Wishes

We wanted to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We will have many fun things to share after our "4 days of Christmas".

HO HO HO!

Okay. Probably to many pictures...

Wow, I finally am getting pictures on this page! Thank you for being patient! I think that it is worth it :)

ENJOY!

Just wearing dads hat...

Such serious cheeks...

Mom, I am ready for bed...

Caught my kids napping...

Thought I was gonna cry, but mom made me smile...

Yeah, I'm a stud, ladies take a number!!!

Dad thought I was a homie...

AHHH!!! Man I can be loud...

This is what Gavin thinks about Monday's too...

1st time for cereal, we did pretty good...

that's not so bad mom...

Go Steelers!!!

Check back sometime next week I will have many pictures of my First Christmas!!!

5mths old!

WOW! 5 months old!

So many things going on...I am sitting by myself, I am reaching for mom and dad, and could I be teething? What is that hairy little thing that you guys call Sophie? I want to touch it, opps there is some hair.

Gavin, aka, "the drool meister' is amazing! Brian and I can't believe how much fun he is. He makes noise, just because. Sometimes its constant screaming, not in pain, but just to be heard. And I think he likes to hear Brian and I react to him, I am not sure he realizes his volume. He is really interested in Sophie. And she does not share those same feelings anymore. She will run away or jump off the couch as soon as he reaches. We are having rough nights again. We had a few good ones. I guess I thought that we were getting a routine down. I guess he just thought we needed a break. He could be starting the teething process. For a couple of weeks now he is kinda 'chewing' the nipples of his bottle when he is down to the last part of his feeding. He also likes to gum my finger as well as his whole hand and maybe a foot from time to time (his not mine) :)

I didn't get the pictures down loaded yet. And my Christmas cards haven't been delivered yet. I hope to get all done this week! Hope you all are ready for Christmas! Till next time...

Stella

Stella got her results back from her paracentesis. And everything looks alright so far. However my mom still has many questions. Also I apparently they removed the fluids from a pocket between her stomach and liver, so she will be playing 20 millions questions with the doctor next visit.

I have many new pics of Gavin I would like to post, but no time at home to download them so that I can post them. We have all been fighting colds and I have lost my voice...again! However that is one of my goals for the weekend! So check back next week for your dose of Gavin!

Baby News!

I am going to be an Aunt!

My sister Jessie and her husband Dan are expecting!

(Sorry if I am spoiling the news to any family she hasn't called yet!)

We are so excited for them. Baby Schweitzer is due around July 21st!

So Gavin will have a little playmate around his 1st birthday!

mini update

Okay so apparently CAT scans are inconclusive... They did get mom lined up for the PET scan. (insurance approved!) She had that done on Wednesday. Today she got the results. They "couldn't appreciate any additional areas" with the PET Scan. To me that means the spots they first saw were not really anything once it was looked at closer with the second scan. However they decided that she needs to have a paracentesis done sometime next week. That procedure is a guided ultrasound with removal of some abdominal fluids which they will check for evaluation.

Of course I am not a doctor but this is the way I understood everything that she told me. Thank you for checking on us and keep praying for her.

Update on Stella

Stella had a CAT scan last week and got the results yesterday. They found several tumors in her abdomen. They are going to do a PET scan next, but the Dr is going to have to word the order in a weird way so that the insurance company will pay for it.(because they don't know the primary source) They are pretty sure that it isn't ovarian cancer though. She will need more chemo no matter what. They did not mention anything yet about surgery. Since we almost lost her last time they might be trying to get it with the chemo first. Right now we just really don't know much. Please keep her in your prayers and remember all that we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, everyday is truly a blessing.

Family pictures

We had our family pictures taken this weekend. It was so fun. As a mother I looked around and you can't help but feel proud. We had them done by the same lady that did our engagement and wedding photos. So I am not sure if I will be able to post them on the Internet or not (copyright laws and such)...So most of you will have to wait until you get your Christmas card. Gavin did really well and lasted just about an hour or so. We even got some pictures of just him by himself and some with his big sis Brittany. I hope they all turn out! I am sure they will and as with all of our other photo shots with Nikki Riley I will have a hard time choosing which ones to order! Hope you all are enjoying these last few days of Fall! Winter will be here before we know it!

If I don't post again this week...Have a wonderful Turkey Day from the Wiechman's!!

Following the curve

Gavin had his 4 month check up last night. The doctor said that he looks great! He was very impressed by his head control and overall strength (Brian told him he's been working out). Anyway, he weighs 13 lbs. and 14 oz. is 24 1/2 inches tall, and his head was 16 and 5/8's. So overall he is in the 30th percentile for the babies his age. So our amazing little boy is following the curve.

We are getting our family pictures taken this weekend, so that will be exciting. Gavin will also (hopefully) be in a good enough mood to get some pro shots by himself and with his big sister Brittany. I guess we'll see!

Have a great week everybody!

Reflections

Who would have thought...a year ago today I found out that we were pregnant! I am so happy to be to this point in my life. Motherhood is wonderful and I am so lucky to have Gavin, Brittany and Brian in my life. I just can't help but remember the excitement that I felt seeing those two pink lines! (Of course it was a couple of weeks before the doctor officially confirmed it, but still.)

Gavin will be 4 months old tomorrow! I can't believe it, my little man is growing so fast. Monday he will have his 4 month check up and yes those darn shots too. I will then have some of his stats to update you all on. I have no idea what he weighs right now...oops :)

Love to all who check in on us! Please leave us comments, Brian and I enjoy hearing from you!

Monkey Business

Halloween! Came and went! For those of you who didn't know, Gavin was a monkey for Halloween. He had a party at daycare that night that mom went and help out with. Grandma Stella came by after work for a quick peek at her littlest monkey. Then we headed to the mall and got to see Uncle Corey and we visited some friends and family. Pictures below.

Enjoy! Gavin and his daycare friends
My little monkey man! and his banana
Grandma Stella and her tired grandmonkey
Wonder where this monkey got his cheeks from?!
Gavin thought his grandma was so funny!

Happy Halloween!!

We wanted to wish you all a Happy Halloween! And I will have some pictures of our little trick-or-treater to post later! Today he is having a party at daycare so I will be leaving early to help out. Have a safe and fun Halloween!

More Pics

Here are some more pictures...

Just looking around...

Gotta love my cheeks!

Sooooo tired.

I love that bright yellow thing, it makes me laugh.

Bathtime!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Aunt Tracy!!

Hope you have a wonderful birthday! Can't wait for the pumpkin patch this weekend! I can't believe your 12.

Love,

Gavin

One night at a time

Last night we fed Gavin about 9, he went to bed about 10. I didn't hear from him until 3:30 a.m.!!! Alleluia!! I know it was just one night, and Brian got up and fed him but, I have been waiting for a night like last night. I hope there are more in our future.

Pictures

Here are the pictures as promised! They are all different pictures since he was born. Hopefully now these will catch me up and I can go week to week. Enjoy! And please feel free to leave us comments after you have visited our site!

Cook generation picture

Great grandma Geraldine, me, Great Grandpa Leo, Grandma Stella, Mom

Ruskamp generation picture

Great Grandma Ethel, Dad, Me, and Grandma Lou Ann I move my legs and this thing makes noise!?
This is the expensive bed that mom and dad bought me, maybe someday I will enjoy it! (they even bought the fancy mattress...I'll show them)
Where are you taking me now?

Me and Dad in our cool hats!

Aren't Mom and I cute?

GO BIG RED!!! (Wait till I can play!)

Houston, I think we have found a finger...possibly a thumb!

So Serious! But sittin' like a big boy.

My baby is 3 months old today!!

Happy 3 month Birthday Gavin!!!

Is it weird to wish him Happy Birthday at 3 months? Oh well. I can't believe it. I could cry just thinking about what I have missed this last month at work. He is really becoming his own person. Brian and I notice that when he picks him up from daycare Gavin takes a good minute or so to scan him and realize who he is then he does the same when I come home. It's kinda cute, cause then he gets that smile...the one that makes a lousy day at work a thing of the past.

I am very excited that Gavin's first holiday is coming up. I happen to be a fan of Halloween! I even am helping out at his first party at daycare. He is going to be a monkey (the cutest monkey ever!) :)

There really is nothing new to report. We are sleeping a little better, but he still needs to eat about every 3-4 hrs. I wonder when that will change? I enjoy some of those early morning moments. I really will post some pictures soon!

Sleep? What's that?

Sleep...I can remember the days when I could sleep till noon. To any parent though you know that is a thing of the past. Now I just am lucky to not be awoke every 2-3 hours. Gavin has had a rough few nights of sleep lately. He will sleep in his bed for the 1st quarter, but has a hard time after that staying asleep. We swaddle, rock and play music for some white noise. And nothing seems to get him into a consistant pattern. If there are any suggestions (besides rice cereal...mom) I would be glad to hear it. He seems to have a cold to so maybe it all will pass. Then he smiles, and that smile melts away some of the sleepiness (until I get to work). I have some new pictures that I will post later so check back.

Pardon my rambling, I am tired :)
Gina

I look like my daddy!

Hello!

Hello All!

I decided that it is only fair that I create a page to share Gavin with you. I have been selfish long enough! I hope that I am able to keep this page up as well as others have. Please give me some feedback if you notice that I should do something different. Hope all is well.