Cuties

Since we didn't get to wear our cute new Easter clothes on Easter the kids wore their outfits on the following Sunday. They looked so cute and bright. Jaxon and Tanner were just thrilled to get their pictures taken. Of course, Maddie is never not smiling for the camera.





Jaxon REFUSED to get in the photos. Can you tell?

Easter

This year at Easter it was really relaxed and fun. We colored eggs which I very much HATE to do because of the smell, mess, and stains galore on little bodies and furniture. Yet, the kids do enjoy it so we always do it. I even thought I was increasing my load by buying 2 dozen eggs for them to color. My friend Kim outdid me by saying that her family dyes 8 dozen eggs! So much for that...I think 2 is all I can stomach without tossing them in the trash as soon as we are done! Yes, it was a horrible mess and we were all stained green, plus we had many broken eggs, but the kids loved it which is what counts...right?

The Easter Bunny found our house and left his paw prints. I was informed by Camryn that I forgot to leave out a carrot for the Easter Bunny and he probably took some of her candy. I guess my 4 year old realized that the baskets were a little small. I decided to not go all out for my kids this year and only bought some candy and a swimsuit for their baskets. I felt it was getting extremely commercialized in my household when certain children are wanting to write a list of what they want for Easter!For some reason Tanner was never around when I had my camera out, but yes I do have a 4th child!




We played hookie from church and took the kids to breakfast. On holidays it's very important to me that my children spend a lot of time with their dad and we do things together as a family. Madison was miserable at breakfast (tonsils) so we made a mad dash to get back home. We did drive around our old stomping grounds and showed the kids where mom and dad grew up and where our first homes were. It was such a reflective moment for Paul and I to see where we started so many years ago and to now see what our life has become. I was almost sad to view my old neighborhood and remember how I couldn't wait to leave the 'hood, yet I never ever thought that I would so desperately want to go back and live that way again. I was actually homesick for old neighborhoods! I've really had some good years and am quite blessed for what I have. I guess just seeing how you lived really puts things into perspective of how your life has become.

Anyhoo...Later that afternoon Paul taught Camryn how to ride her bike without any training wheels! She was so proud of herself and I was surprised by how quick she learned. Jaxon was loving every minute of riding his scooter and always made an effort to give her a high five every time she fell. Of course, he won't touch his bike.



Sometime during the day the Easter Bunny hid eggs in our backyard. The kids loved it which made me feel better since I had major guilt for not taking them to any community hunts which I always do, but this they loved.



I did no cooking for the day and we all snacked and ate pizza leftovers from the night before so it was a great day. I'm so grateful for my family, friends, and life. As Camryn would say, "This Easter was the best Easter Day I've ever had." Thanks mom!!

Tonsil Drama

Madison had her tonsils out! It all began many years ago when I was told by every dentist I went to that she had major gag reflex and that her tonsils were huge. I ignored it until about 3 months ago I realized that Maddie had a nasal twang to her voice whenever she spoke and she seemed to always make a swishing sound. Reminded me of friends who had braces and were always full of spit!
I took her to our doctor for her 11 year old check up and had her throat looked at. My doctor agreed that yes, her tonsils were huge and sent us to a ENT doctor. This doctor took one look at her throat and was astonished to see that they were so big. He even had me look at them and I was shocked. They were as big as golf balls! The good parent award goes to me when he told me that Madison was probably a restless sleeper due to her brain waking her up at night due to the lack of oxygen she was receiving because of her enormous tonsils. Nice!
Maddie had surgery 5 days later to remove her tonsils and her adenoids which happened to fall over spring break. This worked out great since she has dance competitions coming up, Sea Camp, and still school so she didn't miss that many days.
Here's a rundown of our week:
Monday-Nerves are setting in for Maddie. She had to get blood drawn so that kinda freaked her out. I had two super neat men from my ward come over and give her an awesome blessing which she requested to have before surgery. It's amazing to realize how much an 11 year old really understands and believes in the power of the priesthood. She felt much calmer and had a good night.
Tuesday- Surgery day. We have to be at the surgical center by 11:00 AM so no eating or drinking. Maddie is good until we get to the parking lot and she breaks down crying due to being scared. We said another quick prayer and she called her dad which always seems to relax her. She's prepped for surgery and given her wristband, gown, hat, and booties. We both got a good laugh during this time.
Then oooh the dreaded IV. Super nice nurse pricked the top of her hand to numb the area before they put in the big needle and she freaked. IV got in and once again everything was smooth. We met the anesthesiologist and then Dr. Foggia arrived at 12:00PM to talk to me and help soothe Maddie. At 12:10 she was wheeled in and the surgery began.



12:45PM-Dr. Foggia finds me in the waiting room to tell me surgery went well and Maddie did great. Huge tonsils removed.(I'm sick since I wish I could have kept them!)
1:00PM-I get to sit with Maddie during recovery watching Finding Nemo. Nurses are so nice to her and Maddie is still kind of out of it from the anesthesia. We get to go home by 2:00pm. She sleeps the whole way home and pretty much the rest of the day. She's not in too much pain and I've gotten her drugs so she's pretty comfy.
I'm so proud of Madison that she was able to get through this and not once complain about anything. She had a good night's sleep which was good for me.
Wednesday- I'm keeping a schedule of what times to give her medicine since she can have pain medicine every 4 hours and has to take an antibiotic 3x's a day, plus she has to have a specific fluid amount each day otherwise she can get dehydrated and develop a fever. Pudding, applesauce, and soup is her food of choice right now.Dr. Foggia called today to see how she was doing.
All of her medicine minus one bottle that's already been used.
Thursday-Today Maddie had a shower and tried to eat some solid food which she really wanted, yet it seemed to hurt too much. Slurpee's and a cupcake make us all very happy!
Friday-A lot of pain today. Nothing seems to help her today and she's getting tired of all of the soft foods. She's doing good about staying in bed and resting. Watching TV and reading a lot. The surgical center called today to see how she was doing. They told me that the third day is usually the hardest and I would have to agree with that. Her voice is already so different and I can't wait to hear it when she is healed.
Saturday-Not a good day for my little girl. She was in a lot of pain today and asking me before the 4 hours were up for more pain meds. Very emotional today. I told her she wouldn't be going back to school until next Thursday and that made her cry. She also found out that she wouldn't be going to church on Sunday for Easter and that made her cry. We had pizza for dinner and because it's acidic (tomatoes) she couldn't have any so that sent her for another good cry. I'm hoping tomorrow will be much better.

Yea....She's happy!!
Sunday-Easter bunny finds us. We spent the day together as a family by taking Maddie to breakfast (not a good idea) and then driving around town showing our kids where mom and dad grew up and where we lived when we were first married.
It's been a very tiring Spring Break yet I'm proud of Maddie for being such a trooper and getting through this. Just a couple more days of pain and she will be all healed. No school for 10 days and medicine every 4 hours for 10 days. It's been fun!!!

Our life for the past three weeks:

We were busy one weekend laying seed in the grass, painting the house trim, and other yard stuff. Jaxon broke out with this huge rash all over his body and I think it was either from the grass or the fertilizer. It looked like I beat him! Zyrtec (allergy medicine) made it disappear by the next day. What a mess a 2 and 4 year old can make when not being watched like a hawk. I thought I had put all of the markers, crayons, and pencils out of reach but this is what they were caught doing on different days. Stinkers! Because of the cold and wind (yeah, I know it's not that cold) I resort to letting my kids ride their scooters in the house. We have a lot of tile so they get their exercise, plus gives them something to do. Jaxon is hilarious when he rides his bike. For some reason he hoists his leg up the entire time he's riding. Funny kid. I'm hoping the video will show him in all his glory.

For family night we took the kids bowling. Now those that know me well know that I don't go to many places with my little ones. Too hard to deal with so this was their first real outing in a loooong time. Of course, Tanner wasn't thrilled that he had to go, but the kids all loved bowling and especially got a hoot when their dad fell down. Too bad I didn't have my camera ready! Camryn decided she never wants to bowl again either once she fell down on her bottom too. Who knows why Jaxon was on the floor crying. Probably because it wasn't his turn to bowl. Paul and I took advantage of going on a date. We went to a restaurant that he'd heard about from a friend so we thought we'd give it a try. It was called Texas de Brazil and it was yummy! Men are walking around with different cuts of meat on a big skewer that you get to choose from and eat as much as you want. It was pure carnivore heaven!



Madison had her tonsils out! The doctor was so concerned with them being so large that she had surgery 4 days later. That post will come soon