The Loves Of My Life

Big doins at our house today!

2011-08-07T02:57:00.001-04:00

The big weekend continues at our house. Today, our little chi-hua-hua boy, Smoke Edward Bones Meissner the First(He's the best, not the worst), is six years old. He came to us five years ago in Nebraska and has been a cherished part of our family ever since. Our Smokey Bones is funny, full of love and a really cool furry friend. Happy birthday Smoke!

Today is also Snoopy Boo Meissner's "Gotcha Day." Snoopy, Mommy's Miniature Schnauzer boy, came to her nine years ago today and has filled our lives with love and laughter. Happy Gotcha Day Snoopy Boo. We sure do love you!

Happy Anniversary to us!

2011-08-06T03:41:00.000-04:00

Six years ago today, my lovely bride Kim and I got married. It has been, by far, the greatest day of my entire life. I love you Dear and I'm really looking forward to growing old(er) with you. You are the greatest girl in the history of girl, the greatest wife in the history of wife and the greatest mommy in the history of mommy. You are the foundation of my life and I'll love you forever! Thanks for saying yes!!!!

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

2011-05-27T17:49:00.000-04:00

Our "Little Guy" Jimmy is three years old today.

Happy Birthday little monkey man. We sure do love you!

Here's what we look like now....

2011-02-07T23:04:00.000-05:00

Kim, with Snoopy and Smoke

Jimmy in his football hat

Me, talkin' hockey

He's a cutie guy, isn't he?

So Ronald, do you want MY autograph?

Jimmy the Hockey Boy

Snoopy and Smoke

The Meissners

My wife....

2011-01-06T13:38:00.000-05:00

....deserves a break today(And I don't mean a stop at McDonald's). She's been working very hard at a temporary job assignment and now that "permanency" she was told would be hers several weeks ago might not happen after all.

She's really enjoyed the company, the work and the people she works with, and wants to stay with this company very much.

Please pray, think good thoughts, or whatever you feel led to do, to either help this job become permanent, or for another one to open up soon.

Thank you very much.

Why Fibromyalgia Has a Credibility Problem

2010-08-21T17:22:00.000-04:00

On top of their daily struggle with pain, fibromyalgia patients are sometimes forced to fight another battle—convincing doctors, friends, coworkers, and others that their condition is real and that their pain is not all in their head.

Women suffer disproportionately from fibromyalgia, the symptoms are complex, and there is no cure. For these reasons, many patients and some doctors say that fibromyalgia is under-recognized and undertreated in the U.S.

Read the rest here.

Watching my most beloved friend in the entire world live life with this disease is heart-breaking. It is way past time for our society to understand and realize this disease is real and that effective treatment to minimize it's effects needs to be found as soon as possible.

For more information on this very real condition, please visit the website of the National Fibromyalgia Association.

Thank you.

Happy Anniversary to us!

2010-08-07T13:50:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was our fifth wedding anniversary.

Here we were on our wedding day.

Here's how we look nowadays.

Snoopy Boo is a big boy(After all, he's now 9 years old!), but he's a little dog!

Smoke E. Bones continues to scratch out a place in our hearts(and the occasional flea). He's 5 years old today!

And of course, Jimmy is as cute and silly as ever!

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon!

Jimmy is two years old!

2010-06-03T10:23:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, May 27th, was Jimmy's second birthday. Here's some pictures....

Last Thursday was my second-ever Happy Birthday. Hooray for me!

Even though it was my birthday, Daddy got me the usual for breakfast: Bananas and milk.

All done!

I'm the toddler. Gotta love me!

No matter the occasion, breakfast always ends with a cookie.

Now for some Dinosaur Train on PBS. It's a good warm-up until Elmo comes on!

Now, here's some pictures from last Saturday's birthday party....

The gang's all ready for Jimmy's birthday party.

Let's see....Nums or play? What's a boy to do?

Okay, nums it is.

NOW it's time to play!

Dis is fun Wivia!

Okay Jackson. Let's go get more nums.

Time for Elmo cupcakes Daddy.

These are really nummy!

Are you thirsty Buddy?

Why, yes I am Auntie Denise!

Back home, opening presents.

Mommy and Snoopy help.

Happy Birthday Buddy! Mommy, Daddy, Snoopy and Smokey love you very much!

New videos on Mize-o-vision

2010-05-24T20:05:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone. I've added a bunch of new videos to Mize-o-vision. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to check 'em out!

Jimmy is 23 months old today!

2010-04-27T15:31:00.000-04:00

There's no big celebration, or anything like that. We just love our little guy and want to share him with the world.

Jimmy has done an awful lot of growing since my last post. He's walking, talking(and running), loves Elmo and is a very happy little baby man. We love you Jimmy!

Jimmy takes a stroll

2009-09-30T22:03:00.000-04:00

Jimmy started walking awhile back. However, he never did so in front of an actual operating camera. Well, today, I finally got a video of him toddling out of our office. Pretty cool, huh?

This just in....

2009-08-15T21:11:00.001-04:00

Jimmy took his first steps today! I was sitting on the couch, stood him up in front of me(Jimmy has stood unaided several times in the past few days), held his Baseball Tigger in my lap, let him go and Jimmy, without touching or otherwise holding anything for support, took 3 or 4 steps towards me to get his Tigger. And he did it again a few moments later. Small steps for sure, but it's crossing another developmental milestone off the list.

We are so proud of our little Jim-Jim!

Jimmy update

2009-08-06T18:48:00.001-04:00

Jimmy is 14 months old now. He hasn't "officially" walked yet, but he's getting real close. He's talking an awful lot too(The little chatterbox!). He can say Daddy and Mommy, and he's also said book and hi. Last week, something caught his attention on TV and he turned around and said "Who's that?" He also has said "I love you" and yesterday, when dropping Mommy at Auntie DeeDee's house, he said to Auntie DeeDee: "Go to work." In the grocery store parking lot, he said "Gramma."

He now has six teeth. Two up and four down. He crawls pretty fast, also stood on his own for a few seconds. He's a champion furniture cruiser and climbs better than Sir Edmund Hillary ever did.

He's getting really inquisitive, meaning that we have to keep our eyes on him at all times and, best of all, he sleeps through the night all the time now. (WOO HOO!)

Jimmy is our little miracle and we love him very much!

"Goo Goo to the hand!"

Happy Meissnerversary!

2009-08-06T12:20:00.001-04:00

Today, my lovely wife Kim and I(Am I lovely too dear, or just ruggedly handsome?) commemorate our 4th wedding anniversary. (The actual celebrating starts tomorrow night.) She's my sweetie, my best friend, my other half and she's actually saved my life at least twice already. As that famous philosopher Rod Stewart once said:

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should I grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul.

I love you my darling!

Happy Birthday Snoopy Boo!

2009-07-19T11:31:00.000-04:00

Our eldest son, Snoopy Boo Meissner, is eight years old today! Snoopy has been with his Mommy since he was a little guy, and has been Daddy's schnauzer boy for the past four years. He is a wonderful boy, gets along great with his Chi-hua-hua brother Smoke and his human brother Jimmy and is a wonderful and greatly cherished member of our family.

Happy Birthday Snoopy Boo. We love you very much!

Snoopy and Mommy

Snoopy and Daddy

Snoopy and Smoke with Jimmy

Snoopy and Smoke

Happy Birthday Jimmy!

2009-05-27T09:48:00.000-04:00

Today is Jimmy's first birthday. It hardly seems that one year ago at this time, we had just checked into the hospital in anticipation of his arrival. Now, one year later, our little guy is a growing, happy, healthy little guy, whom we love with all our hearts.

He loves to play with his toys, our dogs are great with him and Jimmy continues to charm everyone he meets with those gorgeous bluer-than-baby blue eyes of his.

He has a growing vocabulary, four teeth and he's becoming more adventurous. Just a bit ago, he slid his fun chair across the living room floor(Pergo is very baby-friendly), and parked it in front of one of the living room chairs. He then climbed in the fun chair, and used it as a platform to climb onto the living room chair. I only helped him when it looked like he was going to fall trying to transfer from one chair to the other.(Look for this adventure on the right hand side of this site, under John's Video of the Week.)

Happy Birthday Mister Baby. Daddy and Mommy love you very much and thank God each and every day for sending you to us!

This Day in History:

May 27

1647
The first recorded execution of a witch reportedly took place in Massachusetts when Achsah Young was hanged.

1703
St. Petersburg was founded by Czar Peter the Great.

1936
The Queen Mary left England on its maiden voyage, arriving in France four hours later.

1937
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened.

1941
British ships sank the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of 2,300 lives.

1994
Nobel-prize winning dissident, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia after 20 years in exile.

1996
After a year and a half of bloodshed, Russian President Boris Yeltsin met with the leader of the Chechen rebels and negotiated a cease-fire.

1999
Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague for crimes against humanity.

Birthdays

Ibn Khaldun 1332
Cornelius Vanderbilt 1794
Amelia Jenks Bloomer 1818
Julia Ward Howe 1819
Wild Bill Hickock 1837
Arnold Bennett 1867
Isadora Duncan 1878
Dashiell Hammett 1894
Rachel Carson 1907
Vincent Price 1911
Hubert H. Humphrey 1911
John Cheever 1912
Herman Wouk 1915
Yasuhiro Nakasone (Japan) 1917
Christopher Lee 1922
Henry Kissinger 1923
Ramsey Lewis 1935
Lee Ann Merriwether 1935
Louis Gossett, Jr. 1936
Don Williams 1939
Cilla Black 1943
Bruce Weitz 1943
Bruce Cockburn 1945
Richard Schiff 1955
Eddie Harsch (The Black Crowes) 1957
Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees) 1957
Neil Finn (Crowded House) 1958
Cathy Silvers 1961
Todd Bridges 1965
Sean Kinney (Alice in Chains) 1966
Dondre Whitfield 1969
Paul Bettany 1971
Left Eye (TLC) 1971
Dre (Outkast) 1974
Jimmy Meissner 2008

Today in Music History

1822 - Composer Josef Joachim Raff was born.

1950 - Frank Sinatra made his TV debut on NBC's "Star-Spangled Review."

1957 - "That'll be the Day" by the Crickets was released.

1961 - Johnny Cash appeared on NBC's "The Deputy."

1962 - Bob Dylan released "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan."

1964 - Eleven boys were suspended at a Coventry, England, school for having a hair style like Mick Jagger.

1967 - Columbia and RCA Victor announced that they would raise the list price of mono albums by a dollar on June 1. It was the first increase since 1953.

1983 - Metallica finished recording the album "Kill 'Em All."

1987 - During a show in Rome's Flaminio Stadio, U2's sound system set off earthquake alarms in two neighborhoods.

1988 - Van Halen's "Monster Of Rock" touring festival opened at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin.

1989 - Stevie Wonder was given the Badge Of Solidarity from the Polish Labor Movement in Warsaw.

2003 - Liza Minelli sang an a cappella version of "Liza With a Z" with Luciano Pavarotti live via satellite for a charity show on Italian television. She had been hospitalized two days early after falling and breaking her right kneecap.

Today in Sports History

1873 - The first Preakness Stakes was won by Survivor.

1955 - Norm Zauchin (Boston Red Sox) got 10 RBIs against the Senators.

1968 - After 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears, George Halas retired.

1982 - Three New Jersey businessmen bought the NHL's Colorado Rockies. They got approval to move the team to New Jersey and become the Devils.

1987 - Phil Niekro (New York Yankees) became the third pitcher to make 700 starts.

2003 - It was announced that Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) would announce his retirement from the NHL the following day.

Mommy feeds Jimmy his breakfast nums.

Jimmy loves his post-breakfast snackies!

Who needs a binky when a thumb will do?

Jimmy and Mommy

Jimmy watches Mommy go bye-bye to work.

Jimmy and Daddy

Jimmy practices his climbing skills. Nothing in the house is safe now!

"Look at how I climbed up Daddy!"

Jimmy with Smoke and Snoopy

Nap time after a morning full of play time. He had to get a new, dry outfit after going swimming in the dog's water and soaking the first outfit. What a silly boy!

Happy Birthday Pookie Bear!

2009-04-20T14:56:00.001-04:00

Today is my wife Kim's 45th birthday. She is my best friend, my love, my life, my protector and the absolute best person I have ever known. Ever.

I love you, my dearest darling Pookie Bear. You are my everything and the first thing I want to see, not only tomorrow morning and the morning after that, but each and every day for the next 40 years!

Happy birthday sweetie pie bear! Thank you for saying yes!

Presenting Mr. Two Toofs!

2009-03-17T12:33:00.001-04:00

Our boy had a bad case of the crankies Sunday and, lo and behold, yesterday morning his second tooth had come in. So now he has the two bottom teeth. I guess the next ones will be the top teeth. Any experienced moms out there who can tell us, we would appreciate it.

Jimmy is getting to be a big boy! He's eating at least one meal a day of baby food now and sometimes two meals. And he's started crawling although he's still more in the "scoot" mode; he will make it up onto his hands and knees and go forward a little bit.

Jimmy is into everything so now we have to watch him like a hawk. It will certainly be a lot of fun when he starts walking. He is also every inch a boy. Trying to dress him or change his diaper is like trying to wrestle Jell-o; he's a wiggle worm. It's just so much fun watching his personality emerge every day as he goes from being a baby to being a little boy!

Love,
Kim, John, Jimmy, Snoopy & Smoke

He did it!

2009-01-07T19:23:00.001-05:00

Early this evening, as I was sitting in my chair, Jimmy was facing me while bouncing in his horsey bouncer. After gurgling out something that kinda sounded like Daddy, he looked straight at me and said(and I quote):

"Da Da!"

Boy, did that ever make me feel special!

I love you Jimmy!!!!

Merry Christmas from Jimmy

2008-12-25T22:18:00.000-05:00

Hewwo evwebuddy! My name is Jimmy! I will be 7 mumfs owd on Satuwday. Tooday is my fuwst Kwismus. Mommy an' Daddy haz towded me dat it's Jeezuz birfday. I wuv Jeezuz! I bewong to him. Mommy sez dat wen I is a yeaw owd I gets to hav a birfday partee too but it won't be as big as Jeezuz birfday. Dat's okay. Jeezuz is weal speshul so I fink evwebuddy shud cewebwate his birfday.

I has had a qwiut day wif Mommy an' Daddy an' da puppees. I has eetud my bottul an' sum babee cewyul. Mommy an' Daddy had big peepuw fud. I has takeded a cupa naps too. Mommy an' Daddy gotted me cwose dat say "Babee's fuwst Kwismus". I stiw a widdle guy but I fink I wike dis Kwismus. I weawwy wike aw da bwite wites! An' I wike sayeeng Happee Birfday to Jeezuz!

My nek pwobwum is geting beddew. Mommy an' Daddy stwech my nek free ow fow times a day. I don't wike it cuz it huwts an' I cwy. Dey aways tew me dey is sowwy. I wish dey wudunt do it but Mommy sez it makes my nek beddew. I hope my nek is aw beddew soon so dey stop doing it. It huwts!

I fink I gonna get a toof soon. An' I has stawted to tawk! Mommy an' Daddy sez dat I gonna say my fuwst wud soon. I can say sumfing dat sownds wike da-da an' ga-ga an' sum uvur sownds. Daddy cant wate fow me to wook at him and say da-da. Daddy awso wantz me to say ma-ma. I wuk on dat!

Happee Birfday Jeezuz! I wuv yew!

An' I wuv aw uv yew too!

Wuv,
Jimmy

Mewwy Cwismus evwybuddy!

Time for pwesints Mommy!

Playing "It's A Wonderful Life" for Jimmy.

The cutest Christmas baby in town!

Our best Christmas present of all, even though we opened him seven months ago.

Snoopy and Smoke get presents too!

Snoopy and Smoke help Jimmy unwrap presents.

Jimmy gots lots of nice clothes.

Mommy shows Jimmy and the boys the animal book.

Mommy shows Jimmy the Baby Jesus.

Jimmy's BIG day!

2008-11-03T00:13:00.001-05:00

Today was the day! James Harper Meissner was baptized into the family of God at the 10:00 service this morning at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. One of my best friends, Debbie, Jimmy's godmother, came up from Florida this weekend. We had a great time. Here are Jimmy's impressions of the day:

Hewwo, evwebuddy! My name is Jimmy. I am 5 mumfs owd. I had wots of fun dis weekind. My Ant Deedee comed up fwum da pwace wewe Mommy koms fwum cawed Fworda. Her is wots and wots of fun. Her pwayed wif me an' feeded me an' changeded my didees. I weawwy wuv hew!

Toodae wuz a speshul day fow me. I gotted baptizedud an' I bewong to Jeezuz fowevew an' evew! We gotted to wok in behyn da cwoss in fwunt uv da kwier. Mommy cawed it da pwosesun. We gotted do sit in da fwunt wow uv da chuwch an' aftew Favuw Bwian pweeched da surmun Mommy an' Daddy an' Ant Deedee gotted up wif me in fwunt uv da chuwch an' dey maded pwomusus to Jeezuz to ways me as a Kwischun. Den we woktud to da bak uv da chuwch an' wile Mommy an' Daddy hewded me Favuw Bwian poorded watew on my hed an' baptizedud me! Den he putted dis oyul on my hed an' towded me I wuz seeled by da Howy Spiwit in Baptizum an' markded as Cwist's (dat's Jeezuz) own fowevew! Yay! Mommy an' Daddy has towded me aw ubowt Jeezuz an' I wuv him cuz he wuvz me! Mommy an' Daddy sed Jeezuz sended me to dem. I'm gwad cuz I wuv dem so much! Aftew chuwch we haded a pawty fow me! I wuv aw uv da peepul at chuwch an' dey wuv to howd me an' pway wif me. It makes me feew speshul. I'm gwad Mommy an' Daddy takes me to chuwch dewe. I wike heawing aw ubowt God an' Jeezuz an' seeying aw my fwends dewe. I wuvs dem!

Dat's aw fow now. I is vewy tiwurd. Mommy sez I needs to go to bed. I don't wanna but I gotta do wat Mommy sez cuz I'm a widdle guy. Gud nite evwywun. I wuv aw uv yew!

Wuv,
Jimmy

Jimmy is five months old!

2008-10-28T11:15:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Jimmy's 5 month birthday! Can you believe it? Here is his update in his own words:

Hewwo evwybuddy! My name is Jimmy. I is 5 mumfs owd now. I is getting weawwy big an' I is eating wike a widdle bawacooda (watevew dat is), at weest dat's wat Mommy sez. I is now wowwing ovuw bof wayz fwum my bak to my tumee an' fwum my tumee to my bak. I is pwaying in my exursawser now. It's fun! I wuv to waff an' smiyul wots.

Mommy haz startud a noo job (watevew dat is) so I is staying home wif Daddy wen hez not doing hokee stuff. Day aw wooking fow a baybeesitur fow me fow wen Daddy haz to go owt uv town. Dere is a wady at chuwch dey aw gonna ask.

I is vewy, vewy exsitud! I is geting baptizeded on Sundee! My Ant Deedee is fwying up hewe fwum Fworda (wer Mommy is fwum) cuz her is my godmuvuw! Her huzbun Unka Wic cant com. We is gonna hav wots of fun! Is is gonna get to bewong to Jeezuz fowevew! I weawwy wuv going to da chuwch. Aw da wadies wuv me!

Daddy tooked me an' Mommy to a hokee game wast Fwidee nite. We went bak to dat pwace cawed Gween Bay. We seed dese gize fwum da weeg Daddy usta wuwk in. Dey wuz cawed da Gween Bay Gambwers an' da Fawgo Fowce. It wuz fun! Daddy seed sum kidz he nowed fwun da teem he usta wuwk fow. I weawwy wike hokee!

Dat's aw fow now. Daddy hasta take Mommy to wuwk so I gotta go get dwessed. I wuv aw uv yew!

Wuv,
Jimmy

Jimmy is four months old today!

2008-09-28T00:49:00.000-04:00

Here's Kim with this month's Jimmy update:

Can you believe it? Our Jimmy is 4 months old today. He continues to be a delight. He has discovered his hands and now grabs everything. In the past few days he's started grabbing and hanging onto his feet. He is eating like a little barracuda and growing like a weed. His 4 month checkup is this coming Wednesday so he'll get his immunizations and we'll find out how much he weighs and how tall he is. I look back at pictures of him when he was a newborn and I can't believe how much he's changed.

It looks like his eyes are going to stay the same bright crystal blue...just like his daddy. In fact, he is a carbon copy of John. The only part of me I see in him is the nose and chin. He's even built like his father with broad shoulders, narrow hips, long legs, and big feet. He's in size 1 shoes already. His 0-3 month shirts fit just fine for now but he still has trouble keeping his britches up (thanks to the narrow hips). He does great in his overalls though and looks just adorable.

He is "talking" to us more and more. He loves to smile and laugh. The only times he cries are when he's hungry, overtired (and doesn't want to go to sleep), or when his teething is bothering him. I think he's going to get his first tooth in back; at least that's where it feels like it's ready to come through the gum. I know it may still be another couple of months before his first tooth comes in but he is showing all the signs of teething: excessive drooling, chewing on his hands, his toys, his clothes, and me! He's doing very well sitting up with support. He's been able to roll over since he was 2 months old. He also likes to try to pull himself up when I have him in the tub. That's a bit scary with a slippery baby! He is strong and really starting to explore his world. He doesn't crawl yet but when he's on his tummy he will kick his legs and scoot himself forward. He likes to sit in his bouncer chair and play with the hanging toys. He also loves to be in one of his play gyms and he grabs and bats at the toys. I still think his favorite toy is Daddy. The dogs are just wonderful with him.

He is once again sleeping in his crib instead of the car seat. We are continuing to do the gentle neck stretches and massage with him every day to help the wry neck and he has shown some improvement. It will take time. I think sleeping in the car seat caused the problem and now that he's back in the crib that will help his progress.

Please keep all of us in your prayers as James Harper Meissner is baptized into the household of God on November 2nd. He will be baptized at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. We have been attending services there since we got here and we feel very comfortable and welcomed there. It's a small congregation and they are just crazy about Jimmy. He seems to love it there and spends most of the time looking around at everyone and everything. He likes the lights, the statues, the colors in the windows, and all the different sounds. His morning feeding tends to conincide with service times so he takes his bottle during the service. There is a wonderful rocking chair in the back of the nave and one of us will take him back there if he starts fussing. We've been asked/told not to take him out of church when he does start making noise, they love hearing him. I told them that was no problem, I didn't want to miss out on any of the service either. It's great to be in a place where we are all welcomed, wanted, and loved.

John has posted new pictures to Jimmy's photobucket account. Here's the link so you can see the latest photos and videos of the world's cutest baby: http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/. Of course we're not prejudiced or anything (much!).

It's getting late and that early morning feeding comes all too early. We'll keep you updated as to how things are going with Jimmy and with us. And we'd love to hear from you too! Stay tuned for the latest updates from the Meissner family!

Love,
Kim, John, Jimmy, Snoopy, and Smoke

Jimmy is three months old today!

2008-08-27T22:20:00.000-04:00

Where has the time gone? Little Jimmy is 3 months old today. He continues to be a delight and the light of our lives. He is now able to roll over and holds his head up and looks around. He is using his hands more and more but he still hasn't quite "discovered" them. He's also using his legs a lot more and he will try to stand up in the tub when he gets his bath. He coos at us and is starting to "talk" to us a lot more. Daddy had him laughing in church on Sunday which cracked Mommy up. People let us know they heard him and they loved it. We don't know exactly how much he weighs but he is growing like a little weed. It's amazing how much he has changed since he was born. He's a real little person now and his personality emerges more every day. He would rather be up and playing or being held than anything. The dogs are very good with him and they don't seem to scare him at all so we're fortunate there.

We've always been a happy couple and didn't think it would be possible to be any happier. But, since Jimmy has arrived, the happiness factor in the Meissner home has gone off the charts. Three humans, two dogs, five hearts, 14 legs, lots of love!

Jimmy does Lambeau

2008-08-20T22:21:00.000-04:00

Hewwo evwebuddy! My name is Jimmy. I had a gweat day wif my Mommy an' Daddy.

We awe wiving in a new hows cawed Wiskonsun now. I weawy wike it. I has my own woom at wast! Dere is a pwace hewe in Wiskonsun cawed Gween Bay whewe dey pway a game cawed footbaw. Mommy sez footbaw is da bestest game evew inventud. Daddy sez hokee is. I hasn't seed any hokee yet. I has seed Daddy do basbaw games. Today Daddy tooked Mommy an' me to dis Gween Bay pwace to see dese guys cawed da Packews pwactus dere footbaw and to see dis big pwace cawed Wambo Feewd. It's where dese Packew guys pway dere games. We gotted dere an' we gotted to watch da Packew guys pwactus acwoss da stweet fwum dis Wambo Feewd pwace. It was fun! Den we wented to da Wambo Feewd an' tooked a toor uv it. It was weawy cool! We seed da stachus of a coupwa guys cawed Curwy Wambo (I fink dey nameded da pwace aftew him) and Vins Wombardee (he wuz a koch). We gotted to see pwivut box too! An' den we gotted to go down and go on da feewd where dey pway da games. At weast dat's what Mommy an' Daddy towded me. I fawed asweep aftew I eatud. But Mommy an' Daddy gotted a piktuw of aw fwee uv us dere. Den Mommy an' Daddy goed to da Pwo Shop and Mommy botted a widdle Packews hewmut fow my woom!

Aftew dat Daddy tooked us to dis pwace cawed Tony Woma's to eat. Daddy an' Mommy had big peepuw food an' I eatud my fowmuwa. I be gwad wen I can eat da big peepuw food too. Aftew Mommy an' Daddy wuz dun wif dinnew we cameded home. Mommy feeded me agin.

It's bedtime now. I vewy tiwurd. I has had a big day! But it shur wuz fun wif Mommy an' Daddy. I weawy wuv dem wots and wots. Dey wuvs me too.

Pwetty soon we awe moving to anuver new hows cawed Mishagun. I hopes I wike it dere. I weawy wike it hewe in Wiskonsun. I hopes I has my own woom dere too. But I guess as wong as I have my Mommy an' Daddy an' da puppies I will be vewy happee.

Nite nite, evewywun. I gonna go beddy bye now.

Wuv,
Jimmy

Happy Anniversary to us!

2008-08-06T11:49:00.001-04:00

Today is a really special day, as my lovely bride Kim and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary. We're going to go to a fun park, go for a drive and have a nice dinner together, while Jimmy is enjoying the neighbors downstairs.

Kim and I were married on August 6th, 2005 at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Orlando, Florida. We have had a wonderful time together since then, with each other, as well as with our son Jimmy and our dogs Snoopy, Freckles and Smoke. We've done a lot of things and seen a lot of places and there's no one I'd rather go through life with than my Pookie Bear.

I love you Kim. You are my heart. Thank you for saying yes!

Jimmy is two months old today!

2008-07-27T17:20:00.000-04:00

Our little Jimmy is growing up! Today is his 2-month birthday. We went to watch Daddy umpire a baseball game and now we're home and he doesn't want to go to sleep. Here is life at 2 months in his own words:

Hewwo evewybuddy! My name is Jimmy. I am 2 months owd today. I am vewy, vewy helfy and happy wif my famwy. Dey weawwy wuv me wots and wots.

Mommy an' Daddy tooked me to see da nice doktur wady on Fwiday. I am ewevun pownds now and I am 22 1/4 inchus taw. I is getting BIG! I wolled ovew for da nice doktur wady too! She sez I am way cute! I did NOT wike it when da nurse comed in an' giveded me dose shots! I cwied weaw woud! Mommy sez dey are to make me helfy so I gwow big an' stwong wike Daddy. I not shur I beweev hew but I guess I do. She giveded me my bottul wight aftew da shots so dat wuz ok.

I am pwaying mowe and mowe now and eating mowe and mowe. I has sweepeded fru da nite 2 times dis week! I don't weawwy wike to take my naps duwing da day but I guess I gotta. I wanna stay awake and pway! Ow at weast have Mommy hold me!

Da puppies shur are funny! Dey are pwetty cool. Soon I can pway wif dem. I hope dey wike it.

Dat's aw fow now. I tiwurd. I wuv aw uv yew!

Wuv,
Jimmy

Jimmy at one month

2008-06-29T03:12:00.000-04:00

There's not a lot of hockey news from Meissner Central until we move to Michigan in August, so here's another Jimmy update for you. Normally, I do a bit of re-writing of the emails my wife sends out, but this time I'll let her do the talking, so you won't think I'm saying all those flowery things about myself! Take it away Dear....

Can you believe it? Little Jimmy was 1 month old yesterday(Friday). He celebrated today(Saturday) by going to watch his Daddy umpire a baseball game in Kenesaw, about 45 minutes away. He had been having a bad case of the fussies since yesterday--I think it may have been gas pains--and the car ride knocked him out. He did wake up a little bit to eat but didn't even stir when I changed his diaper. He usually complains when I do that little job. He did get a little fussy toward the end of the game ("I don't wanna be put down! Hold me!) but fell asleep on the way home. We left there around 5:45 and he's still asleep. It's past his feeding time so he'll be hungry when he wakes up. We had a good time and it was nice for me to get out of the house and do something fun. The baseball wasn't very good (American Legion, teenagers) but it was still fun.

We are all doing pretty well and getting adjusted to life with a baby. I'm having a rough time right now with postpartum depression but I'm being treated for it and John is being incredibly supportive. I'll get over it in time but right now it stinks! John keeps me grounded, especially when my patience wears thin. Thank God for him. He is an amazing father to Jimmy. He just seems to know instinctively what to do with him and how to play with him. He has no problem acting silly in front of the baby whereas I am having to learn how all over again. I guess that's the advantage of having a husband who harbors an overgrown kid in that body. It's just so sweet to see the two of them together. Even though Jimmy's eyesight isn't that keen yet after the game today when John came over to the stroller and called his name, he responded to the sound of Daddy's voice. I love it when I hold him and he just stares back into my eyes. I think we're going to have a little blue eyed blond or strawberry blond. Whatever he looks like he sure is a cutie pie!

As soon as we know our new address in Michigan we'll pass it along. Only 1 month left in Nebraska! We're movin' out of Tornado Alley! Can you tell we're excited? Especially after another trip to the basement when the sirens sounded this week. That wasn't for a tornado but we had 80 mph winds in advance of a cold front. I thought the windows in the house were going to break but they didn't. Give me a hurricane any day over this crazy weather. At least with one of those you have at a minimum several hours of warning, you know how big the thing is and approximately how long it will last, you know how strong it is, and if you need to you have a chance to evacuate. I'm not saying that they're fun (because they aren't) but at least you can be better prepared for one.

Okay, time to wrap this up. That's all from the Meissner home for now.

Love,
Kim, John, Jimmy, Snoopy and Smoke

Here I am with Jimmy before the big game.

Jimmy Baseball takes in the action.

Daddy calls a strike.

Jimmy, the future umpire in his crib, signaling "safe at home!"

Jimmy update

2008-06-17T21:46:00.000-04:00

Jimmy had his three week check up today and he's doing very well! This new formula for sensitive tummies seems to be agreeing with him; he's gained 10 ounces in the past week! He now weighs 8 lbs. 13 oz. and is growing, well, like a baby. He still has occasional periods of being fussy but it never lasts too long.

Jimmy is 3 weeks old today and he is such a joy. We never thought we could love anything as much as we love our baby boy. We are noticing that he is more alert and wants to stay awake longer after feedings. He's lifting his head and pushing up on his arms ("baby pushups") when he's on his tummy and a couple of times he's almost managed to roll over onto his tummy from his back. That usually happens during bath time or diaper change when he is NOT happy with his parents. He doesn't like being wet and naked. He is a snuggler and would rather be held than anything so we always have a little fussing when we put him down to down to sleep. It doesn't last long and then he's usually down for a couple hours. He's now going about 4 hours between feedings and every once in a while he'll go 5 hours overnight. Yes, we're looking forward to the time when he sleeps through most of the night. But all in all, he's a very good baby and the delight of our lives.

We don't have to go back to the doctor for another month and that will be for his 2-month immunizations. We want to get that done before we move to Michigan. That is set to happen around the first of August. Keep checking Jimmy's Photobucket album for the latest pictures of the cutest baby in the world (in his parents' humble opinion!)

http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/.

Love,
John, Kim, Jimmy, Snoopy and Smoke

At the doctor's office.

Having a quick snack before seeing the doctor.

Dr. Howe checks out Jimmy.

"Wanna go home Jim Jim?"

Jimmy holds Daddy's finger.

We're regular ol' TV stars!

2008-06-07T21:01:00.000-04:00

The 2008 Buffalo County Nebraska Relay for Life took place yesterday. I was the event's MC for the second straight year, a great honor indeed. It's always an inspiration to be with other cancer survivors. KHAS TV did a wonderful story on the event. You can find it on the list of videos on the station's main web page, http://www.khastv.com/. The story is titled "Relay for Life gives hope to cancer victims." With everyone's efforts, we anticipate the day when we can tell our son Jimmy that cancer is a things of the past.

On stage as MC with Jimmy.

Preparing to walk with Jimmy.

On the backstretch.

"Feed me! Feed my mouth!" Mommy feeds Jimmy.

Daddy and Jimmy.

Presenting....

2008-05-28T02:51:00.001-04:00

....James Harper Meissner, born in Kearney, Nebraska on May 27th at 7:15p.m. CDT. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 20 3/4 inches long. Jimmy and his parents are doing fine.

You can see his pictures at: http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/.

The Big Day is here at last!

2008-05-27T10:42:00.001-04:00

We are at the hospital. Labor inducement has begun and we are praying that it works, because we want to go home with our baby!

We have set up a photo bucket account to post all our pictures. You can see them at:
http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn243/jimmymize/

We greatly appreciate your prayers. Thank you.
John, Kim, Jimmy(on the way), Snoopy and Smoke

See us on TV

2008-05-26T02:27:00.000-04:00

This story appeared on the 10p.m. news Sunday night. Watch closely and you'll notice that Snoopy NEVER takes his eyes off the camera! Smoke does a good job putting on a show. Silly boys!

http://www.nebraska.tv/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?LaunchPageAdTag=News&ClipID1=2524946&h1=NTV%27s%20Giving%20Big%20Winner%20%234%3A%20Part%202&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=17033&ClipID2=2524918&h2=NTV%27s%20Giving%20Big%20Winner%20%234%3A%20Part%201&vt2=v&at2=News&d2=96134&activePane=playlist&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D8378676&rnd=22804953

And doesn't my Pookie Bear look beautiful?!?!

(It looks like my tummy still sticks out further than hers. They're right....the camera does add 137 pounds!!!!)

This linky ( http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=8378676 ) shows the written copy on their website.

http://www.nebraska.tv

Our angel visited us

2008-05-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

Our local ABC affiliate, NTV, did a "Big Give" contest, where the winner has to spend the entire prize on other people. A wonderful young woman, Monica Goodell was the winner and her plan for the money was to buy baby things for expectant parents, who couldn't do so themselves. Kim, a/k/a "Pookie Bear," entered a contest at a baby store in Kearney and that was how Monica found out about us and picked us as one of the families to help. Monica got us lots of diapers and clothes, plus some toys, a photo book, baby monitor and a bassinet that Kim really wanted. We had been quite concerned about how to get some of these items, but God heard our prayers and sent us an angel named Monica to help us out.

I was so overwhelmed by it all and Kim couldn't stop saying thank you. Thank you Monica. God used you and NTV to help us. Look for a story on NTV's 10p.m. news this Sunday. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Monica, NTV's "Big Give" winner. I think she passed inspection.

You can NEVER have TOO MANY diapers!

Monica with more baby stuff, plus the guy from NTV arrives.

Sorting out all the "stuff."

"Ain't it cute?"

Kim assembles the bassinet.

Smoke sure is excited.

So is Snoopy.

Jimmy update

2008-04-19T08:42:00.001-04:00

Kim is about 34 weeks and things are getting interesting, to say the least. As I write this(about 12:30a.m. on Saturday, April 19th), we are at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Kim had a lot of pain, so her baby doctor(little teeeeny doctor!), Dr. Schulte, suggested she come so he could take a peek under the hood. (We are still awaiting his arrival.) All monitors so far indicate everything's a.o.k. and that Jimmy isn't trying to escape early. Still looking forward to a June 1st delivery date, but we'll feel okay about things if he decides to come a week to ten days early.

Update: Dr. Schulte came in around 1:00a.m., had a quick "look-see" and prounced everything "okie-dokie," so Kim and I went home at 1:30. She's not up to going to work today, but should be okay to work tomorrow, which just also happens to be her 44th birthday! Way to go Pookie Bear! I'm very proud of you and I love you very much!

As always, your prayers are appreciated. Stay tuned for further updates as the big day approaches.

The latest

2008-02-27T23:52:00.000-05:00

Life goes on at the Meissner house. I keep busy announcing Tri-City Storm Hockey, as the season winds down towards the end of the regular season. The team is on the outside looking in at the post season at this moment, but there's still hope.

Kim has just recently passed the six month mark in her pregnancy. We learned about a month ago that we are having a boy, whom we will name James Harper Meissner. He'll have the same initials as me, plus he'll be named James, after a friend of Kim's and Harper, after my former employer at WMEL Radio in Melbourne, Florida, John Harper. This pregnancy has been extremely rough on Kim, but bless her heart, she is trying her best to have a healthy baby. I am so proud of her!

Snoopy and Smoke are such a joy in our lives. They enjoy playing with each other and are excited to have a little brother on the way. We've noticed lately, that Smoke seems to be clinging to Mami a bit more lately and that Snoopy continues to grow closer to his Daddy. There are low spots, as in any marriage, but we are as happy as happy can be.

Please keep us in your prayers, as Kim continues her pregnancy and I try to be as good a husband as I can be.

See you soon!

Me announcing a recent Tri-City Storm Hockey game.

Kim with Snoopy and Smoke

Our family is growing!

2007-11-29T18:25:00.000-05:00

Presenting....Baby Meissner!

Kim and I went for our first ultrasound today. We saw the baby and even heard the heartbeat. It was such a moving experience and we were so happy! Snoopy and Smoke are looking forward to having a baby brother or sister and we are planning to make our four-legged boys a big part of raising their "skin sibling."

Due date is May 26th. Please pray for us as we travel through the next six months, which we expect will be very exciting!

Welcome

2007-09-19T12:40:00.000-04:00

Thanks for visiting my new blog, dedicated to The Loves of my Life. You'll see pictures to the right. At the top is my wife, Kim. She is my best friend and the most wonderful woman in the history of woman. The next two pictures are of our two boys, Snoopy and Smoke. Snoopy is a Miniature Schnauzer and Smoke is a Chihuahua. They are the best of friends, who share our hearts and home. They love to play with each other and follow us around. Then there's a picture of Meggie and Freckles, my two dogs. Meggie, a Miniature Schnauzer, was directly responsible for Kim and I meeting each other. Freckles was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who came to live with Meggie and I in 1998. He became a "new" dog soon after and was a very special boy. Sadly, both Meggie and Freckles have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Then my bestest dog boy ever, Willis. He came into my life in 1981, when I wasn't even looking for a dog. But, he soon became my constant companion and my best friend. I can imagine he, Meggie and Freckles having tons o' fun together at the Bridge. I believe in the story of the Rainbow Bridge and I know they'll be waiting for me.

Come back often to hear more about my family.