Baby Photos

Here is my baby picture and one of Sophie!

Easter 2011

Sweet Little Sophie-4 months

I like my Nico shaken not stirred!

Nico has another piece of equipment...it is a vest that fills with air and then shakes...Nico has to wear it twice a day...it helps to break up secretions and elicit coughs which can prevent hospital stays due to illness...sweet!

The first night he didn't like it very much so instead of 20 minutes we are now doing 10 minutes...just until he gets used to it better...Sophie felt bad for him....so here is a picture of her trying to pull the tubes out...She fell asleep holding on to it...so cute!

Hair for the summer!

Before and after photos of my boys summer hair cuts!

Looking good boys!

Spring Break 2011: Pensacola Beach, Florida

Nico and Sophie's 1st trip to the ocean!

We had a wonderful time and we are very

grateful for the opportunity to vacation as

a family! Thank you Peggy for going with

us...we couldn't have done it without you!

Happy Birthday to you....

...Happy birthday dear Nicolas...

Happy 3rd Birthday to you!

We celebrated with Garrett today after school

...Nico's life is amazing and definitely

celebrated each and every day but certainly

today! No longer our little baby (even though

it doesn't matter how old he is...once my baby,

always my baby)...He is our big boy! He got 5

pirate shirts with matching shorts, a pirate

sweatshirt, a pirate swimsuit, and a pirate

visor, pirate finger puppets, and pirate burp

clothes...He will look so handsome! We look

forward to strolling around outside when the

weather gets nicer!

Thank you God for a healthy year...a good

year...and an amazing little boy! We love him

very much and enjoy each moment spent together!

Jake, Felisa, Garrett, and Sophie

Nico's 1st Mate and a few other firsts!

Ahoy, Matey!

Trying to hold her head up!

Starting to smile!

Taking a bath in mommy's sink!

Trying to suck on Nicolas' hand!

Snuggle time with Nico in mommy and daddy's bed!

Nico is getting big!

When my pacifier is not in sight, sometimes I find my thumb...and when I can't find either I let everyone know about it!

Mommy gave me my first Pedi...the OPI color name was "Girls Love Pink"

Nice!

Everybody is healthy and doing great! Life is good!

Sophie's 1st Bath and Manicure!

Fragile...

Pronounced FRA-Gee-lay...must be French (A Christmas Story)...anyways...

Late last night while feeding Sophie I was watching Nico and thinking of my three children and how fragile each one is and how fragile they make me feel. I am in awe and wonderment every time I look at them...How could something so precious be created let alone how did I deserve these beautiful blessings... All I do know is God is good...God is gracious...God is incredibly giving...And I am eternally grateful! Everything I need He has provided...

Enjoy your loved ones as I do mine!

Hug them...Kiss them...every chance you get!

Felisa

Our Beautiful Daughter & Family

Nico is a big brother!

This morning at 7:29 AM ET, our baby Nico became big boy-big brother Nico. He, along with the rest of us, are ecstatic to welcome Sophia Genevieve (Sophie G for short) to our family. Baby and mama are doing great. Sophie is 6 lbs, 4 ozs and 21 1/2 " and came out crying and hungry immediately but once fed, contently snuggled right up with mommy. She is simply wonderful. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Our gratitude goes out to our loved one's for their untiring support and most of all, to the grace of God! The truest of a Merry Christmas.

Jake and Felisa

Nico Will Be A Big Brother Soon!

Well...baby will be coming sooner than we thought...

Kidney bean is still breech so we have scheduled a C-section for Monday, December 20th! We have arranged nursing care and grandmas for Nicolas...and Garrett will be with his dad in between visits at the hospital. On Wednesday they plan to take my gallbladder out as well...so we have a lot going on during our stay. We are asking for no visitors during the first 24 hours...we are not really sure what to expect...so we would like to have that time to assess the baby...make sure it is feeding ok...and make decisions based on what we know...also (I'm sure this goes without saying) it is cold and flu season...if you are having any symptoms please wait to visit us when you are feeling better...Nicolas just recovered from pneumonia and the flu has made its way through our home...Jake is dealing with the flu as I type....so we are trying to avoid illness as best we can...

I have been getting our laundry caught up and straighten the house up this weekend...I also wrapped Christmas presents...and now Nico and I are snuggling on the couch while I type...I've put him to bed every night this week because starting Monday I'm not supposed to lift anything heavier than the new baby...So Nico and I are going to have to get creative with our snuggle time...

I'm a little nervous...mostly because I've never had a c-section...but I've talked a few women who have and did some reading so I know everything should be fine and go smoothly...It is hard to believe that the time is here...the baby should weigh close to 6 pounds...so it will be tiny and adorable...I'm sure!

Please pray for our health and recovery!

The c-section is scheduled for 11 a.m.

I will make sure we post some pictures some time that day...

Much Love,

Felisa

It's finally here...

Life has been busy with school, moving, and being pregnant and tired...and with the holidays coming up life doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon...certainly once the baby arrives we will slow down...

But here is a little bit of news...Nicolas got his wheelchair!!!! We started this frustrating process in June of 2009! Nicolas was outgrowing his stroller and his spine was really in need of support...we are seeing twists and turns on x-rays that should be straight...so the arrival brought great excitement and relief...

There was some unexpected emotion though...you know...I know Nicolas will not walk and needed to be in a wheelchair...but while he remained in his stroller I think reality hadn't quite sunk in completely...He looks so big sitting in his chair and I still call him my baby...and it is incredible to see him sitting up...but when I finished my thoughts with ...he is in a wheelchair...my baby is in a wheelchair... well...tears filled my eyes... and I guess its hard to explain how I didn't see that coming but it snuck right up on me... I quickly reminded myself how long we waited and how necessary the wheelchair is for Nico and that this is a good thing...perspective changes everything and if I can teach Garrett anything it is that focusing on the positive is not only healthier but necessary for life and our faith in God. We are thankful for Nico's wheelchair but most importantly we are thankful for the life God has provided for us with Nico!

We moved Halloween weekend...we are mostly settled in with only a few more boxes here or there...and we do have to unpack the garage still...we are enjoying the new house and the ease it has brought us...The day Nico got his wheelchair Jake was like a kid...pushing Nico in figure eights around the living room and kitchen...then in and out of rooms showing him inside and outside...at an almost running pace ...it was funny! Well here are some pictures of Nico...I'll post some new home pictures soon...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Felisa

September Weather...

Thank goodness for cooler temperatures! Nicolas and I have been able to get outside and enjoy walks together and other fun activities...A couple weeks ago we (Jake and Garrett too) went to the Grabill Fair....That morning I found out I had put on 8 lbs. last month so I wanted to kick off the new month in style with some country fair junk food! HA! Nico has a new love for swings...the motion is really relaxing to him...I think he loves the breeze in his hair...Check out the video below! Mostly we love hanging out on Mema and Papa's porch...It really makes us look forward to enjoying our's soon! The house should be done in about 8 weeks! Today when I was there, they were trimming the house....doors were up to...I look forward to this home so much and what it means to our family...I am so thankful...and with every little thing that is done to make it more a home... just leaves me speechless! I'm giddy with excitement! Nico update...he did lose another tooth last week...pretty uneventful (no blood or pain this time)...in fact we can't find the tooth and I have searched his pooh for a week now! Tomorrow the doctor is having us do a chest x-ray just to make sure he didn't aspirate a tooth. I'll let you what we find out! He has a Riley trip coming up October 4th to see Dr. Hainline (genetic metabolism)...

I am 26 weeks pregnant today and doing great...The baby looks really good too...and likes to ham-it-up for the camera...very photogenic! At my next appointment I will be 28 wks pregnant and will have some labs done to check for gestational diabetes...just a standard thing...no worries...No concrete names yet for little kidney bean but there is still time...and maybe we need to meet this little one first...I'm sure when the time is here it will be something other than Kidney bean :)

Garrett is doing great in Middle School! All A's and B's thus far! We are really proud of him! Garrett's football games have been fun and exciting...He has had some great tackles...even sacked the quarterback for a 5 yard lose! He has had grandparents attend his 1st few games and loves the fan support...This weekend Jack, Will, Grace, Shannon and Camden are going to cheer him on! Should be fun...and afterwards we plan on apple picking and playing at the park!

Last night Jake, Garrett, Papa Gary and I went to watch the Colts play! It was a late game but very exciting! I'm beat...so it looks like an early night for me!

You can see his eyes peeking a little! :)

Much love,

Felisa

Thought you might want to see a 20 weeks Picture!

August News...

---

Everything is going great...I'm sitting here typing with

one hand while the other is holding nico...he is in

good health besides a little eye infection....he has

been awake alot lately so we have really been

enjoying the eye contact and interaction...the "bun"

...or as we call it, kidney bean, is also in good health

...we are not going to find out the sex this time :) ...

this typically drives everyone crazy but we thought it

would be fun...we had our 20 wk ultrasound on

Friday and the baby moved its tiny little fingers and

hands...it also opened its eyes and looked at us...

well, in the direction of the camera!!!! So cool! Garrett

started middle school last week...it doesn't seem

possible...We went school shopping and he picked

out some really grown up styles along with cologne

...He is so cute! ("Lord hear our prayers")...anyways,

he is loving middle school so far... Jake and I have

been running around like crazy trying to pick out

things for the house and we're also out checking

the lot frequently...I'm back to school now too...so

we both have to work and finding spare time for

family and the house can be tricky...to top it off

Garrett just started football...2 hour practices 3

nights a week...

Yes, life is busy...but fun! Thanks for all the

birthday wishes...I had a wonderful day with my

boys!

Enjoy the photos!

Miss you and much love to all...

Silver Beach, Lake Michigan

Road Trip! Mema, Kimra, and I took a day trip with the kids to Silver Beach in Michigan! We had a great time there...the weather was wonderful and the kids had fun playing in the dunes, water and at the sprinkler park! Summer vacation is quickly coming to an end for us so we are trying to do so last minute fun stuff...Garrett goes back to school August 12th and I have professional development meetings with my staff beginning the first week of August! Again, Nicolas stayed home...cool and comfortable...with Nurse Stephanie....On Tuesday Nicolas will get to go on his Road Trip to Riley!

Cedar Point!

We went to Cedar Point on Monday and had a great

time opening and closing the park down...we

didn't get home 'til a little after 2a.m.! We were

exhausted but it was so much fun! I couldn't ride

much but that's OK...I really enjoyed being there

with them and hearing how excited they were!

Nico stayed home with Mema and Grace...Nurse

Stephanie helped out during the day!

Surprise! Surprise!

Nico and Garrett are going to be BIG BROTHERS!

I'm 13 weeks pregnant!

Baby Stein due December 27th!

I had another check-up today! We are seeing a high-risk doctor per Riley's request....so we get an ultrasound every visit and everything looks good with the baby! I have put on 3.8 lbs this trimester and have felt wonderful! Thank God for my answered prayers...I had absolutely no morning sickness (other than being tired) and was able and interested in mostly fruits and veggies! So far so good... We are excited about the possibilities this brings... We say our prayers every night for a healthy baby but we also pray for God's will....and we are prepared for whatever comes our way...we know God is with us and His blessings have been and will always amaze us!

Nicolas is doing great and only needs oxygen at night. He recently was on an antibiotic but sounds great, looks great and has been really comfortable! We have seen many smiles the past couple days and yesterday he was wide awake from 3 pm to 8 pm! He also has been enjoying physical therapy in the pool! He has a Riley Visit next month and I have another doctor's appointment next month so I'll have more to share soon!

Much Love,

Felisa