After breakfast, it was time for my kids to experience their first circus. The big top wasn't very crowded, and it was pretty hot, but the kids enjoyed watching the horses, camels, ostriches, ponies, clowns, tight-rope walker, and other acts.
The circus was shown in two halves, and, in between, the kids got to go look at the animals. They fed the elephant, and even got a ride on her back.
Me feeding the elephant hay.
An ostrich bit my finger when I was little. We don't want that to happen to H.
On the elephant. You can see K's face here, but AJ is facing the other way.
Here AJ's face is visible, smile and all.
Cousins on the elephant
K and AJ feeding the elephant
At the beginning of the second half, I decided it was time to take H for a walk in his stroller. We ambled down the road, staying close to the circus. After a few minutes, I walked toward the part of the sidewalk near the circus animals to point them out to H. It was then that I realized that he was almost asleep. I shut my mouth and kept walking. Once I was confident he was out, I walked back into the tent to catch the rest of the show. Even with all the noise, he stayed sound asleep.
After the circus, we drove back to the house for lunch before going on to the swimming pool. The kids were very excited about going swimming again, chatting about what they wanted to do first once we arrived. When we got there, the indoor pool for babies and their mommies was open, so I took H in again. This pool isn't just a kiddie pool. It is filled with warm water that came up to about the middle of my torso, so babies can really learn to swim here, not just splash around.
Within 30 minutes, H had figured out how to keep from rolling over with his swim belt and arm floaties. He was able to keep his head out of water and move around on his own. Kristen was diving for swimming rods on the bottom of the pool without holding her nose, and AJ was kicking around with his swim jacket on. All was going well. Then they closed the baby pool.
We walked over to the shallower outdoor pools where AJ and K were playing and swimming. Timo and I were casually keeping an eye on them and talking, when, all of the sudden, we heard a familiar voice scream in pain. We looked over towards AJ to see another mom lifting him out of the pool. He was facing away from us, and I was shocked to see his face covered with blood when we rushed over. Timo grabbed him, and we put him on a towel in the shade to get a better look at his head. That's when I knew it was serious. The cut on his head looked deep. Not long, but to-the-bone deep. The pool people rushed him to their first aid center and called an ambulance. Timo stayed with him while they put gauze on his wound and wound more around the top of his head and under his chin. He looked so pathetic. Meanwhile, I ran back to get dressed so I could accompany him to the hospital.
When the ambulance arrived, I carried AJ in. They pulled out an attachment to the gurney to fit his little body. I told AJ it was like a car seat for the ambulance bed. They strapped him in, and I buckled up in a seat next to him. The lady in the back of the ambulance gave him a teddy bear to hold, and tried asking him questions. He was too shy to answer her, and he wouldn't even answer me when I prodded him to respond to her inquiries. He did tell me what happened, though. Apparently, someone pushed him, and he hit his head on a brick at the side of the pool. After we got home, he further explained that someone was pushing him up to get out of the pool, and he slipped on the bricks.
Once at the hospital, they took us to a room to wait for a doctor. Karen's husband, Ingo, had ridden in the front of the ambulance to serve as an interpreter for us, should we need one. The three of us waited only a short time before someone came in to look at AJ's head. After unwrapping the gauze, the doctor concluded that AJ might need stitches because the cut was so deep. After confering with another doctor, they decided to glue it instead. I think this was a much better option for AJ. I can't imagine him staying still while a needle came toward him, and I cringe at the thought of putting him under. It didn't take long for them to glue his cut shut and bandage it up. AJ, meanwhile began to get antsy, and started to inquire about the play area he noticed when we arrived. He told me that if he was good, he would get to go play.
One more issue needed to be addressed before we left: payment. Timo had run back to the house to grab our Swedish insurance card as well as our Global Benefits card, but neither were accepted by the hospital. They wanted us to pay in cash before we left. The cost of 51 Euros was much lower than I would have expected, and we were happy (and a little surprised) it wasn't any higher. The ambulance ride was provided free-of-charge by the local Red Cross. Even in the midst of this trauma, we were blessed.
While Timo settled accounts with those in charge, AJ and the other kids climbed on an indoor playset located in the waiting room. It was good to see him back to his old self.
Because of the time, Timo offered to take everyone to McDonald's for dinner. AJ loves McDonald's, so this was something special for him after all he had been through. On the other hand, I don't like McDonald's, but I was actually able to order something somewhat unique to Germany -- a Nuremburger. After McDonald's, we stopped to get ice cream before heading back to the house to pack up and get the kids to bed.
About to start the 360
Getting the water
I sorely lost this one because I knocked the blankets off one side, and I couldn't get through.
... so the lady gave him a spoon and ball.
But he wasn't so interested in carrying anything. She is holding this for him while he walked.
AJ's turn
Cousins
K's turn. She rolled the ball as she was supposed to do.
AJ threw the ball overhand.
Dancing with the scarves
AJ and H
H enjoying the music
All three in motion