Where did May go??

 

Here we are more than halfway through May and I haven’t updated. We have been beyond busy and things are not slowing down anytime soon.

Since our last post we have had birthdays, prom, new words, a wedding, bumps and bruises, and a visit to the dentist. Wow how time has flown by! Addilynn is talking so much more now and since her surgery more and more people are able to understand her. Her surgery has been a huge help and we are so glad we did it. For about two weeks after we were sure it didn’t work but then like the snap of a finger she was a different baby. She is now eating like a hog and sleeping like a baby again! She continues to amaze us everyday and the things she says leave us speechless or laughing most of the time. We have been battling the “shut up” word which she is not allowed to say. She knows it, but she still tries to say it to make sure I’m paying attention to her. Tonight she told me to “zip it mom” and she loves to sing songs and read books. She has most of her books memorized and after I read them she says “my turn” so she can read them next. I love the little toddler she is and I can’t wait to see all the adventures she will take us on. Here are a few pictures from this month.

Addilynn after her bath

Addilynn being the rock star that she is!

Gymnastics… one of Addilynn’s favorite activities she asks to go to “nastics” and see Dani almost every night.

Poppy’s Birthday Party 5/4/11

Thursday Addilynn got to experience her first prophy! It started as an orientation to get her ready for the next step of cleaning her teeth, but then quickly became the “real deal” She did great. It may have had something to do with the fact her mommy got to clean her teeth and she knows Dr. Kelly pretty well too! She knew how to use the suction, let me polish her teeth, and let Dr. do her exam. She has an unfair advantage, but I was still the proudest hygiene mommy in the world at that moment!

Kelly “counting” her teeth

Sticking her tongue out for the camera

Using the bubblegum prophy paste. Addilynn said “nummy!”

 

Mommy and Addilynn working hard to get those teeth cleaned!

Being a diva like usual!

Easter Weekend

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend! Ours was eventful as usual,

Friday we lost a dear friend of ours after a courageous fight with cancer. Friday night we all got together to celebrate Mike at Kari and Darrin’s shop. Addilynn got to stay at Nona and Papa’s house.

Saturday, Daddy went to spend the day with his grandpa Fred while Addilynn and I went to the Easter egg hunt at Vicc Cam park. Addilynn was horrified of the Easter Bunny so we didn’t get pictures taken but she ended up warming up to the idea and did great during her first “real” egg hunt. Addilynn was really tired that day from her fun at her grandparents so we had to fight to get a nap in and by the time she fell asleep she slept hard right through a friend of mines baby shower. I was bummed I didn’t get to go, but didn’t want to wake the sleeping monster! Saturday night we had dinner with friends. Which was well overdue.

Sunday Addilynn, to our surprise, woke up in a great mood. She loved finding Easter eggs again and got some pretty neat things from the Easter bunny as well. Then the race was on. Addilynn spent time with part of the family and we were all exhausted by the end.

 

Dying Easter eggs with mommy and daddy! The spill proof egg dye kit was a flop so Addilynn spent most of the time dying her hands.

Paige, Kaylene, and Addilynn checking out her loot from the egg hunt at Vicc Cam Park. The weather was beautiful and it was so nice to be outside enjoying it.

Nothing like candy for breakfast! Happy 2nd Easter Miss Addilynn Grace.

Addilynn all dolled up in her Easter dress finding eggs at Rick and Cris’ house.

Carrying her basket. It was getting pretty heavy by this point.

This is from tonight. We were putting her money away that she scored from the Telford/Sines Easter egg hunt. She got $10.59 She likes to count, but she is so funny when doing it! Instead of counting the easy way 1, 2, 3… she counts 10, 9, 8. 7. Mickey mouse clubhouse is to thank for that one! Seven is the best sounding. She pronounces it Seben, and that is about all she knows. She refuses to learn to say the numbers one two and three!

Much Needed Twin Time

Addilynn, Dustin, and I had a busy weekend! Friday we celebrated Dustin’s birthday with his family and got to visit for a bit! Saturday we got to spend some much needed “twin time” with the Howland boys. Not to mention some good times with friends too! Then Sunday was Camber’s first birthday party. She looked so cute getting into her cake.

It is hard to get a picture of three toddlers!

Addilynn' was in the middle of asking to see the picture in this one. She doesn’t hold her pose long enough for me to get a good picture!

My beautiful niece and her Monkey cake! She really got into it!

We Survived

 

The day we were dreading for so long has finally come and gone and we survived.

Addilynn’s surgery to have tubes placed and adenoids removed went very well. It was very traumatizing for both baby and parents, but at this time I think we made the right decision.

Two words… anesthesia stinks

Not only was it the most horrible thing to watch her going out, but also was the most horrible thing to watch her coming off of the anesthesia.

I got to go back with her to put her under and it was by far the worst thing I have ever seen. The cold bright room, the sight of her struggle, her screams being muffled by gas flowing through the mask, the smell of the gas, her eyes intensely staring into mine as if to say “why aren’t you helping me?” and then to just go blank and slowly close, and finally kissing my corpse like child as I was rushed out of the room. All of these sights will never stop burning a hole in my heart. I only hope she doesn’t remember this horrible day. I hate the fact that she had to go through this but I can only hope it will ease her pain and suffering.

Dustin got to experience the coming out of anesthesia which we both hated. Him a little more since he didn’t get to witness the beginning stage of this process. She moaned, screamed, thrashed, stiffened and held her breath off and on for an hour before she started to just exhibit a “pissed off” attitude. She kept saying she wanted to go home over and over after the anesthesia finally wore off. We were in recovery for almost two hours. She was really swollen, looked like she had been beaten badly, and bleeding from her nose which added to awfulness of the whole situation.

I finally witnessed the child I brought to KMC with me that morning when she got to peek at the fish tank with her coat on ready to walk out the door! Thank goodness I got that glimmer of hope because the ride home was in and out of consciousness which was expected but still unwelcomed. I just wanted her to be her cheery happy self. 

The Dr. said she had fluid behind her ears and that her adenoids were very thick. So he was sure we made the right decision which is reassuring, but I’m not 100% convinced yet. I am now the most paranoid person in the world when it comes to baths because for a week she can’t get them wet. Of course tonight was the first time she got to have one, but it was not fun. I feel horrible because bath time used to be her favorite time and now I just get to “intervene” the entire time. “Don’t splash” “don’t go under” “sit up” “no bubbles” “don’t touch your ear plugs”  She must have been thinking I was a total drag.

Here are a few pictures from her surgery days.

Addilynn playing at Nanny and Bapa’s the night before her surgery and getting read a story by her Nanny (great grandmother)

The cutest scrub model in the world! Addilynn in her new get up getting ready to go into surgery. She got to take her piggy and puppy back with her. She sleeps with both of these every night. One under each arm. She even introduced the nurse to piggy. “This piggy” Addilynn said as she showed him off.

Getting some sympathy from her grammy and watching some Mickey Mouse with her doll she got from Auntie Doe Doe

Addilynn was so good when we got home she was sleepy most of the time but she did have some happy moments of running around and screaming. She was running around in her tutu bugling by 4:00 and then crashed for good at 6. As you can tell from the picture below.

Tonight is our first test of what may come in our future. She isn’t completely healed yet, but hopefully she has a better night tonight than her “pre surgery” sleepless nights. She went down much easier tonight instead of tossing and turning for 15 minutes she rolled once from her back to belly so fingers crossed, I think we are off to a good start! Thanks to everyone who came up, gave us words of advise, support, text messages, phone calls, and Facebook comments. You made this stressful time much easier knowing we had all the support. You guys are the best friends/family money can buy!! 

It may have been a simple surgery but it was still surgery, and we survived!

Halfway Through…

I am sad to say that my vacation is half over with. We have been enjoying our time together and it really makes me sad that I have to work for a living. Even though I absolutely love my job, my “mom” job is a lot more fun!!!

We made another visit to the ENT yesterday and have some more answers. We are getting very anxious for her surgery and are keeping our fingers crossed that this will do the trick and get our little princess sleeping soundly again. She had fluid on both of her ears again yesterday which would explain our last couple days of rage.

Starting Saturday Addilynn was waking up in a rage. She was kicking and screaming worse than ever. I really can’t explain it except to say that she wasn’t our child she was on a whole different level. Almost out of body like. It was very scary. I guess I would be angry too if my ears hurt constantly with no relief. Poor babe.

Our surgery is scheduled for the 7th so unless she gets sick again we should know then if this will help her. I am so scared to put her under but talking with a friend of mine who has been through it helps. Hopefully I can continue to draw strength from her and my family and make it through. One scary thing is that only one of us gets to be in the room with her when she goes out. We have decided it will be me BUT Dustin is my rock I’m scared to do it without him.

Anyway here are a couple of pictures from our journeys this week.

Addilynn and Paige playing in the blanket fort we made. We were all able to fit inside even the dogs I wish we would have been able to get a picture of that!

Daddy getting to enjoy his “girl” time. She brings the polish and says “nails” and we just cant resist! She loves being a girl and secretly daddy loves doing things like this too!

Addilynn enjoying her new/used car seat! Thanks again Lena! She looks so big in it and it has been so nice not having to switch the seat back and forth.

Addilynn and her new boots she loves to play in the water with them. They are already looking used from her wearing them all the time. This was mid splash if you cant tell

We are excited to spend the rest of the week together but I think with all this rain I will be ready to get out of town this weekend. Lets see if that happens! Now, off to see our friends for a little play time we are so excited we haven’t seen them forever it feels like. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week and everyone keep doing your sun dancing PLEASE

Montana

 

We made it back from our trip to Great Falls to see family and friends! We had a great time and only wish there were more hours in the day to spend with everyone. It took us almost 9 hours to get there which wasn’t planned! We had to go 35 over the passes because it was snowing and slushing so bad. We finally got there around 3:15 AM and were exhausted so we spent Friday day and night recovering! Addilynn did great there and back in the car and she even managed to fight sleep during the night time ride. She spent the time watching Strawberry Shortcake thanks to Auntie P and the dvd player from Poppy! Addilynn loved saying Amy’s name it was the cutest thing she even called her aunt Amy a couple times. Addilynn got to see her Great Aunt and Uncle and cousins too!  We cant wait until we get to see everyone again.

Addilynn found a stage to be the center of attention! She loves to dance and jump around. She especially loves when all eyes are on her. She is even saying, “watch this” to make sure you are paying attention.

This is Amy, Aiden and Addilynn reading a book. She loves listening to people read stories and they were both pretty into this one.

Addilynn slept in the car for only an hour and a half on the way home and was pretty much an angel the rest of the time

Addilynn and Aiden playing. Aiden was all smiles while she pushed him around at the hotel. This was actually the only time she was allowed to drive without an adult and it was only to get a good picture!! The reason being she crashes which is exactly what happened right after the picture. She ran him into the chair.

Addilynn has a new boy buddy to add to her list! We only wish they didn’t live so far away. Hopefully we can visit again in the summer when the weather is nicer. Until then we will have to keep showing her pictures so she can remember them all.

Visit with the ENT

 

We had our visit with the ENT on Wednesday and it went surprisingly well. Addilynn was in rare form as usual and started showing her true colors right away by swinging from the toy area and throwing a massive fit when it was time to leave her new found treasures. Of course it is more fun at the Drs. office! We had to wait a long time which was ok for us but didn’t sit well with the princess. She was antsy and getting into anything and everything she could. It was pretty comical. She was doing everything in her power to let them know she was tired of waiting which wasn’t working like she planned! Dr. Gilbert had some great information for us and advised us that tubes would be a good idea for miss Addilynn since she has had so many infections since October. He also said that if we wanted to wait that would be fine too. UGH decisions… for those of you who know me you know that the only thing in life I’ve ever been able to make a decision on are my husband, my career choice, and my want to have a family. All the other decisions I can’t make. Hello everyone my name is Crystal and I am indecisive.

Dr. Gilbert did say that he suspects she has an enlarged adenoid and that her tonsils are large(with visible exudate at that time) but he can’t determine if she needs them out based on her exam. That would mean a scope of some sort and we aren’t ready for that yet. Another statement he made was that her ears looked surprisingly good for how many infections she has had which is a huge relief.  On a bad note he had all these questions that we were completely blindsided by. I wish we would have been more prepared. The one that sticks in my mind is if she snores sitting up. I said dumfounded, “ uh no I don’t think so” then what do you know when I was rocking her that night got my answer. YES! He also advised us to see our pediatrician because he believes that she might be dealing with acid reflux. Which would explain her need for sleeping upright.  I felt stupid because after all the sweating and stewing Dustin and I never once thought about that we only thought about her ears being a problem. 

So as of now Dustin and I have decided to wait on tubes because we are both horrified of surgery no matter how minor it is until she has or if she has another infection. At that time we will schedule the appt. When its good its great and when its bad it is BAD. Dr. Gilbert said he would do the same since she is active, healthy and on the verge of possibly growing out of them. He also said that summer is coming so that is in our favor too! We will see how it goes.

This is what Addilynn does with her stickers she thinks they belong on her face and in her hair! What a goofball. I have been slacking on the 365 blog but hope to get back into it when our computer is working properly.

We are looking forward to our visit with Kevin and Amy this weekend and can’t wait to see our family from North Dakota! Life is good!