Libya

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Iveenia CHAPTER 100 Sep 5, 2009 12:16 PM I did not have the time to write. We were kept on the go always. Ummi had full house – the kids fm Amal and Kerima were there – in total 8. Salah wanted to go to the internet with me and had asked Ummi whether she would take Athana, too. Ummi said of course – bring her on. Then she had 9 kids; crazy… :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: Since I almost had no mother’s milk ok – almost no was exaggerated but too little would meet the term more adequately – the gossip spread that my milk therefore was poisoned. Since I was a mother and kind of naïve because I never had the chance to raise kids before, I was insecure; which is only natural… of course it must be an old wives’ tale – sometimes I would have loved to scream when hearing such bullshit! :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: Ummi, Mufida and I had discussed my return to career. There was a woman in the neighbourhood who took care of kids. She was a very trustworthy person Ummi said. She also added that we could bring Athana to her and it would only cost us 30 Dinars per month – where in the world would you “only pay” that amount for a nursery? In Switzerland not even 30 Swiss Franks would be enough for 3 hrs :) true! I had another appointment with my gynaecologist after the critical 40 days – that was a normal issue – the 40 days referred to the baby – in those 40 days a newborn was not allowed to even stroll in the street with mom in a stroller. It was also an old wives’ tale – YET I thought not so bad abt it. On the opposite – it made sense to me – so I did not argue with anyone. I left it the way it was and adapted. All were upset of Salah – because I already did the whole chores. Salah had a bakery shop – he made all the shopping and he wanted to go back to flying asap. So it was only fair that I did the chores… He also had little jobs – i.e. extra work – because Adel wanted to build a house for his wife. Yes, Adel was engaged and wanted to get married to Naeema – (Athana’s second name – yet not because of Adel’s future wife – no, because of a very nice nurse at the hospital El Chadra :) ). Howver – Salah organized the cement for Adel and helped him with men who would help him building. Adel was a crack when it came to electricity – he could make the whole wiring in an entire house. Ok – the Libyan way, i.e. NEVER compare the Libyan with the Swiss way… it would work – yet you would always be on alert with: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED :) Before these two rooms were the Garage Hadj wanted to make shops out of them – yet the shops were total flops so Salah was happy that Adel finally would get settled and therefore appreciated & welcomed Adel’s idea. It was time to do sth… Mufida, of course already planned what dress she would wear to the wedding ;) Well, as most of the Libyan women she was totally crazy abt fashion. Shoes, accessories, make-up (she has a degree on cosmetics – she is awe in that and she can also cut hair very well – true!) One day there was a fashionshow on the Lebanese channel. I happened to be with them. Mufida asked me non-stop – what does this mean in English – what does that mean in English… pretty – nice – beautiful: helo = nice/pretty - gnain = beautiful – then you have to distinguish between male and female: i.e. if you have Athana – she is gnaina – if there is a man: it is gnain :) Mufida was not happy with beautiful – she wished to know sth more – sth like super – I told her awesome or gorgeous :) Finally she was happy. :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: At Easter I invited Ummi, Mufida and Nuri for Raclette. It was brilliant, just Nuri complained: why was there no bread and why did we not serve fizzy drinks but tea with it? Salah teased him: why not noodles, Nuri? I also asked him: why not rice? Salah added rice was not so famous in Libya. Ummi told Nuri: if you wish for a fizzy drink – go and buy a Pepsi (at that time there was NO Coca Cola in the market)… then Nuri was quiet cause we all know he hates shopping :ROTFL: ok – we were not nice but please when you are invited – you can keep quiet, no? Ok Salah had to explain the fun afterwards – I only understood the “bread thingy” – I would have loved to laugh immediately – not only afterwards… Salah also told Nuri: if you were not to complain all the time – you would be less frustrated, you would have less greys and you would be happier… However – it was Nuri’s life and if he was happy with that… :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: One of those days Najad showed up and fell in love with Athana, as well – all loved that little girl. Still till today I miss Najad – she was my light in the dark – many times. She had a miserable life with her husband who then still was in prison. I told her the fortune and I saw that he still had a pile of problems but would get out of jail and she would become pregnant again. (to be added her husband is a drug addict, when I left Libya – he was still a drug addict – his brother an alcoholic – tragic). Their mother was a wonderful person – so there must have been other reasons – which led to those tragic addictions… Athana was one of those kids who could not get enough of action. When I was pregnant with her I went to Lord of the Rings – a very long movie. She normally had me gone to the toilet every 2 hrs – during that movie I had NOT a single problem. It was as if she watched it with me ;) – also during Harry Potter – I never needed to go to the bathroom in the cinema. Still till today she loves action movies – her favourite series are: Xena, Hercules and yes, Bones – can you imagine? :) So when she had her hiccups she needed a change – i.e. a fast change. I normally went to the house of my mother in law – as soon as we arrived there, she went to sleep – brilliant… at least I then knew that she is not one of these sissies – till today – she is not afraid of anything. She is doing all at a fun fair – I have to stop her sometimes – she can do merry go rounds – which would make me dizzy and throw up – she thinks it is the perfect field day :) She loved to be roled around and was playing hard. The more people around her – the happier she was.

Iveenia CHAPTER 99 Sep 4, 2009 12:40 PM I was not aware how much i needed the contact to the outside world, yet proved that within two days: my husband said he wanted to go to a city – around 300 km away fm Tripoli – for a day and a night. He only returned after three days and three nights. I nearly went nuts. In my anger – i had given all the food to his family – because i also suffered fm diarrhea – so then – fresh veggies and fruit would just rot… however – when he came back he was VERY upset. The only person who understood me fully, was his mother. She had the same “ras m’sakr” like I had (ras m’sakr = closed head – stubborn head). She had told him where to get off… i.e. that he was not the one to tell me all that- on the opposite – I would have had the right to give him a ticking-off. Oh well, we all change… of course I was only miserable – as usual :) … The next day – he started his argument, again – he shouted at me for the same reason he did the day before… so I bushed. Standing him that way – was NO way. I went to the El Chadra Hospital. There i felt more at home. Women fm Asia and Europe were there and understood the complexity of “the European life in Libya”… ;) I talked to Violetta. She is Bulgarian yet speaks an impeccable English. Her kids are both musicians and her daughter lives in Germany. We had a long talk – and I also told her that my husband would surely be VERY upset if he got to know that I was there… Oh yes, she only understood me too well. She said: come here when you need to talk to us, and, of course when one has cabin fever… Yes, actually I should not “drive around” – I should learn Libyan… Yet what should I learn? Should I learn abt clothes, cosmetics, shoes? I am sorry – but discussions only abt outer looks? No, I would become more confused if I did that. I love philosophy and deeper subjects – but fashion? Ok – sometimes… finally I had found at least some people I was able to exchange opinions and getting to know other ways in Libya. Actually Salah was resentful and even offered to bring me there when I felt like that again. Brilliant; it never came to that, anyway… Yet it was a kind of “we understand each other again – situation”. I also explained his mother in a very primitive Libyan how I felt – i.e. that I needed to see other women fm my continent. She understood me well – and added: “you must feel like in prison.” – she had a point there… :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: A lot of people asked abt Athana. I did not dare to tell Natalia the truth – she said all along while I was pregnant that Athana would be a funny little girl. At that time I was largely doubting – yet she was right. Athana was funny; when she was two months old she wanted to walk, and whenever we wanted her to sit down – she got up… That also happened to the paediatrician – he took her to get to know whether she could hold her head alone – no – she got up on her feet and he was shocked so terribly that he was only able to say “Mashallah” – means: God bless you. She even tried to walk with 2 months – but of course it did not work – her motor skills did not approve then. I.e. the brain wished – she wished but her body was unable to cope :) I had bought so many books – regarding all in development abt babies. With Athana I would have been better off to throw them all! She was who she was – and that was not described in books. Only the statement, regarding motor skills, was true. However – since all books I had failed, I referred to the book abt Crystal children. Maybe that was one adequate solution. Sometimes; and since I had been a career woman all the time, Salah was able to help. He then was empathic and had a sixth sense for Athana. He then knew (when I was overwhelmed) what she wanted. The funniest thing was when she tried to talk – yet what can a child say? Also there her motor skills failed, she then was very upset and cried (heartbreakingly…). But I was proud of her despite of her failures. Finally and because of Athana I found a way to Kerima’s heart. She is a very shy woman, yet has also the “heart” of a queen and is a bit of a snob… the usual ways of a woman who is very concerned abt the looks – that showed in fashion, nails, cosmetics, shoes and her home. OMG if I was like that I would never have the time to work anymore – I would lack time greatly! Because I would be busy buying stuff for my kids that they look neatly and I would have to go to marriage parties – and therefore need a new wardrobe all the time… I am not that type – I need brain food, too and some challenges… so we did not really have a lot in common; EXCEPT cooking… there she is a master – the only thing she had, was – she always made the same sauce with her Cous Cous, her Rishta (noodles, self made) – all had the same taste… what a pity… :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: Re: good and bad people: my brother tried to get back to me. His wife fizzled. I was grinning: she wrote a birthday card (normal picture postcard); saying happy birthday and congratulations to your little one (not even a salutation; i.e. dear and name) – then she signed and added: PS: Greetings to Salah. That was really OFF the mark – I thought wow, yet I wrote back by snail-mail also: Many thanks for the picture postcard fm Therwil and best regards – then I signed and then I wrote PS: Salah greets, too :ROTFL: Ivan only wrote – best wishes to us and to our beautiful daughter. I did NOT send any birth notice to him and his wife – because she behaved so badly at the wedding anniversary of my parents. Anyway – she sent another thingy later – a body with a dolphin on it and a self-made card – which was not beautiful at all – even Salah said: OMG – so puke. At least we loved the body that was really a sweet one :) :STAR: :STAR: :STAR: Athana had a light fever, tonsillitis and pressure on her tympanum – i.e. ear-drum (doctor’s diagnosis). He was totally against any homespun remedies – so no olive oil and no camomile tea… Yet I always gave her Gripe Water when she had belly problems. I also considered to give her Lapacho Tea when she had reached 6 months. I would make a cure with her; i.e. we both would. It was important for both of us regarding the immune system. She weighed abt 5.22 kilos (11.49 lbs) and with stating that – I noticed that my menstruation was overdue for 10 days… So, God had decided to gift Athana a baby brother – the test had not been done then, yet later on we knew, I was pregnant with Mustafa…

Iveenia CHAPTER 98 Jul 5, 2009 2:37 PM I was tired; a night with interruptions, 02:00 hrs, 05:00 hrs etc... – milk… That’s how it should be done the first 3 months… So we let it be, something new had been added these past 40 years… My parents had NOT done anything – they had me cried the first 3 nights and then – never again sleepless nights. But the “new” education says: Thy shall not be so brutal… They also explained in “big” letters and in books: there are three different types of sleepers: i.e. the “normal sleepers” they have the exact 24-hrs rhythm – the long sleepers (night owls) – they have “more” than 24 hrs in their blood and the early birds - those have a shorter day… Yes – my parents and I have short days and my bro was the night owl (and still is…) However – Athana is the night owl too – YIKES… this book – first i was still following – then i saw that Athana was NOT by the book at all – she has changed a lot – is maybe still a night owl but – she understood humor very fast – even abstract jokes – this book did not even mention abstract jokes and sorry – till today i know people who will never understand abstract jokes… Just to mention – in that book – which had been put together by scientists and doctors (mainly pediatricians) – you could find all abt nutrition, kinetic senses, playing, screaming, skin, teeth, sleeping and growing – (and lots more). Some things would exactly match. Some children are ahead in getting teeth, some are late. They were recommending to put fingers in the mouth when the kids wanted to suck sth, not the pacifier – well – Ummi had the same opinion as I had: a finger is a medium for bacteria… Best you can have. They grow under the fingernails and just look good (puke). The “best” thing will be that a kid would then put just anything in her/his mouth which looks like a finger – with a dummy this problem would not even occur and you could clean a dummy always :) so we did both agree on a dummy :) . She also said: do not take her up all the time – i.e. carry her. Only for burps – if you carry her always, you will be very annoyed… She was SO right! I did not do that but all others did – well she is a cute little sweetheart… but she still wants to be the ape of the family. :ROTFL: Luckily she was a very practical woman and told me bluntly what I was up to – she had to show her own kids how to do and now to me. i.e. bathing, pampering, feeding – etc. The first few weeks – she bathed her – she also explained that babies were very slippery when bathing them and many moms had them just skid out of hands… Really a funny feeling. After the third bath we discovered a pimple on her buttock. Luckily Nurheddin was in the house. He examined it and did the job with Mufida – it was an abscess a deep one, full of puss – it must have been terrible. I kept out of it – when she cried I felt so bad – so I left her there. Salah nearly threw up when he heard abt it. Well – Nurheddin had his own problems – he missed his wife and his son. They were both in Poland and he was so homesick – it was terrible. Salah said: “Libya is no country for Nurheddin. Look how old he became: he has got more grey hair than I do – and he is 2 years younger and looks older than I do.” Yes, Salah was right – Nurheddin was just lethargic and had installed himself in front of TV to just pick his coffee or tea and his cigarette and not moving otherwise… His mom nearly went up the wall because her son made her days… He was like a furniture; also eating and drinking like a machine. Well – since Ummi felt for him (he had been working for 2.5 years without any salary!!!) She could not throw him out without money. Salah said laconically: “he could work for a private clinic, but he is no business man.” Oh well… no comment to that one… The leader Mr. G. had promised to fully pay all salaries, increase all of them as well and guarantee that to all who worked in public hospitals. BLA BLA BLA – I would wish to see that one… Then the big shed arrived; Athana’s skin went off – a natural process after having been born; sure – kids no longer need the same skin as in the belly – wow – she looked awful! Her hair was supposed to fall off as well – (ha, no – it did not – LOL). On April 11, finally her umbilical cord fell off. I was sooooooooooo happy! Salah said: it normally never takes so long! „Stupid“ i countered: “it is waxing moon – all takes longer during waxing moon.“ After having given birth – in Libya – they were talking abt the 40 days. I.e. the kids should be at home and not been taken out during that time – cause these 40 days were critical to a child’s health. Also my doctor (Dr. Prof. Dr. Mustafa) wanted to see me only after those 40 days. BTW: the card I had written to him – he never showed to anyone. He was proud but shy. :) not even his daughter got to see it. Maybe the compliments were a bit too much for him :) When he saw me after those 40 days he was complaining to my husband: “you should give her more rests. The others should work – she is doing all fully, right? I can see that.” Sure – I am the type of “laid-back” – never I am not. I cannot look – watch – observe others doing my jobs and i sit there and do nothing? No – not my style. I also shared the opinion of many doctors and psychiatrists: if I fell back in lethargy myself – I might have depressions again and feel useless – so I avoided this feeling by working heavily… *** Athana having the hiccups – wow – that was terrible – I was unable to do sth and she was screaming. Of course the screaming made it worse. It is only a matter of breathing. I know that because my main hobby is singing. But how to explain a baby: “hey, breathe correctly.“ – all my jobs i ever had – were a piece of cake compared to motherhood… I then had these sinking feelings: I am unworthy, not capable, an idiot – i.e. I was not up to the job, etc. some kind of a helplessness. Whenever I was thinking abt THIS job, i.e. being a mother – I felt like a total greenhorn, a beginner in front of the mountain of “new land”. Well – the bleedings after the operation – they would last 12 days – ha, mine lasted 22. I blamed the moon as well. It had been a fact that recovery after operations during waxing moon lasted much longer than during waning moon. Also milking; if I was really well I had abt 20 ml – well – what can an old cow do? Nothing. :) no problem. My mom explained to me that even she did not have enough of milk. My husband was unable to help me with my daily jobs. He had medical checks for his renewal of license in Libya and he was also working hard in the bakery. We did still not make a living with it; so I was thinking of going back to work, again. I had some interviews but nobody wanted to hire me, I was obviously asking for too much. Yet later I heard that it was not too much. They paid foreigners abt 2’000 US$ and gave them free rent and mostly even a car. I was rather stupid. Well – later you are more intelligent and know more, too. Stop thinking the “hue” was crying for me ;) BTW: that is Mufida - one of her pictures in the year 2000 - the evening gown she made herself! i always compared her to Jasmin - Disney's Aladdin :)

Iveenia CHAPTER 97 May 31, 2009 6:08 AM Perhaps I had postnatal depressions – I always broke in tears whenever I was moved – how annoying… Well – get used to it… So, now I was at home and felt like the ultimate greenhorn, a stupid chick with a baby and I had NO idea how to take care of her… Brilliant – in addition she had her first “vomit days” and I nearly went nuts… Ummi came to me and said: “If you need me – I will help you – no matter if it is day or night – come to my house. We all started small, be happy that you are not alone.” How prophetic these lines were – we did not know in advance – yet yes, I went to her more often than I would have wished for… And it was not only because of my kids – it was because of HER “kid”… However – I was VERY grateful, that this family had accepted me – and that I had been taken care of well, too. Finally the parcel fm my parents had arrived… There was one P.O. Box number missing – instead of the 2787 there was only 278 – the greatest fun was – that nobody knew – it was the address of the EL CHADRA HOSPITAL - :ROTFL: - Adel’s P.O. Box number had four digits… However – they did not find me there cause it had been delivered before my delivery. Wow – life is soooooooooo funny!!! So El Chadra sent it back to the main post office. They were so close to send it back to my parents – luckily Salah went. There was this elderly gentleman who helped him out – even went with him to the locker – the “post-office safe” – GREAT – I was so grateful, prayers work – definitely :) The elderly gentleman congratulated my husband to the baby and gave him the parcel without even opening it. Irene had sent stuff to my parents – at that time the embargo was still on – i.e. no contact with the US – no internet connection either – nothing… BRILLIANT LIFE :) In the parcel were baby clothes and other sweet stuff – she had a frog bib – which was just soooo sweet. :FROGGY: Ummi loved it mostly. I was happy abt the enzymes which would make the scar heal faster. The next day they would take the stitches out. “My” professor Doctor Mustafa made this in person :) He was really a darling. He also added: “Your mother is a woman of substance and your wife is a wonderful person, whom I like very much.” My husband and my doctor understood each other well and I was happy abt that. Of course we had given gifts to him and his daughter – cause that was the least and I also hoped that they liked the cards, as well. *** Athana had been born at 11:20 hrs minus two hours (Libyan time to GMT - daylight saving’s time another hr minus and then minus 10 minutes – cause I calculated it to Basel time) that was 09:10 hrs = Gemini ascendant. Who did that remind me of – and true – till today – she cannot decide easily… Like all my Gemini female friends. Male friends who are Gemini I do not have anymore. :) Athana was a born Aries – had the moon in Aries, as well = STUBBORN times 2 – i.e. her mood would be stubborn as well – that is what moon tells us :) then she had an ascendant of a Gemini which is actually the fastest and most intelligent Zodiac sign they say – so her intellectual grasp would be above average :) – well – that would mean – we will fight – ok – then so be it. She was a very active and vivid person – that was even indicated in the report of the hospital. i.e. she was already a little fighter. I just hoped – that she was not like me as a child – i.e. I gave up too fast mostly… However- her stubborn head made her win against my husband – he gave up. Yet against me – she had another stubborn head – I was 0.2 degree Taurus and Aries – exactly on the line. So now she had the challenge to fight against a set of 2 pair of horns :ROTFL: - BTW: my mom’s ascendant is Gemini, as well and my mom is also an Aries. So I have/had been there – done that :) If I gave up – and would give in – regarding her head – she would dictate – i.e. she would educate us – the older ones and would take over. Yet that was far of my intention – so I put up a fight :) whenever she tried. I had luckily bought the books during my pregnancy - it was abt Indigo children. Indigo kids would never ever accept orders – only either or – they would never just do sth which seemed nonsense to them. They would be different – and when developing their abilities – which were not really considered to be “normal” – i.e. mental abilities – that could just mean anything. Only later I found out that my kids were not anymore Indigo kids – however it is not important, what they are – but who they are. Ummi helped me to change diapers – bathing her and also explained to me – that little babies are so slippery when getting in the bath – that you might lose them if you did not grab them well but not hurting – wow – what a job – I felt so stupid so downgraded so awfully like a bloody beginner – my depression… I had talked abt it with my doctor – he said: no, not you – but true – yes I had a postnatal depression – and a very huge one… However – most women had to fight with that – i.e. with postnatal depression – over 90 % - so I belonged in there as well. Also Kerima and Amal were fighting with it – they confessed. Ummi never talked abt it anymore. Maybe she had forgotten or did not have time to think back. Anyway one day I really had that breakdown – I was talking abt NO milk – only 20 ml that was top (I had a breast pump) then I was talking abt my disqualification abt educating kids, not even being able to change diapers – I was just nothing – wow – when I think back how terrible that was then sorry – I nearly laugh. Sure – it is incredible – yet – PMS was easy against those feelings… My husband did not know what to say anymore – he felt like paralyzed and completely off this world. In the evening I had finally gotten hold of myself again – I had taken out the book fm Erhard F. Freitag “the power of positive thinking”. How can God reach someone if in a terrible state like depression, sadness, anger, deception, aggression – nobody can be reached then anymore – I knew that fm books I had read. We should be happy with what we had. Should say yes to life and have joy in living. It really helped. However it was not easy – not even to go to the bathroom. The scar hurt terribly and the hematomas did make life hell. Even only letting go of air – that was hell – actually. Finally all stitches had been removed, the scar would look good my doctor said. Just that evening I was dead – so exhausted – Ummi kept the little one with her and I was “given off”. I.e. during the time we had been with the doctor. Apparently madam Athana had been protesting heavily that neither mom nor dad were there. She did even refuse to drink milk. However I had not more than those 20 ml of milk – which Ummi always claimed that more would come. I was not sure- I talked abt myself as an old “cow”. Yes – my sarcasm was back… It was not a shame – also Amal did not have milk for three of her children. And all were ok, anyway. Firstly I should become healthy again and then we would see to the milk – that is what Ummi said. When I wanted to get some sleep – Amal’s kids came and made hell of a noise – exactly in front of the sleeping room’s window. So sleeping? Oh well - yes on another planet… I did not sleep at all. Salah slept in the same room as i did, again. I did not care anymore whether he snored or not – at hospital we had three women in the same room who were snoring worse. Yet and I admit – both of my kids snore, too and I cannot stand it anymore :) However – then I did not care. He also helped me at night to prepare her milk and with the breast feeding – even so there was not a lot and we always had to go for the baby formula milk… I was also not allowed to hold the baby because of my scar – so he had to hold her – wow – what a job!!! However during the day I could not just run to all and say – hey, she needs milk – so I did it myself and lifted her – after all she needed milk – with Mustafa I would not make such a “theater”, anymore! After drinking milk, babies need to burp – otherwise they might throw up… oh yes – that is nice to clean the whole stuff – especially on carpets and shirts – awesome – who does not know abt that as a mother or father or relative…? Mohamed – Salah’s youngest brother did not wish that the others knew how much he loved Athana – he sneaked in and kissed her fast on her front and then nearly ran out – Ummi caught him – but he did not see her I was laughing so also Mohamed suffered of the “Athana-sickness”. It was really funny – that all were so deeply-stirred because of this little baby, why was I immune? I still ask myself. Maybe, because I am her mother? No idea… It was as if they were addicted to her. All wanted to caress her immediately. Of course she was “someone special”. WE ALL ARE – yet to exaggerate like this? Sure – she was cute and also I did hug her and cuddle her and kiss her several times a day – but I think it was a “healthy way”. Okay – she was very white – i.e. pink and maybe that made her also someone special in Africa. Yet overdoing was not my cup of tea. Her charisma was something I had to get along with – also with human beings I had never met before – I had to get used to it. *** Regarding politics (and fleas) we had some nice news in Libya. First the intro: Al Jazeera – had brought a documentary abt Gaddafi (I called Gaddafi the humpy animal herder) – actually abt all these countries: Libya, Iraq, Iran (in my mails I had to write abt the carpet-countries = Iran & Iraq – if only one of these guys working in the department of observation of ALL e-mails, short message system, phone calls, faxes – just anything would get to know what stuff I was telling my parents and friends abt Libya – we would have been not just in deep but deeper trouble) – all were there. The truth – I know they are – among many other media channels – they really do best in research. However – the Saudi Arabian story was really a “nice” one – the Saudi embassy was like extinct – not a trace of any of them – swallowed up by the earth… really very scary… gone with the wind… Salah was happy that the story was over and that it had been so gotten off so lightly… I was not really sure. I called all Muslim countries as a whole: the sand box countries :) However – Al Jazeera always receives a lot of threats – i.e. we will kill all of you – and you will be blown off the map – that is why they always change their locations. I know someone fm Al Jazeera personally – that is why I can write abt it here. He has been working there for quite a while. There was also news abt another country which emphasised to change two more governments in the “Arab” world. It was purely abt the black gold – i.e. the oil. Frankly speaking :) BTW: amendment – my feeling was correct – no way abt going smoothly – just the same afternoon abt – all went well in Libya…: at 14:00 hrs that afternoon a factory next to Gaddafi’s residence went up in flames… WOW Mr. Humpy Animal Herder was scared to death – and I am VERY sure – that he had more than postnatal depressions now… ***

Iveenia Chapter 96 May 24, 2009 12:09 PM She was here – finally here – the little one who looked like my dad and my brother initially. Hands and feet were like my dad’s, even the chin and the expression – it was as if my dad had been born, again. The eyes were a mixture between Salah’s and mine, the nose was really Salah’s. She had bigger nostrils than we do have in Europe, to be able to breathe better – in every case “not the European standard”. ;) Regarding my stay in hospital I was only able to say: it was dirty, no warm water, one night NO water at all, because they were building and renovating the whole hospital during my stay there. They have had beautiful paving tiles but hey, did anyone think how dangerous it was when slipping on shiny tiles? However – it looked like state of the art… Talking abt tiles: we had the same story at Zurich Main station – there they had shiny tiles – made of granite – it looked so beautiful – yet after several accidents and people who complained – the headquarters of the station agreed on abrasion – i.e. the glossy finishing was then matt. I was only asking myself: HOSPITAL? Accidents? Ok – at least you are already in a hospital… sorry for my sarcasm… In all bathrooms there was such filth – you can never imagine… They left bloody towels there fm operations and dried bread in a BATHROOM!!! Cockroaches were running around – no, not big ones – little ones… we called them Samir, i.e. we named them like: Samir one – Samir two. They were crawling around everywhere; on curtains, walls, on the floor. PUKE – however – we were 6 women in one room – the hospital was fully booked – even overbooked. They had 18 rooms (18 X 6 =) 108 women average. They had a special section for Hepatitis. We (i.e. the “healthy” women) were not allowed to go there. In our room there was an elderly lady who helped me with my daughter. Actually all helped me – it was such a great feeling with them – like friends. Yet I was the only one with a caesarean. Was not allowed to lift anything not even Athana and also not allowed to walk fast that would lead to opening the scar. However – we had too many women in our room, who came to see Athana. Almost all kissed her and said: “helo halba (= very pretty) or gnaina (= beautiful) and looked at her in a deeply moved way. In the initial I felt rather bothered, yet at the end I somehow understood that I have to share her and true – till today – I have to share her… In addition all came there to tell me that I had “to produce” a second one… Sure – I thought so too – a single child will be spoiled, mostly. I know very few exceptions to the rule :) Yet – I left this decision to God. The first night was hell, my daughter nearly died. She almost choked – the nurse Haluma luckily came in to fix my drip – yet it was not the usual timing – it was as if she had been the guardian angel. I had woken up just at the same time because I felt sth wrong and she just entered the room… GOD’s ways… I told her in my English – pls – she cannot breathe. Haluma tried everything – Athana did not breathe. She then took the kid out of the cradle and ran downstairs to the children hospital section. After half an hour she came back – Athana was alive – I was so relieved! After this incident I just swore to myself to get healthy the soonest possible. I would have never forgiven myself if something like that happened, again. I was not even fully there – cause I had heavy tranquilizers and pain injections – so I just said shukran shezilan and that was it… The next day Haluma was off, naturally – after her night shift. It had always been like that in the El Chadra Hospital: last shift was night shift. The day after she was back – day shift – the first thing she did, was coming to our room – took Athana out and kissed her. It was really weird how all were so much in love with my daughter… however – she has a lot of hearts to give to all yet… She can also be a little naughty devil – oh my… Then Salah’s family came – one by one – first Kerima. She gave Athana her first earrings, when she took her up she started crying. Salah asked her bluntly and dryly: “why do you cry?” She said no child had ever moved her that way… Salah ranted: “these earrings – should someone hurt the little one I will……” However she would have her injections before leaving hospital – i.e. polio – hepatitis and the third one I have forgotten – they called it CBC there. In Libya you learn to pray. Before the operation I had said to God: I put myself in your hands. What else could/should I do? We really never know what God has in store for us i.e. in advance… I knew that Salah was unable to be alone at home – so he slept many times either in the car in the parking lot of the hospital or on a bench near the reception desk. Before the operation his mother finally succeeded to get a bed in hospital because of bribing a nurse. She had been waiting till the birth process was over and then had washed Athana, pampered, given milk and dressed. Still till today I think Salah overdid it. When I checked out – he had a friend of Nurheddin coming along – that doctor made all the check-out papers and did also organize vitamins and other stuff. I had written a letter to my gynaecologist: Dear Sir – (I have a problem with titles) Thank you so much what you have done for the little one and for me. Words can hardly describe how much I feel. Please know that those who have decided to take the path of God sometimes have to stand the hardest times, because not all around us do approve or understand why we have taken a certain decision. (That sentence was the conclusion of an incident, which I will write after having told you the rest of the letter). Please also know that doctors like you are rarer and more precious than the rarest naturally grown pearls on Earth! Please go your way / walk your path and never ever hesitate! Please also understand and do not get me wrongly, yet I felt as if you were like my father when I stayed in hospital. You strengthened me before the operation and told me abt the coming pain. GOD SHALL BE WITH YOU ON EVERY STEP OF YOUR LIFE & GOD BLESS YOU – with this I signed the letter :) Of course I made a copy – which now “resides” in Libya in a file with all photos, papers, birth documents etc… :ROTFL: The sentence regarding the path of God had a story: we had a woman in our room, she was in severe pain. She was pregnant with a child – who was unable to survive. The baby was not only disabled but also brain-damaged. Dr. Mustafa knew this very well, he was feeling helpless because of the baby and also because of that young woman, he thought „worst case scenario“: i.e. I will lose both… Since I have a way with all people having problems, they all confess to me – no matter who they are/were :) he told me that off his chest… Actually he had offered her an abortion – yet the darling woman did not wish for that. She wanted to stay in that hospital and wait – even with an early birth; i.e. carry the child to a certain time and then having a cesarean. He was so despaired, he nearly cried: “She refuses even the treatment; she does not give an inch. I think I am going to lose her!” Of course I did not really get that abortion thingy – because I had grown up as a Roman Catholic and for that “sort of belief” it was out of question to go for an abortion. Yet God’s decision came the same night: She suddenly was in labor – and went to intensive care. There she bore the deformed fetus, the child was dead. The next day “my” doctor was so relieved. I only said: „You see? Even God has agreed with you in this special case. “ He humbly hung his head, only and whispered: “Thank you very much”. Then he disappeared. Later that day – that woman came to me and confessed the baby was dead. Of course it was my check-out day so I only hugged her and said: “You are a very beautiful woman and you will have a very sweet daughter, one like mine.” Then she was very happy and consoled. Of course it did not work the way she had wished for – yet GOD is merciful! Well – Check-Out-Day: Injection-Day for Athana; what a torture! They gave her that three-in-one thingy and she was bawling her eyes out. I could not stand it, I nearly cried as well – it was as if they killed her. However she needed these papers for the next injections. That would be the case in abt a month. Of course that would pass – yet she was unaware of that kind of pain and it was heart-breaking to hear her crying like that. However – we were on our way home.

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Owner Iveenia

Started Jul 31, 2008

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Dear ALL First of ALL: THANK YOU - TO ALL OF YOU - for your interest! "My" doctor is late - he promised to correct the first page - so I can still correct it when done... SMILE Here I will translate my diary and well - we all have nicks anyway - so I am not worried abt my life - on the opposite... You all have had some less funny experiences as well - let us see to it that way: all what does not kill us makes us stronger - that is my motto... Krgds Ivee