DJ's 28 week pictures

Another profile picture.

This one was fun. It looks like he was smiling at us!

We caught a kick in print!

So DJ's doing well. This was just a short ultrasound, so we didn't get his measurements. It seems like we may have another one in the future. 

I've gotten sick during the last two ultrasounds. It's getting harder and harder for me to sit upright or lay on my back for any period of time. Walking isn't that great either. I get nauseous and lightheaded and my arms and legs go numb. So we did most of both ultrasounds with me laying on my left side. 

Yesterday was a long appointment. It started with bloodwork and glucola for the 3 hour gestational diabetes test. Then the ultrasound. Then another blood draw, then the doctor, then another two blood draws an hour apart. My headache was raging pretty hard by the time we saw the doctor, which was a concern, so I had to have more blood taken as they continue to watch me for pre-eclampsia. I'm doing the ever-so-much-fun 24-hour urine test today and will have more blood drawn tomorrow. 

Niels continues to take good care of me, and of course, the most important thing is that the baby is doing well. We continue to pray that we hold off the pre-eclampsia and I can wait out the pregnancy at home. 

Baby DJ and his 'Crib'

Last Saturday, 1 day before the storm blew out our lights and power Babies R Us came to deliver the baby furniture. They delivered it, hauled it up the stairs and put together the crib. The armoir and dresser were delivered fully assembled. After the delivery guys left we immediately put in some of the baby stuff so it kinda looks like a nursery.

Here is the process from office to nursery...






Note the litte touches of Mommy's history in the room.. the COW, the Vikings hat, DJ's uncle and his cousin CJ. Still looking for some things from Daddy. You can see more pictures of the transformation here.

Oh, and to top it off, here are two pictures of the future occupant of this beautiful room...


So, after 6 ultrasounds we finally have a profile picture... Hello DJ! Mommy and Daddy can't wait to meet you!

And we're back!

At 3:30am this morning, we were awakened by the most beautiful sight...blinking lights letting us know that our electricity is FINALLY back on...after 70 hours! We're so excited! Perhaps our friend Natalie said it best, "Being without electricity is like being without God, you can survive but quality of life is drastically reduced."

We're very grateful to be back online, and especially for the hard, round-the-clock efforts of the local FirstEnergy employees who got us powered up a day before promised!

Power out at the De Jongs

The remnants of Hurricane Ike delivered very high winds (gusts up to 70mph/110km p/h) and knocked-out our power at about 5.30pm on Sunday. We have plenty of water to drink, batteries for lights and gas to cook, but with our water pump running on electricity we don't have running water at the moment. This includes our toilettes. We are one of about 300,000 without power here in North-East Ohio so it could be another 24 to 48 hours before we have power since all the additional crews were sent to Texas earlier in the weekend.

We are camping at home and try to make due with some cell phone coverage and public WiFi.

Thx
Niels, Jen, baby DJ and Bailey

Receiving Blanket from Papa John and Grandma Pat!

This just came in the mail today for baby DJ. Pat made it from scratch. So cute! Can't wait to bring baby de Jong home all bundled up in it!

My pretty pregnancy hands.

Usually my wedding ring is loose, but this is a vast improvement over Saturday, when I couldn't get it past my fingernail--what's left of them. It has been a stressful week!

Nursery Update...Cleared and Painted

So Babies R Us called to say that our furniture is ready. Nothing like a little incentive to get the nursery cleared out and painted! Since Jen has doctor's orders to take it easy--we were in the hospital this weekend with early signs of pre-eclampsia--we recruited a little help! (THANK YOU, LIPFORDS!!!!)

Sweet baby James Lipford takes a last look at the office on Sunday.

On Monday, we cleaned and taped up the baseboards and ceiling.

Today, our good friend Rachel started the transformation to baby blue.

Niels got home from work, changed into work clothes (a new term in his vocabulary since meeting Jen) and helped finish the first coat.

One coat down, one to go...tomorrow.

Ready for some football

Here's Jen at 26 weeks, all ready for DJ's first football season!

DJ's nursery

It's a been a hard, frustrating, draining, scary week. Maybe we'll update on that later, but for now, we'll focus on the positive part of the week. Our good friends, the Lipfords are here helping Niels clear out DJ's room so we can paint it baby boy blue. Our furniture arrived a few weeks early so the rush is on to get everything read before the furniture comes. 

Here's DJ's furniture. We like that it matches the furniture in the rest of the house, and if we decide he doesn't need the armoire or dresser, there are plenty of other places to put it to good use!

GR Weekend

Jen and I spent Labor Day weekend in Grand Rapids, camping out in Jen's condo and packing up the last of her things in anticipation of our closing on September 14. We were able to spend a relaxing evening with Erin and Beth in Grand Haven. Click here to see the pictures.