sweet

In church tonight Adam kept looking at the picture in the bulletin of Jesus on the cross. He asked about his "hat" and I explained that was his crown of thorns and that it hurt Jesus. Adam asked if the bad guys did that. I told Adam yes and that he is one of the bad guys and so am I and so are all of us. because we are all sinners. Adam said he wanted to be a good guy. I told him that because Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and rose again on easter and because Adam was baptized that he is a good guy because he is clothed in Christ's righteousness. Adam liked that. Who says a 4 year can't understand what's going on in church or the significance of a crucifix!

Thanks for a great 7 years Michael!  I'm a happy wife and the proud mother of 4 beautiful, healthy, and unique children.  I'm so happy to be raising them with you as their father.  Maybe we should go for a couple more :-p

Your loving wife,

Katie

Well aunt Suzy left today and it's just our little family of five now. It's a house full of runny noses but despite the sicknesses we had a great time tonight. Adam woke up at 5 pm but he was in such a sweet mood. He played and played with David and they even ran around the playroom holding hands. Then Adam and David started taking turns tickling and wrestling each other. They were rolling around the floor and laughing up a storm. After playtime we all went upstairs to put David to bed and read him books. Then Adam helped me give rebekah a bath. Rebekah is swaddled and sleeping soundly so Adam and I made popcorn and are having a calliou tv show marathon. These kiddie may wear me out at times but I couldn't imagine life without them. They are worth every tantrum, every poopy diaper and every sleepless night. We are so blessed! Mommy

Rebekah grace Dobbs was born at 12:14am on 2/26/2011. Happy birthday sweetheart. After watching the office on Thursday night my stomach started hurting and I told mike I thought they felt slightly like contractions. Mike was in denial. I woke up at 4am and my stomach was still hurting in waves. By 5am I was noticing a pattern of 8 minutes apart so I got up and finished the laundry and packing for the hospital. Just in case. I had the boys all day on my own and they were so good for their mommy. I kept having contractions 8 minutes apart but they were really mild. They started picking up intensity at 3 so I called mike and asked him to come home by 4:30. He wasn't really convinced I was in labor and neither was I. I decided to call the doc to give her a heads up but I wasn't planning on heading to the hospital anytime soon. When I called the doc she said I needed to come in right away. She said, "I know your husband has seen a lot of deliveries but I'm sure he doesn't want to do one on his own yet." so we made some phone calls and our dear friend Lori came over to watch the boys before nana Dobbs arrived. We headed to the hospital and I was convinced we would be heading back home within the hour. My contractions were there but not bad at all. Walking to the maternity ward they did start picking up in intensity. When I got to triage around 7 a nurse didn't even have time to start monitoring me when the doctor came in and checked me and I was a three. She said I was staying and having a baby tonight. She told me she would be back in an hour to break my water. I decided to walk so I could progress and get my epidural sooner rather than later. After I walked for an hour I was a four. Then the doctor broke my water at 8 and I got an epidural right away. The epidural was good but I was still feeling the contractions which was a bummer. After a couple of hours they checked me again and I was only a five which was disappointing. So they started me on pitocin. Around 11:50 pm the doctor came to check me and I was only a six and she said my contractions were weak. At this point I felt like my epidural wasn't doing its job and my contractions were getting really painful. I was disappointed to hear that these were weak contractions. The doctor said I should get a boost in my epidural since it would probably be awhile. At midnight she left and the epidural guy came in with the extra medicine. He gave me a good dose so I could try to sleep but warned me that when it came close to go time he wouldn't be able to give me more because I needed to be able to feel my legs for that part. He left the room around 12:05. I asked the nurse to help me lay on my side so I could try to sleep because it sounded like I was in for a long haul ahead of me. She helped me on my left side and I started feeling immense contractions even though I couldn't feel below my waist. She said she wanted to check me and lo and behold rebekahs head was right there. She called the doctor who rushed in. I couldn't feel anything below my waist so they had to put my legs up and I didn't get one push out and rebekahs head and arm were out and she was crying. The nurse was still trying to call the other nurse who cleans the baby to get in the room. Rebekah just slid right out and I couldn't feel a thing because of the last dose of drugs. It was amazing how fast it all happened. Mike was in awe that there wasn't even a pushing process to go through. We thought David was fast with five pushes but rebekahs delivery was lightening quick. It was as though she was crawling out herself. I think she was offended when the doctor said they were wimpy contractions. Rebekah was perfect. They said she would have received a ten algae score which is essentially impossible but the bottom of her feet were slightly purple so she got a 9.9. She was 2.5 weeks early but still weighed 7 pounds 9oz and was 20 inches long. She is a beauty. We will get to go home later today and I am looking forward to seeing the boys. Hopefully they take kindly to their little sister. It's always hard changing things up when we've been in such a good routine. But where's the fun in life if you stay in the same routine forever? Grandma Karius is in town to help us with the transition to three kids. Pray for us! Love, Katie

And this morning as I struggled to roll out of bed and wiped the snot off my youngest's nose I thought of what an old woman I am and how happy I am as an old woman with my old man and children.  I am also very excited about the new Costco!  Woohoo!

Katie

I woke up this morning at 4:30 a.m. and could not for the life of me go back to sleep.  I am now sitting downstairs listening to Christmas music (yes it is too early -- but it is a guilty pleasure) and enjoying the silence of the house before the Dobbs men awake.  Little Rebekah has been kicking non-stop all morning, so we are having some girl time. 

I have been chasing the boys' runny noses all weekend and sure enough I woke up this morning with a sore throat.  I don't think there is anyway to avoid toddler germs so you might as well just put on a brave front and await your doom.  However, I wish I could just take it all from them.  Those little snot nose faces and coughing babies make me want to spoil them just so they feel a little better.

Well, that's all for now.  Time to make some tea and nurse this cold.

Mommy 

Goodbye twenties. You were a fun decade full of firsts: first apartment, first boyfriend, first house, marriage, kids, my fellowship, etc, etc, etc. I can't complain!

It looks like my thirties have a lot to live up to after looking back on my twenties! Bring it on :-)

Looking forward to a fun filled week at home with my boys and the Burks and possibly even a guest appearance from my parents. Hmm..now what should we do?? Maybe the zoo, the childrens museum, Chucky Cheese??? I can already tell this vacation is going to be exhausting but lots of fun. I better get the coffee brewing!

Love,

Mama

I will always remember my Grandma Karius and am glad for the many years I was blessed to have known her. She was a wonderful woman and will be missed.

OBITUARY
Agnes A. Karius, age 76, of Miltona, formerly of Brooklyn Center, died Saturday, April 24, 2010, at her home.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, April 29, 2010, at Faith Lutheran Church in Miltona with Rev. Kari van Wakeren officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Kevin Lee and vocalist, Jim Dahl. Burial will take place at Marshall Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Miltona and continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements are by Lind Family Funeral & Cremation Service with chapels in Miltona and Parkers Prairie, www.lindfamilfh.com.

Agnes Aileen Nielsen was born May 11, 1933, to Raymond and Mildred (Steffes) Nielsen on the family farm in Lakeville, Minnesota. She graduated from Marshall High School in 1951. She met and was united in marriage to Robert Whittet in 1952. She worked as a car hop in Marshall, nurses aide in Granite Falls and at Warner Manufacturing in Sacred Heart. In 1968, they moved to the cities where she worked at Univac/Sperry/Unisys. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Karius at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis in 1979. Following their marriage they lived in Brooklyn Center before moving to their home on Lake Miltona in August of 1994. She continued working at Univac/Sperry/Unisys by commuting until she retired in December of 1994. She worked for a short time at a laundry mat and Pete’s County Market in Alexandria until her health problems started in 1997. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Miltona where she was very active. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting, flower gardening and making decorative eggs. She and her husband, Ken enjoyed traveling throughout the United States visiting family and friends. She loved spending time with family and friends and will be dearly missed by those that loved her.

Agnes is survived by her husband, Kenneth; two sons, Steven (Lois) Whittet of Cedar, Minnesota and Bradley (Diane) Whittet of Las Vegas, Nevada; two daughters, Cheryl (David) Anderson and Gail Whittet both of Cedar, Minnesota; two step-sons, Dennis (Jan) Karius of Chaska and Larry Karius of Sandstone; a brother, Lawrence (Bethe) Nielsen of Farmington; a sister, Evelyn (Leon) Dawson of Placentia, California; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandson, Jordan Whittet.

I am SO SO SO proud of my boys. David has been sleeping all night for the last few nights. Today he slept until after 6 a.m. What a good boy.

I had to give Adam a bath this morning and while we were waiting for the tub water he wanted to sit on his potty that we had brought up from the basement. He kept sitting and then getting up to check and see if anything was in the potty. Later, before his nap I asked him if he wanted to go to the potty and he went upstairs and sat on the potty. He played with his bath toys for 20 minutes and kept checking to see if there was anything in the potty. There wasn't so I finally convinced him that was enough for one sitting and it was naptime. He wanted to stay (just like his daddy). Then we went to dinner and when we came home I asked him if he wanted to use the potty. He went straight upstairs to the bathroom. He sat on the potty and checked and there was nothing. He got up and shut the bathroom door, sat down and started going potty!!! I was SO PROUD! I called Mike and he told Adam how proud he was. We were so excited and Adam started smiling and clapping. He got some M&Ms and called his grandparents to tell them about his accomplishment.

I know we're nowhere near potty trained, but I was just so excited that he understood the concept. He's not my little baby anymore. Thank goodness I have cute and cuddly little David who is full of smiles and coos to give me my baby fix and Adam is teaching us new things every day.

I love my boys.

Mama

Happy New Year everyone! This past year FLEW by! In 2008 I welcomed my first son Adam. In 2009 I welcomed my second son David. What will 2010 have in store? Who knows. But, what I do know is that I feel EXTREMELY blessed and am thankful for my houseful of Dobbs boys and look forward to another year of milestones!

Wishing everyone a very blessed New Year.

Katie

Sooooo sleepy....

The day has come. I am surrounded by my Dobbs boys! I would have never believed it but I had a baby one week before the due date without being induced. I was so certain that I would not have the baby before the 20th that I hadn't even thought about anything happening earlier. But, little did I know when I woke up at 5 a.m. and was feeling like my stomach hurt that I'd be having a baby 19 hours later.

I was having very mild contractions that morning. They were about 8 minutes apart and lasted for 20-30 seconds. We called the doctor and found out that my doctor actually wasn't even on duty that day so if I went into labor it would be someone that I never even met that would deliver me. My doctor's philosophy was that I have big babies so she is happy to break water and/or give pitocin to speed things along if things are progressing well. The doctor on duty doesn't even like to break water and likes to keep things as natural as possible. So, the doctor on duty told us to stay at home until the contractions are 4-5 minutes apart and one minute long. Mike and I then went to work.

By around 11 I decided I wasn't getting much done and the contractions were still light but still happening. So, I decided to take a nap. (Smart move). I worked for another hour and at 2:00 I decided the contractions were getting stronger so I should just sit upstairs and focus on timing them. At 4:00 I was trying to call Mike because they were getting stronger and longer and I knew it would take Mike a little while to come home. Of course after 20 minutes of trying to get a hold of Mike I finally had to press zero and have his secretaries hunt him down. He got home around 5 at the same time Grandpa came over to pick Adam up and have him sleep over at the grandparents house. At this point I was coming to terms with the fact I was about to have a baby. The contractions were getting really strong especially if I stood up. It was time to go!

When we got to the hospital at 5:30 p.m. I told Mike to park in the garage and not the ER because they were going to make me walk anyway so I might as well walk to Labor and Delivery. Well I could barely take two steps and then I was in a lot of pain. A woman saw the look on my face and she got me a wheelchair and wheeled me to Labor & Delivery. Poor Mike looked like the guy making his wife walk, but it was really my idea. When we got there I was 3 cm dialated but the contractions weren't catching on the monitor so they were talkig about sending me home even though they were about 4 minutes apart and I was in a lot of pain at this point. So, they told me to walk the halls for an hour until 7:15 p.m.

This was VERY painful. The contractions were right on top of each other and I'd go two steps and then spend 2 minutes pressed to the wall in pain. These contractions were much harder than with Adam. When they checked me again I was only 4 cm but thankfully they agreed they wouldn't send me home. By the time I got my epidural around 9 p.m. I was 7 cm dialated. My water bag was right there but not breaking. They told me to get some sleep. I relaxed for the next 3 hours enjoying the break from the contractions. Mike was snoring like a lumber jack on the couch. Finally at midnight she checked me and I was a 9 with the head very low but that water bag just wouldn't break. So, she said she called the doctor and get her to come to the hospital since I would be ready very soon.

The doctor broke my water at around 12:45 a.m. Then she said she was going to be right outside doing some paper work. I was like, "Oh no." I'm ready to push this kid out now. I pushed twice and the nurse told me to stop and she told the doctor the baby was going to be out in a couple more pushes. So then I had to spend a few minutes not pushing which is one of the hardest things in the whole world. Three more pushes later David Gary was born at 12:57 a.m. Mike and I's first comments were "He's so small." The doctor and nurses thought we were crazy because they thought he was big.

David screamed the whole time they cleaned him up and he weighed in at 8lbs 6 oz and was 20" long. Then they gave him to Mike and he stopped crying right away. It was nice to spend the next hour just the three of us. David nursed like a champ. I was in shock but so thankful to be so blessed. More than the relief of labor being over is just knowing that your little guy is healthy.

Well...David is stirring right now. I think he's ready for an afternoon snack. These boys are going to keep their Mama busy.

Mama

Beating up on their mommy. But, I love every minute of it!

Well, Adam and I survived our first whole day alone together yesterday. Mike had raquetball after work, so Adam and I really were together alone the WHOLE day. But, I think we did pretty well. Unfortunately, Adam decided again last night that he know longer likes sleeping until 4:30 a.m. and got up at 2:59 a.m. last night. Ugh. I know that is close enough to 3, but the clock still was showing a 2. I think I was spoiled by those 7.5 hour nights. But, 5 hours is not terrible for a newborn. The problem is that once he's up I only get 30-45 minute short spurts of sleep after the one long stretch during the night. Right now he is laying on his play mat in his cute little onesie with little cars on it and grabbing at his different toys. He just turned around to look at his mommy and my heart melts. He is definitely worth the sleepless nights.

So, last night at 2 I woke up to Mike coming over to my side of the bed and telling me to scoot over. I thought, "Oh how sweet. He is laying next to Adam so that he can get up and let me sleep since I've been running low on sleep lately." But then at 2:59 Mike was not getting up to Adam so i got up (and let's just say that from the noises Adam was making I knew there was one bad diaper that needed to be changed). In the morning when Mike came down around 7 a.m. (well rested and showered and leisurely eating breakfast..mind you that I had been up since 3, no shower, no food, etc) he said, "What's up with you taking up my side of the bed last night. I had to move over to your side because you were hogging the bed." So much for the romantic gesture. But, Mike and I had a good laugh about it in the morning because of our two very different perspectives of what had happened.

So, the biggest challenge that I have been facing as a new mommy once we finally got past the first few nights is nursing. Let's just say that I have a WHOLE new respect for mothers out there. I think I need to start buying my mom a much nicer gift on Mother's Day! The toughest part about nursing for me is the time constraints. Since I've been nursing it means that I have to be available when he is hungry and you can't really plan exactly when that will be. Sometimes he can conk out for 4 hours and not need me. Other times he is hungry 30 minutes after we finished the last feeding. He seems to be especially hungry in the mornings (before noon) and in the evenings (after 4:30). That's why it is especially difficult for me to walk away and run errands and things. Because if he ends up getting a bottle then I need to pump around the same time so that my body knows to produce enough. And if you wait too long to pump and he gets hungry again, then I might not have enough for him during his feeding. So, like I said in the beginning it's all about the timing. I feel like I need to have a stop watch next to me. But, things are definitely getting better every single day and I'm happy with all of the benefits of nursing, but I'm not going to deny that it is a challenge.

Okay, we're getting ready for bed now. Hopefully we'll all be asleep by 9. We're really party animals these days. I think Adam is planning to blog tomorrow. He is hoping to get more messages on his "Leave your mark" link!

Katie

Well, Mike is at work today and Grandma and Aunt Sarah are back in Minnesota. So, it is just Adam and I. I feel MUCH MORE comfortable and confident now. For anyone who hasn't had their first child yet I have to tell you that the learning curve is exponential for the baby and the parents in the first few weeks. I remember back to the first few nights after he came home and the complete panic I was in compared to the relaxed atmosphere we have now and it is a complete 180. Now, I am still very tired and don't have a lot of free moments but I am much more confident in the fact that when he cries I will be able to get him to stop. I am more confident in knowing what he needs and I am much more organized and prepared for having long periods of time where I am confined to a chair with him, so I have things within an arms length away. We also measure our success now in poopy diapers, hours slept, and loud burps. Today Mike was able to go to work AND Adam has been fed a few times AND we had "tummy time" AND I have had a shower and am wearing real clothes AND we went for a walk AND he is down for a nap. And this was all before 10 a.m. (granted we go to bed by 9 these days and get up around 4-5 a.m. to start our day for good). He only slept for 5 hrs straight last night, but that is still decent so I can't complain.

When we took Adam out of the car seat on the first night home he pretty much started crying and really didn't stop until about 1 or 2 in the morning. The motherhood thing did not come so naturally at first. I felt so awkward with him and I felt like I was going to break him. Mike came in and told me to go to bed because I was completely wiped and still trying to recover. I woke up 3 hours later with a start because Mike hadn't come in to wake me up. I went into the nursery and there was Mike in the glider with Adam in his lap on the boppy pillow. Mike had him wrapped up and was holding his little hand. In Mike's other hand was a book called "Be Prepared." It's a book for new dads with a comic twist. When I walked in Mike said in an official and calm tone.."this book says some babies like to be swaddled and some don't." He had finished reading the entire book. I asked Mike how Adam was doing and Mike said that Adam just needed someone to hold his hand and that when Mike let go Adam would get restless and his breathing would start getting fast. I knew at that moment that I was married to a GREAT man and that he was going to be a wonderful father. Adam is a very very blessed boy. When Adam finally fell asleep and Grandma took over Mike and I spent every free second organizing our house so that we could actually leave the nursery with Adam. Then we had grandma start a list of EVERYTHING we discovered we all of the sudden needed from a velcro swaddler (best invention ever) to the formula they had used at the hospital to bottle liners. It was so helpful to have her there to run to the store for us and take the morning shift while we showered.

Slowly but surely I am actually able to do a chore or two in addition to taking care of Adam. We are also slowly being able to handle more and more guests and everyone who has been coming to help is greatly appreciated. And it has been equally nice to have those moments where it is just Mike and I and Adam getting adjusted to what life is now like as a family of three. Also, to everyone who has been sending gifts and cards...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I will soon be catching up on thank you cards and emails but please know that our family is very thankful for your generosity and well wishes.
We feel very loved.

Love,
Katie

Whew! What a rollercoaster! It is Day 11 and I finally have 2 hands to write a little blog entry. Adam slept for 7.5 hours last night. When he started squirming this morning I shot out of bed and searched for the clock. I couldn't believe it when I realized it was 4:30 a.m. and he had fallen fast asleep at 9:00 p.m. the night before. I felt like a whole new woman!! So, let's go back to Adam's first day from my perspective.

After a whole whopping one hour of sleep I woke up at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday the 28th with contractions about 8 minutes apart. Like the good wife that I am I let Mike sleep for a couple of hours until my contractions were 6 minutes apart. At 3 a.m. I told him and my mom to start getting ready because my contractions were pretty consistently less than 5 minutes apart and it was time to go to the hospital. They got themselves all showered and prettied up while I sat next to Mike's "talking clock" and had to time my own contractions. And for those of you that know me yes my hair was a disaster and I could barely care enough just to put on a fresh pair of clothes. (Contractions are not pleasant). My contractions started slowing down when we got to the hospital unless I was walking the halls. They were talking about sending me home (although my contractions were 4 minutes apart and an 8-9 on the pain scale). So, I was determined to keep the contractions coming and I would set "mini-goals" as to how far I would walk. I even started doing the stairs..whatever it took! Mike stayed back in the hospital room to take a nap. The nurse was a bit surprised when she came to check my progress and found Mike sleeping in the hospital bed. By the time they came back and were still talking about sending me home I was ready to pull out fake tears, because I hear that works. But, they finally decided to admit me and break my water.

Well, that was about the time the pain really kicked in, ESPECIALLY after they broke my water. They asked if I wanted an epidural and I was ALL about it. Let me tell you..epidural is a BEAUTIFUL thing. As soon as I got it I conked out and slept for over an hour. I woke up with a big smile on my face and still didn't feel a thing. Mike was looking at my contraction sheet and was amazed that I wasn't feeling anything. During my hour nap I went from 4 cm dilated to fully dilated and ready to push. Then they turned the epidural down and I went from being pleasant to nagging the nurses every minute (I'm surprised they didn't turn off the call button) that I needed to push. They wanted me to just blow the urges to push out through my mouth like blowing bubbles because the doctor was busy at an emergency c-section. Well, after I wouldn't let up with the call button the nurse finally said we could start pushing. An hour later with the doctor running in and putting on scrubs as fast as she could because I refused to stop pushing little Adam arrived. Mike said that he thought it was funny because the first thing I said when they put Adam on me was "That's my Baby!" He started talking about how that was an excited utterance and in court it would hold up as not being hearsay..or something like that..and that it was an obvious statement so it was funny that I would choose to say that. I don't really know what Mike was talking about all I know is that I was SO HAPPY to be done with the labor part. The other funny statement I made was "How do women do this?" I guess I said that while I was pushing.

Well I just heard some bubbles coming out of little Adam and an "aroma" is quickly filling the room. Mommy duty calls!