Sickness

Last week was a bit of a rough one for us. On Sunday (my 1 day that I took off from work in the month of February) the 21st, Asher started getting very fussy around the time we got home from church. By the evening he was running a fever. Turned out he had Strep throat & bronchitis. The next day Eowyn came down with a bug, and Maren started feeling it too. That night the dogs even took turns throwing up. I lasted until the weekend, when I was opening Noises Off at the theater. Kiddos are mostly better, but Maren still has a sinus infection.

She went to the doctor for that today. Without even looking at her (read: glanced up at her once from typing on his computer, and that was it...no examination or anything) gave her a prescription. She's going to an E-N-T on Weds.

Hopefully today, March 1, isn't the only day I take off this month...

Translations

Eowyn has really begun to fully understand both languages we're throwing at her. She's always picking up new things, repeating what we say. Sentences still aren't full, but then again, she's learning two at the same time.

The other day, as we were driving, an airplane flew over. Eowyn said excitedly: "Mama, ein Flu-flah (Flugzeug)." Then, in the same breath, but in a condescending tone: "Daddy, airplane."

New Car (to us)

We splurged. We bought a new car. We've been thinking of getting something a little roomier for the family, dogs included. We wanted something that'll handle the small German streets (our Taurus has the turn radius of a school bus...check that, one of those Semi trucks pulling 3 trailers you see out West...), fuel efficient-ish, and of course, we could all go to Oma & Opa's in. Of course, w/ dogs, we have to get a topper, but that shouldn't be an issue. Here are the ones we considered.









Its a 2008 Opel Astra Caravan. German-spec station wagon. Now seriously, why can't these sell in the US? Oh, right..."We don't like station wagons. We'll just get a bigger SUV."... *ahem*...you mean the station wagon of pickup trucks????

Long time no post...

So, if you forget your user name & password, does that mean its been too long since you've last posted? I say yes!

Well, for those of you who don't know, *someone* turned 29 last week on Wednesday. And we're not talking dog years, so you can exclude Jetta & Baylor, and my birthday is February, but thank you for suggesting it was me. I look younger, don't I.

On Saturday, Maren's sister's boyfriend (no, that's the end; going no further) took some photos of us 4 (plus some of the 2 dogs) with his "fancier-than-point-&-shoot" camera that we have. They're nice. Even the ones with me in them.

pictures of Asher

Eowyn & Asher

Asher Records (John Asher Records)

...was born at 10:33pm local time in Germany. Mommy was in labor for about 4 1/2 hours or so with him. He was a big boy, 4310 grams, or 9lbs 8oz., and 53 cm, or about 20 7/8". His head was 36cm, or about 14 1/8".

Maren wanted to name him Asher. We were looking at Hebrew, Greek, and Roman names mostly and settled on that. We decided on his "second" name as John, after my dad, but we thought it flowed better as John Asher, rather than Asher John.

Comparatively, Asher is about 450 grams, or 1 full pound, heavier than Eowyn was, and 1 cm longer.

Asher slept a good part of the day, and didn't even eat from about 1am or so right after birth last night until almost 1pm today. He & mommy are doing well. I have pictures on facebook, and will load some here later.