At the Lodge

Our rules this weekend have been:

1) No talking about work related things (we do like our jobs, just need a break from talking about them)
2) eat whatever we want (later I'll tell you about the awesome barbecue place we went to)
3) bedtime is whenever people start getting tired
4) take as many pictures as we can (since we've been really busy since Beckett came along and haven't been taking tons

The Lodge

We're heading to the Lied Lodge for the weekend with my parents. Mark, I, and the boys are leaving after my work tomorrow and hope to make it back by church Sunday morning. Have a great weekend! I'm sure we'll have a few pictures when we return!

Where is Spring?

I'm holding onto the hope that Spring is around the corner; this is Ethan last Spring. I'm hoping that since March is less then a week away, that warm weather is coming....

Lately

What is happening around here?

Well, Finn counted to 14 all by himself on Saturday! To 14! Ethan was counting coins and stopped at 5 and then Finn starting counting and made it to 14.

Mark starts his new job on March 1st. He had last week and all of this week to do nothing before the new job starts. Well, not nothing...he takes care of the kids! He is really looking forward to starting and today was the first day he could announce that he is officially an employee of the State of Nebraska. Getting used to the new schedule next week may prove to be an adjustment. He will be working evenings while I am working days.

Ethan continues to practice his flute for Kindermusik at his preschool. He is getting so big and grown up!

Beckett is eating and eating and eating. He is already in 3-6 months clothes and is definitely our little cutie....well, maybe not little....our growing cutie!

Phone Pics

These are all from Mark's phone, hence the bad quality, but they do capture for the most part our day today.




Ethan getting ready for our trip to Panera and Barnes & Noble. Mommy had to buy some books for work, so we all made a trip out of it. He loves his Woody! Daddy and his Wild Rice Soup....his favorite.

We love our Panera!

Beckett was just happy to be along for the ride!

Evening Out

Yesterday was the last day for Ethan's best bud from church staying at our house. I think Ethan will really miss him! They even took naps together in Ethan's bunk bed. After his buddy left in the late afternoon, we took a trip to Lincoln.

While at Target, we tried shopping for blinds. I'll be honest, I dislike very much shopping for house items. As I stood there in the curtain section, starring at 52 different styles of shades, blinds, and window treatments, I kept thinking how little I care what color my curtains are or type of fabric the drapes could be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging those who do care about those things, I just am not the type that wants to spend my time picking out cloth embroidered curtains or stained wood blinds.

Long story short, we left the home decor section of Target with no window treatments or any idea when we would go back. We did however have an amazingly mouth watering dinner at Braeda.....now that is the kind of thing I care about:)

Ethan started Kindermusik at his preschool. He gets to play the flute. He seems really excited about it. Finn has enjoyed our new house, he runs up and down the halls and around the basement all day, and Beckett is getting even more adorable as time goes on.

Unpacking

We aren't fully unpacked...I feel like whenever I can't find anything, Mark is always saying to look in some box. We might get to it this weekend, but I'm pretty sure we'll be trying to locate a washer/dryer instead. I feel like I'm 19 again having to go over to my parent's house and do laundry at their place. Luckily they don't mind.

The basement play area is really the only place in the house that is set up/unpacked. We set up a sitting/couch area downstairs and the rest of the room is for toys. Note: I've told my parents to stop buying toys, but I don't think it's getting through.....

Hopefully we'll locate a washer at least this weekend and then move onto unpacking the bedrooms fully. Saturday night Mark is taking Ethan/Finn to the Father-Son banquet at church, they are super excited already. I'll have my own little evening in with sweet Beckett...I imagine we'll spend the night doing laundry either at our house or my parents:)

More Haitian Pictures from Dr. Pearson

Dr. Pearson is the man on the left

There is tradegy yet hope,

death yet life,

pain yet healing,

evil yet God's power.

Hearing a fellow Professor speak on his Medical Mission

One of the professors here are York College recently traveled to Haiti to help the Haitian people with their medical issues after their earthquake tradegy. I can not imagine what he has experienced during his time there; however, I will be listening intently when he speaks tonight at our church about his recent work in Haiti along with showing pictures from his time there 2 weeks ago.

Besides the fact that God's work through Dr. Pearson is commendable and he in fact helped to save lives, I can not ignore that I am constantly enthralled by medical missions. I have long had the dream of being a medical mission photographer. This dream has sat on the shelf for many years and will continue to be put on the back burner. It is a dream for a different life, this life is devoted to my precious children. However, if ever a chance arose that this dream could in fact become my future, I can't deny that I would consider the option. A Photojournalist....maybe someday.

For now, I will continue to do what I can to support those who, led by God's mighty hand, choose to serve hurting people in foreign lands. It is a job that few have the talent and strength to do.

To read more about Dr. Pearson and his work, visit http://www.yorknewstimes.com/

Weekend

Last weekend flew by...Friday night we stayed home and unpacked. I know, it doesn't sound exciting, but it was nice to be able to find things.

I woke up Saturday morning to the doorbell ringing. It was my parents coming over to arrange furniture and unpack the storage unit. I think it was bothering them that the living room didn't have seating yet and boxes were kinda in every nook. We worked on the house for a couple hours, then it was lunchtime.

Saturday night we dropped off Ethan and Finn at the church babysitting fundraiser for the youth mission trip. Beckett stayed home with us and we cooked dinner for my parents (pork chops, potatoes, corn, and Boston cream pie) since they were coming over again that night to hang pictures and put the daybed together. After we all ate dinner, they set hung all our stuff and organized the office for us. We picked up the boys from the church and everyone went to bed. Sunday was church and then a day of catching up on work stuff and grad school papers.

My brother came by my office and chatted during his work shift. It is kinda funny because people/neighbors always assume something is wrong when he comes over, but it in reality he is a state patrolmen and parks his work car at our house sometimes. So, I promise, the police aren't over at our place every week.....it is just my brother stopping by when he gets bored during work:)

The pictures above were sent to me from a friend that helped at the church babysitting fundraiser.

At home with Daddy

Ethan's best friend from church is spending his day with us all week while his normal sitter/aunt is in Florida on vacation. They are having a blast so far and when I stopped at home for lunch they were chasing each other around and Mark said they had been doing just that for an hour. We'll see if they are still best friends after spending all day together for the whole week.....

Internet coming

THE INTERNET GUY COMES TOMORROW!!! YEAH FOR INTERNET ACCESS!!! Starting tomorrow no more updates from my office, phone, or coffee shop!

Above is a random photo from yesterday. This boys love their naptime together.

This morning we braved the weather and took everyone to church. Thank goodness for friends who will hold your sleeping baby while you take other boys to the potty during church:)

Random Photos

Ethan and I finally getting to watch Toy Story 2 for the first time! His face says it all:)

Beckett in the hospital bed in the ER last weekend, he seemed pretty calm. This is my favorite shirt of his, I think because he is a milk eating machine!
All smiles lately!

Update

Since Sunday we've had another ER visit, a doctor's visit, more medicine, and of course the breathing treatments for both Beckett and Ethan. I actually think that they are both doing better and hopefully things will improve with both of them from here on out.

We've spent the night at our new place since Sunday. Mark's last day at York is this coming Friday. Boxes are everywhere and I can't find any of our stuff. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly grateful to my parents and Mark's good friend Justin for basically moving us since we were in the hospital with Beckett. I just wish I could find my coffee travel mug and socks for the boys. Another thanks to our friend Julie for bringing us food Monday night and Rose for bringing a meal for us last night. It is so nice to be able to focus on the boys and not worry about what to cook for a few days. We love our church family!

Mark's mom got here yesterday to help unpack and settle in the new place, and help take care of Beckett. We really don't want to take him out of the house until his breathing treatments are done this weekend. It will be nice to get a lot done while she is here!

Ethan took his valentines to preschool today. He was super excited. They are Toy Story Valentines of course! Finn is as crazy as ever, and seems to be feeling good even though his brothers are sick. Mark and I get to go to Caleb Hawley's concert tonight which we're excited about.

We're Home

We are home now! And surprisingly we are mostly moved too! Thanks to my parents and Mark's good friend Justin, most our stuff is at the new place. We only need to move the dining table still and some stuff in the pantry, which will have to wait till tomorrow night.

Beckett is doing a lot better. He has to be on breathing treatments for a week and some meds as well. He also had an allergic reaction to the latex on his foot:( The poor guy has been through so much!

I took Ethan and Finn to the store earlier while Mark was at the hospital. I bought some game snacks so we could watch part of the game...only to remember we didn't hook up cable at the new place yet! HA! I guess we won't be watching it. We're trying to catch some of the commercials online though

I'll keep an update on Beckett on here this coming week.

Beckett in the hospital today

Kinda Scary

Last night after moving several loads I started getting concerned with Beckett's breathing. He didn't have a fever or any other strong symptoms except a plugged up nose. But since it had to do with breathing, we took him to the ER. He tested positive for RSV and they admitted him right then. His blood oxygen level was low and he started to struggle with deep breathing. They gave him a steroid shot and some other things, and his oxygen level increased pretty well. Mark ended up staying the night with him there.

I got up early this morning and moved more stuff....life is kinda crazy this weekend! The doctor came and saw Beckett again and decided to keep him there still Sunday, maybe later if they feel it is necessary. I'm just glad he is there and not at home in case he gets worse. We already have people praying and offering to bring us things or help out. Mark is staying with him till this afternoon and then we'll switch and I'll stay/sleep there with him for the afternoon/night.

I'm headed up to the hospital soon and Mark will come home to finish moving with the help of some of his friends. Here is a picture of our sweet Beckett at the hospital last night. He is in really good spirits despite getting an IV and shots.

I'll keep everyone updated when I can.

Today is the Day

If all goes well today, we'll be moving into our house tonight. We've been trying to pack this week, but there is still a lot to do. Tonight we'll move some bigger items and boxes of stuff. Tomorrow morning my parents will help us move "need this to live" items like our bed, clothes, and food. Our plan is to be sleeping there Sat night. And Sunday will be finishing moving the random stuff and cleaning the old place. Hopefully we'll be done in time for the campus super bowl party!



I realize that pictures aren't very cool without people in them, but here are a few pics we took when we toured the home. More pictures to come when we actually move our stuff in.

main living room...with Beckett sleeping in his seat peacefully

Hallway that goes to bedrooms

Ethan's future room

Beckett's future room
Finn's future room

Our bedroom, it is listed on the sheet as the master bedroom but it is pretty much the same size as the other bedrooms. I think it will work since we only have a bed....

The basement, aka future playroom for the boys. We might make part of the left side an office so I can work while they play, not sure yet though.

Another view of the basement. They had on the listing the room straight ahead listed as a bedroom but it has no carpet (concrete floor) so I don't think anyone will want to sleep in there. It will probably be a storage room.

I didn't add a picture of the bathroom or garage...those are even less interesting without stuff in them, and the kitchen pictures turned out super dark. Will post more when we can take more. We are praying everything goes well this weekend and we're able to transition smoothly!

Packing

We started packing things up on Sunday. There is one thing that I really don't like...it is packing. I've never really liked packing for trips or packing to move. I think it is because when I would take trips before kids and just had to pack myself. I would just throw things in a bag usually right before I left. I figured it didn't really matter if I forgot something or didn't bring my favorite shirt because I just had to take care of me then.

Now with 3 kids, packing is an event. It is a process of precise list making and coordinating moving boxes while creating a tracking system for unpacking those said boxes. I want to make sure I know where Ethan's toy story Buzz can be found and where Finn's sleeping bear is, so that I can have easy access to them at any given notice or at the first sign of toddler meltdown. This may seem crazy but I need some source of sanity during this move and being able to supply my child's favorite soothing toy seems like the best preparation I can have.

I'll admit there is a lot still left to haul out of our campus housing and a lot of boxes left to tape up. I will miss the guys in our building who play with our kids when they see them, and the free housing/utilites we had. I will definietly miss having my walkway shoveled when it storms and a meal card provided.....wait....I'm started to think moving off campus is bad!! Well, my kids need a yard of their own and their own rooms, even if it means paying for it.