Happy Birthday Rudy!

We headed up to Fredericksburg today for Rudy's 3rd Birthday party, it was a pool party at the YMCA. What a fun idea! Madelyn had fun swimming and gobbling up yummy chocolate cake!

Rudy is the son of Ben's best friend - Jeremy - and his wife Kim. They also have Jake, who'll be 5 this June. It's so hard to believe! They are such great friends, even though we don't see them as much as we'd LOVE to - it's like we can pick right up and forget how long it's been since we were together last.

Here are a few pictures from the birthday party:

The BIRTHDAY BOY!!

Madelyn & Steven

We're baaaack....

Whew - I think now that things have DRAMATICALLY improved with my Dad we can finally get back to some blogging and taking pictures!

First I can't say thank you enough to all of our friends and family who have been there for us the past month. It's sad that it takes a tragedy to keep long distance family and friends close, but thats what we're all here for. I'd be right there for anyone else just the same. The prayers, the cards, the calls, the well wishes, the support across the miles...EVERYTHING -- has been awesome! It's been a powerful impact on my Dad's recovery. He doesn't know how many people across the COUNTRY have been pulling for him. Most of you know how strong willed he is, how independent and straight forward he is, he's a no nonsese tough Marine on the outside - but inside he's sweet as pie and has a heart of gold, he'd do anything for his family and friends. Thank you all so much for helping us through this!

We've had lots going on in our household lately - besides caring for Dad. I'm just about into my 8th month of pregnancy -- two more to go! Madelyn is loving this big belly that has shown itself the past few months. She says "bay sista in mommy's beyy" and knows her name is going to be "emimy". (Emily Claire, we're pretty sure) She's excited, she's such a little mommy and takes such good care of her dolls and animals.

This is all for now...we'll get back into posting some fun stuff soon -- bye for now!

Three weeks now...

I can't believe it's been three weeks that my Dad has been in the hospital! WHERE has time gone? It's been a rough time, it's gone by quick - but he's slowly improving.

Since my last posting, we've learned that Dad has Non Hodgkins Lymphoma -- he's already gone through his first treatment of chemo. He's been moved out of the ICU and he's off all meds at this point. He's also off the ventilator! FINALLY! Physically he's made great strides - he looks amazing.

Mentally, he's a different story. He doesn't recognize his family yet, we've all been in and reminded him of who we are...but it's not coming together in his head. It's quite a scary thing, although apparently it's very normal for someone who's been isolated in the hospital for so long. His state of mind is known as hospital (or ICU) psychosis.

Honestly, it broke my heart when I gave him my love after seeing him in such good condition and he just stared at me...the feeling might have been the worst I've felt throughout all this! How could he not know me?? He walked me down the aisle on my wedding day, and just two years ago Ben and I gave him his first grand-daughter!! I've spent so much time in the hospital by his side and this is how he thanks me?? I was angry! How could this be real?

It felt like a bad dream...and that night I couldn't sleep - all I saw was his innocent, helpless face - and I thought the next day, how does this feel for HIM? I was being selfish, wanting my Dad to snap out of it and angry that he didn't know his family...imagine the bad dreams HE is having. So as hard as all this is for us, for me -- I know it's SOOO much harder on him. He needs us to be there, he needs time and our love to get better and soon he'll be home.

I'll be heading back up in a few days - I've taken a little step back to regroup and rest. Being 7 months pregnant and chasing after an almost 2 year old is work enough!! But I love it! I wouldn't have it any other way :) If I didn't have Madelyn, this GROWING belly and my husband - I don't know how I'd be feeling!!!

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!