Hello, everyone! What a busy last few months it has been :) Since last post, Ethan, John, and Lucie have celebrated birthdays. We've celebrated John's sister's (Niki) wedding, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as begun our second round of Michigan winters. It's hard to believe that 2010 is here...it seems not very long ago at all, we were nonstop talking about computers crashing and stocking up on water--now 10 years later!
John just finished up another month in the ER, which is where he likes it best (good thing!). He got to have Christmas Day off and the weekend before, so we went to Missouri to see the family. That was really great, because we didn't think we'd have that chance this year, with John having an ER month. So we got to have Christmas with our family back home and with our own little family here in Grand Rapids. Both went really well...the kids had way too much fun opening presents. Lucie baked cookies and muffins for Santa and his reindeer (Santa asked for cupcakes when she was on his lap!) Ethan didn't take long before he got the idea of the whole unwrapping presents and really enjoyed tearing.
Lucie is doing really well--she continues to grow and learn at a ridiculously rapid pace. She really enjoys playing princess, baby dolls, getting married, games, and helping Mommy around the house. She loves getting together with her friends and is very silly with them. She's a pretty good big sister to Ethan, always (at least in her heart) to make her little brother happy. Sometimes, however, that doesn't happen, as Ethan likes to get into her things and always be doing what big sister is doing. Lucie had her first Christmas program this year at church. She sang one song, Jesus Loves Me, which was enough to melt Mom's heart. She sang as loud as she could...American Idol, look out!
Ethan is now fifteen months old. He is walking and getting into everything...a very active child! He loves cars/trucks and balls. It's hard to get him to set down for any book unless it has something to do with cars/trucks. His vices are stairs and dog food...he just can't stay away from them! He's always pointing and saying "Dadada!" with lots of meaning behind it, like he really wants us to know what he is saying. So he is not saying much, but trying to. He does sign for milk and more. He still does not eat well, but so far nothing has told us why. We are thinking he is just a very stubborn and picky eater. He had a scope done on his throat, stomach, and intestine, which all came out normal, except for a fungal infection (esophageal thrush) in his throat. It's being treated with an antifungal medication, which gives him yucky diarrhea. He is a little tike (only about 19 lbs at 15 months!), but makes up for it in spirit. Ethan does have an appt with an endocrinologist in February to do growth hormone testing, as he did have a low growth hormone level, but it's too soon to tell anything about that, as nutrition can also play a role in that. We will keep you posted.
We've been enjoying winter in Michigan--sledding, building snowmen, and, er, shoveling. It's not been nearly as bad this year as last year...last year, I think, was the fourth snowiest winter ever. Ethan doesn't seem so keen on the snow, but it seems like we got out closer to nap time, so maybe he is just tired and cranky. Lucie really enjoyed sledding down a pretty fast hill behind a school at the end of our road and building a 6ft tall snowman with her Daddy that she named "Abby." She also enjoys painting and eating the snow.
I have been staying busy taking care of the kids, I guess. We spend our time going to library programs, playgroups, the Children's Museum, bible studies, etc. I also am volunteering as a craft leader with GEMS at our church, in which I prepare crafts for kids (grades 3-6) to make. I am enjoying getting to know the girls in that and getting some time outside of the house a little bit. It's about 2 hours every other week. I try to get out with friends every so often, but it's hard with John's schedule, and usually if he is home, I like to try to spend some time with him. John and I get to go on dates every once in a while, so we are grateful when we do get out. We are looking forward to serving on a medical mission trip in February in the Dominican Republic. It will be an awesome opportunity to serve our Lord and see amazing work being done. Lucie and Ethan will stay in Missouri while we are gone. I am praying that I will be strong during the trip...it will be such a long time away from them. We will write more about the trip when we return in late February.
Hope all is well with everyone and that your 2010 is staring out splendiferous (that's fancy for super...Lucie likes Fancy Nancy books)!
