Thursday, December 13, 2012

What an emotional roller coster flying space-A is!  We have been trying most of the week to catch a flight out of here, but just as I've heard many people talk about, its not going very well.  I'm too drained to go into all of it, but this morning we thought we had a good chance of getting on a flight to BWI.  We had been calling and checking the flight status since they posted it, and there were 160 seats.  When the plane landed, they actually only had 19 available seats and we were just under the cut off line.  Literally, if any seats opened up, we were next.  So after 3 hrs of sitting in the terminal we packed up the car again and headed home.  I'm trying not to be angry about it, but the thought of not seeing our families for another year (next Christmas) is a little tough to swallow.  The next flight is when the real space-A Christmas rush starts, so I guess we'll see how that one goes.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving a day late

I am blown away how amazing this thanksgiving was, the Lord really blessed us (me especially) this year.  The day before Thanksgiving M called home and said that he would have to work Thanksgiving day.  It didn't surprise me but it was irritating since I had just spent a bundle at the store getting everything we needed for dinner.  But thats life.  Anyways, I was so thankful to have people who invited the girls and I over for dinner so we didn't have to spend the holiday alone.  We had a great time, absolutely delicious food and the girls had so much fun playing with a new little playmate.  Then we got to skype with Nana, Papa (my parents) and my sister's family.

So today M and I did our big dinner.  It was actually really nice, there was no pressure- I woke up with the girls and started cooking while they played in the kitchen.  Whatever got done, got done, whatever didn't, didn't, no worries.  But everything did get done, we even had time for a little walk around the neighborhood.



The girls are still on the fence about Thanksgiving food.  The only thing they would eat was turkey, hawaiian rolls and bananas covered in whipped cream.  Anytime we would hold something out to S, she would start squirming and spitting like we were trying to poison the poor child.  Oh well, at least I give them vitamins I guess.

Bug


 Belly


Then we had a little play time after dinner and skyped with Grandpa and Grandma (M's parents).

And I had some leftover time to make some pies, pumpkin and my Great Grandmother's chocolate pie. My absolute favorite :)




  


















Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Castles and chocolate syrup baths

Are you people ready for an explosion of super adorable baby twin pictures?  You should be, because its happening right now.




A friend of mine offered to watch the girls for an afternoon so M and I went to a castle that is just above Landstuhl.  Originally built in 1162, it was pretty cool for the first castle I've been to.













Our chocolate syrup bath



 Susan, less interested in finger painting, more interested in licking her fingers clean. 








Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Birthday post

Today is my birthday and I'm 28 years old.  I don't really care much about getting older, I don't think I'll be one of those people to have a breakdown when I turn 40.  I feel pretty good about my life right now and what I've done with it.  I have a college degree (yes, I'm aware that it took many years, and if it takes you 7 years to finally graduate, you should be a doctor), I have two beautiful babies, I have a husband who loves me and although, sometimes begrudgingly, I've been able to see a little bit of the world.

Those of you who know me well, might get tired of this story but it is my favorite story in the world and I love to tell it.  Two years ago today, I found out I was having twins.  Mike was TDY to San Diego, I was supposed to take a few days off school and fly out to meet him for my Birthday.  Several things kept me from actually going and I figured I was doomed to spend yet another birthday home while my hubby was out of town and I cried for......a long time (I won't tell you how long and I'll chalk it up to raging pregnancy hormones).  It turned out it was a good thing I couldn't go- God has a way of tapping me on the head while saying "calm down you silly child, here is yet ANOTHER lesson of not being in control".  I woke up around 3 am Saturday morning on my birthday, 8 weeks pregnant and bleeding.  Thinking I understood what was happening and being alone, I didn't know what else to do other than going back to bed.  Before we got pregnant, my Dr told me it looked like I had PCOS and that it might be difficult getting pregnant.  Once we found out we were, only a few months after trying, we were ecstatic.  (And yes, my dear friends who have actually struggled with this condition for years, I am thinking about you as I write this).  Once I woke up I went to urgent care to get checked out.  I cried on the phone with M while in the waiting room,  not thinking about how helpless he felt.  After about 3 hours they said I would have an ultrasound to see if the "pregnancy had been terminated" and I wanted to die after hearing that.  They got everything set up and I asked the ultrasound tech, if I was still pg, could I see the baby.  I knew that at 8 weeks, there isn't much else to see other than the shape of a kidney been, but who cares.  She said she usually wasn't allowed to, but would let me look once she was done with all the paper work.  I sat there for 20 min waiting for her to say something, finally she said "OK, it looks like you are still pregnant".  After the sighs of great relief, she asked me if I was ready to look.  She turned the computer screen around so I could see it and said "Honey, your having TWINS."  Of course I broke into tears- of sock and terror.  She said it was pretty common to have signs of miscarrying if your pg with twins, and happy birthday to me.  I sat there on the table seeing two little kidney beans and their incredibly strong heartbeats.  Of course that was the most amazing birthday gift I've ever been given.





This last weekend we tried to take a little birthday trip to Trier.  We stayed in a great hotel that over looked the entire city that I'm sure had some amazing history and was ridiculously old.  The weekend didn't turn out exactly like we were hoping.  The weather was not ideal, it started pouring 5 min after we got in the car for some sightseeing, the girls never nap when its convenient for their parents and my car started smoking when we FINALLY made it to the cathedral.  Heading home early seemed like the best way to go.  SO the next day M watched the girls and I drove back to Trier to see all the things we missed.  It was really nice to take my time, actually slow down and take some pictures.  I have a mommy friend who told me once, its always nice to have someone watch your kids for you so you can have a break, but that doesn't always mean you want to BE alone during those times.  I can't complain, M did a great job watching those monkeys of ours and I got to see all the things we went to Trier for.  And a little stop at H&M never hurt either.

View from our room

 Nelly belly in my scarf

 Rainy day

Mommy and bug

Daddy and belly

Trier Cathedral 


 A really old dead guy from the 1200's









Sunday, November 11, 2012

A day of Nelly-belly

I love my Nelly.  She is so silly.  She is the most beautiful Nelly I know.  She loves to give kisses.  She loves her baby pig.  She loves to cuddle.  She loves to read.  She is very smart.  She loves to figure out how things work and see how they're put together.  She warms my heart.





Thursday, November 8, 2012

A day of Sue-bug


I love my bug bug.  She is so sweet.  She has the biggest smile.  She has the prettiest dimples.  She loves to sing.  She loves mini stuffed animals.  She LOVES putting hats and headbands on, but only if she can wear them like Rambo.  










Monday, November 5, 2012

Stewardship

The weather is getting colder which means runny noses and coughing have become the norm around here- between M's work schedule and all 4 of us being sick at different times, we haven't made it to church in weeks.  We almost didn't make it yesterday since I forgot my ration card when I went to buy coffee at the commissary the other day.  So my morning was gloomy and hateful, not the way I like to start Sundays.  Growing up, I generally remember my home being cheerful on Sunday mornings, my mom always (and still does) greeted us with a smile that says "I love you so much, let me give you a hug and make you feel all warm and fuzzy in the way only I can", and its nice. There was always music playing (usually Michael W. Smith or Steven Curtis Chapman.  Anyone?  Anyone?).  And even though some of those songs drove me nuts ("if friends are friends forever.....") it impressed upon me what a Sunday morning should be, happy, exciting, celebratory.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to pass these things down to my own kids, especially that smile and amazing hug that moms should give their babies in the morning.  Sunday mornings are difficult enough without that pressure,  I usually stay up too late the night before because M and I don't get to spend much time together.  Being over-tired and without coffee while getting myself and everyone else awake and ready by 10:30 takes tons of effort.  But, as usual, I was reminded yesterday why its worth all the trouble.

The sermon was about stewardship, and in part, how stewardship is different from servanthood.  Having become a Christian at a young age, I have grown up hearing these words.  I know I'm not going to be able to put everything into this post that I want to, nap times only last so long.  Our pastor gave several different definitions of a steward, one was someone who actively directs affairs or a manager.  Being a wife and a mother is all about stewardship and servanthood.  Right now, my life is devoted entirely to my family, there is little room for self.  That can be difficult going from having no kids and being ABLE to be selfish with my time, to having almost no time for myself.  I am leaning that with these jobs, you can not have a divided heart.  Struggling to be selfish with my time leaves me feeling resentful, not fully accepting the responsibility leaves me feeling angry.  When my kids are awake, I need to stop doing what I want to do (mainly sleeping), I need to be a good steward of what God has given me. (And yes, I know mothers still need time away and time for themselves, I'm not saying otherwise.)  This isn't a new revelation for me, just something I have been thinking about and our pastor hit on it yesterday.

I started a bible study with a few other ladies and of course the first week was literally titled "Leave your Country".  With all of my struggling lately, I can't think of a better lesson.  It is a study on Genesis, so its about Abraham, the Israelites and fear.  Fear of being led out of the country they knew to a place where God had called them.  This topic also came up in the sermon yesterday which makes me think someone is trying to get this lesson thru my head.  I was reminded, God never calls us TO someplace he is not providing.  And as a child of the Lord, he is always providing.  Someone else recently told me, the reason she thinks we are called overseas is because God wants us to rely completely on him.  Which makes sense to me, having been totally isolated and literally having no one else to talk to during the last 4 months.  This has already been a growing experience.  Since we have been here, I have been totally broken.  Even though it hurts, it's not necessarily a bad thing, when you pray to be closer to God to know him better and to have a more real relationship- I think he will break you if that is what it takes and I'm pretty sure that is what's happening here.  It's easy to be insincere if life is easy and comfortable...

S and P are doing great.  P will stand-up on her own all the time which has me thinking she'll be walking in no time at all.  The look on her face is absolutely amazing when she stands-up, she is so proud of herself (mommy and daddy are pretty proud of her too).  S is giving lots of kisses and wants us to hold her hands and walk with her when she sees her sissy standing up.  She is still loving putting her own headbands and hats on.  Both P and S love mango juice, watching Little Bear and pulling every single item off of the pantry shelves :)  M is doing alright, he has been working long hours and wishing the weekends were longer.    

And here is a random picture of my birdhouse, mainly because I love this birdhouse but also, because I feel weird making a blog post without photos.  Enjoy.   
          

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Trick or treat, smell my feet and some poopy diapers too.

Today was Halloween and of course we couldn't pass up the opportunity to dress the girls up.  Mike's schedule has been pretty crummy so I took the girls on base for a little trick or treating which ended in leaky diapers and dirty costumes.  But we never let a little baby poo dampen our moods here at the Krause house!  So home we went, to finish dinner and have some super fun play time before screaming all the way to bed.  Here are a few highlights of tonight and the last few days!


 Maybe just a little cranky from the start...

 Trunk or Treat!

Sweet Nelly-pie

Sweet Sue-bug

Super fun play time in progress 




 Penelope standing all by herself!!







Happy Halloween!