Monday, 18 February 2008

Wet Wraps

Last Friday we went to Gaius' "skin" doctor. He has put Gaius back onto heavy steroids :( and added a new treatment on top of everything else we already do (up to 2+ hours per day). He added a treatment called wet wraps, What are wet wraps? ...They told us, "you take one set of gauze for his arms which you cut to length then another for his midsection which you cut to length. Then you tie them together at the shoulder. Next you cut another set of gauze for his legs which then is cut to length for both legs. Tie them together at the hip and lastly the feet which works much the same as the arms and legs. This is the first layer which is wet and must be followed by a whole other layer that is dry!!!!! This is then expected to stay on (who knows how???) And all of this should be done morning and night and fixed throughout the day as per needed. " !!
As we left the doctor's office with this new burden Andrew turns to me and says, "I don't know how we are going to find the time to do all of this everyday?" My response was, "Some how." We were sent up to a nurse who has been treating Gaius for months, to be shown how to prepare the wet wraps. I must say at this point, God is amazing the way he takes care of us. Our nurse friend, Julie, looked at the prescription and said, "I really must go down and up date the Doctor on the new way of doing these wet wraps. I do not see how they think parents will possibly be able to do this. Now we use a new product which is pre-made tops and bottoms." Our response, "Praise the Lord!!!, we can do this"

Well, I did his first wet wrap tonight. It is not quite as easy as it looks, but it only added about 30 minutes to Gaius' skin treatment each morning and night! So I think we can handle this.

Gaius wanted to show off his new super man suit for you all to see!

Please keep his skin issues(eczema) in your prayers. We are praying that in about two weeks these wet wraps will work so well that we can stop having to use these nasty heavy steroids on his poor little body.

Our First Bath Together!

Well this is the boys' first bath together and we thought it was something to be commemerated with photos! Gideon of course cannot sit up but Gaius helped him at one point, however when Gaius was done holding him he told us by pushing him out of his lap and into the tub full of water. Good thing momma was there to catch, just in time as it would turn out.


Sunday, 17 February 2008

How We Get Around

How does a mum or dad get around town with two kids under two? Well, with a great sling and the Phil & Ted's Stroller (Pram) its easy! Andrew has kindly displayed the art of not letting kids slow you down.
1) The "blue sling" or as Andrew likes to call it his Samari Suite. This is very effective and you can take a kid anywhere with it! I find the only problem with this means of transport is that it can be difficult to try on clothes with a baby strapped to your back or chest. Secondly, long hikes or big day outs can leave you with a bit of a sore back.
2) The ultimate stroller-- the Phil and Teds stroller (pram). It can go just about everywhere, though it does not go up stairs nearly as easy as the blue sling. We were given this amazing stroller by some wonderful friends of ours. Hope you enjoy the photos of our kiddos. Gideon is in the cute sleeping bag that sits in the stroller to keep the kids warm on a cold Scotitsh day.

So CUTE!

Well it's that time in every child's life (well at least every Matthew's kid) to get his passport. The funny thing is that these passports last for 5 years. He was so happy to pose for the passport photos.

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

The Tesco Shop

For those non-UK people, Tesco is a big shop similar (yet not as good!) to Wal-mart where I do most of my shopping in general.

I have now started, thanks to my friend, Naomi's, influence, to do a "weekly" shop and make it last the whole week. Well, I am getting better at stretching that shopping to the next week, without cheating and running to the local shop! Naomi tells me that you save money by not going back in between and I think she might be right, though it is difficult to spend your weekly budget in one go - the bill is a bit too big and I always have buyers remorse!!

So I am wondering what you other wise shoppers think, is it cheaper in the end to do one shop a day, a week, a month etc.? Can you make it a whole week only visiting Wal-mart/Tesco's once?

Leave me a post with what you think!

Monday, 11 February 2008

Houston, Texas

Where everything is "Bigger" and "Better!"
For those of you who do not know Houston I thought you might enjoy a few photos of the city (we do not come from the city, but rather the suburbs) and some of the amazing highways and interchanges. It was difficult to get a good photo as we were driving, oh well. Enjoy!

Had to Share This One!

A Story That I received from the Internet World!

I was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item away from her and I asked her not to do that.
'Why?' my daughter asked.
'Because it's been on the ground, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty, and probably has germs' I replied.
At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, 'Momma, how do you know all this stuff, you are so smart.'
I was thinking quickly. 'All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mom Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a Mom.'
We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information.

'OH...I get it!' she beamed, 'So if you don't pass the test you have to be the dad.'
'Exactly' I replied back with a big smile on my face.
When you're finished laughing, send this to a Mom.


--Thanks Gail!--

Sunday, 10 February 2008

Just Some Fun Family Photos




Gaius' 2nd Birthday!

Gaius sure had a great Birthday this year. Not only did he get to celebrate early with his family in Houston! But at church on Sunday his "auntie (adopted)" Joanie made him a birthday cake and the whole church family sang happy birthday and helped to celebrate his birth. Sunday was his actual birthday and I could not let it go by without doing something--so we invited some friends of ours, the Birds, over (these are the parents of Gaius' little 3 year old girlfriend) and I made cup cakes and we opened presents! It was fun. Then we all fell into bed at 3am, thanks to jet lag:)

We are brothers, can you tell?





(Left) Gaius day after he was born!

(Right) Gideon day he was born!

Do they look alike?


Wednesday, 6 February 2008

Sad Goodbye's!

Bye Bye Papa (and Grammie Too)!
Bye Bye Cousins!
Bye Bye House!
Chaz, Dominic, Gaius, and Gideon wanted to go to McDonalds one last time together. So the morning we flew out we all had breakfast together and boy did the boys have fun playing!
We are tired and best be heading back home:(

Gideon's Baptism

Gideon Robert Owen Matthews was baptised at Hosanna Community Church (PCA) by his Grandfather Robert a.k.a. Papa. The service was conducted by Dr. Ferguson, and Rev. Phillips, pastor of Hosanna. The worship was wonderful!
Gideon in his special baptismal gown that he and his brother Gaius both wore when they were baptised by their Papa.

The Ferguson Family at Gideon's baptism; (Top Left) Helen, Eleanor, Gideon, Andrew, Robert, Annette(Eleanor's Sister), Charles (Annette's Husband),(Bottom Left) Gaius, Chaz (Annette's First Son), Dominic (Annette's Second Son).

Tuesday, 5 February 2008

Highlights of Our Trip to the US Jan 2008

We also saw some old collage friends the Jacobson Family, Gaius had fun playing with their twin girls, Lily and Jennifer.
Dominic, Gaius, and Chaz at Gaius' Birthday Party!




Gaius' Grammie and Papa gave him a Birthday Party with lots of balloons! and a yummy ice cream cake.











We had a great time eating great seafood and enjoyed our oceanview hotel room!


Down to Galvaston Island we went to visit our good friend Dr. Ken Fujise who is the head of Cardiology at Galvaston UTMB. We had a wondrful time catching up with Ken.

Rev. Eddie and MaryAnn Bryant are ministering at Tuckers Crossing Baptist Church. Their church and family (including their two daughters and their families) have loved and supported Andrew for many many years and now they have made our entire family (Eleanor and the boys) feel like one of the clan! We miss you guys already!

We were able to enjoy so great southern cooking--Thank you Bryant family!

Gaius had a blast playing with Ryan! Thay danced, had pillow fights, played outside and much more!

We visited our very good friends in Tuckers Crossing and had a wonderful time. This is baby Faith who is not really a baby anymore-she is a little girl. We praise the Lord for all that He has done and is doing in her life, for more details of Faith and her family's journey see: http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do
We took a trip to Mississippi and Galveston Island and put over 1,200 miles on the car in under a week, the kids did great!





We enjoyed some great Texas BBQ with Eleanor's sister's family. Gaius loved to spend time with his cousins Chaz and Dominic!



After church at Hosanna we went over to Faith Fellowship Presbyterian Church for a farewell to some good friends of ours Pastor Bill and Darleen his wife, who are retiring. Good food and great fellowship.

Our first Sunday we spent with our good friends at Hosanna Community Church (PCA) and enjoyed hearing a guest preacher--Robert a.k.a. daddy preach. What a joy it was to worship and fellowship with these wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. FYI-The wooden cross in the background was made by Andrew.

Papa is enjoying his first cuddle with his newest Grandchild--Gideon ROBERT Owen






Our trip begins with a flight to London!