Wednesday, June 21, 2006

A pink scooter for my birthday


A pink scooter for my birthday
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
On Monday it was my birthday and guess what I got? A pink scooter!
And pink skate shoes to wear when I'm riding it. Check them out!
I am 3 now, can you believe it?!?
Unfortunately I couldn't have a party because we're still not sure whether I am OK to be with other kids yet, but I had lots of fun at home with my grandparents, including Opa Ross, who arrived on Sunday night, just in time for the big day.
Opa Ross brought lots of things we like from Australia, like Tim Tams and Mint Slices and Princess nappies. He even brought a battery for Nanna's camera, so we could take photos and scan them in for you to see. Yippee!

Presents


Presents
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
These are all the presents I got sent, from all over all the world. I am one lucky 3 year old!

Decorating my cakes


Decorating my cakes
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
I helped Mama to make my birthday cakes. I told her I wanted chocolate love hearts, so that's what we made. I helped her put the ingredients in the bowl, and count the eggs and everything.
Then, she let me decorate the cakes! I asked for pink and purple and green icing, so we made them all. Then I put smarties and other decorations on top, and even some sugar zoo animals we found at the shop. Finally, I squiggled chocolate sauce over it all as a finishing touch.

The finished birthday cakes


The finished birthday cakes
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
Here is how the cakes looked when I was finished. Pretty good, don't you think?

Dinner at the pub


Dinner at the pub
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
Since I couldn't have a party with my friends, we went to my favourite place to eat for dinner - the pub! They made a big fuss of me there when we told them it was my birthday. They brought me a slice of cake with a candle in it, and this flashing football badge, and even gave me a chocolate when I left.
I told Dada that he had to order Jägerschnitzel so that I could share it. His wasn't cooked properly, so he sent it back, but I couldn't wait for that, so I decided it was time to sit next to Opa Ross, who was also having schnitzel. As soon as Dada got his back, I ran around to him, because he had even more now, and I didn't want to miss out. I LOVE my schnitzel.

Blowing out candles


Blowing out candles
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
After dinner we came home to sing Happy Birthday, blow out the candles and cut the cake. And do you know what, the cake actually tasted pretty good! (Some of us were a bit surprised...)

A weekend in Brussels

Last weekend we had my first trip away since I got sick. We went to Brussels for 3 nights, and we took Noni and Nanna, to say thank you for everything they have done for us while I've been sick.
I was much cheerier with the change in scenery. It has been hard for me not being able to see any of my friends for so long, and it was nice to have something different to do.
We took a day trip to Bruges, which was really beautiful. We even went on a boat ride and I felt like I was Veruca in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, riding the boat on the chocolate river.
Speaking of chocolate, there was a lot of it in Belgium. And it was all good. We had to try quite a bit of it to make sure.
Sadly, our new camera hasn't arrived yet, so I don't have any photos to show you of our trip. :-(

Monday, June 12, 2006

Stitches out

Today the doctor took my stitches out. I was not at all happy about that. The doctor said "but you don't want to keep them do you? What will you tell your grandchildren?" and I said, in the middle of sobbing my heart out, "I don't have any grandchildren!"

She was very careful though and took them out very gently. The big long one got stuck and then I screamed blue murder, but after I was OK. Especially when Dr Kayser gave me a biscuit AND a tattoo. And let me take my stitches home in a bag. They are bright blue.

I am feeling better and better every day and making everyone at home laugh with the funny things I say.

It is a crazy time to be in Germany right now, with everyone going mad about what they call football over here. (Dada tells me it is not real football.) Uncle Hammer flew over from Sydney to watch a game and that's where he and Dada are today. Mama and Anna and I just watched it on TV, and Australia beat Japan 3:1. We looked for Dada and Uncle Hammer going crazy and shouting Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, but we didn't see them. Maybe that's for the best.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Found a nice doctor!

Yesterday Mama and I went to visit a new paediatrician, that's a special doctor that's just for kids. We had to find a new one because Mama and Dada were not at all happy with the one we went to when I was sick. But that is a long story that we better not get into...

Anyway, my new doctor is VERY nice. She asked me about kindergarten and she even knew the Mr Men characters from my books. Her favourite is Mr Bump, and that's my favourite too! She speaks English to me and she doesn't wear a white coat. And at the end of my visit she even gave me a biscuit!

The best part of seeing this doctor is that she didn't do anything to me at all. She didn't even touch me. I lifted up my top to show her my stitches and she said they look good. She said on Monday she will take them out for me but that it won't hurt, it will just tickle a little bit. That doesn't sound too bad to me.

We had some friends from Canberra come and stay the last couple of nights, their names are Liam and Moira. Last night we went to the pub with them and Nanna and Noni. I was very happy because in hospital I kept telling Mama "I want to go to the pub!"

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Outpatient visit

Today I had my first visit to the outpatient clinic. I was very, very, very scared to be back at the hospital again but I tried my best to be Dada's little toughie. I tried not to cry when we went in and I even put my arm out for the nurse when she got the blood pressure monitor out.

But when they poked around in my tummy where my stitches were and then took more blood from me, I screamed my head off. Enough is enough.

The last straw was when they wanted me to do a wee on the potty there. I was petrified and Mama and Dada had never heard me scream like that before. Needless to say, they didn't get their wee.

The news was all very good, it looks like my kidneys will work again like they should, and if all goes well, I may not have any more problems. They will just monitor a few things for the next few years to make sure everything is still alright.

They told us that it was a bug called e. coli that caused all this. We really don't know where I got it from, it usually comes from uncooked meat or unpasteurised milk or even soft-serve ice-cream. Since I didn't have any of these things before I got sick, we just don't know. The only thing they think maybe it could have been was some salami, but we're not even sure if I ate that. It's hard to remember what you ate a month ago!

The health department in Bonn contacted Mama and Dada, since this is such a serious bug, and they want to make sure that no other little kids get sick like me. They told us that it could have been picked up anywhere - someone might not have washed their hands properly and then prepared some food that I ate, or it could have been from water, or from ground where animals had been in the park, even from unwashed fruit or vegetables. I guess we will never know.

One bad thing is that I am not allowed to see my little friends or go to my kindergarten until they are sure that the bug is all gone. They will know when they test 3 of my poos and find that there is no bug left in them. (Sorry if this is too much information, but think of poor Mama and Dada having to spoon my poo into jars and drive it to the hospital!!!)

Anyway, I am feeling much better and am very happy that I don't have to go back to the hospital for one whole month. Yippee!

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Suzy Sunshine


Suzy Sunshine
Originally uploaded by Yassiemoo.
Finally, a photo!

This one is from when I was in the hospital. My Noni took it with her phone so we thought it might not be very good, but it turned out OK. I am holding Suzy Sunshine, a special balloon my Dada bought to make me feel better. I am still looking a bit puffy from all the fluid pumped into me in this photo, I don't look like that anymore.

Mama and Dada will get a new camera soon, and then you can see how well I look.

I am so happy to be home, and so is Mama. We are really enjoying being spoiled by Nana and Noni here.

My tummy still hurts a bit where the stitches are, but I am very good about not getting into positions that hurt too much. Noni and Nanna laughed yesterday and said I am walking a bit like an old man.

I am doing so well, our little family is all marvelling at how lucky we have been. I am on a feeding frenzy and it's hard for the grown-ups to keep up with my meal demands.

Mama said to say thank you so much to all our family and friends who have been so supportive. She is helping me write the blog now, but she says Dada will still have to make some guest appearances because he did such a good job.

Friday, June 02, 2006

I'm home!

This morning dada picked me and mama up and took us home. At first I didn't want to leave and I didn't want the tubes out of me and, in general, no no no no no! But now that I am back I like it.

And I have a brand new bed to sleep in. It's pink and with a really colourful doona.

In the letter to our doctor, the hospital said that I was a "defensive patient". What do they mean by that? Must be something to do with all the tears and tantrums when the nurses came in.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Tummy catheter out

This afternoon I went under general anaesthetic again for a little operation to remove the catheter in my tummy. That was there for the dialysis I had last week.

I had to fast for 6 hours before the operation, which I wasn't too happy with, but when mama and dada explained it was all to help me get better, I calmed down a bit. I was wearing my "My Favourite Kitten" top before I had to put the surgery gown on and I chucked an absolute mental when mama took it off me. But then the nurse gave me some "Schnapps" (that is what they call it) and eventually I calmed down.

I was very brave when mama and dada left me to go into the operation room. I was smiling and very calm and even talked to the nurse a bit. I had my brave lion toy, an elephant named Humphrey that Harriet sent me from England, and my "whacker cushion" to keep me company.

I woke up back in my hospital room and mama and dada were right there already. I was hungry and thirsty and I've already eaten a lot of bread with butter, Salzstangen, apple and even a couple of pieces of chocolate.

The great news is that it looks like I'll be able to come home tomorrow (Friday) morning. Dada is going to come to pick me up and we'll drive back together from Cologne in our nice, but filthy dirty, black Volvo. Maybe there will be some surprise visitors for me there!

I have received so many cards and presents from people, it's been really great. Every one I open I really appreciate! I get excited every time dada brings a letter or a card in. I asked dada to list them all for you, but he's not great with that kind of thing (something to do with premature memory loss, whatever that means), but I'm sure mama will be able to fill you in next week.

We see the Professor next Tuesday to talk about what is going to happen next. Some kids get some nasty ongoing problems from what I've had, but let's hope I'll be all clear. He'll also tell us what we need to look out for in future.

Well, next time I post on my blog, I will hopefully be at home. Yay.