General update on the 4 of us

As I sit here little, powdery snowflakes are falling. I absolutely love winter time! Snow is so beautiful...ok, when it starts to melt it's not all that great anymore...dirty and slushy, BUT it's still nice to look out the window and see a blanket of white everywhere. Growing up in the tropics you'd think I'd miss the warmth and beaches... but nope, I always wished I was around the winter. My mom was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and would tell me and my brothers stories about playing with her siblings sledding, making snowmen, etc. Nathan looks out the window every morning and says, "Noman?" ( translation: snowman). He wants to build one so bad...but the last 2 days that it's barely snowed hasn't given us enough to cover all the grass. Maybe today.

Micah is doing great. He has the most adorable smile, one dimple on his right cheek. When we tickle him he has this laugh, it's hard to describe, but it's like it physically hurts him to laugh...so when you're done tickling he finally lets out a laugh of sorts... all the while smiling. We have him on a pretty good schedule. He sleeps thru the night!! Woo-hoo!!! He is a hearty eater and is very picky about his bottle being late.

Nathan is full of life! He really loves to play with other kids. His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. It's funny how passionate he is about some things. He loves to cook and is a great helper in the kitchen. Danny or I will give him a bowl and put some flour in it while we cook and he'll mix it forever. Nathan is also learning to set the table and is very good at it. Now if we could just get him to potty train!!! Everyone that I've talked to has said "Do not force him!" So we're not...but good grief, the kid is old enough in my opinion... plus diapers for 2 kids is starting to get old :) He's on that road though, he comes to us with a diaper and wipe when he's wet. I'm praying VERY soon we'll have this done.

Danny & I are good. We'll celebrate 8 years of marriage this year. I cannot believe how time flies!! It's seems, at times, like it was just yesterday that we were dating. A memory that comes to mind: Danny, Justin, Priscilla, Trisha, Chris, & I... there were a few others I know, but we were the usual gang...anyway, we had all been out to eat and were racing to get back to the school. I took a short cut and immediately knew there was no way I was going to be able to back out now... but I took a back road to the campus parking lot and the chains were already up (late at night for security they only allowed one entrance) so I jumped the curb and sped along the grassy area that surrounded the parking lot, it was quite bumpy.... I could see the other cars coming and so I flew off the curb again and before I could pull into a parking spot I heard a horrible noise and thud, so I powered thru and prayed that my car kept coming with me! I got scared that I had ruined my car and vowed I'd never do that again..haha! Oh, I think I won though... I'm pretty sure Danny has another version, but I wrote mine first and it's my word against his.... unless Trish or Priscilla read this and remember anything different...if it's not on my side then keep it to yourselves, hahaha!! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Have a great day!

Krista

He's home!!

Micah was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) after 12 long days. He's not completely healthy, but good enough to come home...he still has a little cough. We have to stay at home and not be around so many people till he's really healthy. It was so nice to have all of us under the same roof last night. We are so exhausted but at least we can be home and be tired in the same place instead of driving back and forth to the hospital. We are so very grateful to all of you who kept us in prayer and have written to check on us. Micah has appointments for a check-up at the hospital with the pulmonary specialist next month to look at his lungs and see how they are healing then with his pediatrician next week.

Have a great week!!!

Krista for us

Micah-Day 8

Many of you have asked for an update when I had a chance and I know I left you all hanging this week, so I'm sorry but you understand I hope...juggling 2 kids and running back and forth to the hospital...I've dubbed this last week "our valley". The great thing about valleys is there are mountains tops! So here's the latest:

On Thursday they took another x-ray of Micah (his 3rd since admission) and when the Dr. came to tell me how it looked I was ready for the typical... "No improvement yet" (because the day before the nurse told me that with therapy it would take minimum of 2 weeks to break up and that he was a very sick little boy). The Dr. walked in and she had a smile on her face and just looked surprised. She said, "It's all gone! His lungs are clear, I can't believe it." I got teary eyed and couldn't hardly believe my ears. How great is our God?!?!

Now, after all that excitement I knew though they weren't going to just release him. She said now they needed to deal with the inflammation and healing of his lungs. It's Saturday night and he's doing so much better. The I.V. is out and he's off oxygen. They're cutting back his meds and want to observe him over the weekend. If he does well then they are talking about letting him go home sometime on Monday....I'm not holding my breath because I just can't handle being told 'not yet'. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks so much for praying and the supportive emails and phone calls!! We are so blessed to have such caring friends and family! My mom will arrive Sunday (tomorrow) afternoon. Her flight was cancelled and rebooked out of Kansas City due to the weather on Friday night. Pray for her safety as she travels.

God Bless!!!!

Krista

Micah-Day 4 and counting...

God is faithful. Micah is doing ok. He's still on oxygen and has an I.V. although they are probably going to cut back on that today the Dr. said. He's been diagnosed with RSV. They said maybe he could come home early next week. I want him to get better, but that just absolutely broke my heart. They are doing therapy on him and then sucking out the 'crud' with a long tube up his nose and down his throat (which he really hates). I'm sleeping up at the hospital in a room down the hall with 2 other moms and Micah is a room with another baby that came in last night... I had just gotten Micah asleep and the other baby came in screaming and continued non-stop for 3 hrs!!! I felt for the mom, but at 1am I wasn't all that thrilled that he woke up Micah, who then began crying as well... so I joined in.

Danny isn't allowed to stay up at the hospital because the sleeping arrangements are for mothers only. Nathan is really missing me and Micah. He's still sick...running high fever every other day. So your prayers are much needed for everyone's health and clarity of thought for Danny & I.... we're being given so much information and I think my head has had it's fill... I can talk German in everyday situations, but I'm learning new terminology everyday and I have a headache at the end of everyday just trying to retain everything.

Thanks for keeping up with us.

Krista for us

ps--here's Micah & his tubes, then a picture of his therapy....oh, while I was typing this last part Danny called and they have just given us a mother/child room!!! Sooooo that means Danny can stay that night because it's just us in there now. I'll stay home tonight with Nathan, he'll be excited.

Micah

I just have a few minutes. I am home to shower, do some laundry and take a little nap. Nathan is with friends and Danny is with Micah at the hospital. Ok, Micah has been diagnosed with RSV. He's taking meds thru an I.V (in his head...so sad looking), has monitors all over and is also on oxygen. He's in good hands and we know that whatever God has planned thru all of this it'll work out. I've already been able to briefly witness to a mom of the little boy sharing Micah's room. Pray for our little guys: Micah to recover quickly and for Nathan... he's sick too :( Danny & I, we are soooo very low on sleep!

My Mom will be arriving on Sat.!! She was planning on coming to see Micah for the first time anyway, but now what good timing to be of help to us. I just wish this wasn't how she was spending her time with us. Thanks for the prayers and email many of you have sent our way. It's such an encouragement to us.

Krista

2007, Here we come!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As I sit here I'm remembering life 10 years ago...

-I graduated high school, Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines where my family lived as missionaries. One of the best experiences of my life was attending there as a boarding student. It was hard at times being away from home at 16, but it helped me grow up and prepare for the next step.
-I started college, Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri. I also started learning more about the working world and responsibility with money, time management, ministry opportunities.
-I met my 'future' husband (yes, I'm talking about Danny). We worked together in the Cafeteria. I remember thinking, 'He's so quiet, how am I gonna get him to talk to me?" He was my ride to church a few times (I didn't have a car till my 2nd semester). We had our first date on a Friday night and Sunday morning I was sick to my stomach and was taken to the E.R. where it was discovered that I had kidney stones... really bad ones! A friend called him and said I didn't need a ride to church and why.... he was at the hospital within the first 30 min. that I was there. Yeah, he's a keeper I said to myself.
-I made friends that are still some of our closest friends today.

Things in 2007 that I know will happen...

-Danny will celebrate his last year as a 20-something year old ;)
-Nathan will turn 3 (yikes!)
-Micah will turn 1 (time flies)
-We'll get to see some family by years end
-There will be a wedding on Danny's side of the family
-We'll celebrate 3 years in Austria
-Danny & I will celebrate 8 years of marriage


Things I hope to accomplish in 2007...

-Another semester of German
-I want to have a one on one Bible study with one of my friends
-I want to make a blanket....or something! I learned how to crochet awhile back and have yarn coming out my ears!
-Here's a big one, lose weight! I just had a baby...enough said.
-Get into a better rythm of reading my Bible

So, we hope your holidays were wonderful, relaxing, and filled with fun! A big 'Thanks!' to all of you who pray for us and keep in touch with us. You are such a blessing to us!

Krista