CHristmas Letter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
 
It is our sincere hope that this letter finds you in excellent health and joyous spirits as another wonderful year winds down.  As the sun sets upon 2007 we will attempt to give you our traditional one page recap of the year.
 
 
Starting with the most recent news, The Renners have moved!  We could not be more pleased with our new home, as it is more roomy than our other one.   We moved in on the first of December, and we are slowly getting settled in.  While we have a garage full of boxes, we also have a fully functioning kitchen and everyone's closets are unpacked and organized.  The previous owners were gracious enough to let us get into the house before we even closed, so we wound up putting new flooring down in all of the bedrooms and also painting them.   Jillian enjoys having her own bedroom and has taken care of it nicely.  Jacqueline got a promotion out of the baby crib and into the bottom bunk, and Jessica is the queen of the castle up in the top bunk for the first time.  Jeanna and I have a bedroom which is about twice the size of our other one, and we realized that our furniture never really fit too well in the other room.  No wonder it had that Alice in Wonderland kind of feel!
 
Getting our other house ready to sell, packing, unpacking and other moving related items have really taken up about all of our free time this year.  We did manage to have a little fun, I started a new job and, oh yeah, we had a baby in June!
 
Jeremiah made his entrance to the world at 3:03 am on June 27th weighing in at 8 pounds and 3 ounces and he has been a pleasure ever since.  He has light brown hair and very dark brown eyes.  Everyone except Aunt Shell and his two grandmas say he looks like his daddy!!  It really is pleasant to have a boy in the house, though we would have been just as happy with another little princess.  He has had good health so far, and for this we are blessed.  While he does take medication for reflux, he has otherwise checked out quite well and couldn't be more happy, healthy and, of course, cute.  At this point in his development, he can sit up for a short time if you get him started.  He also can roll either way, babble a little and grab stuff.  He has said ma-ma, ba-ba and da-da, but hasn't really attributed those words to people or things yet.  I don't think his feet will have to touch the ground too often with all of the other mommies--I mean, big sisters--floating around.
 
Jacqueline is two and a half now and has exploded with language skills, thinking skills, memory and a funny sense of humor!  It is fun to laugh with her at what she deems funny.  It is refreshing just watching and talking with her.  She is pleasant natured and easily persuaded as long as it is logical.  Jacqueline's days are filled with learning, laughing and fun with Miss Vianca, Estella, Estella, Damarise and Bevvie.  She adores all those ladies and they enjoy her.  They have taught her all her body parts, letters, shapes, colors, and some Espanol too!  We hope they continue with the Spanish because she is like a sponge right now. Jacqueline also looks forward to Mondays when she gets to exercise on the Tumblebus!  (aka: buppabus)  We love those at Adventures In Learning and Jeanna couldn't work happily at Grant Line Elementary if it weren't for the excellent care and education Jacqueline receives there.


Jessica is a kindergartner at Jeanna's school, Grant Line.  Jessica is funny, social, and full of energy.  She bounces all over the place and is the number one friend in the room.  She is independent and will make an excellent leader, provided she keeps her honesty and fairness in check.  Gee, she's 6...it's still all about her!  Jessica is excelling in kindergarten and can read quite well. Jessica is looking forward to another summer of swim lessons.  She did very well last June and will be excited to return.

Jillian is in third grade at Grant Line and is in an academically challenging room.  I am grateful for this, but have realized that my smart little Jillian is a lot forgetful, like her mother!  She aces most things, but then there are times she forgets homework, books, agenda books, etc.  Hey, it's hard growing up!  I'm proud of her grades and effort.  Jillian is quiet, kind, fair, specific, thorough (most of the time) and a true thinker.  She likes to either explain things or have things explained to her in great detail until it all makes sense to her.  Jillian also took swimming lessons last summer and learned so much.  She is looking forward to another session this summer.  Jillian also joined a soccer league in the fall.  She was a great defender and learned so much from the first practice to the last.  We can't wait until the spring session begins.  She will be with the same group of girls and will likely have the same coach as well.  Their season record wasn't that great, but as I said, it was truly amazing how far those girls progressed.

Jeremy has been busy learning a new job not completely unlike the one he's had for the past 3 years.  Instead of in-servicing high school teachers and team teaching with them at Shawnee High, he is in charge of about 8 different elementary schools whose teachers all have laptops and projection devices.  This brings him back to his love of the elementary age.  He takes appointments, provides embedded professional development, and works with teachers in their rooms to help them provide the best education possible using the latest technology tools.  It is really a daunting task in which Jeremy has truly excelled.  Plans to be a building principal have been put on hold for now.  Jeremy just really enjoys this particular venue.  He is working as an administrator of sorts and has lots of flexibility in his schedule without the stress, headache and time spent away from family of a typical building principal.

Jeanna is still at Grant Line teaching second grade.  She is a master teacher and is particularly good at getting her students to love writing.  Jeanna tutors after school and provides a themed enrichment program at home for interested students during the summer. She is bittersweet about little Jeremiah being the last installment of the Renner clan, as she has been pregnant or nursing a baby for 7 of our 10 years of marriage.  This is quite an adjustment period for our family.  Jeanna continues to scrapbook and attends weekend retreats whenever she gets a chance.  

Please take note of our new address--there is always room for visitors!  We sincerely hope you all enjoy another year full of love, laughter and health.  May God bless you and keep you.  May he make his face shine upon you and give you peace.  May you draw near, this year, to His desire for your life.

The Renners
Jeremy, Jeanna, Jillian, Jessica, Jacqueline, and Jeremiah
                                

One Down, One To Go

Closed on current home today, everything was fine. Close on new one tomm.

Just About Ready

Thanks to a lot of help from friends and family we are just about ready to move. We will close Tuesday on our current home, Wednesday on our new home and the movers will be here Saturday. We have some appliances and furniture ordered, most importantly a new TV. We have painted all four bedrooms and also laid new flooring down. We also have painted two bathrooms and replaced some fans. I am taking a few days off to finish out everything but the majority is done. I bet you didn't that Jeanna could lay flooring. She is a little sore, but she and her friend Robin did almost three whole rooms on their own, staying up til 2 and 3 in the morning a few times. I have been getting a lot of help with painting and trimming and shoe molding. As much fun as it is, I am ready for everything to be done with and just move in and enjoy it. I am tired of working, and especially tired of spending money. Send me an email at therenners@gmail.com if you would want our new mailing address.

What Are You Thankful For?

I am thankful for many things. I have a loving wife, four healthy children and I live in the United States of America. I am thankful to Jesus who died for our sins. I am also thankful for the people who protect our country.

My brother in law sent me a picture that is worth a thousand words.

It is a hand written note on the door of a SEAL who took a round from an AK-47 to his face and arm. May God bless and protect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines both here and abroad, and bring you safely home yo you loved ones.

How To Get Out Of Shoppping The Day After Thanksgiving

Looking for an alternative to shopping post Turkey Day? Well have I got a plan for you. The Renners will be painting and laying floor in our new home and invite you to come join us for the fun. We will actually be working Wednesday-Sunday on an ambitous project to prime, paint and lay floor in all of the bedrooms. If Friday isn't your thing and you want to come another day, just let me know. The (very) rough schedule of events is prepping and priming on Wednesday, Painting on
Thursday, Friday (Big day, lots of help needed) second coat, carpets and staples up, flooring started, Hopefully finish flooring,molding, and any loose ends on Saturday with Sunday hopefully being a rest day.

We still have to finalize permission from current owner to get in early, and also this is assuming that all inspections, etc go acc. to plan so stand by for update.

Our home was inspected today, and there was nothing that came up as far as red flags to the buyers. This was the 'next big step' we were waiting for. We may close on the sale of house earlier than expected, which is a good thing.

We Sold Our House... Sort Of

We have accepted an offer on our home and if the inspections and everything turn out okay we will be closing on this house and our new one on later this month. We recently changed realtors, lowered our price significantly and put new flooring in the kitchen and DR (the eighties called and they wanted their carpet back) so between those things plus all the painting we actually had a lot of traffic here the first week or so of the new realtor.

We are excited about our new house, moving not so much. We actually have a been renting the garage from the current owner while our house was on the market, and it is starting to fill to capacity with our junk, I mean valued possessions. We have a very reasonable closing date and possession date so it actually will be fairly painless to move.

We wil really miss the hickory trees and squirrels in this neighborhood. However I will almost trade that for the lack of leaves to rake (or mow over). Also the one family that had kids for our girls to play with moved out last week, so this is a good time to get going in a new setting for the kids. New neighborhood has kids galore. More than anything though, the neighborhood is the one where the girls go to school and Jeanna teaches, so Jillian will go to the "right" middle school in a few years, classmates will be neighbors and we won't have to apply for a transfer for the girls each year, a big consideration with the over crowding issue.

It is hard to get too excited because we have heard all of the crazy stories about things that can make a deal go wrong, but after six months and multiple realtors plus gloom and doom in the news about housing prices, it is a great feeling to have accepted an offer. For the time being though, we can say we have sold our house, sort of and we will let you know when the painting party begins...

How To Give A Cat A Pill

How To Give A Cat A Pill

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if
holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of
cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in
right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to
close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in
left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear
paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of
mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call
spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and
rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head
firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth Drop pill
down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap.
Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep
shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for
gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just
visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force
mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer
to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove
blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another
beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on to neck, to leave head
showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat
with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on
hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply
cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus
shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another
shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the darn cat from across the
road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to
avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little monster's front paws to rear paws with garden twine
and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning
gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of
filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints
of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the
emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm
and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way
home to order new table.

15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local
pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

--
Jeremy Renner
http://therenners.googlepages.com

Early Christmas Lists

Early Christmas lists from the big girls:

Jillian:
Soccer goals and cones
Digital Camera
New Clothes
New Bike
iPod
High School Musical Alarm Clock
Twister- Pink
Pogo Stick
Teckno Robot Dog

Jessica:
Guitar
Enchanted Fairy Playset
Moon Chair
Snuggly Buddy
Pischer Price Puppy

House For Sale

If you know anyone looking for a house near Mount Tabor, Christian Academy or OLPH, we are still selling. Have them check it out on semonin's site, or click here: http://tinyurl.com/24hns7

Counting

Still doing great with toilet training.. and learnign to count quite well:

Potty Training-Day Six

Jacqueline is doing great! I'm so proud of her. I should not have dreaded this stage as I have. She has already transitioned from needing a tangible reward every time to accepting the praise as her reward most of the time. We occasionally give her a treat, but usually she is just so proud of herself she doesn't need anything else. We've also transitioned from peeing in the potty in the middle of the living room floor to potty in the bathroom and even peeing in the toilet a few times. She even got out of the tub twice this week (of her own accord) just to pee in the toilet! She's slowly figuring out the poop thing. She still can't understand the "urge" and what that is. It is so different from the "pee urge" so she goes partly in her panties and partly in the potty. For one week I'll say I'm impressed!

Where Were You?

I was teaching fifth grade at Gilmore Lane Elementary. When I heard about the first plane I was on a break while my students were at PE. We curiously turned the news on. It was after the second crash but before the first building fell. I don't remember exactly the moment that I realized that this was no accident, but when I did, my instinct was to turn off the television because I wasn't sure how the children would handle it. I turned it off, we talked about it a little and I went on with instruction. Before we broke for lunch I thought it would be important for the kids to know what was going on, in case they heard rumors and misinformation while at lunch and recess. By that time both buildings had fallen, the other two planes had crashed, and I I knew that I would always remember that day for the rest of my life. Ironically Jeanna and I had signed the contract for our first cell phones the day before, and I never wish I had one so much. I also remember reading the news on the internet for the first time ever that day. I guess those fifth graders would be juniors in high school at this point. I wonder how many of them had to write in a journal today stating where they were that September day. I think Alan Jackson does a wonderful job on this song. I would really like to hear, for posterity and my own curiosity, your stories of where you were that day and what you were doing. May God bless you, and may God bless our country.

Potty Training-Day Two

Zero accidents today. Many snacks and prizes awarded. If you are in town drop by and give her a high five for doing such a good job.

Potty Training-Day One

I bought the potty, treats, salty snacks, juice/koolaid, and toys Sunday night. I dropped them off and went to church. Jeremy set up the potty and Jacqueline was already stripped and ready. She was chomping at the bit to use it. Jeremy told me after church that she had pooped in it already and peed 3 times!!!! So, we backed up this morning and I taught about dry pants and did the whole dollie thing. It was very cute. She was totally into it. Then we did her dry pants talk and potty time right away. She loves the potty. She wants to sit on it constantly. I am worn out from talking and praising so very much. Jacqueline has got to have diarrhea tomorrow from all the junk I pumped her full of. She's had pringles, cheese puffs, m&m's, candy corn and bacon and cheddar "fries" (like the hot fries from when we were kids) I did buy her the V-8 infusion drinks instead of regular stuff. It at least boasts of a full serving of veggies and fruits. I bought the blueberry pomegrante. Not bad. I gave her 3 sippy cups full and then worried about her bowels and switched to sugar free grape kool-aid. She has had so much to drink!!!! She went about 10-12 times today in the potty. She also had about 4-5 accidents. I'm hoping those dramatically decrease. I am finding it very very difficult with Jeremiah. I feel like he's just shuffled from thing to thing. I've had no real time with him and I'm not sure how long he's eating because I'm too preoccupied with encouraging Jacqueline to do the right thing. One time she was in the middle of peeing in the dining room chair during her "reward" play time for peeing in the potty while I was nursing!!! I thought it would be a good time because she had just gone. Nope! Then, when the kids came home from school things really got complicated. I had to talk to them and look over their work. I always ask what their favorite thing and worst thing of the day was. Then had to correct Jillian for waking Jacqueline from her nap. Dinner/cleaning up, then soccer practice with a camping chair, potty chair, blanket, diaper bag, lunch bag with strawberry milk and other snacks for rewards, a bag of 2-3 toys and panties, a sippy cup, Jillian's soccer ball and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!!!!! I looked like a bag lady. Jeremy met me at the soccer field and boy was I glad to have a helper. I really enjoyed being outside this evening, though. It was beautiful! Well, wish me luck for tomorrw!!!

Rest In Peace, Gerst

Gerst was the best dog any guy could have. He was with me in Evansville, Colorado, Kentucky and two houses in Indiana. He loved Jeanna when she was my girlfriend, fiance, my wife and the mother of our four children. He loved our kids and was gentle and kind to them until the last year of his life He used to sit up in the back ledge of my Buick, until he could no longer fit. He used to love walking in the mountains of Colorado, especially on the Mesa where he romped through the most perfect fields of wildflowers you have ever laid eyes upon. He has been tolerant of children climbing on him, running strollers into him and more than willing to help them get rid of unwanted items on their plates. He was a protector of our house, even in his old age. He once scared an intruder so badly that there was a pile of bags laying in front of our unlocked back door, with two wallets an iPod and a purse laying on the counter by the door untouched. He also caught a bird that flew in the house one time, something I was very thankful for because I have bird issues. Gerst just wasn't himself the last few years though. He was becoming more unpredictable around the kids, and snapping and scratching them. He scratced Jacqueline a few weeks ago and snapped at one of the neighbor girls the other day. He never truly hurt anyone of them, but it was a matter of time before he would have. His swollen arthritic legs were getting worse and worse, and he didn't do much but sleep any more. He hated going outside even on the most pleasant days. While it was probably one of the most sad things I ever had to do, I knew it had to be done. He was humanely tranquilized and euthanized on Saturday morning. I am thankful for the time I had with him but I already miss him greatly. He was a good boy.

Sears Photos

At Sears they now give you a photo CD if you spend a certain amount (and believe me, me always spend a certain amount...) but you are able to print, post or do wahtever you want with your pictures. Here are some of the better ones:

Sears

What's Round On The End?

We are home from a wild weekend in Ohio which was a real treat. We were able to enjoy a nice visit with cousins that we hadn't seen in years adn the small town where my dad and many relatives were from. We went a tiny little festiville in Ragersville, complete with a game where you have to guess which hole a little mouse is going to run into. I haven't had a chance to really look at or crop any of the 150 (!) family pictures we took, but I went ahead and uploaded a few of them anyway just because I thought the cousins would enjoy them. Here goes:

Round On The End

Jeremiah is the youngest of all the Renner Family and it was quite nice for everyone to get to know him. Jillian and Jessica were lucky enough to get to go home to my parents new house for a few days. My sister Jessica will be coming for a visit here soon. Jenn and her husband are gearing up for a new school year just around the corner. jenn will be starting her second year of teaching, and Ronnie will be starting his first.

New Game and Update

To update you, we recently went to Gatlinburg. We were fortunate to be given a nice condo for a few nights and while there enjoyed the pools, the shows and of course, cable TV. On the home front we have been sleeping in, taking care of baby and watcing a lot of Netflicks.

Check out the new game:

Create your game | Share | Play games | Pictogame

Catch Up At The Dinner Table

While feasting on corn dogs and chips the other day, Jillian and Jessica each made a culinary discovery. Jessica mixed ketchup and mustard with her chips and realized she liked it. Jillian tried it with just ketchup. We had a good laugh and didn't think much about it until the next day when Jeanna came home from the store with something we had never seen before: ketchup flavored potato chips. They actually are not gross, believe it or not. And to think, our girls (sort of) invented it...

Little Artist

Yes, they have all done it at one point.
Yes, you have to try not to laugh.
Yes, we have similar pictures of all the kids like this....

Reading Time

The other day Jillian and Jessica were having "Rest and Read Time." This gives them the oppurtunity to keep up their reading skills over the summer, have some downtime during the day and most importantly allows us to catch up on our "24" DVDs uninterrupted. So I head upstairs to check on them and they have every pillow from our bed on our closet floor. The various belts and ties hanging down are levers which they pull to change song selection, get a hair massage, etc. The video turned out too dark to really enjoy, but it was cute enough to share...

First Doctor Visit and Baby Dedication

Jeremiah's one week check went quite well. He is back up to his birth weight and the doctor was very pleased with his pink color. We had an adventure while at the doctor with Jacqueline, the drama queen, who had to have a splinter removed and reacted as if it were an amputation with no anesthesia. It came out and life is good again.

These pictures from the baby dedication are a little dark. I am going to try to lighten them up but I thought I would post them up for now. It was quite sweet, when we were done Jacqueline thought it must be her turn so she held out her arms as if she were next. The pastor humored her and picked her up. So sweet.

Doc and Dedication

New Home Page

Check out our new home page at http://therenners.googlepages.com Bookmark it if you want a quick link to our photo gallery, YouTube Channels, etc. rather than scrolling up and down the blog pages. I have an old video on out YouTube channel that I didn't want to put in the blog because it was out of order. It was from when Jacqueline was in hospital last year. I might post up old videos from time to time and not add them to blog. We have over 240 views of our videos so far. Fun.

Game Time Part Two

Remember break out?

Create your game | Share | Play games | Pictogame

Game Time!

OK everyone, it's game time. You have been looking at baby pictures long enough, you need a distraction. Try putting the pieces of this puzzle in order to reveal one of our last family pictures taken before Jeremiah came along. Enjoy.

Create your game | Share | Play games | Pictogame

Jeremiah's First Moments

I have some video of the baby's first moments.



Scroll down the page for the photo albums

Thursday

Thursday was fairly uneventful here at the hospital. We went to bed pretty early last night, but didn't really sleep a whole lot. There were a lot of interruptions of doctors and nurses checking on mommy and baby. I slept through a few of them but also woke up for a bunch o fthem too. Jeremiah ate well today, after not eating very much his first day. We enjoyed having some more visitors today and are looking forward to wrapping up tommorrow and heading home. I actually sort of like being in the hospital because, hey, they have cable. But as nice as it is, I am going to be glad to head home. The big sisters enjoyed the visit tonight and I have a feeling that the baby will sure be held a lot once we get home.

Visitors

Check out Jeremiah's first visitors...

Visitor Gallery

Some More Pictures...

Here are a few more pictures... I asked Jeanna if she wanted company and she said 'come and meet my little boy.' So if you are in town and have nothing better to do we'll see you this afternoon....

Jeremiah Hospital 2

(For more pictures scroll down to post titled 'Baby Here' Click in middle of picture to go to abum. Click on comment to leave a note for baby or mommy)

Wow, Was That Different!

During dinner last night I knew something didn't quite feel right. I couldn't eat and we were at Texas Roadhouse! That was clue #1! When we got home I noticed that my contractions were coming one right after the other. With a storm coming on, my doctor saying that when I started it would be fast, and my hospital 30 minutes away I decided to call the doctor. He had me come in and we were in triage for about 2 hours. I walked one loop of the hallway and went from 4-5cm. That's when everything happened fast. My contractions started to gain in intensity and the breathing I learned with Jillian's prenatal classes finally came in handy! Poor Jeremy's hands, however, weren't prepared for what would ensue. I was wisked down the hall to the Labor and Delivery room with contractions coming about every other minute. I was afraid the anesthesiologist would not arrive in time. He got there when I was about 6cm. Finally some relief! I told everyone that we'd have this baby by 3:00am. The nurse left the room for a minute and said for us to call if I started to feel pressure. That took only a minute or so (the nurse later said 10 minutes). I told Jeremy to call the nurse back in. I felt more than pressure! It was like the epidural didn't cover that area of my body. The nurse told us later that sometimes when the baby moves that quickly the epidural can't take away the pain from the actual delivery. So it was back to the breathing! The nurse had just hung up with my doctor after telling him I was 6-6 and a half cm. She checked me again and I was 8, then a few minutes later I was doing all I could not to deliver Jeremiah into the nurse's hands! Dr. Farmer walked in pulling on his scrubs and boots and caught Jeremiah just in the nick of time! Jeremy cut the cord and our beautiful boy was wrapped and checked. He scored a 9.9 on the apgar test. Then I saw a look of concern on Dr. Farmer's face. The placenta wouldn't come out. He pulled and pulled but could not get it delivered. Finally he just went in after it. It took about 6 tries. Finally he was successful. All in all it was a totally new experience for me. One that I'm glad I had now, but am also glad I'll never have again! Jeremiah is a beautiful 8 pound 3 ounce boy. He is not a crier (thanks to Jeremy's genes) and is cute as a button! His first nursing session he managed to nurse for about 20 minutes! That's my boy!!! Thanks for all your love, prayers, thoughts and wishes. Come see us!

Baby Here!

Baby Jeremiah is here and doing well. He is currently eating, and doing a fine job. As only the renners can do, we have already taken over 50 pictures and 20 minutes video. We have posted up just a few, there will be more to come.

The details:

8 lbs 3 oz
20 inches long
Born at 3:03 AM

Jeremiah Hospital

2:20 AM Epidural In

Jeanna went quickly into labor following a walk up and down the hall.
The anesthesiologist was called in when the pain started to get bad.
He had to drive in and it seemed like it took forever. She is not in
too much pain at this point. Jeanna thinks the baby will be here in
an hour.

Headed To Hospital

Headed to Suburban Hospital, baby coming, will write more later...

Baby Boy To Arrive NLT Friday

Yes, we had our hospital bags packed.

Yes, we had our hopes up.

Yes, we are close than we were last time... but alas there is no baby yet.

At 10 AM today we had a doctor appointment and after he told me that we can't go camping this weekend he went on to say that he will induce Friday morning, but that we probably will not last that long. So we are to call at 5:00 AM Friday morning and come in to hospital at that time. He also stated that when Jeanna goes in to labor it will not last very long.

Stay tuned for exciting details.

No Baby Yet

We went to the doctor today for a weekly check up. Jeanna was optimistic that he would either check us in or have us return in the morning and be checked in. Instead we hear the dreaded "see you in a week" an made an appointment for Monday. So as it stands: Saturday is the due date, Monday is the next doctor apointment and next Friday was the original due date. Stay tuned...

Father's Day

Because Jeremiah is due any day now, and because this is probably the last Renner...I decided to have my sister take photos of our family today. It will be nice for each of the kids to see their momma pregnant with them and Jeremiah was the only one without. It is a bittersweet time. I have enjoyed being pregnant and it is kind of sad to know that it will not happen again. But, our quiver is full and it will be nice to start this new journey...a road that leads to "no diapers!!!" Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned as you know Jeremy will be blogging Jeremiah's arrival and upcoming news!!!

father's day blog

Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons are coming to a close. Both girls have made good progress enjoyed it. Check out Jillian on the diving board...

Grapes

Jacqueline, do you want some grapes?

Camping

Okay, this is my first time blogging...Jeremy is so proud of me! What a fun weekend we had with our dear friends by our side! The Dyers, DeGrasses, Kanes and Renners enjoyed camping and swimming at Obannon Woods this weekend and there is talk of making it an annual tradition. The kids all got along well and aside from losing Jessica for a moment all went without a hitch! Then again, it is Jessica! Baby Jeremiah even had his first camping trip as Jeanna roughed it in the tent. The big boys (Jeremy, Steve, Doug and James) took turns outdoing one another at the slide in the new aquatic center--to the detriment of the safety rope. The mommies enjoyed a relaxing day at the water's edge counting heads and boosting the egos of their men. We are very blessed to have friends with such strong bonds. Our kids are very blessed, too, to have a variety of children to play with and love. Enjoy the pictures! To view all the pictures simply click the center of the picture you see. (There are 30)

camping blog

Happy Birthday!!!

We were at the campsite last weekend so we celebrated Jacqueline's Second Birthday today. We had some friends and family over for cake, ice cream, green punch and of course lots of presents. Be sure to watch til the 3:04 mark of the linked video for a special treat...

Video:



Slideshow:



Jacquline had a blast and so did we. Thanks to all who came, and also to those sent wishes to our little angel. She is sure blessed to have such loving friends and family in her life.

Summer Vacation

Less than a full day into 'official' summer vacation and we have already been camping, to the pool, the library and a movie and a half into out NetFlix queue...

We had a great time camping and the new pool at Obanon woods is terrific. Among the highlights of the weekend were two new waterslides at the pool, a real live bat in our friends' camper and making S'more sandwiches in the fire.

The big girls started swim lessons today and did terrific. They will go for 15 lessons, one hour a day and I ma sure they will be real live swimmers in no time. They both are doing the summer reading program at the library and Jillian has already earned her first round of prizes, including baseball tickets!

Jeanna and I signed up for NetFlix and watched a movie and a half today. Pretty soon it will be time to rearrange furniture and get ready for Baby.

Pictures We Love

Here are some photos Jeanna selected from our library to add to her screen saver. They are in no real order and are just some pictures she really liked. She selected such good ones I added them to my new computer and thought you would like to view them too.

Hope Mother's Day was grand all around. The Renners did some shopping for baby this weekend as well as enjoyed Sunday in Taylorsville, ate at Outback Saturaday and cleaned house for the nine millionth time.

Pictures We Love

Collage

I am just sort of learning Picassa... I had the Picassa plug in for iPhoto which was nice for sharing photos, and am switching (against my will) to an HP computer. I am a slow learner, however this is making it less painful. I never saw iPhoto do a cool collage like this before...I need to figure out this cool application before baby gets here... btw we are about 90% settled on Jeremiah for a baby name.
 

House For Sale

If you know anyone who wants to buy our house.. Click Here http://webhosts.cisdata.net/bin/web/real_estate?acnt=AR58224&action=ACTIVATE_FRAMES&button=HOME_SEARCH&hs_action=VIEW_DETAIL&listing_id=REATOP46070877&slideshow=1

Student of the Month

Way to go Jillian! She was chosen as student of the month. She was invited to an awards ceremony where she feasted on cookies and recieved the famous Grant Line bumper Sticker. We are very proud. Check out the photos from the day...

Student Of The Month

Easter

Hope all had a nice Easter. I am full of candy....

Easter

Home Update

Got yard barn down, 5 basement lights replaced, a 10 X 10 storage place full, house almost totally streamlined and will be putting up on market here within a few weeks.

Sorry to dissapoint but the retro cool rocker is gone. I have an equally old and stylish brown fridge that makes rocket ship noises when plugged in that is free to a good home. Speak now.

Front Runner is Jeremiah

Jeremiah is the early front runner for baby names so far with honorable mention going to Josiah and Jude.

In non baby news the Renners have started streamlining the house in anticipation of putting it on the market. If all goes well we will be moved before baby comes in June and most or all of our kids will have their own bedrooms.

Anyone want to buy a house? It comes with a really noisy refridgerator in the basement and we might even throw in an orange Lay-Z-Boy that looks like it came from the seventies but really it is just retro-cool.

Name The Baby....Continued

Keep those suggestions coming... and tune in Monday for our top 5 choices so far!

Uncle Bob

As we prepare to head out of town this weekend for my uncle's funeral, Jeanna and I are reminded again how short and precious life on this earth really is. When Jessica was just a month or two old we were in the same small town for my Aunt Ruth's funeral. My Uncle Marvin who is Ruth's son really enjoyed Jessica's company and commented about how as one person was just coming in to the world another was passing on. Take a minute today and hug your kids, call your parents and do something great for your spouse. Pray for my Aunt Barbara Coddington who will withour Bob for the first time in over 60 years.

Uncle Bob Coddington

Sept. 15, 1922 - Feb. 22, 2007
OSCEOLA - Robert F. Coddington, 84, of 10421 Lindwood Court, died at 5:30 a.m. Thursday in Healthwin Specialized Care, South Bend. He was born on Sept. 15, 1922, in Huntington, IN, to the late Fred and Edith (Frantz) Coddington. He was also preceded in death by four sisters. He lived in Osceola, moving to Estero, FL in 1975 and returning to Osceola in 2005. He retired after 31 years. from UNIROYAL, where he worked as a lab technician. He formerly owned the "Snow Peak" Ice Cream Shop for 10 years in the O/C. In 1945, he married his wife of 62 years, Barbara Hepler, and she survives. Also surviving are a son, Dale E. (Carole) Coddington of Osceola; daughter, Jean A. (Rick) Carrico of Mishawaka; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, in Osceola United Methodist Church, 431 N. Beech Road, with Rev. Jim Toole officiating. Friends may call one hour before services. Memorials may be made to Osceola United Methodist Church Building Fund or to the Alzheimer's Association. Zimmerman-Inman Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 2/24/2007.

Coddington, Robert F.
Sept. 15, 1922 - Feb. 22, 2007
OSCEOLA - Robert F. Coddington, 84, died at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Healthwin Specialized Care, South Bend. Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Hepler); a son, Dale E. (Carole) Coddington of Osceola; a daughter, Jean A. (Rick) Carrico of Mishawaka; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, in Osceola United Methodist Church, where friends may call one hour before services. Zimmerman-Inman Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Baby Boy

You find out interesting things when you have sons, like...

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a Crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not Strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy
wearing Batman underwear and A Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint Can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. Room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a Baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's Already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even Though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

25.) 80% of men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

It's a Boy

Check out the baby boy...

IT'S A BOY

DETAILS, ULTRASOUND IMAGES COMING SOON. BABY DUE JUNE 23.

Boy? Girl? Boy? Girl?

Believe it or not we are breaking with tradition... Yes we are going to find out whether it is a boy or girl on Tuesday. Stay tuned.

Jeremiah...A Baby Name?

"Post A Comment" and keep those suggestions coming...we aren't above auctioning off naming rights...

Grumpy Baby

Jacqueline was a little grumpy (okay, she screamed at the top of her lungs) upon coming out of anesthesia but she is getting better already. The surgery was less than 15 minutes and hopefully her ear infections will be less frequent and less serious going forward. We were home by 10:30 and she's eating, playing.

Ear Tubes Thursday

Jacqueline will be getting her ear tubes on Thursday. We have to call the night before to get an actual surgery time. We will be in and out; not like with Jessica when she also got her head operated on while getting ear tubes. I think it takes like ten minutes once there under. I am going to see if I can watch, maybe do the next one on my own.

Skating

The videos turned out way better than the pictures... but here goes. We had a good time skating. This is out of order, I think we did this on New Year's Day.

Skating

Ear Tubes

Jacqueline will be getting ear tubes on Feb. 8. It will be the same doctor who did the other girls. She'll be at Kosair, we'll know the time the day before. We will not be at the hospital very long.

Name The Baby

Due Date: June 29

Add a "comment" and help name the baby. Has to be initials J and D

Jacqueline's Ears

Why are kids so cute when they are asleep? Jacqueline will be going to the ENT Wednesday, she will more than likely be gettign an appointment to get ear tubes... We will keep everyone posted..