Home!

We are home, finally! We will be back in 2 weeks for the impedence probe to see if the Nissen procedure (wrapping the stomach around the esophagus to help with reflux, averting aspiration)will need to be done at the same time as the G-tube, and then the surgey the next week, probably. And I need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Didelot, Maddy's orthopedic surgeon, to finalize plans for surgery to correct her feet.

So good to be back home!

Christmas trip, Stop Two (picture catch up)

Our second stop on the Christmas trip was at Glen's brother's. We had too much fun catching up with Wayne and Esther and Makayla. Glen's Mom and Dad and sisters were there as well, so we were crammed up, but we had such a good time. For some reason, I don't have pictures for some of the fun excursions we took, such as the spectacular Walk through Bethlehem or the Christmas Festival of Lights on the bay. What I do have is a little fuzzy and for some strange reason there are splotches here and there, but I wanted to make sure we got this part of the journey recorded forever in blog world! :)

The kiddos wait for the tour through Bethlehem

Sunday Morning

Cousins

Wayne, Esther and Makayla

Playing Maid...

...and starlet...

...and teacher...

...and awesome auntie...

...and chief and bottle washer...

...and tea party...

Aunt Essie had a wonderful surprise planned for the girls. She put together a vintage dress-up trunk for each girl, decorated with their names, complete with tea party skirts, hats, boas, heels, tea cups, etc. They had so much fun.

Don't you wonder what that look is all about?

Maddy slept through it all. The only thing I did with Maddy the whole time I was there was a little therapy and cathing. Between Grandma, Aunties Esther, Emmeline and Lorraine, her bottles, rocking, bathing, changing, and dressing were all taken care of! There were no knock-down, drag-out fights, but there was plently of competition to get hot little hands on that baby.

The morning we opened presents. We were all pretty beat from all our fun!

Thursday update

Maddy is doing ever so much better. She still is pretty sore, therefore grouchy at times, scowling and glaring at us when we move her. Most of the time, she's not so bad! She's been awake a lot more now, and playing with her toys a bit and rocking with Mommy.

I think we could have been discharged last night, had we not been waiting on one more doctor's approval. The GI doctor wants to see her first, and when the nurse called this morning to tell her that we were only waiting for her, she was astonished that it was a possibility that we could leave after a brain surgery! She felt badly, but she had multiple surgeries scheduled at two different hospitals, and she can't see Maddy until tomorrow morning. Oh, well. Such is life. I didn't ask if it was a possibility, but the pulmonologist did say that she wouldn't advise even the minor surgery to place the G-tube so soon after the craniectomy. So basically we're just waiting overnight just to have the GI doctor to just tell us what the new plan is. At any rate, sounds like we'll be back before too long!

On a serious note, I would ask that all of you who have prayed so faithfully for Madeline to send up prayers for a friend from our SS class who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. I think she's Glen's age. I know she and her family are in total shock right now and desperately need to feel the arms of God and His children around them right now.

Christmas trip, Stop One (picture catch up)

There are several updates re: Maddy's surgery and recovery below.

Our first stop on our Christmas trip found us at Benjy and Lisa (Myers) Sommers beautiful house in the mountains of Berkley Springs, WV. We totally enjoyed our time...just relaxing and talking, and yes, EATING. Yum-o. They have two beautiful children, Mercy and Judah.

Olivia, Carli and Mercy fresh out of the bathtub.

Out of PICU!

Maddy's PICU nurse fixing her oxygen and feeding tube. She was completely awesome.


Freshly bathed and moved to 4th floor, and now sleeping with her eyes slit open.I'll take another picture later showing the full dress. Auntie Pam brought it Monday. Too cute with LadyBug pockets. (Thanks, Auntie. So much fun being spoiled!

Christmas at our house (yep, more picture catch up!)

I could post a zillion more pics, but here are my favorites. I think it's kind of sad that this is the last year we'll be able to get matching jammies for the girls. Carli is quickly moving past the toddler side, so we're having to go across the aisle to the bigger kids section. But aren't they adorable?

Sisterly love.




Can we get on with the show? What's all this fuss about?


Carli bought herself a present from the Santa's Workshop at school. And gifts for everyone else, too.


Tea set was a big hit.


Daddy found a new "Pongo" for Carli, although this isn't actually Pongo. She had a small Ty dalmation that was so floppy and cute, and every time we go by Cracker Barrel, she says that that is where she got Pongo, but she lost it.


Please excuse my little one, but if Olivia had her way, she would be just in panties 24/7. Anyway, here she is enjoying both her tea set and her dolly.

More picture catch-up

Right before we left for our Christmas trip to see family, one of the Sunday School classes at our church brought over three huge boxes of groceries as well as some gas and grocery cards. What a blessing. We were so grateful