Potty Mouth

Anyone who knows me knows I have a bit of a potty mouth.  But with the baby coming, I am really making an effort to cut back on my cussing and I like to think I've been doing an excellent job.  I really wanted Kevin to jump on the bandwagon, but it isn't working too well.  All those hours in the locker room with a bunch of hockey players are ruining my plans.  I'm thinking I might need to purchase this onesie.

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Pregnancy Pictures

I knew from Day 1 of finding out we were pregnant I wanted to document my growing belly somehow.  Since Pinterest is everyone's best friend, I went there for inspiration.  There was the option of holding up a piece of fruit corresponding to the size of the baby, I could put a sticker on my shirt that indicated how many weeks I was, or I could wear the same shirt in every picture.  My favorite idea was the the "Chalkboard" idea that everyone had pinned.

There was a problem though...how the hell was I going to get a chalkboard over to Italy with me?  I needed to get creative and finally hit the jackpot at Hobby Lobby.  They had large black construction paper, which chalk would show up on AND it would travel well.  PERFECT!  Here are my pictures Week 12 through Week 20.

Yes, the sign is a little crooked .

I definitely needed to wear a tighter shirt.

Maybe a little bump???

Baby Reiter went to his/her first concert this night.

Baby and belly are growing!

I would say Week 17 is when I popped. 

On our way to see Daddy!

My first preggers picture in Italy. 

This baby is moving now!

My Life Summed Up in a Week (or Two)

It's been two weeks since I've arrived back in Vipiteno.  Slowly, but surely I'm getting back into the swing of things...eating dinner at 9:00, driving a stick, not knowing what anyone is saying, having shitty internet.  Along with getting used to all these things, this is what else I've been doing.  

1. I've caught up on all my episodes of Basketball Wives LA and Chrissy and Mr. Jones (I already know I have horrible taste when it comes to TV so feel free to judge me).  I like to save them all up and watch them back-to-back so I'm not left wanting more. 

2. All Baby Reiter's stuff is unpacked and put away.  I washed everything at home before I came so all I really needed to do was sort, fold, and find room for it once I got here.  Thanks to all my AMAZING family and friends at home, we have some great stuff to get us started. 

3. Things are starting to get real with this pregnancy.  I felt my first kick last Sunday.  At first it scared me (TMI-I thought maybe I was going to poop my pants or something), but then I realized what it was.  And in enough time that Kevin was able to feel it.  My belly button is on the verge of popping.  The top part is slowly making its way out.  I'm not looking forward to this and the only sick and twisted person that is excited about it is my cousin, Steph.  She will be the first person I call when it is fully out for the world to see.  And on a sad note...I went to get dressed on Friday night and my jeans wouldn't button.  I'm using the rubberband trick that my friend, Abbi, told me about for now.  I'm not putting on those maternity jeans until I have to.

4. I'm back to working out.  I took the summer off, which I know I shouldn't have done.  I like to use the excuse that I was pregnant and it was too hot to work out, but, in honesty, it was laziness (don't tell Kevin that I admitted to that).  Napping and watching Law and Order reruns just seemed like a better idea than working out.  But now I'm back in the gym.  My goal for this year is 4 days a week for at least 45 minutes a day.  I'm sticking strictly to riding the bike or walking on the treadmill (no running) for cardio and I'm only working on my arms and chest with weights.  Hopefully this will all help me during labor and when it's time to get my pre-baby body back.  Being back in the gym also gives me a chance to see all my friends and get weird stares from everyone.  

5. I'm actually making an effort to learn German this year.  I feel like I know so many words, but putting it all together is hard work.  I've actually used the Rosetta Stone more in the past two weeks than I did all of last year...so I'll give myself a pat on the back. 

Shit Show at the Krankenhaus

When we were told that an appointment had been set up for us at the hospital, the only directions we were given were to bring my passport, Kevin's hospital booklet, and my records from the US. The team owner instructed us to go to the hospital and then follow the signs to gynocolgy where we would meet with a Dr. Kofler, who would know what to do with us.

Like good foreigners, we listened. We got there, followed the signs, and then waited in the waiting room, assuming someone would call my name. But then we started hearing them yell out numbers and it occurred to us that everyone had tickets in their hands except for us. Where the hell were they getting these tickets? Then a new lady came in and just walked into one of the rooms. Well, I wasn't too keen on that idea.  Who's to say what I might walk into...a vagina, perhaps, since we are in gynocolgy.

Obviously, we don't speak the language so we couldn't ask anyone and we couldn't read the signs on the door so instead we chose to creep outside of the door like idiots...Kevin first and then I joined him in the creeping. Another new girl came in and asked Kevin a question, which we, of course, had no answer to besides our favorite one word answer...."English." And wouldn't you know it, she did know English and just wanted to know if there was anyone in there, which we answered "I don't know" to. So, she gave it a knock and then was instructed to come in.

Once she left, Kevin and I decided to follow suit. I knocked, the lady said something, and we walked in. Before she even started talking, I asked, "sprechen English (speak English)" and she just shook her head. This was going to be good. We talked English with some German throw in; she spoke German with some English thrown in. But after a few minutes, Kevin just pointed to my name on the list and that solved everything. We finally got our number after waiting in the waiting room for 20 minutes and trying to talk to this lady for 5.  

We went back to the waiting room where we waiting for "ein und achtzing" to be called. And then we heard "eighty-one." Dammit lady...my German sucks, but I do know my numbers and I was really looking forward to showing you my skills.  Whatever! So, we got into the office and there were three ladies just staring at us. They informed us that "they didn't speak very good English," which was a lie since they could put that sentence together perfectly. One lady introduced herself as Dr. Kofler, which I assumed meant she knew why we were there. Oh no, she didn't have a clue who we were or why we were there. I explained our situation...I'm pregnant, my husband works here, the baby will be born here, I need an OB/GYN, and here are my records. 

I think that cleared things up because then one of the nurses started my paperwork, while the other told me to get on the scale. Typically, I like to take off my shoes and any extra clothing, but there was no time for that so I hopped on the scale and almost shit my pants when I saw the number. I've decided to subract 2 lbs (maybe 3 lbs) from my weight since I had on boots, a sweater, and a scarf, which I would have usually shed before hitting the scale. Then Dr. Kofler left the room and came back with a man who asked me some questions, filled out my "Mutterpass," and informed me that I needed a sonogram (because I had left all of mine in the States).

My Mutterpass is where all my records about the baby go. 

The songram room was a packed house...two doctors, two nurses, Kevin, and me. They left the door wide open and I could hear people passing by. I wouldn't be surprised if someone caught a glimpse of my vagina considering the one nurse practically pulled my pants all the way down for the sonogram.  Whoa lady, that is not how this things operate in the States!

Anyways, we were excited to get a songoram because Kevin hadn't seen the baby since all of my appointments were done in the States while he was already here in Italy. The doctor showed us the important parts...arms, legs, heart, head, but not the baby's privates. And he did the measurements. He rattled off some stuff in German to the other doctor and then we were done.

We made our way back to the desk where they told us everything looked great and we made our next appointment. I was also instructed that I need to get more blood work, which I couldn't do that day because the lab closes at noon everyday (seriously, people don't work here in Italy). But before we were finished and the male doctor left, Kevin asked for his name since he had never introduced himself.  Dr. Schatzer is my new OB/GYN.  He speaks great English and is super nice, but Kevin says he looks like he brushes his hair with a pork chop (it really is that bad)...but overall we are pleased. 

All-in-all, we got what we came to get accomplished done and we even got a little more. Now I just need to go get my blood work this week (luckily, I know the blood lady). I'm also making a mental note to get a number next time and wear less clothing. 

Hello and Goodbye!

Goodbye: Chipotle, Target, the English language, movie theatres, ranch dressing, Ginger Ale, clearly posted street signs, automatic cars, washer/dryer, US system of measurement

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Hello: Pizza, chocolate croissants, towel warmer, Slingbox, Ringo Ice Cream Sandwiches, fizzy water, King-sized bed, cappuccinos, hot pepper oil

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But, by far, one of the worst thing I had to say goodbye to was reliable internet.  I got here on Tuesday morning and by Wednesday at 6:00pm it was out for about 18 hours.  It did come back, but it comes and goes as it pleases.

Currently, my computer and iPad won't connect to the internet.  We went to the hotel today to talk to them about it, but with the language barrier and what I think is a lack of understanding of computers on their part, nothing got accomplished.  We have a check-in number and four passwords for the internet, but Kevin is only using two passwords so two should be available.  But for some reason I still cannot connect.  I asked if it would be possible to just reset the passwords so we could both get on, but they gave me the same ones we already have.  It looks like there will be another trip over to the hotel tomorrow to try get things figured out, but this time I'm taking the iPad over to show them that it's not working. 

Rumour Has It!

Or I guess it's not a rumour if it's actually true.  Kevin and I are expecting...which most people know.  But in case you didn't, I'm telling you here.

Even when it's half-way planned (and I say half-way because we didn't expect it to happen so quickly), it's still a shock.  Since Kevin was in Pittsburgh at the time, I had to take the test by myself and nothing wakes you up at 7 in the morning quite like seeing two pink lines on a pee stick.  Doing the logical thing, I called Kevin to share the news and turns out he couldn't talk since he was out fishing with his brother.  I think his exact words were "I can't talk about this right now.  I'm fishing with Kenny.  Go back to bed and we'll talk about it later."  OK...no problem.  I'll just process all this by myself. 

After much processing and talking, we started coming up with a plan.  Kevin had already signed in Italy for the year so we had to wrap our head around the fact that our baby would be welcomed to the world by a German speaking Italian midwife.  And I had to wrap my head about the fact that I would most likely be having a natural labor and that if the baby is a boy, there will be no circumcision.

Still, with everything being well out of the norm for most people going through pregnancy, we are so excited.  Of course, we are nervous at the same time, but that is perfectly normal.  We have brought over all the baby essential we'll need that can't be purchased here and then my parents will bring over the rest when they come over in March.  I've had amazing support from fellow hockey wives who have given birth overseas and honestly think I might have had a nervous breakdown if it weren't for them.

Our parents have been wonderful.  My mom and dad will be first time grandparents and I'm pretty sure the news of Kevin and I expecting has made their year.  Since Kevin had to leave for Italy in early August, my mom had to act as my "replacement husband."  She did the shopping with me, went to my doctor's appointment, and dined on pickle dip and Snicker Ice Cream bars with me late at night.  Poor mom even put on my pregnancy weight. 

I was lucky enough to be able to make it to Pittsburgh before I left for Italy to spend some time with Kevin's parents too.  They were kind enough to get us our stroller and car seat so that when we get home with the baby, the car seat will be ready and waiting at the airport.  And Kevin's parents will also be housing the three of us for a short while as soon as we head back to the States.

Tomorrow is my first doctor's appointment at the Krankenhaus (hospital) so that should be interesting.  Stay tuned to see how it all goes.