2 Under 2!

If you're not following my sorority sister & friend Brittney's blog, you're missing out!  She is blogging weekly a 2 Under 2 Tuesday series, so since this is a significant number for Team Wieck right now I thought I'd borrow the idea!

Team Wieck added Baby #2 on Jan 2 via a 2 C-section with a 2 year old and 2 years now in Jamestown..........

2 Years Old:  The prince of the house turned 2 on January 8th.  He continues to amaze us every day with his exploding vocabulary and most recently, exploding tantrums.  Thankfully they are infrequent, but maybe that makes them worse when they do happen.  We celebrated Jordy in style as he brought cupcakes to daycare and Grandma Karna was still here helping with Anya.   Later that week he had a party with both the men's and women's basketball team.  Super cute!  We had a great time when Grandma Karna & Grandpa Jeff came back to visit while the Jimmies had an out of town game... even though our 2 year old interrupted the weekend with a quick visit to the ER.  Somehow while playing he had a dislocated elbow... which I inadvertently popped back in while waiting for the doctor.  So, that was an expensive trip for Mommy to do all the work.  He capped off the week with a visit to the Walk In Clinic for a double ear infection and croup.  Jordy is bound and determined I guess that little sis will not steal the show!  It has been a challenge that for some reason at nighttime he will have NOTHING to do with Daddy.  It is MOMMY only.  That includes when little visitor pops into our room at 3:00 AM.  We tried to Super Nanny-style him back to his bed but honestly, although I think Team Parents are pretty good at saying NO, when Justin took him he screamed and cried the most pitiful cry for Mommy and I was in so much pain after the C section I wasn't able to get out of bed...  So, he's ended up with us more often that not.  4 people in a queen size is pretty cozy!  This too shall pass, right?

2 Weeks Long:  Ahhh, how long Jordy's daycare was closed this February.  Stay at Home Moms, I salute you!!!!  Although --naturally-- during basketball season I am alone with the 2 kiddos quite a bit and often overnight, it was interesting having them both by myself 24/7!  Some days I fantasized about that dislocated elbow.... where he just laid around....  Needless to say, the tantrums were up a notch, and with the weather being well below zero we had to get pretty creative.  Anya cried A LOT during the day-- I think from overstimulated and lots of "snuggling."  I have to admit I was looking forward to spending some time with my Boy, and feeling a little cocky with my teacher trained schedule with snacks planned and all my Pinterest inspired activities... but Day 1 it ALL hit the fan when Grandma and Grandpa left.  Apparently Mommy could not provide the attention and entertainment and feeding and holding Anya became Jordy's arch nemesis.  Although a rocky start, we finally settled in to our new normal, and Anya spent A LOT of time in the swing.  Thankfully, week 2 Grandma Denise was to the rescue!  Just an extra pair of hands to rock Anya to sleep or take Jordy to the potty was a godsend!  Even taking the kids to the Jimmies game was 1,000 times easier with my mom here.  Thanks, Mom!

2 Months Old:  Ahhh sweet baby girl who actually likes the swing.  Moms of baby girls, you have been holding out on me.  She is the snuggliest little baby who barely fusses, likes to be worn in the baby carrier (which leaves me hands free for Toddler Tornado) AND likes her swing!  She took her 2 month old shots like a champ!  We are 15th percentile weight and 85th percentile height.  She is smiling and cooing and while she often gets the shaft in terms of photographs, tummy time, reading time, and parent time when brother is around, she is happy healthy and growing.  She gets up only 1-2 times per night to eat and go back to sleep.  Now that I'm up moving around we aren't feeding in bed so she is in her rock and play and soon to move to crib.  Such a big girl!

2nd C-Section:  Anya was a planned repeat C section, so those that know my birth story with Jordy can understand my amazement that we checked in at 5:00 AM, went into surgery at 7:45 AM and she was born at 7:52 AM :) ... but in most ways it has been a more difficult recovery.  Obviously, I'm older (30!) and have commitments to a rambunctious toddler!  Justin, naturally as Head coach has more commitments (and no, he didn't take a day off).  Also because of the crazy ND weather I didn't get my sisters pampering me for a week.  The basketball schedule was much less forgiving too as I was picking up Jordy from daycare and hauling 2 kids and huge diaper bag to many more games.  Thank Goodness for my amazing Team Coaches Wives Erin & Sara.  Even though Erin has her own newborn to wrangle, there's safety in numbers!  I also mostly ignored the recommendations not to do stairs for 2 weeks (we have 2 levels, sooo ?!).  Really though--- what was I thinking putting Jordy bed the first night we were home from the hospital?!  This experience was way more incision site pain and back pain.  And although I took the pain meds round the clock for the first week, I paid for that later out the other end.... I mean, as my friend Amanda puts it, pushing out ass boulders is probably more painful than actually giving birth was!  All said and done we had a healthy delivery and healthy little nugget to take home.

2nd Year Head Coach: Well since the birth of our 2nd child the Jimmies went 12-1!!!!  We had a crazy amazing conference season where we won the Regular Season Conference Title AND the whole conference tournament.  And if you haven't heard the news.... Coach Wieck was honored as the Coach of the Year!!!!  There are so many highs and lows when your life [and livelihood] revolves around wins and losses and recruiting and never seeing your spouse... but I have always said the 'highs" are so very very very High!  We can live on this one for awhile.  All the traveling, recruiting, long nights that screw with the kids schedule, the cheering, distracting the toddler and the fortune spent on happy meals and concessions end up as distant memories when the season ends on such a high note.  I won't ever forget the hugs Coach Wieck got from the guys on the team and the joy he had celebrating with Jordy cutting those nets down.  Sometimes being a coach's kid you can really get the shaft but sometimes you get some really cool experiences!

Needless to say, we're exhausted and blessed beyond measure.  We are looking forward to Anya's inaugural trip to the motherland... Iowa!  We joke often that our kids are Dakotans by birth but Iowans by choice! :)

Going to Daddy's Game!

How Daddy does the parenting

snuggle buddies

how to get 15 minutes of peace : give him a popsicle

Our Coach of the Year!

Pretty Proud of the bday card I made Mommy!

I sooooo got this!

Anya's piece of the net :)

Cutting nets down with Daddy!

In the "yocker room!"

Teddy Bear Toast

Anya Lynne Wieck arrives!

Figured it was about time to update the blog since we've become a family of four!

Eve of Christmas Eve, we got a wonderful surprise!  Coach Danny Neville and his wife my dear friend Erin welcomed their little bundle of joy Emma!  Jordy looooooooooves baby Emma so much!  And so do we.  Here is the proud little man holding Emma and my big ol' pregnant belly in the background.

We had a quiet Christmas Eve (except for church, where Jordy kept shouting "Happy Birthday Jesus!")  at home just the three of us, baking cookies, to which Jordy was NOT impressed that Santa "ate" his cookies.  And his most favorite thing in his stocking... his new socks.  Cheap date, I love him!

Baking Cookies with Daddy on Christmas Eve

Christmas Day the weather was beautiful so after a visit to the Nevilles, we headed to Aberdeen to spend the day with the Sathers (Basketball families are wonderful, aren't they?!)  Before we left we took this picture which is one of my favorite pictures of all time... I always carried Jordy like this while pregnant and had been feeling rather emotional about flipping his world upside down!

Then it was a blitz to get ready for Baby!  Everyone kept asking me, "Are you ready?!"  If by ready, they meant we had a package of newborn diapers and I had dusted off the good ol' Rock N Play sleeper... then sure, yeah, I was 'ready.'  I actually think that Justin's sister Abby had a bit of heart attack when I told her I didn't even have a hospital bag ready a few days before giving birth.  With a scheduled C-section, I didn't think I need to over do it and be ready early :)

Luckily Abby and Brent were here visiting the day after Christmas.  Otherwise our tree would still be up!  They also cooked and froze some delicious suppers for us!!!!  And entertained Jordy so I could collect my thoughts!  We had 38/39ish week (whatever!)  appointment on Friday December 27.  Coach Wieck was scheduled to leave for Sioux City, IA on the bus for a 2 game tournament, arriving home the day before our scheduled C-section.  Well Little Miss said I don't think so!  Our wonderful doctor told us that Baby was head down, had dropped, and I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  [Sure, get this on the SECOND one when I all ready HAVE to HAVE surgery...grrr].  I then proceeded to bribe the doctor with money, beer and pizza if she would just go ahead and make baby come that day so I didn't have to worry if she would arrive when Daddy was gone.  With all that information at hand, Coach Wieck told the team the next day at practice he wouldn't be going to Iowa to coach them because he just couldn't risk missing the birth of his daughter (and probably because I've threatened several times this is the last hurrah!;)

We spent the next several days enjoying Jordy, making ridiculous amounts of trips to Wal-Mart (realizing, hmmmmm.... yes ... might need a couple pairs of jammies for baby... maybe a Paci??), and cleaning and scrubbing (why do pregnant people do that?  So weird).

I did shed a few tears putting little man to bed the night before we were headed to the hospital.  Justin's parents were staying with him, so we knew he was in great hands and have an amazing time being spoiled! We planned to have him spend the day at daycare and meet little sister that evening.  We checked in about 5:00 AM and when I was all hooked up my contractions were about 4 1/2 minutes apart.  She was bound and determined that today was going to be her birthday!  The nurse told us she likely would have been delivered before 5:00 PM that day regardless!

On January 2nd, 2014, 7:52 AM, Anya Lynne Wieck arrived via an uncomplicated C-section.  She and I were both doing so well I even got to see her down in recovery!  She latched on like a champ while I took a little snooze and they put those vibrating things on my legs.  I was soooooo drug induced and cuckoo I actually said to Justin "That was great!  Maybe she isn't our last!" (There are no witnesses to confirm nor deny this claim).  An hour later we are lounging in our room when the phone rings (Yep, there's landlines in hospital rooms apparently.)  It was the Jamestown Sun!  Apparently, Anya arrived in style as the FIRST baby of 2014.  So the nurse hustled me into a beautiful more stylish PINK hospital gown (I imagine cleaner as well...) so we could get our picture taken for the paper.  Yep, 3 hours after surgery it's time to be in the newspaper.  Here's the link if you missed it!

http://www.jamestownsun.com/content/couple-celebrates-new-year-new-baby


Grandma Karna and Grandpa Jeff came to meet Anya and bring Justin lunch and then evening it was time for the big reveal to big brother!  I had read a million blogs and posts and books about preparing your toddler for a new sibling and maybe I need to write one because none of them seemed to mention hiding every single button and cord in your hospital room from your curious toddler :)  I did make sure that the baby was in her crib and Justin and I greeted him first and talked to him about his day before introducing baby sister.  It couldn't have gone better.... he was thrilled to see us and her!!!!  He kept saying, "I see Baby Anya!  I wanna snuggle her!"  (And occasionally called her Baby Emma... so confusing!)

After holding her briefly, he was over it and wanted to pull some more cords, push some more buttons, and play with the balloon we'd gotten as a gift!  It was a sweet moment that I'll never forget!
After Jordy left, I cried.  Cried, cried, cried!  Justin thought there was something wrong with me, but I just missed him soooooo much and all the "newness" was kind of overwhelming.  Other than the Mission Trip I took to Peru, [where I also cried a lot from being away from him], I had not been away from him overnight this long and he has never spent a night away from either one of his parents.

Luckily, I had received a pep talk from my friend Sissa who had just had her 2nd baby, too.  She told me that right now it was Anya who needed me, Jordy would be fine, and to remember that I was her mommy, too!!!  So I snuggled my newborn, and took my own advice and sent her to the nursery for the night.  Justin and I slept amazing in the hospital!  Anya was a sleepy little thing and we didn't see her again til about 4 AM.  She was nursing beautifully and barely ever made a peep.  Turns out she was a little jaundice so we did some waking to feed and supplementing.  She'd still rather sleep than eat (gets that from her mommy!).

Day after giving birth was not so peachy... Unfortunately I cried again the next morning.  WHY!  Well because they brought my breakfast and it was a PIECE. OF. TOAST.  That's it!!!!!  Not even buttered!  Now I know why they withhold food as a form a torture for prisoners of war.  Luckily(?) I had a headache the day before so the nice nurse gave me a Coke... but I was told after 24 hours I could eat.  Well, breakfast was served about 7 minutes before the 24 hours was up.  Which meant... Toast.  I was like, What is this!!!  A concentration camp!!!!  

It went downhill from there as I was also required to get up and walk.  Somewhere along the way the nurse and I miscued and one of us [her] didn't pick up the cath.... OUCHIEEEEEEEEEE.  That thing was uncomfortable from there on out.  The Nurse Call Button and I became good friends until that thing came out and from then on it was up to Husband to help me in and out of bed.  

On Day After, the good drugs they stuck up my back wore off and it was just by-mouth pain pills.  I was extremely sore, way over tired, missed my naps, Justin was at practice, and oh yeah-- now I remember how much breastfeeding hurts!  It also seemed like I was lucky enough to meet everyone except the hospital administrator.  My hemoglobin was low, so I had my blood taken at 6:00 AM.  Anya came in shortly after.  The loudest most cheerful breakfast delivery person arrived at 8:00 AM.  Then my nurse.  Then the surgeon to check the incision.  Then the nutrition lady.  Then the nurse person that works with the aspirator thing I was supposed to blow in every hour.  Then 2 people came to clean my room.  Then check up with my doctor.... so.  much.  busy-ness.

Misfires most of the day and I was trying to store up my energy to see my boy again that evening.  At least they finally did feed me:)  It did cheer me up to see Jordy again, but for sure mommy, daddy, and Anya were ready for bed that night.  Luckily we had another day to rest and recover in the hospital.  On Sunday, my blood pressure and hemoglobin levels were luckily to a point and Anya's jaundice and weight had improved that we were both ready to go home on schedule.

It was soooooo blistering and unbelievably cold that not only did we have the jumpstart the Jeep, but they had Justin pull it into the ambulance garage because we couldn't even take her out to walk her from door to door.  I think it was -40 degrees!

As we pulled into our garage, Justin said, "Okay!  Are we ready for our new normal?!"  :)

The four of us the moment we brought baby Anya home ~ January 5, 2014.  Jordy is saying "I wanna snuggle herrrr!"

Oh.... and this could be me :)

Never be too busy to count all your blessings!

Holidays with a Twist & Pregnancy Update

It was a banner year for the Wieck family as we spent Thanksgiving... wait for it... Together!  In Iowa!  This was a first since 2001.  [That's a first in 12 years, math people].  Because of how the basketball schedule worked out, Justin was off from Wednesday-Saturday.  Last year Justin was in Montana, the year before that we were in South Dakota, before that I was in Minnesota, the year before that we were in Las Vegas... And I can think of Illinois, Kansas City... and even out of the country!

We decided to fly home because it is too long of a car ride for being this pregnant AND trying to entertain the toddler.  We had a great time celebrating with both of our families and although it was a quick 2 1/2 day trip it was so much fun to have Jordy spend time with his cousins!  He talks about them constantly and we feel bad that he so often misses out on a lot of grandma & grandpa time.

Eating breakfast with Jackson

Snack with Owen

The final twist is that while we got a Thanksgiving in Iowa, we will be cozying up and spending Christmas in Jamestown since we are so close to our due date.  We are kind of excited to be able to have our own little family traditions just the 3 us and have Jordy experience his stocking and Christmas at home AND not having to travel 700 miles [one way] in the winter!  Yet it's bittersweet to miss out on being together with family, especially our cousins and grandparents whom we only see at Christmastime.

Of course this isn't our first January baby, and the Christmas we spent together in Aberdeen waiting for our baby was one of the best Christmas's ever and one we'll never forget!  Usually Justin and I don't exchange Christmas presents [and honestly...parents of the year... didn't get Jordy anything last year, either!] but we decided to do some little stocking stuffers just to have something to open here with Jordy.  We are trying to budget wisely for 2 kids in daycare AND majority of my maternity leave unpaid (!)

And although I said I wouldn't... we decided we are going to do a little birthday party for Jordy!  I mean, the kid's favorite song IS Happy Birthday, after all!  So Dad is 100% in charge of pulling this one off.   We will be inviting.... who else!  The basketball team!  We are just going to do cupcakes after a game and hopefully we can get the guys [make them?] sing Happy Birthday to him!

Since there's only 4 short weeks left until Baby, it's time to compare pregnancies!

Here I am at 35 weeks with Baby #2:

Here I am at 37 Weeks with Jordan:

Not the greatest quality but I don't have hardly any bump pictures this time around [lazy!]  I am however, approximately 18 pounds lighter this time around.  You read that correctly!

I attribute this to the following facts:
(a) I was in much better shape overall when I got pregnant the first time
(b) I am constantly in motion chasing around a toddler and can't lay around on my couch all night when I get home from work
(c) I am on prescription medication for my nausea so I feel better this time and probably more active, and not living on Sprite, chocolate shakes, and Arby's (practically all I could eat for awhile the first time!)

This pregnancy I have actually been much sicker overall, like getting up in the middle of the night to get sick and pretty much feel narcoleptic much of the time.  So the medicine is a dream come true!!!  With Jordy I drank little to no caffeine whatsoever and this baby I have a coffee every day and whenever I feel like it, a Pepsi!

Getting everything wrapped up at work, this time feels CRAZY! I felt a lot more prepared last time, even though it was my first year as a school principal; and this time is my 5th year of teaching... Perhaps it's just still getting used to being new, too, that it seems overwhelming.  [Maybe a difference between a Catholic school system vs. a public school system, too?]

The basketball schedule is also MUCH different.  Practices here are much later into the evenings and never at the same time in Jamestown than they were at Northern.  Also the game schedule sucks.   At Northern, they were always womens/mens and they were ALWAYS Friday/Saturday (and home Saturday night after an away game).  Since November, it's been: Justin gone from Tuesday-Sunday (@ New Mexico, then 2 games in Nebraska) to playing Tuesday, Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday <<<break for Thanksgiving, we traveled the whole time>>>,  Justin gone Thursday-Sunday in Iowa.  

While it sounds understandable why we have nothing set up for Baby yet :), I am focusing on enjoying these last few weeks!  Jordy has just been absolutely awesome lately!  He is in a great mood and talking more and more and more every day.  His new favorites are "Come here, Mommy/Daddy", "I want Daddy's gym,"  and "I like it, Mommy, I like it!!!"  And at night I have been getting "I want to snuggle Mommy."  Isn't that the best!!!  Despite the craziness of basketball, he loves "the guys" and has no clue if we win or lose -which is awesome!  He brings us both so much joy each day and we are really looking forward to giving him what I consider the ultimate gift - a sibling!!!  I love seeing and feeling Baby moving all around and while I'm slightly terrified to have to go through another surgery & recovery, I'm told it's more manageable the 2nd time around. And of course this baby will be worth it just like the first!

Will try to keep up on the once per month blog, so until then when we become a family of FOUR!, never be too busy to count all your blessings!!!!

Confessions of a Wife-Mom-Teacher-Perfectionist

I went to a conference for teachers a few years ago.  (Actually for my friends in the education world, they call them "trainings"~ but I avoid this term as it makes me feel like a dog at puppy class.)  Anyway, the opening icebreaker thing was to describe yourself in 5 words.  Mine was "Wife, Mom, Educator, Friend, Perfectionist."  I was the only one who didn't use a complete sentence, and I was the only one who said wife.  My 'partner' that I shared with before we shared with the group {we all know all these things work!} said she found it interesting I described myself in terms of relationships with others.  Well that comment ought to get you thinking!

I take my relationships pretty seriously.  In fact, to me, they are my life's work.  Justin's health and happiness directly affects mine.  Jordy's health and happiness directly affects mine.  Same with my students, students' parents, and colleagues at work.  Which is why I both love and hate being a teacher all at the same time.
[Aside: I could've easily added "Sister" to this list.] 

I LIKE doing a good job.  I am special education teacher.  My students have disabilities ranging from autism to ADHD to emotional disturbance to specific learning disability to cerebral palsy.  Some co-exist with speech language impairments or oppositional defiant disorder and some are just what we call in the biz NCD, Non-Categorical Delay, which is a fancy way to say "We don't know!"  Almost without exception, they struggle on their tests, frustrate their classroom teachers, and can find it hard to connect with their peers.

Beyond these challenges alone, budget cuts, lack of information, introduction of new educational policy (Grrrrr Common Core), and constant changes to diagnostic procedures and special education law increases the work load to the point of overwhelming!
(Oh... and apparently regardless of your years of experience actually working with students and the fact that you went to undergrad at a major Big Ten University with an outstanding College of Education which ranks in the top 20 nationally AND have a Master's in Educational Leadership from one of the best private schools doesn't make you 'qualified' when trying to get a teaching license in a different state, but I digress).

I've always been unable to "leave work at work."  Seeing student's progress makes my day.  Working collaboratively with their teachers so they experience success makes me happy.  Getting to know their parents and their wants/needs for their kid brings me fulfillment.  Going above and beyond and doing what I think is best to develop the whole child, as a student and person, motivates me.  Which by the way, is not required by the law... there really is nothing special about special education . . . unfortunately, we're just "required" to provide SOME "educational benefit" within our limited resources, not required to offer what's "best."

  Today, I kind of felt like that guy in Office Space... you know, you work every day with no feedback, but where you feel like if you do something wrong, you have 8 different bosses telling you about it:

Of course, I DO care :)  But I like this clip because I feel like I'm doing the right thing...  hearing differently frustrates us perfectionist people!!!   So maybe, it turns out, it was more like I was this guy today:

Justin accuses me often a being a perfectionist.  When we decided it would be a good idea for me to get back into teaching in our new city, it was because we thought it would be good hours based on our family's crazy schedule and provide me time off with our kid[s] in the summer.  Honestly, making it to the daycare by 5:00 PM has been a struggle!  There is always something to do, something to plan, a meeting to go to, another meeting to prepare for!  You'd think after 6 years I'd have it all together, but learning a new school, and how much the kids change presents new challenges and new learning with each position.

AM I do the right thing?  I don't know!  [I think] I advocated for myself and one of my students today.  It was nothing if not interesting!  But it was short moment... a snippet of my day.

I also received a nice E-mail from a parent, and a student solved their first subtraction problem correctly.  It's easy to forget that the blessings usually always outnumber everything else!

And tomorrow is FRIDAY! :) :)

Never be too busy to count all your blessings.

Guest Blogger Day!

It's been a little over a month since Karna and I returned from our mission trip in Peru.  We had a meeting at the church a little while ago and shared some of or story at church on Sunday.  It's actually still kind of hard for me to talk about it.  Partly because of the overwhelming part of the whole experience, partly I'm sure due to pregnancy hormones, and partly because I still don't really believe that I did something like this.

As many of you know, I do not get the pleasure of being a "glowing" pregnant person.  I look like a beach ball (or beached whale) at around 9ish weeks and have been sicker than a dog for about 4 months.  So, traveling internationally in and of itself was quite the accomplishment, much less leaving my 2 best guys for a whole week, and working in impoverished conditions.

Thankfully, I did drop enough hints to my philanthropic minded mother in law and somehow she was crazy enough to come with me!  It was nice to know that if I was going to hurl or have diarrhea or just needed a nap that I had a family member there with me :)

Karna really took the project on 100% and even got the Iowa City community involved, especially in her church.  She tagged along almost 100 pounds of donations to Peru!  And then she had the chance to share her experience at church as well (funny enough, we didn't know that each of us was speaking to our church on the same Sunday!  God is mysterious, eh?)  Well you know me, I went up there and winged it!!!  But Karna had some great talking points that she sent me and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing.  I think it really captures the transformation of an experience like this.

Enjoy!

NOTES FOR SUNDAY:

My name is Karna Wieck and my husband Jeff and I joined St Andrew about 2 years ago and let me say I never thought I would be up here talking, so bear with me as I'm a bit nervous.  I think I'd rather be doing a children's sermon.  But, God is always knocking on my door trying to get me to go out of my comfort zone, so here I am.
Jeff and I were both Lutheran for many years, but many things at St. Andrew Presbyterian church attracted us to keep coming back to "visit".   We didn't realize it I'm sure but God was leading us to this place where we started to feel comfortable.  I can't tell you how many times on Sunday morning we joked in the car and said well are we going to be Lutheran or Presbyterian today as we approached the corner of Melrose and Mormon Trek.  We both had been Lutheran for a LONG time. But what we were looking for at this point in our lives was right here and I feel God was knocking on our door so we finally answered.
So many times I've gone out of my comfort zone and put my trust in God.  When something is new or I'm put in a difficult situation, or just doing something because I really want to but have no idea how,  I just say a prayer in my head and see where God leads me.   That's how I approach life and how I approached my mission trip to Chimbote.
So my thoughts were,...others have done this, so surely I can too, right?  After researching the web site for an organization called "Friends of Chimbote" I said yes to going on a mission trip with my daughter in law and a group of Catholics from Jamestown, North Dakota.
With 2 suitcases packed of suggested items to bring and leave there (90 pounds), as I left for my flight to Lima I started to get nervous.  After one night in Lima we took a 7 hour bus ride to Chimbote and I had plenty of time to look out the window and see how the people live.  The beauty of the ocean on my left and the mountains on my right yet sadness is what I saw.  Extreme poverty everywhere..it didn't seem real.
When we got off the bus in Chimbote we were greeted as if THEY were there to serve us. Hugs and kisses on the check and offering to carry our luggage and serving us supper.  The next few days we met lots of people as we walked the streets of Chimbote and learned about all the work being done there.  (Soup kitchen, daycare, preschools, social workers medical staff, churches, trade schools and even a hospice center. ) They welcomed us with open open arms and I fell in love with the people, especially the children yet my heart was heavy.  As we started going in their homes and helping them it really hit me as I felt guilty that we were not doing enough and again it didn't seem real.  How could God let this happen.
Then about mid week and several days of going to church with them, handing out stickers to children and coloring with the them my  heart did not feel so heavy and I felt JOY in my heart.  I realized we (and many others before us) were giving them HOPE.  Working side by side with the social workers and my new friends from North Dakota and Peru, we saw many sad situations but we also made many people happy just by being there.  As I walked down the street one day and looked up at the mountains and then at the homes I smiled and thanked God for his presence in Chimbote.  You could see it everywhere, especially when you smiled at someone and they gave you one back.  Although they truly appreciated having us rebuild or repair two homes and deliver beds and stoves to 25 homes what they also REALLY appreciated was our time with them and some of the little things we did.  Somebody cares.
As I think about my experience in Peru and here at St. Andrew I see similarities.  I thought of part of a bible verse. " For it is in giving that you receive...."  I learned so much from this trip and I want to thank you for your support and prayers while I was there.
If anyone wants to hear more about my trip, I have a book with me that has lots of pictures and stories that go with them that I'm happy to share.  We are also sending backpacks to the children in Chimbote so more can go to school.  Thank you for that.
I'd like to end with reading a quote that is framed and on the wall at the mission site in Chimbote.   It has special meaning to me whether I'm in Chimbote or Iowa City as I feel God's hand at work in both places.
 "I slept and I dreamt that life was JOY, I awoke and saw that life was service, I served and saw that service was JOY."

Lastly, I know a mission trip isn't for everyone.  Justin has made it very clear he won't be joining me in Peru :)  But one thing we learned there is that you don't need to do that to be of service to others.  Jesus himself never traveled more than 200 miles from the place he was born!!!  But we ALL should open our eyes to the needs of our community and be willing to share what we have been blessed with!  Make it a great week :)

18 months old!!!!

Jordy turned 18 months old on July 8.  I cant hardly believe it!  We just had our check up this week since I was gone for the past 10 days.  I felt a little bad getting behind on his appointments but Justin assured me that is indeed a dumb thing to worry about!

We have a new doctor for Jordy so it was his first time meeting him and he said that he walks/runs great and seems to have great motor skills.  That made Coach Wieck very happy.  Daddy also got to experience the "lay down ON TOP of your child" during the shots this time.  Justin actually felt horrible because Jordy thought they were playing and was laughing up a storm.  So I'm sure those suckers hurt with his legs all tensed up.  He rebounded quickly!

He is 90th percentile for both height and weight.  He is officially MORE than half my height!  The only things he can't reach in the kitchen are the upper cabinets!

Here is our little cutie watching one of his Baby Einsteins!

 

He still doesn't really watch anything else on TV (besides the occasional Wheel of Fortune... yelling out D! D! D!) but he has been 'noticing' it more so we are keeping it off.  The other day a commercial came on where someone slapped someone else in the face and he about had a cow ("Mommy!! No No No!!!").  If you really just looked for it, it is shocking and annoying how much violence there really is on TV, even commercials!  Although he did stop everything when he heard Daddy on the news last night and was pretty excited to see his picture!  Here's that link in case you missed it!

Our boy is growing so fast, here's his little update:

Diaper size: 6

Clothes size: 2T

Sleeping:  Went through a tough phase but now seems mostly back to normal.  Naps are actually going great.  Takes him a little longer to wind down at night (it does not get dark here until about 10:15) and he has been walking about 5:30 am (ugh!).  But overall a great sleeper:) And still in the crib, thank God he hasn't figured out to get out of there.

Other accomplishments:  We've counted at least 60 words this little bugger says on a pretty regular basis.  He is putting 2 words together!  Some favorites are "no, me and mine!"  His newest words are "pool" and "wet"  and "Look!"  He also mimics everything, so watch out.  He can name just about everyone in our family.  He is VERY interested in what belongs to someone else "mommy shoes"  "grandpa truck".  Pretty excited and does a happy feet dance when you get him something he wants (legos out, drink of milk, whatever!)

And I'm not sure if we'd call this an accomplishment, but he is pretty good at throwing a little tantrum!  He kind of yelps like a scared puppy and throws his hands on the floor. So dramatic.  And annoying.

We did get the green light to start potty training, since he does tell us "poop" and "potty" and appears to know where it goes (other than a diaper) but we're not in a big rush.  If he tells me he has to go I put him up there but that's about as exciting as it's been.  Justin informed me that it's probably due to the "fresh air" of why he "goes" on the potty, not because he's figured it out.   

Other than that we are just enjoying the pool on our deck, taking walks, and having some family time every once in awhile.  The NAIA schedule is quite different than Division 1 or 2 in the summer and for that Jordy and I are thankful!  We know as far as a coach's family we have it made right now, so just loving the rest of summer before we ALL start a *new* school year.

Home Builds

Our mission group fundraised over $60,000 and thus we were able to buy the materials to build TWO houses in Chimbote as well as purchase and deliver 24 beds and stoves. Through Friends of Chimbote: Father Jacks mission, the families in need work through social workers and are on a "list" for receiving items purchased through different groups like ours. There are over 100 people on a list for home, bed, stoves, and more. 

We split into 2 groups for the home build. The first day was mostly tear down of delapitated shelter.  It's really indescribable the conditions the family was living in. The family was Clara, Miguel, their 6 children and one on the way due this month. The next two days were installing the studs, bamboo rods, and attaching estera walls with wire. We searched the neighborhood for bottle caps to act as washers to secure the nails (the trash on the street is also indescribable, along with the dogs/dung). Estera is a woven reed or hay type of material. Refer to the pictures, it's hard to describe exactly what it is. Luckily we had the funds to provide a roof that was metal rather than estera to keep the rain out. The previous estera was completely molded. We built three bedrooms onto the existing "galley kitchen" in quotes because there are no lights, stove, running water, appliances of any kind... A few Tupperware and cups with a 5 gallon plastic tub to collect water. Anyway, the walls created three separate bedroom spaces and a small living space. Then we had the privilege to deliver 2 beds an donated some sheets, towels, toothpaste toothbrushes and dishes. We got to return this morning and the priest blessed the home. The entire group was in tears!

It was a bittersweet feeling leaving, because Clara was so thrilled and appreciative but it felt like so much more was left undone. 2 beds for 8 people, dirt floor, contaminated water. But it was more a feeling of hope and fresh start. The family will continue to work with their social worker with upkeep of their house and beds (they are not allowed to sell their bed) and to find a source of income. 

Each delivery of bed or stove to other families was unique!  Each had a story. This afternoon we rented a couple buses to take some families to the Vivero, basically a fun park/play place. It will be nice to spend some time with them somewhere they don't normally get to go!

The front of the house we rebuilt 

Putting up the roof

Bamboo rods, framing the bedrooms

Cleaning out the girls bedroom

The kids (minus one). I hung out with them outside the house. Wendy is 17 and wants to be a teacher. We spent a lot of time with a Spanish-English dictionary.  She is a quick learner and was patient with my poor Spanish!  Although they were all pretty excited with what I did know. We also went through their new coloring books an said the Spanish and English word for each animal. I am pretty attached to them:) PS- Sergio is wearing a Hawkeye hat, thanks Jason Gulbranson!  They each have one to represent our beloved Iowa!

Regular street view. The houses in the background are 100% estera.

We travel to Lima tomorrow then fly out at 2:00 am. I am looking forward to seeing my baby boy and hubby!