Happy New Year!!!

We wish each one of you a year filled with health, family and love.

Have a Great 2008!!!

Enjoy life,

Russ & Karla

Directions

DIRECTIONS TO OUR FATHER'S HOUSE.

Make a Right onto Believeth Blvd.

Keep straight and go through the Green Light, which is Jesus Christ.

There, you must turn onto the Bridge of Faith , which is over troubled water.

When you get off the bridge, make a Right turn and Keep Straight.

You are on the King's Highway - Heaven-bound.

Keep going for three miles: One for the Father, One for the Son, and One for the Holy Ghost.

Then exit off onto Grace Blvd.

From there, make a Right turn on Gospel Lane .

Keep Straight and then make another Right on Prayer Road .

As you go on your way, Yield Not to the traffic on Temptation Ave.

Also, avoid SIN STREET because it is a DEAD END.

Pass up Envy Drive , and Hate Avenue.

Also, pass Hypocrisy Street , Gossiping Lane , and Backbiting Blvd.

However, you have to go down Long-suffering Lane , Persecution Blvd. And Trials and Tribulations Ave.

But that's all right, because VICTORY Street is straight ahead!

AMEN!!!!!

SEND THESE DIRECTIONS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SO THEY WILL NOT GET LOST.

Life is God's gift to you.
The way you live it............is your gift to God.

A few Christmas Photos

Kaitlyn's first Christmas - a perfect day for a snooze I guess!

Sydney agrees that a gal needs feathers to complete an outfit.

And Megan likes to add stickers to complete her ensemble.

Sydney had some secrets to tell Karsten.

We hope you had a great Christmas!

Russ & Karla

Merry Christmas To You!

From our house to yours -

Merry Christmas

and may 2008 be

a wonderful year for you!

God Bless You!

Russ & Karla

It's Christmas Eve!

It's Christmas Eve - all the packages have been wrapped, the cookies are made and the table is set for our Annual Open House. We never know who may chose to drop in - sometimes a few and sometimes more. It doesn't really matter - we are here to greet anyone and everyone and wish them a Merry Christmas. We will be going to church soon - to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We have had some sadness this year, we have had some happiness this year but the most important thing is that we realize that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we believe that He will give us the strength we need to get through the bad times and likewise He gives us the ability to enjoy the good times.

We should have a few pictures tomorrow of Megan, Sydney, Karsten & Kaitlyn enjoying the trimmings of Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Kaitlyn is Home - Hooray!

Welcome Home Kaitlyn!!

Kaitlyn and Grandmama play rub noses!

Mark with his newest angel!

Kaitlyn snuggles with Michelle.

Sydney and Bitty Baby welcome Kaitlyn.

Some gifts come in small packages - and this one came home from the hospital at 10 days old and 5 pounds 4 ounces. I am sure my big toe weighs that much!

We are so blessed this Christmas season!

Not ready to come home yet

Kaitlyn did not get to come home today (Sunday) as planned. During the night she lost her body heat again along with 2 ounces - which puts her under 5 pounds again. It seems her issues with controling heat are due to the placenta/umbilical cord problems. While they will continue to run tests, we think it may just be a matter of time until she can build herself up enough to be able to grow the heat containing "fats" that our body needs to self-regulate.

Here is a picture of Kaitlyn and Michelle after a diaper change. She was 5 days old here. She was out for the change and picture and then back with not only her hat (thanks to the great volunteers and nurses who knit/crochet/quilt hats and blankets for these special care babies) but her booties and 2 blankets too. You know the old saying - snug as a bug in a rug!

We do appreciate all your prayers for Michelle, Mark, Sydney, Kaitlyn and Grandmama and Papa too!

Enjoy life,

Russ and Karla

The Little Peanut

A quick update on the Little Peanut Kaitlyn. She lost more weight than we thought at first - she is 4 pounds 13 ounces which means that she lost 10% of her body weight. (Now if Grandma could do this - how exciting that would be!) She continues to have a hard time keeping her temperature up. They have started to lower the temperature of the isolet - hopefully her body will catch up and then she will move to a "crib" - without all the incubator parts. Today she is supposed to do a car seat test - they put them in the car seat for half an hour to see how they do (can't have problems breathing etc. while in that position). While we want her home - it is much better to stay there in the special care nursery than to come home and then have to go back. If that were to happen she would have to be admitted through the ER, have lots of testing (like a spinal tap) and then be admitted to the pediatric area (not the new baby area). Not what we want to happen. The doctor says not to rush her - and that is our plan too - All in God's time.

Kaitlyn in Special Care Nursery

Michelle was released from the hospital but Kaitlyn is staying. She is having problems keeping her temperature up. While in the isolet though she is toasty warm. I was glad to get to go back to the unit to see her.

Her coloring looked good.
Her IV is hooked into the bandaged arm.

She spit up some here and was waving her arm to make sure we knew. Who wants to lay in spit!!

Michelle and Mark left the hospital to go to Babies R Us to get premie diapers and some premie clothing - have to have something warm to wear until the big growth spurt hits. Then they will head back up to the hospital to feed her again.

We all do appreciate your prayers for our littlest angel - we look forward to having her home soon so we can all love on her!

Prayers Needed

A quick update this morning - Little (and I mean little - she is down to 5 pounds now) Kaitlyn was moved to the special care unit for infants last night. She is not holding her temperature - she has been in 3 blankets and a hat and even going into the "warmer" and still cannot control her temperature. She had a very rare placement of the umbilical cord into the placenta and had a bowel movement just before birth. The docs are running lots of tests on her so looks like she will not be returning home for a couple of days at least. Mom Michelle should be released today - and we all know how hard it will be to leave her there. We will have to go back for lots of little visits!

We appreciate all your prayers - will try to get a pic of her in her little isolet soon.

Kaitlyn Denise

Love the bow the nurses taped to her little hat!
Kaitlyn with her bear from Aunt Kim and Uncle Dave

Michelle and Sydney stop for a snack and a hug

Mark on video duty - thanks to a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Garon - who could not visit today due to illness.

Sydney's first time holding her baby sister - with the help of Mommy of course.

Kaitlyn and her little dolly from Grandmama and Papa.

Kaitlyn with a little bear made by Jan and Leonard Schwandt.

What a blessing she is! We enjoyed a visit this afternoon to meet and greet Little Kaitlyn. Sydney was glad to see Mommy and Daddy (it had only been a few hours but she was excited all the same!) When Kaitlyn fussed Sydney came running saying "Kalyn crying". And when Sydney cried we told her it was hurting Kaitlyn's ears and she stopped! Hopefully that will continue to work! ;-) Kaitlyn had to be under the warmer while we were there - blood sugar was dropping due to the loss of heat and the low weight. The nurse gave her a little formula also - lots of sugar in that. Sydney enjoyed giving and getting presents and was very willing to leave the hospital - she was going back to Grandmama's and Papa's to take a bath with her new toys!

Hope you enjoyed a few pictures - I could have posted all night! ;-)

Enjoy life!

Karla and Russ

It's A GIRL!!

It's a beautiful baby girl for Michelle and Mark! Little Kaitlyn was born this morning about 9:15 am and weighed in at 5 pounds 5 ounces and 19 1/4 inches. Can't wait to meet her! Pictures will be posted this evening I am sure!

We are so very blessed - 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson!!

Enjoy life!

Karla and Russ