Siblings

Our Babies

YEAH... we're all home :). Henry got discharged today around 11 so we were on our way ASAP to pickup our cute son. Here the first picture again without anything attached to him... how wonderful this was.On the road! He barely fits in the car seat! I can't remember Zoe being this tiny and she was smaller at birth!!!
Settled in at home sweet home:
Unfortunately Zoe got sick... uncool moment she chose since she's always very cranky and feels miserable when she's sick. She didn't take it that well that she has a brother now. She likes him being in the travel bed but when he's breast feeding... very uncool... or when I'm holding him... urgh... could be better. Even though I spent more time with her today than with Henry! Funny... well, she has to deal with it. I managed it pretty well with two so far. I'm trying to fit everything into a schedule and have Henry getting used to 'our' timing. It worked out great today... let's see how tomorrow goes. Now since Zoe is in bed I finally enjoy some time with Henry in my arms... we need to catch up on some snuggle time that's for sure. Zoe will be better I'm very sure... just unfortunate that she's sick now. Zoe and Grandma

She just loves the flash light:Grandma and her grandkids:

Special Care Unit

Here another picture of our little peanut.

Well, things took a total change after 2PM on TUE. I couldn't talk to anybody without crying like a Sissy so here is the story now that I feel stronger and better. Since Henry wasn't breathing so easy (his nose was very stuffy) they wanted to take x-ray's of his chest, check all kinds of blood stuff, give him antibiotics since I couldn't get them during delivery (I was too fast)... They took him away from me to the 'Special Care Unit'!!! Out of my room, out of my sight... I broke down as you can imagine. I need my babies with me not somewhere else with somebody else! They hooked him up to all kinds of stuff, IV in his head, cables attached to him via sticker and around his feet and hand... I don't even wanna take pictures. He's getting cuter every day and he's sooo content and calm with all this going on. I went to him for the feedings and of course they discharged me yesterday around lunch but Henry had to stay there for another day until the test results of the bacteria comes back! I can tell you... in the hospital I couldn't sleep at all, I was emotionally so drained that I was shiffering all night, I was feeling so sick that I wanted to throw up and there was no energy left in me at all nor could I eat anything without feeling sick. So I went from one extreme of happiness and awesome feeling into this emotionally drained and no energy within a couple of hrs!!! Add the hormones!!! I was/ am a MESS!!!

I had to get home to get sleep and be with Frank and Zoe. I knew Henry was doing good there but it was freaking hard leaving him there. So today in the AM they'll get the test results and since the first reading (after 24hrs) came back negative the chances the second one (after 48hrs) comes back positive only in 1% cases. So he should be ready to go TODAY :)... I can't wait... I'm overly thrilled having him with us today. I don't ever wanna have to go through this ever again! And in his little age they gave him already antibiotics but on the other hand also his breathing very much improved and the antibiotics could've also helped with clearing his nose up or just the saline drops! It's a pain when you have no control over your baby whatsoever and people just make decisions for you!

So that's the latest update from us... sorry if I wasn't picking up any phone calls or didn't respond to any messages/ emails or inform you earlier... I just couldn't talk to anybody and needed to get my act together. Now I hope you all wish us luck that Henry comes back today the earliest possible! :)

He's the cutest thing ever and PAPS :)... he has BOTH your dimples :)... too cute!!!

Oh, and even my talk to him 'not' peeing on me while changing his diapers he ignored... he totally did pee yesterday while I was changing his diaper! Urgh! Boys!!! Well, he mostly got himself wet but man... I told him not to do such a thing!

Now I'm enjoying my first breakfast again without feeling sick, I had a good night sleep for the first time after delivery and hope that tonight we'll be here home with all 4 of us. Updates will follow... once everything is back to normal you can count on many updates again and I'll be able to talk like normal being overly happy with our two kiddos home :).

Henry Michael is here

Our little bundle of joy arrived! Henry Michael, healthy little boy came with 8lbs 9oz (3900 Gramm) and 20.75 inch (52.7 cm) at 732PM to us. The birth story is very short and sweet... here we go:

Last night I felt contractions (SUN night) for a couple of hrs but then they went away and I could finally go to sleep at 1AM. In the morning (MON) I got up like normal, started working nothing happened but I kind of took it easy once Zoe was up and completed packing my bag and also Zoe's bag, JUST IN CASE...

Around lunch (Zoe just started taking her nap) I started having contractions again but just minor again but to a point where I felt not very comfortable going to music class by myself so I asked Frank if he could go with Zoe so she has at least the fun and gets out the house. Frank didn't wanna leave me home alone so we all went together and had a great time. (Contractions were still going but barely noticeable)... we're driving home and I was just tracking the contractions for fun and Frank got a little worried since they were kind of close together. So we were thinking what we should do? Bring Zoe to her friends' house so everybody can get a good night's rest (JUST in case something is going to happen overnight)? Or just wait it out?

By the time we arrived at home, the contractions were stronger that we decided Zoe has to go over to Janos' right now... that was a GREAT idea...

While Frank dropped off Zoe and I was finishing up work, taking a soak in the bathtub... the contractions were scary close and by the time Frank got home, he wanted to leave for the hospital RIGHT AWAY... but of course with me as his wife... it was more comfortable on the bathroom floor than 'thinking' about going downstairs into the car, car ride to the hospital for 30 min... urgh... well... he had to dress me and we finally were on the road. The contractions were already 3 min apart and strong... Frank flew over the interstate like a maniac, I wasn't happy about that 'bumpy' ride at all and today I finally also complained about the michigan streets *lol*... coming into the hospital, we checked in at 705PM... they let me sit in front of the triage (the room where you can evaluated if you're ready to deliver or false alarm) for at least 3 contractions until I screamed: 'Could somebody please help me here???' Frank of course wasn't allowed in that track (AGAIN *URGH*) so I saw a midwife I knew back from Zoe's visits and said: Please get me checked out!!!

They finally got the room ready for me moved me onto the bed... my water broke right then and there... they had to undress me and check... I was READY to push! Everything went so fast... of course I wasn't allowed to push yet and they moved me over to a rolling bed (again) and ran me over into the delivery room as fast as they could (again)... I had to move onto the other bed and PUSH! Didn't take long and there was Henry!

He's so cute!!! Healthy and calm, drinks good. I'm up and ready to go around already just very tired and exhausted... it went all sooo quick that I still need some time to 'realize' it all.

Frank went back home and is having a good night sleep and will pick up Zoe tomorrow morning, come over so we can introduce the siblings and then he'll pick up his mom from the airport around lunch and then they'll be back here :).

Enjoy some pics... I'll do more later/ tomorrow... he has to stabilize his temperature since he's a little low on the temperature right now. Other than that he's great. I just love being a mom :)

He wasn't soo happy about all the flashlight ;)... in natura he looks of course so much cuter. Can't wait to show Zoe her little brother. Now I'm waiting until they're done with all their testing etc. because I'm not willing to go to sleep and they wake me up again in the middle of the night because of some testing.

39 weeks

One more week to go until due date! Well, that doesn't mean anything really... it's just an estimate what 'could' be the date but I bet it won't ;)... so don't stress out, relax behind your monitors and wait for news whenever they come ;).

I promised myself not to stress out this time around. He comes when he's ready. On Monday Night I was feeling contractions already and I told him that I'm way too busy this week that he can't come now. Monday was a crazy day! Not only the contractions threw me off... also our HR dept. at work! I got a mail from our HR lady asking me when my last day would be!!! I was very surprised by this email since I told my boss already that I'm going to take one week off (20hrs) and just adjust that by going back to work right away with less hrs a day and just work less hrs a day until my 'vacation time' is used up. Well... apparently I can't do that! I would've liked if I got the news a little earlier but lucky enough I got it right on time just before Sandra (my friend and coworker) flew in to get training on some of my work just in case something goes wrong and I'd HAVE to take personal leave. We wanna be prepared, right?

Well... now I basically have to handover my stuff completely and I can come back to work when my midwife releases me! I was very shocked and also very happy at the same time. Somebody told me to TAKE OFF *lol*... yeah, I guess I needed that and I'm very looking forward to the time off the work keyboard. I know it's just gonna be harder to go back to work after my time off but I'll enjoy every single day I don't have to work as well and hopefully the transition back to work won't be as crazy as last time. This time I know 'how to' prepare :). Oh that's gonna be fun fun fun :). I'm def. take the kids and make a road trip to Chicago visiting my friends. I haven't met our new addition Lena and Skylar I also have only seen once... we need to have a Girls WE again SOON :).

Needless to say, this week I'm out and about... barely home. So much fun here... so since this week was so crazy busy, I hope Henry stays inside until at least next week so I have the WE to relax a little.

Unreal!!!

I'm just saying... it's unreal that our due date is only 12 days away!!! Where did the pregnancy go? It went by so crazy fast :(... Yesterday's checkup was great. Blood Pressure was 100/80! We're all very amazed that it's so great this pregnancy while it was a little on the higher end with Zoe's pregnancy. And Henry's heartbeat... amazing... he was sooo excited :)... sooo cute. He's getting so big, you can feel his legs/ feet through my belly... it's pretty fun. I feel him all the time and 'play' with him.

Well, yesterday night I was meeting with some Ladies in our neighborhood, we're going to plan a party in the park we have here :). Since I'm the Director for Social and Communications I have some duties to full fill :). And I'm loving it :)...

We're going to do a fall theme on Oct 23rd. That way I'm totally gonna be able to join *happy*... first we wanted to do a Halloween theme but I know that some people are having problems with these themes due to religion so we changed it to a fall/ harvest theme with costumes who'd like to dress up (since the party will be the weekend before Halloween). We're going to have a costume contest as well for the 'scariest', the 'cutest', the 'best', the 'most creative' and the 'funniest' costume :). Even a heyride we'll do with a 4-wheeler + flat bret trailer where we just stack some hey on it so the kids can take a ride on it in the neighborhood. Our ideas just went away with us and we're so excited about this event and hope that our neighbors will love it as much as we will. So... now I have to think of some costumes for Zoe and Henry :). Suggestions please. Zoe went as a pumpkin last time, it was pretty cute. I thought to dress Henry as a pumpkin this time but he'll still be very tiny! Maybe I should just 'dress up' his stroller and leave him bundled up in the stroller. He'll probably just sleep through the whole party but Zoe will totally enjoy all the action and games :). Oh I can't wait for the party :). This afternoon I'll go shopping and get some pricing on some items so we can put together how much money we'll need. FUN

I tell you, I know soooo many people here. I get calls from neighbors if I'm doing fine (because they haven't seen any movements in our house even though we're out and about lots but all schedules are different and they might've missed us every time we're adventuring) and two groups of people already offered to provide me food for some days after I come home from the hospital so I won't have to take care of making dishes (it's very nice, they do that here and sign up for a couple of days everybody chips in and just drops off a dish for the newly parents). I'm getting soooo much love here, it's almost overwhelming. I even went to a restaurant in Ann Arbor on WED and I ran into a friend of mine! Can you imagine? In Chicago I've never had this experience and I also thought I will never have that here in the USA in general. But I'm starting to run into people everywhere that I know!!! It's sooooo cool. I'm so at 'HOME' here.

So if anybody has issues or problems meeting people, let me know I seem to be having no problems at all with that ;).

Oh! Time to prepare lunch... Zoe also thinks that that is a good idea... she's getting hungry for pasta *lol*

Shopping!

Note to self: Don't go shopping with a hungry toddler *lol*

This, I tell myself every time... and every time again I have to open up cheese sticks or today it was bread so she can snack on it!!! Oh my... and funny enough she wants me to buckle her up, isn't that nice? She's such a good kid. She also always has to say 'Hi' to the fishes in the aquarium for sale :)... she loves them! And she KNOWS that they're in there *lol*...

38 weeks

Here we are at 38 weeks... 2-3 more weeks! (That's my thinking)... I need to work on my posture (Haltung) very badly!!! I look like a crazy 'S'... it's a wonder, I haven't fallen over with this big unbalanced weight yet *lol*. Tomorrow I'll visit my midwife again... sooo looking forward to it :).

Little Adventure Girl

Zoe is so creative and wants to explore all the time...I started going to 'story time' at the library, it's for free, we sing songs and they read books for 30 min and then the kids can play for 30 min. Zoe is still a little shy during the reading time but she enjoys it. When all the toys come out, she's totally in the crowd and the nice thing is that I can just sit on the side and keep an eye on her... I don't have to worry about her hurting anybody or taking stuff away from other kids. She's just playing with what is available to her and interacts with other kids in a very nice way. I love her sooo much. She's the second kid from the left if you haven't found her yet ;).
Although... as soon as somebody leaves the door open... Zoe is running for it... she loves to explore the area and I guess likes it when her pregnant mommy is running after her *lol*... you can't keep your eyes off her for a minute... it's gonna be challenging when Henry comes! Oh Oh... but I hope Zoe will understand the change and that she can't just run away anymore... we'll see, maybe I can get through to her and she'll understand, she's so clever... she just have to understand ;).

More Belly pics

Very relaxed about birth and freaking out about work

Hihi, if that doesn't say it all :).

Well as most of the people around me are anxious and asking me daily how I feel and if I think he comes early... I'm as relaxed as can be!!! No, I don't think he comes early and well I hope he doesn't stay all the way to 41 weeks either ;)... so he has one week that I wish he comes. Pregnancy is going very well. Bending down is kind of hard now, getting the socks on, putting on shoes, getting into the pans. Light back pain after I get up... but nothing major that I'm like: 'GET HIM OUT OF THERE'... I can still do anything I need to do. I just can't imagine how much of an energy boost I might get when I get rid of this monster belly and hopefully my old figure back quick. I'm constantly running that I really don't know anymore how to just sit down and relax... I can't even watch TV anymore without doing laundry besides it or do this and that... I'm not even interested in it anymore.

So yesterday I finally started packing my hospital bag (while Frank and Zoe went to Walmart for a quick shopping trip! It was SOOO quiet in here)... it was so unreal to pack these tiny blue clothes in the bag!!! Of course I only packed stuff for Henry *lol*... I have just limited stuff to wear anyways and they make you wear these stupid night gowns in the hospital anyways! But I'm gonna continue packing eventually... As soon as I feel like it I'm gonna be a dressed person in the hospital of course! I'm probably gonna be bored in there... I bring my lappi and work lappi... so I'll be busy while Henry sleeps ;).

Yeah, of course the only thing worries me here is my work! Maybe it was just the last week but Zoe did get up earlier and nap time only was an hour lately where I can't get anything done really! Straighten out the kitchen from lunch, clean up here and there and by the time I sit down reading emails... you can already get ready for an afternoon with kiddo! That's not gonna work! So there are only three options... hiring somebody to come in and watch the kids while I work... which I'm TOTALLY against it. I could work at night when the kids are in bed 8-midnight. Awesome time since I'll be done by then after a day with the kids. Or working 20 hrs on the WE while Frank has the kids. I don't think I would be able to work 10 hrs straight anymore! I lean towards the 8-midnight shift now since I can't rely on Frank being home every night due to him traveling more with his new job. The good thing about that though is... I can basically be out and about all day :)... since I don't have to be on my rigid schedule anymore. Might not be as good for the kids since Zoe is pretty much programmed *lol*... but I can just get out and don't worry about being home for nap time or make sure lunch is ready in time etc. so I can get my work in... but therefore I have to stay up till midnight. Well, I might try it next week and see how it goes for me. I just hate getting stressed out about getting my hrs in and it really does stress me out if I can't! Well... let me see how I get it done... I will get it done somehow... many women have done it and still do it. Plus it would actually be better for the kids to be out and about more to have more social interaction. We're out at least once a day but we can do more of course.

Ok... oh... nice... It's almost 8, Zoe's 'normal' get up time. Maybe she's back into her normal routine, that would be very lovely. Everything works out somehow ;)... I'm so curious to see the two together. I bet Zoe will be such a great big sister, she's already so caring and loving with other kids... never harms them she's more giving than anybody I've seen she's playing with. She'll nurture her brother to death I'm sure!!!

Why it's so great to have a midwife

Well, yesterday (not to forget about the little guy...) I went to the midwife and surprisingly Jenny wasn't there but Sam. So first thing Sam told me that she got a text this morning from Jenny to tell me how sorry she is to miss me... she misses me. *oooohhhhh* :)... she's sooo cute... Sam wanted to trade shifts with her because of that she would be sure to leave work in time in order to get out and to the airport for a flight to Chicago for a birth expo thing.

Well, I had a great chat with Sam as well, she's a fun lady too. Of course Mr. Henry is doing great. Blood pressure is excellent and he fells on the small side of the scale Sam said :). It's amazing what midwifes can feel through the belly!!! That's why I love being with a midwife... no big deal with every little thing and everything is just so natural *LOVE IT*... Sam said she thinks it's gonna be a 6-7lbs baby at birth. I told her Zoe's weight at birth (which was 7lbs and 13oz) and she said definitely smaller :)... I was thrilled to hear that. And again this week I didn't gain any weight :)... That made me even more happier :). Well, Frank and his brothers' were all smaller at birth than Zoe as well ;). It's gonna be an amazing birth, I tell you :). I'm so looking forward to it.

So and at night I had a board meeting (all men and me)... man was that great to meet with adults without kid around :)... I really miss that sometimes but when I'm home and think about not being there when she's getting bed ready I already miss that time... it's so funny what motherhood does to you! So I wouldn't trade anything for that but it's nice that I have the opportunity every now and then to get back into business life :). Well... Jenny's husband Bryon was invited to our board meeting to speak about something (he's an attorney) and on the way he caught me and told me to say "Hi" from Jenny again and that she's so sorry to miss me this morning... OMG!!! Isn't she amazing? I'm surrounded by such great people here *in love*... I just love living here and am such a happy and also lucky person how everything works out for us always in all situations.

Ok, enough reports on us... gotta work... send you all a happy big smile, may your day be as wonderful as ours :).

Dancing Queen

I'm shocked! So I just uploaded this video from yesterday and saw that I didn't make any movie in August!!! Oh my... again... before delivery there is soooo much going on that I don't get anything done here. I remember it being very busy before Zoe came as well. Well, lucky enough I'm done with all the preps for his arrival! Can you imagine?

Here we have a little movie from Ms. Sunshine dancing and trying to sing (she's not hitting the notes at all!!! That part she definitely doesn't have from me *lol*)

Yesterday morning I had another Frank moment with her... she woke up way earlier than normal and brummeling in her crib for 40 min (that's normal)... so I went and wanted to get her... yeah... no... she was playing around with me, turning around in bed... cuddling with this and that... no way she would let me pick her up (and my belly is too big that I can't get her from everywhere in her bed anymore)... well... I said: If you don't wanna get up I'll go downstairs (and note: She was an in excellent mood)... 10 min later she made known she wants to get out now... I got back upstairs got her and she's in a hell of a mood!!! URGH... Zoe and Frank just don't wanna get out of bed!!! The two are very similar but the cutest things ever ;)... of course the two are still sleeping right now deep in 'lala land' while mommy is fresh up and already working and running around *lol*... HENRY, I need some company ;)

37 weeks - FULL TERM

Today we reached FULL TERM, which means anytime from now to 2 weeks after Due Date is ok for Henry to come. Well... my hormones are going crazy already and I'm pretty much done getting bigger as well... he's already so big that my belly is so firm and tight... urgh... there is not much more room to grow, Henry, LISTEN PLEASE!!! Not any bigger!!!

Zoe's naptime got shortened an hour which totally stresses me out with my work, very uncool :(... well... night shifts and WE shifts are gonna be normal now :(.

Photo Shoot - 36 weeks pregnant

These are just a few shots from our shooting this morning on the Beach. We had so much fun and it was a great session at sunrise and a much more successful turnout as you can see! I'm blown away!!! Well if Henry isn't living in the sexiest apartment right now... ;)

Very Happy Ladies

Today Zoe was in the car for the first time and she LOVES it!!! Here some pics:My Cockpit :)... everything you can think of is in there! Amazing... I slowly learn one thing after the other... today I made my first handsfree call *lol*... so cool cool cool
My little sunshine, now she prefers to sit without a car seat!!! urgh!!! This Girl is just crazy
She loved the flash:
Not such a good picture... I was too lazy to bring it out in front of the garage and take shots... I should've... but I had only that much time with Zoe still being up...
Backup Camera with three different views and parking help even in the front !!! NICE... I totally forgot about that and was very surprised when it started peeping when I drove into the garage the first time *lol*
I think I have enough space now *lol*... I just LOVE this car. I loaded it up already with all the equipment a mom needs... besides my 'shopping stroller'... Frank is waiting on me removing it out of the garage *lol*...
Anything weird? What do you think? White Acura, White Honda, White Harley!!! I'm very glad we chose a white Honda actually... Frank of course wanted a white one... and since I picked the model + interior. I was ok with a white car and I totally love it... but now our garage is so 'plain'! We need some color on the walls now!!! You know, even though our house is still plain in regards of decoration and our cars now look plain as well... we're such a colorful couple... I'm always very amazed what we pull off together, how well we fit together and how different we are from other couples. I'm just so glad we've met when we met... we are living such a colorful, happy and great life together and there is always something going on... it never gets boring with us *lol*... you should've seen us yesterday night!!! Ready for a laugh?

Ok, so Frank leaves to get a bottle of coke (being said, I wasn't craving coke... my hubby was) with his car even though I tried talking him into driving the new van he wanted to take his car... ok... about half an hour/hour later he comes back, rushes in the door and says: 'I need you, you're better with this... I messed up my car!!!'

My jaw drops... I'm thinking he was in an accident!!! I'm like: 'What's going on, What happened?'

Frank: 'Come out, I need you in the garage, I really need your help'

So pregnant Lady gets of the comfortable couch, rushes into garage... his car still running... he was stuck on the side of the garage door!!! He wasn't careful enough backing in and kind of miscalculated the distance to the sides until he thought: 'Man, I have way too much room on that one side...' well... YEAH... the other one is touching the garage!!!

So how to get it out of this mess??? Of course we both were thinking different in how to 'unstuck' the car with the least amount of damage. So here we are thinking and debating which turn makes the less damage... until I said: 'Why don't we use your new motorcycle jack, jacking up the back of the car... pushing it over, drop it and you're free to go....'

'Good idea' my hubby says and off we go... jack under the car, pump pump pump... until finally the tires lift from the floor. But then we couldn't push it because the jack wasn't moving sideways in the front! Oh man, we didn't think that one through all the way...

Ok... so I said: 'Why don't you release it very slowly and I push it over so the tires can hopefully touch down a little away so we kind of trick the system'... said and done... gave us a few mm and we got it out without big damage. The few scratches Frank can probably polish away.

And this is one normal WED night in our house... there is always here and there something funny if somebody would see us... oh my!!! *lol* By the way... Frank was very angry about the sales rep who sold him the coke!!! Well... next time this won't happen again I can tell you that... anger to the side when parking the car please ;).

Ok, hope you enjoyed the story as I'm still smiling about it... I was sooo shocked but inside I was laughing how funny situations we find ourselves in sometimes.

The van is very long... I have to really park close to the wall in order to open up the trunk (which also happens with a push of a button.... I tell you... high-tech!!!)
Well, Zoe wasn't done having pictures taken as soon as she saw me walking around with the camera... here some more shots of Ms Cutiepie who's actually sick right now with a runny nose and she just ran against the fridge full speed!!! Therefore the bump on her head but she's happy anyways!