And so it continues...

These last couple of weeks the work on the basement has continued and we have got a lot accomplished if I say so myself. Framing: Check. Heating: Check. Plumbing: Check. Electrical: Check. And as of last night, Insulation: Check. The pics aren't too interesting to look at, but I am a big fan of before and after photos. I took a lot of pictures when we were initially building our house and it is so fun to look at the pictures and see it come together step by step. These dark pictures were taken last night after we cleaned up the insulation mess. Today the sheet rock will be delivered, and tomorrow it will start to be hung. I can't wait to see what it will look like when all the walls are up.
Family Room
Family Room
Family Room/Under the stairs
One of the front bedrooms
The third bedroom
Bathroom

Keaton Turned 7!

It is birthday time already at our house. In the next couple months you will see birthday posts for all of us, but this last week, it was Keaton's turn. He is a big 7 years old now! He had been wanting to go to Chuck E. Cheese for months and then all of sudden decided he wanted to go to Winger's for his birthday. So, Winger's it was. We decided to keep it low key and just go out as a family. We brought his presents along and after dinner let them play some arcade games at the mall. The kids had a ball.In light of what happened to my sister these past few weeks, on Keaton's birthday I couldn't help but think back to my own first birthing experience and how he was born. I am so glad that we had taken pictures because after 7 years I am a little fuzzy on the details. But I remember my joy and awe at seeing him be born, and the automatic love that was present. True to his personality, Keaton was easygoing, very content to simply look around. I thought he was such a beautiful baby, and I think he has grown into a handsome little boy. Happy Birthday Keaton.. We love you!

Grief.

The last couple weeks there have been different things that I had been meaning to post about. It is funny how all those things like what the kids say, and how the basement is progressing just don't seem to matter when something truly horrible happens in your family. I have been putting this post off for days now, I just feel it is too terrible to write. And, even as I am writing this, I am not sure how best to say it and hope my words come out okay. But this little guy is apart of me now, my family, and of course his sweet parents, and I do want to honor him.

As most of you have read on my blog before, my little sister Erin was pregnant with a little boy as well, and was due a few months before me. This was Erin's first child, and everyone was so excited about his arrival. Well, little Henry Robert Koelliker decided to make his appearance on Tuesday, February 9th. There were a few complications and Henry was sent immediately to the NICU. He was such a beautiful baby, and I think we all couldn't wait to hold him. However, after almost a full week in the NICU, and with heavy hearts Erin and her husband Rob held him as he passed away.

I cannot begin to express how terrible it was. To be there when they came back in the room, telling us that he was gone. To see their pain and grief. The last few days I have thought of nothing else. And, as excited as I have been about my own baby, it hurts to realize that his buddy will not be there now, playing on the floor with him, not to mention the pain that seeing my baby would understandably bring to Erin and Rob. I just feel terrible, I don't know how else to describe it. My heart aches for Erin and Rob and I wish they didn't have to go through this.

I do believe however, that as hard as it is to see Henry go, he must have been a extra special spirit to be given the chance to skip this world of sorrow. I know that I will get to meet him on the other side, and I am looking forward to getting to know him, and to see all the great qualities that he must possess, firsthand. Thank goodness for the gospel, for the knowledge that families are eternal. So that we can try to take comfort in the fact that Henry is alive and well and waiting for us to join him someday.

Where's Short Round?

Who may you ask is Short Round? Well Short Round is Sam's favorite teddy bear, whom he named after a little boy in his favorite movie, yep Indiana Jones. Can you spot him? A few hours ago Sam and Emmi can inside to tell me that Emmi threw Short Round over the fence after they had been playing with him. (I really think it was Sam who threw it, but he insists it was Emmi.) Well, the 3 of us took off, looking in my neighbors unfenced yards, ( I know I should've asked first), but to no avail. Finally after showing me the exact spot where she threw it we spotted him sitting on the top of my neighbors RV. You can bet Sam and I got quite a chuckle seeing him sitting perfectly like that. With the help of a broom I was able to pull him off and the kids were happy. Good thing we found him up there before it snowed again, he would never have survived! :)After the rescue. I had to take a picture of the kids because this is truly what they were wearing when they were playing outside. Jammies and the jacket and sweater that the boys wear to church... just lovely.