Hey all-
Here is the latest.
Andrea is on her way to take her 3rd day of comprehensive exams for her Phd. It appears that the first two days went ok. We are all excited the the end is in sight. She has been working so hard it will be nice for her to have this behind her.
Noah has been battling a cold and is missing his second day of school today for this week. He went last week for his photo shoot for the agency. Things are going well there. We hope to hear more from them soon.
Gabe is adjusting to having his teacher again. Last week was the last week for his student teacher. He really enjoyed having her and misses her.
Jeremy continues to plug along with normal stuff. His mother is still in the hospital. She is off the dialysis machine and it appears her kidneys are gaining function daily. Let's pray for a speedy recovery!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Update on Election Day
Hope you voted today! If not- get out and do it!
We spent the weekend hospital hopping. With both mothers in the hospital as well as a sister at one point, we were busy. We are happy o say that Jeremy's mom got out and is home. Andrea's mother was moved out of ICU to a regular room. She is scheduled to get out today. Andy continues to do pretty well too.
We spent Halloween in Amana. We got to trick-or-treat with good friends that we used to go with when we lived there. We also spent part of the evening at the Austin house. The fire was great and the moose chili was even better! It was the highlight of our trip back- that and gas being $2.05!
We are working on getting back into the routine. The past few weeks have been discombobulating. Here is the the future being less crazy!
We spent the weekend hospital hopping. With both mothers in the hospital as well as a sister at one point, we were busy. We are happy o say that Jeremy's mom got out and is home. Andrea's mother was moved out of ICU to a regular room. She is scheduled to get out today. Andy continues to do pretty well too.
We spent Halloween in Amana. We got to trick-or-treat with good friends that we used to go with when we lived there. We also spent part of the evening at the Austin house. The fire was great and the moose chili was even better! It was the highlight of our trip back- that and gas being $2.05!
We are working on getting back into the routine. The past few weeks have been discombobulating. Here is the the future being less crazy!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Crazy weeks-
Ok- if you have checked here at all, you may have noticed that we have not been updating this as often as we would like. Here is the latest scoop, but know that it isn't cheery.
We recently found out that a close family member was diagnosed with and aggressive form of leukemia. After two rounds of chemo, he did not respond to it the way they would have liked. We are trying to support him and his family in this sad time.
Andrea has postponed her comprehensive exams for a couple of weeks so that she can be there for the family. She is in Dubuque now.
Jeremy has had a possible strike looming over his head at work. He has been working without a contract since July 1st and negotiations were tenuous to say the least. The union and Admin. have reached a tentative agreement that will be voted on tomorrow (Sunday). The school board will have to also accept if it is ratified. In addition to that, his mom has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now with cellulitus.
Noah and Gabe are enjoying school and the fall weather. Jeremy took them to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua tonight (and is wondering why the only movies he sees in the theater have talking animals) and they really enjoyed it.
That is the scoop for now. We will sincerely try to update more frequently.
We recently found out that a close family member was diagnosed with and aggressive form of leukemia. After two rounds of chemo, he did not respond to it the way they would have liked. We are trying to support him and his family in this sad time.
Andrea has postponed her comprehensive exams for a couple of weeks so that she can be there for the family. She is in Dubuque now.
Jeremy has had a possible strike looming over his head at work. He has been working without a contract since July 1st and negotiations were tenuous to say the least. The union and Admin. have reached a tentative agreement that will be voted on tomorrow (Sunday). The school board will have to also accept if it is ratified. In addition to that, his mom has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now with cellulitus.
Noah and Gabe are enjoying school and the fall weather. Jeremy took them to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua tonight (and is wondering why the only movies he sees in the theater have talking animals) and they really enjoyed it.
That is the scoop for now. We will sincerely try to update more frequently.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
October 14th Post
Sorry that we haven't been updating more than this. There has been a lot going on lately. Here is what we have been up to.
We went back to Iowa for Oktoberfest a couple of weeks ago. It was really great to get to see friends that we don't get to visit with often enough. The boys had fun spending quality time with the Hoppes. They also hung out with grandpa and grandma.
Gabe's biggest "treasure" was finding tons of fuzzy wuzzy caterpillars. You should look at his blog (send us an email if you want to be added). He really has had fun with it the past week and finally decided to let it go. Such a caring kid!
Noah had his modelling orientation last week. He now has an agent. Isn't that a weird thought? So, we are hoping that he will get some ground level advertisement stuff in the Chicago region. Should be interesting! He also is still doing the Junior Naturalist Program at Red Oak. Last week they went to the prairie and collect grass seed. He recognized almost all of the types of grasses there. I wish I had opportunities like that when I was a kid!
Andrea continues to study, and has a pretty good handle on things. Comprehensive Exams are about a week away. I still don't know how she does it. She is amazing!
My back is feeling some better. I am not taking Vicadin now anymore. The exercises seem to be helping. We are still working without a contract and our union has filed the necessary paperwork to strike if need be. No one wants that to happen. We have two more mediation sessions this week. Hopefully they are fruitful.
Please keep us in your prayers. We have some family medical issues looming (two brother-in-laws and my mom) and could use all the help we can get with good thoughts and prayers.
We went back to Iowa for Oktoberfest a couple of weeks ago. It was really great to get to see friends that we don't get to visit with often enough. The boys had fun spending quality time with the Hoppes. They also hung out with grandpa and grandma.
Gabe's biggest "treasure" was finding tons of fuzzy wuzzy caterpillars. You should look at his blog (send us an email if you want to be added). He really has had fun with it the past week and finally decided to let it go. Such a caring kid!
Noah had his modelling orientation last week. He now has an agent. Isn't that a weird thought? So, we are hoping that he will get some ground level advertisement stuff in the Chicago region. Should be interesting! He also is still doing the Junior Naturalist Program at Red Oak. Last week they went to the prairie and collect grass seed. He recognized almost all of the types of grasses there. I wish I had opportunities like that when I was a kid!
Andrea continues to study, and has a pretty good handle on things. Comprehensive Exams are about a week away. I still don't know how she does it. She is amazing!
My back is feeling some better. I am not taking Vicadin now anymore. The exercises seem to be helping. We are still working without a contract and our union has filed the necessary paperwork to strike if need be. No one wants that to happen. We have two more mediation sessions this week. Hopefully they are fruitful.
Please keep us in your prayers. We have some family medical issues looming (two brother-in-laws and my mom) and could use all the help we can get with good thoughts and prayers.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 1st Update
Here is the latest news from the Berger Family-
We found out this week that Noah was selected for a modeling agency opportunity. Last Saturday went to an audition for his age group. He had to say some lines on a TV set (with bright lights and all) and was also interviewed. Tuesday we found out that he was selected and that we have an orientation next Wednesday. We are all really excited about it!
Gabe is turning into quite a reading machine. We read for at least 20 minutes a night. He is definitely using his large vocabulary to his advantage in this area. He continues to try to save up for a Matchbox set that he really wants as well.
Jeremy's back is still bothering him. He is now taking Vicadin as well as the core exercises that he was given by the doctor. We are keeping close tabs on things at his job, as they have been working without a contract since July. Negotiations are still underway, but things are quickly moving toward critical mass.
Andrea is studying her head off. Just 2.5 weeks until comps, so she uses every waking second to work. Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.
We will be coming back for Oktoberfest this weekend. We plan on going out on Friday evening, so we hope to see the many friends that we don't get a chance to talk with often.
We hope that everything is well with you!
We found out this week that Noah was selected for a modeling agency opportunity. Last Saturday went to an audition for his age group. He had to say some lines on a TV set (with bright lights and all) and was also interviewed. Tuesday we found out that he was selected and that we have an orientation next Wednesday. We are all really excited about it!
Gabe is turning into quite a reading machine. We read for at least 20 minutes a night. He is definitely using his large vocabulary to his advantage in this area. He continues to try to save up for a Matchbox set that he really wants as well.
Jeremy's back is still bothering him. He is now taking Vicadin as well as the core exercises that he was given by the doctor. We are keeping close tabs on things at his job, as they have been working without a contract since July. Negotiations are still underway, but things are quickly moving toward critical mass.
Andrea is studying her head off. Just 2.5 weeks until comps, so she uses every waking second to work. Please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.
We will be coming back for Oktoberfest this weekend. We plan on going out on Friday evening, so we hope to see the many friends that we don't get a chance to talk with often.
We hope that everything is well with you!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Update 9/22/08
Welcome back-
We had some milestones over the weekend that we thought we would share. Noah has a new loft bed in his room- a real one like back in the dorm days... It was hand-crafted by a famous theologian- John McCarthy of Loyola University. We went into the city on Saturday and picked it up. Noah is very excited about having a rearranged room and a lot of extra floor space.
Gabe- who is now seven, lost his first tooth- teeth actually. On Friday, while drying his hair, he bit the towel and two on the bottom center that were a little loose become REALLY loose. He played with them all day Saturday. He would say things like "My teeth are tangled" and blow through them making them go forward almost like a drawbridge. He took great delight in grossing us out all day. They fell out together on Saturday night. He only put one under his pillow though. He wanted to keep one as a memento.
Andrea is studying very hard for comps. She doesn't like to talk about it much. In fact, we can only mention the day after the current day in conversation. Nothing like "in a couple of weeks..." or "At the end of October...". Andrea also coordinated the baptisms at church for the weekend.
Jeremy spent the weekend setting up the loft bed and reorganizing the boy bedrooms.
We hope all is well with you. Please check back for more frequent updates in the future!
We had some milestones over the weekend that we thought we would share. Noah has a new loft bed in his room- a real one like back in the dorm days... It was hand-crafted by a famous theologian- John McCarthy of Loyola University. We went into the city on Saturday and picked it up. Noah is very excited about having a rearranged room and a lot of extra floor space.
Gabe- who is now seven, lost his first tooth- teeth actually. On Friday, while drying his hair, he bit the towel and two on the bottom center that were a little loose become REALLY loose. He played with them all day Saturday. He would say things like "My teeth are tangled" and blow through them making them go forward almost like a drawbridge. He took great delight in grossing us out all day. They fell out together on Saturday night. He only put one under his pillow though. He wanted to keep one as a memento.
Andrea is studying very hard for comps. She doesn't like to talk about it much. In fact, we can only mention the day after the current day in conversation. Nothing like "in a couple of weeks..." or "At the end of October...". Andrea also coordinated the baptisms at church for the weekend.
Jeremy spent the weekend setting up the loft bed and reorganizing the boy bedrooms.
We hope all is well with you. Please check back for more frequent updates in the future!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
First blog, latest update!
We are all getting settled into our new schoolyear routine! Jeremy and the boys are now in their third week of school already and getting used to homework and getting to bed EARLY!
The boys are loving second and fourth grade. Noah is finding out that there is way more homework in fourth grade than third, and there is much more responsibility. He is happy to be back at school and seeing some of his school friends again. He is going to be doing some very cool things this year in school, in science especially, and going on some wicked field trips! He will have his first all-day field trip (starts early and goes till late evening on a tour bus) to Springfield later in the year. That is really grown up.
Gabe, too, is getting into the second grade groove. He is already cracking his teachers and fellow students up! He is trying to find the quickest way to get that homework done! He, like Noah, reads at least 20 minutes every night and records it himself on his reading log. The greatest thing about second grade, as everyone knows, is learning cursive! He really, really looks forward to getting his "cursive license" later this year.
Jeremy is back to school too, but is really most excited about his new, front flower bed. It contains exclusively native plants. Why, you ask, is that so great? Just ask him! Wow. He will tell you all kinds of reasons! But in any case, we're looking good on the outside. We'll post the pic. He has worked very hard on it and we are in excellent shape for the winter. That should be about it for the yard work. Uh huh. That was a joke!
Andrea is busy. She doesn't want to talk about it. Ask her in November maybe.
Watch for links to our individual pages! We will soon each have our own little insights, pictures, and personal favorites to share and enrich your life. We look forward to your feedback!
The boys are loving second and fourth grade. Noah is finding out that there is way more homework in fourth grade than third, and there is much more responsibility. He is happy to be back at school and seeing some of his school friends again. He is going to be doing some very cool things this year in school, in science especially, and going on some wicked field trips! He will have his first all-day field trip (starts early and goes till late evening on a tour bus) to Springfield later in the year. That is really grown up.
Gabe, too, is getting into the second grade groove. He is already cracking his teachers and fellow students up! He is trying to find the quickest way to get that homework done! He, like Noah, reads at least 20 minutes every night and records it himself on his reading log. The greatest thing about second grade, as everyone knows, is learning cursive! He really, really looks forward to getting his "cursive license" later this year.
Jeremy is back to school too, but is really most excited about his new, front flower bed. It contains exclusively native plants. Why, you ask, is that so great? Just ask him! Wow. He will tell you all kinds of reasons! But in any case, we're looking good on the outside. We'll post the pic. He has worked very hard on it and we are in excellent shape for the winter. That should be about it for the yard work. Uh huh. That was a joke!
Andrea is busy. She doesn't want to talk about it. Ask her in November maybe.
Watch for links to our individual pages! We will soon each have our own little insights, pictures, and personal favorites to share and enrich your life. We look forward to your feedback!
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