Costa Rica Here We Come!

The excitement is building.  Matt and I have been preparing with a team of 10 students to go to Costa Rica over Spring Break.  If you're like me, you don't get excited about something until you're able to accomplish last minute things.  That's how I know the trip is close!  You know, things like printing tickets and traveler's insurance, packing supplies and cleaning the house.  All of those things are getting done today - just 6 days until we leave.

We'll be working with Ryan & Gretchen Rought - ABWE missionaries in San Jose, Costa Rica. They are a beautiful family!  Ryan works with TACTICA Ministries - ministering to the Costa Rican police force.

We are so blessed to be a part of their ministry for 8 days.  Please pray for our group...

• We need safety traveling.  12 people, 14 checked bags, 12 carry ons...it can get crazy!
• Strength for ministry.  Work projects, VBS, evangelism...a little bit of everything.
• Open hearts that are BOLD for the gospel of Christ.
• Servant attitudes - willing to put the needs of others before our own.
• Christ's love for the Ticos.
• Matt's parents - who will be staying in Michigan will Annelise.

Thanks for praying.  We look forward to sharing an update when we get back.

UNCLE!

Ok, Lord, whatever you're trying to teach me...I give in.  

The month of March has certainly been madness for us.  Annelise began the month with the flu (of the diarrhea nature).  We left for California, not knowing if we would make it there alive, or clean for that matter.  When we arrived home, Annelise promptly began teething.  A double ear infection and 3 molars later...Annelise woke up with green snot flowing out of her nose this morning.  Will it ever end?

God give me the grace I need for right now, today.  And could you maybe begin planning early for tomorrow's mercies?  I'm going to need lots of new ones.

One Sick Little Girl

When does it end?

The past two weeks have been miserable for Annelise.  Today has been no exception.  

She has been running a low grade fever since Thursday.  Not wanting to overreact, I assumed it was just teething.

After a 45 minute screaming fit tonight, I decided it had to be something more.  So, we took a trip to Prime Care.  Yes, I said it, Prime Care.  I was fully prepared to spend hours waiting with sick and broken people.  But, I didn't care.  My baby is seriously unhappy, which is making mommy seriously unhappy.  Therefore, hours or not, we're getting to the bottom of this.

Turns out she has a double ear infection, three molars breaking their way to the surface, one of which has broken a blood vessel in her gums, causing swelling and extreme pain.  I feel terrible for my little girl, but relieved to know I wasn't overreacting.

Well, its nothing a little amoxicillin, motrin, tylenol concoction can't fix.

PS - When we got to Prime Care, we were the only people there.  Is this possible?  That place is always swarming with sickies.  Thank you God!

Already 14 Months Old

A Collage of Thoughts

Pregnancy.  I wasn't in love with being pregnant the first time.  I must say my feelings have only worsened the second time around.  Lots of women love being pregnant.  Some of my friends even dread the arrival of their baby, knowing they will no longer be in gestation.  Me - I say lets skip these nine months and get right to the baby.  Oh dear...its going to be a long pregnancy.

Life for us hasn't slowed down.  We leave for our mission trip to Costa Rica in two and a half weeks.  Matt and I are leading the trip with ten high schoolers.  Lots of last minute planning needs to be accomplished.  Please pray for us.  We're leaving Annelise at home with Matt's parents for the 8 days.

Church.  Our senior pastor left our church about a year ago to take a position at College Park in Indianapolis.  Time has flown by and it appears the search team for our new pastor is making headway.  We've been asked to submit a photo and brief bio of our family for the new pastor when he comes.  I'm guessing this might be soon?

Annelise is growing and changing so quickly.  It seems like all in one week she learned to walk, talk and sing.  Here are some of the new tricks she's picked up:

• She says: doggie, DADDY, keys, cracker, thank you - and i swear i heard her say "welcome" yesterday
• She comprehends soooo much.  I tested her by asking her to put on her socks.  Wouldn't you know she did it!
• She's walking all over the place.
• She knows that when we ask where the baby is, she's supposed to look under my shirt. But, I'm certain she doesn't comprehend what's going on. 

California, California

We're back!  And what fun we had.  I spent much of the week working (since it was a work trip for me), but we did find a little time to fool around.  Who wants to go to California and spend the whole time doing business anyways? 

Waiting for our flight out of Chicago.  Annelise was such a trooper!  She loved all the planes.

Here we are on the Santa Monica Pier.  My dad is behind the camera - and the weird guy in the back is one of our board members.  It was such a fun day!

Here we all are on the pier - Santa Monica in the background.  A little chilly, but so fun!

Our family at Ventura Beach - where our conference was hosted this year.

Matt and Annelise by the elephants at the Santa Barbara Zoo.  

All of these pictures were taken on our camera phones, because I forgot the camera.  Yes, I'm a loser.  That would be another one of my pregnancy symptoms.  I do have an awesome video of Annelise feeding the giraffes.  But, its on my dad's blackberry, so as soon as we get it, I'll upload.

Nonetheless, we're thrilled to be home and are now gearing up for our next trip - Costa Rica!

A Secret No More

Matt, Annelise and I are happy to announce that...

Baby Neal #2 is on its way!  

With an estimated arrival on October 9, 2009.  We are thrilled to be adding a new addition to our growing family - and are excited for Annelise to have a sibling.

And yes, I'll answer your questions before they even get asked:

• I can't honestly say this was planned.  But as Dr. Laura says "anything not prevented is planned."  Let's just say, God has a plan and His is perfect!
• I am very sick - even more so than the first time around.  Always in the evenings between 4 and 8.  Which means lots of eating out - and definitely no cooking for me.
• Annelise is very excited, even though she has no idea.  Matt is equally thrilled, in spite of knowing all too well what is about to happen to us.
• I had my first Dr. Appointment yesterday, which confirmed there actually is a baby growing inside of me - both by the doctor's reaction ("You're definitely pregnant!") and the ultrasound she conducted afterwards.

Christmas 2008 was celebrated with one grandchild.  Christmas 2009 will be peppered with a two year old, a tenth month old and a newborn.  My parents are feeling older as the days go by.

We are excited to share this beautiful experience with you all.  Here's to another round of babies!

Talking

Here's a huge shout out to Eric - who showed me an awesome program to encode my videos!  I was able to encode this video in a FLASH and re-upload it.  Enjoy (without the "trial stamp")!

Sickly

The flu is bad.  But its worse when your 13 month old has it.  Yesterday, walking down the hall to get Annelise up from her morning nap, I could smell the sourness.  She threw up all over her bead.  The bed that I just happened to wash top to bottom the day before.  Figures.  The throwing up stopped, but the diarrhea ensued.  A little sip of water - dirty mess!  So, I'm home from work today, with a sick kiddo.   Things are looking up.  We haven't had a mess yet this morning and she just gladly ate a bowl of oatmeal.  I might regret feeding her that, but hopefully not.  The poor child can't afford to lose anymore weight.

Project Complete

 

Here lies my dining room chairs, plain as Jane.  I've thought for sometime that recovering them would be a grand idea.  And since our television left the residence this weekend (to pay a visit to the repairman) I've had the itch to be crafty.  I mean, what else is there to do?

And here is my chair - project complete.  You know, there's nothing a little clearance fabric from Hobby Lobby and a pack of hot glue sticks can't fix.  It took me a whole 45 minutes.  I'm pretty pleased.

This is Annelise' reaction to our new chairs.  I think she likes them.