Day 352

Got the boys off to school this morning, then as I went to leave for work, I stumbled upon Robert's sports stuff - bother, he has tennis in the afternoon. I ummed and ahhed about whether or not to take the things to school, and in the end he won. And I rushed off to school to get them to him before school started.
Whilst there I also organised lunch for both boys on Mondays before they have guitar lessons, so it wasn't a completely wasted trip!

Then off to work I went. I didn't actually accomplish much today, cause my computer wasn't set up as it should be, and it proved to be slightly more difficult than planned to get it working. Hopefully tomorrow will be more productive.

I got home about one minute before Richard did, so that was perfect timing. He was so excited today, he had brought home the crib he made at school, and he had big ideas for how he wanted to display it. He wanted a light inside it, where the shooting star was. He set it all up and I have to admit it looks very pretty under the Christmas tree!

I was busy all afternoon, but I am not really sure what with. Richard's friends came to play at 3.30pm and I left them to their own devices, whilst I went back to school again to pick Robert up. We then went together to get the teachers a little Christmas present. And this evening I have made them all a Christmas card to go with it too.

Also this evening I made Gino's make ahead Christmas stuffing. This is what they looked like when I first put them in the freezer

Then I realised, that whilst I had been a bit distracted by Robert and his nightmare, that I had forgotten the cranberries and the orange zest, so I got them back out of the freezer, and started rolling them all up again! So this is the real finished product!

Off to bed now
CU tomorrow!

Day 351

Library this morning, but nothing exciting happened there, but I still enjoyed myself, I still love watching the kids find their books! And then of course I get to use a scanner, what more can I want!

Richard got home and was quite upset, he got his German test back it was dictation, and he didn't do very well at all. And he was very disappointed in himself. It broke my heart when he said "but I like writing stories and they are all wrong" - I told him that with practice it will all get better, and he told me that he wanted to write his stories on the computer, cause that would put it all right for him - how does he know that already! I did inform him that he had to learn to spell himself before he could let the computer do the work for him!

Later in the day he had a homework meltdown, resulting in him doing his homework "under" the desk, cause I had told him I didn't want to see him again until he had finished it. He thought there was less chance of me seeing him under the table! The actual meltdown was a lot longer than that, but I have left blogging til quite late today, so that was just the short version.
But he must have thought about it all, cause at bedtime he apologised for shouting at me - wow, I was speechless! Bless him - I say that now, but I wasn't thinking anything of the sort this afternoon, whilst I was checking the moon table, and yep - full moon again!

Whilst the boys were at art school, I was busy shopping and getting all the ingredients for Gino's christmas stuffing, which I will be preparing in advance tomorrow!

This evening I have finally got round to sorting out Xmas cards, I wonder if you all will get them before Xmas - I don't think I have ever been this late before, sorry!

OK, off to bed now
CU tomorrow
Oops forgot a photo today and the cats have gone into hiding, maybe I'll post two tomorrow instead!

Day 348, Day 349 and Day 350

Day 348 - Sunday
It was good to be back in my own bed last night and to have a lay in in the morning. After breakfast it was time to start decorating the tree!

The boys were really excited about it all, it was hard to keep them from starting without us!

And here is the finished tree.

Unfortunately Florian had to leave in the early evening instead of the morning, but it did mean, I got to watch Strictly and the X Factor.

Day 349 - Monday
Both boys went back to school this morning. And whilst they were out I went to sport, they are nearly finished with their renovations and the place is going to be HUGE, when finished, I just hope it is still as much fun then. But today was fun.
When Richard got home from school he had enjoyed seeing all his friends again, but still has tummy ache and therefore didn't want to go to Karate. So I cancelled that with his friend for him.
At lunchtime Smiley was a very naughty cat. Richard and I were in the kitchen discussing what I should buy for this weeks food, when there was a strange crashing swooshing sort of noise from the lounge and then a cat shooting out of the lounge - yep, the tree was down!

Great, I couldn't get it back in the stand so I concentrated on getting our lunch, and Richard back to school for his guitar lesson. I had a bit of time after lunch and getting back and in that time I did manage to get it back in the stand, so when we got back from guitar and the boys had finished their homework, they set about sorting out the decorations on the tree.
Unfortunately although I had the tree back in the stand it wasn't as stable as I had hoped and it toppled over all over again. Gosh I was grumpy! I shouted at the cat again, the boys, the tree, the decorations and myself - sorry everyone!
Then the doorbell rang, Marcel was stopping by to pick up some of their shopping that I had done for them, I got Robert to bring him in (I was stuck holding the tree) and he promised to come right back and help me. Whilst waiting Richard and I "un-decorated" the tree completely. And when Marcel was back he sawed the bottom of the tree into the right shape for the holder - thank you so much, Marcel!

Then again the boys and I got to decorate our tree. We put the Xmas music on again (love Michael Bublé) and made our tree all pretty again!

Day 350 - Tuesday
It was another "me" sort of morning again. First of all I went to school and had a nice long chat with the secretary about Richard and then about Robert and Santa and the religion teacher. I have written a letter to the religion teacher, but she won't be at school anymore this year, so the secretary is going to send the letter to her in the post for me. I don't want to upset her really, but I do think she needs to know just how her actions can effect the kids and parents too. We'll see if she gets in touch.
From there it was off to Kindergarden for their last lesson this year, and straight from there it was off to the hairdressers!
I am now all young looking again - well grey free!

After lunch the boys got on with their homework, then after that Robert went to his friends to play and Richard and I somehow ended up watching One Direction videos for the rest of the afternoon. I think Richard is very lucky, that I like his taste in music. I hope it stays this way!

Now to add the pictures to yesterday's post!

CU tomorrow!

Day 345 - Day 347

Day 345 - Thursday
Richard woke up crying about his tummy again, so I decided that before I would go to work, I would get an appointment at the doctor's first - hoping that I could have a late appointment. Then Heike would have looked after both poorly boys for me. Wasn't to be though, the only appointment I could have was 8.45am and to come with plenty of time. So I got in touch with work, and warned them that I wouldn't be in until later - if at all!
I dropped Robert off with Heike and took Richard, my book and phone to the doctors. The doctor had to move us into a different room, when he heard that Richard wasn't only full of cold but also had tummy ache. He felt in all the right places and wasn't too happy about it. He immediately filled in a form that would admit us to hospital, but told me that he was going to send his blood off first to check that. Poor Richard then had to brave having blood taken. He didn't scream quite as loud as the last time, but he still screamed, and it still took the doctor and nurse to extract it.
Then back home we went to WAIT, and wait and wait. I was allowed to phone for the results between 4 and 4.30pm. I did a lot of pacing and found quite a bit of chocolate in that time.
Just after 4pm I phoned but only got the apprentice who wasn't really sure what she was allowed to do, and asked if I could phone again in 10 minutes. More waiting, when I phoned back, I was informed that the doctor would phone me back with the results. AGH two hours of waiting. He finally phoned at 6.30pm, and by 7.30pm I was pulling up on the hospital car park. Poor Richard's blood showed an infection and to be on the safe side we had to go and have the appendix checked there.

I again dropped Robert off at Heike's this time for an overnight stay. He was a real trooper and didn't complain at all. And apparently he was a really good boy there - thank you Robert!

Meanwhile at hospital it was a case of more waiting, first we waited to see the doctor.

He determined that yes he had tummy ache, but no it wasn't the appendix, but again to be on the safe side, we had to stay in. Fine, then we had to wait another hour for a bed. Richard was so tired when we finally got our room. We both went straight to bed (it was by then 10.30pm).

Day 346 - Friday
Richard slept fine, me not so much, but never mind. When they brought him breakfast he even wanted to eat, which he hadn't been doing at home, so that was good news to me. When the doctor came though, she told me that they normally only let you home if you are free of symptoms. Oh dear, last time Richard had tummy ache for 1.5 years, don't really want to stay that long!
They took some more blood, again the doctor had to get the nurse to help, it doesn't get easier taking blood from Richard.
And I went and got us a wifi connection for the internet. And magic, we had English TV on the computer, so Richard watched a LOT of TV.

And he also got to see his favourite programme in the evening. Unfortunately during that the nurse decided that it was the time to clear his intestines. I was expecting another bout of fighting and screaming, but he took that no problem! They took a sample, and we have to wait for the results now.
He did complain afterwards that his tummy hurt more now than before.

Meanwhile back home - Florian caught the first train out of Augsburg to come home and look after Robert. He came straight from the station to visit us in hospital, then he took our car home and picked up Robert, who had been having quite a good time playing playstation with Marcel.

He took Robert to the Sieberzmühle for a meal. I think a bit of Daddy time did Robert good too.

Day 347 - Saturday
After having to give a sample yesterday and hearing that his blood infection numbers had got slightly worse and not better, I wasn't really expecting to go home today. I was just hoping that we could have a "holiday" and get a Christmas tree altogether. But when the doctor came in, she said that we could go home. The results from the stool sample wouldn't be there til Monday and from looking at Richard it is not the appendix, so she could let us home.
We phoned straight home and Florian was there within half an hour to pick us up!

Back home we had breakfast (all except Richard who had had breakfast at hospital)

And then it was time to meet up with Heike, Britta and families in the woods to get our Christmas trees! As every year it was difficult to choose, but we did it!

We were expecting Florian's sister to visit in the afternoon, but they didn't make it much to the boys disappointment.

I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of the catch up and the pictures. Tomorrow I'll start blogging earlier and then will finish before my bedtime!
CU then!

Day 344

Richard woke up about 5.30am this morning complaining of tummy ache so after sending him to the loo I let him crawl into bed with me, for another 45 mins before it was time to get up.
We got up and he pushed his breakfast around his plate looking really down in the dumps. He said his tummy ache was even worse than when it had been caused by the toothpaste. So I decided to make him something warm to put on his tummy and let him stay home from school.
He wanted to go back to bed, but that only really lasted for about 30 minutes, and then both him and Robert were downstairs with me!

They spent the morning watching TV or playing on the Wii, whislt I went and got Robert his antibiotics and then I got to work for Heike. She brought me a hot water bottle for Richard round this morning and a stick full of photos of her youngest daughter. She had asked me to make a photo book for her. Well, when I was looking for the cheapest place to get one from, I found that today is the last day at some places to order and to get it in time for Xmas. So I got to work. And even I can't believe it, but 3 hours later and I was finished. So the books are all ordered and will hopefully be here in time for Xmas. Fingers xed.

At lunchtime Richard came to me for a cuddle, and I thought he felt a bit hot. Oops 37.8°C so I gave him some medicine. Come tea time he was burning up again, and at bedtime his temperature was up to 39.4°C poor little thing. Roberts is 37.8°C -so neither will be at school tomorrow either.
I have to work, but Heike has said she will look after them. But I will get Richard a doctors appointment and leave when I have to take him there.But I will aim for later in the morning. But more on that in tomorrow's post!

I did my ironing whilst the boys were upstairs building Lego, and when we had all finsihed what we were doing, we played a round of Qwirkle. Smiley joined in too!

Then we took some pics of ourselves!

CU tomorrow!

Day 343

Buses weren't running this morning, so with Robert already ill, I decided to let Richard stay home too. We thought that most in the village would be staying home, but it turns out that although they said that, they didn't do that. So hopefully Richard won't get into trouble in the morning.
But he wasn't lazy at home, he did his maths homework, we practiced for his German test next week, and we also practiced for his music test, which we had forgotten about! Oops!

Robert had a surge of energy during the day and went all silly, he was charging through the house pretending to be a cat, and no at 9 years of age it is no longer cute, just annoying!

I cooked new meal for lunch, it was delicous, but unfortunately the boys weren't that convinced, Richard didn't the like meat, and Robert didn't like the potatoes and mango in it. Silly boys!  It was an all in one bake with pork filet, broccoli, potatoes, mango and with a creamy cheesy sauce. Yummy!

In the afternoon after practicing for various tests we did some more baking. There was a recipe in their advent calendar book, so we tried them out. The cartoon drawing of the biscuits looks better than our real thing, but they taste nice! I would show you, but the picture won't upload.

But here is one I uploaded earlier.

Mum was operated on again this morning and is fit enough now to join the new craze of taking "selfies" hihi! So hopefully this time the doctors didn't mess up again, and Mum's eye is better, we'll find out when they take the pirate patch off!

CU tomorrow!

Day 339, Day 340, Day 341 and Day 342

Day 339 - Friday
We got up in the morning not only to presents from Nikolaus, but also to snow! Robert didn't know what to do first - unpack presents or get dressed and go sweep the snow! Bless!

Work then, and again I was busy all morning. I know it is only really filing, but it was somehow satisfying seeing the folders fill up.
On my way home I had to stop at Aldi and get something for the Nikolaus Party in the afternoon, so whilst there I got something for a very quick lunch - sometimes I am allowed to cheat!

At 3pm Heike picked us up and we went to Britta's for Nikolaus Party. The kids were really excited about it, even Robert who no longer is allowed to believe, but he was excited he was there with his guitar. Here are the kids performing for Saint Nick.

Richard was a bit disappointed after Nikolaus gave out the presents cause the girls both got MP3 players and he so wants one, but he won't be getting one until Christmas, and Nikolaus only brought the boys books. Oops, but after a big cuddle from me, he sort of came to terms with it.
We came home in time for the boys to watch their new favourite programme - Friday Download on CBBC. And just before the end Daddy came home too. So a great end to an exciting day for the boys.

Day 340 - Saturday
I overslept a little bit for all I had planned for this morning, but it didn't put us out too much. I made a sort of quiche and a pumpkin soup for the brunch at my sister-in-law's. But between making the dough for the quiche and the actual quiche I had to go shopping to get the coconut milk for the pumpkin soup I wanted to make. And with all that I didn't go into panic!
And the results were delicious! Both new untried recipes and soon to be repeated, I am sure!

My in-laws were also down for the brunch, and everyone behaved themselves, which meant the brunch went well, and was almost relaxed.
Much to the boys disappointment we left at just before 3pm, as we were going to Heike and Marcel's for Marcel's birthday party. We took the leftover quiche to finish off there.
Seems that all we did on Saturday was eat, eat and eat some more!
We got home about 8pm I think.

Day 341 - Sunday
And another early rise again, well sort of. We had to be at the baker's for 9.30am. We were meeting friends there, it has been a while since we last went, But it was good being back.
The boys enjoyed climbing the orange blocks again.

But when that got boring, they came and begged for the tablet and "Mummy's handy"

Well, I didn't realise that Richard was watching Angry Birds videos for most of the morning, and when he gave me my phone back, he had used up all 300 MB of high speed surfing. Luckily I could top it up again for 3 Euros, and I now know that in future I turn the data connection off when I hand the phone over!

We let the boys have a film in the afternoon and this time they got to watch Spiderman, they loved it! And no nightmares, so it must have been ok.

Day 342 - Monday
Robert woke up this morning with really bad earache and he stayed home from school. Florian was also here this morning as he was travelling to France later in the morning.
Florian ahd planned to go to the doctor and have his ankle blasted again, so today I gave him Robert to take with him and get his ear checked.
It is not a fully blown ear infection yet, but could be, so we have a prescription for antibiotics should it not start to get better by Wednesday. This evening if anything it was worse not better, so we will see.

Richard got a solo guitar lesson today as the girl that also plays with the boys was ill too. That lesson did him good, as he was able to see that he really can do it! Whilst he was there, Robert was home working on some maths sums I had given him and I went shopping.
Later on in the day I had to leave Robert home alone again, whilst I took Richard to Karate lessons. This time he got to do his maths homework whilst I was gone!

This evening I have been watching the Royal Variety Performance, loved Gary Barlow, Olly Murs and Robbie Williams.
And I have just heard from Florian, he had a nightmare journey to France. He was supposed to be travelling by train, but two suicides at stations caused for a change of plans, and his colleague caught up with him at one station and they went by rental car. And apparently their journey also included at trip to a hotel with the right name but in the wrong village - as far as I understood, the name of the town was the same too, just not the right one, they were out by about 200km! Oops!

Cu tomorrow!

Day 337 and Day 338

So yesterday the computer crashed right when I went to blog. I decided not to try and reboot and went to bed early, so I have to play catch up tonight!

Day 337 - Wednesday
Library today, it took me forever to get to school, I had to follow a tractor through the woods and it was in no hurry whatsoever! Oh well, I made it there just as the first class got to the library. Luckily the other Mum was already there - only she didn't know this class was coming, that was something I had arranged last week, oops!
Here a picture from my "work place"!

I took the kids home with me today after library/school. And then they had to wait for me to cook lunch. They played with their star wars paper planes whilst I was busy. Then it was homework time. We haven't had a homework meltdown for a while now, but today was the day - Robert did his maths homework and when I checked it it was ALL wrong, and it was at least 20 different sums and a table and something else, so he wasn't a happy chappy. but the second time around he got it right - phew! And in time so that he still had a bit of play before we went off to art school.

I had a lot of shopping to get whilst they were drawing/painting. I am already now to try my hand at that other sort of bread!

Day 338 - Thursday
Work today and in a different department. I was busy all morning and I actually enjoyed myself. Hopefully that carries on for a while.
It was sport in the afternoon for me, and Richard went to his friends. He took his guitar and music with him, as him and the girls want to sing for Nikolaus tomorrow.

This evening I tried baking bread again, it smells much better today and it doesn't seem burnt through either. Too hot to try at the moment, but tomorrow I will be!

CU then!

Day 336

Dentist today, I was quite nervous, but me being me made sure that they knew as soon as I got there. And the dental nurse did the best thing she could, she kept me talking and talking until the doctor came in, and I didn't have any time to get any more nervous!
The dentist and I decided to try and do this thing without the pain injection, and that worked really well. The worse thing was the noise and having my mouth open for just over an hour! (That still hurts now!)

The dentist took pictures of my teeth along the way and all I could think about lying there with my mouth open was "can I ask for a copy for my blog"! I didn't ask too embarassed, but it was cool to see what a good job he did of the filling, and what it all looked like after he drilled it ready to fill!

I was allowed to eat and drink instantly upon leaving the dentist chair, but I didn't I waited for lunch. We had a non rushed day today and the boys did their homework, then built some Star Wars Paper planes (we bought them some special book with special papers) they had a great time. Then when Robert's friend had finally finished his homework, he went round there to play for an hour! Whilst Richard and I did a reading challenge online.

I made pizza rolls for tea, the boys even asked if they could have them again tomorrow, but I think they are just a special every once in a while. Even if they were delicious!

Kept Posty in business today, we had 4 parcels delivered! Which are now finally all hidden away for when Santa needs to deliver them!

CU tomorrow!

Day 332, Day 333, Day 334 and Day 335

Day 332 - Friday
Today was a good day - in the morning I gave Robert some Omega three, when he came home from school, he was full of his day at school. I can't remember him being this chatty. It was almost a shock to the system, but I didn't slow him down.

I think we spent most of the afternoon surfing for One Direction videos for Richard to watch and listen too. Then at 4pm Robert went to his football training. Another Mum took them and I went and picked them up. I left Richard at home watching TV, after giving him a short lesson on how to use the phone if he needed someone. He always lets Robert deal with technology! But he really didn't want to come with me, so he had to learn today.
All went well, and we were back before he had noticed we were gone. They got to watch their new favourite CBBC show "Friday Download" and I had just said nun night to them, when Florian got home, so he was able to sneak in and say nun night too!

Day 333 - Saturday
I was having a bit of a downer this morning, maybe the fact that Florian is home and I can relax a bit made it all sort of bubble to the surface, but I got a lovely cuddle from Florian, an Email from Dinphy, phone call from Mum and I was back on track again. I know I am doing all I can for Robert, so some day (hopefully in the not too distant future) he'll be feeling happier again!

After lunch we went to the shopping centre all together. I wanted to get the boys new winter hats, their old ones were getting a bit small now! oops! We got some good ones and then I went to Aldi for the food shop, and Florian took them around the other shops (Robert let slip, that they got me a Xmas present) whilst they were looking around, they also did a fun bit of fooling around, which is when Florian took this photo!

I did offer to take the new winter hats back if they wanted these ones! ;o)

In the evening we went to a friends birthday party, but before we left I made a different sort of bread. Totally new to me, and I was only slightly suspicious of the recipe. I put the bread in the over for the required 3(!) hours and set the timer on my phone so that we could come back and turn the oven off.
Florian did that for us, and I got him to send me a picture of the loaf - oh dear! Take a look at this brick!

The smell was as bad as this looks! I think I need to rethink this sort of loaf!

Day 334 - Sunday
Another couple of days rolled into one today. First up was the boys guitar concert. (These pics are taken from the video I took on my mobile. I did take "real" pictures too, but they are still on the camera!)

 It was cute, they didn't look nervous at all, and did really well. They were the first to play, but we were good parents and stayed for everyone's performance and only just made it on time to the restaurant to meet with Mum, Dad, my cousin and his fiancee and my nieces!
We had a lovely meal (thank you Mum and Dad) and then from there we went home, dropped Dad and the kids off and went to the Christmas Market in Fulda.

The weather was perfect for it, not too cold, and nice and dry! But still cold enough for the Glühwein to be good! (not that I had any!)

Day 335 - Monday
English lesson at Kindergarden today, cause tomorrow I have to go to the dentist! I had two extra kids today, that wanted to try it out. I think they had fun, but if they want to stay I will have to split the group as trying to tame 10 kids was near enough impossible!

I got lunch ready for when Richard got home at 11.45, as we had to go straight back to school then. I had an appointment with Robert's teacher.
The teacher had an idea how to monitor whether Robert had written everything down about homework and tests, etc. She will check at the end of the day, and sign it, so that I know that all is OK. Let's hope that it helps him and that he realises it is all to help him.

After my talk with the teacher, I had to get the boys to their guitar lesson. When I finally picked them up again, the boys didn't want picking up, they were enjoying a "normal" guitar lesson. Richard even said when he got home that he liked guitar again now, that they weren't practicing for the concert. And that he does still want to play! Bless! Good job I didn't cancel his lessons for him!

Whilst Richard went to Karate, Robert went to his friends for an hour. I was a bit nervous about that, as he had to leave whilst I was taking Richard to Karate. I sent him a timer and told him exactly what to do (which was basically, make sure the cats didn't follow him and shut the door properly.
It worked perfectly!

CU tomorrow!