What I'm Reading

Ever wonder what I am reading while you are reading our blog? Check out the newly added section to the right to see what blogs/websites I check frequently. I actually use a feed-reader (reader.google.com) which checks all these sights for me and let's me know if they have added anything to their blog. I highly recommend it. Let the websites come to you!

Trying to Sleep

Last night was our first attempt to get Andrew and Mari to share a bed. In the past they have always been at opposite sides of our bed. They stayed together until 2am last night, when I had to bring Mari up into our bed. By that time, they had switched positions and Mari was in Andrew's bed. No one was injured, which made me happy.

Snow, Finally

We finally got some snow, which Andrew has been waiting a while for. He has wanted to go sled-riding for a while now. Last year this would never have happened because he hated the cold. This year we managed to be out for about half-an-hour.


If you can't see the video, Click Here.


I am going to add some more pics from the rest of our journey to the picture section of our website.

We had an interesting weekend. Susan and I managed to get out on a date thanks to Simon and Rachel. They offered to watch the kids Saturday afternoon, so Susan and I took advantage and had some time alone.

Thanks to the snow, Sunday was spent mostly at home, cleaning, watching some football, and trying to keep the kids sane. We think that they are still a little sick, because something is not right.

Water update

I put the new element in the hot water heater, only to find out that it still wasn't working. I did some research and figured out that it was working, I just didn't know. Electric water heaters have two elements, but only one of them is on at a time. Who knew? Anyways, it turned out to be a very easy fix.

Andrew slept in a diaper last night and it was nice going to bed knowing that he wasn't going to pee on me. Instead, he woke us up at 3am because he needed to pee. This was a good thing. He won't tell us during the day when he needs to pee, so I figure any type of telling is good at this point. I took him downstairs and he peed. I thought it was time to go back to bed, but I was mistaken. He was not excited to have to lie down on the couch to get his diaper and PJ's back on, and there was some crying. This gave his cough some ammunition. So much in fact, that he had some mini-vomiting. Nothing major, but we ended up being awake for about an hour and a half. Mari slept through the whole ordeal, which was nice.

Hopefully tonight will be much more relaxing than last night.

Water

I am trying to fix our water heater. Tonight I am going to put in a new element.

We have also been sleeping hot water lately, as Andrew's bladder has suddenly stopped working. I think that the use of straws has caused an increase in liquid consumption, which no one was quite ready for.

I put up some new pics in the 2006 photo section. I also added a 2007 photo section, since it is now 2007.

We are all tired. I think that this last month of Susan's pregnancy is going to be a challenge for all of us, but I think that in the end we will all come out stronger. The dynamic will change when #3 comes, and I think right now everything is up in the air for a reason.

We made some cool pre/postnatal purchases in preparation for #3. We bought a Prenatal Cradle, a Bella Band, and a Moby Wrap. It is always fun to get some new gear. In college we used to make fun of our friend Jeff because it seemed like he was always buying a new coat. I feel like we are always getting some new type of baby moving device, whether it be a wrap, sling, carrier, or stroller.

Our birth kit, which contains all of the sterile/medical type things that we will need for our homebirth came yesterday. It was interesting to see what was in there, though it is not quite as interesting as the list of things that we need to purchase.

That's all for now.

We're Back, Again

Last night we returned to Cincinnati after spending a week in Des Moines. We headed out there the day after Christmas.

Dec 26 - Drive all Day
Dec 27 - Flat tire, play with the kids all day while we get it fixed
Dec 28 - Hang out
Dec 29 - Finally get out of the house
Dec 30 - Liess Family Christmas
Dec 31 - Party late into the night (just kidding)
Jan 01 - Hang out
Jan 02 - Head Home

That is a brief run-down of how things went. It was a fun trip. Susan got to see some of her friends. Andrew and Mari got to play with their cousins. I got to watch some football with Gary and Nate. There was even a little snow while we were there.

Now that we are back, it is time to do some work on the house. We are going to be painting the old toy/computer room and making it into a bedroom. We also brought back a new dresser from Susan's parents' house. The dresser is not really new, but it is new to us. It could use a good paint job, but I think that it will sufficiently hold #3's clothes.

I think that's all for now.

Home Run

For child #3, we are planning a home birth. It is something that we have been interested in for a while and we are ready to give it a go. Our first two births didn't go as expected, so hopefully this one will work out as planned. We have about 6 weeks to go now until the due date, so we have some serious prep work to do. Aside from getting things in order with our midwife, Tracey, we also have a serious list of supplies to start acquiring:

• 1 gallon jug of distilled water
  
• 4-6 mm. plastic sheeting at least 12"X12" Check Paint section in Wal Mart or Meijers
  
• At least 4 dark colored plastic garbage bags
  
• One set of old or used bed sheets
  
• 6 bath towels
  
• 4 washcloths
  
• 6 receiving blankets
  
• 1 small and 1 large plastic mixing bowl (these MUST be plastic because it needs to float)
  
• Plastic Rubbermaid type short stool, Needs to be waterproof
  
• Working flashlight and extra batteries
  
• Extra toilet paper, at least two 6 roll packs
  
• One citrus and one non-citrus juice
  
• Bag of ice
  
• Protein that you like that is easy to fix to eat during labor
  
• Gown or clothes after birth if necessary
  
• 1 pairs socks or booties, 1 onesie, 1 sleeper for baby
  
• 4 diapers
  
• Large cookie sheet
  
• Silver duct tape
  
• Brand new 25' hose for filling bathtub (White drinking hose or RV hose that can usually be found at Home Depot or Meijer)
  
• New long handled fish net (can be purchased at pet store)
  
• Container of Sea Salt, any grocery store
  
• Man's white tube sock
  
• Two bulbs of fresh garlic
  
• Ground coffee
  
• Bottle liquid Calcium/Magnesium
  

I am not sure what all or these supplies are to be used for, but it sure looks like fun, huh? I feel like I am about to embark on some strange adventure.