The Party

We had a small birthday party for Addilynn Sunday and she was spoiled rotten! We really had a great time. It was so nice not to have to stress over it. There were about 35 people which is much smaller than the 75 we had at her first party! Addilynn loved her cake (made by Linda) she even thought it was a play mat and was playing with all the figurines on it! When it came time to sing happy birthday, I lit the candles and stood back to start the camcorder. Addilynn says, “sing guys!” Everyone started laughing and singing to her. What Addilynn wants Addilynn gets. It was the highlight of her day!

Addilynn opening her card from Kyle, Alaina, and Beau. She loved it more than the present. It sings a song and she thought that was the cat’s meow. She was walking around the house saying, “Stebo got it for me!”

Playing Tea party with uncle Dj

Our family photo of Addilynn and her 2nd Birthday! I can’t believe my little baby is two years old already. It seems like it was just yesterday she was a 9lb 9oz 22inch helpless thing. Now she knows exactly what she wants and can tell you how to get it for her! We love her so much.

2 Years of Pure Bliss

Well we now have a 2 year old!! Once again I am in awe by how much I love this precious life that we created. She is getting so big so fast and it makes me sad to think that this last two years is gone. I’m going to miss all her “baby” mannerisms, but look forward to all the new adventures she has in store for us. Addilynn has started talking in full sentences now. I must say she is quite the little chatter box once the shyness has worn off. She still has her own way of saying things but at least people are starting to understand her and I don’t catch myself asking her to repeat things quite as often. She is counting much better now, still working on colors and ABCs, and she is identifying a lot of shapes and a few letters now. She now asks, “what color is it?” when she doesn’t want to tell us and everything is blue unless you act like you aren’t paying attention to her! When she thinks you aren’t looking she counts, sings, says her ABCs and says her colors flawlessly! She will copy anything and everything so we are being tested as well. Here are some pictures of what we have been up to the past couple weeks. 

 

A visit from Delaney and Kellsi! Addilynn loves her and now any picture of a baby she sees is “laney”

Addilynn’s wound from Graduation weekend

Our first outdoor BBQ

Fathers day ride in clarkia Addilynn posing with her bugs!

Eating breakfast in the camper

Fathers Day!!! What a difference from a year ago this year Addilynn could actually say “happy fathers day dada”

Dada’s fathers day breakfast

 

These ones are from the night before my mom had to get her dog put down. Poor bella and poor Grammy. She will forever hold a place in our hearts, but had been suffering miserably from epilepsy and was having on average 10 seizures a night even with the highest dose of medication. She also had an enlarged heart and was occasionally paralyzed in the hind end on really bad days. Luckily we got to see her one last time on a “good day” We love you Bella Bear

on a brighter note.. Addilynn got to enjoy the sunshine on Wednesday running through the sprinkler and playing at the park with Auntie Paige!

 

The End literally!!

End of May

 

We have been super busy and I have been once again slacking on the blog. Here is a quick update mostly pictures to explain our last couple weekends

May 20-22 March of Dimes walk, Beau’s birthday party, and Ned’s Wedding.

May 27-30 Memorial weekend first camp trip of the year! Addilynn Learned to say her ABC’s, we got some sun (along with rain hail and thunderstorms) and went on a few good rides! We were unable to visit Uncle Brian’s cross this year due to the horrible amounts of snow still up high which was a bummer.

June 3-5 Graduation weekend. Friday Addilynn slammed her finger in a sliding glass door. Saturday we had two graduations, Bo and Tia, and Addilynn made a date with the concrete steps. She knocked a tooth loose and skinned up her face. Sunday we had our first BBQ of the year with Jessica, Kelby, Pete, Shena, and Essie!

Tonight we got to visit Addilynn’s great great grandparents and tomorrow we get a visit from miss Delaney! What fun times we have had!

The March of Dimes Walk

 

Addilynn busting a move and Ned and Jason’s wedding

Camping Memorial weekend… My crazy kid in the freezing cold water in the rain

Addilynn in her “nap” position

Addilynn in the camper tub she has been begging to take a bath in. She calls it the “baby bath” I think because it is so small but I’m not sure!

Addilynn and her Papa on one of the rides for some reason Nona and Papa are more fun to ride with then we are! Go figure

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!