Czech Mix, German Docs, and Online Shopping Frustrations

*Disclaimer: The last two paragraphs are me venting*

It's been an interesting past few weeks. Last week Friday when JM and I were out we noticed some of our neighbors had put out some large trash items on the curb (a computer, a big arm chair); sensing an opportunity to finally get rid of some broken electronics I gathered up two broken (American) radio alarm clocks and put them next to the chair. I hadn't even finished placing them on the ground when a car pulled up next to the pile and a man got out to inspect it, I said hallo and went back inside. Once inside JM noticed that the man was picking up our broken radios but ultimately decided against them. Not two seconds later (no exaggeration) another car stopped by and this man DID pick up our radios and put them in his car. At this point JM noticed that they were both Czechslovakian (by their license plates) and that there were no less than two other cars going through other big trash piles (one that was left over plywood and doors) around our neighborhood (we have quite the view from our balcony). I hope he realized it was American electronics and if he did, why pick them up? The wiring? Czechs are silly. Maybe it's because we are so close to the border (approx 45 min) and perhaps the Czechs know when German big trash pick up day is, but whatever the reason it was rather strange.

I also had a routine checkup at the Klinkum in the "big" town next door. We were really looking forward to it because hopefully it'd be the visit when we'd find out the sex. We arrived early and saw my normal doc leave hurridley (I am thinking he had to go deliver a baby upstairs) but we were taken back into the examining room minutes later. The nurse comes in, sets down my paperwork and says the doctor will be there in about 10 minutes (apparently, socialized medicine or not, doctors like to be late). Ten minutes later a random doctor walks in and I think he's just there to grab some tool or something...but no, he's going to do my check up today. That in and of itself is completely fine by me, I understand that my doctor also delivers babies and is sometimes paged away but what irritated me is that no one said anything about it, not my doctor as he left the office and not the nurse (who I would expect to say something) nor did the new doctor. All I would want is "Hey your doc is tied up right now so I'm going to do your exam." Nada. He just introduced himself, sat down, and asked if we were have a genetical ultrasound (his English was...okay). I replied I didn't think so, because I certainly didn't ask for one but who was I to know if maybe that is just the type of ultrasound they do at 18 weeks and given the language barrier maybe he was using the incorrect word. I asked if I was having an ultrasound today and he impatiently responded "yes" (sorry for asking dude). Anyway, I get the ultrasound and the gender is still up in the air (I have a 3D one in two weeks so hopefully that will clear it up AND I am so glad I don't have to wait a month to have the gender question answered) which isn't a big deal. Everything looks healthy and it was really awesome to be able to see all the different bones and it's hands and fingers and face. And we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time which was super cool. So at the end of this exam by Dr Awkward he's looking at my Mutterpass (a book they write down all your info and stats in that you bring to each appointment) and essentially tells me I'm fat. Ok, I'm exaggerating, but he did tell me I had gained too much weight for this point in my pregnancy. I was kind of pissed, mainly because I've gained 8lbs, maybe 9 since I've gotten pregnant and I'm almost half way through my pregnancy (in which I've read normal weight gain is 25-30lbs so I think I'm doing pretty damn good). Also because I can honestly say I don't think my eating habits have changed/increased since I've gotten pregnant; if anything they have gotten healthier. I snack on apples, carrots and banana/PB toast. Yes, there are thin mints in my freezer but I don't chow down on a whole roll in one sitting. I was always irritated because I think may have said that because I'm American and we all know obesity is a huge problem in America. His exact words were "I know in America you think you are eating for two...." No jackass, that's just a colloquialism and last time I checked we still have the superior medical knowledge so stop treating me like I'm a dumbass. I was pretty offended about it for the better part of the night (sorry JM) but today I've written him off as a super awkward guy who has the first name of a woman (legit).

Another huge frustration in my life lately has been trying to get baby things delivered. Almost every website claims to deliver to APOs but when I type our address in I get a big fat rejection. Kohls, Amazon, Babies R Us, the list goes on and on and on. It is so irritating because shipping to an APO is domestic rates regardless of if the base is actually domestic. And everytime I see a website that delivers to APOs I get my hopes up only to be let down when I actually go to purchase my items online. Lots of people have asked me if I can buy things at German baby stores beacuse obviously Germans have babies too and if anyone could tell me where any of these stores are I would gladly check them out. I don't think people understand how small of a town we live in and how small all the towns that surround us are. We don't live in downtown Frankfurt, hell we don't even live in Nurenburg. This isn't America were there is a Target or WalMart or anything within 30 minutes. It would probably be a two hour drive to find a large department store that sold what we needed and even then it would be German brands which I don't know the reputations of and don't feel comfortable purchasing. I finally found stores that would ship to APOs (for example, amazon would not send us a stroller/carseat combo but will ship us a crib, wtf? so I bought a crib thru them) but so far the entire shopping for baby stuff has been anything but fun. Registering for baby stuff, however, has definitely been good times. =)

Anyway, I'm sorry this blog turned into a rant but I have just been ruminating on it all in my head for most of the day. Hopefully my next appt will be with my normal doc and not that dude from yesterday and hopefully my stuff will start arriving in the mail and I can happily put it together and arrange it.

Blog again soon.