Dylan's First Bath

Yay...the stump fell off! 
So, it was real bath time for Dylan!

There was no crying for this bath.  She seemed to really like it. (The space heater on the kitchen counter didn't hurt either.)

Christmas Decorations

This year, it is likely that the Christmas Tree is the only thing we will get out as far as Christmas decorations go...since the main floor of the house, and exterior still have a lot of work to be done. I'm not even sure where to hang the kids stockings, since there is no fireplace mantel and the stair railing needs to be painted still. (Any other suggestions?)

The tree is an upgrade from last year though, since all we did in the apartment last Christmas was take out our tiny two foot tree and put that up. So it was exciting for d & j to have a big tree to decorate. (By decorate I mean - clump all ornaments on one side right next to each other. Classic.)

 

 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend we went to Kalamazoo and had two Thanksgivings...one at David's parents on Thanksgiving and one at Janet's parents on Saturday.

The Great-Grandparents were also able to meet Dylan, over the weekend, for the first time. 

(Great-Grandma V met her too, but we don't have photos because Dylan was sleeping and we didn't wake her for the visit.)

Great Grandma & Grandpa K

Game of Dutch Shuffleboard at Grandma & Grandpa O's, before dinner.  (The game is about 40+ years old...but still fun!)

 

Cousins

The Cook

Cousin Katie

Cousin Jack

This was taken on my phone, and I wish it was more clear, but it is a great picture of all three at Grandma & Grandpa V's house.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are a couple things Jamie says she is thankful for.

Dylan is NOT thankful for sponge baths, because she cannot be completely submerged in nice warm water yet...due to a stubborn umbilical cord that hasn't fallen off.  She HATES it!
But...we are very thankful for her!

 

Not really related to Thanksgiving...Dawson needed to do a project this week and make a doll showing what his ancestors would have worn. 
So...this is supposed to be a dutch boy. 
I guess we could say we are thankful for our Dutch ancestors, and thankful that we do not have to wear those uncomfortable wooden shoes.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy your weekend!



70th Birthday Surprise Party

 

Last Saturday we had a surprise 70th birthday / retirement party for my Dad.  We (my siblings and Mom and I) figured that 70 is a big deal, and we never did anything for his retirement, so it was time. 
I think we actually pulled off a pretty good surprise too! (See blank/shocked face above.)  He was quite confused when he walked into church and saw family, friends and coworkers all there.



  

It was also a big day for Dylan.  A lot of family met her that night for the first time. (This is cousin Lenora and Aunt Sandy.)

Aunt Luanne

Cousin Kelsey

Candace

Aunt Julie

Here we all are, the ones that somehow managed to surprise him (with the help of his siblings too). 
Thanks everyone for coming and for making it a fun night!

Meeting Aunt Rachel, Uncle Kyle, Uncle Joel, Aunt Shontel & Cousins

This Saturday was a big day for Dylan.  She got to meet almost all of the family members that she hasn't met over the last two weeks.
Almost everyone on Janet's side was able to meet her at the big birthday party and we stopped by David's parents before the party for her to meet her aunts, uncles and cousins on his side.  Just a few more people to see over the holidays and she will have met much of our family!

Uncle Joel, Uncle Kyle, Grandma & Grandpa V, and all the kids were there too...they were just all on the run, throughout the house, playing or putting up Christmas decorations.





Staying Home Today = Fun Surprises

 Today we got a couple fun surprises delivered to us...

Joel and Shontel sent us candy from Dylan's Candy Bar...which is one of my most favorite places on earth and I want a shop like it of my own! 
The kids were very excited to have a gift that they could enjoy, rather than more baby clothes or flowers or something not for them.

Also, some flowers came today from my work, which was also nice...especially since it was snowing outside when they were delivered! 

Glow Worm

Dylan and I (Janet) ended up back in the hospital overnight this week. 
She was a bit jaundice when we left the hospital last week, but not too bad. However, it got worse throughout her first week and by Monday, when she was a week old, we were concerned, so I went to the hospital to have her checked.  Sure enough, her bilirubin level (from red blood cells) was way too high and the doctors wanted us to be admitted to the hospital right away to get the count down quickly (rather than the slower process of taking a bili blanket home and doing phototherapy off and on at home). 
She was under the fiber-optic bili lights for 24 hours and her bilirubin count went down low enough for us to go home the next day.  (Thank goodness, because she hated it...and neither of us slept much at all!)

This was hopefully the only time we have to ever see a NICU again...she was just having her blood drawn here.



It did make a pretty big difference, just in that 24 hours.



One Week Old and More Visitors

One Week Old.
*Thanks Johanna and Robert for the cute cozy cocoon! Dylan seems to love it!

Carly and Audrey have been over almost everyday to see "The cutest thing in the whole world."

Johanna (Audrey and Carly's mom...our neighbor)

Robert (Audrey and Carly's Dad...our neighbor)

Mike and Ana came too (our other neighbors)

Dawson and Dylan rest time.