No Matter How Bad You've Got It. Someone Else Has it Worse.

Tonight JB was on the phone with his best friend. He was telling him about our plans for the weekend and that Madie had been sick the past week with the stomach flu. Now, best friend and his wife have 4 kids under the age of 6. He tells JB that he was the only one in their house to not get the stomach bug. And that 2 of his kids were throwing up at the same time while one of the others tried to play in it and they got sick. Three children vomiting at the same time?

After hearing that, and now that our bout with the bug is over. I don't think I had it so bad.

Dog Poop......Ugh!

So, today I decided to take Madie to the park to play. I thought it would be a nice outing since she had been sick and stuck in the house for so long. We get there and we are climbing steps and sliding down the slide and running around without a care in the world when I look down and see a big pile of dog poop. It looked as if someone had already stepped in it and I thought to myself--that's got to suck!-- I continue to follow Madie, watching where I stepped, when I look at her shoe and realize that she had been the one to step in it. Yuck! It was all over the bottom of one of her shoes. I scoop her up and go to the car and get the wet wipes and ask her to sit down on the ground to clean her shoe and when she sits she rubs her pants leg with her shoe and now it's all over her pants.

After the clean up, we resumed play and "marching" on the walking trail, when out of the corner of my eye I see a lady pull up in the park parking lot. She obviously is there to walk. No kids with her. Then she goes to the back of her SUV, pulls out a leash and out jumps a dog. She attaches the leash to the dog and then she walks him over to the grass (near the sidewalk) and he poops and they walk off. Leaving his pile of poop right there.

I couldn't believe she just left it. There were kids everywhere and she didn't seem to think twice about just walking off and leaving it there to be stepped in.

Now, let me be clear. I like dogs. I don't have a problem with dogs. I think dogs are cute. I choose not to be a dog owner because I don't want one to live in the house and I don't want to have to worry with boarding it or making arrangements for someone else to feed it if we decide to go away from home.

What I don't like are dog owners who think that their dogs poop don' t stink and they don't care where they go or who could step in it.

So to the lady with the pooping dog---When you are in a public place and you have your dog with you and it poops---pick it up!

I'd Like to Buy a Vowel

Every night after I finish giving Madie a bath we watch Wheel of Fortune. I have always liked the show and would like to think that I am pretty good at it. Although, I know I would never try to get on the show.

Madie has always watched it with me. When she was younger I think she liked the bright colors, sounds and clapping. Now, she likes to shout out letters! It is the funniest thing. She will be sitting there and shout "B"....."O"....."P"........and my favorite "W", which doesn't come out like a double u sound at all. And she goes on and on shouting out letters until its over and we clap and she tells Pat and Vanna goodbye and blows them a kiss. How sweet is that?

Thank you Wheel of Fortune for teaching my child to say letters.

I think we will stick with Wheel of Fortune for a while and then move up to Jeopardy--I could have a child prodigy on my hands.

Cake for Breakfast

This morning I woke up and realized that we had made it through the night vomit free. Yippee!!
I went in Madie's room to get her and there she was all clean standing up and ready to get out of bed.

I fixed her a cup of milk--the first one in over a week--and she devoured it.

This is how our next conversation went:
Me: Are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?

Her: March! (Translation-Yes, let's go to the kitchen)

Me:What do you want to eat?

Her: Cake!

I think she is feeling better! We didn't have cake for breakfast. We had blueberry muffins and apple slices instead. But it was great to hear her ask for some cake!

Is Groundhog Day in March?

Is Groundhog day in March? I feel as if I am living the same day over and over again.

Madie woke up sick again last night. :( We've got the routine down to a science now--as far as what comes off first to keep it from getting all over her completely---then bathe---then load the laundry with the dirty clothes and put her in the bed with me. I'm thinking holy crap! How long is this bug going to last.

I took Madie back to Dr. this morning. They did blood work and she still has the virus in her system. The Dr. said that this particular bug can be stubborn and once your body starts to heal it can trick itself and re-infect and you get the virus all over again. So, he said that it's like having the stomach flu 2 times back to back. So is that like a double ear infection? Double stomach flu?

Whatever it is. Where ever she got it. However many times shes had it. I want it to go away!

Please!

Thank You Easter Bunny!

Last Night Madie woke up sick ---again! She ended up sleeping in the bed with us and I don't think anyone got much sleep. But this morning around 10am, it seemed as if my little girl was back!

She was up laughing, dancing and enjoying what the Easter Bunny had left for her. My parents came over for the afternoon so they were here when she woke up from her nap. She was on cloud nine and had them wrapped around her little finger. Still not much of an appetite, accept for the smarties that were in her Easter basket from Nana.

Madie really enjoyed the purple grass in her Easter Basket.

It's so great to see her smile!!!!!!

I think she is really staring to feel better and for that I am so thankful.

Thank you Easter Bunny!

Stomach Flu and the Easter Bunny Don't Mix

This morning when we woke up, I thought we were over the stomach flu. Unfortunately, we were not. It came on again strong this afternoon. It wouldn't be such a big deal, just another stomach bug, if this wasn't the first time Madie has ever been sick like this. We have been so fortunate in the past to somehow ward off illness, other than an occasional ear infection, we have been very lucky.

When we went to the Dr. yesterday, he said it was a stomach virus and it would just have to run its course. Five days and it is still running. Madie doesn't have a fever, she just throws up sporadically...Lots! I feel so sorry for her and she has lost so much weight. I wish I could take her pain away. I am hopeful that the worst is over and she will fill better for Easter.

Speaking of Easter....it really snuck up on me this year. I didn't realize that when we got back from the beach it was only a few days away. I had intended to take that time and tell Madie all about Easter and the Easter Bunny and show her how to hunt and find Easter eggs. We haven't been able to do any of it because she has been so sick.

This evening I tried to give her the run down about the Easter Bunny. (Hunting eggs would have been way to much movement for her, she's hardly gotten off the couch when she's awake.)
I'm not sure if she understood.

I guess I will find out tomorrow when she wakes up and says "Momma, who's the Easter Bunny?"

*I pray that she feels better tomorrow....we can catch up and hunt eggs for the next 2 weeks!

Spring Break '08

Let me first preface this post by saying that we had a great time at the beach. Despite some of the details that follow, it was wonderful to get away, spend time with my mom (a.k.a. Nana) and Madie and eat some really good fried oysters.

Our trip went as follows:

DAY 1/Sunday: Beautiful weather--couldn't have asked for a better travel day. Arrived at Gulf Shores around 3pm. Got our last minute supplies and got things settled and decided to head out to the beach for a walk. We quickly realized that Madie didn't like standing in the sand. She would only stand or walk in wet packed sand or we had to carry her.

Here is my beach babe

notice how windy it is...it almost blows her away.

Day 2/Monday: We went to the beach Mid-morning. Madie still didn't want to stand in the loose sand so we went for a walk on the shore line so she could be on packed sand. We looked for shells and gathered them in Madie's beach bucket and were having a great time. The waves were huge--A wave came on shore and barely covered my feet and I got stung by a jellyfish. Later that night on the news I learned that there was a double red flag (no one goes in the water) and purple flag (marine pest-a.k.a jellyfish) warning for the next two days.

That afternoon we went to the outlets to do some shopping and it clouded up and sprinkled rain and the temp dropped dramatically. We decided to eat at Sea n' suds (one of my favorite places to eat down there) and about froze to death waiting for our table.

Day 3/Tuesday: Cloudy- So we decided to do some more shopping at a new mall. That afternoon the sun came out but it was still extremely windy. We went out on the beach and Madie decides that it is time for her to go in and take her nap---(no sun for me). We took her to the indoor pool later that afternoon so she could go swimming.

Then IT happened!!!! 12 o'clock midnight---I hear a sound from the monitor that lets me know something is not right. Something is wrong with Madie. So I jump up, go to the room she is staying in and smell "that" smell. I turn on the light and she had thrown up everywhere. We got her cleaned up and her bed clothes in the wash, along with her Miss Kitty, which she can not sleep with out. From then on every 15 minutes she was sick until around 7am. We were all able to get some much needed sleep for about 2 hours until it kicked in again. I have to give a big thanks to Nana. I know I couldn't have made it through that night without her. I felt so helpless by not being able to do anything to make my lovebug feel better.

Day 4/Wednesday: Day 4 was much of the same. It was rainy outside and we decided, especially since Madie was sick, that we would stay in for the day. With the exception of going to Walgreens to get pedalite (that stuff tastes terrible-how could it make you feel better?) Gatorade, ginger ale, more bottled water and saltine crackers. My biggest fear was that she would get dehydrated--and we were 5 hours away from her Dr. This night, however, was better that the previous night. We were only up a few times and we were able to get some much needed rest. Well, as much rest as you can get with a little head in your side while you sleep.

Day 5/Thursday: Madie was feeling a little better--other than one incident in the morning she was vomit free. We packed our things and got ready to head home. The wind had died down and the waves were back to normal and the red flags we taken down and the sun was out and shining bright and it was time for us to head home. Another beautiful travel day. Madie seemed as if she was feeling better. She wanted to drink and eat a little and was able to keep in down and I thought she was doing better.
-------
We get home and she sleeps through the night and the next morning (Friday) she throws up again--So here we go to the Dr. She has a bug that's going around that will hopefully be gone in the next day or two.

In a nutshell- this was our trip. I left some things out just to save typing time. It's late, I have a sick child, and I need all the sleep I can get. All in all, we really did have a good time on our trip. We hated seeing Madie feel so bad but we tried to make the best of it when we could. We were blessed to be able to go and spend time with each other and create these memories.

Thanks mom for inviting us!

Meeshka Mooska Mickey Mouse!

Today we took Madie to see Playhouse Disney Live! I think she had a great time (I know I did)!

She kept trying to tell Mickey Mouse to "come here", she wanted a better look at him.

We are headed to the beach tomorrow! Yipee!!

Maybe my snow white legs will be able to get a little sun.

Who Wears The Pants In Our Family?

Today Madie was helping me fold clothes and decided to put on her Daddy's boxers. She put them on all by herself. I had to take a picture.

So I ask, "Who wears the pants in our family?"

A Day of Libraries, Picnics and Parks

This was my plan for the day. We would go to the library and see Mr. Mac. Then we would go across the street to the park and have a picnic. I thought Madie would be good and worn out and ready to take a long nap. She had so much fun at the park. She ran and jumped and climbed and would hardly slow down to enjoy our picnic lunch. I mostly just chased after her.

After her nap, I thought it would be a good change of scenery and since she enjoyed her morning visit to the park so much, that we would go to the park close to our house. We have never been there before and I wanted to see what it was like.

We get to the park and she loves it more than the one we went to this morning. She was climbing stairs, sliding down slides, swinging and having a great time. I mostly just chased her.

We were lucky and only came home with two boo boos (It hurts the knees when you fall down on the walking paths).

My plan for the day sort of backfired. I'm the one who is worn out. I think it will be and early bedtime for me tonight. ----Note to self.....two park visits in one day equals TIRED Mommy!

Daddy's Little Girl

As most wifes do, I ask JB how his day was when he gets home from work by asking "Did you have a good day?"

Yesterday we went to run some errands and called JB to see if he would like to meet me and Madie for lunch. We decided Wendy's would be the best and fastest place to get a hambug and finch fies (hamburger & french fries). As we were sitting there eating, Madie reached over and started rubbing her daddy's arm and looked up at him and asked "good day?" He looked down to her and told her "Yes, Daddy's having a good day".

Who knew she was listening whenever I asked him how his day went. Who knew she knew the correct way to use this statement. All I do know is that I wittnessed a very sweet, tender moment between my husband and my daughter and it brought joy to my heart.

Here's to Daddy's little girl and having a good day!

For the Love....of Laundry!

I don't mind doing laundry. I don't mind sorting, loading, or even folding, but I hate putting clothes away. I wish that I had someone that would just come and put away all our clean clothes ( I wouldn't mind if they cleaned the toilets either).

I always have the same question every time I do a load of Madie's laundry. WHERE DO ALL OF HER SOCKS GO? I mean do they get eaten by the washing machine? Are they lost somewhere in route to the dryer? Are they stuck to one of the 6 towels I have already folded? Are they in the foot of some of her pajamas? Did they fall out of the basket on the way to the living room where I went to do my folding? I look at this as a challenge. I usually don't give up until I find that one sock that has went astray. It drives me crazy sometimes....I mean, for the love.....of laundry.

Gymboree Day!

When Madie was in the NICU we made many friends with the other parents and their families. You spend so much time up there and you share so many stories and experiences that it is hard to detach yourself when you leave.

There was one family inparticular that we were close with. Their little girl is Austin. Austin was born March 4th and was in the NICU the entire time Madie was in there and we were able to come home before her. We were in constant competition to keep our minds off of things: Who weighs the most today? Who drank more ounces? Who got the best report? It was something I looked forward too and it helped to know we were not alone.

Well, today we went to help Austin celebrate her 2nd birthday at Gymboree. It was so good to see Austin and her family again. Madie had such a great time! She danced and climbed and ran and bounced and was smiles the whole time. (We'll be having her party at Gymboree this year!)
Austin is a few inches taller than Madie and if you look at either of them you would never think that they were so small when they came into the world.

It was such a good day! Happy Birthday Austin!

Fantasy Island Flashbacks

Tonight Madie and I went to meet Nana and Paw-paw for dinner at Sammy's Touch n' Go in Pell City. It is a resturant at the Pell City airport and it is exactly halfway for both of us to travel to meet and the food there is really good. They have the place decorated with old planes and photos..its just a neat place, I recommend it to anyone who hasn't been there before. We go there quiet frequently and it is always fun to watch the small planes "touch n' go" as you eat.

During this visit it seemed as if the air traffic was much higher than normal. There were planes coming and going in all directions. Madie loved it. After dinner we went outside to let her run around for a minute before our ride home. She took off yelling "Ook Paw-paw, de pain--de pain!" Translation: "Look Paw-paw, the plane--the plane!"

This will show my age. I turned to my Dad and told him she sounded like the guy Tattoo on Fantasy Island. He would always alert the Islanders that the guests were arriving on the Island by saying "The Plane, the plane" at the beginning of every episode. My Dad laughed and said she does, and they are about the same size too.

My Baby Knows What She Wants AND Needs!

This morning I went to get Madie up just as I do every morning. I had heard her several minutes before and she seemed to be whinning a little. When I went in to say good morning and rise and shine I could smell that she probably had something to whine about. I mean, I can't imagine what it would feel like to wake up from a nights sleep and feel that your underwear is full of poop. Gross!

So I got Madie up and we were changing her diaper and I asked her if that felt better now that she was all clean. She pointed to the basket where I keep her supplies (thermometer, diaper cream, lotion etc. ) and she said "keem". It took me a minute but then I realized she was wanting cream. diaper cream. She knew her little bottom hurt and she knew the keem would make it feel better.

My baby knows what she wants and needs!

I Think I'm Raising a Mini Drill Sargent

It has recently come to my attention that I may be raising a Mini Drill Sargent. Madie's vocabulary is growing everyday and she is pronouncing her words more clearly. I couldn't be more proud to watch her grow.

However, there are a few words that she has down pat and I can't help but notice that they are all command verbs. For example: up, sit, no, and the one that is driving me crazy is march.

After spending the winter inside and trying to find aerobic activities to do in the house we marched around the house. Madie now relates marching to saying "Hey follow me or lets go" but she can't say that yet so she just says March!

This weekend she has told a minimum of 15 people (some she knew, some she didn't) to march. Everyone will ask...Did she say march? I reply....yes and sometimes she says "March....please." How can you not march for that?

I don't' want her to be bossy, but I certainly want her to know what she wants and be her own person. I am hoping with each day her vocabulary continues to grow and we can consider this her "Drill Sargent phase".

Until then......we'll be marching!