the family grows...

kenny is a big brother!
joseph andrew collins koehler was born on tuesday, october 18, at 8:36 in the morning, weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces and was 18 inches long. it was love at first picture! proud mommy erin (trev's sister) is doing well, and their family of FOUR is just precious. thank you, Lord!

casey at school

ms. leslie, casey's teacher at St. David's Episcopal School, recently posted some new pics to the parent pages on their website. it is so fulfilling to see this little guy "in action." how i wish i could be a fly on the wall! love this boy!

celebrating a friend's birthday! casey far right

 bubbles in motor movement!

 finger printing mason jars for the fall fling.

 "following the leader" casey in back, picking nose :)

it's a baby!

i still don't know what all to say about this, other than God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. i remember a day when i thought i would never carry a child, and now i have a beautiful 18-month-old boy and a sweet miracle in my belly! when casey turned 1, i got back off birth control expecting another journey like the one we traveled to get our sweet casey. God had His own plans, and four months later, i took a positive pregnancy test. do what?!!! i laughed, i cried, and i dropped to my knees in total thanksgiving.

i am now just over 12 weeks (sweet sono pic at 10 weeks). i have to admit, these last seven or eight weeks have brought some fears. but i am supposed to fear not! "for the Lord my God will be with me wherever i go," joshua 1:9. i am due on april 23, so casey will be just over 2, 25 months hopefully. truth is, i love that my childREN will be so close in age, will be able to grow and learn together, and support each other their whole lives long. another child. amazing. thank you, our father in heaven.

talk about showing much sooner with a second! (12 weeks)

checking in...

goodness, i don't know why i always forget about this blog.

casey ended up having his surgery last wednesday, the 14th. dr. moe's office called monday morning to reschedule, so i spent the rest of that day running around like a mad woman trying to reschedule everything at work. i guess it helped ward off the nerves for a bit.

the surgery went well - only 20 minutes. we were with casey for 2 hours in pre-op and he did so well, considering he could have nothing to eat or drink. we played and read and even tried to color. when they took him from me, i lost it. it's so hard to watch your baby go back for any procedure. dr. moe came out exactly 20 minutes later and said all was well, everything went smoothly, and that i could see casey once he started to stir from the anesthesia. two hours later, i finally got to see my baby. the first sight was not pretty, similar to after his tubes. the nurse said they usually feel like they're stuck in a dream and can't get out of it, so they cry and cry. my poor little. :( it was hard. but they let me get on the bed with him and he calmed down and fell back asleep. we stayed in recovery for three hours, at least. his oxygen intake level kept dropping and it was driving the nurses crazy, but he was, of course, so congested. finally he came to and was fairly happy, so they let us go home. it was a rough afternoon, but he is such a trooper! the next day, you would've never guessed this kid had just had surgery! thank you, God our father, for protecting our boy.

yesterday, casey had his 18-month check-up at his pediatrician's office. he is a healthy, bouncy boy, that is for sure! he has grown 3 inches in the last 3 months - crazy!

trevor and i also celebrated 9 years yesterday. it's hard to believe it's been that "long." but i love to think about what all those 9 years have given us. and now it's a family. i love my husband so, and i love the blessings that God has bestowed. i hope all i do glorifies His name in all my thanksgivings.

surgery is scheduled

casey will have his adenoids removed on friday morning, the 16th. we appreciate your prayers for God's comfort and for casey's safety and recovery.

new school

today is casey's first day at St. David's Episcopal School. we worship at St. David's church, and i have always heard the sweetest, greatest things about their little school. children can start in the bright beginnings program as early as 16 months, and the school goes up through kindergarten.

casey and i arrived, monkey in hand, and made our way to the courtyard, where he immediately found some basketballs. this child loves athletic balls, all kinds. he brought them to me, saying, "momma, momma," which i translated to "look, momma, so big!" as i was snapping pictures, he walked over to a tricycle and climbed right on! such a big boy! his feet didn't reach the pedals, but he was content just sitting and watching the other children arrive and play, as in true casey fashion.

we then made our way to his room with the bright purple door, and casey met miss leslie, his new teacher. i got to watch him walk around the room for a few minutes before i had to leave. all i heard were his cries and little feet running after me.

i told myself i should be used to this feeling - casey's been in daycare for over a year now. but i couldn't hold it in. as i walked back through the main building, big tears were falling fast down my cheeks. the accountant, who knows me from church, offered a Kleenex and a hug, and the head of school, sweetest lady, said she'd call. and she did, two hours later, with news that casey was doing just great and was presently in a reading circle.

maybe it was because it's a new place and a new step. the years before pre-school. the fact that my 17-month-old little boy is in "school." oh my love, my heart. thank you, precious Lord. here's to a great year of learning and discovering, of finding Jesus and singing praises. 

praise

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

How great are your works, O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep!
 

Psalm 92:1-5