We have a potty trained 2 yr old!!!

YEAH! So I think it is offically safe to say Seth is potty trained! What a relief.
We struggled last month so I put it off a few weeks and then we tried it again. It worked..

What a relief to have him out of diapers before the baby comes.

Visiting Santa

The boys went to see Santa yesterday. Seth wasn't to happy so I had to sit in the picture with him.

They are excited for Christmas. I am excited for them.

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Wow! When we got here we were warned about the german Christmas Tree's. Of course, I didn't think they could be that bad.

I couldn't be more wrong. You know the tree from Charlie Brown's Christmas? Well that is what our tree looks like, but bigger.

The boys love it and loved decorating it and that is all that matters (even though the star is much to heavy)!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Johnathon's Thanksgiving Musical

I missed his line by 5 seconds. He was so very upset. Here are pics from his performance and a video if I can figure out how to attach it.

Enjoy!

We are 80% positive the baby is a ......

GIRL

13 Week Belly Shot!!

Well I am 13 weeks now. I am feeling good. Still nervous but getting better. I will find out the sex 2 weeks from tomorrow and I am so excited.

I took a belly shot today (no not the kind your thinking)...

Please remeber I have had 2 other children and this is my 5th pregnancy. I am bigger then normal b/c I cannot suck in my fat anymore. Also Johnathon blessed me with lovely strechmarks when I was 8.5m preggo with him. So please ignore.... LOL.

Seth's 1st black eye...

Well it is offical. Seth recieved his first black eye yesterday. Johnathon swears he did nothing and Seth just fell off the train table. But somehow he hit his eye.

Yes that is another bruise on his forehead. He fell off the toilet and hit his head on the tile floor.

Oh wait, you mean the other bruise? Yeah that one was from walking into our dresser.

He had a very clumsy day yesterday...

11 Week Ultrasound. Our baby is doing well!

Baby Berard

I am so happy. I have been so scared these last few weeks. For 2 pregnancies the 9 week mark has ended in the loss of a baby. Well I got to see my baby and he/she is doing well. I am feeling the baby move know and it is amazing.

Johnathon got to be there for the u/s and enjoyed it.

I am still cautious because I don't want to get hurt so bad again. It is still hard to accept that I am pregnant. I think because I am so scared.

I go again on Nov. 25 and will be getting a 3D ultrasound. I am hoping the baby opens his or her legs so we can see the sex.

I included a picture. You can actually make the baby out on this one.

just for fun. Lots of pics

Photobucket Album

At least one of my kids eats well...

I made a meatloaf, corn on the cob potatoes and biscuts for supper.

Johnathon at the meatloaf and the biscuts. Seth DEVOURED the meatloaf (he even finished mine), 2 biscuts and corn on the cob.

I don't ger how a 2 yr old can eat so much and still only be 23lbs.

Here are a few pics I snapped. I just thought they were too cute to pass up.

The boys being goofy

Yesterday Rob had an appoitment 3 hrs away to see about getting his tonsils out. The boys were acting up in the hospital so I took them to the car... I got some goofy pics of them. I thought you would all enjoy.....

Visiting with April! Spencer is One!!!

So we spent the weekend at April's house. It was so much fun. We got to see Spencer turn one.

While we were there we went to to Eifle Park. It was really neat but tiring. The hills here in Germany will exauhst you!

At one point we went into an area where deer roamed free. One came right up to Seth and licked his hand. I will post that pic when I get it.

Well here are a few pictures from our trip.

The worst part was the drive home. The Autobahn had my exit closed and didnt have detour signs. Me and about 30 Germans were pulled over trying to figure out where to go. It took us 7 hrs to get home vs. the 4 hrs it was supposed to take.

Important Car Seat Info everyone should read!

I am so tired of hearing of innocent children not living to see their next birthday,not making it to school, not experiencing childhood because their parents just didn't care or didn't know about keeping them safe in the car.
So here is my way of getting the info out.
So please read this and make sure your kiddos are safe as possible in the car.

Make sure any child under 1 is rear-facing until 1 yrs AND 20lbs. The American Academy of Pediatrics, NAHSTA and Safe Kids all recommend rear-facing to the limit on your convertible car seat (a seat that rear-faces and forward-faces). Here is a video on rear-facing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo

A child should remain in a 5-point harness until at least 4 years and 40lbs. Even at 4 years some children are not mature enough to understand how to sit in a booster. A child that cannot sit still, cannot keep the seatbelt in front of them and cannot sleep sitting straight up is at a serious risk of being paralyzed or even lifted and ejected from the car...
Here is a video of a little 3 year old named Belle. Her parents believed she was ready for a booster and found out the hard way that she was not ready.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04

A child should remain in a booster until age 8, or 4'9". Here is a test to see if your child is ready to use the regular adult belt. If you cannot answer yes to all 5 then your child needs a booster:
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Is the lap belt touching the top of the thighs, not the tummy?
4. Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTERS CAN NOT be used with only a lap belt! (See your car dealer for a lap/shoulder belt retrofit.)
Here is a link with more info on boosters:
http://people.delphiforums.com/SKATERBABS/5steptest.html

Okay now to how the carseat is used in your vehicle.
94% of carseats are not installed correctly. That is a high number.
A carseat should be installed using either the LATCH or seatbelt but not both. A carseat should be so tight it doesn't move more then an inch at the beltpath. If it moves put your knee in it and push down on it while tightening the seatbelt or LATCH.
READ YOUR MANUAL. It will help you.
If tether is available tether your carseat. BRITAX and RADIANS are the only seats that allow rear-facing tethering. This is added protection for your child.

The straps should be snug on your child. You CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be able to pinch the harness. If you can the harness is too lose and you need to tighten it.
When rear-facing the harness should be AT or BELOW your child's shoulders. When foward-facing it should be AT or JUST ABOVE your child's shoulders.
The harness should not be twisted. This takes away from the strength of the harness.

Most carseats expire at 6 years. They should be destroyed and no longer used once they expire. The plastic wears down over time and can cause the car seat to fail fatally in a crash.
If you are in a wreck your carseat MUST be replaces. Hairline fractures that are not visible to the eye can cause the carseat to fail in a future crash. Most insurance company will now replace your carseat when involved in the tiniest crash.

I wanted to share a story with you. It hit close to home because this family was from our base. The father was in Dallas in the hospital. He was injured in Iraq and recovering from brain injuries.
His wife and 3 children (ages 2, 5, and 9) were driving from El Paso to Dallas to see their Daddy. The mom was going through the mountains when a gust of wind caused her to lose control of their SUV (the wind there is horrible). The SUV flipped 4 times. The 2 year old and 5 year old were killed instantly. The 9 year old boy was flown to San Antonio where he had SEVERE brain trauma. The mom was unharmed minus a few bumps and bruises. A few weeks later the 9 year old died.
They lost all 3 of their children. The reason is because the mother thought it would be okay for her 5 and 9 year old to be able to sleep without their seatbelt on. The 2 year old was in an improperly installed carseat. When the SUV flipped the 5 and 9 year old were thrown around the back like rag dolls. The hit the 2 year old and killed him. It also killed the other 2.
The mom was unharmed because she was wearing her seatbelt. The headrest on her seat and the passenger seat stopped her 2 children from flying up and hitting her.
Had the situation been different and the 2 year old properly restrained, the 5 year old in a booster and the 9 year old in a seatbelt this lady would have all 3 of her children. Instead she is having to bury them.

Seth is 24m. He is 22lbs and 33". He is still rear-facing and will be until he is 3 or 3.5.
Johnathon is 6 years old. He is 42lbs and 47". He is still in a 5-point harness. He will outgrow it soon and go to a booster where he will be until he can pass the 5-step test.

New baby Berard due May 24th!!!

Well I went to the Dr today and got another u/s. Everything looks good. I am measuring 5w 4d. I though I was 7 weeks. So baby Berard should be making an appearance around May 24.

I got to hear the heartbeat so that was a relief.

I will not be fully okay with this pregnancy until I hit 9 weeks. My next appt is in 4 weeks and when I see the baby on u/s then I should finally be able to get through this pregnancy without worrying about losing the baby.

My poor sick baby...

My little toolman
Mommy didn't know I came downstairs... Shhhh....
Seth has this new thing about his hands being in his pockets.

Seth has a fever today. 103.5. No fun. We are keeping it down but every 6 hrs when the motrin wears off the fever is back. He gets miserable until I get more medicine pumped into him.

I dont know what is going on but I hate feeling so helpless. He just quit breastfeeding about 3 weeks ago and kept asking. I so bad wanted to give in and let him nurse but I didn't.

I hope he gets better soon. He wants to go outside and play but I just can't let him when he is sick (it is cold here)...

Johnathons Preamble

Johnathon is doing very well in Kindergarten.

He had his first preamble yesterday. It was really fun to watch. He sang and had a few lines. When someone would forget a line the whole class would whisper and help them remeber.

It is so amazing to me how much he can remember at this age.

Above are a few pictures from the event.

I am feeling ever so pregnant...

So I am hoping things are well with this baby. I feel pregnant. I am tired all the time. I am sick at nights, and I feel my uterus growing.. I am also a raging ball of hormones. I feel quite sorry for Rob at times.

I get an ultrasound on Monday and we should be able to pick up a heartbeat. I need to see it to know things are okay.

I have been so scared after losing the other baby. I think mostly b.c I never had a cycle before I got pregnant so I have a higher chance of miscarriage again.

Rob will be leaving soon. He wont be home until summer. This means my mom gets to coach me in giving birth. again....


I had a dream that this baby was a girl with red hair like me. We will see. I have a feeling it will be and since my hospital is 45 min away that I may almost give birth on the Autobahn (I was almost born on the Autobahn).

Well I will post u/s pics on Monday if all is well.

We got our stuff FINALLY!!!

Well our household goods finally made it. You know I could have sworn our house was much bigger then this.

We have a lot of work to do still but in the next week it should all be unpacked.

The boys have enjoyed having their stuff back. I have enjoyed having my stuff also.

I will post pics at a later time.

Germany here we are!!!

So after a long flight and a just as long bus ride we are finally in Germany. We are in a hotel until Monday. I can tell you now being in a small hotel in a foriegn country when you cant speak the language with 2 kids and a dog is not easy. Today is day 3 that we have not been able to go anywhere and I want to scream.

Yesterday we found a store. But it was small and didn't have much and we couldn't not understand the owner and we don't speak German.

I will be taking German lessons soon. At least to learn some of the language. This is where I was born and I would love to speak it.

The country here is beautiful. We have mountains of green like you have never seen before. The houses are amazing. I love it here.

We are excited about our 3 year journey that awaits us.

Johnathon will be starting Kindergarten Sept. 3. He is excited. His school is very nice and I have heard good things about it. Seth is Seth. He is too young to really get what is going on.