We just wanted to give a little update on Stephen.  He is doing AWESOME!!!  He is staring to sit up on his own (he sits tripod style with his hands) and is even scooting forward on his belly.  2 Surgeries sure didn't phase his development...he is right on track!   He is laughing and cooing and cracks us all up when he flails his arms in excitement.  He amazes me.  He is so strong and wonderful and has the best chubby cheeks to kiss.
Tonight I teared up as I held him and prayed.  He is such a miracle.  His life has taught me so much and I am so blessed to be his mom.  Joe and I took the family to Legoland today...it was Stephen's first trip from outside my belly =0)  We bought passes 2 days after we found out about Stephen's condition.  At the time it was just what we needed...a fun distraction from a scary reality.   We easily went a dozen times before he was born and had a blast watching the kids faces light up each time.  Today we got to share that with Stephen...I smile just thinking about it.  Our family of six got to be there together.  It may seem so simple but to me that is a huge deal.  Being able to create memories together with ALL OF US at Legoland...we have come so far.   6 weeks ago he was in the hospital undergoing his second heart surgery and today he got to stroll around a fun theme park with his 3 best buddies and go on his first rides!!!  A cute little train ride on my lap and a boat ride on dad's.  God is so good.  I wish I brought my camera so I could share his smiles with you.
Our family is blessed beyond words for so many reasons and today was great reminder of that.  I remember feeling so broken 9 months ago when the doctor delivered the news about my sons heart.  It crushed me hearing that part of his heart hadn't developed correctly and that he would have to undergo multiple surgeries to live.  I can still replay that day vividly in my head, and looking back, I would have never believed my life would be filled with as much joy as it today.  I am happy, joyful, grateful and blessed beyond measure.  I have grown so much, learned a ton and look forward to seeing how God will use his story/our story in the future.
Here are a few recent photos of the big guy...next time we go to Legoland I am bringing my camera =0)

One last thing...we have 1 more week before the big Shamu & You Family Walk.  Our family will be walking with team HEART HERO and all money raised by our family, and our team, will be benefiting the cardiology department at Rady Children's Hospital.  I first want to thank everybody who has already contributed or has joined our team and will be walking with us...your donations and support mean so much to us.  Every time I get an email saying a donation has been made I jump for joy.  We feel so honored and blessed to have your support.  THANK YOU!!!
If you haven't yet had a chance to do so, please consider making a donation in honor of this sweet heart hero.  It only takes a moment and will make a difference!  Just click on the link below...it is easy peasy!!!  And if you are looking for something to do next Saturday...sign up and walk with us!!!
Either way we appreciate your support and hope to raise some more money during this last week!
http://shamuandyouwalk.org/stephenrussell
THANK YOU!!!
With Much Love
Kim

We just had Stephen's follow up with his cardiologist yesterday and everything is looking great!!!!  

He doesn't have another appointment scheduled until December 21st...that means a 3 1/2 month break!  He will go in at 6:30 that morning for a sedated echo and EKG and then if all is still well he will only be followed by the cardiologist every 6 months.  I can't begin to tell you how odd that will be.   The crazy amount of doctor visits began in pregnancy when I had to drive down to San Diego twice a week for fetal ultrasounds and non stress tests.  There were some weeks when I had to make the drive 3 times.  Then a month hospital stay, 2 months of twice a week nurse visits, monthly cardiology appointments, X-Rays, a Cath Procedure, and another surgery...this break will be sooooo nice!!! 

It is hard to believe all this little guy has been through, but through it all he has been so blessed.  We are so grateful for all of those appointments, as crazy as it has been, because we were blessed with amazing care by some truly great people.  

Stephen is thriving now.  He nows weights 15 1/2 pounds and is LOVING solid foods.  I think he is our only child who scarfed down peas =0)  Sleep has not come yet...we were up 5 or 6 times last night, but he is happy and "healthy" and we are just so glad we have him.    

I need to figure out how to put a video on here because he is a crack up.  He is loud and fun and loves to laugh.  Yesterday he just looked up at his doctor and babbled babbled babbled.  He was a crack up and made the whole office fall in love with him again.  God has given him such a sweet personality.   He is so joyful and smiley and I am just one blessed mommy =0)

Thank you for your continued prayers.

We pray that God would continue to strengthen Stephen's heart and use his story for His glory!

1st Cold

Stephen seems to have got his first cold this week.  He is pretty congested and has a little cough.  We took him to the pediatrician right away...it felt kind of weird doing so.  I would not have taken any of my other 3 in with his symtoms, but with Stephen we have to be cautious.  The pediatrician decided to put him on a 10 day antibiotic to be safe.  He even said the same thing...he wouldn't have prescribed anything if it was any other child.  So once again Stephen is a special case =0)  I am thankful they are so careful with him and that they wouldn't wait until it got worse to treat him.
Please pray that the drugs take care of this and that it doesn't develop into anything else.  He was already having a hard time sleeping at night and this has made things so much worse.  Last night Joe and I were up from 2am-5am with him...not fun.  I almost grabbed the camera to take a picture of his big smiles but I was too tired to search for it.  I look forward to him sleeping well again.  He was almost sleeping through the night before this last surgery and now things are just a little crazy.  Even just 2 or 3 hours of straight sleep would be a dream =0)  I used to be able to sleep in but now that I have kids in school I have to be up by 7 too...yuck.  This morning I was a little crabby but I have since been able to chill out and be extremely grateful for what I have.  I got to spend the morning with a good friend over a cup if coffee.  It was just what I needed.  
Thanks for your prayers friends!  We see the cardiologist on Monday and will let you know how he is doing =0)

The sleeping is getting a little better, he is waking up every 2-3 hours instead of every hour, and he doesn't always let out a blood curdling scream... so that is nice =0)  I decided to introduce rice cereal to see if it would help the sleeping situation any.  He was way into it the first 2 days but has been a little hesitant since.  I did however capture some cute pictures...

I can't get enough of those big blue eyes!  Well things are hopefully slowing down on this blog.  We have a appointment with his cardiologist on the 10th (I will post an update on it) but it will hopefully be quite for awhile after that.  He does have one more planned heart surgery (around the age of 3-5) and after that who knows.  There is not a whole lot of research since he surgeries are relatively new (30ish years).  We have been told he will most likely need a heart transplant in his 20's or 30's, but with God's grace we will take it one day at a time.  I can't thank you all enough for being a part of this journey with us.  Thank you so much for your prayers...we watched God work miracles through them.
I will periodically post updates on here as Stephen hits some milestones to keep this blog as a journal of his life but in the meantime I have also started a new blog to capture our crazy/fun life at the Russell house.  If you would like to check it out go to  www.russellpartyofsix.blogspot.com 
We have a lot going on here these days....My oldest starts Kindergarten tomorrow and our second child starts preschool on Thursday!  I look forward to capturing some of our life and sharing it with you =0)
Once again THANK YOU for your love and support.  I recently went back to the beginning of this blog and read my way through this journey.  God has been so faithful and we have grown so much as individuals, a couple, and a family.   I am humbled by our saviors love for us and grateful for his mercies.
As crazy as this road has been it is only the beginning of what we pray is a beautiful life.  He has so much joy inside him and I can't wait to see what God has in store for Stephen and his special heart.

Thank you Lord for this life, may you be honored and glorified through it.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen".

Ephesians 3:20-21