Remodel Update

Okay, so as soon as the carpet guys left I went upstairs to take some pics! Here's the latest:


Here's the view when you first step into the 2nd floor, looking down the hallway. I'm standing in the open room that will become the office, the 'funny shaped room' is the first door on the left, the nursery is the far room on the left, 'Mike's office' is at the end of the hall (he just likes to call it that...), and the bathroom is the door on the right. The hallway floor will be painted.

Here's the 'funny shaped room'. We're waiting to paint the walls until we know what this room will be used for.

Here's the nursery with brand new carpet! It's not really that stripey, just looks that way because they vacuumed it or something.

Here's 'Mike's office'. We decided to wait on painting the walls until we know down the road what this room will be used for, but we went ahead and had the ceiling and woodwork painted, and the carpet laid.

And, ta-da, the biggest transformation of all, the bathroom! This is looking in from the hallway. Behind the new wall immediately on the right is the tub/shower. You can just see the end of the counter top/cabinets to the right of the window.

Blur

Let's see what I can remember about our lives since the last blog update...things have been rather hectic so it's a bit of a blur!

First of all, I don't have any up to date remodel pics - it's on my to do list to get up there today and snap a few. So for those of you who want to see, please be patient!

Painting is ALMOST complete. Ceilings, woodwork, and walls are complete (and I think look great!), and the painter will be back next week to paint the floors. He's waiting until carpet and tile are done to do that. We are carpeting the bedrooms, tiling the bathroom, and painting the floor of the 'open room' and hallway. Carpet layers are upstairs banging away as I type, so things will look different in just a few hours! Having painting done and carpet down in the nursery means that I'll be able to start moving things into the nursery, which I am very much looking forward to. :) Mike and my Dad got started on tiling the bathroom last night. All the tile is cut and ready to be laid, which they'll do tonight.

Friday night we discovered that we could not get the tile we wanted for the bathroom. Yes, we should have checked sooner (and before basing decisions such as counter top and paint on it...), but things have been too busy and because of Mike's work schedule we could never get to the tile store while it was open. Thus began a frantic search for new tile. Obviously we found something we think will work. It's a little different and I'd still rather have our first choice, but I think this will look nice. They've got it all laid out upstairs, I should go take a look...

Saturday was the first day of soybean harvest on my dad's farm. Mike was still finishing up with the celery harvest, so that means he went straight from one farm to the other! Which, as many of you know, is not something that's unusual for him. :) Monday morning I was able to help my dad unload a few wagons of beans (they got backed up because an auger needed repair) - so yes, I am still able to do some farming even in my 'condition'. Just getting the boys used to the loud machinery! With the way this fall is going, they'll get to ride in the combine during corn harvest after they're born.

On Monday Mike's crew finished up with their part of the celery harvest. Yesterday the other crew finished, so celery harvest is done for another year! I can't believe how fast it goes - seems like we were just out there planting this spring when we had JUST found out I was pregnant and this fall seemed so far away...

So, Baby B might be our little stinker. Remember how last time both babies were head down and that wasn't likely to change? Well, it did. Baby B decided to flip and go breech again. It's still possible for him to flip back, but the further along we get the less likely that becomes. Oh well, we'll take them whatever way they come!

I only have one more week of classes and then I'll be done until later in the winter/spring! It's been going well, but really wearing me out. Wednesday's are my big day this session, and I could hardly function when I got home last night because I was so exhausted. It takes a little extra effort to be carrying around a bunch of extra weight right in your front! :)

There is one thing I don't like about living in an old farmhouse - and those of you that live in one yourselves know what fall means...mice! Thankfully we haven't had a really bad problem, we've gotten a few in traps here and there. Macy has never caught a mouse, but maybe just having her inside deters them a little bit? But, we have had something happen a couple times now that I really don't like. Somehow a mouse will get into the wall near the office (Mike's going to investigate if they're actually getting into the cold air return), it won't be able to get out, then it will die. And then it stinks.... So gross!!

Well, I must have ended up remembering most things because this got pretty long. :)

8 pounds

Is anyone still reading this?? If so, please check in! It's just nice to know if this is getting read. :)



So, we've got a couple of big boys on our hands! I guess that's no surprise given the family history. I have almost 8 lbs of baby inside, no wonder I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable! Most people are delivering their one baby at this size, but my boys have probably 6 weeks of growing left to do before they make their appearance. Yikes, this could get interesting...



Yesterday we had an extensive ultrasound where they do a bunch of measuring to make sure everything looks good and the babies are growing at about the same rate. As far as we know everything looks fine! Interesting - at 20 weeks when we had an extensive ultrasound Baby B's feet were bigger, but now this time Baby A's feet are slightly longer. That's not something that would have gotten measured yesterday, but we mentioned something about it and thats when the technician said she remembered us from last time and so I think she had fun checking the feet for us. I'm a little worried about ending up with children that have big feet, and it's a legitimate concern - it can be very hard to find shoes that fit and don't cost a fortune!



Things are really moving along with the remodel. These photos of the bathroom are from a couple weeks ago, so things already look quite different. Thanks to my honey, my dad, and my brother the upstairs was ready for the painter to come this morning (I helped some too, but couldn't do as much as I would have liked - thankfully I have a very understanding husband who knows I can't do everything I normally would). After painting, the bathroom will need a few things done, but the 'major' work is complete. And the bedrooms will get carpeting after painting is complete. Things already look different (especially the bathroom!) but will really look different in the next 1-2 weeks! I'm looking forward to having the work completed so we can start putting things in the rooms and get organized and settled. The rest of the house is a bit of a disaster right now so we could have the upstairs cleared for all the work to be done.

Last weekend was another wonderful baby shower. This was given by my sister-in-law, Kara, and was for Krol friends and family. It was a nice time of visiting, playing games, and of course, eating good food! :) Again, I am so thankful for everyone's generosity. These boys will have everything they need, plus much more! With the way they seem to be growing, I hope they fit into the cute clothes that they are getting. :)



As always, thank you for your prayers for mine and the babies health. Everything has been going well and so please continue to pray that we stay healthy and they stay in as long as they need to!

30 Weeks and Counting

Wow, it's hard to believe we're at 30 weeks already! It felt like I was never going to get out of the single digits, and now the end is rapidly approaching. On the one hand we are super impatient to meet these boys face to face, and on the other hand we'd like to make sure we get some projects done! According to my doctor most of his twins come on their own around 36-37 weeks, if they don't he will induce at 37-38 weeks. So only 8 or less weeks to go!

Today was another good report from the doctor. My blood pressure is good, my weight is good, the babies' heartbeats are good - all around everything looks good! Both boys are head down - that could still change, but it's getting less likely. The doctor said that makes delivery too easy for him, he'd like the challenge of one being breech. :)

The super busy season is over for Mike so he was able to come along to today's appointment. He was especially excited to see the babies since it's been a couple months or so since he's been able to come. And we found out today that I will have another 'big' ultrasound next week, so hopefully he will be able to come to that as well. They will do a twin growth study to make sure the boys are growing at the same rate. If one was significantly larger than the other that would signal a problem.

The boys are very active. They do quiet down at night, so I hope that's a good sign!

My dad (and Mike when he's not at work) has been hard at work on the kids' bathroom upstairs. Things should be done to the point of being paintable by the end of this week. After painting, the floor will still need to be tiled. We are doing some of the painting ourselves, and hiring a painter for some. I still need to nail down some colors... Also after painting is complete, we will have carpet laid in the bedrooms upstairs. That I have chosen already - phew! Of course, there's still plenty to do to get ready even after walls are painted and floors are done... I fluctuate between feeling like there's plenty of time, and being nervous about how in the world we're going to do it all!

Last weekend was the first shower given for the babies. It was so much fun! My Steenwyk sisters-in-law threw a great party and were really creative with the twin theme. The photo at left is the cake for the shower - beautifully decorated and delicious! I enjoyed spending time with friends and family, and we received some generous gifts that we are very grateful for. This weekend is shower #2, and I'm looking forward to it!

We have so much to be thankful to the Lord for, and right now we are especially thankful for a wonderful pregnancy. I have been feeling great, and the babies and I are all staying healthy so far. These boys will be our little Thanksgiving gifts - what perfect timing!