Stay at Dorm Mom

It's been awhile since I've written a post, but here I am attempting to update the good ole blog. We are happily settled into our new home on MSUs campus nestled into a two bedroom apartment in Campbell hall.  Life is busy with a toddler and college students moving in but we are enjoying this new season of life.

Campbell Hall

Eddie is turning two at the end of October (makes my heart sink a little that he's that old). He is such a joy and has taught me to love deeper and grown my heart to cherish the sweet things in life.  His favorite things include play-do, pushing his stroller, waving bye bye, kissing his teddy bear, building towers with his blocks and running around with daddy!  He keeps us on our toes but we are blessed by his well-mannered and sweet personality.

Our sweet boy!

David loves his job and it has been so fun to watch him settle into his new role as a hall director.  His staff RAs are wonderful and I look forward to a fun year watching them join together.  I have the unique role of being to get to know them on a more friendly level and hope to invite them into our apartment for games and baking (mostly the girls).  I also made them door tags which was so fun! Nap time is so great for things like that.  Looking forward to getting to know them better!

This summer has been chaotic and a little stressful at times but The Lord has been with us.  We have seen the many ways he has provided for us and we feel blessed and thankful.  We know this year may be hard at times but we trust that His hand is sovereignly guiding us and will give us what we need.

Our Humble Abode

We have lived in our house for over a year now and it has been such a blessing!  Its been so fun to decorate and make a house a home for our little family.  I sure loved creating a nursery for Edward :)  There are still some areas of the house that I would love to decorate more, but life as a new mom has me quite busy these days.  Hopefully soon I can share some ideas I have for a gallery wall up the stairs and better organization in the basement.  I did my best to take photos of the house, but I'm no photographer :)  Enjoy our house tour!

Kitchen

Kitchen & Dining

Love our living room!

Living room and Entryway

Hallway

Bathroom

Upstairs landing

My desk!

Bedroom

I made the bed just for you :)

The cradle made me tear up....my baby is growing up!

Office and Guest Room

We have so many books.....

I wonder where we went to school ;)

Eddies nursery

Lots of rocking going on here

We spend lots of time here :)

 Hope you enjoyed the tour!  I have ideas for the outside as well, but since its April those pics will have to wait!  Keep telling myself April showers bring May flowers!!!!

 

Beautifully and Wonderfully Made

As I sit down to write this I can't help but think that Edward has only been here for 4 and a half months.  It feels like a lifetime :)  I also can't help but feel immensely thankful that he's here and that God has entrusted us to love and care for him.  We are so blessed by him!  I'm also glad that I'm finally sitting down to write his birth story since I don't want to forget how he came into the world.

34 weeks with little man!

4 and half months ago on October 24, 2012 I was uncomfortably trying to sleep, drinking more water than I ever thought possible and learning how to waddle downstairs to use the bathroom.  I remember how big I felt and as I look back at photos I was actually as big as I felt.  I was anticipating a couple more weeks with him since my due date was November 8th, but he had other plans.

My husband all ready for the C-section

I was surprised to wake up at 3am feeling some pain, but that wasn't unusual for me.  The pain felt different, but I didn't feel like I had any other symptoms that would make me think I was in labor.....boy was I wrong!  Looking back I was having contractions for a couple days and the fatigue was awful!  I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to try and sit down and play on the internet.  The moment I sat down I felt sharp pains so I decided to walk around the kitchen and living room on my phone.  This made me question my symptoms a little so I googled labor symptoms.  After like 3 hours I decided I better wake up David.  I was pretty sure after reading that I was in labor for sure!  I calmly went upstairs and woke up David.  I wish everyone could have seen his reaction to "Hunny, wake up please.  I think I'm in labor."  He bounced out of bed without a word and started packing.  I laughed a little and decided to take a shower.  I figured taking my time would be good since labor is a long process (I guess that I should have realized by how much pain I was experiencing that this wasn't a great idea).  David called my doctor and explained my symptoms.  I was in pain but I couldn't tell how far apart my contractions were......little did I know that they were back to back and that I was far along.  The doctor seemed hesitant since I wasn't complaining and was able to talk and walk around.  She decided to have us come in to make sure though.

Daddy and Edward!

The car ride there was rough.  I remember trying to get comfortable and having really bad throbbing pains in my back.  I was telling David that I hoped I was in labor since I feared being that woman that went in too early (oh man, I was so wrong).  We got to Sparrow hospital and I insisted on walking and not having a wheel chair.  They had me fill out the paper work, but I didn't feel great sitting down so I remember standing up and filling them out.  The nurse brought us back and I changed into my gown.  Soon after the nurse checked me and to my surprise she said I was 8cm!!!!!!  I was stunned!  The doctor rushed in and checked me and agreed!  She was so surprised how calm and layed back I was coming in that she was unsure how I was that far along!!!!  All I remember thinking was "oh no, I can't have an epidural!"  I knew that pushing was an intense process and I felt like an epidural might help me endure better since I struggle with fatigue and health issues that might make it hard for me.  She said that I could have the epidural as long as we hurried back.

First pic with my sweet boy!

They wheeled me back to a labor room and the anesthesiologist met with me right away.  He gave me my epidural and I relaxed and rested.  My family came to the hospital pretty early since David told them how far along I was.  They were downstairs waiting to hear the news.  This is when my labor started to get intense.  I was experiencing lots of back labor and the epidural wasn't touching the pain.  I was very uncomfortable and started to get really tired from enduring the pain.  It was around noon that they "accidentally" broke my water (she was checking me and it broke).  8cm went to 5cm since my water was keeping me open.  Fast forward to around 4pm.  I was fully dilated again and exhausted.  They had me start pushing.  I have never worked so hard.....I wanted him out so bad.  After an hour and a half of pushing I had made no progress!  This is when they told me that they figured I could be pushing another 4 hours!  My heart sunk.  I didn't understand how I was making no progress from trying so hard.  After about 18 hrs of labor they decided that a C-section was needed.  David and I made the hard decision to obt for a C-section.  I felt so tired, but I also felt defeated.  I did not want to have surgery but David agreed that it was better for me.   I don't remember much except for the anticipation of a cry!  I was shaking very badly during surgery from all the hormones and the process of labor beforehand.  At 9:37pm our sweet EDWARD DAVID KOCH was born weighing 7lbs and 20.5" long!  We were overjoyed!  He was adorable!

Our New Nest!

Its been too long!  So much has been going on in our lives that blogging has taken a backseat.....plus we didn't have internet for awhile :)

We moved into a house the beginning of October and we LOVE it.  Good friends from our church are letting us rent it from them.....such a blessing to us.  I could go on and on about all the things I love, but I'll spare you the details.  Let's just say that David and I love making this home our home.  I've loved decorating so far and will have to post pictures soon.....once I decorate for Christmas (which is always after Thanksgiving for this girl).

My health hasn't been real great this fall, but since surgery I've been feeling a whole lot better.  Still feeling some pain and discomfort, but way better than before!  Praise the LORD!  I'm trusting that he will continue to give me strength and rest as the winter continues.  I'm battling a nasty cold right now and just praying it stays a cold.....my body loves to make colds turn into bronchitis so hopefully not this year.  David has been so great in encouraging me this fall and helping me to feel joy with where I'm at right now.  I'm so blessed to have him and walk through life with him!



David meeting our friend's baby Grace Lucille Peterson!

 We just celebrated our Birthdays and its always so much fun.  Since our Birthdays are 4 days apart we get to celebrate together with family as well as just the two of us.  Every year its so much fun.....I hope that every year feels like that....even as we get older. 

Nannying for Addy gets more fun every week.....she is growing like a weed!  Her personality is starting to really emerge and its so great!!  She smiles and laughs and giggles and loves to play.  She also can sit up on her own and is getting more and more wiggly when I change her diapers.....she can't wait to stand up and play :)  I mostly just love watching her learn and teaching her how to do things.  Sometimes I come home calling myself "Nanny Casey!"  It makes me oh so excited to have my own little ones.  Addy sure makes me happy and full of joy....especially watching her face light up when Mommy and Daddy come home!  I love knowing her parents personally and seeing Addy's expressions and knowing who she gets it from.....cracks me up!  I also love praying for her little heart and that I would be able to help lead in teaching her what it looks like to love Jesus.....I love that she loves listening to me butcher bible songs....its a little pathetic at times.  Still crazy that I get the opportunity to watch her....so thankful.


This is Addy....could she get any cuter?

Pinterest has also been so much fun for me since I'm decorating a house now.  If you don't know what it is.....look it up!  It is so great at organizing ideas and my husband likes it too.....we love looking at all the funny things people post....the baby halloween costumes killed me!  So cute. 

I'll leave with this.....David and I are waiting for our favorite show to start....Amazing Race.  While we were waiting we started watching the American Music Awards.....I've never felt so old.  We knew hardly any of the artists.....mostly because we are nerdy.....also because most of the popular artists are like Bieber's age.  Let's just say.....we listen to NPR most of the time since our ghetto car doesn't have FM radio anymore and most of the popular music is hard for me to understand since they sing and talk so fast.  I saw Taylor Swift and I felt relieved that I knew someone :)




Us in front of our house!







Casey



Rest from blogging....

This is how I have felt this summer!  Summer temperatures tend to make me feel exhausted and my energy levels sink for some reason.  This is why blogging has taken a back seat.....

The summer has been pretty layed back with David still working at Auto Owners.  He's been actively looking for teaching jobs and hasn't really gotten any offers yet.  There were a couple jobs he applied for, but there was like 1500 applicants!  That's just how teaching jobs are right now and we are so thankful that he has a job since so many people would love to have one right now.  We are trusting that the Lord has a great teaching job for him and learning to be patient with what he has in store.

My summer has been pretty slow in terms of working.  I babysit for a family every week or so and I have enjoyed it immensely!  They are the sweetest little kids and are so fun to be around.  They love to read and be creative.....my dream children :)  I'm thankful that I have been able to watch them and get to know their family.  I was also able to watch baby Addy for a couple days this summer.....what a joy she is!  I cannot wait to start watching her full-time this September.....I feel like we will be the best of friends.  Can't contain my joy when she smiles and coos back to me.....fills my heart with so much happiness.

I've been thinking a lot about ministering to people and what that looks like in my life.  I've always struggled with having loads of energy with people and always felt like I do a horrible job at making relationships that push others to love the Lord.  It hit me in church the other day that I minister to a lot of people.....they are just little people.  I forget that working with children and shepherding their little hearts is an amazing way of sharing Christ.  Its been on my heart the last couple weeks to pray for the children that I spend time with and pray for their hearts.  The Lord is in control and prayers can be such a real way of understanding how he works through me and others.  This has been such a wonderful way to feel purpose in my life.

Health things have been a little rough since I was in the ER last week with horrible abdominal pain.  I definitely don't like to minimize others pain levels, but I tend to have a pretty high tolerance for pain.  When I'm in pain.....I'm in pain.  They were able to run some tests and conclude that I had a ruptured ovarian cyst.  I'll be honest....I still don't really understand what that means, but I do know it causes awful pain.  I'm still trying to get in to a doctor to figure out what this exactly means.  I'm definitely nervous though since infertility tends to be one of those reoccurring side effects on every website.  I'm really hoping that's not the case, but I would love prayers. 

Fall is fasting approaching and I'm one happy camper!  I LOVE FALL!  Crisp leaves, tons of colors, MSU's band playing daily on campus, students back on campus, URC overflowing with new people, jackets and cute fall clothes, sweaters.....the list goes on and on :)  I can't wait for my sister's wedding this October as well!  It will be so much fun!  Here are some update photos from that last couple months......

Dave and Alyssa Roth celebrated their one year anniversary!  So thankful for them!

Took a trip to Mackinaw Island with David's family.  It was so fun!

Updated picture of Miss Addy!  I can't get enough of her cuteness!

A couple from our growth group (The Magees) are expecting!  Little Magee is due in Decmeber :)  So pumped for them!

On the banks of the Red Ceder.....

If I have a little boy someday....I'm going to buy these :)

Well its official......I'm a graduate of Michigan State University.  I can't even believe after six years of writing papers, going to class, writing notes, studying for tests, doing CAPA, checking angel like a million times, crying and stressing about getting things done that I can actually say I graduated and have a degree in Health Studies and a minor in Psychology :)

The Lord has been so gracious to me through this process and I have grown so much in my understanding of how to work hard not for my own joy (let's be honest....towards the end I would have given up at the drop of a hat) but for his glory and honor.  Without the strength that only He could give me I wouldn't have gotten to this point.  There are so many people that have faithfully prayed for me and given me the encouragement to continue when I didn't want to......David and my family have been there through it all.  Its really the most joyous feeling to finish something feeling like you did all you could and worked the hardest you could have.....I'm so happy and thankful.

Here are some photos from the day :)

Where's Casey?  I sat next to an MSU basketball player and my family thought I was still sitting down :)

I was a little excited :)

With my siblings....typical DJ photo.

All the family :)

DJ's girlfriend and her Mom.  They were so sweet to come!

Besides Graduation so many fun and exciting things have happened.  One of the highlights is that my sister is engaged!  Ryan proposed on the beach in Saint Joseph and her ring is really pretty (I wish I had a picture to show you).  They are planning an October wedding.  I couldn't be more excited for their wedding and having the privilege of calling Ryan my brother-in-law :)

Here is the happy couple!

Another really exciting thing is the birth of Adalyn Kay Dupuis!  She is the little girl that my friend Ashley and her husband Pearce were expecting.  They are really great friends of ours that we know from the Growth Group we are involved in through our church.  She is also the little one that I get to nanny for at the end of July and September and on.  I'm not sure I have ever seen a more beautiful little girl in all my life.  I love her so much already!

Isn't she precious?  Didn't expect anything less with the parents being as wonderful as they are!

I've been enjoying having time to relax and rest already.  It has been quite nice not having to worry about any assignments or things I have to do.  I'm excited to venture into more crafting since my mother-in-law bought me a sewing machine.  I have lots of ideas and I'm looking forward to spending time sewing and making things soon.  Everyone was so gracious in giving me gifts and I'm so thankful to all of them!

That is all for now.  I'm sure my next posts will be more updates of Addy and all the projects I'm working on.  Also, I'm really excited to being involved in a Summer Book Study with some woman.  I'll be leading us through a book called "This Momentary Marriage" by John Piper.  I'm really looking forward to it :)