Here is a sweet and simple card using Sweet n Sassy's "Child of God" set by Chris Dickinson. The images of of a little boy and girl praying along with bible verse and prayers are perfect for family, baptisms, birthdays etc. I think it is such a unique idea, and she did a wonderful job capturing the beauty of a child who has a heart for God in her illustrations...
I used the Black Market Lucky n Love paper pack for my background, the colors and the "cherish" border on the page made for such a easy clean layout with my oval Nestabilitie focal point. I colored the little boy to look like my Jonathan with Koh-i Noor pencils and OMS. I tried to keep my embellishments on boy cards to a minimum, but to add interest I used my corner rounder at the bottom, and some Magnolia DP, a strip I faux stitched with a white gel pen (to match the stitching on the "Cherish" border, and a curved corner punch with a large white brad and more faux stitching. Card base is Certainly Celery.
Jonathan, which means "Gift from God", has always been a very spiritual child. Coincidentally, in the first picture we took of him just after he was born (he's very red and slimy in it, hadn't yet been cleaned up by the nurses!) his eyes were closed and hands clasped, fingers all laced together as if in prayer. A picture memory I'll always cherish :) (Not to leave my 3 year-old William* out, his first improptu mealtime prayer recently was a hoot: "Jesus loves me, welcome to dinner, ... and Cheers!" )
These are the first stamps Chris has illustrated, congratulations Chris, from one illustrator to another, I wish you the very best of luck with this set and designs to come! :)
*Since I wrote this post, William has been struggling this past week with croup and has had asthma attacks every night as a result, it has been a completely new and frightening experience for us and a lot of sleeplessness. (If I was a light sleeper before I now sleep with two eyes open and his inhaler in hand!) Do you suffer from or have a child who has asthma? Then girl, I just want to put my arms around you, I'm so sorry you have gone through this. Any advice you have, I would love to hear from you. And if anyone could include William in your prayers, I would so appreciate it. Thank you.
Praying for William to get better!
ReplyDeleteJust prayed for William!
ReplyDeleteIf he's got asthma, make sure he's also not allergic to anything.. they go hand in hand. Since he's young, he will most likely grow out of it. Make sure you give him the meds but I only gave when he needed it, not as often as the dr's advised. He would have been so doped up had I done that, and eventually he became less reliant. He outgrew it and now has no signs at all of asthma. Also replace his carpet in his room (if he has) with lino or hardwood or something 'flat' if YKWIM. Blinds are better than drapes, no stuffed toys, well, you probably read that whole book they gave you right? Just reduce the dust as much as you can. I'll be thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteWe will lift you and your baby up in prayer. My youngest had allergy related asthma when he was younger and thankfully it cleared when we moved. But it was awful. He would cough and cough at night until he threw up at least three to four times a night. He was so tired he would cough with his eyes closed. You have my heartfelt empathy. It's the most helpless feeling. Lifting you up..
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Oh Melanie, I'm sorry poor little William has croup! My niece got it last week, and Noah had it last year. It is very frightening and heartbreaking to see (and hear!) your child gasping for air!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't understand if William is asthmatic or if it's the first time it happens? Because if it's the first time, then it's just the croup, it isn't asthma per say and once he's cured from the croup it will go away, but since you mentioned inhalers I suspect he is asthmatic.
Luckily when this happened with Noah, my hubby was home and since he's a doctor, he knew right away what it was and what to do! He took Noah to the bathroom, turned the shower on the hottest setting possible, shut the door, and sat there with Noah till the attack eased off. You have to make a "sauna", the steam will help with the breathing. Alternately you can take your child outside if the nights are cool and the fresh air should also help. You also need an humidifier for your child's room, preferably "cold steam" (Noah burned his hand badly last year because he got up before my hubby realized it and put his hand in front of the steam flow!). Use it every night, getting it to work a while before bedtime, it will definitely help! And of course it's a good thing to use every time your child has a cold or all winter long if the air in your house gets very dry because of the heating. Have him sleep a little upright too, with a pillow.
I hope he gets better very soon, and will keep him in my prayer.♥
Ohhh I know how scarey that is Mel! My grandbaby has this happen too...Ive had to deal with it only 2 times and it scared me to death even KNOWing what it was. I did what Bee stated, about taking him into the bathroom, making it steamy, seemed to help the croup. But the asthma attacks, we still run to the hospital...will put William and you and all in prayers!
ReplyDeleteYour card is just gorgeous by the way. LOVE those colors!
My heart goes out to you, I have been in your shoes.... My middle son is 9 years old now and he had his first asthma attack when he was 2 years old. The best thing for my son when it happens was if it was in the middle of the night was to take him outside in the cool air. He hadn't had an episode in almost 2 years and had one about a month ago...(that awful coughing in the middle of the night, gasping for air, sends shivers through me!) My dh got dressed and ready to go to the ER, but thankfully the med.'s kicked in and his breathing leveled out. My son gets a combination of Albuterol and Pulmicort (both only when needed). My doctor also recommends giving Benadryl at the first sign of anything and it will often keep the allergy from getting to the point where it triggers his asthma. I take Benadryl with me everywhere! As a previous poster said, check to see about allergies. My son was tested and is basically allergic to the world, but a lot of it he is outgrowing. It has not hindered him from being ALL boy so I am thankful...without Benadryl he would have had a harder time. I will be praying for you!
ReplyDeleteLovely card...and I really enjoy your blog!
Hi Mel! Sorry you had a restless nite--I definitely know how that goes. My son is allergic to EVERYTHING (but no food allergies thankfullY) and has asthma. I was up all nite last nite w/ him too--there have been many ER visits in the middle of the nite here. Luckily he uses a nebulizer and we can usually get it under control ourselves, but I don't sleep well when his allergies are bad....just waiting for the inevitable. Hope your son is feeling better and know that I'm thinking about ya both!
ReplyDeleteHugz,
Suzanne Dean
Prayers for William. That has to be so hard. I hope you find some of the tips here helpful. Wish I had some ideas.
ReplyDeleteTake care and try to rest when you can.
What a special and heart-warming card!! I love the added touches and yet it still looks just wonderfully "boyish"!! I'm so sorry to hear you've all been struggling.......my sister-in-law has been through this often with my nephew and I know it just drains her! You and William will be in special prayers!!! Hugs to you!!!
ReplyDeleteYou poor girl! My oldest had croup when he was about 3. They told us to give him his meds and when he would have a cough attack at night we were to bundle him up and take him outside in the cold air. The cold seemed to calm down his lungs. Not sure how cold it gets at night where you are. I so remember how scary it was though and how helpless you feel. I am thinking of you and praying for William!
ReplyDeleteBig hugs!
What a sweet card and stories about your boys.
ReplyDeleteI had asthma as a teenager and it only shows up if I really over-exert myself, like a strenuous hike or something.
My son had what the doc labled "over reactive airways" but said was basically asthma for about 18m when he was very small. He used a nebulizer with Albuterol1-3 times a day depending on his breathing, and a dose of Singulair every night. It was a nightmare becuase if he ran around or even laughed really hard, he would cough and then throw up, every single time. It went away three eyars ago when we moved here, but this summer I've wondered a few times if its coming back. Scares me to death becaue I am just not up to that again....
I totally undersatnd the mostly awake kind of sleep listening for your coughing baby...I am so sorry!!!
sweet card. I hope william is ok and feeling better prayers said
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for William. I have asthma and it's not easy. My husband has a more severe condition than mine, with his medication is under control. I use inhalers and usually at this time of the year my astham get worst (I don't know why)few most ago I had the most difficult time of my life, I ended up in the ER thinking I was having a Heart attack. I got asthma when I was 23, now 13 years later I live with it.
ReplyDeleteI hope your son gets well soon and just be sure he doesn't have any allergies, that makes the condition a little worse.
GOd bless
Giovana
Very sweet card! I will pray for William, and I'm glad he is doing better using the Nebulizer.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has a son who has had some scary experiences with his asthma, but I have no advise or help for you. Sorry!
Melanie- I hadn't seen this! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and using this set! I love what you did with it. I sure hope William is feeling better. My son Noah, has asthma AND allergies, so I can feel your pain. Praying he is well soon! Get some extra rest when you have time too!
ReplyDeleteYep, my youngest son has astham and is on 3 different meds for it. He was on a nebulizer in the past but that quit working for him. He now takes Singulair, Advair inhaler,and he uses Albuterol as a rescue inhaler as needed. I'm dreading the winter as it always gets worse then. He has lots of allergies, including nuts.
ReplyDeleteIt can be very scary, I know.
Hugs and prayers!
Praying for William.. I know how he feels as I suffer from Asmtha. It is a very scary moment when an attack hits. I sleep with a fan in my room to help circulate and makes me sleep better. I also have my inhaler near.
ReplyDeleteHugs to him
Hugs girl...just glad you got the right diagnosis for him.
ReplyDeleteTreating croup or asthma is a lot easier with the right medications. As an asthmatic, I can sympathasize. Hope he is doing better. prayers for William and hugs for mommy!