An Un-Titled Post

hmmmm, Blogger always asks me what my titles are going to be. And I can never figure out what an appropriate title would be for what I am going to post about. This one is no different. I'll just jump in with typing and see what kind of title I come up with.

So, the last entry I posted here was photos. I said I had more photos and I would add them the next day. Well, Here I am a week later, and still no update. Well, I know why I haven't updated, but the world does not. I have wondered about the idea of posting about it here on my blog. And the thing is, I started this blog for me and for my family overseas (well, I guess I am the one who went overseas. But you know what I mean). And so to keep them updated, I am going to post about it. And then, all others who are now avid readers and those who stumble upon this enjoy the read. lol

So, as most know, I have had a pretty bad case of Anemia this past year. Back in May when I saw my doctor, he had blood drawn and was astounded at my hemoglobin level. He couldn't believe I was alive. Since then, I get blood drawn every few months. I am supposed to get a b12 shot every other week and I take Iron pills once a day and also vitamins with iron.

One and a half weeks ago, I went in and they did blood again to see where I am at, how I am progressing. I went back for my results last Tuesday (remember, the last time I posted). Come to find out, my hemoglobin level is improving ever so slowly. But improving. There was another thing (this german stuff gets me as I don't understand everything the doctor says) that also was improving. But one thing was not getting better. Matter of fact, it was getting worse.

My doctor was pretty baffled. So he began to ask me about my monthly cycles. And since having Ian 1 1/2 years ago and the d&c afterwards for part of the placenta being left inside, I have had it pretty bad. I chalked it up to having 5 kids and my body changing. It never occured to me that something might be wrong. He sent me Wednesday to see a Gynocologist who did an ultrasound and decided that my doctor was right. I needed to have a d&c again to clean me out.

So on Friday last week, I had a d&c. But he has told me that won't fix my problem. I will have to have this done a few times a year. That with the fact I am done having kids and wanted to get my tubes tied, he decided it was best if I have a hysterectomy. It was a little hard at first for me to swallow. I am 38 years old. I am not that old. And I have always thought that was for you know, older people. And this would mean no more kids. Now, like I just said, I am done. I wanted my tubes tied. But this is really final. I just didn't expect it at all.

So, next Tuesday, I will be admitted to the hospital and having Surgery on Wednesday. They don't play around here in Germany. When they decide to do something, they do it right away. He actually wanted me to have the surgery this week. But, I told him it was just too soon. I have 5 kids and need some time to organize things here first. And I will be in the hospital for 7 days he says.

I do have my mother in law coming out here to help with the kids. She will arrive towards the end of my hospital stay. Thank goodness for cheaper airfares right now and her willingness to come out. I know it will take some time to heal even after I get released from the hospital. So it will be nice to have her here. From what I hear, the way that it is being done, 3 weeks looks like the recovery time. But of course, everyone is different. So we will see.

So there you have it. Still no appropriate title has jumped out at me. Now you see why I can't figure out a title for this blog entry?

Photo A Day

Here are some more pictures I have taken over the last week. I have more but will upload them tomorrow.

Emma, she is just so cute. 2 1/2 years old

Emma just wants to give Ian a Kiss. Is that so wrong?

Ian has a fascination with Mom and Dad's shoes.

Every Saturday, I like to make the kids a special breakfast. Here we are having Waffles.

Talk a Mommy, Mommy!

The title was Emma's request to Tamara on Saturday when we had a German couple over for dinner. Translated it means: "talk the way you normally talk, mommy." During the evening with our friends Tamara naturally spoke German and when she would turn to Emma she would stay in German mode and speak German to Emma as well.

This did not sit well with Emma. In trying to make sense of her world, she has learned that Mommy speaks English and that Daddy speaks German. If that changes suddenly, her world is a bit upside down.

Her expression for telling us that the world was now upside down, and that we should right the ship was just so adorable. "Talk a Mommy!" is what she repeatedly said to Tamara whenever Tamara spoke German to her. It was a tender moment, especially after the past week of bilingual discovery that Emma has had.

We have also described the day in Episode 22 of our Living in Germany podcast.

Basement is Keller on German

Emma has been on a tear lately with realizing that there are two languages. Not sure what triggered it. Her age is definitely a factor. At church she and Ian started going to Nursery in Primary (Primarvereinigung [PV]). Here in German Nursery is called Kindergarten and our congregation is mainly German, so the teachers naturally speak German. That's her first big experience, i.e., direct constant interaction, with German outside of the home. Maybe it's something else I'm not thinking of.

At any rate she has been noticing the differences in the two languages quite a bit more this week. After proclaiming that Dark is not Dunkel early last week, she began telling me that "basement is Keller on German (or sometimes on Deutsch)." For those who know German, you may theorize, as I did, that the "on German" phrasing Emma used comes from the German phrase "wie heißt das auf Deutsch?" Or, it is a simple mixing up of the prepositions. Regardless, the German preposition auf can be used to mean both in and on.

It is amazing to watch her mind make sense of a bilingual world. Not being an expert on the subject I just enjoy watching her growth. I know it will be hard and maybe she will struggle in both languages, but there are many hard things in life. I think that Emma's awareness of the two languages is simply a sign that she will make it through the bilingual experience alright.

It's Dark Not dunkel

Ah, Emma. Her world is so fun and simple. She is so excited about things and it brings such joy to the heart to be with her. When she almost tackles me after I come in the door and screams "daddy, daddy, daddy" all the way to the door. That is truly amazing.

We went shopping yesterday and she helped me carry some of the groceries home. It was a very nice time. Her exuberance gushes over into all around her. On the way home at about 5:00 p.m., dusk was turning into a night sky and Emma noted that it was dark.

Without me saying anything, she started telling me, or herself, or anyone who might be around. "It's dark. not dunkel." Then she repeated the statement, with emphasis. "Dark. Not dunkel."

This is most cute because they are really just the same word in two different languages. Most of the time Emma just easily switches from English to German in her understanding, but every now and then a word just won't go in. The word dunkel is one of them. She refuses to assign this German word to the English word dark. Hard to say why that is, but it is very adorable to watch her learn.