MIA

So, considering that I only have one blog follower (shout out to beck beck! my favorite sister!), chances are that the world has not been missing me or my blog posts. Yes, I know, the last blog entry was five months ago.

It just so happens that when you get morning sickness and 1st trimester exhaustion, you are much less motivated to express your creative writing via blog. Napping vs. Blogging? Easy choice.

I know, I know, all of my anonymous blog 'followers' from around the globe are saying "back up, leah... morning sickness??? You're pregnant!?'

YES! ;) It's true. Lil Faszholz is now 19 weeks today, due Aug. 4th. And, judging by the size of my baby bump in this photo, I figured that it was about time to made a public announcement! TheFabFazFam is getting just a lil more fabulous:)

So far, Kyle is getting straight A's in 'daddy prep 101'. He goes to the Dr. with me, rubs my calves after a long day of work, eats whatever the baby is craving, AND (this is the best part) occasionally will say "wow, the baby is getting big!". (This is much preferred to "wow hun, you belly is already getting huge!". :) Semantics. Words are such powerful things!

Reagan is not taking the pregnancy very well. For starters, a month ago, she ate the 10 remaining prenatal vitamins off my bedstand while we were at work. A ploy to steal the baby's nutritional supplementation? Not quite sure. Then, in efforts to protest the coming baby, she has... not once, but twice... found the bag of maternity clothes in the closet and strewn them all over the living room??? This is weird. She completely forgoes the laundry basket clothes and pulls out the target bag with the maternity clothes. I next suspect to find her peeing on the baby basinette that we borrowed from friends. She may need some therapy??

Some days I don't really slow down enough to reflect on the fact that I'm a mom:) But on days like today- when I'm off work, still in my pajamas at 12:49 in the afternoon, eating my peanut butter jelly, and just thinkin about life, I really do get so so so excited!

I asked the baby today what color hair is it gonna have? Kyle was a blonde baby... i had jet black hair. This baby is a lil bit me and a lil bit kyle.... and a LOT bit of a miracle! Fun to think about.

If you are into baby belly photos and deep thoughts about impending parenthood, stay tuned.

Excited about this jouney and just amazed that God has blessed us in the way.... in His timing!

meet squirrley

So, i'm inspired to write a lil something about our pup, Reagan Jules Faszholz.

'Reagan'. Rea-Dog. Rea-ster. Reggie. Reagonator. Rea Rea.

Named after Reagan, TX. A super tiny town on hwy 6. The city where rea took her first 'pit stop' on our road trip home after getting our lil fur ball. Reagan was born in College Station, which means she is an Aggie. One of many reasons that I knew that she would be a great dog:)

She was the 2nd to last pup left in the litter of 6. As Kyle and I entered the utility room to meet the two pups, she came and laid down at Ky's feet. She picked him:)

Breed- Rea is half golden retriever and half lab. The exact breed of my childhood pup, Cody.
Birthday- Rea was born on Thanksgiving Day, 2006. So, it will be her 3rd bday super soon!
Wt- 90 lbs of pure lovin
Favorite form of exercise- swimming in town lake
Obsession- squirrels!

That's right, when you say "reagan, where are the squirrels? Go get em!" She proceeds to visit the trunk of every tree within eyesight, trying to find a furry friend to chase.

Because she is so in love with squirrels, it seemed very appropriate to buy her a pet squirrel. We named her Squirreley. Reagan is convinced that Squirreley is real.
How do we know this?
Squirrley is the first stuffed animal reagan has ever owned which has lasted longer than a week. Typically, she de-stuffs and then rips to shred her 'babies'.
Squirrely has now made it a solid 4 weeks. She squeaks when squeezed, which is a very life like quality. She sleeps with reagan in her bed, where reagan licks her (not rips her) to sleep.

Are we bad parents? Kyle and I sometimes feel like we are deceiving her.... but we have weighed the pros and cons and are gonna wait until she is older to break the news. Similar to Santa, it is the spirit of Squirrley and what she stands for that is most important.

Fancy Schmancy Sea Island

Not sure how to spell Schmancy??
So, at 26.3 years of age, I had my first experience on a private island. Private, like you can't even drive onto the island unless your name is on the security guard's 'privileged guest' list.
Here are a few pics from our Labor Day visit to Sea Island where we celebrated the upcoming marriage of David (ky's cous) and Meggie.
They are such a dynamic couple and Meggie's family was so hospitable to have all the wedding party out to their beautiful beach 'cottage'.... not sure why they call an 8 bedroom mansion a cottage? But in all honesty the southern charm, decor, and hospitality made the term 'cottage' very fitting.
Thanks, David and Meggie for a memorable Labor Day weekend; we are so excited for you!!!
There aren't words for Sea Island... you will just have to google it!

Funny story though-
So, kyle and I are in this really healthy place in our marriage.... I am learning not to nag, but still learning to deal with the consequences when I don't nag.... let me explain.
So, Dave and Meggie email us (weeks in advance) a 'packing list'.
Seeing as I don't go to private islands all that often, I was very grateful to know that there would a Hawaiian themed party and two 'nice dress' occasions (props to Bekah for letting me raid her 'nice dress' wardrobe! and for helping me define what 'nice dress' + beach =).
The list was thorough.... even included 'swim suit'. Clearly, we are going to the beach. My polka dot swimsuit was the first item thrown in my embarrassingly lg suitcase (3 day vacation.... yet my suitcase has clothes for a solid 3 weeks... gotta be wardrobe prepared!)

So, leah, the NON-Nagging wife decides to trust Kyle, the literate adult who is now proficient with laundry (that's another blog topic for another cloudy day!) to pack for himself.

I knew trouble was brewing when it came time to head to the airport and all he is carrying is a duffel bag the size of 24 pack of diet coke. Since I'm really wonderful wife, my first thought is "Wow, I really over packed. My poor husband has to lug this huge suitcase around."
Of course in the back of my mind I am wondering what is stuffed into that elusive duffel bag.
"Remember Mary Poppins carpet bag... sometimes bags are deceiving!" that is what my godly non-nagging wife self is thinking.
"Oh my gosh, he probably didn't even pack any clean underwear." That is what my sinful nagging wife self is thinking.

Upside #1: non-nagging godly wife thoughts won!! Gold Star on the 'non nagging' score card!!
Downside #1: a husband who goes to an five star resort without packing one pair of dress pants
Downside #2: a husband who goes to a private beach cottage without backing a swimsuit
Upside #2: He did remember clean underwear:)

Thank you, David and Meggie, for the very thorough packing list. Next time, I promise to nag so that Kyle actually reads it:)

Toddster Came For a Visit

Here's a perplexing question for you- i'd love your input...
When your 12 yr old brother comes for a four day visit, do you make him take a shower?

Just so you have all the info....
- he did wear his 'old spice' deodorant daily
- we did go to the pool on day 3
So, am I a bad sister for not insisting that he shower?
I figure, he's 12, right. His personal hygiene is something he needs to start taking ownership of. I'm gonna wash the sheets, regardless. He is wearing old spice? We are in 'stage 2' water conservation here in Austin.
It was a dilemma, but I sent him home today, without ever making him take a shower.....
Don't guess i'm ready for the parenting gig, huh?

Some highlights from our week together-
~ todd's first time to fly on an airplane. he loved it.
~ meals ordered 'todd's way'= mac n chesse, pizza, steak, and sausage biscuits. kyle was in heaven. We did incorporate some grapes and green beans somewhere in there for nutritional value.
~ GI Joe movie (kyle chaperoned, i slept.)
~ 7 hrs at an arcade (Austin Park and Pizza= aracade, laser tag, mini golf, race cars... see photo!)

We had a blast! Miss ya, toddy woddy.

do i say thanks enough?

"Thanks!"
simple word....

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phillipians 4:6

I get it... say thanks for the hard stuff, in the midst of the hard stuff..... praying w/o worry.
I got the praying part down.... but I can assure you that I don't say thanks enough.

so, there have been two things on my ky and i's 'please, Lord' list.
1- Lord, please provide a job for Kyle... not just any job, but a job that really utilizes His interests/talents. A job where He can make an impact for Your kingdom
2- Lord, please help me survive 'night shift season' w/ a good attitude and stamina. Make day shift come quickly.

Monday, Aug 10th.... Kyle is officially offered a full time position at UBS as 'branch technology analyst'.
Do I understand what that title means? Of course not.... what I do understand is that he's expertise w/ technology is about to collide w/ his interest in finance..... a support role.... a salaried role. Of all the jobs he applied for (and trust me, there were more that 100) this job is a very unique fit specific to his background! THANKS, GOD!

Thursday, Aug 13th.... As Leah crawls in bed at 3am, she gets a text from Mollie (her bff at work) saying.... 'Leah, guess what!!".
It was either a. mollie got engaged b. our favorite patient was getting discharged home or c. we were switching to day shift, together! It was C!:) Starting in September, me and Mollie both are moving to days!! No more surviving on 3 hrs of sleep.... no more going 4 nights w/o snuggling w/ the honey.... no more scheduling my life around when I'm gonna sleep!! THANKS, GOD!

Needless to say, it has been a really big week for the fabFAZfam! Join us in saying 'thanks'.

God doesn't give us what we want. He gives us what we need....
As i look back on the last 10 months of night shift and the last 9 months of ky's unemployment, I'm still figuring out what we learned from this season (hindsight teaches loudly- i'll keep ya posted.).
It was hard. Not just job stuff, but other life stuff too.... hardest year of my life. I didn't always respond w/ the greatest attitude.... or the most steadfast of faith, but I know that for the months and years to come, I'll look back on this season and the next word off my tongue will be THANKS!"

go cubbies

Summer vacation 2009 was quite the adventure......
road trip to chicago w/ my parents and grandparents and brother todd! (yes, 7 people in a suburban.)
Kyle got to experience first hand the excitement of a Deetjen Road Trip.
These road trips are characterized by super fast and also very infrequent pit stops. Dad believes in setting mileage records.
Not once, but twice.... Kyle was accidentally left at the gas station. I'm being serious. We turned the suburban around twice b/c I had to inform dad that Kyle was left behind. These really are lightning fast pit stops.
while in chicago we:
- stayed downtown at hotel monoco!
- ate some deep dish pizza
- shopped the magnificient mile
- went to a cubbies game at wrigley field
- spent all day saturday at the 'deetjen family reunion'... over 100 people that are my relatives, most of whom i had never met! but we all have the same great great grandfather. So much in common!

after chicago, the road trip continued south to table rock lake! kyle really did improve on his pit stop speed. At the lake, we met up w/ beck/greg/tomtom!
We wakeboarded, ate a ton, saw an incredible lightning storm, and played lots of guitar hero!

Fabulous trip! Fabulous family!

sleepless nights

once again..... teeth brushed, face washed, nighty on, tucked in...... and wide awake.

things to do to try and fall asleep-
1. read- check. One chapter of 'Knowing God' by Dr. JI Packer has been thoughtfully read, yet not fully digested. Tonight's chapter 'God Only Wise' was actually exactly what I needed to hear. convicting.
2. try to wake up husband- check. This may seem cruel. But what you may not understand is that my husband is a pro at sleep talking. And it takes little effort at all to get a few hilarious comments from him. Tonight's discussion was targeted towards Best Buy Computers.... and how they haven't changed in 5 years since he worked there in the year 5000. Deep musings of a sleep talking genius, huh.
3. make some "sleepy time" herbal tea and blog- check.

So, I guess I'll blog on a quote from Dr. Packer. (did ya know that JI stands for James Innell?)
'Perhaps His purpose [in our perplexing trials] is simply to draw us closer to Himself in conscious communion with Him; for it is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest when the cross is heaviest. (pg. 97).

As I admit that this past year has been in many ways been a perplexing trial, I also have to admit that, to be honest, I haven't clung to Christ. I believe what Dr. Packer so eloquently reminded me of tonight. I really do believe it. Why then has fellowship not been vivid and sweet? Why do I really feel like my joy has been taken? Probably because the burdens of these perplexing trials have been, for the most part, carried on my own independent shoulders. But the good news is that independence eventually leads to exhaustion. Exhaustion reveals weakness. Weakness demands drawing near...... which fosters vivid, sweet, and joyful fellowship with the God who was in the midst of the trail all along.

i guess sleepless nights aren't too bad when you get to, with peace and quiet, think on deep truths.... and when you can glean wisdom about Best Buy computers from your honey!

goodnight.