Niabi Zoo

Tuesday we went to Niabi Zoo with Kim, Drew, Emma, and our cousins from Colorado, Stacy, Katie, Taylor, and Jaycie. It was a chilly day, and was a little breezy, but it was a great day! Kaylin loved all the animals and was really good the entire day! After the zoo we went to McDonalds for supper and then to Emma's t-ball game. It was a very busy and exhausting day, but we had a great time!


Taylor and Jaycie


Jaycie and Emma



Kaylin petting the cows (she loves cows!?)


The giraffes



This lion was not happy and roared and paced
the entire time


Kim's favorite monkeys

Emma and Kaylin on the carousel

(I couldn't get very good pictures of Kaylin because she was on the inside)

Drew and Kim

The Weekend

Saturday, Courtney had softball tournaments in Maquoketa, so in between games, Jeannine, Darin and the kids came here. We ordered pizza and got Kaylin's pool set up. She didn't really get in the pool since the water was freezing, but enjoyed being outside. Later that afternoon we went to one of Courtney's game. Her team won, and even 12 run ruled the other team. That night Chad and I went out to eat and to the casino while Grandpa and Grandma Hentze watched Kaylin for a couple of hours. Needless to say, I think the casino is pointless, and I am still not happy about the $20 I lost.
Sunday, we got up and got ready to head down to Kim and Michael's for Drew's 1st Birthday party and Father's Day. The airshow was also going on, so we got to watch that, which Kaylin loved. Drew was a great little boy and he LOVED his cake.


Dawson and Kaylin


Kaylin drinking my lemonade

Courtney and Kaylin

Happy Birthday to Drew.....

Eating his cake

Aunt Jo Jo and Kaylin

My dad and me

Drew with his Godmothers

What a Week

Monday and Tuesday Kaylin and I just stayed home and tried to get some stuff done. Wednesday was Drew's 1st Birthday so we went to the Scott County Park pool with Kim, Drew, Brandon and Emma. The water was a little chilly so Kaylin just sat on the edge for awhile. Eventually she started walking through the baby pool, and even went under once. The pool now has an area where they have sprinklers, she LOVED that. Drew was an awesome baby and just played contently by Kim. After the pool I went to Davenport quick with my mom, then Kaylin and I went back to Kim and Michael's for a little bit.

Thursday: I woke up and got ready to go to my doctor's appointment and my dad also had an appointment in Dubuque that day, so we went together. Thursday is Chad's day off, so Kaylin stayed home with him. My OB appointment went okay, Dr. Mehta is pleased with my blood pressure, weight, baby's heartbeat, etc. but unfortunately, I have a stubborn baby who is laying sideways. His head is right under my right rib cage and his butt is under my left. She is going to give him 2 more weeks to turn and go head down on his own. In 2 weeks, at my 36 week appointment, if he is not head down, they may do an ultrasound to see exactly how he is laying and then they are going to attempt to manually turn him, which does not sound fun to me. If they can not get him turned, then the outcome will be a c-section.
After my appointment we went out for breakfast and then to my dad's appointment for his hernia surgery. Dr. Ott said everything looked good and the incision was healing nicely. After that we headed over to oncology. My dad has been feeling a little dizzy and lightheaded since he had chemo last week. They checked his blood pressure and it was pretty low. They did some blood work and ended up giving him IV fluids because he seemed to be a little dehydrated. They also took him off 2 of the 3 blood pressure medications he is on. It was amazing how much he perked up as soon as the fluids were done, and I am happy to report his blood pressure is staying where it should be and he is feeling better. After the appointment we headed home. Chad got ready to go work the Jackson County Rodeo, after he left, I gave Kaylin a bath and then we went to pick up Brittany, who accompanied Kaylin and I to the rodeo. We got to the rodeo, and Kaylin went and rode the pony, she was a little nervous about it, but never cried. Kaylin got to try cotton candy for the first time and also got a cowgirl hat. Kaylin was not near as interested in the rodeo as I thought she would be, instead she wanted to walk around. On the way home, Kaylin had her "bug juice" and was jabbering Brittany and my ears off. She said "uh-oh" at one point, but neither one of us looked back at her until we had gotten into Maquoketa. Here the poor child had spilled her bug juice all over her carseat.
Friday: Kaylin, Brittany, and I got up and went to Dubuque again with my dad so he could get a recheck of his blood pressure and a shot to help boost his white blood cells. We came home and Kaylin and I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things, and to pick up our new twin stroller. We came home and have just been hanging out and watching the stupid storms.


Kaylin, Drew and Kim


Kaylin


A little unsure about the pony ride

Kaylin in her cowboy hat

On the way home after she spilled her juice

Where does time go?

Wow, I hadn't realized it had been this long since I last put an entry in here. Things have been busy at our house. We finally have the living room painted and Chad, Craig and my mom started on the entry way. Dr. Mehta gave me strict instructions that I am not to be doing any painting, which is quite hard for me to sit and watch. I have been busy trying to get the baby's room ready, which I had been previously using as a makeshift storage room. Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with the stuff I had stored in there. Last week I went to chemo with my dad, and finally met his oncologist. It was quite a relaxing trip, but now that a few days have passed he is feeling pretty crappy again. This week I have a doctor's appointment and my dad has a check up for his hyrnia surgery, so we will be heading to Dubuque together again while Chad stays home with Kaylin. My last doctor's appoinment, we learned the baby was breech, so hopefully he has managed to turn himself.

Last night, Chad, Kaylin and I took garbage out and then sat in the backyard for a while. I was showing Kaylin the lightning bugs. She was quite fascinated with them until one landed on her hand and she freaked out and came running to me. Later that night, I went to put her in the tub and she had grass on her feet from her sandals(which I didn't realize right away), well when she got in the tub, the grass started floating. She stood up and started crying. She did not like the dirt and grass floating in there with her. She is so funny, and she keeps me smiling and laughing. I'm so grateful that I get to be home with her.

This Thursday Chad has to work the rodeo in Bellevue, so I'm going to take Kaylin to it. It should be interesting. Friday and Saturday should be a pretty calm day, and then Sunday is Father's Day and Drew's 1st birthday party.


Very interested in teeth


32 Weeks

Our Week

Memorial Day, Chad had to work until 5, so Kaylin and I went to my mom and dad's before heading to a graduation party. We only ended up staying at the graduation party for a little bit because we wanted to get home and spend the rest of the Memorial Day with Chad. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we spent at home, due to crappy weather. Thursday morning I had my doctor's appointment. She is very happy with the way the pregnancy is progressing, my glucose test came back fine, and my iron level is excellent. My belly is measuring right on schedule and the baby's heartrate was 145. The baby is, however, in a breech postion. She said she is not too concerned about it right now since I have about 6-9 more weeks to go anyway, so hopefully he will turn himself around. Thursday night we went to Texas Roadhouse with mom, dad, Julie, Craig, Alishia, Steven, Jenna, Jolene, Brandon, Brandon, Danica, Curtis, and Alishia's friend Robyn to celebrate Julie and Alishia's birthday, and to say an emotional good-bye to Alishia. Friday was a pretty relaxing day, Kaylin and I went grocery shopping in the evening and then hung out at night waiting for Chad to get home. Saturday morning I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to call my sister Julie to make sure Alishia made it out okay. I was happy to receive a text from Alishia at about 9 saying she had made it to Texas. Saturday afternoon, my mom and dad and nephew Dawson came up to start painting my living room, we grilled out steaks and had shrimp, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob. Sunday morning my mom came up to continue painting, and then we went to Justin's birthday party that night. After Justin's party we came home and Kaylin started "painting" the living room too.



Kaylin reading a magazine on the toilet
at Grandpa and Grandma's house


Kaylin taking a bubble bath

Julie on the saddle at Texas Roadhouse for her birthday

Kaylin "painting"

Playing Catch Up

Our weeks haven't really been too eventful since I lasted posted. Last week, Kaylin and I went to the car wash. Kaylin has never been through one because usually when I go, she is home with Chad. She started out fine, but when it switched to full wash, she was a little scared when it would pass by her side. I was trying to make it a game, so she was half crying half laughing. We had our weekly playdate with Kim and Drew last week. Kim had gone to the Eldridge garage sales and gotten Kaylin a few things. She got her a little couch and chair, a winter coat, a shopping cart and a riding toy. Kaylin and Drew have so much fun together and always seem to smile and laugh when they are together, although I will admit my child is a little bossy and yells "DEW" when he is doing something she doesn't want him to do.

My dad had his first round of the stronger chemo last Tuesday, and he has not been doing the greatest. He is very weak and had trouble eating a couple days, he seems to be getting a little better. We continue to be strong for him and we always appreciate extra prayers!!!!

The baby is still very active, and I am getting to the point that I struggle to sleep at night. He really gets kicking and moving when Kaylin throws a tantrum, and she will push on my stomach and he will kick back, the sibling rivalry begins already.

This week brings a doctor's appointment on Thursday, and saying good-bye to my niece Alishia as she heads off to Japan for the summer for Camp Adventure.

Here are a few photos of our past couple weeks:


Kaylin in the car waiting for the car wash

"Dew"

Drew wants that dog but......

Kaylin doesn't think so

Kaylin trying to give Drew kisses, but Drew is trying

to get away as fast as he can

Kim trying to get Kaylin to take a nap

Bella and Kaylin on the couch Kim got her

Landscaping

Chad and I worked on our landscaping yesterday, this is a project we have been wanting to do since we moved in and never got around to it. We have a wrap around deck at our house, so we put a gate in front of the steps and Kaylin got to run the deck. She of course managed to get dirtier than Chad and me. I feel really accomplished and I am so happy with the way things turned out.


My bike planter



Kaylin practicing jumping



The front

Our little "orphan"