Getting Ready for Preschool

So besides the minor emergencies last week, Madalyn also had her first trip to preschool.  My mother-in-law, Mrs. Katie is going to be the Music Teacher at the CDC for our church this year.  When she goes to church, Madalyn, of course, will go with her. They will go Tuesday-Thursday mornings for an hour or so.  I know that Madalyn is ready to go and be around other children and I know she will learn so much. Just after going for three days and being around Hunter again, she was saying two new words. When any car or truck drives by she goes "beep, beep" and does her hands up and down.  She is also not just waving bye, but saying it as well.  She jabbers all the time, so I know it's just a matter of time before we are understanding what she is saying, then look out world! :0)  Mrs. Katie said that after a few minutes of warming up, that Madalyn is off playing and doing well, which I'm so thankful she is having a good time.  One of the things you need for school is a bookbag, so my mom got Madalyn her first bookbag. Which she will use it for a smaller diaper bag, but I think it turned out so cute! I love it! I found it on this website: http://www.thecrazydazy.com/.  They have really cute bookbags, lunchboxes, bags, etc. for girls and boys, and any of their items can be personalized. It did take about two weeks to get it, but I figured they were busy with school starting back.

1st Dentist Visit

So, last weekend, on Saturday, we had our first ER trip with Madalyn. She is doing perfectly fine since then and is going at full speed (which leads to our next minor emergency). (This past week I had to go to some training for how to help mentor new teachers, so Kevin's mom, Mrs. Katie kept Madalyn Tuesday-Friday.) Thursday I text Mrs. Katie on my lunch break to see how Madalyn was doing.  She was fine. The next thing I know, Mrs. Katie is calling me to tell me that Madalyn was running in the house and hit the piano bench with her mouth and has chipped off part of her front two top teeth. I was very shocked to hear that because it was just like a few minutes after the text of everything is fine. Things happen so fast. Kevin was there with her and she was fine and wasn't bleeding much at all. They got an appointment with a pediatrician dentist in Aiken, and Kevin and Madalyn came to pick me up at school.  As soon as I saw Madalyn, and saw exactly what damage had been done I was fine. (Kevin and Mrs. Katie on the other hand, took a lot longer to calm down than me. I guess it's because I wasn't there when the accident happended.) It's really not bad at all and I don't think unless you know to look for it, most people won't notice it. We were both pleased with the dentist.  He said that as of right now, there's nothing we can do. When she gets to be 4 years old, if she still has these two teeth, he can file them down and put a cap on them. We have to go back in 8 weeks for a check up. He said the teeth could be fine, they could turn dark and stay dark, (which means the inside of the tooth is hemorrhaging, they could turn dark and then turn back white, they could have to be pulled early, they could fall out early on their own, etc. there were a lot of "IF's" that could happen. The good thing is that the nerves are not exposed so she doesn't have any sensitivity and they are just her baby teeth. Of course, after knowing Madalyn was fine, the first thought in my head was pictures and her being made fun of due to the teeth, but that was before I saw that it wasn't that bad. It hasn't slowed her down one bit, but the rest of us are trying to slow her down some and really be careful of her mouth.  Thankfully, it wasn't any worse. So, in 5 days we had two minor emergencies, (our first minor emergencies too, so I think we did good to make it to 16 1/2 months old) but I told Madalyn she was allowed no more. We can only pray and hope she listens. :0)

Madalyn's first pictures since her "tooth" accident.

Such a happy girl! Nothing gets her down for long.

It's weird how they broke in the same place on each tooth. But I think that makes them look better, not as noticeable.



Vacation to North Myrtle Beach

Two weeks ago, Kevin decided that he wanted to take a long weekend vacation just the 3 of us because we haven't done that before.  So I started looking to where we could go and let me tell you trying to find a place at the beach for a few days, the week before you are planning to go, it's easy. But I finally found a place called Beach Cove Resort in North Myrtle Beach.  We left last Thursday after lunch and came home yesterday afternoon.  We had a great time. The place was very nice and Madalyn really enjoyed the beach and the pools.  Taking a vacation with just the 3 of us, you don't have many opportunities to get pictures, due to the business of Madalyn, haha, but I did get a few.

Saturday: I do have to tell you about our Saturday, it began at 3:00am. Madalyn was up and didn't go back to sleep until 3:00pm (and yes Kevin and I were in a daze but she was going strong all that time.) We tried everything we could think of to get her back to sleep, including trying to tire her out on the beach and in the pool several times.  Saturday night, we were coming off the beach around 8:00pm, and Madalyn didn't want to go, and she was crying and we had our hands full of stuff.  She continued to cry all the way to the room and once we got in the room to get her bath she was screaming very loudly.  We both thought she was hungry and tired. So we got her bathe, dressed and gave her a snack.  Then I began to notice that she wasn't using her right arm at all and when she did move it, she would cry.  I sent Kevin to find something for pain for her and while he was gone I decided to call Madalyn's doctor.  She told me that Madalyn had a pulled bone in her arm and it needed to be set back in place and the sooner we got it done the better for Madalyn. So at about 9:20 pm we head to the Myrtle Beach ER with Madalyn.  We were in and out within an hours time, so that was pretty good for the ER on a Saturday night. As soon as the doctor set her arm she forgot that it had hurt and she was moving it around and was fine. Due to us pulling her by her wrist to get her to come on with us and her pulling back not wanting to go, we had caused this to happen.  They call it nurse's elbow, and it's very common to happen in children from age 1-5 years.  They said it could easily happen again and showed us how to set it if it does.  The doctor also said to make sure not to swing her by her hands or pull her up by her hands or wrist, to grab above the elbow or under her arms.  Kevin and I felt so bad about it, but we were thankful it wasn't anything more than that. So our first ER experience with Madalyn wasn't so bad (not that you ever want to have to take your child to the ER ).

We were on the 8th floor

We had an end room, so we had a wrap around balcony

The view from our room

The view from our room in the other direction

There were 6 pools and a lazy river

Friday night we drove to Calabash, NC for dinner

Madalyn and Me

You think she smiling because she's in the water...she's smiling because a dog just walked by.

The moon was so big and orange Friday night, maybe that's why Madalyn didn't sleep.



Each night someone was shooting fireworks on the beach

Sunrise Saturday morning

Sunday morning: Our last time on the beach before we leave

Box of Fun

 Who needs fancy toys when you can play with a box?  This weekend I had an empty box of diapers sitting on top of the trash can to be thrown away. Well, having a 16 month old, nothing is safe unless it's out of her reach, and right now, she can stand on her tip toes or climb and get just about anything she wants.  She got the box off the trash can and brought it into the kitchen and the next thing I know she was sitting inside the box.  Since then she has played and played with this box.  I would like to find a really big box and make a playhouse for her, but I'm not sure where to find one. 

Madalyn reading her farm book

Madalyn and her puppy watching TV 

Prayer Update: Harper Nicole Berry

"Harper" Nicole Berry is here! She was born mid-morning, they got a later start that planned.  Dave was allowed to go back with them, but the doctor warned him that if something started going wrong he would have to leave.  When Harper came out she was crying and took her first breath on her own, which the doctor said was a good sign.  They didn't have to rush Harper to the NICU right away, so Dave was allowed to touch her.  They do have Harper hooked up to oxygen but there is very little flowing from a medicine right now, because she is able to breath pretty well on her own right now. Tara is coming out of recovery and is doing well. Her blood pressure has started to go down.  She had had a very rough night and it was getting more and more dangerous for Tara as this week has gone on.  Dave has seen Harper two different times in the NICU.  Harper was 1.13 pounds and 13 inches long.  As of right now, Tara will be coming home in four days and Little Miss  Harper will be staying until her official due date October 25th unless something changes.  Thank you for praying for this family and please continue to pray for Harper to gain weight and grow stronger every day.  Also pray for Tara to continue to improve and to get well quickly.  Pray for both Dave and Tara as they will have to come home from the hospital without their baby girl and will have the next few months of traveling back and forth to the hospital to see her.  God is Good!

A Call to Prayer

Family and Friends I am calling you to pray now, and specifically at 8:00am in the morning, and in the next few months that follow each day for a special family.  Dave (Dave is Kevin's cousin), Tara, and Baby Harper Berry.  Tara is 27 weeks almost 28 weeks pregnant with "Harper" Nicole Berry.  She is due October 25th.  However, this past Monday and week has led to some unexpected changes.  Tara was admitted to the hospital Monday due to sky high blood pressure.  That has led to finding out that she has preeclampsia.  Tara is at the University Hospital in Georgia and is currently not allowed visitors due to they can't keep her blood pressure under control.  We have learned this evening that in the morning at 8:00am they will begin a C-Section on Tara and at just 1.9 pounds, Harper will be born.  I have been praying for this family all week and I have sent out text messages and calls to those that I knew would join me in praying for this family and especially for Harper.  (If I have left anyone out, I am sorry, but please join us now. ) She has a fight on her hands and the family, extended family, etc. we are praying for God to show out big time and give us a miracle with this precious baby girl.  So, please join me in praying for Tara, Harper, the doctors and nurses now and continue tomorrow.  This family has a long road ahead of them and I thank you in advance for your prayers.

Matthew 18:20 "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I will be with them."

Madalyn 16 Months

This past weekend we had a family reunion to attend in Greenville. On Saturday, Madalyn was 16 months old, so I got a few pictures of her at the reunion.