It's a boy!

This morning was the much expected day we’d been waiting for. After two months of anticipation, we finally drove off this morning for Kristen’s 9:00 am ultrasound. We were super excited because we would finally know if we’re having a boy or a girl. Kristen was a tad nervous too, since any possible abnormalities would also show up on the ultrasound.

Good news, the baby was healthy and normal. And…it’s a boy! It definitely was. Or, I guess I can say “he” definitely was. He was super squirmy thanks to mom’s morning orange juice or his dad’s genes. (We’ll have to keep that kid away from sugar as he grows older or he’ll be into everything!) Yeah, it’s a boy! He is God’s gift to us, and we are so very thankful.

Baby Room Renovation

What a mess, huh? We’ve had to do some rearranging in our house do to an invasion. No, not by termites, cockroaches, mice or other such vermin…but by cribs, books, diaper bags and stuffed animals. Operation Baby Room has begun.

Last week, Kristen’s school showered her with gifts for the baby. Last week, she also brought home books and other items from her old classroom. As Kristen makes the transition from retired schoolteacher to mother, she is also transitioning the house with her. The little-used study room is slowly becoming a baby room. And right now, it’s just a plain ol’ mess. A small apartment such as ours doesn’t exactly have a ton of storage space. And when you get an influx of school supplies and baby supplies, you get a…hmm… how shall I put it? An instant lesson in organization. Fortunately my Kristen is up to the challenge. In fact, she loves organizing things. (How weird is that?) But, hey, I am not complaining in the least. It was, after all, her organizational skills that first attracted me to her. Well, maybe not entirely. :) But for real, she does a great job of finding room for all those things that people have generously given to us for the baby.

Next week we’ll be able to do some fine tuning in the decorating department because, Lord willing…we’ll know if it’s a boy or a girl! Stay tuned for details!

Tim's Top 10

Tim's Top Ten list of things he's thankful for. (In alphabetical order)


1. A beautiful Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of summer!
2. Baseball tonight featured the Tigers trouncing the Twins 19-3.
3. Country style pork ribs for dinner on Monday! Can’t wait!
4. Doing well is Kristen and baby. Doctors said she’s a very healthy mommy.
5. Even Tim is doing well. Every three months it’s back to the doctors for a follow-up but no further treatment!
6. Finals for the Stanley Cup and the Red Wings are in it! (Currently up 2-0 in the 3rd!)
7. Got to do some registering for baby stuff at Target and will soon do some more at Babies R Us. (When Kristen’s not looking, I register for onesies that read “Party Pooper” and “Automatic Sprinkler.”)
8. Have to mention that the Pistons are in the Eastern Conference Finals (though the score tonight ain’t worth mentioning).
9. I am getting closer to finishing up my remaining schoolwork from the semester (which is good since I start summer school on Tuesday).
10. Just 5 full days and 3 half days of school left for Kristen!

Through the mundane, the trivial, the serious and the comical, God is and continues to be good.

Diaper Diaries Part 1

There’s more excitement at the Hill house! And it’s good news. The main woman of the Hill house, Mrs. Kristen Hill herself, is officially eating for two. Yes, we’re having a baby.

On April 22^nd, Kristen went to get acquainted with the Midwifery Center. And we got to hear the little heart beat. That little critter inside her tummy was jumping all around! In fact, the nurse had a difficult time trying to keep up with that moving heartbeat. For me, it was especially moving to hear that tiny little heartbeat and know that there was a real live baby inside of her!

And lately, that baby has been causing Kristen grief with her wardrobe. In fact, she was almost late to church last night because she couldn’t fit into her pants anymore. Poor Kristen. This evening she went shopping so she could add to her ever growing maternity wardrobe (no pun intended—hee hee).

God is good. And we’re grateful! Kristen is officially 14 weeks along on this Cinco de Mayo with a due date of November 2^nd!

Home sweet Home

Surgery has come and gone. Hard to believe it was a week ago today. And now...I'm home!

I was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon, sooner than anticipated. The doctor said that since I was able to hold down liquids, keep my temperature under control, and manage the pain, I could go home. What a happy feeling! No more IV machines. No more tubes. No more 4-hour vital checks. No more needles. No more hospital food! I was free to go home!

Previously to the good news about going home, we had more good news from the doctor. The report from the surgery--30 lymph nodes removed and ALL were cancer free! Praise the Lord! We'll take this report as more of God's kindness to us. It appears that with the successful surgery and this positive report, I may have come to the end of the line as far as further cancer treatment.

Thank you to all who have been praying for us. It is humbling to know that there have been many. And prayer works! We are especially grateful to a loving church body, through whom we have experienced and are experiencing God's love and care toward us.

Currently, I'm here on the couch taking it easy. For the next 6 weeks, the doctor says to stay away from strenuous activity (according to Pastor Kirk, that also includes dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping). And no lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk. Ah....It's good to be home.

You pick like a girl

She did it again. She beat me.

For the past few years, my friend Mikey has hosted an online tournament for March Madness as well as the college football bowl games. And each year I've carefully analyzed the matchups, agonized over my picks, and delivered a sheet that has fared...decently. Rather than having Kristen help me with my bracket this year, Kristen and I each made our own picks. And this year...my wife, who knows no other college team than Michigan State, has beaten me twice!

Last night as our brackets came to a grinding halt with victories from Memphis and Kansas (we both had UCLA winning it all), our final scores reflect 259 for her...248 for me. And while she'll finish around 37th and me around 41st (out of 72), that's still four places in front of me. But let's back up to the college bowl pick tournament a couple of months ago. After all was said and done I finished a respectable 14th. Not bad. Where did she finish? Number ONE!!! Yeah, not only did she beat me, she also beat out every other football enthusiast to win the tournament (and Mikey, we're still waiting on that dinner you promised).

But I'm really proud of my Cutie for doing well. It's fun to see her get so excited about games she would otherwise care less about.

So, maybe next year we'll go back to one bracket. And I'll be the one helping her fill it out.


(Yeah Michigan State.)

The Big Day

APRIL 9th.

The big day is scheduled. Early morning surgery starts at 7:30.