The Draisma's

Time to Reconnect!

2010-09-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Finally...the internet has returned to the Draisma House, and I get to reconnect with the outside world! :) Seriously, it has been over a year since we have had the internet and I am so happy to be able to blog, check my e-mail and use internet bill payer! A lot changes in a year. I was looking back on my previous post and it was fun to remember what we were doing then.

Kennedy is 18 months now and no longer knows how to walk, she learned how to run and to climb and never slows down! We are expecting a baby boy in the next 4 weeks (I wouldn't mind if it was less)! Michael and I have become aunt and uncle twice now - Makenzie is 8 months and Parker is 2 days old. Beef & Jenna and Drew & Lindsay got engaged in the last month. Lots of changes and growth in our family! Oh...and I finally was able to change my work schedule, I work part time, day shift now (instead of full time nights)! So that is pretty much our whole year summed up into a few sentences.

2009-11-23T15:58:00.000-08:00

Kennedy is growing up and is a very busy little girl :) She is scooting all over with an army crawl. We are realizing now how important "baby proofing" our house is! She also is feeding herself... We have been waiting for her to show us if she will be right or left handed. She seems to be 100% Michael - she looks just like him and now she is using her left hand to feed herself! Babies are so fun!

Summer Days

2009-09-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

I looked on the blog tonight and realized that the last time I was on, Kennedy was 3 months. I decided to post pictures to show our summer.

Kennedy had her 6 month appointment today....she is is little chunky :) She is 18.5 lbs, 26 inches long.

We are getting settled in our new house - we officially sold our house today!!

This Saturday we are baptizing Kennedy at Ridge Point church.

Every one told me how fast time goes with kids, but I had no idea. The summer is gone and I still don't know where the time has gone! I hope that you all have had a great summer too!

Kennedy is 3 months old!

2009-07-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Kennedy is growing up so fast! I don't know where the time has gone! I went back to work full time at the hospital a few weeks ago...we also moved that weekend. So needless to say, things are busy at our house! I cannot believe how fast time flies and how quickly she is changing. What a fun time - she is full of smiles and she loves to talk. :)

Kennedy's 4th of July dress

Sorry - I couldn't turn this picture...

These pictures were taken by Sears - they are such a good deal and do a great job!

We don't have internet yet at our house, so I have limited access...

A Walk in the Park

2009-05-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we went for a family walk at the Saugatuck Dunes on the old prison trails. Mike pushed Kennedy in the stroller. Our stroller is NOT made for off road pushing. (Mike finally agreed to getting a jogging stroller!) It was the bumpiest ride that she ever had...she loved it - she slept the whole time! After the walk to the beach we toured the Felt mansion. What an interesting place! The exciting thing about the park is that we are buying a house that is only 1 mile away. Our closing date is tentatively the end of next week!

2 months and growing fast!

2009-05-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Kennedy is actually 9 weeks, but she had her 2 month check up this week. She is 12 pounds 9 oz and is 23 inches long. That translates to a BIG 2 month old. She gained 5 pounds in 2 months! She was only 7lbs 7 oz at birth. She is full of smiles and is so active now, it is hard to believe how much she has changed in such a short time!

This picture is in Florida, she was "naked" at the pool. It doesn't show her chubby thighs, but it is a great shot of her double chin! :)

Daytona Beach!!

2009-05-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Daytona Beach, Florida. We vacationed with Mike's family and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Brink's condo. We celebrated mother's day and Judi's birthday in Florida. I realized that all my pictures are about Kennedy! :) Besides snuggling with Kennedy, we also spent lots of time walking the beach, time at the pool, going to the market and riding mopeds. The weather could not have been better - hot and sunny with a nice breeze. What a great week, it was so nice to get away from Michigan's rain and the stresses of daily life.

Introducing: KENNEDY FAITH

2009-04-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Kennedy Faith Draisma

Born on March 11, 2009. She weighed 7lbs 7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.

She is almost 7 weeks old now and she has kept things busy and fun. I decided that I should post pictures of what we have been doing and not keep them to myself! Michael and I love being parents and look forward to each accomplishment that Kennedy does. I am proud to announce that Kennedy now is quite smiley - mornings are her best time and are so much fun!

First family picture

Kennedy with her mommy

Kennedy and Daddy

Grandpa and Grandma Draisma

Aunt Lindsay

Aunt Leann & Uncle Daris

Uncle Beef

The Draisma Kids

Great Grandma Draisma

Grandma & Grandpa Austhof

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Ross

Great Grandpa & Grandma Van Hill

Great Grandma Austhof & my aunt Laurie

Kennedy's first Easter

Mike could not wait to try out the bumbo seat :)

Mike "wearing" Kennedy

Kennedy's first bath

Bath time has gotten so much more fun! :)

Belly Pics

2009-02-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some more belly pics. I am huge, and now I have a large "overhang" that hide my feet and makes my pants want to fall down! I think these pics will make me laugh...someday :)

I found someone to join me in this pic!

2009-02-16T10:02:00.001-08:00

Life is happening so much faster than I am moving! I cannot seem to keep up anymore... This will be a long post, but maybe it will explain why I am falling behind!

I had two great showers a couple of weekends ago! Friday night I had a friends shower that was held at Sarah's house. The girls did a great job - it was so much fun. I was able to see everyone again and I was shocked at the amount of fun stuff that we received! I got a travel bed, bath stuff, books, diaper bag, tummy time play mat, sleep positioner, pacifiers, bottle drying rack and many more items. We also had lots of laughs - I had to guess Mike's answers about new baby questions. For example, "how many diapers does a newborn go through in a day?" "How old are kids before they stop taking naps?" "how long before Beth loses her baby weight?" Some of the answers he did well on, others had us laughing and discussing whether we needed to go to the child birth classes! It was great time - thanks girls!

Then the next day, Saturday for brunch, I had a Van Hill baby shower. Rhonda had us over at her house (the nursery for her daughter is beautiful!!) and it was another great time. I got lots of baby advice from all the new moms - I can use every bit of advice! We also played a game with baby bottles - some people are very talented at drinking out of bottles! :) Once again I was overwhelmed with gifts. Mike and I have so much stuff now, I think we can actually bring this baby home! We got a car seat, swaddler, humidifier, baskets for our nursery, diaper champ for dirty diapers, a bouncy seat, a gift card to Carters, exersaucer and a stroller frame to hold the car seat!

I got home from the shower just prior to Van Hill Furniture bringing our new living room furniture! Then we carried in all of the gifts - Mike and Beef tried out the new furniture while I showed them all of the great baby stuff that we have now. I didn't realize how spoiled I was until I sat down that day and looked around my house - I am so blessed! I have a wonderful husband, a nice warm house - with new flooring, paint and furniture, a room overflowing with baby belongings, a baby that will soon be here, family close enough to enjoy, and both Mike and I are fortunate enough to have good stable jobs.

A lot has also been going on with my Grandpa and Grandma Van Hill. They had planned to go to Florida this winter until they found out they both needed back surgery. Grandpa had neck surgery, and then 2 weeks later (just after the shower) my Grandma had lower back surgery. Instead of going straight home, my grandma decided to get rehab at Tendercare in Holland for a week of two. They have a great physical therapy program there, her surgery was quite large, and her leg has had a pinched nerve for so long, that even after surgery it still wasn't working just like it should. So while my Grandma is at Tendercare, my Grandpa was recovering at home. He started not feeling well late this past week and Thursday night he was admitted back to Holland Hospital. They found he had an obstruction in his bowel. Friday evening things changed and he wasn't stable anymore, they moved him to the ICU and emergent surgery was done, removing part of his small intestine. He had about 18 inches of necrotic/dead tissue removed and he had an infection in his blood from that. He spent 1 night on a ventilator, resting his lungs while the rest of his body was recovering. He has done very well and is no longer in ICU, however he is in the Telemetry unit at Holland. Most of you know, that these 2 units are where I work, so it is weird being a visitor and not the nurse caring for the patient! I am impressed with how well my family is taking care of this. Prior to this month, my grandparents were running around and taking care of everyone else, now it is their time to have people help them out. My grandma is picked up everyday from Tendercare and brought to the hospital, and there are "assigned shifts" for who will be at the hospital, helping with my grandpa... It will take time and patience now for healing, but it is good to see how well things are turning out. Pray that there is strength and patience for all!

Saturday was Valentines Day! I got home from the hospital to find roses & a card and Mike was cleaning the house! Rather than wait in line at a restaurant, we had family over for dinner. Sarah & Ross, Beef, Brett, and Leann & Daris were all over for an impromptu dinner. Valentines Day is also Leann's birthday - Happy Birthday Leann! We had gone out with the family on Friday night to Crazy Horse to celebrate.

So that just about says what I have been up to for the last little bit. I also have been working full time, going to my doctor, decorating the nursery, and getting ready for our new baby. I had an ultrasound on Thursday, and we received good and shocking news. I have been planning to have a C-section since I have had "marginal placenta previa" and a vaginal delivery is not safe. Thursday I had my final C-section to determine if the previa was still present, and the official report said "there are no signs of placenta previa"!! So this means we can have a normal birth - now I just need to figure out how to give birth! (I thought I was having a planned C-section and have skipped all classes) So when I am not busy working or fussing around the house, I now have books that I am reading - I have a lot to learn! :)

Getting Ready...

2009-01-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Today Mike and I put together our crib!!! I ordered the crib and changing table MONTHS ago and I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I seriously could have put together the nursery when I was only 3 months pregnant, but there always seemed to be a good reason to wait. Our painting is finished, the office is moved (except the computer remains on a folding table in the middle of the room for now...) and now there was nothing else to hold me back! Nothing is finished, I still want to touch up our trim, buy new blinds, cut down our curtain rod to fit, get a mattress, wash the linens, but the crib is put together! For some reason this was the biggest deal for me, it looks so baby-like! :) Someday soon I hope to have a finished nursery, but today was such a fun accomplishment.

Our dogs have no idea what is about to come! :) They look so relaxed and slept through most of this process, they don't know their world is about to change drastically!

Overwhelmed with Gifts!

2009-01-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

Last night I was showered with gifts and love. I remember now why it is called a shower! It was a great night of family, food and fun. Aunt Dawn opened with devotions about patience and the fruits of the spirit. It reminded me how blessed I am with Christian family and how the fruits of the spirit were shown to me growing up and how Mike and I will need patience and all the fruits as we raise this new baby!

I opened more presents at this shower than a whole family does at Christmas! I really think that we are going to need a bigger house! We got our stroller, swing, high chair, a diaper bag full of goodies, blankets & bedding, a boppy, books, bottles, bowls & cups, a diaper caddy, a mirror to see baby in the car, toys, bibs, bath time towels and lotions... I am sure I have missed items - it is just so much!

The Brink Family

Great Grandma Van Hill

& Great Grandma Brink

The belly shot that everyone has been asking for :)

One of my favorite times of showers is actually after I get home. I know that sounds weird since it is so much fun to have a shower - family and more gifts that I can imagine. I don't mean to say that I don't love having showers and appreciate all that is done for me. But once I get home, and all the presents are in our house, the fun starts again. I get to watch Mike open all the gifts and be excited about them. I love that time and it is fun to think about what all these gifts mean to us and the changes that we will have in the near future. What a fun time!

Mike's favorite book :)

(the only problem is there are not quite enough semi trucks in this book!)

This is the oldest gift and the most meaningful! Mike's mom gave us the outfit and blanket that he was baptized in, and a cute little blue hat. They were made by his Great Grandma VanKomen and it was exciting to be given a gift that was made in love and passed down to us.

Shower Time!

2009-01-07T05:29:00.002-08:00

I am officially 30 weeks...and have a huge belly! I can't believe that we are here in the 3rd trimester. In 10 weeks (or less hopefully) we will be brand new parents! Tomorrow is the start of my showers. The Brink Family is having a shower for me, hosted by the married cousins and it is at Leann's house. For some reason this makes things even more real for me... I opened presents at Christmas for Baby Draisma, but showers mean the end is near and I think I am finally realizing it! This whole month is going to be getting ready for baby. I have 3 showers planned and all are this month. I plan to have Chad (the painter) come over to paint the nursery and while he is at it, we are having the whole basement done too. I may be in the nesting phase :) we are also replacing the kitchen and laundry room floor and have been shopping for new furniture for the living room. I figure that I will be home a lot more in the next few months and now is the time to get all the busy work done. I also have started going to the doc every 2 weeks now, and I have one more ultrasound planned. This last ultrasound is to decide (finally) if this baby is coming by C-section or not. My placenta is uncooperative and is the deciding factor for if it is safe to deliver vaginally or not...
Oh and to keep everyone updated - Mike is 95.5% sure that this is a little girl and says we can even paint the room pink! :) New dad's with premonitions - it is kinda scary. I think we will be safe and paint neutral colors. Mike is all about neutral colors anyway. At Christmas his grandma was holding Baby Addisyn Huizenga who was wearing a beautiful black and pink dress (very girly) she told Mike that cute clothes are the reason we need to find out what we are having. That way she can buy girl clothes...or boys. Mike told her to buy it in green, then it would work for boy or girl. So if this baby happens to be a boy, I will have a stylish little boy wearing a green dress...

It's a Girl!!

2008-12-29T05:26:00.000-08:00

NO....we did not open the envelope to find out what we are having! :) Mark and Vicki had a beautiful baby girl on Sunday morning. Kaylee Sue Lucas was born December 28 and weighed 7lbs. She came earlier than expected to surprise everyone. Congrats to the Lucas family on another precious little girl!

Family Time!

2008-12-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

We have been having lots of family time...

Starting with a "Brink Girls Night Out", all the aunts and cousins got together at Aunt Dawn's house and had lots of fun just hanging out. Ruthanne brought the highlight of the night :) Addison was about 2 months old and the first baby on the Brink side.

We also got together with the Brink's that Sunday for Grandpa Brink's birthday and on Thanksgiving day.

We had Thanksgiving lunch with the Austhof family...

Then we went to Shipse to celebrate my Grandpa & Grandma Van Hill's 60th Anniversary! We spent the weekend with family. Most of the family was able to come to this, even my cousin Missy's 2 week old son Hudson was there. There are lots of new Van Hill babies, Hudson was 2 weeks old; Taylor (Rhonda & Joe's baby) was about 3 days old and Jen and Chad had their baby girl on Dec 10. Just think of all the little babies that we will be able to cuddle on Christmas!

We came home from Shipse to the Annual Cutting of the Christmas trees :) We go as the whole Draisma family to get our trees for the year. (Matty skipped out, and I told him I would photo shop him into the picture....) We pick them out of the field and then the boys have cut them down. There is hot apple cider and donuts to top it off!

We had the Brink Family Christmas at Hudsonville Reformed church this year. We had the gym so there was games to be played, lots of talking and food. Musical Chairs ended up being the funniest time of the night - it was a wild and rough game involving lots of pushing. I was smart enough to know that I should not play...

Saturday we went to Central Wesleyan Church for their Christmas program called "Imagine". Mom and Dad Draisma invited my parents and Daris' parents too so we had a big group and lots of food afterwards...

This much family time and Christmas is still days away....

New Beginings!

2008-11-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

The beginning to my blog....

I have joined the blogging trend. I decided (with lots of encouragement) that it was time to start a blog. I always said that I would blog when I had something exciting in my life. :)

The best thing that I can think of is happening right now in our lives...we are going to be parents! We are due March 16 and are loving the fun changes that are happening. We are officially 24 weeks now, so that means over half way there!

I woke Mike up one morning to look at a stick with 2 blue lines on it. His reaction was so great! We were both so excited to finally see a positive pregnancy test that I decided to take a picture!

We told my family at Mike's birthday party. My mom's reaction was so funny when she went to cut the cake. She kept saying "OH MY, OH MY!" The cake says "Happy Birthday Daddy!"

We are going to have the first grand baby for both of our families, so needless to say, everyone is excited with us!

We have had a few ultrasounds, so I have lots of pictures of the baby already.

This is our 2nd ultrasound. The first one was not much to see, so I didn't post it.

These two are of my 20 week ultrasound. It it so fun for us to see the changes. We could see arms and legs and the baby was moving like crazy. Everything is measuring well!

We UNFORTUNATELY did not find out what we are having... Mike is all about the surprise, while I am going crazy not knowing. I even had the ultrasound tech write it down for me and put it in an envelope!

I have a birthday coming - my wish is to open the envelope for my present!