another episode of Sammy says

my kids were helping Daddy wash the car...Sam: "I'm on the water station, Izzy is the soap station, Daddy's station is to reach the top of the car, and Mom, you're the Director".....OH YEAH! I'M THE DIRECTOR!!!!

when telling Sam that his Pa was 63 for his birthday, Sam says "really? I thought you die at 30 something!" yeah, he's grounded;)

 

woke up to Sam telling Kalen "wake up! we're getting a new baby!" um, what?! when I asked Kurtis what was going on, he says "he's probably talking about a stuffed animal." My kids really know how to wake me up with the oddest statements:)

The long and the short of it....

Okay, so here's the deal....the issue that has weighed heavily on my mind as of late.
When Kurtis and I got married, we considered ourselves a little older than some couples and wanted to get pregnant right away.  Something that pressed heavily upon both of us was to start a family.  It didn't quite work out that way.  Depending on who you ask it would seem like eight months is not a long time to get pregnant.  But to us it seemed like an eternity.  I'm sure alot of that had to do with the fact that we weren't even sure if we could get pregnant so there was a fear factor involved as well.  But after eight months and an ovulation kit, we were pregnant and brought a 9lb. 15 oz boy into the world. Life was grand.  When Sam turned a year old, we had a serious talk.  We figured it would take roughly 6-8 months to get pregnant again so we decided to go off the pill and see what happened.  Two weeks after being on the pill, Isabel decided to not make us wait.  It was a  miracle to us in alot of ways.  But once she was born and we suddenly had two children only 22 months apart, we decided to wait a bit before adding any more to our family.  And that's what we did.  When the time was right, it took us four months and another ovulation kit to bring Kalen into the world.  But Izzy and Kalen were 33 months apart so it seemed like the perfect timing.
Kalen's pregnancy took a difficult turn when I started fainting and having dizzy spells.  I saw numerous specialists and later was told it was just pregnancy-induced and would go away after the baby was born.  Only it didn't.  After Kalen was born, I continued to have dizzy spells and what I like to call "episodes".  I finally was diagnosed with panic attacks and Irritable Bowel Syndrome "episodes".  I went on medication for awhile but knew that if I wanted to have another baby, I would eventually have to go off the medication.  I was fine with that.  Hey, just about a year off medication to have a baby and right back on it, right?  Not quite.  After getting off the medication, having a colonoscopy and numerous ovulation kits, I'm still not pregnant.  So I prayed.  I felt like the Lord was saying to have my foot looked at.  I've had a wart on the bottom of my foot since I was pregnant with Kalen (in 2009) so I had that cut out of my foot.  And still no baby.  I prayed and was told "to not get discouraged by the Lord's timing".   Well, easier said than done.  And now, for the last two months, I've stopped ovulating and face the chance of having to take fertility meds to get pregnant.  To add lemon juice to the papercut, I know of at least 15 women who are having babies in 2012!  It's crazy.
So why am I sharing all of this?  Isn't it a bit personal to put out there?  Absolutely!  This is totally personal and maybe someone will be offended by my honesty.  (If so, please know I mean no offense.)  But I'm overwhelmed here!  I'm trying to follow the Lord's plan but in the meantime, I'm crazy jealous of others, totally self-loathing at my inability to get pregnant currently, and maybe I just need to share.  Maybe someone else has been there, is there, or will be there soon.  The truth is: could it be worse?  Yeah! But it could also be better!  And while I'm thankful for all that I have, including my three darling children, I want another one!  Question my sanity all you want!  Shout at me to be patient, to stop shooting off my mouth, to exercise my faith, etc!  I promise you won't be telling me anything I haven't told myself.  But maybe while you're thinking and saying those things, you'll also offer a prayer for my behalf.  Maybe you'll take pity on my sorry state and appeal to the Lord to save me from myself.  Or maybe you'll just know that sometimes when Greta stops smiling for a moment and seems to be lost in herself, she really is just focusing on a righteous desire.  At the very least, I feel better for putting it out there.  I'm not sorry for sharing.  That's the long and short of it......

Kalen's new "do"

When Kalen was born, he had very little hair.  It was so blond and so "peach fuzzy" that everyone joked he was bald.  I was always quick to rally to my baby's defense and say his hair was just light.  It took well over 18 months for him to get a lot of hair but once it started growing, Kalen ended up with A LOT of curls.  With the unusually warm weather over the last few weeks, Kurtis noticed that Kalen was sweating when he was asleep so we decided to cut his hair. I don't mean trim his hair; I mean CUT his hair....buzz cut. I got out the trimmers and set them for the longest setting (1 inch) and went to work.  Kalen did not cry or cringe or move.  He sat on Daddy's lap and took it like a man.  Mommy, however, sobbed like her heart would break and saved every bit of hair that she could pick up off the floor.  No more curls, no more baby hairdo, no more baby.  Kalen is officially a little boy!  It does look cute but it was an emotional task, to say the least.

front view of before

back view of before

the casualties

after

after



the new 'do



Friend for a season

I know a few people who, now in their thirties, are still friends with people that they were friends with as children.  For instance, Kurtis is friends with someone that he met in kindergarten.  We don't always get together with Nick and his wife but when we do, we have a great time and we love each other's kids.  It's kinda nice.  But I often look at Kurtis and Nick (and others as well) and wonder why I don't have that.  Sure, I friended my old best friends from high school on facebook but then after a year or so, I defriended them b/c really, we weren't even remotely interested in being friends anymore.  They were upset with me about something that happened our freshman year in college and never got over it.  I don't say that to blame them but to make it clear that the three of us had all moved on.  But I look at it now and realize that I'm not even close friends with those friends I had in college.  Does that make me bad in some way?  I used to think it did.
There was a time in my life where I felt like everyone HAD to like me.  I had to be friends with everyone.  Because if I wasn't their friend then that meant that someone thought bad of me.  And that was heartbreaking to me--that someone would think bad of me.  But it was also pretty selfish of me.  I'm pretty sure some people (who I assumed thought badly of me) probably didn't think of me at all!
And herein lies my epiphany!  I'm a friend for a season.  I'm that girl that is fiercely loyal and will drag around your stinkin' carcass and beat up anyone who tears you down--when you need that sort of a friend.  Hopefully, most people out there don't need that kind of a friend all the time...or even often.  I'm that girl that you need to be brutally honest when no one else will be honest with you.  I'm that girl who will love you when you hate yourself....but when you're good to go and have a steady shot at life...I can be kinda intense:)
And the same goes with who I am....I'm not the same girl I was in kindergarten, junior high, as a sophomore at Wittenberg, or even has a 23 year old brand new convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (a Mormon, you say!).  I needed different friends at different points in my life because I was a different person at those times.  And whomever I was closest to was who I needed the most.  And, I like to think, vice versa.  With that being said, I still have a fierce love and loyalty to certain people from certain times in my life.  I will never forget them or how they impacted me during "our season".  And for those who seem to have been around for a particularly long season, well, maybe you aren't my "seasonal friends"...maybe you are my family!  And let's face it, family never fades with time!

The Eber Christmas Songs 2004-2011

I'm so excited b/c Kurtis was able to retrieve all the lost files from our old computer.  It died last winter and we thought we had lost old pictures and the Christmas letters that I write each year!  But Kurtis is my hero and managed to salvage everything.  So here they are: The Eber Family Christmas cards from 2004 to present.  I had to laugh at some of them b/c I'd forgotten what I wrote.  I hope you enjoy them too!

2004 

     T’was the Sonogram After Christmas

T’was two weeks after Christmas & all through the home

The only creature stirring was Floyd, who did roam

The stockings were hung on a lone TV tray

With signs that St. Nick had soon passed our way

We had no children yet to snug in their beds

But we had our own visions dancing in our heads

And I in a doctor’s gown and Kurtis in jeans

Had just settled down in front of the sonogram screen

And what to our wondering eyes did appear

But our unborn child who we are awaiting so dear

With a little beebob on our bundle of joy

we knew in a moment it must be a BOY!

The love, the excitement, the joy all came

But now we need to think of a really good name.

Samuel or Edward or Daniel will do

Or Joseph or Robert are another two

Now there is still four months of growth in my belly

But it already shakes like a bowl full of jelly

Until the day when our little one comes into sight

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

2005

It Came Upon an Eber Christmas

(to the tune of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)

It came upon a Christmas Day

A glorious Sunday morn

That Sammy woke to celebrate

The first Christmas since he’d been born

Peace on the earth, goodwill to Floyd

The blessed beagle dog

For when the Christmas supper’s laid

He and Kurtis will eat like hogs

For Greta, the Christmas time is nice

To share with her house full of boys

How exciting it will be to watch Sammy

Play with all his new toys

We send glad tidings this holiday

To all of our loved ones so dear

We wish you all a Merry Christmas

And a very Happy New Year

2006

The Eber Christmas Carol

Sung to the tune of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

O little town of New Carlisle, how still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep as Christmastime draws neigh.

Yet in the Eber household the laughter overflows

As Sammy now is eighteen months, he keeps us on our toes.

Kurtis is still working hard and now attends grad school

To get his MBA degree and prove that he’s no fool.

And don’t forget Floyd Beagle who also took a class

To show he’s an obedient dog.  Thank goodness, he really passed!

Greta is now six months along carrying a baby girl.

But come the spring, she will bring the baby into the world.

Sammy is learning lots of things-climbing and throwing balls

And says a whole new bunch of words.  His favorite is “Papaw”!

Our year has been a blessed one.  We’re grateful for many things.

As the kids grow, I can’t dream of what the next year will bring.

But to our friends and family, we wish you love and cheer.

As Christmastime is coming fast…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, Belly Baby, and Floyd Beagle

2007

The Eber Family Christmas Song 2007

(To the tune of “The First Noel”)

The Eber house is full of joy

With our little girl and our growing boy

Sam is tall and strong, full of energy

And his birthday in May will make him 3

Isabel, Isabel was born this year

And she is full of smiles and cheer

Kurtis works really hard on his MBA

Greta prays hard for his graduation day!

The kids make us laugh and wear us out

But that’s what a family is all about

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel

From us Ebers, we wish you well!!!

Merry Christmas and all our love---

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, and Izzy  (and Floyd the beagle)

2008

The 2008 Eber Christmas Song

(to the tune of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”)

Hark the Herald angels sing of the joy that Christmas brings

The Eber home is full of love; we’re thankful for our Lord above

Kurtis goes to school for his MBA, leads boy scouts and works each day.

Greta’s busy being the mom; she still likes to sing around the home.

Love our children with all our might; Our family is our greatest delight.

Sammy is now three years old; has a strong will and can be bold.

He goes to school and loves to swim, gives big hugs and has a sweet grin.

Isabel is almost two, likes to think she rules the roost!

She’s a princess-truly so.  She bosses Daddy to and fro.

Hark the herald angels sing.

Love to all and good tidings!!!

2009

Eber Family Christmas Song 2009

(to tune of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”)

We’ll be home for Christmas

You can count on me

We’re still resting from having Kalen and now we’re parents of 3

Samuel’s 4 years old now, Isabel is 2

Joseph Kalen’s our new baby boy to love the whole year through.

Kurtis is working at Riverside, still getting his MBA

This time next year he’ll be done with school—we can’t wait for that day!

Greta spends the day with the little ones and teaches voice lessons from home

It might not seem like much, but with kids and such, there isn’t much time to roam!

Samuel is still in swimming and likes to go to preschool

Isabel started swimming as well and thinks it’s pretty cool

Both are very excited about their new baby brother

Christmas this year will be of good cheer because of how much we love each other!

Merry Christmas and God bless to all this season!

Love,

Kurtis, Greta, Sammy, Isabel, and Kalen

And FloydJ

2010

The Eber Christmas Song 2010

(to the tune of “O Holy Night”)

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the time for the Eber Christmas Song

Long have you waited with much anticipation

To see how the past year has gone.

Kurtis finished school and got his MBA

Our joy was overflowing for that awaited day.

He worked so hard to further his education.

O Joy and Relief and oh, how proud we are of him.

Oh Kurtis is a graduate!

O Holy Night-a blessed day!

Sam is five years old and goes to kindergarten.

He really likes his new teachers and friends.

This fall he played soccer and now is in swimming.

Who knows what else he will try when that ends!

Isabel is three and started in gymnastics.

She’s really good with somersaults and on beam.

It took a lot of work but she now uses the potty.

It really wasn’t as easy as it seems to get her trained.

Oh Izzy is potty trained!

O Holy Night-a blessed day!

Little Kalen is growing and just had his birthday.

He’s a busy guy for a one year old.

He started walking early and now he really runs.

He loves music and is a jolly soul!

Greta is busy keeping everyone in line.

She also gives voice lessons in her spare time.

The kids love our new house.  Their favorite is the basement.

It brings them so much joy to ride their bikes and run around.

Let’s not forget our beagle!

O Blessed Floyd, he’s still our pet.

Oh Merry Christmas from the Ebers!

O Holy Night, God Bless our friendsJ

2011

The Eber Family Christmas Song 2011

(To the tune of “We Three Kings”)

We the Ebers of New Carlisle are, bearing news of our year thus far.

We’ve been busy, practically dizzy.  Our lives are way above par.

Oh, oh, Sam’s in first grade and rides the bus.

Over Pokemon he’ll make a fuss.

He swims at the Y.  He’s a real funny guy.

He’s such a delight to us.

Isabel has started preschool.  She loves her classmates; she thinks they are cool.

She still does gymnastics; we think she’s fantastic.  She is the princess who rules.

Oh, oh, Kalen is two and likes lots of cars.

If it has wheels, he will drive it real far.

He’s running, not walking.  I wish he were talking.

Kalen is an energetic star!

Kurtis still works for Riverside.  With the H.O.A., he works alongside.

Greta teaches the little ones music that’s lots of fun.

We help each other to not get too tired.

Oh, oh, our family highlight was a few months ago. 

We went to Florida and left O-hi-o!

We got to see Mickey; it wasn’t that tricky!

In a few years, we might again go!

Oh, oh, Star of wonder, star of light

We wish you a Christmas so merry and bright!

We send this song with love and hope from above

Merry Christmas and to all a good night!

the kids being cute

The other day I was working on flip charts for music in Primary.  Isabel, who loves to sing, decided to use my flip charts and mimic leading the music.  She did a pretty good job of it and I was able to get to the camera in time to get it on video.

I also got Kalen trying to talk to me.  He didn't want to be left out when his sister was cheesin' for the camera.

just a thought

As I got ready for bed last night, I had an errant thought.  One I've had before but never shared.  Sammy and Isabel are 22 months apart in age.  That means for two whole months, namely March and April, they are only one year apart.  So when people ask me how old my children are, I have to say "well, Sam is 6, Izzy is 5, and Kalen is 2."  For some reason this annoys me to no end.  I hate the idea of people thinking that I just popped one out right after the other.  Especially because that really isn't the case.  Popping one out takes a lot of effort and planning on our part. So, okay, technically that isn't true with Isabel.  She took no planning and caught us completely by surprise (hence the 22 months apart thing) but I digress.  ANYWAY, so whenever this two month time period comes around, I find myself rounding up my children's ages. For instance I will say "oh, Sam will be 7 in May, Izzy is 5, and Kalen is 2."  I know that sounds weird but that's what I do....am I being anal or making too much of something?  Does anyone else do this I wonder?