The Pitzer Family

Allright, 2010 The Pitzer's are back!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-17T14:20:00.002-05:00

For all of you who had enjoyed reading our blog, I am SORRY. I am going to try much harder this year (even if it's less journaling and more posting photos). You can blame it on Facebook. JK!, It's just really tough to wrangle 2 kids, manage a household, work part-time, lead Bible study at church, try to keep a clean house and still find the time before passing out at the end of the day to get on here. Can I get an AMEN!?

I'll follow up this post with "The best photos from 2009".

The Best of 2009

2010-02-16T14:27:00.001-05:00

Colin's 1st B-day!

The Best of 2009

2010-02-15T14:38:00.004-05:00

Rub-a-dub-dub, 2 Lil Pitzer's in the tub!

Matt and I (first race, EVER) - Irish Jig 5k

Apparently Colin has an egg allergy too!

The Best of 2009

2010-02-14T14:46:00.000-05:00

Addi Turn's THREE!!!!!! (A pink, ballerina party)

The Best of 2009 - The Pitzer's go to FLORIDA!

2010-02-13T14:50:00.001-05:00

The Whole clan: Grandma, Colin, Addi, Mom & Bubba

Tess and I

Addi and Nick eating chocolate chip cookies in their tent

Hav'in fun at the beach !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vilano Beach - St. Augustine, FL

The Best of 2009 - Family Pics

2010-02-12T14:57:00.000-05:00

Addi - 3yrs. old

Colin - 1yr old

Just love those piggies!

The Best of 2009 - Family Vacation, Lake MI

2010-02-11T15:02:00.000-05:00

Colin & Payten

Addi, Cameron and Colin at the Cottage...

The Best of 2009

2010-02-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

Addi's first (successful) lawn mower ride

Annual camping trip - The Plate River

Runners

The Best of 2009 - Addi's 1st Race

2010-02-09T16:11:00.001-05:00

This kid's fun run was put on by the running club Matt run's with on the weekends. It was such a cute event. It was held at the park by our house. After the races, they served lunch and ice cream. It was such a fun afternoon!

The Best of 2009

2010-02-08T16:19:00.000-05:00

Our dog, Gemini.

GO BLUE! -The boys.-

More tailgater fun...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...

2009-11-09T09:09:00.002-05:00

I miss your friendship, going to the park, getting lunch at The Schnitz, talking about kids, husband's, friends, family and life. I miss your smile, hearing your voice and your laugh. I MISS U! I cannot wait till we see eachother again... I love you.Happy Birthday Tan!

Especially for Daddy...

2008-12-16T13:29:00.003-05:00

It will be almost 2 weeks by the time Matt comes back to GR and sees the kids. They were so cute this morning - jumping in the crib together that I thought I'd put it on video to brighten Matt's day. ... a little love for ya!

Everything's awesome in New York City! ... That's what she said!

2008-12-13T13:31:00.005-05:00

As many of you know (last month) Matt and I went to New York - alone, for Fire Research Center's annual Christmas Party.

Even though our time was quite rushed and our stay was too short, we were able to do many cool things. To name a few: brief tour of the city, quick stop (off the tour bus) at Ground Zero, Rockefeller Center, an experience in Chinatown buying our "Coach" purses, excellent meals of dining out (gotta love a huge, diverse city), Broadway show - Mama Mia, and a really fun, amazingly well done Christmas Party (with presents for all the kid's handed out by Santa himself!).

I can't believe I waited til I was 29 to go to the NYC. It was fantastic!!!!!!!

Santa Parade

2008-12-06T19:29:00.001-05:00

Saturday morning was the Santa Parade in downtown Rockford. It was freezing cold, windy and there was a continuous abundance of perfect, only-in-the-movies type snow. It really was pretty.

The parade was fun. Addi had a great time watching all the people, seeing the fire trucks, police cars, ambulance and hearing their sirens, watching the floats, band, mascots and other weird 8 ft. tall stuffed creatures and lastly Santa!

Colin and I watch the last half of the parade from inside the doorway of the library. What?! The "baby" was cold.

Vrolijk Kerstfeest

2008-12-05T19:17:00.003-05:00

Last night/this morning we celebrated "Dutch Christmas". Well, part of it anyway...

The part where the children fill their wooden shoes with hay and carrots for Sinterklaas' (St. Nick) horses and place them by the door. Only to find in the morning (if they've been good girl's and boy's) that the hay and carrots were replaced with treats, gifts and chocolate gold coins.

Don't worry bad girl's and boy's get a treat too - a lump of coal from Zwarte Piet (Black - as in evil or sinister Peter).

We've decided to carry on this tradition (American-style), in hopes of teaching our children a bit of their Dutch heritage.

Remembering Tanya...

2008-12-05T12:22:00.004-05:00

It'll be a year tomorrow that my very first, oldest and best friend was called to Heaven.

Not a day goes by that I don't look at her picture on my dresser and just wish that I could talk to her or even see her for 1 more minute - to give her one last hug (without a pregnant belly getting in the way).

A year has passed, but it hasn't gotten any easier. For any of us.

Joe and the boys are living in Rockford with his parents. The boys have transitioned well to their new school and home environment.

We had Joe and the boys over for dinner this week. It was so great to be able to spend time with them. But so different with out Tan. On the outside; Jacob & Preston are your "normal", typical, loud, active boys - something I'll have to get used to. Since they are young, so you never can tell just how they are doing inside. One can only hope that they've found a (healthy) way to deal with the loss of their Mother.

Please pray for Tanya's Parent's, Sister, Nieces, Joe and the boys (and me too) that healing would continue and that the family would be strengthened thru all of this.

Snow, snow go away...

2008-11-30T20:49:00.001-05:00

Where's the beach? Anyone...? Multi-purpose sand toys, gotta love it.

I may complain about the cold and snow, but today I was able to enjoy one of the most precious childhood moments - SNOW! To see Addi seeing and playing in the snow for the first time and showing her how to build a snowman, it was truly special. So special that I couldn't even feel the cold, wind, or snow. It must have been special for Addi too b/c she couldn't even feel the long bugger slime running down her face!

Many reasons to give thanks...

2008-11-26T20:37:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2008 was quite a long day for The Pitzer's.

It started at 9:30am with a pancake breakfast at my parents' church (before the service), a yummy! dinner was eaten at 1ish, then at 5pm some of my aunts, uncles and cousins came over for dessert. And finally, around 6:30pm (with Colin in his pj's) we headed home. Where Sarah came over and we shared our traditional Thanksgiving glass of wine (or two) together.

What a fun-filled, tiring day.

** I do have to say that it wasn't the same without Beth, Kristi, John or Kristian there.

And I also have to say that it wasn't as exciting as last year's Mojito's with Bill and Grace and Addi climbing on top of the dinner table (while no one was looking) eating dinner. **

Welkom!

2008-11-25T20:22:00.000-05:00

Only in west Michigan can you take a trip to a place called Dutch Village. Resembling "the Old Country", this mini village has many shops (such as; cookie, candle, wooden shoe-making), restaurants, a play park and even has water (or ice) filled canals that line the streets.

Although he was a good sport - Matt isn't much for these (Dutch) types of things, but Dutch Christmas is coming (the kid's needed their wooden shoes) and I guess that's what he gets for marrying a Dykstra!

Girl's Weekend!

2008-11-21T19:59:00.000-05:00

And what a weekend it was! With 3 of my girlfriends, no kids and having the ability to do whatever we wanted - priceless.

I got into Florida on Thursday night and we didn't leave for Savannah til Saturday am. So, I was able to see the kids, husbands, neighbors, in-laws and church friends. It was wonderful!

The Guys (Drew, Dave & Greg) My Boys (Quinn & Nick)

Ashley and Baby Sammy

Robert & Will

They look harmless don't they?

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T11:28:00.004-05:00

Bright and early Friday morning Colin and Addi were dressed in their Halloween costumes and ready to go!
I had been talking to Addi about Halloween, trick-or-treat, costumes, kids, candy, etc. and didn't think we was quite "getting it". But, thanks to Dora, Calliou and Kai-Lan she knew full well what she was in for and how to do it well by 3pm.
We went to The Sterk's for dinner, then went to two church "Trunk-or-Treat"'s and stopped by a few houses along the way. Aunt's Tammy and TiTi & Nathan joined us in the fun too!
The kids were so cute! Kaya was a monkey, Addi was a ballerina and Colin was a pumpkin.
Addi (the "professional" trick-or-treater) marched right up to the front door, yelled "trick-or-treat", put her candy in her basket, said "gamp you" (otherwise knows as thank you) and ran off to the next house. Kaya (the "mature" and "seasoned" trick-or-treater was a bit more laid back) and Colin had a great time being held the whole time.
All in all, it was a very fun night for every one of us.

Funny Daddy...

2008-10-27T19:15:00.003-05:00

It's Fall Y'all!

2008-10-27T19:11:00.003-05:00

One of the only things I like about Michigan (other than people), FALL.
Fresh cider and donuts, falling leaves - their beautiful colors, the way they smell, the way they crunch when you step on them, hay rides, Halloween and Thanksgiving...

Schwallier's Country Basket

Robinette's Apple Haus

At Home

Colin's first hair cut

2008-10-27T19:08:00.005-05:00

I knew this would happen! I KNEW this would be the hair cut that transformed my baby into a little boy. I was right. :(
Thanks to my sister Tammy, he sure looks cute!

House Pics

2008-10-27T18:49:00.008-05:00

Yea! Our computer is fixed! Here are some of the photos you've all been asking for:
(Sorry, pics uploaded from the inside out...?)
*Coming soon - Colin's room and Re-done entry way.*

Our Room

Addi's Room

(Re-done) Bath

Living room

(Re-done) Kitchen

Our House

More Computer Drama...

2008-10-13T10:31:00.006-05:00

So, Matt tried to hook up the computer this morning and even though the hard drive is fixed, the computer is STILL not working.
So, unless someone can lend their IT skills or computer with babysitting there will continue to be no updates. :(
This makes me sad b/c there is so much to share with you!)

Quick update on Colin -
Our guy is now 8.5 months old! He weighs over 20lbs, is in size 3 diapers, sitting on his own and is beginning to reach, rock and pull himself up to his knees. It won't be long before he figures out how to crawl!
He has 4 teeth and is in the process of popping thru more! He says Da Da and plays a wicked game of one handed peek-a-boo! He is still such a happy, funny boy!

I'm not a slacker - I swear!!!!!

2008-09-23T07:07:00.002-05:00

I know many of you are checking our blog for pictures and updates, you're wondering how the kids are adjusting and if were all settled in...and with no luck, you're still left waiting. I AM SO SORRY.

We didn't officially move in until the 4th weekend in August, we had to wait 2 weeks for internet service, then shortly after that our computer hard drive crashed! We are working on getting that fixed now, as soon as we do you can expect one very large update with lots of pictures!

Thanks to the very skilled, hard-working guys that remodeled our kitchen & bath and helped to get our home move-in ready, my friend Chris from Stanley Steemer and the wonderful help from our family on moving day - We are pretty much settled in.
The kids transitioned real well (which, once again; is a lot more than I can say for Matt and I). The key for them - keeping busy, friends, family and lots of distractions. My saving grace, our family membership to the YMCA.
Besides being a new employee in an industry he knew little about, Matt is enjoying his new job very much. The travel will take a bit of getting used to for all of us. But, so far - so good!

A special thanks to all for your prayers, support, encouragement, baby sitting, packing, un-packing, loading the Uhaul, moving, driving to Michigan, cleaning, painting, hard work and help. We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family.

We love you,
The Pitzer's

P.S - Did I tell you that we ended up renting out our Florida home? Yep. Two days before Matt left to join us in MI. Praise God! Like it says on the blog - "God is never late, but rarely." So true.

That's all for now!

2008-08-05T15:33:00.004-05:00

Our life in Florida as we knew it is rapidly coming to an end. As our Michigan adventure begins Thursday ( 2 days)! We are very sad to be leaving our church, family and great friends. But, happy for the possible opportunity to return in a year or two.

And more so, looking forward to spending some much needed time with our MI church, family and friends!

Our new #s: Matt 616.307.7683 Sara 616.307.7681
Our address: 6145 Idaho Ave NE - Belmont, MI - 49306

Please continue to pray for safe travels and a smooth transition period. We also still need someone to rent our FL house. Not too worried about that one though, God always has a way...

6 mos. already!

2008-08-05T15:20:00.002-05:00

Today we had Colin's well baby visit today. Nothing too interesting - another Rx for his dry skin, 3 shots and some measurements. Colin weighed 18lbs. 4oz (75%) and is nearly 28in. long (90%)!

Our guy now has two teeth (on the bottom), rolls around the floor, spits a lot and has begun to babble. So cute! And, as always - it's all happening too fast!

You Michiganders are going to be shocked when you meet this (not so) little guy!

Just for the fun of it!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-23T19:59:00.002-05:00

3 down, 1 to go...

2008-07-20T18:56:00.003-05:00

We'll you already know we sold the Jeep - that was answered prayer #1.

Answered prayers 2 and 3 go together. We've found a solution to our MI housing issue.
It was kind of a blessing out of a sudden, bad-news situation. Our tenants gave me their 30 day notice on Friday. Immediately I was a crying, stressed out, emotionally spent mess. BUT, once I calmed down, let it sink in and Matt and I had a chance to talk about it; it seemed as though this was the best thing that could have happened.

Because of this recent turn of events we now have the opportunity to be even closer to our "West Side" friends and family, we get to go back to our old church, we can save $400/mo. and it gives us the chance to do some updating in our kitchen and bath (which will help ensure a quicker sale).

I know - you're thinking how the heck are four people going to live in that "cozy" house?! Well, thanks to a wonderful thing called a storage unit, we can. ...Quick side track, this year I have been trying to "live simply" (I even have the wall art as a daily reminder of if). It's something that I have been very conscious of and have taken many opportunities to remind myself just how blessed we are as a family and just how much (as a country) we truly have. I know my God is funny, but sometimes I do not find humor in his irony. I guess this is his way of helping me to "live simply".

We will move into our old house (6145 Idaho - Belmont, MI) the weekend of August 23rd.
Our house will remain on the market, and once it sells we then can decide where to go next.

In the meantime, we have a house to rent out in FL still AND lots of packing to do.

1 down, 4 to go...

2008-07-12T19:01:00.002-05:00

One of our prayers was answered today. We sold our black Jeep. Yay!
It was bought by a Dad, who has 5 kids and is a fire fighter. A real nice guy. I know it's just a car, but (back in the day) I loved that car. I'm glad it went to a nice family.

1 down, 4 to go...

5 months & every bit 2 years old!!

2008-07-11T14:19:00.004-05:00

Along with all the "family" changes in our household, the kid's are hitting some major milestones and going thru some developmental and behavioral changes of their own.

Colin is now 5 1/2 months old. I can't believe it! My baby is HUGE.
Matt ended up "breaking him" a few weeks ago and the little bugger now takes a bottle! Yay!!! I cannot tell you how much that has enhanced my (I mean, our) life.

He is rolling over, had his first taste of sweet potatoes and has discovered his voice. (A loud, nails-on-a-chalkboard, high-pitched shriek. Yea, it's great.)

Addi is now in a big girl bed (and will get her bunk beds once we move back to MI). She decided a few weeks ago that she was going to make a daily habit of climbing out of her crib, opening her dressers and pulling out all of her clothes, playing in the water of her air purifier and decorating her room with baby powder! Needless to say, we removed all temptations and borrowed a neighbor's day bed. Nap time is a bit rough, but she is adjusting well to her new bed.

She has been playing much more independently and imaginatively. She plays with her dolls and stuffed animals, her kitchen, she loves to read (and begins each page with "Once Upon A Time..."), color, do stickers, sing, dance and of course, watch Dora.

She is super smart. Every day she says something new or surprises me by something she does. For that reason, I am worried how she'll handle the move. Life is going to be totally different for her and very confusing. So, if anyone has been thru a cross country move with a toddler/preschooler, please share your insight.

More Changes...

2008-06-28T20:31:00.004-05:00

Another new tid bit of information - The Pitzer's are heading north!

Matt just accepted a job with a company called Fire Research Corp. as their Sales Rep for the Mid West Territory. For those of you who have heard us complain about the mortgage industry over the past 3.5 years, our prayers have been answered, again. This job is a wonderful opportunity for Matt and a great way to get us close to our family and friends for another year or two. (But don't worry, as soon as the South East Territory opens up - we'll be headed south again!)

We plan to vacation in MI in early August as planned. The kids and I will stay. Matt will head back to FL for a week or so; pack the Uhaul and head up to meet us around the 4th week in August. We are currently looking for a house or condo to rent in the Ann Arbor area (will go as south as Toledo). So, if you know of anything available, please let us know.
Matt will begin his job after Labor Day (our anniversary).

In the meantime, there are a lot of things that need to happen in order to get us up north smoothly:
Prayer Requests:

- Someone to buy the black Jeep so we can use the $ towards the cost of the Uhaul & gas.
- Someone to rent our Florida house so we can get out of our lease (w/o paying till next May).
- Someone to buy our Grand Rapids house.
- The "perfect" home for us to rent as we return to Michigan.

Big Changes for The Pitzer's

2008-06-27T13:32:00.005-05:00

There have been lots of things happening with us this month.

The one I'll share today is that we put our GR home on the market. Our tenants have been better than great, but may be moving as the Husband plans to join the MI Police Academy.

So, if you know of anyone looking for a great starter home PLEASE pass on the word. Follow this link to view the listing card and pics of the house:
http://mls.grar.com/GRARReports/ListitLib/show_report.aspx?ID=3927809926

We'll keep you posted as more changes head our way and maybe yours!?

4 month Dr.'s visit

2008-06-13T14:33:00.005-05:00

Last week we had Colin's 4 mo. well baby visit.

Dr. Leadem walked in to find Colin ready and on the table waiting for him and said; "Whoa, that is no 4 month old baby - he's a haus!" I replied; "Yea, tell me about it!"

To say the least Colin is a very healthy boy. He is in the 80% for weight & height at 16lbs 8oz. and 26 1/2 inches tall!!!!

Our guy is in size 2/3 diapers, sizes 3/6 mo. clothes for separates and 6/9 mos. for anything that snaps in the crotch. His eyes are turning brown, while his hair is getting lighter and curls with the humidity (poor kid).

He is so happy and content. Besides, refusing the bottle (still), He is the perfect (second) baby! He is thoroughly amused by his Big Sis and loves his swing. He has noticed the t.v and seems to like Baby Einstein DVD's. He found his hands about a month or so ago, and just realized he has feet a few weeks ago! So cute. He bats and reaches for his toys a lot. He is just beginning to put them into his mouth. Last night he rolled from his stomach to his back for the first time. ... And, I think he might be teething.

Thinking that he could be our last child makes me sad - he is growing SO quickly!

3, 2, 1...Blastoff! - The view from Cape Canaveral

2008-06-05T18:33:00.001-05:00

3, 2, 1...Blastoff!

2008-06-01T11:45:00.003-05:00

I still cannot get over how cool it is to be this close to Cape Canaveral. To be able to watch the launch on t.v, then run outside and see it in our back yard 60 seconds later is truly amazing. Addi loves seeing the "rocket ship" and we do too!

Yesterday was the second launch we've been home to see. The pics I took are not great, but cool none-the-less. What you see is literally a ball of fire followed by a jet stream, then once the boosters fall off it just looks like a glorified jet stream.

Within a minute and a half the "rocket ship" is gone, the jet stream fades and we go back to playing. I'll try to get more pics to post at the next launch.

2yr. & 3mos. pictures

2008-05-27T20:23:00.005-05:00

Man, my kids are cute! I think you'll agree...

To see all photos, go to: http://www.smilesbywire.com/ and enter the following:

Customer Name: Sara Pitzer

Access Code: LTP27501058001JCP

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-27T19:54:00.005-05:00

Hi! I hope you all had as nice of a weekend as we did -Full of family, friends, BBQ and a little boating!?

Yep, boating. Addi stayed with Grandma while Matt, Ralph, Kristi, Colin and I went on the boat Monday morning. It was a beautiful morning and the water was perfect.

Colin slept most of the time. Since I don't "do water sports", I had a blast watching the other three! Ralph even treated us to a little barefoot skiing!

Later that afternoon we all gathered for Matt's killer BBQ Ribs! Oh, and Sally's (I mean Aunt Grace's) Strawberry pie!

Good food and lots of fun! Matt and I are now working out and hope to loose the 5lbs we gained this weekend!

Water Skiing Video Clips

2008-05-27T18:05:00.001-05:00

For now, all I have is Kristi's video. As soon as she e-mails it to me, I'll add Matt and Ralph's videos. So, stay tuned! (Kristi, I want the one of you falling too!)

A beautiful day for a boat ride!

2008-05-15T12:00:00.004-05:00

The Cutest Big Sis on the Block!

2008-05-12T19:41:00.002-05:00

3 mo. Dr.'s Visit

2008-05-12T19:27:00.002-05:00

Today we had Colin's 3mo. Dr.'s visit. Well, technically not a "Dr.'s visit, we just went in for shots. I knew they'd charge me for the visit anyhow - So I asked to chat with the Doc for a moment about a few things.

One of the things I asked him was what to do about Colin's refusal to take a bottle. (It all started about 6 weeks ago. At the same time this started, he began only getting up once a night which means Matt was off the hook and it was just "my" feeding. Which also meant he lost his "daily bottle". I did not realize it until it was too late, and now we have a very annoying problem.) I've switched to the Playtex drop in style bottles with the brown latex nipple. It's made a slight difference, but not as much as I need it to. The Dr. said to add equal to his bottle and see if the added sweetness to the milk helps motivate him to continue. If any of you have gone thru this or have ANY suggestions PLEASE let me know.

I did manage to get Colin on the scale today. My Big Boy rocked the scale at a whopping 15lbs. 9oz.!! I have no idea what percentile this is, but it's gotta be at the top!

A visit with Aunt Beth!!

2008-05-12T19:16:00.002-05:00

Last week Beth came to meet Colin for the first time and to hang out with Addi and I while Matt was in Las Vegas. We had a really great time and we were able to do some fun things. But, like always... her time spent here was not long enough. Before we knew it, we were on our way to the airport once again. (And, Addi has been asking about "Bef" ever since.)

Giggles for Aunt Beth

2008-05-06T07:22:00.002-05:00

Being Silly!

2008-04-28T18:48:00.002-05:00

Life Is Good

2008-04-26T18:33:00.001-05:00

This week Tess, Courtney and I took the kids to Vilano Beach for the first time this year. The sky was over cast and it was super windy, but the kids (except Colin) didn't seem to mind.

This is going to be a great season at the beach. The kids are playing on their own and are loving to dig in the sand. As you can see, for the first time we were able to bring beach chairs and actually use them!

It's not every day you get to wake up to a big hug from God!

2008-04-26T18:27:00.000-05:00

Purple Paci, All Gone?!

2008-04-25T15:08:00.003-05:00

YES!!!!! It's been a week and a half and Purple (and pink) paci's are all gone!

Thanks to the lovely "poop" episode last week we've been able to get rid of the paci's once and for all! Addi had so much fun playing with her poo that she even got it on her Paci! We went to the bathroom, threw it in the trash together and that was the end of it...well kind of.

Since Addi has used a paci at bed time since she was a baby it was quite traumatic for her to go to bed w/o it. She was so sad (with tears in her eyes) and so stressed trying to figure out how to fall asleep, but not once did she ever ask for her paci! I was so impressed. She completely understood what had happened and why she could no longer have it. (I completely underestimated her!)
That first night I sat on her floor and held her hand for an hour before she fell asleep. She woke up again at 1:30am and I did the same thing - another hour. She did not take a nap the next day. But that night she was so tired she fell asleep within minutes. And that was the end of it!

Rock The Cradle

2008-04-25T14:54:00.003-05:00

Thought you might like to see where I've been every Friday on my "Day Off". :)

So, How's your day going?

2008-04-16T15:27:00.001-05:00

2yr. & 2mos. DR's Visit

2008-04-10T12:51:00.004-05:00

Yesterday the kids had their Dr.'s appointments. Needless to say they are both in perfect health and way above average on the growth charts.
Addi is now 35 inches tall and weighs 29lbs. 12oz.
Colin is almost 25 inches long and weighs 14lbs. 3oz.!!

Colin is doing really well. He is still a great baby!
His 8-10pm fussy time is now over. Yippee!
He goes to bed around 8pm, usually wakes up around 3am (just in time for General Hospital on Soap Net), then sleeps till 7:30ish. He naps in the am for a bit, then takes a long afternoon nap. He and Addi are almost on the exact same schedule! I have no idea how long this will last, but I LOVE IT!!!!

Roll'in with the Homies!

2008-04-10T01:04:00.003-05:00

Just a typical day...

One Crafty Chick

2008-04-07T11:29:00.004-05:00

What the heck is One Crafty Chick!?
Apparently life is not busy enough with a newborn and a 2 year old...
I've decided to start my own business! - One Crafty Chick.
I plan to have a "launch date" of May 1st. Until then you're all in the dark. HA!

Take care,
Sara

Addi turns TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-05T19:03:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe it! My little girl is 2 already! Where did the time go...?!

Addison woke up in the morning to Dora balloons in her bedroom and her silly parents singing "Happy Birthday to you!" She then got to open a few presents before Matt went off to work. One of which was her new bike. We had been asking her all week what she wanted for her b-day and every time she'd respond "a bike, a blue one". I guess she got her wish!

Grandma, Bubba, Nick & Quinn (and their parents too!) came over at night to celebrate and have pizza and cupcakes. ...Let's just say a good time was had by all!

Let Them Eat Cake!

2008-04-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

A Visit with Uncle Dabid!!!!

2008-04-01T19:10:00.000-05:00

EASTER

2008-03-31T10:23:00.004-05:00

This has been the year that Addi has loved the "holidays". Easter being no exception. We did many fun things to celebrate Spring and Easter this year.

The first was the Spring Fling at church. Tammy went with us. Colin slept the whole time. Addi went in the bouncy house, pet the animals at the petting zoo and ran around like a wild woman! It was fun! Now every time we go to church now she asks for the animals!

Saturday (the day before Easter) we went to Grandma and Bubba's to color Easter eggs. Addi had a great time and did pretty well. She did smash quite a few of the eggs by placing them into the dye cups a little too roughly. :)

Then on Easter Sunday we went to church in the morning and had dinner with the Pitzer's that night.

After nap Addi, Quinn and Nick had an Easter egg hunt. They had a blast! It was quite funny to watch.

Addi would open her eggs to see what was inside before putting them into her basket.

After gathering his eggs, Nick opened them and counted all of his money first - before playing with any of the stickers, bugs and other goodies.

Quinn. Quinn, Quinn, Quinn, Quinn, Quinn. He decided he liked everyone else's eggs more than his. So, being his happy-go-lucky self, he happily began putting Addi and Nick's eggs into his basket.

I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-03-26T12:01:00.001-05:00

Today is my first day at work. I am working at a children's boutique in downtown St. Augustine called Rock The Cradle.

It is such a cool store! My mom and I came in for the first time in October and I fell in love! I called the owner that afternoon, told her how much I loved her store and if she ever needed any help I'd love to work there! She called me last week and here I am! This week (with the help of Matt's parents) I am working Wed. - Sat. while the owners are at a bluegrass festival.

Normally I'll just be working Fridays from 10:30am-5:30pm. Pretty cool, huh?!

A visit with MeMe!

2008-03-17T12:52:00.003-05:00

Tammy has been with us for the last 10 days and is now on her way back to Michigan. :(

It was so great to have the extra hands, extra attention for Addi and some good old sisterly bonding.

We had a great time and did so many fun things. Such as:

- St. Augustine Alligator Farm

- Swimming at the pool

- Shopping

- Trips to the park

- Playing and Singing and playing and singing

- Dinner AND lunch out

- Scrapbooking

We miss you MeMe!

More fun with MeMe!

2008-03-17T00:04:00.002-05:00

Some People's Kids!

2008-03-14T20:15:00.003-05:00

The newest way for the youth group at our church to raise money and have fun is by sneaking out during the night and "flocking" innocent, un-expecting fellow church folk.
Matt's parents thought it would be fun to have them "flock" us and, well it was! Addi loved it! She looked out the window in the morning and yelled to me "MOM!?... MOM! ?... BIRDS... PINK BIRDS!"

Colin's first visitor's

2008-03-13T14:54:00.006-05:00

Aunt Lucy

Grammy

Papa

Uncle Mike

Auntie Megan

Aunt Ti Ti (Kristi)
Aunt Me Me (Tammy)

Our So Called Life...

2008-02-28T18:58:00.003-05:00

For those of you wondering how life is in the Pitzer household, I'd have to say pretty darn good!

This week has been a turning point - our break thru week. Things have ran quite smoothly (with minimal tears, tantrums and drama). I even made it to Target (by myself)! We are all adjusting to and finding our new rhythm. :)

Matt and I are still taking our turn with the night feedings (1am and 4:30am), and getting an OK amount of sleep in the meantime.

For those of you who are wondering - the breastfeeding is going great. It's a lot easier the second time around! Colin is now growing his third chin!!! :)

That's all for now, hope you are all doing well. Take Care!

A beautiful day for a Baptism!!

2008-02-17T19:51:00.004-05:00

Today (with our friends and family present) we had our little boy baptised.

The church service was really nice, the sermon was perfect - it was about "taking the vows we make in church and to God seriously" (ie: baptism, membership, etc.). Grandma Sally even sang a special song just for Colin! After church, we had a yummy "down-home, southern style" lunch with our friends and family in the fellowship hall.

What a special day!

Finally a moment to myself...

2008-02-13T07:13:00.003-05:00

at least until the "poop monster" wakes Addi up or Colin realizes he'd like a snack. :)

I can safely say that things here are going quite well. Besides the lack of quality sleep and increase in daily stress - Matt and I have things in good working order.

Addi is doing about as well as I thought she would. A few tantrums during the day, lots of whining and a whole lotta drama. Oh, to be a two year old female!
She is clearly under stress that her once daily, "normal" routine is being compromised. BUT, she is actually doing really well. She loves her little brother, thinks he's cute, likes to kiss him and has to know where he is at all times!

Colin is a great baby (knock on wood)! He is up and alert more and more during the day. However, all that alertness must cause him to be quite hungry as I am feeling like more of a vending machine than a Mother!
He is sleeping 3-4 hrs. between feedings at night. Yippee!!! (Another good eating/feeding baby!)

We have been taken great care of by our neighbors, Matt's parents and our church family. We haven't gone a day w/o eating or (thanks to those of you far, far away) a day w/o a nice card, gift, phone call (or e-mail) or positive words of encouragement. Thank you!

I will try to update as much as possible, no guarentees. (Hopefully bi-monthly.) Life is busy!

Welcoming...COLIN MATTHEW!!!!!!!

2008-02-10T16:13:00.001-05:00

** Journaling to come - just pics for now... Enjoy!!!

COLIN Pics

2008-02-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

More COLIN Pics!!!

2008-02-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

Colin Matthew

2008-02-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

It's A Boy!!

2008-02-02T23:14:00.000-05:00

A healthy baby boy has arrived! Sara and baby are both doing well.
Colin Matthew
8lbs, 13 oz.
21 inches long
6:26 PM
2/2/08
All I have been told is he has hair, but less than Addi did, it is lighter than her's was, and has some highlights in it. I was also told by Matt that Sara pushed 4 times, Sara's version was she pushed for 4 minutes, so either way it went really fast! I will post pics. as soon as I get my hands on some. -Megan
Congratulations to the Pitzer family of 4!!

Update of the day...

2008-02-01T14:07:00.000-05:00

Ok. I had a biophysical profile done this am (basically, a non-stress test and an ultra sound) and passed with flying colors! There is plenty of fluid around the baby and he/she is moving and breathing as it should. I had to turn from the ultra sound screen as the baby was "flashing" us (once again). Hmm...think'in a boy...
As of right now, there are 8 beds open, which means that (unless all women in St. Augustine go into labor tonight) they should have a bed available for our midnight induction. :)

If all goes well, you should hear from us at some point tomorrow!

latest update

2008-01-31T09:36:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I called OB this morning. They are going to call me back at noon to fill me in on what their day looks like. (Which really means nothing. They could have 3 patients discharged at noon and 6 women come in in labor after that - which means I get the boot again.)
I have no idea when they'll get me in for induction!!
Two things I do know, my Dr. won't induce me during the day and wants me there thru the night shift first (to help ripen my cervix) AND chances are good that I won't be able to get a bed tonight at midnight either.

I do not consider myself "emotionally sensitive" or mentally much different during pregnancy, but today I may loose it. (So, pray that I don't...)

Once again, I'll keep you posted and let you all know when the little one arrives! :)

Change of plans...

2008-01-30T20:01:00.000-05:00

I went in for my Non-stress Test this morning and before I left I was forewarned that they may not have a bed available for me tonight for my midnight induction.
Sure enough - they just called and cancelled my appt. I have to call them at 8am tomorrow for the earliest time I can be admitted.
Let's hope for early. Like noon. I'd still like to have a baby sometime tomorrow!!!

The end is near...

2008-01-29T22:03:00.000-05:00

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I talked my Dr. into scheduling my induction. I couldn't be happier! (Well, maybe if I went into labor on my own.)
Anyways, if I do not go into labor on my own by tomorrow Matt and I will be admitted and induced at midnight. They will place a drug directly on my cervix for 8 hours to help it dilate further and hope I go into labor on my own. If that doesn't help me to progress, they will begin the Pitocin IV at 8am. (This is the exact same process we went thru w/ Addi.)
Which means that with any luck - we should have a baby by dinner time on Thursday!

Please pray for a good induction, a safe delivery and a healthy baby!
We'll let you know as soon as the little one arrives!

39 Weeks...and counting

2008-01-24T19:46:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm still hanging in there. Not too thrilled about it. But, trying to be patient and enjoy what time I have left w/ Addison as my only child.
I had a Dr. appt. today. Nothing too exciting. I gained a pound. My cervix is still closed. (Which means I am not a good candidate for induction.) I requested a non-stress test to be done today (for my peace of mind) to be sure that the baby is fine and not under any stress still being in utero. The test showed the baby was doing great.
I have another Dr. appt. and non-stress test scheduled for Monday afternoon.
Pray that we have a baby before then!

No News...

2008-01-17T19:02:00.000-05:00

Many of you are wondering how I am this week. Well...I am good (unfortunately). I wish I could say that I feel this baby is on it's way, but I can't.
I had my weekly visit to the Dr. this morning. I left with no weight gain (yippee!), the baby measuring 40 weeks and a "your cervix is still closed and thick, so we'll see ya next week." I was really hoping for more interesting news.
So, it's back to the home remedies and wives tales for me (spicy food, baths, wine/beer, _ _ x, raspberry tea, bouncing on the birthing ball, pressure points, etc.).
I'll try to write one final post on my way out the door to the hospital to let you know when the baby's on it's way - no guarantees. Until then... Take Care!

Girls Day Out!!

2008-01-05T19:49:00.000-05:00

Today was the day for my "non-traditional" shower with the girls (Tess, Courtney and Cara). It was such a great day! I am so blessed to have met such great women who are not only awesome friends but who take me out for a day of pampering in celebration of our expected little one.

We went to one of my favorite baby stores (Rock the Cradle) , had a great lunch (at Scarlett O'Hara's), went to a store called the Bath Junkie and made our own body spray scents, got coffee and went to the shrine of "The Lady of the milk and happy delivery" (Nuestra Senora de la Leche y buen parto) to pray for a speedy arrival of baby Pitzer.

We had so much fun! And with that, I'm off to bed...

21mos. and 37 weeks

2008-01-04T12:25:00.001-05:00

I had another Dr. appt. yesterday (I now go every week.). The baby looks big and healthy(measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule - which is what I've been telling the dr. for a few mos. now...). Duh?!

He also made a comment about the baby having a big head. Let's hope it's not too big - ouch!

I also had him check my cervix...closed and thick. Not the two words I was hoping to hear. :(

I am feeling good. Sleeping well and all that, just ready to not be pregnant anymore. The "to do" list has been complete for a few days and now all that's left to do is wait.

Addi is doing great! She is understanding more about the baby and will talk about it now. She sees the pack n' play, the baby's room all set up, the car seat in the car and knows it's for "the baby". She gives my belly the occasional kiss or tickle and often tries to give the baby her sippy cup thru my belly button. It's pretty cute! I am still nervous to see how she adjusts once the baby arrives.

Developmentally, socially and physically she continues to grow by leaps and bounds!

She is now in a size 6 shoe, 24mo. bottoms and 2T tops. She still wears a size 5 diaper and has her beloved paci (not for long) at nap and bed times.

She loves to talk, sing, dance and "tap". Her songs now consist of most known Dora and Wiggles songs, Christmas carols, and nursery rhymes (even a few commercial jingles).

Her vocabulary has now extended to phrases like: do you hear it?, can I see it?, no, mommy - Addi turn (or Addi do it), bless you, excuse me/you and my favorite; hey, wake up!

She has now added the Doodlebops to her list of tv fav's.

She is great at coloring. It is the only thing that holds her attention for longer than 2 minutes. She enjoys the outdoors (epically the park) and playing with her boy friends.

Baby Pitzer Poll

2008-01-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

I thought this would be fun to see who can guess as well as "Mother Nature". Anyone who is interested in putting in their guesses, shoot me an e-mail and I'll add to this posting.

Name: DOB: Gender: Birth Weight:

Tess Ballinger 1/21, M, 8lbs. 5oz
Drew Ballinger 2/1, M, 9lbs. 2oz
Matt (Pitzer) 1/17, F, 8lbs. 10oz
Courtney Peterson 1/14, M, 8lbs. 12oz
Dave Peterson 1/16, M, 7lbs. 2oz
David Pitzer 1/12, M, 8lbs. 7oz
Lori Pitzer 1/20, F, 7lbs. 12oz
Kristi Dykstra 1/24, M, 9lbs
Aunt Donna Harmon 1/15, F, 8lbs. 7oz
Aunt Grace Williams 1/25, M, 7lbs. 14oz
Megan Sterk 1/18, F, 8lbs. 5oz
Sally (Mom) Pitzer 1/10, F, 8lbs. 8oz
John Dykstra 1/26, F, 6lbs. 12oz.
Abby Sutter 1/15, M, 9lbs. 2oz
Helen (Mom) Dykstra 1/26, m, 8lbs. 3oz
Al (Dad) Dykstra 1/21, m, 8lbs. 5oz
Aunt Marge Nyhuis 1/21, M, 7lbs. 11oz
Tammy Dykstra 1/19, F, 8lbs. 3oz

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-25T20:07:00.000-05:00

We had a great Florida Christmas this year. The weather was sunny and in the 70's.

Matt's brother and sister and their families came to town. It was a pretty low-key Holiday (perfect for me this year) full of quality time spent with family.

Addison had a wonderful Christmas! Full of carols sung with Grandma by the piano (Jingle Bells and "Kaya's song" aka Away in a Manger being her favorites!, days of opening gifts, an interactive stable service at church on Christmas Eve, a Ninja Christmas party with her buddies, as well as being the center of every one's attention (I have no idea where she gets this quality!?).

Hope you all had a nice Christmas!

More Christmas Pics...

2007-12-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

Baby Pitzer's Nursery

2007-12-22T14:49:00.000-05:00

Finally the nursery has come together!! Here are your long awaited pics. I hope you enjoy them!

Since the baby's gender is a surprise, the nursery decor consists of stripes and polka dots with varied colors of browns, greens and blues.

The awesome bedding was made by Matt's Mom (with a personalized quilt to follow once the baby arrives). The plaque was a gift from John Boy and Kristian. And the squares were a craft project made by yours truly.

My best friend has a new identity...

2007-12-11T19:23:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately I have spent the last 3 days in Michigan to mourn the loss of someone I have been great friends with since we were four years old.
As the obituary states, Tanya leaves behind a husband and two small boys. Please pray that these families would be able to work together (with the kids' best interests in mind) and that some sort of comfort and understanding would be received by their families.

Tanya Joy Hawkins
Tanya Joy Hawkins, aged 29, of Lowell, went to be with her Lord suddenly on Thursday, December 6, 2007. She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph; her cherished children, Jacob Tristan and Preston Dylan; parents, George and Sharon Haga of Ada; sister, Karin Lester Givens of Lowell; grandmother, Alice Haga of Grand Rapids; parents-in-law, Edward and Suzanne Hawkins of Rockford; brother-in-law, Rob & Jennifer Sliter of Toledo, OH; sisters-in-law, Nicole & Rob Bowen of Cedar Springs, Theresa Schwartz of Detroit; also several nieces and nephews. Tanya had a huge heart and was very involved with her son's lives, volunteering at their Bushnell Elementary School. She loved playing the violin, taking pictures, and had an extreme love for animals and the outdoors. Funeral services will be Monday 11:00 a.m. at Ada Christian Reformed Church, 7152 Bradfield Ave. SE, Rev. Rick Kiekintveld and Rev. Bruce Vaandrager, officiating. Interment Ada Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the O'Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd., SE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tanya Hawkins Memorial Fund for Jacob & Preston Hawkins Education Fund .

Sunday at the park

2007-12-02T18:50:00.000-05:00

Today we decided to worship by going to the park. :)

It was a gorgeous day, a bit too warm (at 82 degrees), but a perfect day to go to the park. We went to a park that is about 15 min. away and right on the water. Not only is the playground equipment new and cool, but there is a stream, pier and Christmas Trees on display at the adjoining park.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER!

32 Weeks (8 months) today!

2007-12-02T07:40:00.000-05:00

* For all of you who have been asking for "belly shots"...here ya go! One is all you get. :)

19 months and 31 weeks

2007-11-24T20:26:00.000-05:00

Time is flying in the Pitzer house these days. Between the nesting and the holiday's I never get any rest!!!!! My goal is to have all holiday prep done by the 1st (... of december...). This way I can spend all December nesting and freaking out over nothing, cleaning my house from top to bottom (even getting around to the blinds and base boards) and washing the baby's clothes for a second time. Ah, the mind of a pregnant woman...

Addi is doing great. Again, not much has changed. She is still in her crib, in size 5 diapers, almost size 6 shoes, 24mo.-2T for clothing, her hair is getting quite long, 1, 2hr. nap a day, bedtime is still 7:30pm.
One exciting thing in her life is that she got to go see The wiggles in concert last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her Grandpa took her (as I was in MI) and she "loved it!" What a great Bubba.

Baby Pitzer is doing well too. I had a Dr.'s appt. this week. Nothing exciting. I go every two weeks now...yippee! (It's not as much fun the second time around.) I did turn in my pre-admittance paperwork to the hospital. That was a nice reality check.
I still think it's a boy, however; I did have a dream that it was a girl last night...
The baby's nursery is pretty much put together (as of this afternoon). We have no real theme, rather a color scheme of turquoise, light blue, lime green, and brown. (Once the Christmas tree is out of there I'll post pics of the nursery.)

Gobble, Gobble...

2007-11-22T20:17:00.000-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I know we did.
However, for me; my Thanksgiving was celebrated last week while in MI with my family. My Dad's successful heart surgery was my Thanksgiving.

Matt's Uncle Bill (Sally's brother) and Aunt Grace came from Ohio for Thanksgiving this year. Which was great, since we haven't seen them since our Wedding!!! We had a yummy dinner and got to spend some quality time together as a family.
Matt and I were also able to get the tree up and the house decorated for Christmas. (All while drinking wine and listening to Frank - Christmas.)
What a great day! (Not to mention, four day weekend!!!)

Jacksonville Fair

2007-11-03T12:24:00.000-05:00

This week we went to the Fair with The Pitzer's, The Farmer's and Ernie (Mom and Dad P.'s neighbors'), Cousin Alyssa and her friend Taylor.

Addi had such a fun time. We saw all the animals (which she loved) and Matt even won her a teddy bear from the dart toss. But her most favorite thing was going down the "Super Slide" with her dad! They went down like 6-7 times. I have never seen her so happy and excited! All she kept saying was "again, again, again!" It was great!

(Be sure to click on pic #3 to see the expression on her face!)

The TRICK's and TREAT's of Fall

2007-11-01T20:06:00.000-05:00

What a super busy fall! We've had fall festivals, hay rides and Halloween.

By the way, Addi is in love with pumpkins!!!!! Every night before going to bed she has to say good night to her pumpkins. (Some people's kids...)

Halloween itself was rather un-eventful. We all gathered at Drew and Tess' combined our candy and sat together in their driveway passing out candy to trick-or-treater's. We did go to Matt's parent's street for a bit to do a little trick-or-treating ourselves. Addi loved it! There were kids, lights, blown up yard ornaments, etc.

Overall, she had a blast. Even though she is still too young to grasp the overall concept of the silly holiday. Next year we'll be in for a treat!!!!!!

Oktoberfest 2007

2007-10-22T12:09:00.000-05:00

Here are the pics from our first annual Oktoberfest celebration!

It was quite a party! Once the kids went to bed and I lost my big toe nail, the party went from chill'in to frat house.

With oysters, traditional German cuisine (sauerkraut, brats, red cabbage, potato salad, German chocolate cake), fried turkey and pickles, Oktoberfest beer, a bit of Jager, beer pong and people too old to be playing drinking games...things got a little...interesting.

18 Months and 25 Weeks

2007-10-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

Addi had her 18 month Dr.'s visit today. She is in great health. But left the office in not so great of spirits as she had gotten 3 shots. :(

She weighs 26lbs. 10oz (75-90%) and is 32.5inches tall (75%).

Not much has changed developmentally since last month. (Besides her daily increase of vocabulary.)

Baby Pitzer and I are doing well. My weight gain at my appt. on Monday tells me that the baby is growing as it should be. (AKA, I'm getting fat.) This baby likes to move around A LOT and is still sitting really low. I go back in 3 weeks for another appt. and for my Glucose/Sugar testing.

A return to the frozen north...

2007-10-12T13:17:00.000-05:00

...wasn't so frozen after all!

Addi and I had a great time back home! The trip was good in length, but the time sure flew!

It was great to see so many people and to be able to enjoy the outdoors during such a beautiful fall season!

A special thanks to those of you who met for our girl's lunch and helped complete a 12 month scrapbook for the new baby Pitzer.

17 Months and 22 Weeks...

2007-09-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

Addison is now 17 months old! Crazy!
She still loves to read, sing and dance. She knows most parts of her body, has begun to learn her colors, alphabet and is starting to count (she can count to 10 - most of the time and pretty accurately). She also loves to color.
Her personality is still outgoing, silly and extremely funny (just like her mom)! She loves life, her friends and Dora (still).
She is down to one nap a day (after lunch) and sleeps for 1.5-2 hours.
She still likes to eat (just like her mom) and is not picky at all. She has a great pallet and will eat a wide variety of foods. She has even started to use her silverware! (better late than never...)

Onto baby Pitzer...
I am now 22 weeks and am getting quite round. I've been able to feel the baby moving and kicking for a week or two now. (My favorite part of pregnancy!)
My appetite is pretty much back to normal, except the baby doesn't like me to eat meat all that much. Weird?!
I have been feeling really...normal. I have a good amount of energy and not been sick in over a month! Yippee!!!!!!
I don't really remember getting them w/ Addi, but I just started getting Braxton Hicks Contractions this week (all the time). They aren't painful at all, but you definitely know they are there.
Grandma Pitzer and I picked out fabrics last week and she will soon begin to make the bed skirt, bumper and quilt for the baby. It's going to look so cool. What a special gift!

That's about it. We are all well and happy.
It's Friday, which means "Neighborhood Happy Hour" - Gotta go!

Halftime pics - GO BLUE!!

2007-09-16T14:44:00.000-05:00

Update

2007-09-12T11:28:00.000-05:00

I want to thank you all for keeping us in your prayers this past week. Matt's test came back negative!! So we should have a perfectly healthy baby.

The geneticist said to tell my family members that; all of you of child bearing age should have this blood test done (even before you have kids) to know if you are a carrier of this.
The strand I have is common and is called a 1148T mutation. Unless it was paired with another mutation (3199del6)on the same chromosome AND paired with another mutation strand from Matt (which we know is not possible) then and only then would out kid's have the possibility of having CF. Confusing stuff, I know!! I have my lab report and can try to answer questions if you have any.

I also wanted to inform you of the official change in due date. As of yesterday, the due date is now 1/26/08. This means that I am a bit over 20 weeks preggo.
The baby looked perfectly healthy, weighed about 13oz., and was not shy about showing it's genitalia to the tech (she even made us turn our heads a few times it was so obvious).

The Pitzer's

2007-09-08T12:28:00.001-05:00

Name Poll

2007-09-07T14:18:00.000-05:00

Once again, it's back to the drawing board to find the "perfect name" for the new little Pitzer. We have had tons of help (and a few disagreements) and have finally come to a few that we all (Matt, Megan, my sisters and I) actually like and are in running for consideration. So, here they are, please let us know which ones you like and why...

GIRL:

Natalie (meaning; born at Christmas - Ironic, huh?!) Grace
OR
Sydney (meaning: wide meadow) Grace

BOY:

Not sure which spelling... Reece/Rhys (meaning:enthusiasm) Matthew
OR
Matthew (meaning: gift of God) Van (Dutch - cool, meaning:of or from the family of) ... He would go by VAN.

ATTENTION: Dykstra & Atchison Women

2007-08-31T11:55:00.000-05:00

I got a call from the Dr. yesterday saying that my blood test came back positive for being a carrier of Cystic Fibrosis. (This doesn't mean I have the disease, just a carrier of it.)

Our next step is to have Matt's blood drawn (Tues. the 4th) to see if he is a carrier also. The test may take 1-2 weeks to get results, so please pray for us in the meantime. If he is a carrier, then and only then; the baby will have a 1 in 4 chance of having CF.

We meet with the Geneticist at the University of Florida on 9/11 for an informative counseling type session. I should know a lot more then.

To my female family members, being a carrier is inherited thru genetics. Which means some one in either of my families is a carrier as well. This is a relatively new test and available thru your OBGYN like all the others. Even if you opt out of all other tests (as we do) it may be worth testing for this one in particular. It won't really change anything, but it will insure you deliver at the right hospital (level 3) so that the appropriate care is there if your baby needs it.
Below is a bit of info I pulled on line for you to give you better understanding.

What Is CF?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease that causes the body to make thick, sticky mucus. This causes problems in two major areas: the lungs and the digestive system.
Healthy lungs produce mucus, which protects the airways and makes it easier to breathe. But for a person with CF, the mucus is thick and sticky and can clog up the lungs. This creates a place where bacteria can easily grow - and bacteria cause infections.
And it's not only the lungs that are affected in a person who has cystic fibrosis. Mucus-producing cells line the digestive tract, including the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digest food and hormones that help absorb sugar. When thick mucus in the pancreas clogs up the narrow passageways, it can make it difficult for people to digest food and get all the vitamins and nutrients they need.
Cystic fibrosis affects more than 30,000 children and young adults in the United States. It can be mild or severe, depending on the person. To make normal mucus, the body needs a special protein. This protein is defective in cystic fibrosis, producing the thick, sticky mucus that causes problems for people with CF.

What Causes CF?
CF is an inherited disease, which means that it's passed down from parent to child. Someone who has CF was born with it.
People with CF got the disease because their moms and dads each had a gene for CF. You need two CF genes (one from mom and one from dad) to have cystic fibrosis. Most people don't know that they carry the gene for CF until they have a child who has the disease because carriers of the CF gene do not have the disease themselves