Murphy October 2005 Update
At last we draw close to our first wedding anniversary next week on the 4th November it is amazing to think what we have been up to and where we are headed. Here is the news and gossip for our last months adventures.
September 28th was Paul’s birthday. He went into work for the morning then came home for his presents! He was spoiled with clothing this year as since achieving his current fitness level hehas become more interested in what the European fashions have to offer – this suits me to a tee! So he got jeans, jacket, shirts, shoes etc. He also got a kitchen hand whiz (he is the better cook in the house), a great gourmet cook book, wallet, key ring, cricket book, shirt and running gear so he was very happy. We went out to dinner with Jenn and Casey (Dave was in London) the night before but we had our pre-natal classes on the day of his birthday and since we had already missed the first one we decided we should still go! Paul was thrilled as you can imagine! I did this knowing however that three friends (Darren, Mark and Eric) were all flying into surprise Paul for the next weekend. So on Saturday morning I snuck off to the airport feigning a facial appointment and picked up Darren and Mark who then rang the doorbell to a delighted Paul! We (the three boys and I) then went off to Weisbaden for lunch the boys all done up in their suits (see photo gallery page October) looking quite swish followed by an afternoon at the Weisbaden Casino where the birthday boy won! We all had a great time…..it was then home to get changed before heading out to Frankfurt to a restaurant on the river. Food, wine and company were great. After dinner we came home to play cards….I stayed in until midnight but then left the boys to it!
The next morning was a slow one with big breakfast before the boys settled down to watch the NRL grand-final whilst I whipped up some Anzac cookies for intermission and some home made pumpkin soup for lunch! Yes it is the 8 weeks of the year that we can buy pumpkin to eat as Halloween is the only reason they are grown here….so the freezer is duly packed with pumpkin soup and we eat it regularly with dinner to get our fix!
The boys then flew out in the afternoon, Mark and Darren to London and Eric back to Copenhagen where he is currently working! It was a great weekend which Paul thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the effort the three boys made to make his last birthday childfree special!
We did not finish there, we had a dinner on the Sunday night with Jacqui, Eric, Vibeka, Alan, Marianne, Jose, Veldamar, Sonia, John and Danny at our local restaurant! Another great night with friends and food! So ends Paul’s birthday week and thanks to all those who sent cards, texts, emails and phonecalls! It is always nice to be surprised at who remembers your special day and this day was well remembered!
Early October saw the countdown to me leaving work and believe me I was counting. My work was fantastic putting my replacement in place whilst I went on leave for two weeks in Greece which meant when I came back I was only working on special projects. This was actually the best thing as the stress or pressure levels were reduced to zero! My thanks to my boss and peers is heartfelt especially when I am supporting these poor friends who have not been so fortunate who are exhausted working right through until a week or two before the due date. Germany actually has some things around pregnancy very right – making the women leave 6 weeks prior to birth, scanning the baby every month allowing the mother and father to see their little bundle develop on the screen!
Soooo I left work quietly and had a lovely dinner with my peers, boss and boss’ boss which was great. I received a beautiful bunch of flowers and gift, it really was nice.
My doctor had coached me the week before that some women feel quite distressed leaving work……let me tell you I felt fantastic, grateful and as if a huge weight had been lifted. It no longer mattered if I slept well or not, finding something appropriate to wear or having a bad day……
I approached the first week with much energy and whilst I slept in, I then did not stop sorting, shopping, cleaning or organizing. I decided that if I had to do the nesting thing I would do it all at once to get it over with….. and I did.
The first weekend of October we went into Frankfurt and attended the bi-annual car show. It was packed and huge but we got to see some nice cars! Unfortunately the ones Paul really liked were not built for baby capsules!
We then went to the English cinema in the afternoon….interesting. They are very very old, so old infact that there is a booth at the back not just with a projector behind the curtain but with the reel of film going around a huge circle laying on a bench that is horizontal projector not vertical…..there were only about 20 seats per cinema and the shop that sold lollies etc was more like a small canteen they have on the side of a road with only one type of lollies and popcorn! No choc tops!!!!! I selected the Nicole Kidman movie “Bewitched” and realized in the first 10 minutes it was a very poor choice – sooooo do not recommend this it is worse than 28days with Sandra Bullock. Paul took this all in good humour and ribbed me about my ability to pick movies all the way home!
The second week I was off was my turn for a birthday. It started the Saturday before with dinner out for Paul and I. On the day I was soooo excited I woke up at 6am ready to go. Paul had arranged to work from home so we had breakfast and then I got my presents. I was thoroughly ruined with perfume, books, kitchen knives, fresh juicer, DVDs, basket of creams and potions for me to wear, hand made photo albums and hand painted vases and the most stunning diamond ring…………aside from being very pregnant and therefore having ready made tears on hand I actually was so shocked and surprised by this that I really was speechless and cried!
How lucky am I…….
It was then off to get ready for water aerobics. I had booked in for this before realizing the date so decided to keep the appointment. I drove to the address given only to find that the class was held in an old people’s home in a rehabilitation small pool. It was hilarious! There were three of us and an Irish girl - Alma helped me out by translating anything that I could not follow by sight! So it was well worth going as we have now become friends and stay in touch. This is true for some of the people in our Pre-natal class also so we are making international friends that is fantastic fun and we are all about to have our first children!
Following aerobics it was home for lunch and the rest of the day was spent from phone call to phonecall which was great fun. In addition the texts and emails kept me occupied. In the evening Jacqui and Paul took me out for lovely dinner (Eric was in Copenhagen) which I thoroughly enjoyed. The next day I slept nearly 4 hrs – the day before catching up with me! Then on Saturday night Jenn, Dave, Vibeka, Alan, Jose, Veldamar, Jacqui, Eric and Marianne all came out for dinner (early) and then wine and cheese at our place. Great night had by all…….especially me who was spoilt again with presents of a suede jacket, clothes, PJs for the hospital, photo holders, violet crumbles and a necklace…..what a birthday week!
Since then it has been a nice slow pace where my biggest decision for the day is what I will cook for Paul for dinner and what biscuits do the neighbours need cooking for them this week!
Prior to leaving work I was sent to Copenhagen for a financials course at the Scandinvian International Management Institute. It was a 4 day course with 7 men and me! I passed and met some nice people. One of the days I got on a bike with one of the other students and we rode to see the Little Mermaid which is famous in Copenhagen. Let me tell you it is little – you will see in the photos it is not quite like a landmark like the harbour bridge or Opera house! Copenhagen is very flat and fantastic for biking, it would also be great if you were not pregnant as they have their own version of DarlingHarbour full of restaurants and bars! I did not get a chance to drop in on our Aussie Princess whilst I was there although I know she would have been happy to see a familiar face from home, especially one that could discuss pregnancy matters with her…..nevermind maybe next time.
As I stated in some of my emails Autumn in Germany is quite a site to see, the whole Countryside turns the most beautiful shades of golden, red, orange, rust, yellow and the original green base….I will try and capture this is a photo but I doubt it will do it justice. The Weather is delightful with crisp sunny days this year so I have loved being home and able to get out in the sunshine for lunch! I am hoping this sticks around until Mum and Carolyn arrive so they can share the beauty of the scenery and see it before it turns grey and bare through winter!
We have had a nice Summer and this has also allowed us to get to know our neighbours and neighbourhood. In Germany in Summer the majority of the time is spent outdoors as it is not so hot as Australia so the need to escape into the airconditioning is not there. So all the children and adults utilize their backyards with BBQs and eat nearly all the meals in the backyard. Since we are all so close in proximity then we naturally talk and have gotten to know one another! This will be great for Christmas as last year we did not know many of them except to wave! Now it will be a wave to come over and share some Gluckwein! (spices and red wine heated together – not really my cup of tea!)
Well Summer is on the way in Australia and this saw both of our parents locating new homes to move into up the North coast (Nelsons Bay- Corlette) and Queensland! We are delighted for them both and look forward to holidaying with each of them in the Summer months when we return to Australia as we certainly view their homes as our extended homes! We are glad to see Yvonne and Frank settled and unpacked and we wish Sandra and John a smooth transition into their new home at the end of November!
Baby Update……
Well we are finishing our 37/40 weeks or 39/42 weeks (depending on when you measure from) this week and this meant the commencement of the acupuncture sessions. In Germany the hospital recommend acupuncture to prepare the cervix for labour, with the theory to speed up the first stage of dilation. I am not sure that it works but do not care as if it has the chance to speed this up I am in for a double dose of what ever you have to offer. They start this in week 37 and it does not bring on labour but when labour starts it assists…..yesterday was day one and they inserted 6 needles across my calves and ankles. It stung at first but only for mere seconds. Next week I get an additional two in the joint between my thumb and first finger…can’t wait for that! The extra two are believed to help fluid retention and believe me with the size of my feet and hands I can do with any relief in that department! The next week (if you have not have the baby which I will have!) you get an additional two again but this time in your little toes to promote labour onset! So not only is the mother already so uncomfortable she is wishing the baby out but to make her wish harder they hold the prospect of additional needles being stuck in you each week above your head so you REALLY want the baby out hee hee!
I have so many girlfriends that are currently pregnant ranging from 14weeks to 37 weeks that I am just grateful that I am next in line to deliver! My 9mths of duty is drawing to a close and the number of unpleasant or uncomfortable side effects they send your way in the last weeks is enough to minimize your adversion through fear to the labour! Bring it on I say, top shelf analgesia and a speedy delivery would suit me nicely right now.
The prenatal teacher is a hoot, she is lovely but not very good in English despite it being a specific English class with all native English students attending from Scotland, Ireland, India, US, Australia (us), England, Sth Africa……..she is very pro-natural with no drug interference so I am the person she turns to for translation of body anatomy but also her worst nightmare asking her all the questions she hates like…….when is the last point of dilation that I can have drugs, do they have epidural lights over here, why don’t they use Nitrous Oxide Gas over here????? I can see her cringe as the words leave my mouth. Paul and two of the other husbands have a stir with their one liners and comments to keep us all laughing despite the prospect of a painful labour!
The nursery is now set up with the assistance of many, not the least of which have been the pending grandparents! Sandra and John bought us a Rolls Royce Kinderwagen (pram) which comes all but with aircon and satellite navigation (see picture gallery)….it is gorgeous and much appreciated as no doubt it will serve the baby for years to come and cover many a mile during that time!
Yvonne and Frank bought us a gorgeous Cot which is perfect (see photos) and we have no doubt it will serve no only this child but if I get enough of those “forget it all hormones” any other children that come along!
Friends and family have spoilt us with clothes and I often sneak in and just sit looking at all the clothes in the wardrobe sooo little and soooo gorgeous! The car capsule is here and aside from one or two necessity things we are all set up if the baby arrives any time!
Our large extended family are all very anxious and excited to see the arrival of their newest family member, the Murphy’s will see another child added to their numbers as promised at the wedding to increase our numbers and the Duffy’s (particularly the soon to be cousins to the new addition) are keen to see whether it is a boy or girl being added to the team. One of my nephews on the phone the other day forgetting to say happy birthday because he was so intent on getting me to name the child Augustus regardless of gender because in his mind we live in Germany and that is a German name just like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory……..when I said that we would not be living in Germany forever he responded with “Alright Aunty Corrine call it Bill then” no regard if it is a delightful little girl dressed in pink……
I also received a lovely input on the website this morning from a friend who informed me that they had had dinner with Frank and Yvonne and that mum was getting sooo excited about the trip to Germany and the arrival of the baby and Dad was getting soooo excited about the trip to Germany next year for the world cup of soccer! It made me chuckle……However it can be confidently said that there are a great number of Murphys and Duffys and our friends all ready to say hello to this not so little bundle not least of which is Paul and I…..Our anticipation and excitement at imagining what the baby looks like, will be like and when it will come grows with every day as does my readiness to take on the labour challenge.
I have decided that since I have gained 23kgs (not sure where from……..nothing to do with the home-made cakes, biscuits, chocolate bars and anything I can get my hands on sweet!) and the baby is approx 3-4 kgs who is coming to take the other 15-20kgs from me at the appropriate time….Paul just laughs but I am sure he will be happy to see it slide off also! It will be quite exciting reversing the process of each week something in the wardrobe no longer fitting to something else fitting every week after the birth!
Well that sees October drawing to a close, the website was the final piece to complete before Tarzan or Jane arrives, so bring it on……..
The baby instruction list for Paul is completed and printed, so the phone calls, texts and emails will be sent also keep your eyes on the website as this is the first place that the photos and newsletter of who and how the baby arrives should appear all going well for you all to see!
I will leave you to check the website for updates at your leisure instead of sending a link each time. I am going to aim to update the website monthly with news and photos provided this baby allows time to achieve this!
How exciting to think the next months newsletter - November will include a third person in our little household well it had better have arrived by then!
We hope this update finds you all well and happy….if you are anywhere half as happy as we are currently then you will be doing great!!!
All our love
Paul and Corrine (yes and the hump, bump, Mt Everest!)