Hezekiah Joel

Little man is 6 months old already!

Coffee = Life.

Here are a couple pics from the weekend =)

This past week was so incredibly overwhelming i feel like could sleep for a week just to make up for it! We had gone to Chris's parents over the weekend which was great (they took the kids and Chris and i went on date =) and both mornings Annie came and got Kiah as soon as she got up and let me sleep in a little) Then Monday morning came................. Zeke started crying when he woke up which is unusual then he called to me from his room asking for a wipe.. uh oh... He had thrown up ALL OVER himself & his bed, beyond gross... Well we got that all cleaned up and aside from being cranky from being thrown in the shower as soon as he got up he seemed okay for the rest of the day, so i tried to play catch-up with house work and caring for a cranky babe who has another tooth coming in. THEN TUES MORNING CAME.... He woke up okay but kept telling me his tummy hurt, i kept a very close eye on him and he ran into the bathroom and got sick ( I don't use the d word ever if you follow..) and it went on like that all day long.. and twice he had accidents but thank God i had left a pull-up in him just in case.. the next two days were just a repeat and it wasn't until Friday that he actually started to feel better... it was awful, i felt so bad for the poor kiddo! Thank goodness now it's a new week and everyone is healthy again, we have just been taking it very easy this week just to make sure! Thurs though will be the start of another fun weekend! Zeke's grandparents are coming to pick him up and take him downstate until Sunday (that will be the longest he has EVER been away from us!) and Chris will be gone Thurs night thru Sunday night working an Emmaus walk. I will be all alone! well kinda.. I will still have Ki (i really didn't have the energy or the time to get THAT much milk ready!) and Friday night my mom is coming over to stay with me and then we are headed over to Gaylord Saturday morning to do a little shopping and then over to the church to help out. I am really looking forward to the weekend though, it will be more alone time than i am used to and i think i may just sleep the whole time if i can!

Baby Toes

Weekly Updates....

I have no recollection at the moment of what we did last week... That should just go to show you what it was like! We did take the hike in the woods (where we took the pics =) and that was awesome. The boys and i have gone out there a few times now, i just pack Ki in the carrier and we walk back to the winter sports park which is pretty vacant at this time of year and Zeke runs and plays in the forts (photos to come) we find and we all get some fresh air and good exercise.

The not so great start of this week started with Ki having a fever for two days which i just attributed to teething (his 2nd bottom tooth is so close to cutting through) but once the fever broke on the third day i noticed his head was a little blotchy but i thought that was just from him yelling for his breakfast, a little while later during a diaper change i noticed that his belly had a rash all over it, but i wasn't sure what it was and we headed out for one of our walks, when we got back and i changed his diaper again before nap time i noticed it was much much worse (which i now realize was from the heat of the carrier) so i called the doc and had to take him in later that day. The doc said first it was hives and after talking for a while told me it was from a virus that causes 1. a high fever for a couple days and 2. a rash all over the body once the fever breaks... So that was our week, he is doing much better now and sleeping in his own bed again (THANK GOD!) and everyone is happy and healthy.

Our big exciting news for the week, ZEKE IS POTTY TRAINED!! We have been seriously working on it for a few weeks now and he has finally got it down, we have had two accidents in the past two weeks, including all night, which i think is pretty amazing! I am so proud and so so so happy! He still wears pull-ups at night but that is it! YAY ZEKE!

Okay this post is getting a little long but those were the two big things of the week, I'll post again after the weekend and share all our Holiday fun. Happy Easter everyone, I look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord with those of you who are close!

New Photos

These were from our walk in the woods a couple days ago. I have a few more up dates from our week but only one hand right now (sleepy baby) so i will post that later, but here are the pics as promised!

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/squashbabyfoodrecipes.htm

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/squashbabyfoodrecipes.htm

Thursday

Please note my awesome creativity skills in the title.

Anyways..... I just got back from a hike with all three of my favorite guys. Did i mention how much i love the trail behind my house? Because i really do! I took about a 100 pictures so you can all enjoy the experience with me, just add fresh air.

So the quiche i was talking about last time, very good! Chris even liked it, and while he's not a picky eater by any means he isn't always a fan of new recipes when i have plenty he knows he likes.. anyhow it was good and as it turns out i actually like asparagus, who knew? But even better than that was the soup i made last night! It was Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Soup, SO GOOD! please feel free to drool over the pictures....

Once a week...

Bathtime..

So here is my new goal for the year, i am going to make sure that i take and post a new picture of both boys at least once a week, it might seem easy but even remembering to do simple things sometimes seems to escape me so we'll just have to see! Here is this week's photo.

On another note i am also trying to make at least one "new" meal every week, even if its just a variation on something i usually make, anyone who knows me knows that i like to think i am a good cook, sometimes it comes through in my cooking, but mostly i just stick to the things i know how to make.. Tonight's challenge, Asparagus & Mushroom Quiche w/ Feta Cheese and a whole wheat tortilla crust... I'll let you know how it goes....

Happenings

It's been a couple months since i have been on here but i have an almost 3 yr old and an infant so can you blame me? Haha.. Things have been great around here, the boys are growing like weeds! Zeke will be 3 in just a couple months, and Ki is 5months old! Zeke is talking all the time and potty training like a pro =) He only wears pull-ups when he is sleeping other than that its undies all the way! He can read his name, and knows where MI is on a map. I happen to think he is the most amazing little boy ever. Ki is starting to sit up all by himself and eating all the time, we started rice cereal at 4months and i have since started making my own baby food, i am so excited about doing this, i really feel like if i had with Zeke maybe he wouldn't be so hooked on processed foods, maybe i am wrong but hey it doesn't hurt to try! Ki seems to love it, we haven't run into anything he doesn't like yet and so far he has had carrots, peas, squash, sweet potato, cauliflower, spinach, zucchini, avocado, banana, blueberries, pears, peaches, kale, summer squash, and last night he had spaghetti for the first time! needless to say he loved that too! Its been so much fun coming up with new recipes for him to try, and he has reached an age now where i feel he is ready to eat whatever we eat (with some limitations of course, i'm not feeding him pizza or anything!) all in all i think its going great! He is weighing in at 14lbs at his last check up and doing wonderfully!

As far as Chris and I we are doing good also, in case you were wondering =) We just got a new car which i am thrilled about! Chris had a "work" van for a while that was a hand-me-down from my dad, which we were so grateful to have but it really wasn't running all the great and leaking everywhere by the end there so we traded that in for a car which i happen to love! We went with a 4 door just in case something happens to my car, that way we can still get the kiddos from place to place easily.

The house is looking great, we have been all moved in for some time but there are alot of things that i wanted to do to really make the place ours, Chris painted the downstairs bathroom and it looks GREAT! no more uckey blue/green so that room is done, the kitchen is almost done being painted then all i need to do is find/make a curtain for the door to the garage. Up next is the upstairs bathroom then Zeke's room, then i think we are going to finish up the office and make it into a guest room. I have the curtains and a chair in there (here) so its starting to look alot better, and upstairs the family room is really coming together, today i plan to finish sewing up the curtains and pillow covers and get the ugly rug out then i just need to get a new one to replace that i think we will be done, i don't think we are going to paint up there.. so i need to hang pictures... wow i still have alot to do! I love it though!

okay i have a cranky baby calling, he cut his first tooth about a month ago and i think the second one is working its way through....

For Jenny

This is for my friend Jenny who after our discussion on receiving comments on our blogs (i get none she gets tons) left me a comment that read "here is your comment" So Jenny, here is your post.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009 was an amazing year for me, i feel like i have been incredibly blessed with my two wonderful little boys and the best husband a girl could ask for! Today he took me ice skating =)

We had 3 awesome Christmas's first with the Case family here at our house which was tons of fun, then we went to my parents house and opened gifts with them and my sister and her husband and that evening we celebrated with the Johnson family. Christmas morning we were looking forward to waking up with the boys and doing the whole Christmas morning routine but because of the ice storm we ended up staying at my parents house an extra night, which trust me is never a bad thing =) I adore my parents and my sister for that matter! Have i mentioned how blessed i am in the family department?

Things around here are great, Chris is still layed off but i am choosing to see that as a blessing, i love having him home so much, its going to be very hard once he does have to go back to work, although the budget aspect makes it almost seem worth it.. Zeke is doing awesome, growing like a weed and talking all the time, he makes up songs now that i can barely understand but what i do catch is always hilarious. I love him! Ki is already almost 3 months old, isn't that crazy? He lays on his tummy time mat and can hold his chest right up off the ground! He is such an amazing little boy, hes talking alot more now too, although when i say talking for him what i mean is "cooing" but it sure is cute! He is sleeping wonderfully now, 6hours at first then another 3 hour stretch after that! Then he usually ends up in bed with us which is fine by me =)

So up on the agenda for me, a trip to GR on the 17th with Ki and my mom to see my sister for a couple days, i am really looking forward to that! We are talking about going back down to see Chris's parents again (we just went down for almost a week) either that or they want to come up here, so we'll just have to wait and see on that one, right now they are in FL but next year we are talking about going with them! That would be amazing!

Okay i have now written what from here looks like a book so i better save something for later!

Journey To Bethlehem

This past weekend we went with a group of friends to the Journey to Bethlehem, I thought it would be fun for Z and i was right, he loved it! His favorite part though was the angels which i thought was pretty adorable. I wanted to take pics of everything but i was too busy watching =) we did get a great group shot though!

My Loves

Petoskey Open House

I love living so close to town! Chris and I packed up the boys and walked downtown to check out the open house, it was the first time for both of us! So much fun though, Z checked out Santa but we didn't think he would be too thrilled about sitting on any ones lap let alone a stranger in a funny red outfit, so we just looked from afar =) He was far more interested in the firetrucks though and very happy with the hat they gave him! We ran into a few people we knew which was fun, all in all it was a great time and we will definitely be making this an annual thing.

Ki's Dedication

November 29th , 2009 Hezekiah Joel was dedicated to the Lord. As his parents we are going to do our best to raise him in a Godly home and teach him to the best of our ability to grow and and become a strong man of God. I am so thankful that we are blessed with a church family who will be there to help raise him and that he is able to grow up in such a community.

Thanksgiving

This year we went to Muskegon for Thanksgiving and got to see the whole Johnson family, well most everyone anyways.. It was so much fun though, every year we go to C's parents house and spend it with them. This year it was time to change it up! It was so great to see family that i don't really get to spend time with, not to mention the great food and games. Z absolutely LOVED his Aunt H, they bonded over their "orbs of power" (don't ask you had to be there!) Z also enjoyed following his cousin around and watching his every move. While K had some great bonding time with another cousin who if she lived closer would be out permanent babysitter! She just did so great with him! All in all it was a great relaxing weekend that made the 5 hour car trip worth it! I look forward to seeing the family again for Christmas!

Baby H

My Boys

So, i know i am terrible when it comes to updating the blog, but here it is, we are finally a family of four and i could not be happier! Baby H is the most amazing little baby and so incredibly adorable! Z is such a good big brother, he loves to sit on the couch and hold baby H while watching cartoons =)

The last few weeks have been very uneventful with the exception of a new baby! I went into labor on wed night, it was 9pm when i started having contractions.. I had been having plenty for the previous two weeks so i didn't really think anything of it (you know other than ouch these really hurt...) but when 5 am rolled around and i was still having them very consistently we decided it was time to call the doc, after making sure that they really were 5 mins apart we headed for the hospital, since it was 3 weeks before my due date the doc wanted to monitor me and make sure that this was really it, (in case i forgot to mention i had been in a few weeks before that for some pre-term labor that they were able to stop) at 10:30am they decided that i was in fact in labor (all i could think was really? you think?) lucky for me my doc just happened to be the one on call everything happened very fast after that and before you know it i could hear the cry of a very healthy baby boy!

Its been 4 weeks since baby H was born and we are all adjusting very well, he is growing at an amazing rate! (7lbs 10ozs at last checkup) right now he and C are snuggled on the couch asleep.. i love my family!

Family Fall Celebration...

My little Lion

Z the Elephant

Bobbing for apples

My little cheater...

Painting Pumpkins

So happy =)

Welcome Hezekiah Joel Case

Welcome to the world baby H! Kiah was born October 8th, 2009 at 11:24 am and weighed 6lbs 2 ozs and was 17 1/2 inches long. We are so happy to have him here with us and we love being a family of four!

So many things so little time....

So its been a while since i have been on here and actually let you know what we have been up to, I may have mentioned that we moved =) We've been all unpacked and settled in for a couple weeks now and we absolutely love it here! The new house is great, we have so much space!! (look for pics soon) Just a few more things to take care of, (rugs, curtains, bookcase, T.V.) but after that we will be set! Z is loving his new room, he's actually up there playing right now! I have never met such a great kid, he plays by himself so well, i really think that's going to help when H gets here!

Speaking of which, we only have 17 days left! I can't believe this last 9 months has gone by so fast!! Its been great for the most part but now i am tired and ready to be done! I really try not to be a complainer but each day that gets a little more difficult! H is sitting so low that i can hardly walk some days, this morning i sat down on the wood floor and i couldn't get up! That was not fun!! haha.. We have everything we need for H though which is a huge blessing, just a couple of last minute things to pick up! I am so incredibly nervous though! I have been through a c-section before but this time i am worried about Z, its so hard to pick him up now, i always give in and do it and then end up paying for later... i don't think that's gonna happen though after surgery! i mean i am going to try not to! thankfully i am blessed to have C here with me for a full 9 days after i get home from the hospital and then my mom will be here for a full day and then after work for the rest of the 2nd week. Surgery is set for October 20th, so if you want to come see us we will be there until the 24th, i have already talked to the Doc and we will be there until about 4:30 - 5 on Friday, that way C can still work and come pick me up. I would just rather go home with him =)

So as far as what we have been up to.. not much! Mom and i made salsa yesterday, I'm not sure if its as good as last year but its still yummy! It was a full day but i am so glad we got to do it! I am so thankful for my mother, she is probably the most amazing woman i know! Today as long as it doesn't start raining again, we are taking Z to Bills for the hayride and to pick out pumpkins! He is going to love it! We can't go anywhere that sells pumpkins w/o coming home with one! (they are all small though so this time he gets to pick out a big one!) I am going to see how i am feeling once 2 comes around, and if its good i will be going on the hayride with Z and C! I just want to see how much fun he has! So wish me luck!

Update

25 days!!!!

The Little Man

Wedding Day

My Family

My Best Friend & I

The Bridal Party

My baby sister got married last weekend! It was so beautiful, and she looked amazing! I only have a couple of pictures that my best friend took, (see above =) but I'll get more soon.. It was a great weekend and i am so happy for them and to have a new member of our family. Congrats Ben & Tina Rabourn!!

Baby Shower

I was very blessed to have some friends of mine throw a baby shower for me and another friend who is expecting (our due dates are 4 days apart =) It was so much fun! Here are a couple of pics from that day....

So where to start.. how about WE ARE MOVING!! I am so incredibly excited about this, it was all God there is no other way to explain it, Monday (yes as in 4 days ago) we were on our way to a Labor Day get together (which was awesome by the way, i played horseshoes! not even remotely well but i played!) anyways, on the way there we just happened to drive by a house with a FOR RENT sign out front, i don't know why this one caught my attention, and it was the sign not the house that i saw first, so Chris called and talked to the owners and that afternoon we were able to look at it! Its an adorable little house, not huge by any means but so much better than what we have here, and only $20 more a month! Anyways after talking with the owners for a while we decided we would love to rent the place and the next morning they called and said they would love to have us live there! They are just the sweetest couple and are going to make the best Landlords! Oh and the fun part, since they know that we are expecting (AHHH ONLY 5 MORE WEEKS!!!) they are letting us move in THIS WEEKEND! We made a deal where we are paying half a months rent for September and they are delaying the security deposit until the first of October! I Can't believe it is all happening so fast!! I am surrounded by boxes and my house looks like a tornado has come through here! But that's only for one more day! We have so many friends that have offered to help we are going to be able to get this all done in one day! talk about blessed! Monday will be all about cleaning (yuck.) and Tuesday we will start unpacking and have our first night in the new house!! I promise lots of pics as soon as we get in there!

Other than that things have been pretty good around here, i had some contractions a little over a week ago so they (the Doc) sent me over the the hospital so they could monitor me and decide what to do, fortunately they were pretty far apart and i was only dilated to 1 cm so they gave me shot to relax my uterus and monitored me for a while longer then sent me home. So far i no more other than some braxton hicks which i can handle!

I have almost everything we need for the new little guy, just one more order to place and my mom is buying the swing and we will be set!

Okay i am off now to pick up the keys for our new house!