Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas! It wasn't our traditional Christmas this year...having my Dad in the hospital was a frightening thing. But we had a GREAT morning with Ben's family. We really needed it - it brought our spirits up and kept us from worrying about my Dad for a while. We haven't had our Christmas with my family yet...we want to wait until Dad is recovered and back home. It just wouldn't be the same without him.

Madelyn is still pretty scared of Santa, she'll point when she sees him and sing songs about him - but if he's real and coming her way - the tears start!! Santa made a stop at our house Christmas morning, it was a quick visit as he had to see the other girls and boys, and Madelyn was quick to say "bye bye Sana Caus" as he made his way out the door! She's a little dramatic as you can see....

This year, she understood the idea of opening presents...and she was so patient! Opening one and looking at it a while, then she'd pass it on and say "i put it away." She's a lucky girl and she got so many fun things this year...lots of clothes, books, art supplies, a grocery buggy and lots food, a motorized car to drive from Grammy and Grandpa and a kitchen from her Nana.

She had a great day - it was exhausting for her (and US) but she loved it! We wish we could've spent more time with The Joneses, it was a quick one unfortunatly. We packed up and drove to Stafford to spend some time with my Dad in the hosptial. The day after Christmas, she opened a few presents at Nana's house - books, her new kitchen and dishes to go along with it. We brought the kitchen back to our house and she is quite the chef! She loves to make coffee and eggs, and loves the microwave. She's got more food than we do!

We're so thankful for our families and the special times we spend with them...THANK YOU Mom, Dad, Amanda and Haylie! You made our Christmas this year so special!

A New Year...a Fresh Start

Today is New Years Eve, it's so hard to believe 2008 will soon be in our past. It was an eventful year for us, full of new adventures with Madelyn, trips, vacations, sorrow, new friends, and a new baby coming into our lives in 2009....so many things we're thankful for - so many wonderful memories.


We are ending our year on a rough note - a "not so welcome" surprise that no one was expecting. My Father became deathly ill the week before Christmas. It just came out of nowhere - he is a healthy man who continues to run 5 miles a day and PT during his lunch breaks at work. My whole family is shocked and stunned by this...and so are the MANY doctors involved in his case!


It all started with what his primary doctor diagnosed as a stomach virus, Dad just didn't feel good - the aches and grogginess, slight fever. He missed work a whole week - NOT like him at all - and stayed in bed. Only getting up every few hours for a drink of water or tea. A week later - my brother noticed Dad was just not with it...slurring words, couldn't walk, dillusional. So he ended up in the ER that afternoon. That evening he was admitted to the ICU where he has been for 10 days now.


The doctors were first alarmed by his calcium level - it was at a deadly high. Normal is 6-7, they consider 10 to be high, my Dad's calcium level was at 19! The first thing that came out of the ER doctors mouth was - cancer. A level that high is most associated with someone who has cancer. The first few days, Dad was shaking uncontrollably, moaning and reaching out -- even trying to pull out all the tubes that were keeping him alive. He was in an "altered subconscious state." Seeing him like that was probably the most scary thing I've seen in my life.


During the last 10 days, there have been tests drawn for diseases we've never heard of...even things these doctors have never heard of. Some of the conditions include lyme disease (which came back negative), legioneers disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia...just to name a few that I've heard of. There are hematologists involved, infectious disease, oncologists, nephrologists...at least a dozen doctors. We still do not know the cause of the calcium spike -- although, HAPPILY the latest count I received was 10.7. GREAT NEWS!


Also great news is that Monday, Dec 29th - my Dad opened his eyes and is now communicating with us! Well...I'll say he's TRYING to communicate with us. He has a vent tube in keeping him from talking, which should be removed soon. He has little patience and is easily frustrated...he gets upset when we can't read his lips I know. He can't write yet or point to letters so we can spell...it's just hard right now. When I showed him a picture of Madelyn and asked if he knew who she was, I think he would've hit me on the forehead if he could have! He rolled his eyes as if to say "Of course I know who that is!" That thrilled me even though I was holding back my tears.


On top of the high calcium, his low platelets are a major concern. He's had spontaneous bleeding in his nose that was affecting his breathing...which is why they started him on the ventilator. He's received several transfusions of platelets to help with that.


We're doing our best to be patient and understand the doctors are doing all they can right now. They have nothing to go off of - he wasn't sick before or had a heart attack or fell or was bit by a spider....it's just flabbergasting to everyone.


Hopefully soon we'll be able to look back at this scary event and be thankful that Dad survived through it all. He's a tough Marine that WILL overcome this illness and be with his family again. We're looking forward to our Johnson Christmas with Dad there...hopefully very soon!

Monday...

We headed to Stony Point after dinner tonight -- went to see the lights and let Madelyn RUN FREE!! It was about 70 here today so we had to get out and enjoy the weather. We played outside most of the day...

Yesterday was the Chester Christmas Parade here in town. We went last year with my Dad and this year Madelyn's Grandpa, Grammy and Aunt Haylie came along. LAST year the weather was like today - we didn't wear coats, but THIS year - burr...it was cold! There were horses to see, cars, firetrucks, dancing girls, clowns and Santa Claus of course! We had a good time.

Last night, Ben and I looked at the pictures from a year ago when we took Madelyn at 9 months old...she was so little! Thats the day she decided she'd start to crawl, and we're lucky we have it on video! So just for fun, I added pictures from LAST year at the parade...and THIS year at the parade!

LAST YEAR....

And THIS YEAR....

Friday night at Romp n' Roll

We look forward to Friday nights at Romp n' Roll - it's open gym time which means the kids can just run and play, and wear themselves out!! We went lastnight and Madelyn had a fun time - there were just a few other kids there...not sure what the deal was with the tongue this night, but it was hangin' out there in most of the pictures!

Starting fresh...

Haven't posted anything in a while, guess we'll start fresh with Christmas approaching. Here's a funny video of Madelyn from this morning. While I was getting dressed, she decided to put on all my bathing suits and "underwear" -- so she had about 10 different things piled over her head, and she did it all herself! She looks kinda like a poor old bag lady! It ended quick, now all she wants to do when she sees the camera is look at the pictures of herself on it!

One turkey day down...one to go!

We spent the day Saturday at my Dad's house for my family's Thanksgiving - it's not that often these days that we are all together in one place! We had the usual Thanksgiving dinner and wished my sister a Happy 40th Birthday...her birthday is the day before Thanksgiving this year, poor thing hardly ever has a separate celebration. Seems like it's just at Thanksgiving and Christmas that we're all together - which is great that we can spend time together then, it's just so hard for everyone to get together more often through the year. Thank God my parents get along as well as they do being divorced, that means so much to us and makes holidays so much more special and much easier!

Sunday was non-stop at our house with visitors, Amanda in the morning and then The Kratt's came over in the afternoon for dinner - along with Liz and Mary for a QUICK "photo session" of Madelyn in hopes of getting a decent picture for our Christmas card! Liz got some good shots, Madelyn certainly is NOT one to pose...so we really have to act quick with her and hope she cooperates somewhat, like any toddler.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day -- it'll be quiet around here. We're heading to Amelia later in the afternoon to have Thanksgiving dinner with Ben's family. It'll be a fun visit. Off to bed for now...been a crazy week here - that'll have to be another post :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Ponytail or crew-cut?

Yesterday was our appointment at the Perinatal Center, baby is healthy - no problems at all! We almost didn't find out the sex, this little one was being quite stubborn! Right at the end as the nurse was about to give up, swish went the legs and there it was for us to see! :) Sorry everyone...we're keeping a secret for a bit!


Monday night, Madelyn being the big helper she is, decided to put on Mommy's vest and start her own canned food drive, such a humanitarian! She LOVES the pantry...she'll be happy after Christmas because Nana got her her very own kitchen, Auntie Haylie has stocked it with 100 pieces of food (c'mon...she's going to have more food then we do!!) AND Auntie Manda bought her a grocery buggy with groceries! Ben's man room upstairs has slowly been converted to the toy room...now it's official - with two kids it's definitely not his room anymore - sorry Ben, you've got the garage!












This morning we've had snow on and off! I LOVE IT! I hope this winter we have some good snowfall...it's been so long. We quick bundled up and ran outside to enjoy it for a few minutes.

Saturday with Grandpa & Grammy

We spent Saturday at Grandpa & Grammy's house. The weather was strange...warm but really windy, which I think made Madelyn's cold worse - she woke up the next day with an awful cough I've never heard from her before! I think the yucky nose has gone to her chest so we may see about going to see the doctor shortly. But we had a good time anyway -- we took a quick ride to Dave's job so Madelyn could ride on the tractor. She had her usual skeptical look but I know she enjoyed it - she loves cars, trucks and tractors....AND school buses!

Having some tea with Grammy

Sunday the temperature was back in the 50's so we stayed inside most of the day. Madelyn helped Ben in the garage for a little while, she loves to "fix things" and help Ben with anything. And even though sometimes things come up missing, he really does love the extra hands from his little bug.

Ben's firebird is closer to being done! We've had this thing for FOUR years now! Ben has been meticulously restoring it...it's been a labor of love for him! The interior is about done and next will be getting the engine back together. Looks like we'll enjoy it soon and have it through the winter...maybe in the spring we'll have it for sale.

Pudding anyone??

Madelyn & I made pudding Friday, and we enjoyed it for dessert that night after dinner. Here's a video of the messy girl eating it up while singing some songs...ABC's, Lullaby to her milk and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in her Cookie Monster voice!

I HATE BEING SICK!!!

Mommy and Madelyn are SICK, again! This weather is crazy, 75 last Friday - then 50 - just stay one or the other, would ya?? Madelyn's cold is about gone - snotty nose again. I, on the other hand, still feel pretty cruddy, feverish, congestion - the works. Yesterday I was on the couch and had my eyes closed for not even 5 minutes. It got super quiet so I knew little miss was probably doing something she wasn't suppose to be doing...she climbed on the kitchen table and decided to play with my camera! Whoa - that got me up REAL quick!

We didn't go anywhere yesterday since we were both sick - we made cookies and stayed in our pjs all day. It was nice, although Ben had a fit when he got home that his daughter wasn't dressed!!??? OK - he got home at 5 and immediately insisted that she get dressed, only so that in 2 hours she can put her jammies back on? He made me feel like a lazy housewife who doesn't take care of her kids or something, weirdo! Well, OK so maybe the truth is out now :) So maybe we did sit around and eat cookie dough and watch soap operas....NO - NEVER!! haha

Last week we went to the Children's Museum with Erica and Peyton - that was a great time! (Kim we should do that one day, the boys would have so much fun!!) I can imagine ALL the germs in that gross place, wish I could blame that but I think her nose was runny before we went there. But the girls had a good time playing in the water table and climbing up and down all the obstacles. Madelyn loved the pretend kitchen and driving the car, she even worked in the auto shop for a little while!

A quiet weekend at the Jones' house

We had a quiet weekend around the house...no squeals, no ABC's, no ELMO, no toys...and we even slept in! No, Madelyn wasn't grounded to her room for sneaking out...she spent the weekend with my Mom in Stafford. We packed her up and she headed up Friday afternoon, she was eager to go and had no problems waving bye to us - she even said "I wuv oo momma" and "I wuv oo dadda" It was bittersweet. We met Nana halfway this afternoon for the "pick up" and things are back to normal here in our home!

Ben & I had plans to work on the new nursery, do some painting and maybe get another crib. HOWEVER....since we didn't find out the sex of the baby Friday like we were suppose to, things changed little! Yes, I have become quite absent minded these days. I have never missed any appointment in my life - I write them down on everything I can and even call to confirm. WHY I didn't call this time, I don't know....Anyway, my ultrasound was scheduled for 9AM and I swore it was at 3. So we missed it completely. Now we have to wait another week. I was so upset with myself! But hey, we've waited 19 weeks so far, whats another???

We did do some price comparing on cribs -- got some ideas of what we like. We ate out and enjoyed adult conversations without interuptions like "MILK" or "MOMMY" or "BUBBA" or "ELMO" or "ALL DONE" --- aaahhh, it was nice. We got some yard work done, washed the cars, even painted our bathroom which I've been wanting to do since we moved in 4 years ago!

It was a good weekend, we needed this time to reconnect with one another. We picked up our bug and she welcomed us with big hugs and smiles...it was a great feeling! We looked forward to this weekend so we could enjoy each other's company and have some quiet, but also to appreciate all those interuptions that we so quickly take for granted!

BOOO!

Happy Halloween! We had a fun Halloween, headed out to the Radford's for a little party for the girls...Petyon, Ava & Madelyn. Peyton was a fairy, Ava a chicken and Madelyn a pumpkin. I made her costume again this year - just a tutu with a jack-o-lantern shirt. I had been wanting to make a tutu for a while now, and now I know what I'll do differently for the next one. It was pretty simple - but I'll do it better next time.

The girls were a trip to watch, we only went to a few houses since they don't quite know what its all about yet...but they had a fun time together. The Radford's had about 350 trick-or-treaters that night! It brought back memories of my neighborhood where I grew up. It's just not like that anymore, sad that parents have to be so cautious with their kids these days.

Saturday night we headed out to a party for some friends who are getting married next year. It was great to get out all dressed up, WISH we had someone take our picture since we don't get dressed up that often anymore. We asked Grammy (Ben's Mom) to watch Madelyn that night and we had the whole Jones family over for the "babysitting extravaganza." I'm sure she kept everyone entertained through the night.

Today is election day - this is sure to be one of the most historical elections ever. Soon, we'll all be glued to the TV to see who will be our next president. What a great thing we as Americans have the privilege to do. We are within walking distance from our voting location, I had plans to walk up with my neighbor and the kiddos but it has been a raining ALL day here. Ben got there at 6am and people had been in line to vote since 4am! He was finally out of there almost 3 hours later!

Friday is a big day for us - we find out the sex of this little baby! Can't wait to finally know so we can get planning, it's killing me!! Look for something soon after :)

Baby, it's cold outside!

What a cold & rainy day it was here! Luckily we headed to our Romp n' Roll class this morning and got home before the cold rain came...the rest of the day was perfect for napping and playing inside games. Madelyn has been keeping us on our toes lately - from the sweet things like singing songs and saying her ABC's, rocking her baby, helping feed Kona - to the not so sweet things like playing chase when it's time to change a dirty diaper or get ready for bed, and a horrible new trick she has: spitting her milk out of her mouth...then when we take the milk away, she screams. I'm not sure which is more aggrivating! You know, milk isn't the cheapest thing in the world these days! Hopefully this will be a phase like everything else...but who knows what's next!

We headed to the pumpkin patch again last week with Erica & Peyton, I think the girls had more fun running and dancing on the stage for us. They did enjoy feeding the goats again and picking pumpkins of course.

Erica found out today that she is having another girl! We're really excited for them, I know deep down she really did want a little sister for Peyton...now it's for real! Erica and I have been plotting out our journey that we'll take together next year with our newborns and two year olds. I'm sure it'll be bumpy and it won't be perfect, but we'll travel together so it'll be fun! Obviously we'll have family and other friends for help and support but it will be so nice to have a friend going through the same things at the same times!

We're up late tonight - the FIRST National Lampoon's is on - hilarious!! But it's time to get to bed...we need our rest to make it through another day with little miss!