Easter 2009

Here are a few pictures from the Annual Easter egg hunt at my parents house. The other picuters are of Esther and her new cousin peter.

Easter 2009

St. George

This last weekend Michael and our friend Adam rode in the Tour of Saint George. We left Friday morning the 27th around 8am. Esther handled the drive pretty well. She got a little fussy toward the end but I don't blame her. Michael's parents were so excited for us to come and to see Esther. And Esther is always excited when anyone dotes on her. The race was on Saturday. It was a 100 miles of beautiful St. George. We were supposed to meet Michael and Adam at the finish between 1:30-2:30pm. Michael's parents, Esther and I got there around 1:40. Michael or Adam were not there yet so we walked down the street and back. Then Esther ate a few gram crackers. She was using the wet wipe to cleaning herself up. Still no Michael. It was starting to get hot so we then played in the water fountain. Esther was getting tired and wasn't so sure about the water fountain. We waited till 3:15 and still no Michael or Adam. By this point Esther was really tired so we decided to go home and put her down for her nap. As soon as we walked in the door my phone range, it was Adam. He just finished the race but got separated from Michael and was wondering if I had seen him. I explained that we had waited but never did see Michael, I was a little worried at this point. Adam said he would get in the car and back track and see if he could see him and then call me. Adam texted me about 20 min later that Michael was still going and was about 45min from the finish. I guess it was a little harder than he thought. Michael finished about 4:15. He said that the first 60 miles were fun and the last 40 were brutal. Over all they had a good time. The trip was short but worth it. We all had a great time and already miss the nice weather.

Saint George bike race

What a week

This last week was a long one. It all started actually the week before. I had been asked to speak in church last Sunday. I am not a fan of speaking in church, as most people aren't, but it was no huge stress, I had all week to prepare. I had most of the talk typed by Friday night and was planning on just finishing up early Saturday morning. At about one in the afternoon on Sat I finished and if I do say so it was an excellent talk. I went to save it for the last time and print it when our computer gave me a nice error and deleted the entire talk. After a small crying breakdown and a couple of deep breaths I called my dad. My Dad is the computer wizard and if anyone can figure where my talk went it was him. Well after an hour of trying, no talk. Of course Michael was working the entire weekend and Esther had developed a small cold the day before. After a small prayer and a few more tears of exhaustion because by now my back is hurting from sitting at the computer and being 6months pregnant, I put Esther down for her nap and started over. My only saving grace was that Friday night when I went to save my talk I accidentally hit print and the computer printed about two and a half pages before I canceled the print job. So not all was lost even though it felt like it. At about 6:30 that night I was finished. A couple of times when I tried to save my talk it started to give me that error message again so this time I just printed it every couple of paragraphs. Thank goodness we have one o'clock church. Then at nine that night Esther woke up coughing and sounded very congested. My plan was to have a neighbor watch her during sacrament meeting so that I could give my talk but now she was worse and I didn't dare take her to church. So I called my parents and made arrangements to have my dad come and sit at the house while I went to church. Sunday morning came and all was going well. Esther slept most the morning so I had plenty of time to get ready and read over my talk. My dad was supposed to be at my house at 12:45 so that I would have time to get to church. Well at 12:55 no dad. I am a little nervous by now and not sure what to do. Thankfully my neighbor had not left for church yet, so I called her and she ran over. I arrived to church just in time and there was my dad sitting on the back bench. I had talked to my mom on the phone and she relayed the message to my dad and he thought I wanted him to watch Esther at church but I needed someone at the house since she was sick. Anyway it all worked out. Someone was home with Esther and I had someone to listen to my talk since Michael was working. My talk went great. It was not too short, I was worried about filling my assigned 15 minutes. By the way my talk was on what lessons can we learn from the parable of the ten virgins, but the other person I was speaking with was assigned to speak on spiritual preparedness. So I focused on our physical preparedness through finances, food storage, and education. I know this is long but bear with me. Michael was home Monday, I had to work, and Esther continued to get more congested but was not running a fever. Monday night Michael got up with her at eleven and woke me up around one. Now she was not only congested but was wheezing and struggling to breath. So we decided not to wait any longer and ended up in the ER about 1:30. There she was suctioned out and was given an albuterol respiratory treatment and was tested for RSV. Esther's test came back positive, She has RSV. We were given a prescription so that if at any time we felt she needed to be suctioned and given a albuterol treatment we could just come to pediatrics and get a treatment. We got home around 3am and crashed. Esther slept most the day and we would suction her as best as we could at home. I did take he in Tuesday night around eight for a albuterol treatment but it did not seem to help a lot, which is very common. So all week we have been up at all hours with a coughing, wheezing, congested baby. Esther actually has been in a pretty good mood during the whole thing she just wakes up during the night because she can't breath. She did sleep through the entire night last night so I think she is doing better. I have been sick too. When adults get RSV it is just like having a cold but for babies it is a cold with more respiratory issues. Well thanks for listening. We are doing better and hopefully this will pass in another week and we will be back to our old selves.

More construction

Well we are at it again. In order for the new baby to have his own room we need to move the guest bedroom from upstairs to downstairs, this means more renovation. We have a bedroom downstairs but it needs work. It has the original 1965 carpet and wood paneling. We have taken off the paneling and knocked out the wall that separated it from the utility room so that we can make it a little bit bigger. We are also planning on adding a bathroom. But of course that's not all. Since we are doing the bedroom we mind as well do the living room too since it needs new carpet anyway. We decided this would be a good time to tear out the old brick around the fireplace and replace it with a more updated look before putting in new carpet. My dad has been a great help with the demolition since I am no longer in a position to help. I now realize where I get my love for demolition and using a sledge hammer. The Russons may not be neat but we are fast.

Michael asked me this morning if I felt any different now that we have been through the temple with Esther and I said that I felt more complete as a family and he said that was exactly how he felt. This last week was so wonderful I am having a little bit of withdrawal. Michael's mom was here all last week and she was so great at entertaining and helping with Esther that I think Esther and I are going through grandma withdraw. We will adjust in a day or two. Esther will remember how to entertain herself and I will adjust to being mom without a nanny. Michael's sister Jennifer was here for a couple of days too. We can't figure out how she got Esther to giggle so much. Family is always fun.

Happy Birthday to ME

So I have been very anxious for this birthday. Not because I am now 31, going grey, and now having to mark the 31-40 age box but because we scheduled my 20 week ultrasound for this birthday. I could not wait to find out if peanut is a he or a she. First things first. The baby is health. Everything checked out just fine on the ultrasound. Everything is where it is supposed to be and nothing is missing. So without further ado, our peanut has a peanut. We are please to announce that Esther will be having a baby brother. Michael and I are very excited.

what have we been up to?

So a couple of months ago we decided since the bathroom is in the middle of renovation anyway we mind as well add a linen closet. To do this we just needed to give up a small portion of our closet. I have been avoiding this for quite some time. I knew that it would involve ripping trough the sheet rock into our bedroom and making a huge mess. But it wasn't that bad or that messy and I will be glad to have more storage in the bathroom, and yes I still am the demolition queen. Now we just need to frame the closet and finish the bathroom. I am hoping that it will be finished here soon since we need to renovate the basement, move the guest bedroom in the basement, and renovate the what is now the guest bedroom for another nursery all by June. No problem.

Christmas 2008

This year was a great Christmas. Being both nurses Michael and I had to work some of the holiday. I had to work Christmas eve from 6am-2pm and Michael had to work all of day Christmas. So we felt the best time for Esther to open present would be Christmas eve after I got off from work. You can look on Esther's blog to see what she got. Michael got from the Kirbys, books from his childhood mostly Beverly Cleary books. He was so excited. I am sure he will have fun reading them again. From me Michael got a remote control helicopter and new underwear. It isn't Christmas unless someone gets underwear. I got from the Kirbys an awesome activity binder with all kinds of fun learning activities for Esther when she gets older. I can't wait to use it and help Esther learn. Michael gave me new pajamas and a new robe, which I have been wanting for a long time. Michael and I also got new shoes from our friends Jason and Amanda, who have been staying with us for the last couple of weeks. Michael's parents gave us our Christmas gift in November, a trip to Costco for some much needed food storage. Later that night was the annual Russon family Christmas party. The food was great and so was the company. We always do a sibling gift exchange at the party. Jill and her husband Michael had me and Michael. Michael got "The Office board game and I got a magnadoodle, I think that is what it is called. My parents have one and I am always steeling it from the grand kids to play with. Thanks you one and all for the wonderful gifts, we have and will enjoy them all. Christmas day Esther and I went to the hospital to have lunch with Michael and my mom, who was also working. After lunch we came home and both took a nap. Then we spent the rest of the day at my parents house. Christmas has come and gone and memories created. Christmas is definitely different when you have children. I wonder what traditions we will instill over the next several years as out little family continues to grow. Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year.

Thanksgiving

I thought since Thanksgiving was last week maybe I should blog something about it. I have been looking forward to Thanksgiving since the first of November. I have been craving a thanksgiving dinner for a while now. I don't know if it is the pregnancy or the fact that I love pumpkin pie and Michael's mom’s leftover thanksgiving dinner casserole. Anyway, Michael's parents came to our house this year. They arrived Monday night the 24th. We were so glad that they could come and spend the whole week with us. Tuesday I had to work so Michael's mom got Esther all to herself while Michael and his Dad spent the day doing things in the bathroom, it is getting closer to being done. Wednesday we spent the early afternoon at Costco. This year for Christmas and birthdays Michael and I asked for food storage. Since Michael's parents were here we got Christmas a little early. There is nothing like seeing your pantry full of good food for the next year. That afternoon I had my second Dr.'s appointment. Everything is going well. We heard peanuts heart beat and a small kick. I am hoping that we will find out what we are having on my birthday next month. Thanksgiving Day was a busy day. Well at least for Michael and his Mom. They did most of the cooking. I wish I could have helped more but someone needed to attend to Esther and we all know that Michael is the better cook. All I can say is yum. By the time dinner was ready Esther was fast asleep. I think that this will be the last Thanksgiving we have with the children asleep during the meal, so I enjoyed it. Michael had to work the next day and his mom was not feeling well so they left early in the morning. Here it was 9am and just Esther and me. The house was quiet and lonely. It had been a busy week so we spent the day taking naps and watching "What Not to Wear" on TV. Another Thanksgiving come and gone. We love and miss you guys and hope all is well.