Conrad Elliott

 Conrad Elliott

Our new little addition was born October 27th
 at 6:02pm
 weighing 7lbs 4oz.

We had choosen to do a home birth which ended up being great timing- the local hospitals had adopted a new policy due to the swine flu that no children under 18 could enter the hopsital unless being admitted, so the kiddos would not have been able to visit me or meet Conrad - that would have been so sad.

It was a Tuesday morning and when I woke up I told Jon that I didn't think he should go to work because I felt like it was going to happen that day. We went to the midwife appt I already had set up and she too thought it would happen sometime that day. 

My parents flight was arriving just after three (they had this trip planned for months - what great timing) Just about that time the contractions started (which I had been having on and off for a good month). When the second one come ten minutes later we thought maybe it was happening. Then the next one came five minutes later...then two minutes...then constant... it was happening and fast! My parents called  and they were getting a rental car and driving down from the airport. The rental clerk gave them wrong directions and their 30 minute drive turned into a two hour one.

They made it just in time. Shortly after they arrived I started pushing and in less than ten minutes little Conrad Elliott was born!

It was pretty special for all of us, because my parent had been at all the births of the other kiddos (and Sarah too - however this time she was missed). All the kiddos were so excited to see him right after he was born - it was very heart warming. My Mom and Dad announced the "It's a Boy!" and my Dad cut the cord.

Instantly we thought he looked just like Shortie as a baby. It was also evident that he would have blue eyes too (Shortie's are blue, Bubs are hazel green, and EZ's are brown). We also noticed how long his toes and finges were!

We loved being home! If you can handle the pain or want a natural birth - a home birth is SO much better. It really was awesome to be in the comfort of our home.

So  - for my number thing... his name Conrad Elliott fits right in with the other kiddos names - all being 13 letters. Plus his Birthday fits the numbers too:

Shortie  01-27-05

Bubba   06-22-06

EZ        06-22-08

Conrad  10-27-09

if you add the month and day together as individual numbers they all equal 10... but really the cool thing is having two born on 6-22, and then Shortie and Conrad have 01-27 and 10-27 :o) and none of the births were induced --- Just God's timing

New Computer!!!

Yippy- we bought a new computer (laptop actually) and can finally update our blog and start posting pictures and videos! So exciting! Hard to believe we haven't posted since Sept! We have lots of catching up to do

This and That

Over the last week we had Sarah fly in, then Jenn was here for the weekend from LA, then Ray flew in and surprised Sarah. Jenn flew home last night, Ray goes back to Dallas on Thursday, and Sarah goes back to Austin on Saturday. We aren't going to know what to do without someone visiting :o) My parents will be back out in October for the new little one.

I'm starting to think that there may be a possibility that this little baby could be a girl. Everyone says I'm carrying a basketball which means a boy, but thats what I did with Shortie up until the end and we all know that she wasn't a he. So far I've gained just under 20 pounds, but --- I can start to feel the weight in my face and for breakfast this morning I ate enough for the whole family :o) only time will tell (we are so excited to meet this little one... and to have a new baby for the fall/winter all bundled up... so exciting!)

Jon and I love having a house that we can open for family and friends, and can't wait to have everyone meet the new addition to our family....

Almost time

So although our computer is working better we can't get it to read our memory card for pictures -- hopefully we can figure this out and post some (especially since Auntie RahRah is visiting now!)

Today I had an appointment with our midwife, Peggy. My belly is measuring 33 weeks - shocking because usually my belly measures small - which means 3 weeks to go and we are clear for labor :o) Shortie was born at 34 weeks and both boys at 37 weeks --- wow - we were thinking the end of October - but we might have been wrong. We will see. (the full moon is Oct. 4th - so probably the week after that)

We have made the decision to do a home birth. Yup, we have joined that "weird" group of parents that do that sort of thing. We are really excited about this - and look forward to all the perks of a home birth. So exciting!!!!

I'll be going to the midwife every week just because of going into labor early and because of how quick my labors are. So next Thursday we'll see what the status is :o)

The kiddos are excited for a new little one - they already have nicknames picked out!

long time again

Happy to say our computer is no longer as near death as it was - Thanks Dad :o)

Which means, we can hopefully add some pictures to our blog in the next few days - yippy. (although haven't really taken any since I couldn't download them...shame on me... so for the trip my parents just had I am leaving a big *hint.hint* to them for some pictures)

Our house is finally really starting to feel like our home - all painted and changed and ready to go. The kids are getting big, as is my belly. Hard to believe soon here we will have four little ones four and under! So exciting. Just enjoying life.

Look forward to posting a lot more now that our computer works and I can add pictures!

We Made It!

So we made it to our new home up in the DC Metro area (we finally found a place and its in Manassas VA). We have been without internet for over three weeks - and its so nice to be connected to the world again.

Still amazed that we drove 1597 miles to our new place from Texas - me alone in the car with all three kids, and Jon driving that HUGE penske truck! I seriously got the easy/fun end of that stick --- that truck was no fun!

It was great to see Jon again! And to be a family :o) We look forward to having our house finished so we can really just be the Schroeder's again - (and have people over)

-also- still in shock over Jons weight loss - his wedding ring fell off (and is now lost...somewhere...never to be found by us) this is the same ring he has had since we got married!

hopefully I can upload my pictures to the computer and show everyone our new home :o)

hair cuts

Shortie and Bubba got hair cuts (Zek slept). Shortie wanted it cut off like Mulan and so she cut it all off. Bubbas hair grows so fast and is so thick - so he got it super short! They look so grown up!!!

kiddos in Cali

Wanted to post some pictures of Cali but I'll have to wait until I'm in VA with my computer - here is one of the ones I already put on my parents computer- Baby Brooke with the Schroeders kids. Not sure why all the arms are up - but it was fun :o)

Baby Names

wow - a month since the last post --- haven't been doing it much since being in Texas, but that's about to change! Counting down for heading back East!!! Jon and Jason fly in next Wednesday and then we load the big moving truck with all of our stuff and officially move to the DC metro!!! Crazy! It is with mixed emotions to head out!


My belly popped! I finally put away my favorite jeans and started wearing my favorite maternity ones - so nice when you actually like your maternity clothes.

Here's the break down on names:

So Shortie's real name is Andru Victoria. The nickname Shortie started when we first told my family we were expecting (gave them a card that said congrats, and then inside had the ultrasound with "You're going to be a Grandparent around....") So my Dad said something to the point of "thats just a short little thing" and the name Shortie came about. After she was born it was very hard to start calling her Andru or Andie, so Shortie stuck. (if she was a boy he would have been Ezekiel Timothy, or Ezekiel Dean)

Bubba's name is Elijah Timothy. We hadn't really narrowed it down to one boys name by the time Bubs arrived (we didn't know for any of them what the sex was). When he was just minutes old my Dad went to Shortie (she was only 18 months and just barely talking) and said "Can you say Bubba?" well to our surprise she said it perfectly - so once again my Dad is credited with a nickname (Bubba is my dads nickname on his side of the family). Oh and he would have been Addisen Kate if a girl

Little Zek - well, I've always loved the name Ezekiel. We had decided to use my maiden name of Kelley for the babies middle name regardless if we had a boy or girl. So he became Ezekiel Kelley. We hadn't come up with a nickname but I've always loved Zeke, however I'm not a fan of the spelling. Its a nickname and it comes from E-zek-iel so why not make it a little different and do Zek. (If he had been a girl she would have been Ireland Kelley)

Now this baby. aka Next Baby. We have two first names picked out for a girl, and a definite middle name. As far as the boys name goes - haven't narrowed it down yet, except the middle name. But I can say one of the girls names is a boys name - following the same suit as Andru :o) However I have made it a little tricky with a numbers game - here it is:

Andru = 5 + Victoria = 8 --- total being 13
Elijah = 6 + Timothy = 7 --- total being 13
Ezekiel = 7 + Kelley = 6 --- total being 13

So the new baby is going to be 8 + 5 = 13

this wasn't planned just happened, and now with the middle names we've picked for a boy or a girl are already 5 so why not continue it and make the first names 8 - which the two girl names we like already were - so it fits :o)

the numbers also work for Jons name equally 13, however I dont fit in :o( my extra "n" in Kathrynn makes me at 14 :o)

Friday I am hoping to upload some pictures - so stay tuned!

Baby

This pregnancy is going by fast!
Just shy of five months!

Shortie thinks its a girl. She has said "Gods making a girl in your belly". Last time she was right about Zek being a boy, so we'll see in a few months about this one. I would love another girl and for Shortie to have a sister, but another boy is just as great. I lately have felt like we're having a boy. Either way is a win and huge blessing! Although we only have the girls name picked as of yet.

This baby is an active little one! And man, the cravings have been out there. Lots of mustard, very sharp cheese, anything sour or spicy. Basically anything with loads of flavor. Not big on any meats (although we had cut most out before the pregnancy).

I'm sewing a new crib set and I'm super excited about it (doing the little girl one first because lately I've liked pinks for girls and that is so rare - so I'll jump while I can. Poor Shortie never had pink until recently) But I did see one that was super cute for a little boy, I love the blanket - although it would fit in really well with our basement decor regardless if we use it for a baby :o)

back from California

We had a quick little trip to Cali for Sarah's graduation from USC!!!
Congrats Sarah!

My parents and I drove out, we were up at USC all day Thursday and Friday celebrating. Then Friday night/Saturday morning at 1:00 am Jons flight got in and we were going going going. His flight took off Monday afternoon and we headed back for the long drive home right after.

It was great to go to Cali and visit with dear friends. We spent lots of time with the Macleod family whom we love so much! Had a fun night with Mike Kaess. Enjoyed dessert with the newly engaged Nate (congrats!). Caught up with Justin after his move from DC. Had a 75th b-day party for my Grandma Tommye. Took sometime to catch our breath while at my Uncle Marks and Aunt Julies. Ate great Mexican food, and freshly picked delicious strawberries. Some Rubios with Jons family. Got sunburned. Played in the sand at the beach. Experienced an earthquake, again. Lots of driving and running around. Sat with some 40,000 people for the big USC graduation while Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke. Then enjoyed a more private graduation of the Theater department where Joe Mantegna spoke (from Criminal Minds one of our favorite shows...). Walked all over USC campus with the kiddos watching the girls from Sarah's sorority take pictures. Spent time in our old neighborhood, and chatted with the Bentley family. We learned that Bubba is an even bigger flirt than once thought (too many sorority girls to choose from). Talked with J Bowling about coming out to DC for a visit.... how did we fit so many things in such a short time, and yet still feel like there was more to do...

Had a great trip --- but every time we go, we are so thankful to not live there! We are very thankful to have moved, and are even more so every time we visit --- although we miss our friends - its a great reason to vacation and see each other!

Pictures to come hopefully soon :o)

Easter

Easter Time!!!

The kiddos (and grown-ups) had fun dying tons of Easter eggs some with Star Wars

All ready to go and find the eggs

Spider-Man

Shortie playing with the spider-man costume (a special gift all the way from Australia -- thanks Laura!!!)

She was playing with Great Grandpa -- although his "cheese" face looks more like he was nervous/scared

Little Zek likes the spider-man outfit too

Shortie got stuck in the office chair while being spider-man

water guns

Jon bought the kiddos some water guns and they all had a blast playing in the backyard!

Blum Family

Finally at my parents house and adding photos :o)

So what feels like ages ago - Dave, Vanessa, and Hannah were down in San Antonio and drove up to hang out. We went to UT and walked around just a little and then ate Rudy's (yum!)