New Challenges for Victoria

It looks as though we may now be fighting a shunt infection.  This is an issue for Gillette, so Victoria has an appointment there at 2:00 pm on the 9th...that's tomorrow.  We sure do appreciate your prayers...and will try to update when we know more. 


"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice"  Ps 63:7

Victoria -- Update

How is Victoria doing?  We are glad to report that she is improving.  She has been eating well since Sunday, and has been regaining weight that she lost last week.  We are so thankful to see her eating well.  She is having somewhat of a hard time with the antibiotics she is taking.  She has been very restless, and also has gotten a rash which is making her uncomfortable.  Apparently it is very common to have an upset stomach, diarrhea and restlessness with the antibiotic she is taking.  We are giving her yogurt each time we feed her, to help with her discomfort, and are counting down the days she still needs to be taking them.  She is on day 9 -- 5 days left.  We appreciate each one of you and thank you for your continued prayers for little Victoria!

Update on little Victoria

Thank-you all for praying.  Victoria has had quite the struggles this week, and we have been so very grateful for your prayers!!  Right now, Victoria is resting peacefully, after downing 3 1/2 ounces of milk.
She had lost some weight, but has regained about 4 ounces.  She is still fighting, as her fever begins to go up a bit if I stretch out the fever meds too much, but is making progress.  She has eaten well all day today...which is the first day this week she has been this consistent in eating well and wanting to eat. 

This is Victoria last Sunday afternoon...she had a fever already.

Victoria today...doing better...still a long way to go.

Please Keep praying.

Victoria is struggling...please keep praying.   Thanks!

Quick Update on Victoria

We headed down to the clinic yesterday.  The doctor there looked at the info from our visit the day before, and thought maybe they should check for influenza and RSV.  As Victoria was not doing well getting fluid with the eye dropper, she also thought it might be a good idea to put her on an IV for hydration as well as for some extra antibiotics. They did the tests, which came back negative, did a nebulizer treatment, and were not able to get in an IV.


We headed home, knowing that if Victoria did not begin to take in more fluid, she would be in trouble.  Gillette Children's Hospital, where we have been with Victoria was an option, but it is 7 hours away...and a hard trip in the winter for little Victoria.

We were still trying to decide about the long trip when we got home from the hospital.  I sat down and took Victoria in my arms.  I was going to give her some more fluid with a dropper, when Bruce suggested that I try with a bottle again.  I didn't know how she would do...she was getting so weak, but decided to try.  I had to force it between her gums...and there it sat.  A little dripped in her mouth and then a little dripped out.  Then it seemed like she swallowed.  I kept watching and she sucked a bit.  I kept watching for her to swallow...and all of the sudden, she did.  Reuben was standing there and I asked him to watch with me.  Pretty soon it was obvious she was actually swallowing.  Somehow, my eyes leaked...I was so thankful.   It was like it turned around right there.  Bruce had been praying specifically that she would turn the corner in her eating, and his prayer was answered in front of our eyes.  She has been doing much better...more wet diapers, the way she looks today compared to yesterday is a big change.   She is still weak of course, and is eating slowly, but she is eating.  Sometimes more slowly and sometimes a little more or less.  But I am keeping track, and we are feeding her frequently.  Sometimes it takes her 45 min to get 1 oz...sometimes she will get 2 1/2 oz in an hour.  After she eats and I check her temp,   she is having an hour or and hour and a half rest, then we begin again.  She is getting her antibiotics and we have been using fever meds, as well.  Her fever has stayed under 100 F for over 24 hours now...most of that time it has been normal...but it does creep up a bit now and then.   Her breathing mostly is not labored.  Her pulse has come down and her breathing has also slowed down.  I would not say that she is 'out of the woods' at this point, but we are so thankful to see the encouraging change in her.

We are so thankful for your prayers!  May God's blessing be on you all today!

Prayer

Hello fellow bloggers. Linda thought I should throw a quick post on here. Victoria has come down with pneumonia , and they called last night from the hospital that her blood work showed that she has some kind of bacteria in her blood. So this morning we are heading back to the hospital  in Roseau. Her fever had been really high, but last night was good. She has no interest in eating, so we are feeding her with a dropper.  Not really sure if we will end up going to Gillette Children's hospital in Minneapolis, but we will see. One thing we do know, Jesus has traveled down the road we will travel down today. So, would appreciate your prayers...also for Linda, as she is not feeling the best. Blessings on your day. Bruce

"The LORD is righteous in ALL His ways, and holy (holy, or merciful or bountiful) in all His works." Psalm 145:17

Ready for a walk with daddy.

Victoria

All dressed up for a winter Sunday.

Victoria is 11 months!!!  God has been so very gracious!  We are so grateful for her overall good health and for the blessing she is.

What a great place to be!  I sure love my daddy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Princess Victoria with Princess Esther's crown.

 

 

 

 

 

 Now for the  the youngest three of Victoria's older sisters:

Marie, Joanna and Esther...glad to be sisters!

JoAnna cuddling little Victoria.

Esther enjoying feeding her new dolly.

Sweet Little Girls

 

I know this is really poor quality,  but thought is was really sweet. Rachel began a Bible Memory Club with the little girls, and this is one of their verses. Eph. 4:32

 These next two pictures are from Hannah, taken over at the Krahns last weekend. Isn't she sweet?

Victoria with her cousin, they were just adorable together.

Victoria continues to amaze us with what she does.

With Christmas just around the corner, this just may well be my last post before that. So we want to wish you all a very merry Christmas. Please remember to adore, worship and rejoice in the gift of God's Son in all your celebrating. Blessings, Bruce

Just how much snow is a "Donut Snow"?

When Fall makes way for winter, and the frost makes the leafless trees beautiful once again, the discussion begins: how much snow does it take to qualify for a 'donut'  snow?

Will a light dusting do??  Hmmm...I don't think so...it takes a snow cover...it doesn't have to be super thick, but there must be more white than green. Yes, the above photo qualifies!     

Actually we did not have this much when we had our 'first snow' treat...but it came soon after and makes everything so very wonderfully winter.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Isaiah 1:18

 

So I thought that it would be fun to do a "Donut Post"...since we all enjoy this tradition so much, so I asked Reuben to take a photo of some donuts for me....always be careful what you ask a photographer to do!!  I thought a few donuts, a camera, a table to put them on, and we are good to go...but such was not the case.  I just had to take a few photos myself...it was so fun watching my simple 'donut photo' being taken...

First, you must begin collecting lights and background accessories.

(  :  Next, you must find a couple of willing...

.....Slaves!!!  : )

An adjustment here and there...

And let the photos begin!

"Just a little closer with the light...and now 1 more"

 A little editing and Voila!  A simple Doughnut photo!

 

And one more of Reuben's simple donut photos...these are 'Spudnuts' and we glazed them this year with about half maple glaze, and the other with a vanilla butter nut glaze.  They are so delicious...and are hard to beat when they are fresh and warm. Add a cup of hot cocoa,  a cozy fire...maybe a game, and you have a recipe for an enjoyable cold snowy night!  Thanks for the photos, Reuben!!!

Winter

Here is my snow blower hard at work. Thanks boys, you do such a good job.

 Looking outside, you would think that winter has
definitely come. It came so fast, almost overnight.
 I hate to say it, but I do love winter. Not the
blizzards or extreme cold, but winter in general.
Do you ever wonder what we will have in heaven?
Whatever the weather, it will be great.

At our house, the tradition is that when it snows, and it stays, Linda and the girls make donuts.

Esther and Victoria. Children grow up so fast , don't they. Linda took some really nice pics of Victoria, so thought I would put them on here. 

She  likes playing with these toys.  She doesn't like to use her right hand much, but she has started to use it to grab or hit the toys. Every little bit encourages us. 

As the really busy season starts, I want this year to enjoy it  as a child, with wonder, joy, anticipation, freshness. I'm not talking about all the trappings, but of Christ Himself.  May each tradition that we have remind us of Him. May the lights, the tree, the gifts, the giving, the manger scenes, the programs, all remind us of our Savior. Born under the law, who became a curse, sin for us and bore it to Calvary.  He certainly is worthy....is He not, of all glory, power, riches, adoration, love and devotion.  Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee. Blessings.