Halloween

Zady was so happy to lose another tooth (and working on a couple more)












The kids all getting ready to go Trick or Treating.













Walking the streets of Plymouth.

Collin Jeffrey

We finally have internet connected in our new home.  Yeah!

Many things have happened since July, but the most important is that Collin has joined our family.  He decided to come on his due date--September 2nd at 11:58 am.  He was 8 lbs. 11 oz.and 20" long.

Here are some more recent pics of him and also some other shots.

Collin in his blessing outfit--October 16

Grandma and Grandpa Michaelis came to visit

Jeff and the kids exploring the back yard.  Notice the huge mushroom in the bottom left corner.

Collin making a happy baby face.

Culver Beach

We went to Culver Beach (in Culver, IN) the other day and we had fun with the kids playing in the sand and in Lake Maxinkuckee (just another of the "strange names" of our Indiana life). Just in case you can't tell, Amelia is a mermaid, Zady is a muscle builder man, and Claire is a skeleton. Ross's reaction is priceless.

Easter Eggs

Here are examples of the creativity level of our family. 

Claire's egg

Another side of Claire

Amelia's egg

Ross's egg (designed by Dad)

Dad's egg

Zady's egg

Mom's egg (the most colorful)

IT'S A . . .

Yes, we finally found a doctor that would take me as a VBAC patient.  He was the only one in northern Indiana, by the way.
Today we checked Amelia and Zady out of school and took them all to the appointment for our first ultrasound.  Can you guess what we are having?
After the ultrasound, Jeff took the kids back out to the waiting room while I had my first official visit--pap smear, exams, etc.
Everything looks good with the baby.  I am approximately 20 weeks, 3 days.  The baby is measuring 20 weeks, 5 days.  I am very relieved that things seem to be going well.

Yes, it is a boy.  At first the tech couldn't get a very good view.  Really, what baby ever cooperates when you want them to, huh?  So, she said she was seeing pink.  Then a few moments later, she said "wait".  I thought I might have glimpsed something too, but I didn't really know.  Then she became pretty confident that it was indeed a boy.  I'm still not sure what we will do with another little monkey running around!  But we are excited and just happy to see him growing well.

BTW Happy Birthday Gina!

Baby on the way!

For those who don't know, we are expecting our fifth little bundle of joy this fall!  We are very excited and are looking forward to adding to our family.  The only damper is that prenatal care is very different out here.  I am about 15 1/2 weeks along now, but I still don't have a doctor.  Part of the problem is that many of the hospitals out here don't allow VBAC's (vaginal birth after cesarean).  I was very disappointed when I found this out.  There is a hospital up in South Bend that is supposed to still do them--so we are trying to find a doctor there.  It is a larger hospital than here in Plymouth and so I would rather go there, anyway.
The kids are excited.  They go back and forth with wanting a boy or a girl, so we are lucky no one will be disappointed!
The weather is starting to warmup here--which we are grateful for.  Thursday we are supposed to get up to the mid 60's.  Yeah!  Last week we went to the art gallary in town because they were doing a display of some of the elementary school student's work.  Zady had a picture displayed.  It was a coloring of our apartment.  Complete with a spaceship, alien, and cat outside!
The girls have been very aware of the situation in Japan.  We have some friends that are living over there.  Luckily they are in Tokyo and so missed the tsunami--we still worry about them with the radiation concern, though.  The girls remember them in all of their prayers.  Also, they never forget about their cousin, Zach.  We all continue to pray that the Lord will grant the blessing of him regaining control of his body.  It is encouraging to see the pictures and video that can show us some of his improvement.  We continue to have faith that He is blessing them and that He has a plan for Zach.
We are all doing well and are looking forward to seeing all of you this summer!

Grab Bag Winter Weather and Miracles

Yesterday we got some snow/sleet/rain mix.  Today it is chilly and the girls and I "skated" to the bus stop.  There was a film of ice on most of the surface, and a dualie (spelling?) truck was fish-tailing a little as he went by the stop.  There is a stretch of road coming into our apartment that everyone (Jeff and I included) use to test the road conditions.
Jeff and I are grateful that we have a place to live, but sometimes to feel relieved to know your not going to be in the same place forever.  Last wednesday, a Sheriff came to our apartment.  He was looking for a different couple, but they had our address.  I had never heard of their name before--and we still get a lot of junk mail for other tenants.  Then, when I got back from the store on saturday night, three police cars drove up behind me.  They even had their spotlights on me.  I looked at them and then figured I would just get my groceries until one of the would yell for me to "get my hands up".  Luckily, it didn't happen!  They actually just asked where another apartment was.  We didn't hear anything, but cops are not an uncommon sight around here.  We will enjoy finding another place to live!
Our little family is well.  We keep praying for little Zach.  Even though I get sad at moments, I still feel so much optimism inside.  I just feel that he is young enough for his body to regenerate the dead tissue or for his brain to make new connections that can overcome what has happened.  I believe a miracle is in the making and it will take time!  The Lord has blessed us with so much in these last days!  I think nearly everyone in my family has had faith promoting experiences like this.  We have quite a list of miracles and I think about them often.  I'm grateful to have Scott, Emma, Ross, Ayden, Emily & Anthony, Jessica, Holly and the list just keeps going.  I love all of you who happen to read this, and I am so grateful for families.  They truely are central to Heavenly Father's plan.