The phone rang early when my dear Godmother called to wish me a happy day (she wisely knew things would just get crazier as my day progressed). Josh woke up and seemed perturbed I was on the phone. As soon as I hung up I received another call. After getting off, he asked me why the phone was ringing so early. I told him that sweet people were calling to say happy birthday. He looks at me and says: "Since its your birthday, do we HAVE to have oatmeal?"
Friday, December 15, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
You sing a sad song just to turn it around...
As most of you know, we had our Long-Awaited Appt. w/ THE Ped-Pulmonologist on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Sam didnt quite make it, Dirk had to take him to the ER early Saturday morning...the Er docs held him off w/ some oral steroids until Wednesday.
First of all, we are so grateful to God to finally get to see the doctor Steph and I had been wanting Samuel to see. Second, thank you, Sis for staying w/ the kids so Dirk could go. We are so thankful we both went to the VERY LONG appt.
The doctor was more that we dreamed he would be (!) and everything Steph and our FPdoc said he would be! He was wonderful w/ Sam, talked to us forever about everything even minutely having to do w/ asthma, and put Sam on many new meds.
FUNNY: Sam started his familiar cough about half-way through our visit. The doctor stopped talking to us, looked at Sam, pointed a finger in his face, and said, "You really oughta see someone about that cough!"
HAPPY: After just a couple of days we started noticing a difference in Sam's behavior and our sleep levels. The last three nights have been amazing...is this what it feels like to be well rested? I seriously think I am going to send that doctor some flowers.
HMM: The boy is feeling SO well his disobedience level has skyrocketed! I guess he's making up for lost time.
SWEET: Sam was not easily getting the hang of the new inhaler w/ attached mask. It's not as easy as the nebulizer. Zachary (our part-time son) was doing his own asthma meds and Sam wanted to be "big" just like Zach. In 2min. Zach taught Sam how to do all the meds (including spitting!) that I hadnt been able to do in 2days! I told Zach he won the award as Biggest Helper that day!
Thank you all for your prayers and concern for Sam. We are hopeful for smooth sailing ahead. Next Step: putting in the new heating/ac unit!
First of all, we are so grateful to God to finally get to see the doctor Steph and I had been wanting Samuel to see. Second, thank you, Sis for staying w/ the kids so Dirk could go. We are so thankful we both went to the VERY LONG appt.
The doctor was more that we dreamed he would be (!) and everything Steph and our FPdoc said he would be! He was wonderful w/ Sam, talked to us forever about everything even minutely having to do w/ asthma, and put Sam on many new meds.
FUNNY: Sam started his familiar cough about half-way through our visit. The doctor stopped talking to us, looked at Sam, pointed a finger in his face, and said, "You really oughta see someone about that cough!"
HAPPY: After just a couple of days we started noticing a difference in Sam's behavior and our sleep levels. The last three nights have been amazing...is this what it feels like to be well rested? I seriously think I am going to send that doctor some flowers.
HMM: The boy is feeling SO well his disobedience level has skyrocketed! I guess he's making up for lost time.
SWEET: Sam was not easily getting the hang of the new inhaler w/ attached mask. It's not as easy as the nebulizer. Zachary (our part-time son) was doing his own asthma meds and Sam wanted to be "big" just like Zach. In 2min. Zach taught Sam how to do all the meds (including spitting!) that I hadnt been able to do in 2days! I told Zach he won the award as Biggest Helper that day!
Thank you all for your prayers and concern for Sam. We are hopeful for smooth sailing ahead. Next Step: putting in the new heating/ac unit!
Monday, November 06, 2006
There is a wonder and wildness to life
The Wonder:
David (almost 9) officially "graduated" today from First Language Lessons (a two-year grammar book) to his "own" grammar workbook. This is the dear child I use to cry to Mom and Christine about: "he will NEVER read!" God is good. The boy is not only reading and doing his schoolwork on his own, he finished his first chapter book last week one night at 11pm. He came and woke me up to say, "Mom, I finished Boxcar Children! Do you want me to narrate it to you now?" In the morning, sweetie. How happy I was, I had a hard time going back to sleep.
He told Jacob the other day: "You were right, Jacob. Life IS more exciting when you can read!" Mom and Christine were right (as usual): He will read at just the right time. Good thoughts for me to remember as Joshua is refusing to memorize the short vowel sounds!
The Wildness:
Ike's head wound has healed. In its place is an (in his words) "awesomely cool scar".
This morning there was an inexplicable mad dash for the breakfast table by the 3 littlest people in the house. I guess they forgot that I tend to feed everyone who shows up at the table and not just the first one there. Poor Baby Sam got the raw end of the deal and was trampled. His foot was injured and is now red and swollen. I am not a medic...so far we've done ice and elevation and lots of Dora and Blue's Clues. The sweet guy cannot have Motrin, as this highly aggravates his asthma so Tylenol will have to do. We are waiting for SuperDad to come home and take a look. Stay tuned for the probable continuing saga of "Russells in the ER".
David (almost 9) officially "graduated" today from First Language Lessons (a two-year grammar book) to his "own" grammar workbook. This is the dear child I use to cry to Mom and Christine about: "he will NEVER read!" God is good. The boy is not only reading and doing his schoolwork on his own, he finished his first chapter book last week one night at 11pm. He came and woke me up to say, "Mom, I finished Boxcar Children! Do you want me to narrate it to you now?" In the morning, sweetie. How happy I was, I had a hard time going back to sleep.
He told Jacob the other day: "You were right, Jacob. Life IS more exciting when you can read!" Mom and Christine were right (as usual): He will read at just the right time. Good thoughts for me to remember as Joshua is refusing to memorize the short vowel sounds!
The Wildness:
Ike's head wound has healed. In its place is an (in his words) "awesomely cool scar".
This morning there was an inexplicable mad dash for the breakfast table by the 3 littlest people in the house. I guess they forgot that I tend to feed everyone who shows up at the table and not just the first one there. Poor Baby Sam got the raw end of the deal and was trampled. His foot was injured and is now red and swollen. I am not a medic...so far we've done ice and elevation and lots of Dora and Blue's Clues. The sweet guy cannot have Motrin, as this highly aggravates his asthma so Tylenol will have to do. We are waiting for SuperDad to come home and take a look. Stay tuned for the probable continuing saga of "Russells in the ER".
Monday, October 23, 2006
On skinned knees Im bleeding...
Russell update for those too far away to know what fun we've been having around here: Busy, as usual. I keep saying that. Someone needs to come up w/ another word. Im ALWAYS busy...but tire of saying so. This week was no exception.
My dear husband took Friday off of school to devote the weekend to paint sweet Steph's home. It is breathtaking, good colour choices, Steph. Many others came to help when they could...it was much appreciated. Now Dirk is nursing a couple of sore ribs after breaking Steph's entertainment center (which is a wonderful excuse for her to replace it w/ something she likes!). He was worn out and sore Saturday evening while giving Ike a shower. THEN, Ike decided to try some acrobatics in the shower....less than 10 min. later (and a whole war-zone full of blood in my bathroom) they were off to have Isaac's forhead stitched closed...the tongue is healing by itself. Pictures to follow as soon as I can pry the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bandaids away from him.
Sunday morning, just as we were leaving for church, Sam decided he'd rather not worship and throws up his breakfast. Oh well, did I really want to hear Dirk preach on being a submissive wife?!
After worship (or napping for Sam and I), we were treated to the most scruptious and LARGE Johnny Carino's feast from Steph. We still have so much yummy stuff in the frig, I wont be cooking tonight!
As most of you know, this Sunday will have been Hannah's 10th birthday. I have been dreading it since celebrating Tim's last month (they were exactly a month apart). But the Lord showed me yesterday what little blessings He can bring. On Sunday my new sweet nephew, whom I have yet to kiss and cuddle, will be baptized. The Russell Family will be celebrating (from afar) Liam's baptism and not mourning quite so much. He is gracious.
My dear husband took Friday off of school to devote the weekend to paint sweet Steph's home. It is breathtaking, good colour choices, Steph. Many others came to help when they could...it was much appreciated. Now Dirk is nursing a couple of sore ribs after breaking Steph's entertainment center (which is a wonderful excuse for her to replace it w/ something she likes!). He was worn out and sore Saturday evening while giving Ike a shower. THEN, Ike decided to try some acrobatics in the shower....less than 10 min. later (and a whole war-zone full of blood in my bathroom) they were off to have Isaac's forhead stitched closed...the tongue is healing by itself. Pictures to follow as soon as I can pry the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle bandaids away from him.
Sunday morning, just as we were leaving for church, Sam decided he'd rather not worship and throws up his breakfast. Oh well, did I really want to hear Dirk preach on being a submissive wife?!
After worship (or napping for Sam and I), we were treated to the most scruptious and LARGE Johnny Carino's feast from Steph. We still have so much yummy stuff in the frig, I wont be cooking tonight!
As most of you know, this Sunday will have been Hannah's 10th birthday. I have been dreading it since celebrating Tim's last month (they were exactly a month apart). But the Lord showed me yesterday what little blessings He can bring. On Sunday my new sweet nephew, whom I have yet to kiss and cuddle, will be baptized. The Russell Family will be celebrating (from afar) Liam's baptism and not mourning quite so much. He is gracious.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Finding my way back to you
Swinging at Papa and Granny's house. Thanks to Shelley for these super-sweet pics!
Friday, September 08, 2006
And I would walk 500 miles...for you Molly
These are the Capitol Cousins on our trip out east. Dirk and I took these kiddos to see the sights and ended up back home long before we intended. Molly renamed the city Walk-a-ton DC. (She may not be quick on her feet, but she has the Warren quick wit!) Hey, at least the kids got to ride on the metro and feed the squirrels and pigeons...the "only things that were fun"!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Prayer Request #1
Alright, some of you have asked so here it goes! I was asked once why I dont share prayer requests more often. I was stunned before I realized she was right. I guess as a pastor's wife I get so many prayer requests handed to me that are much worse than anything I need prayer for that I forget He is in the business of small things. Shame on me...
Please pray for my Dirk. He has started back to school, back to being a pastor AND a school teacher. Blessedly, he is now only teaching 4 days a week. Teaching so many classes, mid-week Bible Study, and a sermon on Sunday sure puts a strain on him physically and mentally. However, God's timing is always perfect and breaks come right when he needs them.
We have had a few ups and downs this week, ministry-wise. The ups certainly have helped the downs go down easier! He is gracious. Solus Christus.
Please pray for my Dirk. He has started back to school, back to being a pastor AND a school teacher. Blessedly, he is now only teaching 4 days a week. Teaching so many classes, mid-week Bible Study, and a sermon on Sunday sure puts a strain on him physically and mentally. However, God's timing is always perfect and breaks come right when he needs them.
We have had a few ups and downs this week, ministry-wise. The ups certainly have helped the downs go down easier! He is gracious. Solus Christus.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
A pox upon our dear Sam!
This sad-sweet face is why we have accomplished only about 75% of school work the past two weeks. Anyone ever had a child w/ chicken pox AND asthma? Yech! He calls the pox his "stickers". Dirk calls him 2-pox. Im so relieved that all the kiddos have had this now and I will never have to deal w/ it again!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Much to DH's chagrin...
...here I go. After numerous requests for more content, pictures, updates, and prayer requests, the Russell Fam now has its own blog. Dont expect too much here. Im no writer AND I have 6 full-time children and 2 part-time children that deserve more of my attention than the internet does. That being said, DH and I think that we have the 8 cutest children on the planet and love to regularly post pictures and anecdotes....especially having to do w/ running a houseful of boys w/ only one ruling princess. A big San Antonio "Hola" to you all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)