Pregnancy Update .... 16 weeks!

So last time I posted we announced that we are expecting twins!
Everyone has been so supportive, and it is so much more fun now that the cat is out of the bag.

So I am 16 weeks now, and a lot of people have been asking for an update!

I am definitely showing! I am wearing only maternity clothes and very loose pre-pregnancy clothes and dresses. 

I am eating so much you wouldn't believe it. I literally have to eat every two hours... and I don't mean have a few crackers, I mean full or mini-meals! It has certainly been a lifestyle adjustment. 

Fortunately, I have been feeling much better lately (probably because I am getting enough food now!). I am so blessed that the bulk of my first trimester landed during summer break, so I was able to take a nap when I was tired, lie down when I was sick, and really concentrate on taking care of myself. My first trimester symptoms lasted longer than the promised 12 weeks, but I think they are finally subsiding.   Let's just hope the migraines go away completely, too. 

School starts back soon, but we aren't thinking about that right now. 

In other news, Jason and I are moving on Friday! We are moving about 2 miles away to a 3 bedroom condo. I love our apartment right now, but it will be very cramped with 2 little ones and (hopefully) frequent visitors and support network! So as it gets closer I get more and more excited about our new place! It is significantly bigger. 

Also on Friday we find out the genders of our little angels! Everyone asks, "What do you want?" I am totally serious: I don't care! Jason really has no preference either, although I think all men want little boys. 

Here are some pictures from our trip last weekend to Mobile, AL for Jason's cousin Jeff's wedding. 

At the reception

Caswell family lunch at TGI Friday's

Anniversary

Wow! We cannot believe it has been a full year already! 

Our year has been wonderful and full of blessings. 

Our most exciting blessing is.... we are expecting! 

Can you believe it? God has blessed us with two babies! We are so lucky! 

They are "due" January 6th, 2013. BUT twins always come early, so we are expecting them in early or mid- December.

Please join us in praying for our growing family! 

Love, Kathleen and Jason (and the twins!)

Starkville and Birthdays

Stephen (The groom), Jason (My groom), and Kyle

This is on the altar during the reception. The venue and the view were breathtaking!! 

Since the last post, Jason and I were lucky enough to be a part of the wedding of Stephen Frederick and Sara Jurney in Mississippi. We decided to stay in Starkville so we could visit with our friends there.. It became evident that we left a small piece of ourselves in small town Starkville. It was great to return for the weekend. Besides, their wedding was beautiful. We had time to hang out with Fran and David, and go to the orchard, and have a delicious dinner with some dear friends.

David and Jason in the orchard picking blackberries

Lindsay will kill me when she sees this... but she was soo cute! Nice and huge with Everett!  Unfortunately, he was born 2 days AFTER we left! :(

Caitlin, Stefanie, and me! 

 So far June has been such a great month so far! Of course it started with birthday celebrations...I turned 23 on June 2. Jason is so sweet, he allowed for a full four days of celebrations. After our young adults bible study we invited our group over for cupcakes and watermelon slashes. It was my birthday so I got to choose the type of cupcakes...pumpkin cupcakes with pumpkin pie spiced cream cheese icing (so summery I know).

Birthday celebrations! Jason did the decorations himself! :)

 Friday night Jason and I went on a fun date! We went out to dinner, then to the movies. We rarely go to the movies, but we saw he movie What To Expect When You're Expecting. I was not what we expected, but overall very funny. Saturday night we went to dinner with some of our friends from his PA class. After dinner we ended up back at our apartment to finish the cupcakes and play wii Just Dance. We had a blast! Sunday I laid by the pool most of the day with my friend, Annie! A few days later I left for my hometown, Memphis. My mom is camp manager of Catholic Heart Work Camp which is hosted throughout the country. I went to help with the final preparations for camp. It was a lot of work, but I had so much fun wi y family it was worth it. Unfortunately, Jason had to stay behind to study for finals. It worked out so that he could spend all the time he needed studying. And it paid off! He did quite well on his finals.

THE Dante Schmitz- he's amazing! Check out his stuff! 

Tom is my friend from Chicago- he is a returning camper! 

 Now Jason has a week off so we are visiting his brother and sister in law in Baltimore and touring D.C. I will need to post an additional post for the trip because it is so packed with fun and touristy things that I can't fit it now. Overall, I am thoroughly enjoying my summer off. Especially now that Jason has a short break, too!

Thoroughly exhausted after a long day all over D.C.

May Findings

Alas, it is May. My "New Years' Resolution" was a flop.
Of course by now I have forgotten most of the unbelievably exciting and interesting things that my readers would be interested in catching up on. So instead, I will give you a few highlights from recent and post a variety of pictures with captivating captions that will help you "catch up" with us. :)

Jason made President's List! I may have already mentioned that to you, but I am so proud that I am not about to miss another opportunity to mention that Jason got a 4.0 last quarter.

I am almost done with school.. thank goodness! I love my kiddos, but I think we need a break from each other :).  We made it through TCAPs, and I think they did really well. They seemed to truly try. I have seen a lot of progress in many of my kids this year. It is a good feeling!
Next year my school will be doing some restructuring of the special ed program. This will leave me with the self-contained students (students who focus on academic/functional skills in a small group setting, usually significantly below grade level.) I am looking forward to my second full year- especially now that I have most of the paperwork down! :)

A few weeks ago, Jason and I went to Nashville for the Nashville Marathon. Before you start thinking, "Wow! Kathleen and Jason ran a marathon! What an athletic couple!" we went so that Jason could work as part of the medical team. While he slaved away handing out salt pockets and water, Genevieve (Mother in law) and I went to the Franklin Arts Festival. We had so much fun!

Then last weekend, my parents came in town to attend Shannon and Chris Moore's wedding. The Moores have been very good family friends for a long time. It was so neat to join in the festivities. It was an outdoor wedding, and the weather was absolutely perfect. Then we danced the night away at the Knoxville Convention Center. They are a great couple and Jason and I are so glad we have had a chance to get to know them better since moving here!

And now: Lots of pictures that help catch you up!

Jason and I at the Knoxville Ice Bears Hockey Game! 

Yep! I made homemade beer bread. It was unreal. 

Jason and I went to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

We are spreading the history!

I was born to play

Game Face

Some of my FAVORITE girls from Starkville! They met me in Tupelo when I was home for a few days. So much fun!! 

I decorated my door with motivational signs! 

Slightly more clear

After my first 5k!

Before going out after the Nashville Marathon! Eyes closed... 

Cinco De Mayo Band in Market Square

Rob Moore and me

Dad and me

Kate and me

Jason, me, my mom, and dad

Random.. Chili Cheese Dog with fresh green beans.. Dinner by Jason.. Thanks!!! :)

White Chili Recipe

Oh gosh, it makes me feel guilt when I post on here after so long-and only to post a recipe in a way that I can share with someone!
I promise all of you loyal followers (both of you!) that I will soon post a photo-and-info-rich blog post soon that will have you completely caught up with the Caswells. Until then, you will have to be satisfied with the Platten Family Award Winning White Chili Recipe.

Yes! It truly did win a Chili Cook Off!

 Ingredients:

4-5 chicken breasts
1 chopped onion-sauteed
3 cans of reduced sodium chicken broth, or use almost an entire box of chicken broth. If you use bullion cubes, you will need 6 cubes and 6 cups of boiling water.
1 can of white northern beans

1 Can navy beans

1 Can cannellini
2 large cans of green chilis
2 can of white corn

chopped carrots
1 tablespoon ground cumin (I highly suggest the ground cumin as opposed to whole seeds)

1      tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 teaspoons of black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

1 block fat free cream cheese

1 bag white shredded cheese (preferably pepperjack, jalepeno, or white mexican)


Directions:

1.     Cook chicken breasts in boiling water 45-55 minutes (or cook non-frozen chicken at 375 for 35 minutes, then shred). Shred in a large pot

2.     Sautee onion in olive oil or butter

3.     Drain and rinse beans

4.     Drain corn

5.     Add all ingredients into pot and simmer for 35-45 minutes

6.     Add one block of cream cheese- stir until melted completely (I also found that I could throw the cream cheese in the simmering pot when there is about 5 minutes left and it is easily stirred into the mix)

7.     Top bowl off with shredded cheese- and watch it disappear! 

*We always double the recipe because we never get sick of it! 

New Year

2012-Wahoo!
Look at me-posting less than two weeks after my last post. Could it be that my New Years resolution is to post more than once a month? I am not going to answer that.. because to make a resolution and not follow through sounds like failure, and I would like to just make a good solid effort and if I do it, great, if I don't-maybe next year!

This weekend we are in Nashville, TN hanging out with the Caswells, watching the NFL playoff games (let's move on from that sensitive subject-), and going to meetings!!
Jason had a meeting with the TAPA. (Tennessee Association of Physician's Assistants). He represents South College as a voting board member. Can you tell I am a proud wife?
The first week after we got back from our major travels over the holiday Jason attended a cadaver lab in Johnson City, TN. The lab went with the GROSS Anatomy class he took last quarter. I always stress the word GROSS.

Reader beware: this may get a little lovey dovey... 

While he was gone, I had to spend the whole week without him. It was rough--the first time we had been apart since July! At first I thought-"Well, this is great! I can do all the things I can't do when Jason is here..."
Watch chick flicks, read all day long, be super crafty, leave things out when I am temporarily done with them so I can easily pick up there later, wait to unpack (he likes to get it done within minutes of walking in the door-obviously I like to wait a few days..), go out to eat, eat jelly beans for dinner, stay in my pajamas ALL day, etc. 
Well, it took all of one hour for me to wish that he was there making me feel guilty for not unpacking my suitcase-but to avoid getting mushy on a blog, just know that he was very much missed.

          On the last day before he returned (which, rest assured, I spent cleaning the whole day after I got home from work) I was inspired by a story I read to meditate on the fact that marriage is to be a reflection of what Christ has done for the Church-lay down his life. In the same way we are called to lay down our lives for our spouse. As I was preparing for Jason's return and looking back on the activities (and nonactivities-see pajamas all day) that I had done for the past week, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that the things I have sacrificed, laid down, in order to gain a life of marriage and union that is a reflection of Christ and the Church, pale in comparison to the things I have gained by having a loving, supportive, faith (and fun!) filled man as a partner for the rest of my life. My heart swells with the love I have for him, and I am humbled by the thought that as much as I feel for him, Christ feels infinitely more for the least of his people. 

How great is our God! 

Happy New Year!

Seasons greetings!
Wow! December went by so fast!
My semester wasn't over until December 22, but Jason had about a week after his killer week of finals to relax. Of course, relaxing for him includes studying for hours a day, sleeping until 6:40 am, cooking, cleaning, and catching up on other things around the house. Sounds relaxing, right?

December 22 we took off for Nashville. We had an overwhelming "Christmas Eve" dinner that night, then woke up the next day, and celebrated Christmas morning!!! We got tons of great stuff from the Caswells-and Santa! Jason's parents got new stockings for the whole family this year- Saints for the boys and Vera Bradley for the girls- check it out.. SO CUTE!
After another gouging of more incredible food, we took off again on the journey to Saint Louis.

We spent the night at Grandma Dee's playing games. The next day we got to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa Platten.
Click here for a hilarious video of Grandma and Grandpa Platten and K&J Caswell
That night, of course we went to the annual Platten Family Christmas Eve Bash. We played Reindeer Games. (HA HA- see picture below!)

The next day we went to my Uncle Kevin's house for the Christmas Day party for my mom's side of the family.

Luckily the Legrands were able to meet us for lunch as we were leaving Saint Louis, for our annual Legrand/Platten Christmas lunch. It was full of laughter and good memories, and of course missing Jonathan, Laura, Hayden and the kids.

After driving to Nashville just in time to watch the Saints play, we got to sleep because we had to catch a flight to New Orleans in the morning. It was an easy flight, and Jason's Godmother picked us up at the airport. The days in New Orleans were filled with extremely filling food, fun games, quality time with family, and making memories. Jason's grandparents are such special people, and we are so blessed that we were able to spend time with them this week.
We also took a trip to Abita Springs, LA to tour the Abita Brewery. We had a group of about 25! We also went to the famous Acme Oyster House, the French Quarter, and the French Market. One night we celebrated the birthday of Jason's Uncle Dennis-and the whole week it seemed we were celebrating the exciting news of the engagement of cousins Jeff and Nadja.

The only thing at Acme Oyster House for a girl who doesn't eat any type of seafood. 

Unfortunately on New Year's Eve we had to fly back to Nashville- so we missed the Gravois family New Year Celebration. But we had our own celebration. Maybe it sounds lame to you, but we spent it exactly as we wanted... We were home by 8, in our pajamas by 8:30, drank hot chocolate, played rummikub on the floor, and watched the ball drop.

When we got to Nashville the Caswells had left us champagne, 2 flutes, and 2 Happy New Year hats. They are so thoughtful!!


2011 has honestly been the best year of our lives. We wait with joyful anticipation of all the blessings that are to come through our most Gracious God in 2012. I hope your holidays have been filled with as much family, friends, and blessings as ours.