Today has been a laid-back, relaxing day for us. We didn't go to church this morning because Madison still has a bad cough & a constant runny nose. She has slept a lot today, but when she's been awake we have had a really good day.
She has learned to play peek-a-boo if you put a blanket over her head. It's so sweet! Today she also was able to go from sitting on to her hands & knees. She's learning something new all the time!
This week has been pretty hard for me. Taking care of a baby who isn't feeling well can be challenging at times. Madison also had several doctor's appointments this week, and we have some challenges ahead of us coming out of those appointments. But today while she's been napping I've had some time to just sit & think. Despite life's challenges, there is always something to be thankful for.
Madison has overcome a lot of obstacles in the 10 months she's been in this world, and I am so thankful every single day for the progress she has made. I knew I would be so in love with her when she was born, but I could never imagine how much! I am so thankful that God allowed Jake & I to be her parents, and I could not imagine life without her.
On top of that, we have been so blessed with family & friends. I know that I can always count on my family through the good times and bad. I am thankful that I have parents that I can call anytime & talk to about anything. When I'm upset or needing to talk, the first people I want to talk to besides Jake are my mom and dad.
Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for God. Through this past year, there have been a lot of times I haven't understood why things were happening. But I believe my faith has grown stronger through everything. We have had definite reminders that God is in control and He has plans for our lives & Madison's. We just have to remember to trust Him. We may not always understand, but we just have to continue to trust.
When you are having a rough time and feeling discouraged, just remember to count your blessings. It will put things in perspective & help you to remember you always have something to be thankful for.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Crazy Day
Today did not go as I had planned (I find that happening a whole lot more now that I have a child). Madison had an appointment scheduled with a crainiofacial doctor at Vanderbilt at 8:30 this morning. This is around the time I get her up, so we had a much earlier morning than usual. We got up at 5:30 to do her morning routine of reflux medicine / wait 30 minutes / 8 oz bottle.
First problem... she was running a low-grade temperature, had a horrible cough, and was congested. This was an important appointment though, so we went ahead and got ready to leave.
Second problem... I put her in the car seat, buckle her up, and shut the door. No sooner have I went around the car and opened my door, I look inside and she is throwing up. All over her... all over the back seat... all in her car seat...
Jake changes her clothes while I wipe down the car seat the best I can. I know she can't help it, but it is so frustrating, especially since she hasn't done this in a long time. (It used to happen multiple times a week). Anytime she is really congested, she almost gets strangled on the drainage. That combined with her acid reflux is a bad combination.
So we finally get going to meet my mom who thankfully was able to go with me to her appointment.
Third problem... she throws up AGAIN in the car seat on the way to meet mama.
Fast forward to her crainiofacial appointment. Good news - no surgery needed. Not so great news - he recommends her wearing a helmet to shape her head. So I call the clinic to get her fitted for a helmet, and they have an opening at noon.
Fourth problem... I am down to one burp cloth, one blanket, and one clean outfit. At the rate Madison went through linens / clothes during the morning, she may have to go in her diaper to get fitted for her helmet.
Luckily, no major issues until her noon appointment or on the way home after. We go back next week to get her helmet (might I add it's light pink & I may have to just hot glue a bow on it).
She's a couple of months past the age they typically would like to have babies in a helmet, but they think we will still see some improvement & some rounding of the back of her head. She will have to wear it 24 / 7 for about 6 months. I was happy to hear that we can take it off for pictures / special occasions!
Fifth problem... insurance won't cover a helmet for a baby unless they have had head surgery. So we are out $1,500.
This afternoon we went to our 3rd doctor's appointment for the day since she wasn't feeling well. Luckily, the RSV test was negative, so they think it's just a bad cold.
Hoping my baby feels better tomorrow & we have a calmer day!
First problem... she was running a low-grade temperature, had a horrible cough, and was congested. This was an important appointment though, so we went ahead and got ready to leave.
Second problem... I put her in the car seat, buckle her up, and shut the door. No sooner have I went around the car and opened my door, I look inside and she is throwing up. All over her... all over the back seat... all in her car seat...
Jake changes her clothes while I wipe down the car seat the best I can. I know she can't help it, but it is so frustrating, especially since she hasn't done this in a long time. (It used to happen multiple times a week). Anytime she is really congested, she almost gets strangled on the drainage. That combined with her acid reflux is a bad combination.
So we finally get going to meet my mom who thankfully was able to go with me to her appointment.
Third problem... she throws up AGAIN in the car seat on the way to meet mama.
Fast forward to her crainiofacial appointment. Good news - no surgery needed. Not so great news - he recommends her wearing a helmet to shape her head. So I call the clinic to get her fitted for a helmet, and they have an opening at noon.
Fourth problem... I am down to one burp cloth, one blanket, and one clean outfit. At the rate Madison went through linens / clothes during the morning, she may have to go in her diaper to get fitted for her helmet.
Luckily, no major issues until her noon appointment or on the way home after. We go back next week to get her helmet (might I add it's light pink & I may have to just hot glue a bow on it).
She's a couple of months past the age they typically would like to have babies in a helmet, but they think we will still see some improvement & some rounding of the back of her head. She will have to wear it 24 / 7 for about 6 months. I was happy to hear that we can take it off for pictures / special occasions!
Fifth problem... insurance won't cover a helmet for a baby unless they have had head surgery. So we are out $1,500.
This afternoon we went to our 3rd doctor's appointment for the day since she wasn't feeling well. Luckily, the RSV test was negative, so they think it's just a bad cold.
Hoping my baby feels better tomorrow & we have a calmer day!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Cleaning Schedule
I live by my planner. If I want to make sure to get something done, I write it down. So when I decided to stay home with Madison, I made out a cleaning schedule to hang on the refrigerator. I have daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly chores mapped out. I knew if I just focused on a few things each day instead of trying to clean my whole house in one sitting that I could keep up with everything.
This may seem silly to some people, but when you are home with a baby there are days when if you get the bed made you are doing good.
MONDAY:
Laundry (clothes & towels)
TUESDAY:
Bathrooms
Windows / Mirrors
WEDNESDAY:
Dust
Vacuum & mop floors
THURSDAY:
Clean out fridge / pantry
Wipe down kitchen surfaces
Wipe inside of oven, fridge, and microwave
Empty trash / wipe down trash cans
FRIDAY:
Laundry (clothes & sheets / pillowcases)
SATURDAY / SUNDAY:
Catch up day
Store list / store
It has really helped me to keep on top of the housework & it doesn't take a lot of time each day to get everything on my list done. I also have more time on the weekends to spend time with Jake, family, & friends instead of spending all day on Saturday cleaning.
I also have some things that I do once a month & every 3 months. It's more of your "deep cleaning" like cleaning grout, baseboards / molding, organizing cabinets, etc.
If you're having a hard time getting everything you need to done, I really would recommend making out some sort of schedule & placing it where you will see it every day. Once you get into the habit of doing it each week, it becomes second nature.
DAILY:
Make bed(s)
Pick up any clutter
Dishes
Sweep kitchen
MONDAY:
Laundry (clothes & towels)
TUESDAY:
Bathrooms
Windows / Mirrors
WEDNESDAY:
Dust
Vacuum & mop floors
THURSDAY:
Clean out fridge / pantry
Wipe down kitchen surfaces
Wipe inside of oven, fridge, and microwave
Empty trash / wipe down trash cans
FRIDAY:
Laundry (clothes & sheets / pillowcases)
SATURDAY / SUNDAY:
Catch up day
Store list / store
It has really helped me to keep on top of the housework & it doesn't take a lot of time each day to get everything on my list done. I also have more time on the weekends to spend time with Jake, family, & friends instead of spending all day on Saturday cleaning.
I also have some things that I do once a month & every 3 months. It's more of your "deep cleaning" like cleaning grout, baseboards / molding, organizing cabinets, etc.
If you're having a hard time getting everything you need to done, I really would recommend making out some sort of schedule & placing it where you will see it every day. Once you get into the habit of doing it each week, it becomes second nature.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
CT Scan
Very good news! Madison's CT Scan results came back normal! There was no bone fusion in her skull, and her brain looked normal. She has a flat spot on the back of her head, but it's not in the typical place a flat spot usually is in a baby. So her pediatrician is referring her to a craniofacial specialist at Vanderbilt. (I think this makes doctor #7 for Madison now... ) He wants them to evaulate her to see if they think anything needs to be done.
Even though it seems like we will get one issue resolved with Madison & another comes up, I'm so grateful for how healthy she has been since the beginning of the year. When we were at Vanderbilt last week getting her scan done, I saw many other children with much worse problems than we have dealt with. It really puts things in perspective... I thank God every day for my sweet, beautiful little girl that He has blessed me with & am so glad her CT results came back normal!
We are still waiting on the results from the sleep study, and we have an appointment with her pulmonary doctor next week. Hopefully we will get some answers then!
Even though it seems like we will get one issue resolved with Madison & another comes up, I'm so grateful for how healthy she has been since the beginning of the year. When we were at Vanderbilt last week getting her scan done, I saw many other children with much worse problems than we have dealt with. It really puts things in perspective... I thank God every day for my sweet, beautiful little girl that He has blessed me with & am so glad her CT results came back normal!
We are still waiting on the results from the sleep study, and we have an appointment with her pulmonary doctor next week. Hopefully we will get some answers then!
Monday, April 1, 2013
Easter
Madison had a great first Easter! She got to celebrate Easter 2 different weekends...
The Sunday before Easter we celebrated with Jake's family since they would all be out-of-town on Easter. Madison had an Easter basket from her Granny & Pa, and she got to play with her cousins!
We went to church at Rock Springs & Madison was so good during the service. Then we went to my parents' house for lunch. Madison opened her presents from Mimi & Papa, and she really liked her sunglasses!
Of course the day didn't go without any hiccups... Madison threw up in the car on the way to church. Luckily I was able to catch most of it in a blanket instead of it getting on her pretty new Easter dress!
We had such a great day spending time with family! We ate at my Gigi's house for an early supper, and I absolutely love how close the "Williams family" is! Every time we get together (which is pretty often), it's all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. It gets a little hectic & loud at times, but I love it! I'm so glad Madison is able to grow up with that because there aren't many extended families who experience that kind of closeness.
As Madison gets older, I want to make sure she knows the real meaning of Easter and what it represents. The easter baskets, egg hunts, and family dinners are great & fun, but none of that compares to the real meaning behind Easter. It's a celebration of Jesus dying for our sins & being resurrected. I hope everyone had a great Easter and got to spend time with their loved ones, but take a minute and reflect on what the meaning behind Easter means to you & say a prayer of thanks.
The Sunday before Easter we celebrated with Jake's family since they would all be out-of-town on Easter. Madison had an Easter basket from her Granny & Pa, and she got to play with her cousins!
Easter morning, Madison looked her at Easter basket from the Easter Bunny... she wasn't really excited about it, but I think next year will be fun :) She will also get to hunt Easter eggs next year!
We went to church at Rock Springs & Madison was so good during the service. Then we went to my parents' house for lunch. Madison opened her presents from Mimi & Papa, and she really liked her sunglasses!
Of course the day didn't go without any hiccups... Madison threw up in the car on the way to church. Luckily I was able to catch most of it in a blanket instead of it getting on her pretty new Easter dress!
We had such a great day spending time with family! We ate at my Gigi's house for an early supper, and I absolutely love how close the "Williams family" is! Every time we get together (which is pretty often), it's all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins. It gets a little hectic & loud at times, but I love it! I'm so glad Madison is able to grow up with that because there aren't many extended families who experience that kind of closeness.
As Madison gets older, I want to make sure she knows the real meaning of Easter and what it represents. The easter baskets, egg hunts, and family dinners are great & fun, but none of that compares to the real meaning behind Easter. It's a celebration of Jesus dying for our sins & being resurrected. I hope everyone had a great Easter and got to spend time with their loved ones, but take a minute and reflect on what the meaning behind Easter means to you & say a prayer of thanks.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Suzy Homemaker
I feel like I have had such a productive day today... I was actually in the mood to clean (very rare). Now I'm no Suzy Homemaker, but I do like to keep my house picked up & clean. However, I've never thought about needing to clean my washing machine & dishwasher. I thought they were getting cleaned as the dishes & clothes were run through their cycles.
So I found a few different websites on Pinterest that I thought I would give a try...
1) Cleaning your dishwasher:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/how-to-clean-your-dishwasher.html
Super easy to do, and I could tell a big difference once I finished! I didn't realize how dingy my dishwasher was until I saw how white & shiny it was after I cleaned it!
2) Cleaning your washing machine:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-your-top-loader-washing.html
This was easy too, but to go through all the steps it takes several hours. I wouldn't start this unless you have 3-4 hours to complete it. I can tell a difference in the way my washing machine smells - it had started to get almost a musty smell to it. So glad I went ahead and did this today!
I'm ashamed to say I haven't cleaned my washing machine in the 3 1/2 years Jake and I have been married, so it definitely needed it!
3) Another way to clean your kitchen sink:
http://the-happyhome.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-make-your-stainless-shine.html
Now I'm not going to tell you my sink looked as fantastic as the picture on the website, but it did look much more shiny. I washed a few dishes in it after it had been cleaned, and it still looked really good. So definitely think it's worth it to clean my sink like this again.
To continue my productive day, I'm going to go run :)
So I found a few different websites on Pinterest that I thought I would give a try...
1) Cleaning your dishwasher:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/how-to-clean-your-dishwasher.html
Super easy to do, and I could tell a big difference once I finished! I didn't realize how dingy my dishwasher was until I saw how white & shiny it was after I cleaned it!
2) Cleaning your washing machine:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-your-top-loader-washing.html
This was easy too, but to go through all the steps it takes several hours. I wouldn't start this unless you have 3-4 hours to complete it. I can tell a difference in the way my washing machine smells - it had started to get almost a musty smell to it. So glad I went ahead and did this today!
I'm ashamed to say I haven't cleaned my washing machine in the 3 1/2 years Jake and I have been married, so it definitely needed it!
3) Another way to clean your kitchen sink:
http://the-happyhome.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-make-your-stainless-shine.html
Now I'm not going to tell you my sink looked as fantastic as the picture on the website, but it did look much more shiny. I washed a few dishes in it after it had been cleaned, and it still looked really good. So definitely think it's worth it to clean my sink like this again.
To continue my productive day, I'm going to go run :)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
OCD Breakthrough
The day we brought Madison home from the Baptist NICU I started a notebook keeping track of how much she ate, how much she spit up, and her wet/dirty diapers. I obsessively wrote in this notebook every single day. If I (or Jake) forgot to write something down it made me very anxious.
Some of you may be thinking "what a control freak." Well, admittedly I am. But there was also a reason for it in this case. After Madison was born, she was taken to the NICU because her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck & she had trouble breathing. It only took a day or so before her breathing was under control. The main issue we had with her was getting her to eat & keep it down. She was in the NICU for 15 days with a feeding tube. We were able to take her home with the NG-tube with the hopes that she would take her bottles by mouth, but if she hadn't eaten what she needed to we could give it to her through the feeding tube.
The first night we were home, Madison pulled out her NG-tube. I of course freaked out, but our pediatrician wanted to see how she did for a couple of days without it. She has never looked back. We have had our issues with reflux & exorcist-like spit up episodes, but she has continued to improve and thrive. Every time we go to the doctor she has gained more than enough weight, so I finally decided this weekend it was time to let go some of the control.
So I put the notebook up over the weekend, and just want to enjoy my time I have left feeding Madison her bottles instead of worrying if she only ate 7 oz instead of 8.
Some of you may be thinking "what a control freak." Well, admittedly I am. But there was also a reason for it in this case. After Madison was born, she was taken to the NICU because her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck & she had trouble breathing. It only took a day or so before her breathing was under control. The main issue we had with her was getting her to eat & keep it down. She was in the NICU for 15 days with a feeding tube. We were able to take her home with the NG-tube with the hopes that she would take her bottles by mouth, but if she hadn't eaten what she needed to we could give it to her through the feeding tube.
The first night we were home, Madison pulled out her NG-tube. I of course freaked out, but our pediatrician wanted to see how she did for a couple of days without it. She has never looked back. We have had our issues with reflux & exorcist-like spit up episodes, but she has continued to improve and thrive. Every time we go to the doctor she has gained more than enough weight, so I finally decided this weekend it was time to let go some of the control.
So I put the notebook up over the weekend, and just want to enjoy my time I have left feeding Madison her bottles instead of worrying if she only ate 7 oz instead of 8.
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