As the Kramer Family Grows

Four Years Ago

2010-10-30T08:01:00.004-04:00

Four years ago today, Gersel Marina Kramer became Isabella Gersel Kramer when her Ohio adoption was finalized. Four years! I am tearing right now.

One Year Ago Today

2010-01-06T08:19:00.001-05:00

One year ago today we lost a dear family member. We still talk about her and cry for her. We still long to cuddle with her and stroke her soft fur. We will never forget.

Below is the post from last year and the video we made to share with our friends and family. Hug your pets today!

Dear Kalli,
I didn't tell you enough how much I love you. I didn't tell you enough how sitting with you calmed me. I didn't tell you how you were my first baby and I loved you like you were my very own. I'm sorry I didn't tell you these things but I hope you knew them.

Petting your head and back. Sloppy kisses. Those deep, dark brown eyes. Cuddling on the couch. Laying in bed. I'll miss you. We'll all miss you.

You lived a full life in your 10 years with us. You went on vacations, had doggy sleep-overs, woodsy walks and snacks galore. You were loved by many and missed by more.

We will always cherish our time with you, Buddha. We'll never forget!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Welcome 2010!

2010-01-01T21:30:00.002-05:00

So many things happen in the course of a year, some great and some sad. 2009 was no different. I won't bore everyone with a rehash of the Kramers' 2009, but I wanted to take a moment as the first day of 2010 draws to a close to reflect on these now memories. And while time continues on, I will carry these memories forward.

Happy New Year!

Here's to a wonderfully blessed 2010!
Kevin, Jennifer and Isabella Kramer

Christmas 2009

2009-12-28T16:19:00.001-05:00

Hope you enjoy watching us celebrate Christmas 2009!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T09:55:00.002-05:00

2009-11-26T09:19:00.002-05:00

Today I am thankful for my blessed life! Wishing everyone, near and far, a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-11T16:38:00.004-05:00

I finally downloaded pictures from my camera from Halloween. We got a lot of use out of Isabella's Dalmatian costume this year. We went trick-or-treating at out local shopping plaza; went to Boo at the Cleveland Zoo with other Guattots, Grandma Mary, Papa Steve and Aunt Julie; visited neighbors at our place with the Dowlers; and went trick-or-treating with her cousins at Grandma Sue's and Papa Al's house. We painted pumpkins, passed out treats at the Harvest Party at school and visited a pumpkin patch with Isabella's preschool class.

Yes, we are alive

2009-09-27T14:39:00.003-04:00

With everyone on Facebook, I sometimes feel that the blog is outdated. By the time I think to write a blog post, I've already spilled the news on Facebook or Twitter. But I know I want to keep the blog; I just don't know what it's purpose will be as I move forward.

That said, for those who may not be on Facebook or Twitter, I'm recovering from, yes another, back surgery. Isabella and I are staying with my parents while I'm in therapy because our house has too many stairs. I'm working from home since I have such a flexible job with the university. In fact, everyone at the office has been so accommodating. I'm truly blessed to work there.

Isabella started her second year of preschool a few weeks ago and loves it. She will begin bible school next weekend. She's still active in gymnastics and swimming, and we're looking for another sport to try this winter.

If you need to catch up with us between blog posts, visit me on Facebook - Jennifer Gaylord Kramer. Thanks for checking in!

Animal Kingdom

2009-08-09T14:55:00.000-04:00

Grab some popcorn!

Animal Kingdom (July 2009)

Vaction Day #2 - Magic Kingdom

2009-08-01T11:16:00.002-04:00

We got to go on rides, meet characters and princesses, see parades and play in the rain. Then we had fun swimming and eating dinner and ice cream with family in Florida. This is a day I wish we could repeat!

Magic Kingdom (July 2009)

Day One - Downtown Disney

2009-07-25T09:27:00.007-04:00

The day we flew to Florida we visited Downtown Disney after checking in at the resort.

Getting in the plane in Akron

Waiting for take off
Waiting for the bus to pick us up in Orlando

Checking in. Bella got the royal treatment since we were there to celebrate her birthday.

Bella wanted to stay at the Dalmatian Hotel. Here's Perdita guarding our building.
Mickey left her his mark on her bed.
Lucky was outside our building.

Waiting to be seated at the Rainforest Cafe.Picture with Dad

The princesses are in paradise.

Lego Dalmatian

Riding the Mery-go-Round

Safe and Sound

2009-07-19T09:18:00.001-04:00

We're home after a nearly two week trip to Florida. More than 1,000 pics to upload, categorize and label. So check back in a few days for highlights from our trip.

Swimming Lessons

2009-07-01T13:51:00.003-04:00

Isabella is enjoying her newest level of swimming lessons. Maybe it's because she's one-on-one with the instructor. Instead of canceling the class after only Isabella enrolled, the center allowed her to work solo with the teacher. She progressed much quicker with the undivided attention.

Guatemala 900 Media Coverage

2009-06-19T10:53:00.002-04:00

Parents protest delays in adopting Guatemalan kids - Americas - MiamiHerald.com
Source: www.miamiherald.com
When Rhonda Felgenhauer and her husband Phil decided to adopt a second baby in Guatemala, she never thought the process would take her to Washington, D.C. to protest what has became a torturous and expensive ordeal of securing the legal rights to their daughter, Julia.

Parents Fight to Have Children Freed From Guatemalan Orphanages - washingtonpost.com
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
More than a year and a half after Paul Kvinda and his wife began what they expected would be a seven-month process to adopt a newborn girl from Guatemala, little Marcela and an estimated 700 other children are languishing in orphanages there as their cases wend through a maze of legal hurdles and...

Guatemala 900 Campaign

2009-06-17T11:17:00.002-04:00

Take Notice! The march is today!

The Guatemala 900 Campaign is a SERIES OF ACTIONS that calls attention to the stagnation of the approximately 900 remaining Guatemalan adoptions that were begun before 2008. The Guatemala 900 Campaign asks that the US and Guatemalan governments take immediate steps to deliver timely due process and transparency for the children who wait to join their future families. It is imperative that these cases do not languish while children wait in limbo, losing their childhood one day, month, and year at a time...... We strive to take steps that will ensure all grandfathered cases will be processed to completion by January 31, 2010.

On January 1, 2008, adoptions in Guatemala abruptly changed from a privately run system to a government run entity. The 5000 adoptions that were “in process” at the time were “grandfathered” to finish under the laws in which they began. The childrens’ cases were promised to be expeditiously processed in a timely and reasonable manner, but now almost a year and a half later approximately 900 children are still waiting to join their families.

The Guatemala 900 campaign begins with the “Guatemala 900 March” on June 17 in Washington, DC. Later today there will be a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Guatemalan Embassy in which we will light 900 candles as a voice for the waiting children.

Family friends of a Guatemalan princess are representing us today at the march. Pray for the DiGirolamos and for the 900 children waiting to unite with their forever families.

Her Birthday Day

2009-06-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

With so much going on, I haven't posted pics from Isabella's actual birthday day! Here's a short video of the family at dinner, then home for gifts.

Isabella's Birthday 6/8/09

Snow in June?

2009-06-10T08:06:00.003-04:00

I'm so tired of cottonwood. Our neighbor to the back has a huge cottonwood tree that "molts" the first few weeks of June every year. They aren't bothered by it, but Isabella and I are miserable from itchy, watery eyes and sneezing.

Zoo Weekend

2009-06-09T10:53:00.001-04:00

We had an extended fun, but exhausting, 4th birthday weekend for Isabella. We visited both the Akron and Cleveland Zoos. Special thanks to the Hilkers for joining us at Akron and to Grandmas Mary and Sue who came along to Cleveland. Isabella had a blast!

Zoo Trips Weekend June 2009

The Big Princess Party

2009-06-07T20:31:00.005-04:00

Our Guatemalan Princess

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts for Isabella! All the kids seemed to enjoy the day. I can't believe Isabella turns four tomorrow :-(

Isabella's 4th B-day Party 6/6/09

The Princess and the Queen

Happy birthday, Kevin

2009-05-27T07:53:00.001-04:00

Kevin turns 33 today! Happy birthday, honey!

We celebrated with his family on Sunday. Watch as he plays with all his girls.

Kevin's Birthday 5/27/09

A Day at the Akron Zoo

2009-05-24T12:16:00.001-04:00

We are taking advantage of a long weekend of beautiful weather starting with a day at the Akron Zoo. Enjoy!

A Day at the Akron Zoo 5/24/09

More haircut pics

2009-05-17T15:46:00.003-04:00

First Haircut

2009-05-16T20:34:00.004-04:00

Can you believe that Isabella almost made it to her fourth birthday without a haircut?! She was terrified, but after months of pep talks, she wanted to have it done. Doesn't she look so scared? (Our family hair stylist, Amy, did the honors. She been cutting my hair for more than 15 years.) She got a sucker and a special stuffed animal as a prize. Mom got a certificate with clippings, too.

Sleepy kid

2009-05-14T07:38:00.002-04:00

Since Grandma Mary and Papa Steve are vacationing in North Carolina, Isabella has been with a family friend during the day. Monday was her first day with Miss Tracy, and it did not go well. I picked her up by 2 p.m. and took her to the office with me. By 3 p.m....

Things with Miss Tracy went much better Tuesday. We'll see how today goes!

Her Last Day

2009-05-05T14:05:00.005-04:00

I couldn't wait to post these pics even though I have many others that need posted first.

Isabella had her last day of preschool today. Even though she will attend again next year, it makes me sad that she's old enough to have completed one full year.

Kevin and I (and Grandma Mary since she was taking Isabella home) visited the class for "Days of a Preschooler." Miss Anna and Miss Cheryl created a 24 minute video of the year in pictures set to kids' music. Kevin and I took punch and cupcakes for everyone to snack on during the show.

The kids ran into the room so proud and presented the moms with handmade hugs and necklaces before joining us for the show.

Here a few pics from the day. I have a copy of the video but I'm sure no one wants to watch a 24 minutes video of preschoolers. (If you don, I can pop popcorn and we can watch it anytime.)

Kayla and Isabella

Miss Anna and Isabella

Favorite Easter Shots

2009-04-27T09:12:00.003-04:00

Easter weekend was busy. We spent Saturday with Grandma Mary, Papa Steve and Aunt Julie (dogs, too) and Sunday with the whole Kramer/Cantwell-clan. Lots of candy and presents and egg hunts as we celebrated our Lord.

Easter 2009 4/27/09

Bella and her computer

2009-04-12T18:32:00.001-04:00

Yep! That's right. This three year old has her own computer thanks to Aunt Julie, Uncle Chris and Grandma and Papa Kramer. The Kramers got Isabella this great Fisher Price learning system that hooks to a computer. Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris got a new computer so they gave Isabella the older HP which works perfectly for her. She can turn it on and start up her programs all on her own. (We disconnected our wireless Internet from the system :-). She even operates the mouse on her own. (I don't think my family even owned a computer when I was her age, let alone let me use it.)

Guat Easter Bunny Breakfast

2009-03-29T17:25:00.006-04:00

Getting together with our Guat adoption playgroup is one of my favorite things to do. Yesterday some of us gathered to celebrate Easter with the Big Bunny himself at a private breakfast and Easter egg hunt at Quail Hollow State Park in Hartville.

The kids (and the parents) had a nice time playing and running (the parents talked and ran after little ones.) in the grassy fields during a sunny outing after our breakfast of french toast sticks and sausage.

Forever Family Day - 3 years ago...

2009-03-21T10:15:00.003-04:00

The emotions I feel today are just as strong as those just three years ago when I first got to hold my Isabella. The emotions are different. Three years ago I was anxious, nervous and excited. Today, as I remember that day (like it was yesterday), I am full of love.

Isabella has changed our lives in every way - for the better. She's filled my heart that so longed to be her mother. She makes me proud each and every day whether it's by saying "Sure, mommy" or by peddling her bike the right way.

We have a special day planned today. We will visit the zoo, Isabella's favorite thing to do, with Aunt Julie. We will have a special dinner with all the grandparents at "Bob Heavens," Isabella's favorite restaurant. We will read special books about adoption and Guatemala. And we will hug her extra hard today as we celebrate our third Forever Family Day!

Congrats to the Millers, too, who we will think about today as they, too, celebrate three years with their Jakob! We may have met in line at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, but you will be our special friends forever!

Hodgepodge

2009-03-14T11:11:00.004-04:00

I still have pics from before Christmas to post. So this post is dedicated to all those people who have waited so patiently for these. This will catch us up to Dec. 23.

Christmas Celebration with the Cantwell Clan

Preschool Christmas Party

Do I need to post?

2009-03-11T15:13:00.002-04:00

Wow! I have been a bad blogger! We've been laying pretty low because we have continued to pass around this nasty cold. We did visit with Aunt Melissa, Uncle Tim and Cousin Matthew last weekend, though. (Yes, I have pics, but they're not downloaded yet.)

This time change is kicking my butt this year. Not sure why but I can not adjust. I'm SO tired.

So enough of my whining. Wishing my readers well and hoping you will visit again soon - I promise pics and a new post!

Go Kent State

2009-03-02T10:52:00.003-05:00

Now that I'm back to work, most of our life deals with Kent State. Last weekend, I hosted an event for the Friends of JMC (School of Journalism and Mass Communication) in the MAC Center's President's Loge for the men's basketball bracket buster game. This picture tells the story of how the event went (and we won!).

New Pictures

2009-02-22T15:13:00.002-05:00

As promised, here are the family pictures from our winter photo shoot.

New Family Pictures

2009-02-12T20:01:00.002-05:00

Julie and I treated my parents to family pictures for Christmas. It's the first time we've had famiy pictures taken in more than 15 years. I'll share some of the best with you soon, but take a look at the Kramer family as a teaser!

Pluggin' Along

2009-02-06T10:30:00.002-05:00

Things are somewhat back to normal at the Kramer house. I went back to work this week after two weeks off. I'm still fighting a nasty UTI but doing better.

Isabella is doing really well. I had my first teacher's conference with Miss Anna. We discussed Isabella's progress, her strengths and weaknesses. Overall, she's listening in class, learning the skills and having fun with her friends. She was approved to move to the next pre-school level in the fall.

Kevin is busy with work and helping with Isabella. I'm taking a class this semester to sit for my accreditation test so he's watching Isabella those nights.

We are adjusting to a one dog house, giving Molly a lot of extra attention. Isabella is determined to convince us to get her a "real dalmatian puppy" but that is not going to happen.

Thanks for checking in. I hope to post pics soon!

Hangin' in

2009-01-28T09:04:00.003-05:00

Well I'm out of the hospital, thank goodness! This is the third January in a row that I ended up in the hospital (2007 - back surgery, 2008-pneumonia/influenza, 2009-stomach virus/UTI/kidney infection). Maybe I can skip January 2010...

I'm still not released to go back to work. I think maybe Monday I can venture back in. The doctors are being overly cautious with me because I'm so prone to extended illnesses. Smart move. Plus, I can work from home a lot so I'm not so far behind at the office. Win-win for everyone.

Stay healthy and stay warm! (It's snowing like crazy here!)

Sickness all around

2009-01-23T09:51:00.003-05:00

No one wants to stop by the Kramer house! Isabella and I have been really sick this week.

Isabella was really lethargic Monday, sleeping on and off most of the day, not eating anything. She attempted mac 'n cheese for dinner and it came right back up. This was the first time she's ever thrown up so she was pretty scared. It made for a long night of high fevers and not so fun baths to clean her up. I slept in her room with her and stayed with her Tuesday. By Wednesday morning she was well enough to go to grandma's even though she still had no appetite.

By late Tuesday, I was starting to feel it, but I went to work the next day. Not smart. By 1 p.m. I was running to the bathroom. I even had to pull over on the expressway to throw up. Not fun!

I couldn't keep anything down, not even sips of water. Kevin took me to the ER around 9:30 p.m. after my doctor said to go. Fluids, Catscan, pain and nausea meds. Diagnosis - Really bad viral bug and UTI. Not fun. So it's back to the doctor's today.

Hope you all stay clear of this nasty bug!

What happened to Kalli?

2009-01-16T13:58:00.003-05:00

I finally can right about it, I think. It's still so hard knowing she's gone. I have an especially hard time each night when I climb into bed. Kalli and Molly were my bed-warmers and now Kalli is missing. I know the feeling of loss will lessen as time goes by, but it's difficult just the same.

So what happened is the question I get at least once each day. Here's the story:
The last week of November Kalli had a bad smell in her mouth. I brushed it off because dog's smell sometimes. I thought she may had eaten something or had a virus; nothing else was wrong so I dismissed the smell.

Over the next for weeks, the smell didn't subside. She started to drool a lot more. She ate and played and was...normal except she seemed to have lost weight.

Finally, 10 days before Christmas her drool became really thick and had a pinkish tint. I took her to the vet the next morning.

She had lost 12 pounds in about eight weeks. She had thick drool which I found out had blood mixed in it. Her glands were really swollen and she had developed lumps throughout her body. Kalli wouldn't open her mouth for the vet, but she suspected Malignant Melanoma. To confirm the diagnosis the vet requested anesthetic.

The next day Kalli was put under and the vet called to inform me that she removed a racquetball sized tumor from the back of Kalli's throat. The tumor was most likely Malignant Melanoma, and the x-rays showed that Kalli had growths in her lungs. The vet suspected the cancer had metastasized. To confirm the diagnosis, lab work was completed.

A few days before Christmas, the vet confirmed her worst case scenario. Kalli had a very aggressive form of Malignant Melanoma that had metastasized to her lungs. The vet told us that Kalli had two to six weeks to live.

Malignant Melanoma is a tumor arising from melanocytes, which are the cells that produce pigment. Although there is no known cause of malignant melanoma, the predisposition of many breeds makes many researches believe there is a genetic predisposition for this disease.

Malignant melanoma can originate from different areas in the body, most often the oral cavity, skin, and digits. The aggressiveness of the tumore and the likelihood of the metastasis vary with the tumor location. Any organ may be affected by a metastatic melanoma (tumor that has spread from a primary site).

Melanoma is more commonly in dogs than cats and primarily affects middle-aged to older pets (often 9 to 12 years). Black dogs may be predisposed. Kalli was 10 years old.

I was shocked and heart-broken but determined to spend our last Christmas and New Year's celebrating with Kalli and the family. The holidays were wonderful.

The following week at Kalli's check-up, the vet was surprised at Kalli's fast healing and weight gain. The vet said Kalli may fight longer than she expected. I was thrilled but stand-offish because I knew the end was near regardless.

Kalli did well until Jan. 4 when she her health spiraled downward overnight. She whined and paced all night long and made multiple trips outside. Since she seemed fine the next morning, I went to work. When I got home, I found blood and diarrhea all over the house.

Kevin and I took Kalli to the vet. They immediately gave her shots and medicine to get the bleeding stopped. They kept her overnight to observe her and get her to eat. I called many times throughout the next day to check on her. She was eating but wasn't having any bowel movements. The vet wanted to see a bowel movement before releasing her.

At 4:30 p.m. Jan. 6, the vet called me to tell me to come to the office. Kalli was bleeding badly and they couldn't stop it. It was time.

Kevin and I rushed to see Kalli. (Thankfully my parents' were able to keep Isabella.) The vet came in the room without Kalli to prepare us. The vet said they had to clean Kalli up before letting us see her because of the blood. I didn't know what to expect - Was she weak and lethargic?. The vet brought Kalli in who was excited to see us. She jumped and licked and wagged her tail, all while blood dripped to the floor. The vet explained that Kalli would bleed to death. The cancer had spread to her intestines. There was nothing left for them to do.

Kevin and I held Kalli in our arms as she went to sleep. She fought it until the very end. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to see.

Now we have a dog angel in heaven watching from above.

Our Kalli

Dear Kalli,

2009-01-07T16:19:00.006-05:00

I didn't tell you enough how much I love you. I didn't tell you enough how sitting with you calmed me. I didn't tell you how you were my first baby and I loved you like you were my very own. I'm sorry I didn't tell you these things but I hope you knew them.

Petting your head and back. Sloppy kisses. Those deep, dark brown eyes. Cuddling on the couch. Laying in bed. I'll miss you. We'll all miss you.

You lived a full life in your 10 years with us. You went on vacations, had doggy sleep-overs, woodsy walks and snacks galore. You were loved by many and missed by more.

We will always cherish our time with you, Buddha. We'll never forget!

Our Kalli

Please share your favorite memories and photos of Kalli with us.

Computer problems

2009-01-05T15:24:00.002-05:00

I'm sad to report that my computer died. It has all my photos on it which I haven't burned to CD since Halloween. I'm hoping Kevin is able to repair the system so I can recover the images, but I may lose everything. I'll keep you posted.

Please say a prayer for friends Laura and Josh. Laura is a stay-at-home mom to two kids and Josh just lost his job. Pray that Josh finds something soon!

2nd Annual Kraynak's Trip

2009-01-03T11:09:00.006-05:00

With neighbors Todd, Candice and Jordan, we made the trek to Hermitage, PA to see the annual Kraynak's Christmas display. We also visited a VERY muddy reindeer farm (Bella's Nikes were covered so Kevin had to clean them immediately, of course, in the restroom of a knick-knack shop.) And what trip to western PA is complete without shopping at Grove City? We finished up the rest of the Christmas shopping at the outlets.

STI Family Party

2008-12-31T08:21:00.002-05:00

Kevin's office throws a family party each year. This year, STI rented out the toboggan shoots in Strongsville. Even though it was cold and windy and Isabella was too small to ride, we had a nice visit with the families, yummy donuts and warm hot chocolate. Even Santa made a visit, but Isabella wasn't fooled: "It's Daddy," she said right away. Even after much convincing she continued with: "I'm aggravated! It's Daddy. Those are his glasses." We finally convinced her that Daddy was asked by Santa to fill in since Santa was really busy at the North Pole. Santa gave Daddy special glitter and his suit. That way the kids wouldn't be disappointed and Santa would still get their lists. She was fine then!

Our Holiday Season - Part 1

2008-12-28T13:27:00.005-05:00

Wow! We've had a lot of Christmas fun this year. Like always, I'm behind in posting pictures of our events and parties. Sorry! But at least I know I have lots of pics to post over the next few days so visit often.

These pics are from the annual NEO Guatemalan Adoptive Families Christmas Party. A group of families with children from Guatemala get together several times a year to talk, play and raise money for families living in Guatemala. We all had a great time!

Have a Blessed Christmas

2008-12-24T10:45:00.003-05:00

From our family to yours!

Holiday pictures

2008-12-21T12:31:00.003-05:00

To save some cash, I decided to take our Christmas card picture this year. I had more than 120 wallets printed at Sam's Club for less than $12. Woo hoo! Here are some of the attempts to get the pictures. The winners are below, too!

And the winners are...

Soldier's Silent Night

2008-12-18T09:04:00.002-05:00

As Christmas nears, I want us to remember and thank our soldiers for their sacrifice for our country. Isabella prays for our soldiers each night before bed. Good bless our service men and women wherever they may be.

Please take a moment and visit this site to hear the Soldier's Silent Night.
http://www.soldiersilentnight.com

Decorating

2008-12-17T09:07:00.003-05:00

We put up a large tree in the living room, and Isabella puts up a tree in her room. Isabella's tree features her handmade ornaments along with ornaments from Guatemala and those she receives as gifts. This year Isabella got to put the star of the family tree.

Oh, New Christmas Tree...

2008-12-10T18:28:00.005-05:00

Kevin found the deal of Black Friday. He was up at 3:30 a.m. and out the door to hit a few places early before heading to Home Depot to buy a new Christmas tree. The Kramers gave us an old tree to use from when they lived in Florida (Kevin was in like fifth grade at the time). We've used it since we got married. It's gotten a lot of use, but it was time to retire the poor droopy tree.

He was ninth in line of about 100 people when the doors opened at 6 a.m. Our neighbor who was also there for a tree was about 50th in line. Home Depot had just 20 trees. Why the frenzy? Home Depot was selling $200 trees for just $49!

Kevin got in and grabbed not one but two trees (the second for our neighbor who was battling the crowd). Some lady nearly knocked Kevin over and then yelled at him for taking two trees. I would have loved to see Kevin's face. But he got ours and Todd got one, too.

Isabella was so excited about the tree. She's really into Santa and the reindeer this year so it's so much more exciting for me!

Finally

2008-12-06T09:40:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting Thanksgiving pics. But they have been worth the wait. Isabella met cousin Matthew for the first time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T08:37:00.002-05:00

We are thankful for so much - each other, our wonderful families, our friends, our health and our jobs! We are extra excited this Thanksgiving to spend it with our new nephew Matthew Sherwood Kramer who was born at 5:36 p.m. Sunday, N0v. 23 weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. at 20.5 inches long. Mom, dad and baby are doing well. To check out pics of the cutie, visit http://timandmelissak.blogspot.com/. Grandma and Grandpa Kramer were married 35 years ago on Nov. 23 so they got a special anniversary surprise! And Tim and Melissa celebrated their third anniversary yesterday. Lots happening in family! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Santa is Coming to Town

2008-11-23T09:39:00.003-05:00

Isabella sat with Santa for the first time ever! She even told him what she wanted for Christmas - a Mickey Mouse Speed Racer, or in her words, "A Mickey Mouse Car Park." We were so shocked that she sat with him, we weren't even ready for the picture. In fact, I told the picture people not to worry about her. When we saw Isabella sitting with Santa, we scrambled to get a picture. It didn't come out too bad, but Isabella did have her "terrified smile."

Busy at Work

2008-11-18T15:55:00.003-05:00

Many of you know that I recently went back to work.

I'm back at Kent State, this time full-time. I've been consulting for Kent State for more than a year. I began talking with them back in March to come to work full-time. Well, it finally came to pass. I'm the new Manager of Public Relations and Marketing for the College of Communication and Information. I will oversee PR and marketing for four schools and one program: Communication Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication, Library and Information Science, Visual Communication Design and IAKM (Information Architecture and Knowledge Management).

Isabella started preschool this week. She goes twice each week for 2.5 hours each day. The rest of the time, she's with Grandma Mary. Thank goodness, she's with Grandma!

My boss is really flexible. Once I get set up in this new position (it's a new position for the university, too.), I will be able to work for home some, too, so I can be with Isabella. And university benefits are a lot better than what we had.

I'm so LUCKY! I'm so thankful that I was able to get in to the university, especially during this tough time. And thanks to all of you who have sent me "congrats" messages.

Called to Duty

2008-11-11T18:49:00.002-05:00

Isabella and I had the honor, along with Aunt Julie, Grandma Mary, Papa Steve and friends from Chris's work, to celebrate with Chris and his unit yesterday as they said farewell to northeast Ohio for yet another duty tour in Iraq.

One hundred seventy soldiers of the 135th Military Police unit based in Chagrin Falls, OH left this morning for their final state-side training exercise before re-deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

We will get to see Chris briefly at Christmas before he ships off for 12 months. I can't imagine how Julie feels each time Chris leaves for training or another mission. It has to be heart-breaking! I just know how helpless I felt when she and Chris were there together a few years ago. I'm thankful that Isabella was not around then to see the worry in all our faces. Now we are trying to explain to a three year old that Uncle Chris is going to war, but Aunt Julie is here to help.

Isabella doesn't know what any of this means. She just knows that her uncle is not a few blocks away, not on the phone when she calls for him and not with Aunt Julie when we visit.
We'll send letters and photos often and Isabella says she'll draw and paint him plenty of pictures in preschool. She even gave him her "Gentle Puppy" stuffed animal to take overseas with him. Uncle Chris and Gentle Puppy are going to play in the sand for awhile. That she understands.

Blessings and prayers to SSG Christopher Madera and the troops of the 135th MP Unit!

For more on yesterday's moving ceremony, visit:
http://julieandchrismadera.blogspot.com/2008/11/farewell-ceremony.html

Viva Las Vegas

2008-11-10T08:46:00.003-05:00

More than one person has requested seeing the pics from my Las Vegas birthday trip. It was hard to decide which of the 510 pics to post so I created a video for you to watch. I'll warn you; it's long but the breath-taking pics of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are worth the time.

Kevin took me to Vegas to celebrate my 30th birthday. It was our first trip away from Bella so it was hard when she cried and asked when we were coming home. But she did great with much thanks to Grandma Sue, Papa Al and Grandma Mary and Papa Steve.

We stayed in a suite at the Treasure Island Resort. Beautiful! The weather was cold (low to mid 50s) so it was warmer here than in Vegas. Go figure. Locals said it was a fluke cold spell. The day we returned home, the temp was back up in the 80s.

We had a really nice dinner with cousins Sarah and Ben. They live in Vegas and were nice enough to take us to a fabulous restaurant called Cafe Lux. Kevin made special plans to take me to a really nice restaurant called Hugo's Cellar. The waiter gives roses to all the ladies and they had a special birthday surprise for me. Watch the video to find out!

Overall - great trip! Great way to spend a birthday!

Viva Las Vegas!

Halloween Pics

2008-11-07T10:09:00.007-05:00

We had a lot of fun trick-or-treating experiences. After a rainy night at Boo at the Zoo, we headed to Stow's special Halloween event for a warmer outdoor treat. Isabella played games, painted, went on a hayride and trick-or-treated at the campground at Silver Springs park. The next day we joined Tracy, Paige and Morgan for a sunny afternoon stroll around Brimfield to find treats. Finally, on Halloween, we enjoyed a pizza party with Grandma Sue, Papa Al, Aunt TT, Uncle Keith, Aunt Melissa, Kelsey and Kylie before heading out for our treating. The girls had a great time saying "Trick-or-Treat" and "Thank You" at each and every house.

Preschool pics

2008-11-04T08:14:00.003-05:00

I'm doing this backward. I should start with Halloween and move to preschool. We are so proud of Isabella for learning at preschool, I had to post these pics first.

Of late, Isabella has suffered from separation anxiety. She's easily upset when we are out of her eye line. She cries and throws fits until we return. We've been working with a family therapist to help Isabella through these issues. Preschool is one of the steps in this process.

I wasn't sure what to expect yesterday when I stepped out of the room that first time. She cried but calmed down quickly when I returned right away. When I left the second time, she looked back but was okay. She went over to paint a picture.

She tried one escape move when she noticed me looking in the window but didn't flinch when I encouraged her to go back in.

Great job, baby girl! (Oh, you're not a baby anymore.)

Pre-school visit

2008-11-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

Watch for pics in the next few days! We've got a lot from Halloween and from today - Isabella's visit to pre-school!

She attended her first class today and will officially start on Monday, Nov. 17. She was not sure about it at first, but after just one short crying episode, she played and painted and had story and bible time and even gym class. She made a new friend and is talking about school a lot. If you ask if she wants to go back, though, she says no. But she'll have a great time! (My baby is growing up too fast!)

Boo at the Cleveland Zoo

2008-10-28T17:09:00.007-04:00

Despite cold rain, Isabella had fun watching the animals perform at night the Boo at the Cleveland Zoo. It was our annual Guat-tot Boo at the Zoo trip but since because of rainy weather we decided to get through the zoo quickly and get somewhere warm. We missed seeing our Guat friends but I was lucky to run into a few families with Guat-tots who were not part of group. They are now thinking about joining. (Yeah for new families!).

We headed to the zoo with Aunt Julie, friend Cassie and Grandma Mary and Papa Steve. Our little sticker stayed pretty dry in her stroller but was excited to jump out to catch the animals in action. It's a different world at the zoo at night! After a wet walk-through of the zoo, we stopped at Quaker Steak & Lube for dinner. Yum!

Don't worry! I'll post more Halloween photos and get back to the huge backlog from late summer.

My Little Stinker

2008-10-26T11:15:00.002-04:00

This weekend was full of Halloween fun. Keep watching for the whole story.

Bath time

2008-10-21T10:11:00.002-04:00

When cousin Hollyn was visiting Ohio from Philadelphia, Isabella helped Aunt Chris with bath time. Isabella loves babies and always wants to hold them, feed them and bathe them.

Down on the Farm

2008-10-19T13:21:00.004-04:00

I have lots of catching up to do. We've had a family get-together at the Baldauf farm; Isabella helped give cousin Hollyn a bath during her Ohio visit; we've enjoyed fireworks with friends to celebrate the beginning of fall; we had the first (and last) gymnastics class; we've gathered to see family visiting from Colorado; we've celebrated my 30th birthday (shhhhh!); Kevin and I visited Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon; and we celebrated with Tim and Melissa as we prepare for the arrival of Baby K!

Quite a lot to show you so hang on and watch over the next few weeks for all the Fall photos from the Kramer household!

Baldauf Farm visit

My Baby and Me

2008-10-09T10:53:00.002-04:00

Isa/Bella/Patch

2008-10-06T16:30:00.002-04:00

With all the parties and activities lately, I should have a lot of photos to post. But, no. I've not been good about snapping pics of our favorite Guat kid so I've stolen a few from others blogs. Thanks to those who have captured the kiddo in action.

While I've reported in previous posts that Isabella wanted to be called Isa, she now goes by Bella, Isabella, Isa or Patch. Yes, that's right. Patch. For those who know the Dalmatian movies, Patch is one of Pongo's and Perdita's 99 puppies. If you're lucky or a waiter or a nice lady in the store who tries to talk to her, you may hear her bark at you.

Quite an imagination!

And...

2008-10-02T15:23:00.002-04:00

When I talk to people lately about how busy we've been, I feel like all I say is "And we" because it is nonstop around here. Having a three year old is exhausting! Isabella is on the go and so we are on the go with zoo trips, store runs, play dates, story times, etc. And we're working. I guess that's life, though. So check back soon for updates on our crazy busy lives and for details about a new group we are part of: NEO Guatemalan Adoptive Families. Best wishes!

NEO Guat Family Picnic

2008-09-17T10:17:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I am behind in posting pictures from the summer. This way, I have lots of posts to catch up on so I know you'll visit often to see what's going on here.

Our family is part of the NEO Gautemalan Adoptive Families Group. We are a group of families with at least one child adopted from Guatemala. It's good for the kids to play together, and it's great for the parents to talk about parenting issues (and just hang out!).

We headed to the 2nd annual family picnic back in August. It had a luau theme.

Good food, good friends and great games. Bella did her first potato sack race - kind of.

Philly Part 3

2008-09-14T12:38:00.003-04:00

We were excited to stay in Philly for another day of activities - a visit to Valley Forge. We boarded a trolley for a special tour complete with stops along the way to hear reenactments and to visit the sites. Thanks, Grandma Sue and Papa Al, for a great long weekend. History is cool!

Philly Part 2

2008-09-07T19:16:00.003-04:00

Day 2 started with a trip to the largest mall east of the Mississippi River, the King of Prussia Mall. Isa was not in a great mood until she got a sucker. Then, we headed to Aunt Aleta's and Uncle Ralph's beautiful home for lunch and a reunion with family. We had a great time even though it rained. The bigger kids even put on a puppet show for the group. What a treat!

Philly Part 1

2008-09-03T15:01:00.003-04:00

We were lucky to visit King of Prussia (just outside Valley Forge near Philadelphia) with Grandma Sue and Papa Al to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Aunt Aleta and Uncle Ralph in July. We started out early Saturday morning to make it in time for the evening reception. Isa was good in the car (thank goodness for DVDs). When we arrived, we checked into the hotel which was full of family members there for the weekend celebration. It was so neat! Since we made good time, we stopped for lunch and then, while everyone else napped, Isa and I headed to the pool! The evening reception was nice and we got to meet family we'd not seen before so that was a treat.

First Aeros Game

2008-08-30T10:55:00.003-04:00

We headed to the Akron Aeros Game to help friends and fellow Guat parents Randy and Regina fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The team sponsored a special Day at the Games for ALS with ticket proceeds helping to fight the disease. Even though Kevin had a really bad migraine, we had a great time. Isa loved clapping for the team as they hit the ball.

Busy!

2008-08-28T11:24:00.002-04:00

Even though none of us is heading back to school, we are caught up in the chaos. We're all very busy with work, volunteer commitments, preparing lectures, gymnastics, etc. Sorry for the lack of posts. Just hang on while we get settled into our fall routines. We'll be back soon!

Princess in Training

2008-08-21T19:06:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Uncle John and Aunt Leslie, Isabella has all the Disney Princess dresses to play dress up in. She loves pretending she's in a princess castle!

Caps off to the Graduate!

2008-08-17T10:57:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we enjoyed watching as Grandma Sue walked the stage to accept her Master's Degree in Special Education from The University of Akron at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. What an accomplishment! Congratulations!

We headed to the Olive Garden for a nice family dinner to celebrate her hard work. Then Grandma and Papa took Kelsey and Kylie to play at their house. We joined them for a fun playdate to wrap up the day.

The Pool

2008-08-15T11:12:00.002-04:00

Isabella (or Isa as she now wants to be referred to) received two pools for her birthday. We decided to keep both pools since she'll be able to use them both for several years. This summer we inflated the gift from Uncle Chris and Aunt Julie. Isa wanted to learn to play basketball like the boys in the neighborhood and this pool has a hoop and net attached. Pretty cool pool - complete with a slide.

Birthday Photo Shoot

2008-08-12T10:48:00.003-04:00

Check out these great pics of Bella we had taken to celebrate her third birthday!

Our Last Night

2008-08-07T12:05:00.003-04:00

We all went out to dinner together to celebrate the vacation. We walked along the boardwalk and admired the beach and ocean. Here's to another year's vacation...

Beach Bonfire

2008-08-03T12:02:00.004-04:00

Each week Ocean City hosts a beach bonfire at the boardwalk, we headed down early to ride some carnival rides and eat some ice cream. This time we were smart and parked at the Park 'N Ride (paying just $1 each to ride the bus round trip) instead of paying $20 to park like all the other times!

I'm pooped!

2008-07-31T15:53:00.002-04:00

With all the activity in Ocean City, Miss Isabella couldn't always keep up.

Assateague Adventure

2008-07-25T08:48:00.007-04:00

To see Assateague Island and the nature reserve, we boarded the Assateague Adventure for an afternoon excursion. We heard a history of Ocean City, saw some impressive homes and crabbing ships. We saw the wild horse reserve. Isabella tried crabbing and touched a bunch on the native ocean wildlife. Papa Steve caught a little crab with his bear hands. Wow! What a day and boy, was it chilly on the ocean.

Swimming, swimming, swimming

2008-07-22T17:54:00.003-04:00

Lots of swimming for us that week. Isabella loves the water so she had a blast.

First Full Day

2008-07-19T11:26:00.005-04:00

We wanted to make the most of our day with the Haynesheads, so we hit the pool and then headed to the famous Boardwalk. We played in the sand and dripped our feet in the cold ocean. We walked on the Boardwalk and got some lunch. Isabella rode her first carnival rides. Wow! What a day! (I'm tired already.)

Ahhh..this traffic

2008-07-17T11:11:00.003-04:00

So from Philly, we had a three hour ride to Ocean City. Yeah right! What was supposed to be a short three hour car drive turned into six, that's right, six hours! Traffic was unbelievable. At one point, we traveled only two miles in an hour. We seriously could have walked faster!

So we didn't arrive at the condo when we wanted and we were all too tired to explore. So Saturday was a bust! But we were all pleasantly surprised at the size and niceness of the condo and complex, and the pool was gorgeous. Even with the fog, we ventured out to walk by the water.

And we're off...

2008-07-15T16:36:00.002-04:00

On day 1 of our not so one tank trip, we headed to Philly to catch up with the Haynesheads. We had not seen them for more than a year and had yet to meet Hollyn in person. We had only seen her grow through pics on her blog.

Since Isabella is new to this potty thing, Kevin and I thought we'd better pack a portable kid potty for an emergency. We made a few stops and Isabella never missed a beat. No accidents since the end of June! Yeah!

We arrived in Philly mid-afternoon just in time for some backyard fun and traditional July 4th foods. Yum! But rain dampened our fireworks plans.

Thanks Hollyn, Uncle Brian and Aunt Chris for such hospitality!

What a trip!

2008-07-13T14:33:00.003-04:00

We're back! We had a wonderful vacation in Ocean City, MD! This was the first visit for us and Grandma Mary, Papa Steve, Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris. There was SO much to do! Over the next few weeks, I'll take you on a day-by-day recap of the trip. For now, enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the nine day trip.

Happy Fourth of July!

2008-07-03T16:51:00.002-04:00

Enjoy your family picnics and fireworks! We'll be offline awhile but check back mid-July for some exciting updates and photos!

Zoorific Day

2008-07-02T15:35:00.004-04:00

To celebrate Grandma Sue's birthday and Isabella's successful potty training (finally!), we headed to the Cleveland Zoo. What a day! We petted sharks and sting rays! We petted elephant tails. We saw giraffes, zebras, kangaroos, monkeys and Isabella's favorite - the lemur. All VERY cool!

Scared of the Geese

2008-07-01T11:56:00.002-04:00

We celebrated cousin Brittany's graduation last weekend at a nice cook-out, even though it poured. The party was in a pole-barn so we all had plenty of seats to stay out the of rain. While eating, Isabella noticed geese sitting above us in the rafters. She was very curious about the geese and asked repeatedly why they were up there. Daddy explained that the geese were not real, that Uncle Ted used them for hunting. She still wasn't sure about them and wouldn't walk near or under the geese. Finally, someone got one down so she could see that they were fake.

Agency Reunion Picnic

2008-06-28T12:14:00.003-04:00

Each summer our adoption agency hosts a family picnic so families can visit and see how much our kiddos have grown. Bella had a great time jumping around and eating her picnic lunch.

Farm Fun

2008-06-25T10:54:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, Isabella, Grandma Mary and I drove to Nova, Ohio, to visit with Aunt Pam at the farm. Isabella loves animals and since farms have animals, she loves farms. When we drive by a large home with a large yard or a park or a barn, she yells "Farm" and points out the window.

During our visit, we petted cows and the pony, Annie. We saw cats - a lot of cats! We saw a newborn calf. We watched for turtles in the pond.

On the ride home, we stopped at a little country store for candy. Isabella was a sugary mess by the time we got home! It was a great day!

Columbus

2008-06-20T09:27:00.002-04:00

A few weekends ago, Isabella and Mom & Dad headed to Columbus for a family weekend. We hit the Zoo and COSI and a river festival. We visited three malls and played with friends Laura, Josh, Isaac and Ally. Isabella loved staying in a hotel and absolutely LOVED the Zoo. She rode on a boat and a train, pet a snake and saw HUGE vampire bats. She fed birds cups of nectar and rode on a real-live horse (by herself). At COSI, we rode in a spaceship and in an underwater submarine. We dueled King Triton and pet a lizard. Watch our video for a documentary of the long weekend.

Family Trip to Columbus 2008

Crazy Weekend

2008-06-18T11:04:00.003-04:00

Do you ever have those weekends when you have to be somewhere every second? We had one of those! And, boy, did we have fun!

Friday we watch cousin Kelsey in her first dance recital. She's three and as cute as can be in her Hawaiian grass skirt. She did well, watching the teacher and her classmates for dance cues. We headed to dinner with Grandma Sue, Papa Al, Uncle Keith, Aunt TT and cousins Kelsey and Kylie after the big show.

Saturday was one of those errand days since it rained until mid-afternoon. Then we went to the Irish Fest in Cuyahoga Falls to watch cousin Mike's band, Fergie and the Bog Dogs. Visit Aunt Julie's blog for photos.

Sunday was Father's Day so we had a nice lunch with Papa Al and the whole Kramer gang. Then we headed to Papa Steve's for playtime and pizza!

Whew! What a great weekend!

Great Father's Day

2008-06-15T20:18:00.003-04:00

Happy Father's Day to everyone!

We had a busy day with lots of pics so I'm posting a few. Visit later this week for details and pics from a VERY busy weekend!

Isabella giving Daddy a Father's Day hug

Isabella sitting with Papa Al at Bennigan's

Isabella helping Papa Steve open his Father's Day card and present (a Grandpa t-shirt)

Zoorific Party

2008-06-09T16:42:00.007-04:00

We celebrated Isabella all day starting with the traditional Bob Evan's breakfast. This started with Isabella's first birthday when Grandma Mary and I took Isabella to Bob Evan's the morning of her birthday (we were staying with Grandma Mary and Papa Steve at the time because I was recovering from surgery.)

We had a great birthday party at the Akron Zoo with 35 of Isabella's closest friends and family. We got a tour of the coolest animal exhibits and got a private "petting" of a ferret and a chinchilla. The kids got to feed goats and sheep, and we all enjoyed pizza and cake.

Isabella got to open her gifts at the party. Some highlights: the Dora bike she's been asking about for months; two pools; clothes; books; games. She's set for fun summer activities! Thanks to all our friends and family for your generousity!

Isabella's 3rd Birthday

Bella is 3!

2008-06-08T08:53:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, baby girl! I can't believe you are three years old already! She will have a great day with a party at the Zoo with her friends and family!

Daddy's Birthday Round 2

2008-06-07T11:46:00.006-04:00

On Kevin's actual birthday, Grandma Mary, Papa Steve, Aunt Julie and we gathered at Texas Roadhouse for dinner and presents. Kevin got his much wanted mp3 player and some great summer shorts and tees. Money for shoes is always on the birthday wish list and he wasn't disappointed. After dinner, Aunt Julie joined us and neighbors Todd, Candice and baby Jordan for cake. Yum! Hope you had a great birthday weekend!

Here's a big birthday kiss for you!

Memorial Day Picnic

2008-06-06T16:56:00.002-04:00

Grandma Sue and Papa Al hosted a beautiful Memorial Day picnic, and the whole gang was there including cousin Sarah from Las Vegas. It was great playing with cousins Noah and Samantha from the Dayton area. Seeing all the aunts and uncles was fun, too! And the food was wonderful!

Daddy's Birthday Round 1

2008-06-05T14:48:00.004-04:00

We celebrated daddy's 32nd birthday a lot here! First we visited with Grandma Sue, Papa Al, Uncles Keith and Tim, Aunts TT and Lissa and cousins Kelsey and Kylie. We ate pizza and had ice cream cake. Yum! We played on the swingset, drew with sidewalk chalk, and Papa even took Isabella and Kylie for a tractor ride.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Roasting Marshmallows

2008-06-04T13:32:00.004-04:00

Whenever we have a get-together at Grandma Mary's and Papa Steve's, there's sure to be a fire out back, even during the summer. Why? To roast marshmallows for Smores, of course. (Kevin gets mad because he is the designated Smores maker!)

Isabella is addicted to marshmallows and now requests un-roasted ones as an afternoon snack!

Nails and Toes

2008-06-03T12:34:00.002-04:00

Isabella loves having her finger and toe nails painted. She sees mommy and Aunt Julie with pretty pink or purple polish and wants it, too. So Aunt Julie was to the rescue. Isabella is a little wiggle worm but she sits pretty still to get her mani/pedi done. We use a hairdryer set to cool to dry them extra quick!

Munroe Falls Family Day

2008-06-02T16:28:00.003-04:00

Wow! I'm still so behind but that means you will see new picks all week. We had a fun-packed weekend as the three of us headed to Columbus for three nights for a mini-getaway. I've got 169 photos from the weekend! But I have others I need to post first and this is a fun one!

We headed to the Munroe Falls Family Fest with Grandma Sue and Papa Al. We mainly went to go to the petting zoo. While there were only a few goats, lambs and bunnies, Isabella didn't mind and had a great time petting and watching. She even made everyone laugh when she asked the animal-keeper, "Got any lemurs?"

Playing the keyboard

2008-05-28T11:42:00.002-04:00

I am so behind in posting pics. Sorry!

My mom pulls out the old keyboard for Isabella to play with. When Aunt Sue was visiting, she and Isabella had a great time making up funny songs.