2013 ist schon da! A new Kaffeeklatsch thread for the New Year - living in Germany and Austria

[LinzerTorte]

All welcome - whether you're living in Germany or Austria, have questions about life in those countries or just want to chat.

Previous thread here.

Hello! We ended up watching Skyfall. I let dh choose (as long as it wasn't going to be Django Unchained ). The dubbing used to really bother me, although I find it much worse on tv shows for some reason. We really liked it. No big surprises, typical Bond, but it was fun. There were a few German romantic comedies on as well, but dh didn't fancy it

We really must go out to the pictures more often. When we go out for dinner, I am always slightly disappointed as the veggie choice never wows me, so I think in the future we'll use our babysitter nights for the cinema.

Yesterday was hard work. Ds1&2 are having an intense phase, ds3 still not well but refused a daytime nap and was in a foul mood all arvo.
Got ds3 still at home with me today and Judy put him down for his nap. Fingers crossed he'll actually sleep today!

linzer I am also currently trying to work out if we can afford to go to Wales in the summer. Last year our friends from Swansea came to stay here and we'd really like to go and see them. My friend is trying to see if we could get into the student house next door to them for cheapish. They have 2 children, and one if them also has autism - 5 children, and three of them with autism, is just a little bit much for one house I think . I think we would try to drive over which I will probably regret later

I can't remember what else I was going to write. But ds3 seems to be quiet upstairs so I'll make the most of it and have a little snooze myself

I hope everyone has a good week!

Oops double post...

Afternoon all!

Linzer I loved the FB picture of all your takeaway food! Does it freeze well? DH and I were wondering why on earth we had never thought of that. It was snowing here again yesterday too. When will it stop?! Surely it's almost summer....

outnumbered Enjoy your snooze! I hope DS3 is better soon and that your other two come out of their intense phase soon.

weissdorn What did you get your DH? Hope he has a nice birthday.

We're in quarantine this week as DS' tummy is covered in a nasty rash, that luckily isn't chicken pox, but is probably still infectious, boo!
The doctor's surgery was so busy and so packed that we had to wait for an hour and a half in the freezing stairwell (you're not allowed in the reception area or the waiting room with a rash and there was no room free for us to wait in) before we finally got to see the doctor, who then had the cheek to tell me DS' nappy was too full and needed changing. Funnily enough there were no changing facilities in the stairwell. Grump. We're home now though, DS is napping and I have a lovely hot cup of tea and am about to check the cinema listings for my toddler-free Sunday morning this weekend!

antique did the paedy say what it is your ds has? hope he is well again soon!

ds3 went to sleep and I had to wake him up 2.5 hrs later to go and get ds2 from kiga. when I picked him up I noticed that he was quite hot and took his temp. it is back up at 39.5. how odd, as he didnt have a fever all weekend. our paedy is ill himself and not in again until Wednesday at the earliest. Luckily on Friday he gave me a prescription fior ABs should I it need over the weekend. so I've just gone to the pharmacy to get it. sooo, another week with toddler at hime...was so looking forward to going back to the gym. sigh.

when I picked up ds2 from kiga, I was told that he had 'coughed in a way they had never heard before'. trying to work out what they meant I asked if they could describe what it sounded like they couldnt- even when I offered a few suggestion (like he could breathe properly, like he had something stuck in his airways, croupy and and), they couldnt say. is it just me? I find it quite pointless giving me such info. I dont really know what to do with that information...I havent heard him cough at all since picking him up.

weissdorn I hope your dh has a lovely bday and that he likes your present what is it? re your question about being a veggie here: I do miss the choice I had in the UK!! I miss being able to get Quorn in supermarkets. and at UK restaurants there was always a nice selection of veggie dishes.

linzer time travel museum sounds great. ours would love that!

no more snow here. most of it is gone now and we have 6 degrees!

dh will be in Basle from Thurs-Fri so that will be interesting getting all boys ready on time on Friday morning. Especially as ds1# preschool bus gets here just past 7am!

weissdorn I love the BEatles and I love the WHite album. my dad has lots of the original vinyls and I used to listen to them when I grew up. Actually, that's how I learnt English long before I took it up in school. I'm sure you dh will love it

Antique that's terrible treatment leaving you outside on the stairs so long. We've always been rushed in ahead of everyone else in a case like that. Can you change doctors or is that one otherwise good? Hope your ds is better soon.

weissdorn that was quick delivery! I only posted those things to you on Friday after 3pm! Good service! I've watched half of the episodes of Call the Midwife already.
My dh didn't want to have his last birthday either, stretching out his mid-life crisis as long as possible!

outnumbered no it's not just you, I'd also find it quite pointless information. Maybe they thought they should say something just for the sake of sounding as if they notice everything. Especially if you havent heard him cough at all since picking him up it sounds as if they got dc mixed up maybe! Hope your ds is better quickly with the ABs.

Linzer well done organising the holidays already. I had a look at flights to Newcastle recently for summer or Christmas and was getting prices over 1000?. Maybe I should try a different airport destination. Anyway, dh has just spent a fortune on his Japan conference flight so we can't really book more flights until he gets some of that payed back.

I'm in the middle of a massive pile of ironing, just kept putting it off all last week so better get back to it.

No idea, outnumbered, she just said it was an infection. She spent more time telling me what it would look like if it were chicken pox than what it actually is
Hope the ABs work their magic soon!

admylin The dr we normally see there is brilliant & we've never had to wait long in the past. I think they were just having a particularly hellish one today. Enjoy your ironing! Do you have a good audiobook or something to listen to while you do it?

antique how strange that she didnt tell you what is was. ds2 comes out in a rash on his tummy and chest after pretty much every virus he has. it's itchy and uncomfortable, but not infectious. if your dr knows it's infectious then she must know WHAT it is as well. Our paed here always gives me loads of info, which I am grateful for, because I always need to know everything

our paed where we used to live had 3 different waiting rooms. one for just one child who is infectious, one general waiting room, and one waiting room for little babies, so that they are not exposed to all the germs. I thought that great!

admylin I dont think she mixed up dcs. ds2 did have a bad cough last week. today was his first day back at kiga. I now think that perhaps he had been running around a lot which might have brought on a coughing fit. I still think it's odd that they could not give me any more information apart from that he coughed in a way they had never heard before. but then, nothing should surprise me anymore with that kiga as they all seem to be useless.

all dc in bed now. ds3 very poorly, mainly due to the high temperature. I just wish he wouldnt always put up such a fight with medicine. do any of yours do that? I had to give him Prospan suppositories over the weekend as he would not open his mouth for the cough syrup. and tonight he refused his ibuprofen too, but I got it in with a syringe in the end, tiny bits at a time so there wasnt enough for him to spit out. the paed gave me a special AB which I only have to three times in total, as it's such a nightmare getting him to take it.

one of my babysitters just wrote that she can come over tomorrow morning so I can go to the gym afterall. really must shit the extra pounds. I went into town on saturday and finally ought some jeans. last year I was in between sizes 36/38, and that was still a bit bigger than pre dc3. now I am in between 38/40 I hope now that the coil is out I will actually see some results from going to the gym!!

She's not our normal paed, but randomly she was the one who did ds' u2 when he was a fww days old. Dh said maybe she just meant to keep away from ither children just in case it does turn into the dreaded pox. Who knows! It doesn't seem to be bothering ds in the slightest, he's his normal giggly self, so that's good
Yay that your babysitter can come over so you can go to the gym! Fingers crossed your ds3 feels better soon

thanks antique how come your ds did not have the chicken pox jabs? I hope the rash clears up soon and that he doesnt come down with anything!

I'm going to bed now - ds3 has already woken up crying once and I am expecting a rough night (although probably still better than mrtumbles regular nights...)

He's had all the jabs, including chicken pox! Apparently sometimes the jab doesn't take or he could pick up a different strain. I wasn't remotely worried about chicken pox but every single person I've mentioned the word 'rash' to over the past few days has gone all dramatic and started talking about chicken pox as if he has the plague or something
(He has neither!)
Hope you all get a good night's sleep

Antique That sounds like a nightmare visit to the doctor's yesterday. Hope your DS's rash clears up soon; is he OK in himself otherwise? FWIW DD1 still managed to catch chickenpox despite having been vaccinated, but only really had a few spots and was much less badly affected than the other two, who were quite poorly for the first day or two.

Yes, our Indian takeaways freeze fine and keep us going for ages (we have a "takeaway" most weekends). We ended up with raita, mango cream and poppadums this time too, which obviously won't freeze, but I've put the poppadums in a box and am hoping they'll keep for a few weeks!

outnumbered Skyfall is actually one of the few recent films I've heard of wanted to see - but we just missed it when we were back in the UK at Christmas (the cinema where my parents live shows one film a week). I can usually get something vegetarian at the restaurants in town but it's very unusual to have a choice (Italian restaurants are about the only place that have more than one veggie dish). I don't eat out often enough for it to bother me too much, but I do miss all the vegetarian choice in the supermarket.

Weissdorn Happy birthday to your DH - hope he likes his present!

admylin We tried lots of different UK airports (and also Dublin) for Easter, but just couldn't find anything affordable at all. I was amazed that the flights in the summer were so cheap (well, cheapish) as August isn't exactly low season; maybe we just booked at the right time... I've booked the airport hotel now too; it's so much easier (and cheaper) when there are just four of us, as we only need to book one room.

outnumbered Meant to say hope your DS is better soon too. I do remember it being a bit of a struggle with medicine when the DC were younger; we used to have a syringe and squirt the medicine towards their cheek like you do with a cat.

He's his usual self, it doesn't seem to be bothering him at all, Linzer. It seems to have spread slightly today but not by much. I don't know whether I'm being too lax as him being fine and the Dr saying it doesn't need treatment & will clear up on its own means I'm not particularly worried, but everyone else I've spoken to has reacted like it's a huge catastrophe. I think I'll just keep an eye on it and him and see how we go. Sorry for rambling on about it!
Well done for finding cheap flights and a hotel! Just think of all the Hobnobs and books you can buy with the money you've saved

It's very quiet on here today, hope I haven't scared everyone off with my incoherent pox ramblings!

Antique hope your ds still feels OK. It's a good sign if he's not really bothered by the rash. I remember my 2 having a few strange rashes in Berlin and the doctor said they were related to chicken pox (which they both had as tots) and then later dd got shingles, also related I think. They both had slapped cheek too.

outnumbered sounds abit like the kindergarden experience I had too, most of them were useless (the satff) and the good ones left to have their own babies. Ds hated it there and dd was bored too. How long have you got to stick this one out still?

Would you believe I found some more ironing! I've been getting through it this morning. Tomorrow is half year report day so dc finish at 11am and have until Monday off school. When they go back it's project week and it's going to cost a small fortune as we have to pay all their bus tickets and entry to various Veranstaltungen. Ds's class are going al out and having a day at a health spa somewhere even!

Oh gawd, I'll never learn to spell check will I?! Oh well, no ones marking it like in school so not so bad!

Antique My 50 book challenge has got me slightly addicted to reading, so I'll definitely need to stock up on more books! Although I have promised myself a Kindle once my to-read pile is down to less than five... Hope the rash clears up soon; if your DS isn't suffering otherwise, it sounds like you don't need to worry.

admylin All the school trips really add up, don't they? A couple of children from DD1's class aren't going on the Schitag next month as it's too expensive.

DD2 has been in hysterics for most of the afternoon because she doesn't want to play at the piano concert later on. She and DD1 played at the teacher's Klassenabend last week and that was fine, but this is a bigger Faschingskonzert for the whole music school. I decided there was no point in forcing her so tried to phone her piano teacher, but I haven't been able to get hold of her on either her landline or mobile so DD2 has agreed to go along and tell her that she doesn't want to play (and I'm secretly hoping she'll change her mind once we're there), and has finally calmed down.

Linzer Hope your dd2 manages to calm down. Think it's definately good not to force her and she might feel like joining in when she gets there. Dd has stopped hockey for now as she wasn't enjoying being in the top group with alot of older girls. I hope she finds some other hobby or asks to join again maybe in summer.

Dh got a letter from a job in San Antonio, Texas. Just one of those automatic sheets to fill in gender and ethnic group etc but dd was very happy and was saying he'd atleast got a round further! I think we'll only know if he's got further when/if they ask for references! So far they only wanted CV, research plan and names of 3 references.

Antique how strange and rubbish that doctor visit sounds - the stair well experience and the weird diagnosis. Usually if a rash is not a distinctive and diagnosable recognised illness like CP etc. its a post viral thing which is not in itself contagious (though the virus that it's a side affect of may be).

Outnumbered I have always used a syringe of the type you get with Kinder Neurofen for medicine, which always works better than a spoon, but have had huge problems getting antibiotics into DD as a toddler - in fact it felt as if I was doing something terrible the amount she resisted, and once you've started the course you have to finish it don't you, which puts you in a nasty position as a parent forcing it on a toddler who now feels OK and doesn't understand why you are making them take it! I've not had a problems with Neurofen though as they like the taste a bit too much! Sometimes DC3 actually asks for "med-sin" when he's bumped himself or is actually tired and needs to sleep, not ill, and gets very cross indeed when I won't give him any!

I thought I'd got away with an easy homework afternoon for DD today, she is the funniest girl - she did her first 2 pieces of homework beautifully and happily in her bedroom because I suggested DS do "homework" with her, and gave him a Jolly Phonics workbook we haven't been bothering with, and DD enjoyed bossing him about helping him with it while doing her own homework - and she's got it all right. Now DS1's friend has turned up and the boys are playing with the Carerra Bahn, so DD has turned up downstairs declaring she "can't do" the remaining homework task. What ever the problem is it is related to motivation and attention and is frustrating to put it mildly, though of course if there were less homework the issue would never come up!

Outnumbered do you have an option to change the KiGa your DS2 and 3 go to? I love our Kindergarten, it is really good, they do lots with the kids and I am a big fan of the way they teach them so many (non academic) things from social and self care skills, to where food comes from to learning about nature to road and fire safety to very basic scientific concepts to traditions and traditional stories, all through play, as well as doing loads and loads of crafts to develop fine motor skills and having loads of scope for and equipment to prompt imaginative and creative play. I am a big fan of the fact the kids get so much outdoor time in the lovely big garden with its own sledging hill and lots of play equipment including tree houses, go on so many trips and go for walks at least once a week, have so many guests and shows and things to participate in - I am starting to see from things I read on here that we have been very lucky - the kindergarten is just our default local Geminde one but it appears is probably better than many - my DD was never bored there and likes going back in sometimes when we pick DS1 up. He has also never said he's bored there and although I wonder on and off about whether keeping him back a year is 100% the right decision, of all the factor I am concerned about, being bored at KiGa is not one - they are brilliant at giving the oldest responsible roles and making them feel important and valued and different from the little ones, so it is not just another year like the previous ones.

In fact that brings me to the fact DS1's Kindergarten leader told me today that they might have some spare places in September, and that if I want she might be able to reserve me one for DC3 from when he is 2.5 (October). I have always felt under 3s are better off with a parent where possible, and that there is plenty of time for being away from age 3, but I must admit there was a part of me thinking I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth... I told her I'd have to think about it, and texted DH who suggested maybe we could ask about a place from next Jan, when he'll be 2 and 9 months - apart from anything I don't think I'd want to send him pre-potty training and 2 and a half is a bit boarderline for that! But I wasn't intending on sending him til he turned 3 and was expecting to be told he'd have to start the Sept following at almost 3.5, so the idea needs a bit of thinking time ... He is outgoing and sociable and confident and very used to the Kindergarten as he goes there twice a day to drop off and pick up DS1, so he is the sort of child who might well do well - I'd never have sent D1 early as he would have reacted badly at 2, but I am slightly tempted for DC3... Hmmm....

Somehow missed reading the last 2 posts! Linzer agree you can't force a child to play piano in front of an audience - wonder if she did change her mind when she got there? How did your DD one do?

Good luck to your DH with the Texas job admylin

hello! I'm on my own with the three dc, as our Integrationshelfer has called in sick. and ds1 isnt feeling well and will be staying home with me and ds3 tomorrow, which will be a nightmare fun.

antique hopefully the rash will just disappear as quickly and quietly as it arrived the only really nasty virus (apart from Noro and Rota Virus) ours have had was hand foot and mouth (which also is the same type of virus as chicken pox afaik). especially ds1, who was 2.5 at the time, really suffered. the inside of his little mouth was covered in blisters, and he was screaming in pain at night .

admylin ds2 would have another 2.5 years at his pre school, and ds3 has another 3.5 years there. But we will probably be taking ds2 out and put him in ds1' preschool (integrativer Kiga) once ds1 is at school after the summer. the current kiga still thinks they know better than me AND the autism specialists and say there is nothing wrong with him. if he does have a meltdown there, then they simply assume that something must have been up at home nothing to do with them re-arranging the furniture in their group room, or him finding it difficult with transitions. I have stopped trying to explain why he has behaved the way he did, or getting them to prepare ds2 for foreseeable changes etc. It's so much easier being able to just go your usual way, not having to do any additional work and just blame any problems on the parents isnt it

linzer I hope your dd2' piano teacher understands. having to do something like playing in front of an entire music school would have been frightening to me too.

admylin st ANtonio is quite nice. my dad did some work at the uni years ago and we all went over for one summer. I hope something comes up for your dh soon. how is his current job now? are they still being nicer to him?

I've made a mega exception today and am letting the boys watch a DVD. ds3 is very bored though and is annoying his big brothers, so better go and entertain him a little.

xposts mrtumbles but havent got time to write another post now....

tumbles looks as if all the talk about Bavarian school system being the toughest/best is maybe true! Mine never had so much homework in years 1 and 2 and even in year 3 and 4 in Berlin it was all quite easy going. I wonder if the Bavarian dc are alot ahead of other Bundesländer. Was it on fb you were talking about several sheets of maths for one homework session?

outnumbered sounds like the sooner you can change kindergarden the better! I used to have a staff member tell me off for speaking English to my ds when I came to pick him up, as if she'd never even heard of bilingualism or OPOL or anything! I lost all confidence in them when one day we were invited to a Fasching tea party there and dh told ds's teacher what his job was and she went all stupid and said ooh that's far too complicated for me - he'd only said his job title!