10 Months Old!

Here are few cute pictures of our 10 month old!

Reading the Bible with his siblings...such a big boy now!

Sporting his Valentine's Day shirt..."My Heart Beats...4U"

LOVE it!

Stephen is doing everything a 10 month old should.   He is constantly on the move, pulling himself up onto everything, climbing on whatever he can, exploring under tables...he keeps me on my toes!  I can only imagine what it wil be like when he starts walking =0)  

He is still quite the charmer and has a smile that melts your heart.  He has learned to give high fives and kisses and likes to fake cough squeal...he will do anything for a laugh... and his audience finds it all very amusing =0)  Sleep has yet to come but we are making some progress.  We are loving watching him grow and seeing his personality come out more and more.  He is a fun little guy!

Please continue to pray for his health.  A little cold landed us in the ER for 8 hours.  We luckily avoided a hospital stay, but pray that he can steer clear of the nasty bugs going around everywhere.  

With Much Love,

The Russells

CHD Awareness Week

Well today is day 6 of Congenital Heart Awareness Week and I am finally getting around to blogging about it.  The truth is I wasn't sure what to write.  I am still very much so in the learning phase of all of this and don't fully know what I can do help...but I do want to make a difference.  
The fact is Congenital Heart Defects (CHD's) are the most common type of birth defect and are the leading cause of all infant deaths in the United States.   Nearly one of every 100 babies is born with a CHD.  Crazy right?  Single ventricle defects, such as Stephen's, are among the most complex and challenging forms of congenital heart defects to treat.  His specific defect is rare, occurring in just five out of every 100,000 live births.  
Research is critical.  It is amazing to read how far treatment and care has come for children like Stephen.  30 years ago most babies died and now with multiple heart surgeries these Heart Heroes are reaching adulthood.  Amazing.  I want to help.  I want to give.  I want to spread awareness and pray that others join in too.  In October our family was able to raise over $2,000, and our team around $13,000, to support the Heart Institute at Rady Children's Hospital.  I want to keep that up because it matters.  Research matters.  It changes lives and offers hope.  The advancements that are being made are incredible and I pray that 30 years from now they will be doing even more amazing things for these little warriors and their families.  
So it is my goal to better educate myself on these matters and to find ways to join in and help.  I would love to do a fundraiser one day, even a simple one to start, and help raise money for the hospital and the Children's Heart Foundation.  In the meantime we will continue to cook meals and make blankets for the Ronald McDonald House with our youth group and find little ways to say thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff that have touched our lives.  
I again want to thank you all for being apart of this journey.  For taking time to read this post and learn a little more about CHD's.  And mostly for your prayers for Stephen.   Can you believe that in 2 short months he will be a year old!  What a blessing!  I have some fun ideas planned and maybe even some ways people can get involved...stay tunned =0)

Stephen doing a little research of his own =0)