Blue Eyed Baby MJ

Mother's Day (a week late) at the Arboretum

2010-05-17T16:20:00.002-05:00

Madi (not) cooperating for a pic w/ Mama

Yes, she tip-toes through the tulips!

Sissys

Racing through the hedge display

Peering into the pool

Uh huh, I'm RIGHT next to her, ready to pluck her out if she topples into the pond!

In the Japanese gardens' "castle" as Freddy called it. It was a Pagoda.

The kiddos w/ Aunt B

Soft Lambs Ears plant. They were super soft!

CF Great Strides 2010

2010-05-03T21:22:00.002-05:00

Reading the Ely Echo - hopefully we can get the pic in the actual paper!

Our team (minus Tim who was somewhere else): Jen, Julia, Jake, Joe, G-ma Fran, Carrie, Libby, Andy, Bev, John, G-ma Barb, Sharon, Lisa, Addison, Grace, Katy, Peter, Freddy, Steph, B, Papa Richard, Curt, Madi, Amy

Cutie patootie Libby! Sorry, couldn't flip the picture in Blogger.

Julia and Madi showing off their adorable hats (thanks Jen!)

Andy and B after the walk.

Vikings Cheerleaders stretching

Cuz' Freddy and Madi before she fell backwards off the top of the slide

Madi after she fell off the top of the slide!

Lisa and teddy bear Addison - another cutie patootie

Grandma Fran, Daddy and Madi after the walk - pooped!

Easter photo shoot with cousin Julia!

2010-03-28T19:13:00.002-05:00

Madeline's 2 year pictures!

2010-02-11T19:51:00.003-06:00

click link for a sneak peek at Madi's 2 year old pics

2010-02-05T21:01:00.002-06:00

http://jessicamilkes.bigfolioblog.com/

More pictures to come but I forgot the disc at work :(

Mr. and Mrs. Bear have a tea party

2010-02-02T20:39:00.002-06:00

Some more tea, Mr. Bear?
Pouring it up. Notice Mr. Bear is a big drinker.

Now I think I'll sit and have some tea, too.

I love how she's talking to the bear in this photo.

More?

Madi's tea party birthday

2010-01-29T16:33:00.003-06:00

The day after her party (sorry, it's out of order). She "cuts" the veggies from Mallets and tucks the baby in bed from G&G Larson.
Putting on her biggest CHEESE smile

The huge balloons were the hit of the party for the kids.

Julia having a taste of her creations in the kitchen.

Freddy, aka Pierre, having some tea and choco dipped mallows on a pretzel stick.

Blow out those candles, big girl!

Yum!

Tea anyone?

Jammin' to Uncle Peter's bluegrass CD

2010-01-11T20:46:00.001-06:00

Christmas pictures

2009-12-30T19:26:00.004-06:00

Grandma June shows off her wad of cash!

Such a cutie pie

Yo Yo Yo
Digging in the stocking

Sweet new kitchen from G&G Larson

Her usual "squat and smile" pose!

We forgot the camera at my mom & dad's so we are relying on Jen to give us some Christmas Day pics from her house.

A new sled from Grandma & Grandpa Jacobson

2009-12-13T16:51:00.002-06:00

Thanks for the sled! I love it!

Splish splashin' away

2009-12-13T16:47:00.001-06:00

PFT results

2009-12-13T16:40:00.003-06:00

Madeline had great results from her PFT 2 weeks ago. I just spoke with Dr. P yesterday from the U and it was a good report. She grew some Staph. in her lungs but she's not sick and since her PFTs were good they're not going to treat it. Good girl, Madi. And good job Mommy and Daddy.

Can you believe it? A NEW Post!

2009-12-01T20:46:00.007-06:00

Sorry - I can't believe it's been OVER A MONTH since I last posted. I should really be ashamed of myself..."should" being the operative word. Here's what's been going on in our lives for the past month.

1. Amy diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. It's non-life-threatening which is good. It also explained the pressure I was feeling behind my eyes and the reason my face looks like this:

HOLY

PUFFY

FACE,

BATMAN!

P.C. is basically an over abundance of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It causes pressure on my optic nerve thus presenting like a tumor...but in the word of Ahhhnold Schwartzenegger, "It's not a tumah." I also scored a trip to North Memorial for a very unpleasant lumbar puncture and an MRI to get a CD of images of my brain that are ever-so-lovely. Here are a few of my googly-eyed faves:

Looking at the top of my head. I seem surprised about something.

side view of the side of my head. Again, bulgy eye.

#2. We built a large house out in the country for ourselves. Nope. Curt finally finished the remodel he's been working on all summer and fall. He did a wonderful job and is very proud of how it turned out. 3. I actually decorated the house for Christmas. It has been 2 years since we last decorated.
Here are some highights...

Yep, the tree leans. It's a hand-me-down from Mom. Why yes, it is the 6' fake tree that she used to put outside on the deck lit up. Yep, I got the outside tree.

Madi even helped decorate. Here she is washing the dust and dirt off a Swedish troll doll with her water bottle. She calls the troll a baby even though it's a doll of a 200 year old-ish white haired woman. Oh well.

We've also made Swedish potato sausage, saurkrout and Christmas cookies. Man, we really are becoming domesticated.
See you in another month! Just kidding.

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-28T21:06:00.005-05:00

I'm soooo ready for this!

"Woah!"

"Lemme at it"

This is honestly as close to touching the "guts" as she got! She's like her Mama and doesn't like her hands dirty

"Yep, I'll just watch from here, thanks."

"Nope, there's really nothing in there!"

Madi's "amazed" expression at Daddy carving.

Big helper

"Put this over here, I don't want that thing on my lap."

Since she can't carve, I let Madi color with markers on her pumpkin. A fine job, if I must say so myself.

She loved looking inside the hollow pumpkin...then found a new game of throwing things in the pumpkin and retrieving them.

scribbling away

The finished masterpieces. Curt's on the left. My (scribbly) cat is on the right.

Look what I "made"

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-13T10:20:00.001-05:00

Love, Dorothy (a.k.a. Madi)

3 new posts below!!!

2009-10-07T19:02:00.002-05:00

Sorry, it's been FOREVER since I last posted. I'm so busy. okay I am just lazy.

Go Vikes!

2009-10-07T18:59:00.003-05:00

B was nice enough to babysit all day on Monday since we didn't have daycare. She brought her jersey and stayed for the Vikes vs. Packers game. Madi really got into the clapping and shouting that was going on at the house! She had no idea why everyone was doing it but joined in!

Kiss the Cook!

2009-10-07T18:41:00.006-05:00

Madi is so much into pretend play right now. I saw this cheap, little pretend kitchen with food, plates and tiny stove and had to get it. She loves cooking and feeding her babies!

Cheese! I love my kitchen, Mama!

Sometimes you have to sit in the big chair to better feed a little baby. Sorry for the sideways pic. It won't flip for me.

Now let's try the high chair for baby. That was Mama's toy when she was little.

Mmmm...ketchup does a body good

Cookin' up some bacon and eggs.

Sitting at the table for some bacon and eggs fresh out of the pan. Too bad she'll eat neither in "real life." Maybe the plastic kind tastes better.

Sandbox Kid

2009-10-07T18:37:00.005-05:00

Curt built a sandbox for Madi this summer. She goes in occasionally to dig and make a mess!

Sorry no pictures but It's been an interesting day

2009-09-10T20:46:00.002-05:00

This is what happens when you've been working LONG hours and using really stinky Gorilla Glue all day:
1. Inhibitions are slightly less...making you more at ease in a meeting with 3 of your superiors. You think about telling a story that has a little too much information but decide not to. Okay, not a bad thing.
2. Get home and hug & kiss the bajeezes out of your daughter. Well not really a bad thing but think of all the H1N1 flu that I could be exposed to at the office.
3. Bring daughter to potty before running the bathwater. Daughter doesn't potty this time and you let her stand naked while you run the water (knowing in the back of your mind that it's not a good idea).
4. Daughter pees on the floor.
5. Clean it up without putting her back on the potty (again knowing in the back of your mind that it's not a good idea). .
6. Daughter pees on the floor...again.
7. Put her in the tub and clean up the rest of the pee - she can't have any more in her right?
8. While struggling to rinse shampoo out of daughter's hair, she slips in the tub. A few tears ensue but no big deal.
9. Sense that tonight hasn't been going well and VERY carefully take her wet, slippery body out of the tub.
10. While lotioning daughter, give her some lotion to smear on herself to make her stop fussing.
11. Ask husband to call poison control because she ate the lotion.
12. Husband dials 1-800-POISON and instead gets a porn line.
13. Husband dials his sister instead to get the Poison Control number.
14. Poison Control assures us she'll be fine. The warning to "call poison control immediately" on the bottle is basically there for legal reasons.
15. Sigh
16. Read bedtime stories, a few rounds of "Where is Thumbkin", and put daughter to bed.
17. Worry that this is an omen of things to come. Maybe I'll come down with malaria in the middle of the night due to the recent hatching of 10 million mosquitos in back yard.

How was your evening?

I wanna be a supermodel

2009-08-29T15:32:00.001-05:00

Weird photo of the day

2009-08-29T15:29:00.001-05:00

I think she's in the garage and my mom was blowing bubbles at her when she took this picture.

Little Miss Pronto Pup

2009-08-29T15:18:00.002-05:00

I went to the State Fair on Thursday and brought back a souvenier for Madeline. It was a hat from the Pronto Pup stand (What's a Pronto Pup? It's only the best State Fair treat ever invented). I think these pictures are hilarious of her minding her business while wearing the Pronto Pup hat!

Blowin' Bubbles

2009-08-29T15:12:00.001-05:00

It's been sooooo long!

2009-08-19T20:42:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Jim our computer is working MUCH better and our wireless is working! That's pretty much why I haven't posted in three weeks. That and being on vacation out to Tomahawk, WI with my family and Madeline....and Madeline going through a phase (at least I hope it's just a phase) of not wanting to go to bed at night and being up all night. Anyways....here are a few pics from our trip to Tomahawk.

"Looking Good"

2009-07-31T11:13:00.002-05:00

That was the overlying theme of Madeline's CF clinic appt on Tuesday. She has gained weight despite her new persona of being a PICKY eater. So we're doing our job, she's doing her job, and you all are doing your jobs! Thanks! Here's some cute pics from when Grandma Barb and Great-Grandma June babysat on Monday:

Mmmmm...Great-Grandma June's donuts!

Can you get any cuter? Seriously, can you?

An afternoon at the MN Zoo

2009-07-12T21:16:00.006-05:00

Thrivent Financial members were treated to $5 admission this afternoon and evening to the MN Zoo! It was Madi's first time to a zoo so we were so excited to see her respond to the animals. Grandpa and Grandma Larson came with us. She loved seeing the monkeys, ducks, prairie dogs and bears move around - unlike all the pictures in her books! We saw the new Africa exhibit as well as the Russia's Grizzly Coast exhibit. Both were fabulous! Here are a few pics:

Cooling off at the splash park. Madi went back and forth, just barely touching the water spouts. Then Mommy had to step in and help her cool off...

Success!

It's just a (very lifelike) picture of tiger but Madi thought it was hilarious! She kept running back and forth between Grandma and the picture.

posing with the bronze tiger family

Great picture of a tiger cooling off in the water!

Daddy and Madi

Mommy, Madi and Daddy

Cool picture of a giraffe taking a drink of water at the Africa exhibit. Note the zebras across the pond.

Grandpa and Madeline on the way to the Farm exhibit. We rode there in a hayrack pulled by a big John Deere tractor.

Madi loved petting this bunny!

AwwwwwwwCheckin' out the goats with Grandma

Madi in the window with a cow. Cutie pie!

"Ch-Chu"

2009-07-10T22:01:00.005-05:00

To translate, Ch-Chu in Madi language means "Choo-Choo" or "train." There about 25 trains that go by per day outside our home. Madi hears the rumble and the horn and drops whatever she's doing and very seriously says "Ch-Chu." She runs to the window to see the train come by or if we're in the kitchen one of us holds her in front of the window so she can watch.

Tickle, tickle Daddy!

2009-07-10T21:52:00.003-05:00

Madi LOVES to run over to Curt, lift up his shirt and tickle his belly button. Curt always reacts with over-exaggerated laughter much to Madeline's delight.

I'm a big girl now!

2009-06-29T20:41:00.002-05:00

Madi has moved out of the height chair and into a toddler booster seat. This is a good thing but it leaves me feeling a little sad. I remember so fondly the first time I put her in the height chair to give her her first food. Now we need to invest in other things...namely plastic placemats to save the table, plastic chair covers to save the upholstery, and a plastic dropcloth to save the carpet beneath the table!!

32" tornado

2009-06-20T21:29:00.003-05:00

I'm not exactly sure what Madeline thinks she's accomplishing by emptying out the drawers that hold my dishtowels and washcloths. She was definitely on a mission while purging the drawers of their contents. Towels were flying over her head as she frantically emptied the drawers! Oh, well, whatever keeps you busy little one is fine with me. Sure, it's a mess but this stage of life where you find something like this so thrilling will go by too fast. Soon enough you'll be locking yourself in your bedroom with the stereo blasting. I'm soaking up every one of these innocent moments.

And tomorrow, It will be more of the same game. Why would I bother folding them and putting them back in nice stacks when they're going to literally be tossed out of the drawer again?

Shenanigans with the cous'

2009-06-20T21:12:00.003-05:00

Madi had a visit from Grandma & Grandpa Jacobson, Auntie Jen, and cousins Jake, Joey and Julia. She had so much fun playing with them! Here is a photo op that Curt, Jen and I were trying to successfully complete. No such luck! It was the two girls up to their shenanigans that prevented me from getting that perfect picture. Looking at these pictures, the ones that show pure happiness and joy that goes with childhood, I think I did get the perfect pictures...

LOVE that smile! Pure joy!

Jen trying to get them to sit still. Julia was a much better listener :)

Julia pets Maggie, Madi pets Julia, who's petting Madi?

Perhaps one of the cutest pictures of little Julia I've ever seen!!

A great day for a swim!

2009-06-15T20:16:00.005-05:00

PFT

2009-06-15T20:12:00.002-05:00

Madi had her semi-annual infant PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) this morning. This requires mild sedation (not general anesthesia). The sedation only works if the child can fall asleep on her own, though. This means keeping the child up late at night and waking them up early on the morning of the test so that they are exhausted and ready for a nap when the meds are administered. Fun!! She stayed up until a little past 10 last night and was up at 5:50 this morning. Luckily, my mom was able to come with me to the test and keep her awake on the way to the U of M. She fell asleep not even 5 mns after the really yucky tasting medicine was given - good girl! She passed her test with flying colors! Way to go, big girl!! To quote the Respiratory Therapist that helps administer the test "Her PFTs were heavenly." Yea, Madi!

Bringing up Baby

2009-06-07T20:34:00.003-05:00

How to take care of a baby...per Madeline

1. Dip the baby's bottle into dog food.

2. Feed the baby the dog food seasoned bottle.

3. Physically force the baby into her bed.

4. Give the baby another drink of milk.

5. Give whoever is photographing you a look that says "I know what I'm doing so leave me alone."

6. Repeat above steps while looking exceptionally cute

A Sunday afternoon dip

2009-06-02T20:31:00.000-05:00

...the most beautiful girl in the world

2009-05-19T08:41:00.002-05:00

Taken at Grandma and Grandpa Larson's house on Saturday.

Just a swingin'

2009-05-19T08:40:00.002-05:00

Tea Party with Grandma Barb and Great Aunt Bev

2009-05-19T08:37:00.002-05:00

Preliminary rumored results!

2009-05-07T21:07:00.002-05:00

I read a post on my CF Infants/Toddlers support group website that said the preliminary total $ raised at the Minneapolis CF walk was over $700,000! Again, it's a preliminary total and it's just a rumor so I don't know how accurate it is. The St. Paul walk is on the 17th so hopefully that will bring in just as much if not more money!

Great, great, great Strides

2009-05-04T20:30:00.005-05:00

The annual CF Great Strides walk went off without a hitch on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday afternoon! We were so blessed to have 22 people walk with us! The final count of money isn't available yet, but I'm sure it was a big amount given the number of people at the walk. We're also thankful to Bakers Square, Land-O-Lakes, Frito Lay, and tons of other sponsors for the free breakfast, snacks, and lunch! Wow - I can't believe how many generous corporate sponsors were involved in this walk. Our team raised almost $3,000! Thank you to everyone who donated. Especially Trinity Lutheran church who donated the fellowship money and Sunday School offering for the month of March to Madeline's team. Starting out the walk with Grandma Barb, Grandpa Gordie, Kathryn, Eric and Daddy

The happy family with their CF Great Strides T-Shirts. Madi's is signed by all of our teammates.

The best team ever!

Peter and Fredrik

Fredrik and Madeline find the tower of balloons to be intriguing.

Carrie (nice Team Madi shirt) holding Madi before the race starts. She was tired and ready for a nap!

...and she got one!

What was in her sippy cup?!?

2009-04-29T21:16:00.002-05:00

Here's our little trailer trash baby staggering around the kitchen after being stripped of her spaghetti-stained shirt.

Should I drink the Diet Coke or the Miller Genuine Draft first?

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

2009-04-29T21:09:00.002-05:00

While waiting for dinner to finish cooking, Daddy found Sesame Street on the internet to distract Madi. Usually when she's in front of the computer she just wants to bang on the keyboard. Not so when Sesame Street is on! Cute little pumpkin sucking her thumb and watching Elmo. I love you, sweet girl!

Good Sport

2009-04-26T18:51:00.001-05:00

Poor Maggie...

Exciting CF Treatment development

2009-04-20T17:16:00.003-05:00

Researchers in the UK are starting gene therapy treatment with a drug that had successful results in animals with CF. Prior gene therapy in humans has been unsuccessful b/c the body's immune system attacks the medication. Animals taking this drug did not have that reaction. Here's hoping!!!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/apr/19/cystic-fybrosis-gene-therapy-treatment

Easter...a little late

2009-04-17T21:29:00.003-05:00

Just strollin' along with G & G Larson

2009-04-03T20:37:00.003-05:00

Yeah, the baby and I are taking a little stroll around the neighborhood. Sometimes you just need to get out in the fresh air!

I love the composition of the photo, Curt...smallest to tallest
Baby has been naughty, I guess.

Madeline, you are too cute and sweet for words. I love you so much!

Little Miss Sassy

2009-04-03T14:21:00.001-05:00

Can you believe how big and utterly adorable she is?

Playdate!

2009-03-30T13:06:00.003-05:00

Madi and Fredrik had a play date last week. Grandma Barb was on spring break so she decided to watch Madi on Monday. Katy and Fredrik came over to have some cousin bonding time.

Madeline setting some ground rules for Fredrik using her toys. Her expression and his say it all!

Madeline making sure Fredrik doesn't take the toy away. Boy, is she ever protective!!

Awww, sharing food at lunch.

They had a great time and I hope they get to do it again soon!!

Kiss Me I'm...

2009-03-17T20:31:00.004-05:00

CUTE!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I had to get a picture of her in the morning with this shirt on b/c she may not come back from daycare wearing it! You know how messy toddlers are. She is having her pre-daycare breakfast... milk and a "Great-Grandma donut" that Daddy shared with her.

First haircut - a trim reallly

2009-03-14T21:42:00.004-05:00

Notice the big chunk of hair that is hanging over Madi's right eye? Well, that chunk keeps getting longer and the poor child can't see. So, while at Grandpa and Grandma Larson's house, Grandma decided enough was enough. She got out the scissors and decided to give Madi a trim (with my blessing of course). A toothbrush to distract her should help.

Mama, I'm having second thoughts about this!!

Grandma has the death grip on her so as not to snip more than just hair!

Much better. Madi looks a little like "what just happened?"

cousins

2009-03-14T21:29:00.005-05:00

The Mallets along with Grandpa and Grandma Jacobson visited last Sunday. It was so fun for Madi to play with her cousins and for us to catch up as well! Thanks, Grandma, for bringing the homemade chicken soup!

The CUZ's: Madi, Jake, Joe and Julia

Madi being her usual invasive self...

Madi has obviously grown out of the "Sure, I'll smile for you" stage while Julia still hams it up!

Seeing eye-to-eye with Joey

Baby Stuff

2009-03-04T09:47:00.002-06:00

I have to admit I was a little sad, or maybe bittersweet is the right word, when I realized I need to get rid of these items that were once staples in our lives. Baby bottles, breastpump bottles, and the tub of rice cereal. These three things were necessitites for a year. Now they've become dust collectors in my kitchen. Sigh...bye bye baby feeding things...hello tiny forks, spoons, and sippy cups.

Puppets

2009-02-20T20:56:00.005-06:00

Madi loves to play with her puppets from Auntie Jenny, Uncle Jim, Jake, Joe and Julia. That's a mouthful! She thinks it's pretty hilarious when Mama puts the puppets on her hands, too.

Once she's bored she moves on to REALLY exciting things, like washcloths!

Really...can life get any better?

Holy Hair, Batman!!

2009-02-20T20:51:00.002-06:00

Madi has a pretty decent amount of hair for a 1 year old. The kids at daycare had a little bit of fun with a bottle of hair gel yesterday. That mixed with the various types of food that she so often smears in her hair made for a nice looking mohawk...or something like that.

Owie!

2009-02-20T20:45:00.003-06:00

One of the hazards of learning to walk is the tumbles you take. The nice-looking goose egg on Madi's right eyebrow is the product of reaching for the coffee table, missing the coffee table and instead falling face first into it. Nothing that a lot of Mama hugs and a cup of juice can't fix!

Just Like Mama

2009-02-07T20:44:00.002-06:00

Madi has been carrying around my lunchbox all evening. Twice she has taken it out of the pantry and figured out how to loop it around her shoulder so that she can crawl (or walk:))around with it. Every day she sees me with this lunchbox on my way to work. Now she can be just like Mama!

Milestone Reached!

2009-02-06T21:56:00.003-06:00

I can't believe it - Madeline took her first steps tonigh! Well, at least the first steps that I've seen. Who knows if she has walked at daycare and Amy (provider) is nice enough to keep it a secret. I like to believe I witnessed these first steps...these steps toward me, her Mama. I just happened to be video taping her "reading" a book and thought "hey, I should see if she'll walk for me when I have the camcorder on." It took a few tries but she actually took 2 tiny steps towards me. I don't think she has really processed what she did. She didn't get up and try it again like I thought she would. She just kind of crawled over to her toys and kept playing. I've heard that once they start walking, your whole world gets turned upside down. They don't want to be carried anymore, they want to (very slowly) walk EVERYWHERE...including places that you just want to get out of as soon as possible (grocery store, bank, etc). Oh, well. Here's to two tiny steps toward toddler-dom. Way to go, sweet girl!

Ponytails

2009-02-02T21:12:00.006-06:00

These are honestly the best of about 49 photos that I took of Madi. I just want a cute pic of her and her ponytails...is that too much to ask? Such is life with a very busy toddler!

Fun with Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt B

2009-02-02T20:59:00.003-06:00

Curt and I enjoyed a rare night out sans baby! Grandpa Richard, Grandma Barb and Aunt B came to babysit. Here's what they did...Woah, static cling from the tunnel!

Giddyup, Aunt B! Good thing Grandpa is holding on tight!

Does she look like a little old lady pushing a shopping cart to you, too?

Making faces with Grandpa

B is so funny! I love her...almost as much as my pink bear!

A Fun, New Mealtime Game

2009-01-26T20:33:00.000-06:00

Hamburger

Tator Tots

Brown Beans... makes for a beautiful and delicious meal.

C-diff

2009-01-24T14:43:00.004-06:00

Yep, Madi has it. We're working the alphabet. CF, CDiff, now we need something that's CE___. All joking aside, it's a toxin in her intestines that decided to become a pest. She has been on Cipro (antibiotic) for over a week and has had yucky diapers. I meantioned it to the pediatrician at her one year visit (thank goodness I did) and he said we better do a stool sample for C-diff. (click here for more info). I remember working in the hospital during college and took care of people who contracted it while in there for something else. It happens when you're on antibiotics for awhile or if it's a strong abx like Cipro and it kills the good bacteria in your intestines. Now there's nothing there to fight the C-diff toxin that kind of hangs out in our bodies. She feels fine, just bad diapes. She's off the Cipro and on different abx now to get rid of the C-diff. Hopefully it will take care of it and it won't be an issue. C-diff can be really hard to get rid of so let's pray that this round of abx will blast it away!!!

Happy Birthday, Madi!

2009-01-24T14:34:00.002-06:00

Sorry, I don't have anymore photos right now of her birthday! My camera stinks so I relied on others to take pics. These are from auntie Katy. I also have some from my mom but left them at work- argh. The party was last Sat. at Aunt Bev's house. It was a cupcake theme, if you couldn't tell. Cupcake-shaped cookies, cupcakes, cupcake outfit, cupcake decorations. It was fun and Madi did get a little overwhelmed by all of people but overall did great! I love you, big girl :)

Ratrace.

2009-01-14T21:08:00.003-06:00

What a ratrace! Madi had a not-so-good sputum culture. She has these done every time she goes to the U for a checkup or procedure. She grew a couple icky bacterium (is that the plural of bacteria? bacterii maybe?) in her lungs so she is on two new antibiotics. Cipro and Tobi. The Cipro is taken orally and the Tobi is a nebulizer med that she takes twice daily. Anyways...the Tobi is a copay of $250.00 - yes, that's right, a copay. That means it costs us $250.00 AFTER our insurance pays its part. I also had to refill her Pulmozyme neb med today which is another $200.00 per month AFTER insurance. Yikes. Thank God that we were accepted for $5,000 a year in copay assistance from the Patient Access Network Foundation. Thank God for this wonderful non-profit group. Well this isn't the subject of my post but rather a precurser for my evening. The Walgreens that we get her Pulmozyme at doesn't carry Cipro or Tobi. The other Walgreens, a few miles out of the way, does carry it. I also had to get my medication refilled at Target pharmacy. So on my way home in 10 mph traffic I drove to three pharmacies to get 4 meds. Thus, the ratrace. Okay, so it's not a huge deal but it seemed like it after a long day of work away from my sweet girl.

The Vest

2009-01-06T20:45:00.003-06:00

It came today! Our wait for Madeline's airway clearance vest is over. Someone besides Curt or me can do her treatment. Curt and I can be away from our daughter for more than 12 hours, not having to worry about getting back in time for her treatment. We no longer have to hold her down on our laps beating on her chest and back. Now the vest does all of that for us. Thank God for this invention. Thank God for allowing our daughter to be independent of a caregiver when she's old enough to run The Vest.
Madi did so well. She didn't cry one bit. She sat for 1/2 of the treatment just listening to herself "talk" with a really vibratory voice! It was so strange not pounding on her - knowing that when the machine shut off, she was done. Now we've entered a new stage of Madi's CF life. A stage that gives her independence and self-confidence.

PFT results

2009-01-05T15:48:00.002-06:00

She passed! Okay, it's not a test like that, but Madi's lungs look normal. Thank goodness for that! She's now sleeping and probably will be for a while as she was under some anesthesia. We ordered her "vest" today and it will be here on Wednesday or Thursday. This will take the place of the twice-daily "poundings" that we do on her. She wears it (it's connected to a big air compressor) for 30 mns. twice a day while using her nebulizer. Click here for a video of how the vest works. Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and prayers!

Prayer Request...

2009-01-04T22:04:00.002-06:00

I have to ask for everyone's prayers and thoughts for Monday, Jan 5th. Madeline has her infant PFT test. She has this pulmonary function test every 6 months, and will for the rest of her life...or until they find a cure for CF! Since she's too little to follow commands she has to be sedated and placed in an aquarium-like contraption for the test. A vest is put around her body that literally squeezes the air in and out of her lungs. This test can measure how well she is moving air, basically. To see a video of the test (the video's about 4 mns) click HERE and then click on the tab on the left that says "Watch an infant study". It looks a little scary but it's not that bad. The hard part is the prep for the test. In order for the mild sedative to work, the child must fall asleep on her own. So, we have to keep her up late the night before and get her up early the day of the test. Not easy! And, since she's being sedated, she's not allowed any food 6 hours before the test. Again, not easy. The test is at Fairview University Hospital which is about an hour from our house. Madi loves to sleep in the car so one of us has to sit in back with her to keep her awake for the trip. Oh, boy I wonder who will get that job? Well, I am tired now and want to go to bed. I'll be up at the crack of dawn to get my daughter up. She is not going to be a happy camper tomorrow. So our prayer request is this...Keep us strong as parents to do the right thing for our daughter no matter how hard, and for the test to show that Madi's lungs are functioning normally. Thanks.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-26T21:08:00.006-06:00

We had a wonderful first Christmas with Madeline. We both feel so incredibly blessed to have such a beautiful and special daughter. I looked at Madi in wonder so many times, just amazed at that little creature. She was a stinker at bedtime. She didn't want to go to sleep knowing that everyone else was outside Grandma June's bedroom opening presents. She fussed for 45 minutes before I gave up. She sat in Daddy's lap, half asleep, until Bethany took her into the laundry room to put her to sleep. She went to sleep, finally, at 10. What a stinker. After breakfast and presents from Grandma and Grandpa Larson and her aunts and uncle, we went on to Andover to Curt's side of the family's party at Jenny's and Jim's house. We had a delicious lunch and lots of treats along with a big 4-wheeler present from cousins Jake, Joey, and Julia. Unfortunately our camera died at Jenny's house so we have very few pics of Christmas Day. We're relying on Jenny to email us pics from her camera to fill in the blanks. Madi had so much fun playing with her cousins that we stayed overnight. She pooped out at about 9 and slept until 9 the next morning! Then took a 3 hour nap. She was so exhausted. We finally got back to Rockford and washed clothes, unpacked, did dishes, vacuumed, etc. Madi played with a lot of her new toys and had so much fun. She is now in bed for the night - we hope. It has been a crazy week with the waterpark last weekend, sleeping at Grandma and Grandpa's, sleeping at Jen and Jim's, sleeping in the car, and now back sleeping in her bedroom. Poor girl doesn't know what's going on! Enjoy the pictures...

Madi and Great-Grandma June's Santa Bears

Madi and Mommy after Christmas Dinner at Great-Grandma June's

Madi got a special baby doll from Great-Grandma June

Opening her first present with Daddy

The happy family

Wrestling Fredrik to the floor!

Trying to pull Fredrik out of the rocking chair

Madi and Fredrik tearing the Christmas tree apart

Madi and Fredrik meeting Tov the Tomten

Christmas Day fun with her new fire engine

Yeah, new Crocs from Auntie B

Tired already!

Opening up a gift with Daddy

Christmas Morning Breakfast

Madi and JuliaPosing for pics in their matching Santa dresses

Happy 30th Curt!

2008-12-21T20:12:00.008-06:00

Madi helps Daddy open gifts...

Here's a card from me!!

I Love You, Daddy!

Curt turned 30 on Saturday and we celebrated with his entire family at the Water Park of America in Bloomington. We started the day at home with Curt opening his gifts from me (Talladega Nights DVD) and Madeline (2 lbs of peanut M&Ms). We ventured out in the yucky weather to the Mall of America to see Santa before checking in to the hotel. Madi did great! She was very serious on Santa's lap and didn't cry at all. Curt's brother, Bret, and his family, Lisa, Bryce and Kyle, were there too. Bret, Curt and Bryce went on the scariest ride in the park. Here they go down the steep incline:and around the bend...

They survived!
Bret may have had an accident...
Here's Madi playing at the waterpark while Daddy was on the waterslides with his brothers:

Bathing Beauty. Nice hernia belly button :)
Splashing with cousin Kelly
Uncle Eric and Madi went around the whole park on an innertube on the Lazy River. Madi loved it!!
Goofing off with Grandpa Gordie after a bath and warm, dry clothes.

I hope it's just a phase

2008-12-15T21:57:00.002-06:00

I am repeating this phrase over and over again. Since yesterday, Madi has been acting differently. She's acting more like a toddler who doesn't just smile and coo at Mommy and Daddy anymore. She doesn't eat her dinner and play with her toys like a good girl. She doesn't enjoy the bedtime ritual like she used to. She now screams immediately when she doesn't get her way or can't reach what she wants. She eats only what she can pick up off her tray but then takes it out of her mouth, smiles, and drops it on the floor. She wants to be held constantly but as soon as you pick her up, she wants to get down or crawl up on your shoulders. She thrashes around, throws books and stuffed animals on the floor, then wants them back immediately at bedtime. When you give her said books and animals, they are soon thrown on the floor again. And so the cycle continues...over and over...until she just collapses out of sheer exhaustion. And I do the same shortly thereafter. I hope it's just a phase....

Mmmm...spaghetti

2008-12-10T19:19:00.002-06:00

Christmas Photo Shoot Pictures

2008-12-01T19:37:00.005-06:00

Babies Gone Wild

2008-11-28T20:39:00.003-06:00

This is what happens when you leave your baby with her Grandma for 2 hours...Nice hair, Madeline. Note the bottle of hair gel on the endtable to the left. But, who can resist those gorgeous blue eyes?

Happy Thanksgiving - a day late

2008-11-28T20:22:00.001-06:00

Sorry, I'm late with my Thanksgiving wishes. We celebrated the day at Katy's house in St. Paul along with my side of the family and Katy's in-laws (Roz, Jim, Jessa, Eric, and Jonah). There were a lot of people there but it was cozy and fun! There were three babies under the age of 1 so that kept us all on our toes. Madi's first Thanksgiving meal was cranberries, squash, mashed potatoes, and a tiny bite of turkey. I put a little of everything on her height chair tray but these are the only things I saw her eat. Poor grandpa Richard sat on the other side of her and she used his shirt sleeve as a napkin. His left arm was covered in squash and potatoes! He loved every minute of it, like a good Grandpa should :0). Grandma Barb bought Fredrik and Madi matching outfits to take Christmas pictures. Well we had good intentions. The pictures did NOT turn out too well! The two babies were much too interested in everything else to pose for a picture. We tried everything but they were exhausted, hungry, over-stimulated, and just plain pooped out. We will try again next weekend, I think. Madi had her Christmas photos taken by our neighbor, Jessica Milkes, today at Aunt Bev's house. Aunt Bev has her beautiful house all decorated up for Christmas so it was a perfect setting. Grandma Barb hit the black Friday sales this morning and got an adorable little red plaid chair just Madi's size! Madeline loved that chair! Jessica did a great job and I can't wait to see those photos this weekend! I'll be sure to post a few when I get a chance.

SLOPPY Joes

2008-11-22T19:42:00.004-06:00

The time has come to say goodbye to...

2008-11-21T21:04:00.002-06:00

...going out to dinner. We had our last experience going out to eat tonight at Ruby Tuesday's. Madeline is officially at that age where it's a total pain in the neck to go out for dinner. I have been in denial for several weeks but tonight sealed the deal. She threw menus on the floor, food on the floor, was constantly reaching for everything on the table, screamed loudly when she couldn't play with forks, and refused to eat. We spent the entire dinner trying to keep her quiet and occupied and I don't really remember what I even ate. Yep, it's babysitter time. Gone are the days where she would sit in her infant seat and sleep or just look around and smile. Now it's"gimme gimme gimme!" She's gotten quite good at the arching-the-back tantrum. We see that in the high-chair, doing her breathing treatment, and almost every time we try to get her in the carseat. These are the little annoyances that everyone has told me about but I foolishly thought I was going to luck out and not have to deal with them. Reality check!

Playtime before Bedtime

2008-11-13T20:48:00.006-06:00

Grandma Barb bought this cute little flannel robe for Madeline. She wears it after she gets out of the tub until it's time for bed (usually a 1/2 hour later). It is perfect because she can move freely, she's warm, and if she spits up the tub water she drank, she doesn't wreck her jammies. Here she is in it playing with Dadda before bedtime.

In the tunnel...

Aren't I smart in my robe?

Ready.....Wrestle!

2008-11-13T20:45:00.001-06:00

Noisemaker

2008-11-13T20:34:00.004-06:00

Madi LOVES to make this new noise with her fingers. She has learned that if she flicks her lips up and down with her fingers while she's "talking" she can make a really cool noise. It is hilarious to watch! Here's some pics that I got of her doing it!

Halloween photo shoot

2008-10-31T15:55:00.005-05:00

Doing a photo shoot with a 9 month old in a costume (which includes a hat) by yourself is not easy as you can see...

What's this behind me?Ha ha!Who turned out the lights?

Not too fast are you, Mommy?

Notice me trying to push her by the head back into a sitting position?

See Ya!

Catch me if you can!

Oooo Furry!
and the winner!!!

Apple Orchard...Finally!

2008-10-31T15:42:00.006-05:00

We had so much fun at Apple Jack Orchard in Rockford with Lisa and John! Here are some pics:

Goofiness

Sweethearts

Ohhhhh, cute family photo with tired baby

In the corn maze with sleeping Madi:

Such a tired girl Corn Maze Fun before Madeline fell asleep

This is an aerial view of the corn maze! It was fun!

Little Cheerleader

2008-10-31T15:39:00.003-05:00

A few weekends ago both sets of Grandparents came to have lunch and watch the Vikes game. Here's our little cheerleader...

Fall 9 month Pictures

2008-10-28T19:22:00.005-05:00

Last Saturday we hired one of our neighbors, Jessica Milkes, to do a photo shoot with Madi at the Apple Jacks Orchard. Here's the results! Great job, Jessica! We LOVE the pics!

Mother's Intuition

2008-10-21T19:37:00.003-05:00

So Madi has been a little "off" the last few days. She hasn't been wanting to drink out of the bottle and woke up for about an hour last night. I picked her up from daycare at 3:15 for her 9 month Dr. appt. and shots and Amy (our neighbor and daycare provider) said she only slept about an hour and insisted on sleeping sitting up. She also said she didn't want to drink her bottle but would eat baby food. I figured it must be ear-related. We got to the Dr. only to find out that the appt. is next Tuesday. Grrr. I took off early on a day in which I had TONS of work to do only to find out that I wrote the day on the calendar wrong. Well I got back out to the car and pulled out of the parking lot remembering that I was going to have the Dr. check her out for an ear infection. I stopped at Aunt Bev's office (4 blocks from the clinic) and I called back to see if anyone could see her. They couldn't but said they'd put her on a waiting list. I brought her to urgent care instead. After waiting forever in the lobby with very poopy pants (Madi's, not mine)my suspicions were confirmed. She has an ear infection in her left ear. Thank goodness we found out before it traveled to both ears. Some antibiotics out of the "med vending machine" and a phone call to daddy and we were out of there! She had a little nap, her breathing treatment and some sweet potatoes, corn and apples. She just had a very exciting game of tug-of-war with the dog. We video taped it. If I knew how to upload video I would attach it but that's a lesson for another day. Let's hope she sleeps tonight so that I can get some much-needed rest as well.

Time to catch up

2008-10-15T21:02:00.006-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted for so long. Things are going along swimmingly in our household - no more worms or hand, foot and mouth viruses. Madi has definitely changed! She is getting to be such a big girl. She's 19 lbs which is fabulous, especially since she has CF. She is much more vocal - saying lots of "ga ga gas" and "da da das". No "ma ma" yet, though. She enjoys torturing other babies by grabbing their hair, clothes, and anything else protruding. She makes scary growling noises that freaked out cousin Fredrik so much that he started bawling! She's very happy most of the time and has been off of antibiotics for about a month! Yahoo! She mastered sitting up from a lying down position over the last weekend and she seems to think she's pretty hot stuff. She has moved on from the army crawl to a weird inch worm crawl. I wish she would just figure it out, already! She also figured out how to get her hands up on the bottom stair and stand up. Yikes! Good thing we have the baby gates in place. Maggie the dog and Madeline are starting to enjoy playing tug-of-war with the dog rope. It's disgusting and germy but it's hilarious to watch Madi pull the toy away from Maggie and have Maggie pull back. I don't let her put the toy in her mouth and I wash her hands after she plays with the rope. A more difficult milestone has also arrived - stranger and seperation anxiety. She is very cautious when new people are around. She used to smile at everyone but now she really needs to check you over before awarding you with her 6 pearly whites. Oh, yeah, she's also grinding her teeth when she eats. It's enough to send shivers down my spine. I think she discovered that she has teeth on the top and bottom and likes to grind them together. Anyway, about the anxiety. She loves her Mama and wants to make sure that I am always in sight, even when Daddy is around. Last weekend I got her out of her crib in the morning and came downstairs to see Daddy and Maggie. I gave Madeline to Curt and she started screaming and reaching for me. I felt bad for Curt, but on the inside I was feeling pretty good:)

Madi had her first round of RSV vaccine last Friday. Her Pulmonologist, Dr. Phillips, set up a home care nurse to come and administer them once a month during RSV season (Oct-Apr) which is super convenient for us! No taking off of work and sitting in a germ-infested waiting room for a well child visit. Of course, Madeline hated the shots and the nurse, in my opinion, took way too long administering them. Poke-poke-Band-Aids-done is how they do it at the pediatrician but not the home care nurse. Her method was poke, open the Band-Aid, put on the Band-Aid, wash the other injection site, poke, open the 2nd Band-Aid and put on the 2nd Band-Aid. Nope - doesn't work well for babies or for the parent trying to console them and hold them down. Hopefully next time it will be a different nurse. Well, I guess I will attach some pictures since that's probably what most people check this blog for! Here are pictures of Madi playing hide and seek with the dog who is under the couch. I swear they played like this for 5 or 10 minutes! Maggie kept poking her head in and out of the flap of the couch. Madi would lift up the flap and look for her. It was so cute to see them interact.

Here's a picture of Madi playing hide and seek again. Only this time she was playing with the drapes! She would pull them over her face and the yank them off and laugh. What a cutie-pie. Maggie had fun watching her silly game...

Illness Galore!

2008-10-07T10:56:00.003-05:00

What a weekend. Saturday we helped Katy, Peter and Fredrik move to their new house in St. Paul. I noticed Madi was pretty hot so I removed a layer of clothing and hoped that would do the trick. When we got home she was pretty hot again so I took her temp...101.5! Whoa, bad mommy! I gave her some Motrin right away and just watched her. I noticed a rash on her hands and feet but didn't think much of it. I called the nurse line and they said to call her doctor. I called Dr. Phillips, her pulmonologist, because I don't really trust the Buffalo pediatrician. They're too busy all the time and just not as educated with CF. He asked if she had a rash and I said she did. He said to keep watching her and to call him Sunday if she doesn't sleep well. Madi woke up about 3 times during the night and had a fever of 99.1. Sunday came around and all hell broke loose! Curt awoke to dog poop on our bedroom floor and on Madeline's bedroom floor. He walked downstairs to find dog poop EVERYWHERE! It was in at least 10 spots. Okay, so the dog obviously had diarrhea during the night when we were sleeping. We didn't know and she was sleeping on our bed with poop-smeared fur on her butt. Gross, we were sleeping with a poopy dog all night. An early morning trip to Cub was made to rent a steam cleaner and the dog was promptly bathed and put in her kennel with only her water dish, bedding and toys. I put all the bedding in the wash to clean any lingering poop germs. I called Dr. Phillips again and he said that since she still was feverish, had a rash, and didn't sleep well she should either go to urgent care or to bring her into the clinic on Monday. I hate the Buffalo E.R. so I opted for the latter. Monday came around and I was staying home with Madi since she wasn't feeling great. I also called the vet for the poopy dog. Turns out the dog has worms (hookworms to be exact). Gross. It is really not fun bringing a sick baby and a sick dog to the vet, by the way. Both wanted constant attention from me. I got the meds from the vet and hurried the dog home and plopped her back in her kennel as Madi waited for me in the car to go to the U of M CF Center. We saw the nurse practitioner, Carly, at the CF Center and she knew right away that what Madi has is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Virus and she's cutting an upper tooth. Click here for what the Hand, Foot, Mouth Virus is. That's what is causing the rash and fever. Okay, that's manageable. The virus is extremely contagious so she has to stay home until it is cleared up. It's a virus so it's not treatable by antibiotics. She feels okay now and is off and on with a low fever. I was home with her yesterday and Curt and Bethany are taking care of her today. Hopefully no more rashy spots show up today so she can go back to daycare. Oh, and the dog is still pooping all the time so she is spending all her time kenneled or outside on the rope. It has been an exhausting couple of days to say the least.

Good News

2008-10-02T09:43:00.003-05:00

I received a message from the Nurse Practitioner at the U of M CF Center today. Madi's mucus culture that they took last Friday at her 2 month appt. grew normal "flora." In other words, she has no infections in her lungs at this time! Hooray! I guess the cough she has is related to an upper respiratory infection (head cold) and not something in her chest. Phew. I am searching several online support groups to find the right one. The regular Yahoo CF support group is too much of an announcement bulletin board and the CF parents support group is too scary. There's a lot of posts about older kids having problems and surgeries that I don't want to think about for Madeline right now. I emailed someone on that group and she said there's a Yahoo CF infants and toddlers group and a Yahoo CF Mommies group that I can try. I think I will check those out. I also found a woman who is 71 years old that has the same strain of CF as Madeline - boy did that make me feel encouraged. She said there's someone living with CF that is 82 years old. Wow! Now, I'll focus on our good news and try to live life to the fullest until our next appt at the U in November.

Thoughts on Coughing

2008-09-25T09:49:00.004-05:00

Madeline has had a cough pretty much every day for about 3 months. I know it's related to her Cystic Fibrosis but I would think that the constant antibiotics she's on would take care of it and give us at least 1 week of respite. When I say "us" I mostly mean Madi. As soon as she is off of abx she gets a cough within two days and then is on abx for another 3 weeks. The cycle continues with no end in sight. I feel like we're just going in a big circle. I look at her pictures on my desk and see a beautiful, healthy-looking baby girl. In reality she fights thick mucousy coughs, nasal congestion that keeps her up at night because she can't suck her beloved thumb, and uncomfortable breathing treatments 3 times a day that require her parents to beat on her little body. I hate this aspect of her disease - that it never seems to give her a break. She will never know any different and for that I am greatful. She'll never know what it feels like to be truly healthy. She won't know what life is like not having to worry about finding an electrical outlet so that she can do her breathing treatment when she's at camp or at a friend's cabin. She won't know what life is like not having to get a suction hose shoved up her nose into her lungs to take a mucous sample at every doctor visit. She won't know what life is like not having to take enzymes at her desk before she eats her snack at school. She won't know what life is like not having to worry that kids will tease her because of all these things. I hate that she has to be a fighter to survive. I hate that she will have to wonder if she'll survive long enough to see her own children grow up. I hate that this disease threatens to take her away from us way too soon. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.

Slip Slidin' Away

2008-09-15T20:51:00.000-05:00

Tonight Madi started moving in a manner closer to crawling and less like spinning in a circle. I think it was because she was on the slippery kitchen floor where it's easy to slide around. She was playing on the carpet with measuring cups and an egg separator while I was doing the dishes. I turned around to check on her and she was all the way off the carpet and moving around the kitchen floor. She kept throwing the egg separator and then she'd pull herself close to it to grab it only to throw it again. This little game kept her busy long enough for me to get the dishes done. She was in such a bad mood this evening b/c she missed her afternoon nap for some reason. The triumph of locomotion made her a very happy girl again - the happy girl we most often see. Of course, I got out the camera and the video camera to document this monumentous occasion. So proud of you, sweet girl.

Pooped Out

2008-09-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

I came home from work today with Curt standing at the top of the stairs, holding the dog to keep her quiet, telling me to "Shhhhh." I crept up the steps and found this in our living room! A little girl that pooped herself out. She has never fallen asleep in a contraption before. Only her swing, papasan, carseat and crib - all things meant to lull babies to sleep. She's also dressed in her new Hanna Andersson and Robeez. She looks so cute, doesn't she?

I love my Jumparoo!

2008-09-01T15:36:00.000-05:00

Cousin Fredrik has shared his Jumparoo with Madeline and we are all so glad! Madeline has loads of fun bouncing up and down while playing with the toys on the tray. She has figured out that if she locks her knees she stops bouncing right away. It's hilarious to watch her bounce, stop suddenly and look at us and smile. She seems so proud of herself. Daddy and I are pretty proud, too.

Happy Labor Day

2008-09-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Labor Day to everyone! We enjoyed our day running errands - including a trip to Babies 'R Us to get baby gates. Madeline is almost crawling and we want to be prepared. Curt had an exciting rescue call this afternoon where he helped a man who had a heart attack while driving through Rockford. Curt held his head while his fellow rescuers performed CPR. They revived his pulse a few times before the helicopter landed and the Paramedics took him to the hospital. We are praying that he makes it. Madeline has gotten so big. Sometimes I catch myself looking at her in awe, wondering where the last 7 1/2 months have gone. One of those times was today. She was sitting on the floor playing when I couldn't believe how big she'd gotten. Here's the most recent photo of our little princess.We hope all of you stay safe this Labor Day! And, for those of you going back to school tomorrow, I say...I'm glad it's not me :)

Water Baby

2008-08-18T08:52:00.000-05:00

Madi and I traveled to G&G Larson's house in Litchfield on Sunday for a visit. It seemed like a good day for a swim. While Grandpa Richard stayed home with Madi as she napped (and checked on her every few minutes like a good G'pa should:)) Mom and I searched Wal-Mart (boo-hiss) for a baby pool. Of course nobody could help us and we couldn't find one so we went home empty handed. Grandpa Richard went out later to Family Dollar and was successful. We put Madi in the pool after filling it with hose water and some warmer water from the sink. She kind of gasped at the shock of the cooler water but soon started splashing away. She LOVED swimming in her little pool! Grandpa Richard brought out his washtub that he used as a baby to see if Madi would fit. It was adorable!

She looked like such a big girl in that little washtub. Her feet were very pruny when we finally took her out of the water. She settled in for a nap in Grandma Barb's arms after her exhausting swim.

Little Genius

2008-08-09T16:21:00.000-05:00

I have been reading in the baby books that I should be giving her household things to play with. They say that she'll like putting things into a bowl. Okay, so I give her mixing bowls, tupperware and measuring cups to play with, thinking she'll happily put the cups into the bowls and dump them out again. My child is a genius, after all. Yeah, she just put the cups in her mouth and tried to get the bowl in her mouth. She didn't really get the whole putting things into the bowl thing. I tried showing her how but she was just interested in eating everything. I guess she's not ready like all the books say she is. Oh, well.

Presenting...Madi's first tooth!

2008-08-09T15:56:00.000-05:00

Here are two not-so-great photos of Madeline's freshly-cut tooth. It finally arrived and she (and everyone else) are very relieved! Now the one right next to it is so close to popping through. Let's hope it happens fast. She slept pretty much all morning while I was at the spa (Mother's Day gift from Curt and Madi). She woke up when I got home at noon and is presently about 1 hour into another nap. I really hope she sleeps tonight! Good thing tomorrow is Sunday.

A Tooth - Hooray!

2008-08-07T21:31:00.000-05:00

Yeah! Tonight Madi cut her first tooth!!! It is on the bottom on her right side. It's just a tiny bit of a tooth poking up, but hey, it's something to celebrate! I noticed a definite change in her mood since yesterday. She slept much better last night and was very happy today. I figured the tooth was almost here and I guess I was right. We tried really hard to get pictures of it but she's a wild woman and wouldn't sit still long enough! Ahhh, sweet relief...for now.

2008-08-07T09:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a pic of Madi and her two almost-there teeth on the bottom! Grandma Barb is holding her at Great-Grandma June's house last Saturday. Love the drooly bib - another staple of Madi's wardrobe. Gotta love acid reflux and teething drool.

teething

2008-08-06T21:11:00.000-05:00

Here's how the conversation goes... Coworker: "Hey Amy, how's it going?" Me: "I'm tired."
It seems like this phrase "I'm tired", has been uttered about a thousand times in the past week. Madeline is teething. She has two bottom teeth that are ever-so-slowly making their way to the surface of her gums. It's torture watching her cry and bite on her hands when the baby Motrin has worn off. We are going to invest in stock of whatever pharmaceutical company owns Motrin. It is a life-saver for teething babies. I know a lot of people don't believe in medicating their babies, but when you and your husband work full-time jobs and have to function at those jobs, medicine is a necessity. Now, I'm not saying to drug the baby...just make her comfortable enough so that she as well as M&D can have a good night's sleep. That's it for now. I'll try to get a picture of Madi's teeth up on the blog. That would require me to take a picture of the inside of her mouth which is not an easy thing to do.

Getting Started

2008-07-22T16:07:00.000-05:00

Yep. I finally broke down and created my own blog. I have no idea what I'm doing so bear with me! I hope to have photos and text up soon. The blog will be about, obviously, our life as parents.