Michigan District All Pastors' Conference

This yearly conference is always informational and fun. After four years in the district, we now have familiar faces and enjoy meeting new ones. 

We started the "weekend" (A ministry family's weekend is never on the actual weekend) with a nice dinner with friends from Seminary. Coincidentally, they are also expecting a baby in February. After dinner we continued our fellowship by playing a game called Dominion. I think we might be hooked. 

Monday was a full day of sessions. The keynote speaker was Dr. John Kleinig. I skipped out on most of his sessions, because I didn't want to push myself too much. Sitting for long periods of time becomes painful these days.

Tuesday was another full day of sessions with more free time. Every year there is a separate lunch for wives. It is great to have some "girl time" and meet some new ladies. During free time there was a chance to participate in a servant event. We assisted in making food bags for Kids Against Hunger. We also played another round of Dominion before dinner.

It is great seeing everyone and every time, I vow to make it more than once year. Especially, with our friends who live an hour away or less. I hope and pray I have an agreeable 2 month old, so that I can attend the Katie Conference. Maybe I should bring a nanny? Hahaha.

The back of the lodge where we stayed.

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani 

Banana

Gender reveal week! Woo Hoo! We are excited to announce that we can put a he or she to our little T-Rex! My hair even got into the spirit.

What's that color, you ask? It is PINK! Baby Ketelsen is a GIRL! We will be having our own Disney Princess. (Don't mind the terrible selfie. The husband was occupied with lunch and football: Browns vs. Lions. Go Browns!!)

In addition to the gender, the ultrasound showed a healthy, active little Baby K.

Week 20

Symptoms/Fun things about being pregnant: 
Excessive saliva
Restless Legs
Sore Gums (my dentist appointment this week was interesting)

Food cravings: 
Pizza

Miss Anything:
Cold Lunch Meat
White Fish
"Good" Drugs for allergies, like doubling anti histamines and taking Naproxen

Have you started to show yet: 
Joshua says I have a bump and I finally agree. A lady from church also confirmed "the bump"

Gender prediction: 
Last week: "I have a feeling we are having a girl, but we find out officially next week." 
I was correct! Girl it is! 

Movement:
Hard to tell. She was moving quite a bit at our ultrasound. Waving her arms and legs around and rubbing her eye. It was precious.

Maternity clothes:
Where have they been all my life?!

Sleep: 
It is getting better as the weather gets colder. My temperature is more regulated with the cooler weather.

Wedding rings on or off:
On

Labor Signs:
Nope

Looking forward to:
Feeling distinct movement.
Getting her room together. 

We appreciate all the prayers and support we have received. 

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani 

Mango

Well, I totally stink at blogging every week. Between morning, noon, and night sickness, the busyness of life, traveling, and just plain laziness I haven't just sat down and written a darn thing.  So, here is this week....

Week 19

Symptoms/Fun things about being pregnant: 
Excessive saliva
Random emotions (crying at things on TV)
Restless Legs

Food cravings: 
Chili Cheese Fritos
Pineapple Shake

Miss Anything:
Beer
Cold Lunch Meat
Subway Tuna on Flatbread (I can have tuna salad, but I have to make it myself)

Have you started to show yet: 
Joshua says I have a bump. I have noticed that I can't suck in my stomach anymore.

Gender prediction: 
I have a feeling we are having a girl, but we find out officially next week. 

Movement:
I think I feel something from time to time. Hard to tell.

Maternity clothes:
I was all about them from the git-go. I am blessed to have friend who lent me all of her Maternity clothes. 

Sleep: 
It takes me a while to get comfortable at bedtime. Sometimes I have to take a hot shower in the dark to relax.

Wedding rings on or off:
On

Labor Signs:
Nope

Looking forward to:
Finding out the gender and getting the room together

September 2013

"Do you remember the 21st night of September?"

Name that Band....

Disclaimer: This post has nothing to do with the 21st of September.

It seemed like once Labor Day hit up here, Autumn showed up. It has been cool ever since. Which I love! Autumn also means apple season. I know everyone seems to love pumpkin in the fall, but I love apples. 

Josh and I made our annual trip to Mackinac Island this month. A member gave us ferry tickets, so we were able to go and make a day of it. The free ferry tickets allowed us to finally pay to walk the grounds of the Grand Hotel. I can see why they have a fee. That place was hopping for it being the "off season".

Stain glass window at the Little Stone Church. Name that flower...

Me picking some important guy's nose.

The Grand Hotel's porch.

Panorama of the Grand Hotel that Joshua took.

The flowers we really liked.

My cheesecake on a stick from Sanders.

The next day I was off to St. Louis. My BFF, Carolyn, was preparing to move to Charleston, South Carolina. Her and her husband, Jason, had dreamed of moving there and decided life is too short to wait. Jason found a job and everything else fell into place. I mostly, helped wrangle her kids while she packed. We also just had some good old BFF time. One night I watched their kids and Noah, her 4 year old said the sweetest and most random thing to me.

Noah: I love you.
Me: You love me? I love you, too.
Noah: When I move to the beach you will be sad, but I will be in your heart. 

He pretty much summed it up. Noah and Nora have been in my heart from day one. 

We also celebrated Nora's 2nd birthday. I love watching her grow. She is getting such the personality. 

Nora relaxing in her chair eating an apple.

Noah asked me to take his picture and this is the pose he gave me.

This girl loves to climb. And eat apples.

Another picture request from Noah.

We also had an OB appointment this month. We heard T-Rex's heartbeat and he/she kicking me. On October 10th we have the anatomy ultrasound and gender reveal. And the half way point of the pregnancy. Woo hoo!

God's Blessings,
Stefani and Joshua

One Year

One year ago today, we received the heart wrenching news that our first child did not have a heartbeat. This news brought us the most physical and emotional pain we have ever been through. 

Being pregnant now does not take away the sting of this loss. As a good friend who is walking through a similar journey said, "miscarriage has a way of taking away your innocence." 

To me that little guy will always be my first child. For those of us that believe in life at conception, it is impossible to think about it any other way. What brings me comfort is knowing that our child is in heaven. He never knew suffering, only the love of his family and the love of his Lord.

For those of you that have experienced miscarriage, my heart is with you. For those of you pregnant with your "rainbow baby", I understand your trepidation in sharing the news or getting "too excited". I understand how anxious every doctor's visit can be. Please know that you are not abnormal, weird, or alone. 

God's Blessings,

Joshua and Stefani 

Lemon

Week 14

Hello 2nd Trimester!

Size using a Fruit/Vegetable:
Lemon

Ailments:
Excess Saliva
All Day Sickness
Acid Reflux
Car Sickness

Cravings:
Still don't have much of an appetite, so pretty much the same as week 13.

I had a doctor visit this week. We heard T-Rex's heartbeat for the first time. (My doctor and ultrasound tech do not feel it is safe to use a Doppler until the 2nd trimester. And after doing our own research we agree.) The doctor found T-Rex's ticker quickly. Heartbeat was at 170. 
I also received a prescription for a med to help with Car Sickness and bad nausea days. Here's to hoping it works. There is no way to avoid car rides and this sickness is getting out of control. 

God's Blessings, 

Joshua, Stefani, and T-Rex

Peach

Week 13

Size using a Fruit/Vegetable: 
Peach

Ailments: 
Excessive Saliva
All Day Sickness
Acid Reflux

Surprise Development: 
Car Sickness, more like Car Nausea, regardless, riding in a cars does not agree with me. 

Cravings:
At this point there aren't cravings as much as this is about the only thing I can stomach...
Fried Chicken Tenders
Mac n Cheese
Dill Pickles
Apple Juice (Old Orchard concentrate and Minute Maid in a bottle to be exact)
Pineapple Orange Juice

God's Blessings,

Joshua, Stefani, and T-Rex