Monday, December 29, 2008

Update on Grandpa Fred

Thank you for all your prayers...Grandpa Fred had a great day compared to the last four. After 4 attempts they were successful today in placing a feeding (NG) tube via his nose. And he was able to get up out of bed with the assistance of a physical therapist, dangle his feet off the bed, take some forward & backward steps and sit upright in a chair! PTL!!!

Duane is in much better spirits after today's success & knowing that reinforcements are on the way! My folks hope to arrive New Year's Eve weather permitting.

Prayer Request

My Grandpa Fred fell backwards into a snowbank on Christmas Eve & has a fractured C5 vertebrae. He was returning home late from a relatives house down near Green Bay, WI and got home at midnight. Uncle Duane was able to lift him up out of the snowbank, even though he himself had a successful prostate cancer surgery the week prior and isn't supposed to lift more than 10 lbs. In the process he tore open his incision near his belly button. The next morning Grandpa was still in pain so Duane called an ambulance, and Fred eventually went back south to Green Bay (a 2 hr drive)to the ICU. He is still there today, since Christmas, and has not eaten or drank as they have not been successful with putting in a feeding tube b/c of the swelling in his neck. He is wearing a neck collar and reclined at a 30 degree angle. He cannot take his Parkinson's meds and his hands were shaking so bad they have restrained them. He is becoming frustrated & my Mom wonders if being restrained reminds him of being in WWII...

My folks left Ketchikan last night on the ferry and will drive directly to Green Bay to be with Duane & Gramps. My Dad had just returned from MI on Christmas Day, so I am thankful that Mom is going with him for company, it's a long cold drive!!!

Please keep them all in your prayers. Grandpa has been living at home but this could change things.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I was the angel at our Christmas Eve service.
This is my Mom's friend Kristen, she helped all us kids into our costumes.
Drew & I on Christmas Eve
Christmas morning brought a new dump-dump from Santa for Oscar!
...and a chainsaw! He didn't waste any time putting it to use!
Santa brought me a Barbie & a new Barbie Bike! She how she can ride with me?

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

My Dance Recital

Backstage in the dressing room at the Opera House.
Cassidy & I dressed as Macy's Day Parade Presents.
We danced to "Jingle Bells" & had our parents in stitches b/c we were arguing over which moves to make next! And then we shook our buns back & forth when the music played Pop-Pop-Pop! It was really cute!
Flowers for a job well done.
Daddy's Girl
Family Photo (minus Oscar...he wouldn't have made it through the first act!)

Christmas Tree Hunt

It was a cold wet rainy day...even the ditches were overflowing with water!

Jasmine loved running free in the fields & even took a dip.

Oscar's new word, instead of SAW, is "YAW." And he's been using his plastic saw on our tables, walls, etc! ARGH! What's a mother to do with a little boy, that is, all boy?


The baby tree Eleanor wanted. We had to convince her that it needed to grow up a little more.


We distracted her by asking her to take our photo!



Eleanor wanted to help cut our tree down, Oscar supervised.
This is the first year we've ever tied a tree to the roof of our vehicle. We always put it in the back of the truck! Good ol' van...now that she's paid for we're going to really put her to work!All changed into dry clothes, now the kids are pleased with the annual Christmas Tree Hunt!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Sweet!

Drew & I in front of the Chrismon Tree at church.
We were SO excited to see one another after my vacation...Mom & Dad were worried that we were showing too much PDA (alhtough it was really cute!)...especially since Drew is our Pastor's son!?!
Cassidy & I at the Richmond Theater Ballet's The Nutcracker
Decorating spritz cookies
"The red hot ones are flowers"
Das Gingerbread Haus I made at school

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Santa


Eleanor asked Santa for a Barbie & a Doll. We don't think Oscar asked for anything...we were just happy he wasn't screaming!?!
The Ladies enjoying our annual trip to Oakland Nursery next to a "live" snowman.
The true meaning of Christmas
Oscar said "baby nap" to baby Jesus, it was adorable...

Oscar's First Haircut

Outside the Worthington Barber Shop.
Poppa Brian goes here so we knew Oscar was in good hands.
Locks of gold.
Daddy had his hair cut at the same time AND Eleanor was an excellent cheerleader!
He may be scowling, but that's a normal face he likes to make. Kelly the barber provided a wonderful first experience allowing Oscar to receive his First Haircut Certificate with honors! We were all SO proud of him! And now my baby looks like a big boy! Because of his height, I am often asked if he is 3...talk about rushing things, he was exactly 20 months the day of his haircut!

Slate Run Farm

Auntie Bekah & I petting one of the farms 4 Percheron (sp?) horses.
Baaa!
Thier faces were SO soft & their breath was warm.
Eleanor spent a lot of time trying to pet and talk to the baby pigs. I think she's watched Charlotte's Web one too many times!
Feeding the goslings corn, husking as she goes
Greg teaching Oscar how to use the cornmill

Fast asleep. I had to capture his open mouth, just like his Great-Grandpa Fred!
Back home the kids put the finishing touches on their gingerbread house!

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Granville, Ohio: Turkey Trot's Pickrell Fab 5
They braved the early morning chill for their annual sibling run! Poppa Brian & Oscar were along for moral support!
The girls stayed home to prepare the meal...AND watch the Macy's Day Parade!
Eleanor helping her Auntie Bekah bake a blueberry pie
Annual family photo in the front yard...it got dark on us quick this year!

Girls Day Out

The Girls on a killer tiger!
Lynn & I took our girls to lunch at the Morgan House in Dublin, a special treat as we had done exactly the same when Eleanor was only a month old!?!