"Talkin' bout my girl, my girl"

Madi Marie

I'm so thankful to my Lord for giving us a little girl amongst all the silly boys in our home. She has been such a delight to our family! I had always pictured myself having four boys, no girls. But I sure am glad God gave us one! She is the girlyest girl you could get. She LOVES her babies. Feeding them, rocking them, putting them to bed, taking them for a walk, you name it she does it with her babies. She said she wants a "dirl" baby when she grows up and she'll come visit me at my house!! (sniff sniff) "Not to soon baby girl".

When I think back on July 25, 2005 I can't help but smile. My due date was July 20th. We were greatly anticipating the arrival of baby number 4! For her three older brothers we found out the gender during their ultrasounds.

But with her we DIDN'T want to know! Frankly I was POSITIVE she was a boy. That's what we knew how to make! So her name was to be Jacob William Russell, little did we know that God was going to give us "Jacob William Russell" just not for another two years! So during the ultrasound I kept looking away, like I would really be able to tell with a glance! It was nearing my due date and I couldn't wait to deliver I was very uncomfortable the closer I got to the my pregnancy. I thought for sure she was just going to drop out of me at any moment as the pain in my pelvis was something fierce for sure!! On Wed the 20th (my due date) I was having a friend over and was trying to get the dishes in the dishwasher before she came. As I was loading I felt a sharp pain on the top of my tummy. I pulled a muscle. It started getting worse and by the time my friend arrived I was on the couch and could not move much without it hurting badly! Of course it started my contractions and that was very painful plus the fact that my muscles were stretched as far as they could go. So I was praying that I wouldn't go into labor because I knew it would be more than I could bear! As the next few days went by the pain lessened. The following Monday happened to be the first day of the boys' swim lessons! We planned on going swimming after lessons but it didn't work out so we opted to go home for a nap! I no more got the boys in bed and go to lay down for nap and my water breaks! Braden seemed a little frightened when I told him to go get a towel for me! I immediately called Ben then my sister-in-law. She came to sit with the kids til my step mom got there. It was 3:30pm when we arrived at the hospital and my labor kicked in fast! I tried the birth ball and couldn't handle the pressure, and pressing on my lower back was unbearable too! I succumbed to the fact (so I thought) that I could not and did not want to go through with this any longer! I decided to lay down on the bed and my contractions sped up and a few came in doubles through transition! OUCH!! I was ready to push and when her head was out I didn't believe them! The very next contraction out she came. I was so exhausted I didn't even look down at her. Once we saw it was a girl we were ecstatic! I couldn't believe we had a daughter!! I Love you so much my little Madi!! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for your life!

My Jakey!!!

I cannot believe Jakey's already two! He has definitely surprised us time and time again with his antics, sudden aggressiveness, and sweetness. The first surprise was the fact that he was joining our family! Back in Oct of '06 I got my wisdom teeth out. Now you may be wondering what in the world my teeth have to do with getting pregnant but bear with me! If you know the female body very well at all you may know that some things including, stress-medication-medical procedures, can cause a woman's body to delay ovulation! Well you guessed it, I ovulated about eleven days late and subsequently got Jake!! Overall my pregnancy was ok except for the morning sickness! YUK!!
My due date was July 19th 2007. In preparing for his arrival we had to move the three boys downstairs in order to have a room for him, which was to serve as the schoolroom too! We finished their room downstairs in record time thanks to my wonderful husband and my awesome little brother! I felt great at the end of my pregnancy and remember praying for another week, a few times, because I wasn't ready for him! I had school planning to do and finishing touches on the basement! Well God answered my prayer and he came three days late! Yeah!!! It was a Sunday morning at 7:30am when my water broke at home! I wasn't contracting but we wanted to get to the hospital quickly since my labors are fast! So we arrive at the hospital and I'm still not contracting, maybe every 10-15min or so but none strong enough to notice. Now the was race is on to get my body going. We tried walking, squatting, relaxing, and everything else we could think of to get some contractions coming! The hospital staff was wanting to put me on pitocin and I did not want it at all!! Well after eight hours of nothing happening I agreed to some pitocin but I wanted to be in charge of how often they increased the dosage. The contractions were surprisingly controlled, unlike my last two labors. Once I was in a good pattern we lowered the pitocin and my body took over! It was very tough but God is gracious and I didn't die!! As I thought I might!! I'm happy to say that after 11 hours and 3 minutes since my water broke Jacob William Russell graced us with his arrival at 7:03pm weighing in at 8lb 5oz!

I am overcome with emotion as I look into this little guys eyes! At the boys' soccer practice last week he was, well, being "Jakey". So I told him we were going to walk over to the park to go play on the slides! At first he didn't want to because daddy was playing with the boys and he wanted daddy, but then he took a second look and thought it good to go and slide. While walking I had to keep calling him along (he tends to get a bit distracted by puppies and airplanes!). Once he saw the bright red and yellow slides his face lit up like the sun and started full speed ahead with his sights focused in on his target! I cannot express the emotion I felt when I saw his face looking up at me in excitement! I truly am blessed to have this little one. With tears in my eyes I ran with him to the slides giving thanks to God for even the little moments in life with my 'sweet' little Jakey!! I love you son and am praying for your salvation even now!! My God be glorified in your eventful life!!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Vacation Pics- Utah week !

Madi modeling her new outfit from Grandma!

We were so excited to be at Grandma's house!!! We were singin', dancin', jumpin' and cleanin' for g-ma!!!

YEAH!!


Dancin'

and Cleanin'


The Discovery Children's Museum in Salt Lake City

Cruisin'


Gabe & Jake goin' for a ride!


Of coarse Jake found the water!

Gabe and Ethan playing in the house!


Our mailman!



Two of the Children's Museum's employees offered to play four square with Braden and Gabe! They had a blast



Two future pilots!


Hanging out on the porch!

Day at IKEA!

Such a fun store!! I could get in trouble there!!

Death is not Dying! MUST SEE!!

Rachel Barkay lived just 37 years on this earth and is now seeing Jesus in all His glory! She was a wife and mother of 2 little ones, and battled cancer for 5 years. This a must see testimony of what it looks like to have saving faith, which truly shines in darkness!!

Do schools kill creativity?

Wordless Wednesday

Vacation Pics- The drive

Well it's been over a month now and it's about time I share a bit about our vacation to Utah and California!

For starters the drive to Utah went great! The kids were well behaved and had fun (well at least on day one). On the second day they were getting a little tired of being crammed in the back of the van!! But no real problems just a little personal space issues! :-)

The kids fully immersed in a dvd!

Madi set up her babydolls to watch too!



Jakey broke down in Runza when we stopped for lunch on day one! He was virtually unconsolable! Until we gave him the go ahead to eat only ketchup from the cup! Look at that tear!!