Edyn Vernette Grout

Our daughter has arrived!!! As we expected, she did come early. She came 2-1/2 weeks early!

Edyn was born on March 9, 2010 at 2:31 AM. She was 7 lbs - 1 oz and 19-1/2 inches long. She has been a completely delight to our family! I'll write up her birth story at a later date. :o)

It's Cold!

Brad and I right after Edyn was born

Grandma and Grandpa Berg were there when she arrived

Uncle Brad and Aunt Erika drove down the next day

Ready to leave the hospital!

Our new family! Strummer ~ 16 months Edyn ~ 3 days

Little Miss Impatient :o)

As they say, all pregnancies are different and it holds truth to the differences between my pregnancy w/Strummer and this pregnancy w/Edyn. The small differences at the beginning was not being able to stand the smell of just about anything, then not swelling up w/2 months to go (of course, w/Strummer I was 7 months prego in the middle of August!) So maybe that's a time-of-the year thing. Oh - and not measuring 3 weeks ahead at each appointment!

However the most significant difference is how our little girl has been showing signs she just wants to come early! With Strummer I was told I would go early, b/c I was always measuring 3-4 weeks ahead at each appointment. So due to him being SO LARGE I had multiple ultrasounds and I had to a stress-test to make sure he was doing okie-dokie. During these stress-tests at the end of the pregnancy, I apparently was having small contractions, but never felt them. Plus, they didn't do anything to help the process of getting my body ready to deliver. So to our surprise, he wasn't early, he was late! And mostly likely would have been more than 4 days late if I wasn't induced. So, w/him, I never had significant contractions and he never dropped. So I really never felt any type of extra pain. This time around has been a lot different!

Lets just say the 3rd trimester has been....interesting. Starting at week 28 I had my first visit to the hospital. I started to have a small bit of spotting and cramping and so I was told by my doctor to come to the hospital to get things checked out. Thankfully the spotting didn't last very long and after I was hooked up to the monitors, I found out I was having contractions! So after being there for awhile, I was able to go home when the contractions went from coming every 5 min to every 15-20 min. They had me take a prescription to help keep things calmed down, 'cause clearly, a baby coming that early would not be a good thing! Fast-forward another month or so and things were just fine! Then I come down w/the flu! PS - having the flu when you're 33 weeks is not a good thing. So since my first visit I have been back a few more times. I can say I've been acclimated w/the Boone Hospital, the nurse staff and the Birth Center!

I ended having another ultrasound last week after my appointment just b/c Dr. Parsons wanted to check the fluid and such to make sure everything is still on track. The u/s tech said everything looked pretty normal! Hurray! She also said all her measurements were running a little bit ahead. So, that's a plus. She also said Edyn has a nice round head and she's ready to go. As in, she's already head down, she was laying on her stomach, tucked in a ball and in the position to exit! She was also at an estimated weight of 5 lb-9 oz at 34 1/2 weeks. Of course, sometimes they aren't completely accurate w/the weight. But at least I know she's probably over 5-1/2 lbs. So may even be more. W/Strummer on the day I went in and was induced, they said he was a little over 8 lbs, and was 8-14! The tech thought if I went to 40 weeks Edyn would be a nice 7-1/2 lbs!

I'm thankful I haven't had to have extended hospital stays or have to be on bed rest! (I was just on bed rest for one day during my week 28 visit)

However, since the contractions started back up at 34 weeks, I'm off the medication and I've already started dilating, she may be making her entrance b/f March 25th. As Dr. Parsons said at my appointment, 'as long as she stays put for another 10 days' so, as long I make it til week 36 then we are good to go! I'm glad to know she's over 5 lbs and now everything is all developed, she is now just 'packing on the pounds'. So I'm hoping to make it to week 37 and if I go til my due date, I think everyone would be surprised, but it's not in my hands! It's in God's hands! :o)

15 Month Update!

At his 15-month appointment waiting for Dr. Parsons

Once again, a little late in the game, but wanted to get some updating done b/f D-Day! (AKA - the arrival of Edyn)

Strummer is ever changing and growing every day! He is now 31-1/4 inches and 23 lbs - 9 oz.

He has started throwing small tantrums. If he doesn't like something or wants something and we won't give it to him, he'll start crying or stomp off and pout. Pretty funny how early they start that!

Now onto the 'good' things:

He seems to learn new things all the time. He is signing 'please', 'more', 'milk' and 'all done'. He is also saying more words like 'no', 'thank you', 'uh-oh', 'whoa', 'shoes', 'light' and some other phrases. He is also a great chatter-box. If he isn't saying words you understand, he's saying something! We just don't know what! He now knows where his head, nose, eyes, ears and mouth are if you ask him. He also seems to sing at times and will dance around even w/out music! He can be such a riot to just watch! :D

He LOVES climbing...on everything! We have a little step that he uses to help him get onto things that he will move around depending on where he wants to go. He also loves playing piano! He will have the step by the bench, climb onto the bench, sit down and play the piano. He of course, also loves playing the guitar!

Another love is PUPPIES! He loves Bosco. When asked what Bosco says, Strummer will 'growl'...it's pretty funny. He also points out any dog that he sees in a book, on TV or in person and gets very excited. And often will make the 'growling' sound when he sees them in a book.

He also enjoys running - everywhere. He LOVES when we are at the Y. Once I get his coat off, he will run to the basket of balls in the office area and play w/them until I take him into Child Watch. Then when I'm done working I will get him from CW and he will go and (literally) run out b/c he's so excited to go visit everyone. He'll go into the social room and look out at the pool, go in the cardio room and hop onto a treadmill (when it's not to busy) he's very fascinated when he sees someone on one and it looks like he is trying to figure out how they are moving. He will then run over to the gym and he points at the big basket full of basketballs, so I will get one and he runs around and throws the b-ball around the gym....entertaining the people who are walking around the gym. Then he runs around some more and then we go home. It's an excellent way for him to get some energy out!

We are so blessed that he's a mellow, happy and overall very good kid! Just like how he has been acting since he arrived in our lives nearly 16 months ago!!! :o)

He is at 38% for weight

He is at 55% for height

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.