The Guenther Family

car trama

This is what happens when you mix a new motorized car with long flowy hair, not a good mix. Poor Kate, I know it's horrible of me to take a picture, but I couldn't help it.

The car came out with not too much prodding and no hair loss!

Birthday celebration

Martin turned 32 this last Monday. We had a nice dinner together and sang Happy Birthday that night to Martin. Then on Thursday, we went to the KU basketball roundball classic in Lawrence. It was a great event where past KU players came together and played a game to raise money for a family who is affected by cancer. Our friends were the family honored. Martin was totally in heaven while I was trying to make sure the kids didn't fall down the stadium stairs. It was such a fun time. Martin was really eyeing a signed jersey from Mario Chalmers in the silent auction, but the bidding got too rich for us. Martin did bring a small basketball that he had many of the players sign. He is so proud of it and now wants to purchase a special case to keep it in, of course. Poor Ryan desperately wants to play with it. We are enjoying our summer. We just had a fence put in, which we are so loving, seriously the best thing ever. It's nice to have a little bit of privacy in our life.

The past 5 months

So it's been forever, of course, since we've updated. Most everything we write on the caringbridge revolves around Kate's treatments, but we really have been doing more than that. Here's a few pictures from each month this year. Things continue to go well despite all the hospital visits. We just take it one day at a time. Life is good, we are glad to be together as a family.

JANUARY

Eating smores ice cream before camping in the basement.

Camping in a tent in the basement

Building a snowman in the front yard

Legos legos legos!

FEBRUARY

Seth learned to sit up!

Riding the scooter on a warm day even amongst the snow!

Brotherly love!

MARCH

Visiting the temple site in Liberty, Missouri

Kate's 3rd birthday party, cupcakes, yum!

Day at the zoo to celebrate Kate's bday

Having fun during round 3 of Kate's anti-body treatment

APRIL

Happy Easter!

Enjoying the spring weather in the backyard

the Easter wreath I made. The only real use for Peeps!

Seth enjoying his time at the hospital.

Hailstorm that damaged our house. We just got a new roof, a new paint job and gutters

MAY

Seth can pull himself up now

Asparagus picking at Pendleton's Farms

Father and Son campout. It rained, so the tent is just airing out in our basment the next day.

Hanging out at the Arboretum on a gorgeous day!

Seth is now climbing the stairs, very scary for me since we have no way to block them with a gate.

We are looking forward to the next 6 weeks at home together.

Life at the Guenther house

The year is really flying by, especially these last 6 weeks. We are starting to settle into being a family of 5. Seth is starting to sleep better and the kids are adjusting to having a baby brother. Life is good. Seth rolled over today for the first time, very exciting! Here's a few pictures showing what we've been up to.

Seth at 1 month old.

Kate and Seth hanging out during Kate's stem cell transplant.

Kate's celebration party the day she was released from her transplant.

Kate and Seth hanging out in our backyard.

Ryan's 5th birthday party at the park. This is the boys table. The girls all sat at a seperate table. So funny, they start splitting up at age 5!

Ryan dressed up for Halloween. Kate refused to dress up.

Pumpkins at Halloween.

Seth smiling while asleep

Seth smiling while awake!

Seth is Here!

Last Wednesday September 15, we welcomed the third child into our family. I was due on Tuesday the 14th. So I had my 40 week appointment, first one I've ever had, and all was well. The mid wife stripped my membranes for a second time and said I was almost at 3 cm. good news! We set an induction date for Friday the 17th. I wasn't really happy about this but with Kate checking into bone marrow on the 22nd, we couldn't really wait any longer.

I made great plans to celebrate my due date with going out to eat with some friends. But then around 5pm, I started to have contractions pretty regularly. They weren't bad, but a little more uncomfortable than the regular Braxton Hicks I was having. I picked Martin up from work, had some dinner, and then went out for a walk. by 7pm, they were pretty regular, so I had to cancel going out to eat with friends. I was actually really sad about that! I kept walking, but then decided to lay down for a bit after the kids went to sleep. From 9-10pm, the contractions really died down and I slept for a little while. I was beginning to think this was more of the false labor.

Then at 10:30, Martin and I decided to start walking to see what would happen. If I wasn't going into labor then I wanted to head to bed. Luckily Liz is here and so she stayed at the house with Ryan and Kate, so Martin and I could walk. We walked to 7-11 and got a slurpee and snacks, then walked til about midnight. the contractions were picking up again. So we went home and Martin laid down for a bit.

I labored for a couple of hours and then woke Martin up at 2am to call the hospital. It was time to go. They checked me when we got there and I was at 5 cm. So we got in a room and they monitored the baby and then I was free to labor in the tub. I'm so glad I had the tub, it helped out so much. After a while the midwife checked me and I was still at a 5, so frustrating! I was beginning to think I would need some drugs if it was going to take this long. The contractions really started to kick in and the next time I was checked I was at a 9. Poor Martin, he was really supportive even though I wasn't being very kind to him. I kept asking for drugs, but it was too late for that now. Just a little while later, Seth was born. Martin's mom was also there for the birth, we're glad she could come. It was quite an experience. I absolutley loved my midwife Lindsey. She was so great! I was so glad she was the one on call that night. Seth weighed in at 8 lbs 3 oz and 20 inch long.

I am so glad it's over and we are loving having a new baby in our family. The kids are constantly fighting over who gets to rock or burp Seth. They are quite the helpers! He is a good baby, good eater and sleeper. So grateful for this, it will help me to keep my sanity amongst all the other things going on.

It's been a busy few weeks. We're doing great! We've enjoyed being home together as a family for the past 2 1/2 weeks. Kate is energetic and happy. Here are some pictures of what we've been up to. Life is good!

Home Depot craft fun! Ryan put together a helicopter.