The Rundquist Diaries

Bird's eye view...

2007-05-13T21:09:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone - what a blessed day is has been celebrating my first Mother's Day. We had a special morning out to breakfast and getting plants and seeds for our garden. John and Quinlan were very good to be today and I wouldn't feel more blessed and honored to Quinlan's mama!

The below post is something that Quinlan wrote himself a few weeks ago (wink, wink) and I am just finally getting to post it. It is about his papa so even though this is Mother's Day, I just had to post it - it's so adorable! :) Have fun reading from this bird's eye view...

Hey Blog Checkers- My Mama and Papa have been quite busy during the last couple of weeks, so they asked if I would go ahead and throw a blog together with some pictures. Let's see what Q-man can generate. I thought it would be fun to go ahead and share with all of you some of my favorite things to do with my Papa. So during this week I will go ahead post one activity that I really enjoy and try to throw in a picture or two. Ready or not here we go.

Helping with Yardwork- Papa needed to go ahead and put some turf builder down on the lawn, and he asked if I could help. I was so excited when he said yes, but I told Papa he better make sure that it was not harmful to be around. He checked and it was safe for me. He put me in the Snugli and away we went up and down the yard. Papa was telling me how he enjoyed using the spreader, because it reminded him off spreading manure on fields as a young boy. The time went by so fast, but Mama told me the reason was because I fell asleep. I still had a great time with Papa.

My Puppy Linus- During the last couple of weeks I have really started to notice my puppy Linus. He is a good puppy. Papa and I play with him a lot. I really like when they play fetch with the ball in the house or play tag by running the circle through the hallway, kitchen, dining room, and living room. Linus can do some great spin-outs! Linus also likes to play tug-of-war with his Linus blanket with Papa. Linus also gives good licks, which are much softer than the cats. Papa doesn't really mind if I get licks from Linus, but Mama makes sure it is only a couple. Papa once told her that it is not that big of deal, since Linus's licks are cleaner than the ones that come from Mama and Papa. I can't figure that out since Mama and Papa brush their teeth, but Linus just licks himself. Maybe Grandpa Jim can explain this, since he is a vet. I LOVE LINUS!

Story Time- I enjoy having books read to me. Mama reads a couple of books each day to me, but Papa is a good reader too. He can get quite expressive with some of the stories. He likes to try to create suspense with the books which is fun, but is not necessary since I know what happens with each of the books. But he does do a good job with making some of the animal noises, especially lambs. He needs some help with making the noise of a chicken. We do have a good time reading books and I am hoping maybe next summer he will start reading some big-people books like Thomas the Train.

Playing Airplane- This is my favorite thing to do with Papa. An hour or so after a feeding Papa scoops be up and asks me if I want to go flying. It is always an automatic YES! He takes me flying throughout the house and I love when he takes the corners real sharp. Every once in a while I have to close my eyes because we are get going so fast or I get startled because he pulls up in front of a mirror. I guess with the big planes they have barfbags, but Papa was not able to find one that would fit me, so this is where my puppy Linus helps out. Linus will normally follow us through the house and if I get an upset stomach Linus will clean up the remains if Mama doesn't beat him to it. I LOVE PLAYING AIRPLANE!!!!!

The Harmonica- Well, I won't classify this as one of my favorite things to do with my Papa, but I know he gets a huge kick out of it, so I will include it in this post. My Papa HAS a harmonica, you saw that I emphasised HAS and not “plays” the harmonica. He has a couple of tunes he can blow out, but nothing that soothes me or puts me to sleep. For some reason every time Papa plays the harmonica I develop a huge frown and then I generate two quick WHAA's and then I start smiling again and he plays it again and I do the same thing. I don't know why, but Mama and Papa get a huge kick from it. Papa has a long ways to go before he is able to play like Great Grandpa Rundquist, so in the mean time I will keep playing this game with Papa.

The END- Well I guess this is where I stop. I do love hanging out with my Papa. We have a good time, but I can't forget about Mama - she's just the best Mama! I love Papa, Mama, Linus, Motor, Lilly, and all of you!!!!

PLEASE NOTE: This will be our last blog post on blogger. We have decided to start sending out a monthly email to family and friends instead of keeping up the blog. If you would like to added to our email list, please let us know!! Thanks for reading this blog!!

3 Months Already...

2007-04-08T19:34:00.000-05:00

Quinlan has had a lot of firsts this week...he visited a new doctor on Monday and had his first set of shots (a month late). He was a trouper and made it through, though it was painful! On Tuesday he got his first professional pictures taken. It was a lot of fun and he did a great job. By Wednesday he had the onset of his first cold. Poor guy! He is just getting over it now, but he has been a tough boy. Saturday he officially turned 3 months old and we just can't believe it! He is now 13 lbs 3 ozs and 25 inches long which lands him in the 90% for his height. Whoa! And of course there's today...celebrating his first Easter. We had an enjoyable time at Evergreen West and then had my family over today for a nice lunch together. We're so thankful for family!

Here are a few new photos...

Check out our new security system!

More of our favorites...

2007-03-25T19:37:00.000-05:00

Some of our favorite pictures!

2007-03-24T14:37:00.000-05:00

Questions to be answered...

2007-03-23T22:32:00.000-05:00

Hello Blog Checkers- Papa Rundquist is going to go ahead and throw his first blog post together. According to inquires, people are more interested in the pictures of Quinlan than the typed thoughts, well you are going to get both. The month of March has flown by and it is just as scary to think that our little newborn baby is approaching 3months- WHOA. Quinlan John has blown away my expectations of what I expected from a child, my goodness what a blessing from above. I don't think I had low expectations, but there are so many moments where you ask why was I granted this gift. Even though I spend time with him each day, I still have questions that I am trying to figure out about our boy.

1. Quinlan are you going to be like Grandpa Rundquist and be left handed? He has been sucking his left thumb like it is his only thumb. Quinlan has gotten several scratches on the left side of his nose from wiggling his fingers as he sucks his thumb (nails are being trimmed much more regularly)

2. Are you going to have brown, blue or hazel eyes? We were certain you were going to have brown eyes, but is Grandma Curly (John's mom) correct with sensing some blue coming in? We even could see a good amount of blue while out in the sun today.

3. Quinlan are you going to be long and lanky and slightly bow legged like Papa? We keep waiting for you to go chunky on us, but you just keep going longer. You are creating some wardrobe challenges with wearing some outfits for 6 month olds for their length, so you may find yourself wearing a belt soon. (He's with his cousin Drew in this photo.)

4. Have you heard the rumor that you have some similar looks to your Papa? I have really struggled with connecting with the fact that you and I look alike. I really never thought to highly of my looks, but BOY do you have some great cuteness. When people tell me that you look like me, I state no “I look like Quinlan.” I want your looks.

5. Lastly, will our Tar Heels be able to pull off a couple more big wins? My gut feeling is that they may fall short of winning it all, but they are plenty young, but honestly I think I will hold more memories of you wearing your little UNC Tarheel outfit than actually the team themselves. You look very sporty in that outfit, plus baggy shorts are stylin' these days.

Our growing Boy...

2007-03-04T14:11:00.000-06:00

On Thursday Quinlan had his two month well baby exam. We are proud to say that we have one big boy on our hands! He weighed in at a hefty 12lbs 7ozs which lands him in the 75th percentile! We are very proud of him! :)

He continues to bring joy and laughter into our life. He loves his mobile, riding in his swing, smiling and cooing and just being held! He lights up our life and we are so blessed that God chose us to be his parents.

A couple of Greats!!

2007-03-01T20:09:00.000-06:00

The past two weeks have been BIG for our little man Quinlan. He has been able to meet two of his great-grandparents! First off was Great Grandma Darling. We drove down to Iowa for our first overnight. He did great and suffice it to say, Great Grandma was in heaven with meeting her first great grand child! Next stop was Watertown, MN to meet Great Grandma Quinn (or more affectionately G'Mo). She was delighted to meet her newest great grand child.

Here are a couple of pictures...

QT Thoughts

2007-02-12T09:31:00.000-06:00

My goal from last week was to start having a regular quiet time every day - this is something I have not been able to accomplish since late in my pregnancy and definitely not during the first 4 weeks of Quinlan's life!! Let me tell you, it has been so refreshing to be in Word and so encouraging to my heart and soul to be spending time with the Lord. I feel better equipped to be the wife and mother that God wants me to be.

Anyway, I have this devotional that I read along with my One Year Bible and today, the entry really blessed my heart and I wanted to post it here.

“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort to.”
2 Corinthians 1:5

"There is a perfect balance in this. God in His providence operates the scales; on one side He puts His people’s trials, and on the other He puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy. When the dark clouds gather, the light is more brightly revealed to us. When night falls and the storm is brewing, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to His crew. It is a blessed thing that when we are most downcast, then we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One reason is, trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper and makes more room for consolation. God comes into our heart – He finds it full – He begins to break our comforts and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The humbler the man is, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more fitted to receive it. Another reason why we are often happiest in our troubles is this – then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, man can live without God: When the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But when our shelter is removed, then we want our God; when the house is purged of idols, then we are compelled to honor the Lord. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!” There is no cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains, no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. They bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness. Come, troubled believer, do not fret over your heavy troubles, for they are heralds of weighty mercies."

One Month Old

2007-02-08T13:28:00.000-06:00

I had a post all typed up yesterday with new pictures and right before I posted it...my computer shut down and I lots everything!! So, here is what I meant to post yesterday...

Quinlan is now one month old and he is growing so fast! Each day he develops more and more. He brings a lot of joy and laughter to our life. It's safe to say he has captioned our hearts and we love him dearly and just love being Mama and Papa!!

Here are a few "awake" pictures of our handsome boy!

Week Number Two

2007-01-31T18:34:00.000-06:00

Well, we're half way through week number two alone and I must say, things are going really well! Quinlan is responding very well to a nice routine and we're both adjusting to being together all day. John has been really supportive and so encouraging - calling me during the day to check in. I feel more like myself every day and my body is healing nicely. I am very thankful and really loving being a mom!

Here are just a few of my "favorites" about Quinlan thus far:

1. The way he curls his little tongue when he is in the middle of a BIG cry
2. His "eh-eh-eh" grunt right before he launches into a scream
3. The way he flails his arms when he's awake, startled or upset (maybe he'll be a swimmer!)
4. The fact that he hates to have a dirty diaper :)
5. The way he smiles after he is done eating (well, with his eyes closed and probably due to gas!)
6. How he tucks his little legs under his butt if you lay him on his tummy
7. The powerful kicks he makes with his legs

My little boy is already growing up so fast!!

Picture post to follow shortly....we finally captured some of him awake!

Some of our favorites...

2007-01-24T20:43:00.000-06:00

P.S. We are working on getting pictures of Quinlan when he's awake!

My First Week ALONE

2007-01-24T10:12:00.000-06:00

Due to peer pressure....here is a new post! ;)

John went back to work on Monday and the reality of my new life set in. My goal for the week is to try and implement more routine with Quinlan...eating/wake time/nap time, etc. and Monday started off on a horrible note. Mr. Q must have known that Papa wasn't around and he would not take a nap all morning long and fussed off and on for about 4 hours straight. I spent most of the morning in tears and doing a lot of praying!

It was hard to wake up on Tuesday with a positive, encouraged attitude. However, the day went a lot better, I adjusted a few things and Quinlan responded much better and even took a few morning naps! I was so happy! It's amazing just how much work having a newborn is. Whoever thinks that stay-at-home moms sit around, watch soaps and eat bon-bons all day is dead wrong! I feel like I have accomplished a lot because I have been able to take a shower every day so far this week!

So today is Wednesday and so far, so good. Daddy is coming home for lunch which will be really nice! I am trying to remind myself that having a newborn is all about learning and that everything takes time.

Quinlan really is a joy and we love him so much...being parents really is an amazing honor!

Picture post coming soon...

The BIG Weigh In

2007-01-17T16:51:00.000-06:00

Well, yesterday we took Quinlan to the doctor for his first checkup and he is doing great! He has surpassed his birth weight and now weighs a whooping 8lbs and 7ozs! He's a healthy boy so we are thankful. He is in the 75% for his height and weight. Yippy!

THE NAME

2007-01-14T21:28:00.000-06:00

Many people have asked us about how we came up with the name Quinlan John and what does his name mean…so we thought you might like to know!

During John and I’s courtship, one of the first things he told me was that he really liked the name Quinn (Quinn is John’s mom’s maiden name) and that he wanted to name his firstborn child this name and that his future wife had better like it! J Well, lucky for him, I loved the name. Well, after a few years of marriage as we got closer to starting a family, we started talking more about names for our children. We decided that as much as we liked the name Quinn, we thought it night be nice to alter it just a bit. That’s how we settled on Quinlan – it still incorporated Quinn, but was unique as well.

The meaning of the name Quinlan is “Fit, shapely and strong”. We thought we would go with this meaning versus the other meaning for Quinlan which is “Born from a handsome descendent” though John (and probably Grandpa Darling as well) likes this meaning an awful lot! J

And lastly, Quinlan’s middle name is in honor of his dear papa!!

Note: We plan to keep his name as Quinlan and not shorten it to Quinn - in case inquiring minds wanted to know!

AT HOME

2007-01-14T13:37:00.000-06:00

Going home - first ride in the car-seat and loving it!

Sleeping Baby

All swaddled up! (Thanks Meyers)

THE PICTURES

2007-01-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

Here are some much anticipated pictures of our new little boy! Enjoy!!

Celeste holding Quinlan for the first time - 4 hours after birth.

First Family Photo

Mama with her baby

Our Son

Papa with his Boy

THE DETAILS – Day 2

2007-01-13T10:37:00.000-06:00

Sunday, January 7, 2007

12:30am – I was dilated to 5 and was having severe back labor and my whole body was shaking. We decided that we both needed rest and needed it badly. The pain was very intense. I went the epidural route and I am so glad that I did.

1:00am – I received the epidural and within minutes was able to feel the relief and finally get some much needed rest. We both slept for the next 5 hours or so.

5:00am – The nurse came in and checked me over and surprise – I was dilated to a 7-8. I had labored well over night and a lot of progress was made.

6:00am – I dilated to 8-9 and my doctor was called. She arrived and thus began the long, tumultuous wait to get to 10 cm.

10:00am – Still not dilated to 10 so they up my Pitocin even more and also because my contractions were not strong enough.

10:30am – Finally made it to 10 cm and the pushing began.

11:00am – Pushing…and we find out that baby is “sunny side up” – meaning his head was coming out face up rather than face down.

11:30am – More pushing….

12:00pm – Still pushing and was close to crowning.

12:30pm – Pushing some more and no progress was being made. An OB doctor was called in to assess the situation and give her advice. We basically had two options…go the C-section route or try the vacuum. After all that pushing, we decided to give the vacuum a try which is pretty much like putting a toilet plunger (only a much smaller version) on your baby’s head. The OB doc said she would only try for 20 minutes and then if nothing happened, we’d have to go with the C-section.

12:50pm – No progress was made at all – Baby R was stuck and we had no other options. They started prepping me for surgery and wheeled me into the OR (Operating Room).

1:33pm – Baby Quinlan John was born and he scored 9 out of 10 on the Apgar test, all vitals were great and John assisted with cutting his umbilical cord. There was cause for concern due to severe bruising and fluid between his skull and skin that covered the top of his head down to the nape of his neck.

Quinlan spent the next 40 hours in the Intermediate Care Nursery for observation and additional support.

THE DETAILS – Day 1

2007-01-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

Many of you have probably heard by now of the ordeal we went through to bring Quinlan into this world – and an ORDEAL it was – but we thought we would share some of them anyway. The easiest way would be by giving the timeline of events…so here we go!

Saturday, January 6, 2007

7:15am – We arrived at the hospital for induction and got settled into our labor and delivery room. We had no idea that we would be spending hours in this room preparing for Quinlan to make his arrival.

8:45am – I found out that I am dilated to 1 cm, am 30% effaced and am at -4 station (where the estimate baby’s head is at in the birth canal) and I received my first dose of a cervix softener (an induction drug).

12:45pm – I received my second dose of softener, no change.

4:45pm – I received my third does of softener, still no change.

8:45pm – I am now dilated to 2 cm, almost 50% effaced and am now a 0 station. I started having very heavy contractions, one right after the other. My doctor is called and it’s decided to hold off on any more softeners to see if I will continue to labor on my own.

10:30pm – We water breaks and heavy labor comes on! I start having violent contractions that are coming ever few minutes with barely any down time. I start having severe back labor and whole body shaking soon follows. The pain is getting to be quite unbearable. John encourages me to hang in there and continue to push through the pain.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

2007-01-13T09:55:00.000-06:00

With pride and joy, we are finally able to announce the birth of our new baby BOY!!!

Quinlan John Rundquist

(which means “fit, shapely and strong” - maybe the prediction of a future runner just like his Papa??)

Born: January 7, 2007

Time: 1:33pm

Weight: 8lbs 5oz

Length: 21 inches

It feels like we waited a lifetime for this moment, and I guess we really have! It is hard to put into words the amount of thankfulness and joy that John and I have right now. As we look at our newborn baby boy, nothing but love and gratefulness fill our hearts. Our dream has finally come true and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome!

Final thoughts

2007-01-05T10:26:00.000-06:00

Well, tomorrow is almost here and as a dear friend wrote to me this morning...

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, you're only a day away!!!

I have peace this morning as I get things prepared for tomorrow and for our stay at the hospital. I know God is in control. I was able to spend some time with my mom yesterday and she gave this wonderful saying from a book of hers (she couldn't remember which book). It says:

"Go where God leads, trusting Him to supply the courage, confidence, grace and resources at the right moment." Amen.

We hope to be able to post good news of our baby's arrival very soon!

Thanks for praying for us.

No baby yet???

2007-01-03T10:28:00.000-06:00

We have now entered 2007 and no baby yet! It's hard to believe that I am already 3 days past my due date (which was 12/31/06). Only the Lord knows when this baby will come, but we do have a plan of action...

This morning we went to the doctor and as it turns out, I am still NOT dilated. You'd think being 40 1/2 weeks pregnant that I would be dilated some, but no, nothing. So, now we enter the phase of induction.

The plan right now is that I will go to the hospital on Saturday morning to be induced. There is no telling how long it will take for my body to respond to the induction before I go into labor. It could be a day, two days, maybe even three. But, by next week there will be a baby in our arms - one way or another!

Prayer requests:

1. That God would give us strength and energy as we wait out the induction at the hospital.

2. That the induction would "take" and that it would get things moving fast and soon.

3. That baby would remain healthy and without stress during this process.

4. That we would be patient and stay encouraged.

Thanks everyone for all your prayers and for your thoughtful check-ins. We have appreciated so very much all of the kindness that we have received.

God is good and we are so excited that this baby will be here soon!

More updates to follow....

Various thoughts...

2006-12-29T11:11:00.000-06:00

It might be awhile before I can post a blog entry...today is my last day of work - we're still waiting for Baby R to come and if he/she doesn't come by next week, there's no point in me trying to come into work. We're getting a new LAN line and hopefully the internet at our home next week. We'll see what the next few days have in store for us!

On Being 9+ Months Pregnant
It's been a long haul indeed. I never imagined all the false labor contractions, the waiting, not going early like my mom, more than likely going to my due date, possibly longer...but, things have gone very smoothly up to this point and I have so much to be thankful for. My body is hanging in there, though it is weary and tired from carrying all this extra weight! It will be well worth it in the end.

On Becoming a Mom
I never imagined how excited I would be to start my new role as mom! All the anticipation and excitement just keeps building up and how thankful I am to God for allowing me to go through this pregnancy process and to have the privilege and honor of becoming a mother. I am counting the days, hours, minutes until I can hold this little bundle in my arms and finally be MOM!

On Faithwalkers
All of my family and a number of our close friends (around 100 Rockers to be exact) are all down at Tan-Tar-A Resort right now for Faithwalkers. It is bittersweet for us to not be there. We absolutely love this conference - it's the highlight of the year for us, but we are at home awaiting the arrival of our little baby which is so very sweet. We have been praying for the conference and all the people there every day and we can't wait to hear all about it. We're so thankful to be involved with GCA. What a wonderful group of men leading us and so many awesome saints involved with the churches. We are so blessed.

So yea, those are the thoughts rolling around in my head today. As we head into the long weekend for New Year's and as I gear up for being at home next week, with or without my babe in arms, I am so thankful for all that God has given me and blessed my life with. I am truly rich indeed.

God bless and Happy New Year!!

Hurry up and...WAIT!

2006-12-26T13:56:00.000-06:00

We had our 39 week check-up this morning and so far, nothing has changed from last week. I am still around 50% effaced and not dilated. This was pretty discouraging (for me especially) seeing as how we had another eventful weekend full of contractions, etc. My doctor is pretty certain I will go to my due date, possibly longer. However, she will not let me go more than a week overdue. Let's pray for baby to come before induction takes place!

So, we are still waiting and I am finding it's not getting any easier. My emotions are all over the place. John has been wonderful - so encouraging and supportive. And we only have 5 MORE DAYS to go to get to our due date - 12/31. That is an encouraging thought! I am trying to stay positive, but the strain on me physically is a lot to bear right now.

These are some good verses for me to remember right now:

Psalm 27:14, "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."

Isaiah 64:4, "For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!"

Habakkuk 2:3, "If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."

Romans 8:25, "But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently."

So thankful that I can rest in those thoughts today.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

Update

2006-12-24T17:03:00.000-06:00

Well folks, I'm sure inquiring minds want to know if Baby Rundquist has arrived...not yet!! We're still waiting, but we have enjoyed being able to spend some good time together the last few days.

Right now we're enjoying a nice Christmas Eve with my family and tomorrow will be a relaxing Christmas day at home together. This could be an eventful week and we look forward to posting news of the arrival soon!!

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Celeste & John (in wait mode)

Four years of wedded bliss...

2006-12-20T08:55:00.000-06:00

Today, December 20, 2006, John and I are celebrating our 4 year anniversary! It's hard to believe how fast time has gone by nor how many memories we have together. I can still remember our wedding day like it was yesterday! I am truly blessed to be married to John...he's been God's greatest blessing in my life and I can't imagine life without him. He's my best friend!

Honee, I love you and I look forward to tonight as we celebrate 4 years of God's gracious favor in our lives! I love you!

More pics...

2006-12-18T10:06:00.000-06:00

Just a few more that wouldn't fit the first time...

Last Night Out????

2006-12-18T08:14:00.000-06:00

On Friday night, John and I had the opportunity to attend my company's annual Holiday party. It is always a lavish bash and this year was no exception. It was held at the prestigious Interlachan Country Club in Edina - our CEO happens to be a member. The view was amazing, the surroundings were beautiful and the food was to die for. We had a wonderful evening together. It will probably be our last night to dress up and be out for awhile so we really enjoyed ourselves. We asked a co-worked to take a few photos of us since we were looking so good all dressed up! I am so glad we took some of these shots...they turned out great. Here are a few of our favorites:

Waiting is the name of the game...

2006-12-14T09:55:00.000-06:00

As this week slowly trudges by (this word is related to how I actually am walking now!), nothing new has happened since our excitement of the weekend. It has been hard to settle back and just wait - I am not always good at waiting. But, I know what the end result will be and honestly, that is worth waiting for!

I have been encouraged by a couple of verses this week that are helping me to maintain my perspective as we wait for Baby R to join us and as I endure the uncomfortable days ahead of me:

Psalm 119:68, "You are good and what you do is good..."

Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Also, I would like to extend my congrats the Karl and Maren Quickert on the arrival of their little bundle of joy Jemima Era! What a beauty she is - John and I are thrilled for you! Maren, we will have much to share and talk about in the coming few weeks! I can't wait!!!

False Labor...not all it's cracked up to be!

2006-12-11T10:36:00.000-06:00

Our weekend was an eventful one...almost too eventful! :) This little one is keeping things exciting for us indeed.

On Thursday afternoon, I started having pretty regular, but mild contractions lasting through the entire evening (about 20 minutes apart). They continued into Friday, but I had a busy day at work trying to clear off my desk so I wasn't always paying attention. By Friday night they continued on making us wonder what the weekend would have in store for us!

Saturday morning we got up and headed out for our first of three walks that day to keep things moving along! At one point I was having contractions every 5 minutes for over and hour and a half. We were moments away from calling the hospital when things started to slow down again. We went on another walk and then another. By then (about 2 in the afternoon), they had slowed way down. We decided to call the hospital anyway just to let them know what was going on and see if they had any advice. Bascially we were told we were either in the early stages of labor and things would continue to progress (and intensify!) or we were just having false labor and pretty soon everything would just stop. By Saturday night the contractions did just that - they stopped.

Sunday got eventful again in the early afternoon when my bowels got completely turned around for about 2 hours followed by 4 hours of much more intense contractions that were about 10 minutes apart. However, at 8:30pm, once again, everything just stopped.

Needless to say, I was not excited about coming to work today! I would much rather be in the hospital having a baby! :) But, God knows when the best time if for this little one to make it's arrival and we just have to be patient, even though it's uncomfortable and at times painful.

We have a doctor's appt this afternoon so I am hoping that some progress has been made!

December 1, 2006

2006-12-01T09:32:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that December finally has arrived...this means that sometime this month (unless our little one refuses to be on time or come early) we will be having a baby in 2006!

As I approach 36 weeks (this Sunday), I find myself getting more and more anxious, excited, nervous, overjoyed, etc. at the thought of this baby finally making his/her way into our world. Our bags are packed, our house is in order, the baby's room is all set...now we just wait! As fast as this pregnancy has gone by, I believe these next few weeks will be the longest stretch as we anticipate this birth.

Thanks to Maren for posting these encouraging verses which did my heart good this morning...

"If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." Habakkuk 2:3

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

I praise the Lord that He has been in control of this pregnancy since day 1 and as we wait out these final weeks, He is still holding this little life in His hands. He is so worthy of my trust and I am confident that in His perfect timing, this little one will arrive healthy and strong into our family whether it be 4 weeks early or a week late! :)

I am also so thankful for the loving husband I have in John. He has been such a trooper with all the many changes that have been taking place over the last number of months. As I have started to slow down, there are tasks that are simply too much for me...even the task of tying my own shoes! I have a gracious husband who was tying them daily until he suggested he buy me a new pair of slip on shoes! I am now wearing some of the more comfortable shoes I have ever owned! Thank you my Love for helping to make my life just a little bit easier! I cannot wait to experience all of this with you, my best friend!

Wow, what a way to end our 2006!

Baby R Update...

2006-11-28T08:39:00.000-06:00

I had my 35 week check-up yesterday and all is well! Less than 5 weeks to go and we couldn't be more excited. The baby is growing and growing (and so is my belly!) and I have slowed down a great deal, but I am "hanging in there" - that's my favorite new phrase these days! So far, no dilation is taking place, but my doctor did tell me that if I started to go into labor now, she would not stop it. It is a good feeling to be in the "safe zone" and I am so thankful to be at this point. It's a great feeling. Hopefully we can hold out a couple more weeks until I am full term before the baby arrives. However, we can't wait to welcome this little one and especially to find out if it is a he or a she!

Here is a picture that John took of me last night....

Our goal to have the nursery complete by Thanksgiving weekend was realized and we love how it turned out - we are ready for you Baby R!

Supply Bin

Changing Station/Dresser

Glider Corner

Crib

Side of Crib & Shelf

Shower # 2

2006-11-20T15:17:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I was given the wonderful blessing of another shower thrown by my "church lady" friends Nicki, Julie and Terri. It was such a blessed event and one I am so very thankful for. I had relatives and church friends from many years past there to help me celebrate this new life that is still growing big and strong inside of me! They had so many special things planned...

My mom shared a letter that she had written for me, Julie read a letter that my dad wrote to me and finally Terri read a sweet letter that John wrote to our baby! It was a wonderful surprise and was so touching for me hear. Each letter was so thoughtful and beautiful! I will hold on to them always.

We played a couple of fun games such as "Guess Which Melted Candy Bar is in the Diaper" - which was fun and gross at the same time - the melted chocolate made them look like "dirty diapers". One gal was brave enough to taste it in her effort to guess what kind of candy bar it was! Another fun game was they had a list of meanings that you had to guess the name for such as "a tool" which would be Jack or "a tall evergreen" which would be Douglas (as in Douglas Fir). It was entertaining for sure, especially when my sweet sister Jessica put down Tahiti for "a type of beach" instead of Sandy. :) We all got a big laugh out of that!

Once again, we were thoroughly blessed with some wonderful gifts and we couldn't be more thankful for people's generosity with us. Our little one, and future little ones (Lord willing), will be blessed for many years to come! We are well prepared for this baby's arrival...

So, the countdown is on (5.5 weeks to go!). Our goal is to have the nursery finished by this weekend - we have a lot of little things to do, but it's looking good!

It really was a SHOWER!

2006-11-06T12:07:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday afternoon was my much anticipated baby shower thrown by my dears friends Coral, Amber & Emily. Ladies, it was an amazing celebration! I was overwhelmed by all the creativity, the food, the fellowship and the wonderful generosity of everyone who was there! It blew me away and was such a HUGE blessing to both John and myself.

I had planned on taking pictures, but alas, I forgot that I packed the camera and with all the commotion, I didn't even give photo taking a second thought! However, Jodi was willing to videotape most of the fesivities so at least we've got it documented somehow!

It's hard to know where to start because everything was so touching...from the girls sharing what they appreicated about me, to the things my mom shared, to the Elizabeth Elliot quote that Emily read, to the Psalm (139) that Coral read, to Amber's beautiful prayer, to the wonderful food, to the creative game we played in order for me to be able to open up my gifts...everything was simply wonderful!

Thanks to Coral and Steve for the most creative baby shower game I have ever played! In order to open a present, I had to sing a song. But the twist was, each of the guests were given a slip of paper with a song containing the word, “baby”. They had to hum the song for me to guess and then sing. Jodi was first with “Baby, Baby” by Amy Grant - which proved to be one of the easier songs for me to guess. KG had the nye impossible task of humming “Baby Got Back" which is funny because I didn't even know the lyrics to actually sing to it! Try it for yourself – it’s not easy. Alexis had “Ice, Ice Baby” which became a lot easier and even more hilarious when Maren joined in by laying down the beat. :) It was a riot and I loved it!!

John and I spent the whole night going through the presents together, reading through the cards and also reading through the other fun little project the gals had to do! They were each given a little card to write their guess of the baby's sex, pick out a name, guess the weight and also the due date. I have to admit, these ladies came up with some pretty good, funny and even absurd guesses! Then we ran to Target because we both felt like looking through baby stuff and then we grabbed some Chinese food to top of the great day.

I spent 3 hours on Sunday in the nursery opening up all the packages and trying to get the room organized. It's safe to say I wore myself out, but I had so much fun putting the room together!

We're down to 7 weeks left...time it flying!!

Birth 201

2006-11-06T11:40:00.000-06:00

We had our final birth class this past Saturday morning...once again we came away with a ton of knowledge and feel well equipped for what's to come. Our topics this time around included c-sections, postpardom care and newborn care. During one point, our instructor had all the mom's working on an activity together and all the dad's working on a project together. The men were learning how to "swaddle" a newborn! I couldn't help but peek over at their group to see how they were doing. It was fun to watch - I am happy to report that John did an excellent job of swaddling the "baby" - he's already a pro! It also turns out that John was one of only 3 guys (out of 13) that had ever changed a diaper before! Way to GO Honee!

The mom's got to go over bathing a newborn - it is a very delicate process when they are so young and little. According to our instructor (who is a doula) - babies never need lotion. It was interesting to hear that, but seeing as how I love the smell of baby lotion on babies, I plan use it at some point!

We have now offically graduated from "Preparing for Child Birth" - it's good to have that class overwith. Now, we are just waiting for the real thing to happen and see if we can remember and use all of our newfound skills!

Birth 101

2006-10-31T09:04:00.000-06:00

This past Saturday, John and I took the first of our two birthing classes at Methodist Hospital - where we will be delivering. It was a long day (8:30am-2:30pm) with lots of information, but boy was it helpful! We learned so much about logistics, stages of labor and all about the birth process - we even watched a birth on video! I couldn't believe how emotional I got with the realization that this will be happening soon for us! We also got to learn all sorts of fun relaxation and breathing techniques to help get through the hard contractions. It's my goal to do this naturally, without medication so all this information will be very helpful. Lord willing, I can make it through! I know it's not going to be easy, but I really want to give it my best effort. I am so thankful that John supports this and is willing to be my "Coach" - he's going to do a great job!

I visited the doctor yesterday and everything still looks good. I am already 31 weeks, it's hard to believe time has gone by this fast. Tomorrow (Nov 1st) I can say that the baby is coming next month! Our lives are about to change...in a great way!

This Saturday is my first baby shower - put on by my dear friends Coral, Emily & Amber. I can hardly wait for the fun, fellowship and friends! It will be wonderful to celebrate with all these beautiful and dear women.

I hope to post pictures and fun details of the shower next week!

The results are in...

2006-10-18T08:20:00.000-05:00

We are now 29.5 weeks pregnant and time is going super fast right now...

I had a doctor's appointment on Monday and it was a big day. I had to take the dreaded glucose test - drink that horrible syrupy sugar stuff - to see if I have Gestational diabetes. This morning, I got the call - I passed the test! This is a huge relief because if I didn't pass this test, I would have needed to go back for a three hour test where I have to fast beforehand and then not eat or drink anything dring the three hours that I have to sit in the clinic well the horrible syrupy sugar stuff goes through my system. I was just dreading this because if I know myself well enough, I would probably have gotten sick!

Anyway, in other news, the baby is doing well and growing a lot. I am gaining weight now, which is good. But, I have decided I am eating too many sweet things and need to cut back some! :) For the time being, the baby is head down which is great. The heart rate is around 150 so if you're going by what "they say", I should be having a girl, plus I am carrying high. Only God knows! Either way, boy or girl, we'll be happily surprised!

Our plan is have the nursery complete by Thanksgiving weekend, including having my bag packed for the hospital. We want to be prepared for anything come December. We have no way of knowing when exactly this little one will decide to make it's grand entrance into our world. I think we are right on pace to have everything ready and I am feeling more and more prepared every day. And we're getting so excited...

So, that's my update. I am now down to appointments every 2 weeks instead of 4 - it's getting close now!

The Homestretch!!!

2006-10-03T08:05:00.000-05:00

Well, as of Sunday, I am officially in my 3rd Trimester! I can't believe how fast time is flying by right now, I have less than 13 weeks before my due date. Things are becoming very real...

For the out-of-towners and for anyone who'd like to see...here are a couple pics of me - 7 months pregnant...

And here are a couple pics of the babies room...

1. When you first walk into the room

2. Turn to the left

3. And turn to the left again

It's still a work in progress, but we've got a good start!

Weekend Fun

2006-09-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, John and I had the priviledge of taking care of, staying overnight with and being "mom & dad" to 5 kids who belong to a very dear couple that we know (they attend E. West)! It was quite the adventure, such a learning experience, so much fun and reinforced our own desire for lots of kiddos! Their children are truly a delight to be around.

They are Benjamin (9), Hannah (7), Matthew (5), Rachel (3) and Isaiah (1). Each child is bright, full of life and very cheerful. They all practice being quick to listen, to obey and to do it cheerfully. They are a testament to devoted, consistent parents who love the Lord and have sought to raise God-honoring children.

Anyway, we love you Dave & Julie! Thanks for trusting us to take care of your children. We look forward to many opportunities to raise our kids together in the future! We're so thankful to have you as a resource and for the encouragement we know you will provide for many years to come!

Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord!

What did we do???

2006-09-15T07:55:00.000-05:00

Our sweet little puppy Linus (though he really can't be called a puppy anymore!) has brought us a lot of joy since we got him last February. We love his playful personality, his love of chew toys, how he chases the cats, that he enjoys sitting on our lap...but I think most of all we have always loved our SHAGGY little dog! His hair is awesome!

Well, due to our own negligence and lack of grooming (well, we cut his hair once...), he started to develop some pretty bad mats in his hair, so bad that we couldn't work them out on our own. So, something had to be done...the groomers had to be called.

Here is Linus before his BIG cut:

And here is Linus after the groomers got ahold of him:

Oh good heavens, where has our little boy gone???? We miss him so...

Preparing for Change...

2006-09-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

Change is coming, it's the one thing I am most certain of these days. In a matter of weeks small groups will start up again, the House Churches will be up and running and following shortly thereafter, our baby will arrive. We will be leading a small group, leading a House Church (and hosting it) and becoming parents all in the matter of weeks. At times, I am overwhelmed with the thought of these changes. Generally, I am a prepared person, I plan for the future and am ready and don't get overwhelmed. Praise the Lord that God blessed me with a man who is the same way - we plan, we save, we stock up, we stay relaxed and we're ready. But, I also know that with being "ready", there's also the need to be flexible as things could be different than we anticipate. Can we roll with the unknowns of these major changes in our lives? Can we be flexible?

I am so thankful that I can trust the Lord to be a solid rock for us during times like these. He knows the outcome, He knows the "unknown" and has a plan for us. When things aren't certain, He is our certainty. So it's days like today when overwhelimg thoughts fill my head that I can relax because I know the ONE who is in control and I can trust Him - for He is trustworthy.

Amen.

Only 16 weeks until Christmas???

2006-09-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

John and I went shopping at Home Depot last night, looking for some shades for our bay window. We walked past this sign that said, "Only 16 shopping weeks left until Christmas!" - oh my goodness! Are we already that close to the Holidays? And if we are, that means I am close to having this baby! It was a somewhat overwhelming, but completely thrilling thought! We really are getting close now and it feels so real. Every day I feel & look "bigger" and more pregnant and you know what? It's fun and I am loving every minute of it. I am now at the point where complete strangers ask me when I'm due, or if I know what gender the baby is...it's fun to finally have people point out the fact that I am pregnant - it's not just in my head anymore! :)

I hit the 6 month mark (24 weeks) this Sunday so we will be posting pictures soon.

Slowing down...

2006-08-29T08:38:00.000-05:00

The Vacation

Last week John and I were out in the Black Hills of South Dakota on vacation. It was a much needed time away - to recoup, reconnect and relax. We got to see Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, parts of the Badlands and sitesee in some of the small, touristy towns. We love the outdoors and and nature. We stayed at the Sylvan Lake Resort area in their campground in Custer State Park (we would highly recommend it). The weather and scenery were beautiful, but the company of each other was even better!

The Pregnancy

At just over 22 weeks, we had a milestone in our pregnancy on Sunday night - John was FINALLY able to feel the baby kick! It was so much fun to have him be able to experience in a small way what I get to feel all the time. John was so excited as he had just been patiently waiting for when his time would come. The miracle of pregnancy continues to amaze us both. Life has already changed in many ways with just being pregnant, we can only imagine how different things will be when the baby actually arrives. We can't wait for that time! We have been waiting for so long already it seems - and we can't wait to embrace our new role as mom and dad. What an honor it will be!

Back to School

John went back to school on Monday for a week of meetings and prep work before the kids come back next Tuesday. It's been a busy summer and I so love the predictability of John being back at school. Life slows down and things get back to "normal". We decided that we are going to put into practice some new habits this school year with what time we both wake up in the morning so we can have our quiet times and breakfast together every day. It will be somewhat of a stretch, but I am really looking forward to having that time together each morning. John will also be coaching 4 different sports this year (one each season - which are only 6 weeks long) and I am looking forward to attending the meets and cheering the North View Knights on! I am so thankful that John has had the opportunity to be involved with coaching the last couple of years at NV!

It has been the best of weeks and the worst of weeks...

2006-08-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

After the benefit on Sunday, I came down with a nasty cold virus that didn’t really go into full force until late Monday afternoon/evening and I am still sick. I stayed home from work on Tuesday and Wednesday and am trying to make it through work today! It's going to be a long day at the office...

Anyway, so that’s the bad part…the good part it that on Monday afternoon we had our ultrasound and 20 week checkup! It could not have gone better! It was so thrilling to actually see our developing baby inside of me moving around and see all of his/her working parts! We were amazed and no, we didn’t find out the gender as planned! John asked our technician what the percentage was of people who do find out is and it’s a whopping 96% so we really are the minority! Anyway, things look great and the baby seems to be developing very well. My doctor was quite pleased and I have now gained 5 lbs! So, that puts me at 1 lb over my pre-pregnancy weight! I had to laugh at that…it’s better than nothing right? We were able to take home a couple of really great pictures – two faces pics, one profile pic and one foot pic!

What a creative and loving God we have! We are so thankful that things are continuing to go well with this pregnancy. We just can't wait to welcome this little bundle of joy into our arms come the end of December (or January even!).

The Morning After

2006-08-14T08:12:00.000-05:00

Morning came too fast today and I still feel somewhat groggy and incoherent, but despite the tiredness, my heart it greatly encouraged this morning.

The Benefit last night was an amazing night. It far exceeded my expectations and I truly believe that it was such a blessing to my family! The night seemed to a huge success with so many people in attendance and so many wonderful items up for bid in the silent auction. It proved to be very fun as well...John and I came away with three awesome items. One item being my father's vintage vinyl album that he recorded in 1979. I have always wanted my own copy and this was my chance...we got involved in a couple of bidding wars, but eventually came out the victors and had a blast in the process! We also picked up a really nice oil painting that will be awesome in our family room. The last win was also a big one...we won 8 hours worth of house cleaning from a small group at Bloomington for use in October/November. We thought it would be a great way to prepare for the baby by having an ultra clean house! I can't wait!! John worked hard on making sure we got that one! What a great husband I have...we already started making our mental list of things we want them to do on our drive home! :)

The entertainment part of the night also proved to be a blessing as well. It was so much fun to sit back and listen and enjoy the talents of others. It was also a priviledge to lend my own voice to the night as well. It was emotional for sure, but an honor to share music from my heart to bless the Saints.

We left, weary, tired, yet greatly encouraged at 11:00pm! It was a late night, but so well worth it. Thanks to everyone who was involved and thanks for just being there! It sounds like a lot of money was raised and that will be such a blessing to my family.

It's great to be in the body of Christ.

The BIG 5-0

2006-08-11T09:15:00.000-05:00

Happy 50th Birthday Dad!!! (even though he doesn't know about this blog...)

This is going to be a good weekend...my mom and sister made it home safely last night, today is my dad's birthday, tomorrow we will celebrate and Sunday is the Benefit!

I am SO blessed to have the dad that I do and I am excited for this milestone birthday!

Thanks dad for being such a wonderful father!! I love you!

Drop him a note today if you think of it...

mark@rockthechurch.com

Jessica's Benefit...

2006-08-08T13:18:00.000-05:00

The benefit for Jessica will be held this Sunday on August 13th from 4:00 to 10:00 PM at Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN. Donations can be mailed to Jessica Darling Care Fund c/o Chris and Kevin Horrocks, 13626 Upton Avenue South, Burnsville MN 55337-2129.

As this benefit for my sister draws near, I find myself fighting through opposing emotions. On one hand, I am extremely excited and encouraged that people are putting this together. I know it will bless my family indeed and hopefully be a great encouragement to know that so many people are still supporting us through this tough journey.

However, there is another part of me that is not looking forward to it at all...the heavy emotions, the many conversations that could be draining, the sadness over my sister's still present condition, and the list could go on. I know that this Sunday will be a very heavy, emotional day for my family and at times I wonder if I'll be able to make it through. Especially since I am involved with the music at the end of the night - it might be tough to get through the songs.

Pray for me, pray for my family, pray for God's blessing on this Benefit that it would not only bring glory to the Lord, but would also greatly encourage and bless my sister.

Babies, babies and more babies!!

2006-08-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

It's an epidemic I tell you! Babies and pregnant women are everywhere....and I am one of them!

Congratulations to the Grunditz family on the safe arrival of Lucy Mae (born this morning at 6:47am weighing 7lbs 4ozs)!! We are thrilled for you and can't wait to meet her...

But seriously, what's up with all the girls being born lately? :) The baby girls are taking over the Rock!

I guess it's up to us to produce a boy, but since we're not finding out the sex of the baby, we'll all have to wait until the end of the year to see if the girl's take over can be put to a stop!

Ah, who am I fooling, girl or boy, we're just thankful to be pregnant and can't wait to be parents!

FREE...the best kind!

2006-08-03T10:15:00.000-05:00

I love it when people offer me free stuff...for those of us on a budget, it's such a blessing and I just got blessed!

A co-worker of mine came up to me earlier this morning and asked if John and I would be able to get to Chino Lation by August 9th. She had a gift certificate that needed to be used by then and she wasn't going to be able to get there. I happily accepted!

So, between now and next Wednesday John and I can go on a FREE date! I am really excited about this...I love how God chooses to bless us in the little things of life, it means to much to me!

Taking a break...

2006-08-01T15:19:00.000-05:00

After posting a lot the first few days of having this blog, I decided to take a little break! :) Now, I am ready to go at it again. Actually, the truth is I got busy at work and then forgot my login name/password - how silly of me. I finally remembered it today...

But, what to blog about? Well, the most exciting thing in my life today is the fact that I am wearing new shoes! I usually buy crap shoes for really cheap. Fun fashion shoes that look cute, but don't offer much for comfort. Well, now that I am almost half way through my pregnancy, I decided that I had better find some supportive shoes to be wearing at work, and fast. My lower back has been causing me a lot of aches these days.

So, yesterday I ventured over to DSW at the MOA (I love thist store), and found exactly what I was looking for. Comfortable, sporty shoes that I could get away with wearing at work. It took trying on multiple pairs and being overwhelmed by the general size of DSW, but I am happy with my purchase and have greatly enjoyed wearing them today.

However, much to my dismay, today has been nothing by rain. I went to Target over my lunch break, it wasn't raining then, but when I was ready to go back to work, it was pouring outside! So, I decided to wait it out. After about 10 minutes and still no let up, I decided to take the shoes off, put them inside my Target bag and make a mad dash for my car. I kept the shoes nice and dry, but suceeded in getting myself completely soaked. I've had to spend my afternoon drying off here at work! :)

Anyway, these are the shoes (Pony) - though mine are white, tan and grey. They are super comfy and ultra cool - at least in my opinion!

Moving Day...

2006-07-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

So today is Friday and bascially, I am not working at all. After 6.5 years of working for my company, my department is moving to a different location on our floor and has dedicated this day to moving all our junk. Then, as a celebration, this afternoon we are going to take a cruise, thanks to Al & Alma's, on Lake Minnetonka.

I actually moved all my stuff yesterday afternoon because I had a slow day and so this morning I am just sitting pretty, not working. How cool is that? I have a fresh, clean new desk w/o any dust and for the first time in probably a couple of years, I actully feel organized. I think this will help me get through the next 5+ months of being pregnant. However, the down side of where I sit now is that I am much further away from the bathrooms. Oh well, I need the exercise!

I love days like these...

My sis...

2006-07-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

In case anyway is interested (and didn't know about it before), there is a website that has been set up for my sister to post comments for her and also get updates on her progress in AZ. We just had a new update posted yesterday that gives a really good overview of where she is at right now with her health. It's still gonna be a long road, but we have reasons to keep hoping...

The web address is:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jessicadarling

Check it out when you have time!

Reality Junkie???

2006-07-19T08:28:00.000-05:00

I have to admit, I really like reality TV. Well, most of it anyway. There's a lot of junk out there, but a few shows really hold my attention (Amazing Race, Survivor, American Idol, etc.). My latest kick, which I told myself I wouldn't get into, is So You Think You Can Dance - on FOX by the creators of American Idol (maybe that's why I like it). Anyway, the show is addicting. And tonight, we're not going to be home and I forgot to set the VCR (we're not cool enough to have TiVo). Darn!

Since the beginning of the finals, everyone got paired up into couples. Every week the bottom three couples have to preform solos and then the judges decide which guy and which girl has to go. So far, my favorite couple - Benji & Donyelle - have remained strong every week and they are a blast to watch and so talented. However, tonight, there is a new twist. All the couples who have been preforming together for weeks got randoming repaired up and I am SO disappointed! And of all nights that I won't be tuning in...

I'll be bummed about this all day, seriously, I will.

Gearing Up...

2006-07-18T10:31:00.000-05:00

After feeling left out of the Blog world for long enough, we thought it was high time to join in the fun. Thus, The Rundquist Dairies was created...

Have fun reading about our exciting lives!

More to come soon...stay tuned!