A Glimpse Into Our Christmas
Dan and I had the opportunity to go back to Michigan for Christmas! Even though we had been home 3 short weeks before, we value family enough that it was worth the drive home again. Plus, Christmas offers the opportunity to see those we did not get a chance to see during the short Thanksgiving break. We know that so many have been praying for our baby girl too, so be able to “share” her with others, was such a blessing!
One thing about going home is that our week is packed, yet at the same time, it’s what we enjoy – being with family and friends. The weekend before, I came down for a nasty cold and fever, but everything was looking up when we left. Unfortunately, Christmas day, I woke up and I knew something wasn’t right, as my head was just pounding, my eyes and jaw hurt (but thankfully no fever). I knew it was a bad sinus infection and needed to take something, but also am so protective of our baby girl, so we headed to the ER. Thankfully it was dead in the ER, so we were in and out in about 1 hour and it was a confirmed sinus infection and they gave me a steroid nose spray to use, instead of antibiotics, which would get in my system. Still working on getting rid of the infection, but each day is looking up. Needless to say it’s been a stuffy-nose past few weeks, but they say it can take weeks to recover from since I’m so limited on what I can take. But I am so thankful that it hasn’t gotten worse and that this baby girl is protected! She doesn’t have a clue what’s going on, except maybe mom’s stronger abs from blowing her nose all of the time :).
We started our first day back in Michigan with the Sterk immediate family Christmas. Always so much fun watching the nieces and nephews open gifts! Unfortunately 2 were sick, which meant my 2 sister-in-laws couldn’t make the party, which I was bummed about!
Dan just hanging out…
Putting together the new lego sets – as you see, Dan is enjoying this just as much as his nephew!
Thursday was spent in the ER and just relaxing and then we headed up to my parents for the night and Friday – the Geurink immediate Christmas party
Our nieces loved helping open gifts and looking at all of the new things for their new baby cousin!
Dan’s new hunting butt pad – something he is very proud of apparently!
The girls quietly coloring in their new books
And no evening is complete without Dan getting loved on by the girls! Oh how they love Uncle Dan! I mean, I don’t blame them of course!
On Saturday we headed back down to St. Joseph for the morning for a shower with our St. Joseph friends, put on by the lovely Vriezema family. It was beyond what I could’ve imagined and even though Dan was not there (women only), we BOTH felt so incredibly blessed by the love and generosity of everyone. To catch up with old friends, to see 3 of our friends pregnant (all due in January, me in March), and to just feel so loved. We are SO BLESSED!
Saturday night we had my mom’s side Christmas party, and EVERYONE was there! Like all 60ish of us, which was amazing to think about – can’t remember the last time everyone was there! Sunday we had my dad’s side Christmas party and at night, I went to Grandville to spend the night with old college friends, until Monday. Tuesday we headed back to St. Joseph and spent the rest of the time hanging out with friends and family, and headed home on Thursday. It felt like it went by SO fast, but words can’t express how blessed we felt and how exciting it was to share this pregnancy with everyone. The next time they all see us, we pray our baby girl will be in our arms! Crazy to think about, but a time we can’t WAIT for!
Last but not least, on Monday we hung out with my nieces and they all wanted their hair done. I did a funky braid in their hair, and we even got a little side ponytail in Scarlett’s hair.
Now it’s back to reality! And now it’s time to get our baby girl’s room together, as our dresser arrived and now we can start to fill it! We hope you all had a blessed Christmas and felt the peace and presence of God as we celebrated HIM!
