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Christmas Pictures of Madison

Here are a few pictures of Madison in her Christmas dress by our tree. We hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

New Link-Online Baby Pool

I just added a link to our online baby pool. Take a guess......gender, weight, length, birthday...let's see how close you end up. Should be fun! -the link is under links on the right :o)

Due Date Has Changed

I had my big ultrasound on December 15th and the doctor said the baby is measuring that he/she is due May 8th. However, doctor decided to go with several different factors and now my due date is May 12th instead of May 15th. The baby could come early but I seriously doubt it.

Also, we did not find out the sex of the baby. It was hard not to!

Baby was very lazy and his/her hands were always by his/her face. Tech said it was like playing peek-a-boo. Baby yawned a lot too. Madison was so not this way when we had her ultrasound.

They gave me about 15 pictures (regular and 3D) and they also let Madison print off a picture for herself.

(I haven't updated this in a while and need to but this is all I have time for today..it is late and I need to get some sleep.)

Madison

Madison woke up and decided she wanted to go to dance...so we took her. What a trooper! She keeps her arm against her chest and she says it doesn't hurt but we can tell it bothers her a little.

Stitches

This isn't a good picture but the best I could do quickly since she was upset...not sure why it isn't clearer.

Update

Madison didn't think or complain about her arm until we went to change her bandage at 6:30pm. She kind of freaked out because she didn't expect the bandage to not be clean and she didn't understand how the stitches appeared. But, once we changed it and after holding her arm still and milking it she was back to not thinking about it again. She did say she didn't want to go to dance tomorrow and we weren't very sure we were going to take her anyway.

How Surgery Went

Things went pretty much as expected. When we arrived we checked Madison in, answered more questions, and signed more paperwork. After waiting in the waiting room for a little bit they called Madison in. We changed her from her pjs to her hospital gown and she climbed into bed. They hooked her up to the machines to monitor her and took her temperature. We answered more questions over and over again. She was given the Tylenol with Valium but refused to take it so we tried a different way to give it to her. After half of it she was done.....she held it all in her mouth and would not swallow. Eventually she spit it all out. She didn't like the taste. After several different attempts we all gave up. So we had to try and calm her down since she was upset. Than it was time to kiss and hug Madison good-bye and off to surgery she went. She was so brave.

Mommy and Daddy were than taken to the waiting room to wait. After about 10-15 minutes the doctor came out and let us know that things went well and filled us in on everything. She was given a mask since the Valium was a no go and they put her under with the iv. The incision ended up being an inch long and will take at least 5 days to heal. Instead of 2 stitches on the outside she has 4. After the doctor left it seemed like ages before they came back out to get us. Once they did they informed us that she was just waking up and was watching...cartoons. We hugged and kissed her and told her how much we loved her and how brave she was. She said..."I didn't even fall asleep and they cut my bump off and I didn't even cry..I didn't even feel it" and we left it at that. They did say it was hard to wake her and she must be a sound sleeper...and yes, that is true. They let her take the stickers from being monitored off herself which she thought was cool.

We got her dressed and she rounded up her friends.

All in all, Madison's surgery went well...we weren't too worried. After arriving home she was way lying on the couch and singing. She doesn't feel any pain so that is good. She would not take the Valium at the hospital and spit it out..that was the only ordeal. They took such amazing care of her. Her favorite parts: the wagon full of new toys and books that she could choose from (she ended up with 3 things rather than the 1 they initially said she could have), Nurse Sarah because she put round stickers on her chest and tummy with wires in them, Doctor John (not really a doctor but we let her call him that) who was so nice and let her take the stickers off herself and because he pushed her out of the hospital in a wheelchair. When we went to see her after surgery she said she never went to sleep and she didn't cry when they cut her bump off. She remembers nothing except before and after. She now has to lay around all day and that isn't so fun. Thank you all for your warm thoughts and welcomed prayers. It was minor but whenever you put a child or anyone under it is a big deal. She has a few more stitches than originally planned but most are internal. She goes back in one week and than again in two weeks. Tomorrow will be more fun.........

Taking It Easy

Here are a few pictures of Maddie after arriving back at home after her surgery.

She has some "friends" to keep her company. The penguin is one she took to the hospital with her. However, the other three (a lamb, bear, and monkey puppet) were friends she picked out of the wagon they brought to her room. All of them stayed with her from the beginning until the end.

Special delivery: a balloon bouquet from her Godparents and their children. Thanks Brian, Heather, Adam, and Emily!

Madison's Surgery Schedule

6:00am drive to Oshkosh
6:30am arrive at Aurora Hospital - change into gown, etc
7:00am given relaxer (Tylenol and Valium works after 15 mins)
7:30am anesthesia and surgery
8:00am taken to recovery
8:15am will be woken up and Kevin and I will be sent for
9:30am earliest she will be released depending on how she is eating, drinking, etc
10:00am home at the earliest

Ultrasound

I had to call my doctor to change the appointment for my ultrasound as Kevin wouldn't be able to go with me that day. I thought for sure I would end up going in January if the couldn't get me in on December 21st (ultrasound was originally December 20th). Well, I was wrong...my ultrasound will now be on December 15th at 10:30am. Yay!

Madison's Pre-Op

Today Madison had her pre-op. Doctor Jansen had to check her heart, etc before she has her surgery this Friday.

We had to sign consent forms mainly and Madison enjoyed receiving fun stickers but otherwise it was a short appointment. We were also given her prescription for pain so that we can go ahead and get it. One good thing is that when they put her under they won't be using a tube and she will still breathe on her own. The doctor said it will only take him like 10 minutes even though we will be there for hours. He said that children wake up fast after surgery and so they will bring her right out to us so that she doesn't become so freaked out. She will have stitches but you will only see where they start and end since they will be internal. That will all be covered with butterfly bandages. Due to her hair and skin color the healing won't be as great as it will be at 3 or 4 months. But, like he said..it is better to have the end better than the beginning. So, it will look bad initially but the outcome will be much better. He said that it may not necessarily be a dermatofibroma....as they are usually benign. When he came in and looked at her bump this time his words were.."I don't even know what that is" and Kevin and I were confused. And that is when I said.."isn't it a dermatofibroma" and he said "yes and no." So, who knows. He says bumps like that can surprise them. He still says it must be removed and mainly so that we know it is benign and nothing cancerous. I didn't dare mention to the doctor that Kevin touched every breast implant on the shelf before he entered the room.

So, we will be at the hospital at 6:30 am on Friday. Her surgery is at 7:30am. Please keep Madison in your prayers.

Madison has to go back next Wednesday so that doctor can check everything out and she will go back a week after that to have her stitches removed.

Doctor's Appointment (Yesterday 11/20)

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment at 2:25 pm. Doctor heard baby's heartbeat right away...it was 150. Had all the regular blood work done...we didn't have any of the neural tests done. And...my ultrasound is scheduled for December 20th at 2:00pm. What a wonderful Christmas present...to see our precious baby! And..Madison will be going with. Not sure if she can wait that long...talk about excited. And...I have hardly gained any weight...I feel like I have gained way more than I have though.

14.4 days Pregnant

Here is a recent picture taken today. Almost 15 weeks but not quite. I think my 12 week baby bump seemed bigger. But, I definitely have a baby bump.

However, this was really posted so that my sister could quite bugging me. The girl that does my hair put some dark lowlights in my hair and cut it different than she normally does. Unfortunately, I should have taken a picture sooner because it isn't quite as dark now. And...it is hard to tell in this photo.

Pictures From Last Weekend

Here are a couple of pictures that were taken of Madison last weekend at a birthday party we went to.

Girls Night Out

Tonight was Girls Night Out for the women of Glen Valley Subdivision (West). Eight of us got together at 6:00pm. We had reservations at Gingerootz at 6:30pm. This evening the food and service turned out to be far better than what we received last month at Jonathan's. Gingerootz is a wonder Pan-Asian restaurant. I would say it is now one of my favorite places to eat. The food was that good. We stayed there until almost 10pm. It is definitely a place we would all go back to again and again...

Next month we will get together on December 21st at one of our houses for more of a potluck dinner since we will be doing our second annual Round Robin on December 7th.

Employment Change For Kevin

Kevin has accepted an offer with Gulfstream Aerospace and will start his new job there on December 3rd. He will be building and installing cabinets on jets. He would have loved to stay where he was with Kerry Construction but with the market being so slow...it just is time for a change. Our neighbor works for Gulfstream and told him about this opportunity and after several interviews and some negotiating...Kevin accepted.

Old Picture of Madison-14 weeks

I just ran across this picture of Madison when she was 14 weeks old. She has grown so much...

This is one of my favorite pictures of her when she was a baby. Daddy thought these were the cutest pajamas too.

Madison's Surgery Update

Madison's surgery has finally been scheduled after waiting over two months. The plastic surgeon's office finally called. Anyway, her surgery to have the dermatofibroma removed is scheduled for November 30 at 7:30 am. We have to be there at 6:30 am in Oshkosh. Momma is taking the day off work. Also, she has an appointment on November 28 for the doctor to check her heart, lungs, etc before surgery and for Momma to sign off on the surgery.

12 week baby bump (for those of you wanting to see that live so far away)

Kevin took these of me today after work.....not the best pictures...but it was a long day and we quickly took these. So....no more asking for a while. :o) Seems so crazy to have recently just popped....and so much.

Doesn't it look like I am holding a basketball under my shirt? But, I'm not.

Pictures from Madison's 1st Preschool Field Trip

I received these pictures from Emma's mom today. She went as a chaperon and was very kind to send these to me. She said that she took a lot of pictures of Madison as she was her child for the day. :o) I am just happy that I was able to have some photos from this big event. If you look at the picture of the students all together Emma is the tallest child in the class......(I don't think they were all there since there are 16 children total in this preschool class and not 16 in the photo.) The pictures are mainly of Emma and Maddie and Jessica in a couple......the only two girls that Madison really talks about.

Happy Halloween

Here are a few pictures from today. We will have more once our neighbors send them to us.

We met up with 5 families (could have been more I lost track) from our neighborhood at 5pm to go Trick-or-Treating. If it wouldn't have been windy it would have been pretty nice out. But, the wind made it cold. But, the children pretty much ran......and fast. And, of course, there was always the issue with who was going to ring the doorbell. Madison had to wear a black wig since witches have black hair. :o) We tried to layer her a bit since it was so windy. The treat bags were overflowing as usual and that was only from part of the neighborhood. They make out so well.

After the children were done trick-or-treating......we all went over to one of our neighbors house for the traditional cup of chicken chili. We wait all year for this. Thank goodness their is a true chef in the neighborhood..he is really a chef at a local restaurant. Yum!

All in all...what a fun Halloween!!

Cody The Pumpkin

Here is Cody...that is the name Madison gave her pumpkin after she finished him. She drew a face with a marker on the pumpkin. Afterwards, her daddy helped her use the knife (yes..a sharp knife..and mommy was nervous) to carve her pumpkin. She is so proud of her work. Isn't Cody cute?

Jeep Ride

Madison went on a jeep ride today.......all geared up. :o) Not sure about the helmet but she is just being safe. :o) I think she was riding her barbie bike before she got the jeep out of the garage. If you look closely......she has a passenger......yep...a care bear. She also had an elephant in there but I don't think you can see him. And...there is Milo......he wants to join the fun.

Introducing Milo

Finally, I have a picture to post of Madison's new dog, Milo. She named him. He is a Westie (West Highland White Terrier). He needs brushed but I thought I should just take a picture so I could post it. He is getting better......hardly barks now. But, that wasn't the case at first. But, he is fun. Madison loves to throw tennis balls because he will fetch them and bring them back to her. He will fetch whatever you throw for him. Anyway, he is a cute and fun dog. Madison's Aunt Jarrett found him for her.

Witch

Our little witch... This is the best photo up close that I got of Maddie. It is hard not to get blurry pictures because the girls are moving so fast. Plus, the two way mirrors affect the outcome of the photos. Anyway, she picked out her Halloween costume but today she didn't want to wear her black wig or her witch hat.

Dance Class-Halloween Costumes

Today at dance class the girls were able to wear their Halloween costumes and they performed their Halloween dance for the parents. Too cute!!

Madison's First Field Trip

Today Madison went on her first field trip ever. She had to take an old pillowcase to preschool today and arrive early to get on the bus. She was so very excited. She was up this morning before anyone..and all the lights in the house were on. Talk about excited. Anyway, they went to Cuff's and she was able to pick out a pumpkin to bring home along with 2 tiny gourds, a tiny pumpkin, and 2 ears of corn. She had a blast and the teacher had to comment on how excited she was...we were not sure if she was more excited about the field trip or just riding the school bus. :o)

4 Year Appointment

Today Madison had her 4 year checkup.

Here are her stats: 39 inches & 31 lbs. She is petite!

She knew she would be getting the flu shot but both mommy and Maddie were surprised when she had to have a prevnar too. They informed mommy that Maddie was behind on the prevnar (should have had 4 by now and only had 3). So, at the end of the appointment she had a shot in both legs. Oh, and did she cry. I was surprised (that she cried so much). Mommy felt so badly. However, mommy was given the flu shot too..right before Maddie had her shots. Maddie picked mommy to go first. It was a good thing too because mommy had to carry Maddie to the car. The stickers that she received were long forgotten once she had the shots.

All in all, the appointment was good. Her doctor and the nurses were amazed by her vocabulary. She also passed all the tests that they gave her. And she had everyone laughing.....well..until the end. Well, at least she is good for another year.

2nd Doctor's Appointment-Heartbeat

I had my second prenatal appointment today. I figured that the appointment would be pretty uneventful. I am not quite 11 weeks...My doctor told me that it would be hit or miss with the heartbeat. First we heard my heartbeat.......and my heartbeat.......and my heartbeat still. However, my doctor did find the baby's heartbeat. My doctor said I was lucky and that I should go buy a lottery ticket. It is hard to detect so early unless you have an ultrasound done. He said that since I am pretty slender (thanks doc!) that we might get lucky. No...I did not go buy a lottery ticket. :o) I was pretty happy...but Madison was not since she wasn't able to go....no fair is what she told me. ;o) I told her she could go soon enough. My next appointment is November 19th (a Monday and the only day that week my doctor is in the office). At that time blood work will be done. And...my doctor said that he will give me an ultrasound at 18 weeks. :o) I can hardly wait!

Our Family

A cute family photo...

We all picked out a pumpkin...and Madison had to get her puppy a pumpkin too........it is the one she is holding. :o)

Madison Feeding The Goats

Finding the perfect pumpkins!

The Little Farmer

We went to the Little Farmer on Saturday. Madison loves The Little Farmer. We took lots of photos....We asked our neighbors to go with us. Our neighbors little girl is 6 months old. (Her grandmother is Madison's sitter). It was a great day! The weather was so nice..people were wearing shorts.

Girls Night Out!

Friday was the official first girls night out for the women of Glen Valley subdivision.

Seven of us met at 6:10pm or later at Jonathon's Italian Bistro (Jen, Kim, Abbi, Debbie, Dione, Lisa, and Melanie). We were there until around 10:00pm or so. We all had a great time. Needless to say, we were definitely not fans of the service. Very poor! One of our meals was brought out with marinara sauce when linguini sauce was specified and even after the waitress doubled checked the order. She took it back to the kitchen and brought it back with linguini sauce. However, the marinara sauce had been scraped off and the other sauce added in its place. We could not believe that this had happened. The worst part being.....the person that this happened to was already having a bad day as she had just heard the news that someone she grew up next to was found dead in Greenville. So, this just topped it all off.

It was a very nice evening and everyone did enjoy the night out and some were able to forget things for at least a few hours.

We plan to get together once a month...dinner, movie, attend a play, or maybe pottery........it doesn't matter...just to get together and have a good time.

Birthday Balloons-She is finally 4!!

One of the highlights......the birthday balloons. Thanks Jason and & Tammi for picking them up for us. They were perfect and as always.......Madison enjoyed them. It was a fantastic birthday......

Austin and Uniqua

These are such fun pictures! Pop Pop looks so silly!

Madison & Emily

Here are some pictures of Madison holding her Godmother's baby girl. Madison did not even care that she was crying...she loves babies!! I am in BIG trouble. Because she is such a mother hen.