tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45533719251719056072024-03-05T08:36:36.383+01:00My life in GermanyThoughts on life in Germany, dealing with death and surviving preeclampsia.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-90659596492948199872009-01-19T15:17:00.002+01:002009-01-19T15:18:28.225+01:00Movingmy blog that is.<br /><br />Check out: <a href="http://lifedeathpreeclampsia.wordpress.com/">http://lifedeathpreeclampsia.wordpress.com/</a>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-75081183427980965352009-01-14T21:37:00.002+01:002009-01-14T21:50:26.823+01:00Home. My German-language-filled Holidays.I've been home now for 1 week. Where was I? Someplace warm? Someplace exciting? Well, no, not really. I was admitted on the afternoon of December 24th, just as I was beginning to prepare the evening meal to share with my inlaws, to the Uni-Klinik in Muenster for observation.<br /><br />Minimum 2 day stay.<br /><br />They did not like the 24-hour blood pressure test results. What is that you ask? Because I am high-risk, the perinatologist (high-risk OB) wanted me to track my BP for 24-hours. I went to my local Hausartzt (regular doc) who fitted me with a BP cuff and a machine that would track the measurements. It went off every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. <br /><br />As I was admitted, they placed an IV. Thankfully, the doc who placed the IV admitted it would hurt. And it did. They started a magnesium sulfate drip - to prevent strokes and seizures for my sporadically high BPs. (We're talking 5 times in a 24-hour period of 180/130 BPs. Yikes!)<br /><br />Then they sent me up to ICU. Where I was hooked up to all kinds of machines for monitoring. <br /><br />They ran lots of lab work.<br /><br />And came back and explained they were treating it as severe preeclampsia and would back off appropriately.<br /><br />I stayed there for 2 weeks. Of the 2 weeks, I was on an IV drip for 12/14 days. <br /><br />During that time, my german language skills improved so much that I was able to watch german TV AND understand it enough to laugh! Seriously. Of course, I tended to watch cartoons - Sponge Bob is still funny in german.<br /><br />After nearly 1 week of good labs, I begged them to let me go home. <br /><br />I've been home now 1 week and in a state of hibernation. I guess you could say I was/am in shock from it all. <br /><br />While there, we toured the NICU, met with the neonatologists who explained what we could expect from a baby born at 28/29 weeks gestation, met with the anesthesiologist, was re-explained what a c-section is and how it is done in Germany, had daily NSTs (sometimes more than one when little girl was sleeping) and shared a room with strange German women. <br /><br />I had a follow-up appointment today at the Klinik. My dx is officially mild preeclampsia. I'll be seeing the peri every 2 weeks and my regular OB every 2 weeks - basically one appointment per week.<br /><br />So far, I'm okay and little girl is okay. Tomorrow is 31 weeks gestation. I'm so thankful to still be pregnant but recognize that the road ahead is quite long. Lots of time for lots (either good or bad) to happen.<br /><br />I've ordered 2 prenatal yoga dvds to help me STOP stressing (he he - yeah, if you know me you can imagine how obsessed I've become with this all). Hopefully they'll arrive within the next 2 days - amazon.de and amazon.co.uk ship amazingly fast. <br /><br />For now, I'm enjoying my time with Bubba Joe. Oh - and loving the household help that has taken over all household chores - laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. I really am able to just relax and enjoy my family.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-47363470813065843902008-12-21T20:39:00.004+01:002008-12-21T21:02:37.782+01:00Weihnachtsmarkt Muenster 2008BJD and I by the Nativity Scene at the Aegidimarkt in Muenster<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKnhkUW4tk9VVyWhTXwaYnbzqhcZ5DWxDEnTtXP_EafGUtg0-lrwvzeNZWZ7qklRS4HB6wuXiTYbCpl6b7fmh0UEtUjBQ-TQCKBJ6Kq7S2fDCZ-SCq5cjTJ0gMxbLDSpv0UoAHDXMpt1T/s1600-h/SNB12105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282335393138221666" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKnhkUW4tk9VVyWhTXwaYnbzqhcZ5DWxDEnTtXP_EafGUtg0-lrwvzeNZWZ7qklRS4HB6wuXiTYbCpl6b7fmh0UEtUjBQ-TQCKBJ6Kq7S2fDCZ-SCq5cjTJ0gMxbLDSpv0UoAHDXMpt1T/s320/SNB12105.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />Me, in front of the Nativity Scene<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTannsuLZJgPa-x_L_O7J4ishKJ0So2MeNFBZFSTjHOdxHUv7TtVBlW2zhHkTA7GBZOuz6AgGnRwn8aDlGBQFwF2dA-Yt8M-kqJupqPR94F3lV7Hn6WNQsuBplGMmwrpoowvfUuU5zlSxE/s1600-h/SNB12104.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282335369928889362" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTannsuLZJgPa-x_L_O7J4ishKJ0So2MeNFBZFSTjHOdxHUv7TtVBlW2zhHkTA7GBZOuz6AgGnRwn8aDlGBQFwF2dA-Yt8M-kqJupqPR94F3lV7Hn6WNQsuBplGMmwrpoowvfUuU5zlSxE/s320/SNB12104.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>BJD, eating a krakauer wurst. The guy behind him, with the braids, called me BJD's verlopted - his fiance. How sweet.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHonVeqYVPYeGVFApD8LfStIgUVXiwIQmerG8P7IXoZs2w2mYn5lnC6KRW4_OSZy6iwB8fzoaL2VHE5LWaVX8E3CBWWlZLirVZrUf5Kq9QZ3dywRvFv0VUgpaQfkCuC33pQQszb0ccMsS/s1600-h/SNB12110.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282335361172542754" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHonVeqYVPYeGVFApD8LfStIgUVXiwIQmerG8P7IXoZs2w2mYn5lnC6KRW4_OSZy6iwB8fzoaL2VHE5LWaVX8E3CBWWlZLirVZrUf5Kq9QZ3dywRvFv0VUgpaQfkCuC33pQQszb0ccMsS/s320/SNB12110.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br />One of the things I love most about Muenster - the musicians playing. Most were good (these were very good).<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4YUoMPWh7U9_Sgwj53w1W4X3i_0tM3qcZz5bm1QoU67Xhwv_EXkAQnzL6oX0IhRLs0ifNXMM4lkKICKhMwNKSmC0WurmtBBsX2uTrsrL6abDpWEHu07nmbHqIqUgbxCMt6PkiG_WMN_6/s1600-h/SNB12117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282335357100456530" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4YUoMPWh7U9_Sgwj53w1W4X3i_0tM3qcZz5bm1QoU67Xhwv_EXkAQnzL6oX0IhRLs0ifNXMM4lkKICKhMwNKSmC0WurmtBBsX2uTrsrL6abDpWEHu07nmbHqIqUgbxCMt6PkiG_WMN_6/s320/SNB12117.JPG" border="0" /></a></p> BJD standing in the center of the city, looking his best!<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xccr_Q0i1TNp-M7GVayVnDcunBNPEZwk9JmDKw9cx1RoQhax4L0_wZwqxanSOBE50vGS-I8PjnGNQhaTxDCjwAyGJtl5jGNOVX_tMSpIJs1por6oh1aOHd4BupwOyzXgpT-JgrCulo_z/s1600-h/SNB12121.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282335349553783474" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Xccr_Q0i1TNp-M7GVayVnDcunBNPEZwk9JmDKw9cx1RoQhax4L0_wZwqxanSOBE50vGS-I8PjnGNQhaTxDCjwAyGJtl5jGNOVX_tMSpIJs1por6oh1aOHd4BupwOyzXgpT-JgrCulo_z/s320/SNB12121.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-9302994950049404812008-12-18T04:14:00.003+01:002008-12-18T04:18:06.345+01:00What I'm thankful for todayA short list:<br /><br /><br /><br />1) My newfound friendship here in Germany with the aptly named G.<br /><br /><br /><br />2) Medical technology.<br /><br /><br /><br />3) My husband.<br /><br /><br /><br />4) Germany's socialized healthcare system that recognizes the importance of work/life/home balance (and will be providing us with daily household help for the next 4 weeks, paid).<br /><br /><br /><br />5) My amazing son who reminds me that faith is there and has not left me.<br /><br /><br /><br />6) Knowing other mamas who've been there, with varying outcomes. And no matter what the outcome, still come by and cheer me on.<br /><br /><br /><br />7) Being up for 2 hours in the middle of the night (can't sleep but man and I tired!) so I can share this list with you<br /><br /><br /><br />8) ANTIBIOTICS! People, they work!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-68756687480729330752008-12-15T20:42:00.004+01:002008-12-15T20:48:39.331+01:00Quick updateBecause I haven't written in a few days, just wanted ya'll to know I'm still alive. <br /><br />I'm miserable, but alive.<br /><br />I've <em>still</em> got this cold. But it's progressed from sore throats and generally feeling like crap to my inability to use my nose for breathing. And when my nose does decide to work, my lungs don't - so I end up coughing.<br /><br />Oh the joys of cold, wet, German weather.<br /><br />At least keeping the windows open (and the heat on) keeps the air cool enough to breathe.<br /><br />Bubba Joe is still coughing but is generally much better. BJD was also sick - but his cold was gone by the time he went back to work. (BTW - here in Germany his doc took him out of work for 3 days for his cold for him to get better. His company must honor the docs writeup.)<br /><br />The good news is that I finished my 2nd 24-hour urine collection. BJD bought me some test strips a few weeks ago when I started not feeling well just to check my protein levels (should be 0). Before sending in my sample, I took a dip test and yeah! it was 0!!!<br /><br />Saw the OB Friday. She thinks little girl weighs 1kg now. Wow. I'm 26 weeks. I have no clue what it will be like to hold and nurse and take care of a full-termer. But I'm hopeful!!! and planning on it!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-5523534469694543132008-12-10T22:38:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:53:56.888+01:00Random Facts Tag - thanks Crystal!Here are the rules:<br /><br />1) Link to the person who tagged you (check out <a href="http://brightestnightsdarkestdays.blogspot.com/">her</a> beautiful belly!)<br />2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6)<br />3) Write 6 random things about yourself<br />4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them<br />5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog<br />6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.<br /><br />So here goes:<br /><br />1) I used to be scared of the dark. I'm talking I shared a room with my sister and if she got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom I'd wake up from a dead sleep and cry until she came back in. To this day, I try to be "brave" and not be scared. But sometimes, I'm still pretty freaked out.<br /><br />2) I've always had vivid dreams. Not just during pregnancy (although this time around they are a bit more extreme). I've dreamt about my great-grandmother just after she passed away. I've dreamt about my dad. But one of my most memorable dreams was as a little girl. I dreamt I was playing in the backyard and there was a hole in the ground. I loved dressing up, dresses, heels, the works. I dreamt I accidentally lost a heel in the hole. Then the devil himself came up from the earth angry and violent. He blew down my house (like the wolves in the three little pigs). And being a weird dream, it was only the front of the house. The framewas there - you know, like a dollhouse. And there was my family, doing what they would normally be doing.<br /><br />3) I love cartoons. And dry humor. And mindless humor. One of my all-time favorites is Dude, Where's my Car? BJD has even taught our son to say, Dude! Sweet! and I love it.<br /><br />4) I have strong religious convictions. But I don't believe in pushing them on anyone else. I was born and raised in a Christian home, but did not understand what it meant until college. It was there that I first really learned what it meant to be a Christian and began following Christ. I've always found it interesting that some of the most horrible critics are those in our own faith. And perhaps that's why I don't push. I sadly met too many people right after being a Christian that were highly critical and judgemental. That life is not for me.<br /><br />5) I'm learning to embrace life in Germany. I've spent the first year comparing good versus bad, what's better in the States and just missing things. Which I find odd. While in the States, I tried hard to incorporate more German things. Now that I'm in Germany, I try to incorporate more things from the States.<br /><br />6) I'm watching The Simpsons right now. As is Bubba Joe and BJD. We're a family of fans.<br /><br />So who to tag ... who to tag ... let's see.<br /><br />My sister, at <a href="http://lifeuniversecamp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life, the Universe and Camping</a><br />Em's mom, yet again, at <a href="http://steepedinsanity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">steeped insanity</a><br />Donna, at <a href="http://lifewithamelia.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life With Amelia</a><br />Denise, at <a href="http://awomanwithhobbitfeet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Woman with Hobbit Feet</a><br />Jeff, at <a href="http://jeffreykahl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Inklings of Faith</a><br />and lastly, Charly, at <a href="http://charlysommers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Throck Manash</a><br /><br />Have fun ya'll!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-91002061807498956652008-12-10T22:22:00.004+01:002008-12-10T22:36:48.563+01:00Photo Tag ...Oops. Guess I should be checking my blogs, er, tags.<br /><br />Heather over at Bubbles and Ducks tagged me.<br /><br />Fourth file, fourth picture.<br /><br />And I just rearranged my pictures folder!<br /><br />This is a picture Bubba Joe's Dad (aka BJD) took on his new camera phone. I think it's a nice profile of our little man.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApLbVuqTHidDVGEtuYxzZu7rA_rcFoBnqOHZgZeYRJJbb3SWIQ474jfxQXVdG2OkRTy58eD7voLvikWo91Av2UYcDfw2wyKbl9dt9DYRlPHVl5VdrF9DIAa7zcOrD12SN98wSKiP9V2mV/s1600-h/IMAGE_010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278275246389126002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhApLbVuqTHidDVGEtuYxzZu7rA_rcFoBnqOHZgZeYRJJbb3SWIQ474jfxQXVdG2OkRTy58eD7voLvikWo91Av2UYcDfw2wyKbl9dt9DYRlPHVl5VdrF9DIAa7zcOrD12SN98wSKiP9V2mV/s320/IMAGE_010.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>And what I realized after I posted is this picture shows Bubba Joe's right ear. </p><p>While his right ear may not seem so different from his left ear, the truth is that his right ear is slightly more pointed than his left. Why? When he was in the NICU (remember, he was born early due to <a href="http://www.preeclampsia.org/">preeclampsia</a>) I unknowingly replaced his hat without checking his ears. This meant his ear was slightly bent under his hat. I don't think it hurt him though (certainly not like the daily blood tests he went through).</p><p>His ear is much less pointy than in his baby pictures (it really was quite noticable) but it is a constant reminder of his NICU experience ... just like the permanent scarring on his left foot as a result of the hospital bracelet rubbing his skin raw (he was so tiny they put it on his leg).</p><p>So who am I tagging? Hmmm, let's see. </p><br />My sister, over at <a href="http://lifeuniversecamp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life, the Universe and Camping</a><br />Em's mom, at <a href="http://steepedinsanity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">steeped insanity</a><br />G, at <a href="http://bigappletobigbear.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From the Big Apple to the Big Bear</a><br />and Megan, at <a href="http://theworcesterfamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Worcester Wonderland</a><br /><br /><br />So, have fun! Remember, fourth file, fourth picture. And tag four people.<br /><br /><br />I know I've got at least one more tag out there I've got to do ... I promise I'll get to it!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-35418207204109440602008-12-05T22:52:00.003+01:002008-12-05T22:56:02.541+01:007 sharps or 5 flats?I often find myself trying to remember all the facts I learned in undergrad about music theory. <br /><br />And I found myself pondering in the middle of the night just why a piece would be composed in say, C-sharp versus D-flat.<br /><br />Not that when you play it there's a difference. (or is there?)<br /><br />But for me, I always found it easier to read music when there were flats, not sharps. Why is that? In fact, one of my favorite key signatures to play in has always been G-flat (NOT F-sharp). Hmmm.<br /><br />So I'm sitting here struggling to figure out why a composer would prefer sharps over flats ... is it just a preference? Is there a tonal difference? <br /><br />Anyone?Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-62983103604541195572008-12-05T22:42:00.003+01:002008-12-05T22:51:45.718+01:00What's going on ...Well, Bubba Joe and I are both sick. We have been. ALL. WEEK. <br /><br />Let me just say that one or the other, I could handle. But both of us? Come on. Seriously? And while his fever finally broke, he's still coughing like mad. And for the first time in over a year, he's fighting us to take any medicines and for breathing treatments.<br /><br />As for me, I went to the doc today to confirm that it is just viral and hasn't gotten worse. I'm allowed Tylenol (which surprisingly is helping me feel more human). And some sinus-plant-based crap that made my BP skyrocket. No more of that for me. Oh yeah, and breathing treatments. I'm on breathing treatments too.<br /><br />How fun.<br /><br />My head is full. My nose is running. I'm not really coughing, but I just feel like crap.<br /><br />And Bubba Joe - well, so long as he gets what he wants he's okay. And before you go thinking we've got a spoiled little brat on our hands (which maybe we do), if he starts crying then he can't breathe and starts coughing all over again. So, we really do try to appease him (within reason of course).<br /><br />Oh to be healthy again.<br /><br />~~~~~<br /><br />On a more positive note, we've started cloth diapering. We're using normal prefolds and wool covers. Pretty much like what I know when I was a teenager and babysitting. It's working quite well. Bubba Joe had a diaper rash last week and we switched back to sposies for a few days - but we think it's all related to his being sick. And oh yeah, we use something called disposable liners. It's a thin piece of flushable material that catches poo. Wicked cool. Without that, um, yeah, not sure how long I could stomach the scraping of poo in the toilet. Eww.<br /><br />~~~~~<br /><br />We put up the Christmas tree today. We'll be decorating this weekend. Bubba Joe's Opa and Oma were here - dropping off soup (borscht - super yummy) and Opa helped Bubba Joe's Dad bring the tree down from the attic. Of course, Bubba Joe wanted to be with the boys. By the time they all came back downstairs, Bubba Joe was talking all about the tannenbaum. He won't touch it - oh no! It's yet another of those texture things with him. But he loves looking at it. Hopefully he'll get into decorating it tomorrow and Sunday!<br /><br />Tomorrow is Niklaus Tag - not sure what it really means but it's always on the 6th of December and children get a present. We picked up something small for Bubba Joe. And, I'm pretty sure that we're 90% done with our shopping for this year. Now if we could just get around to writing the Christmas newsletter to go with our cards and boxing up and shipping the stuff for my family back in Ohio ... :)Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-65663138831273913172008-11-26T11:43:00.004+01:002008-11-26T11:51:11.578+01:00Thanksgiving 2008 - in pictures<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">We celebrated Thanksgiving earlier this year, when Ms. Thaing and her B-Boy brother came to visit at the <a href="http://lifedeathpreeclampsia.blogspot.com/2008/10/thanksgiving-on-halloween.html">end of October</a>. I posted previously our menu, but only today realized I never posted the pictures! It was a great meal, with great friends and even the pies (thanks Mom for sending me the pecans!) were delicious!!! </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">I'm learning to make lots of food from scratch here in Germany. We just don't have foods that I considered convenience foods - i.e. premade pie crusts, pecans, canned pumpkin, much less pie plates. Thanks to my college piano teacher, I have a few more disposable pie plates that have yet to be destroyed ... but I'll have to find a long-term substitute as I make lots of pies/quiches lately!</div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">To all my American friends and family, I pray this this Thanksgiving weekend brings you the ability to take the time to reflect on our lives and all that we have to be thankful for ... good health, family, friends, and for me, a healthy pregnancy!</div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left">Happy Thanksgiving to all!</div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31G8EH_QZHdRp-r5_UkKLg_AiMykGBym_jwEd-qKpv2xKyN4itzrOGwIFY1kecGdcStLgYiS-SiuxvrZlbWvscz-0kUZ275pF7mtaRzJyCNqul7HN4i6CmRjLUj3WzZgCC_iizuqvg4-n/s1600-h/SNB11939.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31G8EH_QZHdRp-r5_UkKLg_AiMykGBym_jwEd-qKpv2xKyN4itzrOGwIFY1kecGdcStLgYiS-SiuxvrZlbWvscz-0kUZ275pF7mtaRzJyCNqul7HN4i6CmRjLUj3WzZgCC_iizuqvg4-n/s320/SNB11939.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyz0XIxwNrQW-HDjPJn-qGXBDNXizMkYSOnSodGGI4Rojv8X-6kHGlGx22ifMsQGVMwI4S5q7eXQrgv-qawoZw-v4avEkkLzYn6xKyq-LcPy-iuH_gx-suCgR92liQAiS2e0RDFoNnkTU/s1600-h/SNB11941.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyz0XIxwNrQW-HDjPJn-qGXBDNXizMkYSOnSodGGI4Rojv8X-6kHGlGx22ifMsQGVMwI4S5q7eXQrgv-qawoZw-v4avEkkLzYn6xKyq-LcPy-iuH_gx-suCgR92liQAiS2e0RDFoNnkTU/s320/SNB11941.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />B-Boy and I both celebrated birthdays at the end of October ... so one pie was for him and the other was for me!<br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88mokr2xwwHGYD63xZXPblYKl4y_vjqbXnyBn8Ak7CcE8jaB7F8C4Y9JMHeRl7vuPdSbtAf21fLp0RC9UIEZ5XHF0c4tIBu47TwVaVHpX8IEHRjV6zfKB_QbSXV_3hwMJYSFlmW-gX1wx/s1600-h/SNB11945.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88mokr2xwwHGYD63xZXPblYKl4y_vjqbXnyBn8Ak7CcE8jaB7F8C4Y9JMHeRl7vuPdSbtAf21fLp0RC9UIEZ5XHF0c4tIBu47TwVaVHpX8IEHRjV6zfKB_QbSXV_3hwMJYSFlmW-gX1wx/s320/SNB11945.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-22818253684639336112008-11-22T13:23:00.003+01:002008-11-22T13:35:26.996+01:00What dreams may come ... (one of my favorite movies BTW)It's normal for me to have vivid dreams. Dreams I remember. Dreams that scare the crap out of me. Dreams that inspire.<br /><br />Add to that all the wonderful pregnancy hormones and the fear of being considered high-risk and well, you've got yourself one dreaming gal. <br /><br />Last night I dreamt about some past, um, well, let's call them ex-boyfriends. Well, one specifically. I've dreamt about him actually often. But maybe that's because I've often wondered what ever became of him - if he became the man he wanted to be (he was known to be a bit of a player back then) and if his family was still together. <br /><br />In this dream, there we are, both of us with our families. Pretending not to notice the other because of the past (we didn't exactly end our relationship on the best of terms). And then at one point I walked straight up to him and told him how I had felt about him through the years. It was an open, honest, raw moment. I haven't had one of those in a dream in quite some time. (In fact, I think the last time I had such a moment was after my dad died and I dreamt he and I were speaking while he was in heaven ... I asked him if he could see and hear us, he had to go ask God, who of course said yes. I asked him if he would continue to be able to do so, he had to go ask God again, who again, said yes. Then I had this sensation of falling and boom! I woke up. Very surreal.)<br /><br />Back to my dream last night.<br /><br />So I confronted this ex of mine and told him exactly how I had felt about him through the years. I then shared that in spite of the feelings I had, I was so very thankful to be madly in love with my husband and son. <br /><br />It was strange. I've never tried to verbalize feelings for another man other than my husband. But it's true that I dated before Bubba Joe's dad. And I had fun doing so. (I also had my heart trampled on quite a few times, but that was all part of the experience.)<br /><br />I realized then and there just how much I truly love my husband.<br /><br />I cannot imagine taking a single step in this life without him by my side. <br /><br />He has seen me at my best. He's seen me at my worst. But mostly, from day one, he's seen through all the walls and barriers that I put up, pretending to be someone I'm not.<br /><br />He's helped me to see my gentle side as a side that is strong. And that my weaknesses can be improved upon.<br /><br />He's held me up when I fell. He's carried me what I crumbled. He's been my source of inspiration on so many levels. (and all this for a guy who was raised atheist ... not bad, eh?)<br /><br />So while I have a tendency to wonder what if about so many things in my life, I do not have regrets. Nope, I don't regret you, my ex, for all those times we spent together. Because without you, I wouldn't have found my BJD. And without my BJD, I wouldn't have found me.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-74922058839667938342008-11-22T09:58:00.002+01:002008-11-22T10:00:21.091+01:00It feels like home ...We have snow.<br /><br />Big fat, beautiful snowflakes.<br /><br />Falling snowly.<br /><br />Gently.<br /><br />Lightly covering the ground<br /><br />with white.<br /><br />It's simply beautiful.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-6523954661445330482008-11-21T17:18:00.003+01:002008-11-21T17:22:54.638+01:00Sitting at home, in Duelmen, instead of in Berlinand why?<br /><br />Because I'm not feeling that great.<br /><br />I haven't been all week, but I just chalked it up to not getting enough sleep. (I tend to get anxious just before a big event - like getting cloth diapers, or visiting friends, or a big meeting ...)<br /><br />But nope. I'm just feeling crappy.<br /><br />We were supposed to have taken the fast train yesterday out to Berlin to hang out with some amazing (newish) friends and celebrate Thanksgiving.<br /><br />But nope. <br /><br />We're sitting at home, bored out of our minds. Knowing that had we taken that train, we'd be having a blast.<br /><br />I asked Bubba Joe's dad to call my high-risk doc today though - just needed to find out what to do just in case. There's not one specific thing that has me feeling icky - I am nauseous but can eat. I feel a bit crampy sometimes too. And at both my midwife and my regular OB appointments they commented that my belly was hard (which I only later learned COULD be an indicator of preterm labor). <br /><br />They (the high-risk docs office) gave him what to watch out for.<br /><br />***sigh***<br /><br />But I really wanted to be overwhelmed with Berlin ... looking at the wide selection of english books, the sheer joy of being in Berlin, hanging out with amazing people, Bubba Joe having fun too.<br /><br />I have a headache now too ... I think I'll go lay down.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-6634873016060768242008-11-11T15:32:00.004+01:002008-11-11T15:36:03.448+01:00I've wanted to do this for a long time now ...and looks like we're finally going to just jump right in and start. Cloth diapering that is. <br /><br />With a 2nd one on the way and Bubba Joe showing no real interest in potty training, on top of finding a company that will give us a "trial" period to see if we really do like it, we're jumping in.<br /><br />And that, my dear reader, is why I haven't written anything to you in a while.<br /><br />I've been busy researching different types of diapers, from fabrics to covers to how to prepare them for the first use to general maintenance.<br /><br />I've been busy creating excel spreadsheet after excel spreadsheet, comparing costs from various websites and building up my wish lists - including links and formulas. <br /><br />And I've even had a few dreams about cloth diapers.<br /><br />We're planning on ordering this week so we can prep them over the weekend and start using. We're almost out of our pampers, so we need to move soon. <br /><br />I'll keep ya'll informed as to the "end result". The best part is that if we stick with it, it's SUCH a huge cost savings for our next little one. Yeah!!!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-87447135815771020622008-11-04T15:34:00.002+01:002008-11-04T15:38:27.290+01:00Halfway there ...20 weeks this week. 20/40 weeks gone and (hopefully) 20 more to go.<br /><br />We had our appointment today at the Uni-Klinik in Muenster. Can I just tell you how completely impressed I am with the doctors there?<br /><br />Today was a high-level ultrasound. It was pretty intense and I was very nervous. It has the ability to show if something is off - increasing my risks of getting sick again.<br /><br />Guess what?<br /><br />It's a girl.<br /><br />Seriously, it is a girl. Our regular OB said so a few weeks ago but we wanted at least one more ultrasound before announcing it to the world. <br /><br />But I don't think that's what you thought I'd say - so, guess what? She's perfect! I'm perfect! So far, so good.<br /><br />Now, that doesn't mean that things can't go wrong. This is life we're talking about.<br /><br />But it does mean that we've made it this far and thus far, things are well, healthy. And that's all I can ask for.<br /><br />I'm still seeing a doc every 2 weeks. I'm still being closely monitored. <br /><br />But today, just for now, I'm relaxing into the possibility that I might just be able to have the (dare I say it?) pregnancy I've dreamt of.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-59456450447369598532008-11-03T21:45:00.004+01:002008-11-03T21:59:44.237+01:00Burg Vischering with Ms. Thaing and T-BoyThe great proposal ...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU5-uowZylqMoN8-7FuUGIYRkBUdAA56Xejkk5dIzZL362J9YFZO_UjcWxRuI9TcLRHuQ7CsrmL08iZgQlkH7aBcZor5rRV_Cah2pct8p1b7_fhVQoQFKTgzuQ4PBwGQlAFoJ1C_-sq6U/s1600-h/SNB11875.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264537793761863602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU5-uowZylqMoN8-7FuUGIYRkBUdAA56Xejkk5dIzZL362J9YFZO_UjcWxRuI9TcLRHuQ7CsrmL08iZgQlkH7aBcZor5rRV_Cah2pct8p1b7_fhVQoQFKTgzuQ4PBwGQlAFoJ1C_-sq6U/s320/SNB11875.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bubba Joe and his Dad trying to lift a sack full of weights that weigh what a full coat of armor weighs (how many times can I use the word weigh in that sentence?)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevoPT0LSRTUIQEbzEgP_I6SElhik1dQIOsFDxLAQTbCn60XBd95nK5_-dGRQnRQvNQ1ioOrv8vLRXmHBYZmNlTH73emY20x_ZvaFNwMic0doZSeW52j7g_MWzMWRIzLBR5-CVIeXTCNYG/s1600-h/SNB11869.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264537790429081234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevoPT0LSRTUIQEbzEgP_I6SElhik1dQIOsFDxLAQTbCn60XBd95nK5_-dGRQnRQvNQ1ioOrv8vLRXmHBYZmNlTH73emY20x_ZvaFNwMic0doZSeW52j7g_MWzMWRIzLBR5-CVIeXTCNYG/s320/SNB11869.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Taking a tour of the inside, Ms. Thaing and T-Boy pose with a stranger<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GuHn_cLUZ-vGN6LrEA47tZOjNm96z-sU8GXcOj1GgeXnOUjaa0KnfRaC-rQ90m1DRv9VjoRk6tUIimYORya308YMEhP-VPrCMooInqdtqxK9Y9AoxqjuYWEOpxvwcfFgcQFaoJYFxBb1/s1600-h/SNB11847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264537772927904706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GuHn_cLUZ-vGN6LrEA47tZOjNm96z-sU8GXcOj1GgeXnOUjaa0KnfRaC-rQ90m1DRv9VjoRk6tUIimYORya308YMEhP-VPrCMooInqdtqxK9Y9AoxqjuYWEOpxvwcfFgcQFaoJYFxBb1/s320/SNB11847.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Bubba Joe loves his Uncle T-Boy (and Ms. Thaing, being Ms. Thaing, had to get in the picture)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOThGWTnsxuM1XydIHplzx2cEYaZkNOtPohPTSSxm2BVsRpXGI3cg8XfOwbNyiurVT-ODOywP47jPAQ7O8sfZUQhzLJenQaFF-Wb_JF6WsEpoPpsSLSVt8m2DKhafcCROLK6uWwa1QVoXI/s1600-h/SNB11832.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264537765448325218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOThGWTnsxuM1XydIHplzx2cEYaZkNOtPohPTSSxm2BVsRpXGI3cg8XfOwbNyiurVT-ODOywP47jPAQ7O8sfZUQhzLJenQaFF-Wb_JF6WsEpoPpsSLSVt8m2DKhafcCROLK6uWwa1QVoXI/s320/SNB11832.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Burg Vischering on the outside (the house itself sits in water ... quite beautiful!)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09_uUvNRiDJCNIyPAnVhDU_kYwExexw3Cp6r1TqdpaHhV7Xaq6nn4pCobMt8FMabkGIxO5KqdjsCw-bVYKS6FhLdIObyV1U3HdJtbn2rbH3Ykp1zkQIBKoJx0S95EAssbsrS2uoaGoRZQ/s1600-h/SNB11822.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264537759068561202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09_uUvNRiDJCNIyPAnVhDU_kYwExexw3Cp6r1TqdpaHhV7Xaq6nn4pCobMt8FMabkGIxO5KqdjsCw-bVYKS6FhLdIObyV1U3HdJtbn2rbH3Ykp1zkQIBKoJx0S95EAssbsrS2uoaGoRZQ/s320/SNB11822.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-42851116009247607102008-10-31T15:59:00.002+01:002008-10-31T16:01:40.734+01:00Thanksgiving on HalloweenToday, we are celebrating Thanksgiving.<br /><br />Ms. Thaing and her brother, T-Boy, are visiting for the week.<br /><br />Our menu consists of:<br /><br />Turkey Ballotine<br />Green Beans<br />Wild Rice Stuffing<br />Butternut Squash Soup<br />Pumpkin Pie<br />and last but absolutely not least<br />Pecan Pie<br /><br />Yumm!!!<br /><br />Hopefully I'll remember to take some pictures!Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-16270179798609077002008-10-29T18:44:00.003+01:002008-10-29T18:53:57.170+01:00The ugly truthI am a mean jealous person.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am.<br /><br /><br /><br />Maybe you never knew it (maybe you did).<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, and I'm bitter. Baby, I am one bitter person.<br /><br /><br /><br />Where is all this coming from?<br /><br /><br /><br />My sister in law is pregnant. She didn't know. She wasn't trying. In fact, she was not trying. Her son is well, a difficult child. He's just way different than Bubba Joe - who enjoys reading books and drawing and being creative and playing the piano and running around.<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, and she's almost done with her first trimester before she even suspects that she's pregnant.<br /><br /><br /><br />And I hate her.<br /><br /><br /><br />There.<br /><br /><br /><br />I said it.<br /><br /><br /><br />I hate her.<br /><br /><br /><br />We busted our asses. We've been through hell and back with Bubba Joe's pregnancy. I can't even begin to tell you the number of times we went back and forth as to whether to try again. I mean, the risks may be low, but they're there. They're higher, than say, my sister in law's.<br /><br /><br /><br />I mean, at some point, isn't there a risk that I may lose it all? My life? My child's life? My Bubba Joe?<br /><br /><br /><br />And there she is, not even trying and finding herself pregnant. No prenatals taken before getting pregnant. No high-risk pregnancy for her.<br /><br /><br /><br />But for me.<br /><br /><br /><br />It's all there for me.<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't want to be reminded of how inadequate my body is during pregnancy.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm reminded of that daily when I have to take my BP 3x. Or when I poke my finger to draw blood and check my sugar levels. Or of all the many appointments with doctors to keep an overview on my health.<br /><br /><br /><br />And there she is - barely 9 weeks behind me.<br /><br /><br /><br />And I feel mean and hurtful and spiteful and bitter.<br /><br /><br /><br />I hate preeclampsia.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-42559964481891845052008-10-27T08:31:00.004+01:002008-10-27T08:33:05.509+01:00It's amazing to me ...but I really come up with quite a few stunning blog posts in the middle of the night. <br /><br />And by the time I wake up, they're long gone.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure the next blog I write (excepting this one in which I'm writing about nothing) will be about things I like about living here in Germany. I don't think I've really discussed that much. <br /><br />BTW - I voted last week. My first time voting overseas. Quite an experience. I liked it!<br /><br />:)Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-78415389156791490032008-10-18T22:43:00.000+02:002008-10-18T18:18:34.511+02:00The Preeclampsia Foundation - educating familiesBy now, most of you know that I'm very passionate about preeclampsia education.<br /><br />Preeclampsia robbed me of any ideas I had for a normal, healthy birth. Preeclampsia is what I blame for Bubba Joe's ongoing health issues.<br /><br />A few months after Bubba Joe came home from the NICU, I found the <a href="http://www.preeclampsia.org/">Preeclampsia Organization</a>. They are an online support group - but they are also so much more than that. Founded by, and supported by, top researchers and victems of the disease, they've produced the following video. Please check it out. And please share it with any woman you know who is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant.<br /><br />As GI Joe once said (at least I think it was him!) knowledge is power.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2g_WJDrogo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2g_WJDrogo</a>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-70837076691036289522008-10-18T17:55:00.004+02:002008-10-18T18:13:31.637+02:00Duelmener WildpferdFall has arrived and unlike last year, the trees are actually showing some reds. BJD, Bubba Joe and I today decided to go and visit the <a href="http://www.wildpferde.de/">Duelmen Wild Horses</a> - one of the only things that Duelmen is well-known for in Germany.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258525444753928002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvj7uFJCDEG8X2uYPaKuJ1IDF3QzOsnpLxPnQUId3QLt6iCIJQ4mtl08mw-kmWA2CgikgVCN2hZCnfpgMDsK7avV3fuwghveaLpLHj1ruyIvAYOM5hOD7VVQCuGGmN3ddyXQq2ggjcgmz/s320/SNB11646.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />These horses are slightly smaller than modern horses. And from what I read online, they are considered endangered. Their genetics goes back hundreds of years and they have not been mixed with any other horse breed.<br /><br />They are stunning. <br /><br />Annually, the horses are round-up and you can buy tickets. But as we just found out this week, the tickets for next spring's round-up are pretty much sold out - unless you want to stand for the entire 4 hour show ... which of course, we don't.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UiteRWXpBRnVxtRgauR48TO6262deuFNDtuILDwH0EmiUYAt88vJxCC8TTvHXKIBGEgowrJRBJzRqiGA91EfFPrCrdxs0EtexX4DVrWpBtr4_ffRIX1hpEvOxwOM1H1TqYEX3ReBhe5G/s1600-h/SNB11615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258525449074560290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UiteRWXpBRnVxtRgauR48TO6262deuFNDtuILDwH0EmiUYAt88vJxCC8TTvHXKIBGEgowrJRBJzRqiGA91EfFPrCrdxs0EtexX4DVrWpBtr4_ffRIX1hpEvOxwOM1H1TqYEX3ReBhe5G/s320/SNB11615.JPG" border="0" /></a> Bubba Joe enjoyed visiting with the horses ... though he had just as much fun walking through the field behind us and stomping on the dirt mounds the local <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europ%25C3%25A4ischer_Maulwurf&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmaulwurf%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us">maulwurfs </a>had dug up (something he and his dad do often in our backyard).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpxU8zB_EhT1IuQk6Ge3F-9K7B9FpdUuiLwEbHIdmGki9toIUcaMXabfTuBmkNs-DWphzMwzjMidnogQP2Xpb7HRVmorQ9T9n3rMYS2U9GkD3_G8ahAXR5KN16AqVQwQ_cSDXDNOjxK6v/s1600-h/SNB11590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258525456770536338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpxU8zB_EhT1IuQk6Ge3F-9K7B9FpdUuiLwEbHIdmGki9toIUcaMXabfTuBmkNs-DWphzMwzjMidnogQP2Xpb7HRVmorQ9T9n3rMYS2U9GkD3_G8ahAXR5KN16AqVQwQ_cSDXDNOjxK6v/s320/SNB11590.JPG" border="0" /></a> It cost us 2.50 Euro per adult entrance fee. They're supposed to charge 1.50 Euro per child, but they guy didn't. He was more interested in asking BJD about our <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C4">Citroen</a>, which BJD was more than happy to talk about! They are only open until November 1st, on Friday's and Saturday's, and only if the weather is nice. Wow. Those are a lot of restrictions - especially considering the weather here is more unpredictable than that in NE Ohio!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f6pHgYOVHzYOL5rk3see5oXywGvzJZe6hrqpGrhkSYVr13Sn-ds0xvgyYtJULM8r0wu01Eg3rIpXP4iWT8uXTHI8-8ly-THwTyw8CTU56ck_vj1SARFNx3Y5WXHX0Zxt-H9fPStRxnkG/s1600-h/SNB11583.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258525458564984146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0f6pHgYOVHzYOL5rk3see5oXywGvzJZe6hrqpGrhkSYVr13Sn-ds0xvgyYtJULM8r0wu01Eg3rIpXP4iWT8uXTHI8-8ly-THwTyw8CTU56ck_vj1SARFNx3Y5WXHX0Zxt-H9fPStRxnkG/s320/SNB11583.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-3111715876695884852008-10-15T21:11:00.003+02:002008-10-15T21:18:57.505+02:00Breathing TreatmentsOkay, so this is a week old already, but I wanted to share a few pics of Bubba Joe getting his breathing treatments ...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257461776320844674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgqeSYC0nMjms8-notXYupvmYHIN1N946YEMqhYblVnLY7ydpO8M-BUkhFbL56WeFMUx1TgOjuAdQMzbHE_rZ5_cDKX0WUouL0rY-9fXM4B-RyTFQiCHtNZXDlbxsv8p7HLMnm_Mglno0/s320/SNB11543.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt_aSgcFU1y0H5MNUKymnv-CFMkRFp0o5lyGaj4Ku4BUnX2g5p1-uyiyV6JnbG_UzIB3Pl7PRpU6gArWiQ3RgRWDmBsCuwPrBGctsP0POS9y5wgj0CG2icjcHUSC4nwKnvTZhH2haNtDv/s1600-h/SNB11535.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257461783193255394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt_aSgcFU1y0H5MNUKymnv-CFMkRFp0o5lyGaj4Ku4BUnX2g5p1-uyiyV6JnbG_UzIB3Pl7PRpU6gArWiQ3RgRWDmBsCuwPrBGctsP0POS9y5wgj0CG2icjcHUSC4nwKnvTZhH2haNtDv/s320/SNB11535.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFrDxGV5f7RxKt8rrDRx0xkU24zwvnpmlCBup_0ZASXovF103Na6lqQhI-NNT2aJwNWwQAnpDVTN5bWQGyXK8r-wyjCRQe5JuIyQY-HV2v5Z6nd1u9J_-H5gx1px8T-68ccCIQz__YYYR/s1600-h/SNB11540.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257461794941754178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFrDxGV5f7RxKt8rrDRx0xkU24zwvnpmlCBup_0ZASXovF103Na6lqQhI-NNT2aJwNWwQAnpDVTN5bWQGyXK8r-wyjCRQe5JuIyQY-HV2v5Z6nd1u9J_-H5gx1px8T-68ccCIQz__YYYR/s320/SNB11540.JPG" border="0" /></a>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-66664235378804753002008-10-15T21:07:00.003+02:002008-10-15T21:10:44.494+02:00Where'dya get those glasses?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5xF1RGoZZfXIJtyZNy_O4NgSZXDxY-UXAUVtn6QWNSblBmJSvJ6wW7ugHdz2a7k1QAGTPGBtAWDvyycRl6nJCK3VOP6MrLpZK8i02eEQzRZ4NhaYuMM7pSs1U1zWJXXlHmDgVsa_85et/s1600-h/SNB11576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257460005732870306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5xF1RGoZZfXIJtyZNy_O4NgSZXDxY-UXAUVtn6QWNSblBmJSvJ6wW7ugHdz2a7k1QAGTPGBtAWDvyycRl6nJCK3VOP6MrLpZK8i02eEQzRZ4NhaYuMM7pSs1U1zWJXXlHmDgVsa_85et/s320/SNB11576.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LQTSK34t8jiXUx6qObV0KSGUB94DDQwXuKIrwcPkChObcwBmhwT9YW9nM8XlsIs9oaI7NXJqVGyW5ZwcUNiAplmSoc5ZiUKaZwJWxacebBTB3cv8SKXAdBvgH4MUEXJ3gZi41j9RBj9j/s1600-h/SNB11577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257460013058894658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LQTSK34t8jiXUx6qObV0KSGUB94DDQwXuKIrwcPkChObcwBmhwT9YW9nM8XlsIs9oaI7NXJqVGyW5ZwcUNiAplmSoc5ZiUKaZwJWxacebBTB3cv8SKXAdBvgH4MUEXJ3gZi41j9RBj9j/s320/SNB11577.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-67914642420872548812008-10-12T21:28:00.004+02:002008-10-12T21:51:36.045+02:00Random Facts MemeOkay. I'm a sucker. I saw this on <a href="http://50percentdna.blogspot.com/">Yelli's </a>blog a few weeks ago and have been trying to decide when to write (and what to write).<br /><br />Here are six random facts about me:<br /><br />1) When I was a little girl, I was terrified of the dark. I shared a room with my sister for many years and if she would get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, I would wake up and cry until she came back. I'm still a bit freaked out about the dark, but I try to be a "big girl" now.<br /><br />2) I have naturally curly hair. Back in the 80s, when perms were popular, I begged my mom to get a perm just to be cool.<br /><br />3) As strong-willed and driven as I am, I am a big chicken. I don't like to stand up for myself (or anyone else) but guilt overcomes me and I just do it.<br /><br />4) When I first met Bubba Joe's Dad (aka BJD), I thought he was boring-looking and not very interesting. Three months later, I couldn't stop thinking about it. To this day, I find him fascinating and intriguing.<br /><br />5) My undergrad is in Applied Music because I chickened out of my senior piano performance. I have a minor in Geology. And a few years ago, I finished my MBA in International Management. I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up.<br /><br />6) I am NOT a patient person. Okay, so most of you who know me personally know this. But I'm not patient. And I'm really not a nice person either - I've always enjoyed making fun of people (without them knowing, of course!)<br /><br />I'm supposed to tag people to forward this on, but I'm still not sure how to do that. Instead, if you want, do this meme and follow the rules:<br /><br />1. Link to the person who tagged you.2. Post the rules on the blog.3. Write six random things about yourself.4. Tag six people at the end of your post.5. Let each person know they have been tagged.6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4553371925171905607.post-84411106252531877222008-10-12T10:09:00.003+02:002008-10-12T10:15:20.211+02:00Ouch! (warning, may be TMI)TMI = too much information<br /><br />So far, my pregnancy has been progessing well, as expected.<br /><br />That is, up until yesterday.<br /><br />(and here's where the TMI will come into play ...)<br /><br />I went to the bathroom and was horrified when things just did NOT move! I mean, I spent a good 1/2 hour sitting there, chatting it up with my mom, just figuring things were slow. Nope. <br /><br />They were not slow, they were stopped.<br /><br />So I just sat and relaxed, trying to let things come. I drank water, ate prunes, ate a bit of yogurt with flax seeds ... all things that have worked in the past. I then drank some non-clear apple juice. <br /><br />Finally I begged BJD to go to the pharmacy and get me something, anything, to make things move.<br /><br />Then Bubba Joe woke up.<br /><br />Ugh.<br /><br />Things did eventually, well, come out ... somewhat. But my butt is sore and I can tell I've still got a ways to go.<br /><br />I'm thinking it might be my new prenatals. Hey! Does anyone know what it means ... wait, let me back up ... the prenatals list stuff in either mg or what looks like the greek mu symbol and g for grams. The iron is in this greek letter and g format. What is that??? How does that convert to mg? (I'm thinking it's the new prenatal that has me all, um, yeah, you get it.)Alicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10844620020126346666noreply@blogger.com4