My "birth story"...

4/17/12

Since I cannot sleep, I thought I would blog…but not actually post it, since it will eat the data up.  Just over 18 hours ago, Roy was born…what an adventure.  So, here is your warning…this post is about birth…about my experience in a German hospital giving birth, and all the “fun” things that happened from point A to point B.  If you are grossed out by such events, stop reading.  If you are grossed out by such events happening to me, stop reading.  It is what it is folks J  Shall we begin?

Friday Mark and I found out that Monday we would be having our baby boy.  It was safer to plan a c section than to try a vaginal delivery and then something happen.  At our appointment, Roy was measuring 10 pounds 3 ounces…and his belly was still measuring bigger than his head.  Common sense will tell you that this can be a bad thing when it comes to babies being born…our main concern was that I would go into labor and his head would come through fine, but he would get stuck at his shoulders…which can cause all sorts of bad things (go ahead, google it…)  I personally was not willing to take the chance, and the doctor agreed that the best option (and safest) would be just to plan a c section.  By Friday, I was in a huge amount of pain- I slept next to nothing on Thursday because of back pain, and then Friday felt like I have been beaten in my uterus and crotch with a metal bar…I assumed it was early labor, but knew I was going to the doctor.  As it turns out, nope, just Roy pushing down really hard.  I knew then that I was not overly interested in being pregnant much longer…so we set up Roy’s “birthday” for the 16^th.  The doctor told us that they would call Monday and let us know what time to come in, which would be in the morning, and that we would do the c section that afternoon.  (Now we will skip ahead, since I have already blogged about this weekend!)

So, like most mornings, I woke up around 5…not because I was nervous or excited.  I woke up because I had to pee (like I do most mornings around 5).  I laid in bed waiting for 8 to come around (since that is what time Mark set his alarm for us to get up).  I did try to get some more sleep, but wasn’t overly successful.  We got “the call” around 8:20 or so, wondering where we were….ummm….ok.  This is why I love Germany…well, my doctor anyway.  They tell you they will call to tell you when to come in, and then call and wonder why you aren’t there yet!  So, we got up, and I got ready and finished getting my things together for the hospital.  Mark had to run on base and sign back in after his little bit of block leave.  When he got back, I was ready to go, and so we did.

This is me my "last day pregnant"...

When we got to the hospital, we came downstairs and I was put on the monitor to check the baby and to check for contractions.  His heart rate was fine apparently, and so we were taken back behind the “doors”…of which I had never seen more than a glimpse behind, and had only seen nurses and doctors hurry out of.  It looked like most of the rest of the hospital that I had seen- clean, but “older” looking.  I was taken to a room and Mark was told to wait outside.  Now, this room was obviously for someone who wanted to do a water birth, as there was a huge tub in the room.  The nurse (who I never remember her name…turns out it is Michelle) came in and informed me that she needed to do an “enemy”…errr…enema.  This was just many of the “firsts” that I would experience that day.  You don’t need the details of how this is done (again, if you don’t know, google it), but I will tell you- it is very effective at what it is for.  After that, I let Mark in, as she said she wasn’t coming back for 20 minutes, and I was ready for her to come back much sooner.  Mark and I made jokes and waited.  When she came back, I was given the lovely hospital down (ya know, with the big open back) and fitted with a lovely pair of hose (to keep the clots out of my legs), and was led to a bed in the hallway….and then rolled into a room to wait. 

The room was a very simple deal- with pink striped boarder, and a closet the color of egg yolks (see previous post for picture of the color I am talking about).  I think somewhere must have had a huge sale on stuff that color!  There was a nice lady in there already- a Germany lady in her late 20s or early 30s I would say, who was there because she apparently was fighting off labor, as she still had 11 weeks to go.  She spoke very good English, and talked to me for a bit.  They came to take blood from her, and I think she must have veins like mine, because they had to stick her twice to get anything….she still ended up luckier than I was. 

A nice nurse came in to put in my port for the IV…I had less than high hopes that this would be a simple task, but tried to have faith.  She tried, unsuccessfully, and went and got someone else…who tired 4 or 5 times more…unsuccessfully.  By that time, we had been poking my arms for almost an hour and the anesthesiologist shows up.  H came to have a go at it as well…and with a little local anesthetic in the bend of my arm, and an IV needle I think I am glad I didn’t see, got one in (and then didn’t cap it off, so my arm gushed a little through the open part…lol).  After that was done, I was rolled into the hallway and then walked into a room….THE room.

This is waiting for the people to come and attempt the IV...

This is what relief looks like...after all the poking and prodding...an IV finally got put in...

And one more for good measure...lol

Now, being as I am in a nice hospital, I always assume that things are really nicely kept…and for the most part they are.  This hospital is not dirty at all (that I have seen), but this operating room reminded me of an old ward in a horror movie (but clean).  It had green tiled walls (like a shade of avocado, but darker).  I don’t remember the floor…I think it is pretty standard though.  There were all these people standing in there as Michelle walked in with me.  The anesthesiologist came and talked to me (he was very quiet) and told me that he was going to look at my back.  He poked around to find my hip bones, then pushed on my spine.  Then he told me that the head of anesthesiology would be coming to do my spinal…no problem…except then he came.  He pushed on my back some, while Michelle talked to me…and then before I knew it said “you will feel a little pinch”…but before he finished he had poked me.  I am normally VERY good at being still for these things, but was taken off guard by the “pinch” that had got me (ummm…how about hornet sting?!)  So, instinctively I moved away from the needle.  Now, we are just on local anesthetic here….not even the real deal yet.  Michelle is standing in front of me, with her hands on my shoulders….I reach and grab the side of her shirt to steady myself, and forge on.  I got “stung” a few more times before the “big” deal came.  I felt that my back was numb…and I was thankful for this.  I am not sure that it would be medically impossible to give someone a spinal block without this.  I am also very glad that I never saw the needle or anything for this spinal, because although I am sure it was very small, it felt like it was about as big around as a pencil.  I felt the pressure of him putting it in, and then I felt the “pop” (and heard it…but through my back?) of him going through the spinal membrane.  It hurt- I am not going to lie.  What really got me though was when he either put more meds in or moved it…because I felt the nerves move away from it…and it hurt so bad it took my breath away…and I cried (but not enough to let anyone see lol).  Now, I can also say that the tears were also from nerves (I was terrified that the spinal would not take, and that I would either 1- need a general, and be put under, or 2- I would regain feeling during the c section…and I was suddenly overwhelmed with being homesick.  It was soon over though (a 2^nd first- the spinal), and a 3^rd first was on its way. 

This is the result of the spinal...

After the spinal started taking its toll, I was laid back on the table.  By this time, my legs have gotten very heavy….and I cannot lift them anymore.  I mean, they each must have weighed about 400 pounds.  This was good enough for Michelle, because now I am laying on this table (in front of about 6 German strangers…at least 4 of them men) having a catheter inserted.  I think I am also glad that I did not feel this, as it might be too much…I have decided that they poke and prod you until you are just overly thankful for things (although I cannot imagine ever going through anything like this without the lovely drugs of today…)  And so happened number 3.  Lol. 

After that, everything happened fairly fast.  My blood pressure dropped, like almost everyone else’s during this, so I got a little dizzy- this was an easy fix with some drugs.  They put the drape up, and I waited.  There was a very nice German nurse who sat by my head and talked to me for a while…she never did say her name, and I couldn’t see her name tag.  She told me that she had lived in South Carolina for a while and then she asked me how I liked the area here.  She also told me that in Germany it was bad luck to say the baby’s name before it is born…oh well.  Lol.  The anesthesiologist came and talked to me (he nearly whispered every time he spoke to me) and asked me questions…and continuously sprayed me with alcohol spray, and asked me how it felt (was it cold or warm).  This apparently is how they check to see if the spinal has kicked in.  During this time, there were 2 ladies that were swabbing my whole belly with the orange antiseptic stuff (that never seems to scrub off…).  They were laughing because as they were rubbing it over my belly, Roy was inside kicking at them as they did.  After they finished, it was just a matter of waiting for the meds to completely kick in…my toes were completely numb, I had been given more meds for my blood pressure, and I was getting very anxious.  By the time it kicked it, he could spray right up to my chest without it being cold.  Then, Mark came in. 

Mark sat down next to me and started talking to me.  Before I knew it, I felt a lot of tugging and pushing around.  I assumed that this was still part of the prep.  I was soooo wrong.  I had missed seeing my doctor, Dr. Heimrich, come in.  She had come in and just started (which I am very glad…because it just happened).  Before I knew it, Dr. Heimrich asked Mark if he had his name picked out…and then she told him to look.  I had been trying to get mark to take a peek the whole time- I wanted to know if he could see my guts…and if it was gross looking…but he wouldn’t look before she told him. 

That is when I heard the most beautiful noise I had ever heard in my life (which totally bypassed what I thought was the most beautiful noise, which was when I heard Roy’s heartbeat the first time)…I heard him cry…and I cried.  Mark got to take pictures of him as soon as she pulled him out…see facebook for said amazingly grumpy pictures!  I had already told Mark that when they took the baby, he was to go with them (if nothing else, so I could make sure no one did anything crazy to him…I don’t know what I thought they would do, but I didn’t want it done lol).  Mark had to wait a few minutes while he was checked out- if there were any complications, they take the baby away to the NICU and you have to wait.  Luckily we had the short wait, and Mark left to be with the baby.  They did bring him to me to see, once he had been cleaned up a little (please note here, I am going on how I remember things happening, and it may be a little out of order…but it is enough in order to know what is going on lol).  I looked at him and kissed him…and then he was gone again.  The nice nurse came back and told me that now was the “boring part for the mother”…where they stitch me back up.  And she was right.  It was boring….and by then, between being flat on my back and the meds, it always gets hard to breath.  They gave me more meds for my blood pressure, and kept reminding me to “breath deep” because I was starting to get sleepy…and apparently was just falling asleep…and not breathing in deep enough.  After FOREVER I was taken to recovery, where I was told to try to sleep while they got the baby cleaned up and I “recovered”.  Now, here is where time gets a little sketchy…because in my world, this took HOURS…like in my head, 4.  I did sleep, but kept waking up as people came to talk to me and remind me to breath deep.  I remember drifting in and out of sleep…and burning up (sweating)…and being mad that they were keeping me for HOURS, while my son was somewhere STARVING to death because I wasn’t there to nurse him.  Apparently this was only about an hour and a half though…and Mark had the baby the whole time.   He went with them and finished cleaning him up, and even cut the cord (which he said was much harder than it looks on tv).  He got to spend time with Roy all by himself, which I am very thankful for.  I think it helped him bond with him. 

Anyway, they finally took me to him.  They gave him to me to let me nurse for a few minutes, and then took us to our room in the “Mother and Child” Ward.  I held Roy while they pushed me to the elevators and to our room.  Mark had to go and change out of his scrubs, so we were going to meet him there.  As it turned out, we waited so long for an elevator, that Mark was walking by the one we were on as it arrived at the floor.  I was taken to my room, and Roy was allowed to feed again.  I got to look him over a little, not completely, but enough to know he was simply the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  He had a head full of the softest hair I had ever seen (yes, there does seem to be a red tint to it, but it isn’t all red), and he has the sweetest blue eyes…and the fattest little fingers you have ever seen. 

All this time I am waiting for my legs to not be numb so that I can stand up (these beds are not comfortable, and not being able to move my legs is terrible…not to mention the nurses come often to check on “bleeding” and “the wound” (which many say it so it sounds like “wound” as in “she wound the hose up”…is it spelled the same?  I am too tired to google lol).  It is flustering not to be able to help assist in your own care of such things.  During the evening I also got dinner in the hospital, which was a different experience…but that is a different blog…with pictures.

I didn’t get to keep him that night…his sugar levels were having a hard time staying up, which caused him to not be able to maintain a good body temp.  They would bring him to me to nurse (15-20 minutes on each side) and then give him between 15 and 30 mL of formula.  His levels didn’t come up to where they were supposed to be until about the 4^th feeding.  I still didn’t sleep (I slept all of an hour and a half or two hours the first night….and then started writing this out…though it is now almost 5:30am on Wednesday, and I started this Tuesday morning…you guess busy!).  My pain level has been ok- I ask for medicine usually before it gets too bad (but have let it go a bit longer than I needed to a few times), and I have nothing but nice things to say about the staff and my visit here.  

I will close now, and try to sleep a little bit before it is time to feed again.  I hope you enjoyed J  All the pics I have of Roy will be posted on Facebook, not in the blog, so look there to see them!

A doc appt, a carnival, and a trip around town...

Friday the 13th:

Ok, so really Thursday the 12th....it ended HORRIBLY!  I got up from the recliner and my hips were hurting (more than normal!).  I shuffled to bed, where I couldn't sleep...because trying to move any part of my lower body was literally the worst pain I had ever felt.  Of course, trying to get comfortable shift the baby, which is laying on top of my bladder- making me have to pee.  Now, our bedroom is literally 10 feet from the bathroom- should take all of 10 seconds to walk to.  Not for me...3-4 minutes of shuffling/crying/trying not to wake up Mark.  I made this trip about 6 times...which meant that I also had to get back INTO bed afterwards...which involved lifting my legs.  This night ranked up there with the top 5 most horrible nights I have ever had...no really.  I (in my wisdom) assumed that this was probably early labor, which wasn't a big deal since we had an appointment the next day...
ok- fast forward....
So, we had an appointment at noon (which mean that it really didn't start until a little later than that...), but we went in knowing that we had to make a decision on inducing or a planned c section.  I was supposed to meet with the dietitian 15 minutes before my noon appointment, but no one ever showed up, so we just went downstairs (she was only going to look at my "journal" and say "oh, well your numbers looked ok- you were high this one day...but there isn't time to do anything" and then send us on our merry way.  We made it downstairs (dealing with back spasms and mini contractions) and into the waiting room.  I did my normal pee in a cup, step on the scale, etc...which this time involved giving blood to check iron (they take a whole vial here) and another test to check for toxoplasmosis....ummmm....I think a wasted test on me, but whatever.  The nurse (a new one that I hadn't met...) did a good job not killing me taking blood.  No problem.  Then I answered some questions (which really they could have taken the information from one of the million other places I have answered the same questions) to fill our a file for when we actually have the baby.  Then off to a NST....and since I am cool, and had my camera in my purse, I took pictures of the magic egg yolk room!  Enjoy!

 So, the room has 3 beds, exactly the same....Look at those walls and matching sheets! 

This was taken with my cell phone camera...the colors aren't as good...

This is the NST machine- the orange number is his heartbeat- it was all over the place (he was sleeping I think, and then would wake up and wiggle...at the end he had hiccups or something...)  The green number (0) measures contractions.  Now, this was the first time it has ever stayed at 0-5 for the most part...usually it is between 7 and 15.  As you can see, it picked up no contractions...

This is Mark being patient...while we waited 30 minutes for the completion of the test. 

And this is Mark being bored waiting for 30 minutes to be over...lol.  Poor guy!











After it was over, we went back to the waiting room...to wait.  After a bit, as always, we went back to see the doctor, got an ultrasound, got a pelvic check (where I was SO bummed to find out everything was still shut tight...the pain is from Roy pushing down...), and was told that the best choice was to have a planned c section (I had already decided that I really wasn't willing to take the chance on not having one...there are just too many risk factors involved).  She told me that we needed to do it next week.  I decided that, since she was going on vacation on Wednesday, I wanted it done before then.  Mark and I scheduled it for Monday, April 16.  She will call us Monday morning and tell us when to come in, and he will be born some time that afternoon/evening.  Now comes the FUN part of my appointment...(not).  I met with a surgeon (who spoke very limited English) who explained the process and risk factors (which I kept trying to tell her I didn't understand when she spoke in German...and took more blood.  She literally butchered my arm.  There was no "squeeze and make a fist" and then feeling around for a vein.  She ripped off the band-aid that was on my arm (causing the lovely bruise you see on the left) and jabbed the needle in...deep...and took 4 vials of blood (she was very rough!)  By the evening, it felt like my elbow had been hyper extended...I am guessing she hit a little nerve in there...not the first time...

After this, I went to see the anesthesiologist...which was unlike any of the others I have met...ever.  Usually (in my experience, and in the States) they are funny/fun and friendly people.  Apparently that is not a requirement here....this lady was in a hurry and grumpy.  She did get "not as grumpy" a little later, but not much.  After she explained the process of the spinal, and then told me that if that didn't work they would do a general, she came and pushed on my back....which since my back already hurt, and my hips, and I was in the worlds most uncomfortable chair, was terrible...to the point I was fighting back tears.  Glad it is over...lol. 

After our appointment, we came back home for a while...but only until it was getting dark...because had to go to the carnival!  Now, for those of you in Brevard, it was kind of like a carnival we used to have in town- like where the new library is- we were thinking something similar.  And to a point, it was similar. lol.  It had a pony ride, something like a tilt-a-whirl, and then another spinning ride.  It also had a few kiddie rides.  Then there were the typical carnival games (knock over cans with bean bags, fish duckies out of a pool, the usual!) and then a few food places- one that does chocolate covered fruits, a gelato place, a candy place, 2 different nut places (we got some mixed nuts...YUM), a place that had whole roasted fish, and then a place that did German food.  Mark ate some sort of steak sandwich (it was very good) and I had a bockwurst- which was like a footlong hotdog, broke in half on a roll.  I have to say (and Mark agrees) that it was probably some of the best food we had eaten since we got here (how sad are we lol!)  Mark also enjoyed a beer...and we listened to some nice German men sing and play music!

Mark threw darts at some balloons and won me some stuff...In fact, we left the carnival with about 20 euros worth of carnival crap lol.

Mark's new beer mug...

These guys weren't too bad- i will post videos (ummm...that are sideways) on facebook!

Saturday-

We got up this morning and went to the bazaar!  They are having a bazaar with people from all over Europe- there was a lady with beautiful jewelry from Ireland (if Mark and I had $1500 just laying around, I would have a new wedding set....lol), lots of wine people, people with cheese and meats, furniture, beer, rugs, and LOADS of other stuff.  Mark bought 2 bottles of wine, and I got a bottle of grape juice...lol.  It was just neat to see everything. 

After we finished there, we drove around and I took pictures of Germany...and the squirrels...and I saw a hedgehog...but was "sleeping" on the side of the road.  That was fairly depressing, but at the same time 2 new experiences (I had never seen a hedgehog in the wild...and hadn't seen a "sleeping" animal since I got here.  I will post all the pictures from our drive on facebook (it is much faster there!)

Red Squirrels and German Porn....*smh*

Ok, so another week (or so) has gone by and I didn't write a single thing about anything going on!  Whatever shall we do!?  Get over it I think is the best bet :)

So, first, let us back track a bit- because I have uploaded pictures, and so I will be posting them on my facebook page (as well as some of them on here...check both places...I will make sure to add captions to fb so you know what you are looking at!)

I hope that everyone had a great Easter...we did.  It was sad not being at home this year, and knowing that we missed Easter lunch/dinner at Nancy and Don's house- it is always so much fun watching Cole (who is the only little one left for now) hunt eggs.  It is also a promise of a good meal! (Hey, my family can cook- don't be upset about it!).  We had out own Easter though!  The Easter bunny did come and see both of us.  Here is Mark's "basket"...in the bag.  The actual basket is the one I got (excuse the crap pic with my finger in the way!)

He got Godiva Chocolates, a Lindt Chocolate bunny, and a hunting game for the Wii.  I got some peeps with chocolate on the bottom, a Dove chocolate bunny, some lilac candles and tarts for my warmer, and a glass topper for a big candle with daisies and ladybugs on it.  It was a nice Easter.  We also celebrated something else on Easter...Mark's 30th birthday!  He seemed to really enjoy it (which he always seems to!).  He got War Horse (the movie) and a beer stein from Schweinfurt (where we live).  He also had a HUGE dinner (no, we didn't eat the "typical" Easter dinner...).  We invited the neighbors from downstairs up for steak with onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes, salad, and chocolate cake (that I made...from the worlds most complex, yet easy to read, recipe...)  Here are the pics of the cake...from the beginning to the finished product.  It was NOT a beautiful cake, but it was an amazingly delicious cake...



ummm...it stuck in the pan...and cracked/broke

And this is "fudge icing"

on my lopsided/broken and glued together cake

It is probably the ugliest cake I've ever made

...but if you put enough candles on it...

...and set it on fire...it is kinda pretty

...and then you pray the smoke doesn't set off the alarm, so the MPs, fire department, and rescue squad doesn't have to come...and the whole building doesn't have to evacuate like it did when the lady upstairs burned chicken.  All was well :)

This week has been slightly less eventful than previous weeks...mostly because of Easter (the whole base had a 4 day weekend...and pretty much everything was closed on Monday in town for Easter Monday).  We did drive around Monday...I, of course, didn't think to grab the camera, but since it was rainy, there weren't many pictures to take anyway.  We did drive through several small villages, and that was neat- I promise to get pictures of this one day and post! (No, really!)  We mostly relaxed. 

Now to get to the title of the blog...interesting huh.  Well, today was a busier day than yesterday.  I had a doctor appointment with the dietitian today (the one I don't like as much).  I honestly have no clue...she tells me that my numbers for the most part are fine (out of 30 finger pricks, 3 or 4 came back high...and each time it was something I did...I drank orange juice in between a meal once because I am trying my hardest to not get whatever crud I am trying to get...that made it a bit higher...)  Anyway, she asked how far along I was (apparently no doctors/hospitals ANYWHERE communicate with each other...) and I told her...but then told her that Roy would be here next week most likely (more on that in a second).  She told me that it was not worth it to go on insulin for a week, and to come back Friday before my doctor appointment with my regular doctor so she can see what I did this week.  She said my "long term" test came back fine (I asked her about it)- she said it was just in the green, but it was still in the green...so I am just not sure.  Anyway, I will go back again on Friday.  After my appointment, we went to the commissary to get a few things, then to the post office.  On our way off base from the post office, I saw my VERY FIRST GERMAN SQUIRREL!  It was red, with long fur coming off the tops of his ears.  VERY cute.  If I had had my phone with me, I would have taken a picture...again, I am a loser lol.  I will get a pic of one before long!  He was the neatest thing! 

After our trip to the post office, we went to the "E Center" which is what people call one of the economy grocery stores (edeka is the real name I think).  We walked around the WHOLE store for probably over an hour (until I couldn't hardly walk anymore...)  Mark got a selection of German beer to try, and I got some apple juice mixed with mineral water...lol.  We are such exciting people.  Anyway, at the front of the store, there was a HUGE magazine section, so I was looking at them...and noticed dirty magazines in the grocery store!  Not only were they RIGHT there...they weren't in plastic!  Now, (fact of life I guess), everyone has seen a dirty mag in a gas station...and 9 times out of 10 they are in plastic...so the fact there was a Playboy with no plastic on it made me think that SURELY it couldn't possibly be a real Playboy...so I looked.  That's right folks...I opened a dirty magazine in the middle of a huge grocery store...and it in fact WAS a real Playboy...I saw boobies in the grocery store.  lol.  Who knew...

Ok, so now backtrack to LAST week...Tuesday to be exact (ya know, after I was busy failing my drivers license test...).  We had a doctor's appointment where we learned that Roy was then measuring 8lbs 12oz...which means he gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks according to the ultrasound.  Dr. Heinrich told us that at my next appointment we would discuss induction or c-section.  She also said his belly is measuring bigger than his head...which means he has a higher chance of getting caught coming out.  This increases the risk for all sorts of issues for him, as well as a required emergency c section.  I have now accepted the fact that I will be having a c section.  When we go to the doctor on Friday, I will ask if it can be done on Monday (the 16th).  The doctor goes on a weeks vacation on Wednesday, and I am honestly not sure he is wanting to stay put much longer as it is.  I am sure that everything will be fine- just kind of a scary thing, to go through the entire pregnancy and expect one thing and then be told how dangerous it could be for the baby...which in the long run is what is most important. 

So, now you are caught up on everything here.  I will go through and take picture of the apartment this week and post them either on here or on Facebook- it depends on everything that goes on :)  Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

Sooo...I got busy...just shoot me!

Ok, so it has been a long time since I blogged...and I def had stuff going on to blog about, but I have been busy!  I have a ton of pics to post, but today is not the day for that...I will get that done when I can. 

I think the last time I posted was about my 2nd doctor's appointment and the gestational diabetes test I took, which I failed.  Nothing new there.  I was told to monitor my blood sugar for the weekend and take it back Monday...which I did...and the lady quickly looked at my numbers and then told me to do it again for a week and bring it back today before my appointment...no problem.  I checked my numbers all week long- had mostly good days- a few days where my numbers were a little higher than they should be (but when I showed the lady on the Monday after the weekend test, she said it was fine as long as they were not too high...)...the lady I saw today wasn't as nice about it.  Oh well, what can you do.  She also told me I did not need to be testing before I ate (which is not what the other lady told me to do...so I will continue to poke myself 6 times a day). 

I went yesterday (Monday) to take my drivers license test...that was an epic fail.  I was under the impression that as long as I paid attention to the class, I would be fine.  I was under the wrong impression.  I, however, did not have the same instructor that Mark had, nor did he go over hardly anything.  Mark's guy showed them videos and stuff...mine went over road signs and right aways...which was maybe 25 questions on the 100 question test (which, when you consider this, I did pretty well to only miss 23 out of 100...lol)  I did get an updated study guide and will take the test again next week.  It really wasn't a hard test, there were just things on there that I had no idea about- he never mentioned a Good Samaritan Law (and there were 2 questions on my test about that!).  Here is what is tricky-

1. Their right away rules are so strange...since there are no 4 way stops here (that's right folks), if you come to a 4 way intersection with no signs, the person on the right goes first...so in the event there are 3 people stopped, you go clockwise from the person with no one on their right.  If all 4 people are there, you must be curtious. 
2. At intersections with "priority" road signs (in Germany you have priority roads...and others must yield to you), you follow FLY (the person Following the priority road goes, then the person Leaving the priority road, then the person/people who must Yield to the priority road.).  It can get pretty tricky I guess.
3. Pedestrians and bikes nearly always have the right away, as long as they are at a crossing area (and they give themselves the right away when they just want to walk across the street randomly...it is still illegal to run over them...lol)
4. There are like 1001093938493 road signs...and most of them are VERY self explanitory (follow the pictures...), but then they throw in those German words, of which I speak none of, and that can be a pain.  I can recognize the ones we went over- gravel, when wet, and road damage.

I am sure that now I have a study guide, I will do better next time. 

I went back to the doctor today...what a mess that is too. lol.  Roy is still measuring big- and will be here in about 2 weeks.  She wants to schedule a C-section, so I guess I will be doing that next week when I go on Friday. 

I will post pictures and write more soon...The apartment is pretty much put together, just a few things out of place still, so I can get pics of all of that to share, as well as post the pics of all the randomness that I have taken so far (not too many, but enough to have some pics).