Michelle's update

We have had another fun week. We were busy with the usual stuff until the weekend when Grandma and Grandpa Egbert came. We had fun. They spoiled the girls with candy, m&ms, crafts, movies, glow sticks, and jammies. Ashley prayed to Heavenly Father that she was grateful for them because they gave her lots of things. We also went to seven falls, which is a very large waterfall and hiked up the 284 stairs. It was a climb, but we all managed to make it up. I was proud of Ashley for being so brave climbing up all the steep window stairs. There was a time she wouldn't go up to Jacob's house because of all the window stairs.

Justin learned to pull himself up to standing. He is still suffering from the cold that gave him croup. He is over the diarrhea virus, but today he has thrown up twice. I am hoping to get him totally better before the cruise.

We cut 3 inches off of Katelyn's hair. She has a cute bob now.

Ashley has her thanksgiving party at pre-school this week.

I signed up to run the half marathon in Moab in March with Melanie, Jeff, Michael, and two friends here. I am working on Hans to at least run the 5 miles. We'll see.

Hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving Holiday. I am excited to see most of you in Florida on Thursday:)

Love, Michelle

Michelle's update

November 12, 2006

Hi Everyone,

Things here are improving, so that's good. Justin got croup on Wednesday morning and I spent from 4-7 am at the emergency room with him while they gave him steroids and a variety of breathing treatments. Around 7 they said he'd improved enough to send us home. I had a long day. I was tired. And Justin was needy. He just cried no matter what I did for the past three days. Today he seems much happier. The pictures of him are from today. He is still coughing and has diarrhea, but he will at least smile and allow himself to be put on the floor. Mostly he just wants me to be holding him while I stand up. I was very concerned about him. I haven't seen croup in a baby that badly. He was bluish in color, his ribs were retracting with every breath and he had really bad stridor, which just means it sounds like paper crunching with every breath in and out. Hans and a friend gave him a blessing on Wednesday, which provided great teaching moments for the girls. Ashley is very curious and she is a great prayer. Last week she said to me, "Mom, want to know why I'm such a great prayer? It's cuz I'm always thinkin' of others." She said it so matter of factly. She is always thinking of others. She loves to help me with Justin and is always concerned about how others are feeling. She is a sweet girl. Today she laid out a trail of cheerios for Justin and he crawled along her trail eating cheerios until he found her. It was cute to watch. She is doing better at basketball and didn't cry too much this past game. There are a lot of kids and she isn't aggressive AT ALL. Katelyn is a great basketball player, but Ashley is too concerned about other kids to be the star. She will be a great friend.

Katelyn is well. She is really into her Hannah doll right now and Hannah goes everywhere with her. She is also a great ballerina. On our way home from their dance recital practice yesterday Ashley said that she was throwing her Hannah a party when we got home. Katelyn asked if she could have one for her Hannah too and Ashley said no. Katelyn's reaction is so cute. She doesn't throw a tantrum, it's just more of an"oh man" kind of look on her face. They are cute. I bought some beads and string and the girls have been making bracelets for hours. They have been so wonderful while I have been tending to Justin. Ashley keeps praying that Justin will start sounding the way he is supposed to sound. She has heard me say to others how I'm concerned because he just doesn't sound right. She picks up on everything. That and now everything is "terrible" if it doesn't go her way. I say that a lot I guess. She told me last night as I was putting her to bed, "Mom, you're my favorite women."

I could go on and on.

Justin weighs an even 20 pounds. Croup certainly hasn't slowed down his growth. He is nursing a ton, but I think mainly because he still isn't into food, and especially when he's sick.

I'm looking forward to when he can sleep in his own bed again. Hans and I went king bed mattress shopping. We will buy one soon.

Hans is keeping busy with work. He plays racquetball once a week with some friends now and played x-box last night as well. He's anxiously anticipating the start of ski season. He took the girls to the Y swimming this past week for a daddy daughter date, which he will do once a week as well. They love it and feel so special. We enjoy keeping busy, but always have time to talk and be with friends and family so feel free to call and chat!

We're excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Egbert here this coming weekend. We talk about it everyday. The girls are SO excited and so are we.

Hope all is well there,

Michelle

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