Sara's Surgical update

Hi,
I just wanted to send an update on the surgry that i had last week. I had my follow-up The pain i had been having was actually a very large cyst. I also had a spot that was biopsyed from the back of my uterus, that turned out to just be fluid filled sac, nothing to worry about. Everything looks great. and hopefully be ready to think about getting pregnant in a few months.

Parent's night out

Hi !!

On Saturday night March 29, 2008 Josh and I went to Grand Rapids to Notos Italian Restaurant. Josh had his yearly "big bash" for work. Every year the corporation throws a big party for the employees as an appreciation for their hard work. I have been looking forward to this scince I began my weightloss journey. I went out and bought a new dress and shoes. Josh went out a bought new clothes as well.( doesn't he look hot!!!) We had Grandma babysit and we left around six and stayed out till 11:30!! that is late for us!! We had a blast, the food was incredible, for dinner we had a live Jazz band and after dinner another band that played the rest of the night. I was able to meet the people josh spends his working hours with. It was a great night. And i must admit, I did not call home once. I have posted a couple pre-party pictures. Enjoy!!

Spring Fever!!

Hello friends and family,
Here is another update on the troast family, what we have been doing and what laine is up to these days.

Elaine Kathryn Troast... Is 15 months old, that still blows my mind that she is so big. She had her check-up at the doctor last week. her weight is 22.5 and 31 1/2 inches long. Nothing new medicaly with her. She is doing very well. She is still crossing her eyes, but the opthamologist is watching her closly. other than that she is doing very well. She is walking all over, its so much fun to watch as she is now attempting to try and run :) she can say mamma, daddy, doggy and mumbles the rest of the time. She is a very busy little girl, she is really enjoying books,playing with balls, and playing with her toys. She recently got a Dora chair to sit in,she thinks she is pretty tough stuff. Now that the weather is getting warmer we have been spending some time outside, she loves pushing her bike and going after norman.

Joshua Peter Troast... He remaines the same. nothing has changed with him. He is still enjoying his job and the ladies all love him!! He has been working out at home with the Total Gym..( he is still trying to lose his baby fat too ;) Josh, is enjoying the role of Daddy. Laine completly adores him. The second is walks in her eyes are on him. Its so much fun to sneak a peak at him when he is giving her a bath or a bottle and bed time story. He does so well with her. He wont admit it but i think he wants another one.

Sara Lynae Troast.... Im done with medical weight loss, I had to stop early because we found out the food I have to buy from them was giving my severe migraines, but... I did lose 27 lbs and 13 inches!!!!!! I cannot believe that!!!!! Iam into all my pre- pregnancy clothes. its feels so good to be healthy again. Im still trying to find what works for me ,to lose the last 10 pounds or so. If anyone has any suggestions... let me know. I have been so busy with laine, she is so much fun!! She does so many funny things and she keeps me on my toes. Its so much fun to be at home, I love the many mommy moments. On Monday 10th, just her and I went to Bob Evans for lunch, we took our time and just enjoyed the moment, she took a bit of a crayon, drank her milk from a straw and we ate burgers. she walked all the way to to car,slow and steady stopping to look at everything along the way. I learned that day that life is full of wonder and excitement, just take your time... little wonders are everywhere, just look dont step on them,clothes can be washed, dishes can really sit for a while in the sink, but your kids grow up right before your eyes. Enjoy the moment.

Fourteen Months Old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you Belive it!! Time flies by so fast. Laine will be 14 months old tommorow! Life sure has changed. She keeps us so very busy. Elaine had another check up this week at the Gerber Center for Infant Development In Grand Rapids. Her Doctor was so impressed with her, both developmentaly and physically. She passed her hearing test, despit the inherited ear wax problem :) She weighs 22 lbs, 30 1/2 inches long and is starting to walk. She does have to go back to her pediatric eye doctor a bit early because she is still crossing her eyes, and she has one eye that tends to stray a bit. Other than her eyes she got another A+ from the doctor. She has to go back in October to have more testing, this time a whole psycological work up, they will make sure that everything is fine inside the ol'noggin.
Elaine has learned how to climb down the stairs by herself. so all day its up and down, up and down. She enjoys going to play groups, playing in the snow, coloring and painting. She makes frequent visits to Your Plate or Mine, in the mall.. her area of interest is coffee mugs. She loves to paint. She has been so much fun!!
Josh is doing fine... he keeps busy at work. He has been home sick this week with a high fever and a terrible cough, he is finally on the mend. Luckly mom and laine have not caught it yet... lsyol spray(on everything josh touches) and vitamin C to the rescue!! Josh is still involved with high school youth group,and basket ball on tuesdays.
Sara.... well not much happening with me... Keeping very busy with laine and norman. I have been working very hard at losing all the pregnancy weight and then some. I made it to 22 pounds and only twenty more!! Thanks to medical weight loss clinic, exercise, and the newly learned self control. :) Im in the home stretch.
P.S. anyone want a two bedroom condo?? its still for sale..
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elaine's Second Christmas

Hello again.... Sorry this christmas post is so late. Life has been so busy... everyone was sick for what seemed like weeks on end. ear infections, colds, etc.... finally this week we have been healthy. Christmas was so much fun this year, we had laine with us and it was such a blessing. Christmas was a busy week, on Dec 23 we had christmas with Grandma Gladys, aunt lisa and Mr. Jon(lisas sig. other) Laine received many presents and had ham dinner and twiced baked potatoes. Christmas eve was spent with just mommy and daddy and norman. We took Grandma with us to church, what an event when there is no nursery. Needless to say we used the food to keep you quiet trick... sugar cookies last a while and keep them quiet. We came home and opned presents as a family. We had some special family moments. On Christmas Day we went to Grandpa Johns, laine had so much fun opening presents and spending time with friends and family!! At the end of the week Uncle Mark and Aunt Flora came from Arizona. We had christmas with the troast family and every one spent the night at home like one big family. I got up very early and made homemade cinnamon rolls, about three hours later everyone woke up to an ooy, gooy breakfast!! Laine had so much fun!!!!! I think the best part for me was sitting back and taking it all in... last year I had to sit and open her presents because she was not there, that was emotional... and then to sit with a cup of coffee and watch her crawling all over grandpa and grandma T's house and getting into Aunt Lindseys laundry, pulling on the tree ornaments and spending time with family. I know I speak for josh when I say that God is amazing!! He gave us an amazingly strong and determined little girl, and through everything this past year I realize he has also given our family the gift of true faith, and understanding of the power of prayer and paitence, along with learning to trust, and rely only on the power of God and nothing eles. It is a honor to be given children, and an honor to raise them. And as a family we are forever gratful for this experience.

Lainey's Birthday

We are happy to announce that Lainey has made it through her first year. Quite a start. On December 9 Lainey turned one year old. To celebrate we threw a birthday party on December 8 at Grandma and Grandpa Troast's house. Lots of friends and family came to celebrate with us. Lainey recieved lots of cool gifts and she has already figured out how to tear wrapping paper (look out for Christmas). Lainey also had a lot of fun eating birthday cake.
Lainey is doing some standing on her own. She will take some steps with help. She currently has two more teeth coming in, coupled with all the one year shots and vaccinations it has been no fun the past couple of days. She is approaching 21 pounds and is ready to graduate to a new car seat that faces forward.
Sara has been busy doing some Christmas baking, shopping, chasing Lainey, and helping out with church stuff.
Josh has had the interim tag lifted and is now the permanant office manager of the pain clinic in Holland.
We still have our condo for sale. It has been a little slow through the holidays, but hopefully the market will pick up in January. We are ready for some more space and are excited about the possibilities that a new home will offer. We are looking forward to spending some family time together around the holidays.
Wishing you all the best and Merry Christmas.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for our family. Lainey had her first Halloween. She dressed as a Lady Bug and went trick or treating at her grandparents houses. The next day we all drove to Chicago, boarded a plane and flew to Phoenix Arizona. Mark and Flora Troast welcomed us with open arms and extended some awesome hospitality. In Arizona we went to the farm, Jerome, Sedona and many other cool places. Oh yea, Josh snuck in a couple rounds of golf with Mark. We had a great time.
Lainey is continuing to grow bigger and stronger. She now climbs stairs and is attempting to stand on her own. She is 30.5 inches and is in the 90th percentile for her age group. Quite a change from a year ago. She keeps us very busy and we sleep well at night. Next month Lainey will be 1 year old. Sara is busy planning the Birthday party.
That is all for now. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Tis' the season for...Hand ,Foot, and Mouth

Hello Everyone!!
Well its fall.. and that means the leaves are changing colors, the days are shorter, the weather colder... and a breeding ground for Hand, Foot and Mouth. YUCK!! Laine has had quite a week. Last Wed. I noticed small spots in her bottom area, and by sunday there were spots on her face and all over her belly. I took her in on Monday and the doctor said she had blisters in her mouth as well. She was diagnosed with hand foot and mouth. She has had a fever and would not eat. also last week she had her flu shot, and then she cut her first tooth on friday. then this morning she cut her second one both are on the bottom. She looks so cute!! Its been a busy, cranky and basicly rough week. We are both contagious so we could not go anywhere. I think its comming to and end... She was in a fairly decent mood today. Laine has learned how to crawl up the stairs, yet the concept that she cannot sit back and turn around mid stair... well we are working on that one:) She keeps us so busy... she goes and goes and goes... maybe a nap and then goes and goes some more. Luckly by 7:30 she is ready for bed. :)

Lainey also gets to go for her first airplane ride in one week. Josh, Laine and I are going to go to Goodyear, AZ to visit josh's brother and sister-in-law. They have lived there three years and this is our first visit. We are looking forward to our first family vacation. Any airplane riding advice would be great. Hopefully laine does well.

troast family update

Hello fellow bloggers!!

Im trying for the first time to update this blog. Josh usually does it but today im giving it a try. Laine is getting so big. she is over 19 pounds and is crawling and pulling her self up on everything. She is saying dadda and she is completly smitten with him. she adores just sitting in his lap and just looking at him. she is a true daddys girl. On saturday october 6 laine, daddy and mommy went out to mellema farm in Nunica to get pumpkins. Laine had so much fun,she tried a dounut, had a dirty, smelly pig lick her hand, she went on a hayride and with daddy and mommys help she picked a pumpkin from the patch. Hopefully i can get the pictures on here. If not just be paitent with me... i ll get it soon:)

ok its a mess...sorry

hi again,
alright, i was able to figuare out the pictures... but they are all over the web page, now the side, in the middle.. but im going to leave it for now. enjoy!!

Here are some new pics from Norm's family. On Mother's day Lainey got dedicated at church, it was a special day. Uncle Mark and Aunt Flora were in town from AZ and got to spend some time with Lainey. Lainey is growing she is pushing 14 lbs. and you can see the changes. She has discovered her hands and likes to suck on them. She also enjoys vegetable, especially carrots.

Welcome to our blog. We are glad you came.