Let The Countdown Begin!

It's not like I haven't been 'counting down' since week 10, HOWEVER the number of weeks that I have left can be counted on 2 hands...I'm now in the single digits! It seems like things having gone SO fast! It does help that I didn't find out til I was 9 weeks along...AND my mind being preoccupied running after Strummer, but it really has gone by quite quickly. It has been a relatively easy pregnancy. I was sick for the first 4 months...that wasn't fun and course chasing after a small toddler wears you down, so I'm a bit more tired than last time. Other than that, no 'odd' cravings or crazy things like that. I do LOVE chocolate...more than usual. Especially M&Ms...why, I don't know. There also really aren't to many foods I won't eat. All though, certain smells are NOT GOOD...and eating or smelling swiss cheese makes me ill. That's pretty odd. :P

Even though things have been relatively smooth, we ran into a small scare nearly a month ago. When I was 28 weeks along, we had a small issue. The 3 of us were all at Cornerstone b/c Brad was playing that weekend and Strummer and I went along in the afternoon and played around the church while Brad was practicing. Well during this time I ran to the bathroom and noticed a bit of spotting and also had a bit of cramping. After having 2 miscarriages, I have never associated these two things as a good thing. So, freaking out a bit, I called the doctor, thankfully my doctor was on-call that day, I explained what was going on, and she said she would feel better if I came in. SO - I grabbed Strummer, went to go talk to Brad (who was in the midst of practice) and said we needed to go Boone ASAP. I was of course, VERY nervous and it was the longest 20 min ride back to Boone EVER. We checked into the hospital and I was sent up to L&D. They had me wheeled up in a wheelchair, which made me feel pretty strange and we got all 'settled in'. I had to put on a gown (boy, that brought back memories from a year ago), and they hooked me up to a fetal monitor and contraction monitor. Apparently our little girl DOES NOT like being confined b/c she started kicking and moving like crazy...pretty much the whole time we were there. The nurse was 'impressed' on how much she was moving...apparently we have a little over-achiever on our hands. The nurse said that was a good sign that she was okay, which eased my fears right away. I thank God that He was able to have me be less worried right away. So as the night went on, my doctor came and checked on things periodically. The spotting had stopped, however the cramping was staying pretty steady. I found out these were real contractions. My doctor was becoming slightly concerned. Not only b/c I was having contractions, they were pretty heavy contractions...and for a time-being were coming 3 minutes apart. Not something you want at 28 weeks. So after some tests and meds, they FINALLY starting calming down. 6 HOURS later, we were finally able to go home. I was just told to take it easy the next day (AKA ~ Bed Rest) and start easing into regular activities on Monday after my appointment and ultrasound.

I am very thankful to Brad for being such a big support and taking care of Strummer and getting me food and anything else I needed. I'm also thankful for Trisha who came and got Strummer while we were in the hospital so we wouldn't have to corral him all night. Which was a good thing she did come and get him b/c we didn't leave the hospital til 10:30pm!

So after that whole ordeal, things are pretty much back to normal. I do have medication to take just incase I start feeling more contractions, but they have seemed to stop! One thing my doctor said could have contributed was b/c at that point in time, Edyn was still feet down and she was kicking me that could start up the contractions. At my appointment yesterday, Dr. Parsons said it felt like she is finally head down, which is why contractions have seemed to stop! HURRAY for her being head down!

I am getting back into doing more exercising again. Not extreme exercising, but trying to go on the treadmill for a semi-fast walk for about a 1/2 hour after I'm done working (makes working at the Y very convenient!)

Other than that, my appointments have been going very well! Edyn's still moving around like crazy! I'm having more aches and pains like w/my back and such, but that's to be expected! We keep on telling Strummer his little sister is going to be here soon, but he doesn't quite understand! I'm sure things will become more real once she finally arrives!

I'll be doing more updating later!!! 8 more weeks to go!!!

Pics from the ultrasound at 28 weeks!

(She weighed roughly a little over 3 lbs)

It was nice 'seeing Edyn' again and see how much she has changed since week 19

A fun view of her face

Tired little girl. I thought it was cool the U/S tech was able to capture this!

(and what a cool view)

I'll be breaking out the bows for sure! I'm SO excited!!

The tech said you usually don't see this much hair until week 36!

As a comparison, here is me at 30 weeks w/Strummer at the IA State Fair

My at 30 weeks w/Edyn - inside The Chocolate Season!

Helping Aunt Era

Last week Mommy and I went to Algona to help Aunt Erika at The Chocolate Season. Mommy felt bad that she couldn't help w/major construction, so we went up to help w/the little things. I helped out by sweeping, eating the trimmed chocolate from the peanut butter balls and taste-testing frosting! Which was all super yummy!

Mommy helped organize Aunt Era's ingredients rack, trimmed PB Balls and put them in the wrapping. She also tried to learn how to tie bows on boxes. I think she might need a bit more work. I was being a good boy during the organizing and played in my pack 'n play and watched mommy and Aunt Erika work.

I also enjoyed sitting in 'Ed's Nook'. The chair was super-comphy. It would be a good place to read my books! It was also fun exploring everything around the store and in the kitchen!

I can't wait til I get old enough and help in Aunt Erika's store!

I LOVE The Chocolate Season and my Aunt Era!

Sweeping the floor

Sweep-Sweep-Sweep!

As you can see, I am also multi-talented and can sweep

and hold a package of push-pins at the same time!

My mommy's a great organizer!

The 100 PB Balls my mommy trimmed and packaged

I worked so hard, I fell asleep!!!

Merry Christmas!

I am SO behind! Since I didn't make my goal of sending out Christmas Cards this year (really, I have had the goal the last few years....next year! I won't have a newborn and I won't be pregnant...so no excuses)

We had a great Christmas this year! It is so fun watching Strummer grow each year. What's kinda funny is we had a 2 month old last Christmas...now this year we have a 14 month old AND I was 7 months pregnant! :P

We had our first Family Christmas at home. So now we may try and do the same thing every year to start our family traditions. For Christmas Eve we made spicy little smokies, had tea biscuits and made punch. Then Christmas morning we opened presents and I made quiche. My first time EVER and Brad said it was the best he ever ate! We were going to make ham, cheesy taters, biscuits and veggies...however my father-in-law couldn't make it due to the weather, so that menu was moved to the Monday after Christmas. I also made everything myself this year! I'm so impressed w/my skills :D

We traveled to Mason City on the 26th and had Christmas w/Brad's mom, his sister Chrissy and her family and his brother Doug and Jean. It was a nice 2-day visit. I know Strummer and Bosco have fun b/c there are more people to play with!

Then on the 31st we headed to Lincoln for Christmas w/my family. Scott and Sara hosted everyone at their new house! It was great seeing my whole family and seeing where the Lockard's now live. We opened presents that night. Strummer was a bit more entertaining this year. While Hannah and Ian handed out presents, Strummer kinda followed them around, then when it was time to open one of his presents...he was just wanting to play w/that particular thing! So it took awhile to open everything. Edyn also received her first Christmas present from Uncle Mike and Aunt Crystal! Thanks guys!

We made kumlas for lunch Jan 1st. (We had a few 'hiccups' in the cooking process, but everything turned out swell!) It is a Berg family tradition to always make kumlas. When we were growing up we always made it Christmas Eve. It is a Norwegian dish, that is basically a potato dumpling and you eat it w/melted butter and ham! It's nice having a tradition that is based on some of my heritage. Strummer had his first taste of kumlas and I think he enjoyed it! (Well - his first time directly eating it, he indirectly ate it last year from nursing)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! It is a great time to spend w/your family and reflect on how lucky we are to have each other. Even more important it is a time to celebrate Christ's birth which is the reason for Christmas!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009.

I wasn't able to have Strummer sit or stand RIGHT in front of the tree.

However I think you can still compare on how much he has grown!

Opening his first present at home

(In Lincoln) Enjoying one of his new books from Uncle Brad and Aunt Era

Edyn's first Christmas present

We Are The Champions!

So I'm a bit late on postings again.....but better late than never, right???

So the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat Football team won their 3rd National Championship!!! This is the 5th year in a row that they have made it to the National Title! The other 2 titles are from 1998 and 1999.

Here are the first couple paragraphs from the press release.

"FLORENCE, Ala.—Northwest Missouri State running back LaRon Council ran for 172 yards and Jake Soy caught a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to lead the Bearcats to a 30-23 win against Grand Valley State in the Division II national championship game Saturday at Braly Municipal Stadium.

It’s the third championship for Northwest (14-1) and first since 1999. It also ends a string of four national runner-up finishes. The Bearcats are the only team to play in five straight championship games.

Bearcat coach Mel Tjeerdsma tied former North Alabama coach Bobby Wallace by winning his third national title. Tjeerdsma’s 29 postseason victories are a Division II record."

I am SO excited and happy for the Bearcat Football team and look forward to next year! I think they will do awesome again, b/c a lot of their main players are all underclassman!

Great Job NWMSU Bearcat Football Team!!!!

PS - if you click on the title of this posting, it will take you to the pics of the game put up by NWMSU.