I GOT TO BABY SIT

As many of you know my good friend and her husband recently brought home their newly adopted children (on March 17) and I am PROUD to say that I got to watch them today.... I know I am sure some day I am going to be witching and complaining because I am being asked to baby sit again --actually probably not... I love my friends children just like they are my own--some days probably even more because they leave LOL-- but I was HONORED that my friend trusts me with her "new" kids... :)

Floor installation begins tomorrow....wish us luck.. LOL

CHAD ROCKS!!!!!

BEFORE:AFTER:

DOESN'T CHAD JUST ROCK?!?!?! Ok so for today he rocks. He was thankfully my little pack-mule today and carried all the boxes etc (after I went through them of course) downstairs so that we now have a living room again. I am getting really excited about the fact that by this time next week *theoretically* we should have our kitchen DONE...well aside from the plumber coming hopefully he will be able to come on Saturday--even though it is the day before Easter. If not in two weeks...

Oh...and today is a day that I thought would NEVER come for my family... DELAINEY TURNED DOWN MCDONALD'S... LOL.. she actually asked for 'real' food... my poor kids :( I can't wait to FINALLY be able to cook something again...

You think???

I need to clean my living room??? (please note that there is in fact a coffee table in the center of that pile and it really isn't as BAD as I have made it look)...

As you all know we are remodeling our house and as my last post said my Father-in-law will be coming to Bismarck in two days to help Chad (read do) lay the tile in our entry way, kitchen and hall way. Well it became apparent that we would need to clean our the closet in the hall way so that the tile could be placed in there... and let me tell you that closet can hold ALOT OF CRAP!!!

Hopefully Chad will help me go through it tomorrow before the girls attack it :(

YAY--- we have a 'date' for our tile

We are happy to announce that we have a "final" date for when Chad's parents are coming to town. It seems that they will be leaving the Twin Cities on Friday am after Connie's daycare kid gets on the bus and then heading out. By the sounds of it Mike will be starting on Saturday and once Chad gets up he will start helping.
We will have to stay in a hotel on Sunday and Monday night but small price to pay when we are getting the flooring we want :) Speaking of that... I really need to call and schedule the delivery of the tile... AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That would have been GREAT.... although I think they can go and pick it up... umm I think....

OOPS!!! LOL

RSV shots and more antibiotics

Well the girls had their 6th shot in their 7 shot series for their RSV prevention today. Hopefully they won't get sick this time like they have in the past (all five times).

We did learn that Avery has YET ANOTHER ear infection....she is now on her 16th course of antibiotics in her 15 months of life. We have been advised to make certain we get her hearing tested after she gets her tubes placed... we are no longer hearing "if" she gets tubes...it is now when. I don't know how I am going to handle one of my little miracles going into surgery (Chad is so taking time off) but I know that it is in her best interest. Avery has an appointment with the ENT on April 9th at 10:15am so I will certainly let everyone know what the plan is as soon as we do.

I think we have some little cuties :)

Today we went and got the girls' Easters pictures taken...they also happen to be Avery and Shelby's 15 month pictures.

Here is a picture of all three of the girls in their Sailor dresses... I HAD to buy our niece Shea the same dress as Delainey :)
Delainey in her sailor dress

Shelby and Avery in their Sailor dresses

Delainey in her "other" Easter dress--- I just couldn't choose

Shelby in her dress---Notice she is "getting" to wear the purple this time ;)

Avery in her "other" dress---notice NO purple :)

Stock in Lowe's?!?! and more

After the past 8 weeks, I am beginning to think that I really should have purchased stock in Lowe's before we started this whole remodel thing... I mean seriously every time we go into that store we leave having spent at least $200. When my girls come to me in 17 and 15 years to ask me about $$ for college I am going to point them in the direction of Lowe's... LOL

Sadly, our floor has been put off a little bit again... (not complaining here just stating a fact).. It seems that my In-laws have come down with some nasty bug and thankfully they are choosing to keep it at their house rather than sharing with us. From what I understand Mike (father-in-law) wouldn't be able to work anyways... Chad called them today at like noon and Dad was asleep....THIS IS A HUGE thing... I don't think Dad even knows that it is like to sleep until like 8am much less NOON... Hopefully both Mom and Dad will be better very soon.

I am HOPING to get the girls into Sears tomorrow to get some Easter pictures taken...here's hoping it goes well...not sure if you guys remember the last time we attempted pictures (Shelby and Avery's 1st birthday...it wasn't pretty LOL)....

Off to bed...-Kristin

Ok, I am going to do a rambling post. I am sure that some people are not going to have a clue to what I am talking about but I really need to get some things off my chest so if you aren't in the mood for a little bit of whining, you may want to just skip reading this entry.

You know things have been super hectic around her lately. Heck I have spread myself so thin the past month that what started out as a simple cold almost landed me in the hospital with pneumonia (sp?)...thankfully my doctor understood that with 3 young children (two of whom are still nursing) I needed to be home with them, and just gave me some REALLY strong antibiotics (3rd round mind you...heck the COPAYS for 3 meds were over $100--cheaper than a hospital visit though). And even though I KNOW I am dragging and have been slacking because I still am having a hard time breathing (even with the inhalers and meds) I am just so tired.

Chad is exhausted. In the past 72 hours he has probably been home for 10 and of those he slept for probably 8. The poor guys is just being spread too thin.

My children are being driven crazy by the fact that they can't play, heck they can't even have normal meals because there is no sink for me to even do dishes in, so if it isn't frozen w/ its own container they can't eat it. There is no room for them to play because there are boxes everywhere...and don't get me started on attitudes... All three of these girls have gotten "fiesty' in the past week... EVEN mild mannered Shelby.... The teen years are going to be fun.... Chad asked the other day if we had to die for Brian and Tracy to "take" our kids... HA!!! (Tracy...don't worry... it is my goal NOT to die before college is already paid for... LOL)

Plus I have been doing a lot of soul searching. I would really like to start going to church again...I know that I am not going to have Chad's support on this, but I really think it is something that I have to do for myself. Things always seemed to run more smoothly when I was going to church and St. Anne's is soon going to be done remodeling and will have a "cry" room so maybe my children and I will have to give it a try...and who knows...maybe even Chad will too~~ Prayers would certainly be welcomed on this one...especially from those who know how "open" Chad is when it comes to church~~

Well hopefully I can now get my 3 year old to bed for good ~~~ Yup...she is STILL up.. LOL
Kristin

Ahhh.. the joys of home improvement

Today our cabinets were installed.... well of course except for the cabinet that was ordered that is 33 inches wide... see apparently it is supposed to fit into a spot in which only has space for an 18 inch cabinet. Although, part of me isn't too upset (well except that ONE cabinet is keeping my cabinets from being completely installed) because Chad and I decided that we are going to keep that 33 inch cabinet and just put it up in our laundry room down stairs and order a new one :) Thankfully it is an "upper' cabinet so we can still get the lower cabinets measured on Thursday for the template for our counter tops. And then on April 4th we will be having the counter top installed :)

Oh.. and I now have an updated time line for the "home hell project" (lol... really I am smiling LOL) as we have wisely decided not to 'rip out' the bathroom until we have a fully functioning kitchen :)

3/21- Front door and living room windows will be completely installed (THANK YOU A-Plus Sunrooms Decks & Awnings). Piano moved downstairs
3/22- Fabricators come to template the counter tops/sink
3/25-my in-laws are coming from the Twin Cities to help Chad lay the tile in the entry, kitchen, and hall way.
4/2-Carpet installed ( I THINK)
4/4-counter top installed
4/6-plumber comes to hook up kitchen and possibly start bathroom.

We really are hoping that this will all fall into place and that things will go smoothly so that our house will be completely back together and in "viewing" pleasure for when Brian and Tracy (and the kidlets) come out for the MOD WalkAmerica Walk on 4/21/07

If you would like to donate to team Krumwiede Kids you can do so at www.walkamerica.org/krumwiedekids

Take care folks~~~Kristin

Well we are getting on the right track with our home remodeling...although there was almost TWO major freak outs today. The first being that when our washer and dryer were delivered the delivery men stated that I almost didn't get my pedastal for my washing machine. See we bought the set because it had been returned to Lowe's (it seems that the set had been purchased by an older couple who owned a trailer home and the "new" style of washer and dryers can spin really quickly/strongly and it ended up moving across their floor whenever they used it...and the dryer they returned because they wanted "matching") and was a a major discount. (We got a front loading washer and matching dryer for $790--retail is over $1000 for the washer alone). Thankfully the delivery guy said "Umm the people bought it with the pedastal attached and therefor they get it, and brought it with them... THAT COULD HAVE BEEN UGLY...

The second freak out today was because our counter tops. When we placed our order for everything we were told that when we had an install date for our cabinets we were to call the counter-top people as soon as possible so that we could get a template date and then an install date. Well when I called the company today they informed me that "The person I spoke with stated that the cabinets would not be in until the middle of April so we have a template date of April 23 and an install date of May 4th"... UMMM HELLO??? My cabinets are being put in on WEDNESDAY... that is like 2 months without counter tops or a freaking kitchen... NOT GOING TO HAPPEN... I told the lady she had two options... Get me a date for template with in the next week or I wanted my money back. She kept telling me that I told her that we wouldn't be getting our cabinets until middle of April etc... I finally said "Mam, I have 3 children 3 and under and there is NO WAY IN HELL I would have ripped apart my house NOW if I would not be getting cabinets for another month. So please quit giving me the "someone told me" speech because I am the ONLY person who has talked to you, and I know what I said.".... Well I was getting no where fast with this lady so I called my "friend" (meaning install manager at Lowe's) and told her that if I did not have a template date with in the next week I would be cancelling my order for the counter top and looking else where.... Needless to say I was called back about 15 minutes later with a template date of March 22 and an install date of April 4th. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!...

We had one window installed today and the door and the main window of the house will be going in tomorrow.

Well off to throw another load of laundry into my "fun" new washing machine... WANT TO SEE PICTURES OF IT ??? LOL

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY and more...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY FOLKS!!! I hope that the luck of the Irish was with you. I know that it has been with us today. Our friends came home today, after having been in Ethiopia for a week with their two new children. And I was blessed enough to get to meet them at the airport to welcome them home forever.

The children are beautiful. I wish that I could post pictures of them (as I took pictures at the airport etc) but I do not want to violate my friends, their children or their privacy in general. I am sure that eventually everyone will see the children and love them as much as I already do.

Someone once compared adoption to pregnancy.... and since I have only ever gone through a pregnancy before I thought I would never relate. But you know... I think watching my friend's adoption really touched me in a way that I don't think I will ever be able to explain... EXCEPT... at least when we told our friends their children were beautiful we MEANT IT... HONESTLY AND WHOLE HEARTEDLY... not like people do when you have a newborn who is all bruised banged up etc... THESE KIDS ARE CUTE... and they can smile...... So I think it was worth it... My friends will probably agree as well..... once of course they forget about their mess with customs, their lost luggage, and oh...and of course the sleep deprevation that comes with having a 4 year old and a 14 month old on a plane for over 24 hours :)

SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROUDLY WELCOME A and R (I need to get permission from my friend to use the children's full names) TO OUR LIVES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO THE LIVES OF THEIR FOREVER FAMILY :) WE LOVE YOU ALL (the whole clan) SO VERY MUCH...yes Dennis... EVEN YOU ;)

And with that my friends--- Good night

We have dates for pretty much everything...

It sounds like things are falling into place with the remodel.

3/17-Paint kitchen and new entry way
3/19-Windows in the living room
3/21-Cabinets installed into the kitchen
3/23-Demo the bathroom
3/24-plumber comes to redo the bathroom and my father-in-law and Chad will start laying the ceramic tile in the entry way, kitchen, hallway. Rinish up with bathroom (paint, install cabinets etc)
3/28-living room carpet installed
3/31-HOPEFULLY my father-in-law will be able to come back out and tile the bathroom.

AND THEN MY HOUSE WILL BE DONE.... doesn't the plan look all nice and pretty on "paper".... Here is to hoping that well... it stay nice and smooth....

Kristin

CRANKY LADY!

I am sure that you are all shocked to learn that yet again Kristin is cranky. But boy has it been a long past couple of days around here.

On Saturday, Chad and my grandfather completely gutted my kitchen. I have no cabinets, counter tops, and after tomorrow I will not even have any flooring. Our cabinets will be delivered tomorrow between 8am-Noon. Thankfully, Chad had tonight off so he can inspect the cabinets before the delivery people leave.
Chad will also be finishing up the patching of the walls in the kitchen and entry way (remember we tore out the closet), so that I can prime the walls and ceiling. We have like 5 or 6 different colors on the walls of our kitchen.... it is "delightful'... I am just thankful that it isn't wall paper layers.
We are waiting "patiently" for the installer to call us for a time/day when he can install our cabinets. We are hoping that it can be done rather quickly as Chad and my father-in-law are kind of on a time table when it comes to getting the tiles put in as my father-in-law will soon be starting up his concrete business in the Twin Cities very soon. The 23rd is the 'tentative" date for my in-laws to come to town to do the "fun" of the tile, this is also the same weekend in which our plumber is coming back to tear apart our bathroom and also put it back together.

I have a new "promise" to myself... in the event that we ever buy another house... IT WILL REQUIRE NO remodeling... lol

We hope that everyone is doing well.... Kristin

Team KRUMWIEDE KIDS WILL BE COMPLETE!!

We got the call tonight that Brian and Tracy and their two children (our SUPER cute niece Shea, and nephew Kellen) will be joining us for the March of Dimes Walk on April 21. WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER :)

It is going to be so much fun. I now of course have the BIGGEST deadline EVER to getting our remodeling done... I want my house done when Brian, Tracy, Kellen and Shea come to visit :)

11 years ago today

Eleven years ago today I was diagnosed with AML (a form of leaukemia). I was given a 12% chance of survival because my blood was 100% (if there could be more of a % I would have been it) blasts (cancer cells). My doctor told my mom that if she had not brought me in that day I would have likely went to sleep one night with in the next week and not have woken up. I was told that I would not survive... I was told that I would not have children.... I was told not to plan for my future. .... DAMN BUT I LOVE PROVING PEOPLE WRONG!!!! :)

Aside from being sick as a dog right now, I enjoyed every moment of today... and thanked God MANY times through out the day for allowing me to survive, to have a feature... to marry my best friend and to have three of the most beautiful children in the entire world.... GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

Thank you all so much for your love and support!!!-Kristin

GOLD STAR BABY!!!!

Today at weight watcher I recieved my first gold star. For those of you not familiar with Weight Watchers for every 5 lbs you lose you get a gold star....well today at weigh in I lost 3.8 lbs which brings my 2 week weight loss to 5.4 lbs. Yay me!!!

I also learned at my math class this evening that I got a B on my second math test. I am a little mad at myself because there were again silly/stupid mistakes but what can you do after the fact. Live and learn and hope that the next one goes better :)

Easter Dresses

My mom and I went to Kohl's today and got dresses for the girls for Easter. It is always hard to decide what style of dress to get especially since my Mother-in-law normally pulls rank and picks out a dress for Delainey...in fact last year she bought all 5 of the grand-daughters the exact same dress--- it was so cute NOT... ok it was cute, but kind of annoying especially since the kids are not even in the same zip codes. So this year I have beat her to the punch and got dresses. I ended up getting two dresses because I couldn't pick. We will probably wear the "springy" dresses for Easter and the Sailor dresses just for fun and of course pictures....

Delainey's is the navy blue dress and Shelby and Avery will be wearing the pink ones. They come with little "sailor" hats which I am hoping all three girls (mainly Shelby) will leave on, Avery and Delainey are really good about leaving hats on...but not sweet lil Shelby.

These here are their actual Easter dresses. Delainey's is the yellowish/green and Delainey said that Avery will wear the purple and Shelby will wear the pink (shock I know...see Delaieny ALWAYS picks purple for Avery and pink for Shelby).

We had been hoping to get Easter pictures taken by a local photographer who does pictures with live animals (usually lambs and bunnies) www.craig-schmidt.com but the prices are a little high for my blood... so unless of course we win the lottery or some kind soul decides to pay for them (highly unlikely on both sides) it isn't going to happen...so I guess Sears here we come :)

I am getting so excited for our friends the Roller's. They leave this Thursday to travel to 'pick-up' their new son and daughter (They are doing an international adoption through Ethiopia). We can't wait to meet the new little Rollers... we love them both already... YAY ROLLERS!!! I am going to be helping my friend with you "big Walmart" trip tonight. They are wanting to minimize the amount of running and errands that have to be run once the kids come home because of attachement and also adjustment periods. We can't wait to meet them at the airport.

Hope all is well, and I pray this dang cold leaves me VERY soon-Kristin