What a week!

Last week threw a HUGE curve ball our way.
Sunday morning at the wee hour of 4 a.m M woke up in excruciating pain. Thought maybe a muscle was pulled or laid wrong...oh no! Instantly got sick and woke G up and begged him to rub my back. After no avail, called the doc and she urged us to go to the ER immediately. So we reluctantly woke Kaykers up, with no other choice. At the ER they pumped M with pain meds that were safe for the baby and after an ultrasound of the kidneys determined that there were 4 stones fighting for evacuation. Being that M's blood pressure was at the least, out of control, they admitted and M stayed there for three days. Kaykers went to M's parent's house for the week so that G could still go to work while M was just sitting in the hospital waiting for the inevitable. MISERABLE!!
Thursday instead of heading up to WI we headed south to see Kaykers for the holiday. We couldn't imagine not being with her on Thanksgiving since she is the biggest thing in our lives! M's whole family met at her sister's and it was great to see N0ra again as well.
Friday G took M to Wicked! It was her belated birthday gift. One word: INCREDIBLE!
When we got back that night we took Kaykers to see Santa! She was so thrilled to see the big man in flesh!
There were dozens of Christmas trees all decorated there too which has become one of her favorite things to point out! She is just beside herself with all the holiday decor!
Saturday M and her sisters went up to the Chriskindlmarket in Chicago. All the handmade ornaments, winter decorations, European food and candy as well as clothing was amazing to all take in! We bought some ornaments, sweater for the girls and M picked up G some chocolate. He loves European Chocolate. While M was out having some fun, G was changing the brake pads and routers on the car. He started BEFORE we left and was still at it when we got home. Apparently there was a bit of a battle getting some of the routers out. Noetheless, we now have amazing stopping capability in that bad boy!
Saturday night we headed home and Gma L came over for the night. We had a good time and Kaykers was in her prime entertainment mode. Thanks again for dinner! :)
Sunday we headed up to see Great Grandma M. Kaykers was still in performance mode and entertained us all! She found a Burger King Crown that said "The Winner" and put it on as well as rang a bell and tried singing Jingle Bells. It was so funny! She also would hold Great Gma's hand while G pushed her chair!
Too stinkin' cute!

We hope you had a good week and enjoy the holiday season!

Random Thoughts for Tuesday...

There isn't a whole lot new around here so I'm going to just post some random things I've been thinking about:
1. This morning I woke up to find out that "Lake effect snow slams the Region"! bahahaha!! That is hilarious to me now that we have moved out of that area. It's always good to be on this side of big ol' Lake MI! It also confirms why I put snow in the top five reasons why it was good to move from there!
2. Purdue's basketball teams are proving to be a spectacle to watch! Just last night they force 22 (TWENTY TWO!) turnovers. Impressive- much more so than say the football team who has been rather disappointing this year.
3. Kaykers is breaking two molars through as we speak. How did I know you ask? Do I regularly pry her mouth open and do a tooth count-no. I was tickling her today and as she was cackling, mouth wide open, spitting at me I thought to myself, where is all this saliva coming from? I don't recall being damp after tickling her before. Instantly I remember her about 18 months ago being a drooling fool with some new pearly white residents in her tiny mouth and though- hey could those be the two-year molars finally making an appearance? Sure enough folks! Both are on the bottom, so I suppose anytime now her top ones will be making an appearance as well.
4. Did you know that a before mentioned two year old could eat 3 1/2 ADULT servings of mash potatoes in one sitting? No lie. G and I were sitting in awe just about the entire time.
5. faceb00k has been fun to explore and reconnect with people. G and I are amazed at how you can just pick up conversation with someone you haven't talked to in almost a decade and it's like time hardly passed. We've even connected with some of you which has been nice since sometimes all we see of each other is at holidays.
6. Sunday at N0ra's baptism, Kaykers sat through the entire mass quite well. Just like a little lady. I about lost it though as she wanted to give the Priest a high-five during the recessional. Only K would do that!
7. I think the peace making device known as the portable DVD player should have won a Nobel PEACE prize...I can't even explain to you how enjoyable our car trips have become once again. A little Caill0u can go a long way! Most of you may know that Kaykers has NEVER liked car rides. In fact, we would dread them. Since she was brought home from the hospital there has always been hatred for a car seat. This girl will not be confined to a plastic, slightly padded seat developed by a person who never had to sit in one themselves. Now however, the DVD player has provided distraction and amusement that I am so grateful for!

Until next time...

Say Cheese!

Halloween with the Cousins

This past weekend K celebrated Halloween with her cousins. They all got dressed up and went to the Brookfield Zoo for Boo at the Zoo! Here are some pictures at the house and at the zoo:

Sneak Peek...

We're still undecided...

Meeting Miss N0ra

This past weekend we went down to visit N0ra. She is just as cute and cuddly as we had imagined. Luckily for her mommy and daddy she seems to be on the right track to finally figure out her nights and days.
It was a great visit- Thursday we rolled in late, Friday K and daddy went to the park and then we walked to their downtown where K played with trains. That night was topped off with frozen custard from the Whistle Stop. That place is a staple every time we go down there. It's a great little walk to the most amazing frozen custard...it makes Culver's look weak- REAL weak!
Saturday we walked down to the farmer's market and over to the coffee shop. Then Aunt Heidi and M went shopping while the boys and little girls watched football and napped. We topped the night with another walk to the "custard Palace". K and N0ra shared a bath and K was quite the little helper. She was so gentle and sweet. then N0ra let her borrow a robe!

Sunday we walked to breakfast and then it was time to hit the road. We finally figured out what makes trips in the car much more tolerable with K...DVD player! All the way down and back there wasn't much more than giggles and a couple requests for a new dvd. BEAUTIFUL!! It was nice and quiet and EVERYONE was happy! :) K and Molly shared a nap on the way home...I guess they were a bit tuckered out!
By the way, we found out Thursday that K will have a little sister. We are truly thrilled! Since we have everything already in every shade of girlie it shouldn't be too hard! Yes- G is really excited! Another girl to have him wrapped their their little pinkie! :)

Oh the peaceful days...

I vaguely remember the days K would sleep for hours. This is an adorable pic of Miss N0ra. She's already changed so much in less than a week!

This past weekend we did some more yard work and started a full on attack on the garage. Largely in thanks to my mom and sister we were again able to get a lot done. G worked at removing a ridiculously over grown mess of an evergreen and in place of that sad excuse of a plant he planted a beutiful tree. Pictures to come of that when we finish planting some roses around it.

Sunday we went up to visit great grandma M. She was quite surprised to see us! We had a nice visit- went outside for a short time, talked with some of her friends and talked about everything and anything. While outside K picked her a flower. K also worked on a lovely note to give to her.

On the way back we stopped by grandpa L's to pick up some fall decorations. It was such a nice day to be outside picking pumpkins and what-not. We will be back in WI next weekend for Uncle Roy's birthday and to stop again by G's dad to visit and see K's cousins and aunt and uncle who will also be there.

New Niece

We are excited to announce the birth of Miss N0ra the adorable daughter of M's sister and brother-in-law. She was born last night and weighed 8lbs. and 2 oz and 21 inches. Heidi is doing great and baby is absolutely perfect! Bryan is already showing to be an excellent daddy!
Here's a picture of her giving mom the wink that everything is going to be ok....

Being Fortunate...

Although we have been through a crazy year thus far, we also have had lots to be thankful for ( I realize it's not Thanksgiving yet, but why wait)...
1. Our little girl is healthy and growing each and everyday.
2. We are having a healthy pregnancy.
3. I am so happy to be married to a great man who loves his wife and daughter more than anything else in this world.
4. We moved fairly unscathed and are now free of the house in Valp0.
5. We were able to build a spec house and sell it for a profit this year in the spring.
6. Our family is doing good..at least what we know of.
7. We have welcomed a new neice this year and a new one to come any day now.
8. We are safe and untouched by the recent effects of Ike.

There are people who are going through so much... The very same young lady who went through her second heart transplant is now reeling from the hurricane. Absolutely unbelievable...she is so strong!! Here's her blog:
http://www.angelamoore.typepad.com/
Please pray for her and her husband. They are such great people.

Sweat and Blood!

We worked our tails off this weekend doing LOTS of landscaping. It would be an understatement to say the previous owners neglected the yard. We trimmed and removed bushes and trees with a total of 17 large garbage bags, 3 large trash containers and 4 large wardrobe packing boxes full of yard waste. Luckily M's mom came up and helped and guided us in trimming and hacking the eyesore that once was...now it looks great! Several neighbors have commented on how nice it looks and that they are so glad that someone who cares now lives here. We were also told that it was amusing to watch the previous owners try to use a shovel in the winter.
K is right at home and is ready to be potty trained we think. That is our next big task. To have her out of diapers before she becomes a big sister! She is definitely interested and probably couldbe trained by this point, but we weren't ready with all that was going on! Molly also has a new friend, a fellow golden retriever named Roscoe. they get along great! :)

New house, New bed and some corn

This past weekend we moved into our new home. We are still unpacking and still trying to find the right place for everything. Luckily this past weekend Aunt Chelle came up to help with K's room. It is. of course, Abbey Cadabby purple. WWAAAYYY cute! She also stained our beautiful new staircase and helped unpack and make sense of a hectic kitchen~ thanks a million! :)
K moved into a big girl bed this past weekend. It wasn't exactly a smooth tranition by any means. She was up quite a bit the first night not of the new house, new room and new bed. ALthough the second night she tucked right in and the third night (last night) she only pouted about 5 minutes. She is proud of her big girl bed! K has also practically found her own way to the park. She loves to climb the rock wall and try out all the slides at least a few 100 times. I wish I had a ounce of her energy.
On Labor Day we went up to see Grandpa L and K thought playing in the dirt was the greatest thing! Maybe even better than the slides!
She did some "quality control" on about half a dozen peaches while there as well. She couldn't quite get enough of them! We were able to go out in the field and pick our own Super sweet sweet corn ~ oh was it delicious!! We ate it last night for dinner. There's nothing quite like fresh corn from grandpa's farm! K even eats it right off the cob.
Today K and I go the doctor for check ups. Her 2 year check up and my 4-5 month check up. We should be able to find out in about a month the sex of the baby. We haven't decided for sure yet if we will find out or keep it a surprise. We are leaning toward finding out...but, we may change our minds.
Hope everyone is doing well! **Pictures to Come

House or No House

Shortly after our offer went in, we found out that we were in a multiple offer. A total buzz kill considering EVERY house we have bidded on we have been in a multiple offer- so much for a slowed housing market. Anyhow, so we had to come back with our highest and best. ugh! It was to be in by 6PM. So we toiled over the price and all that good stuff and got it in on time. The other people also came in with their highest and best which was apparently better than ours- but they did not meet the deadline therefore we won!! HOOOOOOORRAAAAAAAY!! So now on with the inspections and all the fun details. We are scheduled to close at the end of the month. Looks like we will have a Labor Day weekend moving extravaganza!
We will fill you in with more details as things come together. To celebrate G went to Costco and got his new MAdden game with no one other than Farve in a Packers uniform. Luckily the Wii isn't set up yet so I still get to watch the Olympics. GO USA!

Sun"asse$"

So it seems that K has taken a liking to sunglasses lately...or in her terms her sun"asse$".
Other news in relocation world: We had an accepted offer on a house, but after the inspection results, it proved to be too much for us. We might as well have taken the house back down to the studs and started over. Not a good situation for us. So we went out Saturday to drive in some different towns we hadn't explored yet. One was too far north, the other was waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy too expensive. After about 3 hours we decided it was too nice outside to be stuck in the car. So we used our GPS to find us a nearby park. G and I could get out and stretch and K could run and play on the big playground. As G and I looked around we were like "You know we really like this subdivision-doubt there is anything in our price range". We pretty much left it at that. Then as we were leaving we drove past a house with a for sale sign and flier. I called the number and it turns out that the house was right in our price range. FAB-U-LOUS! The next day we went back with our Realtor and really like the inside floor plan. So we put in an offer and we are crossing our fingers this one works out for us! Hopefully we'll know by the end of the week.
We are going to try to take in the nice weather the next couple of days. 76 degrees today! 78 tomorrow! I love it!

TWO!

K is so excited to tell everyone that she is now two~ here are some pictures from her party a couple of weeks ago and yesterday's events!
Her birthday consisted of the Brookfield Zoo, swimming and Chuck E. Cheese! It was loads of fun for all of us!







And now here is the birthday party...

Happy Fourth of July!

What a crazy week! I'm so glad to be settling down this weekend and just spending time together with just the three of us. We have been on the go and juggling so much lately- we are excited to have some time just together! This long weekend will bring festivals, fireworks and possibly a Ribfest!
Last week we booked tickets to CA for the week of July 19th-27th! We are thrilled to go on a vacation to get away for a little while. It's much needed! It's been a heck of a year dealing with much more than we ever thought. The tickets to go out there were a steal!! Even cheaper than our honeymoon tickets which we thought were possibly going to be the best prices we could ever find- we were wrong! This time K will have her own seat :) That's better for everyone involved!
We are gearing up for her birthday party next weekend as well. Elmo and the gang will all be splattered everywhere as she would request! :)
G and I built bean bag toss boxes-to regulation guidelines, and are hoping to pull that out for the party. It was fun to work on the project- I think G liked using power tools- of course!

Have a safe and festive Fourth of July!