Renovation Reflection

*Warning: LONG POST!*

This month marked two years since purchasing our current home. We didn't actually move in until March of 2006, just after we found out we were expecting the Bean. During the month of February '06, we started the long process of fixing up our house, which is still not completely finished. But, we absolutely love it and I feel so blessed to be able to raise our family here.

The best thing about our house is the location, followed by the layout and the lot. We had a long list of must-haves from 4 BR's and 2.5 BA's to a large kitchen, a separate formal living room and family room, and a large enough dining room to accomodate our family. We also wanted a fireplace and at least a one-car garage, as well as some sort of outdoor space (either a patio or deck) to hang out outside and a flat lot where kiddos could play. We have all that and more. A single house boasting over 2,000 square feet and a nice yard is exactly what I've always wanted. At times I've been discouraged throughout our renovations, feeling like the list keeps getting longer rather than shorter, but then I have to look back at everything we've accomplished since we've moved in. So, here goes:

Phase One

• When we moved in, the first thing we did was clean every inch of the house including floors, walls, ceilings, cupboards, etc. even into the garage. We settled on a Thursday, and Mom took off work that last weekend in February to help me clean (thanks so much!). I don't think the place had been cleaned in at least 15 years and just some elbow grease and rubber gloves made the entire house smell better.
• From there, we took off the paneling in the good living room and the fake wood/foam beams on the ceiling. That enabled us to tear out the wall between the living room and dining room.
• We then took off wallpaper and painted all four bedrooms upstairs, including the ceiling and starting the trim with some help from our family (thanks!). Shawn also painted our master bathroom and we started painting the powder room downstairs.
• We enlisted the services of our plumber Brad Keiser (who I would highly recommend) to fix up our powder room, adding a pedastool sink and new hardware as well as a new toilet. We also had him install a new sink in the kitchen, along with a new faucet, and a new state-of-the-art garbage disposal along with our new GE Profile dishwasher from Mom & Jamie (thank you!). Our brother-in-law Mike helped trim the window sill so the tall Delta faucet we bought would work (thanks!).
• We also put new flooring in the powder room downstairs, but we still have to finish painting and fix the trim. It just hasn't been a high priority.
• Next we paid to have carpet installed on our stairways and all the bedrooms upstairs. While the hardwood was pretty, we knew we'd have babies crawling around and thought the carpet was more practical and warmer.
• We installed a new towel bar, shower curtain bar, and toilet paper dispenser in the family bathroom that the last owner had newly renovated. I tried re-grouting some of the beautiful neutral tile with little success.
• Shawn replaced all the outlets & switches throughout the house to be a uniform, more up-to-date white after Grandpa Ginder showed him how (thanks!).
• We hired a fix-it company to install a dining room chandelier, a new kitchen light fixture and pendant lights over the breakfast bar that all coordinated. They also painted the kitchen & dining room walls a beautiful deep red, finished the drywall work where we had torn out the wall & paneling and made sure a few of the bricks outside were all the way they were supposed to be (is that called stepping or pointing or something?)
• After moving in, we hired a youth to paint the living room walls & ceiling and the upstairs hallway walls and ceiling. The color wasn't quite right, though, so I think we want to repaint it at some point.
• We also hired a tree company to take out the largest tree in our front yard, grind the stump and remove all the roots that were sticking out of the ground.
• Grandpa Ginder & Kevin helped start trimming up our overgrown shrubs and yardwork while we were in the hospital having Joshua.
• There, our renovations ceased for awhile as having a baby took over our lives...

Phase Two

• The next round of renovations started with removing the second large dead tree from our front yard, grinding the stump and getting the landscape smoothed out and adding grass seed (hopefully it will grow this spring!).
• We then replaced the old broken driveway (which had been ruined with tree roots) and expanded it from a single lane to typical size where you can park four cars. It looks SO much better and now we don't have to worry about anyone falling or turning their ankles.
• Next, we got a brand new roof, new gutters & downspout with a new rain leader system that pulls water away from the house. In replacing our roof, we also took down the big chimney that was in the middle of it, which also gave us back more closet space since the chimney had been added later. Eventually we want to get a gas insert for our fireplace that will turn on with a simple switch.
• The contractor aluminum capped all our windows & around the garage to make our house maintenance free (or basically maintenance free). This included new front porch posts and shiny new house numbers to coordinate.
• We got all new replacement energy-efficient windows and new exterior doors. The front one is a more decorative one that we picked out with a cherry wood finished and beveled glass that we just love.
• We got a new, more energy efficient bay window that lets a lot more light in and actually opens now! The window sill is also a lot deeper for my plants.
• Next, the contractor replaced some of the siding in the back as they wrapped our sunporch to match the rest of the house and took out an old rusty blower that was no longer needed. The sunporch was also given a little insulation and new aluminum capping, and the screen door on it now closes properly. Woohoo! That was one of my favorite parts from an annoyance standpoint.
• UGI installed a brand new energy efficient, long-lasting gas furnace and hot water heater. The central air unit had just been replaced before we bought the house, so we didn't need to replace it.
• We got all new white six-panel interior doors along with matching white six panel closet doors that close properly with the new, more plush carpet.
• The Energy Conservation Center installed the standard amount of insulation in our attic and underneath our living room, dining room & kitchen to help with heating costs. There was literally almost none before.
• An electrician added recessed lights in the good living room, a new motion sensor on our garage door, a new outlet in our powder room & laundry room for our freezer, new outlets at the front & back of our house to make yardwork easier, and fixed all the three-way receptacles that no longer worked. We also fixed some bad outlets around the fireplace and the light outside the laundry room door. We also replaced the light outside our front door just so everything was fresh & new.
• The contractor (formerly an electrician) replaced our old electric unit with an updated, up-to-code 200 amp electric service. He also rewired the basement to code and fixed a few things that the previous homeowners had installed/patched in themselves.
• We replaced all the old copper pipes with new ones to make our plumbing up-to-date. That included adding a trap for the master bathroom shower.
• They finished the trim in the dining room & living room where we had torn down the wall.
• We had our gorgeous ceiling fan installed in our master bedroom and a new recessed light above the family bathroom bathtub, along with a new light fixture above the mirror in the bathroom.
• All of our smoke detectors got replaced with new 10-year lithium battery ones.
• We had our kitchen completely torn out and all new cabinets, drawers, hardware and countertops installed. We bought a new GE Profile cooktop & downdraft system that was put in, so now all of our appliances are new and match.

• Now we are anticipating the birth of our second child in just a few short months! We must put in the closet organizer in what will be Joshua's new room and decorate for him...

Phase 3

• We just finished phase 2, but we already have a long list of things that must be accomplished in phase 3. These are mostly cosmetic, though, like refinishing the hardwood floors in the living room & dining room, installing a gas fireplace insert, taming the wild landscape in our backyard, hanging some of our larger paintings, and buying new curtains for our living room, etc. These will have to wait until we save up more money and have more time on our hands to do them ourselves.

I love our little house. Some day, I'll have to post before and after pictures, which I have but will take too long after I've already written a short novel here. While the house needed some work, it's also solidly constructed and basically up-to-date with all 'major things' now. I feel we've been very blessed with the opportunity to own a home in one of the best school districts in the state, let alone the county, with the elementary school literally behind our house. We have fields to play in, playgrounds within walking distance, and most things that we would want to do in this area are between 5 and 10 minutes from here. The pediatrician is less than a mile from our house, which was huge this past Friday when Joshua was having difficulty breathing. Even the hospital is about a 5-7 minute drive (depending on traffic lights). We have plenty of space for our kiddos & us and yet the house feels cozy, too. Most of all, I'm thankful for my husband and sons to enjoy it with. May it not only bless our family but all who enter.

All Clear!

This morning we went to see the doctor to follow-up from Joshua's hospital stay. She said that his lungs sound clear and he looks a lot better. She recommended waiting to reduce his prevacid intake for the next two weeks since the breathing treatments can flare up the esophagus. We will continue giving him two breathing treatments a day until his cough is gone and the preventative medicine for the next six weeks or so. Joshua is "back up" to weighing 21 lbs 15 oz. He also has all his new teeth, which is quite a mouth full! His temperament has been much better since he's been home. Please continue to pray for his health!

I've been noticing Joshua's hands going up in a weird way as he gets excited and walks around. I thought to myself, "is this normal?" Then last night, I figured out why he started that. He and Daddy were dancing. As Shawn would put his arms & hands in the air in a "normal" dance move, Joshua's imitation looked a little more silly. Ah-hah! Now I feel better knowing that he's just trying to dance when he does that. My two boys are so cute. It will be interesting to see what a third brings to the mix. Please pray for the little guy's health as well!

It's 26 degrees today and very windy. So, I dressed Joshua warmly and put on this hat. Sooo cute!

God's Little Boy is...Cheerful

It's good to "make a joyful noise,"

Even when made on one of your toys

A song from your heart helps those who are sad;

It brings a smile and makes them feel glad.

A happy heart is like good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

Dear God, thank you so much for Joshua and for keeping him healthy and well. We pray also for his character - that he would grow up to be just like you. We ask that you would help him to always be cheerful. I love his little smile, and I pray that his heart would always be full of joy from above. May he make a joyful noise and sing songs from his cheerful heart that would uplift those who are sad or sick. Thank you for what a cheerful blessing he is to us already. Amen!

Baby Good: Week 21

Fetal Development:
The rapid growth phase begins to slow down this week. The heart grows stronger this week, and the legs are reaching their relative proportions.

Maternal Changes:
Over halfway there, and you're probably showing now. Your uterus is about 1/2 inch above your belly button. The average weight gain is between 10 and 15 pounds at this point. If you're eating a healthy diet, don't count pounds and calories too strictly. Emotionally, you're probably feeling more stable and comfortable. Your ankles and feet may be swelling, particularly at the end of the day. Drink lots of water and rest with your feet elevated.

Ideas for Dad:
With the second trimester being the easiest, this is a good time for planning and preparing together. The "pukiness" of the first trimester is (hopefully) a memory, and the heaviness of the third trimester is yet to come. Now is a good time to do something special together like taking a vacation or a weekend away (check with your caregiver first about travel). If you can't get away, use the time to grow closer and spend quality time together.

Good News, Bad News

We had a message from Dr. Devenyi's office when we got home that we were to call for Joshua's biopsy results. Great news! His esophagus shows no inflammation. So, the diagnosis of reflux was accurate and we don't have to worry about allergies. We're now supposed to reduce his medication intake to once a day (before breakfast) to see how that goes. I'm hoping he grows out of this completely!

Now for the bad news. We also had a message from the recreation department that our 'Musik for Tots' class was cancelled due to lack of interest. We had signed up for this 5-week program designed for 1-4 year olds and their parents to explore different instruments and music, etc. I thought it would be fun to do something like that with Joshua, especially since he seems to enjoy music. So, we were a little bummed. They offer the course from time to time, so hopefully we can take it in the future.

Speaking of music, Nonie & Poppy brought some toys into the hospital from their house that Joshua enjoys playing with. The one is a farm that makes all these animal sounds and plays five different melodies. Joshua's skips right through "Old McDonald Had a Farm," "BINGO" and a few others that I can't remember offhand to get to the song "Hooray for the Red, White & Blue!" It's soooo cute and interesting that he likes that song so much better than the others. He also clutched Waddles the Duck (one of my personal favorites) who plays children singing the song "Singin' in the Rain" anytime that anything yucky was happening to him like medication or breathing treatments. The Bean started saying "quack, quack, quack" pretty clearly. Notice his pink pants in the picture below. Daddy didn't even want to put on these pants because of the color, but that's what the hospital had.

Dr. Hanna always made a fishy face when she was listening to Joshua's breathing. He usually isn't a big fan of the stethescope, but he loved her fishy lips and crossed eyes. He then would try to mimick the face just moving his little lips back and forth. It was so cute. He also will stick out his tongue at you if you do it first, which I think is adorable. He knows where his belly is and his nose and now his tongue, too.

When Joshua was feeling a little better, he was restless and wanted to play a bit more. So, Daddy put him in the crib and they tossed a ball back and forth. That gave me time to call Grandpa Georgia and give him an update on Joshua's condition. Since they were playing nicely, Daddy decided to take pictures with the camera he brought along. Right then, Joshua lunged over at all the equipment near the wall and pushed the emergency call button. Our room flooded with 40+ nurses. "Uh oh!" Joshua said. We said, "Noooooo!!!!!" Too late.

The more steroid treatments Joshua received for his lungs, the more violent he became. The nurse explained that this medicine affects children's temperament, and she was not kidding! He would thrash and hit and pinch and bite...I've never seen him so mad and so aggressive. When he would start getting out of control, I put him down in the crib since I was starting to get bruised. Several times, he threw his head into the metal bars and came out with quite the goose egg. He would eventually calm down, but it took some time. He seems to be much happier now that we're home, but I'm praying this isn't the start of any such behavior. Here's a picture of him as we're about to leave the hospital to come home.

I just jumped a mile. Joshua is in his crib napping and one of his toys sounded, "TEN DUCKS! QUACK, QUACK, QUACK!" It scared the bejeebees out of me. No one there. Why is it that every toy he likes makes sounds? :) :) :)

Well, I should get back to work. While I'd LOVE a nap, I'm way behind on projects. I'll keep you updated on how he's doing. So far, he seems to be okay but still breathing laborously. I'm anxious to hear what the doctors say about him Thursday. Please pray this cold or virus goes away!

There's No Place Like Home!

Joshua didn't need any oxygen last night. His levels dipped low, but he was able to recover himself when we moved him. According to the resident doctor, that's a good enough sign that he'll be able to 'rescue' himself. She said that we all go through times where we lay weird or have a cough where our blood oxygen level will dip and then we move and self-correct the problem. It's only harmful when this state lasts a longer period of time and we can't bring ourselves out of it. So, this morning Joshua was released to go home. He's done with the antibiotics and steroids (thank God, since he doesn't take medication well for us) and now we just have to keep up with his breathing treatments and a daily preventative treatment for his lungs.

According to the doctor, this probably started as a virus or cold of some type that flared up his lungs. He is now officially classified as asthmatic. The surgery he had did not help or harm his condition, most likely, just as Dr. Devenyi thought. It was just coincidence or 'bad timing.'

Please continue to pray for Joshua. He's still coughing and the doctors & nurses can still hear the "junk" from the cold, but he's no longer considered in a dangerous spot. Please pray that I'll be able to sleep at night and not wonder if he's breathing okay - I know I have to leave him in God's capable hands. I really haven't slept well since Thursday night and am fighting off a cold myself. Also pray that Joshua grows out of this asthma and that his lungs grow stronger and stronger. I've never been so terrified for him...

I'll post pictures from the hospital once we have a chance to download them. Now as he naps, I really must catch up on school & work, etc.

Another night

I'm back to shower again, so I thought I would quickly post an update. Joshua is still receiving breathing treatments and needs oxygen when he sleeps because his blood oxygen level dips below 90% (and 100% is considered normal, whereas 90% or less keeps you hospitalized). The steroids are making him very aggitated and aggressive, which is also scary to see. But, there's nothing worse than seeing he monitor flash red & beep because he's in the dangerous zone. I'm grateful that he's there when he can be monitored, but I'm also anxious for him to feel 100% better and come home.

Joshua's in the Hospital

I can't write much...I'm home to quickly shower and brush my teeth. Joshua wasn't breathing well yesterday and they immediately sent us to the hospital. Please pray that the Bean recovers quickly and gets to come home tomorrow!

Feverish

Poor little Joshua has been running a consistent fever of 101 degrees. His nose is running, and he's absolutely miserable, which is really unlike him. Last night we called the surgeon because they told us to call if his fever was over 100. But, he said the procedure went really well and he thinks the fever is the sign of a cold. A nurse from the surgical center called and said if he isn't feeling better by this afternoon, try to get him into the pediatrician. Ugh! Please pray for our Bean!

I wish I would have taken my camera with us yesterday. They had us change him into a hospital gown, and he looked SOOOO cute!!! Shawn and I giggled at his little legs sticking out of the gown and all the nurses oohed and awwed at how precious he looked. They gave him some sort of medicine to put him out before they did the actual anaesthesia. As it was taking effect, we pulled him around in this little red wagon with a little pillow and his favorite blue blanket. He was so calm and relaxed, he started to drool a little and kept quietly babbling 'la, blah, ra, la.' It was so precious...then they wheeled him away in the same wagon.

I haven't seen him that relaxed since. He's been a momma's boy yesterday and today. Normally he loves playing with Daddy and goes to him first, but not recently. He wants to be held and cuddled by me only. Poor little one! I love to cuddle him, but I wish he felt better. :( Please pray that whatever this is goes away!

What's in a Name?

Yesterday, I asked Joshua for his opinion on what we should name his little brother. His response? "Doh doh!"

Ummm... I don't think your brother would appreciate that name when he got older, so I think we'll keep looking. Thanks for the input, though!

Happy Birthday, Grandma Good!

We hope you have a great day and a super year! We're looking forward to seeing you on Friday night!

Baby Good at Week 20 Gestation

Fetal Development:
We're halfway through the pregnancy, and the baby has as much sleep and awake time as a newborn. The scalp hair begins to grow.

Maternal Changes:
Your uterus is at your navel now. You may experience some tenderness as your belly button becomes an "outtie" from the uterus pressing on it. You're probably feeling the baby frequently now as the movements become stronger. If you're having an ultrasound to verify fetal age, it will probably be scheduled around this time. It's a good time to look into childbirth classes.
Hey! You're halfway there already!

Inspirational Thoughts:
"Don't be discouraged if your children reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own offspring." ~Oscar Wilde

Out of Surgery & Sleeping

We took Joshua in this morning and asked them about whether or not it was safe to do the procedure with his schnarkiness. They felt he was okay, so we went ahead with it. But, they did have to give him a breathing treatment in the middle, they told us. He's sleeping off the rest of the medicine now and will hopefully wake up a much happier camper than he has been. Please pray that he feels better! Dr. Devenyi said his esophagus looks great, there's no hiatal hernia at all, and depending on the lab results we may go ahead and wait to come back to see him for three months. If everything looks super, we may also decrease his medicine intake, but again, we'll see what the biopsy results show from the lab.

Please Pray for Joshua

I have so much to post about our weekend with Grandma and Shawn's trip to Florida, but it will have to wait for another day. In the meantime, please pray for the Bean. He's scheduled to have his surgery tomorrow; however, today he was VERY cuddly and seemed to be running a slight fever and was schnarky again. Oh, my sweet boy! Why are you always sick? Please pray that he's healed completely before tomorrow morning. If not, we might have to postpone again. Unfortunately, there was no one there to call today to ask about rescheduling, so we'll go in first thing in the morning and have them assess his condition. If they feel his body is up for the surgery, we'll probably go ahead. (After all, could this be teeth coming in? He's got two more new ones from the last time I posted about his pearly whites...)

Please also pray that if they do decide to do surgery, that everything goes well, that the surgeon is able to get concrete answers this time, that Joshua is not in pain and recovers quickly, and that everyone who works on him would have accurate and loving hands...may God be with him and hold him when Shawn & I can't be in there.

What a Croc!

After reading my friend Julie's post about her son Jude not wanting to take off his Crocs, even for bed, I decided I should try some out for Joshua. He's not a big fan of getting shoes on, and if we can find something he loves on his feet, I'm in! My nieces also love these "new" shoes (Shawn said the trend is ooold, but what can I say? I'm a late adopter!) So, this weekend while we were at Costco looking at other things, Mom bought a pair of green Crocs for Joshua. Can't wait to try them out! Thanks, Grandma!

Then, when Kristen responded to Julie's post about Crocs, she said that it's not just Elliott (her son) who likes those shoes - she loves them too. She commented that they were the most comfortable shoes to wear and she's worn them for walking in Disneyland and all sorts of places. Everyone I've talked to seems to agree (Mom noticed that even nurses wear them). And since my pregnant feet felt like they needed some pampering, I decided to buy a pair for myself. The ones at Costco didn't feel right on my feet because they came in two sizes together (like 6/7, 8/9, 10/11). One pair felt a little snug while the next felt a little too big. I was disappointed but thought I might find more of a selection at the stand at the mall. While the Crocs there were much more expensive, the salesperson was really helpful, and I found a pair of Mary Jane Crocs that fit me nicely that were in whole sizes (I normally wear a half size) instead of two sizes together. Although I was enthralled by all the colors offered, I decided to play it safe with brown ones until I see if I really like them. I'm anxious to wear them and see what I think. I must admit that I still think Crocs are on the ugly side; however, what I think is a beautiful shoe (something like a leopard skin pump with a 3" heel and pointy toe) will not be going anywhere near my feet until I'm done carrying small kiddos on my hip. :) For now, anything that feels good is the way to go!

Playing at the Mall

Today we met Julie & Jude at the mall (sorry you weren't feeling up to it, Kristen & Elliott!). The boys had a great time playing in the playground, and then we moved on to the motorized toys.

Jude rode the motorcycle, and Joshua played in the car that didn't work (doh!). Then they rode in a car for two, and both seemed to highly enjoy it.

When Jude climbed into the bus and I put Joshua into the seat behind him, though, Joshua was TERRIFIED when the ride started to go. He was shaking all over, lip quivering and crying out loud. Poor Bean!

We went back to the car he enjoyed, but he had had enough riding. We decided it was time for lunch and Joshua & I got sandwiches from Subway while Julie got lunch for her and Jude. We met back in the middle to eat and enjoy each other's company. The boys were both picky eaters but were well behaved. We had a great time, and it was so fun to get out with friends!

Julie's husband Dan came at the very end since she just had a preeclampsia test that she had to drop off at Women's & Babies Hospital. We should be getting to meet her daughter very soon!

Joshua's Going to Have a....

BROTHER!!!!

The arrow is pointing to the proof that this is definitely a boy!

In fact, the day before, Joshua started saying baby. Then he said something that sounded close to "bro-der" and later "bah ba-by." I asked him, "Joshua, are you trying to tell me something or is God?" Sure enough, he was right! When we got to the ultrasound, the technician asked if we wanted to know gender. Well, I could already see it clear as day on the screen. There were two arms and two legs spread wide open...

This is the baby's profile. The bright white on the bottom is the back of our little boy's skull, and you can see the ear on the side and his nose and lips on the top. His head is much bigger than his body, and you can see a food at the very top of the picture.

Dr. Bayliss said the baby wasn't cooperating, so they were having a hard time checking out the heart and lungs in depth. So far, everything looks good and normal. But, it was too hard to tell for sure because the baby was hiding behind my belly button and then would only show his spine or open legs and not the abdomen that they were concerned with. So, we go back on March 20 to confirm that our baby boy is 100% healthy.

This is our baby's face in 3-D. You can see his chin start just above the black circle in the middle, his little mouth is open above that, you can tell the nose and eyes and forehead.

The pictures we got are a little too detailed, if you ask me. The baby's face looks like cottage cheese and Dr. Bayliss said he looks like the Terminator. So, we laughed that we're having T2. I've never seen the movie and didn't know what that looked like, but I looked up a picture on the Internet last night. That is what an ultrasound basically looks like. The picture on the left is looking at the baby's face like you would "normally" see it (i.e. vertical). You can see the outline of the head, the eye holes and the nose and chin bone.

Here's the baby's face again via a "normal" ultrasound image.

While we would have been thrilled to have a girl, too, we're excited to give Joshua a brother to play with and bond with. Everything we have is blue - the nursery is yellow & blue, our stroller is blue, all our clothes and blankets are blue, etc. Not that it makes a big difference, but it will be nice to not have to buy anything new. And, I can picture these two boys being pals and hanging out together playing sports (or whatever they'll do), and I think it will be nice for both of them. Dr. Bayliss warned Joshua that his little brother might be bigger than him at 16 or 17 so he should whoop him good at 12. We laughed. Welcome, little one! We'll have to narrow down your name now!

My Husband is Amazing...and then some

Shawn came home around lunchtime so he could join me and the Bean in heading to Dr. Bayliss' office for our ultrasound. He walked in the door carrying a beautiful bouquet of red roses...what a man! We went to the ultrasound (more on that to come) and then he bought me ice cream to celebrate. When Joshua napped, so did we and then we went out to dinner. Since we had Joshua,, we thought 'Friendly's!' It's not romantic, but it's very kid-friendly and that's as much romance as we can get. Well, everyone else in Lancaster County had the same idea. We were there for two hours, but it was great spending time with my two lovebugs. Joshua wore his "I love (with a heart) mom" shirt all day and an "I love daddy" bib. While we were at dinner, a little girl came running over to our table, dropped off a tiny little Valentine between Joshua & Shawn and literally RAN the other way. We laughed and laughed. Joshua's already getting the girls, and he's not even 17 months old yet!

When we got home, I helped Shawn pack and think of anything he would need last minute and he started downloading a movie from Amazon to watch on our TiVo. While our tradition for the past eight years has been to watch a horror movie on Valentine's Day, we were just too tired. We ended up watching a quick TV program to unwind after Joshua was in bed and then we nodded off ourselves. It was still a wonderful day to be in love... Shawn is an amazing husband and father, and I love him very, very much.

Kitchen Transformation

Thursday our kitchen started being torn out. We have cabinets in our living room, dining room and kitchen, appliances on our sun porch and even a sink in our front yard. Oh, the joys of remodeling! The dust (and other things) that were found under the cabinets were DISGUSTING, and I think I'm literally high from the glue (?) that they're using for the countertop. But, I'm anxious to see the finished product. Hooray!

Cold & Cleaning

This morning I took Joshua's laundry downstairs and started to wash it. Then I decided to finish cleaning out the last of our small things from the kitchen, just in case they start tomorrow, which the contractor said might be a distinct possibility. Joshua & I ate breakfast together afterward, and he wanted to sit at the table with me. He didn't fall off, scoot around to get down, or act wild. He seemed to really enjoy being at the big people table, so I think it's time to hook up our 'to-go' booster seat at our table and leave the high chair for our next little one.


Afterward, I decided to continue on my roll and started cleaning. I did all our laundry, cleaned all three bathrooms including wiping down the walls in the master bathroom shower and scrubbing the family bathtub, wiping the walls in the bathrooms and the sinks and mirrors, sweeping the floors in the bathrooms and the kitchen and dining room and living room, dusting the family room and living room and our bedroom, picking up toys in the playroom and familiy room, etc. I'm exhausted now and still feel like I should vaccuum, but I think I'll take a break. Shawn told me to "knock it off" since he's worried that I'll do too much with the baby. I told him that I just felt like it today...I can't bake right now which is my normal 'nesting' activity when it's yucky outside, so cleaning was a second best.


Joshua helped with the laundry (he LOVES peaking in the dryer and throwing socks onto the laundry room floor), stomped through my dirt pile in the kitchen, and helped me throw toys in his bin (sometimes taking them out rather than putting them in). The scrubbing waited until he was napping. As tired as I feel now, I'm so glad that classes at Millersville were cancelled for this evening. Hooray!!! It's still raining out and I'm sure they're concerned about the roads freezing later tonight. Hopefully I'll get a second wind later and can pack our stuff for this weekend. If not, there's always tomorrow.

Stinkin' Dark

Yesterday it began to flurry...then it began to snow...then it began to rain...then it began to freeze with ice everywhere. It was beautiful, and it's quite wonderful that I no longer have to travel out in it. Joshua and I watched with interest from inside as the ice pelted down. Then last night just before his bedtime (thank God Shawn had already changed him into his PJ's when he needed a fresh diaper), our electricity went out. It was STINKIN' DARK (as Grandma Ginder would say). Joshua cried out because even though he was less than two feet from us, he couldn't see us. Shawn picked him up while I helped dig out our flashlight, candles and lighter. We looked outside and the entire neighborhood was dark. So, we lit a million candles, and I grabbed the cell phone to call mom and make sure she had power and was okay. She was, so we decided to put Joshua to bed, who in the meantime had grabbed the flashlight and was waving it around and laughing about it. That is, until he'd accidentally shine it right into his own eyes, which royally aggravated him. Silly Bean! We took the light and put him in his crib and then chatted in our room with the candlelight until the lights came back on an hour later. Joshua was already asleep, so we set our alarm clocks, set the cell phone alarm clock "in case" and kept it by the bed, blew out all the candles and decided to call it a night.

Baby Good at Week 19

Fetal Development:
Along with the lanugo, vernix caseosa forms on your baby's skin. Vernix is a white cheesy substance that protects your baby's skin from its aquatic environment ~ imagine how your skin would look if you sat in water for nine months! The placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. (Vernix is what really made me gag thinking of this stuff on the baby's skin, that eventually the baby ends up eating...YUCK!!!)

Maternal Changes:
You may be noticing several skin changes. These are hormone-related and will disappear after delivery. You may have the "mask of pregnancy" - blotchy patches on your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Itchy skin is also very common. Your skin may be dry and flaky in certain areas and many pregnant women develop rashes, particularly on the stretched skin. You can't prevent stretch marks but lotions or oil can ease the dryness and itching. Drinking lots of water and eating a healthy diet will go a long way in reducing dryness.

Tomorrow's the Day!
Pretty in pink, beautiful in blue
We'll find out tomorrow, that much is true!

God's Little Boy is...Obedient

God teaches children that they should obey

The rules set by others and do what they say.

And God's little boy makes no exceptions -

He always minds and follows directions.

The son who obeys what he has been taught shows he is smart.

Proverbs 28:7

Dear God, please teach Joshua obedience. I think it is a lesson we all are continuously learning, but I pray that you would give us grace when we fall short and help us to be quick to follow your directions and obey your commands. Thank you for teaching us the way to walk and behave through your Word. I pray that Joshua would show that he is smart by being an obedient child and adult. We thank you for him and for teaching him and guiding us as parents. In Jesus' name we pray, AMEN!

Monday

Last night into this morning, I've had an awful headache. I think it's sinus pressure or something - ugh! It's starting to feel a little better as the day wears on. This morning I looked into Joshua's mouth and saw SEVERAL new teeth appearing. He has a new one that's poked through on the bottom and right next to it his gums are so swollen but I can see the tiniest tip of yet another tooth. On the other side, I see the white of the teeth but it doesn't look like they're quite through yet. That top tooth is really coming down, and I see the white of the other teeth around it. It seems weird to me that he's getting the new ones all at once when the other teeth he got was more of a process. So, I think he'll be grumpy for a little bit (all those teeth at once has to hurt) but then we should be good for awhile! Hooray for the Bean!When we were playing this morning, I asked him where his ears were. He grabbed my ears instead, but at least he grabbed ears! He also knows where his nose is, but doesn't point to his eyes yet. One day at a time, right? Joshua also likes "big people" toys. I think we could take away most of his toys and he would be content to play with ours. From lids to pots & pans to remote controls and cameras...anything of ours he can grab (a broom and a plunger included!), he seems to enjoy. He's been carrying around tax and antivirus software cases for the past several days, and this morning he picked up my checkbook and pen of the desk and was happy as a clam. Oh, Bean!Now I should finish blogging because I really must prepare for class tonight. Have a super day!

Sunday

Sunday morning, Daddy left early since he was on the A/V team. Joshua & I got ready and met him there. The Bean kept crawling onto the bench seat to smile at the pretty gal who was sitting behind us. I think he's intrigued by curly hair, and he kept waving & grinning at her and she was kind enough to smile back. We took him down to the nursery after worship, and he did well again the entire time! Hooray! Shawn & I listened to the sermon together, and I kept waiting for our number to show up, but it never did. The sermon was good on God not being an event-oriented God but more one concerned with the process...so we're not to give up. That was the second sermon I had heard that day. As we were getting ready in the morning and driving to church, I heard the LCBC sermon broadcasted over WJTL about Christianity being simple...it's all about Jesus. We make it about so many other things, but in the end, it's not who we are or what we did, it's about what Jesus did for us. A simple message of truth that never gets old. I highly enjoyed it.

After we got home, Grandma & Grandpa Ginder and Aunt Erica came over for lunch. They brought with them fresh fruit from Florida and I was in heaven! The strawberries, canteloupe and oranges simply melted in your mouth...soooo good and refreshing. We've been steadily devouring them. They also came bearing gifts for Joshua from Disney (thanks so much!). Then they played with Joshua's new soft blocks before heading back to Morris one last time. It's weird to think we won't see them again until we have another child in our arms (well...Shawn will see them at their house this weekend, but Joshua & I won't...).

It was soooo windy and so cold yesterday - a definite change from the weather earlier this week. It sounds like the Ginder fam had quite the car ride home, too, with ice and snow and slow traffic. Ugh! I'm sure they won't miss this in Florida!

Saturday

Saturday morning, we met Nonie at the Turkey Hill in Ephrata and handed her the Bean, who spent the day in Reading with her, Poppy & Jordon. Meanwhile, Shawn & I worked strenuously at emptying all our kitchen cabinets and drawers. Some of the boxes went into the garage while others went into the cupboards in our laundry room. We left very few things out for this week (but we made sure we could have easy access to our supplies if we really needed anything) in preparation for our new kitchen. The contractors are supposed to start gutting our old cabinets on Presidents' Day, so this was our last weekend to work since Shawn's helping Grandma & Grandpa Ginder move to Florida this weekend. All I can say is that I had no idea we had this much stuff!!! I'm not even a gourmet chef, and I have more gadets & utensils, pots & pans, and dishes than most restaurants need! :) :) :) We got it all done, though, and I'm anxious for our new kitchen to arrive.

After we were finished, we talked about starting to put the closet organizer in what will be Joshua's new room, but we were both beat. So instead we headed to Barnes & Nobles, a place we used to love visiting and don't get to go to anymore since we feel it's too quiet of an atmosphere for Joshua. We sat down with our drinks and five baby name books each, looking up middle names for girls and boys names. We now have a short list that we agreed on for each, and we're anxious to find out what we'll have - on Valentine's Day we'll know!

We headed up to Berks County and ate a delicious dinner with Nonie & Poppy, including a pork roast, potato & cheese soufflé, green beans, soft bread, pear salad and brownies for dessert. We hung out with them and chatted while the boys continued to play until about 8:30 when we decided to call it a night. Thanks for watching Joshua & inviting us over for dinner! We had a great time!