Quickening

So... over the past week I have for sure felt some wonderfully gentle butterflies coming from the little one. In my mind I owe this to two things, first, I am soon to be twenty weeks (half-way there already) pregnant! And secondly, I have been enjoying some of my families' classic recipes over this winter break.

We celebrated Christ's birth with a merry little Christmas dinner at our house, with my very good friend, Kristen and a new friend from school, Manda. It was a great time of cooking together, enjoying our labors and competing with each other in our new favorite game, Ticket to Ride. Kristen and I had spent the days before baking Christmas cookies, attempting a new recipe for sticky buns and prepping special dishes, like my mom's fruit jello and broccoli cheese potatoes. Mmm, good. Lots of excellent food thanks to our "Base run" back in November. I had been saving a bag of caramels just to make Calorie Bars. I remember making them for years, even when I was younger one Christmas I made them and then gave them away as gifts. They are just that good! I think baby really benefited from this holiday. I have now gained five pounds and really feel like eating quite a bit. Its all so fun. Sometimes after eating, I actually fee like my belly is growing by the minute!

The steal of my maternity days, has to be these adorable skinny jeans from H&M. I am so in love with them- and only 15 Euros! While wearing them, I am much more comfortable, and feel more confident in my pregnancy because I am giving baby more room to grow and move around. He/she is definetly trying to say, "thank you mommy, I enjoyed all that Christmas food!"

Lighting the World

Yesterday evening at our Christmas Eve Service before the traditional candle lighting and last carol sung, the pastor said a few words about the metaphor of our own candles being lit in a dark room. This symbolizes the dark world we live in and the light that is Jesus Christ. What struck me is what he said next, some of us can see the light.. some from a far and some very close up.
How clearly I can see Christ personally is surely a direct correlation between my own relationship with him and how well I have gotten to know him. My prayer this morning, Christmas morning, is that this question would continue to nag at me, in a good way.

Christ is the light of the world! Merry Christmas!

Birthday Surprises

Sometimes I think to myself, maybe what all married women think, "I have the best husband."

In lieu of cereal, this morning I was called to breakfast at 7:45 and was surprised to see scrambled cheese eggs, a French pastry and hot chocolate (no more coffee for me). I would never wake up early on a school day to make Bo breakfast!

Then, once I was settled in at work the excitement started and I realized this would not be a quiet day in the Nurse's Office. For every period Bo had arranged classes to come sing "Happy Birthday" to me along with delivering a light orange colored rose (reminding me of my wedding flowers!) Luckily, there have not been too many sick kids, otherwise this would have been quite a disturbance. But, instead it has been really fun to see all the kids sing to me!

Bo spilled the beans and told me about his other plans for my Birthday, which didn't work out. Apparently he had a contact in Switzerland who rents out his place in the Alps for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, he could not get in touch with him. It sounded amazing... a cabin up in the snow covered mountains, over looking a gorgeous lake. Wish I could say its just the thought that counts, but no can do. I really wanted to go. Hopefully it will work soon.

Tonight baby and me will enjoy Thai egg rolls, chicken curry and a mango saft! Can't wait!

I have one sneaking suspicion- I think we have turned into the couple from Modern Family who try to out-do each other with gifts. Oh well, at least my birthday comes second in the year!

Bizzaro World

Purple ladies
Originally uploaded by LeighAnn2009

Well, the crazy dreams have started. After a wonderful evening at Bo's 30th Birthday Party, I came home and for some reason was still famished at 10:30. I made myself a nice pickled sandwich to eat in bed and then because I was still hungry, begged Bo to get me something else to eat. I went to sleep with a full belly after my peanut butter toast. And then entered into the bizzaro world. Please don't read further if you are easily squeamish or easily saddened.

I was in labor somewhere, the baby was crowning and I remember yelling at Bo to get Liliane (my co-worker midwife) and a pair of scissors. I hate to say it, but during this whole dream Bo was, well, the opposite of helpful. He never came to my rescue. Anyways, I delivered my own baby, cut the cord and then due to the fact that my baby was not alive began CPR. It was pretty awful. Also, my baby was quite deformed. It looked like a little man with a huge nose, and uneven legs. I don't remember anyone else even being there. Until the next moment in my dream, when some nurse gave me another baby out of pity. I remember breast feeding this baby and thinking everything was fine. Until I started tapping on the baby and then asked the nurse, "Is this bamboo?" Which she responded, "yes." And that was it. I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.

I blame this dream not only on my crazy hormones and the in-bed snack, but also on my labor and delivery background. I have helped deliver still born babies of course and have performed CPR on struggling infants. But, this was the first time I was ever worried about anything. I do not usually think of these dreadful things and hope I will not again. But, the nightmare definitely wore me out for my day at work. I was exhausted!

Here is a picture of me before the nightmare (at Bo's party) - 16 weeks!

Schwine wine

In my quest to return back to work I have spoken with my Obstetrician, whom I very much like. I will be so sad to have to tell him goodbye if we end up having to leave Germany in the next couple of months. I had planned on him seeing me through my pregnancy and his wife, a midwife, delivering our baby. Come what may.

I called regarding the Schwine Grippe which in the last two weeks has shown up at our school. I don't think I have the swine flu, but after having two rounds of a cold and still dealing with a sore throat and somewhat swollen tonsils, I am a little concerned. The other nurse I work with thought perhaps I could be tested for swine flu and see if I have antibodies against it and if not receive the vaccine. Which I have been waiting for, thinking that once I was vaccinated I could return to my position in the Nurses' office with less hesitation of some sick kid breathing on me. Yet, this all just went out the window after speaking with Dr.Aurnhammer. He said that swine flu is actually less dangerous than the normal flu, usually consisting of a cough that lasts three days. To my confusion, he also stated that the vaccine they have here is not recommend for pregnant women due to all the extra additives and possible allergic reactions. He said he would never give it to a pregnant woman. You have to understand that the vaccine we have here in Germany is different than the US. At this moment, I should not return back to work because "it is better to not get the virus than get the virus." On a positive note, he added that I should assess the situation and if it is getting better than I could return back to work, but not at this moment. aah!
"Lord, beer me strength."

Bring on the Pickles!

DSC_0021
Originally uploaded by LeighAnn2009

I thank the Lord that Bo bought bread yesterday. As I write this I am enjoying my pepperoni and pickle sandwich! Often times I think of my dad as I make sandwiches because it reminds me of a childhood snack we would have - he would spread miracle whip on club crackers and top them off with ... well, it escapes me at this moment. Regardless, I love sandwiches and even though it's now too late to be lunch and still too early to be dinner, I'm having a sandwich for a snack! Yesterday, I had macaroni & cheese for a snack. I know, its not the healthiest, but we still have two whole blocks of heaven (Velveeta) so I don't feel bad about eating it whenever I want.
Yesterday was also the first day I've actually gone somewhere significant (other than the grocery store) in two weeks! You see, I've been quarantined. That is to say, even though I'm not sick, there are still sick kids floating around out there and I can't afford to come down with the Swine Flu. So, I've been doing some work from home and mostly just enjoying the last week with Bo home too. But, back to yesterday - we had been looking forward to our church's Christmas Bazaar ever since we helped out last year. It's like a craft show meets a flea market. There are lots of British Christmas things that I know nothing about - Christmas pudding that comes in a box? And beautiful paper crackers that you pop open on Christmas day? Plus they sell used ENGLISH books and DVDs! And that, for us Americans, is the best part about the Anglican Christmas Bazaar! Last week, while rummaging through all our support papers, I came across a sealed envelope from our mission with a US twenty dollar bill. Pretty much useless to us here unless we schedule another Ramstein visit. But, still, I was surprised and giddy - I had found money in the midst of our financial crisis! I told Bo that since we didn't have any extra money this month, he could use this twenty dollar bill at the bazaar as his spending money on books. We figured they would take it with their collection of Euros and Swiss Francs- no problem. And they did! Bo and I together bought about sixteen used paperbacks! So much fun for us (mainly him). We also enjoyed these German men dancing!
All in all, whether its pickle sandwiches, finding cash, or getting in the Christmas spirit, I am enjoying my pregnancy.

Mutterpass Metaphor

I feel well taken care of here in Germany. I have stepped into the Deutsch world of health care via my monthly prenatal appointments. And so far, I feel that they are really on top of their stuff. The only problem is my lack of German vocabulary.

No, it has been great! And the most impressive thing is how efficient and organized things are. On my second prenatal visit I was given an important booklet, slightly larger than my passport and protected in a clear, laminated cover. My doctor gave me what all German doctors give their pregnant patients - a Mutterpass. Just the name of it enthralled me. I felt I had been given, in a way, my pass to motherhood. It was like a right of passage. I am to carry this booklet with me at all times, always having it on my person. It is my badge of honor, my secret good luck token, and at the same time it serves as my reason for countless excuses. I am pregnant!

Clearly, I have viewed my Mutterpass more on a metaphorical level, and this gives me great joy. However, it does also carry a slight medical role over the next six months. This Mutterpass contains all my prenatal info, including my blood type (O neg), all ultrasound measurements, my own weight, vitals, and so on. To my amazement, it even keeps a record of my STDs (or lack thereof!) It will be quite helpful if I'm traveling and have an emergency, or if I ever simply need to prove my current condition, say, perhaps, to the bakery I frequent for my latest obsession, a Salami Brotchen. As you can tell, I am thrilled to bits about my Mutterpass. If only it wasn't all in German. ;)