I meant to keep up with this blog to record our day-to-day activities as well as special events. About that...I got pregnant with our 3rd baby and then my brain made an official change to mush. Here is a whirlwind account of our lives since my last post:
Enjoyed the summer of 2011, went to Disney for a day (first time with the boys), went to VA for Thanksgiving, Christmas at home, January...aching feet, aching back, aching, aching, get the picture? Aubrey was born 2/8/12, Ethan played soccer on a team, meanwhile Randy is in school to become a nurse, 4th of July in VA, beach vacation to St. Augustine, started kindergarten for Ethan in August, and Jake started preschool in September.
On October 11th, Jake was playing outside with another boy in the neighborhood. That boy rode his bike directly into Jake, knocking him over in the street. He scraped up his face and elbow, luckily not knocking out a tooth in the process.
Saturday, October 13th, he hit his shin on a chair and screamed in agonizing pain. Much more than you would normally cry over a little bump. After talking to Dan about, we agreed that it could possibly be a hairline fracture from the bike accident and that it should be x-rayed.
Monday, October 15th, I took him to the pediatrician on Monday morning and she also thought it looked like a hairline fracture. She ordered an x-ray to be done STAT. Meanwhile, Ethan's school called saying that he didn't feel well and I needed to come get him. I swung by the school to get Ethan and then went on to the hospital. The results were given to the pediatrician within an hour. She was concerned that he may have an infection and wanted us to bring him to the emergency room at Egleston Children's Hospital right away. I packed the kids up and headed to Atlanta. It was the busiest night that the ER had seen in a long time (unfortunately) and we waited 4 hours to see a Doctor, had blood work, and then saw an orthopedic doctor. I took the Ethan and Aubrey home while Randy stayed with Jake until very early in the morning when they were released. Basically, the doctors had no idea what the mass on his leg was. They referred us to a specialist with a very scary title: orthopedic oncologist with a specialty in rare tumors.
Tuesday, October 16th, we received a call from Jake's pediatrician saying that the radiologist read the x-ray that morning and believes that Jake has Ewing Sarcoma.
Wednesday, October 17th, he had his appointment with Dr. Oskouei (the specialist) who said that he doesn't know what the mass is and therefore needs Jake to have an MRI to find out what kind of tissue it is. The MRI was scheduled for October 31st.
Wednesday, October 31st, we went for the MRI at Egleston and Jake was such a trooper. The nurses all said he is a very mature 3 year old. The only time he cried was when they wanted to remove a band-aid. He was too busy playing with an Ipad to notice them putting in an IV. He was sedated and the test took about an hour.
Friday, November 2nd, I received a call from Dr Oskouei's assistant saying that the results were back from the MRI and that they think it is Ewing's Sarcoma. She asked us to come in right away to see the doctor and discuss what to do next. I went straight to the office and Jake was seen very quickly. Dr. Oskouei said that he still doesn't know what the tumor is and that we need to do a biopsy next. He strongly believes that this is osteomyelitis (bone infection) rather than the cancer because of Jake's age and because the tumor is very painful. The biopsy is scheduled for 7:30am arrival time at Egleston on Monday, November 5th. We will receive a preliminary diagnosis the same day, but will have to wait 3-5 days for a firm diagnosis. So far this has been a roller coaster. It's cancer, it's not cancer...it's cancer, it's not cancer...Ahhhhhhhhh!!! We have decided to try not worry and just wait until we have a confirmed diagnosis. This back and forth is really stressful and exhausting! In the meantime we are praying.
Welcome to our blog! We are currently a family of 8: Randy, Kait, Ethan, Jake, Harvey, Shiloh, Bogie, & Tootsie. The latter four are of the furry variety :) We invite you to join us in our adventures!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Monday, July 25, 2011
VA Vacation
Toward the end of June I took the boys up to Virginia to visit the Folks. We caught the tail end of the visit that my Grandpa and Aline were making there so we were able to visit with them as well! At the end of the week I left the boys there and went to Myrtle beach for a girls weekend with Brittany, and it was awesome.
We got home from Virginia and found out the news that we are expecting another baby! Stay tuned for baby Russell #3!
We got home from Virginia and found out the news that we are expecting another baby! Stay tuned for baby Russell #3!
Jake is 2!
I am so behind (like usual)! Jake turned two last month and we celebrated by taking him to IHop for breakfast and then to the pool for a few hours. It was a really hot day but we had a ton of fun playing at the pool. We went home for lunch and cake and then spent the afternoon playing. A week later we had a party for him at our house where we set up the little pools and slip n' slide for the kids to play in. Jake ate popsicles and watermelon like it's going out of style. Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
4 Parties for Turning 4
Sorry that this post isn't in chronological order, meaning before the one about Jake's birthday...I'm a little slow.
It just ended up that we celebrated Ethan's birthday 4 times the year he turned 4, coincidence, right? We are so lucky to have so many friends and family that helped us celebrate and Ethan had such a good birthday that he's ready to turn 5. His first party was in Virginia and my parent's house. We went up to celebrate Ivy's 1st birthday on Saturday, and since everyone was together we had a party for Ethan on Sunday. His next party was at his (pre) preschool and he brought cupcakes in for all of his friends. Next up was his actual birthday which was chocked full of fun activities. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's on the morning and picked up a pizza on the way home, had cake, gave him his present ( a big boy bike), and saw Randy off to work. After nap time we went to see Randy at the bowling alley and we bowled a game. Then I took the boys out for pizza on the way home. Yes, pizza for two meals in a row per Ethan's request. I am not complaining. We may have watched Toy Story 3 when we got home. I don't know, I was in a pizza coma. His 4th and final was a Toy Story carnival themed party the next Saturday, and it was awesome. We rented a bouncy house, had face-painting, a clown, a pinata, basketball game, bean bag toss game, pin the tail on the donkey, food, & cake. At one point Christina told me that Ethan was on his 4th plate of popcorn, m&ms, and cookies. It was that kind of party. Here are a handful of pictures from all of the parties. Thanks to everyone who made his birthday special for him.
It just ended up that we celebrated Ethan's birthday 4 times the year he turned 4, coincidence, right? We are so lucky to have so many friends and family that helped us celebrate and Ethan had such a good birthday that he's ready to turn 5. His first party was in Virginia and my parent's house. We went up to celebrate Ivy's 1st birthday on Saturday, and since everyone was together we had a party for Ethan on Sunday. His next party was at his (pre) preschool and he brought cupcakes in for all of his friends. Next up was his actual birthday which was chocked full of fun activities. We went to Chuck E. Cheese's on the morning and picked up a pizza on the way home, had cake, gave him his present ( a big boy bike), and saw Randy off to work. After nap time we went to see Randy at the bowling alley and we bowled a game. Then I took the boys out for pizza on the way home. Yes, pizza for two meals in a row per Ethan's request. I am not complaining. We may have watched Toy Story 3 when we got home. I don't know, I was in a pizza coma. His 4th and final was a Toy Story carnival themed party the next Saturday, and it was awesome. We rented a bouncy house, had face-painting, a clown, a pinata, basketball game, bean bag toss game, pin the tail on the donkey, food, & cake. At one point Christina told me that Ethan was on his 4th plate of popcorn, m&ms, and cookies. It was that kind of party. Here are a handful of pictures from all of the parties. Thanks to everyone who made his birthday special for him.
Jake's Pre-Birthday Update
Jake is an awesome kid. He has a TON of personality, he's vocal, he knows what he wants (sometimes demanding), he's friendly, and he's rough and tough. I have had many people tell me he is such a sweetie and well behaved. I don't know how those people managed to only see him when he's being sweet! As you all know, Jake has many nicknames. The Goodrich family is known
for giving our pets nicknames...I think Milli had somewhere around 15 different names when it was all said and done. Apparently Ethan inherited the nicknaming trait because he is the one accredited with the name "Jakers". In addition to that one Jake has the following names: Jake-a-saurus, Pooper Plum, Jake-a-dactyl, Sugar Beet, Pooperton, and Honey Bee. These are just the ones that he's called most often. I realize that there will come a time when these names are no longer acceptable, but until that time comes they are keepers. It seems like Jake has grown up in the last two weeks. His vocabulary has grown exponentially, and he now speaks in phrases and sentences. These are his most used sentences:
"No, not this one"
"What did you say?"
"I'll do it/I'll hold it/I'll come"
"Where's Mommy/Ethan/Daddy?"
"Uh oh, Spaghetti-Os"
"Oh no, problem!"
"Bumpy train track"
"My milk/cup/kitty/race car"
"What was that?"
You get the idea. He knows his colors, which honestly, he learned mostly from Ethan. He can count to 5 forward and backward and now tries to sing along to songs in the car. He is doing great at potty training and like Ethan did, spends his time at home without pants. We, and our neighbors, hope to work up to undies very soon.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Boys- An Update
Ethan has been coughing for a couple days now so when we were getting ready this morning I made an appointment for him to see the Dr. in the afternoon, just to make sure it isn't just allergies. He wasn't very hungry for breakfast, but I had him eat some toast and milk. He has been having trouble remaining in the seated position while at the table lately (as in the past several months) and this morning was not an exception. While practicing his gymnastics, specifically the even bars using the table and window sill, he slipped and landed flat on his face, smacking his upper cheek/lower eye socket on the floor. He has a red spot which will probably turn into more of a bruise in that area. No black eye, thankfully. Now the good part: he was very upset after the fall so I was holding him while he cried and coughed, but he was worked up into a coughing frenzy which, of course, induced vomiting. ALL OVER ME. Plus, we had 5 minutes before needing to leave for school. My first instinct was to toss him aside to spare my clothes but then that would mean that I would have to mop the floor today rather than just do a load of laundry. Easy choice for me!
I went to the school early because today was his schedule parent/teacher conference to discuss his year and how he has progressed. His teacher is Mrs. Misty Moody and she showed me a collection of his work from the beginning of the school year and it was really cool to see how much better he has gotten at writing and drawing. He can write his name, draw shapes and lines, identify colors, count to 20, cut with scissors, share with friends, understands relationships like a bird flies in the sky and a fish swims in the water, and participates in daily routines & schedules (like he knows to go put his backpack in his cubbie as soon as he gets to class, to sit quietly during book time, to remain in his chair during snack time*How I ask, do they get him to do that??*, and to sing songs as a group). Mrs. Misty says that he has come a long way from the start of the year especially since he used to take toys from other kids, not listen to directions, and be a spaz in general. Now he doesn't do any of those things during school. She said he is very smart and soaks up everything like a sponge- as well as or better than the kids that come to school every day of the week. It is really good to hear that someone else thinks your kid is smart, since you already think your kid is the most awesome-est kid in the world. And, to bring me back down to Earth she then told me that he kicked a kid in the head during playground time. Happens, right?
I took Ethan to the Dr. after a pizza lunch for being awesome at school, minus the head kicking, and the Dr. said he has bronchitis and allergies and we left with 3 prescriptions. He is already starting to feel better and should sleep well tonight. I am hoping for a vomit free evening.
On to Jake:
Jake is getting so big, so fast. He is now a little boy, not a baby...much to my dismay. He speaks a ton and repeats everything we say. His favorite phrases are "stop it, Mommy," "big boy diaper," "Ducktales- woo woo," "Come on, Shiloh," "Oh, Okay!" "Big truck!" "play outside."
He asks for books to look at, particularly Goodnight Moon. He is addicted to fruit snacks and milk. He just got a molar in with little to no fuss. He loves to talk on the phone and pretend to talk on the phone, he loves to eat salad and watch Toy Story. He sleeps through the night and goes to bed with no problems as long as Mr. Kitty is with him (his stuffed cat with a tag on the bum that he runs between his fingers while he relaxes). He is a tough little kid and has bruises, scrapes, and cuts on his legs from playing constantly.
They are both such good little boys and so nice to other kids. We are very lucky to have them and are thankful everyday.
I went to the school early because today was his schedule parent/teacher conference to discuss his year and how he has progressed. His teacher is Mrs. Misty Moody and she showed me a collection of his work from the beginning of the school year and it was really cool to see how much better he has gotten at writing and drawing. He can write his name, draw shapes and lines, identify colors, count to 20, cut with scissors, share with friends, understands relationships like a bird flies in the sky and a fish swims in the water, and participates in daily routines & schedules (like he knows to go put his backpack in his cubbie as soon as he gets to class, to sit quietly during book time, to remain in his chair during snack time*How I ask, do they get him to do that??*, and to sing songs as a group). Mrs. Misty says that he has come a long way from the start of the year especially since he used to take toys from other kids, not listen to directions, and be a spaz in general. Now he doesn't do any of those things during school. She said he is very smart and soaks up everything like a sponge- as well as or better than the kids that come to school every day of the week. It is really good to hear that someone else thinks your kid is smart, since you already think your kid is the most awesome-est kid in the world. And, to bring me back down to Earth she then told me that he kicked a kid in the head during playground time. Happens, right?
I took Ethan to the Dr. after a pizza lunch for being awesome at school, minus the head kicking, and the Dr. said he has bronchitis and allergies and we left with 3 prescriptions. He is already starting to feel better and should sleep well tonight. I am hoping for a vomit free evening.
On to Jake:
Jake is getting so big, so fast. He is now a little boy, not a baby...much to my dismay. He speaks a ton and repeats everything we say. His favorite phrases are "stop it, Mommy," "big boy diaper," "Ducktales- woo woo," "Come on, Shiloh," "Oh, Okay!" "Big truck!" "play outside."
He asks for books to look at, particularly Goodnight Moon. He is addicted to fruit snacks and milk. He just got a molar in with little to no fuss. He loves to talk on the phone and pretend to talk on the phone, he loves to eat salad and watch Toy Story. He sleeps through the night and goes to bed with no problems as long as Mr. Kitty is with him (his stuffed cat with a tag on the bum that he runs between his fingers while he relaxes). He is a tough little kid and has bruises, scrapes, and cuts on his legs from playing constantly.
They are both such good little boys and so nice to other kids. We are very lucky to have them and are thankful everyday.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
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