Day 90

Another day of rest for me, and that meant that Florian had to go and do what I was supposed to be doing today! He got to go on an outing the the Maritim Hotel with the Kindergarden kids! I had been really looking forward to it, but there was no way I was going anywhere today! Just a trip to the kitchen and back results in a coughing fit!

Florian and the kids had a lovely morning out, Richard was really excited that Daddy had gone with them, and Florian took loads of photos for me, and after going through them twice now, I feel that I was sort of there too! I can't show most of them, but here are a couple

This afternoon Florian had to take the boys to football training too, it wasn't as warm today, so they had to wrap up well, but with all the running around (at least I heard Robert did a lot) they stayed warm!

CU tomorrow!

Day 89

I went to the doctors this morning and I have Bronchitis again! Even the doctor said to me "you're here a lot lately, aren't you!" I think he even felt a bit sorry for me! I was certainly feeling sorry for myself! Florian took a couple of pics of me, NOT a pretty sight, but the cat still loves me!

We had someone come around to look at our windows and next week we will get a quote on how much it would cost to get new ones! That will be interesting!

In the afteroon Richard went back to Kindergarden, and Robert and Florian had some Father/Son time on the Wii, and I just put my feet up.
Then Florian took Robert to sport along with Richard. Whilst Robert was at sport Florian did a tour of the area and took various photos here are some of them!

My favourite shop!

Town hall

The bank

Where we get our chicken food!

Auntie Kerri's mountain!

And when he got back to the sports hall he got one of Robert too!

CU tomorrow, I'm off to bed now!

Day 88

I got up this morning fully intending to ignore this cold that was coming. BUT that wasn't to be, even before I left for the library I decided that maybe I should take my temperature, and oops 38.7°C for someone that NEVER gets a temperature that is bad news. But I didn't want to leave the girl on library duty with me in the lurch, so I went. I was worn out by the time I got there, just carrying the books up to the library was too much for me. As it was all the girls were there and they sent me home again!

Once home I just wrapped myself up in a couple of blankets and lay down with the TV on, and promptly fell asleep. Florian even got a picture of me!

I spent most of the day in that position, whilst Florian sorted out the boys - Thank you Florian!

Now I am going to have a Lemsip and head for bed - and tomorrow the doctors!

CU then!

Day 87

Back to work today, nothing to do until my boss got there an hour after I did, and I'll give him some credit, he did think about what he could give me to do. The fact that I was "re-inventing the wheel", is a different matter. It kept me out of mischief and made me think a little bit. So I won't complain too much! (I was writing up a powerpoint presentation about our translation software).

Whilst I was out Florian was really really busy in the barn, putting in some electricity where his workbench is. It has always been a bit too dark to actually work there, but now he has plug sockets and light! I will post a picture tomorrow, I forgot to take one today.

In the afternoon Florian was still busy on that, Robert was at a friend's to play and Richard still at Kindergarden, so I got to go shopping in peace! On my way back from shopping I picked Richard up at Kindergarden and when we got home it was play time! All our friends were round and we had a lovely time outside, although already the temperature has dropped some, and according to Katrin, we can expect snow at the weekend, but I REFUSE to believe that forecast!!

CU tomorrow!

Day 85 and Day 86

Day 85 - Sunday

We got an early start to the day, seeing as the clocks "Sprung forward", arranging to meet at the baker's at 9.30am was not really a good idea! But we were there on time and our friends made it out of bed too! Looks like we both have early rising kids! We had a lovely morning catching up and the kids all playing with one another. When we got home, the weather was so beautiful that we only went in for lunch, then it was back out into the garden!

Richard found a conker that was already starting to grow and he wanted to plant it! I am not really sure, that I want a conker tree in the garden, but it will be years and years until it is big enough to create a huge mess, that is if it actually survives!

After planting we decided to put up the trampoline again! The boys enjoyed helping us, but once it was up, they only bounced on it once.

I think being out in the garden for the first time this year, they just had too much, that they wanted to do out there! Here they are digging in their patch!

Even the rabbit got an outing into the sunshine!

At about 5.45pm I left my men behind and took off with my brother-in-law! I had got Florian tickets for a concert for Xmas, but unfortunately because of his operation he couldn't come with me, but he managed to convince his BIL that he would enjoy it, so he came along with me!

We went to see Dick Brave and the Backbeats, they are a German Rockabilly band, and they are BRILLIANT! We had a super evening. Someone stood right in front of me (he has the same view as I had, only I was about 50cm lower), actually posted a couple of videos on Youtube, so you can have a taste of the concert too

Day 86 - Monday
Well, as my boss didn't want to see me today, Florian and I had a day to ourselves. We had various paperwork that needed to be delivered to the right places but that didn't go as well as planned. We need help filling in some of the forms concerning our pensions, but the village town hall couldn't help us, and the place that can doesn't have an appointment for us until the end of April - oh well at least we got an appointment!
We then went and handed in our tax forms, and with that all done, decided on a trip into the Rhön (our local mountains) for a walk and to enjoy the sunshine! We wanted to go to a place called "Rotes Moor" and luckily we have internet on our mobiles and were able to determine just whereabouts it was! Here are some of the pics we took:

And yes that is still snow up there! We were about 850m above sea level, so where there was no sun there was still snow!

We had our lunch out too, we tried to find an Italian (as they have the best vegetarian selection) but we didn't have any luck there, but Florian something at a very German restaurant and I had Schnitzel and chips.

When we got home I went for a lie down, I have had a throbbing headache for most of the day and thought a nap might help. It didn't really help, but the tablet I had after my nap did! And an early night should do the rest!
CU tomorrow!

Day 83 and Day 84

Day 82 - Friday

Richard's first taste of school! Today all the children that start school next term got to go for a "test" day! He was so excited about going, it was sooo cute!
I would have had a picture of all the kids going into the classroom with the teacher, BUT just as I was getting ready to take it, my contact lense decided to go and hide itself under my eyelid, and I couldn't see much and missed the photo opportunity. Such a shame!
They had lessons from 8.45 until 11.15am, that gave us Mum's time enough to pop around the corner to one of the many bakers in the village and have a delicious breakfast! It was fun, it was a different constellation of Mum's so lots of new gossip and things to talk about.

Meanwhile back at home, Florian was entertaining the neighbours too with cups of Chococcino (Capuccino with chocolate), it was a good job, that Florian was home, cause because Robert's teacher is going to get a new class next term, Robert's class had a day off of school! Would have been very inconvenient, if I had been on my own! Robert enjoyed his morning as he got to play on the Wii!!

In the afternoon Robert went to play at a friends, Richard went to Kindergarden and from there to a friends to play. Whilst they were all out, Florian had a web meeting with work, and I went out into the garden and did a LOT of weeding! It was gorgeous out there really warm and sunny, so perfect for some weeding..and later on for some more chatting! When some of the girls popped round for a chat!

At just after 5pm we rounded up our kids and took them around to Florian's sister who was babysitting them for the night! And we went from there straight to Frankfurt! Why Frankfurt? Well, we can watch the film in the original version there! We went to see "The Hunger Games" the film based on the books I read not long ago.

I did a very clever thing, when I read the books, as the film had already been made, I was able to see who was playing who, so when I read the books, the characters already had "real" faces in my head. So I couldn't be disappointed by the casting! And I wasn't disappointed in the film either. This is me back home after having seen the film!

Day 83 - Saturday

After a bit of a lay in, which was not interrupted by kids who couldn't find their socks or such. We went around to Florian's sisters for breakfast (we took the rolls) The boys were pleased to see us, but made sure they stayed out of our way, so that we didn't leave too soon!
When we did leave we didn't go straight home, but went into town to enjoy the beautiful weather, with a little walk and an ice cream!
There was some sort of Spring celebration going on in town and there was a band playing on one town square

And then we went for an icecream. it was delicious! Robert and I had spaghetti ice cream, Richard had a chocolate ice cream bear and Florian had a giant strawberry/kiwi ice cream!

The boys were actually excited when it was bedtime, I think they didn't get that much sleep last night! They certainly looked tired all afternoon, but when we said it was bedtime, Richard actually cheered today! Bless!

CU tomorrow!

Day 82

This morning I went off to teach my little English kids, the second group are all those that are starting school next term, and tomorrow they all have a day at school, and they are all so excited, so today I taught them "Tomorrow I am going to school" they thought it was hilarious! (and yes Richard has a test day tomorrow too!)

Whilst I was at Kindergarden, Florian went to the doctors to check all the little aches, pains and itches he has are OK, she told him that one of the pains could be because he wasn't doing enough walking and putting his feet up - oops. So today he did a LOT of walking back and forward to Kindergarden, one of those days where Richard just has to go there and back a LOT!

This afternoon as I didn't have an tutoring to do and as Florian was there to sort Richard out, I stayed for Robert's sport lesson. It looks like they have a LOT of fun there.
Here they all are doing some sort of obstacle course. I unfortunately forgot the camera and only had my mobile phone for a picture... Robert is the one right in the middle touching the floor for some reason or other!

After Kindergarden Richard went to play with a friend, and I picked him up when I got back with Robert. Richard was having such a good time, that he did NOT want to come home, and was very cross with me for coming to get him!

This evening we are watching Top Gun, still great after all these years!

CU tomorrow!

Day 81

Busy day today, first on my list was the library, I had to be there to open up. And then I waited for 30 minutes and off I went back to my appointment at the hairdressers! Very relaxing. and a lot of fun catching up on all the village gossip! Although the actual gossip is not really good, we are having problems with bullying on the school bus..!

After the hairdressers it was more or less straight back out to the village square to welcome the Kindergarden kids there. The others decorated it again for Easter yesterday. It looks really pretty again, and the Kindergarden kids love coming to see it! (Can't show the other kids, but I got some cute pictures!)

After lunch Florian took the kids to the playground, whilst I waited at home for my student to come. Nope, AGAIN she let me down. This time I phoned her and in no uncertain terms told her that I wasn't prepared to sit around waiting for her not to show anymore. I said that if she had some kind of English emergency she could get in touch, and that I would then see whether I can fit her in. But with the weather warming up, I would rather be out with the kids than waiting for her!

After that phone call I joined everyone at the playground for half an hour. Florian got some good shots of Richard and his friend on the deathslide!

 And after half an hour there it was off to art school, where the boys carried on working on their statues...not quite finished yet, so no pictures (I didn't even get to see Richards, it had already been put away for next week)
Whilst the boys were there, Florian and I went for a walk around the mall nearby. We bought Lucky a present some sort of thing that cats can scratch their claws on. So far he has managed to ignore it, he obviously likes using the furniture to scratch on (or my lap!)

CU tomorrow!

Day 80

Well, I spent the morning waiting. First I was anxiously waiting for it to turn 10am, so that we could find out what the rashes are. Well at 10 Florian phoned the doctor and the blood test results are inconclusive - GREAT...NOT! It probably is shingles, but his body seems to be fighting it itself as some sort of level in the blood isn't that high! She said to keep an eye on the rash and to phone if anything changes. As we couldn't see if anything had changed, we had to wait until after he had showered. (The lotion we put on to stop it itching is very white and covers it just too well to tell if it had changed)
Florian did ask about what to do with the kids and she agreed with their doctor. If there is no blistering on the spots then they can go to school and kindergarden. So that is what they will be doing in the morning.

So after that phone call, we checked Florian's itchy spots without the white stuff on them...ooops, they are bigger a lot redder but no new blisters. And there are some new red spots, so it was back to playing the waiting game. We had to get in touch with the doctor again. When we did call back, she said that the redness is some sort of fungal rash, which he probably picked up in hospital! And the blistering shingles! Oh dear, we do seem to shout "here" a lot lately!

After lunch we decided to head to IKEA, we have had 3 doctors say that the kids are OK to go out, so we did! The boys were really excited to be going, as we were going to look at furniture for their bedroom. Whilst we looked around the store, the boys had a great time in the play area there. And the first time we walked around the store we actually made it out without buying a single thing! Not bad for IKEA (we have a very long list of furniture for the boys though). We then picked the boys up from the play area and showed them what we would be ordering for them. Richard was so excited about it all (Robert was too, but it was Richard who was more even more excited!) he even knows what he is going to put where, too cute!

After seeing all the furniture we stopped in the restaurant for some cake and a drink. Yummy!

Then it was once again through what IKEA here call the "Market hall" and oops we did spend 20 Euros! We got some candles, some small boxes for the boys bits and bobs, so that I can have my Tupperware back and some grow your own herbs!

This morning whilst we were comparing spots and such, I also got a picture of one of Florian's very colourful legs, I love how where the plasters go it is a different colour to the rest, very strange!

CU tomorrow!

Day 79

So, when we got up this morning, I was Nurse Kerri - Florian has 13 plasters on one leg and 9 on the other, and as quite a few are on the back of his leg it is easier for me to replaster them after his shower than if he tries to find the right spots to put them! His legs are very very colourful, but I'll have to try harder to convince him to let me take a picture for my blog.

After that was all done, I had to call our doctor to make an appointment for the boys and their spots (no new ones for Richard). On our way there we dropped Florian off at the other doctors, he wanted something for his itchy patch on his back. Both doctors saw the boys and both sort of agreed that it couldn't really be chicken pox, but they weren't sure what it was. But I was happy with that diagnosis, cause it meant they could go straight to school and kindergarden! I texted Florian that we were on our way to pick him up and that the boys didn't have chicken pox. And off we drove. At the traffic lights, a text from Florian came through. "I am having blood taken, the doctor thinks I have shingles" AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! If Florian has shingles then the boys most definitely have chicken pox, as they are related! So no school or kindergarden until we get the blood test results back. And they should be in tomorrow morning at 10, and then we can phone! Oh and Florian is now signed off sick until the end of the month.

This afternoon Florian put our plants back outside - spring is coming. We forgot to get a picture then, but Florian just went and took one now!

Florian helped a friend get rid of a virus on his laptop this afternoon, whilst I went into town to my appointment with the parenting support centre. I had made the appointment 4 weeks ago when we were having big problems with Robert lying. Of course now after getting him the book about the boy who cried wolf, and doubting everything he said for a week or so, he is a lot, lot better. So really I needn't have gone. They had no other tips for me, but were able to confirm that I was on the right track. But I do know now that they are really friendly there, so if ever I get stuck again, I will go back!

CU tomorrow, hopefully with good news!

Day 78

Well, my plan of the spots disappearing over night didn't work! Robert is still covered in spots and even has some new ones, so it really does look like chicken pox! And to top it all off at some point during the day Richard goes "Mummy, my arm really really itches!" NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Yep, Richard has 3 spots that itch.... I hope it stays at three! (here are two of them)

This morning we picked Florian up from hospital, once home we all went out for a walk (trying to beat the rain). The boys didn't want to walk so we let them take their bikes. Here they are with Flat Stanley, who is visiting us from Texas, USA!

Obviously we were too slow for Robert, cause he decided to cycle ahead and to NOT keep checking to see where we were. When we got to the first path that branches off, there was no sign of Robert - silly us, thought he would wait there - he didn't come when we called or anything. As we had said when we started off, that we were going for a walk in the woods, Florian went and checked up the path, no sign of Robert. By then it had started raining and we had Richard saying "This is the worst walk EVER!" Florian and Richard then headed back down the way we had come, incase Robert had decided to do a full circle and was coming back up to them, and I continued the walk which goes in a circle back to home. We all got back home together, and Richard came running out of the barn "Robert's bike is here"!  And so was Robert indoors, playing with the cat! Needless to say he got a HUGE telling off, and I hope we frightened him, when we told him what could have happened and how we were scared for him.

After Richard came out in spots too, Florian owned up that he had a sore itchy patch on his back too. His looks like some sort of contact allergy - not sure what sort of things they would have stuck to that part of his back, but he needs to go to a doctor too tomorrow. So I am again not going in to work, but I did do the work that was waiting there for me at home today. So I will at least earn a few pennies! I also personally called Robert's teacher to let him know what is up this time, and I called my friend/colleague to let her know too. All I have to do now tomorrow is phone my boss, seems he is a bit upset that I only informed my colleagues the last two times.

CU tomorrow with an update on my spotty men!

Day 77

This morning after feeding all of us and the animals, we headed off to see Florian. I was actually quite surprised when we drove up to the car park to see him sat on the bench there (with his book) waiting for us! He is already up and about, although apparently part of getting better is doing a lot of walking! It was a gorgeous day. So after lunch in the hospital restaurant we went for a walk in the woods. It is beautiful there, look at these pictures!

We want to go back there when everything is a bit greener and with a change of clothes for everyone! Richard would have loved to have climbed over that log, but I was just too afraid of him falling in! They did start building a dam, by throwing the logs in from the side, but we wouldn't let them any closer!

That was the good bit of the day....

At lunch, Robert suddenly said "Mummy it really itches here" and pulled his jumper up. Uhoh! I told him to put his jumper down and to eat his lunch, and we would look afterwards. So after lunch I marched him to the toilets and made him strip right down. An even bigger "uhoh" and the urge to scream. He was covered in spots from head to toe, and they look suspiciously like chicken pox! We chose to ignore them whilst we were there. But after some cake after our walk, it was time to face the facts and head for a doctor. Of course there are none on a Saturday, so we had to go to hospital.

And guess what, remember that Richard had the same spots in March last year (see this post) - it was the same doctor again, and again I don't really trust his opinion and am hoping that it is just an allergic reaction maybe to the medicine he has been taking. But I could just be living in denial....See for yourselves.

CU tomorrow!

Day 76

Well, I was a bit surprised when I didn't hear at all from Florian in the morning before his operation, I thought he was taking a sleeping pill at 9am, and then would be off for the operation. Apparently I have since heard, he had sleeping pills for the night then was woken at 6am and given something else and then slept until they wheeled him off for the operation. That explains the silence on his end!
All went well, and he finally phoned me at 4.30pm to let me know. His legs are all bandaged up and he says it hurts. We will go tomorrow and see for ourselves how he is doing.

The rest of the day was as follows. In the morning I went shopping, I had to get a birthday present for one of Robert's friends, so I went to our shopping mall, and took my time. I got back home at 11 ish. When I did get home there was a phone call on the answer machine from Robert's teacher...that made my heart plummet to my feet. But at the same time, I worked out that if they phoned at 10 and it was something really important (like broken bones) they would have tried more than once...so my heart came back up to its rightful place before I dialed the school. I got the school secretary who had heard what the problem was. Apparently one of the kids laughed whilst chewing gum and that gum ended up stuck in Robert's hair!

The teacher had called, so that I could go to school and cut it out of his hair, or give him (the teacher) permission to do it. As I didn't call school til 11.15am it was too late for that and Robert came home with gum in his hair....
Well, came home...mmmh,.. he didn't come straight home and I was sort of getting a bit worried. I had to pick Richard up at 12am so I was looking for Robert whilst doing that, no sight of him. But when I got home there was a call on the answer machine, that Robert was at a friends. In fact, he was even doing homework there. Monster! When he had finished that homework, he came home for dinner. And I tried calmly explaining why he should always come straight home and not visit friends first!

After having seen the gum, I phoned our hairdresser up for some tips.... she suggested some magic cleaning stuff, which I knew Katrin had, so i rang Katrin, hers was all used up, so I got on the phone to the hairdresser again. And we went round there. We (the hairdresser and I) were expecting it to take forever to get the stuff out. But that stuff was magic I put it on, rubbed it, and then just pulled the gum out, and Robert didn't even flinch! Wow! What a relief that we didn't have to cut anymore hair off, and thank goodness I wasn't in when the teacher phoned, cause poor Robert would now have had a hole in his new hairstyle!

This afternoon Robert went to a birthday party, and what a great day for a party, it was really warm and the party took the kids to a crazy golf place, and they all had a great time! Richard had football training and I stayed to enjoy the sunshine and a good chat! Here is Richard just about to score a goal!

CU tomorrow!

Day 74, Day 75

Day 74 - Wednesday
Doctors with Robert in the morning and his ears are on the mend, and tomorrow he can go back to school (shhhh don't tell him I was doing a happy dance!). So if you were wondering about the onion working,... it did!!

From the doctors we went shopping, not the weekly shop, but I got the most important bits!
With Robert given the back to school go ahead, I didn't feel guilty taking them both to the hairdressers. It was about time, as you can see from the before pictures!

And here they are after! Robert wanted to try a different colour this time, and Richard of course wanted neither spiky nor coloured!

After the hairdressers it was off to art school. I stayed downstairs in the cafe again, but today I needn't have worried about Richard. Today they weren't painting but building. They had to build a sculpture out of different pieces of wood, which they chose themselves. Then having built it, they had to sketch it, and next week, using the sketch they will have to rebuild it, glue and paint it! Richard was in heaven!

Florian came home in the evening (the reason I forgot to blog!) he has to go into hospital to have his varicose veins done. He had hoped to get home early, but after forgetting his keys in the office and an extra trip back and forth, it wasn't to be!

Day 75 - Thursday
Busy day today. First I had my little kids for English, we were still doing the weather, but after missing two weeks, they didn't remember much! At 10am Florian picked me up there and we drove straight to the hospital. I couldn't stay for long with him, as I had to be home again in time for Robert coming home from school. Robert was a bit upset when Daddy wasn't home, it seems he thought he was taking Daddy to hospital. Oops. I gave him a choice then that we could visit Daddy or he could go to sport in the afternoon. He chose sport.

BUT we did get to go and visit Daddy. We went after sport and had our tea with Daddy. The hospital has a very nice restaurant where the patients go to eat but their visitors can eat there too. After tea Florian showed us his room.

Tomorrow morning is his operation. Wish him well!
CU tomorrow!