leave work early on Friday, thanks to the generosity of my boss, which was nice enough. Mondays just come too quick these days.
I still haven’t found out what a traditional Easter dinner is here in Germany. I confirmed with my mother that we used to have ham, cabbage and carrots. I thought so, but wasn’t sure. I think traditional Easter dinner here varies from family to family, as well as the enthusiasm. If there aren’t small kids around to enjoy the visit from the Oster hase (Easter bunny), then it’s lower key, as it is back home. The Easter bunny did visit my house, if he knew what was good for him. Although he thought it was silly, he humored me. I can’t help it; I’ve always liked Easter and Easter bunnies and Easter decorations. I helped by pointing out something small that I liked and he went from there. Good bunny.
They live in a large apartment complex in our little town and have a decent size balcony, big enough to sit several people comfortably and grill. No big Weber gas grill though, we used a small electric grill. It did the trick. My husband, the grill meister, had the honors. We cooked the meat and the rest was provided. I’m ready for my own grill. We don’t have a balcony with this apartment and it makes me crazy. I’ve complained about this before, sorry.
Both Friday and Monday are holidays here. I’m not sure if they’re state holidays or national, but everyone here has Friday and Monday off. It was wonderful driving to work on Friday with no traffic. When I worked for the public school system and the City way back when, I’m pretty sure we didn’t work on Good Friday, but as a government employee here, its business as usual. Most of the military are free, but not all. It varies. I was able to leave work early on Friday, thanks to the generosity of my boss, which was nice enough. Mondays just come too quick these days.
I still haven’t found out what a traditional Easter dinner is here in Germany. I confirmed with my mother that we used to have ham, cabbage and carrots. I thought so, but wasn’t sure. I think traditional Easter dinner here varies from family to family, as well as the enthusiasm. If there aren’t small kids around to enjoy the visit from the Oster hase (Easter bunny), then it’s lower key, as it is back home. The Easter bunny did visit my house, if he knew what was good for him. Although he thought it was silly, he humored me. I can’t help it; I’ve always liked Easter and Easter bunnies and Easter decorations. I helped by pointing out something small that I liked and he went from there. Good bunny.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The Rot Kreutz
Our friend Martin was going to keep us busy again this weekend. He’s the friend that I have mentioned that owns a light and production company who refers us to various cool happenings that we would otherwise miss. This particular “gig” was of a different sorts. There was some kind of reunion type gathering going on at the sportsplatz in town, of which, his band (this guy is busy) was providing entertainment for. He told us about it last week so we thought we’d check it out.
The reunion was for the “Rot Kreutz” (Red Cross) and I think it was for the region, not the Red Cross in town. There was probably two or three hundred people there. The Red Cross is pretty big here. There are chapters in most of the towns, however small, and they usually put on a great party. This party seemed to be more private or not necessarily something everyone would be interested in. My husband and I ate dinner at the Kroatian restaurant next door and could see the hall from the restaurant. It looked to be more of a meeting with presentations and speeches. We walked over after eating and took a look and decided it wasn’t for us. The band was just setting up and we didn’t want to wait around.
The Red Cross chapter in town is located across the street from us, in the same building that houses the Feuer Wehr (fire house) and the town hall. The last Red Cross gathering that we went to was huge and it seemed the entire town was there. They met their goal of raising several hundred thousand euros, so they threw this huge party to celebrate. They set up a disco in the firehouse. There’s never a dull moment here. We walked home when the birds were singing.
Spring has sprung and the birds are singing and things are blossoming everywhere. I have noticed that there doesn’t seem to be as many birds here as back home in CT. I do live “in town”, but I first noticed this when driving home from work the other day. I have no idea why this came to mind, but it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve rarely seen any bird droppings on my car or around my house. I thought that was kind of strange. Even when walking through the woods, I hear birds but don’t really see an abundance of them. I’m not sure why.
Anyway, this was a fairly low key weekend in Germany. Rented a few movies, went out to eat, went for a walk, cleaned and went to the “kino” (movies) today to see the new Hugh Grant movie, “Music and Lyrics”. There’s a theater in the town where I work that shows mostly English version movies, which is nice. There is a theater on the base, but for some reason, I’ve never seen a movie there. If I lived on base, I’m sure it would be different, but I like to avoid going to the base on the weekends. I guess since I work there five days a week, I feel like that’s enough time to be there. This theater off base is pretty small, only two screens, but it’s kind of neat. There are wooden “shelves”, if you will, attached to the seats in front of you for you to put your popcorn or beer on. Yes, beer. You can purchase various bottles of alcoholic beverages at the theaters in Germany, which isn’t surprising. They sell popcorn and candy as well, although the popcorn isn’t so good, it’s not buttered. I can’t say whether this is the norm or not. I haven’t purchased popcorn in any other theaters. I know we can get our popcorn in the USA, buttered or not, but even the non-buttered tastes better than this stuff. Maybe they just haven’t caught on to this American staple yet. Sooner or later someone will set them straight.
The reunion was for the “Rot Kreutz” (Red Cross) and I think it was for the region, not the Red Cross in town. There was probably two or three hundred people there. The Red Cross is pretty big here. There are chapters in most of the towns, however small, and they usually put on a great party. This party seemed to be more private or not necessarily something everyone would be interested in. My husband and I ate dinner at the Kroatian restaurant next door and could see the hall from the restaurant. It looked to be more of a meeting with presentations and speeches. We walked over after eating and took a look and decided it wasn’t for us. The band was just setting up and we didn’t want to wait around.
The Red Cross chapter in town is located across the street from us, in the same building that houses the Feuer Wehr (fire house) and the town hall. The last Red Cross gathering that we went to was huge and it seemed the entire town was there. They met their goal of raising several hundred thousand euros, so they threw this huge party to celebrate. They set up a disco in the firehouse. There’s never a dull moment here. We walked home when the birds were singing.
Spring has sprung and the birds are singing and things are blossoming everywhere. I have noticed that there doesn’t seem to be as many birds here as back home in CT. I do live “in town”, but I first noticed this when driving home from work the other day. I have no idea why this came to mind, but it suddenly occurred to me that I’ve rarely seen any bird droppings on my car or around my house. I thought that was kind of strange. Even when walking through the woods, I hear birds but don’t really see an abundance of them. I’m not sure why.
Anyway, this was a fairly low key weekend in Germany. Rented a few movies, went out to eat, went for a walk, cleaned and went to the “kino” (movies) today to see the new Hugh Grant movie, “Music and Lyrics”. There’s a theater in the town where I work that shows mostly English version movies, which is nice. There is a theater on the base, but for some reason, I’ve never seen a movie there. If I lived on base, I’m sure it would be different, but I like to avoid going to the base on the weekends. I guess since I work there five days a week, I feel like that’s enough time to be there. This theater off base is pretty small, only two screens, but it’s kind of neat. There are wooden “shelves”, if you will, attached to the seats in front of you for you to put your popcorn or beer on. Yes, beer. You can purchase various bottles of alcoholic beverages at the theaters in Germany, which isn’t surprising. They sell popcorn and candy as well, although the popcorn isn’t so good, it’s not buttered. I can’t say whether this is the norm or not. I haven’t purchased popcorn in any other theaters. I know we can get our popcorn in the USA, buttered or not, but even the non-buttered tastes better than this stuff. Maybe they just haven’t caught on to this American staple yet. Sooner or later someone will set them straight.
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