Random Thoughts from a day in the life of me...

*Lainey is getting her first hair cut tonight, she is either going to be really bad or really good.

* Do NOt take your car to Betten In Grand Haven to be fixed, its taken over three weeks to get our van completly fixed from having the brick thrown through it. they sure gave us the run around, Josh had to call the insurrance company and had it out with betten, hopefully we get the van back today

* We got a new T.V. our old one is on the way out, it was not turning on, and you could only change three channels at a time and then you would have to turn it off and back on. So we got a 40 inch samsung flat screen!!! its wonderful. happy birthday, christmas and anniversary to josh and I :)

* I was watching Super Nanny last night, boy could I related to the mom. Jo was able to reach out to a mom who was just plan bored, tired and stuck in a rut. This mom often mad faces and reacted just like myself. (my kid is not bad or doing the stuff her kids where, but the mom herself is whom i felt like) I actually cried today thinking about her. Lately i have just been feeling like i just get up in the morning and go through the daily routien and not think about it, just ho-humming along. Jo encouraged her to stand up and be the women she was ment to be, and was able to give her some confidence back. She was able to give her alittle fun in her life and show her that she can be a kid as well. Am i the only one who goes through this?? wondering what im doing?? why im doing it?? is there going to ever be a break being a mom? and do i even want a break?? How can i make things fun again?? sometimes i wish that I could just work, and someone eles can clean the house, dothe dishes, laundry and so on. Maybe this is just my pregnancy emotions.

* we went to the farmers market on weds. Laine had a cinnamon doughnut and we bought watermelon, blueberries and the sweetest corn i have ever eaten.. We came home and I made homemade blueberry pie, crust from scratch and all. It was so good!!

* I have been so unbeliveably sick... its been so bad that I feel like I cannot even move on some days. I have not even been able to drink as much water as i normally do. I gag on it. Everything makes me sick. I havenot been able to eat alot and feeling weak. Im about seven weeks along. I see the doctor tommorow, so hopefully i can figuare something out that will help me feel better. And for the first time in history sweet stuff like choc, cake, icecream make me sick, i dont want to eat it, see it or smell it. Last night josh was eating icecream on the opposit couch where i was sitting, i could smell it and i started to gag. that it weird!! I never thought i would see the day when i would turn that stuff down.

GUESS WHAT!!

WE ARE PREGNANT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! yes its true, we are going to have another baby sometime in April, we dont have an exact date yet. I have a doctor appointment at the end of August. We are very excited and looking forward to adding another one to our family. I have been very sick, and nauseated all day long. Food just makes me feel sick. I have thrown up a few times, but its more being very tired and just having that feeling that you get when you are about to get sick or get the flu. acky, nauseaed and just not feeling well. But we will get through it and its all to be expected.

Unity and a brick

So last night was free for the Unity Festival, so Grandma came to babysit and Josh and I went down there, It was a lot of fun!! I did not know any of the bands but it was fun to just get out. I saw alot of people that I have not seen in a long time. About an hour in a storm rolled through so they shut down for about a half hour. Josh and I walked back to the van and waited it out. Then we went back to the festival. When the night ended around 10:15 or so, we started to walk back to the van that was parked on a side street across from the Muskegon YMCA. josh and I were talking and he ran head to open the door and put the chairs in, then he opened the drivers side and a yelled and a brick fell out. when we looked up the passanger window was completly smashed in, glass was everywhere, and the steering wheel was nicked and a huge cut in the door. We called 911, they came out and did a police report, luckly nothing was stolen, and I even had my purse under the seat!! thankgoodness, it was just a huge mess. the police were not very helpfull with how we were going to get home, but we managed. This morning we brought it in to be cleaned, and fixed. there were glass pieces everywhere!! hopefully we will have it back by Tuesday. SO i guess I get to ride my bike everywhere!! Im actually really upset, josh and I work hard for what we have and pay cash for stuff, so when some un thoughtfull IDIOT, who cannot think five minutes in front of him or herself does something like this it just makes me so mad and angry. They did alot of damage just to have a little fun. So the car is in being fixed and hopefully tommorow ill have the van back, and the new steering wheel and door panel will be in next week. So tonight when Josh goes down there, there is no parking on side streets with out alot of people and lights. We are also thankfull that it was the Van because that has full coverage, the Saab does not.

Family Reunion

At the end of July we went to Spicer, MN for a family reunion. Josh was able to stay home because his cousin was getting married that friday. Elaine, myself, My mom, uncle and aunt, and two cousins and their families all caravand(if that is a word) to Minnesota. We set out on a Thurs July 24th we drove to Blackriver Falls, WI and spent the night in a hotel. Thank goodness for my cousin's kids they kept Elaine so occupied that she did not even know she was traveling 14 hours to minnesota. They played with her, sang to her and followed her around everywhere she went. Elaine loved swimming in the pool at the hotel. She did not want to get out. Swimming helped her to sleep right through the night. Friday afternoon we arrived at the campground. It was so nice to see all of my family. and most of them had not seen lainey yet so that was fun! It was a busy,weekend, keeping up with a one and half year old at a campgroung with a playground, and beach with in walking distance from your cabin, was a handfull. Elaine was able to see some of her third cousins that are about her age, She played and played. here are some highlights from the weekend.

* Elaine swam naked in the lake with all the other kids, during an evening walk by the beach, it was not planned. It was so fun to see allthe kids having fun!!

* The word NNOOOO!! was learned and freqently spoken by my child!

* Elaine at lots of camp food and junk food, she loves monster cookies!

* having a wonderful church service just as a family. Four cousins singing acapella!! Gods presence was felt while sitting outside at a campground.

* Elaine fell asleep in her high chair at lunch while eating a chocolate brownie

* walking with great uncle harlan by the beach , they both bent over at the same time and came up and bumped heads.

*uncle Jon meeting all the family for the first time

* Elaine was able to ride a Horse for the first time at my cousins house. She was so excited and did not want to get off of the horse. my camera battery died at that exact moment, but i should be getting copies soon.

* visiting tht two family farms, reliving memories and lots of tears and laughter

* Mommy almost stepped on a snake, I started to hyperventalate

* the tears that welled up in my eyes as elaine climbed up and sat on my Grandma and Grandpas grave, They would have just cherrished seeing her. It was a special moment. My Grandparents were very special people. Im sure they were looking down with joy and love.

Overall it was a great weekend, the drive was long but made easier thanks to all the kids who kept her busy.

New Jersey and New York

Finally, I had time to update on our family vacation last week. the last weekend of June we ventured on our first family trip. We went to New Jersey for Joshs Grandparents 60th wedding aniversary/family reunion. This was a 12 hour road trip for most of us, and some family members flew from far away places, and others drove from wisconsin about 18 hours or so. Almost all the family memebers where there. there are about 100 total and I belive we were missing maybe 6 or 7 people. Josh and I drove through the night on the way there. This went well, and we did not have to entertain laine much because she slept most of the way. We arrived in new jersey around 7am. We were tired but laine was in a great mood! Friday night Joshs brother and wife arrived and joshs parents. We ordered some wonderful new jersey pizza! the best pizza ever, but you have to like grease!! Sat morning joshs two brothers and sister arrived. Sat afternoon, was the big bash and the church!!! I was able to meet everyone eles!! I have only met a small hand full of Josh's extended family!! What a blast. Elaine had so much fun playing with all her new found friends!! There was an open house for the community in the afternoon, then a big family picture,and then a catered in family dinner. All 90 some of us!! There was a program with songs, poems and a very teary eyed special speech from Grandpa T, (even josh cried) Grandpa and Granda Troast are so in love, even 60 years later, you can see how much he adores her, he watches her from across the room with such love in his eyes. He spoke to his whole family on learning to lean of Jesus Christ, and if you ask Christ he will be with you no matter what you are going through in life, you cannot go through life with out him. He also said that its ok to wrestle with God and ask Why?? but be ready for the answer. Grandpa is such an amazing Man, and Im proud to be part of his family. Part of their wedding party was still alive and able to join them for cutting the cake. That is so sweet!! !!

On Sunday every one went to church, josh;s dad who is a pastor was able to (with the help of the pastor at the church) surprise his parents by delivering the sunday sermon. Grandpa and Grandma T were so surprised! Sunday night josh and I along with his cousin and wife and josh's brother ventured into New York City!!! What and adventure. We came up off the subway to the Gay Pride Parade just finishing up!!!! what a culture shock for me!! I have seen gays and lesbians but this was to the extreme!! these were outragous and wild gays. it was funny to see this madness, yet i felt an overwhelming saddness for all those messed up people. They walk around so proud and happy. truth is they are sick. all you can do was say a little prayer and keep walking. We then ventured down to ground zero, its one thing to see it on T.V. but WOW in real life you get goose bumps and teary eyes viewing it with your own eyes. Then we took a subway to Time Square!! we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe We had so much fun!!! the lights and the busyness was wild!! we started our way home and on the train we encountered some more gay guys. Only this time it was even more extreme, they decided that the train ,that was full of people, was the place to have a make-out session!!!! needless to say this time we laughed, and laughed and laughed. they just would not stop. They were doing stuff that straight people would not do in public. finally they left. we got home around12:30am.

Monday we went and spent the night with one of Joshs cousins and his wife. They have twins that were born a few weeks after laine. They had so much fun together.

Tuesday we headed home. We traveled during the day. Elaine did ok, but it was definitly better through the night!!

We are finally getting back on a schedual again!!! Ihope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July!! we went to the fire works and Elaine had a blast!!

Wedding!!

This past weekend, Josh's sister got married. Thursday night was rehersal, with a pizza and beer rehersal dinner! It was a perfect night, the dinner was outside at the new brother in-laws sisters house in Grand Rapids. It was so nice to see all the family again. IT was also nice because lainey stayed home with a babysitter :) I was his sisters personal attendant so I had a list of duties that I was responsible for. Friday was the wedding. I arrived at 1:30 to help out, it was a busy afternoon. As for the actual wedding at 6:30.... I watched everyone walk down the isle, and then..... Lainey was clapping and yelling, talking, so I had to take her outside. ( the church is in an open warehouse building, so everything echoed, so I missed the whole wedding. I came inside just in time to hear them be pronounced husband and wife. Then we headed over to Mc Faddens downtown GR for the reception!! It was a blast, I was able to do some dancing, and josh joined me for one song, which is more than he has ever done. (except for our wedding) I enjoyed a delcious dinner it was salmon, potatoes and steamed veggies!! It was a fun, yet very busy weekend.

A Bike Helmet and Sunglasses

What a busy few weeks. My sister and I did an Unsucessfull garage sale june 6-7 in holland ,so we packed it up and set it back up in muskegon for another two day garage sale the following weekend at my in-law's place. We did much better. the last few weeks seem like such a blur. Laine was with me both times and did excellent!

A few weeks ago, my neighbor asked if i had a bike helmet for Laine, i did not so she game me one that her granddaughter had grown out of. Laine fell in love with it, its a touch to big but in no time she will fully grow into it. And one of my moms friends bought her velcro sunglasses. So she was loving wearing both, so much that when she saw her reflection in the mirror she started kissing her self. She was so funny wearing both!!! She also got her first baby doll, she loves feeding her a bottle, and carrying her everywhere! We went to the park and she took it down the slide. she is quite the little mother.

We are getting ready for josh's sisters wedding on Friday June 20th. Its been a busy week as Im the personal attendant, so thurs and friday are going to be very busy. The following Thurday Josh, Elaine and I are heading to New Jersey for Josh's Grandparents 60th wedding aniversary/reunion. We will see how lainey does on a 12 hour drive. We are going through the night so hopefully it will go well.

No Wonder America is so FAT!!

Ok, so if you are a busy mom and wife some times you get burned out from cooking for life gets so busy that you take a trip or two to a fast food joint for the family dinner. We all know its bad for us, but until you see the numbers!!!!!! you just eat it and forget about it. Well tonight we had an open house and had to run some errands, so josh, Elaine and myself went out to Mc Donalds for dinner. and to tell the truth I have freqented this place and other often the past few weeks due to being so busy with my mother who just had surgery and was in holland for two weeks. Anyway...Back to tonight. We went to Mc D's I picked up the nutrition booklet that is available to the public. when we got home I was looking it over. Josh had the quarter pounder meal deal, I had two snack wraps and a coke, and laine had the cheeseburger happy meal.... are you ready for the grand nutritional total of all three meals combined drum roll please............ calories 3,250 total fat.105 grams, sodium4,030 grams This is totally and utterly disgusting!!! Talk about feeling ashamed as a family of three we consumed a lot of bad food. I really need to be more concious about what I eat and what i feed my family. I have not been a good example. the problem is where do you start and who do you belive. Everyone has the "best" answer as far as losing weight and getting healthy. How do you find the balance. what diets and lifestyles work and what is just hokey???? I have been trying to follow my hunger signals and eat when the hunger tells me to. I have been trying to see what the bible says. Im finding stuff about glutoney and not worshiping food, all foods are clean and stuff like that. But what does God say about the food we eat, and is that the way to eat??? HELP!! if you know the answer pass it on. All I know is if the world keeps eating this stuff and some people eat it three times a day, we are going to all die young, YIKES.

0 156th!!!

Friday May 23, 2008 we officially signed our names to the land!! We closed on our piece of property friday afternoon. Josh and I signed our name for about 20 minutes. and to tell the truth I dont remember what I even signed for other than a payment book from the bank :) It was all a blur, and today its actually sinking in. After the signing josh and I along with Josh's parents, who were watching laine, headed out to the land to have a toast! We walked the property lines and envisoned our home and were it would sit, were the driveway would be and all that fun stuff!! I posted some pictures for everyone to see!!

What a Week!

What a crazy couple of weeks. Elaine had a check up with her doctor about her cough and stuff. He sent her for Allergy testing. She had to have some blood drawn... it took them three times before they were able to get a vein. She was a mess, crying,sweating and so was I. It was not a fun day. Two Days later her results came back negative for all allergies. So she is just on a nasel spray and the cough it gone, she is back to her normal self. I know she is better because she is back to her 1 hour naps instead of 3.

My mom had back surgery last friday before mothers day. It was a four hour surgery. She is doing well but after six days in the hospital she was transfered to Freedom Village for at least one to two weeks of Re-Hab. This place is in holland so we are racking up the miles and the gas!! Its busy when you are taking care of another household and her cats, and visiting her at the nursing home and taking care of your own family. They are taking her off some of the strong pain meds so that means things are progressing. I convinced her to put some make-up on and that would make her feel better, she actually agreed :)

In the midst of all this, last week i started to get a kink in my neck and by friday after my moms surgery i could not move my neck. Saturday I woke up with a stiff neck to the point that I could not open my mouth the whole way and it hurt to chew food. On sunday I left church early because I thought i was going to pass out. I got home and took some vicodin to make it through the rest of the mothers day festivities. We did not want to go to ER because its a really expensive pain reliever because they would just shoot you up and send you to the doctor. So Monday morning I headed to the Chiropractor... he tried to adjust me but said the muscles we way to tense, i had to go home and Ice, Ice Ice and i was not to lift anything. So my wonderful mother-in-law came to help for the day. I went back to the doc. for a half hour massage and he tried to adjust again but it would not budge. So i have lived on muscle relaxors and vicodin. Tuesday I felt a little better and could move a little more. Weds morning I went back to the doc. and he could only do a little for me. I babysat Emma for the morning and did great. After nap time my neck was stuck again and hurting bad. My wonderful husband was able to get me into the pain clinic thursday morning early. Another thanks to my mother-in-law for coming to the house at 7:30am!! Dr. K was able to give me some relief, Josh thought he was cool because he got to give me the sedation. Dr. K did some ocipital nerve blocks and an epidural in my neck. after sleeping for a few hours I woke up and could move my neck!!!! Im tired and a little spaced out but i feel better. I have one more chiropractor appointment on Monday and then I think things will be going better!!! I need to get this household back in order, Laine hasbeen cranky due to not really having me around this week.
I have posted some pictures from grandma and grandpa troast's house a couple weeks ago!!

My sweet Elaine

well, Elaine had to go back to the Doctor today. First a little back story, the middle of march elaine started having a really back barking cough.... we brought her to the doctor who said her lungs were fine,it was just a cold and teething... then at the in april she went back because she had the same cough... and was waking up many times during the night. At the second appointment the docotor said she had croup, and she was still teething. (for those of you that have kids that she has been around this whole time, she was only contagious at the very begining which was the end of march, the contagious part only last three days, and at that time we did not even know that is what she had. So the cough and stuff is just that a cough,she isnot contagious anymore.) So anyway... at the second appointment the Doctor just had me do stuff like a humidfier, tylenol for the teeth, prop her bed up, stand in steam from the shower etc... But still a month later, and she is still coughing, and NOT SLEEPING!! this has been really hard, she is a really good sleeper and so this waking up for hours at night, coughing and gagging is really getting old. So.... the past three days have been the worst... I have not slept more than four hours at a time, neither has Elaine. she doesnot want to eat much and gasped for breath during naptime yesterday. and she has a new cough more of a phlemy deep cough. So last night josh listened to her lungs and he did hear some weezing and the base sounded like there was fluid. So My handsome husband called the doctor this morning because he is concerned as well. So Elaine and I went to the doctor. She checked her out and she does have a really bad sinus infection now, so she perscribed antibiotics. As for the lungs she said she still hears stridor which is still croup and she does hear the stuff josh heard as well. she gave elaine a breathing treatment, and Elaines lungs still sounded the same, no better. So our first step is to clear up the sinus infection, which can cause some coughing. We have to go back on Tuesday. If she is still coughing in four days then on Tuesday we are going to dig further by giving her some albueterol because she is thinking it could be Asthma. The doctor wants to clear up the infection first and then tackle the Asthma stuff. More than likely if its Asthma its because her lungs were underdeveloped due to being born so early. So that is were we stand right now. Elaine is taking her nap, and has only coughed twice in a half hour so that is good. Well, Im going to try and lay down and hope for some rest.

opps

I put the pictures in backwards.

Reflection

hey everyone,

I was just reflecting tonight.... I guess its the combination of Friends having babies and they are so cute, having just watched Juno(funny movie) and having the eye doctor today warn me about having more children... that has made me a bit emotional... so I was just looking at the many pictures that have been taken of Laine when she was born, so amazing so tiny and so precious. I love Elaine so much, what I went through to get her and keep her was a roller coaster but she is so worth it!!! I thought everyone might like to see some of the early days... Enjoy I sure did and do. :)

Spring Is Here!!!

Yes!! Spring is finally here!! We have been loving it, how about you?? Laine is outside almost everyday. She loves being outside and when its time to go inside she frequently throws temper tantrums. Elaine is growing up so fast. She is doing so well, our only worry right now is speech, she tests out at just below 12 months and she is 16 months. Early On is going to keep an eye on it, but we are not too worried. She excels in all other areas so we expect it to come soon.

Oh those molars... she is currently getting all four at once... the first one is through. Does anyone have any good advice... we have been battling these four teeth for over a month! ahhh!!! She is so miserable, with all the cold symptoms she has with it. the runny nose, cough etc... We also found out that with the teething came a touch of croup, its not too bad, although she does wake alot at night and nap time. She is not contagious anymore as we figure its been there a couple weeks.

Elaine is going to be a flower girl on new years eve this year!!! My sister Lisa Just got engaged over spring break. We are just praying Elaines hairs grows a little more. Elaine loves to be the center of attention so this should be very interesting... then again we will be approaching the terrible twos... so who knows.

Josh and I still have the condo for sale... anyone want one, we will give you a good deal. We have been strongly considering building. We have land picked out, and we have the preliminary drawings. We are now just waiting for the pricing to come in for the house before a final decision is made to build or not. We are also offically dorks!! We broke down and bought the MINI VAN!! its a Pontiac Montana!! Im loving it, but josh says he is going through his mid-life crisis!(secretly he loves it, and he often asks to drive it :)

well, i hope this post finds everyone doing well!! Take care

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.