Picture Update

 

It's been too long since I've been on here!  I want to keep documenting our life, and I decided the best way to catch up is to do an "iPhone dump" to show what's been going on in our everyday lives for the last month!  (Yes--Jason finally got me an iPhone as an early birthday present :) 

 

We are having a great fall and counting our blessings as we look forward to a great Thanksgiving week next week.  I hope you all have a lot to be thankful for as well.

 

Tim, Joni, Jason and I took a trip to Iowa City in October to watch a Hawkeye game.  We had a great time tailgating and hanging out even though the game left a lot to be desired.  I can't remember the last time when the four of us have been together without our kids, and it was so much fun. We are thankful to have great grandparents and aunts and uncles to watch our kids!

 

We always like to see Auntie Joni when we are in Sioux Falls, and we caught her one weekend on the way to a Halloween party.  Harper loved "Auntie Lion" and still rawrs all over the house :)

 

Reese is smiling!! Makes my day. Every day. I love seeing her little personality emerge--and she is so sweet.  Harper was never super fussy, but she was definitely an active baby (and toddler :).  Reese is so laid back and such a honey--she puts herself to sleep, only cries when she's hungry, and is just the cutest thing.

This is my favorite picture of all time.  I was putting clothes away in Reese's room, so I set her in her crib, and pretty soon Harper wanted to climb in with her.  She made me tuck her in and then put Reese right next to her.  I even caught Reesie smiling.  Love.

 

We had a fun Halloween night with a cute little zebra and giraffe. 

 

Harper trick-or-treated downtown Rock Valley with her best buddy Kade.  I love having friends in our town to do stuff like this with :)

 

We went to the Lakes for a weekend as a family to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday.  It was so nice being all together in one place, playing games, and swimming at Bridges Bay, an indoor water park.  Jaxy and Reese matched one night in their monkey jammies.

All the kids with grandpa!

Harper is at such a fun age. I love her little voice as she starts to talk more and put sentences and words together at a crazy rate.  She is a little hamball.  Reminds me so much of her daddy--she is friendly, outgoing, funny, and stubborn :)  I love talking to her in the backseat after I pick her up every day.

Chubby cheeks.  Reese is almost 11 pounds--double her birth weight! This is her smiling at her grandma Rhonda.

We stopped in to see Grandma Sally one Sunday--Harper loves riding around on her walker :)

Harper just might break our baby swing, but it's super cute when she stops Reese's swing to talk to her.

 

Finally, Harper has been singing all kinds of songs lately.  This is her rendition of the ABCs...she can only go up to P, but it's a good start :)

 

 

Happy pre-Thanksgiving week!!

Fall Update

Hi Everyone,

I miss blogging!  I am going to try to be better about making time for it now that I am back at work and have a scheduled life again.  Anyone else feel like they are more productive when they have places to be and commitments to keep than when they have no agenda?  I needed some structure in my life again, and so far I am enjoying being back at work.

Here are the girls on their first day back at daycare--matching shirts and all :)

 

The girls are adjusting to their new schedules, too.  Harper has taken 2.5 hour naps the last two afternoons, which has been wonderful for both of us.  I hope I'm not jinxing it by saying this, but I think this schedule is great for her.  She eats lunch at Abby's (our babysitter) or my mom's (on Wednesdays :), I pick her up at 1:15 or 1:30, we hang out for a few minutes at home, and then she gets to sleep in her own crib.  She had a nasty habit of climbing out for awhile, but I think we've gotten past that point, and she has just been going right down lately.  She's such a big girl and has really taken off with her talking lately.  She used to say "Daya" whenever we asked her to repeat ANYTHING, but now she has been mimicking everything we ask her to.  She spends most of her days walking around singing "Wheels on the Bus." 

Here she is sporting her WC headband/80s rocker look.

 

Reese has been growing and changing, too.  She started smiling in the last week or so and is looking more and more alert.  She still sleeps for most of the day, but she has a few awake times mixed in.  I've been loving having some alone time with her in the afternoons while Harper sleeps. 

She had her sleep study at Sanford Children's last Friday.  She has been off caffeine for a couple of weeks now, and the sleep study should tell us if her apnea has completely cleared up.  I think she did fine, but I called there today for the results and of course the doctor hasn't even looked at it yet.  I will update when we find out more.  For now, she still sleeps with a monitor at night (when she is not waking me up to eat. No full nights of sleep over here yet!)

 

Here are the cuties before bed.

 





Harper loves to help!

The girls got the cutest little fall outfits from my aunt Anita, so I took them to my grandparents' house last week for a little photo shoot.  Harper was in a funny mood (shocker), so I didn't get great ones of her, but I was persistant and got a few fun ones. 

 

 

Sister love

 

 I could just eat her up.

Happy Wednesday!

He Knows My Name

 

 

The first time I cried over this song was when my friend Susan showed me a video of her son's preschool class singing it at their graduation ceremony last May.  Talan (her son) is such a great kid, and I had recently found out about my condition and what it would require. Hearing those covenant kids confidently proclaim that the GOD of the universe knows their names gave me comfort and hope.  He knew the baby I was carrying, and He knew me..."He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call."  I remember thinking that God was speaking encouragement to me back in May.

 

He did that again this morning at Reese's baptism.  I think I would have requested this song if I had thought of it, but I missed the message from the dear lady planning the service, so I didn't even get a chance at doing so if I had thought of it.  But guess what?  It was one of the songs we sang this morning as a congregation.  And I cried over it again. (Although the moment was slightly impeded by the nerves I was feeling over taking my crazy one-year-old up in front.  I was convinced she was going to tell Pastor Mark, "No, No, No! My baby!" when he put water on Reese's head.  She tends to say that exact line any time someone unfamiliar comes near her sister. I know I should be glad she loves the baby, but it mortifies me every time. Thankfully she was silent :)

 

We had a great day celebrating God's promises to Reese, and we are so thankful for the legacy of faith she has and for the friends and family surrounding her and praying for her.  Not all of them were here today, of course, so here are some highlights.

 

All ready to go

 

The service

 

Kind of blurry--but our neices read part of Psalm 139. So special.

 

Reese and Shiloh Kay--future friends. We loved sharing baptism with our friends Grant & Des!

 

Grandpa's cake

Grandpa & Grandma Triezenberg

 

Granpa Larry

Auntie Joni

Reese and all of her Greats-Grands.  So blessed and thankful they could come. What a neat legacy!

Harper has turned into a cheeser.  Love it.

 

The kids hanging out.  Izzy reminds me of her aunt Joni (DG)...always knows where the camera is and has a pose!

Triezenberg Cousins

 

De Groot Cousins

Cutie Pie...even though she lookds less than thrilled :)

We love you, Reese Finley!!

 

Sisters

Happy Birthday to my big sister, Joni (AKA Ya-Ya)! 

 

 

Of course I didn't know any different, but I loved growing up with an older sister.  I think we were a typical big sister/little sister pair...I loved follwing her around, watching her do things, letting her lead in new situations.  She liked to tease me (one time she and a friend threw hair brushes at me and put my socks on the ceiling fan). I know I annoyed her.

 





 

But when I found out Reese was a girl, I was so happy that Harper would have a sister.



I hope they ride their bikes to the pool together every day of the summer and play kickball with the neighbor kids.

 

I hope they make up games in the dark when they sleep together and play "scratch my back" games that their babysitters taught them (anyone out there know "Dot, dot, dash, dash, biiiig question mark..."??).  





 

 

I hope they watch their favorite movies together over and over again on Sunday afternoons and then recite lines from them well into their adulthood.  ("My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.")

 

 

I hope they can finish each other's sentences and have weird ESP moments.  One time when we were golfing, Joni and I made up the same alternative version of a song from Mary Poppins. And we sang it at the same time.

 

 

I hope they like the same movies, TV shows, books, clothing stores, food, and people.

 



I hope they learn from each other.

I hope they have to share a car in high school and ride to school and games together.

I hope they love each other's kids deeply.

 

I hope they are grateful they have a sister.  I know I am.  Love you, Jones!

Popping In

Hi Everyone,

 

I hope you are all having a great fall!  I can't believe September is almost over--the weeks have been flying by over here.  Quite a change from a few short weeks ago when my days would drag.  I wish I had more time to write on the blog, but I love the reasons I have no time even more :)  It wouldn't kill Harper to take just a little big longer naps, though. Just saying.

 

We have been home for almost 5 weeks (tomorrow), and I am thankful every time I wake up and go to sleep in my own bed.  I put Reese in a 0-3 month outfit this morning for the first time (she's been wearing Newborn stuff since she was born), and I thought about how much she has grown and how far she has come. 

 



One Day Old

 

Six Weeks Old

I know this is cliche to say, but it seems like she has been part of our family for so much longer than 6.5 weeks.  I can't imagine life without her, and I can't wait to see what kind of person she becomes.

I was at school today to lead my small group, and it was so nice to see the students and be back in a "teacher" role for a little while.  I don't know if I've talked about it on the blog or not, but my job at Western will be a little different this year.  I love teaching English, but the paper load is huge, and I was feeling overwhelmed last year.  I couldn't make myself correct all the assignments I knew I should give my students, and I couldn't put in the time I should have.  All I wanted to do when I got home was be with Harper, and then there was cooking, laundry, etc. on top of that.  So when I found out I was pregnant with Reese around New Years, I told Jason I didn't think I could sign a full-time contract in February.  He was very supportive while still politely suggesting that I couldn't really quit working, either.  And I didn't want to completely quit. 

I prayed about the situation a lot and talked about with a few key people.  For awhile, it looked like I wouldn't have the option to go part-time at WC.  I thought I would have to sign a full-time contract, which I dreaded, or not sign one at all, which I wasn't ready for.  But God ended up opening a door none of us had really expected or thought of, allowing me to "downsize" my responsibilities while still staying at the school I love.  Our Library/Media Specialist (librarian) retired, and I asked if I could apply for her job.  The board loved the idea and offered to give it to me part-time, so I will be at school every day from 8-1 or 8-1:30 in the library helping students. I will also have some responsibilities with the yearbook and promoting the school through local papers, and I am teaching one class next semester.  While I will miss the classroom, I am excited about not having the paper load to make me feel behind or inadequate. 

 

Anyways, my point in all of this is that I am starting to feel ready to go back to work.  I am going to miss our cuddly mornings for sure, but it will be good to get back on a schedule and feel like I am using more of my gifts.  I have 2 1/2 weeks left to cherish my cuties full time, and I will enjoy every minute.

 

If I can keep the bigger one from driving away.

Reese Update

Reese and I took a trip to the Castle (Sanford Children's) on Tuesday for a checkup at the apnea clinic.  We saw a nurse practitioner who looked Reese over and asked about how the monitor had been going. 

Reese weighs 7 lbs 11 oz and looks great!  She has had a couple of episodes where the monitor has gone off, but we haven't seen her change color (get blue) or had to stimulate her to breathe--she comes out of it on her own.  The nurse prac. was happy with her progress.

The next step is that a doctor has to look at the download from her apnea monitor, and when he gives the go-ahead, we will start weaning Reese off the caffeine she is taking to help stimulate her to breathe.  Apparently babies go through caffeine withdrawal too, so they recommend cutting the dosage in half for 5 days before cutting her off :) 

Then we will go 5 days without caffeine, and then she will have to go back to the hospital for one night to have a pneumogram (sleep study) done.  She had one of these done when she was in the NICU too, and that's what revealed her apnea.  They want to be sure the apnea is resolved, and the sleep study is the best way to do that.  I hate to go back for a night, but I would rather be sure things are resolved.  If that sleep study goes well, then we will finally be able to get rid of the monitor.

All of this is a nuisance, but I know that things could be much worse. I am thankful that we got to walk out of there and go to Target.  I am thankful I got to buy my girls matching fall outfits and have strangers at the mall stare at my baby in her stroller.  I am thankful Harper was at daycare so I didn't have to chase her :)  So thank you to all of you who prayed for Jason, Harper, Reese, and me--I am so thankful for you, too.

I Want to Remember...

 
Being the parents of a newborn and a one-year-old is hard.  There are plenty of times in the short 4 weeks we've been home that Jason and I have said things or done things to each other that we'd like to forget.  I've been impatient with Harper more than I should be.  I've let Reese cry a little too long at night because I just really don't want to get up AGAIN.  But amid those rough times are the little moments that make it all worthwhile.  In one or two or twenty years, this is what I want to remember about life right now...

I want to remember...

• that today when Harper was in her high chair, she wanted to hug me around the waist every time I walked by her.
• how Reese feels curled up on my chest.
• the way Harper giggles when we "all fall down" while playing Ring Around the Rosie
• the picture of Reese and Jason asleep on the couch.
• how Harper pats my back and says, "Hi, Mommy" when I get her out of bed.
• the sound of Reese's little grunts and squeaks.
• how Harper pulls in her Little Tykes chair and stands next to Reese while I change her, holding her hand and saying, "Hi, Baby."
• that it still feels weird to talk about my TWO girls.
• how Harper entertained Reese by singing and dancing for her today.
• that most people think Reese looks more like me :)
• that Harper's favorite song right now is "Call me Maybe"
• that straightening my hair was maybe my biggest accomplishment today besides feeding my kids.

I didn't get much sleep last night, Reese was gassy and very needy today, Harper refused to eat supper and just wanted chips, Jason was gone most of the evening, and my house is a mess.  But this list makes me happy. It's the little things, isn't it?

One Month!



Reese is one month old!

 

I can hardly believe it.  Her official due date was Saturday, and I'm thinking she weighs now about what she would have weighed at birth if she had gone full term.  Her little cheeks are filling in nicely :)

 



 

For my own records and so the girls can look back on it one day, I am going to start updating what they are up to every month on the date of their birthdays (the 5th and the 11th).  I am already one day late with Reese, but oh well.  I tried to do this in the Shutterfly book I made for Harper's first year, but I got behind and ended up forgetting some of her milestones by the time I went back to finish it...in the hospital last month. When she was 20 months old.  Oops.  So I hope this is an easier way for me to keep up with the girls' development, and then I will probably still end up putting it in their books eventually too, but if I don't get to the book until later, I won't forget what's been going on.

 

Reese--

 

You are one month old!!

 

I think you weigh somewhere around 7lbs or a little more...you were 6lbs 12 oz about a week ago and are eating well!  You take about 3 oz at a time, either nursing or from a bottle. 

 

You still sleep a lot, but you are starting to have more periods of alertness.  You have the most beautiful dark blue eyes.

 

You go about 3 or 4 hours between feedings both day and night, but sometimes you wake up fussy in between feedings. Lately you have REALLY liked to be held all the time, which is challenging for me!  I put you in a baby carrier/wrap yesterday and you loved it, so I will be "wearing" you again in the future.  I also started letting you sleep in your bouncer at night because you hate laying flat on your back in the cradle, and I was tired :)

 

Your newborn clothes are starting to fit nicely now--you no longer drown in them! 

 

You still have your monitor on at night and when we are not holding you, but it's been a long time since it's gone off at all.  We have an appointment next week to see whether you can have it taken off.

 

Most people tell me that you look like your mommy.  This makes me happy since most said Harper looked like Daddy.

 

I just gave you a bath, and you screamed your head off the whole time. 

 

I love your little toes. I love your lips.  I love your squeaky noises. You are just the cutest.

 

 

Although I miss my job at times, I have been loving my time at home with the girls.  After 6 weeks away, I was worried about my relationship with Harper and how she would be when I was back, but she has done so well.  We picked right up where we left off, and she has settled back into a routine.  She is going to daycare two days a week to get used to my new schedule, which also gives me a nice chunk of time to run errands or get things done.

 

She loves to look at pictures on my computer with me, and yesterday we went through all of the ones from the time at the hospital.  She got very quiet (not normal for her), and it made me wonder how much she was actually effected by it all.  I had a very strong emotional reaction to the pictures, and my memories from my time there are very vivid.  Little things like a smell or a show on TV or a certain outfit will bring me back there and make me emotional about it all again.  I am so thankful to be home with my family.  Although this morning I did think of Marcia, my favorite care tech, who used to come make my bed and take my tray after I ordered my breakfast, when I was washing dishes and making my own bed.

 

This is a super long post, but I don't get that much time to blog anymore, so I need to cram it all in when I get the time!  I wanted to share a couple more pictures of our day today...my mom goes to my grandparents' house every Wednesday morning for coffee, and Joni/me/kids go when we can make it, usually only in the summer.  Today, though, she came from Larchwood with the boys and I could go since I am still on maternity leave.  Here are the kids at their house.

 



 

Joni, Mom, the kids, and I went to lunch at Stone Soup later, and I want to put this picture on the internet for everyone to see...it alone should convince my husband that an iPhone is a necessary purchase for his lovely wife.  Every time we are with my sister, she shows Harper some version of "Call me Maybe" on YouTube, and Harper is mesmerized.  She about has the tune down. And it makes her sit still in restaurants!! Come on, Jason. You know you want to.

 

 Happy Wednesday!