Happy Holidays - - 2009

Season's Greetings! Well, as 2009 draws to a close, I thought I should blog one more time. I know I am bad about updating, but I don't think that many people read this thing, so I don't feel too bad!

Things are going good in Eagle. Josh is loving kindergarten. He has lost his two middle teeth on the bottom. No progress yet on the top. He just realized last night that he has some molars coming in on the bottom. They don't seem to be bothering him to badly! He had three snow days, not last week, but the week before. It was a lot of fun spending time with him, but he was very ready to get back and see his friends.

Jeff is still enjoying working at DBI. He hasn't been out of town for over a month now. It has been really nice having him home. He has been attending physical therapy for three weeks, as he tore his rotator cuff. He physical therapist has suggested requesting an MRI, and seeing an orthopedic doctor, as he should be 50% better at this point, and has experienced no relief from the pain at all. Poor guy. He rarely complains about being sick or in pain, and this has been bothering for over two months. Hopefully after the holidays, he can get it squared away.

I am just keeping busy with the same old stuff. Taking care of Josh, and medical transcription class. I think that my brain has a hard time getting all the cobwebs out. It will get done eventually!

I travelled down to Kansas City this weekend to visit my friend Kara. She is going through a bit of a tough time, so I'm glad that I was able to go, and that Jeff was willing to hang with Josh for an entire weekend. The boys had a good time, but as usual, I came down with something while I was gone. Not feeling the greatest now, and I'm sure staying out way past my bed time didn't help! I also got to see my #1 Carrie (I have a lot of Carrie's) for the first time since we moved. I knew I missed her, but I didn't realize how much until we got to hang out. Good friends are hard to come by. I feel that I have been very blessed in that category!

We are looking forward to Christmas with our families this year, as last year we didn't have time to travel up home. It will be a quick trip, but we will get it all in (as long as the weather cooperates! Fingers crossed!)

Merry Christmas! I'll try to blog more next year!

Katie

Prayer Request - Ty Sichmeller

Hello, All! Just a quick request. Annette Sichmeller's (a friend from my days visiting my grandparents in Estelline, SD) 3-year-old son, Ty was diagnosed with ALL leukemia this week. Please send prayers up for not only Ty, but for Annette who is expecting baby number three sometime this month, and the rest of their family. Thanks!

Trip to KC, Swine Flu and Pneumonia... BOO!

Well, as you can tell in the post title, this has been a busy couple of weeks for us! We were fortunate to get to make a quick trip to KC (our first since moving five months ago!). We got to see lots of friends. Unfortunately, we were all sick the whole time we were there. Jeff and Josh had a sinus infection. I was diagnosed once we got home, with the H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Pneumonia in my upper left lobe. It was AWFUL! I can really only speak for myself, but I was down completely for a week. Yuck! We are all feeling much better now. I am doing a lot better, still just a little wheezing. Good times!

While in KC, we were fortunate to visit with Lonnie, Randy, Mitch, Jill, Addyson, Shannon, Sarah, Leslie, Cathy, Steven, Rob Vanbiber, Terracon friends, Jenny, Elizabeth, the Green's and the Gross's. We thank everyone for putting up with us and all of our germs! So far, I don't think anyone else has gotten sick!

Josh is still loving school. He is really excited, as next week all the kids are going on a Safari field trip. It will be his first. I got the opportunity to read to his class September 11th. It was a very fun experience. I also got to sample what school lunch was like... Fiestada... yummy (not!) We had our first parent/teacher conference with Miss Ottemann. It went very well, and she had nothing but great things to say about Josh. Awesome!

Jeff has been on the road a lot for work. He is on his way back from Colorado today. Heading to Canada this weekend, and then the following week, off to Vegas.

In other news, my dad and Pauline bought a new house in Yankton, and moved two weeks ago. They were fortunate, and the house that Kara and I grew up in sold quickly. Also, my little sis, Kara and niece Natalya came for a visit in August. It was so great to see both of them. Kara and David are expecting a baby boy at the end of February.

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Josh's first day of kindergarten. The excitement has been building for months. The buildup culminated this morning, upon arrival at the school at 8am. After a few minutes of walking around the playground looking lost (WAY too many kiddos!), Josh and I waited patiently with his new friend Connor for Miss Ottemann. I am anxious to pick him up this afternoon to see how he liked it.

Jeff and Josh... they look nothing alike! RIGHT!

Our Family.

Josh coming out the front door to go to school.
Josh with his big ol' backpack in our house.

The kitties

Well, as promised, here are some pictures of the cats. Jerry seems to like our tractor. If he isn't out roaming around the property and through the cornfield he can be found laying in the seat of the tractor, on the mower deck, or underneath the Tahoe.

Karen seems to be doing well too. I am still a little apprehensive about letting her stay outside of her cage. I think I will just have to give it a try tomorrow.

New Challenge/Adventure/Journey

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting every doctor under the sun. When you are a "problem child" in the medical area (such as myself!) it is a pain in the rear to move. Well, it was time. So, I got a new primary physician two weeks ago, and she referred me to my millions of new doctors. Upon doing my bloodwork, it was determined that my cholesteral is off the charts (BAD!) and my diabetes could use some work as well. In addition, I have been wanting to lose weight, but needing a nudge. Well, nudged I got! They aren't forcing me, but tomorrow, I am starting the Glycemic Index Diet. I bought the book, and some food tonight at the store (what I remembered off the cuff from reading, I've got a real list ready to go to the store tomorrow!) I am ready. The treadmill is plugged in and ready to go.

I am going to do a daily food journal, and will blog about my experience as I begin this journey. I am hoping to lose 70 pounds (YIKES!). Say a few prayers for me, (Jeff and Josh!) as I'm sure the first days and weeks of this lifestyle change will not be a pleasant one!

Here's to a healthier me!

New Additions - Jerry and Karen

Well, we are, for the time being, pet owners once again. While up visiting Grandpa and Grandma Hilfiker this weekend, Josh and I decided it was time. So, we are now the proud owners of a gray and white cat that is about a year old. He is a tom cat, and is named Jerry (after the mouse on Tom and Jerry.) We also had the opportunity to go see a domesticated fawn (baby deer for any of you city folk that might be reading this (Kara Green)) named Lenny. It was born at the end of May, and sports a rhinestone collar (if you can believe that!) While we were visiting Lenny and his adoptive family, I was admiring the tame calico kitten that they had. I must have been admiring too long, because they told me I could have it! So, that would be Karen. Again, Josh's choice. She is adorable and maybe 10-12 weeks old. I will try to put a picture up once they aren't so freaked out.

We thought that Jerry was gone for good as soon as we let him out of the cat carrier. But, he came back. It is going well so far, and Josh loves the cats to death, so I hope they stick around!

Visit from the Green Family!

We were so excited to have our KC friends Jeff and Kara Green come up to visit last weekend, along with their two girls, Avery (5) and Ellery (almost 3)! They were here for a somewhat action packed three day weekend.

They arrived Thursday night. Not much to tell there. I think that the girls really enjoyed running around the "farm", and catching fireflies. Also, Kara was perplexed by all the corn. She had no idea that the corn you see around here is for feeding animals... not humans! She also could not believe the amount of corn between here and KC. I believe that quote was, "Do we really need that much corn in the United States?" Again, it is to feed the animals that we in turn eat ourselves, so the answer is a resounding, "YES! We really do need all that corn!"

Friday we went to the Omaha Zoo. We started off at the Skyfari, the new attraction this year. It was "OK". We spent about three hours there, and while the weather was surprisingly good, we were pooped, and most of us were ready to go!

Saturday, it was off to the movies. The men took the kids to see the newest Ice Age flick, and Kara and I took in a chick flick, My Sister's Keeper. Those of you that know me, know that I cry at the drop of a hat, and at a movie about a kid with cancer, this couldn't have been a good choice. I however, did very well... three tears. Kara was a mess. That girl can do the "Oprah Ugly Cry" with the best of them (I can make fun of this, because I too have quite the "Ugly Cry"!)

After we got back to the house, it was off to Eagle Days. I think we got there at the wrong time, because there wasn't a whole lot going on. We let the kiddos play on the bouncy toys, and then it was back home to the AC!

Lots of Phase 10 was played (by Kara and me), and some Wii Tiger Woods disc golf was played by the men. All in all, a good visit!

Relay for Life 2009 - Yankton, SD

Josh and I traveled to my hometown of Yankton, SD this weekend, to take part in the annual Relay for Life. As I'm sure most of you reading this already know, I lost my mom to cancer in May of 1995. This is not where my family's fight against cancer ends. My dad is a prostrate cancer survivor. My Aunt Lois is a double survivor of Hodgkin's Disease. My Aunt Ann is a breast cancer survivor. My mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor, and my mom's sister was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and is currently undergoing treatment. My mom's best friend Carolyn died two years ago of brain cancer. And sadly, last September, my son Josh's 4 year old classmate, Sarah Macy, died of complications from Wilm's Tumor, a cancer of the kidney.

Nobody is unaffected by cancer. Everyone has lost someone to this awful disease, whether it be family or friend. I am including pictures of the luminaries that Josh and I made (most of them). We did six. Three for survivors (Papa Ordell, Aunt Linda, and Grandma Del Rae), and three in memory of our loved ones who lost the battle to this beast, but definitely earned their angel wings (albeit at a much to early age!)

Tommy - 02/01/2000 - 06/28/2009

For nine years, we have been blessed to call Tommy our dog. He was a faithful friend, our constant companion. It is with heavy hearts, that Sunday, June 28, 2009, we said goodbye to our best dog Tommy. We are sad that he is not here with us anymore, but we are thankful that he is no longer in any pain. We are having many conversations of our memories of Tommy, and hope that he is hopping from cloud to cloud, playing catch, and catching Frisbees up in heaven.
Please see the attached pictures of our boy. Please note that even right before we had to put him to sleep (picture on left, by himself), he still was full of smiles. We miss him terribly already.

Chillaxin

Whatup, everybody? That's my sad attempt at being cool! Not much going on here in the good ol' state of Nebraska. Josh and I are waiting for Jeff to get home from Kansas (for the third week in a row!) Seems to be a habit anymore!

Josh's head seems to be doing much better. The misshapen-ness is all but gone. We have to take him back for his followup scans in August.

Jeff's work is going fine, although, it has had in him Topeka 3 out of the 5 weeks we have been here. Hope that slows up, but we are getting by!

We had our first overnight visitors last weekend. My dad and Pauline came down Sunday night and left Monday. Phil and DelRae came Monday for lunch. It was nice getting to show our family where we are living now!

Josh and I are leaving either tomorrow or Thursday to head north. We are going to Marquette, Michigan to join my family in celebrating my Aunt Gayle's marriage to Dirk. I am anxious to see Gayle, Rachel, Ross and Greg, as it has been almost 6 years (they have never met Josh!), and to meet Dirk, Jill, Luke, Brita and Greta. They are a welcome addition to the Akland clan, and we can't wait to break them in at the next holiday gathering they join us for! Not looking forward to the 13 hour car ride, but we will get through it!

Later!

Update on Josh

I have an update to our post from last Monday, Josh was injured in a roughly 8 foot fall last weekend (May 2). We took him to the ER last Sunday, and he was given a clean bill of health, and in fact the doctor and nurse couldn't even find a bump on his head where he hit it. So, imagine my surprise on Saturday night, when I was giving Josh his bath, and noticed that his head was extremely swollen/enlarged on the side he fell on.

I called the peditrician's office this morning (what a great way to be introduced to a new practice!). The doctor we had already made a well check appointment with was out today, so we saw the PA. He was quick to try to ease my fears when he said, "I think his skull is fractured." Not the words that you want to hear. Well, he explained to me, that because the mass was mushy, it was likely that it was fluid between the skull and the skin, and would likely just need to be monitored closely, but he wanted to run a CT scan to be certain, and would confer with the doctor upon her return tomorrow.

So, off to the hospital Josh and I went. Josh did very well for his CT, although he didn't hold still very well! He thought it was pretty funny! They called this afternoon, and it is in fact fractured. The radiologist found a few places that concerned him, so it was also reviewed by a neurologist, who stated that because of the nature of the injury, and the age of the injury, it was nothing to be concerned with.

We will be heading back to the doctor sometime this week to get the lump measured. We will likely be going in weekly for monitoring until it is cleared up. Until then, Josh is having to be super careful, and we have to be sure he doesn't hit his head.

Boys! What can ya do! Hope this finds you well.

Katie

Pics of house

Sunset from front porch

Master closet

Master closet

Spaceship shower

Dining room doors to deck

Mud room

Kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room

House

Open House and Last Day of School

Josh and his class. I think that they are Sophia, Sarah, Saige, Kobe, Jovan, and Olivia.

We Moved!

Well, the move is officially complete! We got our boxes and furniture delivered today. So, now the unpacking can begin! We are excited to sleep in our own beds tonight... now if we can only find our sheets! Tommy seems to be adjusting well to his new surroundings, but it has only been about 3 hours! He hasn't wandered off yet, and seems to be enjoying laying in the garage!

Josh is back with us today. He had a trip to the ER last night, as he took a fall on Saturday and hit his head. Just a "quick" visit to make sure everything was okay. It wasn't quick, but he turned out fine, and that is all that matters!

Jeff is planning on returning to work tomorrow. I think he is looking forward to it. We spent the last 5 nights in Brian and Tara's camper. Thanks for putting up with us! Josh spent the weekend with Todd and Malinda and the cousins (Allen, Allison, Brice and Brittany). They brought us our first dinner (KFC) last night. Tonight Brenda brought us some homemade beef stroganoff. We are ready for a break after the day of moving! No pictures, as I'm sure the camera cable will not be found for awhile! Soon though, I promise!

Check out our new blog!

I follow many blogs (as you can see on the left side of my blog). I noticed that a lot of people were getting their blogs custom made by Leelou Blogs. I needed to check it out for myself, and was excited to see, that they offer free blog layouts. So, please enjoy our new design. I like it, as I am a girl who loves pink! I think that it is definitely a lot cuter than our previous design! So, be sure to check out Leelou!

Things are going well here. We are trying to squeeze in suppers and lunches with all of our friends prior to moving. We are down to 12 days now. I am really anxious to get moved up to Nebraska, but at the same time, nervous about the unknown. I will also miss the great friends that I have made in KC in the last 11 years. I know that I will be back lots to visit!

Josh is doing well, and is very excited to move. He is becoming more aware of the fact that he will be leaving his friends at school, and that isn't the greatest, but he is excited about brining special treats next week on his last day!

Jeff seems to really be enjoying his new job, and for that I am so thankful. He was definitely ready for a change.

Hallelujah! We Found a House!

Well, Josh and I are back from a week spent in Lincoln with Jeff (me), and Grandma, Grandpa, Papa and Pauline (Josh). We were very fortunate that our house in Kansas City was quickly snapped up! In the same turn, we had an unfortunate experience in trying to buy a house that we loved up near Lincoln. Let's just say, our streak with realtors has not been the best. The exception to that rule is Gary Belt with Remax in KC. The guy is AWESOME! Jeff and I can't say enough nice things about the guy. We really appreciate all his hard work and dedication to getting our house sold. We are thankful every day that we decided to go with Gary.

We are bummed that things didn't work out with the other house, however, we found a house we like equally as much, and we found it... on CRAIGSLIST! Gotta love Craigslist! The sellers, Larry and Jenna, have been an absolute dream to work with, and we are very thankful. I took Josh out to see the house yesterday, and he loved it. I will attach pictures once we get moved up there. We are set to move May 1, 2009. We are excited. I was getting a little sentimental today when I was driving back to KC this week. Thinking, this is the last time that I will drive back here and own my house! Thank goodness we have lots of friends down here that we will come back and visit.

Josh is excited to get back to school tomorrow, even if only for one day this week! He is starting to understand that in two short weeks, he won't see most of his school friends anymore. Pretty sad! But he is excited to move to "Thebraska".

Congratulations go out to my longtime friend Greg and his wife Libby, on the birth of thier daughter, Clara Olivia. She is a little darling! I hope to meet her soon! I haven't seen Greg in probably five years... that is just too long!

We're Moving!

Hey All!

You read right! We are moving! Jeff was recently offered a position with a different company, that is located in Lincoln, NE. We are very excited by this new opportunity, and are actively trying to get our house on the market! Hopefully by the end of the week! That said, if you know anyone who is looking, let us know!

Time for an Update!

Hello, All!

Well, it has been almost two months since my last update. I figure I am about due! I wish I could say that a lot has been going on, but, alas it has not!

Christmas was spent just the three of us this year. Josh loved Christmas, and all Santa brought him. He is a pretty special little boy. We are very fortunate for his continued good health and happiness. My dad and Pauline came down the Friday after Christmas and spent the weekend with us. They got us the Wii Fit for Christmas. Wii love it! Josh got lots of games and puzzles for Christmas. He loves puzzles, so those might have been his favorite gifts. We also went to church on Christmas Eve. Church started at 5. We got there at 4:10. By 4:30, it was standing room only. Crazy!

Jeff is staying busy with work. He has travelled to Iowa for two separate weeklong trips. So, a couple of times, I have done the single parent thing. I realize how lucky I am to have Jeff, but it is on those weeks that I appreciate all he does for us the most!

I, too am staying busy with work. With the economy the way it is, everyday is a crap shoot! I just show up, work hard, and thank the good Lord that I have a job for another day. Work is very stressful due to the economic downturn, but this has been a better week. Some days I am not as optimistic! Listen to me complain... awful! I am very lucky to have a job, and to work with some of the nicest people that I have had the pleasure of knowing!

Josh is staying busy... mostly with birthday parties and Scooby Doo. We are going to our 10th birthday party in three months this weekend. I am hoping for a break soon! He does enjoy them though! He is doing really well at school (as far as we know!) Jeff attended the preschool's monthly prayer service today. It was in honor of Josh's classmate Sarah Macy, who lost her battle with cancer in September.

Two weeks ago Jeff and I were lucky enough to attend a Jessica Simpson (boo!) and Rascal Flatts concert with our friends Kara and Jeff Green. Jeff (Green) was able to score us some awesome tickets... 10th row floor. AMAZING! It was a really fun time!

Well, I think that is about all that is new with us! Jeff is playing Mario Kart with his brother Brad as we speak. We got Guitar Hero this weekend. Jeff hates it. I think that he now knows how I feel when we play Mario Kart! Poor guy just doesn't have the coordination for it! Josh likes to jam with me though!