An Update on Nathanael's update

It has been established by Nathanael's physician that he is to remain at the hospital until he has gone 24 hours without the need of supplemental oxygen. This means we will be staying here again tonight and he will he reevaluated in the morning. Thank you for your continued prayer

An Update on Nathanael

Originally sent at 9:34 am on Friday, July 31:

Thank you for your prayers. It appears Nathanael is responding well to treatment. He was able to come off the oxygen last night for a few hours to play with his cars on the floor but required the additonal oxygen as he slept. His breathing treatments started at two hour intervals and were reduced to three hour intervals in the middle of the night and we expect to have them reduced to four hour intervals soon, which is the final phase before discharge. There is a chance Nathanael may be discharged today, but there has been no official decision yet. I let Nathanael off the oxygen this morning so he could get up and play and he has been doing well. He still has to work hard to breathe sometimes, but has improved dramatically since yesterday. Please continue to pray for Nathanael's recovery and that he will be able to remain off additional oxygen. We are open to accept visitors. Nathanael would especially appreciate some of his friends to stop by. Please call Laura first. Thank you again for your prayers.

The Lord has promised good to me
His Word, my hope secures
He will my shield and protion be
As long as life endures

Request for prayer for Nathanael

Originally sent at 5:30 on Thursday July 30:

Family and Friends

We are asking for your prayers on behalf of our son, Nathanael. He woke up this morning having a rough time breathing. After several asthma medications at home and in the doctor's office he was sent to Kosair Children's Hospital ER. He has received many breathing treatments and medications here as well, but his lungs aren't working well enough to get oxygen to his body as he needs. He will be spending the night at the hospital and receive more treatments and medications throughout the night. The doctors and nurses are having a hard time deciding just how serious his condition is, deciding whether he needs to be admitted to the ICU for intense treatment and monitoring, or if he can be admitted to a regular room for treatment. We are not sure how long he will have to stay, that depends on how well his body responds to the treatments. At this time his condition is not life-threatening, but the doctors are cautioning us that he could make a sudden turn for the worse.

He has been a great patient, accepting treatment after treatment, being poked and inturrepted, without much complaint. Please pray for his continued good spirits with the doctors and nurses along with the Lord's healing hand to be upon his body to make his lungs work properly.

Talitha's growing

Talitha is six months old now. She has graduated to eating baby food along with having her milk. She loves squash and can tolerate applesauce and bananas. Sometimes she likes carrots and peaches, though not together probably. Next she'll try some green vegetables. She loves to sit and play, and likes to scoot a little on the floor in a circle. Though being sat on is not her favorite, even if Hannah is just trying to give her a hug.



She has taken up chatting when it's quiet, like in the video. When it's not quiet, there's just no time for her to try to get a word in with her brother and sister trying to teach her so much. Sorry for the quality, but we're at the hospital with Nathanael (first bad asthma attack) and he's sleeping. At least she whispered some too--

Roman Numerals lesson

We had our pretty clock on the floor in our room waiting to be placed on the wall. Nathanael is fascinated with clocks and what time it is. He was asking about the clock and what time it was, but couldn't see the numbers. So Forest took the opportunity to teach about Roman Numerals. As he was going around the clock-face teaching, he noticed something peculiar. Like before mentioned, this clock has been in our house four years and we never noticed this part before. Can you spot what Forest discovered while giving a number lesson?

Holton visit

Our home has never had so many visitors as it has in the last few months! After going to Texas, Laura's parents and sister stopped by for a day-visit before returning to Virginia. They had a surprise for the kids too: they brought Wembly with them.

Nathanael loved him, if you can't tell from the picture. He constantly asked to have him sit on his shoulder while he played Sequence with Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Jenn or while he bowled in the hallway or watched Grandma bowl. The poor bird just didn't know what to do with all the craziness sometimes. Hannah wasn't sure enough of him, and got scared when he flew around looking for his cage. Eventually Hannah was comfortable enough to let Mommy use her hand to pet him while he was with Grandma and she liked to look at him while he was on someone else.

It was great to have an unexpected visit from family we don't get to see often. Talitha enjoyed getting to meet her aunt and Grandpa enjoyed holding her for more than a few minutes.

We wonder who will come next?

Pretty clock

Forest got this clock at a garage sale in FL about 4 years ago. The guy who was selling it said he made it out of a slice of cypress tree. It has received a replacement motor over the years and survived many moves. The colors of the wood rings are just gorgeous. What do you think?

FL trip!!

After a long car ride, we made it just in time for dinner with Forest's parents. We ended up finding a rental house on the internet that had enough rooms and an enclosed pool and patio for the week for cheaper than a hotel room. It was great to be able to invite all the family to use the pool and outdoor eating area and hang out in a different place while the children were able to take regular naps.

As you can see from pictures on our photo page, we spent the whole week in the pool, and loved it. Nathanael loved to use just his swim-ring to swim around in the pool and jump in off the steps. Though he learned a quick lesson to always have his swim ring or make sure Daddy heard him before he jumps in, Miss Kristen, Uncle Mike's fiance, was quick to pull him up.

Hannah liked the water too, sometimes she was content to ride the pool toys. Her favorite pool toy was the panda bear that she called "Oso" because he looked like a cartoon bear on Disney named Oso. Sometimes she got adventurous and played on the steps (though she got a couple of lessons on being still on the steps too, with Daddy right there to help her upright again). Mostly she liked playing with the water out of the pool.

Talitha liked the water for a little while, but mostly she liked to be near Mommy and Daddy. She enjoyed all the extra attention from all the aunts and uncles and grandmas and her grandpa. Also, there were so many big kids to watch, with five older cousins around.

Forest and Laura even got an afternoon at the beach by themselves (thanks, Mom) and Forest introduced her to the wave-runner. What an experience! Forest likes to go fast and try to catch some air. Laura spent most of the time holding on to his life-vest for dear life, except the two times she was thrown off and just couldn't hold on any longer. When she tried driving the wave-runner, she found even more water in her face than when she hid behind Forest's back. Laura did have fun riding the waves with her husband. The oddest thing happened too--as they were renting it, another couple was renting at the same time, and they were from Louisville too! On the way to the beach showers, Forest had a surprise waiting for him, though he was totally unsuspecting. A bird came down behind him and attacked his back!! They later learned while watching other unsuspecting victims (with others who had been attacked) that the attacking birds were protecting an injured baby bird on the ground near the sidewalk.

The Lord was gracious and gave us a great time of fellowship and fun with family and friends in Florida and even more merciful during our travels. We look forward to our next trip down.