Grampa & Grammy visit!!

Introducing..

... our daughter, Grace!

Born: Monday, February 15, 2010 at 3:13pm (CEST)/ 8:13am (CST) and weighing 7lbs. 7oz. and 18.9 in. long.

I (Krista) am doing great! It was the most difficult birth of all 3 kids, but it's because she was still so high up even after my water was broken and I was fully dilated. It took a lot of work and there were a few moments that I think the Dr. and midwife were worried they'd have to change plans (honestly so were Danny & I). But she finally arrived and all is well. I seem to be doing the best after this birth then the other 2 for whatever reason.

Nathan & Micah are absolutely smitten with her. The photos can do the explaining. Danny is a proud Daddy and is already wrapped around Gracie's finger :) I'm glad to have a little help in a house full of BOYS ;)

God has blessed us beyond what we deserve and we're so very thankful HE saw fit to entrust us with Grace Annmarie.

Ready or not!

Ok, I have some news for you all!

Saturday night my Dr. called to check on me (yes, I have a very good Doctor). He thought he would've heard from me by now and wanted to see how I was feeling. I told him that I had been feeling some pain and pressure, but nothing I didn't think was worthy of calling him or the midwife for just yet (they use mid-wives here to deliver the baby and the Dr. is only for me). Since he was on-call at the hospital over the weekend he asked if I'd come in for a check up the next day (today) instead of waiting till Wednesday. So we went in and my amniotic fluid was low (just like it was when Micah was induced) and he feels that we should induce her on Monday morning. He did say that she is very ready to come on her own and that he might see us Sunday night instead. I am hoping to just wait till Monday because the boys are already in bed and we have help lined up for the morning and well, it's just easier to start your day "in order".

If all goes well on Monday we should have some news to post. Micah was induced about the same time of day and was born at 3:18pm (local), 8:18am (CST). We'll drop our boys off with a very good friend and Danny will pick them up when we're ready for them to see their baby sister!

I'm very excited and very anxious as well. Though I've done this a couple of times I do not like needles and pain ( I know... I know... who really does). haha. Also, I feel less prepared this time around, but it probably has a lot to do with already having 2 active boys :) haha. We are stocked with groceries though and that's important ;) I've got most of the laundry done, but the baby's room is in chaos and there is so much cleaning to do..... oh well. She's coming whether it's done or not.

Keep me & baby girl in prayer-- for a smooth, uneventful delivery. Danny as he juggles being with me and checking on the boys, picking them up, taking them home, feeding, bathing, putting to bed, etc. He is a great dad, but I know he'll be tired and we're a team so suddenly going solo for a couple of days will tire him out. Prayer for our boys as they are excited but are also about to have their worlds rocked and be shuffled around. Pray for my parents as they get ready to visit in a week and a half.

So... till next time!

-krista-

Snow photos

Well, in our 6 winters here we've not experienced this much snow without it melting before the next batch fell. Usually, it'll snow quite a bit then most of it will melt and in another few weeks more snow will fall, then melt, and so on. But this year the temps have stayed cold enough that it's not really melting before the next snow fall. It's just so pretty outside! Of course, I'm enjoying it fully because Danny is doing all the shoveling (I've done it in years past, but being that I'm in my 9 month of pregnancy....), but he's not totally hating it either. haha! The boys are loving it! Their Kindergarten has "recess" everyday and so they get all bundled up and play outside for the longest time. As a parent, I fully appreciate the teachers that get them all dressed and let the kids use up some energy before I pick them up and bring them home :)

Still waiting...

Ok, so still no baby. Which is somewhat ok with me because Danny & I are chipping away at our 'to do' list. I thought I was caught up on laundry and then BAM! the piles seem to have had great-grand "piles" over night. We are trying to keep the mood of the house 'calm' because the boys are sensing something is going on... they know the baby is coming, but they don't like seeing me freeze up and breathe thru a blurb of discomfort ;)

Nate & Micah have a 'Cowboys & Indians' dress-up party at school tomorrow and on Friday any costume they want to wear (we have Batman and Spiderman). The theme at school this year is 'Around the World' and for Fasching/Carnival week it happened to fall on America. So we were asked to lend stuff from our home that represented America for the kids to see. We had kiddie cowboy boots, little trinkets of this and that (buildings in Washington, Mt. Rushmore, etc) and of course Danny's Football gear. I had some books from my teaching days and then printed and translated some recipes that are "American". You get the idea. The boys have thoroughly enjoyed the attention of learning about their country. Then semester break next week!

Church attendance was low this past week due to the ski season going on and some people out of town, but still had a sweet time with those that came. The place we meet at was sooo cold even with our sad tiny heaters. So we're going to look at getting a bigger one. Though I'm sure as soon as we do all this snow we're getting (and it's a lot this year!) will melt away and Spring will show up. haha. No matter, we love what we do and pray that God will continue to add to our group.

I need to go pack the boys an overnight bag in case we need it. Though I really would love my parents to be in country when this baby comes for the convenience of the boys, we are so blessed with great friends and sooo many offers to watch them whenever needed.

My Danny

For Danny's birthday we were going to have steak and potatoes, but after church some very good friends of ours invited us to stop by on our "way home" to pick up a gift they had for Danny. Well, it turned out they already had steak and potatoes ready to cook for us. What a fun surprise! All of our kids played so well together, we ate peacefully, and I didn't have to cook or clean up :) Then we came home and had some cake that I made the day before and opened a couple of gifts the boys picked out.

Danny shared on my birthday post that the best way he thought to "honor" me on my day was to decorate for Christmas. Well, what better way for Danny to be "honored" than to have the Superbowl be on his birthday!?!? He watched it with some of the guys on the football team he plays for here in our city. They had a lot of fun and Danny told me he was able to share what we're doing here with more people and answered a lot of questions about what we believe. Opportunities everywhere.

Danny is an AWESOME husband, daddy, and friend. I love how God has developed our family and put us together. I couldn't imagine life with anyone else.

I love you, Danny.

Soon and very soon...

My next appointment wasn't till next week, but I've been feeling like things might be progressing and since I was induced with both boys before my due date, I wanted to make sure things were ok or if we needed to get ready, so I called the Dr.'s office and had my appt. moved up a week ( it would've been 3 weeks since my last appt. anyways and I thought being this far along that was a bit of a wait anyways). So baby girl is going to be here before we know it! The Dr. said his GUESS would be in the next 7-10 days. My due date is the 26th and so she should be here before then. I'm so ready to meet her, not just because I'm feeling like there's no more room in there for her, but because I always get like this... can't wait to see who the baby looks like. Nathan pulls the Wiese side out strongly and Micah is actually a really good blend of both Danny & myself.

My parents are coming the end of the month. They are going to be here before my due date, but I may deliver before then and as much as I know that disappoints my mom it might turn out easier to give birth, do my time in the hospital, and then be home for their whole visit. It would keep Danny from car pooling everyone in so many different directions and we could all just be home and relax and enjoy being together. But we'll see :)

We, or Danny, I should say {smile}, got the kitchen and dining room all painted. It looks so nice! We kinda had to do it because we've had paint purchased for awhile and a couple of walls that have/had our boys art work all over it. Once the baby arrives, we all know most of those things (maintenance, home improvements, etc.) will take a back seat to the new adventures and attempts at routines that will take place.

The boys are doing great! Micah's German vocab is coming along so quickly. We are so impressed and proud. He has really come out of his shell more since beginning Kindergarten. He does tend to think he's older than he really is though and in the world of parenting/disciplining we've been working with him on his back talk and attitude when he doesn't get his way. But that comes with the territory of having a 3 yr. old. Nathan is being prepped for entering Elementary school in the fall. Everyday there is time spent working on different skills. He is not overly interested in letters and writing as much as he really enjoys numbers. He'll randomly come up to me or Danny and tell us what _ + _ = and he's right! I'm so glad there is something that he really 'gets'. The other stuff will fall into place eventually.

So that is a bit of life here. Hopefully, we'll be posting pics about the newest member of our family soon! Stay tuned!

-krista-

Fun times...

One afternoon while Danny was in a German class (yes, we're always learning!!), I took the boys to a kids play place in one of the malls. They spent much of their time on this little Foosball table. There was some confusion on scoring, but lots of fun once I shared the rules. haha.

Choose Life

Join me! I signed up to walk "virtually" this weekend and to be a voice in our nations capital. It's free to sign up... here's where to go:

34 weeks and counting...

Today I am 34 weeks + 5 days. I went to my Dr. appointment and all is well. Nothing is really happening and so I go back in 3 weeks. I also registered at the hospital and met with the midwife (they use them here and they actually do the delivering while the Dr. just stands there if needed). Yet, he gets paid LOTS more than the midwife. Interesting ;)

Baby girl is growing and moving-- a lot! She is sooooooo active. The boys were active, but by now, if memory serves me well.... they were slowing down. But not this girl...

Here's her sweet facial profile:

I can NOT wait to meet her! The boys are so excited and we're all looking forward as well to having my parents visit. I'm hoping they get here a couple of days before she's born so we can visit, show them some things around the house and so we don't have to juggle the boys, a sitter, and Danny having to be in many places at once while driving, cooking, bathing, etc. while I'm in the hospital. But we'll see... it'll all work out I know, but I like to plan :) Yes, I'm a bit of a control-freak lately.

-krista-