I went Christmas shopping at lunchtimes and organized our clothes we would need to take. We all went and bought a thick, padded jacket. Before we knew it, the day was almost here. We left work on the Friday and were flying the next day. We went home and packed then went to eat and give my folks there gifts they had invited us to eat with them as they wanted to say goodbye to us. We had drinks on the veranda as it was a hot summer evening. My mom had her Christmas tree up, and she had said Ross could open the gifts from her and my dad that night. She gave him his gift and he opened it; it was a remote red car, and he loved it. We put the batteries in it, and he played with it before we ate.
After we had said goodbye to my mom and dad and hugged and kissed them, we drove home. My folks were taking us to the airport, we were leaving at 4:00 p.m. that Saturday afternoon. We fell into bed when we got home, and I got up early and made coffee for Ed and me. We were so happy to be going on a holiday with Ross. We got up eventually after making love, and my period was late and I drove to the chemist and bought a pregnancy test. I came home and did it in the bathroom, and sure enough, it read positive. I phoned the doctor and asked for an appointment. I told Ed I was just going to get some last-minute things at the shop. I wanted to surprise him for Christmas. I went to Dr. Rodriguez, and he did a blood test and told me I was one month pregnant and the baby was due in July. He said all was fine for me to fly, and I must take care and not to ski. I could toboggan. I agreed with him and stopped at Woolworths quickly to buy something. I got home and showered and changed; we had to dress warmly. Ed had already bathed Ross, and they were both ready and dressed. We were all in denims and had our new jackets nearby to carry with us as it was too hot to put on.
My mom and dad arrived at 3:00 p.m., and we all had some tea and then packed the suitcases in the car, and off we went. Ed had wanted to buy Ross a dog, but with us going away, he said he would buy it when we came home as who would feed it, and it was a great responsibility. I agreed with him. He hugged me in the car, and Ross was so excited to be going in the big airplane. We were going to try and let him meet the pilot if we could.
When we got to the airport, we booked in and all our suitcases were underweight, which was great. Then my dad said, “Let’s go and have a cup of coffee as you have forty-five minutes before you have to board or be at the gate.” So we had coffee, and my mom and dad said they were going to miss us. I said we would miss them too. The next minute, it was time to board, so we walked to Gate 8 and hugged and kissed my mom and dad goodbye.
We boarded the plane and were all sitting together in the three-seater. Ross was by the window, I was in the middle, and Ed was on the aisle seat. We asked the air-hostess if Ross could meet the pilot, and she said she would see what she could do, and off she went. She came back and said we must follow her, so we did. Ross’s eyes were so big and we went into the cockpit and met the pilot and the co-pilot. We saw all the lights and switches and the pilot let Ross sit on his lap for a minute and showed him how he steered the plane. It was very interesting, and then we went back to our seats and buckled up. By then, it was getting full, and then they closed the doors asked everyone to buckle up, and the next thing they showed us the emergency drill and then we were going down the runway ready to take off. I was feeling okay and had given us all a piece of chewing gum so that our ears would not pop. We took off, and soon we were in the air. Ross could see the sun and the clouds, and it was lovely to be flying above the clouds.
They brought us something to drink, and next, they were serving our dinner. We chose chicken, and Ed had beef, and it was all very tasty. After dinner had been taken away, Ed took Ross to the loo, and when they came back I went. After that, we settled Ross down as Ed had got him to do his teeth with the little toothbrush they give you on the plane. We had all brushed our teeth and then I opened Ross’s blanket and put it over him, and in no time, he was asleep. I looked at Ed and was dying to tell him about the baby but had decided it was the best Christmas gift I could give him so kept it to myself and just held his hand and then touched my tummy with my other hand and thought what a miracle life is there inside our child was growing.
We arrived at Zurich airport early the next morning. They brought us breakfast, but it was too early to eat, so we just had coffee. Ed said we can get something later. We walked off the plane and put our jackets on as it was cold outside and snowing. We waited for our luggage at the luggage rail and when our suitcases came, Ed lifted them off the luggage rail onto a trolley that Ross was holding onto. We pushed the trolley to a taxi and asked them to take us to St. Vincent B&B in Engelberg. He said we would have to catch the train there, which we knew so he dropped us at the station. There was a train leaving within an hour. We went and bought tickets then saw a little coffee shop and went and had a croissant with some ham on it and some coffee. Ross had a hot chocolate. We caught the train to Engelberg, and Ross enjoyed going on the train. He was pointing out the cows and horses we saw as we went past farms; it was a lovely trip. When we got to the train station near Engelberg, we got off the train, got our suitcases, and this time, we caught a taxi to the B&B. As we arrived at St. Vincent’s B&B, we were all tired. They showed us to our rooms; there were two rooms: one with one bed in it and then a double bed in another room for Ed and me.
I bathed Ross, and he was tired, and although it was only 10:00 a.m. in the morning, we needed to catch up on some sleep. I changed him into his track suit and put him in the bed. I read him a story, and Ed came and sat with him while he went off to sleep. Then Ed and I had a shower, put on our track suits, and then got into bed. We slept for a good two hours. Then we got up and got changed into our jeans, shirts, and jackets with our gloves and beanies, and we went for a little walk into the town, saw a restaurant, and decided to have lunch. We all decided to try the cheese rostis which were delicious. Ed had a beer and Ross and I had an appletizer.
There were all Christmas trees on with lights in the village of Engelberg, and everything was covered in snow and was white; it looked surreal. Ed and Ross had a snowball fight, and I joined in but had to be careful not to slip on the snow. We decided to eat at the B&B and go tobogganing in the morning. We went back to the B&B and sat in the bar, having a drink. Ross was allowed in there as it was quite safe, and we were only drinking appletizer. Ed was the only one drinking a beer, as were others. We then went to dinner, which was delicious. We had a hearty minestrone soup, followed by roast lamb and vegetables and potatoes or rostis, like the Swiss call them, and gravy. We then had a scrumptious bread-and-butter pudding. In two days’ time, it was going to be Christmas.
We got up in the morning, and Ed made us coffee and hot chocolate for Ross, and Ross got in the bed with us; it warmed my heart to have us all together. Ross said this was a fab place! We both agreed with him, then we got up showered and got dressed and then went out with our gloves and beanies on again. We got to the snow where all the events were happening. We first went to have some breakfast, which consisted of porridge and egg and bacon and another cup of coffee. Ross said, “It sure is cold here.” The hot chocolate kept him warm for a while.
We then got on a toboggan and went down a mountain; it was such fun. After that, we went into a warm place that had a fire going, and Ed ordered schnapps for him and me. I decided to have one to make Ed happy, and Ross had another hot chocolate. We then ordered a bratwurst sausage and some chips and ate it to keep us warm. We then walked along and decided to take the cable car up to Mt. Titlis. We paid for our tickets, got in the cable car, and Ross was so surprised because it really was high up. We then went up the mountain in the cable car, and Ed and Ross were squealing like girls on the way up. I took some lovely photos of all of us and then another lady took one of the three of us, and it came out well. When we got to the top, we could walk inside a glacier and that was interesting. Ross loved it, and him and Ed made snowballs again and threw them at each other. We had another hot chocolate—all of us this time, and they had marshmallows in them, which were delicious. It warmed us up, and then we caught the cable car down again. We walked back to the B&B exhausted but very happy.
That night, we were going to a special dinner as it was Christmas Eve, and we had put Ross’s gift under a big Christmas tree downstairs, and at midnight, Father Christmas was going to hand the gifts out. I could not wait to tell Ed about the baby and was lucky I had no morning sickness. We got dressed all nicely in our smart clothes and bundled up and walked down to the restaurant; they were playing Christmas music, and it was all lit up with candles and lights. The snow sure gave Christmas new meaning. We had a drink, and Ross had made friends with some other children, and they were running around. We then went into dinner, which was the ritual turkey and vegetables and mince pies and Christmas pudding.
At midnight, we were all sitting around this huge Christmas tree when Father Christmas arrived on his sleigh. He had his big bag of gifts, and they were all nicely wrapped. He started calling out names, and all the children got up as their names were called out. Eventually, it was Ross’s turn, and he went up and got his gift; he ripped it open, and it was Lego, his favorite. He was so excited that he came and hugged Ed and me. Ed said my gift was this holiday, and I said, “Guess what?” He looked at me and shook his head. I went up to him and whispered in his ear that I was pregnant. He looked at me then took me in his arms and kissed me so fast it took my breath away.
He was so delighted; he said, “Let’s tell Ross.” So we went back to our table; he called Ross over, and he sat on Ed’s knee and then he told him I was having a baby. Ross was so happy; he was glad that he was going to have a brother or sister. Then Ed said no more tobogganing for me and looked at me and said, “Now my life is complete.”
A new life, and both Ross and I in his life, what more could he ask for? I said, “Yes, the new life of this baby was the best Christmas gift one could get and the greatest gift of all.”